Volume One, Chapter 13: Ascending to the Top, Likely a Disaster

“Please come in!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The young eunuch withdrew, and soon four figures stepped across the threshold into the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

They were none other than the Minister of Personnel Zhan Hui, Minister of Rites Chen Jing, Minister of Revenue Fu Youwen, and the Left Censor-in-Chief Ren Hengtai.

Three of the six ministries’ heads had arrived, joined by an official from the Censorate, meaning these four fully represented the vast majority of the current Ming dynasty’s civil officials.

As soon as the four entered the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang, hidden behind the wall, shifted his gaze to Fu Youde.

There was no helping it—after all, Fu Youwen, the Minister of Revenue, was his own younger brother.

However, Fu Youwen’s behavior made Fu Youde wipe a cold sweat from his brow in secret.

At first, the four were somewhat stunned upon entering, as they saw no sign of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Fu Youwen was the first to react, bowing respectfully to Zhu Quan before inquiring, “May I ask, Prince Ning, where is His Majesty?”

Unbeknownst to him, this very act raised Old Zhu’s opinion of him considerably.

Following Fu Youwen’s lead, Zhan Hui, Chen Jing, and Ren Hengtai also directed their questions to Zhu Quan.

It was only natural for them to ask—after all, for a prince to appear in the palace at such an hour, especially in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, a place of utmost importance, was cause for suspicion.

Moreover, the emperor was nowhere to be seen, which naturally stirred all sorts of speculations in their minds.

Before they could continue questioning, Zhu Quan smoothly stepped aside and wiped away a nonexistent tear from his eye.

“Father… Father is here…”

At first, the four noticed nothing amiss. But when their eyes shifted towards the imperial throne, their expressions changed instantly.

The figure lying rigid on the throne showed no sign of breathing; clearly, the emperor had passed away.

Boom.

The four stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, mouths agape yet unable to utter a word.

After an indeterminate time, the eldest, Ren Hengtai, was the first to break down, collapsing to the ground and wailing, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! How could you leave your old臣 behind?”

Moved by Ren Hengtai’s outburst, Fu Youwen and the others also began wiping away tears.

In such moments, sincerity aside, it would be unthinkable for ministers not to show grief upon hearing of the emperor’s death—it simply contradicted the Confucian ideals of Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, and Teachers they so often espoused.

“Minister Ren, the floor is cold; please get up,” Zhu Quan said slowly, as if deliberately waiting for their tears to fall before approaching Ren Hengtai to help him up.

He addressed him as “Minister Ren” because the old man had once served as a teacher in the Grand Hall.

Though Zhu Quan disliked the antiquated manner of speech the old scholar constantly used, sometimes a performance had to be maintained.

The civil official faction of the present was no longer like the days of Li Shanchang or Hu Weiyong; the factions of Huai West or Zhejiang East had long since dissolved.

Now, the entire civil official group followed the lead of these four men.

Ren Hengtai was a venerable Confucian scholar, once head of the Hanlin Academy; since Ming officials were required to pass through the Hanlin Academy upon entering office, most civil officials could be considered his disciples.

Then there was Zhan Hui, whose father had been an official during the Yuan dynasty and later served as Minister of Personnel in the Hongwu era, leaving Zhan Hui with considerable political leverage.

Chen Jing lacked a significant background but held the important post of Minister of Rites, a department indispensable whether it was the emperor ascending the throne or a new emperor taking office.

Lastly, Fu Youwen, whose family controlled the vital financial lifeline alongside Fu Youde, needed no further introduction.

Thus, Zhu Quan’s intention in summoning these four to the palace was clear: he wished to win them over.

Even if he could not secure their outright support for his ascension, he aimed to keep them neutral, ensuring the smooth execution of subsequent plans.

“This unfilial son is quite the actor,” Zhu Yuanzhang sneered behind the wall.

He seemed to sense that something was amiss.

Meanwhile, Fu Youde remained unaware and even fanned the flames, saying, “Your Highness, tonight’s events may be doomed.”

“Hm? What do you mean?” Zhu Yuanzhang turned sharply, unease growing within him.

Fu Youde forced himself to speak, “Alas! Prince Ning… he likely has a contingency plan. Tonight is meant to definitively seal Your Majesty’s demise!”

Boom.

Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang fully understood.

Though Zhu Quan had summoned four old ministers, their presence as witnesses to his death meant the matter was irrevocably settled!

Especially with Chen Jing and Ren Hengtai among them…

“No! We must leave now, or how can we survive tomorrow?” Zhu Yuanzhang immediately rose, intent on heading for the secret exit.

But no more than two steps out, Fu Youde and Tang He grabbed him firmly.

“Your Highness, you must not go!”

“What do you mean? Do you truly intend to let me die under that traitor’s arrangement?” Zhu Yuanzhang panicked.

He was feigning death, not prepared for an actual demise so soon.

There were still many matters to attend to, the heir to the throne remained unestablished, and the obstacles blocking the future ruler were yet to be cleared. How could he simply die now?

Tang He held Zhu Yuanzhang tightly, pleading anxiously, “Your Highness, I do not wish for your death, but if you go out now, Prince Ning might commit acts that outrage both gods and men to secure what is within his grasp!”

“Indeed, Your Highness! You saw how Prince Ning dealt with Lan Xiaoer and the others just now—no gentleman stands beneath a crumbling wall!” Fu Youde hastened to advise.

As the saying goes, there is no familial affection in the imperial court. Who could guess what extreme actions Zhu Quan might take upon seeing Zhu Yuanzhang ‘rise from the dead’?

He was openly usurping power before Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes—would he not fear that stepping back might lead to his being torn to shreds by the old emperor’s admonition?

Even if Zhu Quan were truly filial, knowing that the old emperor intended to clear obstacles for the future ruler, what would Lan Yu and the others, who had already pledged allegiance to Zhu Quan, do upon learning of Zhu Yuanzhang’s ‘resurrection’?

Of course, Fu Youde and Tang He had their own interests too—they were part of the Huai West nobility and did not wish to see their families destroyed out of Zhu Yuanzhang’s suspicion.

Hearing their counsel, Zhu Yuanzhang instantly calmed.

From the start of the rebellion to now, ruling the realm, he had never felt such bone-chilling dread as tonight.

In truth, when Zhu Quan had just been recruiting Lan Yu and the others, Zhu Yuanzhang had realized they were of the same ilk.

By considering his own actions, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly pieced together the implications.

If he could have Han Linger drowned at the river’s bottom at a critical moment, then Zhu Quan was certainly capable of ensuring Zhu Yuanzhang’s actual death once and for all.

…