That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.
However, the prison of the Ministry of Justice was brightly lit. One of the two sons of the Zhu family was reading a book while the other was playing cards. They did not seem to notice the passage of time and were still in high spirits.
The entire imperial prison was bustling with noise and excitement. The prisoners of the imperial prison prostrated themselves on the ground in admiration of Zhu Rong.
It wasn't just because Zhu Rong had won Wu Chuang and Qian Li's salary for the next month.
More importantly, the only person in the Great Ming Dynasty who could make the current Crown Prince Zhu Biao sleep in the Heaven Prison for a night was His Highness the King of Qin!
Although he didn't know the inside story, just thinking about it was unbelievable. He had to admit it!
However, at this moment, the people in the imperial prison did not know that the entire Forbidden City in Nanjing was in chaos.
…………
Eastern Palace, main hall.
"Aiyo, Lord Huang, where do you think the Crown Prince went? Why wasn't there anyone so late at night?”
The Crown Princess Consort, Madam Chang, was already anxious. She was still fine when she went in the morning. Why was it suddenly difficult to find her?
"Empress, don't worry. This lowly official has already sent people to look for him. If it really doesn't work, I can only report to His Majesty.”
Huang Zicheng was also worried. He looked up at the sky and saw that it was already midnight. His heart sank.
As a study partner in the Eastern Palace, he had finally managed to climb up to Zhu Biao. If anything happened to him, his future career would be over.
Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang had deep feelings for Zhu Biao. If anything happened to the Crown Prince, everyone in the Eastern Palace would be finished, including Huang Zicheng.
"This…I can't. It's already late, and I'm afraid Father is already asleep. If he hears about this, he'll definitely be furious.”
Although Madam Chang was burning with anxiety, she knew the stakes of this matter. She immediately waved her hand and said,
"His Highness the Crown Prince is usually the most filial. He would never trouble Imperial Father with things he can do. In my opinion, it's better to go and look for him first.”
"This…"
Huang Zicheng frowned, but he did not dare to disobey the Crown Princess Consort. Just as he was about to cup his hands, a slightly sharp voice came from outside the main hall.
"I don't like what Sister said!"
Accompanied by the voice, a young woman carried a five-year-old child into the main hall. Her head was full of pearls and jade, and her body was covered in silk. She looked very luxurious.
In comparison, the Crown Princess Chang was dressed simply, and even her pretty face was slightly covered in makeup.
"This lowly subject greets the consort consort, greets His Highness the Great Sun!”
Huang Zicheng's eyes lit up when he saw the person who had come. He quickly cupped his hands and bowed.
"Lord Huang, please don't be polite."
The young woman smiled at Huang Zicheng. She was none other than Zhu Biao's concubine, Lady Lu.
The five-year-old child in her arms was her son, the imperial grandson Zhu Yunwen.
Logically speaking, as the Crown Princess Consort, Madam Chang should be above Madam Lu.
It was a pity that her son, Zhu Biao's eldest son, Zhu Xiongying, died when he was eight years old.
The pain of losing a son was greater than the heavens. Even if Madam Chang had other sons, Zhu Xiongying's death still dealt a great blow to her.
Because of this, Madam Chang's health had been deteriorating for the past three years, and she had no interest in managing the Eastern Palace.
Lady Lu's status had risen along with Zhu Yunwen's status. She was nominally a concubine of the Eastern Palace, but in fact, she had the intention of suppressing Lady Chang.
"Then what does little sister mean?"
Seeing Madam Lu and Zhu Yunwen, Madam Chang's eyes immediately dimmed, but she still forced herself to smile.
"His Highness the Crown Prince is the foundation of the Great Ming Empire, so there must be no mishap. Now that we can't find him, we must immediately report to Imperial Father.”
Lady Lu said without hesitation, her tone extremely unyielding.
Zhu Yunwen, who was in his arms, saw this. Although she was ignorant, she nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, yes. Mother is right."
"Younger Sister, it's not that I don't want to report this to Imperial Father, but things are still unclear, so it's not good to disturb him.”
Madam Chang's expression was difficult as she slowly explained,
" You also know that Father is busy with the affairs of the country every day. Sometimes, he can only sleep for six to eight hours a day. If we go there rashly…"
"Sister, why does it sound so wrong to me?”
Madam Lu frowned and interrupted Madam Chang,"
"Imperial Father is important, but is the Crown Prince not important?”
Madam Chang's pretty face paled and she hurriedly waved her hand,
"No, no, no, I didn't mean that.”
"Then listen to me."
Madam Lu immediately sealed her words and hugged Zhu Yunwen as she looked at Huang Zicheng and said,
"Lord Huang, let's go. Accompany me and Yun Wen to see Imperial Father.”
"Your humble subject obeys."
Huang Zicheng quickly cupped his hands, and without even looking at Madam Chang, he followed Madam Lu out of the main hall.
"Ai, sister, Lord Huang…Ai!”
Seeing this, Madam Chang hurriedly waved her hand, but no one turned around. They could only sigh faintly and silently follow.
…………
Nanjing Forbidden City, Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon bed and wore a dragon robe. As the eunuch Chen Hong continued to report, his expression became more and more gloomy.
"Is what you said true?"
"This old servant dares to guarantee with his head that these words were indeed spoken by Lord Huang to His Royal Highness.”
Chen Hong knelt on the ground, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
"Bastard!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes slowly narrowed. However, at this moment, he suddenly thought of something and raised his eyebrows.
"Second Brother, that unfilial son, was actually right. Huang Zicheng, that bastard, is indeed a beast in human skin!”
Zhu Yuanzhang had become suspicious of Huang Zicheng because of what he had said in the Hall of Heaven's Tribute. He sent the eunuch Chen Hong to investigate and found a problem.
Huang Zicheng, as a study companion in the Eastern Palace, had secretly expressed his dissatisfaction with Zhu Yuanzhang's decision to enfeoffment a vassal king when he was teaching Zhu Yunwen.
With Zhu Yuanzhang's temper, he was naturally furious when he learned of this.
What the f * ck, I'll give the world to my son so that my descendants can guard the border and protect my Ming Dynasty. What does it have to do with you?
You're just a small study partner in the Eastern Palace. I'll give you some face depending on my mood. Instead of teaching my grandson honestly, you actually dare to talk about national policies?!
What was Corey trying to do? Sowing discord? I'm not dead yet!
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately made up his mind to eliminate all the officials who opposed the enfeoffment system.
Otherwise, after he died and the new emperor ascended the throne, wouldn't they be fighting against each other if an official like Huang Zicheng urged them to do so? Killing flesh and blood?
But the only problem was, how did Second Brother, this unfilial son, know that Huang Zicheng was harboring evil intentions when he ate, drank, and played every day?
Making a blind guess and hitting the jackpot? Or could it be that his second son was not as simple as he looked?
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。