This is a very serious matter.

The impact it would have is definitely not good.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang highly values ​​Zhu Yunwen, if this matter is true, then Zhu Yuanzhang will have no choice but to impose some severe punishment on Zhu Yunwen.

After all, it concerns the lives and deaths of ordinary people, so it's a major issue.

Zhu Yuanzhang then frowned and said:

"Yunhu, how could you be so foolish?"

Zhu Yunwen remained calm and said:

"Now that my second brother has brought this up, it must be resolved. So, I would like to ask my grandfather, if the matter is true, how should it be handled?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat helpless, as he felt that Zhu Yunwen seemed to have already acknowledged these facts.

Zhu Yunwen and the Minister of Revenue were somewhat bewildered; they truly hadn't expected Zhu Yunwen to actually confess.

There's a saying that goes something like this: the person who wrongs you will always know better than you how wronged you are.

The Minister of Revenue and Zhu Yunwen actually reversed the truth of the matter to frame Zhu Yunwen.

So if Zhu Yuntong was wrongly accused, why did he confess?

Zhu Yunwen's open admission caught both Zhu Yunwen and the Minister of Revenue, the two people who framed him, off guard and they could hardly believe it.

Zhu Yunwen noticed their expressions and couldn't help but smile, touching his nose as he said:

"What's wrong? Second Brother and Minister of Revenue Zhao Mian seem a bit surprised. Didn't you take the initiative to say that I had a problem? Why do you seem a little hesitant to believe that I've admitted it?"

Upon hearing Zhu Yunwen's words, the Minister of Revenue snorted and said:

"I just didn't expect that Your Highness the Third Prince, who is usually so sharp-tongued, would admit it so readily. This is not like your personality at all."

Zhu Yunwen frowned and said, "Let's discuss the matter at hand, but you're resorting to personal attacks. Isn't that going a bit too far?"

The Minister of Revenue snorted. At this moment, Huang Zicheng, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, stepped forward and said to Zhu Yuanzhang:

"Since Your Majesty has confessed to this matter without reservation, then Your Majesty may proceed with the punishment."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, he felt that this matter was indeed very bad, and both its impact and the matter itself made him somewhat angry.

Seeing that Zhu Yunwen seemed to have no good explanation, he said helplessly:

"This matter is quite serious and deserves punishment, however..."

Upon seeing this, Zhu Yunwen hurriedly said:

“Grandfather, if this crime is established, then punish him as appropriate, without exception.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat helpless upon hearing this. Although he was a little angry, he still loved Zhu Yunwen dearly at the moment and naturally wanted to find a way to protect him.

Even if it's a punishment, he doesn't want to punish Zhu Yuntong too severely.

Upon hearing Zhu Yunwen's words, Zhu Yuanzhang was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

He wanted to help him get out of trouble, but the kid actually stopped him.

Instead, they ruined their own chance to save face.

Facing the civil and military officials in the court, Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer openly protect them, so he said:

"In that case, we think that if we fight fifty battles, then three months of confinement and reflection should be enough."

Some officials were clearly dissatisfied upon hearing this.

For example, Qi Tai, the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of War, believed that the plan they had painstakingly devised was intended to deliver a severe blow to Zhu Yunwen.

Unexpectedly, the punishment of being flogged and confined to his quarters for three months seemed to have little substantial impact on Zhu Yunwen.

Their hope was that Zhu Yunwen would lose Zhu Yuanzhang's favor from then on.

So they all wanted to speak up and demand that Zhu Yuanzhang punish them severely.

But before they could speak, Zhu Yuanzhang stopped them with a fierce look and a furrowed brow.

However, at this moment, Zhu Yunwen stepped forward and said:

"Grandfather, I think this punishment is too lenient."

These words shocked the entire court.

They never expected that Zhu Yunwen would actually think the punishment was too lenient.

What's wrong with Zhu Yunwen today?

Wasn't he always sharp-tongued and extremely good at arguing?

Today, he didn't offer any explanation; instead, he admitted to a crime that didn't actually exist.

He not only confessed to his crime, but also voluntarily asked Zhu Yuanzhang to punish him.

Not only did he actively request that Zhu Yuanzhang punish him, but he also complained that Zhu Yuanzhang's punishment was too lenient.

They were all a bit confused by Zhu Yuanzhang, wondering what was wrong with Zhu Yunwen? Had he lost his mind again?

While everyone was still confused, Zhu Yunwen continued:

"I think he should be given at least eighty strokes of the cane, and if possible, he should be beaten to death."

In that instant, everyone looked at Zhu Yunwen as if he were a fool.

This guy actually asked Zhu Yuanzhang to punish him by having him beaten to death?

Are you out of your mind?

Zhu Yunwen was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "What a wonderful thing!"

I just wanted to make you lose favor with the Emperor, and you actually wanted to beat yourself to death?

Isn't this happiness a bit too sudden?

Zhu Yunwen felt that it didn't matter whether Zhu Yunzhu was mentally unstable or genuinely naive; what mattered was that Zhu Yunzhu was now ruined.

Zhu Yuanzhang also looked at Zhu Yunwen and said:

"Yunyi, what's wrong with you? You made a mistake, but it doesn't warrant being beaten to death."

But at this moment, Zhao Mian, the Minister of Revenue, spoke up:

“Your Majesty, the Third Prince has confessed to his crimes without reservation. Since he believes that such punishment is warranted, I think it is reasonable.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhao Mian, the Minister of Revenue, and said:

"Therefore, Lord Zhao also believed that the person who caused the deaths of eight people on the construction site should be executed by flogging."

Zhao Mian nodded and said, "Of course, that's eight lives. Since you've already confessed to such a crime, you should be punished."

Zhu Yunwen smiled; he had achieved his goal.

So he said to Zhao Mian, the Minister of Revenue, in front of everyone:

"Lord Zhao Mian said I confessed? I would like to ask Lord Zhao Mian and everyone present, from beginning to end, where did any of you hear me say that I confessed?"