Because of the memorial service, Zhu Yuanzhang has been in a bad mood since he returned from the Xiaoling Mausoleum.

The whole person looks very decadent.

In the past, there were government affairs to be handled, but now during the New Year, there are almost no memorials, and the few that are there are all handled by the eldest grandson.

In this situation, I became even more sad.

These days, Zhu Ying ignored most things and focused on staying with the old man.

Playing chess, reading, reviewing memorials, fishing, etc.

After enjoying such family happiness for a few days, Zhu Yuanzhang finally calmed down and a smile slowly appeared on his face.

However, today, a report from Jiang Li made Zhu Yuanzhang furious.

"What the hell are you trying to do? Are you plotting treason? Do these businessmen think that we are too old to lift a knife and want to bully us grandsons!!!"

In the Huagai Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang's roar resounded inside and outside.

Zhu Ying quickly took the file and started to check it.

After watching it, I finally understood why the old man was so excited.

The information recorded above is from areas other than the vicinity of the capital, or Yingtian Prefecture.

A lot of rumors began to spread.

There are a lot of rumors, the first of which is questioning the identity of Emperor Zhu Ying's eldest grandson.

It records in detail that Zhu Xiongying died young in the 15th year of Hongwu because of congenital heart disease and no medicine could cure him.

Hundreds of officials also walked to the top of Zhongshan Mountain in the Xiaoling Mausoleum to attend the funeral.

It was more than seven days when he died.

Therefore, the current eldest grandson of the emperor is actually an impostor.

The cruelest thing about this is that Zhu Di was also involved.

It was said that Zhu Di colluded with foreign countries and confused the real with the fake in an attempt to seize the throne. What's worse, even the death of Crown Prince Zhu Biao seemed to be closely related to Zhu Di.

How could such a healthy prince die of illness after returning from a trip to Shaanxi, and it was just a minor illness like a cold?

It so happened that there was a rebellion in Shaanxi at that time, and the intelligence reported that Zhu Di was secretly colluding with the rebels to plot against the crown prince.

What caught Zhu Ying's attention was the background investigation of the entire Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce.

It is said that when the Heroes Chamber of Commerce was outside the territory, it was a gang of robbers who killed countless people and robbed them of their money and lives. They were even more hateful than the foreign races.

Countless Ming Dynasty business gangs died at the hands of the Heroes Chamber of Commerce, and thousands of cavalrymen committed evil.

They even invaded the Ming Dynasty's borders in the autumn and winter seasons.

Zhu Ying looked at it carefully. Some of the background information about the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce was half true and half false. It was obvious that the person behind the scenes had spent a lot of effort.

"Jiang Li, find out who is behind this!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed his anger and asked.

Jiang Li shuddered, knelt on one knee and said, "I am incompetent. This file was recently sent to us. It was initiated in various places, and the mastermind behind it has not yet been found."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared and said, "Investigate thoroughly. Anyone who is involved will have their entire clan killed!!!"

This time, he was really angry.

In today's Ming Dynasty, there are still people who dare to challenge the royal majesty in this way. It is simply audacious and presumptuous.

Zhu Ying frowned.

He knew in his heart that this incident, which could affect such a wide range of people at the same time, must have been planned for a long time.

If I guessed correctly, they were the same people who prevented him from helping Yao Guangxiao unite the various tribes last time.

The power behind the scenes, which is able to get to the bottom of things outside the domain, should not be underestimated.

Logically speaking, in the current era of the Ming Dynasty, there should not be a force with such great power.

The Qunying Chamber of Commerce has contacts and cooperation with all the surrounding forces inside and outside the Ming Dynasty, so it is impossible for them to appear suddenly.

Then there is only one possibility.

That is, after he entered the palace, some top forces united with each other.

The names flashed through Zhu Ying's mind one by one, and the fierceness that had not been seen for a long time appeared in Zhu Ying's eyes again.

This time, I would rather kill someone by mistake than let him go!

After Jiang Li left, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "You, grandson, are well aware of these people who are plotting in secret."

Zhu Ying nodded and said, "It's probably the merchant clans in the border areas. They have colluded with the tribes on the grasslands. The sudden rise of the rebels in Shaanxi is probably related to them."

"This matter should have been prepared for a long time. It just so happened that the announcement of the Liaodong Black Soil some time ago made them smell an opportunity."

"In their view, Japan, Liaodong, and Shaanxi will take up most of the energy of the Ming Dynasty. If my grandson is wrong, the many tribes on the grassland should also be preparing for war."

"You want to take this opportunity to disrupt the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Ying frowned.

Now the whole thing is becoming a bit troublesome.

It is clear that after the beginning of spring, the situation in the entire Ming Dynasty will become turbulent.

The enemy missed such a good opportunity.

Governing a big country is really not that easy.

Now the intellectuals are against the establishment of schools.

Some business gangs even took the opportunity to stir up trouble.

There is Japan outside, and Liaodong and Shaanxi inside.

Judging from the overall situation, the Ming Dynasty seemed to be having a hard time after the beginning of spring.

Most things, like an arrow on a string, have to be shot.

For example, the conquest of Japan involved Goryeo Doyeon.

Soldiers must be sent to Liaodong, otherwise those Mongolian Jurchens would have evil intentions.

The rebels in Shaanxi must also be cleared out quickly.

Including matters concerning schools, we must never compromise with the literati.

However, the affairs of the merchant gangs concern the royal dignity and must be handled strictly.

"It seems that this year will be an eventful year for the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yuanzhang muttered softly.

The waist, which was originally bent, slowly straightened up.

When has Zhu Yuanzhang ever been afraid?

No matter how big the storm is, we have withstood it. Back then, with Chen Youliang, Zhang Shicheng, and the remnants of Mongolia, the situation was even more critical than it is now.

It came just the same.

Today, the Ming Dynasty has more than one million soldiers, and half of them are veterans of the battlefield.

It should be the peak moment.

There is no shortage of money and the treasury is full.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang held his grandson's hand and said coldly: "We must let them see that our Ming Dynasty is not easy to mess with!"

Zhu Ying's eyes also became sharp and he nodded heavily.

…

"Damn it! Bastards! These beasts, I will cut them into pieces!!!"

In the Prince of Yan's mansion, Zhu Di let out a terrifying roar, and even the flames on the brazier were shaking.

Zhu Di took the information he had just received.

This was specially sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, naturally with the instruction of my father.

When he first saw it, Zhu Di was secretly happy because of Zhu Ying's embarrassing reputation.

When he saw that he had murdered his elder brother Zhu Biao, he was completely stunned.

And the later story that he colluded with rebels in Shaanxi and used sorcery to murder his elder brother made Zhu Di tremble all over.

It is fear, it is terror, and even more it is trepidation.

If the emperor is really bewitched by the words of these villains, then will he ever have a chance to make a success in the future?

Because of his own contributions, my father has repeatedly said that he is similar to him.

But if it involved his elder brother Zhu Biao, Zhu Di couldn't imagine how his father would treat him.

The position of vassal king, the title of prince, and the overseas fiefdoms are all illusions.

Being imprisoned in the capital for life is already the best outcome.

Thinking of this, Zhu Di shook even more violently.

Seeing this, Xu Yihua, who was standing next to him, hurriedly took the file from Zhu Di's hand and began to read it at a glance.

While watching, the shock in his eyes was clearly revealed.

After quickly reading it, Xu Yihua began to ponder it rapidly.

Soon, Xu Yihua said, "Your Majesty, don't be anxious. It doesn't mean His Majesty will trust you."

"In my opinion, it is very likely that Your Majesty will not believe what is said in this file."

Zhu Di came back to his senses and asked, "My beloved concubine, what do you mean by that?"

Xu Yihua analyzed: "The most critical part of this file is not about the prince, nor about the prince's death from typhoid fever. The key is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"If my guess is correct, the matter of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is what these people behind the scenes want to target."

"The prince should have just been implicated."

After hearing this, Zhu Di came back to his senses from his panic.

Mainly this file was sent by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhu Di was fearless, but the person he feared most was his father. This was a shadow he had since childhood, and he could not get rid of it no matter how many times he won on the battlefield.

So when it came to the death of his eldest brother, Zhu Di fell into extreme tension and fear.

Now after hearing what Xu Yihua said, I immediately understood.

But there are still concerns.

"With Father's temperament, he would investigate thoroughly even if it was groundless. But how come my case was spread so clearly?"

Zhu Di was a little confused.

Of course, many of the things mentioned above are fictitious. It is naturally impossible to collude with Shaanxi rebels.

However, there were secret things going on between himself and Zhu Ying, which were described in the file. Although they were not very clear, it was impossible for ordinary people to know such things.

The only ones who knew about it were myself and...Daoyan.

It can’t be Daoyan.

Zhu Di immediately denied it in his heart.

If it was Daoyan, it would definitely be clearer and not so groundless.

Besides, Daoyan is now under the command of the Crown Prince and is far away in Goryeo, commanding an army of 200,000 and preparing for the expedition against Japan. Naturally, he will not get involved.

Suddenly, Zhu Di thought of something.

At the beginning, Daoyan’s two disciples were placed in the Western Regions.

Is it them?

Zhu Di felt it was very likely.

Only they have such a limited understanding.

"They look down on me like this. They really don't take me seriously. Do they think that the Crown Prince is their biggest enemy?"

"I must let them know how much they will pay if they provoke me."

These words almost popped out from between Zhu Di's teeth.

Xu Yihua hesitated for a moment and said, "Now, Your Majesty should remain unchanged in the face of all changes. Since it concerns the Crown Prince, His Majesty will inevitably be suspicious. If Your Majesty takes action at this time, perhaps..."

Zhu Di waved his hand, interrupting what Xu Yihua was about to say.

He said in a cold voice: "My beloved concubine, you don't understand. The more it is at this time, the more you have to take action, and you have to make a big move."

"If I tolerate even such slander, it will only make my father more suspicious of me."

"Besides, my elder brother has been very kind to me since I was a child. I just went to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to pay tribute to my elder brother a few days ago. If they dare to use my elder brother to make such a fuss, I will kill them all."

…

The news about Zhu Ying spread quickly throughout the capital.

Of course, this is only limited to high-ranking officials and the royal family.

Of course, ordinary people have no way of knowing this news.

The reason why it was completed so quickly in less than two days was due to Zhu Yuanzhang's deliberate efforts.

It's impossible to hide it, so it's better to be open about it.

Moreover, in the capital, it is easier to investigate these matters. Once those involved who are hiding in the dark surface, they can be easily found out.

"Are they gone?"

"Reporting to the master, they have all left."

"What lunatics! How dare they get involved in this matter at this critical moment? Do they really think they don't have enough life left?"

In a certain house, Liu Sanwu sighed to the housekeeper.

Just now, Zhang Xin and Bai Xindao came to visit together.

Liu Sanwu naturally understood what was going on and immediately informed the housekeeper to decline to see the guest.

"Did you give them the words I asked you to give them?"

Liu Sanwu asked immediately.

The butler nodded and said, "It has been brought here."

Upon hearing this, Liu Sanwu turned around and went back to the house.

Outside the hospital,

Zhang Xin and Bai Xindao got on the carriage together.

The small brazier in the carriage dispels the cold.

"Mr. Bai, what does Mr. Sanwu mean by telling us not to get into trouble?"

"Now is the best time. The identity of the Crown Prince has been questioned. We should take this opportunity to postpone the school's affairs."

"Adding to what the clan said earlier, I think it won't be difficult to accomplish."

Zhang Xin said as he pondered.

Bai Xindao heard this and shook his head, saying, "Zhang Hanlin only saw the opportunity, but forgot about the Crown Prince's matter. How much anger will this bring to His Majesty."

"Whether you believe it or not, His Majesty is absolutely furious. Mr. Sanwu understands that at this time, anything that happens to him will make His Majesty even angrier."

"The result of angering His Majesty will only lead to death in vain."

Hearing this, Zhang Xin shuddered.

This was almost a close call with death.

At this moment, Zhang Xin suddenly realized the gap between himself and Liu Sanwu and Bai Xindao.

It's far more than just knowledge.

East Palace.

Huang Zicheng and Zhu Yunwen sat opposite each other in silence.

Not long ago, Huang Zicheng recounted the matter of the Crown Prince in detail.

This made Zhu Yunwen silent all of a sudden.

Huang Zicheng didn't know how to start.

Faced with this matter, it was inevitable that a glimmer of light inexplicably rose in Zhu Yunwen's heart.

But this glimmer is indescribable.

Of course Huang Zicheng couldn't say anything, so the two of them remained silent.

After a long while, Huang Zicheng stood up, bowed and said, "Your Highness, I will take my leave."

Zhu Yunwen moved his throat but did not say anything. Finally, he nodded and watched Huang Zicheng leave.

When the door of the hall opened, a gust of cold wind came in, making Zhu Yunwen's somewhat confused mind a little clearer.

At this time, there was a noise behind the screen.

Zhu Yunwen turned around and saw his mother coming out.

"mother."

Zhu Yunwen called softly.

Lu walked to Zhu Yunwen's side and said, "Just wait and see what happens."