Zhu Zhen's words brought Zhu Biao back to his senses for the moment.
He tossed the dice in his hand. After spinning around the board it stopped at six.
He moved his piece forward six spaces, finally landing on a square marked with swords.
Zhu Biao immediately laughed.
"Sixth Brother, it seems your title of general will have to wait. Victory in the battle of Zhanhe County. This title of general belongs to your elder brother."
Zhu Zhen's expression immediately drooped. He then took the dice and rolled a three, moving several spaces and obtaining a "Supply." Though he lost the title of general, at least he gained some additional troops, which was still acceptable.
Then it was Zhu Gang's turn.
He picked up the dice and glanced toward the doorway.
"Father and Mother just now…"
"Third Brother need not worry."
Zhu Su still held a book in his hands. At the very beginning of the game his character had encountered a peasant uprising and died immediately, eliminating him from the game. He had gladly accepted this and simply sat aside reading.
Hearing the question, he turned a page and smiled.
"Father would not dare anger Mother even the slightest bit right now. In my opinion, he most likely left in a fit of temper because we were here and it was inconvenient for him to admit fault."
"Perhaps at this moment he is in some palace chamber apologizing to Mother and promising not to do it again."
"Really?" Zhu Gang did not quite believe it. "In the past Father was not this afraid of Mother… Could it be because of that matter you all refuse to speak about?"
Zhu Su smiled and nodded. This only made Zhu Gang even more curious.
At this moment Zhu Shuang was already somewhat impatient and urged him on.
"Third Brother hurry up. Are we still playing or not?"
The dice were thrown again. After spinning they stopped at two.
Zhu Gang moved forward two spaces and examined the situation before turning with a smile.
"Fourth Brother, your troop card is not even half of mine. If you do not wish to watch from the side like Fifth Brother, turning back now might let you live a little longer."
The dice were passed to Zhu Di.
The most lively among the brothers grinned.
"Whether I can beat you or not, we will only know after we try."
He grabbed the dice and threw them onto the board. After spinning they stopped at six.
Zhu Di immediately rejoiced.
"Advance six. Obtain Taiping rice and Wuhu grain. This counts as both Supply and Alliance. Third Brother, now it is your turn to run."
Zhu Gang was startled, but quickly laughed.
"Then your elder brother will retreat first. Retreat it is. Do you think I fear you?"
Zhu Di laughed loudly.
"That is not for Third Brother to decide. Watch my forced march!"
The grid game came from the leaf card game, so leaf cards were also drawn. These leaf cards had different effects. For example, the Forced March card Zhu Di used allowed an additional dice roll.
The dice landed again.
Another six.
Zhu Di could no longer hide his smile.
"Advance six. The navy returns to allegiance. Alliance and Victory together. Third Brother, you are out."
"It is not finished. I still have another Forced March card. Pass me the dice… another six. Advance six and cross the river. Again Victory and Alliance. Second Brother, you are out as well."
"Big Brother, I still have one more Forced March card…"
But before he could finish speaking, Zhu Gang slapped the leaf cards in his hand onto the board.
"There are only three Forced March cards in total. How could Fourth Brother have drawn them all? There must be trickery!"
With Zhu Gang taking the lead, Zhu Shuang also seized the chance to stir up the board in agreement. Zhu Zhen spoke timidly on Zhu Di's behalf, while Zhu Di stood there with hands on his hips looking proud of himself.
"What trickery? Are the two elder brothers simply unable to bear that your younger brother has become a great general? Big Brother, judge this matter!"
Zhu Biao watched everything with a smile.
He shook his head, glanced at the four "Divine Reinforcements Descend from Heaven" cards in his hand, placed them face down on the board, and brushed them aside.
"Third Brother, you are the one being unreasonable. Four years ago when we brothers played the Promotion Chart, you rolled four consecutive sixes and said it was good luck. Now when Fourth Brother does the same, it becomes trickery?"
Zhu Gang was immediately speechless.
Seeing this, Zhu Shuang quickly waved his hand and said in support,
"Then let it count as Fourth Brother's victory. Since the game has ended, let us change to another. Next we will play the Campaign Against the Jin chart. How about it?"
Zhu Di did not mind and waved his hand.
"Fine. Come then. If I fear you, I am no great general!"
Zhu Biao shook his head with a smile and stood up to help clear the board. Yet in his heart he also felt a trace of sighing.
In the future, moments like this with his brothers without worry might not remain many.
With that thought he proposed another idea.
"Since we have already played the grid game, how about we brothers walk along the city walls?"
As soon as the words were spoken, Zhu Shuang laughed.
"Big Brother still believes such things? Since childhood Father has trained us hard. Which of us does not have a strong body? Even Fifth Brother, this weak scholar, can draw a bow and ride a horse. He too is robust."
Zhu Su felt somewhat helpless, but he knew this second brother had always been like this. He often offended people without realizing it. Among brothers he did not mind it, though when Second Brother returned to his fief… it would be best to remind him to beware of petty men around him.
Walking the city walls was something Zhu Su also understood. No one knew when the folk custom had begun. During the New Year relatives would gather in groups, and if they could circle the city walls once it was said they could avoid a hundred illnesses. If they could climb the wall and look into the distance, they might even gain good fortune for the coming year.
It was not strange that Big Brother had such an idea. Compared with that, Second Brother's words…
Zhu Su shook his head and rose to support Big Brother. Nearby Zhu Di also jumped up, saying the great general must inspect Yingtian Prefecture by climbing the tower.
In truth Zhu Shuang's objection was only words. Among the brothers Zhu Biao's authority as eldest brother was nearly equal to their father's. Though they protested verbally, Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang still obediently changed clothes with the others and went out to walk along the city wall.
However, due to the rule that members of the imperial house could not easily leave the palace, the brothers could only climb onto the palace walls, walking while gazing toward the scenery of Yingtian Prefecture.
Zhu Shuang suggested seeking Father to request an imperial order allowing the brothers to go outside and celebrate with the people.
Zhu Gang supported the idea as well, proposing that Big Brother leave the city directly in his capacity as crown prince. After enjoying themselves they could simply return and inform Father later. Everyone knew the emperor cherished the crown prince. There would surely be no punishment.
These two suggestions made Zhu Su's brows furrow deeply. For a moment he even felt these two brothers seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
Fortunately Big Brother rejected the proposal without hesitation.
"Leaving the palace is a small matter. Burdening the people is a great one."
Zhu Biao said calmly,
"The city defense guards are already working hard to maintain order during the festival. We carefree people should not go and add trouble for others."
The brothers sensed a slight change in the atmosphere.
In the end, under Zhu Biao's lead, they still finished walking the palace walls.
As for the imagined prosperity of Yingtian Prefecture, it was completely covered by the smoke of fireworks and firecrackers released by the people. All they saw was a vast haze.
Fortunately, after playing in the palace for several more days, the brothers finally dressed in formal attire during the Lantern Festival. Together with their father they ascended the palace city walls.
A river of lanterns stretched ten li. Fireworks covered the sky across a hundred qing.
Only then did they finally enjoy the sight to their hearts' content.
For Zhu Gang and Zhu Shuang, the final finishing touch of the celebration came when Father summoned them all together and ordered painters to produce a long family portrait.
Yet even then matters did not seem finished, and Father showed no intention of sending them away from the capital.
Thus time passed until mid-second month.
"Your Highness, His Majesty summons you. Please proceed to Huagai Hall."