The princes of Great Ming were the first to notice the records closely related to themselves, and immediately began chattering among themselves.
"Father has twenty-six sons? But by last year two more younger brothers were added. Even counting them, we brothers only number twenty-one."
"Then that means five more brothers have yet to be born?"
"What about sisters? Why does this later generation not mention how many sisters we have?"
"What does that matter? The important thing is the lifespan of us brothers. If what they say is true, does it not mean several of us will not even live to seventy?"
"If we don't reach seventy, then so be it. What is so special about living to seventy? Even a turtle can live ten thousand years. Third Brother, are you envious of that?"
"Fourth Brother, sooner or later I'll report you to Father and have that mouth of yours sewn shut!"
"That would be difficult. Fourth Brother still expects to guard Beiping, to use this mouth to command soldiers in killing the Hu and to establish an unparalleled merit upon horseback. As long as the histories record my name and deeds, what does it matter if I only live to fifty? That would still have something of the style of Emperor Taizong of Tang!"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth.
Though his sons spoke recklessly, their words reminded him of that night when he led twenty-four brothers southward to raid Dingyuan and began the enterprise that founded his achievements.
Since ancient times the young make light of life and death. Only when their temples grow frosted with age do they fear the underworld.
Seeing that his sons seemed to share genuine brotherly affection, and recalling what the light screen had just said about him later killing his old comrades, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly let out a sigh.
Zhu Biao therefore changed the direction of the conversation, intending to comfort his father. After pondering for a moment he said,
"To think there may still be five more younger brothers. Father is already fifty-three. Truly Heaven has blessed—"
"The heroic vigor still remains!"
Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Di and blinked.
After hearing a heavy cough from their mother nearby, he did not hesitate in the slightest and smacked his younger brother on the head.
Seeing the expression on his elder brother's face clearly telling him to run, and the anger already beginning to surge upon their father's face, Zhu Di immediately dashed out the door, shouting behind him,
"Your son will fetch some fresh fruit for Father to quench his thirst and calm his temper!"
Zhu Gang burst into laughter, but was instantly suppressed by the Emperor of Ming.
"And you still laugh! You treat your subordinates harshly and without grace. Have you forgotten the old disaster of Zhang Fei in the Three Kingdoms? If you wish to live long, then change that temper of yours. Otherwise forget seventy. If you can live past forty I will already praise you!"
Seeing his third son instantly lower his brows in submission, Zhu Yuanzhang slapped the table and continued scolding out of habit.
"And the rest of you as well. Failing to reach seventy does not necessarily mean you will live into your sixties. In daily life you should learn from your elder brother and cultivate your health. Perhaps then our imperial house may also nurture that thing called 'genes,' so that future generations may have it easier!"
Whenever he began speaking like this, a long stream of further instructions naturally followed.
The brothers were already accustomed to it. All of them wore obedient expressions while letting the words pass through one ear and out the other.
Zhu Biao even had the leisure to wonder which of his younger brothers would eventually become the Princes of Dai, Min, and Ning.
Seeing the emperor busy correcting the family discipline, Li Wenzhong glanced at the Grand Censor who stood there looking utterly dispirited. After hesitating for a long time he finally sighed quietly.
"The Grand Censor already enjoys the utmost favor. Why must it come to this… sigh."
The moment the words left his mouth, Li Wenzhong felt somewhat foolish.
Perhaps it was only because from the days in Chuzhou onward he had walked the same road with this man who could manage the affairs of the realm, and thus felt a bit of regret for him.
Shaking his head, Li Wenzhong shifted slightly and put on a sincere smile.
"Physician Dai… no, Director Dai."
Dai Sigong returned the greeting with a gentle expression and replied quite directly.
"I do not know what this longevity gene is, nor do I know any method of attaining long life."
In the first month of the fourteenth year of Hongwu, the Emperor of Ming had elevated the Imperial Medical Bureau into a fifth-rank government office. Positions such as Assistant Director and clerks were established, and Dai Sigong was placed in charge as Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
This was the reason Li Wenzhong had changed the form of address.
It was also why Dai Sigong now spoke with considerably more confidence even when facing a duke.
There was, of course, another and more direct reason.
The present emperor strongly supported his sweeping reforms and examinations within the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Hearing Dai Sigong say this, Li Wenzhong did not show much disappointment. Instead he simply asked another question.
"If soldiers sail upon the sea, does Director Dai have any medicinal soup formulas that should be prepared?"
As a native of eastern Zhejiang, Dai Sigong cared little about factional struggles. Yet from childhood he had seen many sailors afflicted by illness while traveling at sea. Over the years he had accumulated considerable experience.
Thus he began explaining his ideas in detail to Li Wenzhong, whose expression gradually became more delighted.
After Zhu Yuanzhang finished lecturing his sons, he turned his head and saw Li Wenzhong and Dai Sigong engaged in animated conversation, the usually taciturn Xu Da standing nearby, and Li Shanchang with a look of unease upon his face.
Seeing that this old minister had removed his headpiece and that his hair was somewhat disheveled, Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but smile bitterly inwardly.
After all, he was not yet the Hongwu Emperor of ten years later. At present it was still difficult for him to harden his heart like iron.
"State what you know plainly. Reveal what has not yet been reported. I shall weigh your crimes and judge them with leniency."
"As for the name Li Cunyi, it must not be mentioned again."
Li Shanchang prostrated himself on the ground.
Li Wenzhong then heard a reply that sounded both like weeping and like a sigh.
"Your Majesty's boundless grace."
…
In Ye City, Liu Xie felt somewhat numb.
He did not know what a prisoner's dilemma was, but the matter of emperors being replaced was clear enough to him. Phrases such as slaughtering the imperial relatives, exterminating entire clans, leaving neither chickens nor dogs alive, wiping out descendants and collateral branches entirely were not difficult to understand.
His first reaction was actually relief.
"All thanks to Imperial Uncle, who prevented such disasters from repeating."
Liu Bei never claimed credit for such things. He shifted slightly to the side, revealing the civil and military officials standing behind him, and pointed toward them.
"Your servant is dull. In strategy, enriching the people, or charging into battle, I possess no special talent. Had it not been for these ministers who serve the Han with loyal hearts, I would never have lived to see Your Majesty again."
Then he pointed upward with a smile.
"And had later generations not pitied and cherished us, I would not know how any of this could have been accomplished. Thus Your Majesty is mistaken. It was not because of me, but because of the hearts of the people throughout the ages."
Liu Xie seemed to understand something, yet in the end he only nodded and kept the thought in his heart.
He leaned slightly forward and asked,
"According to Imperial Uncle, if we travel to Chengdu, in which month would it be best to depart?"
For Liu Xie, he had never felt the cushion beneath him burn so hot.
The repeatedly praised Chengdu seemed even more tempting to him now.
Such a nourishing place. If he could reside there for some time, perhaps the grievances of the past twenty years spent living under another's roof might finally settle.
Afterward, perhaps he might even learn some skill of his own. When people a thousand years later spoke of him, he would already be satisfied if they refrained from speaking ill.
He did not wish to die.
Nor did he wish to become some lonely sovereign.
Since Heaven's mandate had clearly manifested in Imperial Uncle and brought peace to the chaos, then he would simply let Imperial Uncle govern this weary world.
After all, beneath Imperial Uncle were gathered many outstanding civil and military talents of great ambition.
And even if things did not succeed, could it possibly become worse than the disasters wrought repeatedly by the Cao and Sima clans over more than a thousand years of history?
Liu Xie squeezed the soft hands of Empress Fu Shou and felt quite at ease.