"Pastries are here!"
The Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, carried two tiered food boxes and rushed into the Huagai Hall like a gust of wind.
"Father's honey-wine braised kumquats, Mother's candied cherries, and the five-spice cakes that Elder Brother likes."
When the food boxes were opened, inside were neatly arranged plates of small sweets. The items he had just named were placed in front of the respective people one by one.
Zhu Di did not pause afterward. He pushed several small tables together and continued taking out small dishes from the boxes.
"Ten kinds of sugar-fried sweets, abalone-shaped pastry crisps, carved honey preserves, and jujube rings. These are rather cloyingly sweet. Elder Brother, keep an eye on Xiongying and don't let him eat too much."
"Roasted hammer chestnuts, five-colored chickpeas, torreya seeds, and hazelnuts. These were just roasted. For us brothers to nibble on, they are just right."
"As for the sour-salty fruits and the long-wrapped fruits, those two taste rather strange. Someone might like them though. I'll leave them here. Anyone who wants to try can take some."
By the time the food boxes were emptied, the table formed by the small desks was already filled with all kinds of fruits and sweets. Zhu Di immediately called out:
"I made all of these myself just now. To snack on them while listening to the future speak of our Great Ming, would that not be perfect?"
However, what puzzled Zhu Di was that the atmosphere in Huagai Hall was somewhat strange.
Several brothers looked at one another. Their gazes flickered with an inexplicable meaning, yet no one reached out to eat. No one even spoke.
Gathering his courage, Zhu Di looked up at his father. But the Son of Heaven did not look over here. Instead he was still staring at the light screen, not glancing at the honey-wine braised kumquats placed before him.
And on the light screen the last sentence could still be seen:
"From the moment of Zhu Biao's death, the outbreak of the Lan Yu case was only a matter of time."
The words "Lan Yu case" startled Zhu Di.
He quickly understood why Father looked worried and why the hall was silent.
After all, Zhu Di knew very well that Hu Weiyong, rather than being Father's old Huai-xi companion, was more accurately the old associate of the Grand Censor Li Shanchang.
Before the founding of the Ming state, saying they merely knew each other by sight would already be an exaggeration. Since they had not shared hardships together, if Father executed him, his mood probably would not fluctuate much.
Lan Yu was different.
This fierce general, in relation to the Prince of Kaiping, was like the Prince of Kaiping in relation to Father.
Out of affection for Xu Da, Father actually cared quite a bit about Lan Yu.
He was both an old Huai-xi associate, the brother-in-law of the Prince of Kaiping, and a genuine military merit holder without any exaggeration. Yet such a man would end up executed.
Turning his head again, Zhu Di met the indescribable gazes of his brothers.
A thought immediately arose in his mind.
Perhaps several brothers had already tried persuading Father earlier but were scolded. Now they hoped he would try to persuade him.
To be honest, he certainly feared Father.
But at the same time he remembered how, when the seven brothers once trained together, they had repeatedly been told that brothers must act with unity.
So Zhu Di hardened his resolve and stepped forward.
"Even if General Lan were someday guilty of crimes deserving execution, for now he still follows Father's military orders and fights bravely without sparing himself."
"If in the future there are crimes, that will be for the future. At present there is only merit. Why should Father trouble himself over it?"
What Zhu Di could not see was that behind him Zhu Biao and the others were exchanging frantic glances filled with worry.
The meaning behind those earlier glances had been simple.
They were afraid that Fourth Brother would be beaten by Father.
Now things were even worse. Not only did Fourth Brother not retreat, he boldly stepped forward, and his words sounded even more like pouring oil on the fire.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang finally turned his head and looked at his fourth son with a peculiar gaze.
After nodding once, he spoke slowly.
"But if there truly were conduct of rebellion and the seizing of the throne, what then?"
The moment they heard the words "seizing the throne," Zhu Biao and the others felt their hearts jump.
Fourth Brother was speaking about Lan Yu, but Father might not be asking about Lan Yu.
Zhu Di's voice also became slightly hesitant.
"If the crime of treason were proven beyond doubt, then according to the law such a crime should indeed be severely punished!"
There was killing intent in Zhu Di's words.
For a moment Zhu Biao felt his heart leap into his throat.
However, Zhu Su, who had read the most books among them, suddenly remembered that if things truly followed what Fourth Brother had just said, then according to the law it would mean extermination of nine clans.
Zhu Di himself shrank his neck slightly.
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but Father's expression seemed to grow even colder.
Still, he continued firmly.
"But evidence that is certain later is not certain now. Even if someone rebels ten or more years later, at this moment he has not violated the law. How could one execute him without teaching or warning first?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
His expression did not change at all. He neither denied nor praised it, but immediately asked another question.
"Then should we simply sit by and do nothing, waiting until his rebellious intent reveals itself before executing him?"
"That would not be right either."
Zhu Di could not see the dramatic rise and fall of his brothers' expressions behind him. He simply spoke honestly of his own thoughts, his tone sincere.
"From the perspective of later generations, General Lan has the merit of sweeping away the remnant Yuan. His fame will surely spread through the ages."
"When later generations speak of his name, they will also remember that he was a general of the Hongwu reign and a minister of Father."
"If such a renowned general becomes a rebel, although his life would be ruined, in the end it would not reflect well upon Father's reputation either."
With just a few sentences, everyone in Huagai Hall understood the meaning of the Prince of Yan's words.
And as if to strengthen his argument, he gave an example.
"It is like Emperor Taizong of the Tang and Duke Li of Wei of the former dynasty. Ruler and general matched one another, and together they created the splendid reputation of the Zhenguan era."
As Zhu Di spoke, he noticed that Father's expression seemed to relax somewhat.
Unable to maintain his serious appearance any longer, he patted his chest and said:
"But Father need not worry so much. When your son is later enfeoffed at Beiping, I will certainly look after General Xu's health on your behalf."
"With General Xu there, how could it ever be Lan Yu's turn to wield power?"
"And after another ten or so years, when the remnant Yuan are destroyed, perhaps he may even return to the capital to drink tea and play chess with Father. Then we might even compile a book like the former dynasty's 'Memorial Conversations of Duke Xu and Duke Wei.'"
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression became increasingly calm. The coldness had vanished from his brows.
Of course, part of that was also because Empress Ma was squeezing his hand. After so many years as husband and wife, he could guess what his wife wished to say.
After all, no matter how one spoke of it, they were still family.
The easing of the atmosphere was obvious.
Zhu Di therefore did not forget to throw a smug look back at his brothers.
This caused Zhu Biao and the others to feel as if countless words were stuck in their hearts. Their expressions became even more complicated.
Xu Da even saw his son-in-law raise his eyebrows at him with radiant confidence, leaving him unsure what to say.
Having finished showing his merits, Zhu Di also did not forget to display a bit of filial attentiveness.
"Father, eat some kumquats. I personally watched them being slowly braised over gentle fire with honey wine. Once they cool, they will not taste good."
Taking the spoon and eating a mouthful, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction.
In comparison, this was one advantage of Yingtian Prefecture. Even in winter it was not difficult to eat fruits, unlike Luoyang or Kaifeng, where one had to go to great trouble to construct greenhouses just to eat some.
After letting his fourth son serve him for several bites, Zhu Yuanzhang put down the spoon. He had always been restrained regarding such delicacies.
Under his son's expectant gaze, he nodded.
"Since you say so, then for the time being I will not pursue the matter of how you, the Yongle Emperor, forced your nephew and seized the throne."
"We shall wait until the entire cause is understood before discussing it further. Until then, remain in Yingtian Prefecture. Your departure for Beiping will be postponed."
After speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have dispelled the gloom in his heart. He even had the leisure to pick up chopsticks and take a sweet from Empress Ma's plate.
Zhu Di, however, felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Only now did he understand the expressions his brothers had earlier tried to convey yet could not explain, why his father-in-law Xu Da had looked so subtle, and why his mother had been giving him signals ever since he entered.
From beginning to end, he had misunderstood everything.
Yet compared with all that, Zhu Di turned his head toward the small child hiding behind his elder brother and found it even harder to accept.
"How could your son ever commit such a beastly act!"
Zhu Yuanzhang wiped the syrup from the corner of his mouth and shook his head.
"It is not Xiongying."
"It is your elder brother's second son, named Zhu Yunwen."
For a moment Zhu Di felt his mind become even more chaotic.