Volume One, Chapter 14: First, Restore Your Health

At that moment, Xiaocui entered carrying a bowl of medicine. She saw Zhu Xiongying leaning against the bed, clutching the corner of the quilt. His complexion was slightly rosier than it had been in the past two days, and a smile immediately brightened her face. “Your Highness, your complexion has improved so much!”

“I was worried about you early this morning... With this medicine, you’ll recover even faster.”

Zhu Xiongying glanced at her, a hint of relaxation softening his brows. “Xiaocui, thank you for your hard work.”

Xiaocui quickly shook her head and whispered, “Your Highness, you speak too kindly. I only wish for your full recovery; nothing else matters.”

Zhu Xiongying smiled faintly, nodded, and took the bowl, drinking the medicine in one gulp. The bitterness made him frown briefly, but he soon returned to his usual calm. His gaze rested on Xiaocui, and after a moment’s thought, he asked softly, “Has anyone come by these past few days?”

Xiaocui hesitated for a moment before replying, “The Empress personally came to see you this morning and instructed me to take good care of you. She also sent many guards to stand watch outside the hall.”

“Besides that, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess visited yesterday,” she added quietly after a pause. “As for others... nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Hm,” Zhu Xiongying responded lightly, asking no further questions. He lowered his eyes, lost in thought.

The next morning, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhu Yuanzhang wore a deep purple casual robe, sitting upright behind the dragon desk, his brows tightly furrowed and his expression as dark as still water. The hall was oppressively silent; even the footsteps of the palace attendants were unusually soft, as if fearful of accidentally angering the upright yet unpredictable emperor.

Several rosters listing the palace guards’ deployments lay spread out on the desk. With a sharp slap, Zhu Yuanzhang struck one of the rosters, the sound ringing crisply.

His eyes swept over the person standing in the middle of the hall—Chang Mao, the trusted general in charge of the inner palace guards.

“Chang Mao!” Zhu Yuanzhang’s voice was low but thunderous. “Are these the guards under your command?”

“Our grandson was nearly mauled by wolves in the hunting grounds, and these useless men didn’t even cast a shadow to protect him?!” he continued, voice rising. “Tell me, who gave the order to reassign Xiongying’s guards?!”

Chang Mao was a burly, stern-faced veteran whom Zhu Yuanzhang relied on heavily. Yet even he felt a trace of pressure before the emperor.

He knelt on one knee, his tone resolute. “Your Majesty, I have thoroughly examined the guard rosters. The person who reassigned guards during the autumn hunt was Liu Xing, deputy commander of the Eastern Palace guards.”

“He claimed he acted on orders from the Eastern Palace’s internal affairs official to temporarily adjust the duty roster!”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes snapped wide open, a cold sneer escaping his lips. “Liu Xing? The internal affairs official? Very well then. Does this mean I no longer command my own palace guards?”

“To casually rearrange the guards’ deployments at the whim of an internal affairs officer? Has he eaten a lion’s heart and a leopard’s gall to be so bold?”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger,” Chang Mao respectfully lowered his head, choosing his words carefully. “When I interrogated Liu Xing, he insisted he was only following orders from above, but I have yet to uncover the deeper source.”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression darkened further. He snorted coldly. “A deeper source? Then what are you waiting for? Investigate further!”

“No matter who it is, if they dare to scheme against Xiongying, I will make sure they know the Zhu family’s empire will not tolerate such despicable deeds!”

With that, he struck the dragon desk again, his voice filled with authority. “Issue my decree: from today onward, increase the protection around Xiongying!”

“I no longer trust those in the palace guard whose loyalties are uncertain.”

“Chang Mao, you have full responsibility for this matter. I want results!”

Chang Mao kowtowed deeply. “I obey your command and will not disappoint Your Majesty!”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and slowly leaned back in the dragon throne. Though his anger had somewhat subsided, his gaze remained as sharp as a blade.

His voice suddenly lowered, growing even colder. “Chang Mao, remember this: my grandson is the eldest legitimate grandson, the root of the Zhu family.”

“If you fail to protect him, do not come see me again!”

“I dare not! I will do everything in my power to safeguard the Crown Grandson, Your Highness!” Chang Mao solemnly accepted the order and then withdrew.

Elsewhere, in the Imperial Medical Court, afternoon sunlight streamed through the window lattice.

Zhu Xiongying sat propped against the bed, holding a book. His eyes were cast downward, expression calm, as though refusing to allow himself even a moment’s idleness while recuperating.

Beside him sat a bowl of medicine, now slightly cooled from sitting too long.

Suddenly, firm and steady footsteps echoed outside. Hearing those familiar steps, Zhu Xiongying looked up to see Zhu Biao enter slowly, dressed in pale gold robes.

His face was gentle as ever, but upon closer inspection, a trace of worry lurked in his eyes.

“Father,” Zhu Xiongying set the book aside, a faint, fitting smile touching his lips. His tone was warm, tinged with intimacy. “How do you find time to visit me?”

Zhu Biao sat beside him, patting his shoulder. His gaze was gentle but discerning. “How are your injuries? Do you still feel any discomfort today?”

Zhu Xiongying shook his head slightly, his smile faint but resolute. “Thank you for your concern, Father. I am much better now.”

“The imperial physicians said that with proper rest, I should recover fully in a few days.”

Hearing this, Zhu Biao relaxed slightly but still furrowed his brow. He studied Zhu Xiongying’s face carefully, falling silent for a moment.

Then, his tone shifted, carrying a mixture of inquiry and relief. “I heard you killed the leader of the wolf pack in the hunting grounds, Xiongying.”

“You are young, yet you remained calm and composed in the face of danger. That is truly admirable.”

Zhu Xiongying lowered his gaze and spoke softly, “Father, you flatter me. I was simply forced into it.”

“If luck had not been on my side, I fear I would never have seen you again.”

Though spoken calmly, the hidden bitterness in his words struck a chord in Zhu Biao’s heart.

He sighed, taking Zhu Xiongying’s hand gently in his own. His voice was soft but deeply meaningful. “Xiongying, it was not luck. You showed both courage and wisdom, turning peril into safety.”

“A Zhu family son does not need to win every battle, but at the very least, he must stand firm when it matters most.”

“You did well. Your father is proud of you.”

Zhu Xiongying looked up at Zhu Biao, warmth flickering in his eyes. He nodded slightly but spoke cautiously, “Thank you, Father. But... if those guards hadn’t suddenly disappeared, I wouldn’t have fallen into such danger.”

“This matter, I fear, is not mere negligence.”

Zhu Biao’s expression shifted subtly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He pondered briefly before answering, instead picking up the bowl of medicine from the desk and handing it to Zhu Xiongying.

“The emperor has already decreed a thorough investigation. You need not worry. Focus on your recovery.”

“The rest is for the emperor and me to handle.”

Zhu Xiongying accepted the bowl, taking a sip quietly without pressing further. As his eyes lowered, a shadow of deep thought passed through them.