Chapter Twenty-Six: An Open Scheme!

Click! Click! Click!

The crisp sound of horseshoes and the rhythmic rolling of wheels rang out with striking clarity through the streets in the dead of night. Though Jinling was under a curfew, it naturally could not restrain the mighty Prince of Yan. Traveling at night, the city lacked the bustle and clamor of the day, leaving it exceptionally still.

Zhu Di sat slanted inside the carriage, flanked by Yao Guangxiao and a plain-looking man in commoner’s clothes. Zhu Di turned his gaze toward the man in plain clothes and asked, "Master Yuan, have you discerned anything?"

The man in commoner’s clothes, who had been staring intently at Zhu Yunxiao just moments before, was none other than Yuan Gong, the foremost physiognomy master of the age and author of *The Liuzhuang Method of Physiognomy*. As a man recorded in the annals of history for his uncanny ability to read faces, he was certainly no ordinary person.

The first time Zhu Di met Yuan Gong, he wanted to test the authenticity of his skills. He selected nine soldiers of similar build and features, dressed them in identical clothing, and had them drinking together in a tavern. To his surprise, the moment Yuan Gong walked in, he immediately identified him, knelt before him, and asked, "Your Highness, why do you treat your noble self so lightly?"

The nine soldiers all laughed, claiming Yuan Gong had mistaken his man. But Yuan Gong remained steadfast, insisting, "With my mastery of physiognomy, I could never be wrong."

Later, Zhu Di tested him several times more, and Yuan Gong proved unfailingly accurate, finally convincing Zhu Di of his supernatural abilities. Today, when visiting Zhu Yunxiao’s residence, Zhu Di had specifically brought Yuan Gong along. While reading a face to gauge a man’s depth was not necessarily infallible, it could at least serve as a reference.

Hearing Zhu Di’s question, Yuan Gong shook his head with a bitter smile. "In all my life, I have read countless faces, yet I have never seen one like his."

Zhu Di was startled and asked hurriedly, "Could it be that he truly possesses the countenance of a Son of Heaven?"

Yuan Gong shook his head gently. "I cannot tell, I cannot tell! Your Highness, pray forgive me, but I cannot read his face. Strange, strange, truly strange! By all logic, such a face should not exist in this world. He simply should not exist in this world at all."

Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao exchanged glances, both remaining silent.

"Amitabha!" Yao Guangxiao chanted. "There are countless wonders in this world; there are always those one cannot see through. There is no need for such alarm."

Zhu Di nodded. "Indeed. My nephew is truly a marvelous enigma. Otherwise, he could never have pulled off such an unprecedented act as openly demanding the position of Crown Prince and the entire empire from the Emperor in the imperial court. I only wonder, will our current scheme be effective against him? Will he truly heed my words and move against Lan Yu?"

Reflecting on his meeting with Zhu Yunxiao, Zhu Di could not help but secretly admire him. Zhu Yunxiao’s speech and conduct were far more intelligent than those of an ordinary teenager. He had clearly underestimated him until now.

"This is a 'yang strategy'—an open plot," Yao Guangxiao said with a smile. "By informing him that the Emperor intends to move against Lan Yu and inviting him to join in the purge, whether he agrees or refuses, he is trapped in a dilemma from which there is no escape. If he truly helps Your Highness eliminate Lan Yu, he is effectively severing his own arm. Without the support of Lan Yu, Chang Sheng, and the other military generals and noble families, he will have no power left at court; he will be like a lone tree unable to withstand a storm. The struggle for the throne will be lost to him forever!"

The claim that the Old Emperor would name him Crown Prince once Lan Yu was removed was, of course, a fabrication. While the Old Emperor was indeed wary of the excessive power wielded by the military aristocracy headed by Lan Yu, this did not mean he would install a successor who lacked any support. Power was never innate. A mandate might carry great weight, but it could not decide everything. When the Old Emperor had prepared for Zhu Biao to succeed him, he had helped build a core faction for him. Should he wish to foster another heir, he would have to do the same. A lone man, lacking his own political apparatus, could not control the Ming Empire.

Perhaps, as time passed and the rule of the Ming dynasty became deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, future heirs might not need this. But at least for a newly founded dynasty, it was not yet possible. Zhu Yunwen had the support of the civil official faction; Zhu Yunxiao’s roots were naturally the military generals and the nobility. If he severed his own roots, how could he possibly command the Ming Empire?

"Even if he sees through Your Highness’s intentions, it matters not," Yao Guangxiao continued, his benevolent face wreathed in smiles. "Your Highness has already disclosed the Emperor’s intent to him. If he then tips off Lan Yu, that would be shielding his kin and defying the imperial will. The Emperor would not tolerate that! If he knows, yet stands idly by, then in the eyes of Lan Yu and the others, he is a traitor to his allies. Not only that, if he remains a bystander while the Emperor moves against Lan Yu, he is unfilial and disloyal to the throne! This time, he is trapped—he cannot advance, he cannot retreat, and he cannot stand still!"

Zhu Di clapped his hands and laughed. "Only you, Daoyan, could devise such a brilliant scheme."

A moment later, he looked uneasy. "However, I have leaked the news of my father’s intent to him without authorization. I wonder what my father will think of this?"

Yao Guangxiao smiled. "There is no need to worry too much about that. In truth, we both know that ever since the Prince of Wu openly demanded the crown and the empire in the court, the Emperor has likely become hesitant about whether to strike Lan Yu. If the Prince of Wu were to succeed, then Lan Yu should not be removed, nor would he be. By releasing this news now, we are forcing Lan Yu to act desperately, which in turn forces the Emperor to make a swift decision to remove him. Otherwise, if the Emperor has a change of heart and names the Prince of Wu as his heir, the situation will become irreversible."

Zhu Di fell silent for a long time, then sighed, "That is indeed true. I was forced by circumstance to corner my father."

Yao Guangxiao stroked his beard. "This is a move that yields multiple gains. Besides, when the Emperor first consulted you, he already had the intention of having you make preparations. To prepare, you cannot be the only one who knows. You must consult with certain generals to ensure readiness. The Prince of Wu is a member of the royal family; informing him so he can prepare is only logical and cannot be considered a violation of the imperial will."

Zhu Di said, "That may be so, but you and I both know that since that day in court, the situation has changed. I am merely exploiting the fact that my father has not explicitly forbidden it."

"One must be decisive when the time calls for it," Yao Guangxiao urged. "The Prince of Wu is by no means simple. Moreover, if he truly becomes the heir, given your long-standing grievances with him and Lan Yu’s faction, your dream of living a peaceful life in the future would be a delusion. Now that we have cut off the Prince of Wu’s path, even if the Prince of Xian benefits and gains the throne, the outcome will be much better. Besides, would Lan Yu and his lot sit idly by and wait for death? If he lashes out in his final moments, we can stir the waters further; there is no guarantee we won't have the chance to topple the Prince of Xian as well. In my view, the Princes of Qin and Jin are of no concern. By then, Your Highness may well have the opportunity to take that further step!"

Hearing this, a smile flickered across Zhu Di’s face. "All of this is thanks to your planning, Master!"

Yao Guangxiao laughed. "Don't rejoice too soon. My planning is sound, but how he will respond remains to be seen."

Zhu Di replied, "Even if he sees through this strategy, he should have no way to counter it, so there is no need to worry."

Yao Guangxiao lifted the carriage curtain, looking out at the ink-black streets and the sky. "I, too, cannot imagine what counter-strategy he might have. I only feel that this boy may not surrender so easily! Perhaps he has tricks up his sleeve that we cannot even conceive!"

As his voice faded, he began to recite a poem:

"The Emperors of Qin and Han lacked literary grace; the founders of Tang and Song were wanting in style. The legendary Genghis Khan knew only how to bend his bow at the eagles. All have passed away; to find truly great figures, one must look to the present day."

The night grew deep, and the carriage clattered away, gradually disappearing into the shroud of darkness.