Chapter Thirty-Nine: Storming the Manor!

Page 1 of 3

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

Outside the Duke of Liang’s residence, the heavy gates shuddered beneath the pounding, each blow producing a deep, muffled thud.

More than a thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards stood there, with countless onlookers gathered in the distance. Yet every one of them held their breath, staring intently ahead. Not a single other sound could be heard.

They pounded on the gates for a long while, but no one came to open them.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuntong stepped back several paces and said calmly, “Then break them down.”

The Embroidered Uniform Guards received the order and were about to move when the gates creaked.

The doors that had been tightly shut slowly swung open.

Zhu Yuntong led the Embroidered Uniform Guards into the residence in a steady procession.

Inside the courtyard stood several hundred burly men in blue garments, each armed with a weapon.

They blocked the way, glaring furiously at the intruders.

These men were clearly no ordinary household servants. They were soldiers who had endured countless trials of iron and blood on the battlefield.

Standing together, they radiated an overwhelming killing intent.

With such a commotion outside, the people within the residence could hardly have remained unaware.

Even so, the sight before him took Zhu Yuntong slightly by surprise. His eyes narrowed faintly.

Fearing that something might go wrong, Jiang Huan stepped forward and positioned himself in front of Zhu Yuntong. He shouted angrily, “The Embroidered Uniform Guards are conducting an investigation! You are blocking us with drawn weapons. What exactly are you trying to do? Are you planning a rebellion?”

The man standing at the front replied coldly, “This general cares nothing for your Embroidered Uniform Guards. This is the Great General’s residence, and we obey only military orders.”

“Without the Great General’s permission, anyone who enters without authorization will be killed without mercy!”

Even when faced with so many Embroidered Uniform Guards, he showed not the slightest fear. He did not address Lan Yu as the Duke of Liang, but as the Great General. Clearly, he was no ordinary servant, but a loyal officer Lan Yu had brought with him from the army.

This was, in fact, a long-standing custom.

Many of the Great Ming’s senior generals brought trusted personal officers back to their residences.

In ordinary times, such men served as the commanders of the household guard. Whenever war broke out and the general led troops into battle, they became commanders of his personal escort in the field headquarters.

“Outrageous!” Jiang Huan shouted. “This is Jinling, the capital of Great Ming, the foremost city under Heaven—not a military camp.”

“Besides, even if this were a military camp, you are still soldiers of His Majesty. By daring to obstruct the Embroidered Uniform Guards, you have committed the grave crime of rebellion!”

The man gave a cold snort. “You keep invoking His Majesty. Then answer me this: when you forced your way into this place, did you have an imperial decree? If so, may we see it?”

“This…” Jiang Huan was caught off guard. His words faltered, and he froze for a moment.

“What is your name?” Zhu Yuntong asked, looking at him.

“This subordinate is Fu Ye, commander of the Duke of Liang’s personal guard—and the Great General’s adopted son.” Fu Ye stared at Zhu Yuntong, resentment burning in his eyes.

So he was one of Lan Yu’s adopted sons. No wonder he was so loyal—and so arrogant.

“You still know enough to call yourself ‘this subordinate,’” Zhu Yuntong said sharply. “Then you presumably know who I am. Why have you failed to salute me?”

Fu Ye replied coldly, “If I encountered Your Highness the Prince of Wu outside, I would naturally pay my respects and would never dare show disrespect.”

“But this is the Great General’s residence, which is equivalent to a military headquarters. Everything here is governed by military law.”

“In the army, we recognize only the Great General’s orders. We do not concern ourselves with imperial relatives.”

“If Your Highness had come to the Great General’s residence as a guest, we would of course have received you with due courtesy.”

“But Your Highness has suddenly led armed officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guards into the residence. This subordinate does not know what Your Highness intends to do.”

Page 2 of 3

He had actually dared to question him.

Zhu Yuntong said coldly, “A mere commander of personal guards, and yet you are so arrogant and insolent. Who gave you such courage?”

In a certain sense, Old Zhu was not wrong to use Lan Yu as an example.

Lan Yu ran his residence as though it were a military camp, allowing officers and soldiers to serve as his household retainers. That alone might have been excusable.

After all, Great Ming had only recently been founded, and many regulations were not yet as strict as they would become in later generations.

It was not unusual for the households of powerful military commanders to maintain large numbers of unarmored personal guards and soldiers.

But Lan Yu had taken in so many adopted sons that they recognized only Lan Yu and knew nothing of the imperial court. That was a serious problem.

Who among emperors could tolerate such conduct?

Least of all Old Zhu, a ruler who could not bear even a grain of sand in his eyes.

The fact that he had allowed Lan Yu to survive until now meant that he had probably endured him for a very long time.

And now Zhu Yuntong understood clearly that if Lan Yu was to be saved, the man’s fierce and unruly temper had to be tempered first.

Great Ming was no longer in the age of conquering the realm. It had no need for an eagle that could not be tamed.

What Great Ming needed now were loyal hounds that obeyed.

The imperial court had to command as easily as moving one’s own arm; once an order was given, no one could dare disobey.

Anyone who showed even the slightest sign or potential of disloyalty would be eliminated by Old Zhu without hesitation.

Yet Lan Yu continued to act entirely as he pleased.

It seemed that the slap he had received in court that day had still not awakened him completely.

Fu Ye raised his chin. “Though my rank is humble, I am nevertheless a man of loyalty and honor.”

“Your Highness may possess a noble status, but you are cold and unfeeling, and would actually turn against your own great-uncle.”

“The Great General has protected Your Highness day after day and kept Your Highness constantly in his thoughts, always intending to support you with all his heart.”

“Earlier today, he specifically instructed us that no matter when it happened or what circumstances arose, we were to protect Your Highness.”

“Your Highness wishes to contend for the position of Crown Prince. Even when Your Highness struck the Great General across the face in court, he was still delighted for you.”

“When Your Highness was enfeoffed as the Prince of Wu, the Great General ordered the city’s nobles and the army’s commanders to congratulate you and lend you their support.”

“He even held a grand banquet at home, inviting guests and celebrating the matter with great excitement.”

“Over the years, the Great General has campaigned across the south and north. Who can say how many great services he has rendered to the realm of Great Ming?”

“To stabilize the empire and eradicate the remnants of the Northern Mongols, he personally led troops deep into the northern deserts and destroyed the Northern Mongol royal court.”

“His achievements are without equal in this age!”

“Back when Your Highness’s late father, the former Crown Prince, was alive, the Great General followed him with unwavering loyalty.”

“Now he wishes only to follow Your Highness once more.”

“Yet Your Highness is so cold and heartless. First, you disregard the Great General’s immense achievements and years of toil. Second, you disregard his unwavering loyalty. Third, you disregard the fact that he is your great-uncle, bound to you by blood. Instead, you seek to have him forcibly arrested. How could that fail to chill the hearts of others?”

“Your Highness is young and inexperienced, and may easily have been deceived by others.”

“This subordinate urges Your Highness to turn back before it is too late, lest you commit a grave error!”

Zhu Yuntong’s expression darkened.

Lan Yu’s men truly had never regarded him, the Prince of Wu, with any respect.

That was why they dared to lecture him in such a condescending tone, instructing him on how he ought to conduct himself.

In their eyes, the so-called Prince of Wu was still merely a child, someone who required their protection and guidance.

Page 3 of 3

If the person who had led the Embroidered Uniform Guards into the Duke of Liang’s residence today had been his father, Zhu Biao, would Fu Ye have dared to speak this way?

Would he have dared lecture Zhu Biao on how to act?

Forget Fu Ye—even Lan Yu himself would probably have emerged obediently to accept his punishment.

There would not have been a single word of useless argument.

How could he have hidden away like this, refusing to show himself?

With Lan Yu displaying such an attitude, how could Old Zhu possibly tolerate him?

Even Zhu Yuntong himself could not tolerate it.

If every subordinate relied on his accomplishments, his greater age, and his seniority as an elder to lecture him, instruct him, and climb onto his head, then Zhu Yuntong might as well abandon his struggle for the position of Crown Prince and go home to play in the mud.

Today’s actions were meant not only to resolve his own crisis and save Lan Yu’s life, but also to teach Lan Yu an appropriate lesson.

Everyone among the nobles and meritorious officials of Jinling, as well as the commanders of the army, needed to understand that Zhu Yuntong was the master here—not Lan Yu.

“When did matters concerning me become the responsibility of a mere commander of the Duke of Liang’s personal guard?” Zhu Yuntong snorted coldly. “If I were made Crown Prince and eventually inherited the throne, and did something that displeased you and the Duke of Liang, would you then raise an army in rebellion and claim to be purging traitors from the imperial side?”

“Your Highness exaggerates. This subordinate would never dare,” Fu Ye said, though his tone grew even colder.

“This subordinate is merely fulfilling his duty by offering Your Highness advice.”

“Good medicine tastes bitter, and loyal advice grates on the ear. I hope Your Highness will take at least some of it to heart.”

There was not the slightest trace of respect in his attitude toward Zhu Yuntong, the Prince of Wu.

“I think you would dare!” Zhu Yuntong’s voice suddenly changed. He shouted, “Guards, seize this man, Fu Ye! If he resists, kill him without mercy!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The surrounding Embroidered Uniform Guards answered in unison.

Now that they had entered the Duke of Liang’s residence, they had no choice but to see the matter through with Zhu Yuntong.

Several of them immediately advanced with their swords in hand.

Fu Ye and the other household retainers tightened their grips on their weapons, glaring furiously at the guards.

But they were facing the Embroidered Uniform Guards. For the moment, they still did not dare truly strike. They merely adopted increasingly aggressive stances, their expressions growing more and more tense, as though they might draw their blades and charge at any moment.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards continued forward.

Fu Ye took a step back and grasped the sword at his waist. “Do not force this subordinate’s hand!”

Steel flashed.

Steel flashed again.

Then once more.

Seeing this, the Embroidered Uniform Guards all drew their swords in a single swift motion.

At that very moment, a clear and commanding voice suddenly rang out.

“Stop!”

As the voice fell, Lan Yu, the Duke of Liang, emerged from the rear courtyard step by step, his chest bare and his upper body uncovered.