The Ming Dynasty: I Fabricated Dreams for Zhu Di 104

Chapter 104: Power from Zhuang Mu

Imperial Physician Zhang stared at the disappearing smallpox symptoms on Zhu Xiongying’s body, his eyes widening in disbelief.

“How… how is this possible?” he stammered, unable to contain his astonishment.

He stepped closer, meticulously examining Zhu Xiongying’s condition. The red rashes, blisters, and pustules that had covered the boy’s arms were completely gone without a trace. He then grabbed Zhu Di’s arm, his voice filled with even greater astonishment. “How is this possible? It’s instantly cured? Your Highness, the Yan King, how did you do it?!”

He knew that smallpox survivors usually suffered lasting effects—the red rashes, blisters, and pustules would leave behind scars after scabbing over. Yet, Zhu Di had not only cured Zhu Xiongying in a mere quarter of an hour, but there weren’t even any lingering symptoms. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Zhu Di, of course, couldn’t offer an explanation. It seemed to be Zhuang Mu’s doing. Looking down at his own palm, he muttered to himself, “Could Zhuang Xiaozi’s abilities work in the real world?”

Over the past few days spent with Zhuang Mu, he had been curious about whether Zhuang Mu’s sleep was real or feigned. Unable to contain his curiosity, he had gone upstairs to check on Zhuang Mu one night after he had fallen asleep. When Zhuang Mu slept, a nebulous mist would envelop him, repelling anyone harboring hostility towards him. Zhu Di himself could enter this mist, but his guard, Zhu Wei, couldn’t. He wondered if it was because Zhu Wei had attempted to harm Zhuang Mu before. He felt that the nebulous mist that healed Zhu Xiongying was identical to the energy Zhuang Mu emitted while sleeping.

Hearing Imperial Physician Zhang’s words, the anxiety of Emperor Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang) and Empress Ma finally subsided. It was enough that Zhu Xiongying was alright. However, their gazes towards Zhu Di were complex and filled with unspoken questions.

Soon, Zhu Xiongying awoke from his coma. Seeing Emperor Hongwu and Empress Ma, he was bewildered. What had happened? He remembered falling ill, but nothing after that. Then, respectfully, he addressed them, “Grandfather Emperor, Grandmother Empress, Fourth Uncle.”

Prince Zhu Biao, upon entering and seeing Zhu Xiongying safe and sound, burst forth with surprising speed. “Xiongying!” He embraced his nephew tightly. He had almost believed he was about to lose Zhu Xiongying, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

After calming Zhu Xiongying, Zhu Biao turned to Imperial Physician Zhang, his voice filled with gratitude, “Imperial Physician…”

Before he could finish, Imperial Physician Zhang quickly interjected, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince, you should thank me not. His Royal Grandson’s illness wasn’t cured by me.”

“Not you?”

“It was His Highness, the Yan King.”

Hearing this, Zhu Biao turned to Zhu Di. While he found it hard to believe that Zhu Di could cure smallpox, he was deeply grateful. He embraced Zhu Di, sincerely saying, “Old Fourth, thank you.”

Taken aback at first by Zhu Biao’s embrace, Zhu Di readily returned it, comforting him, “You’re welcome, it’s what I should do. But Big Brother, didn’t you say that men don’t cry easily? Crying all the time isn’t good.”

This lighthearted comment instantly eased the tense atmosphere. Zhu Biao then pulled Zhu Xiongying close, expressing their shared gratitude to Zhu Di. “Xiongying, you owe your life to your Fourth Uncle.”

Zhu Xiongying, without hesitation, kowtowed to Zhu Di. Words were unnecessary; a kowtow was a more direct expression of gratitude.

Zhu Di quickly helped Zhu Xiongying to his feet. “It’s nothing, siblings helping each other—that’s only natural.”

Witnessing this scene, Emperor Hongwu and Empress Ma exchanged a glance before leaving the bedroom. Seeing the eunuchs and maids standing outside, paralyzed by fear of infection, Emperor Hongwu’s anger flared.

Fortunately, Empress Ma persuaded him, “Zhonghongba (Emperor Hongwu’s name, a term of endearment), fear of death is natural. Smallpox is terrifying, so it’s understandable.”

Emperor Hongwu coldly snorted. “Since our Xiongying is fine, I’ll spare your lives this time!”

The eunuchs and maids prostrated themselves, thanking the Emperor for his mercy.

Then, Emperor Hongwu fixed his gaze on Crown Princess Lü, giving her a brief look without uttering a word. While he didn’t know why Zhu Xiongying had suddenly contracted smallpox, the entire palace was under Empress Ma’s direct supervision. Even the Crown Prince’s meals were personally arranged by her. Lü had neither the ability nor the audacity to cause trouble under her watchful eye. He and his wife weren’t figureheads. Still, an investigation was necessary to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.

Soon, Emperor Hongwu and Empress Ma returned to the Imperial Study. They dismissed everyone, leaving only themselves in the room.

After a long silence, Emperor Hongwu spoke, “Meizi (Empress Ma’s name, a term of endearment), why did you bring Old Fourth here?”

“You knew what Old Fourth said, didn’t you?”

In his urgency, he hadn’t thought of Zhu Di immediately. But Empress Ma remained calm. Upon learning about Zhu Xiongying’s smallpox, she didn’t panic. She had directly released Zhu Di and brought him to the Eastern Palace. Only the three of them knew what he had said to Zhu Di a few days prior. He hadn’t mentioned it to Empress Ma. This meant Empress Ma had known about Zhu Di’s ability to cure Zhu Xiongying all along.

Empress Ma didn’t deny it. “Yes.”

“When did you know?”

“Two years ago.”

Emperor Hongwu was slightly startled. “Two years ago, Old Fourth told you all this?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Then, Emperor Hongwu suddenly recalled that two years earlier, Empress Ma had beaten Zhu Di until he was bloody, and she herself had been injured. He had even ordered Zhu Di to be caned eighty times. Empress Ma had explained then that it was because of Zhu Di’s remarks about the Feudal Princes System, stating that she had failed to discipline him properly. However, now it seemed far more complex.

Empress Ma wore a troubled expression.

“Back then, I didn’t believe Old Fourth’s words, but today, I believe him.”

Emperor Hongwu’s brow furrowed. “What did Old Fourth tell you?”

A few days ago, Zhu Di had only mentioned Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiongying’s fates, without elaborating further. The news of Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiongying’s impending deaths had enraged him, causing him to imprison Zhu Di immediately.

Empress Ma looked at Emperor Hongwu in surprise. “Didn’t Old Fourth explain everything to you?”

“Explain what? Old Fourth only told me that Biao’er would die before me, and Xiongying would die before me, too.”

“I thought Old Fourth was plotting against me, aiming for Biao’er’s position as Crown Prince. In my anger, I imprisoned him.”

“I thought that if Xiongying was fine, I would execute Old Fourth.”

“It seems…I overreacted.”

“Alas, I wronged Old Fourth.”

A hint of guilt crept into Emperor Hongwu’s voice. After all, Zhu Di had tried to save Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiongying, yet he had viewed him with suspicion. He was a terrible man, suspecting even his own sons. Setting aside other things, Zhu Di’s affection for Zhu Biao alone demonstrated that he would never rebel.

Furthermore, Zhu Di’s actions today showed that he had no intention of rebellion. If he truly knew the future and harbored rebellious intentions, he wouldn’t have saved Xiongying or told him about Zhu Biao’s and Zhu Xiongying’s deaths. Wouldn’t it have been easier to just remain a Prince and wait for Zhu Biao to die before vying for the throne?

Empress Ma remained silent, unsure of how to proceed. She decided to let Zhu Di explain everything to Emperor Hongwu himself. Her role would be to mediate.

“Meizi, what else did Old Fourth tell you?” Emperor Hongwu’s tone implied that Empress Ma had received more information from Zhu Di than he had.

Empress Ma pondered for a moment. She would let Zhu Di personally explain the Jingnan Campaign (靖难) to Emperor Hongwu. But the events before the campaign, she could share.

“Besides telling me that Xiongying and Biao’er would die in the fifteenth and twenty-fifth years of the Hongwu era,” she said,

“he also said that Bao’er would die in the seventeenth year of Hongwu due to his defiance towards you.”

“That Tiande would fall ill and die in Beiping in the eighteenth year of Hongwu.”

“That Ying’er, overcome with grief over Biao’er’s death, would also pass away.”

“That Li Shanchang’s entire family would be executed by you in the twenty-third year of Hongwu.”

“That Lan Yu, Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, and the other Huai-xi generals would all be eliminated by you in the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu.”

“All to pave the way for the Grandson of the Emperor, Zhu Yunwen.”

“And that you would die in the thirty-first year of Hongwu.”

“Also, that the Second and Third Princes, after becoming feudal princes, would become cruel and kill many innocent people, dying before you.”

As Emperor Hongwu listened, his emotions were complex. Zhu Biao, Zhu Xiongying, Li Wenzhong, Xu Da, Mu Ying, the Second and Third Princes—so many people would die before him.

Then, Emperor Hongwu realized something. He hadn’t heard the date of Empress Ma’s death. A sense of relief washed over him. He understood his Empress. If things happened as she described—Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiongying’s deaths, and his elimination of the Huai-xi faction—then Zhu Yunwen would have no problem securing his position as Emperor with his Empress’s support.

“Meizi, I never imagined you’d outlive me.”

“Hahaha, you’ll be very lonely then.” From Empress Ma’s account, it seemed he would die having lost most of his close associates. If his wife lived on, she would undoubtedly experience profound loneliness.

After a moment of contemplation, Empress Ma softly replied, “It will be you who feels lonely, Zhonghongba.”

“Me?”

“In August of the fifteenth year of Hongwu, I shall die.”

These words stopped Emperor Hongwu in his tracks.

He stared, utterly dumbfounded, the short sentence echoing in his mind.

“How… how could…”

“No, with Old Fourth around, you won’t be alright.” Emperor Hongwu suddenly recalled that Zhu Di had saved Zhu Xiongying. Surely, he could save his Empress as well.

Empress Ma sighed deeply.

“Zhonghongba, do you know why Old Fourth wants to change the future?”

(End of Chapter)

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