The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 25 The Poisonous Woman, Lady Lü!

She entered the Wenhua Hall in a light blue embroidered dress, leading a child dressed in a magnificent robe. It was none other than the Crown Prince's concubine, Lady Lü, and Zhu Yunwen.

Looking at Lü Qinglian, Zhu Xiong Ying feigned a warm, familial smile and quickly stood up: "Oh dear! Aunt, you've arrived without even announcing it beforehand."

"It's always been the son who greets the mother, never the other way around."

These words were spoken in a completely insincere manner.

From birth until now, Zhu Xiong Ying has never neglected the word 'warning' when it comes to the Lü family.

Although he couldn't be certain whether his own death in history was related to this charming stepmother, there was one thing that Zhu Xiong Ying had irrefutable evidence to support his suspicions about Lady Lü:

After his own death, Zhu Yunwen, who was the eldest son, failed to ascend the throne. Instead, Zhu Yunwen became the eldest son and took over the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Xiong Ying didn't know exactly what role Lü Shi played, but he was careful and could not afford to be absent.

“Xiongying, you are now the grandson of the emperor who is in charge of the country, and you are extremely busy. Your aunt is afraid of disturbing you.”

Lü Qinglian smiled gently.

However, after saying this, Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes flickered slightly!
The difference between "regent grandson of the emperor" and "regent crown prince" is as small as one word, yet they are worlds apart!

"I wonder what business Aunt has with Xiong Ying today?"

Zhu Xiong Ying maintained his smile and asked.

Outstanding acting skills!

"U.A., that's how it is."

"The news of your regency these past two days has also reached the Eastern Palace. Your aunt was very pleased to hear it."

Lü Qinglian chuckled and spoke, even reaching out to grab Zhu Xiong Ying's hand.

Zhu Xiong Ying still smiled gently, but he lowered his hands as if he were a junior listening attentively to instruction.

This action, however, caused Lü Qinglian to pause, making her extremely embarrassed.

Zhu Xiong Ying was secretly delighted. Your father, Lü Qing Lian, was punished by the Emperor because of me, and you can still feel 'gratified'?
"Xiong Ying is dull-witted, and I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself in front of you, Aunt."

Zhu Xiong Ying spoke with a 'shy' expression, as if she was somewhat embarrassed.

Yu Huatian, standing to the side, raised his eyebrows slightly.

It's a good thing he doesn't smile much, otherwise it would have been really awkward.

Is His Highness the Crown Prince dull-witted? Even Li Shanchang would have to chime in with his opinion!
“Xiong Ying, look, Yunwen is a year younger than you. Now that you, as his elder brother, are overseeing the country in Fengtian Hall, could you also allow Yunwen to enter the court and see your intelligence and heroic bearing?”

"As the saying goes, the body of an elder brother is what the younger brother hopes for. Xiong Ying, you are the elder brother that Yunwen admires the most. After thinking it over, your aunt thinks that the more Yunwen learns now, the more he can help you in the future, right?"

Lu Qinglian's smile never stopped.

It was as if they genuinely believed Zhu Xiong was a man of great talent and ambition, and wanted Zhu Yunwen to learn from him.

And these words also imply, "When you, Zhu Xiong Ying, ascend the throne in the future, Yun Wen will be a prince and help you govern the region."

He showered Zhu Xiong Ying with compliments as if they were free.

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and gave Zhu Yun Wen beside him a deep look.

He still has that honest look of someone who's read a lot of books.

They wanted to make Zhu Yunwen a familiar face in the court? Such a crude method is really disappointing.

"Since it is what Auntie wants, Xiong Ying dares not refuse."

"Let Yunwen enter the Fengtian Hall to listen to government affairs tomorrow."

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled and ruffled Zhu Yun Wen's hair.

Her meticulously styled hair instantly became a mess. Lü Qinglian, however, didn't care. Instead, she pulled Zhu Yunwen aside and showered Zhu Xiong Ying with praise and compliments.

About half an hour later, Zhu Yunwen and his mother finally left. Zhu Xiong Ying found it somewhat amusing and shook his head helplessly.

Perhaps I'm overthinking it?

Could such crude political tactics possibly have ousted Zhu Yunwen?
But as expected of a prominent family, Lü Qinglian's flattering words were always varied and unique.

"Although it is obvious to all that I am intelligent, handsome, and dashing, I am still a little shy when my aunt praises me like this!"

Zhu Xiong Ying laughed heartily, without the slightest trace of 'shyness' on her face.

suddenly,

Zhu Xiong Ying's laughter stopped abruptly, and a look of shock appeared on her face!
wrong!

From the moment he left until now, he had been sensing something was off, and now he realized it was this place that was the problem!

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Yu Huatian and said in a deep voice, "Yu Huatian, from the moment Lu Shi and Zhu Yunwen came in until now, have you been praising me the whole time?"

Yu Huatian nodded and said, "Your Highness remembers well, that is indeed the case."

Zhu Xiong Ying's expression was rather unpleasant.

I almost fell for their trick!

The real killer move of the Lü family was not to let Zhu Yunwen enter the court and become a familiar face!
Thinking back carefully, when I was a child, no matter what I did, this Lady Lü always praised me! Even when I did something wrong in the main hall, Lady Lü would personally cook a delicious meal to encourage me.

I initially thought it was to curry favor with my father and grandfather, but now it seems...
"Vicious woman!"

Zhu Xiong Ying spat out two words angrily.

He already understood what Lady Lü was thinking; this move was a killing blow set up from the very beginning.
Praise!

Endless praise! Abundant accolades! An almost certain future as emperor!

Lady Lü intended to use these things to deceive her!
She praises the right things! She praises the wrong things too!

If one truly has no life experience like a blank sheet of paper, one will gradually lose the ability to distinguish between right and wrong!

In an ordinary family, it might be alright; at worst, he'd become a spendthrift. But for Zhu Xiong Ying, the confirmed heir to the throne, this became a fatal flaw!

Consider Zhu Yunwen. Historical records describe him as having a tyrannical personality, being unable to distinguish right from wrong, and disregarding his servants. Isn't this a manifestation of his loss of the ability to weigh right and wrong?
It was a lie to let Zhu Yunwen enter the court to observe politics, and it was also a lie to say that Zhu Yunwen would be enfeoffed as a prince to assist him in the future!

The goal of the Lü family has always been to make Zhu Yunwen the ruler of the Ming Dynasty!
A murderous intent flashed in Yu Huatian's eyes, but he did not speak.

Zhu Xiong Ying did not give any orders; he would not disrupt His Highness's plans.

"Since you, the Lü family, are so dramatic, then don't blame me for treating Yunwen well."

Zhu Xiong Ying placed one hand on the desk, and the wolf-hair brush on the brush holder trembled slightly.

Control your anger,
This most secure Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty has begun to learn the true art of court politics.

That night, Zhu Yunwen was in the Eastern Palace when his mother, the imperial concubine, gave him a detailed lecture.

Speak less, observe more; be polite, but not frivolous.

Every instruction was the essence that Lady Lü had learned little by little while following Zhu Biao.

In the end, isn't the struggle in the imperial court just about winning favor?

It was just that Lady Lü wanted Zhu Biao to love her, and Zhu Yunwen needed the approval of the entire court.

As night deepened, Zhu Yunwen fell into a deep sleep, and Lü Qinglian looked up at the horizon.

Those bright stars, as hateful as Zhu Xiong Ying, I really wanted to shoot them down with an arrow!

(End of this chapter)