Zhu Yuanzhang, who commanded the wind and rain, lived a long and arduous life.

If Zhu Yuanzhang yesterday was a frail old man, then today he is a raging lion.

I'm even more furious than when I encounter corrupt officials!

This was because Zhu Yuanzhang was more protective of his own people than anyone else.

No one dared to look up, except for Zhu Biao, who stepped forward.

"Father, one of the guards might know the reason. Should we summon him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even turn his head: "Shout!"

soon.

The guard was carried in, his face full of confusion, as if his worldview had been shaken.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew this man; he had once shielded him from a knife and had never wavered even when surrounded by the Yuan army.

He's a real man.

Now, it has become like this.

What happened yesterday that turned even the toughest man into this state?

Tell me, what happened yesterday?

After all, he was the one who had shielded him from harm, so Zhu Yuanzhang's tone softened considerably.

The guard, completely flustered, stammered, "The immortal... levitates... the grandson... levitates..."

It was quite difficult to understand what he was saying.

And the words he uttered almost always involved immortals.

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and looked around at everyone: "And you, what do you see?"

There was little gentleness when dealing with them.

The murderous aura emanated as if it were a tangible force, and even some timid palace maids were on the verge of tears.

"Your Majesty, I didn't see anything yesterday, it just felt the same as usual."

"Your Majesty, it seems... it seems that all of us guards have lost that memory."

"......."

Upon hearing these words, Zhu Yuanzhang's veins bulged.

The Crown Prince's body has been lost, and these good-for-nothings still have no idea what's going on!

His first instinct was to order them all to be beheaded, but when he thought of Empress Ma's illness, the death of the Crown Prince, and the bizarre events of the Crown Prince's body disappearing, it was as if Heaven was reminding him not to commit too many atrocities.

"Get out of here, all of you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand angrily.

These people were not alarmed but rather delighted, because it meant their lives were saved.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty..."

They scrambled away.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and then asked, "Biao'er, what did the Embroidered Uniform Guard say?"

On the road.

He had heard from Wang Jinghong that Zhu Biao had sent people to investigate.

Zhu Biao replied, "Father, we've checked Xiong Ying's memorial hall. Nothing is missing, except for him. It doesn't seem like a theft; it's more like... it seems..."

Zhu Biao found it difficult to speak.

"Like what?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly.

Zhu Biao exhaled, leaned close to Zhu Yuanzhang's ear, and whispered, "It seems like an immortal has arrived..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's pupils widened.

He understood his son Biao'er's temperament. Biao'er was the future leader of the Ming Dynasty, and he was teaching Biao'er to be a pragmatist. Even Biao'er said so, so now it seems that this matter is indeed not simple.

"Hmph, those charlatans in the martial arts world also have some bewitching methods. Who knows if it's what you're talking about? Investigate! Biao'er, you lead the Imperial Guards and investigate them all!"

"Even if we have to turn the entire Yingtian Prefecture upside down, we will find Xiong Ying!"

After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang flicked his sleeve and strode away.

Zhu Biao followed closely behind.

.

….….…….….….

In front of the mourning hall.

Zhu Yunwen knelt, looking heartbroken: "I beg my ancestors to bless me, to protect my grandson, the eldest grandson of the emperor, so that I may survive this calamity, return safely, and have my soul return to the ancestral hall."

His mother, Empress Lü, stood to the side. Compared to Zhu Yunwen, her face did not show much sorrow, but rather a hint of joy.

In the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign, the Crown Princess Chang passed away.

Taking advantage of the situation, she became the most powerful concubine by Zhu Biao's side.

Now that the eldest grandson of the emperor, Zhu Xiong Ying, is gone, her child, Zhu Yun Wen, is the eldest grandson of the emperor.

She was about the same age as Chang Shi, and Zhu Yunwen was about the same age as Zhu Xiong Ying.

The Chang mother and son, who were perfectly healthy, died one after the other, while she and Zhu Yunwen lived happily ever after.

Isn't this as if even the heavens think her child is the most suitable to become the eldest grandson of the emperor?

Absolutely!

Heaven took Zhu Xiong Ying away because he was an eyesore, and it's likely that his mother, Chang Shi, was in the same situation.

Moreover, Zhu Xiong Ying's body has now disappeared. If this gets out to the common people, who believe in ghosts and gods, they will be even more inclined to believe that even ghosts and gods cannot tolerate Zhu Xiong Ying.

She favors her eldest son, Zhu Yunwen. As long as nothing goes wrong in the next few years, his position as the eldest grandson of the emperor will be even more secure.

"Mother, why did my elder brother's body suddenly disappear?" Zhu Yunwen asked after finishing his prayers.

Lady Lü said casually, "Who knows? If it's gone, it's gone. Anyway, it's dead, just a corpse."

"And it might not be better if it doesn't happen. Even if your grandfather doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, he has to think about it. Maybe even ghosts and gods can't tolerate your older brother."

Zhu Yunwen was slightly taken aback. He glanced around and whispered, "Mother, be careful, the walls may be listening."

Lady Lü pinched Zhu Yunwen's nose and laughed, "It's still you, you clever little devil."

"Why were you crying so hard just now? Your royal grandfather isn't here."

Zhu Yunwen chuckled: "Grandpa's Embroidered Uniform Guards are everywhere. We have to go all out with this act. Besides, after today, I won't have to cry for my elder brother anymore."

Lady Lü looked at him, feeling quite satisfied.

This is the kind of son, and the future ruler of the Ming Dynasty, should be like: patient, shrewd, and adaptable.

"Yunwen, not bad. It seems that I still have to learn from you sometimes."

Lady Lü's eyes were filled with pride.

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Now that you've finished your prayers, hurry back to your mother's side."

"Xiongying's illness came on inexplicably. The imperial physician even said it might be contagious, so we should stay away from it."

Zhu Yunwen nodded and moved a few steps away from where the coffin had originally been placed.

Madam Lü smiled and patted his head: "Let's go, now that we've finished performing here, we still need to go to your Empress Dowager's place, we need to perform there too."

Mentioning Empress Ma, a trace of sadness flashed across Zhu Yunwen's face: "Mother, will Grandmother's illness hold up?"

Lady Lü thought for a moment, still nonchalant: "Who knows? The last time I heard the imperial physician mention news about the Empress Dowager was a week ago. I heard there's no hope, right?"

There was not a trace of sadness on her face.

It was like a casual chat over tea after a meal.

.

….…….….….….

Zhu Biao put aside his official duties and personally led the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search the entire Yingtian Prefecture for three days.

There's still no news.

Zhu Xiong Ying's body seems to have never appeared in the capital, not even the slightest clue.

this day,

Zhu Biao reported the matter truthfully to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned even more deeply.

In all his years, from south to north, from a beggar to an emperor, he had never encountered anything so bizarre.

Could it be, as the guard said, that he is an immortal?

If he was a celestial being, why did he take away U.A.'s body after his death?

What is the picture?

"Investigate! Keep investigating!"

Zhu Yuanzhang gave the order, and then, as if remembering something, said, "Is the fourth prince already in Yingtian Prefecture?"

Zhu Biao nodded: "I just arrived these past two days."

"Let him investigate too. That kid's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve; he might have his own connections!"

Zhu Biao accepted the order.