Zhu Emperor?
An emperor from the Zhu clan?
A name that sounded like "Zhu Di"… the fourth son?
No… that could not be right.
Thinking of that fourth boy who loved brandishing weapons and liked to play general while roughhousing with his brothers… then comparing him to the Yongle Emperor praised in later ages as both cultured and martial…
Zhu Yuanzhang felt the idea was simply too far-fetched.
Besides, the eldest son handled administrative affairs with steady order.
As for the fourth… back when the brothers trained together, they had been respectful and harmonious.
No matter how he looked at it, the notion sparked by the words "Zhu Emperor" felt absurd.
After sorting his thoughts, he steadied himself and wrote to correct it.
[Server Chat Log]
Zhu Yuanzhang: My eldest son, later called the Yongle Emperor, bears the surname Zhu and the given name Biao. That is his formal name, not a childhood one.
Zhu Yuanzhang: I was just about to ask… this name "Judy" of his. What does it mean? How is it read?
"Zhu Biao? Not Zhu Di? I thought I remembered…"
Zhang Fei scratched his chin. He vaguely recalled that in later discussions about the An Lushan Rebellion, someone had mentioned the Yongle Emperor. But that had been over a year ago, and he himself had been constantly moving between Yong, Liang, Guanzhong, and other fronts. His memory was fuzzy.
"The Yongle Emperor's name was Zhu Di, not Zhu Biao," Zhuge Liang said, shaking his head.
"Yide, you spoke too quickly."
Zhang Fei's expression immediately became colorful. He dragged a finger across his throat.
"Fatherly love, filial sons, brotherly harmony?"
Liu Bei could not help tapping his sworn brother's head.
"Stop picking up those ridiculous phrases from the future."
Zhuge Liang carefully reviewed what he remembered from the light-screen records. Zhu Di had only been mentioned once explicitly, noted as the man who seized the throne with eight hundred personal troops from someone named Zhu Yunwen.
As for Judy, it had only appeared twice. Once in connection with admiration for Emperor Taizong of Tang, and once in passing mention that the Jiajing Emperor later changed his temple title from Ming Taizong to Ming Chengzu.
No matter how he looked at it, the name Zhu Biao was new, and clearly not a childhood nickname. Best to probe indirectly.
Having made up his mind, Zhuge Liang quietly instructed:
"Yide, stop writing for now."
Though itching with curiosity and already imagining dozens of bloody possibilities, Zhang Fei still nodded.
Zhuge Liang then wrote:
[Server Chat Log]
Zhuge Liang: This Yongle Emperor, Zhu Biao… when he was Crown Prince, was he known for benevolence and filial conduct?
Inside Kunning Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang's spirit lifted instantly. He barely had time to turn and grin at the Empress.
"The Marquis Wu is asking about my Biao'er!"
He hurried back to the desk and wrote rapidly, even his posture growing more upright.
[Server Chat Log]
Zhu Yuanzhang: Marquis Wu may not know. From a young age, my Biao'er traveled mountains and rivers and learned the hardships of the people. He worshiped the ancestors and understood how hard founding an empire is. He remembers the kindness of past sages and knows the difficulty of common folk earning food and clothing.
Zhu Yuanzhang: I named him Crown Prince the moment the dynasty was founded. For thirteen years he has studied diligently, corrected his bearing, cast off frivolity, and listens to state affairs. Whenever he gives counsel, he clearly weighs benefit and harm.
Zhu Yuanzhang: Three years ago I ordered that government matters first be handled by the Crown Prince. Only what he cannot decide comes to me. These three years he has governed with diligence and frugality. All officials praise him. His brothers are affectionate and harmonious as well. There will be no repeat of Tang…
Zhu Yuanzhang: He already carries the bearing of a wise ruler. Even in spare time he studies military matters. He remembers the remnants of Yuan still linger and never forgets the completion of Ming's foundation. Excellent indeed.
Zhu Yuanzhang: The screen says it may show again in three months. When that time comes, I will bring Biao'er myself so he can greet the Marquis in person.
For a moment, Zhuge Liang found it difficult even to lift his brush.
Zhang Fei, forbidden to write, could not keep his mouth idle. Watching the Hongwu Emperor's attitude, he smacked his lips.
"If this Hongwu Emperor ever finds out…"
Zhuge Liang shook his head.
"If Zhu Biao has governed as regent since the tenth year of Hongwu, with the emperor assisting, and the brothers are said to be harmonious… then your speculation is too far-fetched."
"Most likely… he died suddenly. Illness or battle."
Lu Su immediately protested, "Why are you looking at me when you say that?!"
Tapping Zhang Fei's head with his feather fan, Zhuge Liang continued untangling the threads in his mind. He was beginning to piece together the sequence.
Zhu Yunwen, whose throne Zhu Di later seized, was probably the emperor later known by temple titles Ming Shenzong or Ming Renzong… or something close.
Steadying himself, Zhuge Liang wrote again:
[Server Chat Log]
Zhuge Liang: The Hongwu Emperor has raised his son well. Congratulations.
Zhuge Liang: The Crown Prince has experienced much. I assume he is already married?
Zhu Yuanzhang: Thank you for the concern, Marquis. My eldest grandson, Zhu Xiongying, will turn seven in two months. Though young, he is steady by nature and already resembles Biao'er.
Zhuge Liang inhaled sharply. The Hongwu family situation felt every bit as complex as the founding politics of Tang or Song.
The legitimate eldest grandson was named Zhu Xiongying. Then where had Zhu Yunwen come from?
Surely Zhu Yunwen could not simply be Xiongying's childhood name, right?
At that moment, the Ming emperor pressed his own question again:
[Server Chat Log]
Zhu Yuanzhang: Marquis Wu, you are widely learned. Do you know how this "Judy" should be read? What does it mean?
Zhuge Liang suddenly found it even harder to answer.
Then, before he could write, new words appeared on the light-screen.
[Server Chat Log]
Li Shimin: This is a western tongue. Later generations used it for its sound. Naturally it is read as Zhu Biao. As for its meaning, I do not know.
Zhu Yuanzhang: Many thanks to Emperor Taizong of Tang for the clarification.
After Li Shimin finished writing, he turned around.
The ministers were all staring at him.
Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Wei Zheng were men of near-photographic memory, and this miraculous light-screen only made details even harder to forget.
Besides, the Tang court under Li Shimin had always encouraged curiosity about the wider world, so foreign words and strange expressions stuck especially clearly in their minds.
Du Ruhui shook his head slightly.
"Whether three months or half a year, the Hongwu Emperor will learn the truth eventually."
"Then let it be three months," Li Shimin sighed. "That Hongwu Emperor loves his son deeply. If he learns what happens…"
He trailed off, shaking his head.
For a moment, memories surfaced from the histories he had read, from the Records of the Grand Historian to the Book of Han, even the writings of the Sui.
Wang Mang had usurped the throne while playing the humble loyalist.
Cao Pi had staged sincerity to secure succession.
Yang Guang had worn filial virtue as a mask before seizing power.
Li Shimin opened the notes Du Ruhui had just found and ran his finger repeatedly over a vertical line of characters:
Zhu Di, who seized the throne with eight hundred personal guards.
In his mind, he could not help but think that the hidden story of this Ming imperial house was likely ten times more tangled than anything written on the surface.
"And besides…" the Tang emperor lifted his head from thought, "…that is precisely what makes it interesting."
He did not bother hiding the fact that he was watching this as drama.
The Zhenguan ministers exchanged glances. In each other's eyes, they saw the same thing: anticipation.
A virtuous crown prince.
A younger son who seized the throne.
And a later emperor who was not the eldest legitimate heir.
Empress Zhangsun did not hesitate to puncture the mood.
"Then for these three months, Your Majesty will likely count each day as a year."
Li Shimin answered lightly,
"The matters of Wa and Liaodong are weighty concerns for Tang."
"If no reports of victory arrive, I naturally feel each day pass like a year."
Meanwhile, in the Guangzheng Hall of Kaifeng, Zhao Kuangyin only half understood the situation.
Instinctively, he felt that this Yongle Emperor was wrapped in layers of mystery.
But…
What did that have to do with him, a Song ruler who was not even sure he would live to see next year?
His own goal was simply to achieve something now, to leave accomplishments behind in the present, not to rely on some future Hongwu Emperor to clean up Song's mess.
Still, from the Hongwu Emperor's words, Zhao Kuangyin noticed one detail with sharp precision.
He immediately wrote:
Zhao Kuangyin: Hongwu, the screen you see... it's attached to a folding screen? Not projected onto the ceiling from a stone table?
Zhao Kuangyin: Does that mean you don't have to strain your neck looking up?