My father, Zhu Di, was granted a second life by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Chapter 67 The Crown Prince is both angry and panicked

Learning traditional Chinese medicine can save lives and prolong life. Prince Zhu Su of Zhou was very interested in medicine from a young age and once organized local doctors to compile a two-volume medical book called "Baosheng Yulu".

Zhu Su's experience of being exiled to Yunnan by the old emperor gave him a deeper understanding of the suffering of the common people. Seeing that the poor people there were on the verge of death due to lack of medical care and medicine, Zhu Su secretly resolved to compile a convenient and practical medical book.

Upon returning to Kaifeng, Zhu Su instructed Li Heng and others from the Prince's Palace to collect effective prescriptions from physicians throughout history, categorize them, and compile them into the "Pocket Prescriptions Collection".

Currently, Zhu Su is preparing to organize local renowned doctors to compile a more detailed medical book.

Therefore, the Prince of Zhou's mansion gathered many skilled doctors, and Zhu Youdun, under the influence of his father, was also quite knowledgeable in medicine.

Having settled the matter of the doctor, Zhu Gaoxi led Zhang Fu to choose a courtyard they liked.

Zhang Fu's personality was somewhat similar to Guan Tong's; he was usually quiet and concise, but he was very dedicated to his work.

He blushed and kept saying that it wasn't necessary to go to such trouble.

Zhu Gaoxi took it upon himself to choose the most spacious place for him, and set aside a separate training area inside, where he would store some of his commonly used weapons so that he could practice whenever he wanted.

Zhang Fu's later title of Duke was not due to his father Zhang Yu, but was earned through his own military achievements.

Historically, after Zhu Di ascended the throne, Zhang Fu was first enfeoffed as the Earl of Xin'an for his merits. Three years later, Zhu Di asked his ministers if they had any objections to the enfeoffment. The ministers all suggested that Zhang Fu should be rewarded more. So Zhu Di issued an edict to enfeoff Zhang Fu as the Marquis of Xincheng.

Later, Zhang Fu and Duke Zhu Neng of Chengguo went on an expedition to Annam. When they reached Longzhou, Zhu Neng suddenly fell seriously ill and died in the army.

Zhang Fu was ordered to succeed him and continue to lead the troops in the southern expedition. After returning victorious, he was granted the title of Duke of Ying.

Back in the vegetable garden that evening, Zhu Gaoxi asked Li Hui to bring Zhu Ying and Zhu Yuntong over. They sat down with Youdun and Zhang Fu and chatted about everything under the sun.

The first thing that happened upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace the next day was that the old emperor issued an edict to bestow a marriage upon them.

Seeing the lovers finally united, Zhu Gaoxi felt a pang of jealousy.

Just thinking about Xu Miaojin's gleeful and silly expression made him realize that even the best wine needs advertising.

It's all my fault for being too young back then and not being able to launch a full-scale offensive against Xu Miaojin. Otherwise, how could I have ended up with someone else?

Fortunately, You Dun isn't an outsider; he's her closest and dearest friend.

Unlike Zhu Gaoxi's hidden jealousy, Zhu Yunwen was almost furious, his face turning red with anger, yet he still had to obediently follow the old emperor's arrangements.

Zhu Gaoxi saw all this and felt sorry for him.

Why bother?!

Xu Miaojin's marriage is none of your business!

Why are you so angry?!

The old emperor did not discuss the matter of bestowing the marriage with Zhu Yunwen beforehand.

Since being made Crown Prince, the old emperor would consult with Zhu Yunwen on almost all major political matters beforehand, so that he could provide guidance at any time. He would explain his philosophy of governing the country to Zhu Yunwen in a simple and easy-to-understand way, presenting facts and reasoning, for fear that Zhu Yunwen might not understand the profound meaning.

However, the old emperor seemed to deliberately avoid the topic in front of Zhu Yunwen this time.

This added to Zhu Yunwen's already angry state of mind, making him even more panicked.

He couldn't understand why he had suddenly fallen out of favor with his grandfather.

Someone must have slandered and framed him in front of his grandfather; even a fool could guess that it was related to Zhu Gaoxi.

Zhu Yunwen wasn't that bold.

Zhu Ying did not want to get involved in trouble.

Only Zhu Gaoxi, though young, was a complete troublemaker who deliberately made things difficult for him.

Zhu Yunwen became increasingly angry and unable to contain himself.

Yesterday, my grandfather summoned Mr. Huang to the Qianqing Palace to inquire about his views on reducing the power of the princes.

Mr. Huang is frank and open in his words and actions, and naturally speaks his mind without reservation.

Zhu Yunwen couldn't figure out what was wrong with this.

However, his grandfather's attitude towards him became noticeably colder.

It must be Zhu Gaoxi's doing again.

Zhu Yunwen directed all his attacks at Zhu Gaoxi, but intentionally or unintentionally ignored Zhu Youdun, a competitor who carried more weight in the eyes of the old emperor.

Perhaps, subconsciously, Zhu Yunwen had no desire to compete with Zhu Youdun, because he knew he was no match for him.

Seeing Zhu Yunwen glaring at him while treating Zhu Youdun with utmost politeness, Zhu Gaoxi couldn't help but secretly mock him.

The grandson of the emperor was also a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong.

The angrier Zhu Yunwen became, the more composed Zhu Gaoxi remained.

It would be better if we were furious, so we wouldn't have to compete anymore and could advance directly.

Although Zhu Gaoxi thought this way, he remained outwardly calm and continued to treat Zhu Yunwen with great courtesy, affectionately calling him "Grandson Brother".

Perhaps feeling guilty or pitying Zhu Yunwen's romantic misfortune, the old emperor not only didn't blame Zhu Yunwen for his outburst, but also offered him some comfort.

The gist is: A good man has nothing to worry about; there are plenty of fish in the sea. Why hang yourself on a crooked tree? Think more positively.

However, could the wounds in Zhu Yunwen's heart be healed by just a few words?

His grandfather did these things behind his back; once it happened the first time, it was likely to happen again.

Did the grandfather have other plans or ideas behind betrothing Xu Miaojin to Zhu Youdun?

The thought was terrifying, and Zhu Yunwen's face gradually showed fear. He hurriedly took his leave from the old emperor.

Zhu Gaoxi chuckled to himself, thinking that the Crown Prince had finally grasped the deeper meaning behind the old emperor's chess game.

Little did they know, this was just the beginning. The Crown Prince's panic would likely last a long time, until a victor was decided, no... until Zhu Yunwen conceded defeat.

Zhu Gaoxi will definitely go all out.

When it comes to his own life, he will definitely put in all his effort.

Zhu Youdun watched Zhu Yunwen flee in disarray and couldn't help but sneer.

His mother has always been frail, and if she were exiled, she would surely face certain death. He would never allow such a thing to happen.

Zhu Yunwen only thought about consolidating his own throne, disregarding the lives of others, and sooner or later he would become a lonely ruler.

The old emperor beckoned them over and said solemnly, "Gao Xi, we asked Huang Zicheng, and he does indeed believe that the powerful vassal kings are difficult to control, which is similar to Ye Boju's view at the time, that the enfeoffment system should not be implemented."

"He is a servant of the emperor, and it is his duty to serve him. He is the tutor of the crown prince, and it is his responsibility to plan for the crown prince. He cannot be considered wrong."

"Regarding the matter of enfeoffing princes, the court officials have always had different opinions. Even your strategist Xie Jin once told us that the power of the princes should be limited."

"Even if you guessed Huang Zicheng's thoughts correctly, it doesn't prove that what you said is true."

After the old emperor finished speaking, he sat down opposite Zhu Gaoxi, looked into his eyes, and asked, "Gaoxi, do you have any other way to prove that what you said is true?"

This is a difficult situation; Zhu Gaoxi never expected the old emperor to pull such a stunt.

How can I prove my innocence?

Zhu Gaoxi racked his brains, searching his very limited historical knowledge.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxi remained silent for a long time, Zhu Youdun was about to help explain to the old emperor, but was stopped by Zhu Gaoxi.

"Grandpa, if I remember correctly, we will receive a memorial from Uncle Seventeen in February. It is because when the cavalry patrolled the border, they found some detached chariot parts on the road and were worried that the Hu cavalry would invade the border."

"That's interesting," the old emperor nodded in satisfaction.

No matter how good the eldest grandson was at winning people over, it was difficult to get the proud and arrogant seventeenth son to submit to him.