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

Chapter 26: A Plan to Eliminate the Painted Face

At the end of February, the sun shone warmly on my skin, making me feel the vibrant springtime.

If it weren't for Zhu Yunwen's incessant nagging, Zhu Gaoxi would have been planning his spring planting schedule.

Food is the most important thing for people. Whether it is the imperial court or an individual, living a frugal life is always the most important thing.

Upper decision decided by the economic background.

Without sufficient economic strength, all grand ideals are out of the question.

Zhu Youdun was a skilled warrior, but that was also due to the ample supply of military provisions. Zhu Gaoxi did not envy him at all. A person's intelligence is not only reflected on the battlefield.

Zhu Yunwen always tried to get close to his brothers in various ways to show his affection and closeness to them.

He spoke with an air of superiority and confidence, looking down at the world from above.

Zhu Yunwen, feeling immense frustration and inferiority due to Zhu Youdun's actions, resorted to this method to compensate, which is both pathetic and laughable.

Zhu Gaoxi couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

Zhu Yunwen turned his head upon hearing the sound, gently stroking Zhu Gaoxi's hair. "Brother, I didn't want to tell you this, but Duke Feng Sheng of Song committed suicide. It just happened. It was poisoned wine bestowed by Grandfather." Zhu Yunwen stared blankly into the distance. "So many things have happened recently. I'm feeling very down. I can only tell you this."

Zhu Gaoxi suddenly felt a chill run through his body; just after Youdun left, his maternal grandfather had an accident.

Was this all planned in advance? Was the mastermind Zhu Yunwen? Or his grandfather?

Based on his previous knowledge of history, he knew Feng Sheng's fate.

However, it was still hard to accept upon hearing the news.

Were they worried that Zhu Yunwen wouldn't be able to control his meritorious officials and generals? Were they worried that the Duke of Song would instigate Prince Zhu Su of Zhou to seize the throne?

Isn't there a better solution?

If someone with extraordinary combat power were to become the crown prince, would the outcome be different?

Zhu Gaoxi couldn't understand these questions.

"Your Highness, let's go back," the painted-face man whispered to Zhu Yunwen from the side.

Zhu Gaoxi slowly raised his head and glanced at the extremely obsequious painted face.

Since the appearance of the painted-face character, Zhu Yunwen's personality has changed drastically.

Just how many wicked ideas did this treacherous eunuch come up with for Zhu Yunwen?

Do you really think we're easy to bully? You dare to cause trouble in the palace?

Zhu Gaoxi went back into the house, took out a wooden box, and placed it beside him.

A short while later, the painted-face man returned, carrying a box of pastries.

"Sanbao, go inside and take that tin of tea from the desk to Grandfather," Zhu Gaoxi said, pointing with his chubby hand into the house.

Sanbao hesitated slightly, took the tea leaves, gave some instructions to the two young eunuchs on duty, and then hurriedly left.

"Painted Face, go wash your hands and open the pastries for me. I want to try some," Zhu Gaoxi urged hurriedly as Sanbao left the courtyard.

Hua Lian often followed Zhu Yunwen here and was very familiar with all the living facilities. He washed and dried his hands with practiced ease, returned to Zhu Gaoxi's side, and quietly opened the snack box.

"Quick, give me a piece," Zhu Gaoxi said, his mouth watering.

The painted-face man picked up a piece and handed it over.

"I don't want this piece, I want that piece, hurry up!" Zhu Gaoxi shouted impatiently.

The man with the painted face picked up another piece.

"No, you've got it wrong, it's that piece," Zhu Gaoxi said anxiously, slapping his arm across the face.

As a result, Hua Lian picked up the wrong one again, and this happened repeatedly until all the pastries had been touched by Hua Lian before Zhu Gaoxi slowly put them into his mouth.

This young master is really hard to please. Hua Lian breathed a sigh of relief and raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Zhu Gaoxi happily finished one piece, and was about to eat another when he suddenly felt an unbearable stomach pain. He clutched his stomach and cried out loudly, "It hurts, it hurts, my face is covered in bloats, it hurts, please take me to see my brother!"

Upon seeing this, the painted-face man panicked.

"Ouch, ouch!" Zhu Gaoxi almost rolled to the ground, and Hua Lian hurriedly picked him up.

Just as he reached the door, he bumped right into Sanbao.

Sanbao grabbed Zhu Gaoxi and sternly demanded, "What happened? What's wrong with the young prince?"

Sanbao ignored the painted-face man's explanation and carried Zhu Gaoxi towards the Qianqing Palace.

The painted-face man followed behind with quick, hurried steps, explaining repeatedly, "This servant doesn't know either! The young prince was eating snacks when he suddenly cried out in pain, so this servant quickly carried him to find the Emperor, and that's how you got back!"

"What happened?"

Upon seeing Zhu Gaoxi's pale face, Zhu Yuanzhang roared like a beast.

The man with the painted face trembled and knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Imperial physician, imperial physician..." Zhu Yuanzhang roared incessantly.

"It hurts, it hurts, Grandpa, it hurts, it hurts..."

Zhu Gaoxi rolled violently on the bed and cried loudly.

After examining the patient, Imperial Physician Chen, accompanied by two imperial physicians, collapsed to the ground, trembling, and declared, "It's poisoning."

"Quickly resolve this!" Zhu Yuanzhang was so anxious his eyes were practically blazing.

"The young prince is too young to tolerate much of the medicine, so we can only give him small doses frequently," Dr. Chen's voice trembled.

The poison formula was complex, and he wasn't entirely confident. He could only test it little by little, but he couldn't tell Zhu Yuanzhang this directly, for fear of dying on the spot.

"Hurry up and write the prescription, what are you dawdling for?!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily.

Imperial Physician Chen prescribed ten formulas in a row and ordered the imperial physicians to take their apprentices to decoct the medicine.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned deathly pale with fright, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Academician Chen, you're not lying to me, is it really that difficult to solve?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost. These prescriptions need to be used repeatedly to prevent the medicine from being too potent."

After taking the medicine, Zhu Gaoxi stopped crying out in pain and lay weakly on the bed, curled up in a ball.

Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer contain himself, and tears streamed down his face.

"Painted-face snacks," Zhu Gaoxi said with all his might, and then fainted.

Three days later, all the toxins in Zhu Gaoxi's body were cleared away, and he regained his vitality.

The man with the painted face accidentally fell into the water and drowned.

The world is finally peaceful.

Those who hide in dark corners and use malicious intentions to harm others deserve this fate.

The poison was secretly prepared by Zhu Youdun before he left.

It expires automatically after six hours, has no toxic side effects, and is a means of self-protection left for him.

In a moment of impulse, Zhu Gaoxi used the weapon to kill the painted-face man.

The Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen was reprimanded, neglected, and disappointed due to his poor choice of personnel.

Zhu Yuanzhang made him face the wall and reflect on his mistakes.

No one is perfect, and everyone has their strengths. Zhu Yunwen was not as good as You Dun in riding and archery, which led him to lose his mind and lack the demeanor of a ruler.

"How can one wage war without killing people? But if one does not delight in killing, then killing will be rare." This was Empress Ma's advice to Zhu Yuanzhang.

The killings caused by Zhu Yunwen were too numerous and severe, and he would inevitably suffer the consequences sooner or later. Zhu Gaoxi completely severed ties with him in his heart.

"The core of Yangming's philosophy is to extend one's innate knowledge. What is innate knowledge? At the very least, it should be goodwill." Zhu Gaoxi suddenly recalled a sentence his teacher had said in college.

One should not let temporary setbacks cloud one's spirit.

In this world, good and evil have their own order, which is not altered by anyone's selfish desires.

Good deeds bring good rewards, and evil deeds bring evil consequences; the law of cause and effect has proven true time and again.

Those who allow their inner demons to run rampant and become complacent will eventually find themselves with nowhere to escape, nowhere to avoid, and in a dilemma.

Good and evil are on different paths; he and Zhu Yunwen were destined to be on different sides.

After recovering, Zhu Gaoxi returned to the vegetable garden.

Spring is here, and he's going to start planting vegetables and grains.