Chapter 94: Beating the Crown Prince, Drowning Sorrows in Wine

Zhang Yi may be young, but he never lets himself get the short end of the stick! That brat Huang Mu actually dared to grab him by the neck—has the world turned upside down? He told him to leave, and when he didn’t, that was one thing, but to question him afterward? What business does a lowly sycophant have meddling in affairs between him and Lady Chang?

“Dare to hit someone? I’m hitting you—I’m waking you up for your own good, just like your father would…”

Zhang Yi was frustrated beyond words. What was wrong with this guy? He had already told him to leave, so why was he still hanging around the temple? If Lady Chang found out, even if Huang Mu did nothing wrong, just his presence in the courtyard could tarnish her reputation.

And who was Lady Chang? The future Crown Princess.

If her reputation were damaged, would he even have a life to live? He was so cautious that when teaching Lady Chang about midwifery, he never dared to be alone with her, always insisting on having a maid nearby to prove his innocence.

Zhang Yi, exasperated, punched Zhu Biao again.

Zhu Biao felt wronged—how could a teenager lose to a seven-year-old? Zhang Yi was sly in fights: he’d hit and then run. Zhu Biao was furious; he was used to bullying his younger brothers, never having been hit himself.

“Why did you hit me? Come back here!”

“I’m hitting people like you—men who’d risk losing their lives for women. Do you know who she is? She’s a swan from the heavens, and you’re just a toad. What could you possibly hope for? Her heart isn’t yours, she barely knows you—what connection do you have? I bet you’ve read too many romance novels and fooled yourself into thinking you’re a Casanova.”

Zhu Biao couldn’t catch Zhang Yi, and sadly realized he couldn’t outcurse this brat either.

But after Zhang Yi’s tirade, Zhu Biao understood one thing: Zhang Yi hit him for his own good.

“Master… Your Highness!”

Hearing the commotion inside, Deng Zhongxiu and the departing guards rushed in, only to see the Crown Prince facing off with the little immortal. Everyone was stunned.

But the guards quickly became furious. Seeing Zhu Biao’s panda eyes, their anger surged.

Before Zhu Biao could lose his temper with the guards, he waved them out.

“We’re just brothers messing around. You all, get out!”

The guards exchanged glances and reluctantly stepped back.

Zhang Yi gave Deng Zhongxiu a look, and he followed suit, withdrawing.

“Thanks for the reminder, little brother Zhang. I was indeed reckless.”

Knowing Zhang Yi meant well, Zhu Biao was not stubborn and bowed respectfully.

“Big brother, don’t blame me for losing my temper. What you’re doing could endanger everyone! What’s your family’s status? And hers? Lady Chang’s father, Chang Yuchun, will at least be a duke in the future. The Chang family is no one you can covet, especially since she’s the future Crown Princess! If she saw you today and called out, not to mention the palace noticing, even the Chang household could have you killed…”

Zhu Biao felt both touched and amused by Zhang Yi’s scolding. Though harsh, his concern was genuine.

Thinking of his brothers, especially Zhu Di’s unfiltered words from childhood, Zhu Biao felt a strange pain. The future he imagined made it impossible to face brotherly love as before.

Brotherly strife… could it really happen?

Zhu Biao knew only one way to find out—he’d have to coax it from Zhang Yi himself.

“I understand. Actually, you don’t need to worry. I’m just silently watching over her; as long as she’s well, that’s enough…”

“Idiot!”

Zhu Biao hated people who fancied themselves great, but he took the advice and calmed down. After all, young people all have their moments of folly.

“Big brother, it’s in the past now, it’s all right!”

Zhang Yi pretended to comfort Zhu Biao earnestly, leaving Zhu Biao speechless.

“The fate of Lady Chang can influence the destiny of our Ming Dynasty to some extent. This matter is as important as spreading the smallpox inoculation method. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have risked teaching her midwifery. Whether it works depends on fate. We’ve done all we can and have a clear conscience!”

“Little brother, I actually heard something just now…”

Zhu Biao suddenly said, “Lady Chang didn’t hear, but I heard you whispering. Our Crown Prince of Ming isn’t in a good state!”

Zhang Yi jumped up, shaking his head.

“I didn’t say anything, and you shouldn’t guess wildly. The Crown Prince’s fate affects the nation; such talk is forbidden!”

Zhu Biao laughed.

“What are you afraid of? What do you worry about? You’ve said that if a single word leaked out, you’d be beheaded ten times over!”

Zhang Yi was stunned but realized the logic.

Still, he was reluctant to speak. But Huang Mu, that sycophant, seemed determined not to let him off today.

“Fine, I’m scared of you. I dare not reveal the Crown Prince’s fate. If you insist, I’ll write three characters for you to figure out!”

Zhang Yi dabbed some tea on the stone table and wrote three characters: “Regret Unresolved.”

He felt these three words summed up Zhu Biao’s entire life.

Since being named Crown Prince, Zhu Biao bore everyone’s expectations. His ambitions were cut short in the 25th year of Hongwu by a sudden cold.

This was a regret unresolved!

From Zhu Yuanzhang’s perspective, he had never considered any other heir. Everything he did was to ensure Zhu Biao’s smooth succession. Zhu Biao’s death shattered his lifelong efforts and caused the Ming Dynasty to miss many historical opportunities.

This was a regret unresolved!

Then, considering the later purge of meritorious officials and the 600,000 Ming troops who died during the Jingnan Campaign.

Zhang Yi, a historian from the future, felt the same deep regret.

Zhu Biao stared silently at those three characters. Zhang Yi had said nothing, yet everything was said.

People love to glimpse fate, but when the harsh future stands before them, how many accept it?

Zhu Biao felt unprecedented loneliness.

After all, he was just a thirteen-year-old boy, already confronting the reality of his impending death.

“Is fate reversible?”

Zhu Biao asked tentatively. Zhang Yi replied:

“At least so far, no changes have appeared!”

His attempt to purify allicin had been difficult, and penicillin, given modern technology, was almost impossible.

“There’s hope, but we must face it calmly. At least, until I’ve sired two sons, I need not worry about my own lifespan!”

Zhu Biao muttered and smiled.

“Brother, I want to drink today! Do you have any wine in your temple?”

“How do you know…” Zhang Yi almost slipped but quickly shook his head.

“I’m just a kid, and this is a temple. How could there be wine?”

Zhu Biao was speechless.

He only asked casually, not expecting Zhang Yi to actually have wine stashed away.

“I was going to use it to purify alcohol, but you got it out of me.”

Grudgingly, Zhang Yi went to the alchemy room and brought Zhu Biao a small pot of wine.

“This is some strong stuff. Seems like Mongolians’ favorite spirit?”

Zhu Biao didn’t drink but wrinkled his nose at the smell.

He usually drank a bit of wine, mostly yellow wine. Strong spirits were more popular among northern tribes.

“Don’t compare my wine to that lousy baijiu. Drink it if you want!”

Zhang Yi was a bit protective, trying to grab the wine back. He had been making money too fast lately and was a little stingy.

Zhu Biao was quicker, snatching the wine first and pouring himself a cup.

“Who says I don’t drink? This is all mine!”

He downed the cup in one gulp, eyes watering from the burn, coughing violently.

Zhang Yi laughed maliciously.

“Can you handle it?”

He saw clearly now—Zhu Biao was trying to drown his sorrows, so let him be.

Zhu Biao’s tolerance was poor; after a few cups, his face flushed, and his gaze grew hazy.

“Drinking to ease sorrow only makes it worse. What’s the point?”

Zhang Yi teased but stayed by the table, keeping him company.

Though complaining, Zhu Biao felt a warm current inside. Maybe this was what family was meant to be.

“Little brother Zhang, I actually envy your family atmosphere—loving parents, filial children, harmonious brothers. Especially when your father appointed you as the Grand Master and you refused for your big brother’s sake. I envy your family…”

“Are you nuts?”

Zhang Yi reached out to feel Zhu Biao’s forehead. Was he blind? The rift between him and Zhang Zhengchang aside, Zhang Yuchu never met him without fighting. And filial piety? They were so filial, they nearly killed their old man with it.

Actually, Zhang Yi envied the bond between elder brother Huang and Uncle Huang He. Wait…

At that moment, Zhang Yi realized this big brother’s troubles might not be about romance but family ties.

“Brother Huang came home upset with his brothers?”

Zhang Yi sat up straight, serious now.

“Not exactly. My brothers usually respect me as the eldest, but recently I heard some things that touched me deeply. Father placed the burden of inheritance on me early on. The other brothers no longer have hope for the family estate. If I fail in my ambitions, the family’s responsibility will fall on me.

“I once thought my brothers would support me fully. But lately, I heard things that made me sad. Maybe while I’m here, they’re united, but if one day I’m gone, the brothers I know might become different—people I don’t want to face.

“As the eldest, I’m conflicted. I don’t know how to face my brothers anymore.”

Fighting over inheritance. Zhang Yi pondered—this was indeed tricky.

Nothing was new under the sun. Whether royals or commoners, any family with property faced this issue.

It seemed Brother Huang was heartbroken by something his brothers said, showing he was a man of feeling.

“Big brother, what’s the big deal? Don’t act like your family alone has this problem. The country, the emperor, and even the Crown Prince have the same issues. Why worry so much?”

Zhu Biao was stunned, his senses half-cleared from the wine.

When Zhang Yi used the royal family as an example, Zhu Biao saw his chance.

(End of chapter)