Fifty days ago, when Prince Lu Huang was poisoned, it also began with his eyes.

At this moment, the Crown Prince had lost control of his bladder and bowels. His chest and throat ached everywhere, especially his eyes – as if countless Nanny Rongs were stabbing them with needles, unable to bear any light source. But treatment required adequate lighting, so Court Physician Liu simply wrapped the Crown Prince’s eyes with white cloth strips to avoid stimulating them.

Even so, the Crown Prince still clawed at the white cloth over his eyes in pain. Two strong eunuchs held his hands firmly as he thrashed on the bed like a beached carp.

At this point, the severe eye pain masked the pain in his chest, throat, and other areas. Compared to his eyes, everywhere else felt like mere tickling.

The Crown Prince wailed like a ghost, his throat so swollen he could barely form coherent sentences: “Pain… aahhh… Noble Consort… poison… poison in the food!”

The pain made the Crown Prince lose facial control, his expression becoming hideous.

Crown Princess Lu Shi was terrified out of her wits and could only cry.

The imperial physicians prepared antidotes and fed them to the Crown Prince, but his throat and esophagus were so swollen he had lost the ability to swallow. The dark medicinal liquid poured in just flowed back out from the corners of his mouth.

With no choice, the physicians pried open the Crown Prince’s mouth, inserted a funnel, and forcibly poured medicine into his stomach like medicating cattle or horses.

Soon after, the Crown Prince suddenly choked violently, spitting out the medicine, and finally just vomiting blood.

Not only that, but during the blood vomiting, the white cloth covering the Crown Prince’s eyes also showed crimson bloodstains seeping from within.

Simultaneously, thin streams of blood flowed from both ears and nostrils. As the condition accelerated, the blood flow gradually expanded from thin lines to earthworm-like streams that wouldn’t stop. Just wiped clean, fresh blood would flow out again from his seven orifices.

The eye-covering white cloth was now completely crimson, like the cloths women used during menstruation.

Court Physician Liu hurriedly untied the cloth strip to replace it with a clean one, but the Crown Prince’s eyes had lost sensitivity to light. His pupils showed no normal contraction and dilation, like stagnant pools.

Court Physician Liu knew medicine was now useless and the situation was beyond salvation. She dejectedly put the clean white cloth back in place and took cotton gauze to wipe the blood flowing from his eyes.

“What are you all standing around for? Quickly cover the Crown Prince’s eyes – His Highness fears light,” Crown Princess Lu Shi finally came to her senses, grabbing the cloth to cover the Crown Prince’s eyes.

Court Physician Liu stopped her, shushing quietly: “His Highness… is already blind.”

The Crown Princess collapsed beside the sickbed. She still didn’t realize the Crown Prince was dying – her first thought was that a blind Crown Prince could not inherit the throne.

The Crown Prince could be foolish, stupid, lacking virtue and ability, but he could not be blind!

What to do?

The Crown Princess quickly ordered Eastern Palace attendants: “Hurry! Summon the eldest imperial grandson!”

The attendant hesitated: “Should we also summon the second imperial grandson?”

The Eastern Palace currently had four imperial grandsons. The eldest, Zhu Yunwen, and the third and fourth sons were all born to Crown Princess Lu Shi. Only the second, Zhu Yunting, was born to the late Crown Princess Chang Shi. Originally, the late Crown Princess had given birth to the legitimate eldest son Zhu Xiongying, but unfortunately, Zhu Xiongying died at age eight, making the former second son Zhu Yunwen the eldest.

The Crown Princess shook her head: “Ting’er is still young – how can we let him see such a cruel scene? Don’t delay – quickly bring the eldest imperial grandson.”

Zhu Yunwen was born on the fifth day of the twelfth month in the tenth year of Hongwu – now fifteen years old.

Zhu Yunting was born on the twenty-ninth day of the eleventh month in the eleventh year of Hongwu – now fourteen years old. Actually less than a year younger than Zhu Yunwen…

Usually, the Crown Princess cared deeply for Zhu Yunting, born to the original wife, far more than her three biological sons. But at the crucial moment, like a demon-revealing mirror, her true nature was exposed.

Attendants hurried to the Eastern Palace to fetch eldest imperial grandson Zhu Yunwen.

After arranging this, the Crown Princess began crying loudly. Her desolate wails reached the adjacent room where Noble Consort Guo listened to the Crown Prince’s screams and the Crown Princess’s cries. The depression that had accumulated in her chest for fifty days was released at this moment.

It was worth it! Her desperate gamble was worth it.

Emperor Hongwu heard the crying and screaming intertwined. He casually picked up a teacup and smashed it hard on the ground. The crash instantly suppressed the crying next door.

Emperor Hongwu roared: “Are you satisfied now? I thought you had become intelligent and virtuous these nine years, like Empress Xiaoci, becoming my right hand. I saw all your efforts – I had already written the imperial edict naming you Empress! I was just waiting for the Imperial Observatory to calculate an auspicious date, yet you poisoned the Crown Prince just as you were about to be crowned Empress!”

“I misjudged you! You haven’t changed – you’re still that foolish consort from years ago, relying on your family’s power to charge around recklessly, thinking I wouldn’t dare touch you! Your eyes blinded by personal grudges are short-sighted, ignoring the bigger picture, narrow-minded, lacking any imperial mother’s bearing. You only deserve to be a concubine! You were born to be a concubine! Such a foolish poisonous woman doesn’t deserve to be Ming Empress! You’re not even worthy to carry Empress Xiaoci’s shoes!”

“Personal grudges?” Noble Consort Guo laughed. “Can I bear children alone? The Crown Prince is His Majesty’s son – isn’t Prince Lu also His Majesty’s son? They’re both princes, both illegitimate – who’s more noble? The Crown Prince’s life is precious, but my son’s life isn’t?”

Emperor Hongwu slammed the table: “The Crown Prince is the heir apparent! Prince Lu Huang had to call himself ‘subject brother’ before the Crown Prince. True, the Crown Prince committed the grave error of fratricide, but he’s been Crown Prince for twenty-five years with a good reputation and no faults. If we immediately depose him, it will certainly cause court upheaval. No one would believe the always-benevolent Crown Prince would kill his brother – they’d think someone framed him and petition for him. Then different factions of princes and ministers would form around the succession, attacking each other, making the Ming Dynasty unstable. I had no choice but to maintain stability first, plan long-term, and have Hu Shanwei conceal this matter. But she dared disobey the imperial edict—”

“Your Majesty! This matter has nothing to do with Hu Shanwei!” Noble Consort Guo interrupted. “Yes, I had Hu Shanwei investigate Dan’er’s death in Yanzhou to let him die knowing the truth. But when Hu Shanwei returned to report, she only said Dan’er died from pill poisoning – self-destruction. However, whether Hu Shanwei or Your Majesty, you both underestimated me. In these nine years managing the rear palace, I’ve stumbled many times. Once bitten, twice shy – I’m no longer the foolish Noble Consort Guo Ning of the past. Did you think having Hu Shanwei lie would fool me?”

“Learning of Dan’er’s tragic news, the first person I suspected was the Crown Prince. Everyone knew I was about to become Empress – it was set in stone. Once I became Empress, Dan’er would be the only legitimate son. But Your Majesty knows Dan’er’s character well – he had no ambition whatsoever, average abilities, just wanting to be a carefree prince enjoying wealth and honor his whole life. That’s why Your Majesty would make me Noble Consort and elevate me. If I were ambitious and Dan’er outstanding, neither the Noble Consort position nor rear palace power would have come to me.”

“But precisely because the Crown Prince was the greatest beneficiary, I quickly set aside this thought, thinking there were two possibilities: first, some palace consort was sowing discord between me and the Crown Prince, wanting to force me to seek revenge against the Crown Prince, ruining my future and abandoning the Empress position within reach, then seizing the opportunity to rise. Second, other princes, especially second prince Prince Qin, stirring up conflict – killing Dan’er, then using my hand to destroy the Crown Prince, positioning himself as the eldest illegitimate son to possibly enter the Eastern Palace. Prince Qin has committed many evils – he once tortured and killed Court Lady Liu, doing the insane act of cutting out Court Lady Liu’s tongue and tricking Princess Qin into eating it. Killing a brother would be nothing to him.”

At this point, the Crown Prince’s screams came from next door again. Noble Consort Guo smiled mockingly: “Actually, later I most suspected Prince Qin and least hoped it was the Crown Prince. Though some say the Crown Prince is hypocritical, always pretending to be good, when I was foolish, I also studied Empress Xiaoci’s daily records to learn her words and actions, managing the rear palace and pretending to be a good empress. Pretending doesn’t matter – who’s born a saint? Who lacks flaws or weaknesses? As long as you keep pretending and get closer to the goal, it’s good.”

Here, the cries of pain next door suddenly stopped. Seeing the Crown Prince in such agony, the physicians used acupuncture to make him unconscious, continuing to pour antidote medicine and extend his life. At this time, there was no such thing as giving up treatment – every moment saved was precious.

As Noble Consort Guo narrated, Emperor Hongwu remained silent, constantly monitoring the adjacent room. When the Crown Prince’s cries suddenly ceased, he understood the Crown Prince was beyond medical help.

Emperor Hongwu had elevated the Guo family because he valued safety. Both Lady Guo and Dan’er had average abilities – even mediocre wouldn’t be wrong – but the Guo family was full of loyal martyrs. Even Dan’er, this coward, took up weapons in the underground palace to protect Empress Xiaoci’s coffin when the two rebellious sons born to Consort Dading attacked Xiaoling.

The more critical the moment, the more human nature was revealed. Dan’er, this stupid, foolish son, had a pure, kind heart and held genuine filial respect for his legitimate mother, Empress Xiaoci.

Therefore, among over twenty sons, Emperor Hongwu loved Prince Lu Huang most. For him, he chose the comfortable fief of Yanzhou, ordered the Ministry of Works to build Prince Lu’s mansion well, and knowing it exceeded regulations, still allowed the Ministry to spare no expense in luxury and grandeur. He even had Yanzhou’s city walls torn down and moved south, building Prince Lu’s mansion more magnificently than the imperial city in Fengyang.

Among over twenty vassal prince mansions, none compared to Prince Lu’s mansion. This foolish son had no interest in the succession or imperial power, wholeheartedly depending on his father, enjoying wealth and honor carelessly.

Emperor Hongwu verbally sighed that Dan’er was worthless, but inwardly felt Dan’er’s useless ignorance was actually good – the ignorant were more easily happy.

Dan’er’s mother, Noble Consort Guo, while managing rear palace power, treated all consorts, princes, and princesses fairly and impartially, everywhere emulating Empress Xiaoci.

How could Emperor Hongwu not know that making Noble Consort Guo Empress would make Dan’er the only legitimate son, threatening the Eastern Palace?

However, the Guo family’s loyalty, Dan’er’s lack of ambition, and Noble Consort Guo’s virtue and fairness – like Empress Xiaoci reborn – these three points made Emperor Hongwu decide to make Noble Consort Guo Empress. It was a very safe approach allowing the rear palace, court, and all princes to coexist peacefully.

But unexpectedly, while he trusted the Guo family, Noble Consort Guo, and Prince Lu Huang, the Crown Prince didn’t.

The Crown Prince simply poisoned his most beloved son…

This Crown Prince renowned for benevolence! You could kneel outside my study without rising to save teacher Song Lian’s life, even fainting – how could you bear to poison your own brother?

Emperor Hongwu regretted deeply. In the end, he had still overestimated the Crown Prince.

If he hadn’t planned to make Noble Consort Guo Empress, Dan’er wouldn’t have died, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have died, and at least on the surface, they could have maintained the appearance of brotherly harmony… but there were no ifs.

Listening to the commotion next door, Noble Consort Guo stared at the wall as if she could see through it. The pain Dan’er experienced was being replicated exactly on the Crown Prince. Dan’er’s death was more painful and prolonged than she had imagined!

Noble Consort Guo felt both satisfied and anguished. She shed tears for the pain Dan’er suffered before death, crying:

“I didn’t want it to be the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince still disappointed me. When Hu Shanwei returned and told me about Dan’er’s death and funeral, she didn’t even realize that whenever she mentioned the Crown Prince, her gaze would unconsciously dodge, her hands would clasp together, and sometimes she would touch her neck. Her tone was too flat, like she had rehearsed countless times in her mind. Sometimes she would pause, think, then continue – Your Majesty, today I’m no longer the clueless Noble Consort Guo Ning of the past. Hu Shanwei’s words and behavior clearly showed she was hiding something from me.”

Having suddenly lost two sons, facing Noble Consort Guo crying from the pain of losing her child, Emperor Hongwu’s heart felt more sadness than rage. He could understand Noble Consort Guo’s pain. Originally, they should have embraced each other in grief, comforting each other through the shadow of losing their son, but Noble Consort Guo had killed his eldest son.

What karmic retribution. Emperor Hongwu felt love and hate intertwined toward Noble Consort Guo – both hurt and pitying.

“An innocent man suffers for possessing a jade disc. Once you became Empress, Dan’er would be the Ming Dynasty’s only legitimate son – this status brought him fatal disaster.” Emperor Hongwu slowly raised his head:

“I also cherished Dan’er. He was a pure, kind child. I always scolded him for being useless and unambitious, but actually loved this foolish son most. He was the first prince born after the Ming founding! Just two months after founding the dynasty, you gave birth to Dan’er – his birth was extraordinarily meaningful, like an auspicious omen. How could I not favor him? No matter what absurd things he did, I would forgive him.”

Hearing Emperor Hongwu mention Dan’er’s birth, Noble Consort Guo cried even louder. Back then, her son was a tiny, red bundle in swaddling clothes, wriggling like a little worm. As a new mother, she didn’t even dare hold him, afraid of harming him, carefully nurturing him to adulthood. But her beloved son was poisoned blind and died in agony all night – how could she not hate? How could she let go of this vengeance?

Emperor Hongwu handed a handkerchief to Noble Consort Guo: “I’m sixty-two years old – white-haired sending off black-haired. However much pain you feel, I feel equally. But why did you determine the Crown Prince poisoned Dan’er just because you suspected Hu Shanwei was hiding something and lying to you? Why not other consorts? Why not Prince Qin? You acted so ruthlessly against the Crown Prince – didn’t you think he’s also my son?”

Noble Consort Guo would rather use her sleeves to wipe tears regardless of appearance than accept Emperor Hongwu’s handkerchief: “I’m no longer my former self. I secretly ordered Hu Shanwei to investigate Dan’er’s death, but Hu Shanwei lied to me – I’ve always trusted Hu Shanwei’s ability and character, so I’ve always obeyed her. In this world, who could force her to submit, violate her usual principles and oaths made before me, and speak lies against her conscience?”

“Only Your Majesty could do this. And whom would Your Majesty protect by forcing Hu Shanwei to lie against her will? It couldn’t be consorts – Your Majesty values heirs most. Among rear palace women, except Empress Xiaoci, who could truly catch your eye? They’re just tools for relieving Your Majesty’s loneliness and bearing children. Even I am the same, so it couldn’t be consorts.”

“Not Prince Qin, because he has countless misdeeds – as they say, when there are many lice, you don’t feel the bites; when debts pile up, you don’t worry. Prince Qin is naturally cruel – adding the crime of killing his brother, as a father, Your Majesty cannot execute your son, but stripping Prince Qin’s title and confining him in Fengyang again as punishment would not only appease me but make my two brothers grateful, fighting even harder to protect the Ming territory. The Guo family would support Your Majesty and the Ming Dynasty for generations. This would be sacrificing a rook to save the king, but Your Majesty didn’t do this – instead choosing to force Hu Shanwei to lie to me.”

“Your Majesty, it wasn’t Hu Shanwei who leaked the secret – you yourself step by step revealed that the real culprit was the Crown Prince!”

Author’s note: Emperor Hongwu: My fault, I guess.