Upon hearing A’Lei’s words, Hu Shanwei knew she truly understood – as Palace Supervisor, one must remain neutral in imperial succession struggles. The Palace Supervisor must align with the emperor’s position – Crown Prince, Imperial Grandson, Prince Han were all passing clouds.

There was only one way to make the Palace Supervisor your right hand – become emperor.

Once you became emperor, Palace Supervisor Hu would be your person.

A’Lei was Hu Shanwei’s sister, and her position must align with her elder sister’s. If sister wanted her neutral, she must remain neutral, showing no partiality to any side.

Hu Shanwei worried about her sister, fearing she’d be drawn into the cruel succession struggle.

A’Lei said: “Sister, in my view, there’s no Imperial Grandson and Prince Han’s heir – only Little Chicken Brother and Shuikeng Little Brother who grew up together. Just as in the emperor’s eyes, there are only two severely injured grandsons. I’m very worried about them. Entering the palace is only to see with my own eyes how badly they’re hurt – nothing more.”

A’Lei gave the standard answer, aligning with the emperor’s position.

Believing A’Lei, Hu Shanwei nodded: “Good, go ahead.”

Meanwhile, at the Imperial Grandson’s Palace.

After Wang Zhen was pressed by Zhu Zhanji with “You’re the Crown Prince’s man, aren’t you,” following a brief pause, Wang Zhen knelt beside the bed: “The Palace Secretariat assigned this slave to the Imperial Grandson’s Palace, so naturally this slave belongs to Your Highness.”

Zhu Zhanji didn’t say “you’re Father’s man” but “you’re the Crown Prince’s man,” using official titles instead of family terms – this was already a form of opposition.

Because father and son share blood, connected like branches of the same tree. But Crown Prince and Imperial Grandson, both being heirs, actually had a competitive relationship. There were two heir positions but only one throne. Since Zhu Zhanji was invested as Imperial Grandson, he had already become his father’s rival.

Zhu Zhanji wasn’t so easily fooled. His arm was injured and sutured with eight stitches, but his legs were fine and he could move freely. He used his left hand to lift the blanket. Wang Zhen quickly stood to drape a fur cloak over him: “Your Highness, it’s the first lunar month – be careful not to catch cold.”

Zhu Zhanji’s right arm was wrapped like a pumpkin. The cloak was convenient to put on and take off. He avoided Wang Zhen, using one hand to grasp the cloak and drape it over himself: “I know. Though I’ve treated you well, considering you a confidant and often entrusting you with secret matters, the Crown Prince saved your life. When Xie Jin was schemed against and framed for secretly meeting the Crown Prince, you were unwittingly used as a pawn and dragged to the Ministry of Justice, nearly beaten to death. It was the Crown Prince who, not holding grudges, got you out and sent you back to the Inner Academy to complete your studies. With excellent character and learning, you had the opportunity to stand out and were arranged by the Crown Prince to serve in the Imperial Grandson’s Palace as the Crown Prince’s spy.”

“Your life and future were actually given by the Crown Prince. Asking you to be loyal to me is indeed making things difficult for you. Why not return to the Eastern Palace to serve the Crown Prince – that way you can better serve him loyally.”

Previously when Zhu Zhanji was just the Imperial Eldest Grandson living in the Eastern Palace, loyalty to the Crown Prince meant loyalty to the Imperial Eldest Grandson. But since Zhu Zhanji moved to the Imperial Grandson’s Palace, it was like establishing a separate household. Loyalty to the Crown Prince and loyalty to the Imperial Grandson became different things.

One could only choose one.

Hearing this, Wang Zhen knelt again: “Please, Imperial Grandson, don’t send this slave away. This slave admits I was indeed planted in the Imperial Grandson’s Palace by the Crown Prince, but I’ve never done anything to betray the Imperial Grandson – only reporting some trivial matters to the Crown Prince.”

Hearing this, Zhu Zhanji slowly shook his head: “You betrayed me and betrayed the Crown Prince. I absolutely cannot use you. Leave.”

Wang Zhen crawled forward on his knees and hugged Zhu Zhanji’s thin legs: “If this slave leaves the Imperial Grandson’s Palace, the Crown Prince wouldn’t dare use me either. I’d just be a discarded piece, spending my whole life as a copyist in the Palace Secretariat. However dull I am, I know the Imperial Grandson is the Great Ming’s future. This slave is rootless, like a vine that can only survive by clinging to great trees. Now the palace’s two great trees are already covered with vines – I can’t squeeze in at all. I only wish to stay with one young tree not yet mature, sharing hardships and future wealth together.”

Zhu Zhanji kicked Wang Zhen away: “I don’t trust you.”

Wang Zhen grabbed onto Zhu Zhanji’s legs again like clutching a lifeline: “This slave truly hasn’t betrayed Your Highness. I have a huge secret that I’d rather let rot in my stomach than tell the Crown Prince. This slave is completely loyal to the Imperial Grandson!”

This time Zhu Zhanji didn’t kick Wang Zhen away and asked: “What secret?”

Wang Zhen’s gaze fell on Zhu Zhanji’s injured right arm…

Meanwhile, A’Lei arrived at a side hall in the Qianqing Palace where Zhu Zhanhe was settled. He lay face down on the bed, his back and buttocks covered with a layer of medicinal dressing that felt cool and relieved the burning pain.

By now he was thoroughly marinated in the medicine, even his breathing carried medicinal scents.

The anesthesia had worn off. Zhu Zhanhe slowly awakened, his pupils adjusting focus. His gaze first fell on the pillow, which had a dragon – a five-clawed golden dragon!

Zhu Zhanhe was greatly alarmed: Princes only had four-clawed dragons; five-clawed dragons were the emperor’s exclusive decoration. Could the cannon explosion have knocked me unconscious for years, during which Father successfully rebelled and ascended the throne?

“You’re awake?” A’Lei held a water jug without a lid, with a hollow wheat straw inserted for the prone patient’s convenience. “Want some water?”

Only then did Zhu Zhanhe realize his mouth was parched. He sucked on the straw, gulping down half before sighing with satisfaction: “Sister A’Lei, what year and date is it now? Where is Elder Cousin?”

Father successfully rebelled – the Crown Prince must be gone. Zhu Zhanhe worried about Zhu Zhanji’s safety.

Was he addled by the explosion? A’Lei was somewhat concerned and explained: “It’s now the thirteenth year of Yongle, the twenty-seventh day of the first month. At seven this morning, your father invited the Imperial Grandson to review troops. A cannon exploded, you shielded him with your body to protect the Imperial Grandson. You were severely injured and His Majesty was very concerned, ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to carry you to the palace for joint consultation by the imperial physicians.”

He thought years had passed, but not even a full day!

No wonder the pillow had a five-clawed dragon – this was Imperial Grandfather’s territory.

Zhu Zhanhe, having lain prone too long, wanted to change position. But as soon as he moved, his back wounds began throbbing. The pain made him break into a cold sweat. He wanted to cry out but feared worrying A’Lei, so he forcibly swallowed his groans.

A’Lei wiped his sweat and pulled out a fist-sized wooden ox: “It hurts, doesn’t it? I’ll give you something to distract you.”

Seeing the wooden ox, Zhu Zhanhe managed a smile: “I stopped playing with these when I was seven.”

A’Lei placed the wooden ox on the desk and pointed to the large clock in the corner: “Just wait. When the hour strikes, the wooden ox will automatically start walking.”

Hearing this, Zhu Zhanhe became immediately interested, focusing all attention on the wooden ox and temporarily forgetting his back pain.

Tick-tock, tick-tock!

The iron pendulum below the corner clock swung left and right.

The large clock in the Imperial Grandson’s Palace swayed at the same frequency.

Wang Zhen released Zhu Zhanji’s thin legs and crawled backward on his knees. He took a deep breath, sensing this was the moment that would determine his fate. He hoped he was betting on the right side.

Wang Zhen said: “This secret is the mystery behind today’s cannon explosion at the military review. So far, Prince Han is the prime suspect. His Majesty has ordered Commander Ji to surround Prince Han’s mansion, confining the entire household. The Heavenly Strategy Guard has also been recalled and returned to imperial force organization.”

“Due to this incident, Prince Han has lost His Majesty’s trust. Since last year’s Yu-Lu chaos in the rear palace when His Majesty was poisoned by traitors and fell gravely ill, his health isn’t what it was and his suspicions have grown more severe. So Prince Han’s loss of trust today makes regaining His Majesty’s confidence harder than reaching heaven.”

“This incident’s greatest beneficiary is the Eastern Palace, whose succession position has been precarious lately. First, Prince Han’s loss of trust means he no longer threatens the succession. Second, Your Highness was injured and nearly lost your life, meaning the Great Ming would have only one national heir – the Crown Prince.”

Hearing this, Zhu Zhanji’s gaze grew increasingly deep: “You mean… the Crown Prince was behind the cannon explosion?”

Wang Zhen shook his head repeatedly: “Not the Crown Prince.”

Zhu Zhanji pressed: “Then who?”

Wang Zhen raised his head, his gaze meeting Zhu Zhanji’s: “This slave… dares not say. I haven’t told anyone this secret, including the Crown Prince, because I’m only loyal to the Imperial Grandson alone.”

After a long mutual gaze, Zhu Zhanji raised his uninjured left hand: “Continue.”

Wang Zhen swallowed saliva: “When Your Highness inspected the Heavenly Strategy Guard today, you first test-fired crossbows, then firearms. Each firearm shot requires filling bullets and gunpowder through the muzzle, then ramming it tight with a rod to complete loading. Your Highness fired three times and personally loaded bullets and gunpowder twice. This slave stood beside Your Highness serving throughout. I saw that during Your Highness’s final gunpowder loading, under cover of the cloak, you palmed a small pinch of gunpowder and hid it in the cloak’s hidden pocket.”

“During the final artillery inspection, Your Highness circled a large cannon, carefully examining its structure and even touching the muzzle. It should have been then that gunpowder was scattered into the barrel. Cannon explosions generally have two causes: first, the barrel is too thin or deformed; second, there’s residual gunpowder in the barrel. But gunners preparing for inspection would certainly clean cannons spotlessly – how could there be residue? Moreover, neither Prince Han nor his heir anticipated Your Highness would personally inspect the Heavenly Strategy Guard or personally use various weapons, so they couldn’t have tampered with the cannon beforehand.”

“Therefore, this slave’s secret is that Your Highness spontaneously created this explosion accident personally. Watching the siege exercise, Your Highness knew cannons had tremendous power when firing with debris flying everywhere. Prince Han’s heir would certainly extend the fuse to ensure Your Highness’s safety. Your Highness took this gamble for two reasons: first, the ascendant Prince Han would fail completely and permanently lose imperial favor; second, to resolve the Eastern Palace crisis and make His Majesty trust the Crown Prince again.”

“Your Highness needn’t worry – I’ve secretly cleaned the gunpowder residue from the cloak’s hidden pocket and stuffed in pine and cypress incense to dispel smoke odors, lest anyone suspect Your Highness. I haven’t told the Crown Prince any of this. Your Highness’s sudden suspicion of my loyalty was probably because when secretly rising to clean the cloak’s hidden pocket, you felt the incense inside and became suspicious of me.”

After speaking, the room fell silent except for the tick-tock of the large clock’s pendulum swinging left and right.

After a moment’s silence, Zhu Zhanji reached his left hand into the cloak’s hidden pocket, pulled out a small piece of pine and cypress incense, threw it into the brazier, and asked: “In your view, why would I risk myself when this benefits the Crown Prince?”

Wang Zhen said: “Naturally it’s Your Highness’s filial devotion, unable to bear seeing the Crown Prince trapped and constantly depressed.”

Zhu Zhanji tapped the table lightly with one hand: “Speak plainly.”

Wang Zhen said: “When the skin is gone, where can the hair attach? The Crown Prince supervised the state twice with no governmental failures. His governing ability is evident to all – even Prince Han admires it. Though many court civil and military officials dislike the Crown Prince’s physical disability as unseemly for national dignity, no one questions his capability.”

“Your Highness lacks political experience, having no power or influence. Even with His Majesty’s favor bypassing the Eastern Palace to gain succession, you’d likely follow Emperor Jianwen’s path in the future. Your Highness is still so young – only when the Eastern Palace is stable can the Imperial Grandson’s Palace be stable. At such a young age, Your Highness already has such a broad perspective. This slave admires this and wishes to serve Your Highness loyally, spilling blood and brains, dying ten thousand deaths without regret.”

As soon as he finished speaking, at eight o’clock sharp, the large clock began chiming.

Clang! Clang!

The large clock in Zhu Zhanhe’s recovery room at Qianqing Palace chimed simultaneously.

The wooden ox on the desk began walking automatically, and a small shepherd boy playing a flute suddenly popped up from its back.

Lying prone on the bed, Zhu Zhanhe exclaimed with excitement, forgetting his pain: “This is wonderful! I want this one – nobody compete with me!”

Seeing his delight, A’Lei was also happy and teased: “Didn’t you just say you stopped playing with these at seven?”

Zhu Zhanhe chuckled foolishly.