1402 AD, Imperial Study
Zhu Yunwen sat alone behind the imperial desk, his eyes filled with melancholy. Outside, palace maids and eunuchs hurried about, with occasional sounds of weeping and quarreling. The usually solemn and quiet palace was filled with misery and grief, and sometimes the distant sounds of fighting and clashing swords could be heard.
It seemed he truly wasn’t suited to be an emperor. Zhu Yunwen’s handsome face showed a self-mocking expression. He had sat on this throne for four years, and it appeared time for someone else to take over.
Since four years ago, he had been engaged in various struggles with his Fourth Uncle Zhu Di, and reaching this point, he had to admire his opponent.
While reflecting on his brief twenty-one-year life, Zhu Yunwen heard running footsteps outside. He had just raised his head when he saw Cheng Cong enter with an anxious expression, not even greeting him before urgently reporting: “Your Majesty! Duke of Cao Li Jinglong and Prince Gu Zhu Quan have opened Jinchuan Gate to welcome that traitor Prince of Yan into the capital!”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen’s smile didn’t fade. Instead, he nodded with understanding: “No wonder I heard the shouting and killing outside has stopped. So that’s the reason.”
Seeing his expression, Cheng Cong was shocked. Looking around and seeing the Imperial Study swept clean of all antiques and objects, he said in amazement: “Your Majesty! This… this…” Then realizing what he had seen – those eunuchs and palace maids fleeing the palace with large and small bundles – he flew into rage: “Those slaves, simply! Simply!” Being a scholarly man, even in his shock and anger, he couldn’t squeeze out a single curse word.
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand: “I told them to take things and leave. Fourth Uncle doesn’t tolerate people either. Why make them accompany me on this final journey?”
Cheng Cong’s heart shook, realizing Zhu Yunwen had resolved to die. He couldn’t help stepping forward: “Your Majesty! You should leave too! The city is in chaos right now – Your Majesty could escape to other princely domains…”
Zhu Yunwen smiled and raised his hand to stop Cheng Cong’s words, saying lightly: “A lamb, no matter where it goes, is prey for wolves. What difference is there between escaping from one wolf’s mouth into another’s?” Without waiting for Cheng Cong to persuade further, he continued asking: “Mingzhe, do you think I’m fundamentally unsuited to be emperor?”
Cheng Cong was startled by these words, because when Zhu Yunwen spoke them, he had even abandoned the imperial “zhen” self-reference.
Looking at the young emperor sitting behind the imperial desk with vulnerability in his smile, Cheng Cong called out loudly: “Your Majesty.”
“Don’t speak falsely – I can tell whether you’re speaking truth or lies.” Zhu Yunwen smiled ambiguously as he picked up the folding fan from the imperial desk. Of all the moveable objects in this Imperial Study, he had rewarded everything to the attending palace maids and eunuchs. The only thing remaining here was this Wu Ming Fan.
Cheng Cong said seriously: “Your Majesty, this subject will always speak truth to Your Majesty.” Seeing that Zhu Yunwen wasn’t driving him away but chatting with him instead, the panic in his heart gradually transformed into calm, recovering his usual composure. He straightened his disheveled court robes and respectfully spoke as in their usual exchanges: “Your Majesty’s benevolent governance – in the first year of Jianwen, the Ministry of Personnel reported prisoners reduced to thirty percent of Great Ancestor’s time. In the second year of Jianwen, you decreed reduced heavy taxes in Suzhou, Songjiang, Jiaxing, and Huzhou – no more than one dou per mu, earning universal praise. You re-established the Six Ministries…”
In the Imperial Study, Cheng Cong’s clear voice quietly echoed, seeming like a completely different world from the chaotic palace outside.
Zhu Yunwen quietly listened to Cheng Cong recounting his political achievements one by one. After the Imperial Study returned to tranquility, he couldn’t help sighing deeply: “Too short… only four years…”
“Yes, too short. And the main reason is that Great Ancestor indeed left Your Majesty a thorn branch with the thorns removed, but he didn’t think that a thorn branch without thorns for protection would be easily seized by others.” Standing in this empty Imperial Study, Cheng Cong spoke words he had never dared say before. Zhu Yunwen had told him about that thorn branch, which had given him much to think about.
Zhu Yunwen stared blankly at the Wu Ming Fan in his hands. Without opening it, he knew Cheng Cong spoke the truth.
Just as he had revealed his feelings, Zhu Yunwen had never doubted that even half a sentence from him would be false. Including those Confucian ministers around him, all were upright and outspoken in their advice. In these four years, Zhu Yunwen had never once opened this Wu Ming Fan.
“Your Majesty, there’s still time. You should still leave…” Seeing Zhu Yunwen’s expression soften, Cheng Cong immediately tried to persuade him: “Even if… you don’t like being a lamb, you don’t have to be one…”
Zhu Yunwen understood his meaning. A glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, but it quickly extinguished.
Having grown up in the deep palace since childhood, identified early as the future heir, studying the Four Books and Five Classics and principles of governance daily, he didn’t know what else he could do if not be emperor.
But Cheng Cong caught that glimmer of light and continued persuading: “Your Majesty, you and I are similar in build. Shortly, you can wear my court robes to leave. At the West Corner Gate, my servant is waiting.”
“What about you?” Zhu Yunwen didn’t answer but asked in return.
“I’ll burn this palace in a moment. Naturally, no one will be able to see my face then.” Cheng Cong spoke very naturally, not taking life and death seriously at all. In fact, he felt that being able to serve loyally before this young emperor was a blessing he had cultivated over lifetimes.
Zhu Yunwen chuckled softly and shook his head: “No, I still have something I need you to do. Come here.”
With that, he slowly opened the Wu Ming Fan in his hands.
Zhu Di sat on horseback with great satisfaction, deliberately tightening the reins and slowing his pace, riding slowly past the officials prostrating themselves on the ground.
This feeling was damned good!
Seeing the familiar capital of Yingtian Prefecture opening its gates to him without defense, if not for maintaining his usually serious and stern image, Zhu Di really wanted to look up and laugh loudly, shouting “I’ve finally returned!”
Oh no, perhaps he should change his self-reference now – “zhen” has finally returned!
While Zhu Di was secretly fantasizing, from the corner of his eye he glimpsed that following closely behind him was his second son Zhu Gaoxu, not his eldest son Zhu Gaochi.
In this Jingnan Campaign, his second son Zhu Gaoxu had contributed the most. At the final moment when he was about to decide on dividing rule with Zhu Yunwen across the Yangtze River, this second son had led troops to arrive and crossed the river in one decisive push. His merit was considerable, so Zhu Di had given him a promise on the battlefield, saying his elder brother Zhu Gaochi was often ill, and if they won the realm, he would make him Crown Prince.
Zhu Di naturally knew this was just to make his son happy. Regardless of dynasty, the establishment and deposition of Crown Princes would shake the nation’s foundation. If his eldest son Zhu Gaochi made no great errors in the future, the throne would naturally pass to him.
As for that promise, it was naturally false.
Zhu Di had spoken countless lies in his life. His mother consort was of humble birth, yet he claimed to the outside world that he was born of Empress Ma. Before father emperor, he only said what the latter liked to hear, and made heavy promises to subordinates. Speaking a few lies to his own son naturally wouldn’t cause him much psychological burden. While thinking so coldly, Zhu Di looked at his second son Zhu Gaoxu following closely behind him, face flushed red with excitement, and gave him a smile of approval.
Zhu Gaoxu immediately misunderstood even more due to this look, his expression growing more excited.
Just as Zhu Di was about to encourage him with a few words, he heard commotion ahead. He turned back in displeasure, only to be shocked to see thick smoke rising in the distance from the direction of the imperial palace.
Immediately spurring his horse, Zhu Di galloped over, ordering immediate fire suppression. Even without investigation, he knew this must be his useless nephew Zhu Yunwen committing suicide by fire. He didn’t want this nephew to die like this – he wanted to receive abdication from him openly and honorably, to have him acknowledge his mistakes, so that his four-year-long Jingnan Campaign would be recorded in history as a righteous war.
But seeing the towering flames already burning, Zhu Di nearly ground his teeth to powder. The palace was all wooden construction – once it caught fire, it was very difficult to extinguish.
Everyone was helpless, only able to watch silently as the magnificent imperial palace was consumed by flames. No one spoke, all feeling that this fire had burned away the old era of the Ming Empire.
Zhu Di sent people to search for Zhu Yunwen’s whereabouts but found nothing. All evidence indicated that Zhu Yunwen was very likely inside the burning palace.
“Father! Someone says he brings a message from Emperor Jianwen.” The fire had burned all day, and as the sun set and the flames were dying down, Zhu Gaoxu dragged someone over. Their Prince of Yan faction had long stopped calling Zhu Yunwen “Your Majesty,” only calling him “Emperor Jianwen.”
Zhu Di looked closely and found it was a young man wearing sixth-rank court robes. After brief recollection, he remembered this person was the Imperial Academy Attendant who was very close to Zhu Yunwen, called Cheng Cong. At this moment he was disheveled, his court robes in disarray, probably having been searched for hidden weapons when Zhu Gaoxu brought him over. Zhu Di narrowed his eyes, imposing without anger: “Oh? What words did he leave?”
“Prince of Yan, please dismiss your attendants. What I’m about to say is best not passed to a second person.” Cheng Cong broke free from Zhu Gaoxu’s restraints, his expression composed. He lowered his head to straighten his court robes, serious and solemn.
Zhu Di wasn’t afraid that this scholar who couldn’t even kill a chicken would threaten him. He dismissed his subordinates, even sending away the reluctant Zhu Gaoxu, then stared steadily at the calm young man before him. His gaze fell on the folding fan in the man’s hands, immediately finding it familiar – he recognized it as the fan father emperor never left his side.
Probably another guy献宝 to seek self-preservation. Thinking of the princes and officials who had opened gates to welcome him, hoping for the merit of support, Zhu Di’s gaze carried some contempt as he said carelessly: “Speak.”
Cheng Cong paid no attention to Zhu Di’s expression but calmly revealed everything about the Wu Ming Fan’s origins and its miraculous ability to distinguish truth from lies.
Zhu Di’s expression changed repeatedly. Only now did he learn why father emperor never liked him until death – the problem lay with this Wu Ming Fan! No wonder eldest brother Zhu Biao was so honest and never lied – he must have known the Wu Ming Fan’s secret, and he had thought it was just his nature!
Being a ruler himself, he naturally knew how important this Wu Ming Fan was to him. Unable to suppress his joy any longer, he laughed heartily: “Mingzhe, your merit is great! What do you want? When I formally ascend the throne, I will surely reward you heavily!” While speaking, he unceremoniously took the Wu Ming Fan from Cheng Cong’s hands, thinking that such an important secret naturally couldn’t be known by a second person – he must find an opportunity to permanently silence this young man.
Only the dead could truly keep secrets.
At this moment, guards reported that the palace fire had mostly burned out, and they had found a corpse in the ruins, though it was too charred to identify whether it was Emperor Jianwen.
Zhu Di slowly opened the folding fan in his hands and asked Cheng Cong: “Mingzhe, do you know if that corpse is my nephew?”
Cheng Cong straightened his body and smiled slightly with a trace of pride: “Prince of Yan, do you know that His Majesty knew the Wu Ming Fan’s secret, yet in his four years as emperor, why did he never once open this Wu Ming Fan?”
Zhu Di frowned without answering, but inwardly scoffed, absolutely not believing that Zhu Yunwen could have such a treasure yet resist using it.
Cheng Cong looked at him deeply, the corner of his mouth curving in a cold smile, as if mocking his confidence and ignorance, saying lightly: “Because only those who like to tell lies suspect whether others speak truth or falsehood.”
Zhu Di was stunned by these words, then was nearly overwhelmed by the shame and anger that surged up. No longer caring about dignity, he raged: “Speak quickly! Is Zhu Yunwen in that hall or not!” After speaking, he stared intently at the Wu Ming Fan in his hands, preparing to test whether Cheng Cong spoke truth or lies.
But Cheng Cong had no intention of answering this question, decisively rushing toward the south wall of the palace.
None of the nearby guards expected him to suddenly act thus, and no one stopped him in time.
Zhu Di watched expressionlessly as the young Imperial Academy Attendant collapsed beneath the south wall, forcing words out through gritted teeth: “Search.”
2013 AD
“Ah… That Zhu Di forgot that even possessing a Wu Ming Fan that can verify truth and falsehood, others can still refuse to answer questions!” The Doctor’s rabbit doll had been dressed in a thick red cotton coat. Though he was a doll and couldn’t feel winter’s cold, snow was already falling outside, so he should at least match the season! However, the buttons seemed a bit tight. The Doctor struggled to move his now round body from the counter to the Boss, indicating he should help loosen the coat buttons.
Though not understanding how a doll could feel stifled, the Boss still put down the folding fan he was wiping and reached out to help the Doctor unbutton his coat.
“Phew, that’s much more comfortable.” The Doctor wiggled his long rabbit ears and continued commenting on the story: “I imagine that Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di afterward also carried this Wu Ming Fan constantly, never letting it leave his side, right? No wonder he and his father Zhu Yuanzhang were both bloodthirsty – in early Ming, only during Emperor Huidi Zhu Yunwen’s four years did officials have easy days. All other times were mountains of corpses and seas of blood! That Zhu Di even invented exterminating ten clans, even more brutal than nine clans! Truly formidable!”
The Boss made no comment. He didn’t believe all this was caused by his giving the Wu Ming Fan to Zhu Yuanzhang. Even without the Wu Ming Fan, killing would still exist. As Cheng Cong had said, only those who like telling lies suspect whether others speak truth or falsehood. Different objects serve different purposes in different people’s hands. In Zhu Yunwen’s hands, this Wu Ming Fan was just an ordinary folding fan.
Seeing the Boss remain silent, the Doctor finally couldn’t restrain himself and asked his biggest question: “Boss! You turned Emperor Hui Liu Ying into fake death and rescued him, and you know the Wu Ming Fan story so clearly – did you also save Emperor Hui Zhu Yunwen? Hey! Both of these people have the posthumous title ‘Hui’! What a coincidence!”
The Boss still said nothing, again picking up the Wu Ming Fan from the brocade box to carefully wipe it with silk cloth.
“Boss! Don’t keep people in suspense! That Zhu Yunwen was one of history’s rare emperors without a recorded death date. Later when Zhu Di sent Three Jewels Eunuch Zheng He on maritime expeditions, legend says it was to search for Zhu Yunwen’s whereabouts! Did he actually die or not!” Getting no answer, the Doctor was scratching his heart and liver with curiosity.
But at this moment, the Boss slowly opened the Wu Ming Fan in his hands. On the luxurious gold-sprinkled silk, that square and proper character “明” (Ming) gradually revealed itself as the fan opened.
“Oh? Want to know the answer? Then do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”