Chapter 53: Grand Old Zhu

The group engaged in another round of discussion, yet no final conclusion was reached. Guo Kang glanced at his foster father, contemplating whether he should speak up once more. At that moment, a guard at the door announced loudly that the Crown Prince had arrived.

Turning around, he saw Tuo Huan briskly entering.

“Mother!” Tuo Huan wore an expression of relief. “I’ve brought Zhu Dajia and his sister here. Should I let them in?”

“Mind your manners! Speak properly!” The Empress reproached him with a look of exasperation.

Tuo Huan immediately wilted and obediently stood still, awaiting his mother’s instructions.

The Empress then surveyed the room.

Guo Kang noticed she first glanced toward his side. However, Li Xuanying and Shi Ke were whispering quietly, showing no intention of speaking up; Cao Jian remained as taciturn as ever, silent and unreadable; several officials, including Bo Erzhan, seemed quite interested in the earlier discussion about the kobolds and continued to chat about those matters.

Unsure whether to speak himself, Guo Kang decided to hold back and observe. The Empress, considerate, spared him the discomfort and shifted her gaze to the right.

There, Papadopoulos and Yelü Xin were engaged in a heated debate over the extent of the Tang Empire’s territory, while Autriphus and others had gathered to estimate the costs of managing trade routes. Meanwhile, Tuotuobuhua, who had been silenced earlier, complied with orders but still looked visibly disgruntled—likely to complain later.

Finally, the Empress fixed her gaze on Guo Daxia. His foster father keenly noticed her look and responded by turning to her and offering a gentle, somewhat foolish smile.

The Empress sighed deeply and leaned back in her chair, resting her hand on her forehead. Guo Kang felt a pang of sympathy for her.

“You are all now acquainted with the basic situation. We shall adjourn today’s meeting here,” the Empress declared. “I must receive an esteemed guest privately before making any decisions.”

Everyone responded accordingly. The Empress then turned to the foster father. “Guo Daus, I will need to borrow your son for a while.”

“No problem,” the foster father replied with his usual warmth.

The Empress nodded.

“Diotora Holo Bu Hua, Constantine Tuo Huan, Guo Kang, the three of you stay behind. The others may leave,” she instructed.

For a moment, Guo Kang half-expected the Empress to angrily slam down her feather quill or remotely chastise Shi Ke’s younger brother. Fortunately, none of that happened. The ministers bowed and departed one after another; his foster father offered an encouraging word before leaving, leaving just the few of them waiting in the grand hall.

“This place is still not quite suitable,” the Empress mused. “Come with me.”

She led them deeper into the palace to a small parlor reserved for private audiences. After surveying the room’s arrangement, she nodded with satisfaction and instructed Tuo Huan to bring the Zhu siblings in.

Tuo Huan had no choice but to fetch them again.

Shortly after, he returned with the two at the parlor’s entrance.

Leading was a boy of about ten or so, still retaining traces of youthful innocence but clad in formal ceremonial attire, his demeanor solemn enough to appear somewhat deliberate in every gesture.

Behind him followed a little girl in palace dress, her face brimming with childish curiosity as she took in her surroundings. Noticing Guo Kang’s gaze, she offered a sweet smile.

“Mother!” Tuo Huan called out behind them again. “I’ve brought Zhu Dajia—”

Both the Empress and Diotora Holo Bu Hua shot him a sharp look. Tuo Huan immediately stopped himself and corrected, “I’ve brought Young Master Zhu!”

Guo Kang nearly burst out laughing.

He understood the reason for his being summoned—to handle these delicate situations. Known for his familiarity with all parties and his role as the peacemaker, he was expected to mediate awkward moments. Realizing this, Guo Kang stepped forward.

He briskly approached the door and bowed. “Young Master Zhu, please come in. Her Majesty the Empress and the princess await you.”

Young Master Zhu returned the gesture and, with the little girl behind him, moved toward the center of the parlor. Tuo Huan stood awkwardly, and Guo Kang tugged him gently to follow.

The Empress rose to greet the Zhu siblings, exchanging polite greetings and inviting them to sit. A maid served tea in imported Eastern porcelain. Young Master Zhu maintained a serious expression, while his sister sweetly said, “Thank you, Empress, thank you, Sister Diotora,” prompting smiles from both ladies.

“I just noticed something odd. Why does the princess call her ‘Diotora,’ but call me ‘Tuo Huan’?” Tuo Huan whispered to Guo Kang.

Guo Kang had no time to indulge him and nudged him to take a seat over there.

Tuo Huan obediently sat down, and Guo Kang breathed a sigh of relief, returning to his own seat.

The Empress and Young Master Zhu continued exchanging lengthy diplomatic pleasantries. Seizing the moment, Guo Kang reviewed his mission and prepared how to speak next.

Young Master Zhu’s name was Zhu Wenkui, the eldest son of Zhu Yunwen, Prince of Wu from the Ming dynasty. In this world, the Ming court had undergone many upheavals, forcing his family to flee here.

From Guo Kang’s understanding, possibly because Crown Prince Zhu Biao was still alive and the court remained balanced, coupled with the overwhelming presence of various Yuan factions, the infamous Blue Jade case had not occurred in this timeline.

After purging Hu Weiyong, Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang had refrained from targeting the noble military commanders. Instead, citing the need to communicate with the Yuan, he focused on Jiangnan, aiming to resolve the tangled connections among local warlords linked to Java and Japan.

When Zhu Biao ascended the throne, this extremely thorny task remained unfinished, and the Yuan factions continued to operate freely. This likely influenced the selection of his successor.

Zhu Biao had two legitimate sons. The eldest, Zhu Xiongying, had died young, leaving only the third son, Zhu Yunzhong, who was designated Crown Prince.

Zhu Yunzhong’s maternal grandfather was Chang Yuchun, and his great-uncle was Lan Yu. In Guo Kang’s memory, this had been a liability previously. Yet in this world, Zhu Biao seemed confident in cultivating this child, turning these connections into an advantage.

Naturally, this stirred fierce dissatisfaction in the second son, Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Yunwen’s mother, Lady Lü, was elevated to primary consort after the death of Zhu Biao’s legitimate wife, Lady Chang. This led Zhu Yunwen to believe he was also a legitimate son. Moreover, by age, he was older than Zhu Yunzhong and felt entitled to be Crown Prince.

Zhu Yunwen also enjoyed backing from powerful maternal relatives. His maternal grandfather, Lü Ben, was a former Yuan official and a descendant of Lü Wenhuan, a prominent Southern Song general, connected to influential Jiangnan clans.

But the shifting political landscape had made his position precarious. Guo Kang suspected that in this world, these networks had become a political liability, reversing the brothers’ standings.

Of course, Zhu Yunwen himself was deeply displeased. His tutor was scholar Huang Zicheng, and Qi Tai was a close friend. Together, they convened daily, strategizing ways forward.