My father, Zhu Di, was granted a second life by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Chapter 18 Too concerned about winning or losing

What must be faced must be faced; avoidance will not solve any problems.

Zhu Yuanzhang had known about the news of his grandson's fall from his horse for a long time and had been waiting for him to return in the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youdun deliberately avoided such an awkward situation and made an excuse to leave.

Zhu Gaoxi also wanted to avoid it. He didn't want to witness the Crown Prince being reprimanded; the risk was too high and would directly affect his future wealth and honor.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang stopped him.

"I let you follow the Crown Prince because I thought you were sensible. Why didn't you stop him from leaving the palace?" Zhu Yuanzhang started by attacking Zhu Gaoxi.

Is there anything I can do to stop them?

You didn't see it. The Crown Prince was completely devastated. How could he dare to come see you? What if you crippled him?

Zhu Gaoxi felt he was wronged.

Zhu Yuanzhang won over countless famous ministers and generals throughout his life; he could never understand this sense of defeat.

Zhu Youdun could do it with ease, but Zhu Yunwen couldn't. How could he bear it?

Fortunately, Zhu Yuanzhang knew when to stop and when he saw Zhu Gaoxi with tears in his eyes, he promptly turned his attention to the main target, saying, "Everyone has their own expertise. The task of leading troops and conquering is left to the princes and dukes. Focus your main attention on political affairs first."

"Your grandson understands," Zhu Yunwen replied respectfully.

"I'll have Xu Huizu teach you military strategy later. He's a loyal and upright man, just like his father. You need to know how to recognize and use people. Jinglong is not as self-disciplined as Xu Huizu," Zhu Yuanzhang patiently instructed, "You just know how to flatter you with nice words."

"Grandson will heed your teachings," Zhu Yunwen said humbly.

"You are the ruler, and he is the subject. He has flattered you with a few sweet words, and you are completely bewildered. What kind of behavior is this? You need to practice more than just riding and archery," Zhu Yuanzhang said, getting angrier as he spoke.

Zhu Yunwen's face turned red.

"You need to cultivate composure, to calm your mind, do you understand?" Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at Zhu Yunwen with a back scratcher. "You're so easily agitated, letting others lead you by the nose. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?!"

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he pulled Zhu Gaoxi out.

Zhu Gaoxi turned to look at Zhu Yunwen and thought he looked like he was crying.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked all the way to the Imperial Garden before stopping.

"Grandpa," Zhu Gaoxi said, somewhat frightened by Zhu Yuanzhang's angry expression.

"Do you think your grandfather is wrong?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked dejectedly.

How could he know what was right and wrong?

Zhu Gaoxi shook his head blankly.

Judging solely by ability and disregarding etiquette, Zhu Youdun was clearly more suitable to be the crown prince than Zhu Yunwen.

However, Zhu Yunwen was already the crown prince. Would Zhu Yuanzhang be willing to depose him?

Since Sheng Yu, He Shengliang?

People's talents and abilities are naturally uneven.

Zhu Yunwen's worst skill was not riding and archery, but rather his tendency to lose his composure.

For an emperor, the most important thing is the art of ruling, which is to use a variety of means to control his ministers, rather than competing with them in every aspect.

It was just a horse training exercise, yet it threw Zhu Yunwen into a state of utter confusion.

How should I cope if I encounter even greater pressure in the future?

Zhu Yuanzhang could eliminate arrogant and unruly generals, but how could he cultivate such composure?

Zhu Youdun led his guards to find Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang left in a hurry, with only a junior eunuch by his side.

"Grandpa," Zhu Youdun said, bowing.

"There's stew, Grandpa's alright. Seeing you makes me feel better," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a heartfelt smile as he looked at his grandson.

"Haste makes waste. The Crown Prince needs time to process some of the pressure," Zhu Youdun advised.

"I know, Grandpa was too impatient," Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

"Grandpa, your health is the most important thing," Zhu Youdun said, draping an outer garment over Zhu Yuanzhang's shoulders.

"Okay, okay, we know. As long as there's stew, Grandpa feels at ease as soon as he sees you. The sky won't fall down," Zhu Yuanzhang stood up.

"Brother," Zhu Gaoxi suddenly had a whimsical idea, "Brother, be a teacher."

"Whose teacher? The Grandson's teacher?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, bowing his head.

"Mine," Zhu Gaoxi said, meeting Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze.

"Your brother doesn't want any apprentices who are too stupid," Zhu Yuanzhang joked.

"Not stupid," Zhu Gaoxi said, his face turning red with anxiety.

"I couldn't be happier if my brother were willing to teach you," Zhu Youdun said with a gentle smile.

"A lifetime," Zhu Gaoxi immediately made another request.

"Will you be my teacher for life?" Zhu Youdun squatted down and asked.

"Yes," Zhu Gaoxi answered loudly.

"I wish I could. You're so smart, I'm afraid I'll have to learn from you in the future," Zhu Youdun said, picking him up.

"Pinky promise," Zhu Gaoxi said, extending his chubby fingers.

"Pinky promise!" Zhu Youdun reached out and made a pinky promise with him.

"Gao Xi has better judgment than your grandfather," Zhu Yuanzhang sighed from the side.

"Grandpa, I'm so ashamed," Zhu Youdun said with a smile.

Zhu Gaoxi suddenly felt inexplicably at ease, just like when he was with his adoptive father.

Upon returning to the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Yunwen had already gone back to the Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang was worried, so he sent Zhu Yunwen with Zhu Gaoxi to find Zhu Yunwen.

As soon as Zhu Gaoxi entered the Cultural Hall, he heard Zhu Yunwen's innermost thoughts once again.

"Why? Why? Why can Zhu Youdun be tamed, but I can't?"

"Why is Zhu Youdun better than me in every way? Why?"

"He's just the heir apparent of the Zhou king, what makes him comparable to me?"

"I am the crown prince, I am the future emperor, I hold absolute power, I am not afraid of him, not afraid..."

"Will Grandpa depose me? Will he choose Zhu Youdun as the crown prince instead?"

"What should I do? What should I do?"

"That horse, that horse... just a horse..."

Zhu Gaoxi didn't want to listen anymore and called out, "Brother!"

"Gao Xi," Zhu Yunwen turned around in a panic, adjusted his posture, and beckoned Zhu Gao Xi to his side, "Missing your brother?"

"Grandpa thinks," Zhu Gaoxi thought this sentence should reassure him.

"You don't want to?" Zhu Yunwen teased, forcing himself to stay alert.

Zhu Gaoxi felt sorry for him, thinking that he couldn't get out of his own inner turmoil.

He cares too much about winning or losing.

All he could rely on was Zhu Yuanzhang's high regard for him.

He was plagued by anxieties and uncertainties.

Zhu Youdun's appearance shattered all his confidence and sense of security.

That evening, Zhu Gaoxi and Zhu Yunwen stayed with Zhu Yunwen at the Cultural Hall.

A few days later, on the way to the main hall, I ran into Fu Zhong.

Fu Zhong was the commander of the Imperial Guards.

He was accompanied by a five- or six-year-old boy, with the short knife given to him by Zhu Youdun hanging at his waist, making him look exceptionally heroic.

"Fu Rong," Zhu Gaoxi called out.

Fu Zhong brought his son over to pay their respects, saying, "Young Prince."

"You know me?" Fu Rong was puzzled as to why the little guy in front of him knew his name.

Zhu Gaoxi shook his head. "Knife."

Fu Rong protectively held the knife, saying, "My godfather gave it to me; I won't let you see it."

"Rong'er, don't be rude," Fu Zhong said softly.

It turns out that Zhu Youdun is Fu Rong's godfather; no wonder he sent the knife.

It's surprising that Zhu Youdun and Fu Zhong have such a close relationship.

Zhu Gaoxi said to Fu Zhongdao, "Horse a horse."

He wanted to go to the horse farm, Zhu Yunwen was taking classes at the Dabentang Hall, and Zhu Yunwen was handling government affairs at the Qianqing Palace. Wu Liang accompanied him out.

"I want to go too," Fu Zhong said loudly, as if afraid of losing his father.

Zhu Gaoxi was too lazy to pay attention to the little brat.

After a moment's thought, Fu Zhong replied, "Very well, but I am preoccupied with official duties and can only spare half an hour at most."

"Okay," Zhu Gaoxi readily agreed.

At the horse farm, Fu Zhong carried Zhu Gaoxi onto the horse. Fu Rong became extremely jealous and sat on the ground, threatening to throw a tantrum. Wu Liang had to use several toys to coax him down.

When Zhu Gaoxi passed by the stable, he found that the chestnut horses were so thin that they were skin and bones.

"Horse," Zhu Gaoxi said to Fu Zhong, pointing to the chestnut horse.

Fu Zhong noticed something was wrong, dismounted, and went over to check. He then called over the eunuch from the horse stable, asking, "Why aren't you feeding it?"

The eunuch stammered and couldn't answer.

"Neglecting your duties and letting your fine horses starve will not be tolerated by His Majesty," Fu Zhong rebuked sternly.

The eunuch knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, "It's none of this servant's business, it was Eunuch Hua who gave the order."

"Which eunuch? It was clearly you who neglected your duties," Wu Liang walked over upon hearing the voice, staring intently into the eunuch's eyes, and asked sternly.

When the eunuch saw Wu Liang, he trembled violently and kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhu Gaoxi knew who Eunuch Hua was.

It was the self-purifying servant that Li Jinglong gave to Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Yunwen could never remember his name, so he called him "Painted Face".

Was starving the chestnut horse at Zhu Yunwen's behest?

Zhu Gaoxi felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.

Did Zhu Yunwen really have to vent his anger in this way?

Did he realize how valuable fine warhorses were to the Ming army?!