38: Chapter 38 Dog? No, your name is Wang Chengen.

Early in the morning on the palace path, Eunuch Sanbao followed Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong, clutching the heavy golden register and royal seal. His face was flushed with excitement. He wanted to offer congratulations several times, but seeing the expressionless, almost stern profile of his master, he swallowed his words.

The Crown Prince did not seem happy at all.

"Your Highness, this... this seal is really heavy," Eunuch Sanbao said after holding it for a long time, finding a topic.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong paused, turned his head to look at the heavy Hetian jade seal in Eunuch Sanbao's arms, then looked at his flushed face, and suddenly smiled: "Find it heavy? Why don't you be the Prince of Wu instead?"

Eunuch Sanbao shivered in fear, the golden register almost slipping from his arms. He shook his head like a rattle-drum: "No, no, no, this servant wouldn't dare! This servant was just... just happy for Your Highness!"

"Happy about what?" Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong turned back and continued walking, his voice devoid of emotion. "Happy that I went from an unwanted grandson to a thorn in the side of the civil official group, a death warrant for the million gentry in the south, and the number one target of my uncle in Beiping?"

He stretched, his joints popping slightly.

"We have a long way to go, Eunuch Sanbao. The road ahead is long and arduous."

Eunuch Sanbao listened, bewildered, and just giggled foolishly. He didn't understand the intricacies of the imperial court; he only knew that his master would never be bullied again.

As they spoke, they arrived at the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace was still the same Eastern Palace, but stepping into it now, the feeling was completely different.

At the palace gate, the newly replaced Imperial Guards saw the figure of Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong and knelt on one knee in unison. The sound of armor clashing was crisp and powerful, merging into a single shout: "Welcome, Your Highness, Prince of Wu!"

The sound rolled out, spreading throughout the entire Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong walked inside without looking aside. In the courtyard, a sea of people were kneeling. Every eunuch and palace maid in the Eastern Palace, from the stewards to those tending the fires, were all prostrate on the ground, not daring to breathe loudly.

A few days ago, in their eyes, Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong was still that cowardly imperial grandson who could be easily manipulated, even drowned in a water vat.

But now, he was the powerful Prince of Wu of the Great Ming, capable of deciding the life and death of them and their entire clans.

The shift in status was too fast, so fast that everyone felt a bone-deep fear.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong ignored them and went straight to his sleeping quarters.

After tossing and turning for a day and a night, he was indeed exhausted. But he didn't rest. He just had Eunuch Sanbao bring him a basin of cold water and splashed his face, refreshing himself.

"Pass the word down," he said to Eunuch Sanbao while wiping his face with a cloth towel. "Tell Jiang Wan to come see me immediately. Also, issue my royal order: command General Lan Yu, the Duke of Cao, as well as the Duke of Song, General Feng Sheng, the Duke of Ying, General Fu Youde, General Wang Bi, and Chang Sheng to come to the Eastern Palace in one hour to discuss matters."

"Yes!" Eunuch Sanbao accepted the order and turned to leave.

"Wait," Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong called him back, thought for a moment, and added, "General Lan Yu and the Duke of Cao are injured; let them come by sedan chair. No need for formalities."

A hint of warmth flashed in Eunuch Sanbao's eyes. He quickly agreed and hurried out.

In the sleeping quarters, only Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong remained. He walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked towards the towering roof of Fengtian Hall in the distance.

The old man seemed to have given him immense power—the authority to control the military of the three provinces and the power to execute first and report later. But investigating the farmland in the south is a task that kills whoever attempts it in every dynasty.

Touching the purses of the southern gentry is more painful to them than digging up their ancestral graves. When the time comes, they will use every dirty trick in the book—inciting riots, colluding with bandits, assassinations, and poisonings.

If he messes it up and causes chaos in the south, with public grievances boiling over, he wouldn't even need the old man to act; the spit of those civil officials would drown him, the Prince of Wu. Imperial Grandson Zhu Yunwen might even make a comeback.

Therefore, this battle must be won, and it must be won beautifully.

He must not only collect the money but also force them into submission, turning the south—the richest and most corrupt place in the Great Ming—into his own ironclad stronghold.

An hour later, the people in the Eastern Palace courtyard were still kneeling.

The spring chill was biting. The cold stone tiles seeped into their bones through their thin clothes, and many were shivering. But no one dared to move, or even look up.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong had changed into black casual robes and paced casually. He didn't speak, just walked with his hands behind his back, step by step, among the kneeling crowd. Those he passed tightened their backs, breathing as lightly as possible.

An old eunuch who was favored by Lady Lu and usually responsible for procurement, having skimmed plenty of profit, was now shaking like chaff. He could feel the Prince of Wu's boots stop in front of him.

"Your name is Wang Defa?" Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong's voice was very calm, devoid of any emotion.

The eunuch trembled all over, kowtowing like pounding garlic, his voice cracking: "This... this servant is here."

"I remember, when I was attacked three days ago, you seemed to be watching from a distance, right?"

Wang Defa's head buzzed. He collapsed, and a pungent odor of urine instantly filled the air.

"Your... Your Highness, spare me! This servant... this servant was forced by Lady Lu... by that poisonous woman! Spare me!"

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong frowned and took a step back to avoid the smell.

He didn't look at Wang Defa again, turning his gaze to the other side of the crowd, landing on a sallow, thin little eunuch kneeling in the corner who had almost no presence.

"You, what is your name?"

The little eunuch was stunned for a moment before realizing he was being addressed. He quickly kowtowed and replied: "Answering Your Highness, this servant... this servant is called Gou'er."

"Gou'er?" Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong smiled. "That's not a very good name. From now on, you shall be called Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen."

"Ah?" The little eunuch called Gou'er was dumbfounded.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong ignored his surprise and continued: "From today on, you are the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace. All of Wang Defa's assets and wealth belong to you. All the servants in the Eastern Palace are under your command. If anyone refuses to obey, or acts in bad faith..."

He paused, his voice turning cold.

"No need to ask me, just drag them out and beat them to death."

Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen, formerly Gou'er, was still blank. He was just a low-level eunuch responsible for cleaning the latrines; he usually couldn't even see the stewards. How did he suddenly become the Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Palace?

It wasn't until Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong's gaze fell on him again that he snapped out of it. Ecstasy instantly overwhelmed his reason, and he kowtowed desperately, his forehead thumping against the stone tiles.

"This servant, Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen, thanks Your Highness for your immense grace! I am willing to die for Your Highness!"

The eunuchs and palace maids beside him changed their expressions instantly. Envy, jealousy, but mostly awe.

Everyone understood.

The new master's methods were more ruthless than Lady Lu's, and more direct.

Those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish; there was no middle ground.

"As for this one," Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong pointed to Wang Defa, who had collapsed into a puddle of mush, "Jiang Wan."

"Your subject is here!" Jiang Wan, who had been standing outside the hall, immediately walked in and knelt on one knee.

"Hand this person over to you," Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong said lightly. "You know my rules."

Jiang Wan felt a chill in his heart and nodded heavily: "Your subject understands!"

After speaking, he waved his hand, and two Embroidered Uniform Guard officers immediately stepped forward, dragging Wang Defa out like a dead dog.

In the courtyard, there was dead silence.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong scanned the crowd and then spoke slowly: "Everyone, rise. I am not a bloodthirsty person. As for the past, Chief Eunuch Wang Chengen will investigate and handle it. From now on, whoever is loyal and capable, I will see it. Those who deserve rewards will not be shortchanged."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Everyone felt as if they had been granted amnesty and stood up tremblingly.

Inside the side hall, the heater was burning brightly.

General Lan Yu and the Duke of Cao were lying on specially made soft couches, while General Feng Sheng, General Fu Youde, and others sat on both sides. The core members of the military group were gathered together, and the atmosphere was lively.

"Your Highness, just say it! What do you want us brothers to do? Investigating the fields in the south, right? Damn it, I've long been annoyed with that bunch of sour scholars in the south! This time, I must squeeze the crap out of them!" General Wang Bi was the most impatient, slapped his thigh, and shouted.

The Duke of Cao lay on the couch, not forgetting to add to his own performance, weakly echoing: "That's right... Your Highness, your subject... is willing to be the vanguard for Your Highness! Although... although I am seriously injured, my heart to serve Your Highness is witnessed by the heavens! Ouch..."

He spoke with such excitement that he pulled his wound and groaned in pain.

General Lan Yu glared at him, signaling him to shut up, and then said to Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong in a deep voice: "Your Highness, investigating the farmland is no small matter. The clan forces in the south are deeply intertwined, and the local government is in cahoots with them. If we go down there with such fanfare, I'm afraid we won't be able to make a single move."

General Fu Youde also nodded and added: "General Lan Yu is right. They only need to burn the account books and incite some ignorant people to make a scene, and we will be in big trouble. At that time, those censor officials in the imperial court will be able to drown us with their spit."

These were all veteran generals who had experienced many battles. Although they were not well-versed in literature, they saw the viciousness of human nature and the complexity of local networks better than anyone.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong listened, noncommittal, just picked up his teacup and gently blew on the steam.

"Uncle, Uncle Fu, I understand what you are saying." He took a sip of tea before speaking slowly, "Therefore, this time, when we go south, we are not calling it investigating farmland."

Everyone was stunned.

Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong put down the teacup, a meaningful smile curling the corners of his mouth.

"We are calling it... Sweeping away black and evil forces."