Volume One, Chapter 11: Establishing Authority (Part Two)

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Zhu Rui saw Zhu Bai and burst into tears. Immediately, overwhelmed with tenderness, he embraced the little twelfth prince tightly and gently coaxed him:
“You’re the best, little twelfth. No one has ever ignored you. It’s just that your parents and brothers have been too busy lately and haven’t come to see you.”
“Have you forgotten? Brother Er used to love you the most. He often took you out to play. You haven’t been bad; the ones who are bad are those beasts!”
At these words, a cold glint flashed in Zhu Rui’s eyes.
Hearing this, little twelfth wiped his tears, his eyes red, and looked at Zhu Rui softly: “Really?”
“Of course. Brother Er and Crown Prince brother, they love you the most,” Zhu Rui teased, pinching Zhu Bai’s nose playfully.
With a sudden wail, Zhu Bai cried louder, “Brother Er, I thought Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and Mother didn’t want me anymore!”
“How could that be?”
...
Zhu Rui spent a long while comforting Zhu Bai before he finally calmed down. Meanwhile, on the other side, Qin Er and the Imperial Guards were still slapping the faces of the eunuchs and palace maids.
One had to admit, after kneeling in a row for a short while, their faces had swollen up like pig heads.
But Qin Wang was not yet satisfied; after all, he couldn’t just draw his sword for nothing.
Seeing Zhu Bai gradually settle down, Zhu Rui quietly asked:
“Little twelfth, do these people often bully you? Do they speak ill of you and our family?”
Though Zhu Rui’s voice seemed gentle, it was laced with deadly intent, causing those eunuchs and maids to panic despite the slaps and hurriedly kneel, begging for mercy from Zhu Bai.
“Your Highness Twelfth, please forgive us this once, we won’t dare again!”
“Your Highness Twelfth, keep us and we will serve you faithfully!”
“Your Highness Twelfth...”
...
For a moment, the entire courtyard erupted into chaos like a bustling market.
“Silence! Did I ask for your noise?”
Zhu Rui spoke calmly, his soft voice overpowering everyone else until silence fell, broken only by the sound of slaps.
Zhu Bai, frightened by his brother’s stern presence, timidly spoke: “Brother Er, they’ve already been punished. Let it go.”
“So you admit what I said is true?” Though phrased as a question, it carried absolute certainty.

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“Little twelfth, Brother Er will teach you how to make sure no one dares bully you, alright?”
“Really? Brother Er, I want to learn!” Little twelfth replied excitedly.
“All right~ Brother Er will teach you, learn well.” Saying so, Zhu Rui lifted Zhu Bai and ordered Qin Er and the others:
“Go notify one person from each palace and all the female attendants near my mother. Everyone must come. I’m not in a good mood and won’t wait for them.”
“Yes!” The Imperial Guards quickly split into small groups to deliver the orders.
Soon enough, everyone had gathered, their faces full of confusion, unaware of what was happening.
“Since you are all here, I invite you to watch a show. Do you know who I am?”
“I am the Qin Prince of the Great Ming, the legitimate son of the reigning emperor and younger brother to Crown Prince Zhu Biao, and above all, the elder brother to all the princes and princesses in the palace!”
“Go back and tell those behind you—whether concubines, noble ladies, eunuchs, or maids—if even one dares to speak a word to humiliate a member of our royal family, they will be executed without mercy!”
“If you don’t believe me, you can try! Qin Er, lead the Imperial Guards to suppress these beasts and execute them all by flogging! Let those who follow watch carefully and learn their lesson.”
“Yes!” Qin Er responded respectfully.
Then, they left, carrying out the orders—executing those who deserved it, while others watched on.
Only Yu’er, the female attendant serving Empress Ma, remained.
Zhu Rui held Zhu Bai and walked slowly, speaking softly to Yu’er: “For now, I’ll still call you Sister Yu’er.”
“I wonder if you are unable to control things as a female attendant in this palace? Or do you, like the others, think it doesn’t matter about the rest of the Zhu family?”
“Remember, my mother prefers to handle things personally. What about you? Are there really too many matters? Too busy? Or are you just annoyed?”
“Look like you might be more of a ruler of the harem than my mother—busier than her. This is your final warning; if this happens again and I find out myself, be prepared to meet your three-foot white collar.”
Zhu Rui’s cold voice echoed in Yu’er’s ears.
His plain words sent cold sweat pouring down her face, filling her with dread.
Yet, she could not help but wonder—hasn’t this lord always been the calmest among them? Everyone said that Prince Qin Zhu Rui resembled the current Empress in temperament.
Who would have thought that today, his cold cruelty, ruthless decisiveness to kill, and calm words would seep into one’s heart like venomous snakes.
Perhaps he is most like the current emperor, merciless in his killings. After all, this lord commands the most brutal organization—the Embroidered Uniform Guard—and also leads the war machine trained in future military tactics—the Qin Prince’s Guard.
How much of the playful and easygoing Zhu Rui will be worn away in the days to come?
...

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Zhu Rui carried little twelfth and slowly approached the execution ground.
It was once a blank open space, now crowded with eunuchs and palace maids trembling in fear, yet the barren earth beneath still showed signs of neglect;
The bricks stained deep red, gleaming like agate, with green grass sprouting through the cracks, vibrant as roses;
A chilling breeze swept through; the blazing sun beat down like a frozen abyss.
This was a special execution ground within the palace, so as not to sully the dignity of the imperial residence.
At this moment, the eunuchs and maids from various palaces shivered, staring at the group before them—or rather, at piles of rotting flesh.
Zhu Rui sneered at them. After all, fools never survive long in the palace. When the day comes that they rise and gain power, who will remember today’s scene?
All they could be called were decent actors.
After a glance, Zhu Rui paid them no more mind and pointed at the group, asking Zhu Bai:
“Little twelfth, what do you see in them?”
“Brother Er, they are afraid of you.”
“Do you know why?” Zhu Rui asked with interest.
“Because Brother Er can kill them anytime?”
Zhu Bai answered uncertainly.
“No, it’s because they have ghosts in their hearts, things they dare not show.”
“In this palace, with Father Emperor, Mother Empress, Big Brother, and even me, we can always find those ghosts in their hearts.”
“Little twelfth, if you don’t want to be bullied, you must become clever. And to be clever, you must study hard—whether it’s academics or martial arts.”
Zhu Rui patiently guided Zhu Bai, ignoring the panic and fear stirring among the onlookers below.
“All right, Brother Er, I will study well in the future, both books and martial arts. I don’t want to be bullied anymore!” Zhu Bai’s eyes shone with determination.
“Actually, there’s another good way. Want to guess, little twelfth?”
“Uh—don’t know, Brother Er.”
Zhu Rui smiled, rubbing Zhu Bai’s little head gently:
“That is because your family—Father Emperor, Mother Empress, Crown Prince brother, and your other brothers—they are your family. Family will protect you from being bullied.”