"From the part "there will be an attack from an enemy." If you get mad and scold Ryukyu King, it is possible that the good relations between the two countries cracks in sudden and even leads to war. But I am sure, no leader wants to fight just because of a sword. Then there is a part when I thrust a sword into a little child. Child symbolizes xiaoren * - an evil dwarf. Ryukyu King who is a king could not have been seen as xiaoren, because xiaoren usually refers to our subordinates or servants, thereby I'm sure that the guilty brat is our emissary."
Once again, Zhu Yunwen's eyes widened. He shouted angrily to chief eunuch, "Convey my orders to investigate the Ming Emissary for the Ryukyu Kingdom!" Then, he looked at Zhu Youxun, said enthusiastically, "My cousin, you are so smart! Wow... Zhou Gong Jie Meng is apparently very useful!" He stared at the book of Zhou Gong Jie Meng with admiration as if the book had just saved his life.
Zhu Youxun's smile grew wider. Actually, the reason why he could tell that it was the fake sword was not because of dreams. He had studied some knowledge about sword before. A fake sword is made of high carbon material, whereas a real sword should have been made from low carbon material in order to be a high-quality sword. Besides, the pattern of the wavy lines on the fuller - the proof that the sword had been forged with great care and exhaustion - was not originally formed on the fuller, it was merely faked by carving.
Yunwen is too dazzled by the beauty emerging on the surface. The sword is indeed too beautiful, like implying that it is hiding something. Besides, I also know that many of the Ming Emissaries for the tributary states are abusing their powers and it then potentially breaks our relationship with them, yet they are utilizing their far location which is difficult to be monitored by the Capital. Same with this Ryukyu Emissary. Yunwen himself is too naïve and utopian, always believes that everyone is kindhearted. Well... his naïvety is more or less giving me much advantage... as now he can be deceived by this "dream interpretation"... Zhu Youxun could not help but be amazed by his intelligence, that he was able to take advantage of this sudden opportunity and by then fabricated these lies in an instant.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yunwen now looked deeply into Zhu Youxun's eyes. Zhu Youxun's detailed explanation was indeed very riveting, anyone who heard him would immediately be amazed by him.
"You have often given many contributions, Brother. Giving lost classic books, enriching the treasury of knowledge, and now you expose a terrible mistake of an emissary and by then save me from the dispute with other countries. You have given so much help! I... must grant you..."
Zhu Youxun's heart beat faster. Could it be, the moment he had been waiting for all this time, finally arrived?!...
"Just say what you want, Brother. I will try to fulfill it."
Exerting to hold back the surge of desire that was about to explode, Zhu Youxun hurriedly knelt down. "I do not dare!" He bowed his head deeply.
"What do you mean by do not dare? You are my cousin, anyway, and you have saved me, so ask for rewards as it should be!"
Zhu Youxun swallowed hard. However, he still kept closing his mouth.
"Youxun, hey! Don't be hesitant like that! I am Emperor, I'll not be messing about my words!"
Zhu Youxun trembled. "If... if so... may I ask..."
"Yes, speak!"
"May.... you permit me... to become Zhou Wang?"
Zhu Yunwen was silent for a while. This sudden silence made Zhu Youxun's heart almost stop to beat because of fear. Even though his ambitions were big and wild, fear still held for domination in his mind.
Zhu Yunwen himself was now busy considering. It had been a long time, since Zhu Youxun returned to be an elegant and graceful prince, he had planned to create him as Zhou Wang, yet it always ended up with Fang Xiaoru preventing him.
But... Youxun has undeniable provided a lot to knowledge, and this time, his merits are even greater. And he is my cousin after all. How can I treat him so cruelly by putting him under unfamiliar people, since I even bestow high position to those people?
Zhu Yunwen took a deep breath. He turned around, stared at Zhu Youxun, and grinned. "Alright... Youxun. I fulfill your wish. I officially appoint you as Zhou Wang."
Zhu Youxun directly bowed very low to show his gratitude. "Your Majesty is very generous! Your grace is immeasurable!"
Zhu Yunwen did not realize, behind Zhu Youxun's bowing face, a sinful grin was engulfed in his face. His chess pieces had attempted in giving him an important victory. This made everything easier for him to move the next piece - the cruel-faced black piece that would do something very terrible before long.
***
The new identity as Zhou Wang made everything turn different. Now Zhu Youxun had a right over San Hu Wei. Such a great power, of course, so he had to utilize it very well.
"Here is my order; to capture The Rebel from Yunnan right away!" Sitting on the Throne of Zhou Fan Wang Guo, Zhu Youxun shouted aloud to the commander and his soldiers who bowed in respect. Beside Zhu Youxun, Xie Wang grinned in satisfaction.
Everyone in Zhou Fan Wang Guo soon knew whom the "Rebel from Yunnan" referred to. It was none other than Zhu Su, the former exiled Zhou Wang. Yes, Zhu Youxun was carrying out his second plan - to arrest Zhu Su and Zhu Youdun. Actually, all principality officials condemned Zhu Youxun's actions that were a real apostate to his own father, but did they have the guts to oppose him by putting their lives in danger? What they could do was suggesting Zhu Youxun to leave this matter to the emperor and let him take care of it, but Xie Wang, who had been burned with revenge against Zhu Su, wanted to avenge the former Zhou Wang by using his own hands.
"His sin to me is too big, even if he is being killed and then being revived and killed again, it would not be enough to ease my hatred for him. And that kid wants to give him to Zhu Yunwen? Humph! It is me, the King of Disaster, who has the right to make him feel the real misery of life!"
But Xie Wang did not express his real intention to Zhu Youxun. Apparently, no matter how bad Zhu Youxun was, he did not have the heart to see his father and elder brother die. All he wanted was merely to gain power. Realizing this matter, Xie Wang then said, "If you pass your father to the Emperor, he might even be put to death immediately. So it'd much better if we handle him by myself, then?"
This answer was accepted with great enthusiasm by Zhu Youxun. "That's right! I just want to gain power, and not to kill my father!"
Yes, Zhu Su. I won't kill you for sure... but I'll make you feel the pain which is more severe than die and it's you yourself who will choose to die!
The Zhou Fan Wang Guo's army moved as fast as the lightning struck. They could go through such a long way distance between Kaifeng and Yunnan in a short time. Those specially-trained soldiers could arrive in Yunnan as fit as fiddle despite they had traveled such long distances which caused Feng Ruina died from exhaustion. All of them looked as fierce as hungry lions it made Yunnan commoners immediately flee away as they had the meeting with them.
A thin man was about to run away when a soldier caught him. "Show me the place where the former Zhou Wang stays!" He thus held the man high, while the poor man was trembling violently now.
"I... I'm sorry, Sir... I don't know..."
"Liar!" The soldier slammed the man rudely onto the ground, to the extent that he screamed in pain as he tried to get up.
"Don't torture my father!" The girl next to the man screamed. "I'll show you, but stop your savage deeds!"
"Then, show it!"
In order to save his father's life, the girl had no other choice but bringing all of them to Mount Laojun.
...
* Zhou Gong Jie Meng = a book of dream interpretation written by Zhou Gong Dan, a marquis from the Zhou Dynasty and the fourth son of King Wen of Zhou. This book is still famous now.
* xiaoren = a Chinese term, have several meanings, such as Villain, Commoner, Dwarf, and so on. And every meaning is not separated, but usually links each other. In Chinese society, if we see a dwarf, then we will automatically think of a villain, etc.