In the 15th year of Hongwu's reign, eight-year-old Crown Prince Sheldon died and was buried. However, his body mysteriously disappeared afterward. Enraged, Emperor Hongwu ordered the execution of over a thousand officials deemed responsible for the failure. By the 24th year of Hongwu, Hayes who had lived in Aetheria for nine years, discussed past events with an elderly man in a courtyard by the Hollow River. He claimed that at the age of eight, he had crawled out of his own coffin and been surrounded by the Imperial Guard. Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes welled up, his hands trembled with emotion, and he excitedly called Hayes his grandson. The old man then asked if he wanted to become emperor, revealing himself as Emperor Hongwu and declaring Hayes as his rightful heir. However, Hayes dismissed this, believing the old man was merely drunk.