Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 631 Immortal Glory! The Death of the Prince of Jin!
Zhu Gang raised his eyes again and stared intently at him.

This time, he remained silent for a long time, without uttering a single word.

The candlelight flickered uncertainly in his unfathomable pupils.

Ji Gang poured himself another full cup and drank it all in one gulp.

The strong liquor seemed to embolden him further. He put down his glass and looked directly at Zhu Gang:
“Your Highness, everything I have said today comes from the bottom of my heart.”

"If there is even half a lie, may I be struck by lightning and may my Ji family line be cut off from this day forward!"

After making a solemn oath, he paused briefly and then promised, "After Your Highness departs, I will do my best to take care of your family overseas and ensure that they are not disturbed or frightened."

The last glimmer of light in Zhu Gang's eyes was completely extinguished.

He let out a long sigh of relief.

That sigh seemed to drain all his energy and spirit.

Zhu Gang slumped weakly against the back of the chair, his voice hoarse and desperate:

“Zhu Yuntong is still alive… If he is still alive, then I, Zhu Gang, will have no chance of survival.”

"This is a dead end, it's already decided."

He looked up at Ji Gang and revealed a bleak smile: "Since it's a dead end, rather than die at the hands of those opportunistic and fickle villains, it's better to... die at your hands, Ji Gang."

"At least, up to this point, you still show me some respect."

A flicker of struggle and concern flashed in his eyes: "I still have a family in the New World."

"I'll only ask you one question: Does Zhu Yunwen intend to completely eradicate my lineage to prevent future troubles?"

Ji Gang composed himself, his earlier江湖气气 (jianghu qi, a kind of chivalrous spirit) replaced by a solemn expression, and said, "That depends on what 'path' Your Highness chooses."

"Oh?"

“If Your Highness is willing to leave 'dignified',” Ji Gang said in a very low voice, “His Majesty is benevolent and kind, and will surely consider the kinship and forgive the past.”

"Your descendants in the New World will still be princes of the Ming Dynasty, with hereditary titles, generation after generation, forever ruling over their respective regions, enjoying endless glory and wealth."

“But if Your Highness insists on tearing away this last veil of decorum,” his voice suddenly turned cold, “then your son will likely face a thunderous wrath…”

Although he didn't finish his sentence, the stench of blood in his unfinished words already permeated the small inner room.

"Decent?" Zhu Gang chuckled self-deprecatingly.

He ran his fingertips along the rim of the cold wine glass, and a hint of curiosity suddenly flashed in his eyes, which had seen through life and death: "How do you want me to be 'dignified'?"

"This wine, you brought it."

Is there poison inside?

Ji Gang shook his head, his expression calm: "No."

He explained, "As I just said, I respect Your Highness as a hero."

“I have come here to see the prince off on his final journey for His Majesty, not to personally ‘assassinate the king’.”

"Poisoning is also killing; it's dirty work that I disdain and am unwilling to do."

Zhu Gang paused, a rare look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He truly hadn't expected that Ji Gang, known for his ruthlessness and cruelty, would be so persistent about this.

As he tilted his head back to drink, the thought that the wine was poisoned had already crossed his mind.

But Zhu Gang didn't care.

The moment he heard the words "Zhu Yunwen is still alive," he was already a man awaiting death. Why should he care whether he died from poison that pierced his intestines, from a three-foot-long white silk ribbon, or from being riddled with arrows?

However, Ji Gang's answer was indeed beyond his expectations.

Ji Gang seemed to see through his thoughts and spoke again: "What is the prince's status?"

"Whether you die from poisoning, from an assassin, or from hanging yourself, it is ultimately a 'violent death'."

"You can't silence the voices of the people in this world."

He looked at Zhu Gang and said, word by word, "This is neither Your Majesty's wish nor the purpose of my trip."

"What the world says?"

Zhu Gang seemed to have heard the funniest joke, and burst into laughter, his laughter filled with endless sorrow and mockery:
"In Zhu Yunwen's hands lies the powerful tool of the *Daming Daily*, capable of distorting the truth!"

"A few powerful articles are enough to stir up public opinion around the world."

"There are so many fools in this world, and he has already established a god-like status in the hearts of the people. When the time comes, all that is needed is for those writers to embellish his words, and the people of the world will be grateful to him and believe in him as if he were a god or Buddha."

"He says how I died, and the people will not doubt it at all."

"Even if some intelligent people see through the trick and come out to question it, they will be cursed to death by the people who blindly follow him."

"Would he care about so-called 'public opinion'?"

Zhu Gang's laughter stopped abruptly, and he said coldly, "What he's really afraid of is not being able to explain himself to the Emperor!"

"He can deceive the whole world, but he can't fool my father, the emperor!"

Ji Gang listened quietly to his venting, his face remaining expressionless, and calmly stated, "In any case, Your Highness, this is ultimately a good thing for you and your family."

"At least, the title of king can be preserved, and the bloodline can continue."

Zhu Gang snorted coldly, still stubbornly making a final stand: "So what?"

"Even if I do not cooperate, my father is still alive. If Zhu Yunwen tries to harm my family and descendants, my father will never allow it!"

“‘Killing’ is of course not.” Ji Gang’s voice was as calm as water. “But if Your Majesty were to petition the Supreme Emperor, on the grounds that ‘a member of the imperial family has committed treason, which is intolerable under the law,’ to strip him of his fiefdom and demote him, do you think the Supreme Emperor would shake the rules he personally established for the Zhu family’s dynasty for the sake of a son who has rebelled?”

Ji Gang shook his head and said, "On the contrary, the Supreme Emperor might personally issue an edict to punish them severely without leniency."

"Because he needs your example, as a cautionary tale, to set an insurmountable example for future generations."

"The majesty of the imperial family cannot be challenged!"

These words were like a merciless hammer, shattering the last glimmer of hope in Zhu Gang's heart.

He was silent.

When Zhu Yunwen formulated the regulations that would demote and strip members of the imperial family of their titles for committing crimes, Zhu Yunwen did not oppose it; on the contrary, he strongly supported it.

This is an undeniable fact.

After a long silence, Zhu Gang finally spoke again, his voice devoid of any emotion, only utter resignation remaining:
"If he doesn't want to dirty his own hands, how does he intend for me to 'cooperate' with him in this final act?"

Seeing that he had already submitted, Ji Gang's expression softened slightly, and he said:
"The prince has returned from overseas to seek medical treatment in the Ming Dynasty."

"If he were to fall ill and never recover, and medicine were ineffective, wouldn't that be perfectly reasonable?"

"Your humble servant will invite the best doctors in Jiangnan to treat you day and night and take meticulous care of you."

"The imperial court will also send imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy to conduct a consultation."

"Those officials who fawned over you along the way and are now eagerly awaiting your return will seek out countless renowned physicians to demonstrate their loyalty."

Ji Gang said calmly, "In this way, everyone in the world will know that His Highness Prince Jin is truly ill, and his illness is terminal."

"All the doctors who have treated you will become witnesses to your condition."

"In the end, Your Highness, you passed away prematurely. It was fate, and no human effort could change it."

"This is nobody's fault but theirs."

"At that time, the imperial court will hold a grand mourning ceremony for you, posthumously confer a title upon you, and commend you for your unparalleled contributions to the expansion of the Ming Dynasty's territory."

"Your Majesty will even personally attend the memorial service, carry your coffin and wear mourning clothes, showing the deep affection between uncle and nephew."

"In this way, Your Highness's illustrious reputation during your lifetime and your good name after your death will be without the slightest blemish."

Ji Gang's voice sounded particularly distant in the candlelight:

"Your name will be recorded in history as one of the most important meritorious officials of the Ming Dynasty, and will live on forever with the nation."

After saying these words, Ji Gang bowed deeply to the ground again, as if bidding farewell to an old friend who was about to embark on a long journey.

"Your Highness, it is already late autumn, and the night dew is heavy with cold."

"If you were to spend the night in quiet contemplation in the courtyard wearing only a single garment, even a body of iron would find it difficult to withstand the penetrating chill."

He raised his eyes slightly and added meaningfully, "As for the medicine prescribed by the doctors, whether it is taken orally or secretly sprinkled on, isn't that entirely up to Your Highness?"

"There can't possibly be anyone in this world who would dare to forcibly pry open your mouth and force-feed you medicine, can there?"

"Even if you keep staring at the prince, it's still not possible."

“If a single cold is not enough to make you critically ill, then continue your meditation for two nights, three nights…” Ji Gang’s voice was calm and unwavering. “Your Highness is of noble birth, and the cold dew is severe. Why worry that fate will not come?”

After hearing this meticulously planned arrangement, Zhu Gang was initially in a deathly silence, but then he suddenly burst into laughter.

The laughter was hollow and desolate, echoing in the deathly silence of the night, filled with endless absurdity and self-mockery:
"Hahaha, good! What a brilliant 'medicine is ineffective'! What a brilliant 'destiny'!"

Zhu Gang's laughter abruptly stopped, replaced by a ferocious and mocking expression: "That Zhu Yunwen, he really schemed to the extreme, making himself cleaner than a snow lotus on a snowy mountain!"

After laughing, he picked up the glass of wine on the table, which had long since gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor was icy cold, like a knife piercing his throat and into his heart.

"Enough!" He slammed down his wine cup, his eyes filled with resolute determination. "Since he wants me to 'die of illness,' I will 'die of illness' to show him! Do as you say!"

"Your Highness is wise and righteous, and dares to take responsibility. I admire you greatly." Ji Gang bowed again, his voice revealing neither praise nor indifference. "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I guarantee with my life that your family in the New World will be properly taken care of."

"Hmph," Zhu Gang sneered, "With my father around, and me dying 'innocently', Zhu Yunwen naturally wouldn't dare to break his promise or harm my wife and children."

He then changed the subject: "However, for the sake of my lineage's safety, and to ensure that they will have no worries for generations to come, I have decided to give him another great gift, making this performance flawless!"

After saying this, Zhu Gang strode to his desk, took out paper and brush, and personally ground the ink.

Then, in front of Ji Gang, he wrote three secret letters in one go, his pen flying across the paper.

"Thud!" He threw the three newly sealed letters heavily in front of Ji Gang.

"Ji Gang, look carefully. Here are my three last letters!"

"Firstly, it was presented to my father, the Emperor."

"Secondly, it was handed over to Emperor Zhu Yunwen."

"Thirdly, send it to the New World for my wife and children!"

"These three letters will clearly explain my true feelings to my father and the people of the world."

"I, Zhu Gang, died here from illness. There was nothing I could do to save him. I have no regrets, no resentment!"

"The letter to my wife and children strictly ordered them to be loyal to the court and His Majesty from this day forward, and never to have any disloyal thoughts!"

"With these three letters serving as a final judgment on my life, can this play truly be considered over?"

Ji Gang picked up the three fake wills, carefully put them into his bosom, and bowed deeply again: "Your Highness is righteous. This humble servant will certainly not fail in his mission."

Zhu Gang said no more.

He walked to the door, took off his magnificent and heavy brocade robe, and wearing only a thin undergarment, pushed open the wooden door leading to the courtyard.

The moment the door opened, a biting north wind, carrying a chill, howled in and instantly extinguished several candles in the hall.

And so, Zhu Gang stepped into that endless cold and darkness.

He stood tall and proud, letting the biting wind tear at his clothes and hair, his back view appearing particularly aloof in the wind.

Ji Gang stood silently for a moment, gazing at that back figure, a complex and unfathomable emotion flashing in his eyes.

Without lingering any longer, he quietly turned around and, like a ghost, vanished silently into the night of the mansion.

The next day, just as dawn broke, a shocking piece of news spread like wildfire throughout all the government offices surrounding Ma'anshan.

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin was critically ill.

All the officials who rushed over upon hearing the news, preparing to continue their "payment," were dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief.

The last impression left in their minds was still that of the prince who stood atop the mountain yesterday, pointing out the landscape, his voice as powerful as a booming bell.

With such a majestic and imposing gait, and such an aura of dominance over the world, there was not a trace of illness or weakness.

How could things change so drastically overnight, and the company collapse so easily?

The bewildered officials flocked to the residence, nearly breaking down the threshold.

In no time, all the renowned medical experts in Ma'anshan were urgently summoned by horse-drawn carriage.

However, regardless of who the renowned doctor was, and regardless of how he examined the pulse using the four diagnostic methods of observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation, after several doctors had examined the pulse repeatedly, the conclusions reached were strikingly consistent:
His Highness Prince Jin is truly ill. His pulse is weak and thready, and the vital energy in his five internal organs is scattered. This is not an act; he is like a candle flickering in the wind!

Despite their many doubts, faced with this undeniable fact, all they could do was sigh, "Life is unpredictable."

Perhaps it was because His Highness had lived abroad for so long that he was unaccustomed to the climate and environment upon his return, and the long journey had taken its toll. He was then exposed to the cold and dampness, which led to his sudden collapse.

Officials brought in all sorts of ancient ginseng and snow mountain lingzhi mushrooms, like a flowing stream.

The doctors racked their brains and came up with the best prescription.

The news was sent back to Nanjing by urgent telegram, causing shock throughout the court and the country.

The Imperial Medical Academy and the newly established Capital Hospital dared not be negligent in the slightest. They immediately dispatched the highest-ranking and most skilled doctors from their respective institutions to travel day and night to Ma'anshan to treat the Prince of Jin.

However, no matter how skilled the physician was, no matter what miraculous medicine he used, His Highness Prince Jin's condition did not improve in the slightest.

His body was deteriorating at an unstoppable pace, day by day.

In the end, faced with the increasingly stagnant pulse, all the renowned doctors were helpless and could only kneel down and beg for forgiveness.

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin's illness was beyond the reach of medicine and beyond the power of human intervention.

Just a few days later, this prince, who was in the prime of his life and should have been in the capital to "take charge of the overall situation," actually fell ill and passed away suddenly in his residence in Ma'anshan, less than a hundred miles from Nanjing, under the watchful eyes of the public.

……

(End of this chapter)