Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 180 Zhu Zhanhe: Father, Third Uncle, you should leave!
"Who?! Who's there...?!" Upon hearing the voice, Prince Zhao was immediately startled and jumped back in fright. He turned around and looked in the direction of the sound with a panicked expression, only to see his nephew's burly figure standing in the dim corner.

"He'er...?!" But the Prince of Han on the other side clearly recognized his son's voice. However, he was still startled by the sudden sound and looked flustered.

“Nephew is here, Third Uncle.” Zhu Zhanhe, seeing his Third Uncle’s flustered and wary expression, walked out from the doorway where Prince Zhao had appeared earlier. After revealing his figure, he cupped his hands and smiled at his panicked Third Uncle, indicating that he was one of his own and there was no need to be so flustered.

“Father, it’s me.” Then, Zhu Zhanhe bowed slightly to his father, the Prince of Han.

"When did you arrive?" Prince Zhao looked at his nephew, who had just emerged from his hiding place, his expression serious, and his pupils contracted sharply.

"Third Uncle, I came here with my mother. When we arrived, I saw you squatting at the door."

So, the nephew was squatting behind his third uncle, but his third uncle didn't notice. Zhu Zhanhe looked at the surprised Prince Zhao and told him when he had arrived.

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, because once he did, it immediately broke Prince Zhao's defenses.

"You mean, you've been hiding behind me the whole time?!" Prince Zhao craned his neck, his mouth agape in astonishment, as if he could fit an egg inside. "You've been here so long, and I didn't even notice? Are you kidding me?!"

"He'er, why didn't you say you were coming...?" The Prince of Han felt slightly embarrassed that his son had discovered his secret coercion of the Crown Princess, Lady Hu, to steal the seal of the Beijing city gate. So, for a moment, the Prince of Han even stammered.

"Father, are you planning to escape Beijing with Third Uncle?" Zhu Zhanhe looked at the Prince of Han, whose face was full of tension, and asked the key question directly.

"Yes! The troops that were loyal to me and your third uncle were all exiled to the vicinity of Shandong by the eldest brother."

As soon as your third uncle and I get there, a wave of our arms will draw a huge crowd of followers!
In that case, the imperial court's military strength is no match for us. At that time, we will surely be able to overthrow the emperor! The Prince of Han seemed to see himself overthrowing the emperor Zhu Gaochi and ascending the throne. He raised his hands, looked up at the starry sky, and was full of intoxication.

"Father and Third Uncle, how many people are you planning to take with you to escape?"

"How do Father and Third Uncle plan to take the families of my Han Prince's Mansion and Zhao Prince's Mansion out?" Zhu Zhanhe looked at the excited Han Prince and asked the key question that he cared about most.

"Uh..." The Prince of Han was clearly stumped by his son's question and was at a loss for words.

Because Prince Han never thought of taking his family with him. He only thought of himself, his third son Prince Zhao, and the guards. He didn't think about anyone else!
"He'er, you know we're running for our lives."

"There are women and children in this palace; it's inconvenient and unsafe to take them on the road." Prince Zhao also looked embarrassed. He noticed the embarrassment of the second prince, Prince Han, so he took the initiative to explain and help him out of the predicament.

"Third Uncle, you saw the scene at the funeral hall today. If it weren't for my eldest uncle holding you and my father back, the Crown Prince would probably have taken action right there at the funeral hall."

It's clear that the eldest uncle couldn't control the crown prince at all.

Although my uncle is kind, we cannot gamble on the prince's kindness!

"If you and my father really escape and start an army, I really can't imagine what the Crown Prince will do to our families!" Zhu Zhanhe is now very wary of Zhu Zhanji.

"No, back then we..." Prince Zhao understood the meaning behind his nephew's words and immediately began to defend himself with a look of panic.

"Third Uncle, are you trying to say that the four of you swore an oath before Grandpa that you would not harm the Zhu family bloodline?" Seeing that Third Uncle Zhao was anxious and wanted to explain, Zhu Zhanhe interrupted him and said what Third Uncle was about to say.

"You know...?!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Prince Zhao immediately looked surprised and turned his gaze to his second son, Prince Han. He guessed that his second son had said this to his son. "Third Uncle, don't look at my father. He never said this to me."

On the contrary, these words were spoken to me by my grandfather himself! Zhu Zhanhe waved his hand, signaling his third uncle not to look around.

"In fact, in my opinion, Uncle San's idea is correct. As long as Uncle is still alive, the Crown Prince will not actually kill our families."

But we don't know how long my uncle can hold on!

After all, when we went to the grasslands, my uncle had already fallen into a coma, and even the memorials were reviewed by the Crown Prince's concubine! Zhu Zhanhe's words were filled with murderous intent, which made the Prince of Gan and the Prince of Zhao shudder, as if a cold wind had blown through the night.

"He'er, are you saying your uncle is dying?!" The Prince of Han immediately noticed the key issue and his eyes lit up.

“I don’t know about my uncle’s affairs. But I do know that this Crown Prince’s concubine cannot be allowed to live!” Zhu Zhanhe’s eyes still revealed murderous intent.

Although he had a verbal exchange with the Crown Princess once, it did not diminish his murderous intent towards her!
Upon hearing this, both Prince Han and Prince Zhao paused for a moment. Immediately, they realized the crucial issue.

When the late emperor was alive, one of the points they discussed in their joint research on the downfall of a nation was the corruption and intrigue within the harem. Now, the eldest son is actually having the Crown Prince's concubine help him revise memorials—isn't he afraid of repeating the same mistake?

"Don't worry about that, He'er. If nothing unexpected happens, your uncle will personally resolve this issue before he passes away!"

He's not the kind of person who would leave such a huge flaw in the Ming Dynasty! Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han was also full of emotion at this moment. Based on his understanding of his eldest son, this Crown Prince Consort was most likely to be sentenced to death!
At the same time, this further strengthened his resolve to ascend the throne. What the old man couldn't accomplish, he couldn't even become the leader; so he, the Prince of Han, would surely succeed!
What's more, he has a son! A son who is a hundred times better than the current Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji!

"If something happens to my uncle, then the Crown Prince will ascend the throne directly!"

Without his uncle's restraint, it's hard to say whether the Crown Prince will still keep his vow! Zhu Zhanhe was worried that Zhu Zhanhe would go berserk and kill the families of the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao! After all, the Prince of Han was wiped out in history!
"I don't think so...!" Upon hearing his son's analysis, the Prince of Han couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart, and his expression changed, making him appear somewhat weak.

At the same time, Prince Han and Prince Zhao exchanged a glance, and both could clearly see panic in each other's eyes.

"So, Father, Third Uncle, you two should leave!"

"I will stay in Beijing and protect our family." Seeing the tension on his father's and third uncle's faces, Zhu Zhanhe chuckled and offered the most direct and best solution at the moment.

"No way!" Upon hearing that his son wanted to stay, the Prince of Han immediately and anxiously rejected the idea without hesitation! He firmly disagreed with his son staying in Beijing!

As long as his son is alive, his uprising is legitimate! Even if he dies, his lineage as the King of Han still has hope!

Therefore, his son absolutely cannot stay in the dangerous city of Beijing! He absolutely disagrees!
"Father, what you and Uncle said doesn't count in this matter. Only what I say counts!"

"As long as I stay, there won't be any problems for my Han Prince's Mansion and Zhao Prince's Mansion!" Zhu Zhanhe glanced lightly at his father, the Han Prince, whose face was full of panic, and then turned to look at his third uncle, the Zhao Prince, who was standing to the side.

"Third Uncle, I can't help you with your affairs, but you need to tell Third Aunt that if she feels there is any danger, she should bring her family to me."

"I may not have any other skills, but at least I can guarantee the safety of our families." Zhu Zhanhe looked at his third uncle's dark and deep-set face, offering him the most steadfast assurance.

(End of this chapter)