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

Chapter 184 Bloodstained Before the Spirit Tablet
Emperor Hongxi looked up at the Crown Prince below, whose eyes were bloodshot with rage, filled with shame and indignation, and brimming with confusion. He couldn't help but sigh deeply, his heart filled with melancholy.

As the saying goes, "He who knows himself is wise." Emperor Hongxi was a very self-aware person. He was very clear about his physical condition and knew that his life was not long.

He also knew that the Ming Dynasty was currently at its peak of power! All directions submitted to it! Its prestige extended throughout the land! Compared to a brave, ruthless, cunning, and murderous emperor, people longed for a kind, benevolent, and filial emperor!
He also hoped that his son, his crown prince, would be kind, benevolent, and filial, and that when he ascended the throne, he would be respected and supported by the world.
So everything he's doing now is for his son!

He knew that his son was young and impetuous, and couldn't bear the slightest grievance, but the weight of the Ming Dynasty was too heavy to bear, and the vastness of the world too overwhelming. As the emperor, how could he not have a heart as broad as the sky and the sea?!

He knew his son didn't understand these things, and he really wanted to teach him little by little, breaking it down and explaining it to him in detail, but he really didn't have the time! He was about to give up!
For this, he had to give up many things, including his former ambitions and his dream of conquering the world! All for the sake of his son's smooth succession! He was even willing to use himself as a stepping stone...

"Cough cough cough cough..." Perhaps due to too much thinking, Emperor Hongxi coughed violently again. He bent over, covered his mouth with his hand, and coughed until his face turned red.

Suddenly, Emperor Hongxi felt a sweet taste in his mouth, and he was startled. He immediately reached out, and two eunuchs came running over to help him towards the resting area!

Before leaving, Emperor Hongxi turned his head with a melancholy expression and glanced at the Crown Prince, who was still immersed in rage. He sighed inwardly, shook his head, and left the mourning hall.

Zhu Zhanhe had no time to pay attention to his uncle's departure; he continued to keep an eye on his mother's condition.

However, when the two eunuchs helped Emperor Hongxi pass by Zhu Zhanhe, he keenly smelled a faint scent of blood!

The Emperor vomited blood? Did Father and Third Uncle get so angry? Zhu Zhanhe frowned slightly, then realized what was going on and chuckled, shaking his head gently. Zhu Zhanhe then stopped paying attention to the matter.

Everything went smoothly during the day on the second day.

This day was the day of Emperor Yongle's funeral. All the important officials of the court, civil and military officials came to perform the funeral ceremony. In order to show his filial piety, Emperor Hongxi personally presided over the whole process.

Whether it was offering food and wine, kneeling in worship, or mourning, even when he was drenched in sweat, panting, and coughing violently, Emperor Hongxi never missed a single one. This left no room for criticism and made people marvel at the new emperor's benevolent and filial heart.

Even though everyone was exhausted after a long day, they still had to keep vigil at night. Of course, the frail Hongxi Emperor had already left early.

Because his mother and third aunt hadn't left the mourning hall, Zhu Zhanhe, though incredibly bored, insisted on staying there except for meals and bathroom breaks. After all, his grandfather was lying there, and he wanted to see him off on his final journey; Zhu Zhanhe was willing to persevere.

Looking at my mother and third aunt, after a day of relief, although their eyes still occasionally revealed caution and panic, their emotions had indeed calmed down a lot.

But things won't always go smoothly.

Sure enough, that evening, a new mischief occurred as expected.

"Tap tap tap tap... crack crack crack crack..." A series of rapid footsteps approached quickly from afar, accompanied by the cracking sounds of clashing swords.

Zhu Zhanhe, whose hearing was the most acute, was the first to notice the anomaly. His eyes sharpened, and he immediately became alert, staring intently at the doorway.

As the footsteps grew closer, everyone in the mourning hall noticed something amiss, and their eyes all turned to the outside.

Soon, to everyone's horror, a group of guards dressed in mourning clothes and with long swords at their waists filed in one by one from outside the mourning hall, surrounding the entire hall.

Although no one knew what had happened, everyone looked serious and no one spoke up, so why should someone step forward?

Soon, everyone noticed that the guards with swords who had entered the mourning hall were gradually closing in and surrounding the men and women of the Han and Zhao families!

Immediately, the many princes and concubines in the room were filled with panic: Was the Emperor going to exterminate the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao?!
Even the usually composed Empress Zhang was astonished, staring wide-eyed at the Han Princess and Zhao Princess, who were being gradually surrounded by guards with swords, their faces filled with terror.

Even the Empress and the Crown Princess were shocked, let alone others!

Zhu Zhanhe looked up at the guard standing directly in front of him, his hand already on the hilt of his sword through his glasses. Zhu Zhanhe was inwardly displeased: What? I, a prince, am observing mourning for my grandfather, and you, an outsider, are standing in front of me? Do you expect me to kowtow to you?!

Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe frowned and slowly got up.

Furthermore, Zhu Zhanhe turned to look at his mother and third aunt, who both looked terrified, and his brows furrowed even deeper.

As Zhu Zhanhe stood up, the guards in front of him visibly tensed up, slowly drawing their swords.

"Slap!" After Zhu Zhanhe got up, he saw the guard who was about to draw his sword and, without any mercy, slapped him across the face!

Amidst the horrified gazes of everyone in the mourning hall, the guard in front of Zhu Zhanhe was slapped away and fell straight down not far from the Princess of Han and the Princess of Zhao.

"Zhanhe..." Now, the highest-ranking person in the entire mourning hall, besides Empress Zhang, is the King of Chu.

Faced with the sudden appearance of armed guards and the abruptly attacked Han prince, the King of Chu couldn't help but speak up. He still held a good impression of his nephew, Zhu Zhanhe, and didn't want him to cause trouble.

"Uncle King of Chu, it's alright! Your nephew can handle it!" Zhu Zhanhe smiled in response to the King of Chu's concern.

Then, amidst everyone's horrified gazes, Zhu Zhanhe went straight to his mother's side.

"Mother, get up." Zhu Zhanhe didn't even glance at his mother. The guard with a sword beside his mother reached out and helped his stunned mother, Madam Wei, to her feet. Madam Wei stumbled as soon as she stood up and almost fell to the ground. Zhu Zhanhe quickly caught her.

"Third Aunt, get up, your knees need a rest too." Then, amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd, Zhu Zhanhe reached out and helped the panicked Princess Zhao to her feet.

"Aunt, I'm sorry!" Zhu Zhanhe apologized to Empress Zhang amidst the bewildered gazes of the crowd.

"Mother, Third Aunt, go next door and call out all the younger brothers and sisters in the family. We're going back to the Prince's Mansion!" After helping Third Aunt up, Zhu Zhanhe ignored everyone else and immediately began making arrangements.

"it is good!"

"Okay!" Princess Han and Princess Zhao agreed without hesitation. They supported each other and prepared to go to the next room.

But a guard, clearly the leader, blocked their path with his hand on his sword.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Han..." Before the leading guard with a sword could finish speaking, he was slapped to the ground by Zhu Zhanhe, and several of his teeth flew out.

Zhu Zhanhe ignored him and the tense guards with swords around him, and continued walking.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao have fled in fear of punishment, intending to rebel..." The leading guard with a sword was clearly a cunning person. He quickly stated the reason while drawing his sword.

Immediately, the mourning hall erupted in an uproar.

"Bang!" But he had clearly underestimated Zhu Zhanhe's temper. Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Zhanhe kicked him out of the mourning hall. He flew backward, spitting out chunks of flesh, and fell out of the main hall. It was clear that he was not going to survive!

"Gulp..." The sound of swallowing saliva rose and fell in the mourning hall. No one expected that the Crown Prince of Han would be so cruel!
"Mother, Third Aunt, take our younger siblings and let's go back to the manor!" After kicking someone away, Zhu Zhanhe acted as if nothing had happened, then turned to Princess Han and Princess Zhao and said the same thing.

This time, no one stopped them!

(End of this chapter)