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

Chapter 193 Fan Zhong: I know a secret

Facing the expectant gaze of Emperor Hongxi, Yang Shiqi sighed inwardly and knelt down again with a thud.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty! Please punish me!" Yang Shiqi suddenly knelt before Emperor Hongxi. This scene left Emperor Hongxi completely bewildered, his eyes filled with doubt.

"What crime has Grand Secretary Yang committed? Please rise first."

"Speak freely, and I will handle it accordingly!" Emperor Hongxi looked at Yang Shiqi, who suddenly knelt down. Although he felt somewhat puzzled, he could roughly guess that Yang Shiqi was hiding some unknown things from him, or even some important matters concerning the country!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Although Yang Shiqi expressed his gratitude, he showed no intention of getting up and remained kneeling on the ground, bowing respectfully.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Hongxi was momentarily stunned.

"Your Majesty, please look!" Before Emperor Hongxi could ask again, Yang Shiqi took out two things, one large and one small, from his bosom.

Fan Zhongding, who was standing to the side, looked over and saw that Yang Shiqi was holding a memorial to the throne and an imperial edict on a yellow jade scroll.

"This is...?" Despite his confusion, Emperor Hongxi gave a look to the eunuch Huang Tai beside him, signaling him to go and retrieve it.

Huang Tai was also very perceptive. He quickly approached Yang Shiqi and carefully handed the two items to Emperor Hongxi, keeping his head down and not even glancing up at the Emperor.

Emperor Hongxi took the two items from Huang Tai's hands, his face filled with melancholy.

A moment later, Emperor Hongxi went to his desk and opened the memorial first. However, the contents of the memorial startled him! And when he looked at the signature of the memorial, he saw the three big characters "Yang Shiqi" written on it!
This was a memorial written by Yang Shiqi specifically for the late Emperor Yongle, who was preparing to have his second son, the Prince of Han, succeed him before his death! Emperor Hongxi immediately understood the contents of the memorial.

Emperor Hongxi read this memorial very slowly. He read it word by word. In this memorial, he saw the expectations that the late Emperor Yongle had for his second son, the Prince of Han, after his ascension to the throne; he also saw the arrangements that the late Emperor Yongle had made for his second son's family after his ascension to the throne.

"Father~" Upon seeing this, Emperor Hongxi murmured softly, his eyes welling up with tears.

After silently calming his complex emotions for a moment, Emperor Hongxi gently closed the memorial and tucked it into his sleeve. He knew that this memorial represented the legitimacy of his second son's ascension to the throne! It also meant that this time, his second and third sons truly had a reason to purge these traitors!

Next, Emperor Hongxi took another item presented by Yang Shiqi, placed it on the table, and slowly spread it out.

The contents of this imperial edict were shockingly terrifying!
Emperor Hongxi struggled to raise his head, looking at Yang Shiqi kneeling on the ground with disbelief, as if seeking confirmation of the authenticity of the imperial edict.

But then he saw Yang Shiqi silently nod at the expectant look in Emperor Hongxi's eyes.

Is this imperial edict real?! Emperor Hongxi felt a moment of dizziness.

But what does it mean to pass the throne to Zhu Zhanhe, the heir apparent of the Han dynasty, when the empire was on the verge of collapse?!
What does it mean for a descendant to abdicate in favor of the emperor?!
What does it mean that this edict is valid for all time?! What exactly was the late emperor saying?!

Or is there something special about the Crown Prince of Han?!

Emperor Hongxi stared blankly at the imperial edict on his desk, lost in endless contemplation and doubt!
But at the very end of the edict, the signature clearly read: Yongle Emperor – Zhu Di! It was an authentic piece of calligraphy! The Hongxi Emperor was utterly astonished. Having been the crown prince for so many years, how could he not recognize his father, the Yongle Emperor's, handwriting?!

He knew perfectly well that the edict was signed by the late Emperor Yongle! But what was the content of this edict? Was it for real? Or was the late emperor so confused and ignorant that he had it written?
At this moment, Emperor Hongxi, looking at the edict in front of him, fell into a state of profound silence.

"Grand Secretary Yang...?" After a long silence, Emperor Hongxi couldn't understand what the late Emperor Hongxi was trying to say. Therefore, he could only turn to Yang Shiqi, who had been with the late Emperor at the time. "Your Majesty!..." Yang Shiqi certainly knew what Emperor Hongxi wanted to ask, but with so many people in the study, it wasn't easy for him to speak.

"Go down!" Emperor Hongxi noticed Yang Shiqi's hesitation as he looked around, so he waved his hand directly. Huang Tai then quietly left the study with the eunuchs and silently closed the door.

"Your Majesty, I guarantee this with my life. The late Emperor was of sound mind at the time and did not seem to be talking nonsense!" Seeing that the bystanders had already left, Yang Shiqi knew what Emperor Hongxi wanted to say and immediately spoke up to explain.

"Is that so?" Upon hearing Yang Shiqi's words, Emperor Hongxi's brows furrowed even more deeply.

"General Fan, it's your turn!" Seeing that things had reached a stalemate, Yang Shiqi turned his gaze to Fan Zhong, who was standing to the side. Yang Shiqi knew that Fan Zhong definitely knew something important!

"General Fan?" Upon hearing Yang Shiqi's words, Emperor Hongxi immediately knew that Fan Zhong also knew something. So, looking at the respectful Fan Zhong before him, Emperor Hongxi immediately asked.

"Your Majesty, please know that I have followed the late Emperor since childhood, leading him on horseback and fighting on the battlefield!" Fan Zhong said this with a face full of nostalgia, as if he had returned to the heroic spirit of following Emperor Yongle on the battlefield!
Upon hearing Fan Zhong's words, even Emperor Hongxi and Yang Shiqi were filled with admiration.

"Your Majesty, during my campaigns following the late Emperor, I unexpectedly learned a shocking secret during the fifth expedition to the northern desert!"
Fortunately, he was spared the emperor's mercy and helped by a noble person, which allowed him to survive.

Therefore, before the late Emperor passed away, I was entrusted by him to do something for him! Fan Zhongping calmed himself down and slowly said these words.

"This secret is related to the imperial edict and the Crown Prince of Han?!" After hearing Fan Zhong's words, Yang Shiqi connected the many clues and asked in shock.

"Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. I presume to speculate that, given the late Emperor's concern for the country, this matter will surely be passed down."

"But this matter is too shocking. If we don't see it with our own eyes, even if ten thousand people say the same thing, I'm afraid no one will believe it!" Fan Zhong said calmly, but with great excitement and determination, words that made Emperor Hongxi and Yang Shiqi frown deeply.

Emperor Hongxi knew perfectly well that his father, Emperor Yongle, would make any sacrifice for the good of the country! Any sacrifice!
If the Crown Prince of Han truly possessed Jing Tian's secret, then this imperial edict would not be surprising.

"The throne will be passed to the heir apparent of Han!" After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Hongxi decided to meet with this key figure in the imperial edict.

"Your Majesty, this matter is not urgent. Please give me some time to prepare!" Fan Zhong spoke first after hearing Emperor Hongxi's words.

"Your Majesty, but what the general says is very true. The Crown Prince of Han is as brave as ten thousand men!" Upon hearing Fan Zhong's words, Yang Shiqi suddenly thought of the Crown Prince of Han's terrifying martial prowess, so he repeatedly echoed his agreement.

"Lord Yang, watch your words!" Fan Zhong glared at Yang Shiqi beside him, annoyed.

"Your Majesty, please summon the Crown Prince of Han at the Imperial Ancestral Temple tomorrow. This matter is somewhat complicated and requires Your Majesty's personal witnessing to make it clear."

Furthermore, I will seal off the Imperial Ancestral Temple for a hundred zhang. I humbly request Your Majesty's wise consideration. Fan Zhong was clearly telling Emperor Hongxi that this matter was extremely important, and that no one else, except Your Majesty and the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty, should know about it!

"Granted!" Emperor Hongxi pondered for a moment. He did not doubt Fan Zhong's loyalty, but the scene of the last time the palace was sealed off flashed through his mind, and he could not help but nod in agreement.

(End of this chapter)