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

Chapter 207 Zhu Zhanhe: Uncle, you've changed.
"Your Highness, I have one last thing to say."

After much deliberation, the current emperor has finally agreed to allow the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao to be enfeoffed.

This means that even if the two princes were to rebel, the emperor would not revoke their titles. Instead, the heirs of the two princely residences would lead their respective residences to their respective fiefdoms.

"That's all I have to say. I'll take my leave now!" Yang Shiqi glanced meaningfully at the many generals in the room, then arrogantly told the Prince of Han that even if he and Prince Zhao were to rebel, the current emperor would consider their brotherly bond and would not harm the Prince's family. He would not detain them; on the contrary, to show his sincerity in the peace talks, he would send the Prince's family to their fiefdom to ensure their safety.

At the same time, Yang Shiqi was also telling all the generals present that Emperor Hongxi was a benevolent monarch, and that as long as they laid down their swords, the emperor would definitely forgive and forget!
After saying this, Yang Shiqi left with an arrogant expression, leaving behind only the Han Prince with a ferocious look and a room full of generals looking at each other in bewilderment.

Watching Yang Shiqi leave, Prince Zhao, his lips twitching, walked out of the side hall with a grave expression...

Meanwhile, today was the day that Princess Xia Yunxin was returning to her parents' home. Early in the morning, Zhu Zhanhe had prepared a carriage and brought his wife to the Xia residence.

After Zhu Zhanhe entered the mansion, he briefly paid his respects to his parents-in-law before being dragged into the study by his father-in-law, Xia Yuanji.

"I can see that His Highness treats my daughter very well; she's smiling happily." Xia Yuanji looked at his son-in-law with a face full of emotion. To be honest, he was originally dissatisfied with this son-in-law because of the Prince of Han's matter, but today, seeing his daughter's smiling face, which showed that she was very happy, Xia Yuanji finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Father-in-law, you are overthinking it. Since Guan'er is my wife, I will naturally cherish her dearly." Zhu Zhanhe was very grateful to Xia Yuanji. He was very satisfied that his daughter was being raised so well!
"Enough with the small talk, let's get down to business."

"The Emperor will order you to go to your fiefdoms in the next few days. He is willing to send the entire Xia family with you. What do you think?" Xia Yuanji sighed inwardly. He was unwilling to go to Yunnan with his son-in-law.

"Really? Thank you so much, Father-in-law!" Zhu Zhanhe didn't care whether his father-in-law, Xia Yuanji, wanted to go or not.

At least, Zhu Zhanhe himself was very willing to do this, so when his father-in-law Xia Yuanji asked him, he readily agreed.

"You..." Xia Yuanji was speechless, choked by his son-in-law's shamelessness.

"Please make the necessary preparations, Father-in-law. We'll be setting off in a few days." Zhu Zhanhe suddenly remembered that there were still some things to take care of, and immediately became excited.

After having lunch at the Xia family's house, Zhu Zhanhe and his wife, Xia, sat together in the carriage. Under Xiao Zhi's resentful gaze, the two clung tightly to each other, holding hands, as they returned to the Prince's Mansion.

After returning to the Prince's Mansion, Zhu Zhanhe briefly greeted his mother, Lady Wei, and then summoned his uncle, Wei Jizhong.

"Uncle, I have something to tell you."

First, go to the Taoist temple and tell the master that you will be going to Yunnan to take up your post in the next few days, and ask them to make sure you are ready.

Second, have Erniu arrange the guard team.

Third, we'll start packing today. We'll load everything onto the truck and take it all with us.

Fourth, go and tell the brothers in the cavalry battalion that the affairs of the Prince's Palace are busy right now, so I won't be able to say goodbye to them one by one.

Fifth,..." Zhu Zhanhe arranged various matters in an orderly and rapid manner in preparation for taking up his fiefdom.

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away." Wei Jizhong quickly wrote down everything and hurried off.

Watching his uncle's departing figure, Zhu Zhanhe's gaze gradually deepened...

"Your Highness~" Just as Zhu Zhanhe was in a daze, the Crown Princess Xia walked over gracefully, looking at Zhu Zhanhe with eyes full of light.

"It's alright, we'll leave this place soon." Zhu Zhanhe looked at his wife's worried eyes, held her hand tightly, and said quietly...

Time flew by, and the day of his enfeoffment soon arrived. Although Zhu Zhanhe, representing the Prince of Han's residence, had already gone to the palace to express his gratitude, Emperor Hongxi, dressed in plain clothes, personally came to see him off just before his departure.

Upon seeing Emperor Hongxi arrive, Zhu Zhanhe quickly led his men forward to pay their respects. "No need for formalities. There is no Emperor here today. I am only here on behalf of my second and third sons to see off these family members who are about to embark on a long journey." Emperor Hongxi was pale and spoke weakly.

"Uncle, take care of yourself." Zhu Zhanhe looked at Emperor Hongxi, whose face was growing paler and paler, and couldn't help but guess that his uncle probably wouldn't last much longer.

"He'er, let's talk." As the relatives surrounding Emperor Hongxi gradually left, Emperor Hongxi gestured for Zhu Zhanhe to come aside and talk.

"Okay!" Zhu Zhanhe agreed without hesitation.

“He’er, I’ve thought about keeping you alive, and even about getting rid of you.” In a secluded pavilion, Emperor Hongxi and Zhu Zhanhe sat facing each other. As soon as he opened his mouth, Emperor Hongxi frankly said that he had thought about killing Zhu Zhanhe.

"Then why did Uncle give up again?" Zhu Zhanhe stared at Emperor Hongxi for a moment and asked casually.

"My time is running out. I simply don't have time to solve the problems you raised."

Even if your eldest brother ascends the throne, he will lack prestige for a long time because of your father and the third brother, and he will not be able to do those things!

I'm really scared, scared that what you said will come true.

I even sent people to investigate along the coast, but maritime smuggling was rampant there, and family power was so strong that the imperial court could not intervene at all!
"Now that both the Crown Prince's Consort and the Crown Prince's Consort are pregnant, given Zhanji's fondness for the Crown Prince's Consort, the future is likely to be very uncertain..." Emperor Hongxi rambled on about the various problems he had discovered.

In fact, after Emperor Hongxi ascended the throne, he also faced the predicament of insufficient prestige. He wanted to change the situation, but his time was really running out!

"So, Uncle let me go hoping I'll help you in the future?" Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help but admire Emperor Hongxi's sense of the bigger picture; he was even willing to deliberately let go of a huge hidden danger for the sake of the country.

"I have already signed your grandfather's will."

As for Yunnan, I will issue an edict granting you full authority, including the appointment of officials.

I ask for nothing else, but only that if the country is in trouble in the future, you live, and your descendants can save the court from disaster! Emperor Hongxi was helpless; Zhu Zhanhe's personal power in Nanjing was simply unstoppable!
Emperor Hongxi was neither confident that he could kill him with a single blow, nor could he completely resolve the current problems facing the dynasty.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Emperor Hongxi finally chose to compromise and let the person go, leaving a good impression so that he could ask for help in the future when the country was in real danger.

Uncle, you've changed.

The former crown prince, Zhu Gaochi, was a man who could give up everything for the sake of the country.

"But now, Uncle, you have abandoned your principles for the sake of your elder brother's throne." Zhu Zhanhe looked at Emperor Hongxi in front of him and said these words in a very rebellious manner.

"However, don't worry, Uncle. Since I said I would help, I definitely will."

"I am also surnamed Zhu. If one day the nation is truly in trouble, and someone brings me that imperial edict, I will do my utmost." Zhu Zhanhe looked earnestly at Emperor Hongxi, who was desperately scheming for the sake of Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji, and nodded in agreement.

"Good!" After receiving the affirmative reply, Emperor Hongxi's weak face showed a relieved smile.

"Uncle, if the first batch of ships can be delivered sooner, I will transfer a group of elite troops from my father's place. This can be considered as a reward for the imperial court's gift of the large ships."

"Finally, Uncle, take care of yourself. Your nephew takes his leave!" Zhu Zhanhe said one last thing to the Hongxi Emperor, who was about to reach the end of his life.

Then, Zhu Zhanhe looked up at the sky over Beijing, turned and left...

(End of this chapter)