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

Chapter 303 The Uneasy Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji
Of all the things Yang Shiqi said, the only ones who might be harmed are Annam and its people. But that's a trivial matter that no one cares about!

After all, the overall situation of the imperial court is of paramount importance; who would care about the feelings or lives of some foreign tribes?!
"Gulp~" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, who was still somewhat angry and dissatisfied with Yang Shiqi, was now looking at Yang Shiqi with astonishment, and couldn't help but swallow hard. He knew that if Annam really had so many disadvantages as Yang Shiqi said, then the fact that the Han Crown Prince had occupied Annam would be a great thing for the court!
The surprise came so suddenly that Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, could hardly believe it for a moment.

"Isn't this going a bit too far?!" Finally, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, suppressed his inner joy and looked troubled, even he himself felt a little reluctant to say it. After all, in Emperor Xuande's view, Annam was a remote and impoverished place, with infertile land, no mineral resources or other important resources, and full of foreign tribes. He really couldn't bear to enfeoff the Prince of Han in that godforsaken place.

After all, no matter what, the Prince of Han was the emperor's second uncle, and the Xuande Emperor did not want the history books to record that future generations would say that the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji mistreated his relatives!
"Your Majesty, since we've come this far, let's be frank. Please don't be angry," Yang Shiqi said, shaking his head slightly in resignation as he looked at Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, who seemed somewhat hesitant. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: He's still too young. If it were the Prince of Han, he would have agreed without hesitation! He might even have gone to greater lengths!
Helpless, for the sake of the court's situation, Yang Shiqi had no choice but to continue to use his trump card against the Xuande Emperor.

"Please speak, Grand Secretary Yang." Zhu Zhanji asked Yang Shiqi with great enthusiasm, curious about what Grand Secretary Yang wanted to say this time.

"Your Majesty should also know about the edict enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, left by Emperor Taizong and signed with the title of Emperor Renzong, right?" Yang Shiqi pointed out a crucial matter without hesitation.

"Then time naturally passed. After the late emperor was buried, the Empress Dowager personally told about this matter."

"The abdication of the emperor! Is he referring to the golden dragon edict that Grandpa left to the Crown Prince of Han?!" Upon hearing Yang Shiqi's words, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, became serious. After all, that edict bore the signatures of two previous emperors! He had naturally seen it and knew its immense value and terrifying nature. Yet, its contents horrified him, to the point that Emperor Xuande wished he could burn it immediately. However, his mother, Empress Zhang, strongly opposed this idea, leaving him still resentful about it to this day.

When Zhu Zhanji mentioned that the dragon in the story of Jianlong's abdication was the golden dragon token held by the Crown Prince of Han, not only Yang Shiqi fell silent for a moment, but even Fan Zhong, who had been silent all along, lowered his head silently and subtly stroked the brass ring on his hand.

There were only three people present. Yang Shiqi and Fan Zhong weren't blind, so they could naturally see the rings on each other's hands. Therefore, there were three people in the room: the emperor, two ministers, and only the emperor, Zhu Zhanji, was unaware of the existence of the Han Crown Prince Tuolong!
"Your Majesty, since you know about the edict enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, you must also know that the late Emperor said that no one from the Prince of Han's lineage should die at the hands of those in power!" Yang Shiqi was practically telling Zhu Zhanji that no one from the Prince of Han's lineage should die at his hands!
"That's natural, the Empress Dowager also gave instructions. Moreover, we even swore an oath in front of our grandfather, Emperor Taizong: if we kill our own blood relatives, may we die young and suffer a terrible death!" Hearing Yang Shiqi's almost blunt words, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, didn't take it too seriously. He told Yang Shiqi that not only had his mother, the Empress Dowager, given instructions, but he himself, as the emperor, had also sworn an oath!
“Your Majesty, what I am saying is true. No matter what the present or future generations are like, under any circumstances, no successor of the Han Prince’s lineage should be allowed to be harmed by any ruler!” Yang Shiqi seemed dissatisfied with Emperor Xuande’s blunt words. He told Zhu Zhanji directly that not only should they not be killed now, but no emperor should kill any successor of the Han Prince’s lineage in the future!

"We can't control what happens in the future, can we?" Seeing Yang Shiqi's serious expression, Zhu Zhanji looked around to make sure no one else was there before saying this somewhat reluctantly. After all, if he were to die, he really wouldn't be able to control what happens in the future! "Therefore, Your Majesty, I have something else to tell you: Emperor Taizong and Emperor Renzong both left behind wills that if future emperors approve of those wills, they should sign and leave their mark on them, just like the late emperors did."

"Your Majesty, Emperor Renzong once said that he would wait for the right opportunity to have you sign it as well." Yang Shiqi told Zhu Zhanji that the edict was not left to him alone, but to all his descendants! Every emperor who approved of the edict had to sign it!
"Approval? Signature?" Although Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, knew that the edict was meant for posterity, and although his grandfather and father had signed it, he never imagined he would sign it himself! Approval of the edict? How could he approve it? Would he voluntarily relinquish the throne to the Prince of Han's lineage?

"Your Majesty is in a difficult position. That is why I want to take this opportunity to move the Han King's lineage away from the Central Plains. But they must remain within the sphere of influence of the Central Plains! So that if future generations need them, they can always find the Han King's lineage and ask for their assistance!" Yang Shiqi explained to Emperor Xuande why he wanted to relocate the Han King's lineage to Annam.

In Yang Shiqi's view, Annam was located in a remote area, and no matter how much the Han King's lineage caused trouble, it was impossible for them to cause turmoil in the Central Plains. Moreover, Annam was still within the sphere of influence of the Central Plains, so if future generations needed to seek support from the Han King's lineage, they could find them at any time!

"They've already been driven so far away, how could the court possibly need their help?" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, was somewhat puzzled. The court was far larger and had far more talented people than the Prince of Han's residence. Furthermore, the Prince of Han's lineage was being driven to that remote, godforsaken place, Annam. How could the court possibly need their help in the future?! What use would they be if the country were truly on the verge of collapse?!

"Is there something I don't know about this?!" Suddenly, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, realized a crucial question. That is, the Prince of Han's lineage must possess something capable of turning the tide! Otherwise, his grandfather, Emperor Yongle, would never have left that strange edict, much less have wanted to pass the throne to his second uncle before his death! And his father, Emperor Renzong, would never have signed that edict! The fact that his father signed that edict meant he knew the key reason behind it!
This thing must be so important that Uncle Han, the Second Prince, would rather rebel and be defeated than expose it!

"What is it?!" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, suddenly realized this and asked Yang Shiqi with a serious expression. He wanted to know what secrets were hidden in this matter!
When Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, questioned him, Yang Shiqi chose to remain silent, and even Fan Zhong, who was standing to the side, lowered his head silently.

Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, looked at the two ministers who had suddenly fallen silent before him, and for a moment felt a chill run down his spine. For the first time, he felt utterly alone! One was his Grand Secretary, the head of the civil service; the other was the commander of his Imperial Guard, his personal bodyguard! But now, it was clear that the two were hiding something from him, the emperor! And it was something of paramount importance concerning the fate of the nation!
In an instant, Zhu Zhanji's eyes sharpened and became dangerous again.

(End of this chapter)