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

Chapter 304 Yang Shiqi's Speculation
"I am the emperor!" Zhu Zhanji rose from his seat and said to Yang Shiqi with a ferocious expression, indicating that he was the emperor and had the right to know everything! But these words did not elicit any reaction from Yang Shiqi.

"Fan Zhong!" Zhu Zhanji suddenly turned his gaze to Fan Zhong, wanting to see if Fan Zhong knew about this matter!
"Your Majesty, your humble servant is here!" Upon hearing Emperor Xuande's words, Fan Zhong quickly knelt on the ground and bowed to Zhu Zhanji.

"You tell me!" Zhu Zhanji gritted his teeth, glanced at Yang Shiqi, clenched his fist, and said fiercely to Fan Zhong.

"Your Majesty..." Faced with Emperor Xuande's probing question, Fan Zhong was momentarily at a loss. He didn't know if he could tell Emperor Xuande about the Han Crown Prince's possession of a dragon. Furthermore, he worried that telling the emperor about the dragon's existence might lead to national unrest or other consequences! After all, the truth was quite alarming.

Or rather, whether the Xuande Emperor would believe it or not was another matter entirely! Therefore, Fan Zhong hesitated for a moment. All of this, however, was observed by the Xuande Emperor! The cold light in his eyes intensified.

"Your Majesty!" Seeing that Emperor Xuande was putting pressure on Fan Zhong, Yang Shiqi spoke up and stopped Emperor Xuande from putting pressure on Fan Zhong.

"Your Majesty, why make things difficult for General Fan? General Fan has his own difficulties!" Since returning from Yunnan, Yang Shiqi had noticed the ring on Fan Zhong's hand. Initially, Yang Shiqi thought Fan Zhong was also one of the Han Crown Prince's men, but after careful observation, he realized that Fan Zhong was definitely not one of the Han Crown Prince's men! Rather, he was someone who, during the reign of Emperor Taizong, as Emperor Taizong's absolute confidant, knew about the existence of the Alligator Dragon in advance!
In other words, based solely on the ring on Fan Zhong's hand, Yang Shiqi believed that after the death of Emperor Taizong (Yongle Emperor), Fan Zhong must have been entrusted with some hidden mission by Emperor Taizong! A mission based on the ring! Therefore, when faced with Emperor Xuande (Zhu Zhanji)'s interrogation of Fan Zhong, Yang Shiqi stepped in to mediate.

At the same time, Yang Shiqi also wanted to know what kind of secret mission Emperor Yongle had given Fan Zhong, and whether it would have any impact on the country.
"Speak!" When Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, heard that Fan Zhong had difficulties, his mind went completely blank. He angrily questioned Fan Zhong about what difficulties he was hiding! Did he intend to overthrow him as emperor and install the Prince of Han as emperor?! At this moment, Emperor Xuande's head was practically turned to mush with rage!

"Your Majesty, I have received Emperor Taizong's dying wish to serve you with my life and to protect the safety of the Prince of Han and his family with all my might!" Seeing that he couldn't avoid it this time, Fan Zhong had no choice but to reluctantly accept it. He then turned to Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, and explained the long-term task Emperor Taizong had assigned him.

Upon hearing Fan Zhong's words, Yang Shiqi's eyes sharpened, and he instantly became serious. Fan Zhong was referring to protecting and being loyal to the Emperor—which Emperor? Or did he mean being loyal to whoever became Emperor?! Furthermore, this task clearly involved two contradictory matters! How could one possibly be loyal to the Emperor while simultaneously protecting the Prince of Han's entire family? There was only one possibility: the Prince of Han would become Emperor!
"Swear allegiance to me? And do everything in your power to protect the safety of the Han Prince's lineage? How will you protect them? If I were to kill them, how would you protect them?!"

"Are you going to kill me and then install the Prince of Han as emperor?!" Zhu Zhanji was furious after hearing Fan Zhong's words. He didn't understand the meaning behind Fan Zhong's words and only thought that Fan Zhong's loyalty to the emperor meant loyalty to him!
Before his death, Emperor Yongle actually entrusted Fan Zhong with protecting the lineage of the Prince of Han? He even gave the Prince of Han a Golden Dragon Token! What was a Golden Dragon Token? How could Emperor Xuande not know? With the Golden Dragon Token, the Imperial Guard would become the Prince of Han's personal army! What did this mean?! Was this a prelude to overthrowing me at any moment?! Therefore, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, whose mentality was about to explode, directly questioned Fan Zhong: If I really wanted to kill them, how would you protect the lineage of the Prince of Han?

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanji's words, Fan Zhong was terrified and didn't know what to do. He could only kneel there blankly, without saying a word.

Seeing that things had reached a stalemate, Yang Shiqi stepped forward again.

“Your Majesty, perhaps Emperor Renzong has already given you the answer to this matter,” Yang Shiqi stepped forward again, cupping his hands in greeting to Zhu Zhanji. “What?” Upon hearing Yang Shiqi’s words, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, had no choice but to suppress his anger and asked Yang Shiqi with some confusion.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Renzong's decision to allow the Prince of Han's lineage to leave safely demonstrates the imperial family's benevolence towards its relatives."

As for the reason for letting them leave, I dare to guess that it might be hidden in that item the late Emperor left for you under the dragon throne.” Although he didn’t know exactly what Emperor Renzong left for Emperor Xuande under the dragon throne, Yang Shiqi knew it must be something very important. Therefore, Yang Shiqi took the opportunity to shift the topic to this, in order to divert Emperor Xuande’s attention and give Fan Zhong, whom he had tricked, a chance to catch his breath.

Yang Shiqi's tactic proved remarkably effective. After hearing Yang Shiqi's words, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, indeed fell into deep thought. But gradually, resentment and indignation reappeared on Zhu Zhanji's face.

After hearing Yang Shiqi's words, Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but recall the twelve essays on the fall of a nation that his father had left hidden in the crevice of the throne. At this moment, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, considering the preceding and following events, formed a preliminary conclusion in his mind: his grandfather had passed the throne to his second uncle because of those twelve essays! And his father, Emperor Renzong, had released the Han Prince's lineage also because of those twelve essays! His grandfather and father had even wanted the Han Prince's lineage to solve the problems posed by those twelve essays!

Seeing that both his grandfather and father regarded the author of the Twelve Treatises—the Crown Prince of Han—as the hope for the future salvation of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, was somewhat devastated.

"I am the emperor!"

The safety and survival of this great Ming Dynasty rests on my shoulders, not on his.

"Those matters of saving the nation from peril are not for a mere heir to handle!" In a moment of desperation, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, blurted out these words without thinking. Although his words seemed reasonable enough, they were not limited to the rough-around-the-edges soldier Fan Zhong; the Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi was also present!
Yang Shiqi, who had served three emperors and held the position of Grand Secretary, changed his expression immediately upon hearing Zhu Zhanji's words.

Because Yang Shiqi keenly sensed from Emperor Xuande's words that what Emperor Renzong left for Emperor Xuande and hid inside the dragon throne was likely a crucial document concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty! The Crown Prince of Han also knew the contents of this document! Furthermore, the Crown Prince of Han was now working diligently on this matter! It's even possible that Prince Han and Prince Zhao also knew about it!
And what is the Crown Prince of Han doing now? He is expanding Annam! Recruiting scholars! Expanding the navy! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Crown Prince of Han is establishing a separate court!
If we want to take it a step further and require the royal family to establish a separate court, then the only thing that can be done is a massive reform! An unprecedented, super reform that could shake the very foundations of the nation!
If that's really the case, then Prince Han and Prince Zhao might also know something! In that case, their rebellion could be explained! Yang Shiqi felt a chill run down his spine! Because he seemed to have inadvertently discovered something incredibly important! Something that absolutely could not be revealed!
Although Yang Shiqi didn't know what the Crown Prince of Han, the emperors, or even the two princes knew or were doing, he was certain that a massive event was brewing within the Ming Dynasty's imperial court!

(End of this chapter)