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

Chapter 305 The Birth of the Eldest Grandson of the Prince of Han's Mansion

"Grand Secretary Yang, since none of you are willing to discuss this matter for the time being, then I will only ask you one question: When will I be able to find out the whole story?!" Seeing Yang Shiqi's constantly changing expression, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji's expression also changed drastically. He knew that with Yang Shiqi's intelligence, he must have guessed something from his unintentional remark earlier!

Therefore, in a moment of desperation, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, although unaware of what Yang Shiqi had guessed, did not have time to think too much and directly interrupted Yang Shiqi's train of thought, shifting the topic back to the matter that Yang Shiqi and Fan Zhong had both kept silent about, in order to divert their attention.

Although Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, had already convinced himself that what everyone was keeping from him was most likely the twelve edicts that would affect the fate of the empire, out of caution, he maintained a skeptical attitude until he received definitive information. This was a fundamental quality of an emperor!

"Your Majesty," Yang Shiqi said, "I can only say that Emperor Taizong learned of this matter before the Yumu River incident; Emperor Renzong learned of it after the wedding of the Han heir apparent." Yang Shiqi did not directly tell Emperor Xuande when he learned of the matter. However, he did tell Emperor Xuande the time when Emperors Taizong (Yongle) and Renzong (Hongxi) learned of it.

"Let's return to the capital," Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, said after hearing Yang Shiqi's words. He didn't reply, but his pupils contracted sharply. Then, Emperor Xuande dismissed Yang Shiqi, ordering him to prepare for the return journey.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave." Although Zhu Zhanji had suddenly interrupted Yang Shiqi's deep thoughts, he still calmly bowed to the Xuande Emperor and left.

"Your subject takes his leave." Fan Zhong bowed to Zhu Zhanji as Yang Shiqi left, then turned and followed Yang Shiqi away.

As Zhu Zhanji watched Yang Shiqi and Fan Zhong leave, his expression gradually became serious.

"Grandpa found out in Yumu River; Father found out at the end of April; aren't these both moments before their deaths?" Zhu Zhanji stared blankly at the empty doorway, momentarily stunned. After all, as intelligent as he was, how could he not understand the significance of these two dates mentioned by Yang Shiqi? One was the time of his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor's, death, and the other was the eve of his father, the Renzong Emperor's, death. The Xuande Emperor understood that Yang Shiqi was telling him that only when he, the Xuande Emperor, was also about to die like his predecessor, would he learn the whole story!

At this moment, Zhu Zhanji's mind was racing. Almost instantly, he overturned the idea that "that matter" was the Twelve Treatises! Because his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor, knew the contents of the Twelve Treatises, he himself knew the contents, and his father, the Renzong Emperor, also knew the contents.

Therefore, his father, Emperor Renzong, didn't need to wait until his death to find out! Emperor Xuande knew perfectly well that there was another major event in the Ming Dynasty that would affect the succession to the throne, being kept from him, the emperor! And this was a crucial event that he, the emperor, would only learn of when he was about to establish an heir or when he was about to die!
Zhu Zhanji sat there blankly, his mind frantically filtering through all the useful information he had gathered in the first half of his life. But apart from the Golden Dragon Token, he discovered that there was absolutely nothing corresponding to the contents of the will!
While pondering, the Xuande Emperor turned his thoughts to Zhu Zhanhe, the heir apparent of the Han dynasty, his ongoing expansionist campaign in Annam, and the twelve treatises he had written!

"Perhaps Grandfather and Father are right. Letting Zhanhe cause trouble outside and try out those so-called measures is better than turning the Ming Dynasty upside down." Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, thought of the contents of the Twelve Discourses and the measures required by them. In Emperor Xuande's view, some of the measures in the Twelve Discourses were too radical and might cause turmoil in the court and among the people.

However, Zhu Zhanji had fewer concerns about conducting experiments on foreign tribes. Therefore, objectively speaking, Zhu Zhanji still supported his cousin's actions in Annam.

"It seems we still need to provide him with some support during this critical period." It must be said that Zhu Zhanji truly deserves to be the successor whom Emperor Yongle and Emperor Renzong have jointly nurtured. Even though the events just now caused him great turmoil, when faced with matters of national importance, he was still able to firmly consider the overall situation, handle things properly, and choose the most correct option for the court!

After all, in Zhu Zhanji's view, it was a good move to have someone pave the way while he reaped the rewards from behind!
Soon after Emperor Xuande personally led a large army to quell the rebellion of the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao in Jinan, he returned directly to the capital. Upon returning to the court, Emperor Xuande Zhu Zhanji merely confined the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao, who had caused the turmoil, to their former residences, without carrying out any other large-scale purges.

Even the generals who followed the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao in their uprisings were not punished by Emperor Xuande, and their military ranks remained unchanged. For a time, the entire court and the public sang praises of Emperor Xuande's benevolence and virtue.

Moreover, just a few days after the imperial army returned to the capital, a huge fleet set sail from the coast of Tianjin, fully loaded, heading in a grand and imposing manner towards an unknown direction.

"Second Uncle, I have sent another entire fleet to Yunnan, including artisans, firearms, and crew, in addition to the army. I am the Emperor, and the matter of saving the country is not just a matter for your Prince of Han's residence."

"Uncle, is there anything you wish to say to me?" In the Prince of Han's mansion in Beijing, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, came to visit the Prince of Han, who was under house arrest, and brought him some important news.

"Hehe, you little brat, you've got a good plan." After hearing Zhu Zhanji's words, the Prince of Han, perhaps because he had become more perceptive after being drawn into the trap, immediately understood his nephew's idea. He lay on the ground drinking wine, and with a slight turn of his head, replied with a mocking expression.

"It seems that Second Uncle still needs to study more." Looking at the Prince of Han lying on the ground with a disdainful expression, leisurely drinking wine, and showing no respect whatsoever, Emperor Xuande Zhu Zhanji also felt dissatisfied.

"Starting tomorrow, I will send scholars to teach my second uncle the classics." Seeing that the Prince of Han was unyielding, the Xuande Emperor, feeling frustrated, turned and left without looking back.

Watching his departing nephew, the Prince of Han couldn't help but reveal a disdainful expression. Then, the Prince of Han unconsciously turned his gaze to the window, towards Yunnan.

At this moment, in the Han Prince's Mansion in Yunnan, Zhu Zhanhe and his mother sat anxiously in the Chengyun Hall, looking out of the main hall. Of course, it wasn't just Zhu Zhanhe and his mother, Lady Wei, who were present; important officials of the Han Prince's Mansion, including Xia Yuanji, Mu Sheng, Liu Erniu, and Zhu Zhanyi, were also there.

Ah~!

Ah ~!

"Ah~!" Meanwhile, in the inner palace of the Han Prince's mansion, painful wails could be heard one after another.

Outside the door, Xiao Zhi, Yun'er, and Jian'er were pacing anxiously back and forth. At the same time, palace maids were constantly moving back and forth inside and outside the palace, carrying hot water and towels.

"Princess Consort, push harder, the baby's head is already out!" Just then, the long-unheard voice of Aunt Xiu'er suddenly came from inside the house.

Yes, after ten months of pregnancy, today is the day that Crown Princess Xia will give birth.

The noise in the delivery room continued for a long time before a different sound finally came out.

"Wah~, wah~, wah~" The sound of a baby crying came from inside the room, and everyone outside tensed up immediately.

"It's born! It's a little prince!" Suddenly, everyone outside the door heard Aunt Xiu'er's excited shouts from inside the room! Everyone couldn't help but feel excited as well.

(End of this chapter)