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

Chapter 332 Yang Shiqi's Entrustment
"What?!" Upon hearing Yang Shiqi's astonishing words, Yu Qian was suddenly filled with a sense of horror. In his panic, Yu Qian almost fell off his horse!

"Grand Secretary Yang, be careful what you say! You mustn't speak recklessly like this!" Startled, Yu Qian instinctively grabbed the saddle to steady himself. Once stable, he quickly glanced around, and after confirming that no one was around, he swallowed hard and whispered urgently to Yang Shiqi.

Clearly, Yang Shiqi's sudden outburst of defiance of the imperial edict had greatly frightened Yu Qian! After all, that was defying an imperial edict, a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
Compared to Yu Qian's fear and unease, Yang Shiqi appeared quite calm. So, Yang Shiqi continued speaking to the uneasy Yu Qian.

"Yu Qian, everything has its reasons, but now that things have come to this, I have no intention of lying to you."

"But I say that my words of defying the imperial order are true!" Yang Shiqi told Yu Qian with a firm expression that his words of disobeying the imperial order were real and not just empty talk!

Hearing Yang Shiqi's words, Yu Qian was deeply moved. Looking at Yang Shiqi's expression, Yu Qian knew that the matter of defying the imperial decree was likely true! Moreover, there were probably many stories behind it!

Before Qian could even ask a question, Yang Shiqi continued talking to himself.

"At that time, you also went on the expedition with the army and retreated to Yumu River with Emperor Taizong. I was ordered to go to Yumu River and brought tens of thousands of Japanese pirates and provisions with me."

But in reality, I was acting on the orders of Emperor Taizong to replenish the army with provisions and supplies, not to replenish the supplies for the Japanese pirates.

My most important purpose in going to Yumuchuan was to fulfill the imperial decree of Emperor Taizong to establish the Prince of Han as the new emperor!

"And taking advantage of my merit in supporting the enthronement of the Prince of Han, I request that the Prince of Han allow the then Crown Prince and his grandson to go to Nanjing to live out their old age." Under Yu Qian's blank gaze, Yang Shiqi recounted with a look of recollection his true purpose for going to Yumu River!

At this moment, Yu Qian was completely stunned by Yang Shiqi's sudden revelation! He had personally witnessed the situation at Yumu River. Therefore, Yu Qian naturally knew that Yang Shiqi had brought anti-Japanese troops and supplies there. However, Yu Qian could not imagine that Yang Shiqi had actually been acting on Emperor Taizong's decree to install the Prince of Han as emperor! Furthermore, Yang Shiqi had conspired with the Crown Prince to secretly launch a rebellion against the imperial edict!

Yu Qian stared at Yang Shiqi in disbelief, pointing at him blankly with a look of panic and unease in his eyes!

"At that time, I was still unaware of the earth-shattering scheme that Emperor Taizong had left behind for Prince Han. I only felt that the Crown Prince was the foundation of the country, and with the Crown Prince's grandson in the palace, the throne should not be moved lightly. Prince Han was also so impatient, and if he were to ascend the throne, he would probably become another Emperor Taizong who waged war year after year."

Therefore, I secretly conspired with the current Xuande Emperor to detain the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao, and then enthroned Emperor Renzong.” Speaking of the process of enthroning Emperor Renzong, Yang Shiqi couldn’t help but sigh. The scene seemed to appear before his eyes as if it were yesterday.

At this moment, Yu Qian was completely stunned, and he just listened blankly to Yang Shiqi's story without making any move.

"And it was after Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, during the rebellion of the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao, that I was sent to Yunnan for the first time because of Emperor Taizong's bestowal of a fleet of ocean-going ships upon the Crown Prince of Han."

It was then that I truly witnessed Emperor Taizong's astonishing scheme within the Han Prince's faction!
"Unfortunately, the new emperor has ascended the throne, and the crown prince has already been chosen. It's all too late!" Yang Shiqi recounted with a sigh, recalling his first trip to Yunnan, his eyes filled with disappointment. Yu Qian, meanwhile, simply listened quietly to Yang Shiqi's words.

"But things have come to this point, and for the sake of national stability, I have no choice but to go down this path to the bitter end!"
Fortunately, Emperor Taizong had planned ahead and left behind that imperial edict! Moreover, Emperor Taizong and the Crown Prince of Han had made an agreement, and the Crown Prince of Han kept the agreement not to raise troops, which allowed the country to remain stable.

However, just before the Crown Prince of Han was enfeoffed in Yunnan, he had met with Emperor Renzong alone once! At that time, Emperor Renzong clearly already knew the secret. Therefore, on his deathbed, Emperor Renzong personally signed the edict left by Emperor Taizong, which outlined plans for the future.

Furthermore, Emperor Renzong left several wills instructing me to inform Emperor Xuande of this secret when he came of age. He also asked the Empress Dowager to urge the Emperor not to kill his own relatives. But, unexpectedly, things did not go as planned.” Yang Shiqi said to Yu Qian with a look of disappointment, his eyes filled with deep loneliness and regret.

"Yu Qian, I bear great responsibility for the death of the Prince of Han!"

Once I arrive in Yunnan, I will do everything in my power to let you know that secret. Of course, with your ring and your status as the son-in-law of the Prince of Han, it will be even easier to do so.

After returning to the court, I will find a way to get you into the position of Grand Secretary as soon as possible. You also need to learn to stabilize the court, stabilize the Emperor, and stabilize that secret!

"We will tell him this secret when the Emperor is as mature as Emperor Taizong and Emperor Renzong." Yang Shiqi excitedly grabbed Yu Qian's hand and slowly recounted in detail how he assisted Emperor Xuande in defying the imperial edict and supporting Emperor Renzong's ascension to the throne.

At the same time, Yang Shiqi was essentially entrusting Yu Qian to the imperial court. After all, in Yang Shiqi's view, he might not have the chance to leave the territory of the Han Prince's Mansion in Yunnan alive!
Yang Shiqi, however, placed high hopes on Yu Qian! This was not only because of Yu Qian's loyalty to the court, but also because of Yu Qian's connection with the Prince of Han's residence!
Yu Qian is the brother-in-law of the next Prince of Han, Zhu Zhanhe! He is also the son-in-law personally chosen by the Prince of Han! Furthermore, the Prince of Han is willing to entrust him with a ring! In addition, Yang Shiqi knows that the Crown Prince of Han is a man of great loyalty and righteousness! With these multiple identities, in Yang Shiqi's view, Yu Qian is the best linchpin for stabilizing the Prince of Han's residence and the court! Without a doubt!

At this moment, Yu Qian was completely stunned by Yang Shiqi's sudden message, his mind went blank. He could only stare at Yang Shiqi in disbelief, his mouth agape.

"Lord Yang, I'm sorry, I need to calm down." After a moment of stunned silence, Yu Qian finally recovered from his shock. He subconsciously rubbed his jaw, which had dropped in surprise, and looked hard at the still calm Yang Shiqi, then at the ring on his hand that now felt unusually hot to the touch. For a moment, Yu Qian felt somewhat dazed, so he swallowed hard and said to Yang Shiqi with a dry mouth that he needed to calm down.

However, Yu Qian really needed to calm down. After all, what Yang Shiqi had just said was far too shocking for him. Although Yang Shiqi still hadn't revealed the secret hidden in the Han Prince's residence, Yu Qian had learned the truth about Emperor Taizong's succession to the throne!
At this moment, Yu Qian realized that the Prince of Han was not a rebel, but the rightful heir to the throne! The current emperor's lineage was the one that was rebelling! Moreover, from Yang Shiqi's tone, Yu Qian could clearly sense that Grand Secretary Yang regretted it! Yang Shiqi regretted not supporting the Prince of Han's ascension to the throne!

Or, from another perspective, Yang Shiqi felt that the secret hidden in the Han Prince's Mansion was too astonishing, and that Emperor Taizong's plan before his death was too secret. Yang Shiqi, who knew the secret, felt that only people like the Han Prince and the Han Crown Prince, who ruled the country by force, could have accomplished that terrible plan!

The most terrifying thing is that Emperor Taizong only finalized this plan on his deathbed! It was extremely rushed!

But what's even stranger is that Emperor Renzong, who successfully ascended the throne, clearly knew this terrible secret after his accession.

(End of this chapter)