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

Chapter 334 Carrying the Coffin into the Prince's Mansion

On the other side, Zhu Zhanhe had already led his brothers to the city gate. When he saw Yang Shiqi, Yu Qian and the others who were attending the funeral, all with their heads wrapped in white cloth and dressed in white mourning clothes, even though Zhu Zhanhe knew that everything in front of him was fake, he still couldn't help but feel a strange sadness in his heart.

"Your Highness, after receiving news of the Prince's passing, the Princess Consort fainted on her way here." Just as Zhu Zhanhe and his brothers arrived to greet Yang Shiqi and the others, a eunuch rushed over from the city gate not far behind, knelt on the ground, and anxiously reported to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Immediately summon the royal physician and send the princess back to the palace!" Zhu Zhanhe turned around with a sorrowful expression after hearing the eunuch's words and said to the eunuch kneeling on the ground.

"Yes!" The eunuch, who had rushed over anxiously and was covered in sweat, nodded and retreated immediately after hearing the prince's instructions.

Yang Shiqi;

Yu Qian;

"Fan Zhong greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Yang Shiqi and the others had already knelt before the Crown Prince, ready to pay their respects to Zhu Zhanhe and announce the death. However, before they could speak, a palace attendant suddenly arrived with news that Princess Wei had fainted from excessive grief. For a moment, Yang Shiqi and the others had no choice but to remain kneeling quietly, waiting for Zhu Zhanhe to finish arranging things before continuing their greetings.

After all, he couldn't just kneel down and then get up, only to kneel again after the Crown Prince of Han finished his work, could he? That would be too much of a waste.

Meanwhile, Yang Shiqi and the others were also deeply concerned upon hearing the news that Princess Wei of Han had fainted from excessive grief. Yang Shiqi silently prayed, "Please, Princess Wei, be alright!" After all, in Yang Shiqi's view, if something were to happen to Princess Wei at this crucial moment due to excessive grief, then the Crown Prince of Han would truly have no room for negotiation with the court!
"Grand Secretary Yang, this must be your third visit to Yunnan!" Zhu Zhanhe squinted, looking down slightly at the people kneeling before him. He didn't tell Yang Shiqi and the others who were bowing to him to rise, but instead spoke to Yang Shiqi with a stern face. As a result, everyone could see the frosty expression on the Crown Prince's face!

Furthermore, everyone around Zhu Zhanhe felt an intense pressure pressing in from all directions, as if the air itself had thinned. Almost simultaneously, those surrounding Zhu Zhanhe felt suffocated and struggled to breathe. Seeing this, Zhu Zhanhe's brothers lowered their heads even further.

"Your Highness, this is indeed my third visit to Yunnan." Kneeling on the ground, Yang Shiqi clearly felt the immense pressure. In Yang Shiqi's eyes, the anger and pressure emanating from Prince Zhu Zhanhe were like a volcano about to erupt, weighing heavily on his heart like Mount Tai pressing down. Therefore, Yang Shiqi respectfully knelt on the ground, replying to Zhu Zhanhe's words with difficulty.

This is the third time.

Every time Grand Secretary Yang came to Yunnan, he did so with a special mission. In other words, he always acted as an intermediary for the imperial court.

But this time, Grand Secretary Yang actually sent back the body of the Prince of Han, the head of my Prince of Han's mansion!

"I wonder what Grand Secretary Yang has to say this time?!" Zhu Zhanhe stared at Yang Shiqi with furious eyes, as if he wanted to grind Yang Shiqi to dust.

Perhaps sensing Zhu Zhanhe's anger, or perhaps unable to comprehend the death of the Prince of Han, the many brothers following behind Zhu Zhanhe also glared at Yang Shiqi with bloodshot eyes and heavy breathing, as if they were about to tear Yang Shiqi and his group to shreds at any moment!
"Your Highness, Yang Shiqi is indeed guilty."

"But now is not the time to hold us accountable. I beg Your Highness to first bring the Prince's body back to the Prince's residence. After the Prince's funeral, we will be at Your Highness's disposal!" Yang Shiqi knew that it would be somewhat disrespectful to the court to say certain things in public. Therefore, Yang Shiqi had no choice but to ask Zhu Zhanhe to bring the charred body of the Prince of Han back to the Prince's residence first, and then discuss the matter of punishment.

"It seems that Grand Secretary Yang was mentally prepared."

"In that case, gentlemen, please step aside. We brothers need to escort the Prince's coffin." A dangerous glint flashed in Zhu Zhanhe's narrowed eyes. Then, he went straight to Yang Shiqi and the others and began to shoo them away without any hesitation.

"Your Highness, please!" Yang Shiqi and his two companions watched as the Crown Prince of Han led his many brothers from the Han Prince's Mansion, marching in a grand procession without any hesitation, directly bumping into them. In an instant, Yang Shiqi and his companions were so frightened that they quickly got up from the ground and nimbly moved to a corner to make room for Zhu Zhanhe and his brothers to carry the coffin.

"Brothers, follow me, let's take the Prince back to the manor!" Zhu Zhanhe walked at the front, arriving first at the coffin behind Yang Shiqi and the others, supporting the heavy coffin with his hands. At the same time, Zhu Zhanhe called to his younger brothers behind him to help support the coffin. Hearing their elder brothers' calls, the brothers, led by the third brother Zhu Zhanyi, quickly came to both sides of the coffin, lined up, and, supporting the coffin, slowly walked towards the Prince's manor.

Soon, when everyone arrived at the gate of the Prince of Han's mansion, Zhu Zhanhe found that the funeral arrangements had already been made. His mother, Lady Wei, was already standing at the gate, while his wife, Lady Xia, along with her sisters, all dressed in white, were also standing at the gate to welcome the Prince of Han's coffin back to the mansion.

"Mother, your children and brothers have brought the Prince back." Zhu Zhanhe, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt respectfully on the ground and said to his mother, Madam Wei, as she stood at the door, weeping with her face covered by her aunt Xiu'er.

"He'er, take the Prince back to the manor!" Princess Wei trembled as she looked at the coffin, covering her face and sobbing. Although she knew the person lying inside was a fake Prince, a wave of sorrow still washed over her. However, even with her heart full of grief, Princess Wei still instructed her son to take the Prince of Han's body home.

"Mother, please accept my condolences! Your son will take the prince back to the manor immediately." Looking at his grieving mother, Zhu Zhanhe respectfully nodded in agreement.

"Your Highness, the mourning hall has been set up." At this moment, Xiao Xizi silently appeared from behind Zhu Zhanhe and whispered to him. Zhu Zhanhe nodded silently, indicating that he had received the news.

Meanwhile, in a corner near the entrance of the Prince of Han's residence, a group of burly men dressed in white were already waiting nearby. Clearly, these were the men Liu Erniu had arranged to move the Prince of Han's coffin. However, Zhu Zhanhe simply waved them away, indicating that he did not need their help.

"Lift!" Seeing that the Crown Prince of Han wouldn't allow anyone to carry the coffin, everyone was puzzled. Amidst their bewildered gazes, Crown Prince Zhu Zhanhe slowly walked to the coffin of the Prince of Han, gently stroking the lid. Then, with a loud shout, and to the astonishment of everyone present, the Crown Prince actually lifted the enormous coffin containing the Prince of Han's body with both hands.

And then, the Crown Prince of Han actually carried the coffin with both hands and, in the stunned gazes of everyone, slowly, step by step, walked into the Han Prince's mansion!
Upon seeing this, everyone present was stunned. Even Xia Yuanji, Mu Sheng, Princess Wei, and others stared blankly at the scene, at a loss for what to do.

"Although the coffin was not filled with burial goods, it must have weighed no less than a thousand catties!" After staring blankly at the shocking scene before him for a moment, Yu Qian swallowed hard, his eyes glazed over, and he turned to Yang Shiqi with a blank look in his eyes and murmured.

(End of this chapter)