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

Chapter 340 Indeed, Vice Minister Yu is the most diligent reader in history!
“Minister Yu, suddenly another princess has appeared in my Han Prince’s mansion, and she has even become your wife!”

Moreover, you, Vice Minister Yu, even produced a token that only the Prince of Han possessed.

In such an absurd situation, you yourself, Vice Minister Yu,
"Should I believe what you've said, or not?" Zhu Zhanhe asked Yu Qian with a cryptic smile. Throughout his speech, Zhu Zhanhe addressed Yu Qian as "Vice Minister Yu." The reason for this was that Zhu Zhanhe was reminding Yu Qian and the others that it was against the rules for court officials to privately arrange marriages with local princes! If the court found out, they would be in deep trouble!

Yang Shiqi and the others naturally understood the reminder from the Crown Prince of Han.

For a moment, Yang Shiqi and the other two tensed up, knowing that the Crown Prince of Han did not believe Yu Qian's words at all! However, out of filial piety towards the Prince of Han, the Crown Prince still had some doubts.

It was precisely this slight doubt of Zhu Zhanhe that gave Yu Qian, Yang Shiqi and others the opportunity!
"Your Highness, everything I have said is true."

"May I, Yu Qian, suffer a terrible death if I utter any falsehoods!" Upon hearing the Han prince's words, Yu Qian knew that the prince was spouting nonsense, but he still managed to take some of it to heart. However, Yu Qian's words lacked persuasiveness, making it impossible for the Han prince to completely believe him. In haste, to make the Han prince believe him, Yu Qian directly swore a poisonous oath to prove the correctness of his words.

"Hehe~" Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help but laugh in anger after hearing Yu Qian's solemn oath without hesitation.

What? You, Yu Qian, are going to die a horrible death? Then my poor sister, the daughter of the Prince of Han who married you, will have to be a widow?
And Yu Qian, you bastard, do you think you can just make vows like that?

Sima Yi swore an oath by the Luo River, yet his entire clan met a tragic end; Emperor Xuande swore not to kill his own relatives, yet he too met an early demise in history; and you, Yu Qian, are also making an oath now, but if I remember correctly, you were also executed at the height of your career, leaving behind your wife, children, and elderly relatives to be exiled!

So, can you just make vows like that? Have you ever thought about my poor sister who married you?! Thinking of this, Zhu Zhanhe became somewhat dissatisfied with Yu Qian.

"Minister Yu, oaths should not be made lightly. After all, Heaven is watching what people do. It's best to be cautious!" Zhu Zhanhe rolled his eyes and advised Yu Qian in a somewhat irritable manner before continuing to speak.

"However, since you, Minister Yu, say that what you said is true, then I will give you a chance."

I'll ask you a question. If you can answer it, then I'll believe that what you're saying is true.
Otherwise, I can only apologize.” Zhu Zhanhe advised Yu Qian, telling him not to make any rash oaths.

At the same time, Zhu Zhanhe decided to give Yu Qian and his group a way out. He realized that Yang Shiqi and his associates were truly no longer worth extracting from them. As for the details of further negotiations, he would have his father-in-law represent Yunnan in continuing the discussions with Yang Shiqi and his group.
"Your Highness, please ask. I will answer to the best of my knowledge!" Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, Yu Qian was overjoyed. He eagerly asked Zhu Zhanhe repeatedly. But at that moment, Yang Shiqi, standing to the side, silently frowned. Looking at the Crown Prince's expression, Yang Shiqi suddenly had a bad feeling.

"It's a very simple question."

May I ask you, Vice Minister Yu, the Yongle Encyclopedia of the Ming Dynasty, compiled by my grandfather, records countless contents of classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections; and the historical books from ancient times to the present are even more vast.

"What do these historical records say?" Zhu Zhanhe asked Yu Qian softly, his head slightly raised and teacup in hand, with a look of great interest.

"Thump!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Yu Qian, who had been kneeling upright on the ground, staggered and fell straight backward, his eyes even becoming glazed. Fortunately, Fan Zhong, who was standing nearby, reacted quickly and caught Yu Qian before he fell.

Yang Shiqi, Fan Zhong, and the others, who were also kneeling, were somewhat baffled by the question posed by the Crown Prince of Han, unable to grasp its meaning. However, when they saw Yu Qian's terrified and collapsed appearance, they couldn't help but feel a strange tremor in their hearts. They sensed that the Crown Prince's question likely contained something far more complex than it seemed!

For a moment, Yu Qian, in a daze, stared blankly at Zhu Zhanhe, without saying a word or responding to any of Zhu Zhanhe's words. He just stared intently at Zhu Zhanhe with a vacant look.

"Oh? I'm sorry, it seems Minister Yu doesn't know?" Zhu Zhanhe looked at Yu Qian's terrified and limp state, and already knew the answer. This Yu Qian must know the answer the Prince of Han gave to Emperor Taizong when he was six years old! That's why Yu Qian is so terrified now. However, since Yu Qian hasn't spoken, Zhu Zhanhe doesn't want to know the reason for Yu Qian's silence, nor does he want to waste any more time. Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe put down the teacup he was holding and prepared to leave.

"Yu Qian~~~!" Seeing the Han prince getting up to leave, Yang Shiqi couldn't help but shout at Yu Qian. In an instant, Yang Shiqi's shout was like a thunderclap, waking the drowsy Yu Qian.

"Your Highness, please wait!"

"I understand!" Seeing that the Crown Prince of Han was about to get up and leave, Yu Qian recovered from his shock. Immediately, Yu Qian straightened his back and called out to the Crown Prince who was about to leave.

"Is Vice Minister Yu sure he knows?" Zhu Zhanhe stopped in his tracks after hearing Yu Qian's call, leaned on his chair, looked at Yu Qian quietly, and asked softly.

"Your Highness, I am certain!" Yu Qian looked firmly into Zhu Zhanhe's eyes and replied earnestly.

"You really know?" Zhu Zhanhe stared into Yu Qian's eyes again, asking as if to confirm.

"Your humble servant truly knows!" Yu Qian replied firmly, staring directly into Zhu Zhanhe's eyes.

"Okay~
Since Vice Minister Yu knows.

"Then, Vice Minister Yu, please tell me your story." Seeing that Yu Qian had also wisely yielded, Zhu Zhanhe sat down again, took a sip of tea, and waited quietly for Yu Qian's reply.

"Replying to Your Highness."

Throughout history, historical records are vast and numerous, and the Yongle Encyclopedia encompasses everything. Yet, it only mentions four words:

fight!
when!
Your Majesty!
"Your Majesty!" Yu Qian knelt on the ground, his back straight, his eyes fixed on Zhu Zhanhe. At the same time, he repeated the answer that the Prince of Han had given him, word by word.

It was a bombshell! The moment Yu Qian's name appeared, Fan Zhong and Yang Shiqi were completely stunned. Their worldview, built up over years of education, crumbled in that instant!
Or rather, they knew very well in their hearts that the four words Yu Qian spoke were not words that Yu Qian could have uttered! They must have been spoken by someone else! Moreover, only someone in a high position could have said such words!

The only person in the entire court who could say such a thing was the deceased Prince of Han!

At this moment, Yang Shiqi felt as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest! Yang Shiqi never expected that Yu Qian's answer would be one of these four terrifying outcomes: vying to become emperor!

What does this mean? What did the Crown Prince of Han mean by asking this question? And what did Yu Qian mean by his answer?
Could it be that the Crown Prince of Han was still resentful and intended to rebel against the court? Lost in his thoughts, Yang Shiqi swallowed hard, staring intently at the Crown Prince. He needed to confirm whether the Crown Prince truly intended to wage war against the court!
At this moment, Fan Zhong was still stunned and hadn't come to his senses at all.

"Minister Yu truly deserves to be called the most diligent reader of history, for he has come up with such insights."

"Indeed excellent." Zhu Zhanhe looked at Yu Qian, whose face was full of seriousness and panic, with a smile, and couldn't help but clap his hands and praise him.

(End of this chapter)