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

Chapter 379 Yu Qian and Fan Zhong's Choice
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Yang Shiqi remained calm as he looked at the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji, who was standing right in front of him and was completely enraged. He slowly bowed to the Xuande Emperor and kowtowed again, as if trying to persuade the emperor not to be angry.

However, there was not a trace of guilt or fear in Yang Shiqi's tone. Instead, his bowing and kowtowing made him seem like an elder patiently advising a young and willful junior, giving earnest and tireless advice!
However, little did he know that the more calm and composed Yang Shiqi appeared, the more disgusted and angry the Xuande Emperor Zhu Zhanji became!

At this moment, after Yang Shiqi's voice rang out, the entire Qianqing Palace fell silent once again. Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyelids trembling slightly! He stared intently at Yang Shiqi, who was kneeling on the ground, as if looking at a corpse!
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Seeing the hall fall silent again, Yu Qian noticed that the Xuande Emperor was standing right next to him. Immediately, Yu Qian subtly glanced up and saw the Xuande Emperor's undisguised murderous intent as he looked at Yang Shiqi! Without hesitation, Yu Qian quickly spoke up to attract the Xuande Emperor's attention.

Because Yang Shiqi absolutely cannot die! He absolutely cannot be killed by the Xuande Emperor!
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Fan Zhong, kneeling to the side, also sensed the unusual atmosphere in the hall. After hearing Yu Qian's exclamation, Fan Zhong quickly followed suit, urging His Majesty to calm down, attempting to quell the Xuande Emperor's rage.

In reality, what Yu Qian and Fan Zhong were worried about was that the Xuande Emperor might do something he would deeply regret in his rage. For example, the Xuande Emperor might, in a fit of rage, order the execution of Yang Shiqi, a veteran official who had served three reigns!
Just like when they killed King Zhuang of Han, that would be the most terrifying and the most unacceptable thing to happen!
At this moment, the Xuande Emperor, whose mind was filled with tyranny and bloodlust, actually closed his violent eyes silently after hearing Yu Qian and Fan Zhong's voices. It seemed that the Xuande Emperor had slightly recovered from his completely violent emotions.

"Huff~ huff~ huff~" After several long exhales, Emperor Xuande seemed to be releasing the pent-up emotions in his heart.

After taking a few deep breaths and calming down for a moment, Emperor Xuande glared fiercely at Yang Shiqi and the other two kneeling on the ground before flicking his sleeves and angrily walking towards his throne.

"Get up!" After sitting upright on the throne again, the Xuande Emperor spoke with an indignant expression, ordering Yang Shiqi and the other two to rise. However, the Xuande Emperor's tone was still icy cold!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing Emperor Xuande's words, Yang Shiqi and the other two were initially taken aback, but they quickly recovered and struggled to their feet. After all, the cold, iron-like gold bricks of the palace floor were truly unbearable!

Then, Yang Shiqi and the other two slowly stood up and faced the Xuande Emperor, whose face was still frosty.

"Now, which of you three can give me a reasonable explanation?!" Looking at the three pillars of the court before him, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, was truly bewildered. What on earth was going on?!

As emperor, wasn't it just a matter of acting impulsively, killing his second uncle, and then hiding in the ancestral temple for a few days to avoid the limelight?
How come everything changed in the court after he came out of the ancestral temple?
Or rather, why did the court's response fail to proceed as he had initially anticipated?
Therefore, at this moment, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, urgently needed to know what exactly happened during the period of time he went into hiding after his willful and reckless behavior!
What is it that allows cabinet ministers to bypass the emperor and, in the emperor's name, bestow such lavish favors upon the Prince of Han's residence?!

There must be something happening here that even the emperor is unaware of!! And it must be something extremely important!!
In reality, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, was no fool! He was the heir to the throne personally groomed by Emperor Taizong, Yongle!
His father! And Emperor Renzong, who ruled the Ming Dynasty for decades!
Thus, with the best of both generations of emperors and the most careful nurturing of his son, the Xuande Emperor, how could he possibly be a good-for-nothing!

Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, knew that there must be something he didn't know about this!

However, as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he had to know what this matter was!
As emperor, he would not tolerate any secrets being kept from him by the Ming Dynasty!
Absolutely not allowed!
After Emperor Xuande raised the question again, Yang Shiqi and the other two remained silent.

This situation was tantamount to no minister disregarding the Xuande Emperor's orders! In the eyes of the Xuande Emperor, Zhu Zhanji, the fact that he, as the emperor, could speak to Yang Shiqi and the other two so humbly was already a great favor! The silence of Yang Shiqi and the other two was a slap in the face to him as the emperor!

Upon seeing this, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, immediately darkened his face, which was once again covered with frost.

"Yu Qian, you speak!" The Xuande Emperor, his face grim and frosty, glanced at Yang Shiqi and the other two before casting his gloomy gaze upon Yu Qian, asking him with resentment.

Yu Qian was taken aback by Emperor Xuande's words. At that moment, Yu Qian was unsure how to explain things to the emperor. However, this time, Yu Qian firmly chose to stand on Yang Shiqi's side!
"Your Majesty."

This time, I accompanied Grand Secretary Yang on his trip to Yunnan, and I witnessed everything I saw and heard.

I can vouch for you with my life and fortune; Grand Secretary Yang has no selfish motives whatsoever!
Grand Secretary Yang was loyal to the court and dedicated to the country and its people.

All of these actions were desperate measures taken out of desperation!

"I hope Your Majesty will understand!" Since Yu Qian had decided to stand on Yang Shiqi's side, he stepped forward, bowed to the Xuande Emperor, and answered with a firm and unyielding expression.

In fact, after witnessing the Han Prince's dragon, Yu Qian had thought about it for a long time, and now he understood Yang Shiqi's good intentions and difficulties!

"Yu Qian!" Upon hearing Yu Qian's words, Yang Shiqi became anxious. The reason he had taken all the blame was to protect Yu Qian and Fan Zhong! But now, Yu Qian had suddenly stepped forward to explain, which would make him, Yang Shiqi, an accomplice! Yang Shiqi absolutely could not allow such a thing to happen! He had to protect Yu Qian! Immediately, Yang Shiqi anxiously tried to stop Yu Qian from speaking.

But it was too late! Yang Shiqi was interrupted by the Xuande Emperor before he could finish speaking!

All for the sake of the Ming Dynasty! Yang Shiqi was willing to sacrifice himself and everything else!
Upon hearing Yu Qian's words, the Xuande Emperor's pupils constricted sharply.

Because the Xuande Emperor was confirming his suspicions! His second uncle's death had truly been a momentous event in the Ming Dynasty! But why were Yang Shiqi, Yu Qian, and others unwilling to let him, the emperor, know what had happened?!
The Xuande Emperor, Zhu Zhanji, was utterly perplexed by this!
"Fan Zhong!" Since Yu Qian couldn't get an answer, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, turned his attention back to Fan Zhong, the commander of the Imperial Guard! He wanted to test Fan Zhong's attitude again, to see if it was as unyielding as Yu Qian's!
"Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, that is the commander of the Imperial Guard. He is doing everything for the safety of the Emperor and the Palace!"
"This time, I agree with Grand Secretary Yang's plan!" Faced with the Xuande Emperor's question, Fan Zhong, like Yu Qian, firmly chose to stand on Yang Shiqi's side.

After all, Fan Zhong knew that if the terrifying alligator dragon of the Prince of Han really appeared, his imperial guards would be no match for it! Therefore, for the safety of the palace and the emperor, he had no choice but to stand on Yang Shiqi's side!
(End of this chapter)