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

Chapter 396 The Meeting of True Dragons (2)
"Your Highness, the Emperor is the foundation of the nation! Your Highness, please reconsider!" Yang Shiqi cried out urgently to Zhu Zhanhe. He was genuinely afraid that Zhu Zhanhe might accidentally kill the Xuande Emperor, Zhu Zhanji!

It's alright~
"Grand Secretary Yang, I haven't seen the Prince of Han for many years. I only wish to privately reminisce about our brotherhood." Seeing the tense expressions on Yang Shiqi and the others' faces, Emperor Xuande was momentarily taken aback. Then, he quickly changed his expression and spoke gently to Yang Shiqi and the others.

Zhu Zhanhe only glanced briefly at Yang Shiqi's tense expression. But soon, Zhu Zhanhe noticed something unusual.

"Should we bring in the things that my elder brother asked us to bring along?" At this moment, Zhu Zhanhe suddenly noticed some unidentified supplies that Yu Qian was holding. Out of curiosity, Zhu Zhanhe looked at the pale-faced Xuande Emperor and quietly asked him.

Hmm~?

"Bring it in as well." Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's question, the Xuande Emperor paused for a moment, as if he had just remembered that he had brought something. Turning his head to look at Yu Qian, who was holding a package, the Xuande Emperor said weakly.

"I'm going to deliver something." After hearing that the Xuande Emperor and the Prince of Han had agreed to let a package be brought in, Yu Qian, carrying the package, dashed into the cabin before Yang Shiqi and Fan Zhong could react. Fan Zhong and Yang Shiqi were left alone, looking at each other blankly as Liu Erniu sternly shut them out of the cabin door.

"On this large ship, I have temporarily sent away all the soldiers and eunuchs except for the shipwrights."

Cousin, please don't worry. My brother and I are just having a casual chat today.

Whatever is said will not be leaked.

Moreover, since Yu Qian happened to come in, let's have Vice Minister Yu serve as a witness.

"Please have a seat." Upon entering the cabin, the warm interior was simply yet luxuriously decorated, with even steaming tea readily available. Zhu Zhanhe casually gestured for Emperor Xuande and Yu Qian to make themselves at home. Then, Zhu Zhanhe took his seat in the main seat without regard for Emperor Xuande's status or the latter's somewhat embarrassed expression.

Seeing this, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, took a deep look at his cousin, who showed no respect for the emperor, no pity for the patient, and remained calm and composed without any remorse or embarrassment. Emperor Xuande shook his head helplessly.

At this moment, Yu Qian, with great foresight, appeared and immediately moved a stool and placed it directly opposite Zhu Zhanhe.

"Your Majesty, please~" Upon seeing Yu Qian's action, Emperor Xuande sat down without changing his expression, facing Zhu Zhanhe directly!
"Brother, it's been many years. How have you been?" Seeing that neither of the two spoke to each other, creating an awkward atmosphere in the cabin, Zhu Zhanhe, as the host, had no choice but to speak first, casually chatting to break the silence in the cabin.

"It's been so long since I heard you call me 'big brother'~"
"Overall, I'm doing alright. The few things that bother me aren't major issues. Apart from being on the verge of death, everything else is fine." Zhu Zhanji said with a slightly pale face, offering a self-deprecating remark regarding his cousin's question.

"Really~?"

That's such a pity. I had specially prepared some gifts for meeting my cousin today.

"It seems this gift can't be given away now." After hearing Zhu Zhanji's self-deprecating words, Zhu Zhanhe seemed not to have heard the news of the other's impending death, and still looked sighing. It was as if it was a great pity that the gift he brought could not be given away.

"It's alright. Since my cousin has brought the gift, how can I refuse it?"

"I will accept the gift now, as a congratulatory present from you, my cousin, to the future emperor." Perhaps it was the approach of death that opened Emperor Xuande Zhu Zhanji's mind. So, at this moment, facing Zhu Zhanhe's mockery, Zhu Zhanji was not bothered at all, but instead had a calm and detached feeling, as if he had seen through the world.

"A new emperor? Which new emperor are you referring to, brother?"

Is he Empress Hu's son?

"Or is it Empress Sun's son?" Faced with Zhu Zhanji's words about preparing to establish a new emperor, Zhu Zhanhe bluntly asked the Xuande Emperor, "Which son do you want to establish as emperor?"
Yu Qian was already quite shocked by the awkward atmosphere of the conversation between Emperor Xuande and Prince Han in the room, as well as the strange yet confident content of their discussion. Now, upon hearing Prince Han directly ask Emperor Xuande who he planned to appoint as his successor, he was completely stunned.

Is the Prince of Han really that brave?! Is he going to interfere in the matter of choosing an heir?! Yu Qian looked at the two people chatting casually with a shocked expression, and couldn't help but wonder to himself.

"Prince of Han, the current Empress is Lady Sun!" After hearing Zhu Zhanhe's question, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, remained silent for a moment before giving his answer.

The Emperor actually replied to the Prince of Han's question?!

Yu Qian, standing nearby, was also taken aback that the Xuande Emperor would directly tell the Prince of Han the court's heir apparent! Although the Xuande Emperor's answer seemed irrelevant, he had actually clearly informed the Prince of Han that he would appoint Empress Sun's son as the crown prince!
"The Sun family~?"

What? She's not dead yet?

"Or is it that your cousin plans to have her buried with him sometime later?" Zhu Zhanhe seemed unsurprised by Emperor Xuande's choice. Instead, he asked with a hesitant expression, "Why hasn't Empress Sun died yet?"
After hearing this conversation between Zhu Zhanhe and the Xuande Emperor, Yu Qian, who was standing respectfully to the side, was completely stunned. He never expected that he had only entered the cabin to prepare to persuade his brother-in-law at a crucial moment in order to prevent the emperor from being killed. He never imagined that he would be dragged into such a terrifying storm!

After all, the constant talk of why the Empress wasn't dead was simply too shocking. He, a mere Vice Minister of War, couldn't possibly withstand it!

"Zhen'er is still young~, a child cannot be separated from his mother~!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's question, Emperor Xuande did not erupt in anger as Yu Qian had imagined. Instead, after a moment of silence, Emperor Xuande weakly offered his explanation. Moreover, judging from Emperor Xuande's explanation, his answer seemed somewhat lacking in confidence!
Emperor Xuande's explanation left Yu Qian completely dumbfounded! Didn't this mean that Emperor Xuande had indeed intended to kill Empress Sun?! But the princes were still young, so he hadn't killed them yet?! This result left Yu Qian's mind reeling.

"The child's young age is not an excuse!"

"I think it would be better if she died soon!" After hearing the Xuande Emperor's explanation, Zhu Zhanhe seemed somewhat dissatisfied. He frowned and rebuked the Xuande Emperor with a serious and ferocious expression.

Before Emperor Xuande and Yu Qian could react, Zhu Zhanhe continued to speak.

“Cousin, as an orphan of the Jingnan Rebellion, being chosen as a concubine is already a tremendous blessing! Now that she has ascended to the position of Empress, it is bound to cause controversy.”

If her grandfather hadn't died unexpectedly in Yumuchuan, Sun would probably not have lived much longer either.
And, cousin, didn't you ever think about this? She was pregnant just before the late Emperor Renzong passed away! Otherwise, Uncle would probably have issued an edict to have her buried alive with him! And coincidentally, after Uncle's burial, she and Empress Hu both suffered miscarriages; what a coincidence!

Now, before your time comes, cousin, she has given birth to another child, and the child is still young. Doesn't this give you another reason not to be buried alive with your husband?

What? Is she really that lucky?

"Or is there something unknown going on here?!" Zhu Zhanhe said loudly to the Xuande Emperor, somewhat indignantly.

(End of this chapter)