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

Chapter 399 The Meeting of True Dragons (5)
"Zhanhe, do you know that before I ascended the throne, I always envied you?"

"But after ascending the throne, I have always wanted to surpass you!" The Xuande Emperor, his face filled with sorrow, calmed himself down and slowly sat back down in his seat. Then, unexpectedly, the Xuande Emperor said something that Zhu Zhanhe had never expected.

"Why do you say that, cousin?" Zhu Zhanhe asked with some surprise, looking at the Xuande Emperor, whose face was full of sorrow and whose eyes were filled with emotion.

Why do you say that?

Zhanhe, don't you understand?

Your writing is brilliant, especially your historical knowledge, which is simply unparalleled! This is something that has been unanimously recognized by my grandfather, the Yongle Emperor, my father, the Renzong Emperor, your father, the Prince of Hanzhuang, your third uncle, the Prince of Zhaojian, and even myself, the Xuande Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!

And your martial prowess is so unmatched! In the five campaigns against the grasslands, you always led from the front! Fighting bravely against the enemy! So much so that later, countless soldiers would only be willing to fight the grassland barbarians after you arrived!
After you took up your fief in Yunnan, you led your army to expand outwards on numerous occasions. You led the annihilation of most of the main forces of the Mughal Khanate! As a result, the Mughal Khanate is now in a state of flux, which has delayed your expansionist efforts.

Zhanhe, do you know how much I admired your literary and military talents, even when I was the crown prince?

"I even had nightmares, dreaming that Grandpa personally helped you onto the dragon throne!" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, was perhaps having a mental breakdown at this moment, or perhaps he had opened his heart and spoke without reservation about his innermost thoughts and his deep envy of Zhu Zhanhe.

At this moment, the indignant yet envious look on Emperor Xuande's face completely overturned Yu Qian's previous positive impression of the emperor!
At this moment, Yu Qian's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. Yu Qian never imagined that the mighty Xuande Emperor would utter words of envy towards a mere prince. Moreover, his statement was utterly baseless and unsubstantiated! Undeniably! Unassailable!

"Cousin~~~" Zhu Zhanhe was somewhat surprised to see the Xuande Emperor's sorrowful and emotional expression. After all, being too outstanding could put too much pressure on others, and sometimes that was a mistake! So heartbreaking!

"Zhanhe, let me finish speaking." Seeing that he was about to be interrupted, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, raised his hand impatiently to stop Zhu Zhanhe from speaking.

Then, Zhu Zhanhe had no choice but to listen with resignation as the Xuande Emperor of the Ming Dynasty continued to flatter him, the Prince of Han. Although Zhu Zhanhe appeared impatient, he was inwardly filled with satisfaction and pleasure!
"Zhanhe, I know that with your grandfather's promise in place, you will not rebel, because you are not the kind of person who would break a promise!"

"However, Zhanhe, although you will not rebel, you possess the ability to do so! Therefore, this is also a crime!" At this moment, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, explained his reasons for agreeing to allow Zhu Zhanhe to establish a kingdom in a foreign land. After all, he could not keep someone with the ability to rebel by his side or that of his descendants!

Upon hearing Emperor Xuande's words, Yu Qian opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. After all, from the emperor's perspective, Emperor Xuande's actions were not wrong! In fact, they were the best and most reasonable choice!

"Zhanhe, do you know when my envy of you reached its peak?!" After explaining his reasons for agreeing to Zhu Zhanhe's establishment of a kingdom in a foreign land, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, immediately turned to Zhu Zhanhe with a sorrowful expression and asked him.

However, before Zhu Zhanhe could answer, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, began to speak on his own.

"It wasn't before the defeat at Yumu River, when you took Grandpa out without permission, that was when you showed your sharp edge."
No, it wasn't. Back in Yumuchuan, when Grandpa was about to temporarily appoint Second Uncle as his successor. Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, looked intently into Zhu Zhanhe's eyes, uttering a crucial piece of information word by word.

At this moment, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, seemed to be observing the changes in Zhu Zhanhe's eyes. But unfortunately, even when he heard about Yumu River and that Emperor Yongle wanted to install Prince Hanzhuang as emperor, Zhu Zhanhe's eyes did not change as he had expected.

"Zhanhe was what the little eunuch told me when I ascended the throne."

My grandfather and the late emperor left me a gift, hidden beneath the dragon throne. When I opened the gift as emperor, I discovered...
"The gifts that Emperor Taizong and Emperor Renzong left for me were actually gifts that you, Zhu Zhanji, left for them!" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, said with a look of utter despair, expressing his heartache.

Emperor Xuande's words left Yu Qian speechless once again. Before Yu Qian could react, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, began to recount his heartache.

"One of those two gifts is the earth-shattering words you left behind when you made a name for yourself in Grandpa's bedroom."

The other one was an imperial edict!
Just by looking at the handwriting, I know that the imperial edict was written by you, Zhanhe!
The problem is, that imperial edict was actually written by you to your grandfather!

Zhanhe, can you understand how I felt at that time?
I went through so much trouble to ascend the throne, only to find out it was something you once gave up!
Can you understand the heartache I feel?
"Who can understand the sorrow in my heart?" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, frowned and said loudly to Zhu Zhanhe with a sorrowful expression. He even stood up when he got emotional.

"Yu Qian, there is an imperial edict in the package. Take it out and read its contents." After saying this, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, turned his indignant gaze to Yu Qian, who was curled up in a ball to the side.

Then, Yu Qian shakily opened the package. However, the moment he opened it, Yu Qian's pupils constricted, and he was completely stunned. Inside the package was indeed an imperial edict! And besides the edict, there was something even more terrifying. However, Yu Qian could only tremblingly take out the edict.

"Read it!" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanhe, urged Yu Qian to read aloud the contents of both sides of the imperial edict.

"Yes!" Hearing the Xuande Emperor's urgent voice, Yu Qian had no choice but to open the imperial edict and read it aloud to himself.

By the mandate of Heaven:
The Emperor decreed: "..." When Yu Qian read this, he visibly paused, staring blankly at the contents of the edict, his face filled with disbelief. He was completely taken aback by the edict's contents, his expression one of utter shock and incredulity! For Yu Qian realized that the edict was clearly not addressed to any one person! It was addressed to all future emperors! Indeed, to the entire Ming Dynasty!

Upon realizing this, Yu Qian immediately got goosebumps all over his body.

"Keep reading!" Hearing Yu Qian's pause, Emperor Xuande Zhu Zhanhe was not angry, but just grumbled impatiently, telling Yu Qian to continue reading.

Then, Yu Qian coughed lightly a few times to clear his throat and continued reading.

By the mandate of Heaven:
The emperor issued an edict:

Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers flow, all is the territory of the Great Ming!

No marriage alliances, no indemnities, no ceding of territory, no tribute; the emperor guards the nation's gates, the monarch dies for the state!

"The twenty-second year of Yongle!" Yu Qian read the imperial edict in his hand with great excitement. After reading it, Yu Qian felt an inexplicable shock to his heart! It was an indescribable surge of impulse and pride that went straight to the top of his head! So much so that Yu Qian felt a shiver run through his body, and goosebumps instantly rose all over his skin!
Upon hearing the contents of the imperial edict, Zhu Zhanhe knew that this was the same imperial edict that he had personally written to his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor!
Unexpectedly, this imperial edict was passed down by my grandfather and even reserved for later emperors! In that case, my uncle, Emperor Renzong, must have seen this imperial edict! Zhu Zhanhe muttered to himself after listening to Yu Qian read it.

(End of this chapter)