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

Chapter 419 The Death of the Xuande Emperor
"Your Highness, what does it mean to be a concubine?"

"If one isn't enough, then have another one!" After hearing her husband's shameless words, Princess Xia muttered in a seemingly coquettish but annoyed tone. At the same time, she slightly leaned forward to make it easier for her husband to reach for her pajama bottoms.

"I absolutely must have a daughter!" Zhu Zhanhe continued to emphasize his demand. At the same time, he threw out his wife's nightgown as well.

"Your Highness, I will definitely find a way to give you a daughter!" Princess Xia held her husband's head, slowly sat on his lap again, and said in a sweet voice.

"Okay!" Hearing his wife agree, Zhu Zhanhe casually and comfortably laid himself out on the big bed.

"My two sisters, come in!" Princess Xia glared at her husband and called out through gritted teeth to the small room next door.

Immediately, two young women, whom Zhu Zhanhe had never seen before, entered, their faces flushed, dressed in gauze robes.
The next morning, Zhu Zhanhe got up feeling refreshed and first arranged for his uncle, Wei, to take the alligator dragon away. After breakfast, he strode into the Chengyun Hall with Xiao Xizi in tow.

Because Zhu Zhanhe decided that he needed to complete the construction of Sindhu, that poisonous land, as soon as possible! He wanted to complete his coronation as emperor while everyone was still present! He didn't want his older subordinates to leave with regrets!
After all, his wife already has wrinkles! He wants to put a phoenix crown on her head as quickly as possible, while she is still in her prime!

And so, while Prince Zhu Zhanhe was busy having daughters with his wives and concubines in his palace, he was also dealing with all sorts of documents sent back from various places.

Time flies, and soon it was the tenth year of the Xuande reign!
The end of the first month of the tenth year of the Xuande reign!
Inside the Qianqing Palace of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Xuande!

At this moment, Emperor Xuande lay on the dragon bed, pale and weak, breathing faintly, looking at Yang Shiqi kneeling in front of him.

"Grand Secretary Yang, I have also appointed regents to handle various matters in the court."

"However, I still left you alone!" Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, struggled to get up, but after a few efforts, he collapsed weakly back onto the bed. Then, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, said to Yang Shiqi with a self-deprecating expression.

"Your Majesty, whatever your command, this old minister will do his utmost!" Yang Shiqi said with a sorrowful expression after hearing Emperor Xuande's words. Yang Shiqi was very aware of Emperor Xuande's health condition.
"Grand Secretary Yang, you are a veteran of three reigns, and soon you will be a veteran of four reigns."

"I have some things on my mind that I want to say to Grand Secretary Yang." Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, didn't even have the strength to cough, but he still managed to tell Yang Shiqi what was on his mind.

"Your Majesty~~~" Seeing the distressed look on Emperor Xuande's face, Yang Shiqi wanted to persuade him to remain silent. However, at this moment, Yang Shiqi understood that if the other party didn't speak now, there would truly be no chance left!

"Grand Secretary Yang~"
"My throne was practically secured by your help... I am very grateful to you..." Emperor Xuande's mind was neither clear nor confused at this moment. To utter such words on the verge of death.

Perhaps this was the truest thought in Emperor Xuande's mind as he approached death!
"Grandpa always said that family ties are the foundation of everything. For this reason, he even forced me and my second uncle to make an oath. I have never believed these words," Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, said with a sigh and self-deprecation, as if lost in memories.

Yang Shiqi opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

"But on that day, when we met on the sea."

He always referred to himself as "I," and I always referred to myself as "I"!

He never called me "Your Majesty," he always called me "Cousin."

I didn't call him King of Han, but just called him by his name.

Looking back, I realize that he still had family ties in his heart!
Otherwise, given his strength, he would probably have already started a rebellion!
"Grandpa was right. It turns out that family ties are the bridge that holds everything together!" Having just finished recounting his vow, the Xuande Emperor shifted the topic to his meeting with Zhu Zhanhe at sea. His frail face was filled with sighs as he spoke.

"I also signed that imperial edict, right below my father's name. It's still kept in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

"Grand Secretary Yang, if Zhen'er is unworthy, then you should make Yu'er your successor; although Yu'er is a bit timid, he shouldn't cause trouble! If Yu'er is also unsuitable, then please bring him back!"

"Grand Secretary Yang, I really envy him. He has so many sons."

"Grand Secretary Yang, I have allowed the eunuch faction to run rampant; and I have been too soft-hearted to spare Lady Sun. I fear this will lead to turmoil in the court and among the people. Am I really so incompetent?"

"If the Sun or Hu families cause trouble, then please, Your Majesty, depose them!"

"Grand Secretary Yang, I knew the Ming Dynasty was doomed, and so did he. He gave me many suggestions, but I didn't use a single one! I wanted to surpass him, but now it seems I have failed!"

"Grand Secretary Yang, he is about to establish his own state. When the official letter arrives, give him portraits of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong."

"Let me give that grain called corn a good try. However, knowing his character, he probably wouldn't stoop to deceiving me."

"Grand Secretary Yang, if, if my son has truly committed a heinous crime, then use that imperial edict! Knowing his character, he will surely come to his aid!"

Yang Shiqi listened with a grave yet helpless expression to the Xuande Emperor's rambling, incoherent words. Yang Shiqi knew that the Xuande Emperor, Zhu Zhanji's, mind was in chaos! His thoughts were muddled! He was barely clinging to life!
However, the rambling Emperor Xuande revealed his yearning for life and his distrust of the affairs of the court!
When talking about his son, Emperor Xuande looked sad; when talking about the court, he looked regretful; when talking about his two empresses, he looked heartbroken! Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, spoke incoherently, but his words were full of longing!
Moreover, Emperor Xuande kept muttering "he he he" without naming him, but Yang Shiqi knew in his heart that the "he" the emperor was talking about was the current Prince of Han, Zhu Zhanhe!

"Grand Secretary Yang, please make preparations. Tomorrow at the Wenhua Hall, we will pay our respects to the Crown Prince." Finally, Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, seemed to have exhausted himself with words, and announced one last important matter!
That was to have all the officials pay homage to Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen in the Wenhua Hall!

This can be considered as Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, formally establishing his successor before his death!

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Yang Shiqi, upon hearing Emperor Xuande's words, kowtowed deeply with a heavy expression.

"I'm tired~!" Finally, the Xuande Emperor murmured as if he were about to fall asleep.

"Your subject takes his leave!" Afterwards, looking at Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji, who had already closed his eyes to rest, Yang Shiqi silently withdrew.

In the spring of the tenth year of the Xuande reign, on the last day of the first month, the fifth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Xuande Zhu Zhanji, passed away in the Qianqing Palace! The entire country was in mourning!
When the news of Emperor Xuande's death was officially delivered to the Prince of Han's residence in Yunnan, it was already late February of the tenth year of Xuande's reign.

"Your Highness, news from the court: His Majesty has passed away!" At that moment, Zhu Zhanhe was in the Chengyun Hall, discussing the specific renovation plan for the Sindhu region with a group of court officials, when Liu Erniu's urgent shouts suddenly came from outside the door!

For a moment, the entire Chengyun Hall was completely silent!
"The construction requirements for Shendu shall be carried out in accordance with Minister Xia's wishes."

However, it is necessary to connect the tributaries of the Longjiang River from north to south to form a comprehensive transportation network.

"Only then will I formally establish my kingdom!" After a moment of silence in the Chengyun Hall, Zhu Zhanhe spoke first. However, he did not bring up the matter of the Xuande Emperor's death, but instead directly rejected the Han Prince's court's advice to him: to establish the kingdom in Sindhu after the palace was completed!
(End of this chapter)