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

Chapter 421 The Death of the Xuande Emperor (Part 3)
"He'er, as your mother, I want to go to Beijing to see her!" After gently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Consort Wei made an unexpected request to Zhu Zhanhe.

After hearing their mother, Lady Wei's, words, Princess Xia and Consort Mu exchanged a glance before turning their worried gazes to their husbands. They knew in their hearts that their mother's request was somewhat unrealistic.
Looking at his mother's tearful and expectant eyes, Zhu Zhanhe felt helpless and lost, unsure of what to say to her.

Finally, Zhu Zhanhe gritted his teeth and told his mother the most realistic situation!
"Mother, the imperial court will not allow anyone from my Han Prince's Mansion to go to Beijing to attend my cousin's funeral!" After a moment of silence, Zhu Zhanhe directly told his mother, Madam Wei, the most realistic situation.

After all, Zhu Zhanhe knew perfectly well that, given the nature of the ministers in the court, they would never allow a prince like Zhu Zhanhe, who held considerable military power and posed a threat to the imperial authority, to enter Beijing for the funeral!
Even Yang Shiqi and others would probably be wary of Zhu Zhanhe, the most powerful prince in the Ming Dynasty!

Even though Yang Shiqi and others knew that Zhu Zhanhe wanted to establish a country overseas, they would not relax or slack off in the slightest!

After all, Zhu Zhanhe possesses overwhelming personal and military strength! Yang Shiqi and the others would not ignore this!
We have already~
"Can't we go back?" After hearing her son's words, Consort Wei murmured to herself with a look of disappointment.

In truth, Consort Wei knew that her request was somewhat unrealistic. However, whenever she thought of her lonely and pitiful sister-in-law far away in the capital, she couldn't help but want to talk to her.

"Then let's write a letter and take it to the Empress Dowager!" After bowing her head in silence for a moment, Consort Wei looked up and said softly to her son. Consort Wei was still worried about her sister-in-law, so she decided to write a letter and send it over.

“Okay!” This time, Zhu Zhanhe did not refuse his mother’s request, but readily agreed.

"Your Highness, should we bring Yu'er back?" At this moment, Princess Xia glanced at her mother, Lady Wei, and then turned her gaze to her husband's face, asking softly.

After all, in Princess Xia's mind, with the Emperor's passing, the Prince's residence would certainly have to keep vigil! As the eldest son, it was only right for her son to keep vigil with his younger brothers! Moreover, her mother, Lady Wei, was in a bad mood, and with Yu'er there, her mother's mood would be much better!
"No need, it's too far, and there's not enough time." Zhu Zhanhe was well aware of his wife Xia's words. However, considering the reality, India was too far from Yunnan, and a round trip would be impossible. Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe directly rejected Princess Xia's suggestion.

After all, Zhu Zhanhe was well aware that at this stage, apart from the forces expanding outwards, the entire Han Prince's Mansion had focused about 80% of its attention and energy on the magical land of India.

The reason is simple: Zhu Zhanhe is preparing to establish a state here!

At this moment, the young Zhu Qiyu went to India with a series of important tasks, including learning and growing, inspiring the morale of the army and the people, urging local improvements, and supervising the distribution of land. It is not appropriate for him to return now!
Besides, it's just keeping vigil for the Xuande Emperor; how could that be more important than my own affairs within the Prince's Palace!
"Mother, rest assured, once your letter is written, I will arrange a fleet and send someone to deliver it as quickly as possible." After rejecting his daughter-in-law's suggestion, Zhu Zhanhe turned to his mother and said softly.

"Hmm~!" Consort Wei nodded dejectedly in response to her son's words.

"The Mu family~." Then, Zhu Zhanhe turned his gaze to his concubine, Mu Ping'er. Even after so many years together, Mu Ping'er's pure eyes still stirred something within Zhu Zhanhe!

"Your Highness~~" Upon hearing her husband's voice, Concubine Mu quickly rose and bowed to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Starting tomorrow, Hao'er and Yuan'er will lead the younger brothers to keep vigil for their uncle until the mourning period ends!" Zhu Zhanhe suppressed the emotions in his heart and said earnestly to Madam Mu.

Yes!

"I will obey Your Highness's orders!" Mu Ping'er was delighted to hear her husband's words. She glanced at her sister Xia Shi beside her and replied crisply.

In no time, the Han Prince's mansion was abuzz with activity. In just half a day, it was completely covered in white! Furthermore, a memorial tablet was erected in the main hall. The young children then began their obedient mourning period!
Outside the main hall, Zhu Zhanhe allowed Xia Shi and Mu Shi to each wrap their arms around his arm as he quietly looked at the plain white mourning hall and the memorial tablet in the center of the main hall, lost in thought.

Here, the three prefectures of Yunnan and Guangdong are shrouded in mourning for the passing of Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji.

Meanwhile, in Sindhu, a place far away on the peninsula controlled by another Han Prince's Mansion, another massive baptism of blood and fire is taking place!
At this time, Xia Yuanji, Zhu Qiyu, the Iron-Faced General and their group, who had set off from Yunnan, had safely returned to the land of India!

In the Third Army Central Camp of the Han Prince's Mansion in India, at this moment, in a magnificent tent within the vast camp, sat the Iron-Faced General, Xia Yuanji, Jiang Xiaohu, and Zhu Qiyu—the four people representing the highest command authority of the Han Prince's Mansion in India!
"Your Highness, the two generals~"
We received the latest urgent message from Yunnan today!
"Lord Mu and Lord Huang of the Cabinet specifically asked Uncle Wei to send the latest news from the sea via a crocodile." Xia Yuanji sat at the head of the table on the right, took out a letter, glanced at the other three people in the room, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Get straight to the point!" A deep, powerful voice came from the first seat on the left, beneath a metal mask.

"Grandpa, please speak!" Zhu Qiyu, sitting second from the left, glanced helplessly at the Iron-Faced General beside him before speaking to Xia Yuanji.

Two things;

The first thing was that the Xuande Emperor... on the last day of the first month...
"He has passed away!" Xia Yuanji gently placed the letter in his hand on the table in front of him, staring intently at the iron-faced man opposite him, and said seriously and solemnly!

Upon hearing Xia Yuanji's words, the remaining three people present were also taken aback.

"Huh~??"
Hahaha!
He's dead! Hahaha.
"He's dead! Hahaha!" Suddenly, the Iron-Mask seemed stunned for a moment upon hearing Xia Yuanji's words. Then, realizing what was happening, the Iron-Mask slammed his hand on the table and abruptly stood up. After staring intently at Xia Yuanji for a while, he burst into a hearty, slightly manic laugh! And while laughing, the Iron-Mask kept repeating the insane words that he was dead!

"Retribution, retribution!" The man in the iron mask looked up at the roof of the tent, as if he could see the blue sky outside through the roof, and shouted "retribution!" with a ferocious expression. His deep voice lingered for a long time.

"Yu'er, did I scare you?" After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Iron-Faced Man finally released his indescribable joy. Then, he went straight to Zhu Qiyu's side, patted Zhu Qiyu's shoulder, and whispered a word of comfort.

It seems as if the person who was just acting crazy and the person who is now acting gently are two completely unrelated people!
"Don't worry, Grandpa Iron Face, Yu'er is fine!" Zhu Qiyu was already ten years old and the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Therefore, he knew some of the secrets of the Han Prince's Mansion. For example, the man in front of him, who always wore an iron mask and was stern and unsmiling, and who was strict with himself, was his nominal grandfather who had passed away many years ago!
(End of this chapter)