Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 60 Returning to the Capital, Zhu Gaoshuo Regent, Eldest Son Cries Tragically
Not only Zhu Gaoxu, but even Zhu Gaosui couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Neither of them were particularly happy after winning the battle against the Oirat Mongols.

Zhu Gaoxu thought to himself: Even the fourth son, who is good at fighting, is going to be fooled in the end.

Upon hearing the laughter, Zhu Di's expression changed drastically, and he glared at Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaoxu immediately suppressed his laughter and dared not utter another sound.

Only Zhu Zhanji, who was standing nearby, understood that his grandfather was telling the truth.

He's been by my side these past few days.

I am very clear about my grandfather's determination to make Zhu Gaoshuo the crown prince.

"Fourth son, your father still has several years left. Don't worry, I will help you lay a solid foundation during this time. With your abilities, no one will object to you becoming emperor!"

Zhu Di spoke very directly, essentially warning the two kings of Han and Zhao to be more restrained, while also implying that he was not deceiving them.

However, the two were completely absorbed in their own world and did not understand Zhu Di's meaning at all; the smiles on their lips never faded.

Zhu Gaoshuo was very surprised that the old man had suddenly passed the throne to him.

He had actually considered it, but felt the possibility was slim. He just wanted to use his military power to quickly go to his fiefdom.

The reason is simple: the court is basically filled with the Crown Prince's men.

The Crown Prince has been overseeing the country for many years, and his power is so great that even Zhu Di (the Yongle Emperor) would find it difficult to stop him.

If he were suddenly supported to become the crown prince under such circumstances, a struggle for succession would likely erupt, shaking the very foundation of the nation.

But Zhu Gaoshuo was indeed tempted.

He originally wanted to be emperor.

Going to assume a fiefdom was also a way to secretly accumulate power.

But now Zhu Di can pass the throne to him.

Then there's no need to rebel.

The advantage is that there's no need to rebel, but the disadvantage is that the opportunity to quell the rebellion is lost.

After much deliberation, Zhu Gaoshuo finally nodded: "Father, let me be the regent!"

Zhu Gaoshuo did not directly say that he wanted to depose his eldest son from his position as crown prince.

He just wanted the position of regent.

Zhu Di was very pleased to hear his words.

He had been wondering if the fourth prince would be afraid of being regent, since that would put him right at the center of the court. He never expected the fourth prince to agree so readily.

You should know that the fourth prince in the Heavenly Curtain has always been unwilling to become emperor.

Zhu Zhanji's face darkened, and he objected, "Grandpa, I don't agree to my fourth uncle becoming emperor!"

Zhu Di's face immediately turned ugly.

Even standing on Mount Langjuxu, he was filled with immense anger.

But before he could reprimand Zhu Zhanji...

Zhu Gaoxu, who was standing next to him, was extremely dissatisfied and scolded, "You brat, watch your place! Do you think no one will discipline you now that the boss isn't here?"

"Do I need your permission?"

As he spoke, Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Gaoshuo and said, "Fourth brother, let me tell you, your second brother absolutely supports you becoming the crown prince!"

He certainly didn't believe that Zhu Di genuinely wanted to support the fourth prince's ascension to the throne.

It's simply because the fourth prince is now capable of fighting for him.

He thought that Zhu Di was definitely trying to trick Zhu Gaoshuo into going to fight the Japanese islands.

Not only did Zhu Gaoxu think this way, but Zhu Gaosui thought the same.

He was not worried at all about whether the fourth prince would inherit the throne.

But Zhu Di was unaware of their thoughts and thought they genuinely supported Zhu Gaoshuo becoming emperor, so he burst into laughter.

It seems that making the fourth prince the crown prince was the right decision.

"Hahaha!"

Hearing the old man's laughter, Zhu Gaoxu became even more certain that Zhu Gaoshuo was about to be tricked.

Zhu Di took one last, lingering look at the enchanting scenery before riding back to his camp.

Preparing to depart for Beijing.

The Northern Expeditionary Army returned to the capital.

Until they arrived in Jinling City.

The people lined up to welcome the emperor's triumphant return.

Before they could even feel happy, they encountered an assassin.

Of course, the number of assassins was not large, and they were quickly suppressed by Zhu Gaochi, without causing any trouble at all.

But Zhu Di was extremely angry.

He directly rebuked Zhu Gaochi on the spot: "Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi has failed in his duties as regent; he is hereby removed from the position of regent."

The chubby Zhu Gaochi's face was filled with fear.

Why is this happening?

He didn't understand what was going on.

Just because of the appearance of this assassin, he's going to ruin himself?

Yang Shiqi hurriedly spoke up to dissuade him, saying, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has been planning for the Battle of Mobei these past few days without a moment's rest, so there may have been some oversights. It doesn't warrant such a severe punishment!"

"Not worth severe punishment? Is my life not important?" Zhu Di said angrily, "If I hadn't pacified the northern deserts and been in such a good mood, I wouldn't have been exempted from my duty as regent!"

After saying that, Zhu Di left without looking back.

Seeing his eldest brother's aggrieved expression, he was also in great distress.

The eldest brother has endured so much suffering for him.

But there was no other way now; for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, he had to support the fourth prince to ascend the throne.

This assassination attempt was actually orchestrated by Zhu Di himself, in order to find a reason to hold his emperor accountable.

After Zhu Di left, Zhu Gaochi remained kneeling on the ground, trembling, unable to calm down for a long time. A group of eunuchs rushed forward and finally managed to lift the chubby Zhu Gaochi up.

But at this moment, Zhu Gaochi finally couldn't hold back any longer and burst out with his pent-up grievances.

How could he not see that this assassination attempt was actually orchestrated by Zhu Di?

"I'm exhausted, but your grandpa still doesn't believe me!"

"If I can't be the regent, I don't want to be the crown prince either. Let the second son be the one!"

"I want to go back to Shuntian! I want to go back to Shuntian!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu immediately became anxious.

This has nothing to do with him.

But in the end, Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han said nothing.

Seeing his elder brother saddened by being removed from his position as regent filled him with immense joy.

As for the fourth brother, that's just something he talks about in private; at most, he'll handle some government affairs like he does.

He didn't believe the old man would actually dare to announce in public that the fourth prince would act as regent.

The next day.

The court assembly was held as scheduled in the Fengtian Hall.

The officials arrived early, but Zhu Di was nowhere to be seen.

Until Zhu Di's personal eunuch, Wang Zhong, held up the imperial edict and announced in a shrill voice:

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: From this day forth, Prince Qi shall assume the regency and command the Six Ministries!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Gaochi's face turned ashen. After he returned, he heard Zhu Zhanji tell him about the old man's thoughts.

They knew that the emperor now wanted Zhu Gaoshuo to oversee the country and become the crown prince.

The Prince of Han, Zhu Gaoxu, was also dumbfounded.

He never imagined that the old man would actually use an imperial edict to announce that the fourth prince would be in charge of the country.

He didn't even care about that kind of treatment back then.

Did Dad really go to such great lengths to fool his fourth son?

Or perhaps he really wanted the fourth prince to become emperor.

Zhu Gaoxu was already itching to curse.

He looked at Zhu Gaoshuo with resentment.

Little did they know that Zhu Gaoshuo was also looking helpless at this moment.

He went back and thought about it yesterday.

Suddenly I realize how foolish it was to serve as regent for Zhu Di.

How did the eldest brother's health collapse?

He risked his life for Zhu Di.

This is no regent; he's just a beast of burden.

Just then, the sky reappeared.

[Born of Heaven, destined for eternal prosperity, Emperor Zhu Gaoshuo is like a protagonist from a wish-fulfillment novel. Born out of wedlock, he became regent at sixteen and ascended the throne directly after his father Zhu Di's death at twenty-six!]

Twenty-six years old?

Zhu Di was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.

By appointing the fourth prince as regent ahead of time, he lived a few more years.

(End of this chapter)