Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 39 Since ancient times, there has been no kinship in the imperial family! [Seeking monthly votes]

Zhu's edict, with its cold and stern wording, gave the princes three days to leave the capital and included three prohibitions against leaving without imperial decree. These three edicts acted like three tight bands, firmly binding the princes' various thoughts.

Although Jiang Huan was only the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the work he was responsible for was basically the dirty and tiring work that Zhu Yuanzhang required, Jiang Huan believed that he had some understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang after serving him for so many years.

Others may not know that Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to make Zhu Yunwen his imperial grandson, but he was perfectly aware of it.

After all, during the period following Zhu Biao's death, the Eastern Palace also fell under the surveillance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Old Zhu never stopped paying attention to Zhu Yunwen.

Now, Zhu Yuanzhang has issued another edict ordering the princes to leave the capital, further confirming his suspicions.

The Emperor intends to completely extinguish the hopes of certain individuals.

He used the most ruthless method to push his chosen grandson to the forefront of the storm, clearing away the biggest obstacle that might exist in front of his grandson's ascension to the throne.

However, this is just the beginning.

Given Zhu Yunwen's background, how could he possibly keep those nobles in check?
Therefore, as Lao Zhu's top henchman and lackey, he keenly grasped this key point.

Perhaps the emperor is about to unleash another massacre.

After all, the Hu Weiyong case hasn't been completely eradicated yet, and this time it will probably be even worse.

The decree to expel the princes swept through the entire Ten Princes' Palace like the coldest autumn wind.

Upon hearing the decree from the old Zhu, Prince Qin, Zhu Shuang, was completely stunned and stammered:
"Jiang Huan, is this true? Is this really my father's decree?"

In front of outsiders, he neither referred to himself as "Father Emperor" nor "Emperor," attempting to use this method to declare his uniqueness.

He was the first in line to succeed Zhu Biao and the second son of the legitimate wife.

Logically speaking, he should be the only prince who stayed in the capital, waiting to be granted the title of crown prince.

As a result, the decree began with his name, which left him in disbelief.

Jiang Huan glanced at him expressionlessly and said indifferently, "If Your Highness Prince Qin does not believe me, you can take the imperial edict. His Majesty instructed me to prepare a copy for each of you so that you may be constantly reminded of this in the future!"

After saying this, he glanced at the Imperial Guard holding the imperial edict beside him without making a sound. The guard immediately stepped forward and handed the edict to Zhu Shuang.

Zhu Shuang tremblingly reached out, reluctantly and hesitantly picking up the imperial edict, then looked at Prince Jin, Zhu Gang, beside him: "Third Prince, why don't you read it yourself?"

"Alright, Second Brother, let's go. Take Father's imperial decree and go back to the manor!"

Zhu Gang sighed and shook his head. He then took the imperial edict from the tray of the Imperial Guard, helped Zhu Shuang, whose legs were already weak, and said to Jiang Huan, "Commander Jiang, please tell the Emperor that we have received the decree and will leave the capital as soon as possible!"

"Your Highness Prince Jin, rest assured, I will report the truth to His Majesty!"

Jiang Huan responded expressionlessly, then turned to look at the silent Prince Yan, Zhu Di: "Your Highness, Prince Yan?"

"Yan Fan! Receive the imperial decree! Thank you!"

Zhu Di, equally expressionless, stepped forward, picked up the imperial edict, and then turned and left without saying a word.

Seeing that the three princes in front had all received the imperial edicts, the other princes naturally dared not do anything rash. They all picked up their own imperial edicts and left the hall of imperial edicts.

After watching them leave, Jiang Huan couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

These powerful princes, who were all-powerful in their fiefdoms, didn't dare utter a single word in front of the emperor.

Even the recent controversy surrounding the selection of an heir apparent was quickly quelled by a single word from the emperor.

The Emperor declared in the most direct and ruthless way:
The throne will always belong to Crown Prince Zhu Biao's lineage! It belongs to the Zhu family!

Outsiders, not even your own son, don't even think about it!

After returning to the Prince of Qin's residence.

Zhu Shuang could no longer contain his anger and despair; his roar nearly lifted the roof off.
"Get out?! Father wants me to get out?! Get back to Xi'an within three days?! Has Father gone mad?! I am his own son! His own son!!"

He was like a raging lion, smashing everything in the room to pieces, with expensive porcelain and jade shards scattered everywhere.

His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his neck. He roared at the cold imperial edict on the table, "No one is allowed to leave without an edict? No one is allowed to associate with other vassal kings? Is he guarding against thieves?! Guarding against his own son?!"

"Good, good, good! Third brother, you're right! He just wants to leave all the good things to Zhu Biao's lineage! He doesn't care about us, his own sons, at all!"

“Bang bang bang—!”

Another round of sounds of tables being smashed, chairs being thrown, and things being tossed around rang out.

Zhu Gang sat calmly on the only intact chair amidst the chaos, slowly sipping a cup of tea, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

When Zhu Shuang finally stopped, panting heavily, he put down his teacup and spoke softly, his voice low but piercing Zhu Shuang's furious heart like an ice pick: "Second Brother, are you done yelling? Finished smashing? Feeling better?"

"What good is feeling better!"

Zhu Shuang, panting heavily, kicked a shard of metal on the ground hard: "I understand now, Dad is biased to the extreme!"

"eccentric?"

Zhu Gang sneered, then shook his head and said:
"It's not favoritism, it's decisiveness. With this decree, Father Emperor clearly tells everyone that the throne belongs only to Zhu Biao! It will only be passed on to Zhu Biao's son!"

"In his eyes, we vassal kings have become a threat, a huge hidden danger that needs to be driven away and imprisoned!"

As he spoke, he slowly stood up, dusted off non-existent dust from his body, and coldly swept his gaze over the enraged Zhu Shuang: "Second brother, wake up. Go back to Xi'an and behave yourself as the King of Qin."

"From now on, try to avoid associating with the other brothers, especially the fourth one. Dad's eyes are on us."

After saying this, Zhu Gang ignored Zhu Shuang and turned to leave the room filled with violence and despair.

In the night wind, his silhouette appeared particularly desolate and profound.

Although he had long guessed that Zhu Yuanzhang would make Zhu Yunwen the crown prince, he only realized how different Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude towards them was from his attitude towards Zhu Biao when he was finally certain.

Perhaps, in that father's eyes, these sons were nothing more than princes.

Only Zhu Biao is the true son.

Sometimes, the clearer you see things, the colder your heart becomes.

The autumn wind was bleak. Zhu Gang walked out of the Qin Prince's mansion, stood in the wind, looked up at the moon in the sky, as if talking to himself, or as if comforting himself:
"Father, you disregard human ethics and propriety; this is a path to disaster! Do you think that by making Zhu Yunwen the Crown Prince, you can protect the Ming Dynasty? You underestimate your son!"

"Just you wait and see. When you disregard everything for Zhu Yunwen, that will be the beginning of his downfall."

At this point, two lines of tears involuntarily slid down his cheeks: "Since ancient times, there has been no kinship in the imperial family; I do not envy the Tang Emperor becoming the Jin Emperor!"

"Hey, let's go, pack our things and head back to Taiyuan."

With a sigh, Zhu Gang waved his hand, composed himself, and blended into the autumn night. The moonlight, like water, shone on his slightly hunched back, making him appear incredibly desolate.

(End of this chapter)