The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Yi finished speaking.

No one else present seemed to think anything of it, but Zhu Gonggui was dumbfounded.

For no other reason than that, based on his previous impressions, his younger brother was just an ordinary child who was no different from him. He was not as smart or as knowledgeable as him, and he had never shown any covetousness for the position of heir. How could the docile rabbit suddenly start biting people?

"Third brother, do you know what you're saying?" Zhu Gonggui immediately questioned. "What prophecy? What Tatar invasion? Why does it have to do with the current emperor?"

Zhu Yi smiled easily and humbly as he cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Please forgive me, elder brother. I didn't mean to compete with you. It's just that Father asked about this matter, and I answered according to my true feelings."

Zhu Gonggui glared at the past.

Even after all this, you still consider it a competition with me?

Do you have to shit on my head for it to be considered a contest?

Seeing that Zhu Chenhao didn't say anything, Gongsun Jin quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Second Young Master, haven't you heard about Tang Yin's prophecy about the future? The Prince has already reported what he saw in his dream to the court. He said that he predicted that a meritorious official in the court would get chest pain, and even described the time and symptoms clearly. Who would have thought that it would actually come true?"

Zhu Gonggui: "Tang Yin? The one who used to act crazy in public, liked to drink all the time, and was arrogant?"

"Hehe." Gongsun Jin didn't know how to explain.

This is called the generation gap caused by information asymmetry. You usually lack the awareness of being prepared for danger in times of peace. You never expected that a younger brother would come along and take away what you had so easily.

Zhu Chenhao said with displeasure, "Second brother, you usually only know how to meet with those scoundrels and spend your days drinking. You don't even care about the affairs of the Prince's mansion. Now your younger brother is doing even better than you."

This was the first time Zhu Gonggui had felt such a strong sense of crisis. He quickly said, "Father, I am merely following your instructions to recruit scholars from all over the land, not associating with those people. Mr. Liu, you know me best. What kind of person do you think I am?"

At a critical moment, he began to seek help from Liu Yangzheng.

Liu Yangzheng couldn't bear to listen to this anymore and turned his head to the side.

What business is it of mine of the second generation of the royal family to fight for power?

"Why are you all like this?" Zhu Gonggui was surprised that Gongsun Jin and Liu Yangzheng, who usually had a good relationship with him, were no longer on his side.

When did the wind direction at the Prince's Mansion change? Why didn't I feel any ripples in the air?

Zhu Yi stepped forward and said, "Father, my brother is right. He has been working hard to win people's hearts. Father should not ignore his hard work."

Zhu Gonggui said, "Third brother, you don't need to pretend to say these things. If you want to compete, then compete openly and honestly. What is your intention in doing these underhanded things? The rules set by the founding emperor cannot be changed casually. My elder brother is no longer here, and I will take on the responsibility of leading the Prince's Mansion."

Zhu Chenhao became even angrier when he heard his son bring up ancestral etiquette and laws.

Are you giving your father a hard time, saying I broke the rules?

Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, Gongsun Jin hurriedly said, "Second Young Master, the current discussion is about who will represent the Ning Prince's Mansion in the capital. Going to the capital would be equivalent to being a hostage. Since you are currently the eldest prince in the mansion, wouldn't it be better for you to stay in Nanchang and continue to work for the mansion? This would allow you to cooperate more with the Prince."

At this point, what are you still arguing with your father about?

What your father disliked most was those ancestral rules and regulations. If he could have been self-disciplined and followed the proper etiquette, he wouldn't have wanted to rebel and overthrow the emperor.

Don't make trouble for yourself.

"I can accept being a hostage. Please, Father, let me go according to the rules!" Zhu Gonggui then made the request to his father in a very firm manner.

It's as if it means, "If you don't let me go, I'll disown you as my father."

Zhu Chenhao's expression darkened further. He looked around at the people present and said, "Alright, you all decide for me who should go to the capital."

Li Shishi immediately said, "The third prince is more suitable."

"Mr. Li, who exactly are you? Why are you stirring up trouble in my family?" Zhu Gonggui questioned him arrogantly.

"Insolence!" Zhu Chenhao immediately shouted, "Mr. Li is the current Vice Minister Li, a model for scholars in Nanchang. Your lack of respect for him is a contempt for all scholars in the world. How dare you claim to be recruiting talented people for the Prince's Palace?"

"Li Shishi?" Zhu Gonggui then realized the identity of the person in front of him, and the name came out without his lips.

Li Shishi smiled and said, "We're all doing this for the Prince's Mansion, Second Young Master, please don't take offense."

When Zhu Gonggui realized that the other side had a powerful background, he seemed to lose his temper.

Who told them to actually have the right to give advice on matters within the Prince's residence?

After all, in Nanchang, no one had more influence in official circles than Li Shishi.

Gongsun Jin said, "This humble servant should not interfere with opinions, but now we should let the second young master accumulate more experience and mature. This humble servant also thinks it would be more appropriate to send the third young master to the capital."

Since Prince Ning couldn't say it himself and didn't want to be seen as a bad person in front of his son, his subordinates had to take on the task.

"Mr. Liu, please say something." Zhu Gonggui seemed to have placed all his hopes on Liu Yangzheng. "Do you think so too?"

Liu Yangzheng said, "Given the current situation, it is indeed more appropriate for the Third Young Master to go than for the Second Young Master."

At this point, he glanced at Zhu Gonggui with a hint of apology.

It's as if he's saying, "Child, although I also have opinions about your brother, he claims to have returned from hundreds of years in the future, and I can't disprove that. Now your father is clinging to him like a lifeline, so whatever I say is futile. Let's not force things between us, teacher and student."

When Zhu Gonggui saw that several people were unanimously supporting his third brother, he instantly realized that he had just been dragged in to make up the numbers and was clearly the one being tricked.

He slumped back into his chair.

Zhu Chenhao also announced without hesitation: "This time, the third prince will go to the capital to accompany Tang Yin, hoping to achieve something in the capital. Gongsun Jin, you will also go and secretly arrange everything."

"Yes." Gongsun Jin quickly stood up to accept the order.

Zhu Yi did not make much of a statement.

It's as if they're saying, "Just go if I tell you to?" Do they really think this is some easy job?

"Third brother, at your age, do you think you can handle such a crisis? The capital is full of wolves and tigers!" Zhu Gonggui seemed to want to scare his younger brother back.

Zhu Yi sighed, "Brother is absolutely right. There are so many people in the capital who are targeting our Ning Prince's Mansion, and things are not peaceful. I can't guarantee how well I will do, but I can only say that I will do my best to ensure that the prestige of our Ning Prince's Mansion is not diminished."

Zhu Gonggui retorted angrily, "Stop talking about the prestige of the Prince's Mansion all the time. What have you ever done for the Prince's Mansion?"

"Shut up!"

At this point, Zhu Chenhao had lost his patience and immediately rebuked him, "When you're disciplining your younger brother, think about what you've done first! If you haven't accomplished anything great, and you're already fighting amongst yourselves, how can you expect to achieve anything significant? If you want your father's approval, first show me your abilities!"

Zhu Gonggui said urgently, "Father, going to the capital is for inheriting the ancestral line..."

What he felt aggrieved about was that he was going to the capital to try to become the crown prince, and then the ruler of the Ming Dynasty.

Whether or not I can win first is another matter, but why let my younger brother go and not me?

Has the other person lost trust in me?

Zhu Yi sighed, "Brother, that's not right. In terms of seniority, we are the current emperor's uncles. How could we easily inherit the ancestral line? The emperor has his own ideas, and the court officials will not sit idly by and watch the ancestral laws be disrupted. Therefore... it is the best choice for you, brother, to stay in Nanchang and serve our father. That would be the best way to help him achieve his great cause."

Zhu Gonggui was starting to get discouraged and muttered, "It's easy for you to talk when you're not the one suffering! You're an ingrate too."