The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Inside a private residence on the east side of the Prince Ning's Mansion.

Prince Ning met Li Shishi, the key figure in his rebellion, who had served as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Although Li Shishi had retired and returned to his hometown, he was still the most powerful and prestigious senior official around Prince Ning.

In Prince Ning's mind, once he started his rebellion, he would need someone influential in the court to build connections for him.

Is such a thing possible?

When Prince Ning told Li Shishi about his son's sudden onset of hysteria, Li Shishi was also very surprised.

Prince Ning said, "I suspect that someone is behind the scenes instructing my son to say such things."

Li Shishi asked, "Your Highness should still be sending people to investigate, right? Have you sent anyone to inquire about more detailed matters?"

"I've already sent someone," said Prince Ning. "We can't verify the truth of what they said yet, but even Liu Yangzheng and Gongsun Jin couldn't find any flaws in my son. However, I've had them take some information about the two emperors and ask them in detail; perhaps we'll have results soon."

The Prince of Ning's tone did not show much respect for Zhu Youcheng and his son Zhu Houzhao.

The Ning Prince's Mansion was the one most severely harmed by the Yan Prince's Mansion, which led several generations of Ning Princes to endure in silence and regard rebellion as a generational cause.

This is a family feud; it's not that we won't seek revenge, it's just that the time hasn't come yet.

Li Shishi remained calm and chuckled lightly, "Has Your Highness wavered on the matter of sending a hostage to the capital? Perhaps you could send the Third Prince instead?"

Prince Ning said, "Mr. Li, do you mean that the person behind my son is trying to get him a chance to enter the capital, or even to arrange for him to be adopted into the imperial family and become the crown prince in the future?"

"It's hard to say, it's hard to say," Li Shishi replied with a smile.

Prince Ning stood up, thought for a moment, and shook his head, saying, "What's already decided shouldn't be changed easily. The court has already informed Qian Ning that he will be sent to the capital before summer. If anything unexpected happens..."

Li Shishi said, "It's unwise to create unnecessary complications. This young prince, however, is quite enigmatic; even I'd like to meet him. Given his age, it's probably not easy for him to justify his actions on major historical events."

Prince Ning nodded and said, "The results will be available soon."

……

……

Inside the small courtyard.

Zhu Yi saw Gongsun Jin and Liu Yangzheng again, but this time he was no longer in a good mood.

He lost patience when the other side restricted his freedom and broke its promise to give him back his freedom.

"You two are not sincere at all. Unless you let me step out of this door and experience the sights of your so-called market, otherwise... Hmph." Zhu Yi felt that he still had some backbone.

Even if he gets beaten up, he can take it. What kind of ancient game are these people playing? They're not going to give him an electric shock, are they?

Gongsun Jin laughed and said, "Brother Zhu, you've misunderstood. We weren't stopping you from going out; it's just that it's dangerous outside, and we were afraid you'd get lost. You come from hundreds of years in the future, how could you easily adapt to your surroundings?"

Zhu Yi sneered, "So I should thank you for considering my situation?"

Gongsun Jin said, "You see, although we haven't fulfilled our promise to let you go out, we have already done what you asked for, which was to find a maid to serve you."

"What?" Zhu Yi looked over curiously.

Gongsun Jin pointed to the door and said, "The two maids, just as you said, are not yet of marriageable age. They are already waiting outside. After we ask the next three questions, we will let them in to take good care of you. In the next two days, carriages will be sent to take you to a more comfortable residence. Then, won't you be able to see the scenery outside?"

Zhu Yixin exclaimed that something terrible was about to happen.

Judging from what this person said, they were going to "take action" against him within two days?

Talking to him about history is just to appease him and prevent him from taking any drastic actions? Why not just give him anesthesia and get it over with?

Gongsun Jin said, "Brother Zhu, are you satisfied with this arrangement?"

Zhu Yi said, "You only need to answer three questions to send a woman in, right? I'll eat my last meal before I'm beheaded."

"What makes you say that?" Gongsun Jin asked with a smile. "Please sit down."

Zhu Yi then sat back down at the table.

……

……

The previous format remained unchanged, with Gongsun Jin presiding over the questioning.

"We discussed what Brother Zhu said earlier after we returned, and we also asked people of higher status than us," Gongsun Jin said.

"Do you have employers? Government officials?" Zhu Yi asked.

Gongsun Jin was taken aback, and said hesitantly, "I suppose so. Brother Zhu, he is very interested in what you have said about the three generations after Chenghua, and has offered some opinions. You just need to tell us about these three things in detail."

Zhu Yi said, "Speak."

Gongsun Jin said with a serious expression, "You said that Emperor Xiaozong had few children, only one eldest son, who later became Emperor Wuzong, and another brother... who died young. Then why do you say that Emperor Xiaozong only married one empress? Shouldn't he have taken in many concubines to enrich his harem and have more imperial offspring?"

Zhu Yi replied coldly, "I only recount history; I don't want to analyze it. How would I know what Emperor Xiaozong was thinking?"

Liu Yangzheng assumed Zhu Yi was incapable of answering questions outside of his expectations and sneered, "How can you gain people's trust if you don't answer?"

"Um……"

Zhu Yi's breathing was heavy. Knowing he was currently at someone else's mercy, he patiently said, "I think this is related to Emperor Xiaozong's poor health. If this were truly during the Chenghua era, and a crown prince had already been established, you would know that Emperor Xiaozong was not recognized from childhood and only returned to the imperial family at the age of five. Although he grew up in the palace, he was raised on the charity of many families. Wouldn't a person with a weak constitution be powerless when it comes to taking concubines?"

Gongsun Jin said, "That doesn't make sense either."

Zhu Yi said, "Perhaps it's also related to the fact that Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao was born relatively early, in the fourth year of the Hongzhi reign, which was earlier than the birth of the Crown Prince of the Chenghua Emperor. Then, at the beginning and end of the seventh year of the Hongzhi reign, his eldest daughter and second son were also born one after the other. The Crown Prince grew up healthy, and coupled with his usually gentle and modest character, how could he, with his frail health, have become obsessed with beautiful women and damaged his reputation?"

The implication is that Emperor Hongzhi was placed on a pedestal by his reputation, influenced by his ministers, and also somewhat henpecked and weak-willed, which led him to not take any concubines.

"Um."

Gongsun Jin nodded with a smile.

He also glanced at Liu Yangzheng, probably thinking, "Look at him, all his digressions are reasonable."

If there really was a master guiding him from behind, how could he have planned things so meticulously?

To expose him, you need to expand the topic while also making him lower his guard and forget what year it is.

Gongsun Jin said, "On the first matter, Brother Zhu's words make some sense. On the second matter, you said that the future Emperor Wuzong was fond of playing and indulging in pleasure, and successively favored several treacherous officials. Didn't that cause trouble for the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Yi frowned and said, "What kind of question is this? You're concerned about whether the future will be chaotic?"

Gongsun Jin said seriously, "We are more concerned about whether what you said is true."

"Oh, testing me, is that it?" Zhu Yi said. "There's nothing to hide. Emperor Zhengde may be a bit of a rascal, but he still has some ability to manage people. The powerful ministers he employs are generally able to maintain a balance between power and restraint. Although they rarely attend court, they still have a firm grasp on the affairs of the court. During Zhengde's reign, there were no major upheavals, but minor ones kept popping up."

Gongsun Jin suppressed his excitement and tried to keep his tone calm as he asked, "Brother Zhu, could you elaborate?"