The Ming Dynasty: A Modern Return, Building an Overseas Empire

"Today, in front of all the ministers, tell me, when did I ever say to you, 'The Crown Prince is often ill; you should encourage him'?"

"The emperor never said that."

"The emperor didn't hear you!"

"The emperor never said that! I'm just making things up!"

Inside Jiming Temple, Ming Dynasty officials dressed in red and blue robes and black hats looked down at the people above.

At the very front, Zhu Gaoxu, dressed in a python robe, with his hair tied up and a beard, opened his eyes and watched as Zhu Gaochi trembled and was pulled up the steps by Zhu Di, who was holding his belt.

Zhu Di placed his right hand on Zhu Gaochi's shoulder, pressing him down onto the only seat above him.

"Now that the position of Crown Prince has been secured, the realm can be at peace!"

"You all bear witness together: if anyone ever again speaks of our father being unkind and our son being unfilial, arrest them, drag them out, and execute them!"

Zhu Gaoxu watched and listened, feeling that it was incredibly real, yet he didn't take it seriously.

He had dreamed of this scene countless times.

This time, however, it felt far more real than ever before.

But Zhu Gaoxu didn't think much of it.

He had already died during the Xuande era, having been roasted alive by Zhu Zhanji.

Fortunately, he was brought to the modern world. Although he was a boy from the mountains, he worked hard and still managed to get a doctorate.

Thirty years passed in the blink of an eye, and he dreamed countless times that he had returned to the Ming Dynasty, back to the Yongle era.

Countless nights, he wept in grief and indignation, his eyes reddened countless times, and he felt resentful countless times.

In the end, he had no choice but to face reality and start a new life.

When Zhu Gaoxu's gaze shifted to the side and fell upon Zhu Zhanji, who was dressed in the uniform of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his eyes and state of mind remained completely unchanged.

Not only this scene, but he had dreamt of being roasted alive by Zhu Zhanji countless times.

At first, when I dreamt of Zhu Zhanji, I would grit my teeth and draw my sword to rush up and kill him.

But after several attempts, Zhu Gaoxu realized that it was all in vain.

He only regretted that he realized everything too late, and how foolish he had been in his previous life.

If he could do it all over again, if he could go back to the Yongle era, he believed that he would now have the ability to defy fate and change his destiny.

Today is the day he received his doctoral admission letter. He wanted to say goodbye to his past self, but he still couldn't get over it.

May the Crown Prince be blessed with boundless happiness and good health!

Hearing the shouts of his ministers kneeling on the ground behind him, Zhu Gaoxu felt it was so real.

His gaze remained fixed on Zhu Di.

He didn't harbor much hatred towards Zhu Di.

Although Zhu Di was helping Zhu Gaochi completely stabilize his position at this moment, he also knew that Zhu Di was actually quite good to him.

Although I often made empty promises to him, wasn't that also my own foolishness?

He also missed Zhu Di after his death.

Zhu Gaoxu was so excited about how vivid his dream was that he wanted to see it more often.

However, in Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, he saw Zhu Di with a sullen face, hands on his hips, slowly walking towards him.

As Zhu Gaoxu watched Zhu Di approach, the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

"It's just like it, so much like it, exactly the same, still the same."

But Father, I'm already dead, why are you still trying to scare me like this?

Zhu Gaoxu muttered self-deprecatingly to himself as he thought about his past life.

During the Jingnan Rebellion, in the early years of the Yongle reign, Zhu Di often frightened him in this way, making him like a frightened mouse seeing a cat.

Not only him, but Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui were no different.

Zhu Gaoxu stared at Zhu Di and was suddenly taken aback, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt. At this moment, the surroundings were silent, and he still did not care at all.

It was just a dream, so why should he care?

When he was alive, Zhu Di could still scare him, but could he still scare him now?

"Death? Are you threatening me? Slap yourself!"

Seeing Zhu Di's face grow even more gloomy, and hearing these sudden words, Zhu Gaoxu was taken aback.

No, this moment just now wasn't something that happened in my previous life.

Zhu Di's somber voice was so realistic that it didn't seem like a dream at all.

But Zhu Gaoxu recovered in a short while.

He has had real dreams before.

Why does the gaze directed at Zhu Di appear somewhat red?

Is it still so hard to let go of everything from the past life?

"Dad, you're still the same as before, but why should I?"

I no longer want that crown prince, what more do you want?

You say I'm threatening you, but have you ever thought about what will happen if your precious grandson ascends to the throne in the future?

Will he even tolerate me?

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help himself in the end. The dream was too real, so real that even though he thought he had gotten used to it, he couldn't help but immerse himself in it.

He had become indifferent to everything else after thirty years of modern life, except for Zhu Zhanji.

The feeling of being roasted alive replays itself in my dreams every time I have a dream.

Others may not know what that feeling is like, but he truly experienced it!

That kind of pain, others don't know, but he does!

Zhu Gaoxu considered himself to be composed enough, and he hadn't been like this for many years, but this time, he didn't know why, he just couldn't help it.

Deep down, I have a lot of grievances.

The success of the Jingnan Campaign was due to his tireless service to Zhu Di, his leadership of the army in numerous battles, his ability to turn the tide of the war, and his repeated saving of Zhu Di's life.

Did he initially intend to fight for it?

It's the same person. I said those things to him every time, and now he's turning his back on me. He's like a donkey that's been used and then discarded.

Although he harbors no hatred towards Zhu Di, he has strong opinions and thoughts about him at this moment.

After saying that, Zhu Gaoxu felt relieved.

What's the point of saying all this? It's all in the past.

If he could do it all over again, he really wouldn't want to argue with Zhu Di. Every word he said would be superfluous and a waste of his time.

Over the past thirty years, he has seen through a lot.

This time, only the dream was different; Zhu Di actually responded to him, making him unable to resist.

Just then, a hand flashed across the room.

*Snap*

Zhu Gaoxu tilted his head, staring dumbfounded at Zhu Di in front of him, his eyes even showing a hint of bewilderment.

It wasn't because Zhu Di slapped him, but because he felt the pain, a burning pain.

Zhu Gaoxu stared wide-eyed, incredulously touching his face gently; it still hurt so much.

Suddenly, Zhu Gaoxu became excited, grabbing Zhu Di's arm with both hands. His face gradually showed a look of wild joy, but he restrained himself tightly, and his body trembled slightly.

"Dad, pinch me or punch me, use some force, quick."

Zhu Gaoxu disregarded everything, released Zhu Di, stretched out his hands, and then stretched out his legs.

"Pinch my leg, it's sensitive here. You can also hit it, Dad, remember to use some force."

Zhu Gaoxu kept talking and fiddling with his body.

At that moment, he couldn't even be sure if this was a dream.

If it's true, then wouldn't he have returned to the Ming Dynasty, to the Yongle era?

At this moment, Zhu Gaoxu was both excited and flustered.

What's exciting is that everything before his eyes seems real; the slap Zhu Di delivered just now really hurt him.

What's frightening is the fear that all of this is fake, the fear that the pain just now was also fake, and the fear that this dream will end at some point in the future.

Modern life is good, but if he could stay in the Ming Dynasty, in the Yongle era, he would rather return.

He was unwilling to accept it!

Now all he wants to know is whether it's real or not. If it's a dream, Zhu Gaoxu would rather wake up sooner; he really doesn't want to have any more expectations.

Zhu Di, standing to the side, simply watched Zhu Gaoxu quietly, without making any move.

He was originally very angry and furious, but at this moment, Zhu Di suddenly couldn't tell the difference.

In Zhu Di's eyes, Zhu Gaoxu's words and actions seemed to indicate that he couldn't accept the fact and had gone mad.

He truly adored Zhu Gaoxu; otherwise, he wouldn't have kept Zhu Gaoxu by his side all this time.

But now, he must decide on the position of crown prince. Establishing the eldest son of the legitimate wife is the rule that has been followed since ancient times. Moreover, Zhu Gaochi's ability to govern the country is truly commendable, and he acknowledges it.

He was worried that things would become increasingly uncontrollable, so he took this opportunity to finalize the matter.

But he really didn't intend to drive Zhu Gaoxu crazy!

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu, raised his hand and looked at his own hand again, his eyes darting around.

Why couldn't I hold back just now? Why did I slap him?

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu stretch out his leg, urgently signaling him to strike, Zhu Di's heart couldn't help but tremble.

He showed no anger whatsoever, as if nothing had happened.

Is this... really insane?

Did he drive his own son insane?

Zhu Di was unable to accept this fact for a moment. Overwhelmed by the huge difference in circumstances, he felt dizzy and couldn't help but stumble back a step.

"Hehe, hehehehe...hahahahaha..."

Zhu Di's eyes were moist, but the upturned corners of his mouth showed bitterness, and his laughter was full of grief and desolation.

He usurped his nephew's position, and now the retribution has finally come. His beloved son has been driven mad by him.

But if it's retribution, why doesn't it come to him?

What did those things he did have to do with his son?

He had already borne too much, and he wasn't afraid of any further punishment from this wicked God!

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Di's eyes were full of guilt and his heart was filled with remorse.

He wanted to shatter Zhu Gaoxu's illusions, simply wanting Zhu Gaoxu to stop fighting and only desire stability.

But why is it like this?

Since taking office, he has worked diligently day and night, never daring to slack off, all for the sake of the Ming Dynasty.

He has already lost his beloved, so why make him drive his own child, whom he cherishes, insane?

Zhu Di's unusual behavior made everyone below afraid to look up.

Everyone trembled and prostrated themselves on the ground, their hearts filled with nothing but prayer.

Zhu Zhanji also knelt on the ground, his heart pounding as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

Zhu Gaochi, who was closest to Zhu Di, disregarded everything else and quickly walked to Zhu Di's side, supporting his obese body with both hands.

As he ran, the flesh on his body jiggled.

Zhu Gaochi, who was somewhat startled just moments before, was now even more flustered. His face was full of concern for Zhu Di and worry for Zhu Gaoxu, but his heart was filled with a heavy weight.