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

Zhu Di stopped thinking about it and turned to look at Zhu Gaochi.

"Boss, you are the crown prince. Don't ever say 'I'm resigning' again."

You know very well what the position of crown prince represents; it's not something you can simply take or give up as you please.

"Father, I will remember this and never mention it again."

Zhu Gaochi respectfully agreed, having learned a lesson from Zhu Di this time.

He had used this matter to threaten Zhu Di many times in the past, but this time he was given a good talking-to.

What weighed heavily on him was what Zhu Gaoxu actually wanted to do, and what he and Zhu Di had discussed.

Even though he had guesses, the inability to be certain left Zhu Gaochi with a heavy heart.

Zhu Gaochi was very tired. As Zhu Di grew older, he went from assisting Zhu Di in handling state affairs to now gradually taking on more responsibilities.

Zhu Gaochi sighed deeply, already exhausted, now having to outwit and outmaneuver everyone else.

Whenever Zhu Gaoxu or Zhu Gaosui were involved, he was caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to advance or retreat, and he also had to deal with Zhu Di, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi and knew how tired he was, but there were some things that couldn't be helped.

He's getting older, but there are still things he wants to do that he hasn't finished, so he can't worry about these things yet.

"Boss, go and bring Da Sun here. I have something to say to him."

"Yes, Father, I'll go right away."

Zhu Gaochi had roughly guessed Zhu Di's thoughts and walked out with a heavy heart.

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart.

He knew that Zhu Di was doing all this to secure his future.

However, some things cannot be fulfilled simply by making promises.

None of this would have happened if Zhu Di hadn't died.

But even emperors are human, and they will eventually pass away.

Stopping thinking about these trivial matters, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly discovered a thorny problem.

That's what Zhu Di is doing right now. Even though it involves constantly testing him, he is trying to find a way to solve his problems.

His expressed concern was that he didn't trust Zhu Zhanji, meaning that Zhu Zhanji might take action against him in the future.

Now that Zhu Di has forced Zhu Gaochi to make a promise and sent him to find Zhu Zhanji, he has already foreseen what will happen next.

He knew the outcome; he knew that everything Zhu Di had done was in vain.

From Zhu Di's perspective, however, he had already done what he could.

These signs also indicate that Zhu Di did not want him to leave, or at least did not want him to leave the Ming Dynasty to find an island as a fiefdom.

Zhu Gaoxu felt a headache coming on. It was just a simple request, something that Zhu Di had brought up several times before. Why had it suddenly become so difficult?

This was somewhat unexpected by Zhu Gaoxu.

As an emperor, shouldn't he be rational?

Wasn't it the best thing for everyone, and for the Ming Dynasty, for him to go out and take up his fiefdom?

How did I get stuck here all of a sudden?

Zhu Gaoxu kept pondering the questions involved.

After thinking for a long time, Zhu Gaoxu had some guesses, but he couldn't be sure, so he stopped thinking about it.

Anyway, now that things have come to this point, and he has already decided on his own path, he will go even if Zhu Di disagrees.

At worst, I'll just take my most trusted confidants with me.

Zhang Liao used 800 men to intimidate Xiaoyao Ford; Li Shimin was able to create Xuanwu Gate with 800 men and succeed; Zhu Di was able to raise an army to quell the rebellion with 800 men and succeed. It would not be difficult for him to select 800 men.

He figured he could just take eight hundred men out with him. He refused to believe that the struggles outside could be more difficult than those in the Central Plains.

Eight hundred people have their own methods, and eight thousand people have their own methods. Once he really goes out there, he doesn't believe that Zhu Di would just watch him suffer without supporting him.

Having figured all this out, Zhu Gaoxu, now free from all constraints, felt a sense of enlightenment, and his imposing presence naturally shone through.

Zhu Di, who was standing to the side, had originally been waiting for Zhu Zhanji's arrival, but suddenly felt Zhu Gaoxu's imposing aura and was somewhat puzzled.

What triggered Zhu Gaoxu's anger?

While the father and son were both preoccupied with their own thoughts, Zhu Gaochi quickly entered Zhu Zhanji's room.

"Boy, come with me to see your royal grandfather."

"Father, what happened?"

Zhu Zhanji followed Zhu Gaochi outside, asking in confusion.

Zhu Zhanji could clearly see the solemn look on Zhu Gaochi's face, and he knew that something big must have happened to make Zhu Gaochi look like this.

Zhu Gaochi nodded and said softly, "He's not stupid; he can tell what happened."

"Your second uncle was staying with your imperial grandfather. He wanted to leave the Ming Dynasty and find an island outside to serve as his fiefdom, which angered your imperial grandfather."

"Huh? Father, are you serious? Second Uncle is really leaving the Ming Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji became quite excited.

If we're talking about who he disliked the most in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Gaoxu would definitely be number one, even Zhu Gaosui would have to take a backseat.

After all, Zhu Gaoxu was a direct competitor, someone who would compete with him.

But now he has no way to deal with Zhu Gaoxu and can only keep enduring it.

Being young and impetuous, he couldn't possibly endure it forever.

Hearing such good news, how could I not be happy? My joy was immediately written all over my face.

Zhu Gaochi glared at Zhu Zhanji and sighed.

"Put away those thoughts of yours. I just told you this, have you already forgotten?"

He is your second uncle. You must always remember this and do what you should do as the eldest nephew.

Your second uncle now wants to go out and take up his fiefdom. What you need to do is try to persuade him to stay.

Your grandfather summoned you this time, surely for this very reason.

If you still can't understand this now, you'll definitely suffer later.

Kid, don't think that just because your imperial grandfather keeps calling you a "good grandson," you really are the crown prince.

Even if you were the crown prince, you could lose this matter at any time if you were careless or negligent.

Zhu Gaochi felt helpless; Zhu Zhanji was still too young and inexperienced.

This is someone raised in a greenhouse; compared to Zhu Zhanji's mindset at that time, he was far inferior.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji's smile vanished, replaced by a look of utter reluctance.

He was already being lenient by not helping Zhu Gaoxu go to his fiefdom, and now Zhu Gaochi wanted him to plead for Zhu Gaoxu, which he really didn't want to do.

He had been eagerly anticipating Zhu Gaoxu's departure to his fiefdom for quite some time, and now, not knowing what had gotten into Zhu Gaoxu, he was even more impatient than Zhu Gaoxu himself.

Zhu Zhanji was well aware of Zhu Gaochi's instructions, and he knew he couldn't disobey them.

For a moment, Zhu Zhanji was in a state of confusion and distress.

Zhu Gaochi did not disturb him until he was almost at Zhu Di's residence, at which point he stopped.

"Son, remember what I'm about to say. Don't say things you shouldn't say."

You must remember that your grandfather is the emperor, and the emperor can take back any promise he makes to you at any time.

And remember, whatever you say later, you must be honest and not lie.

Whether it's true or false, you can't hide it from him.

Zhu Gaochi, with a solemn expression, repeatedly instructed Zhu Zhanji, telling him all his guesses and telling him how to say them.

After finishing speaking, Zhu Gaochi led Zhu Zhanji further inside.

Now, Zhu Gaochi only hopes that Zhu Zhanji can weather this crisis.