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

Zhu Gaoxu watched as Zhu Di turned and left without any impatience.

He knew very well that now, his desire to go out and take up his fiefdom was no longer something he could simply obtain at will.

In particular, his uniqueness must have had a significant impact on Zhu Di.

Thinking about all this, Zhu Gaoxu didn't know what to say. At first, he always thought it was still a dream.

If he had known from the beginning that he had really returned to the Yongle era, he wouldn't have said those things.

Moreover, this is the time when Zhu Di is finalizing Zhu Gaochi's position, making it hard not to have some doubts.

Now, however, it seems that the path he wants to take up a fiefdom is not so easy.

"Second brother, why did you provoke the old man? If you want this position, do you think I, as your older brother, would refuse you?"

You have no idea how tired I am every day. I even considered resigning and going back to Shuntian to get some rest.

Zhu Gaoxu snapped out of his reverie as he listened to Zhu Gaochi's mutterings.

At this time, all the surrounding ministers had left, leaving only Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji.

Then look at Zhu Gaochi, who was shaking his head and sighing, his expression full of concern.

Zhu Gaoxu watched and listened quietly, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

Did Zhu Gaochi actually care about him?

Zhu Gaoxu believed there were still some, just not many.

The only concern they showed might have been related to how they had influenced Zhu Gaochi.

As for what Zhu Gaochi said, just take the first half with a grain of salt.

Should he relinquish his position as crown prince?

He'd heard that phrase countless times: "Easier said than done."

Zhu Gaoxu believed the latter statement to be true.

He now truly understands how exhausted Zhu Gaochi was.

A crown prince doing more work than Emperor Zhu Di, how could he not be exhausted?

However, it is also because of Zhu Gaochi's hard work that most of the civil officials and local officials in the court today were personally promoted by Zhu Gaochi, the crown prince. They are almost all members of the crown prince's faction.

But none of that matters anymore.

"Boss, I'm not going to compete with you for that position anymore. I want to go out and take up my fiefdom."

You don't need to overthink it, and you don't need to doubt anything. If you still consider me your brother, please help me out and persuade the old man.

I don't want to live like this anymore.

From now on, you will be the crown prince, and I will be a vassal king. May we each live well, shall we?

Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything provocative to escalate the conflict or break the ice; it wouldn't make any sense.

What can one gain from sharp words besides a momentary sense of satisfaction?

Making a quick, satisfying decision and pushing Zhu Gaochi to the opposite side will only make things more difficult for yourself. What else can it change?

Since no reality can be changed, the anger vented is nothing more than the anger of impotence.

Having gone through so much, it's time to learn to control my emotions.

Unless they want to give up and completely abandon their efforts.

However, Zhu Gaoxu did not want things to turn out this way.

Zhu Gaochi looked at the calm Zhu Gaoxu, whose little movements had stopped, and his face was full of solemnity and doubt.

Now Zhu Gaochi finds himself unable to understand Zhu Gaoxu. Is what this man is saying just out of anger, to pressure him, or has he truly come to terms with things?

But based on his understanding of Zhu Gaoxu over the years, Zhu Gaochi did not believe that Zhu Gaoxu had suddenly changed his mind and really wanted to leave.

But he couldn't understand what Zhu Gaoxu's purpose was in doing this.

Unable to understand these things, Zhu Gaochi stopped thinking about them and looked at Zhu Zhanji beside him.

"Kid, what did you do to offend your second uncle? Apologize to him right now."

Look at yourself now, is this the kind of clothes you should be wearing?

I told you to spend your days reading and studying, but all you do is cause trouble; you're becoming increasingly unruly.

Zhu Zhanji instinctively wanted to refute Zhu Gaochi's words, but thinking about what had just happened and Zhu Gaoxu's strange behavior, he had no choice but to swallow his grievances.

Zhu Zhanji felt truly wronged. He hadn't done anything wrong, so how did he get into trouble?

His thoughts about Zhu Gaoxu deepened, especially.

What exactly did he do to his second uncle?

Zhu Gaoxu actually expressed his distrust of Zhu Di in front of so many people.

Is he the kind of person who is petty? Is he the kind of person who can't tolerate his own uncle?

But he dared not say these things; he was a junior, and he couldn't even show his displeasure and resentment.

"Second Uncle, I don't know what I did to offend you. Please don't be angry anymore, so as not to ruin the harmony of our family. I apologize to you and ask for your forgiveness."

After Zhu Zhanji finished speaking, he intended to bow deeply to Zhu Gaoxu.

But Zhu Gaochi suddenly nudged him with his knee, causing him to kneel down.

Zhu Zhanji glanced at Zhu Gaochi, then sincerely bowed to Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Gaochi, who was standing to the side, then looked at Zhu Gaoxu with a slight smile on his face.

"Second son, the child is just being immature, don't take it to heart."

"You're his second uncle. If this child makes a mistake or offends you in any way, just tell him directly. There's no need to get angry with a child."

Zhu Gaoxu did not look at Zhu Gaochi, but instead kept his eyes fixed on Zhu Zhanji kneeling on the ground, listening to the words of the father and son.

Zhu Gaoxu originally thought he could face these things calmly, but his heart was still stirred.

He was confident that if he suddenly launched an attack, he could definitely twist Zhu Zhanji's head off and use it as a football.

Zhu Gaoxu clenched his hands slightly and finally let out a long sigh.

Despite already knowing the hypocrisy and treachery of these two men, his heart was not as calm as he had imagined when facing them again.

"Nephew, your father says you're immature, but I think you're very sensible."

"Get up. If you keep kneeling, people outside will say I, as your uncle, am bullying you."

"Boss, just be a good prince, I won't say anything more."

If you have time, please remember to try and persuade the old man.

After finishing his sentence, Zhu Gaoxu ignored the two men and left.

Many things were actually understood tacitly among the group; they just didn't want to break the unspoken understanding.

He and Zhu Gaochi didn't have much to talk about.

There was even less to talk about with Zhu Zhanji.

At this moment, he himself needs to go back and think carefully about what he should do next, how to take this path, and how to change the future outcome.

"Second son, go back and get some rest. Once you've thought it through, go apologize to the old man. It's not shameful..."

Zhu Gaochi watched Zhu Gaoxu leave, still standing there trying to persuade him, his face full of worry.

After Zhu Gaoxu left, seeing Zhu Zhanji standing to the side as if he wanted to say something, he slapped him across the face.

"You brat, you're always causing trouble and never letting anyone have a moment's peace. Come with me, I'm going to teach you a lesson today."

Back inside, Zhu Gaochi's face darkened, becoming extremely solemn and serious.

"Father, I..."

"No need to say anything, I know everything. Your second uncle has suddenly changed, so you should keep a low profile for a while."

Zhu Gaochi interrupted Zhu Zhanji's attempt to express his grievances, though he was actually aware of all of this.

Now that no one was around, Zhu Gaochi no longer had anything to hide.