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

Zhu Gaochi had no interest in seeing Zhu Zhanji, nor did he ask Zhu Zhanji for his thoughts. Instead, he continued to ponder deeply on his own.

In Zhu Gaochi's view, Zhu Gaoxu's behavior just now was extremely abnormal.

Just now, Zhu Gaoxu was no different from usual, but gradually he began to calm down. At that moment, he even dared to face Zhu Di directly and said some words that were hard to understand. He seemed a bit eccentric.

Later, Zhu Gaoxu changed again, especially when he looked at Zhu Zhanji, his emotions fluctuated significantly.

But Zhu Gaoxu suppressed all those emotions and did not show them, which was completely different from before.

In particular, why was he so determined to go out and take up his fief?

Zhu Gaochi was well aware that Zhu Gaoxu had always wanted to take his position.

Zhu Di had previously mentioned sending Zhu Gaoxu to his fiefdom, but Zhu Gaoxu refused to go and stubbornly stayed behind, just to look for an opportunity.

But now, Zhu Gaochi couldn't understand what Zhu Gaoxu was trying to do.

At that moment, Zhu Zhanji's voice suddenly came.

"Father, Second Uncle is acting very strangely today. Since he wants to go out and take up his fief, why don't we help him out?"

Zhu Gaochi smiled when he saw that Zhu Zhanji was interested.

"Kid, you're still too green. You can't judge anything by appearances."

Do you think your second uncle is the kind of person who would be willing to go out and serve in a fiefdom? Is he willing to let go of those obsessions? Is he willing to give up those ambitions?

Although your second uncle is impulsive and reckless, he is not a brainless or stupid person.

If your grandfather were to agree to your proposal to go and assume a fiefdom in this setting, how would the people of the world view you? And if I were to agree, how would the people of the world view me?

Your second uncle did a brilliant job this time. After this foolish act, everything your grandfather did today has been reduced to ashes.

It seems that rumors are already circulating that the Emperor cannot tolerate his own son, who made great contributions during the Jingnan Campaign, and that the military officers are likely to become restless.

As for me, I am already the crown prince and the elder brother, and I cannot tolerate my own younger brother.

How will those feudal lords and the people of the world view me?

And you, unable to tolerate your own uncle, will inevitably be the subject of rumors and misinformation from those with ulterior motives.

After your second uncle's outburst, things have started to change again.

Now, it's not as simple as just agreeing to your second uncle's departure to his fiefdom.

Your second uncle is the Prince of Han of the Ming Dynasty. In the entire Ming Dynasty, there is only one person who can control him, and that is your imperial grandfather.

If you dare to mention this to your imperial grandfather, what will he think? Is what your second uncle said all true?

Are we really that impatient?

Kid, don't act rashly before the situation becomes clear, or you'll only get yourself into trouble.

As Zhu Gaochi spoke, his mind became increasingly clear.

Besides these, Zhu Gaochi couldn't think of any other purpose Zhu Gaoxu might have.

Everything today has been disrupted by Zhu Gaoxu, which gives Zhu Gaoxu a significant competitive advantage.

At the same time, Zhu Gaochi also dug a pit for both him and Zhu Zhanji, planting a thorn in Zhu Di's heart.

Zhu Gaochi was somewhat impressed by Zhu Gaoxu, who had actually come up with such a way to break the deadlock.

It can also be seen that this incident has put Zhu Gaoxu under considerable pressure, which is why he is so desperate and unafraid that Zhu Di will actually send him to his fiefdom.

Having figured these things out, Zhu Gaochi was no longer in a hurry, nor did he have any worries.

His advantage was already fully established. Once he knew Zhu Gaoxu's purpose, in Zhu Gaochi's eyes, Zhu Gaoxu wouldn't be able to cause any major trouble.

Wu Xun, who supported Zhu Gaoxu, had been scattered and disbanded. The Zhu Gaoxu of today was no longer the Zhu Gaoxu of the early Yongle era.

And he is no longer the same person he was when he first became the crown prince.

All he needs to do is remain calm and not take any initiative.

No matter what, he is the elder brother, and he must take this brotherly bond into consideration.

Zhu Zhanji still felt somewhat unwilling after hearing Zhu Gaochi's words.

In his eyes, the source of all instability was Zhu Gaoxu.

Once Zhu Gaochi leaves the capital, there will be no more unstable factors.

But he understood Zhu Gaochi's words very well.

"Father, are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"

"Kid, you're wrong again. We can't just stand by and do nothing."

If that's the case, it will give your grandfather something to think about.

Later, I will first plead with your imperial grandfather and your second uncle.

After I leave, you must go too, to plead for your second uncle.

Remember, that's your own second uncle. Do what you, as his nephew, should do.

Zhu Gaochi remained calm. Since he was the elder brother, he should act like one.

He had to protect Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui at all times.

If he were to protect someone, Zhu Di might grumble at most, but if he didn't, he would be in danger.

Even now, his position is not absolutely secure.

It can be said that the decision was still made by a single sentence from Zhu Di.

Zhu Zhanji listened with a mixture of thoughts and opinions, but said nothing aloud.

Go and plead for Zhu Gaochi?

He would love for something to happen to Zhu Gaoxu; he certainly wouldn't want that.

After Zhu Zhanji left, the room gradually fell silent.

On the other side, Zhu Di, after returning to his temporary residence, dismissed everyone, leaned back in his chair, propped his forehead with his right hand, closed his eyes slightly, and continued to think.

At this moment, Zhu Di's mind was filled with thoughts of Zhu Gaoxu.

After all, he was his own son, a son he had always admired and who could also influence the court. How could Zhu Di not care?

Today, he was originally preparing to put Zhu Gaoxu in a bad light and completely consolidate Zhu Gaochi's position, but he was caught off guard by Zhu Gaoxu.

After calming down and thinking for a long time, Zhu Di was certain that Zhu Gaochi was not insane.

This result left him both relieved and furious.

Fortunately, Zhu Gaoxu was not insane; he was angry about the same thing.

He had experienced a great deal in his life and had seen all kinds of storms, but now he had been pecked in the eye by Zhu Gaoxu.

Yet, even amidst these complex emotions, a smile quietly crept onto Zhu Di's lips.

Having managed to fool him once, her foolish son is different now.

But soon, Zhu Di's expression turned somber.

This time, Zhu Gaochi was indeed different from before; he had changed a lot, which was what puzzled Zhu Di the most.

Could it be that something happened to Zhu Gaoxu that he doesn't know about?

When Zhu Gaoxu recalled his words about not trusting Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Di's feelings became even more complicated.

This was entirely started by him, and now it seems it's about to happen again with his children and grandchildren.

This was the most difficult knot in Zhu Di's heart to untie.

It was clearly a seemingly absurd thing, but since Zhu Gaoxu had brought it up, why did he have that kind of inclination in his heart?

As for Zhu Gaoxu's talk of going out to take up his fief, Zhu Di didn't take it to heart.

In Zhu Di's eyes, Zhu Gaochi's words were undoubtedly a way of venting his anger and spite towards him.

"Interesting, very interesting."

"Second brother, now I'm actually starting to wonder what you're going to do next."

After much deliberation, Zhu Di gradually began to form an idea.

But ultimately, he still wanted to see Zhu Gaoxu again, to see what Zhu Gaoxu really wanted to do.

Is it all just for this incident?

But how will this end?

After all, once the words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.