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

Zhu Di was filled with anticipation and eager to know what Zhu Gaoxu would do.

Even after talking with Yao Guangxiao, he still had doubts.

He also tried every means to test Zhu Gaoxu's true thoughts, even at the cost of the position of crown prince.

But the results of the tests were all the same, and it still couldn't make him completely believe it.

This time, since Zhu Gaoxu made such a move, he could take the opportunity to see whether Zhu Gaoxu's actions were a pretense or genuine.

Zhu Gaoxu did not want what he offered.

Now he has placed the opportunity to achieve his goal directly in front of Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Di is eager to see if Zhu Gaoxu will be tempted.

The combined forces of the Three Guards, the men of the Prince of Han's residence, and Zhu Gaochi's so-called private troops numbered at least 15,000, enough to stir up a huge wave in the capital.

Zhu Gaosui was shocked by Zhu Di's words and looked up at Zhu Di in disbelief.

Zhu Gaosui simply couldn't believe that Zhu Di's move was nothing short of insane.

That's a whole three guards! Once they're outside the capital, if Zhu Gaochi really wants to do something, the army outside will be powerless to stop him!

Zhu Gaosui was deeply shaken. Was Zhu Di trying to take down Zhu Gaoxu, or was he testing him?

His heart was pounding in his throat; Zhu Gaosui feared that his guess might come true.

If Zhu Di intended to use the commotion caused by Zhu Gaoxu to take down Zhu Gaoxu, should he plead for Zhu Gaoxu's life? Should he quickly distance himself from him?

If Zhu Di was testing Zhu Gaoxu, then what should he do?

He could accept Zhu Gaoxu going to sea, but he could never accept Zhu Gaoxu getting into trouble.

Suddenly, Zhu Gaosui was startled.

Zhu Gaosui considered an even more terrifying possibility: if Zhu Di was indeed testing him, was he simply testing Zhu Gaoxu alone?

If he secretly colludes with Zhu Gaoxu and does something, won't he also get into trouble? Is this also a test for him?

But if he did nothing, wouldn't Zhu Di feel that he was cold-blooded and ruthless?

Was it not just him, but also Zhu Gaochi, and even Zhu Zhanji, who were all within Zhu Di's testing range?

Thinking of this possibility, Zhu Gaosui felt particularly heavy-hearted, and even began to have some thoughts about Zhu Gaoxu.

His good second brother, it's one thing to do whatever he wants, but why make such a big fuss without even telling me beforehand?

This has put him in a very difficult position, caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Third brother, what are you thinking about so intently?"

"Father, I wasn't thinking anything."

Hearing Zhu Di's calm voice, Zhu Gaosui hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to look at him at all.

The calmer Zhu Di appeared, the bigger the trouble seemed to become; he had no intention of breaking any taboos.

"Father, are we really going to let the second son's three guards come over? Should we reconsider? Or should we have the three major battalions secretly prepare, just in case..."

"To avoid what? King Zhao, are you teaching me how to do things?"

"Father, I wouldn't dare! I've never had such a thought! Father, you know perfectly well..."

Zhu Gaosui, who was lying on the ground, was almost in tears.

He was clearly trying to remind Zhu Di, but little did he expect Zhu Di to accuse him of such a serious offense.

Now that Zhu Gaoxu is either going to sea or something bad has happened, he can only rely more on Zhu Di, and Zhu Di's attitude towards him is the most important thing.

At this time, Zhu Gaosui could not accept that Zhu Di had any dissatisfaction with him, which caused him to feel extremely afraid and worried.

"Go down." Zhu Di saw that Zhu Gaosui's body was trembling slightly and his voice had changed, so he couldn't bear to say anything more.

He is, after all, my own son. A little scare is enough. He's not going to do anything.

After Zhu Gaosui left, Zhu Di smiled slowly.

"Second brother, you've done me a huge favor this time."

Zhu Di looked relaxed; this time, Zhu Gaoxu had done exactly what Zhu Di wanted.

Not only could it thoroughly clarify what Zhu Gaoxu really wanted to do, but it could also test Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui along the way.

His sons appeared to be a harmless bunch, an impulsive brute, and an honest and simple man, but in reality, the three brothers were cunning and treacherous. How could Zhu Di possibly trust them?

Zhu Gaosui, who had come outside, was lost in thought by himself.

Zhu Gaosui was in a dilemma; should he go and persuade Zhu Gaoxu?

He couldn't advise Zhu Di against selling the Prince of Han's mansion to buy grain and supplies; this was a red line he had drawn.

But now that Zhu Gaochi has escalated the situation to the point of military action, he has to make a choice.

Now he has three paths before him.

If Zhu Gaochi wanted to accomplish something big and launch the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he could have chosen to join in and rebel against Zhu Di.

There are two options left: either persuade them, but don't participate.

Either he doesn't care about anything, and whatever happens to Zhu Gaoxu is none of his business.

All three options involved Zhu Di's thoughts about him, which was why Zhu Gaosui was unable to make a decision for a while.

After thinking for a while, Zhu Gaosui stopped thinking about these things.

"Guards! Prepare a fast horse; I am returning to the capital!"

Zhu Gaosui didn't care about anything else at the moment; he had to go back and persuade Zhu Gaoxu.

It wasn't just about his past friendship with Zhu Gaochi; it was also a gamble, betting that Zhu Di valued their brotherhood, and that this choice was the right one.

Getting involved or ignoring everything are both too extreme; this is the most likely solution.

Having made his decision, Zhu Gaosui only hoped that Zhu Gaoxu wouldn't really act recklessly, otherwise things would become difficult to handle.

On the other side of Jiming Temple, Zhu Gaochi looked solemn.

"Your Highness, please instruct us on what to do next."

This person has just come from the capital to deliver a letter to Zhu Gaochi and to ask for instructions.

Most of Zhu Gaoxu's actions were already known without any attempt to conceal them, so they could hardly be considered secrets.

In particular, Zhu Gaochi's door-to-door begging for money made everyone hope that Zhu Gaochi would return and resolve these issues.

They can't solve Zhu Gaoxu's problem, nor can they solve this issue; only Zhu Gaochi is the most likely culprit.

As for finding Zhu Di?

These people already knew about some of what had happened at Jiming Temple, and none of them wanted to get involved.

"I know about this. Go back and tell Yang Shiqi that the matter of the Prince of Han will be decided by the Emperor."

During this period, you must not offend the King of Han.

Zhu Gaochi frowned, his mind filled with complex emotions.

I thought that now that Zhu Gaoxu had returned, he could spend a peaceful day at Jiming Temple.

He was overthinking it; Zhu Gaoxu had actually stirred up such a mess.

He told everyone he met that he wanted to go to sea and take up his fiefdom, and he openly and secretly asked people to give him money and grain. This was making things difficult for Zhu Di and him.

Zhu Gaochi's sudden departure to sea could be exploited by those with ulterior motives, leading to widespread rumors that he, the crown prince, had driven the Prince of Han of the Ming Dynasty to this state.

In other words, most civil officials are now on his side; otherwise, this storm might have turned out very differently.

Now Zhu Gaochi is no longer troubled by the troubles Zhu Gaoxu has caused, but is instead thinking about Zhu Di's ideas.

He already knows the news; Zhu Di must have known it even earlier than him.

But Zhu Di still didn't take any action. Was he letting Zhu Gaochi run wild?

Or was it that Zhu Di had already tacitly approved of Zhu Gaoxu's departure to his fiefdom overseas, and this was Zhu Di's indirect compensation?

Although he did not know the truth, Zhu Gaochi was more inclined to believe this guess.

The things Zhu Gaochi is doing now have clearly blocked all his escape routes; it's not hard to guess.

But Zhu Gaochi was not happy at all.

Whether Zhu Gaochi's departure was good or bad for him, Zhu Gaochi himself couldn't tell.

Stop thinking about it. It's already happened, and it's out of control. There's no point in thinking about it anymore.

He immediately stood up and walked towards Zhu Di.

Now that we know the news, we still have to go and plead for leniency.