The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Zhu Di's eyelids twitched violently.

"Zhanjun, Grandfather feels he doesn't want to leave yet."

"Alright, Your Majesty." Zhu Zhanjun nodded. "I also feel that I didn't perform very well this time. There was a key I just couldn't get into. I'll practice it again later."

"It will still be useful after you die."

[Ding! You have obtained a silver treasure chest!]

Zhu Di: "..."

Well, this kid has really done something outrageous.

He's so filial!

The people inside the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

Meng Ji and the others lowered their heads, pretending they hadn't heard anything.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji were somewhat jealous.

The only person who could talk to the old man like that without getting beaten up was Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Di smacked his lips and glanced at everyone present.

"Alright, all of you, step back."

"It was all a false alarm."

"Let's not block the road here."

"Anyone who didn't know better would think I was about to pass on the throne on my deathbed."

Perhaps influenced by his great-grandson, Zhu Di also made a rare joke.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji were somewhat embarrassed.

Meng Ji and the other imperial physicians wished they hadn't brought their ears.

At that moment...

A series of heavy, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, accompanied by a loud, boisterous shout.

"Father! Father, what's wrong?!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Gaoxu's tall figure swept into the hall like a whirlwind.

He had clearly arrived as soon as he received the news, his forehead still damp with sweat, and his princely robes were somewhat disheveled.

As soon as he entered the hall, his gaze swept eagerly toward the dragon bed. He saw Zhu Di sitting there, his forehead and clothes stained with "blood," but he was conscious and staring at him. Zhu Gaoxu was taken aback at first, then breathed a sigh of relief.

"Father, are you alright? I heard you fell and bled a lot! I was so scared!"

As he spoke, he moved closer to the bed.

"By the way, Father, I think I heard you say something about passing the throne when I came in?"

"To whom...who do you intend to pass the throne?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di glared fiercely at Zhu Gaoxu.

That little brat, all he knows is how to covet the throne.

He said irritably.

"Anyway, it has nothing to do with you, you brat."

Zhu Gaoxu chuckled and said with a shameless grin.

"How could I be?"

"My abilities are sufficient to be a general."

"Zhan Jun does have that ability."

"Making me emperor is really putting me in a difficult position."

Zhu Di gave a soft snort.

"It's good that you know what's going on."

The people around looked at each other in bewilderment.

Although the King of Han kept saying that he was no good, the way the father and son chatted was just like that of an ordinary family, and their relationship was quite deep.

Zhu Gaochi looked on with envy.

Although he became the crown prince, Zhu Di never treated him in this way.

Zhu Zhanji clenched his fists, feeling resentful.

His second uncle was a scoundrel.

But he was more favored by the Emperor.

If I have a son, he'll be a little rascal too.

As it turned out, even the Emperor liked it.

Are honest people like them just going to suffer losses like this?

Zhu Di originally intended to dismiss his sons and grandsons directly.

However, Zhu Gaoxu's words suddenly stirred up the doubts that had been lingering in his heart for the past few days.

Logically speaking, he was determined to cultivate Zhu Zhanji.

He was both the eldest grandson and exceptionally capable.

Establishing the title of Crown Prince as soon as possible will keep Zhu Gaochi in line.

He originally planned to designate Zhu Zhanji as the imperial grandson this year.

Unfortunately, in the past six months, Zhan Jun has emerged as a dark horse and come into his sights.

The key point is that this kid isn't just any ordinary genius.

He wouldn't even consider someone with ordinary intelligence a threat.

Once you become emperor, you can gather all the talented people in the world under your command.

Even by his own standards, Zhan Jun was a once-in-a-century genius.

This made him hesitate.

Zhu Di suppressed his inner hesitation and glanced at his sons and grandsons by the bedside.

He suddenly had a feeling that when the day came for him to make his final arrangements, this would probably be the scene he would face.

He was silent for a while, then suddenly said self-deprecatingly.

"Throughout my life, I have fought in the south and the north, and I believe I have been diligent in attaining this position."

"But now that you've all fallen and had an accident, you're all panicking like this."

"As you get older, you tend to overthink things."

"In my life, I have accomplished some remarkable things, but I have also left behind many regrets."

"The north is not yet completely stable, the canal is open but not perfect, and the people's lives are far from prosperous and worry-free..."

He shook his head slightly, a bitter smile playing on his lips:

"Sometimes, when the night is quiet, I also think about it."

"If I close my eyes one day and meet the founding emperor in the afterlife, he might ask, 'Fourth Prince, how was your reign as emperor?'"

"How should I answer? Should I say, 'Father, your son has fought several battles and revised a book, but the world... is not yet completely at peace'?"

Zhu Di lowered his voice and sighed as he finished speaking.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi, who was standing nearby, had tears welling up in his eyes and immediately prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing.

"Father, please don't say that! You quelled internal strife, conquered the northern deserts, and sailed the Western Ocean. You also commissioned the Yongle Encyclopedia to promote education... Every single one of these achievements will benefit future generations!"

"Though I am foolish and dull, I know that Your Majesty's achievements are comparable to those of Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang! Even if there are some unfinished matters, future generations should carry on your aspirations and continue your work. How dare I let Your Majesty bear the responsibility alone?"

Zhu Zhanji also rushed forward, his voice choked with emotion:

"Grandpa Emperor! You are in good health and full of vigor, why do you speak of such sorrow?"

"Your grandson wishes to serve you daily, learning from you the ways of governing the country and bringing peace to the people. The empire you have built, your grandson will protect with his life, and will never let your efforts be in vain!"

Zhu Gaoxu said loudly:

"Father! What are you saying! You are the 'Yongle Emperor'! Your name will be engraved at the very beginning of history books!"

"Your son will finish those unfinished tasks for you!"

"If the son can't finish the work, there's always the grandson!"

"Our Zhu family may not have much else, but we have many children and grandchildren who are all capable!"

For a moment, the scene of fatherly love and filial piety warmed Zhu Di's heart.

Zhu Zhanjun listened silently until he could finally speak.

"Grandpa, what's with all this emo stuff happening in the middle of the night?"

"You really think of yourself as a loyal subject?"

"Our whole family rebelled."

"Even if you finish all these things, will you be able to meet your ancestors after you die?"

[Ding! You have obtained a Prismatic Treasure Chest!]

Zhu Di: "..."

Damn, what that grandson said really hurts, but what he said actually makes sense.