The Ming Dynasty: I Fabricated Dreams for Zhu Di 76

Chapter 76: Zhu Di Becomes a Ghost!

Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao emerged from the shadows.

Faint moonlight illuminated their faces, revealing their features.

Upon seeing who it was,

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu held their breaths, completely paralyzed.

Unable to catch their breath, they exclaimed,

“We’ve seen a ghost?!”

Then, with a thud, they collapsed to the ground.

Ghosts aren’t scary.

Zhu Di isn’t scary either.

But Zhu Di as a ghost? That’s terrifying.

Zhu Di remained silent, looking at his two sons frothing at the mouth.

He asked Yao Guangxiao, “Am I that frightening?”

Yao Guangxiao narrowed his eyes, “Haha, if the Founder Emperor suddenly appeared as a ghost before you, your reaction wouldn’t be much better than the two princes.”

That’s true.

A ghost and Zhu Yuanzhang were both acceptable, but Zhu Yuanzhang as a ghost? He wouldn’t even dare to imagine it.

In the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong era, a court upheaval occurred, the Tumù Fort incident. The King of Han and the King of Zhao entered the Capital City, aiming to ascend the throne. That night, Emperor Taizong appeared, two Emperors were shocked, and died suddenly… according to the Ming Dynasty records.

Ahem, thankfully, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu hadn’t been scared to death.

After a long while, the two regained consciousness.

Looking at Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao, Zhu Gaosu said tearfully,

“Second Brother, I told you we shouldn’t have two Emperors ascending the throne. Now look what happened.”

“Father really crawled out from the ground.”

Zhu Gaoxu swallowed hard, his throat moving involuntarily.

“Was I wrong to keep my promise?”

Seeing his two foolish sons trembling, Zhu Di explained,

“Alright, stop acting so pathetic.”

“I’m not a ghost, nor a vengeful spirit. I was bored, and Zhuang Mu said I could visit you in your dreams.”

“So I brought the old monk to see you.”

Hearing Zhuang Mu’s name, their anxious hearts finally settled.

Zhu Gaosu also sighed in relief.

“Father, you scared us to death! We thought you really crawled out of the ground because of our rebellion.”

“If I really crawled out from the ground, it’s because of that stupid Zhu Qizhen.”

Compared to Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu’s rebellion, he was more accepting of it.

He himself was a rebel.

But he couldn’t accept Zhu Qizhen’s actions at all.

If such a thing were to happen in the future, he might just resurrect himself.

“Look at your cowardly selves.”

“Since you’ve done it, what’s there to be afraid of?”

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu silently stared at Zhu Di, who was speaking eloquently.

Aren’t you afraid?

They didn’t know who changed the Jianwen fourth year to Hongwu thirty-fifth year.

They didn’t know who was constantly tormented by nightmares.

They only dared to complain about these things in their hearts.

At the same time, they felt a little sad. Even in their dreams,

they were still being disciplined and lectured by Zhu Di.

Then, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly put his arm around Zhu Gaosu, turned away, and muttered softly,

“Third Brother, something’s not right.”

“Isn’t this our home turf? We’re also going to be Emperors. Why are we still being scolded by the old man?”

“I’m sixty-nine this year, you’re sixty-seven, and the old man was sixty-five when he died.”

“Why is he scolding us?”

In reality, being scolded was understandable. After all, he was their father and Emperor, and they were his sons and “grandsons.”

But why were they being scolded by Zhu Di even in their dreams?

Why couldn’t they be bolder, even in a dream?

An immature idea suddenly arose in Zhu Gaoxu’s mind.

After all, this is a dream.

Getting back at the old man should be fine, right?

Zhu Gaosu knew what his second brother was thinking, and quickly whispered,

“Second Brother, are you crazy?”

“We don’t live in a dream forever. If you attack Father, aren’t you afraid that when we wake up…”

“We’ll both be on the execution grounds?”

This is a dream, that’s true.

But they couldn’t live in a dream forever.

There would be a day when they wake up, right? Then it would just be a matter of Zhu Di’s two words.

Zhu Gaoxu paused.

Well… he has a point.

Zhu Di watched the two whispering and calmly walked to a chair in the sleeping quarters.

After sitting down, he gestured for Yao Guangxiao to sit as well.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu stood obediently.

“I heard that you two brothers are going to ascend the throne together?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu didn’t hide anything.

“Father, when we rebelled, I promised Third Brother that if we seized the world, we would rule together.”

“I always keep my word.”

Zhu Di twitched his mouth slightly, unsure if Zhu Gaoxu was intentionally mocking him.

During the Jingnan Campaign.

He had said the exact same thing to his younger brother.

That brother was Ning Wang Zhu Quan, but… a dynasty couldn’t have two Emperors.

Unless it was a man and a woman, Emperor and Empress.

Or, a Taishang Huang (retired Emperor) and an Emperor.

Therefore, he naturally didn’t keep that promise.

In a dream, it didn’t matter what they did, because everything would disappear upon waking up.

In reality, one had to pay the price and consequences for every word and decision.

“Hmm, I won’t interfere. How the throne is seized and by whom is up to you.”

“Whether the second brother sits above the third, or vice versa, it’s none of my business.”

“However, I still have something to say.”

“Although this is just a dream, if, hypothetically, history continues to unfold after your deaths.”

“Based on your decisions, how would you proceed?”

“At sixty-nine and sixty-seven, how many more years can you be Emperors?”

“Do you have suitable successors in mind?”

“Or will you only take care of yourselves and ignore what comes next?”

Upon hearing these words, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu fell silent.

They hadn’t considered these things.

After all, they only wanted to rebel, become Emperors, and then… return to the real world.

These words were also Zhu Di’s true feelings.

Why did he let Zhu Gaoxu stay in the Capital City for so many years?

He actually had plans. Zhu Gaochi might die from obesity at any time, giving Zhu Gaoxu a chance.

Unfortunately.

As time passed, he became increasingly disappointed in Zhu Gaoxu, especially when he learned that Zhu Gaoxu had fallen out with his own son, the legitimate eldest son.

He completely gave up.

Zhu Gaoxu was unfit to be Emperor.

Although Zhu Gaochi could die from obesity anytime, he at least had a good grandson.

He didn’t expect his grandson to be exceptionally talented and surpass the great Emperors of Qin, Han, Tang, and Song dynasties, but at least he wouldn’t be as bad as Hu Hai or Yang Guang.

“Father, we…” Zhu Gaoxu remained silent.

Zhu Di waved his hand and laughed, “Forget it, I was just rambling. I can’t promise you things in reality, but I can’t stop you from having an Emperor’s dream, can I?”

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu relaxed slightly.

They still cared about Zhu Di’s attitude.

Then, Zhu Di continued, “After ascending the throne, prepare to lead troops into battle.”

“Father, what about Zhu Qizhen?”

Zhu Di once made them three brothers swear that they would never shed the blood of their brothers or any Zhu family member, otherwise they would die suddenly and not live long.

(End of Chapter)

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