The Ming Dynasty: I Fabricated Dreams for Zhu Di 80

Chapter 80: The Han Prince as Regent, Bringing Zhu Gaoshi to See the Founder Emperor

“Rebel? You found them?”

“Didn’t I hear that the third brother searched for three days and three nights without a single lead?”

This wasn’t under his jurisdiction.

But he was still very concerned. It involved treason and rebellion; regardless, it needed attention.

He also knew the results of Zhu Gaosu’s investigation.

Otherwise, the position of Commander wouldn’t have fallen to Zhu Zhanji.

“Father, you know my character,”

“Would I act so recklessly without definite information?”

“The Commander’s position is unimportant, but if, because of my hesitation, these two rebels escape,”

“Then it’s the Zhu family’s empire that’s threatened.”

“Which is more important, Father, you should know.”

These words eased Zhu Gaoshi’s anger considerably.

Yes, the Brocade Guard’s reputation could be repaired later.

But if the rebels grew stronger in secret, it would threaten the Zhu family’s empire.

Zhu Di’s throne, his position as Crown Prince, Zhu Zhanji’s position as Grandson of the Emperor.

Zhu Gaoshi sighed helplessly.

“Any results?”

Zhu Zhanji shook his head.

“Sigh, we’ve almost searched the entire Capital City, and there’s still no news.”

“Father, do you think these two have some kind of earth-遁地之术 (earth-遁地之术 – earth-moving technique/geomancy technique implying escaping underground)?”

The Zhu family didn’t particularly believe in immortality through Daoist practices.

But now they had to consider it.

Otherwise, it was hard to explain how they were in the tavern one second,

and vanished without a trace the next.

Zhu Gaoshi rolled his eyes at Zhu Zhanji: “Alright, quickly report this to Grandfather.”

“Going about this without prior notice, Grandfather will inevitably be unhappy.”

“Explain the reason to him, get his authorization, and then conduct a large-scale search; it’s not too late.”

“I know your time is much more abundant than your third uncle’s.”

Zhu Di gave Zhu Zhanji a maximum of half a month.

Zhu Gaosu only got three days.

His time was naturally five times more generous than Zhu Gaosu’s.

…

The Imperial Study.

Zhu Zhanji tiptoed to the door, poked his head in, and looked inside.

The wind and snow had lessened somewhat today, so the door to the Imperial Study wasn’t closed.

Just then, Zhu Di shouted, “Little rascal, come in.”

Hearing this, Zhu Zhanji entered with a smile.

Zhu Di was fiddling with several arrows; a game of 投壶 (throwing arrows into a pot) was set up in front of him.

“Grandfather, I’ve caused trouble,” Zhu Zhanji didn’t hide anything.

Zhu Di held two arrows between his fingers, aiming at the pot. Perhaps his eyesight wasn’t good, as he missed several times in a row.

His hand was empty, and Zhu Zhanji, seeing this,

quickly picked up the arrows on the ground and handed them to Zhu Di.

“Grandfather, here.”

Zhu Di glanced at Zhu Zhanji, didn’t take the arrows, and said calmly, “Tell me, what trouble have you caused?”

Zhu Zhanji looked at the three onlookers gathered around the brazier.

They were all confidants, so there was no need to hide it.

“Grandfather, today I went to Zhuang Mu’s tavern to investigate a case, and I saw those two thieves.”

“Your grandson was incompetent and failed to capture them on the spot.”

Zhu Di came to the dragon throne, picked up his still-warm tea, and took a sip.

“Didn’t I assign Zhao De and the others to you? How could you not catch them?”

Although a Thousand Households officer isn’t high in the Brocade Guard’s hierarchy,

it’s the peak of the Brocade Guard’s martial strength.

It’s also the highest position an ordinary person can reach.

Positions above Thousand Households officer place less emphasis on martial prowess and more on overall capabilities.

Of course, background is most important.

Therefore, the Thousand Households officers are actually the most combat-effective within the Brocade Guard.

These officers are carefully selected from the lower ranks.

“Grandfather, you don’t know how ferocious those thieves were.”

“With two hands, they easily lifted Zhao De.”

“You know that tavern; it’s small, and we couldn’t effectively surround them.”

“Zhao De wasn’t his match, let alone anyone else.”

Zhu Di put down his teacup and looked at Zhu Zhanji.

Easily lifted Zhao De.

If he remembered correctly, Zhao De weighed almost one hundred sixty or seventy jin (approximately 80-88 kg).

He wasn’t tall either, yet he could still be lifted.

In the Capital City, only Zhu Gaoxu could do that.

“And then?”

“Then, the tavern maid asked us to fight outside.”

“They agreed, but when we went outside, we found that the two thieves had suddenly disappeared.”

“So… your grandson, in order to find them, ordered a thorough search of the Capital City.”

“It caused quite a stir.”

Zhu Di didn’t show much emotional fluctuation.

Having leads and information, when searching for rebels, a bit of a stir is fine.

It’s only a problem if you create a big scene without any leads.

“Did you see those two rebels clearly?”

Zhu Zhanji nodded: “I saw them clearly.”

“There were two rebels. The leader had a very refined and gentle demeanor, yet he was also dignified.”

“The other one claimed to be the Liang Guo Gong (Marquis of Liang).”

Zhu Di frowned slightly.

“Is it the ‘cool’ 涼 (liáng) or the Liang of Liangshan (Liangshan, a famous mountain in Chinese literature, often associated with outlaws)?”

“It should be the Liang of Liangshan.”

The meaning of ‘cool’ 涼 (liáng) is not good, so it’s unlikely; it’s most likely the Liang of Liangshan.

“By the way, Grandfather, that Liang Guo Gong had three very noticeable scars on his face.”

“One at the corner of his eye, vertical; one on the bridge of his nose, horizontal; and one near the corner of his left mouth, diagonal.”

“And this man was very afraid of the man in the Dragon Robe.”

Zhu Di pondered.

After organizing this information, he didn’t find anything unusual.

It’s just that this Liang Guo Gong, why would he have so many scars?

Logically, someone with such distinct facial features shouldn’t be so hard to find.

Just as Zhu Di was thinking, a young eunuch quickly came before Zhu Di: “Your Majesty, the two Princes have arrived.”

“The second and third brothers? What do they want?”

When Zhu Zhanji heard that his two uncles had arrived, his eyes showed obvious nervousness.

Beside him, Yao Guangxiao, Xia Yuanji, and Jian Yi instantly understood that the stir Zhu Zhanji had caused was truly extraordinary.

Zhu Di also sensed something was amiss.

“Let them in.”

When Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu entered, they immediately complained to Zhu Di.

“Father, what does Zhu Zhanji mean?!”

“He investigated a case and even searched our homes, without explanation, ransacking both my and my second brother’s houses.”

“What does he want? Does he want to say we are rebels, that we are supporting rebels?”

Zhu Zhanji quickly explained.

“Second Uncle, Third Uncle, you investigated for three days without any results; I have the right to suspect your collusion with the rebels.”

Zhu Gaosu snorted coldly.

He glared at Zhu Zhanji unkindly.

He laughed: “Suspect? I ask you, do you have evidence?”

“Evidence proving our treason?!”

“Acting first and reporting later, who gave you the power?”

Zhu Zhanji was completely suppressed by Zhu Gaosu’s imposing manner, and since he wasn’t in the right, his own momentum was much weaker than Zhu Gaosu’s.

Just as Zhu Gaosu pressed him aggressively,

Zhu Di glanced over.

He said calmly, “Third brother, you investigated for three days without a sound.”

“Zhanji investigated for three days, and almost caught them; shouldn’t you be investigated?”

“Father, you suspect us brothers, we have no objections, but he didn’t have your authorization, acting first and reporting later…”

Before he finished, Zhu Di responded: “Who says he didn’t have my authorization?”

One sentence.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu were instantly speechless.

This wasn’t fair.

“Alright, didn’t find anything, isn’t that even better? At least it proves your innocence, right?”

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu were speechless.

Anyway, Zhu Di protected Zhu Zhanji; they couldn’t do anything. In their dreams, they were emperors and could resist Zhu Di.

Not here.

After dismissing his two foolish sons,

Zhu Di instructed: “Don’t act recklessly, continue the investigation, take my token.”

“I grant you the power to act first and report later.”

Zhu Zhanji immediately searched Zhu Di’s dragon throne for the token.

Seeing this, Zhu Di sighed helplessly: “The token is in the pen holder.”

Taking the token, Zhu Zhanji bowed and left.

“This brat.”

Having dealt with this matter, Zhu Di looked at the two ministers surrounding the brazier.

“I say, you two, are you really going to stay in my Imperial Study until you die?”

“It’s been several days, and there’s still no solution?”

Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi looked at each other.

At this time, Yao Guangxiao stepped forward to intercede for them: “A bird in a cage cannot know the outside world; how can its thoughts be broad?”

In short, keeping them confined hinders their thinking.

It’s better to let them go home and think.

Sometimes, maybe going to the toilet at home can lead to enlightenment.

But here, they are constantly under pressure.

But Zhu Di wouldn’t allow it.

“I don’t care if they’re birds in a cage.”

“I don’t want the process, I just want the result.”

“If you really want to stay with me until death, then when I die, I will issue an edict to have you two buried with me.”

Hearing this, Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi were slightly stunned.

They didn’t expect Zhu Di to be so resolute this time.

Let alone having them buried with him, Zhu Di might actually do it.

Zhu Di was a wise emperor, but his path to the throne was paved with corpses.

If truly provoked, killing his favorite ministers wouldn’t be impossible.

For example, Xie Jin.

The Chief Minister, also a trusted minister, and a high-ranking official of the Hongwu Dynasty.

However, he was straightforward and reckless, initially liked, but later became increasingly indiscreet in his actions, and was ultimately frozen to death in the snow by Ji Gang.

The two exchanged glances.

Xia Yuanji then said, “Actually, Your Majesty, if you want to appease the Founder Emperor, there is a way.”

Sure enough, these old foxes wouldn’t reveal anything unless pressed.

“Speak.”

“Your Majesty just rebuked your two sons for your grandson; this also applies to the Founder Emperor.”

“Grandparental love.”

“When the Founder Emperor was alive, he was very fond of the Crown Prince.”

Grandparental love is a tradition in the Zhu family.

Zhu Yuanzhang directly passed the throne to his Grandson, Zhu Yunwen.

In a sense, Zhu Di also wanted to directly pass the throne to his Grandson, Zhu Zhanji.

After all, Zhu Gaoshi could die of obesity at any time.

Family affection is the only place where Zhu Yuanzhang might show leniency.

Zhu Di pondered.

This is indeed a solution.

He wasn’t praying for Zhu Yuanzhang’s forgiveness; at least, the anger could be reduced somewhat.

As long as he wasn’t executed, anything is possible.

Moreover, besides this method, there really isn’t a better one.

Seven days are almost up.

What needs to be faced, must be faced.

“It’s a good idea, but if the Crown Prince leaves, who will be the Regent?”

Xia Yuanji and Jian Yi were slightly stunned.

What does Zhu Di want to do???

At this moment, Zhu Di suddenly realized.

Yes, the second and third brothers can be regents too.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu, after all, were people who had “ascended” and become emperors.

During Zhu Gaoshi’s absence, handling court affairs for ten or fifteen days shouldn’t be a problem.

Perfect.

Give his favorite son a break, let him relax.

And it can give Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu some experience in governance.

This way, even if they only act as emperors in their dreams, they won’t be completely clueless.

It’s also a way to make amends to Zhu Gaoxu.

Three birds with one stone.

“What do you think, letting the Han Prince be the Regent?”

(End of Chapter)

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