The Ming Dynasty: I Fabricated Dreams for Zhu Di 83

Chapter 83: The Spare Tire Wants to Take Over? Are You Out of Your Mind?

This easily leads to Zhu Gaoxu slacking off and not studying hard.

As long as he isn’t told that his position as Regent is temporary, he’ll think he’s done well.

And that he can one day be made permanent.

In reality, he’s just a backup.

As long as Zhu Gaoshi is alright, it will never be his turn.

Watching his second son, brimming with joy and swaggering in front of him, Zhu Gaoshi stood up and left, feigning dejection.

Seeing Zhu Gaoshi’s dejection,

Zhu Gaoxu felt even happier.

“Hahaha, Third Brother, did you see Big Brother’s expression?”

“Tsk tsk tsk, to think he’d have this day, hahaha.”

Zhu Gaosu frowned slightly; for some reason, he felt something was amiss.

Yesterday, he had just bestowed the “Imperial Presence” token (a token signifying the emperor’s authority) upon Zhu Zhanji.

Today, he gave the Regent’s position to his second brother.

Could it really be influenced by Zhu Zhanji?

“Second Brother, I feel something’s wrong. Don’t you think Father might be playing us?”

Zhu Gaoxu didn’t think much of it.

“Third Brother, you’re overthinking it. Father loves playing us, that’s true.”

“But when has he ever joked about the Regent’s position?”

This sentence dispelled the doubts that had been weighing heavily on Zhu Gaosu’s heart.

That’s true.

Who would joke about such an important matter of state?

Zhu Gaoshi didn’t seem to be faking it either.

Therefore, a fawning smile appeared on Zhu Gaosu’s face: “Second Brother, you’re the Regent now.”

“You have to help me get Di Ping out.”

“This kid has been by my side for so many years, and he’s done so much for us both. We can’t let down our subordinates.”

Zhu Gaoxu held the Imperial Seal, smiling: “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t forget my dear grand-nephew.”

“Little Snot!” (A nickname for a eunuch)

Since he was the Regent, he naturally had the authority to command the eunuchs in the palace.

To this, Little Snot didn’t say much, and came before Zhu Gaoxu.

“Go, let our dear grand-nephew enter the palace.”

This morning, it was Zhu Zhanji who was swaggering.

But now, it was Zhu Gaoxu’s turn to swagger.

The wheel of fortune turns, Zhu Zhanji probably never imagined this, right?

…

At this moment, inside the Brocade Guard’s prison.

Di Ping had just been brought here.

Before Zhu Zhanji could begin the interrogation, Zhao De came to report.

“Grandson of the Emperor, it’s not good!”

Zhu Zhanji looked at Zhao De before him, calm and composed.

“What happened?”

He possessed Zhu Di’s token; most things were insignificant in his eyes.

“The Crown Prince disobeyed Your Majesty, preventing Your Majesty from raising funds for a northern expedition. In a fit of rage, Your Majesty transferred the Crown Prince’s authority as Regent to the King of Han.”

“What did you say?!” Zhu Zhanji grabbed Zhao De’s collar.

The composure he had just displayed vanished without a trace.

How could this be?

Why would the authority of Regent be given to his second uncle?

The authority of the Regent during the Yongle Dynasty was immense; he could even influence the selection of officials without any problem.

Zhu Di had always turned a blind eye.

Of course, the selection of officials still needed to be reported to Zhu Di.

No emperor dared to completely relinquish power to the Crown Prince as Regent, except Li Shimin (Tang Taizong).

But besides Li Shimin, the power to influence the selection of officials was the highest among the Crown Princes who served as Regents throughout history.

More importantly, being the Regent wasn’t just about power; it also concerned Zhu Di’s attitude towards the next emperor.

Furthermore, the Crown Prince and Regent were closely linked.

Normally, there were no princes serving as Regents.

Doesn’t this mean…? Doesn’t this mean the next step is to replace the Crown Prince?

Zhu Zhanji didn’t have time to think, and hurriedly prepared to return to the palace to ask Zhu Gaoshi for clarification.

What on earth is going on?

Before he knows it, the Eastern Palace might change hands.

…

Eastern Palace, Crown Prince’s Mansion.

Zhu Gaoshi was leisurely lying in the courtyard, holding a fluffy white dog.

He wondered when Zhanji would return.

He wanted to seek advice from Zhu Zhanji.

Just then, Zhu Zhanji rushed in.

Perhaps he was walking too fast, he didn’t notice Zhu Gaoshi lying on the reclining chair.

He walked straight into the house.

Seeing Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Gaoshi quickly called out: “Zhanji, Zhanji.”

Zhu Zhanji turned around and saw Zhu Gaoshi looking relaxed.

“Father? Why are you here!?”

Immediately, Zhu Zhanji urgently asked: “Father, I heard from Zhao De that Grandfather gave your authority as Regent to Second Uncle?”

“Is this true?”

Looking at Zhu Zhanji’s intense gaze, he felt uneasy. Although it was true that Zhu Gaoshi’s position as Crown Prince was secured thanks to him,

his position as Grandson of the Emperor also needed Zhu Gaoshi, the Crown Prince, to secure it.

If his father wasn’t the Crown Prince, he wouldn’t be the Imperial Grandson; they were mutually dependent.

“You found out so quickly, Zhanji. I was just about to ask you, what are Grandfather’s hobbies?”

“What did your grandfather do when he took you out to play?”

Faced with Zhu Gaoshi’s question.

Zhu Zhanji was flustered and had no time to listen to him.

He paced back and forth, frowning, breathing rapidly.

He fidgeted constantly: “Why is this happening? Father, why do you have to go against Grandfather?”

“Now, the Regent’s position is gone, and after that, it’s the Crown Prince’s position.”

“I’m going to be implicated by you.”

Zhu Gaoshi scratched his chubby face.

“Is it that serious?”

It was just a temporary handover of the Regent’s authority to Zhu Gaoxu. While they were out, the country couldn’t be without someone in charge.

Zhu Zhanji was a grandson, and besides, he had a case to investigate.

Zhu Gaoxu was the most suitable candidate for Regent.

“Is it that serious? Father, are you out of your mind?”

“If we lose the Crown Prince’s position, our whole family will be finished.”

“You are so meek and timid, people are stepping all over you, and you still wipe their butts for them.”

“All you do is eat, eat, eat!”

“How could I have a father like you!?”

At this moment.

Zhu Zhanji seemed like a disappointed father.

Zhu Gaoshi was like a child who had done wrong.

These words made Zhu Gaoshi feel a little wronged. He wanted to explain, but hesitated.

“No, I have to go and ask Grandfather to clarify!”

Having said that, Zhu Zhanji left in a hurry.

He didn’t give Zhu Gaoshi a chance to speak. He had been hoping to learn some experience from Zhu Zhanji on how to get along with Zhu Di.

It seems like that’s out of the question.

He was used to Zhu Zhanji’s reprimands.

Although sometimes it did hurt his self-esteem, after all, who would want to be scolded by their son?

The father pressured himself, and the son pressured him too.

Zhu Gaoshi held the fluffy white dog in his arms and said with a chuckle: “I feel that the White-Furred University Scholar doesn’t suit your status. From now on, I’ll grant you the title of Dog Prince.”

“I am your father…”

Zhu Gaoshi stayed alone in the courtyard, playing with the white dog.

Amusing himself.

As Zhu Zhanji was leaving the Eastern Palace, he met someone sent by Zhu Gaoxu.

“Grandson of the Emperor, the King of Han wants you to come over.”

Zhu Zhanji was stunned.

It hadn’t been long since he received the token, and now he was being overshadowed by Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosu again.

With no choice, Zhu Zhanji went to the Imperial Study.

At that moment, Zhu Gaoxu was sitting on the Dragon Throne, wearing a dragon robe, full of spirit, his left hand resting on the Dragon Throne, and his right hand holding the Jade Seal.

Zhu Zhanji no longer had the arrogance he possessed this morning.

He bowed, smiling ingratiatingly: “Second Uncle, you called for me?”

Zhu Gaoxu, wearing the dragon robe, came before Zhu Zhanji and smiled: “Oh, isn’t this my grand-nephew?”

“Why is your back so bent?”

“Wasn’t your back so straight this morning?”

Zhu Zhanji kept smiling: “No, Second Uncle, I was just paying my respects to you both.”

Zhu Gaosu stood aside; the situation was truly a reversal of fortune.

No one knew what would happen next.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu didn’t boast too much, but simply put his arm around Zhu Zhanji’s neck and said: “I heard that Third Brother is running the Brocade Guard with an iron fist.”

“You were ordered to investigate a case, and without evidence, you arrested the deputy commander of the Brocade Guard, Di Ping? Is that true?”

Zhu Zhanji quickly admitted his mistake.

“Second Uncle, how could that be, Third Uncle is such an upright person, how could he run the place with an iron fist?”

“I’ve already released Di Ping, I hope Second Uncle and Third Uncle will forgive my inappropriate actions as your nephew.”

He had to bow his head.

Zhu Gaoxu was in charge of reviewing memorials, which means that whatever Zhu Di saw, depended on Zhu Gaoxu.

If Zhu Gaoxu secretly contacted a group of people and impeached him, the already struggling Crown Prince’s Mansion would face another setback.

Of course, Zhu Gaoxu didn’t have the power to directly interfere with Zhu Zhanji.

Since Zhu Zhanji also had a case to investigate as instructed by Zhu Di, he wouldn’t make things too difficult for Zhu Zhanji.

He took the opportunity Zhu Zhanji had given him.

“Good to know, don’t be so arrogant in the future.”

“The wheel of fortune turns, no one knows who will rise to the top, and who will fall into the abyss.”

Zhu Zhanji nodded repeatedly.

“Second Uncle is right, your nephew will keep this in mind.”

“Alright, there’s nothing else, you can leave.”

The current Zhu Zhanji was like a sick chick, listless.

Lacking any spirit.

This greatly satisfied the two who had been wronged this morning.

…

The next day.

Zhu Di, as agreed, arrived at the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and Zhu Gaoshi had prepared early.

Before dawn, he waited at the gate for Zhu Di’s arrival.

Seeing Zhu Gaoshi’s appearance, Zhu Di said: “Ready? Then let’s go.”

They left the palace by sedan chair; two sedan chairs ran side-by-side in the palace.

Zhu Gaoshi’s thumb kept spinning.

He was nervous.

He was indeed a little nervous for the first time, and didn’t dare to say much.

When Zhu Gaoshi realized the sedan chair had stopped, they had already arrived at the entrance of the Zui Xian Lou.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoshi was slightly stunned.

“Father? You said you’d take me out to play, this is where we are going?”

“I don’t have any problems.”

“Father, are you sure your body can handle it?”

Zhu Gaoshi knew a little about Zui Xian Lou, from what Zhu Zhanji had told him.

He heard that it was a place of pleasure and debauchery.

It felt strange for the two of them to be here.

An Emperor and a Crown Prince, they shouldn’t be here for fun, right?

Zhu Di glared at Zhu Gaoshi.

“Who told you we were here to play?”

“Besides, whether my body can handle it or not, you haven’t seen it, how would you know?”

(End of Chapter)

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