Chapter 57: Utmost Sincerity! You Truly Are a Fine Son!

Inside the grand hall, the air felt as though it had frozen, oppressive enough to make breathing difficult. The candles flickered, their dim, yellowish light casting restless, dancing shadows against the walls, rendering the atmosphere even more heavy and solemn.

Xu Da stood frozen in place, his eyes fixed intently on Zhu Gaochi, the expression on his face complex and unreadable. Unbidden, a series of horrifying images arose in his mind, as if he were being pulled by an invisible hand, plunging him into a deep abyss of anxiety.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao passing away in the prime of his youth?

This hypothesis pressed upon his heart like a massive, heavy boulder.

If that were truly to happen, His Majesty the Emperor would undoubtedly embark on a bloody rampage!

As the most trusted right-hand man of Zhu Yuanzhang for many years, Xu Da knew the Emperor's temperament and inner thoughts like the back of his hand.

From the very beginning, Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart held only one choice for an heir: his legitimate eldest son, Zhu Biao.

Ever since his birth, Zhu Biao had been laden with the highest expectations and had received the finest education. Along his path of growth, every step he took was steady and exceptional. He possessed the literary talent to pacify the state and the martial prowess to secure the country; his temperament was gentle yet unyielding, steadfast and resolute. Within both the imperial court and among the common people, there was not a single person who did not hold the Crown Prince in heartfelt awe and submission. He was practically the most flawless crown prince in everyone's eyes.

Then... what if Zhu Biao were to genuinely pass away in the prime of his youth?

Once this hypothesis became reality, Xu Da simply dared not imagine what kind of frantic actions Zhu Yuanzhang might commit.

Moreover, if Crown Prince Biao were to truly die young, the position of heir apparent would instantly become vacant. How could powerful feudal princes holding actual military command—such as Prince Qin, Prince Jin, and Prince Yan—possibly suppress the ambition burning in their hearts? They would inevitably grow restless, stirring up a cruel struggle for the throne.

However, since ancient times, the system of primogeniture was a ritual law handed down in China for thousands of years, not to be easily altered. Given Zhu Yuanzhang’s steadfast adherence to rules and order, he would undoubtedly enthrone Crown Prince Biao’s son as the Imperial Grandson.

And with Zhu Xiongying being the eldest imperial grandson, he would naturally bear the brunt of it.

Yet, setting aside whether Zhu Xiongying might die prematurely in the future, regardless of whether Zhu Xiongying or Zhu Yunwen ultimately sat in that seat, if the Crown Prince were to pass away prematurely, it would undoubtedly spell a colossal disaster for the Great Ming Dynasty.

Thinking up to this point, Xu Da could not help but shudder, fine beads of sweat seeping out onto his forehead. Involuntarily, he recalled the Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard) that had just been established this year, and a wave of intense unease instantly surged within his heart, making his scalp tingle.

His Majesty the Emperor already harbored resentment toward the founding meritorious officials and nobility. If Crown Prince Biao were to die young, in order to pave a smooth path for the Imperial Grandson's ascension, Zhu Yuanzhang would inevitably launch a bloody purge, slaughtering those proud generals and meritorious veterans entirely so as to ensure his grandson could firmly sit upon the imperial throne.

Given Xu Da's understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang, he firmly believed that this decisive and merciless Emperor would definitely do such a thing.

By then, whether the old Xu family could preserve itself amidst this tempest would become an absolute unknown.

Should the Imperial Grandson Zhu Xiongying also meet with misfortune, ultimately resulting in Zhu Yunwen ascending the throne, this disaster would become even more fatal.

Zhu Xiongying was born to a daughter of the Chang family. Chang Mao, Lan Yu, and other Huaixi generals, as well as the old subordinates of Prince of Kaiping Chang Yuchun, were all his natural supporters.

Yet if Zhu Yunwen were to ascend the throne, Huaixi generals like Lan Yu and Chang Mao would naturally become Zhu Yunwen's greatest internal threats; one could hardly need to guess what their fate would be.

Furthermore, for so many years, the Huaixi nobility had intermarried extensively, forming a complex and intricate web of relationships where a single hair could move the whole body. At that time, it was feared that the entire Huaixi noble faction would be uprooted down to their very roots.

Thinking of this, Xu Da felt a wave of dizziness, his breathing growing hurried, and his chest felt as though it were blocked by a massive stone, causing him extreme distress. Slowly, he raised his head, looked toward Zhu Gaochi, and spoke with great difficulty, "Chi'er, you are worrying over nothing, aren't you?"

His voice carried a trace of hoarseness, and his gaze was filled with anticipation, dearly hoping that this child was merely letting his imagination run wild and that none of this would ever come to pass.

Yet, Zhu Gaochi wore a solemn expression, slowly shook his head, and said, "Worrying over nothing? Perhaps!" He paused slightly before continuing, "However, based on my understanding over this period, Lady Lü and her son have been secretly engaging in petty maneuvers all along, while Crown Prince Biao is engrossed in state affairs day in and day out, remaining completely oblivious to these matters. Zhu Xiongying's situation is rather precarious. If Lady Lü's methods were to become even slightly more ruthless, Zhu Xiongying would not even know how he died. What does Grandfather think?"

Hearing this, Xu Da took a sharp, deep breath, striving to calm himself down. His hands clenched involuntarily into fists, his knuckles turning white from the exertion.

"Furthermore, while Crown Prince Biao's body may seem fine on the surface, ever since the tenth year of Hongwu he has been handling state affairs, rising before dawn and resting only late at night. Such prolonged overwork makes the accumulation of illness an absolute certainty. Moreover, he does not usually practice martial arts or exercise; how could his physical constitution possibly compare to that of His Majesty the Emperor?"

Zhu Gaochi spoke unhurriedly, offering what seemed to be a rational explanation: that Crown Prince Zhu Biao would sooner or later pass away before Zhu Yuanzhang.

Upon hearing this, Xu Da fell silent at once. His gaze turned somewhat hollow as he stared blankly ahead, Zhu Gaochi's voice echoing ceaselessly in his ears.

Zhu Xiongying's precarious situation.
Crown Prince Biao's accumulated illness.

If both of them were to meet with misfortune, the Great Ming would truly... undergo a drastic upheaval!

"Chi'er, what on earth are you trying to do?" Xu Da suddenly asked, his gaze as piercing and sharp as two naked blades, shooting straight toward Zhu Gaochi.

"You must realize that you are merely the legitimate eldest son of the Prince of Yan, not the offspring of Crown Prince Biao. No matter what, that imperial throne will never fall to your turn to sit upon!"

He spoke these words plainly and straightforwardly, without the slightest bit of concealment.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi instead chuckled softly. That smile carried a trace of unruliness and a sense of carefree detachment. "Grandfather, you have misunderstood. I have no interest whatsoever in that imperial throne."

"No interest?" Xu Da was momentarily stunned, freezing in place with his face plastered in confusion. Never had he imagined that Zhu Gaochi would give such a response.

Zhu Gaochi curled his lip with disdain, the corners of his mouth tilting upward slightly as he spoke with a teasing tone, "Rising earlier than a chicken, sleeping later than a dog, eating worse than a pig, and being worked harder than a donkey... Only a fool would want to be emperor. Isn't it wonderful for me to inherit the title of the Prince of Yan and become a carefree prince who idles away his days amidst red lanterns and green shadows?"

"Then what are you scheming right now..." Xu Da became even more baffled, his brows furrowing tightly into the shape of the Chinese character for "river."

Since he had no interest in the imperial throne, why make such a huge fuss now?

Could it really be that he had too much time on his hands and was seeking thrills?

Zhu Gaochi shook his head with a chuckle.

"If the doomed Biao is gone, then his younger brothers down below will certainly all lose their composure."

"Especially those three fellows—Prince Qin Zhu Shuang, Prince Jin Zhu Gang, and Prince Yan Zhu Di. Each one is more formidable in battle than the last, and they command elite soldiers and fierce generals. Who's to say they won't stage a fine play of raising troops to seize the succession!"

"Therefore, regardless of whether Crown Prince Biao can hold on, nothing can happen to Zhu Xiongying. Behind him stands the entire Huaixi noble faction; having Huaixi generals like Lan Yu escorting him and guarding his safety is enough to suppress these feudal princes."

After hearing this, Xu Da was left somewhat bewildered, feeling as though his mind had turned into a tangled mess of hemp. For the first time, he felt that his own brainpower was falling somewhat short. Involuntarily, he asked, "Have you ever considered what happens if your father succeeds?"

If Prince of Yan Zhu Di succeeds in seizing the succession, then you, you motherfucker, will be the Crown Prince!

Who would have expected Zhu Gaochi's expression to change instantly, the smile vanishing without a trace, replaced instead by a look of utter fury as he angrily cursed, "Exactly! That Zhu Di has always harbored no small ambition; nobody must let him succeed! I am going to cut off all of Zhu the Fourth's hopes and nip these unrealistic notions of his in the bud as early as possible!"

Xu Da: "???"

What the hell?

Inverting heaven and earth?
Utterly unfilial and rebellious?
Do you have a personal feud with your own father?

Calling him "Zhu Di" in one breath and "Old Fourth" in the next; what, is he not your biological father?

Xu Da stood dazed for a long time, feeling a stifling sensation in his chest. He clutched his chest and breathed heavily in large gulps.

"Cough, cough, let me catch my breath for a moment."

"You mean to say that in order to prevent the rebellion of the princes—including your own father—you are going to do your utmost to help Zhu Xiongying ascend, ensuring he becomes the Imperial Grandson?"

Zhu Gaochi nodded repeatedly without stopping, wearing an expression that suggested it was only natural.

Xu Da was completely dumbfounded. He extended a finger to point at this little chubby fellow Zhu Gaochi, his finger trembling slightly, barely managing to hold back from passing out on the spot.

"Just how much accumulated virtue did that bastard Zhu Di possess to give birth to such a fine son as you?"

Wasn't this son a good one?
He had even started plotting against his own old man!

Zhu Gaochi laughed heartily.

"Alright, Grandfather, I have a handle on this matter. Just you wait and watch!"

Watch your granduncle!
You motherfucker are plotting against your own father, so what on earth am I supposed to do?

Xu Da hesitated for a long time before finally letting out a sigh.

"You brat, toss and turn however you please!"

"However, there is one thing Grandfather says that you must engrave in your heart!"

Seeing that Xu Da wore a solemn expression, Zhu Gaochi also reined in his smile, straightening his little face to look earnestly at him.

"His Majesty the Emperor is not as simple as you think. Never let yourself be outmaneuvered by him!" Xu Da said in a low voice, his tone laden with deep apprehension.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi was amused, his face returning to that carefree, nonchalant smile as he hastily indicated that he understood the situation in his heart.

Heh, the "benevolent father of Great Ming" Zhu Yuanzhang—who didn't know him!