Zhu Gao煦 looked at Zhu Di and sighed. It was a good thing he admitted his predecessor's previous thoughts and actions; even so, now that he said these words, Zhu Di didn't believe a single word of it.
Zhu Gao煦 was very helpless; he wasn't the original person, he really didn't want to get involved anymore.
Why would he get involved in this situation?
Looking around, it was all the Crown Prince's faction. Even if Zhu Gaochi really wanted to mobilize troops, he could. All those people in the cabinet belonged to Zhu Gaochi.
If he continued to be like his predecessor, problems would definitely arise.
Even Zhu Di, who was right in front of him, wasn't a good person; his love for his son was real, but his utilization of him was also real.
From the Jingnan Campaign until now, how many promises had Zhu Di made to Zhu Gao煦? He hadn't gotten a single one, yet his predecessor still fell for it.
Every time it was time to go on an expedition, or when there was no money, or when Zhu Gaochi obstructed, Zhu Di would drag him out to take the blame and do the work.
As for Zhu Gaochi, although he didn't say it aloud, he didn't have any good intentions for him in his heart either, constantly digging pits for him to fall into. Zhu Gaochi looked gentle and weak, but in reality, this Crown Prince of Great Ming was not weak at all.
There was also his third brother, Zhu Gao燧, who seemed to be on his side, but he was also very cunning and not as simple as he appeared.
Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi both knew Zhu Gao燧 wasn't simple, but Zhu Gao煦 truly treated Zhu Gao燧 like a younger brother.
In this situation, he was safe for a short time, but what about the future?
He didn't want to stay any longer. If Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi wanted to fight, they could fight among themselves. If Zhu Gao燧 wanted to play mind games, he could play by himself; he wasn't playing anymore.
Zhu Gao煦 took a deep breath and looked at Zhu Di with determination. No matter what he said this time, he had to settle the matter of him going to a feudal state, or even finding an island overseas to establish his domain.
"Father, don't disbelieve me. I'm not joking with you; I've truly thought it through.
I can't get that position anyway, so why would I still fight for it?
The conflict between my elder brother and me has already formed. Since someone has to back down, then I'll back down.
I want to go to a feudal state. Didn't you always want me to go to a feudal state before? I'll leave tomorrow, or even tonight.
However, I won't go to Yunnan to establish my domain. When my elder brother ascends the throne later, I won't be comfortable living in Yunnan. If someone says I'm imitating Father then, I'll be unable to defend myself.
But I also don't like being raised as a useless person like others.
I want to go out, find an island outside of Great Ming, and conquer it. Once I conquer it, it will be my feudal territory.
This way, Father, you won't have to doubt me anymore, right? And my elder brother can also rest assured in the future, no longer worrying about what bad ideas I might be brewing.
However, I must state upfront that I need to take my camp of soldiers with me, as I still need to conquer small islands. Also, I need to take their families with me. From now on, I will be in my feudal territory and won't return.
I'm not fighting for Great Ming anymore, Father, so you don't have to worry.
Do you believe me now?"
Zhu Gao煦 had made up his mind not to stay in Great Ming. He would go out and conquer a feudal territory for himself. Based on what he knew, and taking some craftsmen and talents who understood machinery, gunpowder, etc., he would go out and build an empire of his own.
Great Ming? Who cared? Since he couldn't win the fight, couldn't he find another path and create an empire?
If his future empire turned out to be even stronger and larger than Great Ming, he wondered what expressions these people would have.
While Zhu Gao煦 was still immersed in his fantasies, he completely failed to notice that Zhu Di's face had completely darkened.
Zhu Di was truly furious at this moment. Looking at Zhu Gao煦's resolute appearance, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
What was Zhu Gao煦 trying to do? Was he running away from home? Was he disappointed in him? Or was he throwing a tantrum?
As he thought, Zhu Di suddenly burst into laughter.
"Haha, haha! Good! Very good! Han Prince, you are so imposing!"
Zhu Di's eyes were somewhat moist at this moment. He hadn't expected Zhu Gao煦 to have such an idea.
"Are you that disappointed in me? Do you have to be so angry with me? Look at yourself, with your pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, all you know is to scatter your gold beans everywhere. Can you be a good Crown Prince?
How did I give birth to such a wicked son? If I hadn't been prepared tonight, were you planning to lay hands on me too?
You still want to play 'retreat to advance' in front of me. I'm telling you, you're still too green, boy!
You want to leave Great Ming, you want to go overseas and conquer a feudal territory to establish your domain, do you? I'll chop you down today, to save me from daily vexation."
"Guards! Bring me my sword!"
Zhu Di became more and more agitated and angry as he spoke. Every time he returned from an expedition, his good mood was completely ruined by these few brothers, especially the second one.
Today, no matter what, he had to teach this person a good lesson. Now that the rebellion had failed, he was actually threatening him. He had mistakenly thought this person had changed. Did he look like someone who had changed?
He was constantly infuriating him. If he didn't live long, it would all be because of these few brothers infuriating him.
Zhu Gao煦 was also stunned by Zhu Di's words; his whole body went numb.
He truly hadn't expected Zhu Di to flare up like this. Heaven was his witness, everything he said was true! He genuinely didn't want to get involved anymore; he genuinely wanted to go out and make a name for himself!
Zhu Gao煦 couldn't understand. He hadn't said anything bad about Zhu Di, had he? How did this person suddenly become like this?
Especially seeing the somewhat moist corners of Zhu Di's eyes, which didn't seem to be faked at all, Zhu Gao煦 even began to doubt his life. What the hell did he say that angered Zhu Di?
The ancients said, 'Much talk leads to much error,' and it truly didn't deceive him. Zhu Gao煦 had only this one thought at the moment, because he truly didn't know why Zhu Di had become like this.
He hadn't attacked Zhu Di, nor had he spoken ill of Zhu Di.
Was it because he spoke ill of Zhu Gaochi? Was what he said considered ill talk?
It seemed so. The meaning he conveyed seemed to imply that Zhu Gaochi had no tolerance for others, especially for him, his younger brother.
What Zhu Di feared most was that he would try to emulate his own deeds and stage another Jingnan Campaign or Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Because Zhu Di himself had rebelled, he took this matter particularly seriously.
However, seeing Zhu Di already holding a long sword in his hand and walking straight towards him, Zhu Gao煦's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Zhu Gao煦 forced himself to remain calm. He could only believe now that a tiger would not devour its cub; Zhu Di was just trying to scare him, not actually kill him.
But thinking that Zhu Di wouldn't even agree to this request, Zhu Gao煦 also felt a bit displeased. He had already taken the initiative to do this, so what else did Zhu Di want? Was he really planning to keep using him?
After confirming that Zhu Di wouldn't actually kill him, Zhu Gao煦's courage grew.
Today, he absolutely had to settle the matter of him going overseas to establish his domain, the kind where no one could stop him, no matter who came.
He didn't want to live this frustrating life for another day.
"Father, you're getting angry out of shame. You have thoughts about me fighting with Eldest Brother. Now I've voluntarily given up, so what else do you want?
I know I'm not cut out for that. That's why I'm going overseas to conquer a feudal territory. This way, it's good for you, good for me, good for everyone, and even better for Great Ming.
I'm not playing 'retreat to advance' with you. If you nod and agree, give me some time to prepare, and once I'm ready, I'll leave!"
The confrontation between Zhu Di and Zhu Gao煦 completely stunned the eunuchs and imperial guards in the distance. They all knelt on the ground, not daring to stand up or even look.
The leading old eunuch signaled a eunuch beside him to quickly find Zhu Zhanji below and have Zhu Zhanji inform Zhu Gaochi.
The scene here was simply too terrifying. It was also their first time seeing Han Prince being so defiant, daring to confront Zhu Di like this.
But they were afraid in their hearts. Zhu Gao煦 would definitely be fine in the end, but they, these people, might not be. After all, when the imperial family was not harmonious, whoever witnessed it was truly unlucky.
