Zhu Gao煦 and Zhu Di looked at each other, both unconvinced. Zhu Di believed that Zhu Gao煦 was using family affection to threaten him, employing a tactic of feigned retreat to advance. Zhu Gao煦, on the other hand, felt he had already made the maximum concession and was still being denied, leaving him utterly awkward.
Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gao煦’s resolute eyes, and he began to believe what Zhu Gao煦 was saying. It seemed this person truly wasn't using family affection to threaten him with a feigned retreat, but genuinely wanted to leave.
But Zhu Di couldn't understand. If he wasn't going to contend for the throne, then what was wrong with staying by his side? Didn't he know that he still needed to go on campaigns against the Tartars? Didn't he know that he still needed this person by his side to lead troops in battle and charge forward? Why couldn't this person think for him, even a little?
Even if he were to be enfeoffed, couldn't it be within the Great Ming? Although it was previously decided he would be enfeoffed in Yunnan, Zhu Di didn't want Zhu Gao煦 to go so far. Earlier, to appease Zhu Gaochi, he had suggested Zhu Gao煦 be enfeoffed.
But the situation was different now. Zhu Di could completely arrange for Zhu Gao煦’s fiefdom to be closer, so he could see his son whenever he wished.
Moreover, he would speak with Zhu Gaochi and absolutely not allow Zhu Gaochi to do anything out of line to Zhu Gao煦. As long as Zhu Gao煦 truly no longer harbored those ambitions, Zhu Di understood what kind of person Zhu Gaochi was.
But this brat! He even suggested leaving the Great Ming to go overseas, to conquer and establish his own fiefdom. Zhu Di didn't look down on the small nations around the Great Ming; if the Great Ming wanted to conquer someone, would it be Zhu Gao煦's turn?
And what would he do in those barren lands overseas? Was this to avoid seeing him, to hide so far away?
At this moment, Zhu Di changed his approach, continuing to fume. He would rather go out and suffer than stay in the Great Ming and enjoy prosperity. This blockhead, today he absolutely had to knock some sense into Zhu Gao煦.
Zhu Gao煦 stared intently at Zhu Di, feeling a bit anxious in his heart. After all, this was Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor, who had fought battles his entire life. Although he appeared calm on the surface, looking into Zhu Di's eyes genuinely made him feel a chill.
It was only because he was Zhu Gao煦, Zhu Di's second legitimate son, and his mother was Empress Xu, otherwise he would never dare to confront Zhu Di like this, unless he was truly seeking death.
However, just then, Zhu Di suddenly moved, approaching him with a sword. The killing intent in his eyes was not feigned, and Zhu Gao煦 became increasingly panicked.
Zhu Di wouldn't really kill him, would he? No way, right?
Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Zhu Gao煦's forehead. Looking at Zhu Di, who had already come before him and raised the sword in his hand, Zhu Gao煦 didn't care anymore. He gambled, betting that Zhu Di wouldn't kill his own son, especially a son born to Empress Xu.
Zhu Gao煦 immediately closed his eyes tightly. However, after waiting for a while, he felt nothing. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a long sword falling to the ground. Opening his eyes, he saw that Zhu Di was actually smiling.
“Haha, not bad! Although he's a bit of a scoundrel, he's still my blood!”
Zhu Di was very happy at this moment, because he had done all that, yet Zhu Gao煦 hadn't made the slightest move, directly closing his eyes. The fine sweat on his forehead also indicated that Zhu Gao煦 had struggled internally.
And even so, Zhu Gao煦 still chose to trust him, believing that he wouldn't kill him. How could Zhu Di not be happy?
Being born into the imperial family, he knew very well that such deep family affection was extremely rare. Yet, Zhu Gao煦 had achieved it, trusting him, his father, even though he was also the Emperor of the Great Ming.
Especially a choice made after internal struggle, that was the most genuine.
In fact, this was also Zhu Di's test. Zhu Gao煦's martial arts were not bad, and now he was old. If Zhu Gao煦 had truly resisted, there was nothing he could have done.
But Zhu Gao煦 did not resist, nor did he beg for mercy. Instead, he trusted him from the bottom of his heart. In Zhu Di's eyes, this alone was enough.
Having ascended to the throne through the Jingnan Campaign, he greatly valued his family's affections. He feared that one day, the Xuanwu Gate Incident of the Tang Dynasty, or his own Jingnan Campaign, would happen again to himself or to his children and grandchildren.
Many times, he was actually in pain. His sons had grown up and had their own ideas. He could only scold both sides. As he aged, he truly hoped that Zhu Gao煦, Zhu Gaochi, and Zhu Gao燧 would settle down.
And Zhu Gao煦, looking at Zhu Di's face, now full of a gentle smile, was once again a little bewildered.
He didn't know what to say. Zhu Di's mood truly made him feel what it was like for someone to change their mind faster than flipping a book. He used to think it was just a figure of speech, but now he could deeply understand it; it really was a complete change in a second.
A crucial point was that whether Zhu Di was angry just now or suddenly smiling now, he showed no sign of it. He didn't even know why Zhu Di's mood fluctuated so wildly.
At this moment, Zhu Di's hand slowly approached him, stopped at his face, and then gently patted it. Zhu Gao煦 immediately took a step back.
“Father, if you have something to say, just say it. I'm not a child anymore. Can you please not treat me like one?”
Zhu Gao煦 truly couldn't stand it. That moment just now gave him goosebumps. He really hadn't expected that the Yongle Emperor, a man of decisive action and iron will throughout his life, would have such a side to him.
Who would believe it if he told them?
Zhu Di watched Zhu Gao煦 dodge away, stunned for a moment, then laughed even harder.
“Second son, I didn't expect you to be shy, haha.”
Zhu Gao煦 didn't want to answer. At this moment, he suddenly felt that Zhu Di was somewhat like a madman, truly a different mood every minute. Who could endure that?
And neither of them knew that Zhu Zhanji, who was still looking after Zhu Gao煦’s horse downstairs, became incredibly clear-headed after hearing the eunuch frantically tell him about the situation upstairs.
He told the eunuch to take good care of Zhu Gao煦’s horse, and then he dashed towards the Crown Prince's Residence.
Zhu Zhanji also truly hadn't expected that his second uncle would be so brave, daring to confront Zhu Di head-on.
Even he, and his Crown Prince father, would not even dare to look when Zhu Di got angry. Zhu Gao煦 actually confronted Zhu Di, especially since Zhu Di might really chop Zhu Gao煦. Zhu Zhanji instantly felt numb.
He just couldn't understand. Zhu Gao煦 was clearly starting a rebellion himself, so where did he get the confidence and courage to go against Zhu Di?
Zhu Zhanji was very puzzled and confused. However, he suddenly stopped halfway through his run.
At this moment, he had a crazy thought: Should he not go call Zhu Gaochi to mediate? If Zhu Di really chopped Zhu Gao煦, wouldn't his father's position be even more secure?
However, after only a moment, Zhu Zhanji continued to run quickly.
It wasn't that he didn't want to, but Zhu Di would definitely know after this incident. Although Zhu Gao煦 was at odds with their family, he was still his second uncle, his father's biological younger brother. If he didn't put in effort now, he was truly afraid that Zhu Di would eventually point the finger at him.
Even though he was highly valued by Zhu Di on a daily basis, he couldn't bear the consequences.
Zhu Zhanji ran all the way to the Crown Prince's Residence, already out of breath, but he didn't dare to delay. He went directly to Zhu Gaochi's door and started knocking loudly.
At this moment, Zhu Gaochi was still awake. Although Zhu Di hadn't told him, he had already sensed a different atmosphere in the capital tonight. He was still waiting for news.
Hearing the door being knocked like that, he already knew who it was, because besides his good eldest son, no one else would knock on his door like that at this time.
“Come in.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Zhanji rushed in.
“Father, quickly go to the city wall! Grandfather is going to kill second uncle! Hurry, if you're late, it'll be too late.”
Zhu Gaochi had originally intended to scold Zhu Zhanji for needing to be more steady in his actions, but upon hearing these words, he was so startled that he immediately stood up.