Chapter 35: Father, You're Still Alive!

Hall of Benevolence and Wisdom.

There were not many people kneeling in mourning. Aside from the imperial consorts and members of the royal clan, only a few trusted ministers were present, along with the eunuch Ma Yun, who had conspired with Yang Rong and others at Yumu River to keep the emperor’s death a secret, and the eunuch Hai Shou, who had covertly reported the matter to Zhu Gaochi.

At the very front of this gathering, Zhu Gaoxu knelt before the late emperor’s coffin, his expression dark and brooding. Beside him, the Prince of Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, cast fierce and searching glances around the palace hall.

Supported by Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Gaochi walked slowly from the side chamber.

“Your ministers bow before Your Majesty! May Your Sacred Self be at peace!”

Inside and out, all the civil and military officials, as well as the imperial kinsmen, bowed their heads and knelt. Only the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao, kneeling at the very front, sat upright, ignoring the proceedings.

“I am well!” Zhu Gaochi breathed heavily, raised his hand to indicate they should rise, and stepped before the coffin. After performing a solemn kowtow, he turned with a face full of sorrow to his two younger brothers and choked out, “Second Brother, Third Brother, it is well that you have returned, truly well.”

“So, we didn’t die on the road as you wished. That must be quite the disappointment for you, Eldest Brother,” Zhu Gaoxu sneered, refusing even to glance at him.

Everyone present—ministers and princes alike—turned pale. Even before the mourning rituals for the late emperor, the Crown Prince had already observed protocol by succeeding to the throne before the coffin. Though the enthronement ceremony had not yet been held, Zhu Gaochi was now, by all rights, the legitimate emperor of the Ming dynasty. How could he still be addressed so casually, as “Eldest Brother”?

If Zhu Gaochi wished, he could have his brother charged with gross disrespect, strip him of his title, and confine him without hesitation.

“Ah, Second Brother, how can you think so ill of your elder brother?” Zhu Gaochi sighed deeply, deliberately using the phrase “elder brother” to ease the tension for his willful sibling.

Yet, Zhu Gaoxu’s words had struck home, making Zhu Gaochi clutch his chest as a faint pain stabbed at his heart. He felt a wave of grief. After all these years, if he had harbored even a trace of murderous intent, these two reckless brothers would not have survived to this day.

Zhu Gaoxu rose abruptly, his tall and imposing figure matching, if not surpassing, the obese and unwieldy frame of Zhu Gaochi. His eyes gleamed with menace.

“What are you doing? Guards, protect His Majesty!” Zhu Zhanji leapt forward, shielding his father and shouting urgently.

Though the Prince of Han was unarmed, given his father’s poor health, one punch from the prince’s massive fist might be enough to send him to the grave!

“The Prince of Han merely stood up, and you’re already so eager to accuse your uncles, Nephew?” Zhu Gaosui said slyly from the side.

“Enough of your nonsense!” Zhu Zhanji shot him a fierce glare.

“Silence, all of you!” Zhu Gaochi barked, his breath heavy. He coughed twice and said to Zhu Gaoxu, “Second Brother, if you have something to ask, speak.”

“Father!” Zhu Zhanji cried in alarm. Keeping the emperor’s death a secret was already a murky business—why walk straight into trouble?

“Very well,” Zhu Gaoxu snorted. “Tell me, by what cause did His Majesty pass? Not long ago, my son and I were in the command tent discussing military affairs with him. Why, then, the sudden word of his death?”

“And after the emperor’s passing, why did you keep it a secret? What unspeakable schemes were you plotting? Or were there instructions from the late emperor that you refused to obey?”

“I’ll say it plainly: whatever edict the late emperor left before his death must be made known to all under heaven!”

Zhu Gaochi coughed and replied, “As for keeping the emperor’s death secret, you, who have commanded armies for years, should understand better than anyone: the death of a commander on the battlefield is a blow to morale beyond measure. This was the consensus of several generals.”

“The late emperor left no particular instructions. A family cannot go a day without a head; a nation cannot go a day without a sovereign. I observed the rites and succeeded to the throne before the late emperor’s coffin—”

“Eldest Brother, you are truly skilled at sophistry!” Zhu Gaosui, too, rose from his knees and confronted the emperor. “The late emperor had already considered deposing the crown prince and naming the Prince of Han as heir, and he mentioned it repeatedly among the troops. How is it that, now, you claim there were no such edicts?”

Disaster! The crafty third brother was stirring up trouble.

The corpulent father and son exchanged a wry smile.

Zhu Gaosui sneered and cupped his hands, raising his voice, “All of you here are imperial kinsmen and high ministers. I would not dare to utter lies. Elder Yang, Grand Secretary Yang, you have long accompanied His Majesty at the front—tell us, did the late emperor ever speak such words?”

Suddenly called out, Yang Rong’s face turned grim. He ground his teeth and declared, “I swear upon my life: the Prince of Zhao’s claims are utterly false! The late emperor never uttered such words!”

He could guess at the prince’s purpose, but forced into this position, he had no choice but to reply, cursing his fate inwardly.

Zhu Gaosui smiled coldly. “So the civil officials of Ming have already been bought by the eldest brother. I wonder whether he promised them titles for generations, or a place in the annals of history, that even the iron-willed Grand Secretary Yang is willing to stake his life. Truly generous indeed.”

As these words fell, the nobles among the military men could no longer restrain themselves. They had always been at odds with the civil officials. Having fought alongside Zhu Gaoxu for years, they felt much closer to him; his ascent could only benefit them. It was only fear of openly defying imperial orders that held them back. Now, with the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao hinting at their support, these generals and nobles were growing restless.

Zhu Zhanji shouted in fury, “How dare you slander the late emperor before his coffin! Second Uncle, Third Uncle, do you not fear facing Grandfather in the afterlife, ashamed and disgraced?”

“Silence! In the presence of the late emperor’s spirit, how dare you cause such a disturbance?” Zhu Gaochi thundered, his imperial countenance ablaze with wrath. Though he chastised Zhu Zhanji, the warning was truly aimed at the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao: persist, and he would show no more brotherly leniency.

This Emperor Hongxi was truly angered—even Zhu Gaosui was startled for a moment.

“You call us liars?” Zhu Gaoxu retorted, glaring fiercely as he strode up to Zhu Gaochi. “If there is a single false word in what the Prince of Zhao and I have said today, I will go myself to beg forgiveness from the late emperor in the underworld!”

“To put it plainly, we came here today never intending to leave alive. Nephew, isn’t it your wish to kill your two uncles? Then take your chance—do it now!”

Zhu Gaoxu, reckless as ever, stretched out his neck and nudged closer to Zhu Zhanji.

“Second Brother, do you truly wish for death?”

“That’s right! If you have the nerve, cut me down!” Zhu Gaoxu replied, undaunted.

Suddenly, he froze. The voice sounded strangely familiar. Raising his head slowly, his eyes widened in shock.

With a thud, Zhu Gaoxu collapsed to the floor, his voice trembling with terror:

“Father—you’re not dead!”

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