After noon, it began to rain heavily, and the sky and earth were as dark as night. However, the door of the East Palace was opened, and the prince's car drove towards Beiyuan in the heavy rain.
Zhu Di was really angry and didn't see the prince. Zhu Gaochi also became stubborn and knelt outside Yitian Palace for half an hour. The eunuchs knew that the prince was not in good health and were afraid that he would have some shortcomings, so they hurriedly invited Zheng He from outside the palace.
Come... After receiving the order to sail to the West again, Zheng He left the emperor's side and opened an office outside the palace to take care of matters and prepare for the voyage.
After Zheng He got his reward, he was also worried that something would happen to the prince, so he hurriedly rode back to Beiyuan in the rain. Only after begging hard did Zhu Di agree to see Zhu Gaochi.
At this time, Zhu Gaochi had been kneeling for an entire hour outside Yitian Hall. The two eunuchs used their strength to pull him up, and then helped him into the inner hall with one foot deep and one shallow foot.
Zhu Gaochi finally saw his father, and saw that Zhu Di's expression was cold to the bone, and his facial muscles were weirdly twisted, showing a ferocious look. Zhu Gaochi was so impressed by his father's expression that when his father killed Fang Xiaoru and Tiexuan
, that’s what it looks like.
It seemed that the situation was worse than imagined. Zhu Gaochi knelt down three feet away from Zhu Di again and saluted respectfully.
Suddenly there was a flash of white light outside, and there was a muffled thunder. Zhu Di squeezed out a few words through his teeth and said: "The prince insists on seeing me, what do you want?"
"Reporting to my father, I have heard the imperial edict and will immediately impose the death penalty on Zhou Xin." Zhu Gaochi leaned over and said, "I came here to ask my father for confirmation."
"I can tell you, it's true." Zhu Di said coldly: "You can go back now."
"Nowadays, people in Zhejiang are panic-stricken and there is another natural disaster. My son and I have the courage to beg my father," Zhu Gaochi kowtowed and said, "I am extraordinarily merciful. Let's spare his life for the time being and let him serve his crime."
"He wrote something like that, how dare you intercede for him?" Zhu Di's expression was cold to the bone, and his voice sounded like it was coming from the underworld: "He has no king, do you want to have no father too?"
Although he was mentally prepared, Zhu Gaochi's heart could not help but keep sinking, as if he was being thrown into a bottomless abyss. Until he remembered his decisive thoughts of risking death before going out, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.
Shen Shen, although he still did not dare to look at his father, he said: "My son once again boldly asked my father to take a look at what Zhou Xin wrote."
Zhu Di was a little surprised when he saw that his son, who had always been a coward, was not restrained by his eyes and voice that repeatedly frightened demons. He stared at the wind and rain outside the palace and said quietly: "What the prince means is that if Zhou Xin writes this, you
The implementation was unaware of it.”
"Reporting to my father, I really don't know anything about it." Zhu Gaochi said in a deep voice.
"What an ignorant person," Zhu Di laughed arrogantly: "You didn't know that you could brave the pouring rain to enter the palace, knelt and waited outside the palace for an hour, and even brought Zheng He in as a reinforcement. Didn't you just want to come with me?
A battle of wits?"
Zhu Gaochi said calmly: "I swear to the emperor that if I know about it, I will let the thunder from the sky kill me immediately." As if to match his words, a bolt of lightning, accompanied by thunder, exploded on the top of the palace, illuminating this
Both the father and son of the Tian family looked a little ferocious. "My sons only came to the palace to ask for an audience because they heard that Zhou Xin was going to be executed."
"Zhou Xin is not beheaded, but Lingchi." Zhu Di said with a sinister smile: "He is my minister, and my life and death are decided by me. What kind of worries do you have? You are afraid that he will confess you too in a hurry.
?”
"Father, I must be clear that my son and Zhou Xin have no contact at all except official matters," Zhu Gaochi finally began to sweat on his forehead.
"Before you tell the truth, you have to wipe your butt clean first," Zhu Di said in a bitter tone: "Why did Zhou Xin's... subordinate named Wang Xian move into the East Palace as soon as he entered the capital? Do you think I am blind?
He dares to jump up and down in the capital even though he is just a little shrimp, even the Procuratorate of the Ministry of Punishments, how can he enter Qingshou Temple and Tianxiang Temple without your instructions?"
"Wang Xian was a companion whom Zhan Ji met in Suzhou. Young Master Zhan Ji was very carefree. He only regarded him as a friend, so he insisted on inviting him to his home. My son regarded him as a righteous man, and when he got to know him, he was already living in his house.
It's better to drive people away." Zhu Gaochi said: "But I also warned him once not to use the grandson to rescue Zhou Xin. As for him going to Tianxiang Temple, it was because of Master Yao's request, and why did he get Master Yao?
I don't know about my favor. My father can call Master Yao and ask him."
To a large extent, it was because of Wang Xian's existence that Zhu Di suspected that the prince and Zhou Xin were in the same group. If the prince did not come to explain, this suspicion would be confirmed and trigger a series of disasters. So Zhu Gaochi took the risk.
You also have to face the emperor, and you have to say it personally so that you won't be misunderstood by your father.
"I didn't expect you to have a sharp mouth," Zhu Di snorted coldly, but he seemed to be less depressed in his heart, and his tone was still bitter: "Everyone knows that the prince is bright and kind, but he dares to do something but not dare to do anything. How can he be bright and kind?"
Zhu Gaochi's legs were sore and swollen, but at this moment he actually showed rare determination. He put his hands on the ground, remained motionless and gritted his teeth and said: "You know your son better than your father. Your father should know best whether his subjects are bright and kind.
I was born dull, fat and disabled, but I think my father is still willing to make me the prince. He has taught me carefully for more than ten years, and it is precisely because of this. My son knows that he is not as brave as his second brother, and he can't match his ambitions.
Third brother, I can only remind myself every day to keep my true character. If I can't be a brave or wise man, I should be a benevolent person. If the father feels that my son is not even a benevolent person and he has no face to occupy the East Palace anymore, I would rather
"Let the wise"
Zhu Gaochi kept saying that he was not a wise man, but he could not say it without great wisdom. At least after hearing this, Zhu Di's expression finally became less gloomy, and he just said coldly: "If you really want to give up your choice, just come here and ask me."
Ci, there are some things I want to trade with you."
"My son, please resign now." Zhu Gaochi kowtowed heavily and said, "Father, please remove me from the position of crown prince."
"You bastard, you still think I'm not mad enough to kill you?" Zhu Di yelled, but the level of terror was no longer one-tenth of what he was before. The reason why the emperor was furious before was because he suspected that this was a conspiracy, and someone was using Zhou Zhou's excuse to
A new mouth to shake his own authority. The only person in the Ming Dynasty who had the motive and ability to do this was the prince. In addition, the relationship between father and son was not harmonious, and the prince had always tried his best to protect Zhou Xin, so Zhu Di suspected that the prince was instigating behind the scenes.
.
But Zhu Gaochi put himself to death and resurrected, which made the emperor no longer doubt him. Yes, with my authority, Zhu Di, even if I lost my prestige, I was still an independent man. If I angered myself, the first unlucky person would be the prince. Give him a bear-hearted leopard.
Don't dare to anger me.
Although the prince cannot be replaced just by asking, even if he is such a powerful king, he is not afraid of the noise from his ministers or the bad reputation left in the history books. But Zhu Gaochi's attitude still makes Zhu Di feel very comfortable - don't think that you are the prince.
Just feel that your position is as solid as a mountain, just know that I can replace you at any time.
Only then did the emperor feel that his throat was on fire. He picked up the tea cup and drank it all in one gulp. "Get up, don't you want to see what that guy wrote? Huang Yan, show it to the prince."
The two eunuchs stepped forward and used all their strength to lift the prince up and help him sit down on the stool. Zhu Gaochi was sweating profusely, and he didn't know whether it was from heat or pain.
Huang Yan came forward with a tray in his heart. On the tray was the notebook that had been glued back together piece by piece.
Zhu Gaochi took it with both hands and opened the notebook. Although he looked surprised, it only flashed by and he regained his usual composure.
Zhu Di stared closely at Shuben's son. He was really surprised. Faced with such a huge crisis today, he usually felt that the prince was weak and stupid, but he couldn't see any panic. Either he was cunning, or he was really wise.
Frank and frank. In the emperor's opinion, no matter which one seemed to be stronger than the original one who was weak and stupid.
After a long while, Zhu Gaochi raised his head and said softly: "Father, I have finished reading."
"What does it feel like?" Zhu Di asked coldly.
"A little pleased, but also a little disappointed." Zhu Gaochi said lightly.
Zhu Di was confused by his gentle tone and snorted: "Don't be mysterious."
"Yes." Zhu Gaochi said loudly: "I am gratified that in the Ming Dynasty, there are still ministers who dare to remonstrate directly. I heard that the Lord is honest, and Zhou Xin dares to remonstrate directly. Doesn't it mean that my father is a wise emperor? Seeing the minister like this
Looking at the father, the sons and ministers are happy for the father."
Zhu Di said with a sullen face: "Then why are you disappointed?"
"I am disappointed that although Zhou Xin is great at solving crimes, he is not a minister who plans the country. He only sees the country's temporary financial constraints, but does not understand that the emperor's majestic talents and strategies are actually plans for the world, and he will surely move forward.
Zhu Gaochi is also a flatterer, and his level is extremely high: "This is really a blind eye, so I feel it is a pity. I thought he was a talent for the country, but it turned out that he was just an inspector."
"
"Humph..." Zhu Di knew that his son was rescuing Zhou Xin, but instead of feeling angry, he was very relieved... Yes, what is the difference between this Zhou Xin and those officials who say nothing surprising and never stop talking? There are always people in this world.
What is the difference between those who oppose for the sake of opposition and buzzing flies? Can just a few flies negate their great achievements?
No, obviously he couldn't figure this out. Zhu Di's anger that destroyed everything finally disappeared, and he returned to the absolutely calm emperor.
This is also the brilliance of Yang Shiqi. When others are in crisis, their first reaction is to escape, but he can understand that escaping is not an option. The top priority is to eliminate the emperor's anger. He believes that the prince has this ability to calm the emperor.
Only when the emperor calms down can he avoid getting out of hand.
Zhu Gaochi followed Yang Shiqi's advice and risked his life to survive. He finally overcame this difficulty. Not only did he not suffer, but he was looked upon differently by his father. Moreover, his wisdom, calmness and benevolence will surely be passed down to the government and the public, and he will be admired by all officials.
It can be described as an out-and-out winner.
It's just that Zhou Xin repeatedly offended the emperor and had to die. Otherwise, where would the dignity of Emperor Yongle be?