In the current Ming Dynasty, if the 43-year-old Zhu Gaochi, the first person under the emperor, who has been in charge of the country for many years, is ranked second, no one would dare to be ranked first.
The officials would also be jealous of Xiao Chen's treatment, but that was just jealousy.
As for Zhu Gaochi's jealousy, what he wants is for this honor that will surpass him to disappear forever. And if he wants this honor to not appear again in front of him, that is to kill the host.
In Ming Chengzu's heart, what he saw was not the prince's jealousy, but the prince's dissatisfaction with what he had decided. And everything he did was disrespectful to himself.
In particular, he deliberately tried to persuade himself through Yang Shiqi's mouth. This was not something a simple, honest and benevolent prince could do.
Ming Chengzu's face became increasingly ugly.
Finally, he turned around and looked at Xiao Chen: "I will take all the people who attended the prince's family banquet yesterday, except Yang Shiqi, into the Dongchang Prison."
Xiao Chen couldn't help but be startled: "Your Majesty, will you even arrest the prince?"
"He was the main culprit in the prince's family banquet. He was arrested together. If we don't beat him, how will he inherit the throne in the future?" Ming Chengzu's still angry face softened a little.
"Yes!" Xiao Chen clasped his hands and followed the order before leaving.
Back at the Thirteenth Battle, Xiao Chen gathered all his troops and headed straight for the East Palace.
Yesterday, Wang Changlian warned himself that the prince might do it himself out of jealousy, but he never expected that the prince would actually dare to do so.
Today, since we are being arrested according to the order, we must completely wipe out the prince's face.
Looking at the direction of the team's advance, Duan Tianming couldn't help but ask: "You came back from the palace and hurriedly gathered the team. You can't reveal what your actions were."
"Capture the prince!" Xiao Chen said calmly, and his pace accelerated a bit.
Hearing these four words, Duan Tianming couldn't help but take a breath of air.
I wanted to ask some detailed questions, but when I saw Xiao Chen's hurried look, I gave up my thoughts and hurriedly followed him.
The Prince's East Palace is located in the Chunhe Hall inside the Donghua Gate.
In order for the prince to successfully inherit the throne, the East Palace is also equipped with many officials corresponding to the imperial court. The difference is that the officials in the East Palace do not have the same real power as the court officials.
The guards of the East Palace are also the prince's young army, and they directly take orders from the prince alone.
The East Palace was quiet at the moment. Prince Zhu Gaochi was also in his study, holding a big red apple in one hand and a sage's book in the other, reading with relish.
At the entrance of the East Palace, four guards with swords stand on guard all year round.
Inside the East Palace, there are also hundreds of prince's young troops who live permanently in the East Palace.
Looking at the menacing Xiao Chen and others, and seeing the hundreds of sword-wielding captains behind them, the guard was a little puzzled, but still stepped forward to intercept them.
"This is the Prince's East Palace. Who are you, swaggering in front of the gate?"
"Open the door." Xiao Chen did not answer, but stood directly at the gate of the East Palace.
"What a loud tone. No matter who you are, this is the East Palace." The guard raised his voice, as if reporting a message to the palace. Then, he pulled out the knife from his waist and stared at Xiao Chen eagerly.
After glancing at the four guards, Xiao Chen said coldly: "Take it."
Just as Xiao Chen finished speaking, four of the Dongchang captains behind him had already stepped out, pulled out their side knives, and put them on the opponent's neck.
Seeing that the other party dared to take action directly, the four guards understood that the other party was prepared. Although they were angry, they did not dare to make any resistance.
Hearing the movement outside the door, the door of the East Palace suddenly opened, and a guard team of a hundred people armed with long guns blocked the door tightly.
A man dressed as a Qianhu man wearing a belt walked out from the crowd.
He put his hands behind his back and looked Xiao Chen up and down: "Colonel in Purple Clothes of Dongchang?"
Xiao Chen did not answer, and flashed the purple plum blossom talisman on his waist, which was regarded as confirmation of the other party's question.
"What about the captain in purple clothes? This is the East Palace, and it is not a place where you, the East Factory, just come." The Qianhu said coldly.
"According to the emperor's instructions, Dongchang came to the East Palace to handle the case. All other people should stay away." Xiao Chen said, staring at the other party.
Since this is the East Palace, let's give the prince some face.
Hearing the emperor's decree, the Qianhu household's hearts tightened, but they did not lead anyone to retreat. They still asked: "What crime did the prince commit that you want Dongchang to come to arrest?"
Hearing that the other party dared to ask questions despite the emperor's instructions, Xiao Chen couldn't help but smile and walked up slowly.
With a smile on his face, he said slowly: "Who do you think you are? Do I need to explain to you?"
He raised his left hand, pressed it on the other person's head, gently pushed it aside, put his hands behind his back, and slowly walked into the East Palace gate in front of everyone's astonished eyes.
Hearing the noise outside, the prince had already sent someone to help him and walked to the door of the living room.
Behind him stood seven or eight bureaucrats from the Prince's Palace.
"This sir must be the purple-clad captain of Dongchang?" Zhu Gaochi said calmly as he looked at Xiao Chen's bright unicorn purple coat.
Xiao Chen clasped his fists with both hands and saluted Zhu Gaochi: "Back to Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am Xiao Chen, the purple-robed captain of Dongchang."
Zhu Gaochi looked at the murderous-looking Dongchang captains behind Xiao Chen, with an inexplicable expression on his face: "Why did you come to the East Palace with No. 100 men?"
Xiao Chen smiled lightly and said respectfully: "I follow the emperor's instructions and invite your highness to go to the East Factory to cleanse yourself for a few days."
Zhu Gaochi's expression changed: "Why is this?"
Although there was a noise at the gate just now, he realized that something might have happened. However, he never expected that it was his father who arranged for people from Dongchang to arrest him.
"Well, I guess His Highness the Crown Prince knows this well, so I won't explain it further." Xiao Chen smiled lightly and made a gesture of invitation.
"Insolent." An angry shout came from the hall.
Xiao Chen couldn't help but look up at the person coming.
This man was an old man, wearing a fifth-grade official uniform, with his eyes wide open. He was obviously very annoyed that Xiao Chen wanted to capture the prince.
"Who is your Excellency?" Xiao Chen asked calmly.
"It doesn't matter who I am. What's important is that the prince is the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty. Do you just take the prince away casually because of an imperial edict that no one knows is true or false?" the old man said angrily.
Regarding the prince's attempt to deal with him behind his back, Xiao Chen remained respectful, but in his heart he thought of countless ways to torment him and make him unable to refute.
But in terms of face, you still can't be too presumptuous. After all, I am also a "gentleman" who pays attention to etiquette.
But this unknown old man made Xiao Chen find a suitable outlet for the anger in his heart.
With a faint smile, Xiao Chen walked towards the old man.
