Chapter 39: There’s No Family Affection In The Imperial Family Since Ancient Times! Seeking Monthly Tickets
Old Zhu’s cold and sternly worded decree, which set a three-day deadline to leave the capital and included three “no unauthorized action without decree” stipulations, acted like three golden fillets, firmly binding the princes’ every thought.
Although Jiang Huan was merely the Imperial Guard Commander and primarily handled the dirty and tiring work Old Zhu assigned, having served Old Zhu for so many years, Jiang Huan believed he understood the Emperor quite well.
Others might not know, but Jiang Huan was perfectly aware of Old Zhu’s intention to establish Zhu Yunwen as the Imperial Grandson.
After all, during the period following Zhu Biao’s death, the Eastern Palace had also fallen under the surveillance of the Imperial Guard.
And Old Zhu had never ceased paying attention to Zhu Yunwen.
Now, with Old Zhu issuing a decree for the princes to leave the capital, his guess was further confirmed.
The Emperor intended to completely extinguish the hopes of certain individuals.
He was using the most ruthless method to push his chosen grandson to the forefront of public scrutiny, and simultaneously clearing the greatest potential obstacles for his grandson’s ascension.
However, this was just the beginning.
With Zhu Yunwen’s background, how could he possibly control the nobles?
Therefore, as Old Zhu’s foremost subordinate and hound, he keenly grasped this crucial point.
Perhaps the Emperor was about to embark on another bloody purge.
After all, the Hu Weiyong case was still not fully resolved, and this time it would likely be even more severe.
And the decree expelling the princes swept through the entire Ten Princes’ Mansion like the most biting autumn wind.
Upon hearing Old Zhu’s decree, Prince Qin Zhu Shuang was utterly stunned and stammered,
“Jiang, Jiang Huan, is this real? Is this truly my father’s decree?”
In front of outsiders, he did not refer to his father as Imperial Father or Emperor, attempting to declare his unique status in this way.
He was the primary heir after Zhu Biao and also the Emperor’s second legitimate son.
By all rights, he should have been the only prince to remain in the capital, awaiting enfeoffment as Crown Prince.
Yet, the decree began with his name, making it difficult for him to believe.
Jiang Huan glanced at him expressionlessly and said indifferently, “If Your Highness Prince Qin does not believe it, you may take the Imperial Decree. The Emperor has prepared a copy for each of you, to serve as a constant reminder for the future!”
After saying this, he subtly looked at the Imperial Guard beside him who was holding the Imperial Decree. The latter immediately stepped forward and presented Old Zhu’s decree to Zhu Shuang.
Zhu Shuang shakily extended his hand, reluctantly and hesitantly picked up the decree, then looked at Prince Jin Zhu Gang beside him, “Third Brother, perhaps you should take it, I…”
“Forget it, Second Brother. Let’s go. Take your Imperial Father’s decree and return to your mansion!”
Zhu Gang sighed and shook his head, then picked up the decree from the Imperial Guard’s tray. He supported Zhu Shuang, whose legs had gone weak, and said to Jiang Huan, “Commander Jiang, please convey to the Emperor that we have received the decree and will depart the capital as soon as possible!”
“Your Highness Prince Jin, please rest assured, I will report to the Emperor truthfully!”
Jiang Huan responded expressionlessly as before, then turned to look at Prince Yan Zhu Di, who had been silent all this time, “Your Highness Prince Yan?”
“Prince Yan! Receive the decree! Express your gratitude!”
Zhu Di also expressionlessly stepped forward, took the imperial edict, and turned to leave without another word.
Seeing that the first three princes had received their decrees, the other princes naturally dared not cause any trouble. They all picked up their respective Imperial Decrees and left the decree-announcing hall.
After watching them leave, Jiang Huan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
These princes, so arrogant in their fiefdoms, dared not utter a single word of protest before the Emperor.
Even the widely publicized controversy over establishing the Crown Prince some time ago was quelled with a single word from the Emperor.
The Emperor had announced in the most direct and ruthless manner:
The throne forever belongs to Crown Prince Zhu Biao’s lineage!
It belongs to the Old Zhu family!
Outsiders, even one’s own sons, should not even think about it!
Upon returning to Prince Qin’s Mansion.
Zhu Shuang could no longer contain his inner anger and despair, his roaring voice threatening to shake the roof:
“Get out?! Father wants this prince to get out?! To return to Xi’an within three days?! Has Father gone mad?! This prince is his own son! His own son!!”
He was like a furious lion, smashing everything in the room that could be broken. Expensive porcelain and jade fragments flew everywhere.
His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his neck. He roared at the cold Imperial Decree on the table, “Cannot leave without authorization? Cannot interact with other princes? Is he guarding against thieves?! Guarding against his own son?!”
“Good, good, good! Third Brother, you’re right! He just wants to leave all the good things to Zhu Biao’s line! He doesn’t have us, his own sons, in his eyes at all!”
“Bang bang bang—!”
Another series of sounds of smashing tables, throwing chairs, and dropping things erupted.
Meanwhile, Zhu Gang sat calmly in the only intact chair amidst the mess, slowly sipping a cup of tea, his face revealing no hint of joy or anger.
When Zhu Shuang tired of venting and stopped, panting, Zhu Gang finally put down his teacup and spoke slowly. His voice was not loud, but it pierced Zhu Shuang’s furious heart like an ice pick, “Second Brother, are you done roaring? Done smashing? Feel better?”
“Feeling better is useless!”
Zhu Shuang panted heavily and kicked a piece of debris on the floor, “I finally understand, Father is biased to the extreme!”
“Biased?”
Zhu Gang gave a cold laugh, then shook his head:
“It’s not bias, it’s decisiveness. With this decree, Father has made it crystal clear to everyone that that throne belongs only to Zhu Biao! And will only be passed to Zhu Biao’s son!”
“We princes… in his eyes, have become a threat, a great hidden danger that needs to be driven away and confined!”
As he spoke, he slowly stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his body, and swept a cold gaze over the enraged Zhu Shuang, “Second Brother, wake up. Return to Xi’an and be Prince Qin dutifully.”
“From now on, interact less with your other brothers, especially Fourth Brother. Father’s eyes are watching us.”
Having said this, Zhu Gang no longer paid attention to Zhu Shuang and turned to walk out of the room filled with violence and despair.
In the night wind, his retreating figure appeared particularly desolate and profoundly thoughtful.
Although he had long guessed that Old Zhu would establish Zhu Yunwen as the Imperial Grandson, it was only when it was confirmed that he truly understood how different Old Zhu’s attitude was towards them compared to his attitude towards Zhu Biao.
Perhaps, in his father’s eyes, they, his sons, were merely imperial princes.
Only Zhu Biao was his true son.
Sometimes, the more clearly one saw, the colder one’s heart became.
The autumn wind rustled. Zhu Gang walked out of Prince Qin’s Mansion, stood in the wind, and looked up at the moon in the sky, as if talking to himself or trying to console himself:
“Father, you disregard human relations and propriety; this is the path to disaster! Do you think establishing Zhu Yunwen as Imperial Grandson will preserve the Great Ming Empire? You still underestimate your sons!”
“Watch and wait. When you go all out for Zhu Yunwen, that will be the beginning of his downfall.”
As he reached this point, two lines of tears involuntarily traced their way down his cheeks, “Since ancient times, the imperial family lacks affection. I do not envy the Prince of Tang to be Prince Jin!”
“Alas, let’s go, pack our things and return to Taiyuan Prefecture.”
With a sigh and a wave of his hand, Zhu Gang composed himself. He merged into the night wind and autumn air. The moonlight, like water, shone on his slightly hunched back, making him appear incredibly desolate.
