Chapter 170

Old Zhu did not believe that before last night, Su Qiao had secretly conspired with Zhu Di.

At most, Zhu Di only learned of this sudden situation last night.

In just one night, the strategists behind Zhu Di could have plotted Zhu Di to this extent.

This already showed that Zhu Di's team of advisors was far superior to Zhu Yunwen's.

Old Zhu's last shred of illusion was shattered.

Before this.

Zhu Yuanzhang still hoped that Zhu Di's Jingnan campaign was truly purely because he was forced into a desperate situation by Zhu Yunwen and had no choice but to rebel.

But looking at it today.

It was probably not as simple as being forced into a desperate situation by Zhu Yunwen.

At the very least, while I am still alive, Zhu Di had already had thoughts and made preparations in advance.

Old Zhu, exhausted in body and mind, slumped onto the dragon throne.

His empty eyes gazed at the portrait of Zhu Biao hanging in the distance.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly picked up a piece of paper from the imperial desk.

Old Zhu's withered hand loosened slightly.

The paper then floated on its own to the foot of Zhu Di.

"Fourth son, what do you think of drafting the edict like this...?"

Zhu Di looked up in confusion, glanced at it for just a moment, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

"Father! Your son has absolutely no rebellious heart!"

"Moreover, my eldest brother and I share the bond of brothers; my eldest brother's bones are not yet cold, how could His Majesty abolish the eldest brother's position as Crown Prince? Your son kneels and begs Your Majesty to think thrice!"

Having spoken, Zhu Di then heavily kowtowed to the ground.

Sitting aside, Zhu Gang glanced at it and immediately sensed something was wrong.

Abolish the eldest brother's position as Crown Prince.

Change the title of Zhu Yunwen to Prince of Yu?

This edict seems too cruel to the lineage of Zhu Biao.

But from any aspect one looks at it.

This is the best method to preserve everything.

It is absolutely something a person in a state of extreme anger could not conceive.

Could it be that His Majesty had long had the thought of abolishing and establishing a new heir?

Zhu Gang gave a signal to Zhu Di, who was kneeling aside.

But Zhu Di was as if he simply did not see it at all.

He was still doing his utmost to persuade Old Zhu.

Zhu Di saw very clearly.

His task at this moment was to live safely until Old Zhu passed away.

The Third Brother's health is poor, Zhu Yunwen is unlikely to suddenly become enlightened, and Old Zhu is also advanced in years.

Zhu Di had absolutely no need to show his edge at this critical juncture.

The principle that pride leads to loss and humility brings benefit, Zhu Di still understood clearly.

Unexpectedly, as Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Di's words, he suddenly stood up impatiently.

He walked on his own to stand before Zhu Di.

He grabbed Zhu Di by the shoulder.

"Stand up!"

Before Zhu Di could even come to his senses, Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed Zhu Di and dragged him to the front of the dragon throne.

"Sit down!"

Zhu Di's forehead immediately broke out in sweat like rain.

But after hesitating for a moment.

Zhu Di finally sat upon the dragon throne.

Until the very instant Zhu Di sat on the dragon throne.

Zhu Yuanzhang detected too much information in Zhu Di's expression.

There was fear, there was enjoyment, there was excitement...

Looking at Zhu Di before him, although Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was filled with ten thousand unwillingnesses, he finally took a deep breath and commanded firmly.

"Call Zhu Yunwen!"

"Yes!"

A young Eunuch ran out of the main hall with hurried steps.

Not long after, Zhu Yunwen arrived in the main hall.

Seeing Zhu Di seated on the dragon throne, Zhu Yunwen immediately froze.

Zhu Yuanzhang pulled out the sword placed beside the imperial desk on his own and threw it right before Zhu Di.

"Fourth son, Zhu Yunwen is right here; in front of your eldest brother, just stab Zhu Yunwen to death with one sword strike, and our Zhu family will be at peace!"

Once these words were spoken.

The faces of everyone in the Qianqing Palace inevitably turned deathly pale.

Even Zhu Yunwen panicked, opening his mouth to speak but was glared back by Zhu Yuanzhang with a single look.

Zhu Gang looked at Zhu Yuanzhang before him, then looked at Zhu Di, who was being held by Old Zhu on the dragon throne.

After much thought, he finally closed his mouth.

When unsure what to say, silence is the best answer.

And until this moment, he could no longer bear it—he broke free of Zhu Yuanzhang's restraint.

He knelt alone before Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Father! Brother treats me with such deep affection—I could never harm his descendants!"

Then Zhu Di simply picked up the sword Zhu Yuanzhang had dropped on the ground and held it across his own throat.

"Father, if I can never make you feel at ease…"

"Today, I am willing to die to prove my resolve!"

Saying this, Zhu Di brought the blade down across his neck.

Watching the crimson streak seep from Zhu Di's neck.

Zhu Yuanzhang burst into tears, snatching the sword from Zhu Di's hand.

He pointed at the uncle and nephew before him, sobbing:

"I have no choice!"

"Is there anyone in this world who wishes more for you two to be at peace than I do?"

"If our Zhu family were common folk, I would never slight any one of you."

"But our Zhu family is imperial!"

"The empire cannot be split into pieces and divided among us!"

The entire hall erupted into weeping.

He looked at the expressions of those around him.

Then he looked at the Shi Guan recording the imperial diary, and at the eunuchs in the hall.

Though his face was streaked with tears, Zhu Yuanzhang's heart finally eased a little.

On the surface, Zhu Yuanzhang had done much.

He forced Zhu Di onto the Dragon Throne, implying he had firmly decided to pass the throne to Zhu Di.

Then he placed the sword in Zhu Di's hands, implying he left all choices to Zhu Di.

It seemed Zhu Yuanzhang had given much.

But in truth, Old Zhu had given nothing.

If Old Zhu later acknowledged it, Zhu Di sat upon the Dragon Throne today; if Old Zhu reneged, Zhu Di sat upon an ordinary chair.

In future histories—even among Zhu family descendants—no flaw could ever be found.

And Zhu Di's response was flawless.

Father threw out the sword—this sword must draw blood, but it must not truly kill Zhu Yunwen.