gnovel Chapter 10: Half a month of solitary confinement? This is a chance to cultivate immortality!
Chapter 10: Half a month of solitary confinement? This is a chance to cultivate immortality!
Inside the Prince of Han's residence, there was a deathly silence.
The Crown Prince and the Prince of Zhao were both terrified. They never expected that the Second Prince would dare to speak to Zhu Di like that.
Moreover, not only did they discuss rebellion in front of Zhu Di, but they also revealed details of the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Is the second brother being so aggressive today?
Zhu Di was so angry that his face turned red.
He pointed at Zhu Gaoxu, stomping his feet in anger.
"You unfilial son, how dare you! You dare to stage another coup at Xuanwu Gate? You want to emulate your predecessors?"
"Who gave you the guts? Who gave you the courage?!"
Zhu Gaoxu said calmly, "Of course it's my father. I am the Prince of Han, and you've given me the Five Armies Commandery and military power. Isn't it just so you want me to stage a coup at Xuanwu Gate?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Zhu Di angrily retorted, "I am the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The reason I entrusted you with military power is because of my trust in you, not to condone your rebellious thoughts!"
"Is that so?" Zhu Gaoxu smiled slightly. "Then, Father, if it's really as you say, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
"Speak!" Zhu Di's face darkened slightly.
Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui stood to the side, not daring to utter a sound.
This is a battleground between the second son and the old man; they dare not say anything out of turn.
They could not withstand Zhu Di's wrath.
"During the Jingnan Campaign, didn't you hold my hand and tell me that the Crown Prince was often ill and that I should encourage him?"
"Didn't you say those things in the first place to incite me to plot rebellion?"
Upon seeing this, Zhu Di's lips twitched, and he also noticed the look his elder brother was giving him.
Zhu Di was taken aback by Zhu Gaoxu's question.
"Father, do you dare say that you never said this?" Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Di with piercing eyes.
Zhu Gaoxu today possesses an imposing presence that rivals that of Zhu Di.
Faced with Zhu Gaoxu's probing questions, Zhu Di was momentarily speechless.
He recalled the time when he was besieged by Emperor Jianwen's army during the Jingnan Campaign.
It was the second brother who led his men to charge in and save his life!
Zhu Di was deeply moved, so he grasped Zhu Gaoxu's hand and said, "The heir is often ill; you should encourage him."
Because of this statement, after Zhu Di ascended the throne and made Zhu Gaochi the crown prince, this second prince constantly fought with Zhu Gaochi.
To put it bluntly, the root of all this is Zhu Di, because of that one sentence he said.
Zhu Gaoxu believed this statement for the rest of his life.
To be precise, Zhu Gaochi's life was ruined by Zhu Di.
Zhu Gaochi stared at the old man, who said, his words piercing to the heart, "Your subject does not wish to be a second Li Shimin, nor does he wish to force Father Emperor."
"Your subject only wants a clear path forward."
After saying that, he waved to Zhu Gaochi.
"Big brother, come here."
"Second brother, you...you stop making trouble." Zhu Gaochi was genuinely scared. This second son was truly a tiger, and he, the crown prince, really dared not go over there.
Second brother, it's your business if you insult our father, but don't drag me down with you!
Zhu Gaoxu was speechless. This eldest son was, after all, the crown prince. Was he so afraid of Zhu Di?
If Zhu Gaochi had heard his inner thoughts, he would probably have been terrified.
How could I not be afraid? I know better than anyone that my dad always uses me to scare him.
Zhu Gaoxu walked up to his father, ignoring his growing anger.
Zhu Gaoxu continued, "My elder brother is the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. He is kind and benevolent, and his governance as regent has won him the hearts of the people."
"This time, when we were fighting in Arutai, he managed the rear area very well, as you know."
"If it weren't for him providing us with supplies from the rear, the battle of Arutai probably wouldn't have been so satisfying."
Zhu Gaochi was deeply moved upon hearing his second brother's words. "Second brother, you understand your elder brother!"
Zhu Gaochi was overjoyed; his second son's words truly resonated with him.
During the time the old man was fighting, he was the one who reorganized the Ming Dynasty. Now that Zhu Gaochi understands his good intentions, how could he not be moved?
Zhu Di remained silent, clearly indicating that Zhu Gaoxu was right.
During the campaign against Arughtai, Zhu Gaochi served as regent for the Ming Dynasty. As emperor, he knew Zhu Gaochi's abilities better than anyone else.
However, it was precisely because of this that Zhu Di was uneasy, fearing that Zhu Gaochi's prestige might actually surpass his own.
After all, Zhu Di, who had become emperor, was bound to be suspicious.
"Father, I have never had any ambition to become the crown prince. Now I understand that I only wish to leave the capital and go to Yunnan to take up my fiefdom in peace."
Zhu Gaoxu knelt down and began to appeal to people's emotions.
"Yet you, Father, insist on keeping me in this treacherous capital city and granting me the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies. Isn't this putting me on the spot?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu's lips twitched.
Damn it, why did he bring up putting himself on the fire?
In the future, won't my future self be roasted in a large vat by my nephew Zhu Zhanji and turned into a clay pot chicken?
"Shut up!"
Zhu Di roared, and the atmosphere in the entire courtyard became extremely tense.
Whether it was the Crown Prince, the Prince of Zhao, or the Princess Consort of Han, they all knelt down.
"No matter what, I'm doing this for your own good!"
"As long as I am here, you will stay in the capital and are not allowed to go anywhere!"
Zhu Di shouted, "Guards!"
As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of Imperial Guards rushed in.
Zhu Gaoxu's eyelids twitched. What was his father up to?
Zhu Gaoxu wanted to continue his attack, but he saw that Zhu Di's face was now extremely ashen.
"Keep a close eye on this rebellious son. Confine him to his quarters for half a month. Without my decree, he is not to step out of the Prince of Han's residence!"
"He must not approach anyone, must remain secluded to reflect on his actions, and must not make any mistakes!!"
Zhu Di shouted sternly.
"Yes!" the Imperial Guard replied hastily.
Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui were both dumbfounded.
Then look at Zhu Di, he was so angry that he left the Prince of Han's residence!
"A two-week lockdown?" Zhu Gaoxu's eyes flashed, and soon he couldn't help but smile.
If this is true, wouldn't this opportunity to cultivate immortality have arrived?
This two-week period is enough time for him to study other immortal techniques.
Now, he has entered the second level of Qi Refining, and has only learned the most basic Fireball Technique.
He hasn't studied the Heavenly Eye Technique, or other magical arts and supernatural powers yet.
He especially wanted to learn the art of alchemy.
Although this two-week period is not very long, it is still a chance for Zhu Gaoxu to seize every minute to cultivate.
Because he knew very well that the emperor loved war, and who knew when the next war would be.
If Zhu Di went to war and his army set out, he, the Prince of Han who most resembled Zhu Di, would certainly go with him.
But how can he cultivate immortality in peace under such circumstances?