gnovel Chapter 43 Formal investiture
Chapter 43 Formal investiture
"That heartless bastard! He made me raise his son for nothing, and he won't give me a single good thing," Zhu Yuanzhang cursed bitterly.
"Alright then, we've decided. We'll have you adopted by your uncle," Zhu Yuanzhang said, pacing slowly and pondering.
"Let me tell you, adoption is not shameful. Do you know Wang Baobao? He was adopted by his uncle without changing his name or surname, and he inherited all of his uncle's property, high-ranking official positions, and all his followers. Isn't that great? He got so many benefits for free," Zhu Yuanzhang patiently persuaded, a sly glint in his eyes.
Zhu Gaoxi was disheartened. As a father with a bleak future, he wouldn't care whether his son was adopted or not.
"Tomorrow is an auspicious day, Huang Liang. Go tell the Ministry of Rites to make preparations quickly. The investiture ceremony will be held tomorrow," Zhu Yuanzhang ordered swiftly and decisively.
Zhu Gaoxi looked up at the sky. The officials of the Six Ministries were about to leave work. Was it too late to prepare? The old emperor was too impatient.
Just as Zhu Gaoxi was wondering, the old emperor groaned in pain and asked Zhu Gaoxi to massage his shoulders.
"Grandpa, go and fetch the imperial physician."
Zhu Gaoxi was about to call out to Huang Liang when the old emperor quickly stopped him.
"No need, no need, this is fine, it's still more comfortable when our grandson massages me."
Zhu Yuanzhang closed his eyes to enjoy the moment, and unknowingly fell asleep holding Zhu Gaoxi's hand.
Zhu Gaoxi tried to pull his hand away while he was fast asleep, but the hand was gripped tightly. After struggling for a long time, he still couldn't get it out, so he could only doze off beside him and drift off to sleep.
The eunuch on night duty called out, and the grandfather and grandson groggily opened their eyes.
Zhu Gaoxi was lifted up by palace maids, who washed his face, combed his hair, and changed his clothes.
Seeing the palace maids dressing him in the custom-made imperial robes, Zhu Gaoxi was suddenly startled.
The old emperor wasn't joking.
This... is truly... effortless mastery.
He was completely stunned and was led out of the Qianqing Palace like a puppet, heading towards the Fengtian Gate.
The ceremony officiants were already in their positions, and the atmosphere was solemn and respectful.
After the morning drum sounded three times, Zhu Gaoxi followed the officials leading the ceremony and slowly entered Fengtian Gate, where he knelt before the Fengtian Hall to listen to the imperial edict.
Then, Zhu Gaoxi entered the hall and received the imperial edict.
The official reading the book was full of energy, loudly reciting the contents of the golden book.
Zhu Gaoxi's mind was a complete mess. He only heard his own name clearly: "...Gaoxi, the sixth son of Crown Prince Yiwen, is hereby appointed as the King of Wu and granted the land of Mao..."
After Zhu Biao's death, he was given the posthumous title of "Crown Prince Yiwen".
Zhu Biao had five sons in total. After Zhu Gaoxi was adopted, he could only become the sixth son.
After the text was read aloud, the music of ceremonies began.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat majestically on his throne, with his grandson Zhu Yunwen standing beside him.
Zhu Gaoxi stepped forward, and Cao Guogong Li Jinglong placed the golden book and golden seal into Zhu Gaoxi's hands.
Zhu Gaoxi solemnly accepted the gift and handed it to Sanbao, who was standing to the side, before kneeling down towards the throne.
The music of the ceremony resumed, and Zhu Gaoxi, led by the master of ceremonies, returned along the same route and exited through Fengtian Gate.
When Jin Zhong and other officials from the Prince of Yan's residence who had come to observe the ceremony saw Zhu Gaoxi, they all bowed and offered their congratulations.
Zhu Gaoxi raised his hand blankly, indicating that they should dispense with formalities.
He was led to a side hall to rest, where Zhu Gaoxi was finally able to take off his heavy imperial robes and change into comfortable everyday clothes.
"Your Highness, are you hungry?" Sanbao whispered beside him, shaking his sleeves to indicate that there was something inside.
He hadn't eaten last night, so he should have been starving by now, but Zhu Gaoxi had no appetite at all.
The more I thought about it, the more something seemed off.
The imperial palace and the investiture ceremony must have been prepared long ago.
Even the date...
Upon realizing this, Zhu Gaoxi suddenly understood, as if waking from a dream.
They must have been deceived by the old emperor.
Yesterday, the old emperor's insults towards his cheap father were actually not what they seemed, but rather a ploy to distract him and trick him into joining the wrongdoing.
The old emperor was cunning and treacherous, always harboring countless schemes that made him impossible to guard against.
In the end, he still fell into his hands, Zhu Gaoxi couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
This throne of Wu, which is like being roasted over a fire, is undoubtedly a harbinger of certain doom for those without the blessing of Heaven.
Among Zhu Biao's sons, even Zhu Yunwen had not yet been granted the title of prince. Zhu Gaoxi, an adopted son, was making such a big splash. Wasn't that obviously inviting hatred?
The old emperor has done me a great disservice.
There's really nowhere to reason with them.
Zhu Gaoxi resignedly accepted his fate and was led back to the Qianqing Palace, where he had breakfast with Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunwen.
Zhu Yunwen maintained his icy expression, his face cold and indifferent.
Zhu Yuanzhang, on the other hand, looked smug and satisfied with his treacherous scheme having succeeded.
Zhu Gaoxi bowed to the two men as required, and then focused on eating.
People need food to survive; if you eat a little later, you'll be so hungry you'll feel dizzy.
"From now on, you will be brothers, and you must support each other," Zhu Yuanzhang earnestly instructed.
Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Gaoxi rose and bowed, saying, "Your grandsons will respectfully follow your grandfather's teachings."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly in satisfaction, signaling them to continue eating.
In the past, when Zhu Yuanzhang conferred titles of princes, he used a batch approach, conferring titles on multiple princes at the same time. Zhu Gaoxi's case was special this time, as he was promoted to a princely fiefdom based on merit and was the only one of his kind. Considering his young age, many of the ceremonies were simplified as much as possible.
Zhu Gaoxi learned all of this gradually from Zhu Yuanzhang afterward.
Zhu Yuanzhang insisted on having him adopted so that he could clearly and publicly declare that in the future, the crown prince and princes could only come from Zhu Biao's lineage, and other princes should not even think about it.
The old emperor truly had a brilliant and extraordinary mind, able to come up with such a creative way to extinguish the ambitions of the various vassal states.
After becoming the Prince of Wu, Zhu Gaoxi's life did not change significantly. He continued to serve the emperor, except for having a private Prince of Wu residence inside the imperial city outside the palace.
Upon receiving the news, his adoptive father, who was far away in Beiping, specially sent someone back to Beijing to deliver a congratulatory letter.
"Your father is such a miser. He sent someone all the way from Beiping, only to bring a letter," Zhu Yuanzhang said with utter contempt.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxi immediately became vigilant. Last time, he and the old emperor had joined forces to denounce his adoptive father, only to be inexplicably granted the title of king. He could not afford to be fooled again this time.
No matter how sincere the old emperor's words were, Zhu Gaoxi would only respond with a faint smile, completely unmoved.
Don't try to use those classic tricks to manipulate me. I've learned my lesson, and I'm experienced now, Zhu Gaoxi thought to himself.
After grumbling for a while, the old emperor released Zhu Gaoxi from the palace.
Inside the Prince of Wu's residence, Guan Tong, a trusted general of Prince Yan Zhu Di, presented two boxes of treasures and a list of gifts.
Antiques, jade artifacts, gold ornaments... Zhu Gaoxi couldn't help but beam with joy upon seeing so many treasures for the first time.
The cheapskate father is really being polite.
We should select some of the finest items to present to the old emperor, so that he doesn't always feel like he's been taken advantage of.
Besides the two boxes of valuables, Guan Tong's most important mission on this trip to Beijing was to bring nearly a hundred guards with him in various covert ways.
These guards will all remain at the Wu Prince's residence to provide close protection for Zhu Gaoxi's safety.
My cheap dad still cares about me.
A warm feeling washed over Zhu Gaoxi's heart.