Chapter 645: Conclusion and Beginning

“Have you written it all down?”
A faint voice from the bed jolted Zhang Yue awake. Ever since Yang Rong and Jin Youzi entered to pay their respects, the emperor had intermittently imparted his last words and instructions—fragments at best. Thanks to Yang Rong’s vigilance and Jin Youzi’s efforts to fill in the gaps, the two scholars from the Hanlin Academy managed to organize these incoherent remarks into a coherent text. Now, after the emperor’s question, Yang Rong calmly stood up and recited the entire document from beginning to end, his language elegant and precise.
“The will should only designate the crown prince as the successor. The funeral rites shall follow the old traditions established by the founding emperor. The rest can be detailed in another document for the prince.” Zhu Di struggled to utter these words before proceeding slowly, word by word, “Including details about governance and military achievements in the will would be too verbose. Even if I omit them, who can deny my accomplishments? Right and wrong lie in people’s hearts—I fear no criticism from others!”
Yang Rong was surprised that his carefully crafted document had drawn such a response from the emperor and felt somewhat embarrassed. He quickly took another piece of paper and wrote hastily. After reading it this time, Zhu Di made no further complaints and immediately ordered Jin Youzi to use the imperial seal. After using the seal, he himself reviewed the will carefully before finally sighing in relief.
“If there are any military matters, you three may handle them. Hand the will to Zhang Fu. You three may retire now.”
Hearing the emperor mention only these three people, as if he had completely forgotten about himself, Zhang Yue found it highly strange. As Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and Zhang Fu left together, he felt unsteady on his feet. Just as he was about to step forward and say something, he heard Zhu Di calling him.
“Zhang Yue, come here.”
There were two eunuchs in the room. At that moment, they made no sound at all, not even moving slightly, standing motionless like statues hidden in the shadows of the candles. After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Yue stepped forward and knelt on the platform in front of the bed. Seeing the emperor’s shockingly pale face, he felt a mix of emotions.
“Do you still remember the first time I met you?”
Suddenly, the image of the red plum forest at Yang Shiqi’s home flashed before Zhang Yue’s eyes. Back then, he thought he was lucky, meeting nobles wherever he went. Only after learning that it was all Yuan Fang’s plan did he gradually realize that even coincidences have causes, and behind life’s serendipities are often unseen forces at work. After a moment of silence, he lowered his eyelids and softly replied, “I remember.”

“This world was conquered by me and my soldiers with our own hands, so as long as I am alive, I will never treat any noble who is loyal to me unfairly.” Lying there, Zhu Di kept his head raised, not turning to see Zhang Yue’s expression. “After Zhang Yu, the Duke of Rongguo, died in battle, I lamented losing such a capable advisor during difficult times. Yet after ascending the throne, I did not grant him a duke title. I’m glad I did so; otherwise, how could I have gained such a capable general? A sword unsharpened cannot be a fine sword. When I first met you, I found you quite interesting, but I never expected that though you couldn’t carry on Zhang Yu’s legacy, you inherited eight-tenths of his courage. Brave, resourceful, and willing to fight to the death—very good.”

Hearing such praise, even Zhang Yue, with his extraordinary thick skin, couldn’t help but blush. He was willing to take on responsibilities, but only those he could bear; he had courage, but only as much as would not cost him his life. However, since he often found himself in situations where he had to risk his life, Zhu Di thought he was someone who fought desperately.

If he could live safely without risking his life, he wouldn’t be stupid—why would he go into danger?

“The Zhang family of Xiangfu wasn’t among the first to follow me, but two generations of them have been outstanding. It’s not the first time the Zhang family has married into the imperial family, which is why I had you draft that decree and leave it for Zhang Yu. As for you, I’m very curious to see what a scholar from a military family can achieve. It’s a pity fate hasn’t given me more time… Failing to reward merit isn’t out of unwillingness—it’s just that the time isn’t right… If all the nobles in the court were like the Zhang family, I wouldn’t have any worries… People say I trust Yang Rong and Jin Youzi the most, but those I truly rely on are the nobles who have fought alongside me through thick and thin. Since you are surnamed Zhang, I naturally trust you…”

“By the way, Zhang Yue!”

Having anticipated this, Zhang Yue wasn’t surprised by Zhu Di suddenly bringing it up. But thinking of the document he had personally drafted and sealed with the imperial seal, he felt somewhat uneasy. Zhang Yu’s eldest daughter, Zhang Tian, was born to the Queen and was barely five years old. Who would have thought the emperor would be interested in her? Marriage into the imperial family was both an honor and a constraint for the Zhang family. Hearing the final call, he quickly dismissed those thoughts and focused his attention.

“Go find the memorial sent by the crown prince first and read it to me!”

This sudden request greatly surprised Zhang Yue, but he still quickly stood up and went outside to search. In a short while, he returned with several folded pieces of paper, sat down in front of the bed again, and placed them on the bed. He knew very well that the emperor certainly did not want to read those official writings polished by many people, so he had chosen only family letters discussing trivial matters. Seeing Emperor Zhu Di staring at him intently, he quickly opened the first one and began to read aloud.

“On Ren Shen, hunting in the Western Garden. During the seventh year of the northern expedition, my grandfather personally taught me how to hunt here. Today, I hit all ten targets with my arrows; when my grandfather returns from his northern expedition, I wish to offer him the branches I shot as a gift…”

“On Jia Xu, offering sacrifices at Lingji Palace. Lingji Palace was built by my grandfather, and miracles have occurred there repeatedly. Now, I too have a request. I only wish for my elders to be healthy and free from illness or pain, and for my daughters to be safe and happy…”

“On Ding Chou, I met Gu Natai, a captive who had surrendered. This man is by no means an ordinary enemy; I suspect he is a leader from another tribe beyond the Tatars and Oirats, with ulterior motives. I hope my grandfather will see through his deception…”

As he read sentence by sentence, Zhang Yue gradually forgot about the emperor on the bed. After a long while, when he remembered to look over, he saw that the emperor seemed to be asleep, still with a smile on his face. An indescribable sense of dread spread throughout his body.

Since both the Kuanghe Defense Battalion and the Huizhou Garrison had been abolished, on the day Zhang Yue and the others set off from Danning, their first task was to cross the vast grasslands, with the biggest threat being encountering large enemy forces. Along the way, a constant sense of fear accompanied them all. However, unlike those soldiers who knew nothing and only guarded against external enemies, the three leaders were burdened with heavy concerns.

Unlike last year’s northern expedition when they were sent back to the capital, there was nothing performative about this journey. Last night, after the emperor fainted again, Zhang Yue hurriedly sent people to call for the imperial physicians brought by Yang Rong and Jin Youzi. Even Shi Quan, whose medical skills were highly praised by the emperor, was ultimately unable to do anything. By morning, the great emperor had taken his last breath, forcing Zhang Yue, Yang Rong, and Hai Shou to set off on their return journey, rushing back to the capital with just a few dozen guards at full speed.

Daning was eight hundred li from the capital. Since most of the journey lay beyond the Great Wall, caution was necessary. Thus, the first three hundred li took two days and one night to cover. On the latter part of the journey to Songting Pass, since relay horses could be obtained along the way, the entire route from Zunhua, Jizhou, Sanhe, and Tongzhou to the capital was covered in just a little over a night. When they arrived at the foot of the capital city, it happened to be the busiest time of day for entering the city. Due to the extreme cold, although everyone was wrapped in thick cotton robes, they were almost frozen stiff after traveling all night. Dozens of people stopped briefly in front of Lizheng Gate before rushing in at top speed.

Although the capital had gates in all directions, Chongwen Gate, Xuanwu Gate, and Lizheng Gate saw the busiest traffic. Chongwen Gate was inhabited mostly by merchants, Xuanwu Gate by high-ranking officials, while Lizheng Gate, being directly opposite the imperial palace, was favored by outsiders visiting the capital for the first time—making it the busiest at this time. Seeing such a large crowd rushing in, the gate guards immediately became nervous, and the dozen or so people behind them hurriedly took position behind the iron barriers.

“Hurry up and move those barriers aside! We are returning to the capital by imperial order to report matters!”

With Hai Shou’s high-pitched voice, Zhang Yue immediately threw something. A leading centurion rushed forward to catch it and paled upon taking just one look. It was a gilded bronze plaque, three inches wide and one foot long, with twin dragons on top and two crouching tigers at the bottom. The ends of the plaque were round with holes, and a red silk ribbon ran through the middle.

He had seen such things before, so he didn’t dare to read the inscriptions closely. He quickly ordered his men to remove the barriers to let people pass, then respectfully stepped forward to return the plaque with both hands. In the meantime, he observed these people closely. Seeing that they were all disheveled, he understood where they came from.

Messengers had returned before, but why were there so many this time? Could it be…

Regardless of the centurion’s fearful thoughts, Zhang Yue, who had passed through Lizheng Gate, rode forward for a while before turning around and passing by the magnificent Chang’an Left Gate. He stopped in front of it, grabbed the reins, and dismounted. When he saw imperial guards approaching to question him, he was about to show them the bronze plaque again when Hai Shou suddenly stepped forward, bypassing him in two strides, and sternly ordered, “Stop dawdling! Can’t you even recognize our family and Scholars Yang and Zhang?” We are returning to the capital by imperial order to see the Crown Prince!”

Although it was a routine inspection, the soldiers on duty naturally knew that a mere hundred people were unlikely to have any sinister intentions. Yet when Hai Shou mentioned it, the leading officer was still greatly surprised. After all, just four days earlier, the news of the great victory at Songting Pass had arrived in the capital. Now, Yang Rong, the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, Hai Shou, the Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Horse Stables, and Zhang Yue were all returning together, which was quite alarming. He didn’t dare to stop them. After Yang Rong, Hai Shou, and Zhang Yue entered the palace, he hurriedly sent people to take these imperial guards to Xiyuan for accommodation and also sent someone to report to the crown prince immediately.

Yang Rong, Zhang Yue, and Hai Shou moved quickly, but still couldn’t keep up with the eunuchs who were rushing eastward to report the news. Thus, by the time they entered the imperial city through the Meridian Gate, Zhu Gaochi, who was already in the Wenhua Hall discussing matters with officials from the Eastern Palace, had already received the news. Although Yang Shiqi had made some guesses when the news of the great victory came that day, and later, after summoning Du Zhen, he reached a similar conclusion and took precautions in advance, he still found it hard to believe when the news arrived this time.

You see, last year the emperor had also sent Zhang Yue back suddenly, causing rumors to spread throughout the capital. Yet he returned in high spirits before turning on and punishing many people. If he miscalculated this time, not only would all his previous preparations be in vain, but his position as crown prince would also become truly unstable. All those years of endurance would then be completely wasted.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, Yang Rong, the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, Hai Shou, the Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Horse Stables, and Zhang Yue, the Director of the Military Department’s Geography Bureau, are waiting outside the Wenhua Hall!”

Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi snapped out of his thoughts. Seeing that all the officials in the court were looking at him, he quickly suppressed his restless thoughts. When the three were summoned in, seeing their exhausted and disheveled appearance, his heart skipped a beat. He grasped the armrest tightly, almost standing up. Despite repeatedly telling himself to stay calm, his eagerness became unbearable.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince… the Emperor has passed away in Danning!”

Although the three had similar ranks, it was Yang Rong who stepped forward first to kneel and cry. After uttering those words, he knelt deeply on the ground, crying bitterly with his hands tightly clasped together. He wasn’t returning alone this time; he also brought with him the imperial edict he had drafted himself. Zhang Fu, the Duke of Yingguo, had actually entrusted this crucial document to him!

In an instant, complete silence fell over the vast Wenhua Hall. Though they had anticipated it, when the news became certain, everyone from top to bottom found it hard to believe. Even Zhu Gaochi, who had most eagerly hoped for this confirmation, suddenly felt a loud roar in his head, his body grew heavy, and his forward-leaning posture lost its balance; he seemed unable to sit steadily on the throne.

His father, the emperor, was dead! Zhu Di, his father whom he had suspected for so many years, was actually dead—he had truly made it to this day!

Behind the beaded curtains at one of the side doors, Crown Princess Zhang let out a long sigh of relief. People said the emperor never abolished the Eastern Palace because of her and Zhu Zhanji, but she knew that if it weren’t for Zhu Gaochi’s caution and brotherly affection, even if she were virtuous and capable or Zhu Zhanji were intelligent and quick-witted, it would be of no use. Zhu Gaochi was the crown prince, so she was the crown princess, and Zhu Zhanji was the crown prince heir—this causal relationship could never be confused or reversed.

“Go, summon the crown prince heir at once!”

As these words burst out, Zhu Gaochi collapsed to the ground, crying bitterly. With his cry, everyone in the hall also knelt down, their cries echoing throughout the hall. It was impossible to tell how much sorrow, grief, relief, or joy was involved.

Exhausted, Zhang Yue couldn’t cry loudly like the others, but his heart was filled with an indescribable feeling. He had managed to get through these years unscathed largely thanks to Zhu Di’s kindness, but he had had enough of living in constant fear. Yet on the night before the emperor’s death, seeing the stern or angry old man pass away peacefully, those earlier thoughts gradually faded.

Before long, Zhu Zhanji rushed over in haste. Because he had rushed too fast, he stumbled and nearly fell as he entered the hall. When he saw the scene of widespread crying, he, who had initially been skeptical, became stunned. He took a few stiff steps forward before collapsing to the ground, startling everyone present. At that moment, most people were afraid of being criticized for their lack of decorum, so only Yang Rong and Zhang Yue stepped forward to help the crown prince heir up.

When helping Zhu Zhanji up, Zhang Yue suddenly noticed that the crown prince heir was already in tears. In that instant, he vividly remembered the letter he had read to Zhu Di that night, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Whether it was sorrow or joy, everything was now settled. The Yongle era had ended, and the Renxuan era had just begun.

Volume 14: Establishing the World Order
One emperor, one set of ministers; two emperors, two worlds.