Chapter 655: A Choice of Fate

The ZhaoWang Fu in the capital was built in the second year of the Yongle era, located west of Xuanwu Gate Street, adjacent to Koudai Hutong. It was originally the private residence of the former Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. After being renovated by the Ministry of Works, it remained the most magnificent residence in the entire capital, second only to the imperial palace. After all, Beiping was then the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and it was rare for ordinary princes to even be granted an audience. Even princes like the Prince of Zhou and the Prince of Han could only build their own mansions; there was only this one grand palace with towering gates.

One day, a large procession turned into the alley in front of Duanli Gate at the south entrance of the ZhaoWang Fu. After the eight-pole sedan chair came to a stop, Zhu Gaoxu, the Prince of Han, looked up at the red-painted, gold-trimmed, copper-nailed gates and felt a surge of anger.

He and Zhu Gaoxu shared the same mother and had grown up together. Zhu Gaoxu was inferior to him in every way, yet as the younger son, he received equal favor. When it came to being made a prince, he and Zhu Gaochi fought fiercely, and in the end, he was defeated and sent to the desolate place of Le’an, while Zhu Gaoxu, lucky enough, heard the news of the capital’s relocation to Beijing.

“That idiot… If it were me, having ruled Beiping for over a decade, I would have turned this place into an impregnable fortress. How could I hand it over so easily?”

Though he muttered these words, Zhu Gaoxu’s voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear. Yet no one dared say anything at that moment. Since someone had already reported their arrival, Duanli Gate was naturally wide open. Zhu Gaoxu, dressed in mourning clothes, greeted them at the door. When the two brothers met, Zhu Gaoxu tried to fake tears, but Zhu Gaoxu simply passed by him without a word and went inside. He was stunned for a moment before rushing after him.

Zhu Gaoxu originally wanted to invite Zhu Gaoxu to the main hall, Chengyun Hall, to talk, but Zhu Gaoxu kept pushing forward. It wasn’t until they entered Neiyi Gate that he stopped, turned around, and said with a smirk, “I knew you wouldn’t follow the Ministry of Works’ instructions when building. Sure enough, it’s orderly in the front but different behind. Third brother, you’re about to be sent to Zhangde Prefecture. Leaving behind the increasingly prosperous capital and this palace where you’ve lived for over a decade—can you really bear to part?”

There were still people all around him at this moment. Zhu Gao Sui never expected his second brother, who had only ever believed in fighting and killing throughout his life, to be so reckless. He was immediately furious. He had intended to muddle through with vague excuses, but unexpectedly, Zhu Gao Xu suddenly grabbed his wrist. With no other choice, he gave a signal to send everyone away before sighing and saying, “Second brother, are you deliberately trying to harm me? I had already planned to be a quiet vassal king…”

“Quiet? If you were quiet, your subordinates wouldn’t plot rebellion, you wouldn’t keep leaking information from the capital to me, and you wouldn’t secretly hide laborers in your manor. Do you think I don’t know? As soon as the eldest brother ascended the throne, he sent more troops to guard outside the city to prevent your schemes. Otherwise, why would he rush to build a palace for you in Zhangde now? Third brother, if you’re going to pretend, don’t do it in front of me. You were involved in every single thing I did back then!”

In their early years, the two brothers shared a close relationship, exchanging numerous letters filled with explicit content. So when Zhu Gao Xu spoke openly, Zhu Gao Sui felt bitter inside. Yet he still couldn’t bear to give up, so he stammered a few excuses as they walked. Seeing Funing Residence, where he usually took naps, in front of him, he invited Zhu Gao Xu in and ordered a eunuch to bring tea.

“Second brother, it’s not that I won’t help you. Our eldest brother has moved too fast this time. He got the news earlier than us and then took swift action, leaving me no time to react. By the time I learned anything, the capital was already under martial law, and he had sent all his troops out! In my opinion, you’re really bold this time. I heard some people in the palace even say they want to keep you imprisoned in the capital…”

“Tch! Who would dare?” Zhu Gao Xu flew into anger upon hearing this. He didn’t even take the Junkiln teacup offered by the eunuch with a submissive attitude. With a heavy snort, he said, “Even if he’s the emperor, he still needs others to lead his troops. I don’t believe any noble would dare challenge me! When I fought at the forefront for our father emperor, none of them could match me!”

“I believe it, of course I believe it!” Zhu Gao Sui signaled the eunuch to put down the teacup before apologizing with a smile, “Second brother, you’re a hero beyond compare. How could I not know that? But times have changed. Though you have many men with you, they still can’t compare to the heavy troops in the capital. When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head. Didn’t you also refrain from causing a fuss after crying over the funeral?”

“That’s because the eldest brother is good at pretending. How could I satisfy his wishes!” Zhu Gaoxu thought of the messages sent from the palace and felt furious. “The first thing the eldest brother did after ascending the throne was to clean house in the palace. I lost almost all my spies. I doubt you didn’t suffer losses too. Third brother, I won’t waste words on you. Beijing is your territory. Since you want to leave, rather than letting those people benefit others, it’s better for them to benefit me. I’ve heard that Zhu Zhanji is likely to head south next year to pay respects at the Xiaoling Mausoleum. I’ve been in charge of Nanjing for years, and it won’t be easy for others to get rid of me so quickly!”

Zhu Gaosui picked up the remaining rose-purple glaze teacup from the tea tray and pretended to drink from it solemnly. Just then, he heard these crucial words. Startled, his hand trembled, and he almost burned his mouth. After calming down, he understood Zhu Gaoxu’s meaning. Unlike before when they exchanged information and secretly tried to harm Zhu Chici, this time it involved outright rebellion. Realizing this, he, who had already failed once, felt his heart race. He then took a deep breath.

“If second brother says so, I won’t beat around the bush either.” He set aside all his concerns, placed the teacup aside, stood up, leaned forward on the table, and said in a low voice, “How can second brother guarantee that I’m not like the former Prince of Ning? Uncle, the Prince of Ning, also helped our father greatly back then, but what was the outcome? He was reassigned to Jiangxi, and even now, the eldest brother won’t allow him to come and pay respects! I don’t have Uncle’s Doyan Three Guards, nor his combat skills. If I have to go through all this trouble just to become a prince again, why should I take such a big risk and follow you?”

Before coming, Zhu Gaoxu had considered various possible reactions from Zhu Gaosui. But since Zhu Gaosui was usually careless, he never expected him to bring this up so suddenly. Frowning, Zhu Gaoxu didn’t have time to think further and simply said directly, “As long as you help me, I certainly won’t treat you poorly! I won’t talk nonsense about governing the country together. Shuntianfu, Beijing, and Ying Tianfu, Nanjing—I want Ying Tianfu and Nanjing. Beijing is where you’re used to living, so it’s yours!”

Hearing this, Zhu Gao Sui could hardly hide his joy and even asked twice if it was true. Only after Zhu Gao Xu wrote down the agreement without hesitation and stamped it with his own seal did he take it with satisfaction, then murmuring a few names. The brothers spent over an hour plotting, and once everything was decided, Zhu Gao Sui personally escorted Zhu Gao Xu to the gate. It was not until he saw him leave in an eight-pole sedan chair that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Returning to Funing Residence, he found the two eunuchs who had been serving in the room still standing motionless, staring at the ground like wooden posts. Ignoring them, he sat down and called out. Soon, a gap appeared in the bookshelf by the west wall, and out came Zhu Zhan Tuan, who had just been appointed crown prince.

“Father’s performance just now was truly masterful. Judging from Second Uncle’s tone, he must have completely believed it. Such a fateful decision isn’t that easy—he really underestimated you!”

“Of course. How could that brute compare to me?” Zhu Gao Sui hated being looked down upon and sneered. “I’ve suffered once; this time, I must stay out of it. Since the eldest has built a prince’s mansion for me, let’s move in obediently and see how those two fight. Hmm, the mansion’s guards might not be safe… It doesn’t matter. Hand them over. Enduring for now is fine; I’ve already bribed some people in the imperial guards and military camps over the past two years, which will come in handy later.”

“And if Second Uncle fails, Father will also save effort.” Zhu Zhan Tuan nodded, then added softly, “But Father, please make more preparations. After all, everyone knows you have connections with Second Uncle. If the emperor wins, things might get tough for us. We need to show deference to the emperor too—for example, how did Second Uncle know about the crown prince’s spirit ritual? This was probably just an internal cabinet matter, and it’s even more likely the emperor who said it…”

“He has spies in the Eastern Palace!”

Realizing this, Zhu Gao Sui slapped his hand sharply and praised Zhu Zhan Tuan repeatedly before turning to say, “Although the eldest has made that boy Zhu Zhan Ji the crown prince, we must still be wary of him. The second has seven sons yet, and even though the crown prince has been appointed, the future is uncertain. I only have you as my son—share whatever ideas you have with me. Father and son are one. If I get a share of the throne, the world will belong to you; even if I remain just a prince, the title will still be yours!”

“Rest assured, Father. I will surely do my utmost!”

The father and son held each other’s hands tightly, not releasing them for a long time before finally letting go and beginning to discuss things. Half an hour later, Zhu Zhanhuan left Funingju and returned along the main road to his usual study. His expression immediately darkened. Sitting down at his desk, he thought of what his father had said just now and sneered.

There are no such things as father and son in the imperial family. If his old man could be as fertile as Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu, he wouldn’t be the most trusted person in the Prince Zhao’s household. What he had to do was not only ensure that Zhu Gao Sui could never have another son but also guarantee his own survival. Otherwise, not only would he lose hope of holding high office, but he might even lose his title as a prince and face death. After all, he himself still hadn’t managed to have a son yet!

Ever since the news of Zhu Di’s death reached them, Fang Ling had never returned home, constantly busy with no time to rest. After most of the civil and military officials in the court had been promoted, he finally received his own reward—a promotion to Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei. After years of hard study and numerous hardships, he had finally achieved his goal, and though he was somewhat proud, he dared not show it on his face. After working tirelessly with Wang Jie, the commander of the Jinyiwei, for several days, he finally got a chance to return home.

Since the Fang family’s earldom was not hereditary, the current head of the family was merely a commander, unremarkable in the capital filled with high-ranking officials. However, the Wei family’s residence east of Shichahai, which had been quiet for many years, suddenly became prominent again. As soon as Fang Ling entered the house, his smiling elder brother came out to greet him. When he saw his father, the father, who usually kept a stern face, also showed a rare smile. After forcing himself to exchange a few words with his father and brother, he went to see his legitimate mother. Then he planned to return to his own courtyard to rest. But as soon as he stepped out of the main house, an old woman approached him with a smile.

“Second young master, your mother already reported to your father that your courtyard faces in the wrong direction and often doesn’t even get sunlight. So a few days ago, she cleared out the small courtyard to the south. Miss Xiujiang has already moved there, and your mother also selected two good maids to live there as well. The eldest young master also said that you should choose a few servants to accompany you when you go out…”

Although he had expected it, hearing the old woman recount one by one the changes in the family these days, Fang Ling unconsciously clenched his fists without saying a word. He had reached where he was today thanks to various opportunities and his own efforts; he had relied on others and on himself, but almost never on the protection of his family. He had once envied the harmony among the brothers in Zhang Yue’s family, and now that his own family had finally changed their attitude, he found their behavior even more disgusting.

Moreover, now that he had risen, his mother could no longer see him…

The small courtyard to the south of Fang’s residence used to be the study outside, but now a wall had been built to separate the inside from the outside, making it neat and tidy. The main house plus the east and west wing rooms totaled seven rooms, much brighter than his previous cramped dwelling. The two new maids sent over were tall and fair-skinned, both younger and more beautiful than Xiujiang. Seeing Xiujiang, dressed in a plain front-buttoned shirt, awkwardly leading them forward to bow, his eyelids twitched, and after just a few words, he sent the two new maids away.

As soon as they left, he immediately pulled Xiujiang over and sat her beside him. “I’ve left you alone at home these past few months. Have you suffered any hardship?”

“Young master!” It had been months since Xiujiang last saw Fang Ling, and now she felt both happy and sad. She quickly pulled her hand back and shook her head. “At first, things were the same as before. But after news of your promotion came, Father, Mother, and the eldest young master all became kinder. However, these days, many people have come to propose marriage to you…”

“Propose marriage? So they’ve started targeting me again!” Fang Ling sneered, then spoke seriously. “It’s true that marriage should be arranged by parents and matchmakers. Though I can’t marry you as my main wife, I won’t let you suffer in the future. I don’t want to marry into a noble family; if the match isn’t suitable, I’ll suffer, let alone you. I’m not just an ordinary civil or military official now, so they don’t dare press me too hard. You’ve been with me for so many years; I certainly won’t treat you like my mother did.”

Although Fang Ling had never been favored since childhood, Xiujiang had always followed him and harbored deep affection for him. She was overjoyed at this moment. Holding her handkerchief, she was happy for a while before suddenly remembering there was important business to attend to. She quickly said, “By the way, Young Master Sun came to the house. He said Lord Zhang will be leaving in a few days and invited you to go see him off together. I know you’re close friends, so I wanted to send someone to give you a message, but Father and the young masters wouldn’t let anyone disturb you, so I had to wait until now.”

Hearing this, Fangling unconsciously let go of Xiujiang’s hand. Thinking about all the events he had experienced these days, he grew deeply hesitant. Should he go or not?