Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 100 A sudden double act

The enthronement ceremony, the sacrifices to the Taimiao, and the just-completed worship of the ancestral tomb made Zhu Yunhuan's position as the crown prince more and more secure.

Theoretically, one enthronement ceremony would be enough, but some things should be done as much as possible.

The current emperor has recognized it and has informed heaven and earth. Now the ancestors of the Zhu family have also acknowledged Zhu Yunhuan as the crown prince. This is truly legitimate and impeccable.

Zhu Yunhuan did not think that such an approach was unnecessary at all, and perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang thought the same way.

I just returned to Yingtian Prefecture. It’s the right time. It’s the winter solstice, an important solar term and a very important day.

Zhu Yunhuan changed into his crown and robes early and headed towards the Fengtian Hall before dawn.

Looking behind him, he saw that all the uncles who had not yet been enfeoffed had arrived wearing crowns and robes, and all the civil and military officials were standing in line according to their ranks.

After the whip sounded, Zhu Yunhuan led the civil and military officials into the hall.

When the ceremonial music sounded, Zhu Yunhuan and others naturally bowed four times in ceremony.

"I, the Crown Prince Zhu Yunhuan, am meeting the winter solstice, which is the time of the year when the sun reaches its longest day. I respectfully wish that His Majesty the Emperor will receive the blessing of heaven and prosper forever."

After all the officials bowed four times, Old Zhu raised his hand and said, "Stand up. Crown Prince, pass on the decree."

Old Zhu was desperate for Zhu Yunhuan, because Zhu Yunhuan didn't need to do the transmission of the system.

Zhu Yunhuan did not complain at all. He turned to the civil and military officials and said, "I share the joy of being promoted."

After saying this, Zhu Yunxun took out the jade sceptre and shouted, "The mountain cheers."

All the officials immediately bowed their hands and said, "Long live!"

Zhu Yunhuan shouted again, "Shan Hu!"

All officials responded loudly, "Long live!"

Zhu Yunhuan shouted again, "Shan Hu!"

All officials were even more respectful, "Long live the emperor!"

Old Zhu nodded in satisfaction, and then said, "All the ministers, please withdraw from the court and return to your respective offices to handle affairs. Crown Prince, bring the royal family and nobles to the Huagai Palace."

After adjourning the court, Zhu Yunhuan led the royal family and nobles towards the Huagai Palace.

The fourteenth son of the emperor, Prince Su Zhu Yu, asked, "Yunhuan, I will be enfeoffed after the New Year?"

Zhu Jian's words also made Liao Wang Zhu Zhi, Qing Wang Zhu Zan and Ning Wang Zhu Quan concerned. These four princes were basically going to be enfeoffed next year. The fiefdom was basically determined by the title of the prince.

Zhu Yunhuan looked at Zhu Jian and said with a smile, "Fourteenth Uncle, weren't these things already decided before?"

Zhu Yu said unhappily, "Originally I was the King of Han, but now I've been changed to the King of Su. Who can be sure until the last moment?"

The eighteenth prince Zhu Yu complained even more, "I was originally the Prince of Min, and last year I went to Linqing with my fourteenth brother to train the troops. Now the four of them are going to be enfeoffed, but I am the only one left behind. Yunxun, why don't you go and tell my father to let me go as well?"

Looking at Zhu Yu, Zhu Yunhuan really couldn't remain calm.

This eighteenth uncle did not do many good things in history. He, the King of Min, did not go to Minzhou, Gansu, but went to Yunnan, which was also considered as "the goods did not match the bill". In order to appease the newly conquered Yunnan, a prince of the royal family with some weight was needed to take charge.

Although the King of Min was deposed as a commoner both in the Jianwen and Yongle dynasties, his greatest achievement may be the great success of his descendants.

Zhu Yunhuan smiled and said, "Uncles, I dare not say anything about these things."

Zhu Quan didn't believe it and immediately said, "Yun Hu, although we are uncle and nephew, we studied and grew up together since childhood. How is he now? Don't we know?"

Zhu Yunhuan did grow up with these imperial uncles, mainly because they were of similar age.

To be honest, Zhu Yunhuan and Zhu Yu had a better relationship in the past, in the sense that they were birds of a feather.

Zhu Yunhuan could no longer fool around, so he said bluntly, "The court has already made decisions on these matters, and they cannot be easily changed. Eighteenth Uncle should go to Yunnan, and next year we will definitely build a palace for you to prepare for your enfeoffment, which will only take two to three years."

Zhu Yu's face turned ugly. Although Gansu was not as good as Xi'an and Taiyuan, it was at least close to the northwest border and could be used to hunt the Tartars. Sending him to Yunnan now was like being exiled.

Although he was very unhappy in his heart, Zhu Yu would not say it out loud.

"Fourteenth Uncle, you are going to be the King of the Frontier." Zhu Yunhuan said with a smile, "It is particularly important to take back the frontier. I guess Third Uncle will take you out hunting when the time comes."

Zhu Zhuo immediately said, "Yunxun, we are not dissatisfied with our third brother. It's just that our fiefdoms and pastures were divided and settled by our third brother. I'm afraid this is not appropriate, right?"

Zhu Zhi nodded immediately, looking like he couldn't be more agreeable. Zhu Yunhuan said directly, "Third uncle has been away for a long time, so he is familiar with the affairs of the northwest border. The uncles must be a little unfamiliar with the place when they first arrived, so let Third uncle take care of it first."

Zhu Zhuo and the others' intentions were actually very clear, knowing that they were not as good as the King of Jin. However, these vassal kings also had their own ideas.

They couldn't disobey the orders of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, but there was no reason for them to be subject to the control of the King of Jin. Besides, if the Third Brother was really allowed to divide the pastures and other lands, who knew if it would be fair, and who knew if the Third Brother would make a fortune?

In Yingtian Prefecture and in the Imperial City, everyone is a harmonious family, with brothers who are friendly and respectful to each other.

But once we go out, we are all vassal princes. Who would want to see his fiefdom or pasture being managed by other princes?

Who doesn’t have some little thoughts? Who is really so selfless?
Zhu Yunhuan obviously didn't believe these things. He knew even more clearly that his uncles all had their own little plans.

As long as some things are not done out of line, there is nothing wrong with being a little clever. True harmony does not exist, and he is aware of this.

Even myself, don't I often think and plot against each other with some people?
When they arrived at the Huagai Palace, Old Zhu got straight to the point and said, "I am old, and I feel less energetic in the winter. I can't say it in the court, so as not to worry the officials."

Zhu Yunhuan felt that there was a pit, there might be a big pit ahead, waiting for him to jump.

The others looked at each other in confusion. They hadn't heard that the emperor was ill.
But considering the emperor's age, it would be normal for him to have some health problems. Winter is the most difficult season for the elderly.

Old Zhu continued, "You are all our family, nobles who share the same destiny with the country, unlike those foreign officials. We are not strong enough now, so you can ask the Crown Prince to handle some matters."

Old Zhu then looked at Zhu Yunhuan and said, "Yunhuan, you are the crown prince, and it is time for you to practice state affairs."

Zhu Yunhuan knew there was a big trap, and tried to struggle, "Grandfather, I am young and ignorant, please take back your order!"

Old Zhu looked sad and said, "We are already this old, and we have suffered the pain of losing our son this year. I am really upset and can't take care of the government as usual. You, just do more."

This is not the case at all. Some time ago, you said that there was no rush for me to do anything in the next two years, but now you are forcing me to do something!

Zhu Yunhuan continued to struggle, "Grandfather, I have never been involved in government affairs before, and I am afraid that I will not be able to handle this important task."

"The court has no shortage of talented people, and we have civil and military support. You can rest assured." Old Zhu still looked weak and said, "Yun Hu, please be considerate of us."

The royal family and nobles were all dumbfounded. They really couldn't figure out what the emperor and the crown prince were up to.

But at this time they dared not express their opinions at all and could only wait and see and let nature take its course.

Old Zhu waved his hand and said, "Yun Huan stays, and the others can go."

The royal family and nobles naturally hurried to leave, while Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunhuan stared at each other, trying to figure out each other's thoughts.

Old Zhu suddenly took off his shoes, no longer showing the energy he had before. "You bastard, you fought so fiercely with Yun Wen before, but now you refuse when I ask you to do something! Why did we establish a bastard like you!"

"Let's talk first!" Zhu Yunhuan dodged flexibly and said, "Besides, didn't we agree that I won't be allowed to attend court or do any work in the next two years? Why has everything changed now?"

Old Zhu didn't feel guilty at all, and said as a matter of course, "I thought you were young before, so you should learn more. Now that I know you are capable, I will naturally let you do the work!"

"That won't work either!" Zhu Yunhuan said, "I still need to observe politics first. It's too early for me to take charge at my age now."

Old Zhu pointed at Zhu Yunhuan and said, "You are the crown prince! You should do those things."

"I understand this and I don't intend to shirk it." Zhu Yunhuan said, "But I can't take on too much, I can't do everything like my father did."

Old Zhu said with some mockery, "Even if you want to take on too much responsibility, I'm still worried. I'm just letting you practice and get familiar with state affairs."

Zhu Yunhuan smiled and said, "Well, the emperor is old and the crown prince is young, how about we keep the enemy at bay?"

Old Zhu suddenly laughed, "You are really a sly guy! We were wondering why you keep shirking responsibility. Are you planning to beat these Jiangnan civil servants to death with a stick?"

Then Lao Zhu burst into laughter and said, "Good! What a scheming mind! Then I'll do as you wish!"

The emperor is old, and the crown prince is not yet able to take on the responsibility. This means that the highly concentrated imperial power seems to have loosened a little, and the originally honest officials may have some ideas.

But if you really think that the emperor and the crown prince cannot control the government, then try it. Don't think that the emperor is really old and lacks energy!

Zhu Yunhuan thought for a moment and said, "If it really takes a few years, who knows, the people below might really start to have ideas. Now is the perfect time, let's play both real and fake. Give them a hard blow first, so that they won't have any wild thoughts in the future."

Old Zhu also nodded, "We can handle the matter now, let's deal with it now, and when we are really old, you can also take on the responsibility. Then this time we will put Zhan Hui in there, but I am afraid that he alone is not enough."

Zhu Yunhuan also understood this truth and said, "Then I will look for another one. One Shangshu is not enough. It will be worth it to spend a year or two to give the civil officials a hard time."

Old Zhu nodded with satisfaction. He could hold on for a year or two!

(End of this chapter)