Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Zhu Kai pondered for a moment, then slowly stood up and patted Gu Wen on the shoulder. "Gu Wen, you are right. We cannot ignore these details. However, Mr. Misty has helped us a lot, and we cannot easily doubt him. How about this, you have a good rest tonight, and I will go and see what he is doing."

As night fell, Zhu Kai put on a black cloak and quietly followed Mr. Mist. In the moonlight, Mr. Mist looked particularly lonely as he walked along an almost invisible path into the depths of the forest. Zhu Kai followed closely behind him, trying not to make any noise. Not long after, Mr. Mist stopped under a big tree where there was a protruding stone. He took out a yellowed piece of paper from his arms and looked at it carefully in the moonlight.

"Mr. Mist..." Zhu Kai called softly, breaking the silence around him.

Mr. Misty turned around suddenly and saw Zhu Kai. A flash of surprise flashed across his face, but he immediately regained his composure. "Master Zhu, why are you here so late?"

Zhu Kai took a few steps closer, the moonlight illuminating his face, and he said gently, "I was worried about you, so I came to see what you were doing. What is that?" He pointed to the piece of paper in Mr. Mist's hand.

Mr. Misty hesitated for a moment, but finally handed the paper to Zhu Kai. "This is the suicide note my father left me. It contains a secret about the princess's identity."

Zhu Kai took the paper and read it in the dim light. The words on it were blurry, but he could still make out a few key sentences. "I see..." He raised his head, his eyes flashing with understanding, "Are you looking for evidence to prove the princess' true identity?"

Mr. Misty nodded, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "Yes, but this secret is too dangerous. If it falls into the wrong hands..."

"I understand." Zhu Kai interrupted him, "We are all fighting for justice, you don't have to hide anything. Now, let's work together to find all the clues."

Mr. Misty took a deep breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you for your understanding, Master Zhu."

"We are friends, no need to say more." Zhu Kai patted Mr. Mist on the back, "Go back, there are still many things to do tomorrow."

The two returned to the camp side by side, feeling much more relaxed than before. Back in the tent, Gu Wen had already fallen asleep. Zhu Kai did not disturb him, but just sat by the campfire thinking about the next plan. Mr. Misty was quietly packing his bag, ready to face new challenges.

"Gu Wen, wake up." The next morning, Zhu Kai gently woke up Gu Wen who was still sleeping soundly. "I have already found out about Mr. Misty's situation. He has no ill intentions, but he has his own difficulties."

Gu Wen rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Really? That's good. I was worried that something might happen."

"Do not worry,"

Zhu Kai stared at the piece of paper in his hand, as if this thin piece of paper carried a thousand-pound truth. Whether the princess was a dragon, this question was like a huge rock in his heart, making it difficult for him to make a decision. He knew that once the truth came out, the prestige of the royal family would suffer an unprecedented impact, the court would be bloody, and the people would be uneasy. However, if he concealed it, this heavy burden would always weigh on his shoulders, keeping him awake at night.

"Master Zhu, what are you thinking about?" Mr. Mist's voice broke Zhu Kai's meditation. He looked at Zhu Kai's furrowed brows and guessed something in his heart.

Zhu Kai raised his head and looked at Mr. Misty with complicated eyes. "Mr. Misty, what do you think would happen if this matter were made public?"

Mr. Misty was silent for a while, then slowly spoke: "My lord, this is not an easy decision. Whether the princess is Zhu Yuanzhang's biological daughter is not just a question of blood relationship, it is related to the stability of the country. If this news spreads, I am afraid that some evil people will use it to stir up the people and even cause a rebellion."

"I know, but..." Zhu Kai's voice trembled a little, "If we keep hiding it, wouldn't that be deceiving the world? What's the difference between us and those who deceive the emperor?"

"Sir," Mr. Misty stepped forward and put his hands on Zhu Kai's shoulders, "You are a good official who serves the country and the people, but sometimes, benevolent concealment is also necessary. You have to consider the peace of the entire country."

Zhu Kai let out a long sigh, as if to let out all the worries in his chest. "You're right, but... I still feel upset."

"My lord, think of it this way," Mr. Mist suggested, "We can investigate secretly, find all the relevant evidence, and make a decision after confirming it. If the princess is really Zhu Yuanzhang's biological daughter, then everything will be solved; if not, we can also prepare a response plan."

Zhu Kai nodded, as if the proposal comforted him a little. "Okay, let's do as you say. However, this matter must be kept strictly confidential and must not be known to any third person."

Mr. Misty nodded in agreement. "I understand, sir. However, we also need the cooperation of the princess herself. After all, she is the core of all this."

Zhu Kai was riding back to Beijing. The surrounding mountains and forests rustled in the autumn wind. The fallen leaves were like golden boats, swaying in the breeze. Just as he was thinking deeply about the princess's life experience, he suddenly saw several figures blocking the road ahead. The leader was the figure he was very familiar with - the princess.

Her appearance was like a sunset glow in autumn, breathtakingly beautiful, yet with a barely perceptible chill. Zhu Kai pulled the reins, and the horse neighed and stopped.

"Master Zhu," the princess' voice came from behind the veil, with a majesty that could not be ignored, "I need the thing in your hand."

Zhu Kai's heart skipped a beat. He didn't expect the princess to be so bold as to intercept him directly in such an occasion. "Princess, this is not the place to talk. Why don't we find a quiet place to talk in detail?"

The princess shook her head slightly. Although her movement was slight, it was like a sharp sword, pointing directly at Zhu Kai's heart. "Master Zhu, time is running out. I can't wait any longer. You know, this concerns everything for me."

Zhu Kai took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm. "Princess, this thing is of great importance. It not only involves your life experience, but may also affect the stability of the entire court and even the country. We need more time to verify it."

The princess's eyes became sharp, like the first frost in autumn, cold and resolute. "Lord Zhu, I understand your concerns, but I also have my reasons. Please believe me, I will not do anything to harm the country."

Zhu Kai looked at the princess's determined expression, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He knew that although the princess was born of noble birth, she also had unknown suffering and struggle. He took out the piece of paper from his arms and handed it to the princess. "Princess, please keep it, but please be careful." The princess took the paper and gently stroked the handwriting on it with her fingers, as if it was a long-lost memory. "Master Zhu, thank you. I promise that I will handle this matter properly."

The air between the two seemed to freeze because of this moment of connection, and the surrounding trees stopped swaying. Only the occasional bird song in the distance broke the silence. Zhu Kai spoke again, with a hint of earnestness in his voice: "Princess, if you need any help, please feel free to tell me. I am willing to do everything I can for you."

The princess nodded, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes. "Lord Zhu, I will remember your words. But now, I need to think alone."

Zhu Kai nodded and turned to leave, but before he mounted his horse, he couldn't help but look back at the princess. "Princess, be careful. This matter involves many people, and there may be people who don't want to see the truth come out."

The princess smiled slightly, with both strength and helplessness in her smile. "Master Zhu, thank you for the reminder. I will be careful."

Zhu Kai jumped on his horse and rode away. Behind him, the princess stood there, holding the piece of paper tightly in her hand, as if it was the key to her future. She knew that from this moment on, she would embark on an unknown journey, and she had to face it bravely, whether it was light or darkness.

After Zhu Kai disappeared from her sight, the princess slowly unfolded the piece of paper in her hand. Every word on it seemed to be telling an unknown secret, which made her feel even more complicated. She took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself, and then walked firmly in another direction.

Not long after, Zhu Kai returned to the capital, but he was still worried about the princess's safety. He knew that he had done his best, and all he could do was pray that the princess could survive this crisis safely.

"Master Zhu, you're back." Mr. Mist came forward with a concerned look on his face.

Zhu Kai nodded and told Mr. Misty about the princess blocking the road and asking for the paper. "Now, we can only wait for news from the princess."

Mr. Misty pondered for a moment, then said, "Sir, since the princess already knows the truth, perhaps we should prepare in advance just in case."

Zhu Kai nodded in agreement: "You are right. We need to collect more evidence as soon as possible so that we can deal with any possible situation."

The two began to plot a new plan, knowing that the princess's actions would directly affect the development of the entire situation. On the other side, the princess was alone, facing the secrets recorded on the paper, thinking about the future path.

As night fell, the hustle and bustle of the capital gradually subsided. Zhu Kai changed into his nightgown and flew silently to the princess's residence under the cover of the moonlight, like a light black swallow. The purpose of his trip was not an ordinary visit, but to find out what the secret on the piece of paper was that made the princess willing to take risks to get it.

The walls of the Princess's Mansion were high, but in Zhu Kai's eyes, it was just a piece of cake. With the help of an old locust tree in the corner of the wall, he climbed up like a nimble monkey, then jumped lightly and landed steadily. The courtyard was quiet, with only a few lanterns swaying gently in the wind, emitting a faint light.

Zhu Kai tiptoed towards the princess' bedroom. Through the half-open window, he saw the princess sitting at the desk, holding the piece of paper in her hand, with a focused look, as if she was studying something extremely important. Zhu Kai held his breath, not daring to disturb her, and just stood quietly outside the window and listened.

"I see..." The princess' voice was low and powerful. She seemed to be talking to herself, or explaining to some invisible being.

Zhu Kai stood outside the study and saw through the half-open door that the princess was having a secret conversation with several of her confidants. Her voice was low and firm, completely different from her usual gentle image. Zhu Kai's heart skipped a beat, as if it was being tightly grasped by an invisible hand. He realized that he had accidentally discovered a secret that could change the entire empire.

"We can't wait any longer," the princess' voice came through the wooden door and reached Zhu Kai's ears clearly. "I have decided to raise the issue of succession rights at the court meeting next month."

"Your Highness," an old voice sounded, "This is a big deal. If you are not prepared for everything, there may be backlash."

"Lord Li has a point," the princess paused and continued, "but I believe that as long as we are properly prepared, we can resolve the crisis. I already have a plan."

Zhu Kai held his breath and listened, but the princess didn't seem to want to continue the discussion. He quietly left and returned to his residence, feeling uneasy for a long time. He understood that the princess's decision not only concerned her future, but also the fate of the entire country.

In the dead of night, Zhu Kai was still thinking over and over again under the lamp. Finally, he decided to meet the princess, even if it meant breaking the boundaries between the monarch and his subjects.

The next morning, when the first rays of sunlight shone into the princess's residence, Zhu Kai was already waiting in the study. The princess walked into the study and was a little surprised to see Zhu Kai, but she quickly recovered. "Master Zhu, what do you want to ask me so early?"

Zhu Kai took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to speak: "Your Highness, what happened yesterday..."

The princess's expression suddenly became serious. She walked closer to Zhu Kai and whispered, "Master Zhu, how much did you hear?"

Zhu Kai answered sincerely: "Just a few words, but it is enough to make me worried. Your Highness, inheriting the throne is no child's play. If you are not careful, you will end up in prison."

The princess was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Lord Zhu, you are one of the people I trust the most. Now that things have come to this, I will not hide it from you. I do intend to inherit the throne, not for personal gain, but for the people of the world."

Zhu Kai frowned. He knew that the princess' words came from the heart, but in the social context of the time, it was undoubtedly an extremely bold decision. "Your Highness, I understand your intentions, but have you ever thought about how to face those deep-rooted traditional concepts even if you get the throne?"

The princess' eyes were firm: "Lord Zhu, I have already thought of everything. I know it's not easy, but someone has to take the first step. I am not afraid of difficulties, I am only afraid of looking back in the future and finding that I have never tried."

Zhu Kai was moved by the princess' determination, but he couldn't help but remind her: "Your Highness, have you ever considered your safety? Those who oppose you will stop you by any means necessary." (End of this chapter)