Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

The eunuch's face turned pale and he nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, Master Su is right, I will never say anything more."

Downstairs, Zhu Han heard it clearly and understood it in his heart. Su Huaiyuan seemed to be looking for evidence in the old case, and this eunuch was the key. In this case, he didn't need to wait any longer.

He slowly stood up and quietly left the teahouse. After returning to the palace, he immediately ordered: "Send someone to keep a close eye on that eunuch. He is a key figure. Make sure to find out his identity and what he was involved in back then."

"Yes!" The guard took the order and left.

Zhu Han stood alone in the yard, the moonlight shining on his face, his expression was cold and deep.

He thought silently in his heart: Why is Su Huaiyuan so anxious?
If it was true as he said, the old case involved a wide range of issues and might even affect the position of the crown prince. Zhu Biao knew nothing about this, and as the emperor's uncle, he had to protect him in secret.

While he was thinking, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and then Zhu Biao hurried in with a somewhat anxious look on his face: "Uncle, there is news from the palace. Father has suddenly summoned important officials and said that he wants to thoroughly investigate an old case!"

Zhu Han's heart was slightly moved, but he didn't show it on his face. He smiled faintly and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Your father has summoned important officials. It has nothing to do with you. Don't panic."

"But father never mentions old things easily. It's really strange that he suddenly brought it up this time." Zhu Biao frowned, seeming a little uneasy.

"Strange?" Zhu Han smiled and shook his head. "Zhu Biao, remember, as a prince, the most important thing is to keep your composure. No matter how the outside world changes, as long as you are as steady as a rock, no one can shake your position."

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Han's calm expression and felt a little calmer.

"Uncle, how should I respond?" Zhu Biao asked tentatively.

"Respond? No need to respond." Zhu Han said calmly, "You continue as usual, be your crown prince, read your classics, treat people as usual, and don't show any abnormality. As for this old case... leave it to me."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath and bowed solemnly: "My nephew will follow your uncle's arrangements."

Zhu Han patted his shoulder gently, smiling gently but firmly: "Don't worry, with me here, no storm can harm you."

Zhu Biao felt relieved, bowed deeply to Zhu Han, and turned to leave. Zhu Han watched him leave, his smile gradually faded, and a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes.

"An old case?" he whispered to himself. "Since you guys want to stir up trouble, I'll see how far this trouble can go."

"Uncle, are we just going to sit here and wait for death?" Zhu Biao paced back and forth in the study, his face anxious and his hands clenched, obviously unable to remain calm.

Ever since news came from the palace that Zhu Yuanzhang summoned important officials to thoroughly investigate the old case, he has been restless.

Zhu Han gently waved the folding fan in his hand, looked at Zhu Biao calmly, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Sit and wait for death? Zhu Biao, you are the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, what does it mean to sit and wait for death? No matter how big the storm is, you are just standing in the clouds and watching."

"But if this old case really has wide-ranging implications, and if my father uses it to punish court officials, and even involves me..." Zhu Biao hesitated to speak, his eyes full of worry.

"It involves so many people?" Zhu Han smiled lightly, slowly stood up and walked to the window. The moonlight sprinkled on his handsome face, making him look exceptionally calm.

"You must remember that His Majesty values ​​you the most as the Crown Prince. As long as you remain calm and composed, no one will dare to act rashly. As for the old case, it is nothing more than someone trying to stir up trouble. As for us, we only need to observe in secret and act according to circumstances."

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, then he was relieved and said, "Uncle, you are right. My nephew was too reckless."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, and suddenly his eyes turned cold: "However, Su Huaiyuan and that eunuch should not be underestimated. I want them to show up on their own initiative."

His tone suddenly changed, and his voice was low. "Send someone to secretly inform the eunuch, tell him that someone already knows what happened that year, if he doesn't want to lose his life, he should leave the city immediately. Tomorrow at noon, someone will meet him in the forest outside the east city."

Zhu Biao was stunned: "Isn't this just leading him out..."

"Lure the snake out of its hole." Zhu Han gently closed his folding fan. "This person is the key. I want to know how much he knows."

Although Zhu Biao had some doubts, he knew that his uncle was very wise, so he stopped talking and immediately ordered his confidants to act in secret. Zhu Han stood in front of the window, looking at the night sky, and had another plan in mind.

The next day, Zhu Han was handling trivial matters in the mansion as usual. He looked calm and seemed not to care about Su Huaiyuan and the old case.

Zhu Biao secretly sent someone to pass on the news, and soon the eunuch learned that someone was going to kill him. In fear, he immediately decided to flee the imperial city overnight.

As night falls, in the forest outside the East City, moonlight shines through the layers of tree shadows and falls to the ground. The forest is silent, with only the rustling sound of leaves in the night wind.

Zhu Han had already deployed secret sentries in advance, and he stood behind a big tree in the forest, waiting quietly.

A moment later, hurried footsteps were heard in the distance. The eunuch, wearing a tattered cloak, rushed into the forest in a panic, looking around: "Where are the people? Where is the person who came to pick me up?"

"Who asked you to come?" A cold voice came from the forest. Zhu Han slowly walked out of the shadow of the trees, staring at the eunuch with cold eyes.

"You... who are you?" The eunuch trembled violently, his voice trembling, obviously frightened.

"You don't need to know who I am." Zhu Han said coldly, "Just tell me what the old case was and why you are so frightened."

The eunuch's face was pale, and his body was shaky: "No... No... I can't say it... Once I say it... I will die..."

"If you don't tell me now, you will die immediately." Zhu Han's eyes were grim. He raised his hand, and several guards in black jumped out from the dark, holding sharp blades, and surrounded the eunuch.

The eunuch slumped to the ground, trembling all over, with his hands clasped together, begging non-stop: "Mercy, mercy... I... I am just a nobody. Back then... it was His Majesty who personally wrote an imperial decree to completely seal up that matter... No, you can't say it... you can't say it..."

"Since you can't tell me, then you're useless." Zhu Han said in a cold tone, raised his hand and waved, and the guard raised his blade.

“No! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!” the eunuch screamed in horror, “It’s… it’s about… His Royal Highness the Crown Prince… no… no… it’s about His Royal Highness the former Crown Prince… That year, someone… someone accused the former Crown Prince of colluding with the enemy and treason… but His Majesty didn’t believe it at all, so he completely sealed the matter and no one was allowed to mention it again.”

"The former crown prince?" Zhu Han's eyes flashed coldly, "Then why is the old case being brought up again now? Who is behind this?"

"It's... it's Su Huaiyuan... he... he has always wanted to use this incident to get close to the powerful officials in the court and gain a high position..."

The eunuch almost collapsed, his face full of tears, "Please... spare my life... I'm just a messenger... I don't know anything..."

Zhu Han looked at him quietly, his eyes deep: "Why did Su Huaiyuan know about this? Why are you willing to work for him?"

"He...he threatened me...he said he knew that I had personally destroyed the secret letter for someone else...if I didn't obey him, he would make the matter public..." The eunuch's voice was almost choked with sobs.

"I see." Zhu Han nodded slightly, a sneer on his face, "Su Huaiyuan is so bold that he dares to use this matter as a threat."

"Please spare my life... spare my life..." The eunuch knelt on the ground and kowtowed continuously, tears and cold sweat mixed together.

Zhu Han slightly turned sideways and waved his hand to signal the guards to retreat: "I can spare your life, but you have to do something for me."

"Yes... yes..." The eunuch kowtowed repeatedly as if he had been pardoned. "Go tell Su Huaiyuan tomorrow that you have found someone secretly investigating the case and that they seem to have evidence. If he wants to protect himself, he must act immediately."

Zhu Han's eyes were cold, "I want to see how he will mess up his position."

"Yes... yes... I obey your command." The eunuch crawled out of the forest and his figure quickly disappeared into the night.

Zhu Han stood there, looking at his back, with a hint of sneer in his eyes: "Su Huaiyuan, you think you are in control of everything, but you don't know that the real hunter has already laid a net."

He turned and left the forest, followed closely by his guards. After returning to the palace, he did not return to his room immediately, but stood in the study with his hands behind his back, his eyes deep, as if he was thinking about a more far-reaching plan.

"Uncle, will this eunuch bite back?" Zhu Biao suddenly appeared at the door of the study, with a worried look on his face.

"No, he's been scared out of his wits." Zhu Han smiled calmly, "What's more, he's more afraid of death than anyone else. As long as there's a glimmer of hope, he'll grab it tightly."

"What about Su Huaiyuan..." Zhu Biao looked doubtful.

"He will show up on his own initiative, eager to get out of the crisis, and we just need to wait and see." Zhu Han patted Zhu Biao's shoulder gently, "Remember, facing the storm, the calmer you are, the more you can control everything."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath, and a firm look appeared on his face: "Nephew understands."

The imperial city was peaceful and quiet. The morning light was just beginning to appear, and the faint light shone through the clouds onto the palace walls.

Zhu Han stood in the garden of the palace, looked up at the gradually brightening sky, and sighed softly.

Last night's layout was completed. The eunuch was forced to conspire with Su Huaiyuan, while Zhu Han was quietly waiting for the storm to come.

"Your Highness, the spy reported that the eunuch did as you instructed and passed the message to Su Huaiyuan." The guard stood respectfully aside and reported in a low voice.

"Very good." Zhu Han smiled slightly and said calmly, "Next, Su Huaiyuan will be forced to act. We just need to see how he struggles."

"But... Your Highness, if Su Huaiyuan is desperate..." The guard looked at Zhu Han with some concern.

"A desperate dog will jump over the wall? If he is really a mad dog, it will be easier for him to expose himself."

Zhu Han's voice was calm, but his eyes were cold. "Pass the order down, keep a close eye on Su Huaiyuan, especially everyone he comes into contact with."

"Yes!"

However, just as Zhu Han was about to make his plan, he received unexpected news from the palace - Zhu Yuanzhang actually summoned Su Huaiyuan into his presence.

Zhu Biao hurried to the palace, his face full of confusion: "Uncle, my father actually summoned Su Huaiyuan in person, why is that?"

"Oh?" Zhu Han frowned slightly, and many thoughts flashed through his mind. "It seems that Su Huaiyuan has already sensed the crisis and is eager to protect himself. He actually ran directly to your father. What a cunning guy."

"Will the emperor believe him?" Zhu Biao was a little uneasy.

"It depends on what Su Huaiyuan said." Zhu Han sneered, "If he wants to use this to protect himself, he will definitely throw someone else out as a scapegoat. As for us, we just need to see who he points the finger at."

Zhu Biao nodded, but still had some worries: "But uncle, what if he points the finger at me..."

"Don't worry, your father trusts you more than anyone else." Zhu Han patted Zhu Biao's shoulder, "Besides, I have made other arrangements."

Time passed little by little, Zhu Han waited quietly in the mansion, and the news that Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Su Huaiyuan also spread quietly in the palace.

In the afternoon, the spy reported that Su Huaiyuan left the palace with a serious expression, and it seemed that he did not gain Zhu Yuanzhang's full trust.

"He didn't succeed." Zhu Han sneered, "This means he will be desperate and must find other ways to protect himself."

Sure enough, in the evening, Su Huaiyuan hurriedly left his residence and headed straight for a remote manor outside the city with a few confidants.

After hearing this, Zhu Han immediately ordered the secret agents to follow, and at the same time he personally led his men to secretly ambush outside the manor.

As night fell, the manor was brightly lit. Zhu Han lay in the dark, looking through the bushes towards the main hall of the manor.

Su Huaiyuan was seen talking in a low voice with several men in luxurious clothes, and one of them was actually a eunuch in the palace.

"He actually contacted someone in the palace?" Zhu Han frowned slightly, and became more alert. "It seems that this matter is more complicated than I expected."

He held his breath and listened quietly.

"Lord Su, you are right. This matter cannot be delayed any longer, otherwise all of us will be in crisis." The eunuch's voice was low and a little panicked.

"Don't worry, I have already made my position clear to His Majesty. If anything unexpected happens, I will be at the forefront." Su Huaiyuan's tone was firm, but he could not hide the anxiety between his brows. "But if there is really an outsider interfering, we must work together to solve it, otherwise we will be completely exposed."

"Lord Su, haven't you found out who is behind this yet?" another man asked in a low voice.

"Investigate? Humph, there are many eyes and ears in the palace, how dare I act rashly?"

Su Huaiyuan snorted coldly, "Moreover, the eunuch seems to be secretly colluding with others. If he hadn't leaked the news, how could anyone try to investigate this matter?"

"What should we do now?" the eunuch said hurriedly, "If His Majesty finds out that we are hiding something..."

"No." Su Huaiyuan waved his hand, his eyes flashing with a cold light, "I have arranged for someone to secretly get rid of the eunuch. Once he dies, all clues will be cut off."

When Zhu Han heard this, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he thought to himself: What a vicious person, he actually wanted to kill people to silence them. He immediately whispered to the guards beside him: "Immediately notify the secret agents in the forest to ensure the safety of the eunuch, and no one is allowed to approach."

"Yes!" The guards retreated quietly.

In the manor, Su Huaiyuan apparently did not notice that someone was secretly watching him.

He sneered and continued, "Everyone, as long as the eunuch dies, this matter will only be known to us. And as long as I can keep my position, I will protect you all."

Several people nodded, with a hint of relief and greed on their faces.

"Keep your position? I'm afraid you may not be able to escape." Zhu Han sneered in the dark, and the cold light in his eyes became even colder. He did not rush to show up, but watched them silently until several people dispersed one after another. (End of this chapter)