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

"In the inner palace, although the Empress Dowager is old, there are still some powerful figures in the palace who can be relied upon. For example, some important concubines have considerable influence both inside and outside the palace."

Zhao Shilang looked at Zhu Biao and said in a low voice, "If the Crown Prince can use his methods to influence them, he might be able to gain more support."

Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment, his gaze deep.

"Okay, I see."

Zhu Biao finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of determination.

"Next, I'm going to take action. Minister Zhao, please arrange for me to meet with some important concubines in the palace."

Vice Minister Zhao was slightly taken aback, then bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhu Biao didn't sleep a wink that night.

He reviewed memorials under the lamp, drafted decrees, and repeatedly sketched out the power structure of the Crown Prince's palace.

He realized that the group of civil officials around him were simply not enough to shake the real pillars of the court.

He needs more support from the military, local forces, and even businessmen. These are all areas where Zhu Han excels.

Meanwhile, Zhu Han returned to his residence.

No sooner had he sat down than a trusted aide came to report: "Your Highness, Grand Tutor Zhang, Vice Minister Qian, and Commander Han have delivered the 'News from the Eastern Palace' as promised, and expressed their willingness to follow Your Highness's lead."

Zhu Han raised his head, his gaze deep.

He said slowly, "The Crown Prince has finally taken this step. However... how far he can go depends on whether he understands the true rules of power."

He paused, then asked, "Have any of the concubines in the palace contacted the Crown Prince?"

The confidant replied, "Your Highness, Consort Wei and Consort Li have both secretly contacted the Crown Prince. Consort Wei still has reservations, but Consort Li has made it clear that she is willing to cooperate with the Crown Prince, only hoping that her son can die peacefully."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, a smile playing on his lips: "Zhu Biao is quite clever, knowing to start from the inner palace. However... I'd like to see how he navigates the powerful ministers, concubines, and imperial relatives."

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the dark night.

"If you truly wish to inherit this empire, you must employ the methods of an emperor. A soft-hearted person is not worthy of wearing this dragon robe."

Three days later, at the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao summoned several trusted ministers of the cabinet for a secret meeting in his study.

"Gentlemen, the situation of the Crown Prince can no longer be delayed. Uncle Zhu is becoming increasingly arrogant. If we do not deal with it as soon as possible, I am afraid that before long, even I will become an outsider."

Zhu Biao spoke firmly, no longer concealing his wariness of Zhu Han.

Vice Minister Zhao spoke first: "Your Highness is absolutely right. The Ministry of War has not yet made a clear statement. If we can win over Governor Han to remain neutral, it may give the Crown Prince some breathing room."

"But Governor Han and Zhu Han have always had a very close personal relationship."

Lu Heng frowned. "It's hard to predict whether he's willing to switch sides."

"It's alright." A decisive glint flashed in Zhu Biao's eyes.

“If Governor Han doesn’t express his opinion, I will go to see him in person. If he wants military pay, I will give it to him; if he wants rewards, I will grant them; as long as he can be of use to me, we can discuss anything.”

Vice Minister Zhao hesitated for a moment: "Your Highness, do you... really intend to leave the palace in person?"

Zhu Biao nodded: "It's time to let the world know that the Crown Prince is not just a bookworm who only knows how to read books and listen to instructions, but a true heir apparent who can stabilize the country and bring peace to the nation."

He spoke each word with force and conviction.

"Moreover—every step Zhu Han can take, I can take too. If he dares to seek military power, I dare to use military force to counterbalance him. If we don't win this battle, the Crown Prince's name will become a complete laughingstock."

Everyone was solemn.

Just then, a eunuch rushed in: "Your Highness, Consort Wei has sent a secret letter requesting that you come to the palace immediately for a discussion. She says that it concerns a recent conspiracy by Prince Zhu, and that it is of great importance."

Zhu Biao stood up, clutching the unopened letter tightly in his hand, his expression solemn.

"By order of the Empress Dowager—enter the palace immediately tonight."

The night was as dark as ink, and the depths of the Imperial Garden were silent, save for the sound of the wind rustling through the osmanthus branches, a soft, mournful sound.

Moonlight slanted across the steps, the silver and black shadows intertwining, like an invisible chessboard.

Zhu Han, dressed in a black robe, walked slowly down the corridor, followed silently by a young attendant.

Today he neither summoned any attendants nor rode in a sedan chair, seemingly deliberately avoiding public attention.

"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince has entered the palace," the young attendant whispered.

Zhu Han nodded, continuing his steps: "I knew he was coming."

His eyes were calm as still water, but beneath the surface, a turbulent undercurrent was surging. Zhu Biao finally took the initiative to leave the Eastern Palace, a signal he had been waiting for for several days.

Zhu Han stopped, glanced up at the side hall with its low-hanging palace lanterns, and then turned to instruct his attendant, "Prepare some tea. I will not be returning to the manor tonight."

"Yes."

At the same time, Zhu Biao entered Jinghe Hall.

Consort Wei had been waiting for a long time. She was nearly forty years old and looked a little tired.

Yet his demeanor remained undiminished, and his eyes still exuded an undeniable air of nobility.

When she saw Zhu Biao, her expression changed slightly, and she bowed respectfully: "Your Highness, you have arrived."

Zhu Biao smiled, his gaze calm: "What important matter does Consort Wei have to summon me to the palace?"

Consort Wei gestured for her attendants to leave before speaking slowly, "Your Highness, there's been quite a stir in the palace lately. Although the Empress Dowager is firmly in her position, she's surrounded by Prince Zhu's old connections. If you don't stabilize the inner palace now, I fear that one day..."

Zhu Biao paused slightly, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty is not as cautious as usual today."

Consort Wei sighed: "Your Highness should also know that my Wei family has no foundation. When I entered the palace as a consort, I had a good reputation but no real power. The reason I dare to speak today is only to ask for a place for myself in the future."

Zhu Biao pondered for a long time before finally saying, "If Your Majesty truly helps me, I will never forget this night when I ascend the throne."

As the two were talking, a soft cough sounded from outside.

Then the curtains moved, and a familiar figure slowly entered.

Zhu Biao was startled: "Imperial Uncle?"

Zhu Han straightened his sleeves and smiled faintly: "The Crown Prince entered the palace late at night, how could I not come to see him?"

Consort Wei quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Zhu Han waved his hand, dismissing her, and turned to gaze at Zhu Biao: "Jinghe Palace was a favorite of the late Emperor. Your choice of this place tonight must have been deliberate."

Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "Now that my uncle has come, I will not hide anything. The current situation in the court is delicate. Although the Eastern Palace is nominally the residence of the crown prince, it is actually alienated from all sides. If I do not take a risky move, I am afraid that this game will never be overturned."

Zhu Han stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes unwavering: "You've done well, but this is just the beginning."

"The fact that my royal uncle came shows that I am still on the path you deem worthy."

Zhu Han slowly walked to the carved window, his back to Zhu Biao.

He said calmly, "If I told you that the Empress Dowager will soon implement a system of joint investiture by the three palaces to strengthen the balance of power within the harem, what would you think?"

Zhu Biao's heart skipped a beat: "Is she planning to appoint a new empress to secure the position of crown prince?"

"If that were all, it would be fine."

Zhu Han turned around, his gaze calm and composed.

"She intends to appoint several women from collateral branches of the imperial clan as 'six consorts to assist the Crown Prince,' and bestow upon them the title of 'potential consorts.' Two of them are from the Yongguo Duke's mansion, and one... is a woman from the Han family."

Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "The Governor Han's Mansion?"

Zhu Han nodded: "Do you remember when I warned you to be careful of the Han family?"

Zhu Biao murmured, "She's not arranging a marriage alliance; she's dividing power. She's establishing a separate force outside the Eastern Palace." "That's right," Zhu Han said slowly, but each word carried weight.

"Her goal isn't to harm you, but to protect herself from me."

Zhu Biao frowned: "Why should we be wary of the Imperial Uncle?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "I am not the kind of minister a wise ruler needs. She knows that I am plotting to put you on the throne, and naturally she is afraid that I will use you as a puppet. She neither trusts me nor has she ever truly trusted you."

Zhu Biao looked at his imperial uncle before him, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"If I don't agree to her request, the Crown Prince will be isolated."

"If you agree to her request, you will no longer be the crown prince, but a pawn controlled by others."

Zhu Han's tone suddenly became more serious as he stared intently at Zhu Biao: "What you need to do now is to fill the power vacancies she wants to give to others before she does, using your people."

Zhu Biao composed himself and suddenly said, "I don't have that many people."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "But I have one."

He stepped forward slowly and slipped a small folded booklet into Zhu Biao's sleeve: "This contains the names of thirty-six people inside and outside the palace, some are family members of civil officials, others are sons or nephews of old palace servants. They served under the late emperor or under me in their early years, and now they are all living in seclusion, waiting to be put to use."

Zhu Biao lowered his head, his fingers gripping the folded booklet tightly.

Zhu Han stared at him, his tone low and firm: "Your current situation does not depend on how many people you have, but on whether you dare to use them."

If you harbor the heart of an emperor, I will clear the way for you; if you hesitate, even for a moment, it will mean the end of our relationship.

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long time, his eyes gradually clearing in the dim candlelight of the hall.

"Uncle, I will not hesitate."

"Very good." Zhu Han nodded.
"Then starting tomorrow, transfer personnel from the three departments of the Palace Administration, Imperial Pharmacy, Imperial Kitchen, and Imperial Study—these are the places where it is easiest to replace people, yet the hardest to detect. If you can keep these in check, the Empress Dowager will not be your biggest obstacle."

Zhu Biao solemnly agreed, but Zhu Han said no more and left in a huff.

Before the sun had risen and the palace was still shrouded in the darkness before dawn, the East Palace was already brightly lit.

Outside the hall, the eunuchs stood with their heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.

Zhu Biao, dressed in a plain brocade robe, stood before the desk in the hall, his gaze fixed on the folded book in his hands.

As he turned the pages, he read each name and each responsibility with exceptional slowness, as if afraid of missing a single detail.

The brazier beside the desk was ablaze with charcoal, radiating heat that hit Zhu Biao in the face, yet his palms remained cold.

A series of light footsteps sounded.

"Your Highness, the young lady from the Han family has quietly entered the palace." Vice Minister Zhao strode into the hall, lowering his voice.

Zhu Biao looked up, but there was no joy in his eyes: "Is this the Empress Dowager's will?"

"Yes. I heard that the Empress Dowager personally arranged for her to stay temporarily in Changchun Pavilion, ostensibly to enter the palace to cultivate virtue, but in reality... it was under the guise of 'assisting the Crown Princess' to allow her to stay for a trial period."

Zhu Biao sneered: "The Crown Prince's consort? She certainly has a legitimate reason to choose."

Vice Minister Zhao hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the Han family is of noble birth, and Commander Han holds considerable military power. If we could bring her into the Eastern Palace..."

"No need for further words." Zhu Biao's tone suddenly turned cold.

"I did not choose her, so I will not allow her to have a place in the world. The crown princess I choose can only be one I select myself."

Zhao, the Vice Minister, was startled and quickly bowed and withdrew.

He knew that Zhu Biao was generally mild-mannered and rarely angry, but once he made up his mind, he was more stubborn and resolute than anyone else.

Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment, then rose and slowly walked out of the hall.

As dawn broke and the sky began to lighten, the first rays of sunlight appeared.

He stood on the high platform, gazing towards the Golden Palace where the sun had not yet risen, and the image of Zhu Han appeared in his mind.

"Uncle... I've already taken this step, are you still watching me?"

Meanwhile, Zhu Han sat alone in the backyard of the Prince's Mansion, where bamboo shadows swayed and the pond water was still.

He gently stroked the teacup with his right hand, staring at his reflection in the water with a deep gaze.

"Wang Yan, have you arrived?" he asked in a calm voice.

A figure slowly entered from under the corridor. The man was dressed in a dark blue robe, no more than forty years old, with neat eyebrows and beard, and bright, piercing eyes.

"Your subordinate is here." Wang Yan bowed respectfully.

Zhu Han nodded: "The system says you are a 'Strategist of Heaven and Earth,' can you turn this situation around?"

Wang Yan smiled and said, "If Your Highness truly intends to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne as the system suggests, then you must first help 'him' to the throne."

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What do you mean?"

"Although the Crown Prince is talented and kind-hearted, he is not a military strategist, nor is he adept at political maneuvering. If he wants to ascend the throne, he must first win the approval of the court and the public. And this approval cannot be granted solely by Your Highness."

Zhu Han looked at him and said, "Continue."

"I have a plan that can make the Crown Prince famous both inside and outside the palace, without resorting to war or stirring up trouble."

"speak."

Wang Yan leaned down and whispered a few words in Zhu Han's ear.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han's eyes lit up slightly, but then he chuckled softly, "You certainly know how to use others to your advantage."

"The knife Your Highness gave me was meant to be used on vital points."

Zhu Han put down his teacup, flicked his sleeve and stood up: "Go and make the arrangements. Three days later, I want the Crown Prince to personally visit the 'granted land' in the Forbidden Garden."

Wang Yan cupped his hands in greeting: "Yes, sir."

Three days later, at the Imperial Garden.

This was the first time Zhu Biao had appeared in the Forbidden Garden on a non-festive occasion.

He did not wear the crown prince's robes, but only a plain blue embroidered robe, accompanied only by a few eunuchs and an old palace eunuch, keeping a low profile.

More than a hundred eunuchs, palace maids, and weavers were already waiting outside the imperial garden.

Most of them were low-ranking laborers who had been demoted and transferred to this place, and they received neither favor nor pity in their daily lives.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince arrive, they were all terrified and prostrated themselves in fear.

Zhu Biao stood before them, looked around, and slowly said, "I am not here to punish, nor to inspect."

He paused, his gaze softening: "This place is secluded, a corner of the palace. I came here to see for myself how you live."

No one dared to raise their heads. An old palace servant said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, we servants rely on our own efforts in farming, weaving, irrigation, and raising livestock... and we are still able to make ends meet."

Zhu Biao glanced at their worn-out straw sandals and coarse cloth clothes with patches on the hem, and frowned slightly.

He turned to the attending eunuch and whispered, "This place was originally a forbidden garden. Under the old system, the inner palace had a quota of silver and rice. Why is there no subsidy now?"

The eunuch turned pale with fright and immediately knelt down, saying, "Your Highness, the old custom has been abolished and will not be followed by future generations."

Zhu Biao didn't speak, and slowly walked towards the old well in the garden.

After gazing at his reflection in the well for a long time, he turned to the crowd and said, "From today onwards, the Crown Prince will allocate fifty taels of silver, one hundred shi of rice, and thirty bolts of cotton cloth each month for relief purposes. If there is any shortfall, we will report to the Crown Prince again."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was stunned at first, then they prostrated themselves on the ground and kowtowed, their voices like thunder.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!" (End of Chapter)