The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 636 The Undercurrents in the Court
The morning sun shone on the palace walls of the Ming capital, but a tense atmosphere permeated the palace.

Zhu Xiong Ying stood outside the palace gate, took a deep breath, and knew that today's court assembly would be a crucial day.

He hadn't slept all night, and had already prepared himself for the turmoil in the court.

"Your Highness, should we make any preparations for today's court assembly?"

Li Jinglong stood beside Zhu Xiong Ying, a hint of worry in his eyes.

He knew that there were undercurrents in the court recently, and many officials held different opinions on Zhu Xiong Ying's military actions.

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly, his gaze calm.

There's no need to worry.

"I already know what they're going to say."

His tone was calm and composed, as if he had seen through every single pawn in the court.

Upon entering the main hall, Zhu Xiong Ying felt a sense of oppression.

The civil and military officials stood on both sides, each with an exceptionally solemn expression.

The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, his gaze calmly fixed on his ministers; clearly, today's court assembly was destined to be anything but peaceful.

"The Crown Prince has been back in the capital for several days. I have heard that although the situation on the border is temporarily stable, the movements of the Timurid Empire and the Western Regions are still worrying."

"My dear subjects, what do you think?"

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the courtiers began to whisper among themselves.

Among them, Zhang Jing, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that while the threat from the borders certainly exists, His Highness the Crown Prince's actions are too radical."

"Although the border rebellion has been quelled, it has also made the Timurid Empire feel threatened, which will likely accelerate their reaction."

Zhang Jing's words were calm, yet sharp, clearly implying something.

His words instantly heightened the tension in the court, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Zhu Xiong Ying, awaiting his response.

Zhu Xiong Ying still had a faint smile on his face. He knew Zhang Jing would make trouble, but he was already prepared.

"What Lord Zhang said makes sense, but I believe that the stability of the border is not just about showing weakness to the outside world."

"If our Great Ming Dynasty wants to truly be invincible, it must demonstrate its formidable strength."

"Although this operation has put the Timurid Empire on guard, it is precisely because of this that they dare not invade easily."

His tone was calm and direct, getting straight to the point, completely unmoved by Zhang Jing's words.

Zhang Jing frowned slightly, seemingly surprised by Zhu Xiong Ying's response.

He said in a deep voice, "What His Highness the Crown Prince said is correct, but the situation on the border is complex and cannot be solved by intimidation alone."

"If we do not use sound diplomatic means and strategies, but only resort to military force, it will likely trigger more conflicts."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes flickered slightly, then she smiled calmly.

"Lord Zhang's concerns are not without merit."

"But I believe that stability on the frontier depends on more than just diplomacy."

"If we show weakness to the enemy, they will only think that our Ming Dynasty is weak and easy to bully."

"Stability on the frontier requires both internal and external efforts."

His words were calm yet powerful, clearly indicating that he had given it considerable thought.

The emperor nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Zhu Xiong Ying with a thoughtful expression.

At this moment, the Minister of War stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I believe that His Highness the Crown Prince's military strategy is not inappropriate."

"The tribes on the frontier have always been unruly. If we do not show the necessary toughness, they will only keep testing the limits of our Ming Dynasty."

"This operation not only deterred foreign enemies, but also bought us valuable time."

His words reignited the atmosphere in the court, and officials who supported Zhu Xiong Ying stood up to defend him.

For a time, opinions diverged in the court, and the situation became even more complicated.

The emperor frowned, clearly displeased with the stalemate.

"enough!"

His cold voice rang out, silencing all the arguments.

"I am already aware of the Crown Prince's military actions."

"The stability of the border is not only a military issue; diplomacy is equally important."

"But now, the arguments in the court are not helping to solve the problem."

The emperor's gaze was cold and sharp as he swept over the assembled officials in the hall. "Minister Zhang, you say the border issues are complex. So, what do you think should be done?"

Zhang Jing bowed slightly, his tone tinged with caution.

"Your Majesty, I believe that we should strengthen the defense system on the frontier and at the same time send envoys to the Timurid Empire to try to ease the tensions between the two sides through negotiations."

"In this way, we can avoid large-scale military conflict and buy ourselves more time."

His words, though calm, revealed a deep and thoughtful wisdom.

Zhu Xiong Ying's gaze sharpened slightly. Zhang Jing's proposal was clearly an attempt to bypass military action and use diplomatic means to weaken his influence.

He pondered calmly, then slowly said, "Lord Zhang's suggestion does have merit, but I believe that sending an envoy to the Timurid Empire now is not a wise move."

"The Timurid Empire is accumulating strength. If we take the initiative to show goodwill now, it will be seen as weakness, giving them an opportunity to take advantage of us."

"We should maintain a strong military deterrent while secretly observing their movements, and then consider how to negotiate with them when the time is right."

His tone was firm, clearly indicating his unwillingness to easily relinquish control over the border situation.

The emperor's eyes flickered, clearly weighing the two men's opinions.

The atmosphere in the court became tense again, and the officials held their breath, waiting for the emperor's final decision.

"What the Crown Prince said makes sense."

The emperor finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of authority.

"The Timurid Empire's movements remain unclear, and sending envoys rashly would indeed be risky."

"But we cannot rely entirely on military force."

"Minister Zhang, you are responsible for drafting a plan that takes into account the opinions of the Crown Prince and the ministers. It should not only stabilize the borders but also consider diplomatic means."

"As for military matters, the Crown Prince will continue to be in charge, but it is crucial to remember that we must not launch any rash attacks."

The emperor's words settled the matter, and the debate in the court temporarily subsided.

Zhang Jing bowed slightly, indicating his obedience to the emperor's will.

Zhu Xiong Ying breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although Zhang Jing was still trying to weaken his influence through diplomacy, the emperor's decision temporarily stabilized the situation.

As the emperor announced the end of the court session, the officials left the main hall one after another.

Zhu Xiong Ying slowly walked out of the palace gate, his heart still filled with deep thought.

“Your Highness, although Zhang Jing has temporarily backed down, he clearly will not give up easily.”

Li Jinglong followed Zhu Xiong Ying and spoke in a low voice, his expression showing some worry.

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly, a hint of calm in his eyes.

"I know."

"The struggles in the imperial court are more complex than those on the battlefield."

"Zhang Jing is just one pawn; there are many more forces behind him pushing things along."

"But now, I have stabilized the situation."

His tone was firm, clearly indicating that he was full of confidence in his judgment.

"Your Highness, how should we proceed? Although the situation on the border is temporarily stable, the movements of the Timurid Empire and the Western Regions should not be underestimated."

Li Jinglong asked in a low voice, his tone tinged with urgency.

Zhu Xiong Ying's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "There's no need to worry too much about the situation on the border for the time being."

"I have already made arrangements in secret, and General Lan Yu will be in charge of defending the border."

"As for the turmoil in the court, we need time to deal with it gradually."

His tone was incredibly calm and intelligent, clearly indicating that he already had a detailed plan.

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong immediately realized his mistake and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Highness is indeed farsighted. I admire you!"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly, her eyes revealing a determined light.

"The road ahead is still long."

"Whether it's the imperial court or the frontier, I must have complete control over them."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Zhu Xiong Ying's figure gradually disappeared outside the palace gates.

He knew that although the situation had been stabilized for the time being, many challenges remained in the future.

No matter what challenges lie ahead, he is prepared to face them.

(End of this chapter)