Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 3 Unexpected Change: Was the Emperor of All Time Someone Else?
Uncle Chen found a sedan chair for Zhu Gaoshuo, and the sedan chair bearers were all old friends, so they carried the sedan chair steadily and smoothly.

Zhu Gaoshuo looked worried as he pondered how to deal with the situation.

After an unknown amount of time, Uncle Chen's shouts came again.

"Your Highness, we have arrived at the palace."

As soon as Zhu Gaoshuo stepped out of the sedan chair, he saw a dense crowd of people already standing outside the main hall.

These were all officials of the Ming Dynasty who handled important matters with ease.

But at this moment, the area outside the main hall was as noisy as a marketplace, with the officials whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

They all saw the so-called celestial canopy and learned from the notices posted everywhere by the Embroidered Uniform Guard that it was not an immortal, but a person from later generations.

The emperor described by later generations as one of the greatest emperors of all time perfectly fits all the characteristics of Zhu Di.

In other words, their emperor was even more highly regarded by later generations than Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang!

Although Zhu Gaoshuo was not favored, he was still a prince in name only.

Their treatment was naturally different from that of the ministers; they were able to enter the front hall earlier.

"Fourth brother, it's been many years! How have you been?" Zhu Gaochi was covered in sweat and had been waiting impatiently. Looking around, he was the first to spot Zhu Gaoshuo.

"Big brother!"

Zhu Gaoshuo bowed, then seemed reluctant to engage in much further interaction with them, intending to step aside and consider his options.

But the chubby Zhu Gaochi was also bored at this moment, and continued to laugh loudly: "Fourth brother, this is your first time attending court. Father said that if there is anything you don't understand, you can ask us brothers!"

Zhu Gaochi emphasized the word "brother" very heavily.

The second son nodded, and even the third son, Zhu Gaosui, showed less disgust than before.

Zhu Gaoshuo smiled.

Everyone present laughed along with them.

In fact, Zhu Gaoshuo knew very well that the so-called brothers were just people who saw that he was not qualified to take the throne.

It seems that the matter of taking up a fief has been decided.

After all, princes who went out to their fiefdoms were already destined to have no chance of the throne.

But Zhu Gaoshuo was in no mood at all, unaware of what the sky was about to reveal.

Soon, the court assembly began.

As the palace gates opened, civil and military officials entered the hall one after another.

Immediately afterwards, amidst the shouts of the eunuchs, Zhu Di, dressed in a dragon robe and with a smile on his face, entered the main hall.

The courtiers were equally overjoyed.

If Zhu Di was a great emperor throughout history, then among them would be renowned ministers who would be remembered for generations!

Everyone felt that it would be them.

He thought to himself, "If even His Majesty can become a great emperor of all time, what else is impossible?"

As soon as Zhu Di sat down, he eagerly announced: "I have decided to go to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony."

If Mount Tai is safe, then the whole world is safe.

Mount Tai was also revered by all Confucian scholars as a sacred place connecting with the gods of heaven.

Only emperors who are recognized by the people and whose succession is legitimate can perform the Fengshan ceremony.

This is what Zhu Di most wanted to prove.

He previously used Emperor Zhenzong of Song as an excuse to refuse the Fengshan ceremony, but he was afraid of being condemned by the people.

But now, he is fully qualified to perform the Fengshan ceremony!
None of the ministers below voiced any opposition to Zhu Di's proposal.

They all knew Zhu Di's personality; he was just as tyrannical as Zhu Yuanzhang. They had previously been wary of him because of the historians' writings, but now that he was a great emperor for all time, they no longer had such concerns.

Of course, none of the ministers dared to object.

Besides, they genuinely believed that Zhu Di was fully qualified to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai.

Zhu Gaoshuo also noticed that his adoptive father seemed to have changed.

This is just too much joy.

At this moment, the eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, pushed Zhu Gaoshuo in front of him. Although Zhu Di hadn't seen Zhu Gaoshuo for a long time, he immediately realized that this was his fourth son.

Not only him, but even many ministers who had never met Zhu Gaoshuo knew that he was Prince Qi.

There's no way around it, he looks too much like Zhu Di when he was young.

He even resembles the other three more.

Just then, Yang Rong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Prince Qi is now of age. If he continues to stay in the capital, it will cause gossip. It is time for him to be enfeoffed."

Zhu Di nodded.

In fact, he had already discussed this matter with his cabinet ministers.

They even decided on the place where Zhu Gaoshuo would be enfeoffed.

Yang Rong's suggestion was just a formality.

As for the enfeoffment of Prince Qi, it was utterly insignificant to the court.

After all, it's obvious to anyone with eyes that Zhu Gaoshuo is not valued.

Zhu Di, however, was unwilling to spend too much time on this matter, and thus quickly announced:

"In that case, Prince Qi shall go to Xunzhou to take up his fiefdom after I perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai!"

really.

When everyone heard about Xunzhou, they realized that Zhu Di was just going through the motions, sending Prince Qi away to save face.

What kind of place is Xunzhou?
What a godforsaken place!
The emperor was far away, and the southern barbarians were constantly invading.

If Zhu Gaoshuo were to suddenly die one day, they might not even receive the news.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoshuo. Although he didn't like this son, he did resemble him a lot.

Zhu Di owed this son a great deal.

Looking back now, I realize I really didn't pay enough attention to this son.

Perhaps out of a change of heart, Zhu Di calmly asked, "What are your thoughts on the fiefdom? I'd like to hear your opinion."

"Your Majesty, I have no objection. Wherever Your Majesty deems it good, we will go!" Zhu Gaoshuo replied calmly.
He knew very well that if he expressed his dissatisfaction, Zhu Di would definitely be unhappy.

Fortunately, the sky suddenly stopped, and the exposure ceased.

He successfully obtained the imperial decree to assume his fiefdom, and with all the civil and military officials watching, Zhu Di would have no chance to back out later.

At that moment, the sky stirred again.

[I'm sure everyone is interested in the history of how our ancestors rose to power, so today I'll tell you all about it.]

Hearing that exhilarating voice again.

Zhu Di suddenly felt that nothing else mattered.

He wanted to continue observing the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

"Let me see just how prosperous the Ming Dynasty truly is."

Zhu Di looked at the silent Zhu Zhanji with a gratified expression: "Good grandson, your grandfather has created a prosperous era for you. In the future, you will surely lead the Ming Dynasty to surpass the Han and Tang Dynasties, and your achievements will be remembered for all time. Wherever the sun and moon shine, it will be the territory of the Ming Dynasty!"

When our ancestor was sent to his fiefdom, no one looked down on him. After all, his fiefdom was too remote in the Ming Dynasty at that time, and there was also the threat of foreign invasion.

But our fascinating ancestors started their business in such an environment and eventually fought their way back to Beijing!

You're probably all curious about what that place is, so I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Our ancestor was originally enfeoffed in Xunzhou!

???

Xunzhou!!!

The appearance of these two words.

The smile on Zhu Di's face vanished instantly, and everyone present was completely stunned.

At this moment, Zhu Gaoshuo felt extremely helpless.

"That son of a bitch, Tianmu, is definitely targeting me!"

(End of this chapter)