…
After walking out of the imperial study, Zhu Gaojie saw the King of Han waiting in front of the door.
Before Zhu Gaojie could speak, the King of Han stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder and said, "Fourth brother, this is because the second brother is sorry for you and tricked you. My brother owes you a favor."
Zhu Gaojie stayed away from the government and stayed away from the world, and was like a transparent prince in Jinling City. And this time, if the King of Han hadn't forced him to come to the palace, he wouldn't have received an inexplicable scolding from the old man.
It's just that Zhu Gaojie always felt that the old man didn't seem to be angry this time like before, but had other plans.
It's just that the old man's thoughts are too deep, and Zhu Gaojie can only see some clues, but he can't guess what the old man really thinks.
However, this is not a bad thing.
At present, it seems that the old man is thinking about Zhu Gaojie becoming a vassal. As long as he can become a vassal, he can stay away from the government and live a leisurely life.
"What's wrong with people? We are brothers. If brothers don't talk to each other, second brother, aren't you an outsider?" Zhu Gaojie said with a smile, "If I am not favored by the prince, the emperor can scold me." That’s Long En.”
The King of Han was about to speak but stopped, but there were ripples in his heart.
His fourth brother was pitiful. As a prince, he was disliked by the old man just because of his indifferent personality. At best, he was called the idle prince, and at worst, he was the cold palace prince.
The family was already miserable enough, but he, the King of Han, had nothing to do but found trouble to trick the fourth child once. It would be okay if the fourth child showed signs of complaining, but the key was that the fourth child still pretended that nothing had happened and that he was bearing all the burden alone.
This made the guilt in King Han's heart soar.
Damn it!
"Fourth brother, don't say anything. It's the second brother who is sorry for you." The guilty King of Han pulled Zhu Gaojie and said, "Let's go and have a drink at my house. We two brothers will be drunk together today!"
Zhu Gaojie looked confused: Did the second child forget to take medicine when he went out today? Why did he also start having convulsions like the old man?
…
East Palace
The chubby prince was happily eating snacks. The emperor's grandson Zhu Zhanji said helplessly next to him: "Dad, the imperial doctor said that you are seriously putting on weight and should eat less sweets."
"Hey, you kid, you're still trying to discipline your father." The prince muttered, "I think you've been a little distracted lately."
"Why are you floating? You are a generous old man. Even after being scolded by the emperor, you can still eat snacks in the courtyard leisurely. I have done all the worrying." Zhu Zhanji came over and said jokingly, "Just this morning, the second uncle and the fourth uncle came into the palace to meet the emperor. No one knows what the emperor said to my two uncles. They only know that after leaving the palace, the fourth uncle went to the second uncle's palace to drink. .”
The prince suddenly paused while eating the pastry.
Noticing the prince's movements, Zhu Zhanji was a little confused: "Dad, did I say anything wrong?"
"It's not unusual for the second child to stir up trouble. He is immoral in all five elements."
The prince frowned slightly, "But what did the fourth child do? His character has always been unconcerned with cause and effect. What's more, the fourth child will be vassal next year. From what I know about him, he should be more cautious at this time. right."
Zhu Zhanji asked tentatively: "You mean...there is something wrong with Fourth Uncle?"
"Not necessarily, maybe I'm overthinking it." Zhu Gaochi put down the cake and said calmly, "I think so wrongly. Maybe it was just an unintentional move, but we were so suspicious that we thought they were going to rebel."
When he heard the word "rebellion", Zhu Zhanji's expression changed drastically. He looked around vigilantly and said complainingly: "Dad, can you say this nonsense? Be careful that walls have ears!"
Zhu Gaochi chuckled and said: "Silly boy, we are the whole family rebelling. Even if we don't say anything, can the old man let down his guard against us?"
"From the moment he rode into the palace in the fourth year of Jianwen, we were no longer a family, but enemies."
…
Han Dynasty
"Fourth brother, let me tell you, the boss is really nothing!"
The King of Han was drunk and shook his head and said, "When we fought from Shuntian Prefecture to Jinling City, he became the crown prince, and several of us made him king, but this prince was so miserable! Let me tell you, boss. Does he really regard you as a brother? Has he ever been to your Prince Qi’s Mansion after so many years! It’s only a few steps from the East Palace to Prince Qi’s Mansion!”
"I'm the only one who still thinks about the brotherly relationship and goes to have a drink with you every now and then. After the boss became the crown prince, I'm afraid he has long forgotten that we are still brothers!"
Zhu Gaojiu took a sip of wine and smiled without saying a word.
The eldest brother Zhu Gaochi has two identities: one is the eldest brother among the four brothers, and the other is the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.
From the eldest brother's point of view, the prince did not want to involve Zhu Gaojie in the turmoil of the party struggle. Although the old man didn't like Zhu Gaojie, this did not affect his status as vassal king. Zhu Gaojie will become a vassal next year. After the vassalage, the sky is high and the emperor is far away. He can be a carefree prince. For the prince, this is the best ending for Zhu Gaojia.
From the perspective of the prince, if Zhu Gaojie participates in the battle for the throne, it will be another enemy for the prince. Because he is the prince, he is the biggest enemy of all those who want to compete for the throne.
Over the years, the prince's indifference towards Zhu Gaojie was actually another kind of protection.
His method of protection is simple: push Zhu Gaojie out of the man-eating vortex of Jinling City, and it is best not to be involved in it for the rest of his life.
"Fourth brother, second brother tells you that I treat you as my own brother. If anyone dares to bully you, second brother, I will have to skin him off!" said the King of Han with drunken eyes.
"Second brother, you are too drunk."
Zhu Gaojie said with a smile: "In the Ming Dynasty, which madman dares to disrespect our Zhu family?"
"I'm not afraid of outsiders, I'm afraid of... my own family..."
King Han's voice became weaker and weaker, and finally he lay on the table and snored.
Zhu Gaojie shook his head. Prince Han didn't know whether he was really stupid or pretending to be stupid.
Can these words be said nonsense?
He shouted to the servants outside: "Come here, help your Prince Han to rest on the couch!"
…
The maids and eunuchs helped the drunken King of Han to the bed, sweating profusely from exhaustion.
Princess Han came over with the sobering soup. Seeing King Han's demeanor, she couldn't help but shook her head: "This sobering soup is in vain. How can the prince drink it when he is so drunk?"
She waved her hands to the people below: "Go down, I will serve the prince."
…
After everyone walked out, King Han, who was snoring on the couch, suddenly opened his eyes. There was no hint of drunkenness in his sharp eyes.
Princess Han was stunned: "My lord, are you not drunk?"
"I started drinking when I was six years old. When I was in Jingnan, I never lost in a drinking contest in the military camp. You want to get me drunk with just a few drinks?"
The King of Han sat up and said coldly, "What I said to King Qi at the wine table just now was just drunken talk. Do you really think that this King is a fool who drinks too much every day?"
