After losing his strongest supporter Xie Jin, working Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi finally understood why crown princes throughout history chose to rebel unto death.

They could clearly endure, could wait – the person on the throne would eventually grow old and die. Why couldn’t they wait a little longer?

Especially knowing Father Emperor was so powerful as to be undefeatable, yet still flying like moths to flame to fight for imperial power.

Like Crown Prince Liu Ju during Emperor Wu of Han’s era, whose mother Empress Wei Zifu rose from songstress to empress, beloved and favored, yet in the end Empress Wei assisted her son Liu Ju in a desperate struggle, dying by suicide when defeated.

Knowing it couldn’t be done yet doing it anyway – not from stupidity, but from despair.

A vigorous emperor in his prime, a crown prince gradually gaining influence at court.

The emperor would live long, while the crown prince posed an invisible threat to imperial power.

If the emperor wanted to constrain the crown prince, then whatever the crown prince did was wrong. The emperor too easily over-interpreted the crown prince’s words and actions, always feeling the crown prince wanted to replace him.

The crown prince’s competitors watched like vultures, constantly monitoring his every move – attacking, framing, slandering.

Did emperors not know most of these were defamatory words?

They knew, yet still chose to believe slander, constantly finding fault with crown princes, lecturing them.

No matter how cautious and careful, avoiding a hundred traps, there was always another trap waiting ahead.

You’d never have a moment of peaceful sleep, constantly suffering mental torture.

Because young emperors would live very long, this torture continued year after year, until crown princes couldn’t take it anymore, driven to desperation, staking everything on rebellion against their fathers.

Of course, most of them failed.

Using history as a mirror, knowing this path was a dead end, crown princes kept walking the same road.

Position determines perspective. Zhu Gaochi didn’t understand why before, but now he did. He deeply understood those failed rebel crown princes and sympathized.

For a moment, two little figures fought in the Crown Prince’s mind:

Little Figure A: Screw this, I quit! Working is impossible, I’ll never work in this life. I won’t be a working crown prince. I’ll become a leisurely prince, go to my fief and feed birds – quite nice. What? Princes can’t leave their fiefs without summons, can’t enter the capital?

Fine, I won’t leave, won’t enter. The current Eastern Palace is just a gorgeous prison for me anyway – equally unfree.

Brother Prince Han, want to taste being crown prince? Eastern Palace welcomes you. My door is always open, waiting with open arms. Once you enter, with your hot temper, Father Emperor will probably have you crying to get out within three days.

Little Figure B: Cough cough How about a palace coup?

Your father is campaigning in the northern desert, you’re in the capital. Swords have no eyes on battlefields. While your father fights Tartars, if you slightly leaked military intelligence, use others to kill – use Tartars to eliminate your father… Didn’t your father say the Son of Heaven guards the nation’s gates, the ruler dies for the state?

Let him get what he wants – fulfill your father’s wish. Good for him, good for you too.

Once your father dies, you’re the crown prince. After ascending the throne, immediately send troops to avenge your father – isn’t Brother Prince Han quite capable in battle? Send him out, use war to consume his strength, then reduce feudal power. Your throne will be stable.

You’re capable of governing – why work for others?

The two little figures kept lobbying in his mind, waxing and waning. The Crown Prince felt his head about to explode.

He stumbled to Rouyi Hall, where Empress Renxiao’s coffin rested. Only staying beside his mother could he have moments of peace.

Seeing his mother’s coffin was like cold water poured over his head. Little Figure B, who had been promoting “How about a palace coup?” was instantly killed.

This is my mother. His Majesty is my father. How could I possibly conspire with foreign enemies to harm my own father?

Memories like smoke – before age twelve, he too was a child dearly loved by Father Emperor and Mother Empress. Back then Mother was healthy, the delicate Prince Yan’s consort. He rode on Father’s shoulders, pretending to be ordinary passersby watching lantern festivals, strolling streets – his weight was still normal then, or Emperor Yongle would have developed cervical problems early.

His parents were childhood sweethearts with deep affection. Mother loved watching plays, so Father kept a group of Great Ming’s top dramatists at Prince Yan’s mansion to write scripts.

As the legitimate eldest son, he naturally received the most attention and resources. Dao Yan Chan Master, known as Imperial Tutor, had taught him, beginning his political enlightenment – treatment Prince Han hadn’t enjoyed.

With Dao Yan Chan Master’s guidance, Zhu Gaochi had the ability to handle various suspicions on behalf of Prince Yan’s mansion during his hostage life in the capital.

Life became difficult after going to the capital as a hostage at twelve, bearing enormous pressure. But before twelve, with family harmony and parental love, he had a nearly perfect childhood.

Unlucky people spend their whole lives healing their childhood, like Mu Chun.

Lucky people are healed by their childhood for life, like the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince copied scriptures for Empress Renxiao in Rouyi Hall, suppressing inner unwillingness and restlessness.

Must endure. If you don’t act up, you won’t die.

Consider this Father Emperor’s test for me. Xie Jin’s demotion to Jiaozhi is just the beginning. More ministers close to the Eastern Palace will be squeezed out by Prince Han’s faction and suspected by Father Emperor.

But humans aren’t plants. If people could always stay rational, be ninja turtles, why were there crown princes who couldn’t endure throughout dynasties?

The word “endure” – easier said than done.

The Crown Prince’s emotions surged. His copied scriptures kept wandering, copying wrong and having to throw them in the waste basket to recopy. After copying all afternoon, he hadn’t completed a single piece – the waste basket had piled into a small mountain.

The Crown Prince felt palpitations, dizziness, blurred vision. The small regular script characters seemed splashed with water, slowly spreading like growing black fur halos.

Even his hand holding the brush began trembling. He knew his diabetes was acting up again. His stomach felt weak when slightly empty, like qi and blood deficiency, unable to summon energy.

This damned body!

Just as the Crown Prince was about to order food, someone entered carrying a food box, setting out a plate of water chestnut flour cakes – specially made by the kitchen for the Crown Prince, low sugar, low oil, and naturally, not tasty.

Delicious things aren’t healthy; healthy things aren’t delicious. But life was precious.

It wasn’t that the Imperial Kitchen was stingy, only sending one plate of snacks. This was for the Crown Prince’s benefit – sending more would be pointless since he could eat very little. Seeing but not eating would be torturous, scratching like a cat. Better to send less, let the Crown Prince eat two pieces then immediately take it away, avoiding temptation.

The Crown Prince swallowed three pieces like medicine, drank some water. With food in his stomach, he felt slightly better.

His vision began focusing, seeing things clearly. Only then did the Crown Prince realize the meal deliverer was actually Hu Shanwei.

The Crown Prince wiped water chestnut flour from his mouth corners: “Why is Palace Director Hu personally delivering? Please sit, Palace Director.”

Palace Director Hu couldn’t come to Rouyi Hall without reason – she definitely had something to say.

Hu Shanwei sat in an armchair: “The Crown Prince misses Empress Renxiao, I presume. When this minister entered the palace for the third time, Empress Renxiao once had a deep conversation with me, arranging final matters. What Empress Renxiao worried most about were the Crown Prince and Prince Han.”

Mentioning Empress Renxiao, the nearly collapsed Crown Prince’s nose stung, almost shedding tears. Who isn’t still a baby? Mother, baby’s heart is bitter – baby can’t say anything.

A motherless child is like grass. If Mother Empress were still alive, how could I nearly be driven mad by Second Brother and Father Emperor!

Indeed, if Empress Renxiao were alive, with Emperor Yongle campaigning and the formidable Empress Renxiao guarding the capital while the Crown Prince governed, Emperor Yongle wouldn’t need Prince Han supervising the Crown Prince – he could campaign against Tartars with complete confidence.

Hu Shanwei was someone who kept her word. She remembered Empress Renxiao’s deathbed trust clearly.

“I don’t covet worldly riches, only worry about brothers killing each other. I know this troubles Palace Director Hu – if possible, please try to prevent tragedy…”

About Xie Jin’s private meeting with the Crown Prince, Hu Shanwei, having served the palace for years, understood this was a trap. The young eunuch messenger wouldn’t dare frame court ministers – the root was with Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu Guan, who deliberately had the young eunuch call Xie Jin over while excusing himself for stomach discomfort and another bathroom trip, causing Xie Jin to mistakenly enter alone.

Why would Liu Guan, a second-rank minister and second-in-command of the Censorate, frame Xie Jin?

Prince Han must be behind this.

What Empress Renxiao worried most about had still happened.

Hu Shanwei had to step forward to counsel the Crown Prince.

Hu Shanwei said: “When this minister first met Your Highness, Empress Xiaoci was bestowing ‘Records of Virtuous Consorts of Song Dynasty’ to the imperial clan. I went to Prince Yan’s mansion to deliver books. Your Highness was only three then. After discussing the book with Empress Renxiao, she immediately changed to men’s clothing and took me to the suburbs to catch gamblers, tying Duke Dingguo behind a horse and dragging him, even pretending to cut off his fingers. Duke Dingguo was so frightened he never dared gamble again.”

Duke Dingguo Xu Zengshou was the Crown Prince’s second maternal uncle. When the Crown Prince and three others were hostages in the capital, Second Uncle Xu Zengshou married Mu Chun’s elder sister Lady Mu, but she died young without children. Xu Zengshou treated his four nephews as his own children – Second Uncle was the only relative under whose wings they could hide for momentary respite.

Unfortunately, Xu Zengshou died in the darkest hour before dawn, killed by Emperor Jianwen’s sword when Emperor Yongle and Prince Han were about to attack the capital.

Mentioning Xu Zengshou, the Crown Prince couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears dripped onto the Buddhist scripture: “Second Uncle… Second Uncle was very good to us. He was the capital’s top dandy back then, dissolute and unrestrained. Mother as elder sister stepped in to discipline him – this was the strictest time.”

Hu Shanwei handed over a handkerchief: “When Empress Renxiao rode to catch gamblers and discipline Duke Dingguo, she was pregnant with Prince Han. Prince Han was born on New Year’s Eve that year. Hearing the good news from Prince Yan’s mansion, High Ancestor Emperor and Empress Xiaoci were overjoyed. I still remember that year’s fireworks burned until dawn. High Ancestor Emperor bestowed the name ‘Xu’.”

Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu – born with auspicious celebration, truly heaven’s chosen son.

This brother was quite adorable as a child, but when he grew up… Thinking of Prince Han, the Crown Prince’s tears stopped.

The Crown Prince, red-eyed and aggrieved, said: “I know Mother Empress hoped we siblings would live harmoniously. We’re all born of the same mother, but younger brothers and sisters have grown up with their own thoughts. I can only control myself to love siblings fraternally, but can’t control others.”

Princess Yongping and Princess Ancheng stood with Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu. When the Crown Prince’s leg was crippled, unable to walk properly, surrounded by enemies, they memorialized Emperor Yongle that “the Crown Prince should rest” – a euphemistic way of deposing the crown prince. How could this not chill the Crown Prince’s heart?

Hu Shanwei sighed: “Prince Han has a straightforward personality, and the two princesses favor their second brother. I can understand sibling conflicts. But the Crown Prince shouldn’t forget – when they criticized you, who firmly stood out to clearly support the Crown Prince? It was His Majesty.”

The Crown Prince choked: Yes, but who put me in this impossible situation where I’m wrong no matter how careful? Also His Majesty.

Of course, given the Crown Prince’s personality, he dared not voice this thought.

He dared complain about siblings in front of Hu Shanwei, but wouldn’t dare criticize Emperor Yongle.

Hu Shanwei knew why the Crown Prince fell silent – this was why she came to counsel him.

Hu Shanwei said: “Empress Renxiao once told me the Crown Prince was benevolent and virtuous, with capacity for tolerance, broad-minded. No matter how these siblings treated the Crown Prince, he would choose to endure and forgive. So Empress Renxiao firmly supported Your Highness as crown prince. Because only with the Crown Prince there could these siblings survive in the future – this was a mother’s selfishness.”

With Prince Han as crown prince, things would be uncertain.

Judging by Prince Han’s methods in driving away Xie Jin, he was definitely ruthless. If Prince Han came to power, Eastern Palace people probably couldn’t survive.

Whoever plays palace politics, I’ll get them. Whoever competes for succession, I’ll get them. Nobody’s allowed to cause trouble.

To fulfill Empress Renxiao’s dying wish of preserving all her children’s lives, stabilizing the Eastern Palace and protecting the Crown Prince was the only feasible method.

With Hu Shanwei speaking so frankly, and as a three-reign Palace Director, the Crown Prince wasn’t stupid – if he didn’t win over Hu Shanwei now, when would he?

The Crown Prince stopped pretending and spoke directly: “Not hiding from Palace Director Hu, I’m now walking on thin ice. With physical disabilities, unable to walk properly, dizzy when full, dizzy when hungry – who knows when I might faint and never wake up. Father doesn’t find his son ugly and hasn’t deposed me, but now whatever I do is wrong, impossible to guard against. I’m caught in a dilemma, sometimes really feeling unable to hold on.”

The Crown Prince finally spoke truthfully. Hu Shanwei also spoke directly: “The Crown Prince governs as regent, working hard to do your best. But Your Highness, can you never make mistakes, have no flaws?”

The Crown Prince shook his head: “Impossible. I’ve been extremely careful, yet people still find loopholes. Master Xie was thus demoted to Jiaozhi.”

Hu Shanwei said: “Xie Jin is just the beginning. There will be a hundred, a thousand more Xie Jins. All those close to the Eastern Palace will be demoted, suspected by His Majesty. Your Highness must prepare mentally.”

The Crown Prince’s expression darkened.

Hu Shanwei consoled: “The Hongwu reign used four major cases to kill nearly all noble families in the capital. Compared to High Ancestor Emperor’s methods, His Majesty is already merciful.”

“Your Highness might wonder – before your leg injury, His Majesty was clearly your greatest supporter and backer. Why did his attitude toward you change once you became regent?”

“Your Highness, the contradiction between you and Prince Han is never the main one. On the surface, it’s Eastern Palace versus Prince Han competition causing Xie Jin’s demotion. But actually, it’s a trust issue between you and the Emperor.”

“Because Your Highness controls at least half the imperial power. With His Majesty campaigning far from the capital, you face a crisis of the Emperor’s trust.”

This struck the Crown Prince’s heart. He quickly asked: “In Palace Director Hu’s view, how can I make Father Emperor believe I have absolutely no different intentions, just want to govern properly as regent?”

Actually he did – just now an inner voice was crazily promoting “How about a palace coup?” Supreme imperial power drove people mad, making them risk everything recklessly.

Hu Shanwei said: “Even if you carved out your heart, it would be useless – you can’t prove your innocence. You need someone’s help.”

“Who?” The Crown Prince rejoiced: “Even if I must visit three times like seeking Zhuge Liang, I’ll invite them out.”

Hu Shanwei said: “Prince Han.”

The Crown Prince could hardly believe his ears: “Prince Han… would help me?”

Hu Shanwei’s expression was serious, not joking at all: “Yes, Prince Han is the only person who can help you.”

“Your Highness is too nervous, too careful. Governing for over a month, you only showed one flaw, still the result of Prince Han’s efforts. Nobody’s perfect – when Prince Han reports up, His Majesty believes him, thinking Xie Jin privately met Your Highness.”

“But if Prince Han reports daily that Your Highness does wrong, lacks private virtue, neglects duties, etc., His Majesty will conversely suspect Prince Han.”

Hu Shanwei emphasized: “Your Highness, ruler and heir apparent are naturally opposing relationships. A ruler can never completely trust the heir apparent – don’t waste effort. You don’t need His Majesty to trust you much. You just need His Majesty to suspect Prince Han.”

“Your Highness should boldly show flaws, keep those Eastern Palace informers and tattletales – don’t drive them away. To curry favor with Prince Han, they’ll inevitably exaggerate, fabricating various lies to slander the Crown Prince. Don’t pay attention, don’t defend, let them talk – the more the better. Through Prince Han reaching His Majesty, the more dirty water splashed on the Crown Prince, the more stable his position becomes.”

“Prince Han uses a magnifying glass to watch the Crown Prince, little knowing His Majesty also uses a magnifying glass to watch Prince Han.”