The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1771

[1771. Chapter 1683 Your Highness, you can’t do it]

Emperor Hongzhi cannot be taken seriously.

He has been refusing to let go because he was worried about the prince.

But this time, it taught him a big lesson.

He boasted that he was wise, but he actually lost his due vigilance.

This was certainly a big mistake made by the Minister of War and the ministers and officials who praised the Weizhou Guard.

But as the emperor, can’t we just let go of the relationship?

The prince strongly advocated a standing army, which shows that he was far-sighted.

In two months, the first army was trained, and it was able to fight and dare to fight. This was enough to prove the prince’s ability and responsibility.

As for rescue, there is no need to mention it.

Such a prince… is very rare, unprecedented!

But…so what? Sooner or later, he will ascend to the throne of emperor and inherit the legacy of his ancestors. Now… he is increasingly unable to do many things.

The energy and abilities of the ministers who had been relied upon and promoted in the past began to become increasingly powerless amid this great change.

After all, the vast majority of monarchs and ministers are still where they were ten or twenty years ago. In that era of gentry, every person I relied on was a visionary, a dragon and a phoenix among men, and a pillar of the Ming Dynasty. But now…

when more and more new things appear, the world changes. Now, the world has also changed. At this time… Whether it is Emperor Hongzhi or the cabinet, I am afraid there is a sense of alienation.

Although they tried hard to speed up and adapt to this change, but…

decades of fixed thinking and their already stretched energy as they grew older restricted them.

Emperor Hongzhi summoned Fang Jifan to the imperial court and asked him personally. It was precisely because of this that he wanted to know what Fang Jifan thought of the prince. This was so important.

As for the others, he didn’t reveal a word. This was not because they had lost trust, but because Emperor Hongzhi believed… that he had already guessed their suggestions.

Veteran ministers, who doesn’t want the old emperor to be in power forever?

After all…one emperor and one courtier.

Emperor Hongzhi said again: “Then, if the prince succeeds to the throne and I become the emperor, what do you think?”

“This…” Fang Jifan was a little helpless. He felt that this question was a proposition!

He said: “Your Majesty, I think that your Majesty’s dragon body is in good health…”

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head: “No, I don’t want you to answer the question of whether I am healthy, but… is it possible or not?”

Fang Jifan thought for a while: “Yes. Yes, no.”

Emperor Hongzhi: “…”

Fang Jifan is not stupid. This is a crucial question. Any answer to this question will risk settling the score later.

For example, if you say yes, well, it seems that you, Fang Jifan, have been longing for the old emperor to abdicate in favor of someone new.

If you say no, you just praised the prince as a flower. Did it turn out to be a lie?

Emperor Hongzhi had already lost his face. Apparently… he was not satisfied with this answer because… it was too slippery.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Fang Jifan majestically and said sternly: “I want an accurate answer.”

“Your Majesty…” Fang Jifan took a breath and said meaningfully: “Your Majesty has only one prince, and the prince and even the filial person, father and son. They are of the same mind, just like one person, so I answered, yes, and no. This is because… since father and son are one body, then… it does not matter whether His Highness the Crown Prince succeeds to the throne or not, whether His Majesty is the Son of Heaven or the Emperor. What? In the eyes of Erchen, they are all the same, there is no difference at all.”

Emperor Hongzhi was shocked.

But…it can’t be…

it turns out to be such a meaning.

I thought Fang Jifan was just being cunning.

But now it sounds like… the truth is explained thoroughly.

In today’s world, is there any difference between an emperor and a prince? If that’s the case…

then what’s the problem with the emperor letting the prince ascend the throne?

This guy openly agreed with this matter, but couldn’t say it openly, so he simply brought out the relationship between father and son. In this way…

even if Emperor Hongzhi had other ideas, he wouldn’t be disgusted. Even if he has to settle accounts with his wife in the future, it seems… Fang Jifan didn’t say anything wrong.

Emperor Hongzhi heard this and nodded: “Yes, these words are very popular with me. Jifan, you don’t look like a person with a brain disease. I think you are very smart.”

Well, this topic is even more deadly…

Fang Jifan immediately Defense: “Your Majesty, I just haven’t had an attack now.”

Emperor Hongzhi didn’t take it seriously and said instead: “In that case, my decision has been made.”

Emperor Hongzhi took a deep look at Fang Jifan, his expression became cautious again, and said “This matter cannot be spread for the time being, do you understand?”

Fang Jifan said seriously: “Your Majesty, I am not such a person.”

He knew very well that Emperor Hongzhi had to be prepared. This was a top priority, and it must be decided in advance. It will be kept secret until the time is right.

But at this moment…

Fang Jifan had an idea… The prince… really wants to be the emperor. This guy, looking horizontally and vertically, doesn’t look like an emperor.

Suppressing his inner excitement, Fang Jifan actually felt a little confused, and he didn’t know whether he was happy or worried.

After the necessary conversation was over, Emperor Hongzhi naturally let him out of the palace.

So Fang Jifan hurried out of the palace and hurriedly went to find Zhu Houzhao first.

But they saw Zhu Houzhao happily in the Zhenguo Mansion. He took out dozens of seals, found the one he wanted, and engraved a seal on an official document of commendation.

The first award was naturally given to Zhu Houzhao himself.

In terms of merit, Fang Jifan is the first.

But the reward from the Zhenguo Mansion must be Zhu Houzhao’s first. Who would let this palace design the reward and seal it by myself?

Fang Jifan walked carefully to the papers, not wanting to disturb Zhu Houzhao, who was concentrating on his work.

After waiting and waiting, suddenly… Fang Jifan coughed and said with emotion: “Your Highness, Your Highness, your seal is really becoming more and more fine. Look at the texture, look at the carving, tsk tsk… From ancient times to the present , No prince can be as good as His Highness.”

Zhu Houzhao didn’t like others to disturb him, but when he heard Fang Jifan’s voice, his face softened: “Oh, it’s just a small matter, I will let you meet me in a few days. The emperor’s treasure is more real than the one in the palace.”

Whenever encountering this situation, Fang Jifan would often show a guilty conscience.

But it was strange today. Fang Jifan still showed a smile, and his smile was very gratifying: “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is learned and talented, singing and dancing… No, he should be outstanding. I am really impressed by him.”

Zhu Houzhao squinted his eyes, feeling that the atmosphere was a bit weird, He couldn’t help but ask: “What did your father say when he asked you to go?”

Fang Jifan shook his head: “I didn’t say anything, I just said something to His Highness.”

Zhu Houzhao has never been afraid of anything in his life, except for Emperor Hongzhi. At this time Hearing Fang Jifan’s answer, he no longer had the mood to play with the seal at all, and couldn’t help but become nervous: “Why, I only have merit recently, and I have no past.”

Fang Jifan comforted Zhu Houzhao with sincerity: “I said the same thing. So please rest assured, Your Highness. , in front of His Majesty, I am not interested in anything else except praising His Highness.”

Zhu Houzhao was happy: “I trust you, Lao Fang, my eyelids keep twitching today, I feel like something big is about to happen.

Fang Jifan said cheerfully: “Your Highness is as blessed as the East Sea. There are happy events every day. It’s natural that your eyelids will jump. Are you hungry? I’ll treat you to a good meal.”

Zhu

Houzhao suddenly became energetic and became interested: ” Remember, you still owe me thirty tons…”

Fang Jifan patted his chest and said seriously: “Don’t say thirty tons, it’s two hundred or two thousand tons. That’s also covered by the minister. Your Highness should know , I, the most important thing in this life is friendship, money is an external thing, I don’t look down on it. Besides, what is the relationship between His Highness and I? Not to mention a few meals, it is just to help His Highness. , That’s true. As the saying goes, a man dies for a confidant, and a woman dies for a man who pleases her. His Highness said to our successor, even if you die thousands of times, it will not be able to compare with the love between you and me as a king and my ministers.”

Zhu Houzhao couldn’t help but look ashamed. In such a state, he started to speak and then stopped.

“Your Highness, what do you want to say?”

Zhu Houzhao covered his forehead and said: “Hey, I’m ashamed, I’m ashamed. I really have no face to treat you. I just mentioned your merits and clearly listed your achievements first, but I only care about you. I wanted to give myself a big reward, but after listening to your words, I feel that I am too selfish to be your brother.”

At this moment, Fang Jifan felt a little tear in his eyes, but the tears couldn’t be squeezed out. Then he said solemnly with a strong baritone: “Your Highness, this is just a trivial matter. There is no distinction between brothers. Your Highness rewards yourself first. I am still happy. My brother gets the reward first. This Isn’t it something to be thankful for? When His Highness is happy, I feel happy from the bottom of my heart.”

Zhu Houzhao seemed to have sand in his eyes, well, he felt a little tearful.

have to say.

Although Lao Fang was a bad person, Zhu Houzhao felt that he would have no regrets in his life if he could get to know him. At least every critical moment, Lao Fang would stand by his side. Although Lao Fang always cheated and fished in troubled waters, but…

Zhu Houzhao didn’t have many friends or brothers, so Lao Fang still deserved the title of brother. .

Zhu Houzhao is a person who values feelings and loyalty. At this moment… he took a deep breath and said: “Don’t worry, Lao Fang, if I have meat to eat, you will have meat to eat. When I can take charge in the future, you will be ready.” Okay, follow me and enjoy life.”

Fang Jifan’s face turned red, and he suddenly felt that his life had reached a bright moment, but he tried to hold his face and said in a serious tone: “Your Highness, you can’t do it, you can’t do it.”

He waved his hands hurriedly: “If Your Highness is too close to me, it is inevitable that some people will be jealous. They will impeach me, accuse me of making money, accuse me of deceiving others, say that I am a bad person, and worse, I am not sure, there are people I would rather be a rich man in the future than be favored by His Highness.”

Zhu Houzhao became angry, crossed his hands, and said through gritted teeth, “Whoever dares to say anything about my brothers will be killed first. I, Zhu Houzhao, do not believe in this evil.”

(End of this chapter)