Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhu Han and Zhu Biao remained silent for a while in the study. The night outside gradually grew darker, but the palace was still brightly lit.

"Uncle, I know this road is not easy to walk, especially in this palace, everything is undercurrent."

Zhu Biao said softly, with a complicated look in his eyes, "But now that I have made the decision, I can no longer back down."

Zhu Han stared at him, was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "Prince, I can see your determination. But determination alone is not enough to support you to the end. You must understand that this struggle is far beyond the will of an individual. Everyone around you, every minister, has his own calculations, and you must know how to gather these people around you."

Zhu Biao nodded slowly, obviously aware of the complexity involved.

He lowered his head and took a deep breath: "I know, uncle. I can no longer rely on my father's favor. I have to control the situation by myself. But you are right. I must hold every minister tightly in my hands."

Zhu Han stood up, walked to the window, looked at the scene in the palace, and seemed to be thinking about how to arrange the chess game.

His voice was deep and powerful. "Crown Prince, the ministers in the palace, the dignitaries, and even the relatives of the emperor, everyone has their own interests, and the relationships between them are intricate. If you want to control these forces, you must learn to divide them, unite some, and isolate others. And the most important thing is to understand everyone's mind."

"But..." Zhu Biao hesitated, "Which of these ministers and dignitaries is not cunning and scheming? If I want to win them over, doesn't it mean that I have to pay a certain price?"

Zhu Han turned around, his eyes sharp as a knife: "That's right. If you want to get their support, you must make certain promises. But remember, these promises must be measured. You can't give them too much, and you can't let them think that you are a puppet that can be manipulated at will. Every minister, every dignitary, is a chess piece, and your task is to make them use you."

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, then asked: "So, uncle, where do you think we should start? In the palace, many forces are eyeing us, and the struggle between Zhu Di and I is becoming increasingly intense."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with a hint of deep meaning. He smiled and said slowly, "Start from your side, Prince. You must first consolidate your own power, and then seek support from the outside world. The most important thing is that you must capture an important person in the palace - Gu Qingping."

"Gu Qingping?" Zhu Biao frowned. "Although she is the Crown Princess, she has always been taciturn and doesn't seem to care much about the power struggle in the palace."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with cunning: "It is precisely because she has remained silent that she deserves our attention. Gu Qingping has the Gu family behind her. The Gu family has considerable power in the court. If we can get her support, we can win over many key figures in one fell swoop.

Moreover, her relationship with Zhu Di is not as simple as it seems. She has a deep mind. If you can get close to her and understand her true thoughts, you may be able to gain greater advantages for you. "

Zhu Biao frowned, obviously thinking about Zhu Han's words: "But if her relationship with Zhu Di is really so complicated, how can I approach her?"

Zhu Han smiled faintly, with a wise light in his eyes: "It's not difficult to get close to her, but the difficult part is how to make her believe that you are someone she can rely on. You have to know that Gu Qingping doesn't only care about the prince, she cares more about the future of the entire Gu family. If you can give her enough promises, she will definitely support you."

Zhu Biao fell into deep thought after hearing this, and he had obviously begun to formulate his next plan in his mind. He raised his head, his eyes determined: "So, uncle, what should I do next?"

Zhu Han patted his shoulder gently: "Start with your contact with Gu Qingping. Don't rush to show too much dependence, but show your determination to plan for the future of the prince in your words and deeds. At the same time, always pay attention to her reaction. Remember, women's minds are the most difficult to understand, especially women as scheming as her."

"I understand, uncle." Zhu Biao nodded slowly, with a determined light flashing in his eyes. "In this case, I will start from now on and move forward steadily."

A few days later, Crown Prince Zhu Biao finally had the opportunity to talk to Gu Qingping alone at a palace banquet.

After the banquet, Gu Qingping did not rush to leave, but walked straight to the side hall where Zhu Biao was.

Zhu Biao was standing in front of the window. When he heard footsteps, his heart tightened.

Gu Qingping's steps were light and firm, and every step seemed to be filled with some hidden threat.

She walked into the side hall, smiled gently, with a hint of tentativeness in her eyes, "Prince, there are quite a few guests at the banquet today, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao smiled slightly, turned around, his eyes gentle but not without dignity, "What the Crown Princess said is very true. There are many guests at today's banquet. If my prince was not deeply loved by my father, how could he have this honor?"

Gu Qingping narrowed her eyes and looked at him with a half-smile: "Prince, if what you said is true, then you must know that not everyone in the palace is so kind. Not only father, but even those powerful people are coveting your position."

Zhu Biao's heart was shocked and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He lowered his head, was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "I know, Crown Princess, that's why I hope to get your support. The Gu family has an influence in the court that cannot be ignored, and you, as the Crown Princess, should stand on the side of the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingping pursed her lips slightly, as if weighing every word he said.

She slowly approached, her tone calm and deep, "Prince, it's not that I don't want to support you. But you have to know that supporting you is not a simple matter. If I support you, it means I will go against Zhu Di. Moreover, I have the power of the entire Gu family behind me. It's probably not appropriate to make a choice easily."

Zhu Biao's heart moved, but his face remained calm: "I understand the Crown Princess's concerns. However, I am willing to promise that as long as I can get the support of the Gu family, I will definitely not let you and the Gu family down. The Ming Dynasty needs the Crown Prince to sit firmly on the throne, and the Gu family also needs to occupy a place in the court. If we join forces, we will surely create brilliance together."

Gu Qingping was silent for a moment, with a look of scrutiny in her eyes. She whispered, "What the prince said is indeed what I want. However, all this is not that simple. Since you have decided to take this path, you must be prepared for everything. Zhu Di is not someone who can be easily defeated. Any negligence may put you in trouble."

Zhu Biao nodded gently, having already made up his mind: "I know, Crown Princess, I will be careful."

Gu Qingping looked at him, and the calmness and wisdom in her eyes made Zhu Biao respect her. "Prince, in this case, I will wait for your further actions. If you can accumulate more power in the court, perhaps I can help you."

Zhu Han pushed open the window, and a cold wind blew in his face, bringing a hint of autumn.

"Your Highness!" The voice outside the door interrupted his thoughts. Zhu Han came to his senses and saw Liu Jin walking in from the door with a trace of anxiety on his face that was hard to conceal.

"What's the matter?" Zhu Han's eyes flashed, and he felt a little uneasy in his heart.

Liu Jin walked to the table, picked up a cup of tea on the table, took a sip, and seemed to be looking for a suitable opening remark.

"I heard that you have been secretly doing something recently. Isn't it time to tell me? You know, I am not an ignorant person." Zhu Han glanced at him, smiled slightly, and put down the book in his hand. "You know, I have been thinking about how to use these reward items reasonably. Today, I plan to take action."

Liu Jin frowned, "Are you really planning to use those modern items? Didn't you say that you can't take the risk?"

"You don't understand." Zhu Han's tone became more serious. "These things are my opportunities, opportunities to change my destiny. If I don't use them, I will be swallowed up by this era sooner or later."

Liu Jin looked at him, and seemed to realize that he was determined. "You know, once you start, there is no turning back. Aren't you afraid?"

Zhu Han paused, took a deep breath, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes. "Afraid? Sometimes, life is a gamble. Either continue to endure for a lifetime, or take a gamble and get a brand new future."

Liu Jin lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then raised his head with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

"Well, since you have made your decision, I will naturally support you. However, I have to remind you, Zhu Han, don't let this gambling game get you into trouble."

"I know." Zhu Han's tone was gentle, but his eyes revealed a strength that could not be ignored. "Every step must be taken carefully. Only by seizing the opportunity can we make it to the end."

Liu Jin nodded, "So, what are you going to do as the first step?"

"Gu Qingping." Zhu Han's voice was low, with a hint of deep meaning in his eyes. "She is the Crown Princess. Not only does she have great influence in the palace, but she also has the power of the entire Gu family behind her. I must contact her and win her support."

Liu Jin raised his eyebrows, obviously a little surprised, "You mean, you want to join forces with Gu Qingping?"

"Yes." Zhu Han looked out the window with a deep gaze, "The relationship between Gu Qingping and Zhu Di is far more complicated than it appears. If I can use her power to pull the entire Gu family to the side of the prince, then we can take the initiative in this palace struggle."

Liu Jin pondered for a moment, "She is not the kind of person who is easy to get close to. If you want to get her support, you have to be very careful."

"I know." Zhu Han's eyes flashed with calmness. "Gu Qingping is very scheming. She only cares about the future of the Gu family. If I can give her enough promises and let her see the benefits, she will naturally support us."

Liu Jin frowned slightly, "But it's not easy to make her believe you."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, "She is the Crown Princess. Her vision goes far beyond the struggle for power. It is also about the future of the family. I just need to plant a seed of reliance in her heart."

Liu Jin was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, then I'll help you take care of some things and try to find the best time."

A few days later, Zhu Han and Liu Jin finally found an opportunity.

At night after the banquet, Zhu Han quietly walked into Gu Qingping's palace. Gu Qingping was reading a book by the window. When she heard the footsteps, she raised her head, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

"Uncle, what is the atmosphere of the banquet today?" Gu Qingping asked softly, her tone gentle and calm, as if she had known he would come.

Zhu Han walked up to her and smiled, "The atmosphere of the banquet is good, but things in the palace seem to be getting more and more complicated."

Gu Qingping frowned slightly, his eyes darkened, "You are right, the situation in the palace is changing, how can the position of the crown prince be easily secured?"

Zhu Han smiled softly, "That's why I want to get the support of the Crown Princess. The Gu family's power in the court is not insignificant. If we can unite, we will be able to change the situation of this power struggle."

Gu Qingping looked at him, with a subtle light flashing in her eyes, "Uncle, you know that I don't make choices easily. Supporting the prince means that I have to fight against Zhu Di's forces, and the power of the Gu family behind him cannot be easily shaken."

"I understand." Zhu Han's eyes were deep, "But I can make a promise to the Gu family. Once the prince ascends the throne, he will definitely make use of the Gu family and guarantee the Gu family's status and interests in the court."

Gu Qingping looked at him quietly, her eyes sharp as a sword, "Are the words you said worthy of my trust?"

Zhu Han slowly lowered his head, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, "What I said is related to the future of the Gu family. If you can unite with us, the prince will not only be able to sit firmly on the throne, but also allow the Gu family to occupy an unshakable position in the court."

Gu Qingping's eyes gradually softened, and a smile appeared on her face. "Okay, I'm willing to consider it. But this power struggle is more complicated than you think. I hope you can understand that once you make a choice, there is no turning back."

Zhu Han's heart moved, and he breathed a sigh of relief, "I understand, Crown Princess. No matter what, once the position of Crown Prince is secured, the power of the Gu family will also be secured. We must work hand in hand to meet the challenges of the future together."

Gu Qingping lowered her head, as if thinking about something. After a moment, she raised her head, her eyes determined, "Okay, I will support the prince. But you must remember that any decision in the palace must be thought twice before it is made."

Zhu Han smiled slightly, with a hint of pride in his eyes, "Don't worry, Princess, I will definitely act cautiously."

During this meeting, Gu Qingping's attitude was much softer than expected, and Zhu Han secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Returning to his study, Zhu Han took a deep breath and looked at the night outside the window, with a myriad of thoughts in his mind.

"I will definitely win this struggle." Zhu Han whispered to himself, his eyes as sharp as a knife, as if they could penetrate all obstacles and reach the peak of victory.

Zhu Han stood in front of the study window, the breeze gently brushed across his face, and the scene outside the window was peaceful.

"The Crown Princess is willing to support you, which opens a door." Liu Jin's voice came from behind, breaking the momentary silence.

Zhu Han turned around, his eyes as steady as water: "Yes, more and more people support us, but this is far from over. Gu Qingping's support is important, but the next chess game is the decisive step." (End of this chapter)