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

In the early morning light, the fog in the palace had not yet completely dissipated, and the faint light and shadow shone through the layers of palace walls onto Zhu Biao's face.

He stood in the corridor of the Prince's Mansion, taking a deep breath of the cold morning air, but he could not hide his nervousness.

"Your Highness, the prince has given all the instructions, you just need to act according to the plan."

A personal guard whispered a reminder.

Zhu Biao nodded, suppressed the emotions in his heart, and stepped forward.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived——"

The attendant reported loudly, Zhu Biao smiled slightly, and walked into the Qianqing Palace with steady steps.

Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting behind his desk, holding an ancient book in his hand. When he saw Zhu Biao coming in, his brows relaxed slightly and he showed a warm smile: "Biao'er, what's the matter with you coming to see me so early?"

Zhu Biao stepped forward and saluted, saying respectfully, "Father, I was unable to sleep last night, and there is something on my mind that I need to consult with you."

"Oh? What worries you so much?" Zhu Yuanzhang put down the book with concern in his eyes.

"I heard that an old case seems to have been reopened in the palace, and someone is even secretly investigating it. I feel uneasy and am afraid that I may have offended my father unintentionally, so I came here to apologize."

Zhu Biao looked sincere and lowered his head slightly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "You are a cautious child. I have also heard about the old case, but it is nothing more than some old rumors, nothing to worry about."

"I understand." Zhu Biao nodded.
"But I know very well that as the crown prince, I should be filial to my father and protect the Ming Dynasty, and I will never get involved in anything that I shouldn't be involved in."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him with a look of satisfaction in his eyes: "Good, good. I am very pleased that you have such filial piety in your heart. No matter how turbulent the outside world is, you just need to assist me wholeheartedly and be at ease as your crown prince."

"My son, I will obey my father's teachings."

Zhu Biao bowed again and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and waved his hand: "Okay, go down. I know what you mean, don't worry about these meaningless things anymore."

Zhu Biao respectfully took his leave and left the Qianqing Palace, feeling relieved.

However, just as Zhu Biao walked out of the palace gate, a eunuch dressed in dark purple silk quietly flashed out from the side door, staring at his back with a cold look, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"Eunuch Xu, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is quite scheming." Another eunuch behind him whispered.

"Humph, he thinks he can deceive Your Majesty with a few words of loyalty. How naive of him." Xu Wensheng sneered, "However, the more innocent he acts, the more it proves that he cares about this old case."

"Father-in-law, how should we deal with it next?"

"Continue to act according to the plan. Since he is uneasy, make him even more uneasy."

A trace of viciousness flashed in Xu Wensheng's eyes, "I will let him fall into the trap I set step by step until he can no longer turn around."

At the same time, Zhu Biao returned to the Prince's Mansion and immediately sent someone to go to the Prince's Mansion secretly to report today's situation to Zhu Han in detail.

In the study room of the palace, Zhu Han listened to the spy's report and sneered, "Xu Wensheng has indeed noticed our intentions, but he thought he was still controlling it in secret. Little did he know that he was heading towards a dead end step by step."

"Your Highness, how should we respond next?" the guard asked.

"It's very simple." Zhu Han gently closed his folding fan and said in a low voice, "Xu Wensheng thinks that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is uneasy, so we will take advantage of his trick and make him mistakenly believe that his conspiracy has succeeded."

"How to make him think he succeeded?"

"Xu Wensheng is a sinister and cunning man. He will definitely continue to sow discord between Zhu Biao and Your Majesty. What we need to do is to make him believe that the prince is indeed panicking."

Zhu Han smiled lightly, "Tell Zhu Biao to deliberately show some worry when he enters the palace tomorrow. It doesn't have to be too obvious, as long as Xu Wensheng can sense his inner uneasiness."

"I see." The guard nodded. "Then Xu Wensheng will definitely speed up his actions, and we can catch him right away."

"That's right." Zhu Han nodded, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, "But this is not enough. I want Xu Wensheng to think he is in control of everything, and then I will personally unmask him."

Night fell again, the palace was brightly lit, but Zhu Han quietly changed into night clothes and left the palace quietly with a few trusted guards.

They walked through the quiet streets, avoiding the patrolling imperial guards, and finally arrived at the back door of the East Palace.

"Your Highness, it has been confirmed that Xu Wensheng goes to the back hall of the East Palace every night and seems to be having secret conversations with someone." The guard reported in a low voice.

"The back hall of the Eastern Palace? How dare Xu Wensheng plot in the Crown Prince's Mansion."

Zhu Han's eyes turned cold, "Let's go in."

Several people climbed over the wall silently and quickly approached the back hall of the East Palace using the shadows of the trees in the garden.

Through the window lattice, Zhu Han saw Xu Wensheng talking in a low voice with a man in plain clothes under the candlelight.

"Eunuch, the prince seems calm today, but I always feel that he is on guard."

"It doesn't matter." Xu Wensheng sneered, "The more he pretends to be innocent, the more guilty he is. I have already hinted to Your Majesty that the prince has ulterior motives. If you add fuel to the fire, the prince's position will be in jeopardy."

"So what else do we need to do?"

"Tomorrow, go to the East Palace again and deliberately bring up the old case in front of the Crown Prince to see how he reacts. As long as he panics a little, I can take the opportunity to advise His Majesty and thoroughly investigate the old case."

Xu Wensheng said with a cold tone, "When the time comes, I will bring him down."

"Your Excellency's brilliant plan, I admire you!"

Zhu Han outside the window sneered and turned slowly: "Go back, the plan remains unchanged. Just let Xu Wensheng continue to think he has a good plan, and then catch him all in the end."

"Yes!" the guards responded softly and then retreated quietly.

In the Prince's Mansion, Zhu Biao sat alone in the study. The candlelight flickered slightly, illuminating his handsome and slightly worried face.

He looked at the teacup on the table quietly, his heart full of doubts.

"How dare this old dog Xu Wensheng sow discord between me and my uncle in front of my father?"

Zhu Biao sighed softly, a bitter smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

"Your Highness, it's late, please go to bed early." The personal guard advised softly.

Zhu Biao shook his head: "No, I have to go to the palace tomorrow, I must stay awake."

He stood up, walked slowly to the window, looked at the hazy moon in the night sky, and prayed silently in his heart: "Father, you must believe me..."

Back in the palace, Zhu Han sat quietly in the study, with a map of the palace on the table in front of him.

His eyes were slightly cold, and he tapped the table lightly with the folding fan in his hand: "Xu Wensheng thought he was in control of everything, but he didn't know that he had already walked into my trap."

"Your Highness, the spy has reported that Xu Wensheng will enter the palace again tomorrow and try to instigate the Crown Prince in front of Your Majesty." A trusted guard reported. "Very good." Zhu Han smiled faintly, "Then we will let him get what he wants, but... he will not instigate the Crown Prince, but himself."

"What do you want, Your Highness?" the guard asked in a low voice.

"Deploy all secret agents outside the Qianqing Palace. Once Xu Wensheng enters, immediately monitor his every word and every move."

Zhu Han said calmly, "Also, prepare a few reliable palace eunuchs. They will be the key to exposing Xu Wensheng."

"I understand." The guard accepted the order respectfully.

Zhu Han's eyes were deep, and he already had a careful plan in his mind.

As long as Xu Wensheng falls into the trap, he can take advantage of the situation and expose him in one fell swoop.

The next morning, Zhu Biao entered the palace as usual, with a thoughtful look on his face.

Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting in the imperial study. When he saw Zhu Biao coming in, he frowned slightly and said, "Biao'er, why are you so listless today?"

"Your son... couldn't sleep last night. I always felt uneasy." Zhu Biao bowed, with a hint of worry in his voice.

"Uneasy?" Zhu Yuanzhang put down the memorial in his hand, his eyes full of concern, "Why are you uneasy?"

"I am terrified. I am afraid that the old case will cause disturbances in the court. I am even more afraid that someone will use it to sow discord between me and my father."

Zhu Biao's voice was low, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Silly boy, when have I ever doubted you because of rumors? You are my eldest son and the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty. How can you be shaken by the slander of villains?"

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up, and he knelt respectfully and saluted: "I am grateful for your trust, father. I will do my best to assist you and will never let down the Ming Dynasty."

"Okay, get up quickly." Zhu Yuanzhang showed a kind smile on his face, "As long as you are kind-hearted, I will be at peace."

Zhu Biao stood up, feeling relieved. At this moment, the eunuch outside the palace announced loudly: "Eunuch Xu wants to see you."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly, then said calmly: "Announce."

Zhu Biao looked calm and stood quietly by the side, while Xu Wensheng bowed and walked in with his usual flattering smile on his face: "Your Majesty, I greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Biao nodded with a calm expression.

"Eunuch Xu, what's the matter?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a flat tone.

"Your Majesty, I have heard recently that someone seems to be secretly investigating an old case in the palace. I am worried that this matter may disrupt the relationship between Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..." Xu Wensheng said in a low voice, with a frown on his face.

"Investigating an old case? Who is investigating?" Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened.

"Your servant... Your servant heard that someone was secretly instigating Your Majesty, trying to alienate the relationship between father and son, and even intended to lead this matter to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Xu Wensheng's voice became smaller and smaller, and seemed to be intentionally vague.

Zhu Biao frowned slightly, with a hint of vigilance in his eyes: "Eunuch Xu, what do you mean by this?"

"Your Highness, please calm down. I have no intention of offending you."

Xu Wensheng bowed hurriedly, "It's just...it's just that I'm worried that someone has ulterior motives and is trying to use this to alienate your highness and your majesty."

"Are you saying that someone is deliberately using an old case to disrupt the court?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were slightly cold, and his voice was full of majesty.

"That's right. I'm afraid the person behind this has ulterior motives..." Xu Wensheng's tone was somewhat tentative.

Zhu Han's spies had already been lying in ambush outside the palace, secretly recording every word of Xu Wensheng.

"That's enough." Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, his eyes showing a hint of displeasure, "Xu Wensheng, I see that you have become more and more talkative recently. What do you want to say?"

"Your servant... Your servant is just worried about Your Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I have no other intentions..." Xu Wensheng's face was pale and cold sweat oozed from his forehead.

"You're not worried about me, but yourself, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke in a low voice, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent!" Xu Wensheng fell to his knees and kowtowed repeatedly, "I am loyal and devoted, and have never had any selfish motives!"

"Loyalty?" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "I want to see how true your so-called loyalty is!"

Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the palace, and several eunuchs walked in quickly, presenting several memorials with both hands:

"Your Majesty, this is the confession that I and others found from Eunuch Xu's residence. It actually contains a secret order to secretly instruct Su Huaiyuan to fabricate an old case!"

"What?" Zhu Yuanzhang's face suddenly turned cold and he stood up abruptly. "Xu Wensheng, is this your loyalty?"

"Your Majesty... this is impossible! This is definitely not the work of a servant!" Xu Wensheng was horrified and shook his head repeatedly, his eyes full of fear.

"It's not your handwriting?" Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly, "Then how do you explain the seals on these confessions?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please allow me to report this! Someone must have framed me! It must be!" Xu Wensheng's face turned pale and he knelt down and begged tremblingly.

"Come here!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily, "Catch Xu Wensheng and investigate this case thoroughly!"

"Your Majesty, please spare my life! Your Highness the Crown Prince, save me!" Xu Wensheng struggled and cried, his eyes full of despair.

Zhu Biao stood quietly by the side, his expression calm, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Zhu Han's plan had worked, and Xu Wensheng finally showed his true colors.

Zhu Han was standing in the dark outside the hall at this moment, looking at Xu Wensheng being dragged away, with a sneer on his face: "The conspiracy backfired, you deserve it, Xu Wensheng, you venomous snake, finally bit yourself."

Before Xu Wensheng finished speaking, a deep and dignified voice suddenly came from outside the hall: "Who has ulterior motives? Xu Wensheng, tell me what it is."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure stepped in. It was Zhu Han.

He did not stay in the palace as usual today, but with Zhu Yuanzhang's secret permission, hid in the side hall of the imperial study so that he could personally observe Xu Wensheng's words and deeds.

Xu Wensheng's face changed slightly, and he forced a smile: "Your Majesty... I am just being loyal and helping Your Majesty to share your worries..."

"Loyal?" Zhu Han sneered, walked slowly closer, unfolded the folding fan on the table, and tapped his palm gently.
"You keep saying that you are worried about the old case disrupting the court, but you have repeatedly made plans in private to sow discord between the Crown Prince and His Majesty. How can I not see your 'loyalty'?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked solemn and turned to Xu Wensheng: "Xu Wensheng, what you said is just 'hearsay', but you dare to point out the prince's doubts and say that someone is trying to sow discord between me and my father. Where did you get your 'hearsay' from?"

Xu Wensheng broke out in a cold sweat and trembled. Just as he was about to explain, two old eunuchs suddenly walked in from outside the hall. They were Zhu Han's spies.

"Your Majesty, I have proof." A man took out a secret letter and presented it respectfully.

Zhu Han took the secret letter and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang's desk with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is a secret letter found in the back hall of the East Palace last night. It is signed by Xu Wensheng himself. The content details how to use the old case to alienate the prince and create chaos in the court."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face was as gloomy as water. He unfolded the letter and quickly read through it. The words were full of tricks and calculations. Even the proposed advice to His Majesty was clearly written. (End of this chapter)