Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 23: Emperor Yongle My son stole my horse and gave it to his son to ride?!

The teacup was placed heavily on the small tea table with a loud, sharp sound in the empty palace. Emperor Yongle put down the teacup in his hand and stared at Little Nose with his sharp eyes.

Little Sniffle was kneeling on the ground with his head down. He seemed to feel the emperor's sharp gaze and his body couldn't help but tremble.

"Tell me, what's going on?!" Emperor Yongle asked Little Nose in a scrutinizing tone, his eyes full of doubt and questioning. The Imperial Stables were filled with his beloved BMWs! At this moment, his ominous premonition became stronger and stronger.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. It was our servants' lax discipline and improper management that led to a horse being lost from the Imperial Stables." The little snotty man kneeling on the ground prostrated his head on the ground and began to apologize to the emperor, saying directly that a horse was lost from the Imperial Stables.

"The Imperial Stables lost a horse? Which horse? No! I was asking what horse the Crown Prince of Han rode on the battlefield. You're talking about the Imperial Stables losing a horse..." Emperor Yongle was initially confused. He'd only casually asked what horse the Crown Prince of Han rode, but Little Nose was referring to the Imperial Stables losing a horse? Seeing Little Nose's panic, Emperor Yongle was stunned. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he paused. What was the connection between the two?!
The horse lost by the Imperial Stables was the one ridden by the Crown Prince of Han? ! ! Suddenly, Emperor Yongle’s head seemed to be struck by lightning, and these words popped into his mind.

At this time, Emperor Yongle suddenly realized: Grandpa lost a horse, and it is in the hands of his grandson!

Could it be that his grandson stole his horse?! How could this kid have such nerve?! Could it be that his father, the Prince of Han, did it?!

Although Emperor Yongle had just gained some new insights into his grandson, he also liked some of his words. For example, "Not everyone can become the Yongle Emperor!" "Not everyone has the ability to accomplish eight hundred things!" These words really benefited him!

But no one can steal my horses, absolutely not! No one can! They are all my horses! My BMWs!

Emperor Yongle couldn't help but squint his eyes sadly at this time, his face was full of sadness, sad for his BMW!
"Tell me, why did my Imperial Stables lose a horse, and which one was it?!" After Emperor Yongle had an idea in his mind, he took another sip of the boiling hot tea.

"Hiss" Emperor Yongle, who was scalded by the hot tea, rolled his eyes, put down the teacup in his hand, let out a long breath, and looked at Little Nose with aggressive eyes, waiting for his explanation.

Little Sniff was also filled with grievances at this time, and kept complaining to Prince Han in his heart: "Prince Han, you are really a rip-off! Your golden beans are really hot. We agreed to lend me a horse and return it after the expedition. But it's been two days since I got home and you still haven't returned it. This is the BMW I lent you! I was caught by the emperor today, and he is very angry now! So please don't blame me."

Then Little Nose knelt on the ground and raised his head cautiously. He glanced at the frowning Emperor Yongle with the corner of his eyes and quickly lowered his head again.

"Your Majesty, a few days before you set out for the Alutai expedition, you often consulted with Prince Han and Prince Zhao about important matters. One day, after Prince Han finished discussing things with you, he said he wanted to go to the Imperial Stables to take a look." Little Nose lowered his head, and from time to time he stole a glance at Emperor Yongle on the soft couch, lost in memories.

That day, Prince Han discussed the specific matters of the expedition with the Crown Prince and the broad-minded Emperor Yongle as usual. Near the evening, the negotiations finally ended. The discussion that day was not smooth, so the emperor did not provide food, but directly drove Prince Han and his companions out.

As soon as he walked out of the council hall, Prince Han headed in a direction different from the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao.

"Second brother, where are you going?" The Crown Prince looked at Prince Han, who was not planning to leave the palace with him, with a puzzled look on his face.

"Second brother, if you have anything to do, let's go together. I, your younger brother, can also help." Prince Zhao also looked interested and asked while staring at his second brother.

"Boss, Third Brother, I'm going to the Imperial Stables to take care of something. You guys go back first." Our Prince Han stopped striding awkwardly and responded perfunctorily.

"You guys go ahead and do your work, I'll be back soon. My father asked me to help see how the imperial horses are prepared for his expedition. I'm just about to go and take a look." The Prince of Han also reacted quickly. Before the eldest and the third brother could continue asking questions, he interrupted them again and stopped them from saying anything.

The eunuch who had been accompanying him was also bewildered. How could he not have heard the Emperor's request that Prince Han go to the Imperial Stables? The other eunuchs hadn't mentioned this before they left. Had they forgotten? Or was Prince Han just making it up?

"Boss, third brother, I'm going to the Imperial Stables first." Prince Han did not give Prince Crown Prince and Prince Zhao time to continue asking questions, and left in a hurry.

"Hurry up and take me to the Imperial Stables. What are you waiting for?" Prince Han ignored the Crown Prince and Prince Zhao who were hesitant to speak, and impatiently urged the young eunuch beside him to lead the way.

"Yes, yes, please, Prince Han," the young eunuch was also confused, but he couldn't afford to offend the high and mighty Prince Han, so he could only follow with a bitter face. The Crown Prince and Prince Zhao were left with a bewildered look on their faces. They looked at each other, shook their heads helplessly, and left the palace.

"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Imperial Stables. I will go back first." The young eunuch brought Prince Han to the Imperial Stables with a bitter face and said to Prince Han with a pitiful face, hoping that Prince Han would let him go.

"Well, this is well done. You go back first, I'll go in and take a look." The Prince of Han who came to the Imperial Stables was also full of joy. His eyes scanned back and forth at the various high-quality BMWs in the Imperial Stables. The more he looked, the more he liked them, even though they were not his.

"Your Highness the Prince of Han is well and healthy. I wonder what brings you to the Imperial Stables?" The chief eunuch of the Imperial Stables was an elderly man. At this moment, he bowed respectfully to greet the Prince of Han and asked about his purpose.

"The emperor is about to go to war. Let me see how the imperial horses are prepared. Are you all ready?" Prince Han also took out his princely posture at this time, raised his head and asked the chief eunuch of the imperial stables with a proud face.

"In reply to Prince Han, the imperial horses are ready, and you may inspect them." The eunuch of the Imperial Stables was very confident at this time, and answered Prince Han's words with pride on his face.

"Then let's see." Prince Han was not polite and nodded in agreement.

"Prince of Han, please!" The old eunuch from the Imperial Stables led Zhu Gaoxu to visit the numerous imperial mounts. It must be said that the emperor's horses were endlessly varied, some pure-colored, some bred, some Ferghana horses, and some steppe ponies, each one extraordinary. Zhu Gaoxu was a little dazzled by the sight.

"Okay, okay, the steward has prepared these imperial horses very well. I will report the truth to the emperor." Prince Han looked at the imperial horses galloping back and forth in the yard with envy.

"Thank you, Prince Han, for your kind words." The old eunuch was also a smart man. He thanked Prince Han in advance. He knew that Prince Han would definitely have something to say next.

"I wonder which is the strongest horse in the Imperial Stables? Could the old steward bring it to me for a look?" Prince Han asked with a mouth full of questions, but his tone did not dare to refuse. He stared at the old eunuch with sharp eyes and a smile on his face.

"This...? Since the Prince of Han has asked, I shall answer truthfully. The most powerful horse in the Imperial Stables is naturally His Majesty's horse, Sai Jiaolong. He is a stout and powerful horse, a head taller than ordinary horses, with thick bones, immense strength, and excellent endurance. However, he does have some shortcomings." The old eunuch, seeing the playful look in the Prince of Han's eyes, knew he couldn't escape today. He could only answer truthfully, pointing to a large BMW leisurely grazing not far away. However, he was also lying in wait as he spoke, hoping that the Prince of Han would show mercy and let his BMW go.

"Tell me about it!" When Prince Han heard this, he instantly became excited. What a powerful BMW! He instantly became interested.

"Although this Sailong BMW has great strength and endurance, it is slower than other horses and has not been completely tamed yet. Even Your Majesty can only ride it with many guards. No one else can control it at all." The old eunuch told the Prince of Han clearly that you can't control this BMW, so don't even think about it.

"Okay, this is it. Tie it up for me and send it to Prince Han's Palace." Prince Han's eyes lit up after hearing the old eunuch's words, and he spoke decisively.

After saying this, Prince Han went straight to the deeper part of the Imperial Stables.

"Prince Han, think twice"

"Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, this is the Emperor's favorite dragon race."

……

In the end, Prince Han brought the BMW Sai Jiaolong back to his palace despite the eunuchs in the Imperial Stables shouting and begging for mercy.

"My son stole my horse and gave it to his son?!" At this moment, after listening to Little Nose's description, this thought flashed through Emperor Yongle's mind.

　There are three main theories about the birth mother of Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di: Empress Ma, Concubine Yu, and Concubine Shundi of Yuan Dynasty.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)