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

Chapter 53 Late Night Lake Cruise 3
Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu's head suddenly felt like a thunder exploding.

I saw him rubbing his eyes in horror, staring at the lake with wide eyes for a long time, before he swallowed and came to his senses.

Prince Han turned his head slightly, not daring to look back. He could only stare at the old Taoist Zhang Zhengheng in front of him with eyes full of horror and disbelief.

The old Taoist priest also had a frown on his face, looking incredulous.

Perhaps noticing Prince Han's gaze, the old Taoist priest turned his head and pointed forward with the dust in his hand, signaling Prince Han to look at Xiao Xizi in the front.

Prince Han then noticed that Xiao Xizi, who was standing in the front, was actually kneeling directly on the cushion! He hadn't even sat down from the beginning!
Seeing this, Prince Han also wanted to move his body and change his posture. Of course, it was not because Prince Han also wanted to kneel! It was just because he had been sitting for a long time and his butt was a little numb, so he wanted to change his posture!

Moreover, Xiao Xizi kept mumbling, but his voice was so low that Prince Han could hardly hear it.

However, the old Taoist priest sitting in front of Prince Han still heard a little because he was closer to Xiao Xizi.

"... Lord Dragon King, please forgive me. I didn't wet my pants this time. Please be merciful and don't bother with me. I also want to feed you! Can you please not ignore me every day..." The old Taoist felt like his head exploded after hearing what Xiao Xizi said.

What's going on? You still want to feed the Dragon King? The Dragon King ignores you. What are you thinking?

Suddenly, the old Taoist priest recalled the voice and smile of his cheap student - this creature that looked like a dragon, could it be Yanhe?
Just as Prince Han and Taoist Zhang Zhengheng were sitting upright, not daring to move, they suddenly noticed that they had strangely stopped. Hastily looking up, they found that they had unknowingly arrived at the shore of the small island in the middle of the lake.

"Master, Your Highness, please come ashore." Xiao Xizi was the first to react. He put away the cushion under his knees, stepped on the red cloth, walked quickly in front, reached the shore first, and then turned around and said to Prince Han and the old Taoist priest.

"Ok"

"Okay." When the old Taoist priest and Prince Han heard that they had reached the shore, they quickly stood up.

When Prince Han stood up, perhaps because his legs were numb, he staggered and almost fell. Fortunately, the old Taoist priest in front of him helped him up.

"Thank you for your hard work, Taoist priest. I slipped." Prince Han supported the old Taoist priest with a trembling voice. Only then did he realize that the old Taoist priest's hands were also trembling. He couldn't help but glance at the old Taoist priest secretly and thought: It turns out that I am not the only one who is afraid. I thought you, an old Taoist priest, were really not afraid of anything.

Prince Han and Taoist priest Zhang Zhengheng supported each other and came to the shore. They looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

The two looked back, but saw only a large red cloth floating on the lake, and there was no trace of the "ferry path" they had just taken.

"Xiao Xizi, what's going on? Where's the prince?" Prince Han asked the young eunuch in front of him with a serious face. After confirming that he was safe, Prince Han first asked about his prince, his future heir!

"In reply to Your Highness, there is a small pavilion a hundred steps ahead. The prince is waiting for you and the immortal there. Please follow me." Xiao Xizi did not answer Prince Han's words. Instead, he walked straight to the front with a lantern and led the way.

Prince Han watched as Xiao Xizi turned and left, his face filled with shock. "What's going on? I'm the prince, and you're just a little eunuch in my household. I'm asking you a question, and you dare ignore me? Are you rebelling?!" He was about to explode in anger.

"Your Highness, follow him and take a look. Yanhe is still waiting ahead." The old Taoist priest once again stopped Prince Han's movements and followed him with great strides. "Hey, hey, wait for me." Prince Han saw the old Taoist priest walking faster and faster, turned his head to look at the dark and silent surroundings, and quickly followed him.

Sure enough, after walking a few steps, he saw a small pavilion standing at a corner. Then Prince Han became more energetic, and he had countless questions to ask his beloved son.

"Dad, Teacher, you two are here, please take a seat!" Zhu Zhanhe had been waiting here for a while. Lanterns were lit at the four corners of the pavilion, and fragrant tea was boiling in the pavilion. He was just waiting for people to arrive.

In the corner of the pavilion, Xiao Xizi and Wei Jizhong stood on both sides, respectfully accompanying.

"He'er, what was that just now?" Prince Han was the first one who couldn't bear it any longer. After arriving at the pavilion, he didn't even bother to sit down and rest to ease his mood. Instead, he went straight to his son and asked.

"Dad, what do you think it is?" Zhu Zhanhe asked the Prince of Han with a smile on his face.

"How should I know?" Prince Han was very anxious and asked his son eagerly, with a face full of curiosity.

"Master, what do you think it is?" Zhu Zhanhe turned his head to look at the old Taoist priest who sat down and drank tea as soon as he entered the room, and asked with a smile. The Prince of Han beside him also looked at the old Taoist priest nervously, he really needed to know the answer.

"Dragon seed!" The old Taoist priest put down the teacup in his hand, stared at his cheap apprentice, and said in a serious and unquestionable tone.

However, Zhu Zhanhe did not respond to the old Taoist's words, but turned to look at Prince Han again.

"Dad, before you exchanged for the city defense incident a while ago, I told you that everything has gains and losses, blessings and disasters. You failed last time, and this time I am here to bring good things!

Your son has told you that he will give you justice and honor, and today is the day, Dad!
Next, don't blink, please look carefully at the righteousness and status that your son has given you! "Zhu Zhanhe looked at the anxious Prince Han, walked slowly to him, and said to his father solemnly. Hearing this, Prince Han looked anxious and wanted to ask something.

However, Zhu Zhanhe would not give him a chance.

Then, Zhu Zhanhe turned around and came to his teacher, the old Taoist Zhang Zhengheng.

"Teacher, I said that I would give you a surprise within a year. Now the surprise is here! Today! Please take a look at what my surprise is like!" Zhu Zhanhe turned his head and looked at the Taoist teacher who was drinking tea absent-mindedly, and said with the same serious face.

Afterwards, Zhu Zhanhe did not wait for his father and teacher to answer, but went directly to the lakeshore next to the pavilion, which was about two meters above the water surface.

Seeing Zhu Zhanhe getting closer and closer to the lake, Prince Han became very nervous. He was worried that his precious son would fall into the water or be eaten by the monster!

The one just now looks similar, a huge monster ten feet long!

"He'er!" Under the surprised gazes of Prince Han and the old Taoist priest, Zhu Zhanhe actually jumped directly from the lake, and the frightened Prince Han flew over to him.

The old Taoist priest who was originally sitting upright also had a look of fear on his face and jumped out of the pavilion. He was almost eighty years old, but he arrived at the lake earlier than Prince Han. However, the two of them still failed to catch Zhu Zhanhe who jumped into the water!
　Zhu Di was initially appointed Prince of Yan and stationed in Beiping. Following the death of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, his grandson, Zhu Yunwen, ascended the throne and, following the advice of court officials, decreed the confiscation of fiefs belonging to the same clan. Zhu Di refused to comply, and in 1399, the first year of the Jianwen reign, he launched an uprising in Beiping, calling himself the "Jingnan Campaign." After capturing Beiping, he marched forward, successively conquering Huailai, Miyun, and other cities. After failing to capture Zhending, he retreated to Beiping. Soon after, Emperor Jianwen ordered Li Jinglong, Duke of Cao, to lead an army of 1421 to attack Yan. Zhu Di chose to first capture the northern strategic stronghold of Daning, ultimately defeating Li Jinglong. The following year, Zhu Di led his army southward several times, ultimately conquering various counties in Hebei, Xuzhou, and Sizhou. After crossing the Huai River, the first barrier to the capital, he advanced to Yangzhou and pressed on to Nanjing. Soon after, Zhu Di conquered the capital Nanjing and seized the throne. He named his reign "Yongle" and moved the capital to Beijing in the 1406th year of Yongle (). At the beginning of his reign, Emperor Chengzu rewarded and dealt with meritorious officials and former officials of Emperor Jianwen. After retaining some of Emperor Jianwen's reforms, he restored the old system of Hongwu and emphasized rest for the people and not to impose harsh laws. In the th year of Yongle (), Zhu Di ordered an expedition against Annan because the Annan Prime Minister Le Jili had attempted to assassinate the Annan Queen and attacked the troops he had sent to escort the Annan prince Chen Tianping back to the country.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)