Chapter 53 Zhu Jihuang

Rebuked by Zhu Quan, Zhu Jixi seemed to regain a fraction of his sobriety.

He shook his head and gently slapped his cheeks a few times.

Then he smiled and said, "Seventeenth Uncle is right. Your nephew is somewhat drunk and talking nonsense. I will punish myself with three cups of wine, three cups."

"Hmph."

Zhu Quan let out an angry snort and lowered his voice, "My good nephew, don't blame Seventeenth Uncle for not warning you. Beware that disaster stems from the mouth. You really need to change this big-mouthed temperament of yours."

"Yes, yes, yes. It is your nephew's fault. I shouldn't have discussed Fourth Uncle, nor should I have discussed His Majesty."

Realizing his mistake, or seeming to, Zhu Jixi quickly changed his tune.

After punishing himself with three cups of wine, he simply urged Zhu Quan to drink and never mentioned other matters again.

Yet Zhu Quan instinctively felt something was amiss.

He had dealt with this eldest nephew quite a few times. Before Zhu Di raised his troops in the Jingnan Campaign, the eight major imperial fiefs—Ning, Yan, Jin, Liao, Qing, Su, Qin, and Dai—often joined forces to sweep across the northern grasslands.

At that time, the Prince of Jin was still Zhu Jixi's father, Zhu Gang, the Respectful Prince of Jin. However, slightly older second-generation royals like Zhu Jixi and Zhu Gaozuo generally accompanied the army on campaigns.

Compared to his third brother Zhu Gang and fourth brother Zhu Di, who were much older than him, these nephews of a similar age to himself were clearly more to his liking.

Back in the army, Zhu Jixi had never possessed such a temperament.

Seeing Zhu Jixi reach to pour him another drink, Zhu Quan stretched out a hand to block him.

He then stood up and said, "Enough. I am in low spirits today. Let us drink this wine another day. Nephew, I must take my leave."

With that, Zhu Quan made to depart.

"Seventeenth Uncle, don't be in such a rush to leave. Stay and share a few more cups with your nephew."

Zhu Jixi grabbed Zhu Quan's arm, raising a wine cup to press against Zhu Quan's lips.

Zhu Quan pushed the cup away with his hand and said coldly, "Another day. I have important matters to attend to today, and you are drunk as well. Go and rest."

Without heeding Zhu Jixi's detainment, he flicked his sleeves and strode away.

"Hey, Seventeenth Uncle, don't go..."

Watching Zhu Quan's retreating figure grow distant, Zhu Jixi's eyes gradually cleared once more.

A moment later, a middle-aged man resembling a steward walked up to Zhu Jixi, cupped his hands, and asked, "Your Highness, how did it go?"

Zhu Jixi casually tossed his wine cup into the lake outside the pavilion and said indifferently, "My Seventeenth Uncle has likely been frightened out of his wits by Fourth Uncle. He has become a dog with a broken spine."

He paused briefly before continuing slowly, "Unworthy of our counsels."

Hearing Zhu Jixi's verdict, the middle-aged man pondered and asked, "Then, shall we abandon the attempt to win over the Prince of Ning?"

Zhu Jixi shook his head. "Find another opportunity to test him. I refuse to believe he harbors not even a shred of dissatisfaction toward Fourth Uncle in his heart."

The middle-aged man nodded and said no more.

Zhu Jixi continued, "Is there still no news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"None. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is heavily guarded. It is extremely difficult to kill Chen Kan on their territory."

"Never mind, drop it. Do not let an insignificant person disrupt our grand plan."

Zhu Jixi shook his head, a flash of hatred crossing his eyes.

Then he asked, "Mr. Jing, are you certain there are no problems on your end?"

The middle-aged man cupped his hands and replied, "Everything is prepared. We are merely waiting for Your Highness's command."

"Good."

Zhu Jixi closed his eyes, quietly enjoying the gentle breeze brushing against his face.

After a brief silence between the two, Zhu Jixi opened his eyes, all trace of haziness completely gone from his gaze.

"Three days from now, if there is still no news from the Prince of Qin, Mr. Jing shall act directly."

The middle-aged man nodded slowly. "Very well. But the territories of Jin and Beiping will then rely entirely on Your Highness."

"Rest assured, tomorrow I will take my leave of Fourth Uncle and return to my fief with all possible speed."

...

Chen Kan had no idea that Zhu Jixi had abandoned the plan to assassinate him. Having held his ground in the prison for over half a month, Chen Kan had finally waited for the person he wanted to see.

A young man who bore a five to six-tenths resemblance to Zhu Jixi, yet possessed a pale complexion, unsteady footsteps, and eyes tinged with cunning and craftiness.

Zhu Jihuang, the Prince of Zhaode and the third son of Zhu Gang, the Respectful Prince of Jin.

Zhu Jixi's younger half-brother.

To overthrow Zhu Jixi, this man had to be brought into play.

Historical records noted that Zhu Jixi studied in Nanjing during his youth and maintained very good relations with the Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Shangbing the Hidden Prince of Qin, and the Hongxi Emperor Zhu Gaochi. Therefore, Zhu Jixi felt deep dissatisfaction in his heart regarding Zhu Di's usurpation of the throne.

Once Zhu Jihuang learned of this, he spared no effort in whispering slanderous words to Zhu Di behind the scenes, which ultimately led Zhu Di to resolve in the twelfth year of Yongle to strip Zhu Jixi of his title and reduce him to a commoner.

And now, because of Chen Kan, if Zhu Jixi thought he could live in carefree luxury for another twelve years, he was merely daydreaming.

As Chen Kan appraised Zhu Jihuang, Zhu Jihuang was likewise appraising Chen Kan.

Looking at the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander who was even younger than himself, Zhu Jihuang asked with some suspicion, "You are Chen Kan?"

Chen Kan: "..."

Why did everyone love asking that?

Shouldn't normal people greet each other with a polite inquiry like "Have you eaten?"

"I am!"

Chen Kan replied.

Zhu Jihuang sat down unceremoniously in front of Chen Kan and asked, "Are you the one who said that as long as I came to the capital, you could make me the Prince of Jin?"

Chen Kan shook his head. "I didn't say that."

"Scoundrel!"

Zhu Jihuang flew into a rage, feeling he had been toyed with.

"He indeed didn't say it. I did."

A voice drifted in from outside the cell. Zhu Jihuang turned his head to look, instantly wearing a flattering, ingratiating smile: "Cousin, is this true?"

Li Jinglong said with a depressed expression, "Why else would I summon you all the way from Taiyuan if it weren't true? Do you think I, a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, have nothing better to do with my time?"

"Hehehe, don't take offense, Cousin. Your younger brother didn't mean that. It's just that happiness arrived so suddenly."

Facing Li Jinglong, Zhu Jihuang's attitude underwent a complete transformation, dripping with subservience and flattery.

Even Chen Kan felt a blush of embarrassment on his behalf.

"Step aside!"

Li Jinglong rebuked him with displeasure, and Zhu Jihuang obediently stood up.

Taking the wooden stool Zhu Jihuang had just vacated, Li Jinglong waved a memorial scroll in front of Chen Kan and said with a cunning smile, "Brother, guess what this is?"

Chen Kan rolled his eyes and said, "A memorial from the Shanxi Administration Commissioner's Office!"

"Oh?"

Li Jinglong's eyes widened abruptly, and he asked in disbelief, "How did you know?"

Chen Kan shrugged. "I guessed it!"

"Incredible! How could you possibly have guessed?"

Li Jinglong looked suspicious. "Huang Gou'er didn't leak it to you, did he?"

Chen Kan supported his forehead with his hand. "Knowing the answer, why bother asking?"

"I knew it! How could you possibly have guessed on your own? As for that Huang Gou'er, I specifically told him not to run his mouth. If he startles the prey, I'll cripple him!"

Li Jinglong was somewhat displeased; when he obtained this memorial, he had repeatedly given strict injunctions that until he made his move, not a word of it was to be leaked to anyone.