If not abolished

Chapter 153 Designed (True Chapter)

Zhu Zhanji paced back and forth thinking for most of the day, and Zhu Zhanhe couldn't disturb him and could only worry on the side. At noon, Zhu Zhanji thought of something, and suddenly stopped and asked Zhu Zhanhe to come to him and whisper in his ear.

"Will this work?" Zhu Zhanhe asked with some doubt.

"For now, this is the only method we can try."

Zhu Zhanhe couldn't think of any good solution, so he had to listen to Zhu Zhanji.

"Zhanhe." Zhu Gaosui suddenly came to find Zhu Zhanhe.

"Uncle San, why are you here?" He asked this, but what Zhu Zhanhe was thinking in his heart was, as expected, you are here to gather information. It seems that my father has indeed conspired with my uncle.

Zhu Gaosui strode in and asked everyone to leave. Zhu Zhanhe asked hurriedly, "Uncle, what are you doing?"

"Hey, don't be afraid. Uncle San is just speaking from the heart to you. Aren't you going back now? We don't know when we'll meet next time."

"Then please sit down, Uncle San." Zhu Zhanhe invited him to sit down.

"When you came here this time, your uncle was very busy and didn't take good care of you. You won't blame your uncle, right?"

"Uncle San, what are you talking about? That's not possible." Zhu Zhanhe thought to himself, there is no need to take care of him.

"Hey, well, Uncle San, how come I heard that father is going to pay tribute to Concubine Quan before he returns this time? Is that true?" After exchanging pleasantries, Zhu Gaosui began to inquire for information.

"Who told you this, Uncle? Why haven't I heard of this?" Zhu Zhanhe pretended not to dare to look at Zhu Gaosui and showed a surprised expression, as if to say, how do you know this?

"No, Zhanhe, you are the worst at lying. Your uncle has watched you grow up. When you lie, you dare not look people in the eye and you even make small movements with your hands." Zhu Gaosui immediately exposed him.

Zhu Zhanhe immediately stopped what he was doing and looked at him and said, "As expected, nothing can be hidden from Third Uncle. Grandfather Emperor did mention this, but it's not confirmed yet?"

"Oh, is that so? Well, Concubine Quan's tomb is in Lincheng. Is your Majesty planning to pass through Lincheng this time?" Zhu Gaosui asked again.

“That shouldn’t be the case. Didn’t people hold memorial services at Tianshou Mountain in the past two years? It might be the same this time too,” said Zhu Zhanhe.

Zhu Gaosui nodded, "Yes, if the emperor has any movement, you must tell your third uncle, Zhanhe, so that he can make arrangements. You also know that it was your third uncle's negligence last time that caused him to accidentally misunderstand Zhanji and was punished by your grandfather the emperor. So if there is any movement this time, you must tell your third uncle to prevent him from accidentally..." Zhu Gaosui began to act pitiful.

"Nephew understands that my third uncle also cares about the Emperor. Don't worry, as soon as the Emperor has any arrangements, I will tell you and pass on the news to you." Zhu Zhanhe did not doubt him, and Zhu Gaosui was particularly satisfied, thinking that he must have not revealed any clues.

Zhu Gaosui listened to his words, patted his shoulder happily and said: "Okay, okay, I feel relieved with your words. If there is nothing else, I will leave first. I wish you a safe journey."

"Okay, the snowy ground is slippery, so please drive slowly, Uncle San." Zhu Zhanhe reminded.

"Okay, don't send me off in this cold weather, go back." Zhu Gaosui waved his hand and asked him to go back.

The time for returning to Beijing was set three days later. On the night before departure, Zhu Gaosui suddenly received a secret letter from Zhu Zhanhe.

"Your Highness, did the prince send someone from the palace to deliver it?"

After reading it, Zhu Gaosui said, "Father is not going to hold the memorial ceremony at Tianshou Mountain. We will go to Lincheng instead. Quick, tell them to change their plan."

"Your Majesty, is this credible? Did His Majesty suddenly change his mind before leaving?" The subordinates suddenly doubted the credibility of the news.

"You don't know, father is always unexpected. Not to mention changing his mind before departure, he can even change the route after setting off." Zhu Gaosui said in a tone as if he knew Zhu Di very well.

"In that case, did the people from Shoushan withdraw that day? Just like what the prince said, what if His Majesty changes his mind on the way?" asked the subordinate.

"What you said makes sense. So, we should divide our troops into two groups. One group will rush to Lincheng overnight, and the other group will stay in Tianshou Mountain. This way, no matter how the emperor changes his mind, we will be safe." Zhu Gaosui made preparations for both scenarios.

"Understood." The subordinate immediately did it.

Zhu Gaosui was so disturbed that it took him a long time to fall asleep and he almost overslept the next day.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please get up quickly. The procession for His Majesty's return to the capital is at the city gate. If you don't get up now, it will be too late."

Zhu Gaosui was awakened by the call, and he quickly got dressed and went out. After hurrying forward, he finally arrived before Zhu Di left.

"Father, I wish you a safe journey."

"Well, you should behave yourself in Shuntian." Zhu Di also advised.

"I understand. I will never forget my father's teachings." Zhu Gaosui agreed readily.

Zhu Di also shook his head at his youngest son. He always caused trouble for him and was never at ease. Fortunately, he did not have to shoulder the burden of the world. Zhu Di looked at him twice and got on the carriage.

Zhu Gaosui watched the team leave.

A few hours later, Zhu Gaosui received news that there was no movement from Tianshou Mountain. Zhu Gaosui took the letter and said, "It seems that my father has indeed gone to Lincheng."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Our people are already on the way and ready."

"Well, how many days will it take for father and his men to arrive in Lincheng?" Zhu Gaosui asked.

"I really can't be sure about this. Your Majesty always observes the people's sentiments when on the road, and there are delays from time to time, so there is no way to determine the time. I can only roughly estimate it to be around five to eight days."

"Tell this king immediately if you have any news."

"Yes."

Zhu Gaosui could only wait for news.

A few days later, Zhu Gaosui asked, "Any news?"

"Your Majesty, not yet. I'm afraid it will take a few more days."

Three days later,

"Your Highness, there is news, a secret letter." The subordinate came over with the letter.

Zhu Gaosui took it with trembling hands, and for a moment he did not dare to open it, thinking, is it done? He waited for a long time before opening it.

"It's done, it's done." Zhu Gaosui said.

"Congratulations, Your Highness. Congratulations, Your Highness. Now we can tell His Royal Highness the King of Han the good news and have him take action in the capital as soon as possible."

"Wait a minute, we still have to be on the safe side. When those people come back, I have to make sure that my father and Zhu Zhanji are indeed... Otherwise, it would be bad if something unexpected happened."

"Your Highness is right. One or two days won't make a difference."

Two days later, Zhu Gaosui did not receive any news, nor did he wait for those people to return.

"Your Majesty, this is bad. We have been deceived. His Majesty never went to Lincheng, and all the people we sent are dead." The subordinate ran over and said.

Zhu Gaosui quickly stood up and said in shock: "What did you say? What happened? Can you explain it clearly?"

"Your Majesty, His Majesty did not go to Lincheng. The team that went to Lincheng was a bait. Our people were killed."

"What was the news delivered two days ago?" Zhu Gaosui looked incredulous.

"That's false information they sent over just to delay time." The subordinate said with his head down.

"It's not too late. There are only ten days left. We still have a chance. I will send a message to my second brother and ask him to set up an ambush on the road. Father is still on the way. As long as he hasn't reached the capital, we still have a chance."

Zhu Gaosui immediately wrote a letter to Zhu Gaoxu, informing him that he had failed.

It turned out that as soon as they left Shuntian, Zhu Zhanji arranged a team similar to Zhu Di's team to go to Lincheng. Naturally, there was no Zhu Di and Zhu Zhanji in it, but Zhu Zhanhe was in charge. In order to delay time, he walked slowly along the way, and then killed all the people sent by Zhu Gaosui, and also passed false news to Zhu Gaosui. Then he rushed day and night to meet up with Zhu Di's team.

And on the other side, Zhu Zhanji and others.

"Wang Jinghong, this road seems unfamiliar." Zhu Di looked at the road. He had been here so many times, but it felt like he had never walked this road before.

"Your Majesty, this is the route taken by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He said it is faster and will only take thirteen or fourteen days to reach the capital."

"Really? Where is Agui? Let him come over." Zhu Di said.

"Yes."

"Grandpa Emperor." Zhu Zhanji came into Zhu Di's carriage after a while.

"I heard that you were the one leading this journey?"

"Yes."

"Agui should go back in a hurry about this matter." Zhu Di said with a smile.

"That's one thing. Isn't the Emperor anxious to go back? The Queen Mother is urging you to go back. If you don't go back soon, you'll be scolded."

"That's right. Let's hurry up and go back earlier so that the imperial concubine can say less." Zhu Di was anxious when he thought that the time for this trip would be close to the end of the year due to various reasons.

"Don't worry, Grandpa Emperor. We are already very fast. This is not a march or a battle that requires us to travel day and night. But we will be there in about five or six days," Zhu Zhanji assured.

"alright."

Han Palace in Beijing

"Your Majesty, a letter from Prince Zhao."

"If my third brother succeeds, my great cause will be accomplished." Zhu Gaoxu said excitedly as he unpacked the letter.

But after reading the contents of the letter, he was stunned. His third brother actually failed.

Zhu Gaoxu had no choice but to encourage himself, don't be anxious, don't be anxious, there is still a chance.

"Quick, have someone prepare an ambush on the way."

"Yes."

"Your Highness, Your Highness, His Majesty is back. Please prepare to welcome him." Before the men left, the butler came to report that His Majesty had returned.

Zhu Gaoxu was incredulous. "How is it possible? How could Father come back so soon? Did you make a mistake?"

"Your Highness, I am not mistaken. Just now, His Royal Highness sent someone to tell me that His Majesty is already outside the city and will be entering the city soon."

"What?" Zhu Gaoxu still didn't react to what was going on, but it was too late and he could only go to the city gate to welcome Zhu Di.

Along the way, he was wondering why he didn't receive the news that Zhu Di had returned, but the prince already knew it. It seemed that he had been tricked by the prince and his son again. For some reason, he had a bad premonition this time and always felt that something was going to happen.

With such an uneasy mood, he came to the city gate.

"Royal brother." Zhu Gaoxu saluted to his elder brother reluctantly.

Zhu Gaochi smiled and said, "No need to be polite."