Chapter 21: The Yongle Emperor: Bring me the dossier on the Prince of Han!

Zhu Zhanhe was overjoyed to hear from Xiao Xizi that all the information regarding the port had been prepared. After all, preparations for the return of the "Great Crocodile" had to be meticulous; he certainly did not want the creature to be exposed to the public eye too early.

"You’ve done a good job this time. I’ll make sure you’re rewarded," Zhu Zhanhe said, happily praising Xiao Xizi as the latter looked at him with an expectant expression.

Xiao Xizi, following closely behind his master, beamed. There was no greater joy for him than receiving praise from the Prince. He had poured his heart and soul into gathering this information, and finally, he had regained his master's favor. Ever since the two young maids, Yun'er and Jian'er, had joined the Prince’s side, he had felt neglected for quite some time. He intended to use this achievement to win back his place in the Prince’s heart.

Upon arriving at the study, Zhu Zhanhe sat down at his desk. Xiao Xizi, ever attentive, promptly arranged the maps and documents he had collected regarding the ports used during Zheng He’s voyages across the seas.

Zhu Zhanhe examined the materials carefully. There were maps, written records, and detailed illustrations. Combined with the intelligence he had previously gathered on the Ming Dynasty’s coastal regions, he felt fully prepared for the return of his Great Crocodile.

He had no intention of letting the creature be exposed to the public. His plan was to reach his fiefdom first, build large ships, and then send men out to sea—taking the opportunity to go for a "stroll" himself.

However, given that his father, the Prince of Han, was stubbornly recalcitrant, Zhu Zhanhe decided to deliver a heavy blow. He would first present his father with the surprise of the Great Crocodile, and then hit him with an unbearable reality check. He hoped that between the shock and the delight, his father would become disillusioned and willingly follow him back to the fiefdom. It was a perfect plan, and Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help but congratulate himself.

As he pored over the maps, the seas remained calm. On the vast blue ocean, Zheng He’s fleet continued its orderly voyage, while the Crocodilian King followed leisurely behind, occasionally leaping out of the water and leaving the sailors in awe.

...

In the dead of night, the Prince was already asleep, embracing his two young maids. With remarkable self-restraint, he had left them be after their first intimate encounter, though he slept with his arms around them.

But not everyone was asleep. The Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di, was still laboring over a mountain of memorials. Dressed in dark, plain linen robes, his thin face showing signs of age with graying temples, he stared at the documents with piercing, focused eyes.

The creak of a door bolt was particularly audible in the silence of the palace. The Emperor, who was busy searching for errors in the documents, tossed the memorial he was holding onto the floor with a look of disdain and glanced toward the door with a furrowed brow.

He knew well that it was late, and per his instructions, Xiao Biti would not disturb him unless it was a matter of great importance.

"Don't just stand there! Come in! Tell me, what is it?" The Emperor's deep, resonant voice filled the quiet chamber. He didn't even look up, picking up another memorial, but signaled for Xiao Biti to speak. Hearing the order, Xiao Biti hurried forward, flicking his horsetail whisk and bowing low.

"Your Majesty, this is a report from the Jinyiwei, delivered directly," Xiao Biti said, keeping his head bowed and respectfully holding up a document. His implication was clear: this was a secret report that had bypassed the usual channels, including the Prince of Zhao, who oversaw the Jinyiwei.

"Oh? This again. Anything novel? Let's hear it," the Emperor said, losing interest as soon as he heard it was a Jinyiwei report. He turned and pulled another document from the pile without lifting his head. He knew that at this hour, these reports were merely summaries of what the Jinyiwei had gathered about the various princes and ministers throughout the day.

"Your Majesty, this... this report comes from the Prince of Han’s residence. Perhaps you should take a look," Xiao Biti said, his waist bent, eyes fixed on his own toes, his hands still raised high.

"Oh? Bring it here." The Emperor’s expression shifted, and he tossed the document in his hand aside as if it were trash. Xiao Biti was his most trusted servant; usually, he would have summarized the reports himself. If Xiao Biti hesitated to speak, it meant there was a problem.

The Emperor sighed to himself, silently cursing the fact that he couldn't even have a peaceful night. He stood up, stretching his limbs until his joints popped, and walked over to Xiao Biti. He snatched the document, walked to a small couch, and took a sip of tea—it had gone cold. He opened the report.

He skipped the superficial pleasantries at the beginning and went straight to the core.

Soon, a heavy thud echoed as the Emperor slammed his hand onto the table. Xiao Biti knelt immediately; being on his knees was always the safer bet.

The Emperor’s face was twisted in disbelief as he muttered to himself: "That brat! 'Rising earlier than a rooster, sleeping later than a dog, eating worse than a pig, and working like an ox'—is this how he describes his grandfather’s throne?! This throne, which so many dream of, is so worthless and detestable in his eyes?" The Emperor had a new perspective on his robust grandson.

Previously, he had thought the Heir of Han was a good, obedient boy—strong, well-versed in both martial arts and literature, and sensible. At least he seemed more reliable than his father. But after reading this, he felt as if his own eyes had deceived him. His temples throbbed with anger.

He took another sip of the cold tea to soothe his temper and continued reading with skepticism. As he progressed, his expression shifted from surprise to shock, then to hesitation and displeasure.

"Can that second son of mine really produce such an excellent son? Someone must have taught him this!" The Emperor finished the report. In essence, it was a transcript of the Heir of Han persuading the Prince of Han to go to his fiefdom. The boy’s method of persuasion was unique—he provided a cold analysis, telling his father there was no hope for him to become Crown Prince or Emperor, so they should just go back and be peaceful princes. The Emperor, however, doubted a sixteen-year-old could possess such clear, logical reasoning.

The report also touched on minor matters, such as the Prince of Han keeping a secret mistress and fathering a daughter, and the fact that the Heir had just lost his own innocence.

The Emperor felt a complex mix of emotions. He knew every word in the report was true. While he was fond of his second son, who resembled him so much, he had his concerns. The eldest son was truly excellent and had done nothing wrong. Looking at the mountain of memorials, he realized his eldest handled things well—sometimes even better than he could himself.

He loved his second son, but his reason told him he had to choose the eldest to secure the empire.

After a long silence, the Emperor closed his eyes and spoke in a low, heavy voice.

"Bring me the files on the Heir of Han." His tone was filled with an unreadable weight, causing Xiao Biti to tremble and bow his head even lower.

"As you command," Xiao Biti replied, backing out of the room.