Chapter 47: The Prince of Han Has Recovered

Prince Han has arrived with troops to relieve the garrison.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere across the entire city wall fell completely silent, so quiet that only the gentle sigh of the wind and the rapid, nervous breathing of the crowd could be heard.

At that moment, a junior attendant began relaying messages once more.

"The Imperial Grandson has mounted his horse and departed!"

This single sentence made the tension upon the gate tower even more unpredictable and heavy.

"The Imperial Grandson has passed the Hall of Supreme Harmony."
"The Imperial Grandson has passed the Meridian Gate."
"The Imperial Grandson has met with Prince Han."
……

Little eunuchs scurried back and forth, reporting Zhu Zhanji's movements, injecting a trace of restless vitality into the vacant gate tower.

Seated majestically atop the gate tower, the Yongle Emperor gazed into the distance at the dense, flood-like mass of soldiers beneath the city gate, still stroking his beard with a lingering sense of intrigue.

In truth, due to the vast distance, he could neither clearly see nor hear what was transpiring on the opposite side. Yet, he continued to watch with avid interest—observing the dark night sky, the somber city walls, and the densely packed sea of dark silhouettes...

Amidst this taut atmosphere, an unknown length of time passed.

Suddenly, an attendant came forward to report.

"The Imperial Grandson is leading a horse, entering the city alone with Prince Han!" The young attendant's tone was brimming with astonishment.

"Hoo—"

This time, the attendant's report caused everyone present—whether standing or kneeling—to let out a collective, audible sigh of relief, so profound that the sound of exhalation rippled through the crowd.

Yet on this occasion, even Head Eunuch Little Snot, who was customarily strict with everyone, did not cast a single threatening glare of warning in their direction.

Another tea's duration passed.

*Clatter, clatter, clatter...*

The sound of horse hooves drew closer from afar, gradually growing distinct. Upon the gate tower, figures large and small slowly emerged from the blur, becoming clear to all.

It was indeed Imperial Grandson Zhu Zhanji leading the mount, with Prince Han Zhu Gaozuo sitting astride the horse, the two of them sauntering leisurely toward them.

The Yongle Emperor clearly witnessed the scene unfolding before him. Uncertain whether he should feel glad or grieved, he emitted a silent, inward sigh, drew a long breath, and then rose to his feet. With a flick of his sleeves, he strode away.

***

Inside the Prince Han's Estate, everyone remained seated together in the main hall, going nowhere, quietly awaiting news.

In the dead of night, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly approached, causing everyone present to start violently. Instantly, all eyes converged upon the entrance.

Liu Ernü, a sturdy fellow, stumbled through the doorway and dropped straight to his knees on the stone floor.

"Your Highness the Heir, the Prince has been brought back to the city by the Imperial Grandson! The army has been left outside the city walls!" Liu Ernü's voice was laden with grief.

"Ah?"
"Ah?"
……

A chorus of gasps erupted throughout the chamber.

"Silence!"

Seeing that the emotions of those in the room were verging on the brink of collapse, and fearing that they might harbor desperate thoughts, Zhu Zhan壑 rebuked them in a stern, booming voice.

Instantly, everyone in the room felt an immense pressure descend upon them, akin to a biting winter wind sweeping across their bodies, sending shivers down their spines. In a fraction of a second, all other thoughts vanished from their minds, leaving them utterly numb and dazed.

"There were no sounds of slaughter in the city, which means no battle took place! My father merely led the troops to relieve the garrison of Yingtian Prefecture as requested. What on earth are you all so nervous about?"

With a single sentence, Zhu Zhan壑 defined the nature of Prince Han's excursion to stage a rebellion today.

This was no rebellion; the Prince of Han had merely taken the troops to take over the garrison duties of Yingtian Prefecture. What was there to make such a fuss over?

"Ernü, have your men remove their armor and patrol the estate as usual. Nothing has happened today!

Head Steward Hu, comfort the servants of the estate. Anyone causing a disturbance is to be handed directly to Ernü for punishment!

Dismissed."

In just two remarks, Zhu Zhan壑 quelled a potential riot that could have torn the Prince Han's Estate apart.

"Understood!" Liu Ernü answered with unyielding resolve, then turned and strode out resolutely.

"Rest assured, Your Highness the Heir, this humble servant will attend to it right away!" Head Steward Hu, possessed of keen perception, grasped the implication immediately upon hearing Zhu Zhan壑's words and darted out of the room in a flash.

"He'er? Is your father truly unharmed?" Princess Consort Wei wore a look of utter exhaustion, though deeper still was the profound worry etched across her face. Her hands tightly clutched a handkerchief, twisting and wringing it until it was frayed and nearly torn to shreds.

"Mother, rest easy. Father is fine. Today was merely a matter of a garrison relief. It's just that his handling of the affair was somewhat clumsy, so receiving a reprimand from Grandfather is inevitable, but it won't cost him his life."

Finding it difficult to explain the complex truth to his mother, Zhu Zhan壑 offered a vague explanation, hoping to smooth the matter over.

***

"He'er, your mother doesn't care what your father has done, nor what he intends to do in the future. I only care that our family remains safe and sound."

Tears streamed down the face of Princess Consort Wei. Having served as a Princess Consort for over a decade and managed the estate for years, how could she possibly be unaware of her husband's secret ambitions?

She merely wished for the peace and safety of her husband and son; she was, after all, simply an ordinary woman! She harbored not a single other ambition whatsoever!

"Don't worry, Mother. Your son has a way; Father will certainly come to no harm."

Watching his mother weeping uncontrollably, her face a mask of sorrow, Zhu Zhan壑 felt a deep pang of heartache.

He hurried to her side, took the handkerchief handed over by Aunt Xiuying, and gently wiped the tears from his mother's face while offering a steady stream of reassurance.

In truth, should the Yongle Emperor genuinely resolve to execute his father, the Prince of Han, Zhu Zhan壑 actually possessed a means to preserve the old man's life. However, that method carried immense hidden risks—if mishandled, it could result in the execution of the entire family!

That method was none other than producing the giant crocodile and presenting it to his grandfather, the Yongle Emperor, offering it forth under the guise of an auspicious omen. In doing so, once the old Emperor was pleased, he would undoubtedly spare the life of his father, the Prince of Han. After all, the giant crocodile was nearly back now!

Yet doing so also bore hidden dangers. First, the origin of the giant crocodile would be difficult to explain; second, what if the old man took a liking to his giant crocodile and refused to return it?

Thus, Zhu Zhan壑 was merely entertaining the thought for now.

"Mother, if you truly remain uneasy, we can go to the Crown Prince's Estate together tomorrow to see my eldest uncle and aunt. With their guarantee, surely you can set your mind at rest?"

Seeing his mother still consumed by grief, Zhu Zhan壑 hit upon another plan. By visiting the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in advance, their assurances would bring peace of mind to his mother.

"Let us go right now!"

Evidently, Zhu Zhan壑's suggestion deeply appealed to his mother. In her anxious state, she wished to head to the Crown Prince's Estate immediately.

"Mother, it is the middle of the night! Eldest Uncle and the others are already asleep. We shall go first thing tomorrow morning!"

Understanding his mother's anxiety, Zhu Zhan壑 still gently persuaded her against disturbing people's slumber in the dead of night.

"Very well then..." The reply of the Princess of Han lacked concentration.

"Mother, Father asked you to send some gifts to the eldest aunt, and you haven't gone recently, have you? Look, why don't you have people prepare them so we can deliver them first thing tomorrow morning!"

Noticing his absent-minded mother, Zhu Zhan壑 hurriedly offered a prompt.

"Yes, yes, yes, what you say is right. I will have people prepare them right away."

Zhu Zhan壑's reminder served to awaken the rationality of the Prince Han's Estate's consort, instantly bringing her back to her senses.

"Xiuying, quickly have the servants prepare! Pack up all the fine tributes sent from Yunnan this year!"

In order to save her husband, Princess Consort Wei cast all hesitation aside, preparing to bleed her own coffers dry.

If the Prince of Han were to return home and discover that all the valuable tributes had been given away, that shock alone would surely cure him of any illness instantly!