Ming Dynasty: What's wrong with being a leisurely crown prince?

Chapter 46 Home? This home, I'd rather not have it.

While Xu Miaoyun was filled with worry, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu were shocked upon hearing her story.

Zhu Gaoxu, in particular, was now somewhat panicked.

Previously, Zhu Di sent him to Yunnan to assume his fiefdom, and now Xu Miaoyun also wants him to go out and assume his fiefdom, not wanting him to stay in the capital, but he doesn't want to go out.

If Zhu Di were to propose it, he might still stubbornly stay, but once Xu Miaoyun makes the proposal, Zhu Di will definitely agree, and it will be impossible for him to stubbornly stay any longer.

He was certain that Zhu Di would do everything in his power to fulfill Xu Miaoyun's requests at this time.

Even he, as long as the matter of him not being asked to go to his fiefdom, but something else, would do his best to fulfill Xu Miaoyun's wishes.

They all knew that Xu Miaoyun's body wouldn't last much longer, and they all wanted to fulfill Xu Miaoyun's last wish, not wanting her to leave with too many regrets.

That's why Zhu Gaoxu was extremely flustered at this moment. He was really afraid that Xu Miaoyun would make up her mind to send him out to his fief.

Once enfeoffed, Zhu Gaoxu knew very well that he was basically out of luck for that position and had no chance of competing for it again.

Although there was a living example of a prince successfully rebelling, such as Zhu Di, there were exceptions.

However, Zhu Gaochi understood the details of how the Jingnan Rebellion succeeded better than anyone else.

The person on the other side was Jianwen. The military officers in the court had their own thoughts and ambitions, and there were many factors that contributed to his success.

When they launched the Jingnan Campaign, they were all prepared to die; they would either succeed or perish.

Once he went out to assume his fiefdom, facing opponents like Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi, especially Zhu Di, how could he still expect to succeed?

Even if he was a great fighter, Zhu Gaoxu still had the self-awareness to know his limitations.

As for dragging it out until Zhu Di dies and Zhu Gaochi ascends the throne, Zhu Gaochi is much easier to defeat than Zhu Di, and he can also try to win over the military merits below him.

Even so, would Zhu Gaochi just sit idly by and watch him grow stronger? Would he just stand by and watch him become more powerful? Would Zhu Gaochi do nothing and just wait for him to make arrangements?

Especially if someone is separated from the central leadership for too long, who would be willing to follow him in rebellion?

Not to mention that any single move by Zhu Di or Zhu Gaochi could cripple his development.

Even if he were to launch another rebellion at the last minute, how many people would he have? How many people were in the imperial court?

Furthermore, Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi would certainly attach great importance to him. How could he possibly replicate Zhu Di's miracles?

Although Zhu Gaoxu was slow-witted, it didn't mean he couldn't think; he was capable of considering the pros and cons.

Zhu Gaoxu was at a loss for what to do, and looking at Xu Miaoyun, he became even more flustered.

"Mother, I don't want to go to my fief. I want to stay by your side and help Father with state affairs."

I wasn't raised by my parents; are they going to send me away again now?

Zhu Gaoxu spoke with great emotion, his eyes reddening and even becoming somewhat swollen.

It can be said that Zhu Gaoxu's eyes never welled up with tears, even after Zhu Di treated him that way, and even after surviving numerous close calls on the battlefield, he never showed any emotion.

This time, however, Zhu Gaoxu truly couldn't hold back any longer.

If it were Zhu Di, he could at most have a fight with Zhu Di, or even fall out with him.

But when facing Xu Miaoyun, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't bring himself to be harsh with her, much less turn against her.

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu like this, Zhu Gaochi felt a mix of emotions.

He could tell that Zhu Gaoxu was truly sincere; he wanted to stay, and he genuinely wanted to stay by Xu Miaoyun's side.

This is why he wanted to change Zhu Gaoxu's future; Zhu Gaoxu wasn't actually a bad person.

Looking at her sad, panicked, and childlike pleading expression, Xu Miaoyun felt a pang of pity.

As a mother, she wanted her son to stay by her side, especially now that her health was deteriorating and Xu Miaoyun could feel that she didn't have long to live. She hoped that her family could be together, living in harmony and happiness.

But she also knew very well that the reality was that, living in the heavenly realm, there was no real harmony or happiness.

Zhu Gaochi was the eldest son, and Zhu Gaoxu was the second son. Now that the position of crown prince has been decided, Zhu Gaoxu still wants to compete for it. Such a conflict is irreconcilable.

Xu Miaoyun understood that the conflict between Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu was not yet that deep, and there was still a chance. As long as she intervened in time, it would not end up like that.

She was really afraid, really afraid that in the end, only one of Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu could survive.

Whenever she thought about that outcome, Xu Miaoyun felt extremely heavy-hearted and distressed, and even breathing became difficult.

But Zhu Gaoxu's words also touched the softest spot in Xu Miaoyun's heart.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu were indeed separated from her and Zhu Di from a young age, living in the north and south respectively, and rarely saw each other.

In the past, there was no other way but to be separated. Now that her family has succeeded, she also wants her family to be together. She wants to make up for the many things she owed back then.

In fact, the person I owe the most to is Zhu Gaoxu.

As a child, I was disliked and labeled as a reckless fool with no skills or knowledge.

During the Jingnan Campaign, he was the one who contributed the most, repeatedly turning the tide and carving out a bloody path from desperate situations to secure victory.

But Xu Miaoyun also knew that reality is reality, and one cannot immerse oneself in fantasy.

Xu Miaoyun reached out and stroked Zhu Gaoxu's face with extraordinary tenderness, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"Second brother, you've grown up. There are some things you should understand."

Listen to me, I'm doing this for your own good and for the sake of this family.

"You don't want to go to Yunnan; it's indeed a bit too remote. Wherever you want to go, you can tell your mother, and then I'll talk to your father."

Xu Miaoyun was exceptionally determined. If she was healthy, she could keep Zhu Gaoxu by her side for a few more years. With her there, she believed the family would not fall into chaos.

But with her days numbered, if she left Zhu Gaoxu behind, she wouldn't be able to protect him if something happened later.

With her there, Zhu Gaoxu can be kept safe.

She wasn't there, but she knew very well what would happen next.

She knew better than anyone what kind of people her husband and her sons were.

Zhu Gaoxu felt Xu Miaoyun's hand stroking him, and seeing Xu Miaoyun's expression—clearly distressed and reluctant, yet incredibly resolute—he fell silent for a moment.

He really wanted to say, "Does this mean I have to sacrifice myself for the sake of this family?"

Is it all his own fault that he has these thoughts now?

Isn't it all thanks to Zhu Di's promises made since the Jingnan Rebellion, step by step, that he has achieved what he has today?

He made tremendous contributions during the Jingnan Rebellion. If it weren't for him, Zhu Di would have died during the Jingnan Rebellion, and how could he have succeeded? Now, why should he give up for the sake of his family?

But he couldn't say these things. He didn't want Xu Miaoyun to worry, and he didn't want her condition to worsen because of these things.

Zhu Gaoxu's lips trembled, and in the end he could only remain silent, dejected, listless, and dazed.

Even if you ask him to agree, he still can't do it.

At this moment, Zhu Gaoxu's heart was in constant struggle, and he was in so much pain.

Why, why does everyone have to pressure him? Why must he always be the one to give in? Why does Zhu Gaochi get all the good things?

He was just born later than Zhu Gaochi, so why did all the good things fall on Zhu Gaochi's head? Why was he relegated to the margins?

Why should he be sacrificed for the sake of this family?

Is this home?

In his eyes, there was never any.

If it weren't for Xu Miaoyun, I wouldn't want a family like that.

The constant fluctuations in his emotions caused Zhu Gaoxu's body to gradually begin to tremble.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she could hardly control them; the resentment in her heart continued to build.