Yao Guangxiao: I presented the Prince of Yan with a white hat

Above the sky, the image of the demonic monk, dressed in black robes and with a withered face, resembled a demon god from the deepest hell, overlooking all of time and space in the Ming Dynasty.

His eyes were calm, yet they seemed to conceal a madness capable of overturning the world.

[Yao! Guang! Xiao!]

The three large characters are etched into everyone's hearts like a brand.

The Forbidden City in the fifteenth year of the Yongle reign.

Zhu Di, who had just been so angry that he vomited blood, had an extremely complicated expression the moment he saw this name.

All his anger, humiliation, and resentment transformed into a long, drawn-out sigh filled with endless emotion at that moment.

It's him.

The only person who dared to utter that rebellious word to him when he was still the Prince of Yan, during his most confused and troubled time.

The one who held the black banner, divined his destiny, planned his great cause, and ignited the wildfire in his heart... the number one hero of the Jingnan Campaign!

"Sir..." Zhu Di murmured to himself, a hint of reminiscence appearing in his eyes.

In the Fengtian Hall during the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign (1386).

Zhu Yuanzhang, who had just finished a "father-son brawl," was holding his knees and panting heavily.

Young Zhu Di hid behind Crown Prince Zhu Biao, trembling and not daring to breathe.

The atmosphere inside the main hall remained as tense as a string about to snap.

Everyone stared at the strange monk in the sky, their hearts filled with curiosity and unease.

Who exactly is this monk?

To be so solemnly introduced by later generations and called the "top strategic planner" of the Yongle era?

On the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice rang out again. This time, he didn't keep us in suspense but went straight to the point.

"Family members, the encounter between this black-robed prime minister Yao Guangxiao and my ancestor Yongle was truly a legendary encounter, like a thunderbolt striking the earth."

"Let's move the time back a little bit."

"In the fifteenth year of Hongwu, which is 1382 AD, my great-grandmother, the kind and benevolent Empress Ma with big feet, unfortunately passed away from illness."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang, in the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign, suddenly stiffened.

He subconsciously turned his head and saw his wife beside him, still mending his old clothes.

A tremendous sadness instantly gripped his heart.

The girl... left four years later?

Crown Prince Zhu Biao's eyes also reddened, and he bit his lip tightly.

Zhu Dijun continued speaking without pausing.

"Emperor Taizu was heartbroken and summoned eminent monks from all over the country to come to the capital to chant sutras and pray for Empress Ma."

"It was at this moment that an opportunity presented itself to all the vassal kings."

"The Emperor ordered that people of high moral character and profound learning be selected from among these eminent monks to serve as advisors to the various princes."

"At that time, the leading figure in Buddhism, Master Zongle of the Sangha Registry, recommended a person to Emperor Taizu."

"Yes, it's him—"

On the sky, Yao Guangxiao's portrait was enlarged again, his eyes seemingly able to pierce through time and space.

"Yao Guangxiao, who was forty-eight years old at the time and whose Buddhist name was Daoyan!"

"But during the introduction to the princes, something happened that completely changed the course of Ming Dynasty history!"

Zhu Dijun's tone became extremely persuasive, as if a highly skilled storyteller was recounting the most exciting part of the story!

"According to historical records, when the monk Daoyan first met Zhu Di, who was then the Prince of Yan, he ignored the other princes and went straight to Zhu Di."

"He did not put his palms together in prayer, nor did he chant the Buddha's name."

"He just stared intently at me, his ancestor, and then, in a voice only the two of us could hear, uttered a shocking statement!"

Above the sky, golden characters suddenly appeared!

"This humble monk offers Your Majesty a white hat!"

"A white hat?"

Add "white" to "king"...

What character is that?

After a brief moment of thought, a buzzing sound exploded in the minds of everyone in all time and space, and everyone who could read!

[Your Majesty!]

In that instant, the Fengtian Hall of the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign fell into a deathly silence.

A deathly silence a hundred times more terrifying than when Zhu Yuanzhang chased after his son with his sword!

All eyes were fixed on the young Zhu Di, who was cowering behind Crown Prince Zhu Biao, like iron filings drawn to a magnet.

The look in his eyes no longer held the shock and absurdity of before.

Instead, it was... utter horror and terror!

Treason!

This is blatant and undisguised incitement of the vassal kings to rebel!

And when?

The fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign!

At that time, Crown Prince Zhu Biao was alive and well!

The Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen has also been born!

The position of the crown prince in the Ming Dynasty is as secure as Mount Tai!

But at this very moment, this monk named Daoyan actually dared to tell a vassal king that he wanted to give him a "royal" crown?!

What utter audacity!

How utterly inhumane!

The color drained from Zhu Biao's face instantly.

Incredulously, he slowly lowered his head, looking at his fourth brother behind him, who had always respected and loved him immensely.

He wanted to ask, "Fourth brother, is this true?"

But when the words reached his lips, he couldn't utter a single one.

The young Zhu Di was completely bewildered.

His mind went blank, and he felt dizzy.

White hat...

Emperor...

That monk... said it to me?

I...I want to be the emperor?

Do not!

I don't!

"No...no..." Zhu Di's voice trembled violently. He suddenly broke free from behind Zhu Biao and knelt heavily in the direction of the dragon throne with a "thud"!

"Father! Elder brother! I didn't! I never thought that way!"

"This is slander! It's one of my descendants who is defaming me!"

He kowtowed desperately, his forehead striking the hard gold brick with a dull thud.

However, this time, no one thought it was a farce anymore.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly sat back down on the dragon throne.

He stopped roaring and yelling.

He just sat there quietly, his face, which had just been contorted with anger, now eerily calm.

He looked at the prince's fourth son, who was kowtowing repeatedly, and his eyes no longer held the anger or the pathetic state of being so angry that he vomited blood.

Only one kind remains: a bottomless, icy scrutiny.

He slowly shifted his gaze from Zhu Di to his most beloved eldest son, Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

That look sent a chill down Zhu Biao's spine, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Biao'er".

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke, his voice calm, yet carrying a suffocating chill.

"Come here."

Zhu Biao dared not disobey, and with his legs trembling, he walked step by step to the emperor's presence.

"Father..."

"Look." Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand, pointed to the sky, and then pointed to Zhu Di, the prince.

"Our good sons."

"Your fourth brother is doing well."

"He's skilled in both academics and martial arts, just like us."

"But someone told him he could become emperor."

A sinister smile curled at the corners of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth.

"Biao'er, tell us."

"He wants to be emperor, so... what about you, the crown prince?"

boom!

This probing question struck Zhu Biao and Zhu Di like an invisible hammer blow.

Zhu Di's cries abruptly ceased.

He looked up in horror at his father and his elder brother.

He finally realized that this time, the seriousness of the matter had completely exceeded his imagination!

This is no longer a playful fight between father and son!

This is a struggle for the crown prince position! It's a crisis for the very foundation of the nation!

Father Emperor suspects him! He suspects he might harm my elder brother!

Above the sky, Judy Jun seemed to think the fire wasn't burning bright enough, so he added an even stronger bundle of dry firewood!

"Family members, don't you also think that Yao Guangxiao has gone mad? The Crown Prince is still alive, and he dares to instigate a rebellion against the Prince of Yan?"

"No! He's not crazy!"

"Because this prime minister in black had already examined the other two princes most favored by the Taizu Emperor at the time—Prince Qin, Zhu Shuang, and Prince Jin, Zhu Gang—before meeting Zhu Di!"

"But his conclusion was: 'The King of Qin is arrogant, and the King of Jin is tyrannical; neither of them is fit to be a ruler!'"

"But upon meeting Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, he was utterly astonished!"

"More importantly, with his almost superhuman political acumen and ability to judge people, he made a judgment that no one could believe at the time—"

Zhu Dijun's voice became deep and mysterious.

"Crown Prince Zhu Biao is kind and benevolent, but lacks authority, and... his life is nearing its end!"