ZHU YOUXUN'S HUNGER FOR POWER 2

Xie Wang took a pitcher full of water. He splashed it onto Zhu Youxun's face, let the prince cough. Xie Wang's splash changed Zhu Youxun's facial expression, at least reducing the blush caused by the effect of drinking too much wine.

"The Emperor turns wrath because you are asking too much money from him. Actually, you don't need that much. This must be your cheeky concubines' good works, asking you for this and that, right?"

Slowly, Zhu Youxun nodded.

Again, Xie Wang hit the table. "Zhu Youxun! Where does your previous ambition go to?! In the previous time, you are so enthusiastic to usurp the throne and become Zhou Wang. Your great enthusiasm has touched my heart and I am then so happy to help you, but why do you turn different right now?! Right now you are just partying lavishly, where does your ambition and energy go?!"

Zhu Youxun lowered his eyes. "Because... Yunwen doesn't support me. He doesn't create me as Zhou Wang, he doesn't pass any power to me, I can't rule even a piece of field... so, I decide to make him as money purse. I allow my concubines to ask anything they want, what I can do now is no more than this... pampering myself as I like..."

"The Emperor limits you to such extent, how come you're not angry with him?"

"Angry?" Zhu Youxun forced a smile. "It's useless. I used to get angry at my father when he prevented me from becoming Zhou Wang, so I slandered him and Brother as well. I thought Yunwen will be better than my father... but, he is even worse! Ah... forget it, forget it! I am really not destined to become Zhou Wang! I don't want to try anymore! Don't give me another suggestion, Xie Wang! Your advice is never useful!"

Zhu Youxun changed his seat to a half-lying position on the table.

"Do you know what your father and brother are doing now?"

"What they are doing?" Zhu Youxun soon turned curious. He returned to his original sitting position. "Didn't you say they have died, decapitated at your orders by using the fake Emperor's Decree you created?"

"Your father is really a very lucky guy. He managed to flee..."

Zhu Youxun took a deep breath, he looked relieving.

" ... but now, together with your brother, he is controlling Yunnan from behind the curtains. And even worse, his power begins to spread to other areas, even some Kaifeng officials are willing to submit to him. His power is even greater than before, because people from many regions are willing to support him!"

Zhu Youxun moved forward. "My father... becomes so powerful?!..."

"To tell the truth, he's far more powerful than you!"

Zhu Youxun began to shiver. "Does he know that it is me who makes him and Brother exiled? And also about the fake death sentence?..."

"Of course he knows. I am sure, he is very angry with you."

"He... does he... prepare an army to arrest me?! Because I've tried to kill him?!"

When asking this question, Zhu Youxun's voice was making a strangely high whimper, it was clearly not his usual voice. Hearing that, Xie Wang chuckled in disdain. "Are you afraid your father will catch you?"

"Of course!" Zhu Youxun really panicked now. "How can't I be afraid?! I... I... even followed your advice, I almost killed him! Such the big sin I've made, the whole world will condemn me! I also blame myself so much because of doing that! Oh, Heaven... now what should I do?..." He lowered his head, covering his face with his hands, appeared very frustrated.

"If you are frightened, then you have to defend yourself."

"But you said that he is so powerful, and I have no power even to protect myself!"

"Then you must get that power."

"How come?! I even don't have military power!"

"Become the Emperor."

Zhu Youxun got startled. This Xie Wang's utterance was beyond his expectation.

"Become... the Emperor?..." Zhu Youxun whispered, asking for confirmation.

Xie Wang nodded. "If you become the Emperor, the whole Ming will be yours. Power, money, army... everything is yours! Nothing can stop you anymore, no need for you to submit to anyone else. Sounds good? Very alluring, right? You will try your best to achieve this peerless pleasure, won't you?"

Zhu Youxun's eyes widened. His dull expression began to change. "And you will... help me make it happen?..."

"Certainly." And when that time has come, you can have fun as you like, Zhu Youxun. You have become the Ming Emperor, you have become the number one. At that time you indeed must have fun, being fatuous and ignoring the affairs of state...

And at that time, I will overthrow you, like your grandfather overthrew my uncle!

"Then, how can I succeed in becoming emperor?"

Xie Wang snapped his fingers. "First of all, we must destroy your father's power..."

"You will try to kill him one more time?!"

"No, no, I won't, don't worry!" Xie Wang growled in annoyance. "We will only make him lose power, because that is an easy job, but your cousin will like it. Next, be a person who works earnestly, your cousin will think that you are a faithful and virtuous person. He will trust you more. Slowly, entice him, and make him wholly believe in you. And finally, after you get his full trust... destroy him! And the path to rule this empire is opened widely for you!"

Zhu Youxun glanced left and right nervously. It clearly appeared that he was very stressed.

Xie Wang patted him on his shoulder. "Believe me. We will not disappoint you. We will help you until the Throne of Ming truly belongs to you!"

When he heard the word "Throne of Ming", Zhu Youxun immediately had his eyes focused. He stared straight at Xie Wang, who stared back with confidence.

And slowly, he thus nodded.

***

Who would have ever guessed, that the struggle for power in Ming Empire would become more complicated at this moment? Zhu Yunwen tried to maintain his power, Zhu Di and Zhu Su tried to depose Zhu Yunwen from his seat of power, and now Zhu Youxun even entered the arena of this fierce battlefield, making things even more chaotic.

But Zhu Youxun's ambition became the most invisible amongst all of theirs. He kept acting as usual, as nothing had happened. Indeed, that was Zhu Youxun's natural talent, that was why his father and brother got tricked into his trap. Therefore Zhu Yunwen did not think even the slightest about Zhu Youxun's plan, it was just that the prince's behavior which changed so drastically it astonished him so much.

"Before, you were so lulled by luxury and knew nothing else besides spending a lot of money, but why can you change so drastically?" Zhu Yunwen expressed his surprise when Zhu Youxun visited him to offer some classic books.

Zhu Youxun smiled. Basically, he was an elegant prince who had a way with words. "One night I was awakened by a strange noise. It sounded like something had fallen on my bedchamber window. The sound was so noisy it disturbed my sleep. When I woke up and checked for the cause of that disturbance, I found these books had fallen on the porch of my bedroom. I thus read these books. They are so touching I am soon aware of my flaws."

Zhu Yunwen then took the books which was according to Zhu Youxun "had succeeded in drastically changing his mindset". He opened it, and a second later, his eyes widened. "My goodness... is this the books written by Zhu Xi * ? Which have been claimed as the extinct works!" Eyes opened wide, Zhu Yunwen gazed at Zhu Youxun. "Youxun... how can you be so lucky, you can get these extinct works!..."

"As you say, Your Majesty, I am very lucky. And now, I want to share this fortune with you. May I offer these books to you."

"Really?! Wow!..." Zhu Yunwen's eyes sparkled with joy, he could not hide his excitement anymore. Zhu Yunwen was so in love with ancient philosophy and wisdom. Meanwhile, Zhu Xi was the most influential philosopher in Song Dynasty, and many of his works attracted Zhu Yunwen's interest. Now that Zhu Yunwen could get Zhu Xi's books which were once said to be extinct, he became very happy. "You're really kind, Youxun! Thank you very much, my best cousin! Wow... how should I repay you for your precious gifts?"

Zhu Youxun bowed respectfully. His lips curved a victorious smile. Those classic books actually belonged to Xie Wang. When Yuan seized the power of China, many Song Dynasty books were immediately kept by the aristocracy and banned for distribution to the commoners. Just took those Zhu Xi's classic works that Xie Wang owned as an example. This was indeed one of Xie Wang's strategy, in order to acquaint Zhu Youxun with Zhu Yunwen.

And, to enter into the next stage. To point his arrows to Zhu Su.

...

* Zhu Xi = Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, politician, and writer of the Song dynasty. He was a Confucian scholar who founded what later became known as the "learning of principle" or "rationalist" school and was the most influential Neo-Confucian in China. (Wikipedia).