"What?"

Zhu Zhen's hands were shaking.

"Did my father really pass away?"

"Yes."

"The late emperor passed away on the front line. We should be the first to know. The news has not been sent back to Bianjing yet. It must have been blocked by His Highness the Crown Prince."

Pang Shigu knew why the prince did this.

He is still on the front line. Once the news of his death reaches the capital, there will inevitably be trouble. He also has to be wary of His Highness... So before he returns to the capital, he will definitely block the news of the late emperor's death!

Zhu Zhen reacted quickly and immediately thought of the key point.

"Are these the father's last words?"

"These are the last words written in advance. Your Majesty asked Eunuch You to send Long Guard to send them back secretly before his death."

Pang Shigu said: "I have already seen it."

"My father passed away unexpectedly. How could he pass away? Was it because of a hidden physical illness?"

Pang Shigu was slightly startled.

"His Royal Highness indeed knows that His Majesty has a hidden medical condition."

"Does Panda know about it too?"

"I... knew it a long time ago."

Zhu Zhen was not surprised. Pang Shigu was the prime minister and a close minister of His Majesty, so he could always find some clues.

Just like the Second Emperor Brother, you can figure it out just by inference.

Zhu Zhen had no intention of thinking about this. At this moment, his heart was in a mess. His father's sudden death was a huge blow to him.

Too fast!

Leave him unprepared.

"Is the war on the front lines not going well?"

Zhu Zhen asked questions one after another, but never read the letter.

"Your Highness, please read this letter first."

After Pang Shigu's reminder, Zhu Zhencai took a serious look.

"Father, I want to say sorry to you..."

Zhu Zhen was shocked by the first sentence at the beginning.

"My father once made you bear the infamy and imposed the blame of Zhu Zhen on you... I hope you can forgive my father. Everything my father has done is for the country, including this letter to you now.

…”

Zhu Zhen was trembling physically and mentally, and the look of surprise on his face became increasingly intense.

The content of this letter really subverted his thoughts.

This is my father's last words and final arrangements.

"Our war against Daning has failed and has reached an irreversible point. Prince Zhu Zhen is not suitable to be emperor, so my father hopes that you can inherit the unification and save the Liang Kingdom!"

Zhu Zhen's hands were shaking.

It took a long time to finish reading it, and he took a deep breath. If this letter hadn't been sent by Pang Shigu, and if he hadn't recognized his father's handwriting, he would never have believed it.

There is actually only one thing said between the lines. After the war failed, Zhu Zhen was no longer suitable to be emperor.

What Daliang needs now is an emperor who can be patient and conservative, and can develop and accumulate national strength.

Zhu Zhen took a deep breath.

He remembered the last words of the second emperor brother before his death, which actually coincided with those of his father.

The second emperor brother wanted him to inherit his legacy and take back the throne even after Zhu Zhen ascended the throne.

The Second Emperor's brother predicted that this war would fail, and it actually happened...

"Your Highness, what are your plans?"

Pang Shigu gave Zhu Zhen enough time to recover.

"I... can compete with Zhu Zhen for the throne."

Zhu Zhen is very straightforward.

In fact, on the day of the second emperor's brother's funeral, he secretly swore in front of his soul that he had been staying in the imperial mausoleum to hide his power and bide his time these past few days, just waiting for an opportunity.

Now, with his father's arrangement, of course he would not refuse.

But now there is a new problem.

"My fight for the throne with Zhu Zhen will inevitably trigger a civil war in Liang. Daning will not let this opportunity pass by. Even if I become emperor, what happens after that? Can I really save Liang?"

Zhu Zhen’s voice rose.

He felt that he had taken it for granted before. In his previous expectations, this war should not fail.

He mobilized the whole country to save the country and formed an alliance with Wei State, but Daning was attacked by many parties.

In his opinion, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But now it's going to fail.

For Liang Guo, the result of failure is eternal disaster!

The country is in devastation and may not be able to recover in ten years. Will Daning give this chance?

Absolutely not!

"No!"

"Definitely not!"

Zhu Zhen shook his head.

"I can't do it!"

"I can't do it!"

"Your Highness, please calm down!"

"How can I be calm? It's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. What will be the consequences if the Liang Kingdom is experiencing another civil war?"

"You are the prime minister, and you know best what the Liang Kingdom is like now. You have not been able to defeat Daning in such a situation, and it will be even less possible in the future!"

Zhu Zhen shook his head one after another.

He couldn't think of any possibility!

"Your Highness, are you going to live up to the late Emperor's expectations?"

"Why did you stay at the imperial mausoleum for so long?"

"The late emperor said that you are the one who can save the Liang Kingdom."

"Have you forgotten the blow you suffered at the hands of Emperor Yuanwu?"

The voices of questioning woke Zhu Zhen up.

"Third brother, although you are a little selfish, the emperor still hopes that you can take responsibility. The Liang Kingdom depends on you..."

"Brother Second Emperor, I promise you, I will definitely inherit your legacy!"

Even in this imperial mausoleum, he would never forget what the second emperor brother said to him.

Zhu Zhen gritted his teeth and said: "The only way to negotiate is to negotiate with Emperor Yuanwu!"

Pang Shigu's eyes lit up.

"What do you think?"

"In the face of those who are stronger than us, we must grovel and let them ignore us as much as possible..."

Zhu Zhen gritted his teeth and said: "Da Ning is still facing difficulties. The invasion of foreign tribes from the Western Regions and the invasion of the Kelie tribe from the Northern Yi have made it difficult for them to free their hands. We still have a chance!"

"Take the opportunity to negotiate with Emperor Yuanwu and end this war with compensation and ceding territory. Even if it costs a lot, there is no other way. We can also send troops to help Daning eliminate foreign enemies. In short, we just want to survive.

Opportunity!”

"As long as you don't die, you will eventually come out!"

Zhu Zhen said: "Am I not the best example?"

Pang Shigu listened carefully. Although what His Highness said was a way to seek peace, it was the most practical.

As long as you don't die, you will eventually come out.

If you keep a low profile and bide your time, you will eventually have a chance.

The Third Highness accepted it, and Pang Shigu would naturally abide by His Majesty's will. Why should he be asked to deliver this letter? In fact, it was to ask him to assist the Third Highness.

"Your Highness, you should be thinking about how to win the throne now."

"Fighting for the throne is easy, as long as you seize the opportunity!"

Zhu Zhen said: "My father did not leave any edict to the prince before his death, so there is something wrong with him inheriting the throne."

"But I didn't leave it for His Highness either. This letter doesn't count."

"I can forge a will."

Zhu Zhen said: "The news of my father's death has not spread yet. We are in Shangjing to seize the opportunity. My father left the Dragon Guard for me. Do you know where the Dragon Guard is?"

Pang Shigu shook his head.

Although he is the prime minister, he does not know such secrets.
Chapter completed!