In "Daming Style", the role of "Zhu Gaozi" is portrayed very well by the old drama bone Tan Guanhua, and he also successfully brings the audience a deeper impression than the role of "Di Renjie" for many years. In this drama, "Zhu Gaozi" is benevolent and generous with a little encouragement, not only afraid of his father Zhu Di, but also afraid of his own princess wife. However, the historical Zhu Gaozi is different, benevolence is there, but encouragement is not.
Zhu Gaozi was the fourth emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the eldest son of Emperor Ming Chengzu Zhu Di and Empress Xu. Zhu Gaozi is a person who is calm by nature, has a good understanding of words and deeds, and likes to read. His father Zhu Di was the King of Yan at the time of his birth, and because his filial piety and benevolence were very pleasing to his grandfather Zhu Yuanzhang, when he was 17 years old, he was made the Son of the Prince of Yan, and his wife Zhang Shi was made the Princess of Yan. Later, Zhu Di's cavalry launched the Battle of Jingnan, and Zhu Gaozi guarded Beiping as a shizi. He united his subordinates and used an army of 10,000 people to resist the 500,000 troops of Li Jinglong, the Jianwen Emperor, and saved the city of Beijing. Later, Emperor Jianwen also wanted to give Zhu Gaozi the title of king, hoping that he would submit to the imperial court. However, Zhu Gaozi did not read Emperor Jianwen's letters and sent them directly to Zhu Di, causing Emperor Jianwen's counter-plan to fail.
Later, Zhu Di claimed that the empress dowager made Zhu Gaozi crown prince, and the princess Zhang Shi made her crown princess. But Zhu Di didn't like this Wen Jing's son very much. Zhu Di favored Zhu Gaoxu's two younger brothers, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaoxuan. Because the two of them were brave and good at war, Zhu Di felt that Zhu Gaoxu was very similar to himself. Therefore, there was an idea of deposing Zhu Gaoxu and making Zhu Gaoxu the crown prince instead. However, due to Empress Xu's opposition, as well as Zhu Zhanji and Hu Qian, the prince was not deposed.
His two brothers, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaoxuan, tried many times to rebel and take the concubine, but all failed. Zhu Gaozi also interceded for them, so that they could survive. However, Zhu Gaoxu still did not know what was wrong, and only later plotted again to be killed by his nephew Zhu Zhanji, who was already on the throne at that time.
However, Zhu Di died on July 18, 1424, the twenty-second year of Yongle, and the ministers secretly prevented Zhu Gaoxu and others from plotting. Later, after Zhu Gaoxu ascended the throne in August of the same year, Zhu Gaoxu learned of Zhu Di's death. After Zhu Gaozi ascended the throne, crown princess Zhang Shi was made empress, and the eldest son Zhu Zhanji was made crown prince. During Zhu Gaozi's reign, he was enlightened in politics, developed production, and rested with the people. He pardoned many of Emperor Jianwen's former subjects, rehabilitated many unjust prisons, and abolished many harsh governments. It also stopped the large-scale use of troops during the Yongle period. The people of the world were rested, laying the foundation for the rule of Renxuan. Zhu Gaozi was also the first Ming emperor to hold an enthronement ceremony on the upper floor of Tiananmen Square – and from this point of view, he was the true first owner of the Forbidden City.
After twenty years as the crown prince, Zhu Gaozi finally sat on the throne. Unfortunately, such a good emperor who was diligent and loved the people died after only 8 months on the throne, at the age of 47. Emperor Xiaozhao of the Celestial Body Dao pure sincerity to Dehong Wen Qin Wuzhang Shengda Xiaozhao Emperor. His funeral was extremely brief, but seven concubines were also buried for him. After Zhu Gaozi's death, the crown prince Zhu Zhanji took the throne, and Empress Zhang shi was crowned empress dowager, the first empress dowager in the history of the Ming Dynasty.