Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 235 Wanli: Could he be working with the Queen Mother again?
Zhu Changluo was already frightened by Zhang Chonghui's words. He was stunned for a long while before he asked:
"So... Yan Yun is my father's person?"

"That's not the case." Zhang Chonghui replied truthfully, which was rare.

Zhu Changluo heaved a sigh of relief and said thankfully: "That's good... That's good..."

However, after a brief moment of relief, Zhu Changluo discovered something wrong.

Recalling that Donglin Bookstore was right next to Shihua Pavilion, and Zhang Chonghui was the owner of Donglin Bookstore, Zhu Changluo couldn't help but ask doubtfully:
"So what is going on? How did my father know about this?"

Zhu Changluo was still too young after all. Zhang Chonghui saw at a glance that the young prince was suspicious of him. He remained calm and even asked back:
"Your Highness, as the owner of Donglin Bookstore, why do you think I rarely go to Donglin Bookstore?"

Zhu Changluo had no idea why, and was about to shake his head to ask, when he heard Zhang Chonghui ask him:

"Your Highness, have you ever wondered why? How could a son-in-law like me have the money to buy a shop in the most prosperous area?"

Zhu Changluo choked up. With this touch, he suddenly discovered something!
Seeing that Zhu Changluo seemed to have discovered something, Zhang Chonghui struck while the iron was hot:

"Your Highness, I'm sure you have guessed it. Yes, that's right. The bookstore was actually given to me by the Emperor.

It's a bookstore on the surface, but in reality it's a place where spies are stationed to monitor me and the flower shop next door."

"Ah?" Zhu Changluo was even more confused: "Why is my father monitoring the Flower Pavilion?"

"Don't you know?" Zhang Chonghui said, "The owner behind the Shihua Pavilion is Empress Dowager Li."

At one time, so much information was exposed one after another, Zhu Changluo felt his head buzzing and didn't know where to start.

After digesting it for a while, he asked a question: "If that's the case... Is Yan Yun actually my mother's person?"

Zhang Chonghui only said: "I don't know about that."

Seeing that the little prince seemed to be hurt by love and still seemed to be doubting something, Zhang Chonghui, in order to cut off this series of worries, took the initiative to ask:
"Your Highness, are you suspecting that I am lying to you?"

Zhu Changluo was stunned for a moment. He was indeed suspicious of Zhang Chonghui. After all, all this was said by Zhang Chonghui, and he didn't know whether it was true or false.

Most importantly, he didn't believe that the girl named Yan Yun approached him with a purpose. After all, she once told him that he was different from other stinky men.

"Your Highness, if you don't believe me, you can ask someone to check it out." Zhang Chonghui stood up and said:

“The bookstore was originally a restaurant with poor business, but now it has been turned into a strange bookstore. It is obvious that it is not for the purpose of making money.

Since we are not going there for the purpose of making money, then we can only go there for other purposes.

I can only say that I, the so-called boss, am just a chess piece of the emperor. And it just so happens that this time, you have entered this chess game again.

Your Highness, I believe that once you find out the truth, you will understand my good intentions. It is getting late, so I will take my leave now."

Zhang Chonghui was about to leave after he finished speaking, and Zhu Changluo politely tried to persuade him to stay, but did not try to stop him.

……

Time flew by and two more days passed.

These days, Zhang Chonghui has been staying at Zhao's house, using the excuse of catching a cold, and has not stepped out.

He thought he would have to wait for some time, but he didn't expect that in just two days, the Eastern Palace sent someone to invite him over.

Zhu Changluo was just like he had been in the past. He was very enthusiastic as soon as they met, and it seemed as if he had completely surrendered to Zhang Chonghui.

Yes, Zhu Changluo asked someone to investigate. Although the investigation was not complete due to his limited connections, he still managed to find out most of the information.

I thought Zhang Chonghui would make up stories, but unexpectedly, they were all true!
Especially the original owner of the Donglin Bookstore, it is said that he has a very powerful background, so powerful that even with Zhu Changluo's current power, he cannot be found out at all.

This also made Zhu Changluo believe even more that the person behind the scenes was his father, the emperor!

After Zhu Changluo's enthusiastic show of goodwill, Zhang Chonghui cooperated very well and staged a surrender.

However, surrendering is not something that can be done simply by talking about it.

Zhang Chonghui knew very well that although Zhu Changluo was still young and appeared to be honest and kind on the surface, his sensitive and suspicious nature was exactly the same as that of the current emperor.

Zhang Chonghui knew better that although Zhu Changluo would speak to him from time to time in confidence, in fact, he had always suspected that he was the emperor's man.

When dealing with such a suspicious person, the best way is to be in the same boat with him.

The fact that no one can escape once the boat capsizes is what makes such people feel most at ease.

Zhang Chonghui is looking for an opportunity to be "tied to the same boat" with Crown Prince Zhu Changluo.

As luck would have it, he actually encountered such a golden opportunity!

……

"Minghe, have you ever truly loved someone?"

Not sure if he was drunk after the banquet or had other thoughts, Zhu Changluo began to confide in Zhang Chonghui again.

Before Zhang Chonghui could answer, Zhu Changluo started talking again:
“Minghe, I won’t hide it from you, I actually don’t like the Crown Princess at all, and I dislike Wang who gave birth to my son even less.

I feel like they are not living people, just as rigid and boring as the puppets.

You know what? Every time I sleep with the Crown Princess, I feel like I'm sleeping with a log. It's so boring.

Can you understand my difficulties? How does it feel to sleep with your wife..."

"Ahem!" Zhang Chonghui coughed awkwardly several times and interrupted, "Your Highness, you are drunk."

"I'm not drunk!" Zhu Changluo was telling the truth. He was indeed not drunk, at least he thought so.

"Minghe, I like Yanyun, even though she comes from a brothel, even though I know she approaches me with a purpose, but I just can't help liking her. Do you understand this feeling?"

"Um... you understand... right..."

"It seems you don't understand. You don't understand that feeling. She said I'm different from other men. She understands me."

"Um...what if she is the Queen Mother's person?"

"It's okay. The Royal Grandmother won't harm me. It's just a pity for her. In order to better control her, the Royal Grandmother actually used her reputation as a kidnapping. She was originally an innocent daughter, and she had no choice..."

"So, Your Highness, what do you want?"

"I want to save her and make her a good person!"

"But the emperor already knows about this. If the emperor keeps this secret, it may have an impact on the stability of your position as crown prince."

"I know, so Minghe, you're the only one who can help me, are you willing to help me?"

By now, Zhang Chonghui had guessed what Zhu Changluo wanted him to do. Knowing that he was asking him to surrender, he pretended to be confused and asked:
"Your Highness, what do you want me to do for you?"

Zhu Changluo looked helpless, but he also had a hidden agenda. He said, "I am the crown prince. It is really unbecoming to redeem a prostitute. It would also be very easy for my father to find evidence against me. So... I hope you can help me redeem Yan Yun, and then find a clean background for her, so that she can come to me cleanly. Is that okay?"

Zhang Chonghui's brows were getting tighter and tighter, and he looked obviously conflicted and reluctant.

However, although Zhang Chonghui appeared to be resisting on the surface, he was actually ecstatic in his heart - someone really handed him a pillow when he felt sleepy!

Zhang Chonghui was worried that he had no way to "make a pledge" and tie himself to the prince! Unexpectedly, the little prince was even more anxious than him, and was so anxious that he took the initiative to find an opportunity to tie himself to him!
Once he agreed to the prince's request, if the truth ever came to light, not only would the prince's reputation be damaged, but he would also be doomed!

Although this is risky, this is exactly the risk that Zhang Chonghui wants. After all, wealth and honor are achieved through risk!
"Okay, I promise you." Zhang Chonghui agreed with great difficulty.

Zhu Changluo saw that Zhang Chonghui, even though extremely reluctant, was still willing to agree to do this thing for him which could very likely cost him his life.

It was not until this moment that Zhu Changluo truly regarded Zhang Chonghui as his aide!

"Minghe, I'm relying on you from now on, please don't let me down."

"Don't worry, Your Highness, it's just..." "Just what?"

"To be honest, I heard that it would cost a lot of money to redeem an Oiran, but I... you know, I'm very poor, so..."

"Ah... I forgot about money, but... I don't have any money either..."

For a moment, the atmosphere became awkward.

"How about you go and ask Empress Dowager Li for mercy?" Zhang Chonghui suggested.

"No way!" Zhu Changluo refused decisively: "Yan Yun said that if my grandmother knew that I had seen through her true identity, she would be killed alive!"

"So exaggerated?" Zhang Chonghui didn't believe it, and he also discovered one thing, that is, Du Yanyun clearly knew that he had betrayed Empress Dowager Li, but did not report it.

It seems that this little girl is as ambitious as Empress Dowager Li!

At this point, due to Zhang Chonghui's chaos and many unexpected events, many things that were originally clear have become so messy that it is difficult to completely sort out.

However, the young prince, whose head was blinded by love, had no time to think so much. His mind was now filled with the only beauty who understood him, dared to tease him, bully him, and made him dream about her.

Seeing Zhu Changluo's silly smile, Zhang Chonghui felt a little embarrassed. He just asked a question that existed in reality:
"So this money must be paid, right?"

Such a hurtful topic of reality made Zhu Changluo's mouth twitch slightly, and he sighed:
"As the crown prince of a country, I thought I would be rich in the world in the future, but now, I don't even have the money to redeem the girl I love. Sigh..."

"Actually, I do have an idea." Zhang Chonghui said suddenly.

Zhu Changluo's eyes lit up: "What? You have a solution? What solution?"

Zhang Chonghui said: "It's simple, just borrow money!"

Zhu Changluo was silent for a moment, then asked, "But... who can I borrow from? You can't ask me to go out and borrow money from others in person, right? If this gets out and my father finds out, I'll be finished."

"Then I'll go and borrow it." Zhang Chonghui didn't expect Zhu Changluo to be able to help.

"Minghe, you're so nice! By the way...who are you going to borrow it from?"

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, please don't worry about it. I have my own way."

……

Flower shop.

This time, Zhang Chonghui came not to see Shi Niang or Du Yanyun, but went directly to find the madam.

"I have already done what the Queen Mother asked me to do. Give me Yan'er's indenture contract and I will redeem her right away. Afterwards, I will change her identity and properly arrange for her to enter the Eastern Palace."

Zhang Chonghui came up and got straight to business, which made the madam stunned for a long time. Then she belatedly asked, "Is this... is it done?"

Zhang Chonghui disagreed: "What else?"

"But..." the madam asked again, "Why are you the one who redeemed me? Where is the prince?"

Facing these nonsense, Zhang Chonghui was not in a good mood. He said directly: "I am only here this time. If you ask these nonsense questions again, you will have to find a way to put Yan'er into the East Palace."

After hearing this, the madam was at a loss. In a panic, she only said, "Yan'er is a good girl and she doesn't have a contract to sell herself."

"In that case, I will take her away directly. You can handle the rest of the procedures on yourselves." After Zhang Chonghui finished speaking to himself, he turned around and went to find someone to take her away.

"Hey, you! Wait a minute! You haven't paid yet!" The madam chased after him and shouted, "We agreed that you must pay this money, otherwise the situation will be different!"

Zhang Chonghui said like a deadbeat: "I'll pay you back when I have money."

The madam was speechless...

In the end, the madam had no choice but to let Zhang Chonghui owe the huge sum of money for the time being after consulting her superiors and getting permission.

Zhang Chonghui was quite casual. He pressed his fingerprints and signed his name with a wave of his hand.

As for whether the money will be repaid or not, that’s hard to say. After all, there is a long time to come, and no one can predict what changes may happen in the future.

……

The top prostitute at Shihua House was redeemed, and when the news came out, the whole street was shocked.

The buyer's identity was kept perfectly confidential, and everyone was wondering whether it was some wealthy businessman who was so generous.

Inside the flower garden.

Du Yanyun looked at the man who redeemed her with just his mouth and one hand, with anger and unwillingness in her eyes.

"Don't think I don't know that a poor guy like you won't pay that much!"

Du Yanyun directly exposed Zhang Chonghui. She would never forget that this man could always say that he was poor without batting an eyelid. He even used poverty as an excuse to reject her invitation. This made her, who had always been arrogant, still unconvinced.

Zhang Chonghui also exposed one thing, saying: "You knew that I betrayed the Queen Mother in front of the Crown Prince, but you did not report it. Little girl, you are very ambitious."

Du Yanyun was not panicked at all, and said with a cold smile: "You should be thankful that I didn't expose you!"

"Yes, thank you." Zhang Chonghui nodded and said with a strange smile: "I do thank you. Look, I'm here to redeem you."

Du Yanyun's face turned red with embarrassment. She didn't know why, but every time she saw Zhang Chonghui, she felt like she couldn't control her emotions.

Obviously, playing with other men is as easy as playing with a dog for her, but Zhang Chonghui always makes her lose control and makes her feel like she is being played.

"You are a bad man!"

"Be bad so be bad, women don't love men who are not bad."

"You...are shameless!"

……

Qianqing Palace.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Chonghui took the initiative to send a message. He said that he had inserted a seductive woman into the East Palace to seduce the Crown Prince."

Zhu Yijun, who was drinking water, almost couldn't hold it in and spit it out after hearing the news!

He was about to ask what Zhang Chonghui was trying to do, but then he remembered that Zhang Chonghui was the one he sent to lead his son astray.

"What can a mere woman do? Doesn't he have any other decent ways?"

It was only after he had said it that Zhu Yijun realized that something was wrong. After all, there is no proper way to corrupt people.

"Who is that girl?"

"I sent someone to check, and found out that the girl is the one that belonged to the Empress Dowager last time."

After hearing this expected answer, Zhu Yijun didn't say anything else, but he was a little puzzled about one thing.

The words that Zhu Yijun heard when Xu Xianchun pretended to faint last time had already made him suspicious, but he didn't think about it too much.

Now that he thought about it carefully, he always felt that something was wrong.

Didn't Zhang Chonghui know that Xu Xianchun was pretending to be unconscious? This is unlikely! He must know!
Now that he knew, how was he involved with that girl?

Is it a coincidence? Or... is he teaming up with the Queen Mother again?
Just when Zhu Yijun became suspicious, what Chen Ju said next made him instantly angry.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Chonghui said that he owed a lot of debts to redeem this girl. Please... lend him some money to pay off his debts..."

(End of this chapter)