King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

His voice was trembling, as if he was about to cry any second.

Seeing Zhu Gui's appearance, Zhu Tan felt uncomfortable, but he still hardened his heart and nodded.

"Yes, the doctors are right. Your injuries are too severe. Your tendons and veins are all broken. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he probably wouldn't be able to help you."

After hearing Zhu Tan’s personal admission, Zhu Gui was completely despaired.

He slumped in the chair, his eyes empty, as if he had lost his soul.

"but……"

Zhu Tan changed the subject.

"But what?"

Zhu Gui suddenly raised his head, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

Zhu Tan smiled slightly, took out an exquisite wooden box from his sleeve and slowly opened it.

"Although I can no longer use your finger, but... I made a finger for you."

"Made a finger?" Zhu Gui was even more confused, frowning and asking with a puzzled look on his face, "Tenth brother, what does it mean to make a finger?"

"This is it."

As Zhu Tan spoke, he took out a lifelike finger from the wooden box and handed it to Zhu Gui.

Zhu Gui looked at the finger in front of him and was stunned. His eyes widened and his mouth opened as if an egg could be stuffed in.

This...what on earth is this?
It looks exactly like a real person's finger, even the fingerprints are clearly visible.

It’s just that the material is a bit strange. It’s neither like wood nor metal. It feels cool to the touch and has a hint of elasticity.

"Ten, Ten Brother, what is this?"

Zhu Gui swallowed and asked with a trembling voice.

“It’s called a prosthetic.”

Zhu Tan explained patiently:

"I made it from special materials based on the size and shape of your severed finger. Look..."

As he spoke, Zhu Tan picked up the prosthetic limb, bent it gently, and then released it.

I saw that the prosthetic limb moved as flexibly as a real person's finger, without any sense of stiffness at all.

"How's it going? Isn't it amazing?"

Zhu Tan asked with a smile.

"My God, this is amazing, so amazing!" Zhu Gui's eyes were full of amazement, "This, this thing... can it really be used?"

"Of course it works." Zhu Tan said, handing the prosthesis to Zhu Gui, "You'll know if you try it."

Zhu Gui hesitated for a moment, carefully took the prosthesis, and then put it on his severed finger according to Zhu Tan's instructions.

Suddenly, a strange feeling came from his fingertips, making him shiver.

"how do you feel?"

Zhu Tan asked.

"I, I feel..."

Zhu Gui opened his mouth, but didn't know how to describe this feeling.

If you say it is real, it is not your own finger after all; if you say it is fake, you can clearly feel its existence.

"Come on, try to move."

Zhu Tan encouraged.

Zhu Gui took a deep breath and moved his fingers tentatively.

"It's moving, it's really moving!"

Zhu Gui's eyes lit up instantly, and his face was full of surprise.

He tried to clench his fist, then unclenched it, and then tried to grab the teacup on the table.

Although his movements were still a little unfamiliar, he could already clearly feel that he could control this finger again!
"How is it? I think it can be used, right?" Zhu Tan said with a smile.

"It works, it works!" Zhu Gui was so excited that he was incoherent. "Tenth brother, you, you are really amazing! How did you do it?"

"Haha, that's nothing."

Zhu Tan waved his hand, "It's just some small tricks, not worth mentioning."

"Not worth mentioning?"

Zhu Gui's eyes widened. "This, this thing, once invented, can change one's destiny!"

Although Zhu Gui doesn't like reading.

But also know.

How important are prosthetic limbs to humans?

Especially in military camps, there are always many wounded soldiers after every battle.

"Okay, okay, stop flattering me."

Zhu Tan interrupted Zhu Gui with a smile:
"Although this thing is easy to use, it is not your own finger after all. It is definitely not as flexible as before, and..."

At this point, Zhu Tan's tone became serious.

"This thing is a dead object after all. You have to take good care of it. Don't bump it, and don't soak it in water for a long time, otherwise it will easily get damaged."

"Got it, Brother Ten."

Zhu Gui nodded quickly and kept Zhu Tan's words firmly in mind.

He looked at the prosthesis in his hand with admiration in his eyes.

He knew that this prosthesis was not just a finger, it also represented Brother Shi's care and love for him.

"By the way, there's one more thing."

Zhu Tan suddenly remembered something and said:
"Although I have tried my best to make this prosthetic arm very realistic, the color is still a little different from your skin color. I will ask my servants to find you some paint later. You can mix it yourself and try to make it look as real as possible."

"Yes, I understand, Brother Ten."

Zhu Gui nodded.

"Well, it's getting late, I should go back."

Zhu Tan stood up and patted Zhu Gui on the shoulder. "You should have a good rest. If there is anything, send someone to Prince Lu's Mansion to inform me."

"Brother Shi, I'll take you there." Zhu Gui quickly stood up and said.

"No need, just take care of your injuries." Zhu Tan waved his hand, turned and walked out of the room.

Looking at Zhu Tan's departing back, Zhu Gui's eyes became moist again.

After Zhu Gui sent Zhu Tan away, he carefully stroked the prosthesis in his hand, unable to let it go.

On the other side, Zhu Tan hummed a little tune and strolled to the back wall of Prince Lu's Mansion.

He patted his dusty clothes and climbed up the wall like a nimble monkey, doing it in one go.

As soon as he landed, several guards guarding the Prince Lu's Mansion surrounded him. They all had bitter faces, but they didn't dare to scold loudly. They could only lower their voices and said:

"Your Highness, why are you doing this? The Emperor has issued an order to confine you, so why are you still running around? If the Emperor finds out, we will be in big trouble."

"What are you afraid of? Isn't this prince back safe and sound?"

Zhu Tan waved his hand nonchalantly, "Go away, don't stand here anymore. I have important things to do now."

The guards looked at each other, and one of them bravely asked:

"I wonder what your Highness wants me to do?"

"Go and find me some high-quality paints in all kinds of colors, as well as some wool and fine cloth. Act quickly, okay?" Zhu Tan ordered.

Although the guards were full of doubts, they did not dare to ask more questions and could only obey the order and leave.

They secretly groaned in their hearts. This imprisoned prince could command them more easily than anyone else.

……

In the imperial palace, inside the Fengtian Hall, the atmosphere was suffocatingly depressing.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne with a sullen face, holding a white jade teacup in his hand, his knuckles slightly white from exerting force.

In front of him, Jinyiwei commander Mao Xiang knelt on one knee, lowered his head, and dared not breathe.

"Say!"

Zhu Yuanzhang smashed the teacup onto the white marble floor. The crisp sound of the teacup breaking echoed in the empty hall. "After investigating for so long, this is all you found?!"

Mao Xiang shuddered, and quickly lowered his head, saying in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty, I am incompetent! But the Japanese are extremely cunning and cautious, leaving very few clues. I, I have spent a lot of effort to find it..."

"Waste!" Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily, interrupting Mao Xiang's words, "What use do I have for you?!"

Mao Xiang was so frightened that he trembled all over and knocked his head to the ground, making a thumping sound: "Your Majesty, please calm down! I deserve to die! But..."

He paused, as if considering his words, and then spoke carefully after a while:

"However, according to my investigation, this Japanese seems to be colluding with officials in the court, which is why..."

"Collusion?!" Zhu Yuanzhang stood up suddenly, his eyes flashing with coldness, "Who?!"

Mao Xiang lowered his head even lower, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito:

"This... I am not sure yet, but I have some clues. Please give me some time, Your Majesty. I will find out the mastermind behind this and bring him to justice!"

Zhu Yuanzhang paced back and forth in the hall, the anger in his heart boiling like a volcano.

There was actually a Japanese spies sneaking into the Ming Dynasty Palace, who even dared to assassinate him!
What’s even more hateful is that the mastermind behind this was actually a court official he had promoted!

"Good! Very good!" Zhu Yuanzhang laughed in anger and said with gritted teeth, "I want to see who is so bold as to dare to touch the emperor's head!"

He turned around suddenly, pointed at Mao Xiang, and said sternly:

"Investigate for me! Find out who this Japanese guy is colluding with, and find out their every move. If you find any clues, report them immediately!"

"I obey your order!" Mao Xiang quickly kowtowed and accepted the order, then stood up and quickly left the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Mao Xiang's departing back, and a hint of viciousness flashed in his eyes.

He would never allow anyone to threaten the Ming Dynasty, nor would he allow anyone to betray his trust!

"Somebody come!"

"I'm here." A young eunuch walked in, bowing.

"Go, summon the prince!"

……

The Duke's Mansion, with its carved beams and painted buildings, was now filled with a suffocating low pressure.

Li Shanchang sat upright on the armchair, sipping tea leisurely, as if he was indifferent to everything in front of him.

Kujo Masataka, who was standing opposite him, had a gloomy face and clenched his fists, as if he was about to explode at the next second.

"Mr. Han, is this what you call foolproof?"

Kujo Masataka gritted his teeth and said, his tone full of suppressed anger:

"All my men are dead, not a single one is left! But what about Zhu Tan? He was only confined for a few days, what does that mean?!"

Li Shanchang put down his teacup and glanced at him slowly, with a hint of disdain in his eyes:
"To achieve great things, one must be able to keep calm. How can you achieve great things if you are so impetuous?"

"Can you keep your composure?"

Kujo Masataka seemed to have heard a joke and laughed out of anger:

"My people are already dead, and you still want me to keep calm? Lord Hanguo, are you kidding me?!"

"Humph, you are more likely to cause trouble than to help!"

Li Shanchang slammed the table and shouted angrily:
"If your people hadn't failed to do their job and leaked the news, how could my plan fail? Now the emperor has become suspicious of me, and the eagle claws of the Jinyiwei are also watching me one by one. I am restricted in what I do, and you still have the nerve to question me?!"

Kujo Masataka was left speechless by Li Shanchang's words, but the anger in his heart did not diminish in the slightest.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said in a deep voice:

"Duke, my people are already dead. I am not here today to listen to your excuses."

"I just want to know, how are you going to give me an explanation for this matter?"

Li Shanchang stared at him coldly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes. He naturally knew that Kujo Masataka would never give up this time.

He was silent for a moment, and then his tone softened a bit:
"Kujo-kun, the cooperation between you and me is for a common goal. Although the plan has failed, our goal has not changed, right?"

"what do you mean……"

Kujo Masataka frowned slightly, as if he understood what Li Shanchang meant.

Li Shanchang smiled slightly, with a hint of viciousness in his eyes:
"Zhu Tan was only confined to his house. What's the big deal? As long as he's alive, our plan still has a chance."

"Don't worry. Since I promised you, I will definitely do it. After I get rid of those people who are in the way, Zhu Tan, and the Ming Dynasty..."

Having said this, he paused deliberately, staring at Kujo Masataka with burning eyes, and said word by word:

"It's in your and my pockets!"

When Kujo Masataka heard this, a hint of greed and ambition flashed in his eyes.

He was well aware of Li Shanchang's power in the court, and also knew that he was ruthless and would do what he said.

"Okay, Lord Li, I will trust you again."

Kujo Masataka said in a deep voice, "However, how should I deal with myself during this period of time?"

"During this period of time, you should leave the capital and go overseas to avoid the limelight."

Li Shanchang said calmly, "When the storm has died down, I will send someone to pick you up."

Kujo Masataka nodded, he knew that Li Shanchang was protecting him.

After all, he is now a wanted criminal by the court. If he continues to stay in the capital, it will only bring trouble to Li Shanchang.

"Okay, I understand." Kujo Masataka said in a deep voice, "Then I'll go prepare it now."

After that, he turned around and left.

"Wait." Li Shanchang suddenly stopped him and handed him a silver note. "Take this silver for your journey."

Kujo Masataka was not polite either. He took the banknote and said, "Thank you, Duke."

After saying this, he turned around and strode away, leaving Li Shanchang alone, sitting on the armchair, with a sinister light flashing in his eyes.

……

In the dead of night, an inconspicuous small boat quietly left the dock of the capital and disappeared into the vast night.

At the bow, Kujo Masataka looked at the capital city which was gradually disappearing into the distance, with a gleam of resentment in his eyes.

"Zhu Tan, Zhu Yuanzhang, just wait for me. I will settle this account with you sooner or later!"

At this moment, he suddenly felt a strong wind coming from behind him. Before he could react, he felt a pain in the back of his neck, his eyes went dark, and he fainted.

"Take him away and keep him under close watch."

A deep voice sounded in the darkness, carrying a hint of unquestionable majesty.

"Yes!"

Several men in black appeared silently, carried Kujo Masataka down, and disappeared into the darkness of the cabin. (End of this chapter)