Ming Dynasty: The ghost betrays the Confucian sage, my son Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 133 Zhu Yuanzhang: Confirmed! Fourth master is our father
Qianqing Palace.

All the eunuchs and maids were driven out and stood outside, looking at each other.

Wang Jinghong, the chief eunuch, peeked in from time to time, with an uncontrollable smile hanging on his lips.

There was a trace of smoke coming out of the palace, accompanied by a burnt smell.

It turned out that Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was having a barbecue with Zhu Liujiu from Fengyang in the palace. The two grown men were unfamiliar with their skills and were busy flipping and roasting.

Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting on a chair, and Zhu Liujiu was sitting opposite him, grilling meat skewers with both hands. The bursts of smoke made him almost unable to open his eyes.

And what about Zhu Yuanzhang? Sitting there giving blind orders.

"It's too close. If you stay far away, won't it burn again?"

"Quick, turn it over, turn it over again, hey, you are clumsy, you can't even do this?"

"Is it time to add salt? Did you forget to add salt?"

Zhu Liujiu, whose eyes were blinded by the smoke, became angry. He threw down the barbecue skewers and said angrily: "Are you done yet? If you think I can't grill it well, you can grill it yourself!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, his face turned cold.

Zhu Liujiu cursed in his heart that he was still so impatient, and quickly knelt down: "Ouch, you have disobeyed me, and the common people deserve death. Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes.

He remembered that when he was young, he and Zhu Liujiu went hunting together in the mountains, and the two of them secretly ate barbecue.

At that time, although he, Zhu Yuanzhang, was young, he commanded Zhu Liujiu.

However, the two often fight.

"Okay, okay, brother," Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to signal Zhu Liujiu to get up.

"Your Majesty, the common people don't dare to do this. You are destroying the common people. The common people are just farmers and cannot afford to take on the responsibility." Zhu Liujiu knelt down and worshiped.

"You, stop pretending!" Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily, "We brothers know the truth, why are you pretending? I hope you will fight with us like you did when you were little."

Zhu Liujiu stood up with a smile, sat down and continued to bake.

The two talked about some things from their childhood, and laughed from time to time.

……

After the meat was cooked, the two of them sat around and drank. Although the meat was a little burnt, they ate it with gusto.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked casually while eating: "Brother, how is Fengyang doing now?"

"Uh, not bad." Zhu Liujiu replied with a smile.

"We asked the officials in Fengyang and they all said yes." Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, "But we don't believe them. I just believe you, the old brother from Fengyang. Just tell me."

Zhu Liujiu chewed the barbecue in his mouth and took another sip of wine, but his heart was filled with waves.

He remembered a local folk song from Fengyang: Talk about Fengyang, say Fengyang, Fengyang is a good place. Since the birth of Emperor Zhu, there have been nine out of ten years of famine: three years of floods, three years of drought, and three years of locust disasters. A big family sells mules and horses, and a small family sells a son. A slave family has no sons to sell, so they carry a flower drum and travel everywhere.

Now Fengyang has not only produced an emperor, but also a large number of civil servants and generals, all of whom were founding figures.

They forcefully bought people's fields in their hometown of Fengyang, which has caused a large number of people to become homeless.

However, the local government curried favor with the powerful and concealed the matter and did not report it.

An old man from the village wanted to go to Beijing to complain, but he was intercepted and killed by the nobles, so the matter never reached the capital.

Zhu Liujiu quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

He didn't want to get involved in this matter, but when the emperor asked, he had to tell him.

"The land cultivated by ordinary people is fine, but wasn't there a famine last year?" Zhu Liujiu smiled, "Some people had no choice but to sell their own fields and became tenants."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his eyes instantly became as sharp as knives.

He himself was a tenant farmer back then, so he still didn't understand the twists and turns involved?

This is definitely someone who is forcibly buying people's land at a low price, and their methods are cunning and appear to be legal and compliant.

……

However, Zhu Yuanzhang did not inquire further. He knew that Zhu Liujiu lived in a complex environment in Fengyang and would inevitably have concerns.

So, he changed the topic: "Brother, I will take you to meet someone some other time."

When Zhu Liujiu heard this, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and responded with a smile: "Okay."

The two continued to enjoy the delicious food. Such a relaxing time was rare in the palace. Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of wine and asked casually: "By the way, how was Zhu Huan's performance in Dingyuan County?"

Zhu Huan was the only son of Zhu Liujiu. He was appointed as the magistrate of Dingyuan County because of his status as the emperor's nephew.

"I heard he did a good job." Zhu Liujiu looked proud, "The common man has never been to Dingyuan County. The child is old and has his own ideas. He won't let me see him."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with a smile: "The official evaluation of him is also very good. It seems that our Zhu family has another pillar. After he has a few more years of experience in the local area, we will transfer him to the prince's side to assist."

Zhu Liujiu was overjoyed when he heard this and quickly knelt down to thank him.

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, he feigned anger and said, "Look, you're kneeling down again."

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, since he ascended the throne as emperor, there was no one around him who could speak freely as he wished.

Zhu Liujiu stood up and said with a smile: "Huan'er is a high-spirited kid who needs more tempering by Your Majesty."

"We understand, but those bastards in our family are still different? Each one is angrier than the other." Zhu Yuanzhang spread his hands.

When it comes to their children, the two of them have more topics to talk about.

Zhu Liujiu had high hopes for his only son Zhu Huan. Although his family loved him very much when he was in Fengyang, he also understood that doting on him was not advisable. He hoped that his son could experience and grow up outside and become a pillar of the Ming Dynasty.

If I follow His Highness the Crown Prince in the future, the future will be smooth.

……

Early morning, Qinhuai River courtyard.

Zhu Yuanzhang brought Zhu Liujiu to see Fourth Master Zhu in order to awaken Fourth Master Zhu's memory.

Zhu Liujiu followed the emperor, full of curiosity and anxiety. He secretly speculated, where exactly would the emperor take him to meet during this trip?
When they approached the courtyard, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were attracted by the two newly added huge stone lions at the door. He frowned slightly: "When did two such big stone lions come together?"

Just when he was wondering, the door of the small courtyard slowly opened.

The naked and muscular Fourth Master Zhu came out, with his back to them, squatting in front of the two stone lions.

"Haha!"

Fourth Master Zhu suddenly roared, grasped a stone lion in each hand, and suddenly lifted it up.

Then, he started lifting back and forth. It turned out that he used stone lions to practice weight lifting.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Liujiu were stunned.

Especially Zhu Liujiu. He looked at the silver-haired back of Fourth Master Zhu and saw him humming and lifting the two huge stone lions easily. He was secretly shocked. Are they still human?
"Brother, this is the person I want you to meet." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

He walked over quickly with Zhu Liujiu and shouted: "Fourth Master, it's so early."

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's voice, Fourth Master Zhu slowly lowered the stone lions he held with both hands, and steadily put the two stone lions back to their original positions.

Then he turned his head.

Zhu Liujiu was just widening his eyes to see who this person was, when he saw Fourth Master Zhu clearly.

"Ah..." he exclaimed.

His eyes were full of fear, his mind was dizzy, he fell to the ground with a bang, his legs stared, and he passed out.

Zhu Yuanzhang panicked.

Ci'ao, you won't just scare Brother Liujiu to death, right? Hey, we should remind him first.

"It's okay, I just fainted." Fourth Master Zhu squatted down and checked, holding his forehead, "Who is this? Why did you faint from fright when you saw me?" "Well, it's hard to explain, let's take him back first. "Zhu Yuanzhang was also speechless.

He didn't expect this would be the result of the meeting.

……

Fourth Master Zhu looked at Zhu Yuanzhang carrying Zhu Liujiu away. He scratched his head. Can I scare people to death now?

He laughed at himself and headed to Feiyan Tower.

After searching for so many days, there was still no news about Zhao Xuanzhen. He felt that he still had to look for clues from the girls in Feiyan Tower.

He stretched out and felt that his waist was feeling better again, and he was full of confidence: "It's been a long time since all nine phoenixes have flown together."

I slowly came to Feiyan Tower, and when I entered the door, I saw Feiyan directing something there. She was dressed in a purple dress, outlining her enchanting figure. Her every move exuded a seductive aura, making her even more charming.

"Fourth Master, someone is looking for you." Feiyan walked up to Fourth Master Zhu affectionately, holding his arm affectionately, with a hint of naughty smile in her tone.

"Who is it?" Fourth Master Zhu tilted his head slightly, smelling the alluring fragrance, his heart couldn't help but tremble.

"A girl, oh no, she's a heroine." Feiyan raised her lips slightly and said with a half-smile, "Fourth Master, how long has it been since my highness left, and now you're hooking up with a heroine outside?"

Fourth Master Zhu has a black streak on his head.

He came to the private room, opened the door, and saw a heroic woman sitting there with a slightly reserved expression. She held a long sword in her hand and wore a neat ponytail. She exuded a sense of heroism in her beauty. No wonder Feiyan calls her a heroine.

"Girl, what do you want from me?" Fourth Master Zhu smiled slightly.

Upon hearing this, the woman immediately stood up and bowed respectfully: "Junior Wudangshan Li Yuzhen, pay my respects to my senior."

"Oh? A disciple of Wudang Mountain?" Fourth Master Zhu's heart moved and he pointed to the seat next to him, "Please sit down."

He also remembered that Li Yuzhen was the person who represented Wudang Mountain in the battle between heaven and man.

After Li Yuzhen sat down, she still looked a little uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and said, "After asking for a long time, I learned that Fourth Master, you often hang out in Feiyan Tower."

puff!
Fourth Master Zhu spurted out a mouthful of tea, feeling dumbfounded.

What the hell, who told you that I often stay at Feiyan Tower? Doesn't this damage my reputation?

"The girl is looking for me because of the dispute between heaven and man?" Fourth Master Zhu asked.

"Yes." Li Yuzhen nodded, "I wonder if the senior would like to go to Wudang Mountain with the junior?"

"Why?" Fourth Master Zhu was curious.

"Well, it's not convenient for me as a junior to say it. It's obvious that my senior has gone there." Li Yuzhen pondered for a moment and continued, "It's about the Taoist Mysterious Cave."

Fourth Master Zhu pondered and then smiled: "Well, I'll go when I'm free, okay? Anyway, I promise you, I will definitely go."

Li Yuzhen was overjoyed after hearing this: "Thank you, senior."

Fourth Master Zhu smiled and waved his hand.

He was also curious about the mysterious cave, but he was not in a hurry to go.

……

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Liujiu was lying on the soft couch, still unconscious.

The imperial doctor was sitting next to him and was using needles on him. He inserted many silver needles into his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang paced back and forth anxiously, his eyes full of worry and uneasiness.

After a while, the imperial doctor took off the silver needles. Zhu Liujiu's eyes opened slightly, revealing a look of confusion: "Where is this? Why am I here?"

The imperial doctor frowned slightly and came to Zhu Yuanzhang's side and bowed: "Your Majesty, I have diagnosed that Mr. Liujiu has no blood vessels in his brain and he has dementia."

Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked: "Dementia? What does this mean?"

"It's just...he forgets a lot of things."

The imperial doctor pondered for a moment, then organized his speech and continued, "This disease will cause people's memory to gradually fade, and in the end, they may even no longer remember their loved ones. The only things that may be left behind are those memories that are deeply ingrained in their hearts. .”

"How could this be?" Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.

"Your Majesty, I will prescribe a prescription." The imperial doctor continued, "He is in good health."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, and the imperial doctor retreated.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the bed, looked at Zhu Liujiu and asked, "Brother, how do you feel?"

"Chongpachi?"

Zhu Liujiu sat up suddenly, his face extremely horrified, "Chongba, let me tell you quietly, I saw your father being dug out last night, and the man smashed a needle on your father's head!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked.

Dad was dug out? what happened? Could it be that Zhu Liujiu saw our father being dug out of the grave?
"Brother, who dug out our father?" he asked urgently.

"A strange person, so strange, so weird." Zhu Liujiu seemed to be still scared, "He stuck a needle this long into your father's head."

"Then what?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"I'm so scared, so scared..." Zhu Liujiu rolled his eyes and fainted again.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed.

Zhu Liujiu just called himself Chongba. Perhaps this was his memory from that time when he was a child. What did he see back then?
When my eldest brother and I searched the mountains for my father's body, we did encounter a panicked Zhu Liujiu at the entrance of the village. He didn't notice it at the time, but now it seems he must have seen something.

Was dad's body exhumed? Someone also injected a needle into your brain?

No, we have to check whether there is a needle in Fourth Master Zhu's brain as soon as possible.

……

dusk.

Fourth Master Zhu did not spend the night in Feiyan Tower, but returned to the Qinhuai River Courtyard.

As soon as he came back, he saw Zhu Yuanzhang burst in with someone.

"Eight Lang? You're here just in time. Let's have a drink together." Fourth Master Zhu waved.

"Fourth Master, there has been a plague in the capital recently." Zhu Yuanzhang said anxiously, "I will bring a doctor to check it for you. Everyone in the Governor's Mansion has been checked."

"What? Why didn't I know about the plague?" Fourth Master Zhu was confused.

"There are some things in the Yamen that are kept secret from the public. Just leave it alone and sit there and don't move." Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Fourth Master Zhu sat on the chair.

The doctor behind Zhu Yuanzhang quickly came behind him, gently pressed his head with both hands, and touched it carefully.

Not long after, his expression changed drastically.

"Fourth Master, I'll leave you a recipe to prevent the plague." The doctor smiled.

He quickly wrote a few words and handed them to Mr. Zhu Fourth, and then returned to Zhu Yuanzhang's back honestly.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved to Fourth Master Zhu: "Let's go!"

Fourth Master Zhu was speechless and rolled his eyes, but it warmed his heart to think that this guy even brought a doctor to check him out.

Zhu Yuanzhang took the doctor out of the small courtyard in a hurry and came to the street. After walking for a while, he asked in a deep voice: "How is it? Is there a needle in the fourth master's head?"

This doctor, who was actually the imperial physician, looked incredulous: "Yes! It's incredible that he is still alive and well even with a needle."

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was filled with turmoil.

It’s confirmed, Fourth Master Zhu is our father.

(End of this chapter)