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

Chapter 18 Zhu Yuanzhang: Where is our private money?
early morning.

The morning glow is like a fine veil, intertwining light pink and golden colors, gently falling on the Qinhuai River.

In the river, two people were swimming hard.

"Hurry, swim faster." Fourth Master Zhu shouted while swimming.

"Master, can you stop and take a rest?" Zhu Di gritted his teeth and kept waving his arms.

He used to swim in the palace hot springs.

So when Fourth Master Zhu said he wanted to swim in the Qinhuai River to train his body, he agreed without even thinking about it.

But swimming so non-stop, and swimming back and forth within the specified time, is really painful.

My hands are sore, my legs are sore, and my head seems to explode.

"Master said that I examine myself three times a day." Fourth Master Zhu urged, "Quick! Don't you want to become stronger? Do you want to have a body as strong as a teacher? I train my body three times a day."

"Confucius said, is that what you mean?" Zhu Di was helpless.

However, when he saw Fourth Master Zhu's perfect streamlined muscles, determination flashed in his eyes and he swam faster.

Half an hour later.

The two of them were like two dead fish, lying on the shore gasping for air.

Fourth Master Zhu gasped for a while and said, "Let's go back to study."

Zhu Di followed him, his feet so sore that he could hardly move.

After returning to the yard and washing up, Fourth Master Zhu prepared breakfast and asked Zhu Di to study first.

"The Master said: Isn't it right to learn and practice it over time? Isn't it a joy to have friends from far away? Isn't it a gentleman if a person doesn't get confused if he doesn't know?"

Zhu Di held a copy of "The Analects of Confucius" and read it aloud.

Suddenly, Fourth Master Zhu was stunned. The Book of Luck in his mind actually shone slightly.

He frowned.

Could it be that studying, disciple, can also help me cultivate my aura of awe-inspiring energy?
"Read for half an hour early." He shouted.

Finally, he determined that his disciple's reading could help him cultivate his aura.

He was ecstatic.

So wouldn't it be possible to recruit more disciples to help me practice?
The next step is for the entire academy to accept thousands of disciples.

……

Imperial Palace, Qianqing Palace.

This is the palace of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. He got up early in the morning and opened a cabinet in the room.

"Hey, where is the gold we have hidden here?" He looked over and over.

Bang!

He slammed the cabinet shut, anger flashing in his eyes.

The private money is gone!
There were two packets of gold leaves, not a single one was left. That was a whole year’s worth of private money.

Who?
Who is brave enough to take our gold?
"Wang Jinghong, who has been to our room?" Zhu Yuanzhang roared.

Wang Jinghong, the chief eunuch standing outside the door, became numb. He knelt down quickly and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I don't know this. You won't let us enter the room. I ordered all the eunuchs and maids not to enter."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were like daggers.

These slaves definitely don’t have the guts, is it our mother-in-law?
No, even if my mother-in-law finds it, she won't take it secretly. She will just pick it up and throw it in my face.

Who would that be?
We still want to get some gold to give to Fourth Master Zhu today. Isn’t this a trap?

"Your Majesty, the Queen is here." Wang Jinghong said.

Zhu Yuanzhang came to his senses, walked out of the room, and saw Queen Ma walking over.

Empress Ma smiled gently: "Are you up late? I brought you porridge. Eat a few bites before going to court."

After that, he asked Yu'er behind him to bring out the porridge and a plate of side dishes.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat down with a smile, picked it up and started eating, taking a bite of porridge and a bite of side dishes, smashing them into his mouth: "This dish is salty."

"Salty?"

Empress Ma stared at her beautiful eyes and snorted, "Then I will give you another stir-fry?"

"No, no, it's just right to eat with porridge." Zhu Yuanzhang said quickly.

Yu'er, who was standing aside, pursed her lips and smiled, not daring to laugh out loud.

The emperor was feared by everyone in the previous dynasty, but in the harem, he was afraid of the queen. "Sister, how much money do you have left in the inner treasury?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked tentatively.

"How much can it be? Several hundred thousand taels." Empress Ma raised her eyes and said, "Zhu Chongba, what do you want to do? I tell you, don't take any ideas from the inner treasury. The palace expenses are not enough."

"Let's just ask." Zhu Yuanzhang could only lower his head and murmur.

Since the queen is in charge of the inner treasury, the emperor is also poor.

Why, when I was begging for food, I still had a few copper coins in my pocket.

Zhu Yuanzhang became angrier the more he thought about it.

Which bastard stole our private money?

"Where did you let the fourth child go?" Queen Ma suddenly asked.

"Ah? Uh... let's choose a master for him and let the boy train himself." Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Zhu Chongba! The fourth child is still so young, so you can rest assured that he is alone outside the palace?" Queen Ma frowned coldly.

"Sister, we know what's going on, so don't worry." Zhu Yuanzhang looked serious.

"If your son has any shortcomings, let me see how I deal with you." Queen Ma stood up and left.

Zhu Yuanzhang held his forehead.

Suddenly, something flashed in his mind.

That bastard, the fourth child, probably stole our private money.

……

Feiyan Tower.

The largest brothel in Yingtian City is also on the Qinhuai River.

As night falls, the lanterns of Feiyan Tower are first turned on, and the sound of silk and bamboo, the singing of orioles and the dancing of swallows gradually begin to sound in the building, complementing the sparkling waves on the river.

Outside the building, the Qinhuai River flows leisurely, as if telling the story of the past and present.

Fourth Master Zhu and Zhu Di stood outside the building.

"Master, isn't this appropriate? I'm only eight years old." Zhu Di's eyes shone.

"Little brat, what are you thinking about? We're just going in to drink." Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands.

"Drink flower wine?" Zhu Di blinked.

"Ci'ao, you are young, don't act like an old driver." Fourth Master Zhu was angry.

He waved his hand and led Zhu Di in.

As soon as he entered the door, the sounds of countless warblers and swallows came to his ears. A beautiful, charming and pure woman was walking in the corridor, or leaning over the table.

The red candle shines high, reflecting the beautiful faces.

The arrival of Fourth Master Zhu and Zhu Di was obviously quite unexpected.

The girls had never seen an old man visiting a brothel with a child.

"Old man, are you in the wrong place?" A slightly older maid came over and blinked her charming eyes.

"Come to a private room." Fourth Master Zhu took out a gold leaf and threw it over.

The maid's beautiful eyes sparkled instantly, she bowed slightly and said with a respectful expression: "Guest, please."

She led them into an elegantly furnished room.

"Guest, please wait a moment. I'll call the girls," the maid said.

"I want to see your shopkeeper Zhao." Fourth Master Zhu said coldly.

"Meet our shopkeeper?" The maid frowned slightly, "The shopkeeper doesn't accept customers."

"Just say that the beggars are asking Fourth Master Zhu to see you." Fourth Master Zhu waved his hand.

"It turns out to be Fourth Master. Now, sit down for a while and I'll report to you." The maid nodded.

She bowed, backed out, and closed the door.

Fourth Master Zhu sat down, picked up a cup of tea, and looked around.

"Master, you actually want to pick up the madam?" Zhu Di blurted out.

puff!
Fourth Master Zhu spat out a sip of tea and was speechless: "As I said, we are here to drink. You are so young, why are you so confused? Did you learn this from your father?"

Zhu Di covered his face.

(End of this chapter)