Chapter 174 Questioning in Prison
Zhu Gaoyu did not have time to question Zhu Di’s look.

Because dad is very busy now.

As a new spokesperson for the empire, Zhu Di was not as secure as he seemed.

Ever since Zhu Yunwen “passed away” in the sea of ​​fire, leaving behind only a charred corpse, although Zhu Di did not say it on the surface, he still felt a knot in his heart.

Not only that, in addition to Zhu Yunwen’s corpse, several other charred bodies were found in the fire scene.

According to the eunuchs left behind by Zhu Yunwen, the identities of these bodies were the bodies of several ministers who were deeply trusted by Zhu Yunwen.

But… could it be such a coincidence?

As the ruler of an empire, Zhu Di obviously also possessed the character trait of “suspicion”.

There was always a gap in his heart about Zhu Yunwen’s whereabouts, so much so that because of this gap, he also had different arrangements for this empire that was like the sun at eight or nine o’clock.

Of course, this is not the most important thing.

The most important person at the moment is Fang Xiaoru.

This is the seed of scholars in the world according to Yao Guangxiao.

Zhu Gaoyu had traveled a long way, and this was the first time he saw Zhu Di since the success of the Jingnan Rebellion. He had not yet had time to tell his father the news.

But even without being told, Zhu Di was well aware of Fang Xiaoru’s importance.

If Fang Xiaoru had endorsed it, the pens of scholars all over the world would not have been so sharp when they were criticizing Zhu Di.

only……

Zhu Gaoyu stood in the palace, looking at the sun outside, and whispered to his friends:
“Why do I feel that… Fang Xiaoru is not someone who would give in so easily?”

Zhu Gaoxu gave him a slap on the face:
“No one’s letting you talk right now.”

“……Oh!”

It turns out that Zhu Gaoyu might really be a jinx in a sense.

After Fang Xiaoru was brought up, he sneered the first time he saw Zhu Di. He did not greet him, let alone kowtow, but just spoke coldly:
“Yan thief!”

Zhu Di was a cultured new boss of the Ming Dynasty.

Just curse me.

Anyway, since his Jingnan Campaign, Zhu Di has been scolded more and more times.

At this moment, Fang Xiaoru’s call of “Yan thief” not only did not make Zhu Di lose his defense and get angry, but instead made him feel that it was nothing special.

At this moment, Zhu Di couldn’t help but think of what Zhu Gaoyu once said…

When the boy said this, he sounded a little weird, and what he said was a little obscure and difficult to understand. I don’t know which book he read it from.

But surprisingly, Zhu Di can still remember what this boy said to this day.

The general idea is that trying to change a person’s subjective cognition is the most difficult thing in the world.

Not to mention, what Zhu Di wanted to change was the subjective thoughts of people like Fang Xiaoru.

So, Zhu Di showed a mysterious smile in front of everyone:
“you’re right.”

???

In front of the Qianqing Palace, everyone was stunned.

In fact, not only the civil and military officials were confused, but Fang Xiaoru was also confused.

Why doesn’t this follow the routine?

Scolding Zhu Di is like… punching cotton.

soft.

Fang Xiaoru’s face turned red.

Zhu Di must be insulting him!

He looked at Zhu Di coldly, “Yan thief, what you said today will definitely be recorded in the history books in the future. You even admitted that you are Yan thief, you must…”

Zhu Di smiled: “You are right.”

Fang Xiaoru felt aggrieved, but amidst his frustration, there was also a trace of anger that he could not get rid of.

No?

Is there something wrong with him?
Fang Xiaoru looked at Zhu Di, and suddenly calmed down and looked at Zhu Di:

“In fact, Yan Ze, you still care about what I said and the criticism from scholars all over the world. Otherwise, it would not be my turn to continue speaking here. Isn’t it?”

Zhu Di smiled:

“What you think and what you say are all right.”

This Zhu Di is not a perfunctory person.

He really thinks so!
But Fang Xiaoru could no longer bear the humiliation.

Zhu Di looked at Fang Xiaoru who had become so angry, but on the surface he still acted like the amiable new boss of the empire.

But his heart was already completely opened.

In fact, if Zhu Di had not been tortured by Zhu Gaoyu, it would be hard for him to imagine whether he would break down or even become furious when facing Fang Xiaoru, a stubborn man.

But it is obvious that after being influenced and sublimated by Zhu Gaoyu, Zhu Di has become a completely different person.

He looked at Fang Xiaoru deeply and had no intention of dealing with him now.

Zhu Di felt that Fang Xiaoru was more meaningful alive than dead.

Zhu Gaoyu looked at Fang Xiaoru several times when he was dragged away.

After Zhu Di officially ascended the throne, Zhu Gaoyu was impatient to see them rewarding people based on their merits or settling scores, so he found a corner and quietly slipped away.

After Zhu Gaoyu had completely left and he was no longer there, Zhu Di then turned his gaze to the place where he had just stood.

Seeing that the place was empty, Zhu Di could not help but raise his eyebrows, as if he had already anticipated Zhu Gaoyu’s departure.

He even winked at Ma Sanbao who was standing at the palace gate.

Ma Sanbao understood what Zhu Gaoyu meant and quietly disappeared in the direction he left.

……

“Your Highness!”

Zhu Gaoyu paused, a little suspicious.

How come he… seemed to hear Sanbao’s voice?

Since the Jingnan Campaign, Zhu Di valued Ma Sanbao more and more, which made Zhu Gaoyu unable to get close to Sanbao. However, when Zhu Gaoyu looked up and saw Ma Sanbao again, a familiar feeling came over him, and there was no sense of strangeness at all as Zhu Gaoyu had expected.

Ma Sanbao looked at Zhu Gaochi, who was a little thinner and had his eyes wide open, and couldn’t help but think of Zhu Gaochi’s favorite Pekingese – Little Curly.

The little curly-haired boy’s eyes looked just like Zhu Gaoyu’s at this moment.

Round and pitch black.

Zhu Gaoyu looked at Ma Sanbao, howled, and rushed over:

“Sanbao! I missed you so much!”

This guy wasn’t that enthusiastic even when he was with his dad.

Ma Sanbao felt a little amused and a little helpless.

After hearing what Ma Sanbao said, Zhu Gaoyu sneered at Zhu Di:

“My father’s old face is so annoying. I still like you, Sanbao… the one who pleases me the most!”

Ma Sanbao wondered why it sounded so much like he was doing some improper job that required him to use his beauty to please men.
Just as I was thinking about it, I heard Zhu Gaoyu muttering over there:

“By the way, let’s get together again tonight…”

Ma Sanbao’s heart skipped a beat, and the feeling became even stronger.

Zhu Gaoyu didn’t notice his expression and continued to talk:
“Let’s talk about sailing stories together again tonight! Last time we were halfway through telling the story about Java Island, but you stopped talking!”

Leaving things unfinished is a very bad habit!
Zhu Gaoyu, a veteran storyteller, expressed his opinion in this way.

Ma Sanbao breathed a sigh of relief.

So that’s what it was.

He couldn’t help but touch Zhu Gaoyu’s head, and a smile appeared on the corner of his lips:
“What’s that? By the way, let me go with you to finish the business first.”

“Okay, let’s go…right?!”

Zhu Gaoyu was halfway through his speech when his voice suddenly rose. He turned his head abruptly and looked at Ma Sanbao, with an expression of undisguised surprise on his face.

“How did you know I was going to do something?”

Ma Sanbao smiled but said nothing.

Zhu Gaoyu looked again and again for a long while before he said with certainty:
“It must be my father… No, it must be the work of His Majesty.”

Ma Sanbao smiled and blinked.

Just like what Zhu Gaoyu often did.

……

In the dungeon.

When Zhu Gaoyu came here, he first exclaimed “Wow”, looking like a silly roe deer, surprisingly brave and a little bit thick-skinned.

He was clearly facing a dark, damp dungeon infested with insects, but when Zhu Gaoyu arrived there, he acted like a visiting guest, looking around with curiosity in his eyes.

Until you reach the end of the dungeon.

The person imprisoned here was Fang Xiaoru.

The dungeon was dark and silent.

As early as when Zhu Gaoyu and Ma Sanbao came in, Fang Xiaoru heard their footsteps, one heavy and one light, but he couldn’t tell who they were, and Fang Xiaoru had no interest in knowing their identities.

He sat cross-legged against the wall, his eyes slightly closed, as if he was breathing and regulating his breath, cultivating his body and mind.

Squeak.

The cell was opened.

Fang Xiaoru’s nose twitched slightly.

He smelled the scent of chopped green onions and sugar cakes from the visitor.

The taste was very light, but to the hungry Fang Xiaoru, it was like a bright light in the dark night.

Zhu Gaoyu squatted in front of Fang Xiaoru and first took a careful look at the famous talent in front of him.

He couldn’t help but wonder:
“Mr. Fang, between Xie Jin and you, who is the real talent?”

Fang Xiaoru had imagined many questions and the identities of many visitors, and he had repeatedly pondered in his heart how he should rebuke the visitor.

However, both Zhu Gaoyu’s identity and the content of his questions once again exceeded his expectations.

Fang Xiaoru’s half-closed eyes finally opened.

He looked at Zhu Gaoyu, and his expression seemed to fluctuate a little.

At this moment, Fang Xiaoru really wanted to ask, does Zhu Di and his family always play by their own rules?

Zhu Di is a weirdo.

Zhu Gaoyu is a weirdo.

His remaining sons…are they also weird?

Fang Xiaoru’s heart was stirred, but he finally closed his eyes and said coldly:

“Wen Wu is the first, Wu Wu is the second.”

“That gentleman thinks that he is the number one.”

Fang Xiaoru replied coldly: “I dare not.”

“Sir, do you think that my father’s action this time to quell the rebellion conforms to the theory of orthodoxy?”

“No.”

“Sir, do you think my father can gain a good reputation among scholars?”

“impossible.”

“Sir, is Zhu Yunwen dead?”

“Do not……”

Fang Xiaoru’s pupils suddenly contracted, and the words that were on the tip of his tongue could no longer be uttered.

He concealed the turmoil in his heart and looked at Zhu Gaoyu.
For the first time, he looked at this seemingly harmless and innocent child with an extremely serious gaze.

And it was this little kid who said something meaningful at this moment:

“Sir, Zhu Yunwen is not dead, right?”

(End of this chapter)