He had stepped into another field.
No wonder his previous team members immediately gave up in such a situation. They were no longer stepping into medical science... they were entering the agricultural science!
Although it is said that food and medicine come from the same source, in fact, the scholars of each field had their own professionalism. Zhu Su was an expert in medical science, but in agriculture, he was lack of proficiency. So were his team members. Besides, there is no information stating that persimmons are poisonous. Why is the theory in books different from Xing's story? "Have you misidentified the plant? Maybe what you ate wasn't the fruit of this tree?"
Xing blinked, more confused. "But it is indeed the location..."
Meanwhile, Hu Nayin surveyed her surroundings. "But, it seems to me that no tree is similar to the persimmon tree which may lead to misidentification."
Hu Nayin's statement flicked an idea in form of a question in Zhu Su's mind. "Can you explain the fruit you ate at that time?"
Xing started to recall his memory. "The fruit is as big as this, but it's green."
Zhu Su immediately smiled. Clapping his hands, he said, "Geez, my goodness! That's raw persimmon!"
"What?!?" Xing was dumbfounded.
"You are really clumsy to distinguish a plant."
"Well... I am just a plebeian who works hard all the time for a very little earning, I have to work day and night to support my family, how can I have time to research this and that... whatever we can eat, we'll eat it..."
Zhu Su was touched. His heart sank as he heard Xing's pitiful statement. In the early era of the Ming Dynasty, the people had just been released from the prolonged chaos caused by the dilapidated late era of the Yuan Dynasty. In the period of the Yuan Dynasty, there were many poor people lacking education, during the war of era transition the people were busy fleeing everywhere. And right now, the disaster occurred. All these commoners had in mind was only one thing - saving themselves. Just like what Xing said. They had no time to do research. He should not laugh at Xing, instead, this problem should strengthen his motivation to educate those pitiful people, in order to save their lives.
"Even though you must earn a living and take care of your family, but you still have to keep studying, especially such practical knowledge. It may seem useless now, but who knows, it will be useful in the future," said Zhu Su.
Xing gave an embarrassed smile. "Many thanks for your advice, Your Highness... I will keep it in mind."
Nevertheless, Zhu Su was still curious about this persimmon. Because he really could not remember that there were any records that persimmon, even if it's raw, could cause illness. Or, I have memorized it wrong? I really have to find more data! He picked some persimmons for him to take home.
He planned to research it.
***
"May I report, Sire. So far more than twenty people have died from exhaustion."
The Palace Hall was extremely spacious and beautiful, fully decorated with gold and the finest jewelry. However, the current atmosphere of the Feng Tian Palace was far from sparkling joy. It was serious, and even eerie.
"Why do you have to give such kind of reports every day?" Zhu Di threw a displeased frown at the chief builder of New Palace. "To the extent that just with your arrival, the Aura of Death has permeated here."
"Sire... it is very important. Instead of working with pleasure, the labors work in torment. The soldiers have arrested a lot of those who intend to escape repeatedly. And the soldiers have also defeated the resistance of the laborers so many times. But it doesn't make them even more compliant. And the deaths of their comrades leads the workers to burn with rage..."
"They dare to be angry?!"
The chief builder immediately fell silent. Zhu Di's shout was so loud it made the entire hall feel like their hearts were about to come out. The chief builder looked down, trembling.
An older senior official spoke up. "Sire... the Kaifeng rebellion has become strong evidence that the people's rebellion is not easy to put down. We are now afraid of the possibility that the rebellion will also erupt in other areas. If rebellion sparks in many areas, our country will be in chaos again just like the era of dynasty transition before."
"Kaifeng is still chaotic because Su is in charge of it! And my stupid brother is clumsy at handling government affairs, so his people can be rude to him!" Zhu Di sighed, irritated. "I wanted to send troops there to help him, but he refused. That is precisely which will happen if a stupid leader is in power. So, keep it in your mind. Kaifeng is different from the entire Ming... and Su is different from me!"
Both the chief builder and the senior official could only remain quiet, they did not dare to speak anymore because of afraid to provoke Zhu Di's anger.
Zhu Di apparently began to have negative prejudice against Zhu Su. He had managed to translate the paper with the strange writing which scattered oddly all over his palace. "Shu Shang Li Xia". It was evidently a fragment of the letters of Zhu Su's name and his. Just remove the letter "Mu" - Wood from each of their names, then Di from the name Zhu Di would read Li, while Shu was the fragment of the name Zhu Su.
So, the paper said that Zhu Su would ascend the throne and become emperor, and he would be eliminated from the throne.
At first, he rejected that idea. There's no way my brother will betray me... No way! He even wanted to find out who sent this anonymous letter susceptible to disunite him with Zhu Su, and thus interrogated the culprit in detail. What might the wicked person aim at so that he intended to instigate him?
But suddenly, he remembered the Seven Colored Clouds. His father saw the Seven Colored Clouds floating in Kaifeng, and he then suspected that Zhu Su would betray him and usurp the throne to become emperor. And more, there were still zouyu appearances in Kaifeng... why should it appear at Kaifeng? Why not in Shuntian, or in here Yingtian? Why did it have to be there?
All of these natural phenomena, seemed to reinforce the prophecy that Zhu Su would be the next Ming Emperor.
Perhaps, the messenger was not a bad guy. He was instead a kind person since he tried to remind Zhu Di of the dangers lying before his eyes.
Zhu Di clenched his hands tightly.
Nobody could seize the throne from him. Nobody. Of course, including his younger brother.
And he would do everything to defend the throne which he had attained with much difficulty.
Everything. And if needed, he would exterminate the adversary.