The Hongzhi Emperor stared at Zhu Houzhao and asked, "So, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Zhu Houzhao grinned and said, "Father, Wang Yue is our Ming Dynasty's fist, our guillotine!"
"As long as he is stationed in the northwest, there won't be any trouble there."
Imitating Chen Ce, Zhu Houzhao spoke calmly, "Your son does not recommend Wang Yue leading the army!"
"He is already seventy-four years old, and the northwest is a harsh and frigid land. If he really exhausts himself to death, then our Ming Dynasty will lose its fist and guillotine!"
Zhu Youcheng was momentarily stunned. He stared blankly at Zhu Houzhao for a moment before nodding secretly.
He certainly didn't believe that these words came from Zhu Houzhao himself. Jiao Fang? Or Yang Tinghe?
It shouldn't be Jiao Fang. He had only just returned to the capital last year after completing his mourning period, and he was already over sixty years old. His main responsibility had been teaching the Crown Prince court etiquette, so he wouldn't have said such things.
That left only the two younger tutors—either Jin Gui or Yang Tinghe.
In any case, the Hongzhi Emperor did not believe these words originated from his own son.
But no matter who had been teaching the Crown Prince, at least his son had listened, hadn't he? He could even help alleviate his father's concerns. That alone was enough to make the Hongzhi Emperor nod with satisfaction.
Zhu Houzhao excitedly observed the expression on the Hongzhi Emperor's face, feeling overjoyed in his heart.
Goodness!
That sickly scholar really knows something—he actually made Father show an expression of appreciation!
"Father, don't listen to those fools in the Eastern Palace saying that I'm unruly. I'm not unruly at all!"
Zhu Youcheng nearly coughed up blood. He had just been praising him in his heart, and now Zhu Houzhao was already calling his teachers fools. What kind of Crown Prince behaves like this?
"Then let me ask you—if you don't want Wang Yue to lead the troops, what alternative do you propose?"
Ah, this…
That sickly scholar didn't mention anything about that, so I have no idea.
Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "I don't know."
The Hongzhi Emperor said, "If you don't know, then go ask the wise man guiding you from behind the scenes."
"Oh."
Watching Zhu Houzhao's departing figure, the Hongzhi Emperor let out a soft sigh. He truly hoped his son would mature sooner and stop messing around.
The Hongzhi Emperor had already made up his mind.
The civil officials were urging him to send troops to the northwest as soon as possible. Troops had to be dispatched—the young prince in the northwest couldn't be allowed to cause trouble unchecked. The Ming Dynasty also needed to unsheathe its sword to warn Turpan not to covet Hami.
Troops would be sent, but Wang Yue himself wouldn't need to lead them.
Wang Yue would continue to oversee Hami, commanding the seven garrisons of Guanzhong, while his subordinates would be the ones to march into battle.
This was a perfect compromise. It would satisfy the civil officials while also preserving Wang Yue.
Previously, Zhu Youcheng had intended for Wang Yue to personally lead the troops, but after hearing Zhu Houzhao's words today, he changed his mind.
Indeed, Wang Yue was already seventy-four years old—he couldn't endure such hardship anymore!
…
Zhu Houzhao returned to the Eastern Palace, which was practically out of money.
Starting this year, the Hongzhi Emperor had also begun practicing Taoist rituals, constructing large sacrificial halls. The Ministry of Revenue had enormous expenditures, and the imperial treasury was running a deficit, which meant the Eastern Palace's funding had been significantly reduced.
Zhu Houzhao had no choice but to ask Liu Jin and the others for money.
He planned to leave the palace to find that sickly scholar and ask him about the situation. After all, his father had told him to consult the wise man behind him.
However, just thinking about how he had kicked down that sickly scholar's door and would have to compensate for it made Zhu Houzhao uncomfortable. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have kicked it down.
Fortunately, Liu Jin said that a shabby little courtyard like that only required ten or twenty wen to fix the door. Of course, Liu Jin was even more shocked by the fact that Zhu Houzhao would say such a thing.
Their Crown Prince had never been the type to be so considerate!
Previously, when he disguised himself as an overseer at the Eastern Depot, he had beaten up several civil officials from the Ministry of Rites without a second thought—he had never mentioned compensating them.
Why had he suddenly become so polite now?
Liu Jin didn't dare say much, only cautiously following Zhu Houzhao as they walked out of the palace.
The locust flower alley beside the Tongji Canal had a certain secluded charm.
But as soon as Liu Jin stepped into the alley and saw the dilapidated houses on either side, he said, "Your Highness, why are we coming to such a rundown place?"
"You'll dirty your robes for no reason."
Zhu Houzhao said, "Don't tell anyone I'm the Crown Prince, or I'll have you castrated!"
Liu Jin: "…"
There's no need for you to do that—I already did it myself, or else I wouldn't have been able to enter the palace.
"Oh, oh, understood." Liu Jin replied with a flattering smile.
This time, Zhu Houzhao didn't kick the door but knocked politely instead.
It was already evening. Chen Ce was having dinner in the central hall when he heard the knocking. Curious, he walked over to open the courtyard door.
He was startled to see Zhu Houzhao. "Why are you here again?"
Who is this guy?
So arrogant?
Liu Jin grumbled internally. This man seemed to despise their Crown Prince, yet he didn't even open his eyes to see who he was dealing with!
Zhu Houzhao stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky, and said, "I'm a man of my word. I said I'd compensate you, so I came to do it."
Chen Ce made a sound of acknowledgment, took the twenty wen from Liu Jin, and gave Zhu Houzhao a puzzled look. "Why do you always like to talk with your head raised?"
"Do you have a neck problem?"
No! I already said I'm not sick!
Don't you think this posture makes me look more imposing?
Back at court, Jiao Fang and Fei Hong always spoke like this—it made them seem experienced and wise. That's why I imitated them. But how come, when I do it, you think I have a disease?
"A young man who has never known sorrow, yet loves to climb high towers…"
Suddenly, Chen Ce thought of this line of poetry. It suited this Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty perfectly.
"I have a question," Chen Ce said.
Zhu Houzhao originally wanted to keep looking at the sky while talking, but he was afraid that Chen Ce would say he was sick again, so he lowered his head instead.
He sniffed the air, catching a whiff of a delicious aroma. His eyes lit up, and he asked, "Are you having dinner?"
Chen Ce nodded. "Mm."
Zhu Houzhao asked, "How does it taste?"
Chen Ce replied, "It should be decent."
He had gained cooking skills from the farm system, so his dishes were quite delicious.
Tonight's dinner was a plate of braised carp with green vegetables and tofu.
Zhu Houzhao couldn't hold it in anymore. Is that what I was asking?
Brother, shouldn't you invite me to join you? How rude!
Chen Ce thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you want to eat together?"
Just as Zhu Houzhao was about to say yes, Liu Jin sneered and said, "Nonsense! Our Highness would never eat such trash!"
"Our Highness always eats the finest delicacies—do you even know what real delicacies are?"
Chen Ce shook his head and said, "No, I've never seen them."
"Zhu Gongzi is a nobleman indeed. It's only natural that he wouldn't eat a peasant's food."
Chen Ce returned to his seat, calmly eating his braised carp with rice.
Zhu Houzhao swallowed hard, staring intensely at the food, wishing he could strangle Liu Jin for his big mouth!
"I have a question to test you," Zhu Houzhao said, eyes still fixed on the carp.
Chen Ce nodded. "Oh? What question?"