roccoschili Chapter 29 The Miao Jin Portrait Scandal
Chapter 29 The Miao Jin Portrait Scandal
Because of Zhu Gaoxi's persistent harassment, Zhu Youdun did not leave the palace to return to the Prince of Zhou's residence that night, but stayed in the vegetable garden.
After dinner, the two read together by candlelight.
About an hour later, Zhu Youdun put the books into the small wooden box he carried with him, took out a set of clean clothes and went to take a bath. This orderly and leisurely ritual amazed Zhu Gaoxi.
What would a noble young man with such a refined lifestyle have in his trunk?
Zhu Gaoxi struggled to open the lid, and then used all his strength to push the box over.
Paper, pen, two medical books, another set of clothes, and two narrow, long black boxes, all exuding an air of mystery.
Zhu Gaoxi gently moved his hand over, opened it, and found it empty.
I opened another one, and it was empty too.
Why is it empty?
While in the Qianqing Palace, he vaguely heard his grandfather give Zhu Youdun two imperial edicts in his sleep.
Where did the imperial edict go?
Did I hear wrong?
Zhu Gaoxi put everything back in the box and left the house.
Li Hui stood guard at the door and followed silently behind.
Perhaps Zhu Youdun harbored suspicion towards him.
He originally intended to tell his adoptive father the contents of the imperial edict so that Zhu Di could devise a foolproof plan in advance and have no intention of harming or cooking him.
A cool breeze blows, and my heart feels as empty as a wilderness.
"Why are you standing outside? Be careful not to catch a cold."
Zhu Gaoxi turned around at the sound and saw Zhu Youdun carrying an overcoat, walking down the steps.
"Brother, I accidentally knocked over your box," Zhu Gaoxi said in a childish voice, looking up at his brother.
"It's alright, I've already packed up," Zhu Youdun said, extending his hand. "Let's go back inside."
The sparse calluses on his hands were just like those on his stepfather's, which inexplicably calmed Zhu Gaoxi down.
Perhaps he's overthinking it.
You Dun simply put the imperial edict away; it wasn't that he intentionally prevented him from seeing it.
Back inside, Youdun opened the box, took out medical books and a black box, took out a small picture from each medical book, rolled it up carefully, tied it with a red string, put it in the box, and handed it to Zhu Gaoxi.
"After I leave the capital, I will give it to Miaojin in two installments, instead of all at once. This time, I will have more time to give it to her so that she will remember me."
"Why didn't you give it to her yourself?" Zhu Gaoxi took the box.
"Next time, I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, I'm afraid it will be too late," Zhu Youdun said, his voice filled with sadness.
How long does it take to meet?
It's just an excuse.
Perhaps he felt ashamed to face Miaojin.
He pretended to be so deeply in love, but then turned around and married someone else.
Zhu Gaoxi muttered to himself.
Perhaps he had slept too much during the day, for Zhu Gaoxi was wide awake and tossed and turned in bed.
"Can't sleep?" Zhu Youdun asked softly.
"Brother, what do you think the Crown Prince will do to us?" Zhu Gaoxi was unsure whether history would repeat itself exactly as it was, and he felt a little uneasy.
If his adoptive father fails, he and his three older brothers will definitely not survive.
"Perhaps we can reduce the power of the princes," Zhu Youdun said with the calm composure of an old monk in meditation.
"Will we die?" "Will he execute us or imprison us?"
"Will we die?"
"Will he execute us or imprison us?"
Zhu Gaoxi asked a series of questions.
"Let's go back to Beiping as soon as possible. Grandpa's memory is getting worse and worse," Zhu Youdun sighed almost imperceptibly.
Zhu Gaoxi remained silent for a long time, then leaned close to Zhu Youdun and said, "Brother, I'm scared."
He still wanted to know where the imperial edict was hidden, so he decided to get close and feel it, just in case it was hidden on his person.
He twisted his fat body and groped Zhu Youdun from head to toe, but found nothing.
Seeing his antics, Zhu Youdun asked, "How about I take you to the courtyard to practice some boxing?"
"No".
After the body search was completed, Zhu Gaoxi obediently snuggled into Zhu Youdun's arms.
The next morning, as the eunuch combed Zhu Youdun's hair and put a hairpin on him, Zhu Gaoxi suddenly seemed to realize that the imperial edict must be hidden inside the hairpin.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the chance to inspect it himself. Zhu Youdun left the palace without eating breakfast and went to the naval camp outside the city.
Zhu Youdun did not go to the palace to say goodbye, but left the capital directly, which was something he had agreed upon with Zhu Yuanzhang long ago.
Zhu Gaoxi intentionally made Miaojin wait a couple more days, leaving some suspense, since she was so persistent in liking Zhu Youdun.
What's so great about Zhu Youdun? He's just a bit stronger in combat, looks more energetic, and is older.
Let's not compare ourselves to him now; let's see how things go in twenty years.
Miao Jin, Miao Jin, you'll regret this someday.
Sooner or later you'll see that we have real strength too.
Zhu Gaoxu opened his eyes wide, staring at the roof, lost in thought.
Sitting on the soft couch next to the bed, constantly dozing off, was Li Hui. If no princes or grandsons stayed overnight, Li Hui and Sanbao would take turns keeping watch over Zhu Gaoxi at night.
The constant snoring made Zhu Gaoxi's brain even more active, but his eyes were sore, clearly indicating that he was tired.
If you don't go to sleep now, it might affect your schedule tomorrow.
He planned to use earthworms to make soil fertilizer, and summoned the eunuchs in the vegetable garden to divide the work among themselves: some would go outside the palace to collect earthworms, and others would build large wooden boxes.
With mature fertilizer manufacturing technology, it is possible to increase the yield of grains and vegetables per acre and increase the number of people that can be supported per acre of land.
Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxi's nerves immediately relaxed, and he unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
The next day, not long after breakfast, I saw Sanbao running over from outside in a panic.
"What's wrong?" Zhu Gaoxi asked.
"The portrait that the young master drew for Miss Miaojin has been placed at the entrance of the Duke of Wei's mansion. I heard that a beggar saw it, and now many people are talking about it in private," Sanbao said in a low voice.
"The portrait is with me; I haven't delivered it yet. How did it end up at the Duke of Wei's residence?" Zhu Gaoxi asked, puzzled.
"This servant doesn't know either. Xiao Dunzi from Xixin Division secretly told me that the Duke of Wei is furious and is sending his servants to drive away the beggars in the vicinity," Sanbao said, looking equally puzzled.
Someone is deliberately trying to ruin Miaojin's reputation. Otherwise, how could a few beggars dare to offend the Duke of Wei? The rumors are spreading wider and wider. How will Miaojin ever get married? Ordinary families wouldn't dare to marry her, and noble families and princes would have to be wary of the Zhou Prince's Mansion. Is it Zhu Yunwen causing trouble again? Zhu Gaoxi pondered.
The worse Miao Jin's reputation became, the fewer men dared to marry her. In the end, Zhu Yunwen generously offered his help and care, seemingly regarding the rice canal.
No, I can't let him pressure Miaojin like this.
"Send a few people out of the palace to keep an eye on that group of beggars and find a way to retrieve all the portraits," Zhu Gaoxi instructed.
"This servant will go right away," Sanbao said, then beckoned three clever young eunuchs to follow him, repeatedly instructing them to act cautiously.
Zhu Gaoxi then sent Li Hui with him to the Qianqing Palace to see what Zhu Yunwen was up to, in order to confirm whether his guess was correct.
Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Yuanzhang were having breakfast together when they saw Zhu Gaoxi come in. They said very warmly, "Come, little brother, eat with us. This minced meat porridge is especially delicious. You'll definitely like it."
"Excessive enthusiasm must be suspicious. Perhaps he was the one secretly behind the Miao Jin portrait incident," Zhu Gaoxi thought to himself.
"Come here quickly, Xi'er," Zhu Yuanzhang put down his chopsticks, his eyes shining with a kind light.
Zhu Gaoxi walked over and sat down next to Zhu Yuanzhang.