Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 118: Your Highness, Two Things
The weather was good on the ninth day of the first lunar month. Chen Ce got up a little later today. The sun was shining brightly and there were many white clouds in the sky.

Chen Ce was brushing his teeth when he unexpectedly found Zhu Houzhao coming. Seeing Chen Ce brushing his teeth, he took Liu Jin to buy two trays of soup dumplings, a basket of meat dumplings, two fried dough sticks, and two bowls of soy milk.

Chen Ce had just finished washing up, and was sitting comfortably with Zhu Houzhao at the stone table in the courtyard eating breakfast.

After the beginning of spring, the weather was still a little cold, but the sunshine slightly diluted the coldness. Liu Jin grabbed some steamed buns and fried dough sticks, leaned against the kitchen door frame, and ate with great satisfaction with his mouth full of oil.

Chen Ce said to Zhu Houzhao: "Master Zhu, I recently discovered a business opportunity and I think I can give it a try, but I lack some funds."

Zhu Houzhao looked serious and said to Chen Ce: "I don't agree!"

Chen Ce didn't expect him to react so violently, and asked in confusion: "Why?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans!"

He was a native of the Ming Dynasty. Although he was a crown prince, he was influenced by the Ming Dynasty's doctrines and ancestral teachings, and he also knew how lowly merchants were in the Ming Dynasty.

Now that he heard that Chen Ce wanted to do business, he of course opposed it, not wanting Chen Ce to fall into depravity.

There is no other way, Your Highness, I have to apologize once again.

Chen Ce said sternly, "Master Xiao Zhu, last time Lao Liu said that you don't have much pocket money, I have always kept it in mind."

Zhu Houzhao: “Ah?”

Chen Ce said: "We are friends, so if there is a way to make money, I will find you first. You don't need to show up. You just need to invest and I will take care of the rest!"

What I mean is, I'm doing this for your pocket money!

Zhu Houzhao sniffed, feeling very touched, and reached out his hand to refuse more decisively, saying: "It is because we are friends! That's why I can't let you fall!"

"What's my pocket money? It's nothing compared to your reputation! We might as well not earn this money!"

Chen Ce: “…”

You really made me cry, I was so moved.

Chen Ce had to insist: "I won't come forward and find someone to run the business for us, just like many gentry and bureaucrats. Have you ever seen them take the initiative to do business?"

This time Zhu Houzhao's expression was much more relaxed. He uttered an "oh" and said, "If you want to say so, it's not impossible."

"Well, how much do you want me to pay?"

Chen Ce said: "Why don't you ask me what I want to do?"

Zhu Houzhao: “?”

"Why ask?"

"With your and my intelligence, what can we do that won't make money? Why are you asking? I'm responsible for taking the money, that's all."

Chen Ce didn't know what to say for a moment. He said, "Actually, I'm not sure if I can make money. This is a business path that I've never tried before."

Zhu Houzhao said: "Oh, don't say so much, it doesn't matter whether it makes money or not, you haven't even tried it, how do you know it won't make money?"

"How much does it cost? Just tell me a number."

Chen Ce said, "Five hundred taels, how about that? You pay five hundred taels, and we'll split the profits in half."

You are trying to get something for nothing, Your Highness. I am really ashamed, but I really have no money. If I make money in the future, I will make up the five hundred taels for you.

If you don’t make any money, just ignore what I said.

Zhu Houzhao's expression changed and he said, "This, this much... Oh, only this much."

Chen Ce looked at him in astonishment and said, "Don't tell me that you spent all the money you earned from farming for others last time?"

Looking at Zhu Houzhao's stubborn expression, Chen Ce guessed that this possibility was very likely!
"Okay, I'll send it to you tomorrow. It's just a small amount of money."

Liu Jin's body trembled, and the breakfast in his hand suddenly lost its fragrance. He looked at Zhu Houzhao nervously and kept making eye contact with him. Your Highness, you have almost spent all the pocket money in the East Palace Treasury. Where can you get five hundred taels?
I beg you, old slave, please stop being stubborn, okay?
"You, have no money?" Chen Ce looked at Liu Jin and then at Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao reacted and said to Chen Ce: "Yes, of course, Liu Jin has had an eye problem recently. He didn't look at me, that's how he is. A twitch will do."

"Go, beat yourself up." Zhu Houzhao said calmly to Liu Jin.

You bastard! Who told you to look at me? Do you want to die?
Chen Ce said uncertainly: "If you really don't have it, don't force it. I'm thinking of other ways."

Zhu Houzhao said seriously: "Nonsense! How could there be no money! Don't talk nonsense! I have money!"

Chen Ce said, "Okay then."

"And one more thing."

After drinking a bowl of soy milk, Chen Ce said, "The people of Turpan in the northwest may invade Hami with a large force."

Zhu Houzhao asked in confusion: "Why? How did you know?"

"Oh! You told fortunes, didn't you?"

"It's a pity that I didn't bring the Tao Te Ching with me today, otherwise I would have told you a fortune as well."

Chen Ce: “…”

"It's not something that was predicted by fortune-telling. Have you ever thought about why the three forces in the northwest have maintained a balance before?"

Zhu Houzhao blurted out: "General Wang is in the northwest."

Chen Ce said: "Yes, the old man is in the northwest, but now the old man has died. It has been a while. It is impossible for the people of Turpan not to know this news."

"Before the New Year, the roads were blocked by heavy snow and news was cut off. Now that the snow has melted, many news stories can no longer be kept secret."

"If I were from Turpan, knowing that Wang Yue was dead and the northwest was leaderless, I would definitely lead a large army to invade Hami."

Zhu Houzhao smacked his lips and said thoughtfully, "That makes sense, but not much."

"Why not more?" Chen Ce thought there was a loophole somewhere.

But Zhu Houzhao said calmly, "I can't tell you this clearly. You can only think about it yourself."

At this time, you still want to take advantage of every opportunity to pretend. I give up. I really thought you had some ideas.

Chen Ce said to Zhu Houzhao, "Master Zhu, if you report this matter to the court, it may be a great achievement."

Oh?
Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up. Yes, why didn't I think of this? My little brother's analysis makes sense. If I tell my father, it would be reasonable to ask for a reward of 500 taels, right?

Isn’t this money coming?
"Ah."

Zhu Houzhao was very calm, as if this was a trivial matter and he didn't care at all.

Chen Ce wasn't sure whether he had heard it or not.

After having a full breakfast, Zhu Houzhao simply stood up and said to Chen Ce, "Don't wait until tomorrow, little brother."

"Isn't it just five hundred taels of silver? I'll go back and send it to you this afternoon."

Chen Ce nodded and did not stop Zhu Houzhao. He hoped that the funds would be in place as soon as possible so that they could start planning the newspaper business and conduct a trial run. No matter how good the theory is, it would be useless if it fails to make waves in the market.

Zhu Houzhao led Liu Jin out of Huaihua Hutong. Liu Jin had a sad face and was about to speak when Zhu Houzhao slapped him in the face: "Shut up, my lady!"

"Who told you that I'm short of money? Who told you to wink at me in front of my little brother?"

Liu Jin: "...No, in front..."

The old slave wants to say, there is a pile of dog shit in front!
(End of this chapter)