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

Chapter 19 I will smash your face

At the end of October, the weather is getting colder.

Zhu Houzhao returned to the East Palace wrapped in a fur coat. His face was red from the cold. When he returned to the main hall, he found that there was not a single eunuch serving him.

Zhu Houzhao was furious and said to Liu Jin, "Where are these guys? Find them and serve me now!"

"okay!"

Liu Jin hurried to look for someone, but soon came back covered in sweat.

In the middle of winter, Liu Jin couldn't help but sweat on her forehead. She knelt down in front of Zhu Houzhao and cried, "My dear prince, the emperor wants to kill me. He wants to kill all the servants in the East Palace."

It is obvious that the old man Jiao Fang must have gone to the Qianqing Palace to file a complaint.

Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am also convinced. You are going to have fun with that consumptive patient, but we, your loyal old slaves, are in trouble.

I've already said that old Jiao Fang can't be messed with. You bastard, why don't you have the guts to kill the prince? How can you be called a hero if you kill us slaves?
Zhu Houzhao's face turned red immediately. How could he not know that it was Jiao Fang who was complaining behind his back?

Bitch!

You are old, but you still tell tales. I despise you!
"It's done!"

Zhu Houzhao said in annoyance: "Get up, I didn't let you die, and my father didn't allow it either!"

He left a word and headed towards the Qianqing Palace in a hurry.

Several of Liu Jin's eunuchs were almost scared to death. They hid together and trembled, as if they saw the god of death approaching. One can imagine the fear they felt.

Qianqing Palace, Yangxin Palace.

Zhu Houzhao trotted in and asked loudly, "Father, why do you want to kill Liu Jin and the others?"

"Teacher Jiao, it really is you! Didn't you teach me that a gentleman does not avoid the good in others, nor does he speak ill of others? You villain!"

Jiao Fang was so angry that his beard was shaking. He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, this, Prince, I, I can't teach you anymore!"

Emperor Hongzhi hurriedly said, "Master Jiao, please don't be angry."

He glared at Zhu Houzhao fiercely and said angrily: "Who gave you the courage to make up stories about your teacher like this?"

Zhu Houzhao snorted, "Is he telling on me behind my back?"

"Isn't this just talking about someone's evil behind their back?"

Jiao Fang's lips trembled, his face twitched, and he retorted with a pale face: "Your Highness!"

"You are the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, the future emperor. As your teacher, I will take care of you if you make mistakes!"

"You are not only my student, but also the crown prince of Ming Dynasty. Of course I cannot punish you. Who else can restrain you except your father?"

"How can this be called speaking ill of others behind one's back?"

"Let's take a step back and ask, did the prince ignore his studies and sneak out of the palace to play? Is this the character that a crown prince should have?"

"Why can't I speak ill of you behind your back?"

The eunuchs who were serving Emperor Hongzhi didn't dare to breathe. This Jiao Fang was indeed cruel. It would be fine if he just said it in secret, but wouldn't it be the same as bringing it to the surface and asking the emperor to punish the prince?
This man who hates evil so much doesn't even take the crown prince seriously. How presumptuous!

But unfortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not up to the task and has been caught with something wrong, making it difficult for him to defend himself. Even if the Emperor wants to speak for you, he can't find an angle to do so.

Emperor Hongzhi had an ugly look on his face, and it was unclear whether it was because he was angry at Jiao Fang scolding his beloved son, or because Zhu Houzhao was not living up to his expectations.

However, Zhu Houzhao was very relaxed. He calmly took out a small blue notebook from his arms, threw it to Jiao Fang and said, "Read it for yourself." What?

Jiao Fang didn't understand, but still opened the blue notebook.

Emperor Hongzhi was also very curious, but he could only suppress his curiosity. He didn't know what Zhu Houzhao showed Jiao Fang.

Jiao Fang was even more angry after reading it, and said angrily: "Why did the prince record this data? What does the ordinary folk prices have to do with the prince?"

Do you think you can fool him by just writing some prices in a notebook?
Jiao Fang has been an official for so many years, but he is not so easy to fool.

Zhu Houzhao sneered sinisterly and said, "Okay!"

"Master Jiao thinks these ordinary folk prices are useless. Do you want me to learn from Emperor Hui of Jin and not eat meat?"

"Or does Lord Jiao not want me to know the prices of ordinary people at all? So that when you ask me for funding in the future, a horse costs 80 taels of silver, but you can write 800 taels and tell me that it is already very cheap. Should I be grateful to you? And praise you as the greatest loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty!"

Although Zhu Houzhao is carefree and heartless, he is not stupid.

He had figured out the truth that Chen Ce had told him, and now he could use it to fight back against Jiao Fang with ease. Now Zhu Houzhao had changed his address, no longer calling him teacher, and no longer calling himself this palace, everything had become official.

You like to have a serious relationship with me, so I will do it with you! I am going to smash your face today, don't blame me for being... merciless!
During this time, the eunuch had already handed Zhu Houzhao's account book to Emperor Hongzhi.

After reading it, Emperor Hongzhi had been listening quietly to Zhu Houzhao's thoughts. At this moment, he narrowed his eyes as if thinking about something and stared at Jiao Fang coldly.

Jiao Fang was sweating profusely. He was speechless at this moment. He said tremblingly: "Minister, how dare I have such intentions?"

Zhu Houzhao said unyieldingly, "You just said clearly that the common folk prices have nothing to do with me."

"Okay, if you ask me what it has to do with me, I'll tell you now."

"It can let me know how much the two taxes of an ordinary family earn in a year!"

"It can let me know how much the annual living expenses of an ordinary family are!"

"It can let me know whether Daming is really poor or just pretending to be rich now!"

"It's no use for you to say that. I have to see for myself, hear for myself, and understand for myself!"

"Now tell me, does it have anything to do with me?!"

Zhu Houzhao sneered, "Master Jiao is a Grand Secretary, you already have a life of luxury. The court gives you so much salary every year, I'm afraid you don't even care about the little money that ordinary people have, right?"

"You keep saying that you want to take the people of the world as your responsibility. You taught me that water can carry a boat but can also overturn it. Are all the things you said before just a joke to me?"

What are you talking about? Why do you speak so harshly? Is this what a scholar should listen to?

But Jiao Fang was really panicked now, because what Zhu Houzhao said was very right. No matter whether they said it in private or made it public, Jiao Fang could not refute Zhu Houzhao!

What's more, Emperor Hongzhi is now looking at him coldly.

Jiao Fang gritted his teeth and said, "Well, what I mean is..."

He was an old-fashioned pedant, without any quick wit, and was speechless for a moment.

If you ask him to debate Mencius and the Analects with Zhu Houzhao, he can leave you speechless, but you really can't stand it when facing the real him!

Jiao Fang stood there feeling a little at a loss. He felt that he was particularly conspicuous and wanted to find a place to hide.

What a sin! Why did the prince act like he was divinely assisted today? Who taught him this?

(End of this chapter)