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

Chapter 344 Why is the Emperor here?

The three cabinet elders finished dealing with government affairs early today and left work.

Liu Jian had wanted to meet Chen Ce for a long time. He had always heard of Chen Ce's reputation, but he had never been able to spare the time. Today, he got off work early, so he planned to go meet Chen Ce.

Chen Ce's name has appeared too frequently recently, and he is too curious about Chen Ce.

Lord Liu did not choose to take a sedan chair back home today. He wore casual clothes, held an umbrella, and walked towards Huaihua Hutong accompanied by two servants.

Inside Chen Ce's courtyard.

Emperor Hongzhi's face is still full of shock.

If it is true as Chen Ce said, then wouldn't I have also been tricked by Kong Hongtai?

Kong Hongxu's descendants were permanently stripped of their titles, and the glory of Duke Yansheng would belong entirely to Kong Hongtai's lineage in future generations.

All this can be accomplished if Kong Hongtai sacrifices his life!

Kong Hongtai had already been terminally ill, and he had every motivation to do these things, and to use his own death to accomplish it all!
Emperor Hongzhi had a complicated look on his face, but the case had already been determined, and he had issued the decree himself, so it was too late to undo what had happened. Even if he had doubts now, he could only bury them in his heart forever.

There are too many such unsolved cases in history. Perhaps only the parties involved know the original truth of the case, but once the truth is revealed, it will always be shocking!

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Chen Ce and told him not to talk nonsense about the matter.

Chen Ce certainly knew that he didn't have that much free time to worry about the disputes in the Kong family.

"In the court today, the Minister of Revenue proposed opening the sea. What do you think of this?"

Emperor Hongzhi knew that it was Chen Ce who proposed to open the sea. He was very curious why Chen Ce proposed to open the sea and why he did it even though he knew it was impossible.

This is the reason why Emperor Hongzhi came to see Chen Ce today.

Chen Ce: "...How can I be qualified to talk about state affairs?"

Emperor Hongzhi was speechless. He stared at Chen Ce and said, "Do you think I would come to you if I didn't know the relationship between you and the Minister of Revenue?"

"How can you be qualified to discuss state affairs? How come you are not qualified? You can talk freely with the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works, but not with me?"

Chen Ce: “…”

"Well, it was me who proposed opening the sea. As for the reason, it's simple. I wanted to make more money for the national treasury and enrich the country and strengthen the military."

Emperor Hongzhi narrowed his eyes and said, "You should also know that this sea can basically not be opened in the court. There are so many voices of opposition. Do you think it is possible? If it is impossible, why do you still want to do this boring thing?"

This is not like your method, Chen Ce. You are not the kind of person who acts without a purpose. You must have your own plans for suddenly bringing up the issue of opening the sea.

Chen Ce sighed and said, "I just mentioned it casually. It was a bit whimsical, haha."

"Really?"

Emperor Hongzhi didn't believe it. He always felt that everything Chen Ce did now had a purpose and deep meaning, including this time when he proposed to open the sea for no reason!
Chen Ce said seriously: "It's true."

Emperor Hongzhi still didn't believe it. He always felt that Chen Ce was setting up a big plan, but Emperor Hongzhi didn't know what exactly Chen Ce was going to do!
He felt that Chen Ce was becoming more and more dangerous, so dangerous that he could not control him, so dangerous that Emperor Hongzhi had the urge to kill him.

But after all, he was not the kind of heartless emperor, and he could not do such cruel things as hiding the bows when the birds are gone.

Thinking of all the things Chen Ce had done for the country and all the contributions he had made despite his sick body, Emperor Hongzhi always felt that he owed this little guy a lot.

The Ming Dynasty also owes him a lot!

"Just take it as it is, don't do anything too extreme, otherwise the emperor may not be able to protect you, understand?"

Chen Ce looked at him curiously, thinking to himself, "I don't think we have such a deep bond, do we? Why do you have to remind me like this?"
He seemed to know what I had done before, otherwise why would he suddenly say such meaningful words?

But he is just a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice, and his highest position is no more than the Minister of Justice. How can he have such wide-ranging authority?
Chen Ce grinned and said, "You think too much of me. I don't have the ability to do anything excessive. I am just an honest businessman in Shuntian Prefecture."

"Ah."

Emperor Hongzhi smiled disdainfully. He was too modest! He was just a businessman... that's all.

If any of the things you have done in the past were to become known to the world, just imagine how much trouble it would cause!

If I hadn't been protecting you all the time, would you still be able to work as a businessman here in peace?

"Taking good care of your body is more important than anything else. You have already worried about everything you need to worry about. Now the Ming Dynasty is thriving. There is nothing worth worrying about."

"Take good care of yourself."

Emperor Hongzhi said something and walked out of the courtyard.

Chen Ce sighed and murmured, "Da Ming is developing well now, but there are some things that have not been completed. I don't have much time..."

Let’s wait until the Southeast Plan is completely resolved!
……

Normally, when Emperor Hongzhi went out incognito, there were always many secret agents from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot around him. As long as Emperor Hongzhi wanted, no one could get close to Huaihua Hutong when he met Chen Ce.

But now Emperor Hongzhi has lifted this restriction.

He wanted to gradually expose Chen Ce to the public, so as to ensure that the high-ranking officials of the court would no longer have any strange thoughts about Chen Ce.

He is protecting the child Chen Ce.

Just like today, if Emperor Hongzhi had not relaxed the restrictions, Liu Jian would have had no chance of getting through Huaihua Hutong.

Emperor Hongzhi, accompanied by Huai'en, got into the sedan chair holding an umbrella.

As soon as Liu Jian arrived at the entrance of Huaihua Hutong, he saw Emperor Hongzhi getting into the sedan chair in the rain.

He widened his eyes in astonishment, staring at Emperor Hongzhi in disbelief, then mechanically turned his head to look at Huaihua Hutong.

The Emperor, the Emperor... actually came to see that boy in private?
Liu Jian was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth.

At first he was not sure that the person in the sedan chair was Emperor Hongzhi, after all, he had only seen his back. But when he saw the eunuch Huai En standing next to the carriage, Liu Jian gasped!

He stared blankly at Huaihua Hutong with a complicated expression. It turned out that the emperor had known him for a long time?

Liu Jian stood in the rain holding an umbrella for a long, long time.

He did not go to Huaihua Hutong, and his original intention to meet Chen Ce was gone. He held an umbrella and went quickly to Li's Mansion, and did not forget to ask his servants to call Xie Qian to Li's Mansion.

Li Dongyang's residence.

When Xie Qian and Li Dongyang saw the arrival of the Cabinet Chief Minister Liu Jian, they couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mr. Liu, what's the hurry?"

Liu Jian looked solemn, took a sip of tea, and then said slowly: "This old man has seen the emperor!"

Xie Qian: “…”

Li Dongyang: “…”

Is this strange? You are the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, isn't it normal for you to see the Emperor?
Liu Jian continued: "I saw the emperor outside the palace!"

Xie Qian: “…”

Li Dongyang: “…”

Lord Liu, would you please just finish what you are saying?
Liu Jian continued: "I saw it in front of Chen Ce's yard!"

Xie Qian: “?”

Li Dongyang: “!!!”

(End of this chapter)