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

Chapter 44 Zhu Lingtian
Returning to the familiar alley again, everything seemed brand new, yet seemingly unchanged.

There are just a few fewer familiar faces and smiling faces, and Huaihua Hutong feels a little more dull.

Several middle-aged women who often sat at the threshold of the narrow alley to chat about family matters, express solidarity with Chen Ce's father-in-law, and sympathize with Chen Xiaolangjun's illness, have disappeared.

Only two or three old ladies were left, chatting dejectedly.

Chen Ce returned to the familiar courtyard. No matter how corrupt the civil servants were under Hongzhi's rule, the quality of life and people's happiness were good. To be able to achieve such a level after the disaster, the people were full of praise for Hongzhi and said he was a good emperor.

At least you still have your own house to live in after the disaster, right?

Chen Ce went to the backyard first. He was surprised to find that the two roosters Zhu Houzhao gave him were still alive, except that the rooster's comb was missing half. However, they still looked energetic. When they saw Chen Ce returning, they couldn't help but crowed twice.

Chicken God!!
Chen Ce raised the two chickens again, and then dug out all the property, medicines and other items that had been buried in the backyard.

The house was empty and he needed to buy new beds, bowls, chopsticks, cabinets, quilts, pots, etc. Fortunately, he still had money. With the thirty taels given to him by Ning Tongpan, his own savings, and the commission from the bookstore, his savings now amounted to almost seventy or eighty taels, making him a well-off man.

Buying these furniture was not a difficult task. Chen Ce planned to go to the street to purchase them, but as luck would have it, Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin, their master and servant, came in just as he was about to go out.

Zhu Houzhao held his head high and puffed out his chest. Liu Jin still looked like a great servant as always, commanding the servants behind him majestically, "Be careful!"

Servants, sweating profusely, carried various pieces of furniture into Chen Ce's new house, including those for the bedroom, study, living room, and kitchen.

Zhu Houzhao brought a small stool and pulled Chen Ce to sit beside him. His face turned red with excitement. He swallowed his saliva, wanting to say something but stopping himself. Then... he continued to want to say something but stopped himself.

He couldn't hold it in any longer.

"You want money? Are you embarrassed to ask? No need to be so. Just tell me how much I want to give you. Thank you for shipping the furniture to me."

Chen Ce took the initiative to speak.

Zhu Houzhao: "..."

Why am I saying this? I don't even care about this little bit of money, okay?
He said fiercely, "Do you know that the Crown Prince is inspecting Shuntian Prefecture?"

Chen Ce was stunned for a moment. It turned out that he had been holding it in for such a long time because of this. Just kidding, given his personality, he would definitely not be able to resist showing off.

Chen Ce smiled and said, "I know. Many people worship him. The refugees in the shantytowns say that the prince is three meters tall with a golden dragon wrapped around his head."

Zhu Houzhao: "..."

Damn, it sounds awesome, but is he still a human if he’s three meters tall?
"Don't you think the prince is very impressive?" Zhu Houzhao asked Chen Ce nervously, hoping to win a compliment from his younger brother.

"It's so impressive." Chen Ce said, "It's a pity that I can't see it again."

Zhu Houzhao said excitedly: "I saw it. I was next to the prince at the time. Many people knelt on the ground in submission, with sincere expressions, and kowtowed to express gratitude. That feeling, that feeling..."

Chen Ce suddenly said, "What does it have to do with you?" Zhu Houzhao was choked and looked extremely resentful, and his excited face instantly turned calm.

But then I thought, hey, how come it has nothing to do with me? You are so smart, but you are still fooled by me, right?

Thinking of this, Zhu Houzhao suddenly laughed.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ce looked at him suspiciously.

The morning sun shone on his face, and he smiled innocently, but suddenly said: "Brother Chen, I think you are quite stupid."

Yes, you are quite stupid, so stupid that Chen Ce feels a little guilty.

I don’t know if he will feel sad when he gets old, thinking how miserable it was that there was a consumptive patient who took advantage of my youth and ignorance and deceived me.

Liu Jin performed very hard, and even moved and arranged the furniture for Chen Ce himself. Unfortunately, Zhu Houzhao and Chen Ce, who should have cooperated with him, turned a blind eye. He wanted to leave a good impression on Zhu Houzhao. After all, when Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne, he, the great eunuch, would have a huge stage. If he didn't perform hard now, when would he?
But why did they ignore me? Is our family so invisible?

"The court must have spent a lot of money on this disaster, right?" Chen Ce asked Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "I don't know, it should cost a lot."

Chen Ce hummed and said to Zhu Houzhao, "Do you remember I told you that the court is going to print new money?"

The court may speed up its progress after this disaster.

Zhu Houzhao groaned and said, "We need to first understand the market's acceptance of the new currency, otherwise it would be a waste of manpower and financial resources."

He kept Chen Ce's words in mind, and Chen Ce felt relieved.

Otherwise, in the end, all your efforts will be in vain, the loss will outweigh the gain, and it will be a waste of the Ming Dynasty's financial resources.

"After the disaster, countless people will be displaced." Chen Ce looked up at the sky with deep emotion.

"My father... the court will control it. Isn't it under control?"

Chen Ce smiled and said to Zhu Houzhao, "The house has been built, but the money that originally belonged to them has been lost. What should we do now that we have no money?"

Zhu Houzhao was stunned for a moment. He had never thought of this.

"Can you please let the big bureaucrats and landlords have some conscience? Just a little bit, the price of the land can be raised a little bit, just a little bit, okay?"

We don't ask them to be good people, there are no good people in this world. We just ask for the sake of profit. When merging, we hope that they can be more conscientious, and when the common people make donations or beg, the other party can give more money, or give more profit to the tenants.

"what?"

Zhu Houzhao was a little confused. He stared at Chen Ce blankly, not knowing what Chen Ce meant.

"The emperor can do it! It's just a short period of time, as long as the Censorate supervises strictly! Tax exemption is a commonplace, the emperor will do it, but distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, many people will lose their land because of this natural disaster... Alas!"

Chen Ce had a lot to say, but in the end he could only sigh and stare blankly at Zhu Houzhao, muttering, "It would be great if you were the emperor now!"

Unfortunately, you are just a prince. You can’t change many things, and I can’t change them either.

"what?"

Zhu Houzhao looked puzzled, then patted his chest and said confidently: "Little brother, don't play riddles with me. If you have anything to say, tell me. There is nothing in this world that I can't do!"

"I'm telling you, I'm not stupid, I just don't want to bother guessing!"

Chen Ce stared at Zhu Houzhao in a daze, then suddenly smiled and said softly, "I won't live long."

"But you can do it. I still have a lot of things I haven't taught you... well, I haven't shared them with you yet. I hope I can share them with you before I die."

What's wrong? Why are you suddenly saying these discouraging words?
Zhu Houzhao stood up calmly, pointed to the sky, and shouted loudly: "God, listen to me! Now I order you to let my little brother live a hundred years!"

The sudden shout scared Chen Ce so much that the teacup in his hand almost fell off.

Mrs. Wu and several other ladies next door heard the noise and went out.

Chen Ce covered his face and ran to the central hall in shame.

(End of this chapter)