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

Chapter 93 You Are All Playing Tricks on Me

Huaihua Hutong, Chen Ce's courtyard. Upon hearing that Chen Ce's mansion was being renovated, Tang Yin specially gave Chen Ce two scrolls of paintings.

Although he knew that his painting skills were not as good as Chen Ce's, his intentions were still there, and this was the only thing Tang Yin could show off.

Xu Jing originally planned to give money, but he felt that it was too vulgar, so he finally gave a copy of Chu Suiliang's calligraphy. This was a real antique, worth a fortune, and it was enough to show Xu Jing's financial resources.

Chen Ce didn't want it at first, but he couldn't resist Xu Jing's enthusiasm, and finally Chen Ce could only thank Xu Jing for his generous donation.

The craftsman who came to renovate the house last time came to Chen's house again. This time, Chen Ce bought some potted flowers, all of which were unpruned. He could trim them himself in the future to suit his own leisure time.

The craftsmen were amazed at the authentic Tang Yin painting hanging in the central hall of Chen Ce and asked him where he bought it.

There was also a copy of Chu Suiliang's calligraphy, which was very lifelike. The craftsmen were discussing it, and the last craftsman suddenly looked horrified. He looked at it carefully for a long time, then looked at Chen Ce uncertainly and said, "Really? Authentic?"

Chen Ce nodded: "Authentic."

Are you serious?
At first they thought Chen Ce was just bragging, but now it seems... can he really get Tang Yin's paintings?
The craftsman asked Chen Ce excitedly, "Are you selling it? I also run a pawn shop and I will buy it at a high price."

Chen Ce smiled.

The old craftsman smiled awkwardly, thinking that asking further would only bring humiliation upon himself.

After they left, Wang Yue came to Chen Ce's courtyard with his hands behind his back and his back hunched, and asked Chen Ce suspiciously, "What do they want to buy from you?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "Nothing, just two little gadgets."

Wang Yue didn't take it seriously. After he sat down, Chen Ce poured him some tea. Seeing that Wang Yue looked good, he asked, "Is it done?"

Wang Yue took out a dagger from his boots and slammed it on the table. Chen Ce said in astonishment, "Not really? There's no need to kill people if it doesn't work, right?"

Wang Yue: “…”

"It's for you."

"It can cut iron like mud. It was given to me by Wang Zhi, the eunuch of the Western Factory, after I won the battle of Red Salt Pond. It is worth a lot of money."

The Western Factory... has been almost forgotten. In the past, when civil servants heard these two words, they would turn pale with fear.

It seemed that Wang Yue's matter was done. Chen Ce pushed the dagger back and said to Wang Yue: "I just said it casually, and you can just listen to it casually. The specific measures are still up to you, old man, to do. It has nothing to do with me."

"I can't accept such an expensive gift."

"Besides, you see how weak I am. What's the point of having this dagger? It can only be used to its full potential if it is with you."

Wang Yue laughed and said, "Don't be so modest."

"The mirror reflects light and focuses on the burning white phosphorus powder. With such tiny details, you can infer that the wildfire in Changping County was man-made."

"Without you as a prerequisite, this old man can't do anything."

"You may not think it's a big deal, but some people may make a big fuss about things you don't like."

Wang Yue's words were like a loud slap in the face, hitting Zhu Houzhao who was eavesdropping outside the courtyard gate.

Yes, Zhu Houzhao had just arrived at the gate of Chen Ce's courtyard and had not yet pushed the door open when he heard the conversation between the two.

His expression was unpredictable, with a mirror in one hand and white phosphorus powder in the other. He just stood there stupidly, so cold!

It's not the wind that's cold, it's the heart that's cold!

The passionate heart was instantly extinguished with Wang Yue's words.

Liu Jin was very embarrassed. Looking at Zhu Houzhao, who was stunned and his expression changed instantly, even though he was eloquent, he didn't know how to compliment his own prince.

This is... just bullying!

Our master was happily boasting in the East Palace and wanted to show off to you, a consumptive patient.

Now tell me, was this something you discovered and did?

Is that human being?
You want our master to die!
Killing people is not enough, what a shame and insult!

If I were the prince, I would break off our friendship now and immediately!

This friend and brother can’t do it anymore.

In the courtyard, Chen Ce continued to say to Wang Yue: "Old man, please keep it a secret. Walls have ears. Don't be so explicit." Wang Yue didn't care at all and said: "Your place is so remote that the rich and powerful don't even bother to look at it. Who would come to eavesdrop?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtyard door was pushed open, and a young man with a red face said confidently: "How could there be no eavesdropping! Why is no one eavesdropping!"

"I was eavesdropping!"

Wang Yue opened his mouth slightly. How could he forget about him?

Chen Ce looked embarrassed, it was over.

The two of them have been plotting against the emperor's father, and now they have been caught red-handed. This is really... embarrassing!
Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "Chen Ce! Didn't you say you consider me a friend?"

"Is this how you carry yourself behind my back as a friend?"

"I open my heart to you, but what about you? You plot against me and our Emperor behind my back!"

It seems that this kid is really angry.

Otherwise he wouldn't say such things. He is usually heartless, but that doesn't prove that he is a fool.

Even a fool can understand what Chen Ce and Wang Yue are saying, right?

Wang Yue was about to speak, but Chen Ce pulled him slightly, then said to Zhu Houzhao, "Little Master Zhu, please come with me to the central hall."

"Don't go."

Chen Ce ignored him and walked in alone with his hands behind his back.

Zhu Houzhao gritted his teeth and said, "Hmph! I'll see what you're up to and how you explain it to me!"
Zhu Houzhao stamped his feet and followed in, saying to Liu Jin behind him, "Get lost! Don't follow me in! Can he harm me?"

When Chen Ce walked into the central hall, Zhu Houzhao clasped his hands across his chest, holding a mirror in one hand and white phosphorus powder in the other.

Chen Ce looked at his hands, and Zhu Houzhao calmly put the two things into his wide sleeves.

Chen Ce pretended not to see it and said earnestly: "Master Xiao Zhu, I didn't mean to hide it from you."

"But there are some things I can't tell you."

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Why? Shouldn't friends tell you everything they know? What kind of friends are you if you hide things?"

Chen Ce said slowly: "Initially, the excuse given by the court officials for the forest fire in Changping was that there was injustice in the northwest, right?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded.

Chen Ce said: "Do you think the court officials are fools?"

Zhu Houzhao shook his head.

Chen Ce said: "Don't they know that Wansui Mountain is inspired by Changping Xiaolang Mountain, so they can use this to write an article?"

Without waiting for Zhu Houzhao to answer, Chen Ce said, "They knew it, but they didn't guide public opinion in this way. They just hastily ended it with the words 'there is injustice in the northwest'."

"Because they are targeting the northwest. If anything happens in the northwest, the war will go against them, they will retreat, Hami will invade, and soldiers will be killed or injured, etc."

"They can all say that God had already made it clear through this wildfire."

"This matter could be big or small. Will it eventually lead to General Wang?"

Zhu Houzhao was thinking.

Chen Ce said, "Let's take a step back and say that I was plotting against the emperor, but I didn't do anything to offend him, right? Is Wansui Mountain still under repair in the end?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded.

Chen Ce continued: "I didn't tell you about these things because I didn't want you to get involved. You are a member of the Jinyiwei, right?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Of course!"

Chen Ce said: "Yes, you are an official of the Imperial Guard. If the emperor asked you to investigate these matters, would you hide them from the emperor or not?"

"That way I'll put you in a dilemma."

"That's not what I want, because we're friends, aren't we?"

(End of this chapter)