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

Chapter 96 Wang Yue’s Gift

"Old man, isn't it inappropriate for you to always come to my place for free meals?"

"You can't keep eating without paying just because you're old."

"I've been fishing for you for the whole morning, haven't I? You can't even buy a meal out of all those fish? That doesn't make sense."

Sophora japonica alley.

Faced with Wang Yue's unreasonable arguments, Chen Ce was speechless.

He is old, but still such a scoundrel. Is it necessary?

Zhu Houzhao didn't come today. I guess he had classes in the East Palace. It's snowing outside and it's getting heavier.

We had lunch inside. The sky was gloomy and the fire was lit in the middle hall, making it a little brighter.

Wang Yue ate his meal in big mouthfuls and finished it quickly. After Chen Ce finished washing up, the two sat beside the coffee table and drank tea.

Looking at the heavy snow outside, Wang Yue said worriedly: "I don't know if I can return to Hami before the New Year."

"I promised them that we would spend New Year's Day together."

The old man looked toward the northwest, sighed softly, and asked Chen Ce, "Do you plan to continue like this?"

"what?"

Chen Ce looked at Wang Yue in confusion.

Wang Yue asked, "So you teach the prince in secret and hide your achievements and fame?"

"All the efforts you made here ended up being a relief to others. Are you willing to accept that?"

"If you can get more benefits and profits by breaking the window paper, why not do it?"

Faced with Wang Yue's interrogation, Chen Ce remained silent.

It's not like he hasn't thought about it. His current situation is probably similar to walking in the night in gorgeous clothes.

But once the window paper with Zhu Houzhao was broken, there would be no way to instill any ideas in him at will.

There is a difference between the ruler and his subjects, not to mention that I am just a commoner.

How can I be qualified to teach the prince?

If the civil officials in the court knew that a lowly pariah attempted to teach the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, could they allow themselves to live in peace?
It's not just these problems. After making them clear, the way he and Zhu Houzhao get along will change. It will not be so easy to teach him anything, and there will be many considerations.

It's also not that he hadn't thought about it, that everything he was doing for Zhu Houzhao now might be serving as a favor to Zhu Houzhao's teacher in the Eastern Palace.

But if Chen Ce really cared about these things, he would have said it long ago. Why wait until now?

His own days are numbered, and Chen Ce knew his situation. He thought it would be good to do something meaningful for the dynasty in the last moments of his life.

If it had not been for Zhu Houzhao's charity, I would have died long ago. This life was saved by Zhu Houzhao. He should have devoted all his energy to teaching me to be a qualified emperor, an emperor who would be able to face the civil and military officials alone in the future, instead of an emperor who was controlled everywhere and manipulated by the civil officials!

Chen Ce nodded and said, "There's nothing I'm unwilling to accept."

"You know my physical condition, so why bother with all these mundane matters? It only adds to my troubles."

"Dealing with one prince is already troublesome enough. If I have to divide my energy to deal with others, won't this cost me my life?"

Wang Yue smiled bitterly, then said, "Is there really no hope at all? Let's find another famous doctor and give it a try, maybe?"

Chen Ce sighed and said, "The imperial physician has been here, and I have also consulted many folk doctors. If there was any hope, he wouldn't have to rely on medicine to hang on for half a breath."

Wang Yue sighed and said, "How can God be so cruel to me at such a young age?"

After a brief silence, the atmosphere in the room seemed a little depressing.

But Wang Yue still said: "It should be soon. The officials who are investigating in the northwest will probably be back soon."

"It's time to have a conclusion on this matter."

"I can't stay in the capital for long, probably just a few days. After I help my subordinates get their rewards, I will be on my way."

This is saying goodbye to myself.

Chen Ce bowed and said, "I hope the old gentleman has a bright future." "Bullshit!"

Wang Yue rolled his eyes at Chen Ce and said, "Even if you have a bright future and want to be the emperor, do I have the courage to do it?"

Chen Ce smiled awkwardly, then said, "Then I wish you victory after victory in the northwest, and more extraordinary achievements to protect the peace in this area?"

Wang Yue smacked his lips and said, "That's pretty good."

"But I won't live much longer. Everything inside is rotten. I can't hold out for much longer."

He sighed softly and said, "Fighting the war is not important, winning the battle is not important, talent is important."

"I have not yet found a person who can truly take over my position in the northwest."

He looked at Chen Ce deeply and said, "You can."

Chen Ce: “…”

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm going to fail before I even reach the northwest."

"Wang Shouren is good."

Chen Ce thought for a moment and said, "It's the young man who came here that day and seemed to have some problems with his brain."

"He's a good candidate. You can try to train him as your disciple and take him to the northwest for a tour."

Wang Yue asked suspiciously, "Are you familiar with him?"

Chen Ce didn't know how to answer for a moment, so he could only say, "I'm not familiar with him, but I think I have a good eye."

He couldn't say that Wang Shouren's future achievements would be enough to make the Ming Dynasty tremble, right?
Not to mention that Wang Yue didn't believe it, even if Wang Shouren heard this, he probably wouldn't believe it himself.

The old man chuckled and said, "I was confident that I had a good eye back then, but what happened?"

"I don't have that much time to observe him."

Chen Ce could only sigh helplessly. Since their destiny had not yet arrived, he did not say anything more. However, he became more worried about Wang Yue.

Historical records say that Wang Yue died in the northwest before the end of this year's New Year's Eve.

"Old man, can you really guarantee that there will be no problem in the northwest?"

"Are you sure that the officials who will go to the northwest to investigate this time will do what you want?"

Chen Ce does not have enough power to insert his hand into the civil service group, nor does he have enough ability to see what is happening in the Northwest and the details of the Northwest.

He did everything he could and kept reminding Wang Yue to be careful in everything.

But Wang Yue seemed very confident. This confidence might come from his absolute trust in the people in the northwest. Chen Ce couldn't say for sure.

Wang Yue was silent for a long time, then said: "What if there is no guarantee? I have done my best, the rest is up to fate!"

"They have locked me up in the capital, and I have no way to leave. I cannot leave until this matter is settled."

The old man seemed to be thinking about something and didn't speak again for a long time after he said this.

After an unknown amount of time, he lowered his voice and said to Chen Ce: "I have set up a secret intelligence agency in the northwest. The emperor doesn't know about it, and no one in the northwest knows about it."

"This intelligence agency is now only used against foreign enemies. You can call them spies. If you take it a step further, they are spies. If you take it a step further, they are spies who are completely loyal to me."

"This wolf head token is divided into two parts. You take this half."

"Ah?" Chen Ce was stunned, looking at Wang Yue in astonishment, and hurriedly shook his head and said, "Old man, don't do it."

"What do I need this for?"

"Besides, why are you telling me this? Are you really not afraid at all?"

"If your two students could betray you, how could they betray me? I just need to hand this over..."

Wang Yue said firmly: "If this is the case, then it is time for me to die."

(End of this chapter)