Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 122 is finished! It's impossible to explain now!

She felt no guilt whatsoever for doing this.

Some things are simply taken for granted.

If anyone's to blame, it's Zhu Chongba and Ma Dajiao; those two were blind.

They insisted on elevating the insignificant Chang family member to the position of Crown Princess, thus placing her above themselves.

The blame lies solely with the Crown Princess Chang, who was so foolish as to be unaware of her own shortcomings.

She's clearly incompetent at everything and doesn't deserve her position, yet she sits comfortably in the Crown Princess's seat, unaware that she should step down and give way to a more virtuous person!
She was clearly a foolish woman, yet she craved power and position, comfortably enjoying his concern and care for her, and groveling before him!
She couldn't live like this for even a day longer!

Especially today, Zhu Chongba and Ma Dajiao came to the East Palace to see Zhu Xiong Ying, and they were so affectionate towards him.

Seeing this, she was consumed by a burning, unquenchable flame of jealousy.

This made her absolutely determined to kill Chang Shi!

With her own methods, she believed that killing the Chang family would be a piece of cake.

Moreover, he guaranteed that after killing the Chang family, no one would suspect him.

She has the confidence and the means.

Moreover, she was certain that once she killed that foolish woman, Lady Chang, the position of Crown Princess would inevitably fall into her lap.

I will be promoted to a permanent position.

Because, whether it was Zhu Chongba, the beggar, Empress Ma, or Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

These people are actually very good to me and trust me a lot.

Through years of hard work, I have already earned their deep respect and recognition.

The Crown Prince is still young, and the position of Crown Princess cannot remain vacant indefinitely.

Someone will inevitably fill the vacancy.

So, the person who fills the vacancy is none other than oneself.

However, the only thing that was somewhat unpleasant was that even after killing Lady Chang and becoming the Crown Princess, there was still that eyesore Zhu Xiong Ying living in the world.

It's still not possible to have one's future child ascend the throne.

This little beast will become a stumbling block.

Judging from Zhu Yuanzhang's fondness for Zhu Xiong Ying, who was also his eldest grandson, it's clear that Zhu Xiong Ying was a beggar.

In the future, the throne will definitely be passed to Zhu Xiong Ying.

However, she had nothing to worry about.

This little beast has the blood of the utterly foolish Chang Shi in his body; he doesn't deserve to live in this world.

They are even less worthy of being obstacles or stumbling blocks to their future son!
As his mother, all I can do is find a way to get rid of him.

When that time comes, the Chang family will no longer be in the Eastern Palace, and I will become the true mistress of the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Xiong Ying, such a young child, spent every day with him and trusted and was very close to him.

If I wanted to do something to him, to kill him without him even noticing, in a perfectly reasonable way, it would be incredibly easy.

Only by killing this mother and daughter will she feel completely at ease.

Foolish people don't deserve to live in this world!
In the darkness of night, Madam Lü lay on her bed, her eyes reflecting the flickering firelight streaming in through the window.

Like a cold, venomous snake lurking in the darkness, waiting for its chance to harm people!
……

"Father! You're really generous!"
They even told the emperor about the affairs of the Maritime Trade Office!

The emperor was truly magnanimous; he remained silent at first, then struck with lightning speed, taking down the brothers Wu Zhen and Wu Liang in one fell swoop!
Dad, you are really amazing!

After this incident, His Majesty will likely trust Father and the Li family even more!

Li Shanchang's son, Li Qi, looked at Li Shanchang with great excitement and said.

His words were filled with deep respect for his father.

And with great joy.

My dad's move was really brilliant!

What a great courage!

He originally thought that, given his father's temperament, he would have conveniently taken advantage of the corrupt officials in the country in the case of the blank seal.

Helping the emperor clean up the corrupt elements in the Ming Dynasty was the best his father could do.

Who would have thought that his father was indeed his father, with a vision, spirit, and methods far beyond his own comprehension.

They actually did something so big without making a sound!

He told the emperor about the overseas smuggling and related matters of the Maritime Trade Office, which many people had kept secret for many years.

The emperor was also exceptionally decisive, taking down Wu Zhen and Wu Liang, the two founding marquises of the Ming Dynasty, in one fell swoop.

We must also punish them according to the law.

My own father has truly made a great contribution!

Originally, Li Qi was worried that his father had betrayed him at the crucial moment in the case of the Empty Seal and sided with the emperor.

It was against their will, because the emperor had found a weakness in them, and they had no choice but to do it.

Who knows what kind of trouble they might cause in the future, trying to take revenge on the emperor to vent their anger.

It wasn't until this happened that I suddenly realized things weren't as I had imagined.

My own perspective is still too narrow compared to that of my father.

His father wasn't being taken advantage of by the emperor; rather, he genuinely wanted to do something for the emperor and for the Ming Dynasty.

This is a huge, festering problem involving the interests of so many people, from the imperial court to the local level.

No one else dared to choose it, but his own father dared to be the first in the world to choose it.

My dad is amazing!

It turns out that I had misunderstood my father all along.

Li Qi looked at his father, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement.

This is admiration from the bottom of one's heart.

Li Shanchang was sitting in the study, deep in thought.

Hearing his son say these words, he was stunned.

He was getting a little impatient.

"Who told you I made this? I didn't!"

Li Shanchang's voice sounded somewhat urgent.

Meanwhile, he was also pondering and shaken by this matter.

Where did the emperor get this news from?

Did Liu Bowen tell the emperor, or did the emperor's Embroidered Uniform Guard find out?
Or perhaps, someone unknown to him informed the emperor?
While I was puzzled, I was also filled with apprehension.

They were afraid that the emperor would once again turn his attention to them.

After all, he knew about this matter.

And they receive a considerable sum of money every year.

If this matter were to come to light, given the emperor's greedy and righteous nature, he would be in serious trouble.

My life is definitely not going to be easy.

If things go wrong, you could get implicated by the emperor!
Li Shanchang kept cursing inwardly, wondering which heartless bastard had leaked this matter to the emperor.

But now he hears his own son come here and say these things to him.

How could Li Shanchang not be alarmed?

I really didn't do this.

How come it became that I did it in my own son's mouth?
This time, the impact and scope of the matter are no less than those of the previous blank seal case.

In fact, if you really think about it, it's even more complicated than the blank seal case.

Who wants to take the blame for such a huge mistake?
He's already done a great job of taking the blame for the blank seal case once; how could he take it a second time?

Even now, he has been forced to become a loyal subject.

But you can't always take on these kinds of hateful things.

The key point is that it's easier to say if you did it yourself.

But this time, I was completely unaware of it beforehand and I'm still in the dark.

How did I suddenly end up doing this extremely dangerous thing?

This was incredibly exciting for Li Shanchang!

Li Qi was taken aback by his father's reaction.

No... why is my father's reaction different from what I expected?
However, after a brief moment of surprise, she quickly realized what was going on.

My father had once taught me that there are some things I can do but not say.

Isn't this situation exactly the same as what my father taught me?
"Yes! Yes! Father, you're right, you definitely didn't do this!"

"I understand, I understand everything."

Li Qi nodded repeatedly, looking as if he had learned something.

As he said this, he winked at his father.

When Li Shanchang saw his son's reaction, he was stunned for a moment, then became furious.

What does my own son mean by this?
It's even winking at me? Is your eye twitching?
What are you squeezing for?!

"I'll tell you again, I didn't do this, I had no idea about it, and I've been kept in the dark until now!"

Li Shanchang emphasized his words.

He, who has always been kind to his son, couldn't hold back this time.

Li Qi felt a sense of awe and reverence.
My own father, he truly is my own father!
The acting is truly superb!
This reaction, this demeanor and tone, really doesn't seem like acting.

Even his own biological son was almost unrecognizable.

Her father was truly tight-lipped, even though there was no one else around, just the two of them.

He wouldn't even reveal the truth to his own son.

They still insist on this view.

So that's what my father meant when he said "you can do it but you can't say it".

It means keeping it a secret even from your closest relatives, and never revealing it in words.

I've got it! I've got it!
Now I've really learned it!

"Yes! Father, you are right, I understand!"
"I understand!"

Li Qi put away the knowing look on his face, and nodded seriously to his father, Li Shanchang.

Seeing his son's reaction and hearing his words, Li Shanchang felt a surge of inexplicable anger and extreme frustration rise in his heart.

No... what kind of nonsense is this brat spouting?

He understands everything?
"You don't know anything! You don't know anything!"

Keep your ulterior motives to yourself. Your father wouldn't do such a thing, and I'm not being sarcastic!

Look! Look! It has to be his own father! He's so tight-lipped!

Even at this point, they still won't tell the truth.

But thinking about it, it makes sense; this matter is of such great importance.

If someone is particularly hated, then naturally, not a single detail can be revealed.

My own father is right to do it this way.

Such an important matter should be kept from as many people as possible.

Even one's own son is not acceptable.

"Ah, yes, yes, I believe you!"

Li Qi nodded again, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful and serious.

"roll!!!"

Li Shanchang finally lost the will to explain to his son.

He pointed his hand out of the study and let out a rare roar.

"Okay, Dad!"

Li Qi responded and immediately left the study.

They even thoughtfully closed the study door.

When they came outside, another head poked through the crack in the door and gave his father a thumbs up.

It is said that this gesture, used to praise someone, recently came from the emperor.

Upon seeing this scene, Li Shanchang nearly coughed up blood.

He reached out and grabbed the inkstone from the table, about to throw it away.

Upon seeing this, Li Qi quickly shrank back.

He slammed the door shut and disappeared in a flash... "Hehehehe..."

After leaving, he couldn't help but laugh, feeling incredibly relaxed and happy.

At first, he was worried that his father was too proud and couldn't get over the Kongyin case and the Zhongdu City incident.

On the surface, they submit to the emperor, but in private, who knows what they might do that is actually going against the emperor's wishes?

But now that he's seen his father, he's quietly exposed the maritime smuggling operation.

All my worries completely disappeared.

The Li family will no longer be targeted by the emperor.

"I didn't do it, I really didn't do it..."

After Li Qi left, Li Shanchang put down the inkstone and kept muttering those words to himself.

It was as if she was explaining to Li Qi, or as if she wanted to tell the whole world.

However, these words sounded so pale and powerless...

Li Shanchang felt utterly hopeless.

Even his own son sees it this way, believing that he was the one who did it.

What will others think and how will they perceive it?

No way... what the hell is going on here?!
I was just sitting at home doing nothing, and suddenly such a huge burden fell on my shoulders!
What a sin this is!
Which thief is plotting against me?!

That's fucking outrageous!
……

"Send these out, but be careful not to let anyone find out."

Hu Weiyong looked at his nephew Hu Shan and spoke up to give instructions.

He handed the sealed letters to Hu Shan.

Hu Shan responded, put it away, and left.

"Oh, right."

Hu Weiyong seemed to suddenly remember something.

Hu Shan stopped again when he reached the entrance.

"Where's Tianci? What has he been doing lately? Has he come back yet?"

When the name Tianci was mentioned, Hu Weiyong's face softened.

This is a stark contrast to his previous stern expression.

Hu Tianci is his biological son.

Hu Weiyong had difficulty conceiving and it wasn't until he was quite old that he finally had a son.

They were truly so precious, like something that would melt in their mouth or break in their hands.

My true darling.

You can tell how much he cares for and loves his son just by naming him Hu Tianci.

"Uncle, he... he's been learning to race cars lately."

He's staying outside and hasn't come back.

Hu Weiyong nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Then we should try our best to provide him with the best horses, the best carriages, and the best drivers."

"Make sure he doesn't get hurt."

Hu Shan was somewhat stunned when he heard Hu Weiyong's words.

He thought that after he told his uncle about it, his uncle would immediately stop him and prevent Hu Tianci from getting involved in the matter again.

After all, racing is very dangerous. It's not just the drivers who are at risk; accidents can happen if you're not careful, and it could even result in a crash and death.

In addition, it can easily hit pedestrians on the road.

To my surprise, my uncle said such a thing.

They really spoil Hu Tianci, which is truly enviable!

"Yes," he replied, and left.

Hu Shan left, but the smile on Hu Weiyong's face did not disappear.

It still carries a touch of tenderness.

She thought about it for a while before finally pulling her attention away from her son.

Then I thought about this matter.

This matter is of utmost importance.
The emperor took immediate action and arrested the Wu brothers, Wu Zhen and Wu Liang, and he would definitely not let the matter rest.

The crucial point is that, to this day, the emperor still hasn't seen him.

Let's say something about this.

This made him feel uneasy.

After all, when you really think about it, he has quite a few problems in this matter.

He couldn't believe that the emperor had arrested the Wu brothers, Wu Zhen and Wu Liang, without knowing the things he had done.

Or is it that... the emperor is prepared to be lenient with me again and not hold it against me?
When the thought arose, Hu Weiyong couldn't help but nod.

I think my idea is quite reliable.

That is the truth.

The Ming Dynasty today cannot do without its prime minister.

There is no one more suitable to be prime minister than myself.

Putting everything else aside, just for this reason alone, Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn't have gone too far.

It involves me too much...

……

"Has there been any news yet?"

Zhu Biao was also awake, and asked the relevant personnel with some anxiety.

"Your Highness, there is no news."

"Your Highness, it's late. Please rest. If there's any news from Prince Yan, I will deliver it to you, Your Highness, as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment, nodded, and left.

He seemed very restless. Judging by the time, the matter concerning the Japanese naval forces should have reached a conclusion by now.

Why haven't we heard anything yet?
Could it be... that the fourth prince failed in his task regarding the defense of the Japanese navy, and did not complete the mission entrusted to him by the Emperor?

Did this cause a large number of the Japanese-prepared navy to flee to the sea?

If this is the outcome, Zhu Biao doesn't think much of it.

His biggest concern was that nothing bad should happen to his younger brother.

As long as my fourth brother is alright, everything else is trivial.

There will eventually be a way to solve this...

……

"Minister Hu, you stay here."

The next morning, after the court session, the officials dispersed, and Zhu Yuanzhang, seated on the dragon throne, began to speak.

Hu Weiyong's heart skipped a beat, but he wasn't too surprised.

After all, it should come.

Given that such a major event had occurred, it was impossible for the emperor to keep everything from him.

"Lord of Korea, you've stayed too."

Li Shanchang stopped and stood aside.

The rest of the people left.

Many people didn't seem to be paying any attention to this area.

But many officials were already wondering what the emperor would do if he kept Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong in the palace.

It would be best to kill that old dog Li Shanchang!
His hands are far from clean when it comes to matters of the Maritime Trade Office and maritime trade.

Of course, some people gloated, while others were anxious and worried.

If someone's hands are not clean, many others will be implicated.

Everyone feared that this time, the emperor would cause a major case like the previous blank seal case.

Let's give them a good beating.

That would really be unpleasant.

Many of them were terrified by the emperor's previous actions.

Especially after the blank seal case, many people were feeling uneasy.

They realized that the saying "the law does not punish the masses" had no effect on the emperor.

This emperor, who came from a beggar background, was truly ruthless and dared to kill!
……

"Prime Minister Hu, what's your opinion on this matter?"

After the officials had left, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hu Weiyong and spoke.

His voice betrayed no emotion.

Hu Weiyong hurriedly said, "Sir, this is simply outrageous!"

The brothers Wu Zhen and Wu Liang were promoted by their superiors and entrusted with the important task of defending the river and the sea.

The Wu brothers held a very high position and wielded considerable power.

The trust placed in them was unparalleled.

But these two men did not think of being loyal to the emperor and serving their country.

Instead, they colluded with pirates and smugglers, forming a vicious alliance.

This man deserves to die!

Hu Weiyong's face was resolute, but when he mentioned what the Wu brothers, Wu Zhen and Wu Liang, had done, he gritted his teeth and was extremely angry.

"What I'm asking is, what are your thoughts on abolishing the Maritime Trade Office and implementing a maritime ban?"

Zhu Yuanzhang watched Hu Weiyong's performance quietly.

After he stopped speaking, he ignored what Hu Weiyong had said.

Instead, they went straight to asking about the Maritime Trade Office and the maritime ban.

Hu Weiyong tried to downplay the seriousness of the matter, but Zhu Yuanzhang was not so easily fooled and would not give him the chance.

"Your Majesty, I was unaware before this that the Maritime Trade Office during the Yuan Dynasty was initially so profitable."

He was also misled by the Wu brothers and, out of concern for the country, he said some things on their behalf, just as they suggested.

Only now do I realize that these people actually dared to so corrupt the government!
I recently strengthened my control over my family members and only then did I discover that my nephews and nieces were secretly accepting large sums of money, calligraphy, paintings, and other items from merchants in Suzhou and other places.

The total amount was a staggering 550,000 strings of cash!

It's absolutely infuriating!
These are all ill-gotten gains. I request that you hand them over to Your Majesty for your disposal.

When Hu Weiyong said this, he appeared righteous and indignant, as if he were completely kept in the dark.

In reality, my heart is bleeding.

In the previous case involving blank seals, he had already paid so much money to the imperial court.

This time, he reluctantly took out 550,000 strings of cash.

It's truly a devastating blow, damaging the very foundation of the problem.

This money didn't come easily!
Having such an emperor, he, as the prime minister, lived frugally and dared not spend a single penny more than necessary.

As a result, they were all given to the emperor.

To say it doesn't hurt would be a lie.

But since things have come to this, there's no other way but to spend money to avoid further trouble.

It's always better to bring these things up yourself than to have the emperor make you speak.

Having experienced something like this, it's clearly impossible to walk away unscathed without paying anything in return.

Despite having spent so much money, getting through this ordeal still depends on the emperor's mood.

However, Hu Weiyong thought that with such a large amount of blood loss, the emperor would stop.

There will be no deviation.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak immediately, and the atmosphere gradually became oppressive.

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice rang out.

"Lord of Han, what do you think of what Prime Minister Hu said? Is it the truth?"

Hu Weiyong's heart skipped a beat, and his body trembled slightly!

(End of this chapter)