Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 154 Fishing! Fishing! What kind of dogfish are we fishing for! [Seeking monthly votes]

When Yan Maoqing opened the main gate of the hall and came out.

The quiet Li Mama and Lü Maocai, who were waiting in the courtyard, were so frightened that they took a step back, even though they did not hear the sound of the court beating, nor did they hear the wails of Kong Jian, Li Chengzhi and others.

Yan Maoqing didn't waste any words, simply nodding to Granny Li and saying:
"Granny Li, lead the way. I'll go with you to see the Crown Prince."

Granny Li glanced quietly at the deep, dark gate of the main hall.

Just then, Kong Jian, Li Chengzhi, and the others emerged from inside, their eyes red but their chests puffed out. They didn't look like they had just been flogged; on the contrary, they seemed to have just been commended and encouraged.

Although she had some doubts, she didn't dare to ask any further questions:
"Please come, Minister Yan."

After taking two steps, she suddenly remembered something, stopped, and asked:
"Isn't Minister Yan bringing his fishing net today?"

"Oh right, you still need to bring it."

Yan Maoqing hesitated for a moment before returning to his duty room to retrieve the net. Like Tang Sanzang leaning on his staff, he followed Granny Li out of the Imperial Household Department.

"..."

Seeing Kong Jian, Li Chengzhi, and the others emerge unharmed, Lü Maocai was filled with doubt. After Yan Maoqing left, he immediately approached Kong Jian and the others, eagerly asking:
"Master Kong... what did Minister Yan do to you inside? Why didn't he punish you with caning?"

"Lu Xianma, it seems you'd love for Minister Yan to punish us with a cane?"

Kong Jian glanced at him sideways and asked in a sarcastic tone.

"How could I dare? I was just curious and asked casually."

Lu Maocai quickly put on a smile and said cautiously.

"The beating has already been done; twenty strokes of the cane, not a single one spared. Are you satisfied now?"

Li Chengzhi picked up the conversation, clutching his buttocks and groaning, before limping back to his duty room.

“Ouch, ouch…”

Kong Jian and the others also realized what was happening and followed Li Chengzhi's example, scattering in different directions.

The more purely a member of a faction, the more likely they are to exhibit certain characteristics of a dictatorship... such as xenophobia.

Now they all consider themselves heroes, vowing to work together with Yan Maoqing to lead the way, and naturally they look down on Lü Maocai, this guy who "failed the test," even more.

Only heroes like them are worthy to stand behind a superior like Yan Maoqing and together "dare to change the world!"
Like Lü Maocai and those guys who were taking turns slacking off.

You're out!
……

On the way to Zhongcui Palace, Yan Maoqing finally learned the whole story from the much kinder-looking Granny Li.

It all started on the first day he went to seduce Zhu Zaiyi to fish.

Zhu Zaiyi seemed to have been brainwashed by him, and he would rather not be the crown prince than insist on going fishing with him, so that he could have a complete childhood like the children of ordinary families.

This greatly worried Consort Wang, who had always been very protective of her.

That same day, Zhu Zaiyi was beaten three times with a ruler and forced to kneel for a long time, but this still could not change his obsession.

Even on the second night, in a fit of anger, Consort Wang punished Zhu Zai Rui by not allowing him to eat.

Unexpectedly, this gave Zhu Zai Rui an idea. On the third day, Zhu Zai Rui simply began to use a hunger strike to resist his mother. No matter how she tried to persuade him or tempt him with toys, it was all in vain.

After enduring this until this morning, Consort Wang, worried that Zhu Zaiyi was starving, finally had to make a concession.

She agreed to allow Zhu Zaiyi to go fishing with Yan Maoqing.

In exchange, Zhu Zaiyi began to eat.

After finishing the meal, another problem arose:
Yan Maoqing, who had been asking every day for the past few days whether he was going to go fishing, did not arrive as promised today.
Faced with Zhu Zaiyi, who was pouting and on the verge of tears, Consort Wang, despite her reluctance, had no choice but to swallow her pride and order Li Mama to come to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to find him...

of course.

Granny Li would certainly not tell Yan Maoqing that Consort Wang had already complained to the Emperor.

They certainly wouldn't tell Yan Maoqing that the reason he couldn't see the Crown Prince at Zhongcui Palace these past two days was because of Consort Wang's intentions.

"Minister Yan, when you take the Crown Prince fishing later, please be careful not to let him get wet in cold water, and even more so, do not let him get dirty with the fishy smell."

As she led the way, Granny Li continued to give instructions incessantly.
"Furthermore, Consort Wang also said..."

"Granny Li, wait a moment."

Yan Maoqing interrupted her with a strange look, continuing the previous topic by asking,
"Are you saying that the Crown Prince threatened to starve himself in order to go fishing?" "I never realized the Crown Prince was so stubborn... It's my fault for speaking too quickly. Minister Yan should just listen to this and let it go. Please don't spread it around, or Her Highness the Consort will be displeased."

Granny Li sighed helplessly.

"Do you and Consort Wang both see this as stubbornness?"

Yan Maoqing's eyes became even stranger, and his tone carried a hint of speechlessness.

In his eyes, the Crown Prince had already been half ruined under the "protection" of Consort Wang!
He saw such cases in later generations.

Although some children harm themselves because of psychological problems.

However, some children harm themselves because their parents spoil them and pay too much attention to them, causing them to use self-harm as a way to punish their parents.

"What Yan Butang means is..."

Granny Li clearly couldn't understand Yan Maoqing's words.

"nothing."

Yan Maoqing did not attempt to explain it to her.

Anyway, he never really wanted to take Zhu Zaiyi fishing, and now his goal of escaping this mess has been shattered.

He has now changed his goal and wants to establish himself as the hero of the Yan faction. There is certainly no need for him to take Zhu Zaiyi fishing this time. It would be better to take this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone...

While talking.

The two had already arrived at the entrance of Zhongcui Palace.

"Yan Maoqing, you've finally arrived! Let's go catch fish, let's go catch fish!"

Zhu Zaiyi had been waiting at the threshold with a small net that palace maids used to catch butterflies. When he saw Yan Maoqing, he immediately jumped out from the threshold, startling the two palace maids who were standing beside him, who rushed out to help him.

"Minister Yan, you must be extremely careful..."

Granny Li started reciting her previous instructions again.

Then Yan Maoqing strode forward, snatched the small net from Zhu Zaiyi's hand, snapped it in two with a "crack," and threw it to the ground.
"Fishing! Fishing! What kind of dogfish are you trying to catch!"

"???"

"!!!"

Zhu Zaiyi was clearly frightened. He looked up at Yan Maoqing with a blank expression, tears welling up in his eyes.

Granny Li and the two palace maids were also startled and looked over in surprise.

But that wasn't the end of it.

"Crack!"

Yan Maoqing then stomped on his own net, breaking it in two, and glared at him, shouting:

"Your Highness, you were so easily swayed this time and failed my test. I am very disappointed in you!"

"Your Highness, you are the heir apparent, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. How can you be compared to a commoner's child?"

"Your current task is enlightenment. It seems that your enlightenment studies have been neglected since Xia Yan was dismissed and left to idleness. Tomorrow, I will personally select a strict scholar for you to help you catch up on your neglected studies!"

"This!"

Yan Maoqing threw his net, which had broken in two, on the ground, and then burst into laughter, mimicking the expression of Kim Jong-un.

"This is the first lesson I've taught you."

"Not everyone in this world who smiles at you, makes you happy, and gives you hope is doing it for your own good, and not everyone deserves your trust."

"Hehehehehe..."

"..."

Granny Li and the two palace maids were completely dumbfounded, their gazes towards Yan Maoqing a mixture of astonishment and disdain.

Who exactly is this person?
How could they deceive a five-year-old child in such a vicious way, and say it so grandly? Don't they have any shame?
Also, how can someone laugh in such a despicable way?
The two palace maids even subconsciously glanced at a fake rock in the courtyard of Zhongcui Palace out of the corner of their eyes...

This scoundrel probably doesn't know that Consort Wang, worried about the Crown Prince, is currently eavesdropping behind that fake rock.

I wonder what she will think when she hears that Yan Maoqing dared to treat the Crown Prince in this way.
(End of this chapter)