The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Gongsun Jin clearly did not expect that Tang Yin would be so famous in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

He was even praised by Zhu Yi as "one of the most famous people in the Ming Dynasty".

This made him feel unbalanced.

Why should I?

Is it because he failed the imperial examination? Or because he can write a few bad characters and is popular with women?

Gongsun Jin feigned ignorance: "Who is this?"

When Zhu Yi talked about Tang Yin, he was less wary than before, and spoke as if it were a casual conversation: "He was the top scholar in the provincial examination of Southern Zhili in the eleventh year of the Hongzhi reign. He was still young in the Chenghua reign and had not yet reached the point of showing his talent. Later, he took the imperial examination, but he was convicted of selling examination papers and was disqualified from taking the imperial examination. He was also ashamed to take a low-ranking official position, so he devoted himself to the landscape. He was a very famous landscape painter in the Ming Dynasty, known as a master of both poetry and painting. His paintings are priceless hundreds of years later."

Gongsun Jin felt even worse after hearing this.

So Tang Yin was so famous hundreds of years later?

"Then... how did he get involved in the Prince of Ning's rebellion? Did he also join the rebellion?"

As Gongsun Jin asked, he was thinking, "He's just a madman, and he's already reached this point. Can the reputation he's built up over the past few decades support such a huge reputation?"

Zhu Yidao said: "In the ninth year of Zhengde, he was hired by Prince Ning to be a tutor in Prince Ning's mansion. He was originally being groomed as an accomplice in a rebellion, and Prince Ning also wanted to use his reputation to build connections. However, this man was quite pragmatic. When he discovered that Prince Ning had signs of rebellion, he immediately pretended to be crazy and was released to return to Suzhou in the spring of the tenth year of Zhengde. In the following years, he spent his life in poverty and destitution."

"..."

Gongsun Jin was almost speechless with shock.

Was Tang Yin feigning madness?

Were we all fooled by Tang Yin?

None of us could figure out how this kid knew.

Did he really go to the future?

Gongsun Jin glanced back towards the back hall, seemingly still wanting to wait for the Prince of Ning's note. However, he couldn't resist, and even felt a touch of petty jealousy, so he said, "Brother Zhu, is the Prince of Ning really as...unable to judge people as you say? Not only did his rebellion fail, but he didn't even notice that one of his advisors was feigning madness right under his nose?"

Zhu Yi laughed and said, "This has to do with Tang Yin's brilliance. In the dead of winter, he ran naked into the street, disregarding his reputation and decorum, acting crazy in front of others, and even jumped into Nanchang's South Lake. He went to any lengths to escape."

Gongsun Jin felt extremely pleased.

He didn't even want to doubt the truth of what Zhu Yi said, because Tang Yin's mad behavior wasn't something that couldn't be verified in the future; it was something that happened right under his and the Ning Prince's mansion's noses.

Even if Zhu Yi really wronged him, Zhu Yi's words were enough to give Tang Yin a hard time.

Who made Prince Ning now have complete faith in his son?

"After returning to Suzhou, what achievements did this person make besides living in poverty? What made him famous in history?" Gongsun Jin couldn't help but ask.

He was saying this to Prince Ning.

Look at the kind of people you've chosen! Tang Yin feigned madness right under your nose, fooling everyone, and then went back to achieve unparalleled fame!

Isn't this the kind of person who's just trying to gain fame and fortune? And you still treat him with such respect?

Zhu Yidao said: "His strength lies in his calligraphy and painting skills. This experience may have honed his skills and further improved his calligraphy and painting foundation. However, he did not achieve much afterward. He ended his life in poverty in the early years of Jiajing, leaving the world with many sighs."

Gongsun Jin looked on with a hint of schadenfreude.

He thought to himself that even though Tang had escaped the Ning Prince's rebellion, he hadn't had a good life after returning home and died early. It was truly "gratifying".

"After the Prince of Ning's rebellion was quelled, was he not held accountable?" Gongsun Jin pressed for details.

"No, not at all. Who cared about him back then? But it was precisely because of his tumultuous life that he earned the reputation of a romantic and talented man. It can only be said that he was an embellishment in the history of the Ming Dynasty, not a figure who could be considered respectable," Zhu Yi commented from a subjective perspective.

Gongsun Jin almost gave Zhu Yi a thumbs up.

Great minds think alike!

He was just a nobody. If he had joined Prince Ning in a rebellion, even if he failed, he would have died a glorious death!

As a result, he went and pretended to be crazy, which not only ruined his reputation, but also made him poor and died a few years later... This can be said to be the representative of a short-sighted scholar.

……

……

"Brother Zhu, you must be tired. I'll give the order to prepare some food for you right away, and have someone take you to your lodgings in the backyard."

Gongsun Jin was full of enthusiasm, as if Tang Yin had brought him and Zhu Yi much closer together.

As for anything else, since it didn't happen, it doesn't count as Gongsun Jin's achievement.

They might even be blamed.

But now Zhu Yi mentions that there is a traitor in the Prince of Ning's mansion, and that Tang Yin is pretending to be crazy. This is very important intelligence, and it allows Gongsun Jin to stand up straight.

"Alright. I won't disturb your conversation; I'm the wiser one."

As Zhu Yi spoke, he glanced towards the back hall, as if to say, "I know there's an important person inside. I'm sensible enough to let you talk your way. As long as I'm safe and sound, that's all that matters."

Gongsun Jin first arranged for someone to take Zhu Yi to the backyard, and then returned to the inner hall.

At this moment, Zhu Chenhao was still sitting there, silent, while Liu Yangzheng next to him could no longer sit still and stood there with a tense expression.

Everyone guessed that Prince Ning was going to lash out, but no one knew when or how this storm would arrive.

"Where is Chen Xuan?" Zhu Chenhao glared at Gongsun Jin and demanded sharply.

Gongsun Jin hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "Eunuch Chen was sent to the coastal areas of Fujian early this morning to purchase new cannons from the Portuguese. A few days ago, he sent someone back to say that everything was going smoothly and that he might be able to return with samples and blueprints next month."

Liu Yangzheng cautioned, "Your Highness, you cannot believe only one side of the story."

Zhu Chenhao asked, "Has my son had any contact with Chen Xuan before?"

"This..." Liu Yangzheng was unable to answer.

How would I know about the affairs of your Prince Ning's residence?

Gongsun Jin replied respectfully, "The Third Young Master probably doesn't know Eunuch Chen. After all, Eunuch Chen was previously in charge of the Prince's manor and other matters, and the Third Young Master hasn't stayed in the Prince's manor for long, so the two of them wouldn't have any conflicts."

This was also a reminder to Prince Ning that Zhu Yi neither knew Chen Xuan nor had any past or present grudges against him, so there was no need to frame him.

"My son spoke casually, and there is indeed no sign of him seeking personal revenge." Zhu Chenhao's expression grew even colder.

Liu Yangzheng thought to himself, "Although that kid likes to talk nonsense, his assessment of his father is really correct."

Did Prince Ning really develop doubts about his once-trusted subordinates just because of a few words from his son? And even contemplate killing them?

This is not the demeanor of someone destined for greatness!

"But Tang Yin..." Gongsun Jin seemed afraid that Prince Ning would forget about this person.

Liu Yangzheng immediately said, "Your Highness Prince Ning, it's understandable that the Third Young Master is unfamiliar with me, but Tang Yin is renowned. Even if he hasn't lived in the Prince's residence for a long time, he should have heard of him long ago. From what he says, he seems to have no impression of life in Nanchang at all, and doesn't even know what year, month, or place he is. This is unusual."

Gongsun Jin said, "Your Highness, it's indeed not easy to determine whether Tang Yin is feigning madness in a short time. But right now... we can't let him go so easily!"

Zhu Chenhao glanced at him sideways and asked, "What good plan do you have?"

"This humble servant... has no good solution." Gongsun Jin deliberately guided and reminded him, "If only the Third Young Master remembered what happened before, perhaps handing the person over to him would expose him to his face."

"Does my son need to remember the past? Bring Tang Yin over and let him listen in! Let him know how miserable he became after leaving the Ning Prince's Mansion! Without the Ning Prince's Mansion, he is nothing!"

In my son's account, although I haven't accomplished anything great, I'm not as despicable as he is! I have no doubts about my actions; yet he has betrayed my trust!