The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

After a night's rest, Zhu Yi lost all interest in reading those ancient books.

He was more focused on planning for his future.

He himself didn't feel sleepy at all, while Xiaotang and Xiaomei next to him slept soundly. Neither of them even got up to check on him all night, showing no awareness of serving others.

It was as if they were the ladies of the room.

When the sound of roosters crowing could be heard outside, Xiaomei ran out to relieve herself. When she came back, she closed the door, stood there dumbfounded, and muttered, "It's dawn."

Zhu Yi then got up, walked to the window, opened it, looked outside, and sighed, "Yes, it's dawn."

For him, dawn meant seeing Zhu Chenhao again to discuss the rebellion plan with this father he had only met once.

That was a seemingly unrealistic dream of usurping the throne.

The two sisters got up and got busy again.

They served tea and water and brought breakfast. While Zhu Yi ate, the two of them stood by like two little door gods, staring intently at him.

"I don't feel comfortable eating when people are watching me, so I'll turn my head away," Zhu Yi said, holding his chopsticks.

"Oh." The two sisters obediently turned around, their backs to Zhu Yi.

As if to avoid prying into the young master's privacy, they didn't think much of it and just did whatever the young master told them to do.

"Where is your mother?" Zhu Yi asked between bites. "Have you heard anything about her whereabouts lately?"

Xiao Tang's voice trembled slightly, sounding very sorrowful as she said, "Mother should still be washing clothes for others."

Zhu Yi said, "Even in the dead of winter, in Jiangnan where the temperature isn't that low, constantly washing clothes will still cause your hands to chapped and make your lives incredibly difficult. You can't even guarantee you enough food and clothing to eat and a roof over your head at night. Why not bring her here and assign her a job nearby, so you and your daughter can be reunited? Would you be willing?"

"Can we do that?" Xiaomei seemed very excited, and immediately forgot Zhu Yi's instructions, turning around to look.

Xiao Tang quickly pulled her younger sister back to the starting position.

He glanced at his younger sister with a hint of reproach.

Turning around without being told, are you trying to rebel?

Zhu Yi said leisurely, "If you serve them well, I will bring your mother over. Not only will things be easier, but I'll also be able to see you more often. The better you serve her, the more opportunities you'll have to see her."

Xiaomei asked excitedly, "Master, what constitutes good service? Is it like the way the other ladies served us before?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Xiao Tang herself was a confused person, but she was still lecturing her younger sister.

Zhu Yi didn't ask "which sisters are like what".

These orphaned duckweed children, who have been sold and resold many times since childhood, have seen all sorts of things. The fact that they haven't encountered certain things before doesn't mean they're lucky; it just means they haven't reached the right age yet.

"I'll ask around later. If they can't eat it, let's take it away." Zhu Yi didn't say much more.

It's just a direction.

If you want to win over these two sisters and use them for your own purposes, you must do them favors and then teach them to repay those favors.

At the same time, they also need to understand that apart from him providing shelter, if they go out into the world, they will be devoured without a trace.

……

……

Zhu Chenhao did not arrive early that day.

Gongsun Jin, however, came ahead to scout and informed Zhu Yi of some important matters for the meeting that day: "The prince will come in person later, and I will not accompany him."

"Did my father come to see me alone?" Zhu Yi inquired.

It might involve rebellion, and even though Gongsun Jin is a confidant of the Prince of Ning's mansion, it's not convenient for outsiders to be present and listen to many things.

It concerns the grand plan for the future.

If a third party knows the big strategy, and that person leaks the information... wouldn't all our efforts be in vain?

"I think so," Gongsun Jin said with a smile. He didn't seem to have much regret; on the contrary, he seemed full of energy.

With a "prodigy" from five hundred years in the future assisting the Prince of Ning's rebellion, the chances of victory have increased considerably. Gongsun Jin felt honored to be a part of it.

At the very least, he wanted to project such a clear message to Prince Ning and his son.

This made Prince Ning and his son believe that he was very willing to join in the rebellion.

"Mr. Gongsun, I'd like to ask about those two girls..." Zhu Yi suddenly brought it up.

Gongsun Jin asked in surprise, "Is it still not to your liking? Then change it! I also felt that they were not suitable to come here because they had not been trained in the etiquette of the Prince's Mansion."

Zhu Yi suddenly realized that Gongsun Jin seemed to prefer that he send his girlfriends away.

Isn't this a jackal?

"I'd like to ask about their background and origins? Are they trustworthy?" Zhu Yi asked.

"This..." Gongsun Jin seemed very embarrassed, but had no choice but to tell everything he knew. "It is said that it was bought from Suzhou, but the person in question is not from Suzhou."

"You can tell from their accents that they were resold in Suzhou as well," Zhu Yi said.

"Hehe, young master, you are too ignorant. I don't know much either. I'll ask around for you later?" Gongsun Jin said with a smile.

Zhu Yi said, "I heard they have a mother too, and I'd like to find her as well."

"Huh?" Gongsun Jin didn't understand what Zhu Yi was up to for a moment.

Zhu Yi delivered the prepared statement: "They serve me; what if someone uses their only relative to try and do something detrimental to me or the Prince's Mansion? How can I prevent this?"

"No way?" Gongsun Jin blurted out.

He immediately realized that this was his young master being cautious.

If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. How can you sleep peacefully if the maids serving you have weaknesses or are controlled by others?

"Does the young master mean to bring the people over as well?" Gongsun Jin asked.

"I mean, we need to find the person first and settle them in a suitable place, somewhere that's neither too far nor too close," Zhu Yi said seriously.

Gongsun Jin understood instantly, and a smile appeared on his face.

If we're talking about ruthlessness, you're the ruthless one.

To prevent these two girls' weaknesses from being exploited and used against you, you should first control their weaknesses yourself, thus keeping them obedient...

If they disobey, they get a beating; if they obey, they get a treat.

"That's why I say it...hehe." Gongsun Jin wanted to say, "Young Master, you're destined for great things, you have so many methods."

But there are some things I'm too embarrassed to say outright.

Zhu Yi said, "Mr. Gongsun, I'm just taking precautions; I have no other intentions. Just go and find the person for me. It shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"No problem, no problem at all," Gongsun Jin replied immediately. "I'll make the arrangements right away. You should also prepare yourself, as the Prince may summon you later."

……

……

Gongsun Jin also did not know whether Zhu Chenhao had come to see him on his own initiative or had called his son to some special place.

Zhu Chenhao arrived late, just before noon.

He did not come alone, but together with an elderly man dressed in plain clothes who looked kind and gentle.

"Son, come and meet Mr. Li." Zhu Chenhao introduced him, "He is Mr. Li Shishi, whom you have mentioned many times before."

Zhu Yixin called out to me.

Is this Li Shishi?

As I have mentioned many times before... either he was involved in the failed rebellion, or he was beaten to death by Wu Wending... there's not a single good thing about him!

You probably don't want me to bring it up again and scare him away, right?

"Little Prince, I've heard so much about you." Li Shishi was very kind and took the initiative to bow to Zhu Yi.

Zhu Yi immediately returned the greeting.

After the three were seated, Zhu Chenhao immediately displayed his extraordinary insight, and as if reassuring his son, he said, "My son, you once mentioned that I will send one of my sons to the capital for training, or perhaps to inherit the Ming Dynasty's imperial lineage. Do you have any intention of going?"

Zhu Yi immediately understood his cheap father's intentions.

Just like the bewilderment he felt yesterday when he learned that he was the son of Prince Ning, but not the eldest son of the legitimate wife.

If I were to join the rebellion, endure countless hardships, and in the end the empire would still be mine... what would I be after?

But Zhu Chenhao knows how to manipulate human nature.

Although you have an older brother, you are the one who will go to the capital to try to be adopted.

Doesn't this make it clear to you that what you're planning is for your own future acquisition of the Ming Dynasty's empire? Then why don't you do your best and speak your mind without reservation?