The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 101 Your Majesty, Let's Be Greedy Together!

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang was engrossed in reviewing memorials when Li Jinglong strode into the hall. This time, he didn't even bother to pretend to kneel; he simply bowed and took out a letter from his robes, handing it to him with both hands.

"Your Majesty, she agreed to everything. This is her letter to Toyin Timur. She also tempted me, saying she would give me all of Li Siqi's wealth."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up: "You agreed?"

"No, I am not the kind of person who is greedy for money," Li Jinglong shook his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, speechless: "Are you stupid?"

Li Jinglong: "————"

"Li Siqi's accumulated wealth in Guanzhong is a treasure trove, and you don't want it?" Zhu Yuanzhang said with a regretful expression.

Li Jinglong was dumbfounded.

Damn it, if I had known you were going to do this, I definitely would have.

My main fear is that I might have the life to enjoy it, but not the life to spend it.

"Your Majesty, may I accept this?" he asked.

"Of course," Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. "When the time comes, you'll control the trade routes to the Northwest, and you'll make a fortune, you know that?"

Li Jinglong was even more confused: "Uh, but that's smuggling."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "If I let you take over, who dares to interfere?"

"Your Majesty, I feel like you're trying to trick me," Li Jinglong said warily. "How about I share the profits with you? I won't feel at ease if we don't embezzle together."

"Do we care about such a small gain?" Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand.

Li Jinglong was even more worried.

You even wanted a share of Master Hong's assets back then.

What level of wealth did Li Siqi possess? It was dozens or even hundreds of times that of Hong Ye. And you, Zhu Yuanzhang, are telling me you don't care about such a paltry sum?

"You'll be in charge of smuggling grain to the Northern Yuan and trading with Toyin Temur," Zhu Yuanzhang said, spreading his hands. "We can't let the court handle this kind of thing."

Li Jinglong's eyes widened.

Sure enough, the pit was buried here.

If I were to do the work that the imperial court couldn't do, wouldn't that be dirty work?

"What if we get caught? Won't you punish me?" he struggled.

"How could that be?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You were smuggling under imperial orders, and no one can do anything about it."

Li Jinglong shook his head: "No, you need to give me proof."

"I'll give you a secret decree, okay?" Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes.

Li Jinglong was overjoyed and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

"Furthermore, Li Siqi's business isn't just about industry." Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes gleamed. "Over the years, the scouts he's recruited aren't from the grasslands; they're spies comparable to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. You can take control of them as well."

Li Jinglong was shocked: "Is this possible?"

"Let's take it one step at a time."

"I'm getting more and more worried. What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"

"I'm your great-uncle, what's there to worry about?"

"Okay, by the way, your second daughter-in-law said that she has to personally deal with Li Siqi."

When Li Jinglong came out of the Qianqing Palace, he looked completely dejected.

If he were to acquire Li Siqi's wealth, he would certainly become rich, but this wealth would make him uneasy.

If Old Zhu suddenly gives you a mountain of gold, how could there not be landmines buried on that mountain?

As I was walking with my head down, I heard footsteps approaching, accompanied by a faint, lingering fragrance.

He raised his head.

A group of people approached, led by a woman who was mature, charming, and still retained her beauty.

"Greetings, Consort Ding." He bowed.

The newcomer was Consort Dading, whose beautiful eyes swept her up and down: "Jiujiang, you've grown so much. Why don't you play with my eighth son anymore?"

Lao Ba, Zhu Zi, her youngest son.

"Is Your Majesty at ease knowing that the Eighth Prince is playing with me?" Li Jinglong blinked.

Consort Dading glared at him: "That's right, the Eighth Prince is timid, he must have been bullied by you."

"Your Majesty, you have wronged me," Li Jinglong said, feeling aggrieved.

"You, apart from your appearance resembling your father, you really don't resemble him at all." Consort Dading glared at him, flicked her skirt, and strode away with her maids.

Li Jinglong secretly praised him.

This woman has a real charm.

It's not the freshness of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, but rather the ultimate expression of a mature woman's charm!

No wonder Old Zhu likes it.

Legend has it that she was originally Chen Youliang's concubine. After Chen Youliang was defeated and killed, Zhu Yuanzhang saw that she was beautiful and took her into his harem.

Good woman, that's Cao Cao, the traitor.

Old Zhu only ever did this one thing in his life—serve the traitor Cao Cao. This shows just how beautiful Consort Dading must have been back then.

After marrying Lao Zhu, she gave birth to two sons.

The seventh son is Zhu, and the eighth son is Zhu Zi.

This eighth brother is really unlucky.

Historical records state that he died by self-immolation.

When Old Zhu summoned him, he was so frightened that he set himself on fire. How cowardly must he be?

Zhu Yuanzhang, as a father, had many sons, but he treated them like cats and dogs, only giving birth to them and not raising them.

Only Zhu Biao was his precious son.

Jiujiang.

Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao will arrive.

Zhu Biao strode over, his robes billowing in the wind. "Jiujiang, it's been a while since you visited the Eastern Palace, hasn't it? Have you forgotten your duties as the Junior Chamberlain of the Eastern Palace?"

"Your Highness, you and your son can't keep taking advantage of me all the time," Li Jinglong said pitifully. "I can't even finish all of His Majesty's duties."

Zhu Biao scoffed, "Then why don't you go on those pleasure boats and to brothels?"

"Who said that?" Li Jinglong stiffened his neck.

Zhu Biao's lips curled up slightly: "Today, the Crown Princess summoned the daughters of the Xun Gui family, and the Yuan family's daughter was also present."

"Hey, we're not even married yet, and she's already badmouthing me?" Li Jinglong was speechless.

Zhu Biao shook his head: "She didn't, it was my fourth sister-in-law who said it."

"Princess Consort of Yan?" Li Jinglong couldn't believe it. "She's quite well-educated and reasonable, why is she badmouthing me?"

He gritted his teeth and mentally made a grudge against Zhu Laosi.

Zhu Biao glared at him: "You did it yourself, so why are you afraid of what people will say?"

"I have a difficult matter to discuss," Li Jinglong said, a sudden thought flashing through his mind. "It's all His Majesty's fault. He sent me to investigate the case, and I had no choice but to go to those places to look for clues."

No one but Old Zhu could lift this huge pot.

It was so big and heavy that if it were placed on Old Zhu's head, who would dare to verify it?

"You're just talking nonsense." Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly. "I don't care about this matter. You should take some time to go to the East Palace and continue teaching Yunwen how to ride a horse. Yunwen says you teach the best."

Li Jinglong: "Hehe."

It seems you don't understand your son. That little rascal is young, but full of bad intentions.

"As you command, I will teach him properly another day." He bowed.

He had a syllabus in mind for the next equestrian lesson.

Course objective: To allow Zhu Yunwen to fully experience centrifugal force; Teaching method: Select a horse that bounces the most violently when it runs, and train it on a bumpy track until it vomits.

Ultimate result: Terrified of falling, he dared not ride a horse again, and from then on, Li Jiujiang was spared.

"I have many official duties, so please keep an eye on him for me," Zhu Biao said earnestly.

Li Jinglong frowned.

Being Zhu Yuanzhang's crown prince was incredibly tiring.

Ever since the prime minister was rendered useless by Zhu Biao, he had to handle all the government affairs himself. Since he couldn't finish them all, he let Zhu Biao take over.

The father and son worked overtime at the Cultural Hall every day.

Old Zhu is tough and can withstand it, but how can Zhu Biao withstand it?

The twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign was a calamity.

If you count, it's been about seven or eight years. Once Zhu Biao died, Zhu Yuanzhang entered his final frenzy.

Sigh, I guess I'll just have to play it safe.