Sky Curtain: With a vermilion mirror, Jing travels through the modern world, shaking all dynasties.

Chapter 142 Old Zhu is here to cause trouble!

Modern times, at Jiangchuan's home.

Zhu Jingjing curled up on the sofa, recalling the scene of Li Shimin and Xiao Sizi being a loving father and daughter in the tavern earlier that day, and couldn't help but feel a little homesick.

"Jingjing, what's wrong?" Jiang Chuan noticed her unusual behavior and quickly asked.

Zhu Jingjing gently shook her head and replied, "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."

The two had met before, so how could Jiang Chuan not sense her feelings?

Knowing she was homesick, he quickly comforted her, "Jingjing, don't worry! Now that Emperor Taizong and the First Emperor have both become guests of our tavern, I'm sure your father will be soon too!"

Zhu Jingjing nodded slightly, feeling both expectant and somewhat afraid.

She bit her lip and asked softly, "Brother, what if Father comes and makes things difficult for you?"

"Jingjing, don't worry!" Jiang Chuan gently rubbed her head and said softly, "I've done my best to help your Ming Dynasty a lot. Even if your father wanted to make things difficult for me, he wouldn't be able to say anything!"

The Great Ming Dynasty, Fengtian Hall.

Upon hearing Jiang Chuan's words, Zhu Yuanzhang was enraged. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "How can I not speak! If I were truly allowed to enter that tavern of later generations, I would certainly teach that brat a lesson!"

Empress Ma smiled and slowly stepped forward, gently advising, "Chongba, I think Jiang Chuan's words are not unreasonable. He has not only treated Jing'er well, but also gifted me with good seeds from the Ming Dynasty, and has also given you many good ideas. He has done a lot of favors for the Ming Dynasty! How can Chongba repay kindness with enmity?"

Zhu Yuanzhang curled his lip and snorted, "How could I not know! But that brat's words were infuriating, which is why I said those words just now."

The next day, at Jiangchuan Tavern.

Just after noon, Li Bai pushed open the door and entered, his usual wine gourd hanging from his waist. As soon as he entered, he laughed loudly, "Young friend Jiang, I've come to bother you again!"

Meng Haoran, who was following behind him, smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, and the two of them took their seats together.

Jiang Chuan quickly went to greet them, smiling, "Mr. Taibai, Mr. Haoran, please have a seat. The wine is ready."

As they were talking, the door opened again, and Su Shi and Wang Anshi entered side by side. The two had become close friends and their behavior was intimate.

Upon seeing Li Bai, Su Shi immediately stepped forward and bowed, while Wang Anshi nodded slightly to Jiang Chuan, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Jiang Chuan invited everyone to sit down, and Lin Xiaoyu brought out dishes one by one. Zhu Jingjing obediently helped pour wine, and the tavern gradually became lively.

Li Bai raised his cup and sang, Su Shi clapped along, Meng Haoran smiled and clapped, and Wang Anshi, though not a good drinker, also held his cup and sipped slowly.

The group discussed poetry and essays, talked about the past and present, and laughed heartily, creating a joyful atmosphere.

The Great Ming Dynasty, Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the sky and saw people drinking and chatting happily in the tavern, which made him feel restless and eager to join in.

He stroked his beard without speaking, but his gaze lingered on the screen.

Empress Ma, observing from the sidelines, asked with a smile, "Chongba, are you perhaps already impatient to go to that tavern in Jiangchuan?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded subconsciously, then quickly came to his senses and retorted, "I miss Jing'er day and night, and naturally I long to see her as soon as possible. What does that tavern have to do with me?"

Empress Ma didn't expose him, but simply smiled and said softly, "Chongba, why don't you try opening a door now? What if you find yourself in that tavern?"

She had only meant it as a casual joke, but to her surprise, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded seriously, then stood up, straightened his dragon robe, and strode toward the palace gate.

Zhu Yuanzhang strode to the palace gate and reached out to grasp the door knocker.

Empress Ma quickly got up and followed.

The door opened.

Outside were the familiar palace corridors, sunlight bathed the ground, and eunuchs stood with their hands at their sides, everything as usual.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, glanced back at Empress Ma, and stepped over the threshold.

In that instant, he vanished into thin air from within the doorway.

Without light or shadow, without sound, it simply vanished without a trace.

Empress Ma stood there dumbfounded, speechless.

She strode forward and reached out to touch the threshold. It was cold to the touch; the stone door was still just a stone door, nothing seemed amiss.

She stared blankly at the empty palace gates for a long while before she came to her senses and murmured, "Zhongba, did he really go to that tavern?"

Modern-day Jiangchuan Tavern.

The door suddenly opened.

The people who were discussing poetry and philosophy inside the tavern all turned their heads and turned their eyes toward the door.

The newcomer was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, with a white jade leather belt around his waist and a winged crown on his head. He exuded an aura of imposing authority and murderous intent.

He was tall and strong, with straight shoulders and back. As he strode across the threshold, the hem of his robe fluttered in the wind.

It felt as if I had stepped onto a command platform rather than entered a tavern.

Jiang Chuan was taken aback. Another new guest had arrived?

The newcomer was wearing a dragon robe, so he must be an emperor from some dynasty!

His little tavern welcomed the third emperor after Emperor Taizong of Tang and Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Just as he was about to ask a question, a startled exclamation suddenly came from behind the bar: "Father!"

"Father?"

Jiang Chuan subconsciously repeated the word, then realized that the majestic man in front of him, dressed in a dragon robe and exuding a murderous aura, was actually Zhu Jingjing's father, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty!

The little princess excitedly ran out from behind the bar, grabbing Jiang Chuan's arm, "Brother, you were right! It really is Father's turn!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression suddenly darkened.

He had heard Zhu Jingjing call Jiang Chuan "brother" countless times from behind the sky, but although he felt a little unhappy when he heard it through the sky, he didn't react on the spot.

Now that he is standing here alive, with his daughter right in front of him, affectionately calling a boy from the future his elder brother, the feeling is completely different from watching him from the sky!

Zhu Jingjing was unaware of what was happening and continued to tug at Jiang Chuan's sleeve, talking with a grin.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze, however, had already fallen coldly on Jiang Chuan's face.

Remembering Empress Ma's instructions, Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed his anger, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "You brat, Jing'er is a princess of my Great Ming Dynasty. How can you bear to be called 'brother' by her?"

Jiang Chuan frowned slightly. The little princess's worries were indeed correct. Old Zhu had attacked him as soon as they met!

He took a deep breath and replied calmly, "Jingjing thinks highly of me and willingly treats me like an older brother, so why shouldn't I accept that?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned cold, and the imposing aura he had cultivated from years of holding a high position loomed over Jiangchuan like dark clouds.

His gaze was like a knife, and his voice was low and cold: "Considering that you, you brat, have taken care of Jing'er to some extent, if you are willing to kneel down and apologize, I can forgive you."

The tavern fell silent!

Jiang Chuan, however, was not afraid at all. Instead, he sneered and met Zhu Yuanzhang's oppressive gaze head-on.

"Zhu Chongba, don't forget, this isn't your Ming Dynasty! You'd better put away your imperial airs!"