The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

After Zhu Zhanji respectfully finished bowing, he glanced at Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Zhanjun returned a mysterious smile.

Zhu Zhanji snorted inwardly.

Pretending!

Zhu Di looked at the two brothers with a gentle expression.

Although he treated Zhu Zhanjun differently, Zhu Zhanji was his eldest grandson.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Zhu Zhanji will be the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

It could even be said that Zhu Gaochi benefited from Zhu Zhanji's influence.

Otherwise, given his dislike for Zhu Gaochi, his position as crown prince might not be secure.

Zhu Di had already made up his mind.

Zhu Zhanji, who was skilled in both literature and military affairs, later became emperor, but the foreign officials under his command were not enough to govern the Ming Dynasty.

Although Zhu Zhanjun is young, he is extremely intelligent and cunning. With proper guidance, he will surely become a great man in the future.

The two brothers, a harmonious relationship between ruler and subject, and a respectful and loving brother, steadfastly defended the Ming Dynasty. Just imagining such a scene made him beam with joy.

Zhu Di patted Zhu Zhanjun on the shoulder.

"Zhanjun, this is your elder brother Zhu Zhanji. Go and say hello."

An innocent smile appeared on Zhu Zhanjun's exquisitely beautiful face.

He chuckled, strode towards Zhu Zhanji, and hugged him tightly.

"Big brother, I've missed you so much!"

Zhu Zhanji felt an overwhelming and terrifying force coming from Zhu Zhanjun's arm, as if it were going to crush him.

His face turned pale instantly, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

Before he could even utter a sound, Zhu Zhanjun released his grip again.

Zhu Zhanji felt a lightness in his body, and fresh air rushed into his lungs, as if he had come back to life.

He subconsciously touched his arm and felt that it was already red and swollen.

How the hell does this kid have such strength?

It was absolutely intentional.

Zhu Zhanjun said with a grin.

"Big brother, what's wrong?"

Zhu Zhanji gritted his teeth and said.

"Third brother, your greeting is so rude it makes me want to fight back."

Zhu Di, who was standing nearby, also noticed that something was amiss.

He coughed lightly.

"Zhanji, what brings you here today?"

Zhu Zhanji took a breath before realizing his purpose.

He addressed Zhu Di.

"Grandfather, I have come today because there is a very important matter concerning the reputation of the royal family and the hearts of the nobles that I must report to you."

He paused, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over Zhu Zhanjun, who was blinking his big eyes with an "innocent" expression, before continuing:

"I recently heard that my third brother, Zhanjun, has been soliciting large sums of money from numerous noble sons and their families at the Dabentang under the guise of 'investing in a sugar business with high returns.' What may have started as just children's play may have become extremely serious in its consequences."

"As far as I know, many people have participated in the 'investment,' ranging from the sons and relatives of dukes and marquises to some palace servants and their relatives. The amount of money involved is probably not small. However, the promised returns from my third brother have long been interrupted, and even the principal seems to be difficult to recover. Now, many mansions, such as the Duke of Chengguo's mansion, the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, and the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion, are filled with complaints. Many families are arguing about this matter, and even relatives and friends have turned against each other."

He raised his head, looked at Zhu Di, and said sincerely.

"Grandfather, our Great Ming Dynasty governs the world with benevolence and filial piety, and the royal family should set an example for the world."

"My third brother is young and may have been just being playful without considering the consequences. But if this matter is left unattended, it will not only discourage the nobles, but also damage the face of the imperial family, making the people think that the royal children are engaging in...common fraudulent practices."

"If this continues, it will likely be detrimental to the nation!"

After Zhu Zhanji finished speaking, he lowered his eyes slightly and sneered inwardly.

You little brat swallowed my eight thousand strings of cash.

I'll make sure you're dead, or I'm not Zhu Zhanji!

The hall fell silent.

Zhu Di remained silent.

Zhu Zhanjun still had a smiling face.

Young man, you're too young!

They do not understand the basic principles of the jade throne and golden Buddha.

This money isn't just mine anymore.

After a while.

Zhu Zhanji also noticed that something was amiss.

Why isn't Grandpa responding?

He looked at Zhu Di and said subconsciously.

"Grandpa Emperor?"

Zhu Di seemed to awaken from a dream, and he stroked his beard.

"Zhanji...this matter is not as you imagine."

"Your third brother, Zhu Zhanjun, wasn't lying. It's true that the rebates had to be suspended because the business was at a standstill."

"He has also made a promise to all the sons of Hoongui who invested that he will repay them in the future."

"You mustn't falsely accuse your third brother."

"There are successes and failures in everything you do. You can't accuse someone of fraud just because they failed once."

Zhu Di's tone was earnest and meaningful.

Actually, he was also feeling very frustrated.

Damn it, why did Zhu Zhanji come here to talk about this?

He's now pocketed the lion's share of the money he swindled.

This matter must be put on hold.

Otherwise, if others find out, they might think he's the mastermind behind it all.

Zhu Zhanji's eyes widened.

He never expected Zhu Di to have this attitude.

Is that correct?

He gritted his teeth and said.

"Will my third brother pay it back later?"

"Will they really pay it back?"

His last sentence was addressed to Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled.

"Big brother, don't worry."

"I always keep my word!"

"Or else I'll die a horrible death... Waaaaah!"

Before he could utter the last word, Zhu Di covered his mouth.

Zhu Di looked like he was cursing.

This brat, what nonsense are you spouting?

Seeing the grandfather and grandson so close, Zhu Zhanji was extremely jealous.

Thinking of his eight thousand strings of cash, he got carried away and said...

"Then why did you only give me 100 of my 8,000 strings of cash? When are you going to pay me back the rest?"

Zhu Di was taken aback, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Eight thousand strings of cash?

Did Zhu Zhanji buy it too?

He was somewhat disappointed.

Those spoiled brats didn't realize it was a scam, and neither did Zhu Zhanji, on whom he had placed high hopes.

Zhu Zhanjun blinked and said in a serious tone.

"Brother, it's not that we don't want to pay back, it's that we'll pay it back slowly and in an orderly manner."

[Ding! You have obtained a golden treasure chest!]

Zhu Zhanji's head was buzzing with anger.

What kind of talk is this? Isn't it just nonsense?

The implication is that he still doesn't want to pay it back, right?

He gritted his teeth and said.

"You liar."

"Enough!" Zhu Di frowned and scolded.

Zhu Zhanji was startled, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and he immediately realized what was happening.

He quickly replied.

"Grandpa Emperor..."

Zhu Di shook his head in disappointment.

He used to think that this eldest grandson of the emperor was quite steady and intelligent.

Why was I so agitated and made so many mistakes in front of Zhu Zhanjun today?

The two are seven years apart in age!

Zhu Di sighed.

"Zhanji, judging from your tone, Zhanjun must have returned some money to you before?"

"If that's the case, why do you still call him a liar?"

"Would a member of the Zhu family deceive his own brother?"

Zhu Zhanji felt a cold sweat run down his back.

He instinctively tried to deflect the question.

"That day, Jin Banban brought back Third Brother's words and money..."

"At first, I thought my grandson was just being overly sensitive, but then I listened to Jin Banban and the others' analysis for a day."

"My grandson wants to say that he was indeed feeling unwell at the time."

"That's why..."

"Nonsense!" Zhu Di roared in anger. "You, the eldest grandson of the emperor, actually need a bunch of eunuchs to analyze the bond and trust between you and your brothers?"

"I think you've wasted your time studying."

"Go back and copy the Classic of Filial Piety ten times!"

Zhu Zhanji's face immediately turned deathly pale.

But he didn't dare say anything more and could only grit his teeth and bow respectfully.

"Yes, Grandfather."

"Grandson takes his leave."

After saying that, he left without even looking at Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Di sighed as he watched him leave, shaking his head slightly inwardly.

I used to think this grandson was quite steady and intelligent, but it seems he's just a naive child who hasn't experienced much hardship. He's read a lot of books, but he must never become like Fusu.

In comparison...

His gaze fell on Zhu Zhanjun, who was grinning and joking beside him.

This brat is incredibly adaptable, a master of using others' strength against them, and a real expert at playing the game. He's like a seasoned veteran who's been around the block for years.

Could it be that the fourth generation of the Zhu family will produce two more true dragons?

However, even if Zhu Zhanjun is a dragon, he's a rogue dragon.

They need to be taught properly!

Zhu Di suppressed his inner emotions.

He said to Zhu Zhanjun beside him.

"You little monkey, you've corrupted all the students in the main hall."

"In a few days, Grandpa will take you to practice!"

Zhu Zhanjun: "..."