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

Zhu Zhanjun immediately smiled and said.

"I hit it off with Brother Yu at first sight."

"Seeing you stand up just now, unafraid of power, and with such righteous spirit, reminded me of a poem that perfectly captures your character."

Upon hearing this, Yu Qian's eyes flashed with surprise, then he cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness flatters me. May I ask what poem it is? This student is all ears."

Zhu Zhanjun stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the shimmering waves of the Qinhuai River and the lights on the opposite bank, and slowly recited:

"Carved out from the deep mountains by countless hammers and chisels, and burned by fierce fire as if nothing."

"I fear not being ground to dust, but only wish to leave behind a pure reputation in the world."

The poem, word by word, is clear and powerful, echoing through the gradually quieting streets and alleys.

The last line, "To leave behind a pure reputation in the world," in particular, seems to resonate with the power of metal and stone, striking a chord deep within the heart.

Upon hearing this, Yu Qian was visibly shaken, and his eyes suddenly shone brightly.

He studied diligently from a young age, aspired to great heights, and often encouraged himself with his reputation. Hearing these four short sentences now seemed to express all the ambitions he held in his heart and the things he wanted to put into practice!

It perfectly captured his heart.

"To leave behind a pure reputation in the world!" This phrase was practically his lifelong pursuit.

Yu Qian took a deep breath and solemnly bowed deeply to Zhu Zhanjun.

"Your Highness's poem...is truly a gem of wisdom, a wake-up call!"

"This student will forever remember this, and cherish it as a memory, so as not to fail Your Highness's kindness in presenting this poem today!"

Among the remaining crowd were many scholars who, upon hearing the poem, pondered it in hushed tones and showed admiration on their faces.

Zhu Zhanqi, Zhang Mao, Liu Zhong, Zheng Yu, Li Heng, Zhu Yi, and the others looked at each other, and immediately put on masks of pain.

Wait, class monitor, what happened to our promise to be academic underachievers together?!

Zhu Di, who had stopped to watch from a distance, nodded slightly and laughed at Yang Rong and Huang Huai beside him, saying, "This little monkey's poem is quite fitting for the occasion, and it's not bad."

Yang Rong stroked his beard and said, "Luo Binwang wrote a poem about geese at the age of seven, and His Highness Prince Jiyang composed this 'Ode to Limestone' at the age of six. They are even better!"

Huang Huai nodded.

"Such poetry and prose are truly those of a child prodigy."

Although he was quite wary of the Han Prince's family, Zhu Zhanjun's poem was indeed of a high standard.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's face immediately broke into a smile.

the other side.

Seeing Yu Qian's serious reaction, Zhu Zhanjun's mischievous pleasure was immediately satisfied.

Damn!

Copying poems in front of the original author is so damn exciting.

He stepped forward and offered a helping hand to Yu Qian, saying with a smile, "I'm glad Brother Yu is pleased."

"It is truly fate that we met today."

"I have recently been granted permission by the Emperor to open the 'Bowen Hall,' and I need someone as knowledgeable, courageous, and principled as you, brother."

"Brother Yu, would you be willing to stay in the capital for a while and come to my residence to do some practical work together?"

Yu Qian looked up at the young prince before him, who, despite his young age, possessed extraordinary bearing and exceptional insight. Recalling the prince's decisive and impartial handling of the matter and his emphasis on "innocence," Yu Qian felt a sense of gratitude for being recognized and appreciated.

He bowed again: "Your Highness's kindness is deeply appreciated. However, I still need to study for the exams, and I have family matters to attend to back home in Suzhou..."

Zhu Zhanjun waved his hand to interrupt him, and smiled slyly: "There's no rush to prepare for the exam."

"The Bowen Academy is not only for studying unusual skills, but also for studying classics, history, and policy. Here, you can not only improve your scholarship, but also participate in practical affairs and understand the people's sentiments and the government's politics. Isn't that more beneficial than studying behind closed doors?"

"As for their families, I can send someone to make proper arrangements for them."

"Brother Yu, you might as well consider it and reply to me another day."

Seeing Zhu Zhanjun's sincere intentions, Yu Qian thought about what he had just seen and heard. This young prince was indeed no ordinary playboy, and his ambitions seemed to be far from small.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness's kindness is beyond my comprehension. This matter... please allow me a few days to consider it before I reply to Your Highness."

"Alright!" Zhu Zhanjun's smile widened. "Then I'll await good news."

"It's getting late, and so much has happened; we shouldn't stay any longer."

"Brother Yu, if you have made a decision, you can come to Bowen Pavilion to find me at any time."

After saying this, he nodded to Yu Qian, then cupped his hands to the crowd that had not yet completely dispersed, and led Zhu Zhanqi and the others toward the street corner amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd.

........................

After a while.

Zhu Zhanjun separated from Zhu Zhanqi, Zhang Mao, Liu Zhong, and others.

Everyone went back to their own homes and to their own mothers.

He already had a good idea of ​​the system's "adventures".

Refresh Yu Qian's profile directly!

It's still a good deal.

He boarded the carriage to return to the palace.

Then a familiar figure appeared in front of me.

"Your Highness..." Yang Rong said calmly. "Your Majesty, please come in."

Zhu Zhanjun was taken aback.

Grandfather?

No, how come Zhu Di is here?

A short while later.

Inside a spacious carriage.

Zhu Zhanjun and Zhu Di sat down facing each other, the grandfather and grandson staring at each other.

After a while.

Zhu Di then spoke slowly.

"You brat, you're quite pleased with yourself for showing off in public, but what will become of our royal family's reputation if people find out that a member of the Ming Dynasty's royal family frequents brothels at night?"

Zhu Zhanjun: "..."

They're still using the old-fashioned tactics, just throwing out labels.

He blinked his dark, round eyes and chuckled.

"Grandpa, please don't be in such a hurry to criticize me."

As the saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will also be crooked.

"You, the mighty Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, don't sleep at night but frequent brothels?"

Zhu Di blew his beard and glared.

"nonsense."

"Grandpa Emperor, you weren't visiting brothels!"

"Grandpa Emperor was traveling incognito."

"Then I will also travel incognito," Zhu Zhanjun said righteously.

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

Zhu Di's eyelids twitched, and he almost laughed in anger.

That kid is really good at making excuses.

He stroked his beard and said calmly.

"However... you handled today's matter quite well."

"As a member of the royal family, it is good that you can distinguish right from wrong, are not afraid of foreign envoys, protect my people, and rely on the law rather than simply using your power to oppress others."

"Especially your last words, 'In the Ming Dynasty, one must abide by the rules of the Ming Dynasty,' were spoken with backbone."

"While appeasement of distant peoples is a national policy, appeasement does not equate to indulgence."

"If foreign envoys think that our Great Ming is weak and easily bullied, they will dare to take advantage of us if they dare to kidnap people in the street today."

"What you have done today has both enhanced the prestige of the nation and reassured the people."

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled.

"That's all thanks to my grandfather's excellent teaching!"

Zhu Di burst into laughter.

"You little rascal, you're just a smooth talker!"

He then added with a half-smile, "By the way, you said before... that an emperor traveling incognito is equivalent to visiting prostitutes?"

Zhu Zhanjun felt a chill run down his spine.

wipe!

The old man has pretty sharp ears.

How could you hear that?

He quickly replied.

"Grandpa, I was just joking with my brothers!"

"You are a true emperor, understanding the people's plight and visiting their homes to alleviate their suffering; that shows your deep concern for the common people!"

Zhu Di nodded in satisfaction.

"That's more like it."

"Don't talk nonsense and ruin Grandpa's reputation."

"By the way, if it weren't for that unexpected thing, you wouldn't have actually been planning to go to a brothel, would you?"

Zhu Zhanjun gave an innocent smile.

"Grandpa, is it not allowed?"

Zhu Di immediately puffed out his beard and glared.

"Of course not!"

"How old are you? Going to brothels already?"

Zhu Zhanjun chuckled.

"Grandpa, I only made a mistake that every man makes."

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