Chapter 34

"For every mouthful the court takes, the scholar-officials lose one!"

"Ruling with hands folded means asking Your Highness to relinquish power!"

"Peace under heaven means asking Your Highness to yield benefits!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

"Impossible, Mr. Huang is not that kind of person!"

Su Qiao stared fixedly at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen and asked softly,

"Then did Your Highness know about the beggars at the City God Temple before today?"

"I did not know, but what does that prove? It only shows that Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen has long remained within the deep palace!"

Su Qiao shook his head helplessly.

"But if Your Highness had not left the palace with me today,"

"and if His Majesty were to pass away, does Your Highness think these porridge sheds would still exist?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen was momentarily speechless, then stated decisively,

"They will not disappear now! As long as Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen draws breath, these porridge sheds at the City God Temple will certainly remain!"

Su Qiao snorted coldly and said,

"The porridge sheds at Jin Ling's City God Temple will always remain, but what of those in Min, Zhejiang, and Shu?"

"The sheds Your Highness has seen will always remain, but what of the things Your Highness has never seen?"

Su Qiao's words hovered around Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's heart like a series of curses.

For a long time,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen had regarded Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai as his left and right arms.

But Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen had never considered

what he should do

if Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were merely using him.

In a daze, a voice seemed to appear in Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's heart.

Perhaps Su Qiao is right?

Perhaps I truly am unfit to be the Son of Heaven?

Within the Eastern Palace.

Crown Princess Lu watched Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai with deep worry and asked,

"Will anything happen to Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, gentlemen?"

Huang Huang Zicheng shook his head slightly and whispered,

"Rest assured, Your Ladyship; there are people protecting the Crown Prince nearby, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard has undercover agents following behind. There will be no accidents."

"Besides, as long as we can win over Su Qiao, His Highness's position as heir apparent will be secure."

"Compared to His Highness's status as heir apparent, what does such a small risk amount to?"

Hearing Huang Huang Zicheng speak thus,

Lu's suspended heart finally relaxed slightly.

"Yes, the position of heir apparent... the position of heir apparent..."

Thinking of this, Lu hurriedly bowed to Huang Huang Zicheng and said,

"Mr. Huang, if Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen is fortunate enough to succeed to the throne, we mother and son will surely never forget your merit!"

Huang Huang Zicheng smiled brightly and said,

"Your Ladyship speaks unnecessarily; if I can stabilize the foundation of our Great Ming state, what does it matter if I suffer a beating?"

"Even ten beatings would be no problem!"

Just at that moment,

a sudden neighing of horses erupted from the gate of the Eastern Palace.

Lu, Huang Huang Zicheng, and Qi Tai all lit up with excitement.

"Your Ladyship, His Highness has returned!"

The words had barely left his lips when everyone saw Su Qiao and Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen quietly step down from the carriage.

Su Qiao did not enter the Ciqing Hall; instead, at the palace gate, he smiled broadly at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen and bid farewell,

"Since that is the case, this subject will take his leave."

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen bowed stiffly and replied,

"Mr. Su, take care on your way."

Seeing this scene, Huang Huang Zicheng was so delighted that snot bubbles nearly popped out of his nose!

"Your Ladyship, judging by this, it seems His Highness has already won over that brat Su Qiao!"

Qi Tai also chimed in from the side,

"It was not easy; this youngster Su Qiao was never this polite even in the presence of His Majesty!"

Under the descriptions of Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai,

Lu had long come to regard winning over Su Qiao as the inevitable path for Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's succession.

Now seeing Su Qiao and Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen in this state,

Lu naturally could not contain her joy.

Yet she still smiled brightly and reminded them from the side,

"Gentlemen, from this day forward, Mr. Su shall be my right-hand man just as you two are; do not speak so rashly, or you will make it difficult for me."

Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai immediately realized they had misspoken.

They hurriedly smiled and said,

"Your Ladyship, forgive our offense; we two ministers have spoken out of turn!"

Under the gaze of Huang Huang Zicheng and the other two,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen walked into the Ciqing Hall, lost in thought.

The moment he entered the hall, Lady Lü arrived with two palace maids, carrying a cup of tea.

Looking at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, she smiled and said,

"Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, reclaiming that Su Qiao must have required quite a bit of persuasion; have some tea first to moisten your throat!"

Huang Huang Zicheng stepped forward, looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, and smiled, saying,

"Congratulations, Your Highness; congratulations! With this, your position as heir is secured!"

Qi Tai looked at Huang Huang Zicheng and said, "Mr. Huang, do not rush; let His Highness tell us the details. How exactly did His Highness persuade Su Qiao? Let us ministers witness it!"

"Indeed, Your Highness, please tell us!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen helplessly clasped his hands and said,

"Gentlemen, it was not really any great difficulty."

Hearing Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen say this, Lady Lü's eyes immediately curved into crescents as she smiled brightly and said,

"Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen has even learned modesty; modesty is good!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen said helplessly,

"Mother, there truly is nothing to it; I only said one sentence."

Huang Huang Zicheng immediately clicked his tongue in amazement, saying,

"In ancient times, Zhang Yide shouted down the Dangyang Bridge; today, the Crown Prince settles the universe with a single word. Marvelous!"

"We just wonder what exactly Your Highness said...?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen smiled helplessly and said,

"Nothing much; I simply stated that I no longer wished to be the heir apparent."

In an instant,

the entire Eastern Palace fell into dead silence.

37, The Imperial Clan Enters the Capital!

Lady Lü's face twitched slightly.

She had thrown her entire youth into this imperial palace.