Chapter 121

"Yes."

Moments later, Zhu Yuanzhang and Jiang Huan appeared quietly within the Donggong.

"Zhu Yunwen pays his respects to Imperial Grandfather."

"Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and sat aside on his own.

"All rise."

Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with confusion and asked,

"Imperial Grandfather, are court affairs not busy today?"

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even lift his eyelids, looking at Zhu Yunwen as he asked,

"Zhu Yunwen, I have one question for you."

"How is your relationship with Su Qiao going?"

Hearing this, Zhu Yunwen's heart tightened involuntarily.

Is Grandfather's test coming so soon?

Zhu Yunwen, unable to lie, lowered his head and said,

"Imperial Grandfather, Mr. Su advised Zhu Yunwen not to become the Crown Prince."

"Besides that, Sun Er and Mr. Su can absolutely be called close friends who share everything!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yunwen with some confusion and asked,

"Is this truly so?"

Zhu Yunwen looked firmly at Zhu Yuanzhang and said,

"Truly!"

Huang Zicheng and Watching Qi Tai, standing aside, immediately understood.

Zhu Yuanzhang is testing the Crown Prince's ability to manage people!

Huang Zicheng immediately looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with an excited face and said,

"Your Majesty, consider this: Su Qiao, from the bottom of his heart, feels the Prince is unworthy compared to the Prince of Yan."

"Yet Su Qiao advised the Prince to voluntarily give up."

"Although this includes a shortsighted view of the Prince's talents, it is enough to show that Su Qiao truly wishes the Prince well."

Watching Qi Tai, standing aside, also suddenly realized.

He immediately echoed Huang Zicheng's view.

Originally, Zhu Yuanzhang's intention in placing Su Qiao in the Donggong was clearly to test Zhu Yunwen's ability to manage people.

After hearing the two's explanation,

a hint of joy inevitably appeared on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

Even I haven't gotten along with Su Qiao this well.

Could Zhu Yunwen have potential in managing people that I hadn't noticed before?

"Good! Now I have one matter to ask Su Qiao."

"I need you to act out a scene with me; are you willing?"

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, Huang Zicheng and Watching Qi Tai were immediately overjoyed.

"Your subjects are willing!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up on his own and said,

"Later, Zhu Yunwen must not show himself."

"I will tell Su Qiao that you went out to suppress the Japanese pirates, and are now trapped by the Japanese pirates in Shandong, unable to move."

"As for the rest, you need not worry; naturally, I will ask, do you understand?"

Hearing this, Huang Zicheng and Watching Qi Tai both trembled.

They immediately clasped their hands and said,

"Your subject accepts the imperial decree!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and said,

"Act the part completely; if even the slightest flaw appears, I will hold you all accountable!"

Huang Zicheng and Watching Qi Tai said in unison,

"Your subject dares not!"

Seeing the appearance of Huang Zicheng and the other,

Zhu Yuanzhang's suspended heart finally relaxed slightly.

Then he raised his head, looked at Jiang Huan in the distance, and gave a signal.

"Go bring Su Qiao."

"Yes!"

"Act convincing! You two as well! What kind of shape is this smiling face in!"

"Remember, from now on, the Crown Prince is in a perilous situation, with danger imminent!"

Everyone in the Donggong trembled upon hearing this.

Each knelt to the ground and said in a serious, high voice,

"Your subjects accept the imperial decree!"

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright in the hall, nodded slightly, and said,

"Very well, you may go; I will wait here for you!"

"Yes!"

Everyone in the Donggong went about their own business, while Zhu Yuanzhang, with great interest, picked up a plate of melons and fruits, initiated a video call, and watched Zhu Di beat Zhu Qi.

"Fourth Brother, put some strength into it! Haven't you eaten enough?"

"Father, I chopped wood all night yesterday; I didn't sleep well."

"You are truly useless. At your age, I would have beaten that boy senseless!"

"..."

Not long after.

Jiang Huan rode a fast horse and rushed into the Imperial Prison.

Before Su Qiao could react, Jiang Huan directly opened Su Qiao's cell.

Su Qiao in the cell stared in utter bewilderment.

"Commandant Jiang, what is going on?"

"Mr. Su, do not ask so many questions; something has happened in the palace!"

The moment the words fell.

Everyone in the entire Imperial Prison immediately became alert.

Something happened in the palace.

That was intimately connected to their very lives and fortunes!

Before Su Qiao could react.

He was directly thrown onto the prisoner cart by Jiang Huan.

Only at the moment of being thrown onto the prisoner cart did Su Qiao's brain begin to spin rapidly.

How could something have suddenly happened in the palace?

That doesn't make sense.

What could possibly be happening in the palace right now?

Moreover, even if something did happen, the only people in the palace now worthy of the phrase "something happened"

would be no more than Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunwen.

Su Qiao's heart gave an involuntary "thump."

Oh no.

Could it be that I spoke too fiercely these past two days and angered Old Zhu to death?!

Don't tell me!

The Space-Time Administration only left a single instruction: that Old Zhu must execute me before I can return.

If Old Zhu is dead, how can I return!