Chapter 161

But Zhu Di could not possibly disregard the Donggong plaque.

Who knew whether Su Qiao was sent by Zhu Yunwen or by Zhu Yuanzhang?

Not long after.

Yao Guangxiao brought a young man before Zhu Di.

"Subject Su Qiao pays homage to His Highness the Prince of Yan."

Zhu Di immediately looked at Su Qiao with eager warmth and smiled, saying

"My Lord Su, no need to perform the bow; simply take your seat."

Su Qiao did not stand on ceremony with Zhu Di.

He plopped down onto a round stool nearby.

Zhu Di looked at Su Qiao and smiled, saying

"I wonder, My Lord Su, why you visit so late at night?"

"Has Zhu Yunwen encountered some trouble?"

Upon hearing this, Su Qiao immediately could not help but smile.

"It is not the Crown Prince who has an issue; it is I who seek His Highness the Prince of Yan to discuss a matter."

Zhu Di looked at Su Qiao with confusion and asked

"Oh? My Lord Su seeks this Prince? This Prince is indeed somewhat curious; I wonder what matter My Lord Su seeks this Prince to discuss?"

Su Qiao lifted the tea cup, took a sip, and then spoke softly

"I wish to present His Highness the Prince of Yan with a certain item."

Zhu Di's brows instantly knitted tightly together.

Presenting an item?

Why does that sound so familiar?!

"What item are you presenting?"

"A white hat for His Highness."

"White..."

Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao behind him instantly changed countenance.

Presenting a white hat again?!

Can't you people present something else?!

However, when Su Qiao spoke these words to Zhu Di, Zhu Di heard a different meaning.

Could the Old Master already know?

At this thought, Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

"Bang!"

Zhu Di slapped his palm upon the table.

"Impudent! What white hat?!"

"This Prince is of the Son of Heaven's bloodline; if you present this Prince with a white hat, does it not mean you hope for the Son of Heaven's passing?!"

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Di and could not help but smile, saying

"Your Highness, there is no need for you and I to be so distant."

"Master Daoyan was not also a person who presented hats?"

Upon these words being spoken,

Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao were thoroughly unsettled.

Clearly, Su Qiao knew of the matter between the two of them.

Zhu Di's expression instantly became Solemn.

He stared fixedly at Su Qiao and asked

"This Prince does not understand what you are saying!"

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Di, his eyes seeming to hold a burning fire, and spoke softly

"Your Highness, I have already said that I am here to assist you."

"Just as Master Daoyan came to assist you."

Zhu Di stared fixedly at Su Qiao and said

"This Prince has said that this Prince does not understand!"

"Guards!"

Zhu Di had barely finished speaking.

Two guards of the Yan Wang Fu instantly appeared outside the door.

"Escort this guest out for this Prince!"

Zhu Di waved his hand decisively.

Those two guards immediately blocked Su Qiao's path.

"My Lord Su, please!"

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Di, whose face was iron-green, yet he did not care in the slightest.

After all, having come so rashly, he could not expect Zhu Di to believe him.

But Su Qiao's purpose had already been achieved.

Su Qiao was seen rising slowly.

After performing a deep bow to Zhu Di, he immediately rose and left Zhu Di's bedroom.

Soon, they left the Yan Prince's capital residence.

After Su Qiao departed.

Zhu Di immediately could not help but stand up.

Cold sweat had long soaked Zhu Di's clothes; he stood aside, agitated, watching Yao Guangxiao mutter curses about luck in a low voice.

"Old Monk, do you not know you are about to cause this Prince's death!"

113, Zhu Di: "Nonsense! This Prince does not want a white hat!"

Yao Guangxiao's mind was also racing at high speed.

"Your Highness, logically speaking, there is absolutely no way anyone could have known about that day's affair!"

Matters such as this could only appear in historical records after the Jingnan Campaign, and only if Yao Guangxiao had mentioned them to others, allowing them to be passed down.

During the Hongwu reign.

This was a matter of life and death for both of them.

Whether it was Zhu Di or Yao Guangxiao, this matter had to rot in their bellies and could not be known by anyone.

Yao Guangxiao's mind raced at high speed.

After a long while, he looked at Zhu Di and said,

"Your Highness, we can wait no longer."

"At dawn tomorrow, Your Highness must enter the palace."

Zhu Di stared fixedly at Yao Guangxiao and asked,

"You want this Prince to confess to His Majesty the Father?"

Yao Guangxiao shook his head and sighed,

"What Your Highness needs to do now is first test the Son of Heaven's tone, and see whether this Su Qiao was sent by Your Majesty or by the Crown Prince."

Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao and gave a bitter smile,

"Old Monk, look at what you just said. Whether it is the Old Master or Zhu Yunwen, is there any difference?"

Yao Guangxiao stared fixedly at Zhu Di and said,

"Of course there is a difference!"

"If it is the Crown Prince, there is likely still room for delay; the Crown Prince might not tell the Son of Heaven directly."

Having said this, Yao Guangxiao shifted the direction of his words.

Finally, he let out a long sigh and said,

"If the Son of Heaven sent Su Qiao, Your Highness can simply hand this poor monk over to the Son of Heaven."

"All mistakes, every single one, are due to this poor monk's demonic words and seduction; the Son of Heaven might not blame Your Highness, and at the very least can ensure Your Highness's safety."