Chapter 22

Even if Zhu Yunwen pretended nothing had happened and planned to retaliate against Su Qiao after Zhu Yuanzhang's death,

Zhu Yuanzhang would still praise Zhu Yunwen by saying, "A gentleman's revenge is never too late."

In other words.

Just now in the imperial prison, Zhu Yunwen and Huang Zicheng worked together to kill Su Qiao.

This was the truly ideal outcome in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind!

Let alone directly humiliating the reigning crown prince like this.

Even if Su Qiao had slapped a farmer so many times,

that farmer would never have let Su Qiao sit whole in the prison.

But Zhu Yunwen did nothing.

Instead, he chose the path Zhu Yuanzhang most "criticized."

That was to run crying to Old Zhu's face and play the victim.

Looking at Zhu Yunwen's heavily swollen cheeks,

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to see Su Qiao standing aside, reporting to him, "See, Your Majesty, your grandson is just as useless as I said."

The corners of Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai's mouths twitched slightly.

"Your Majesty..."

Huang Zicheng was about to speak.

Before he could get the words out, he found a pair of long boots embroidered with golden dragons appearing before him.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked coldly at Huang Zicheng and asked,

"Your Majesty what?"

"I... I..."

"Can't even speak clearly?"

"No..."

"Enough, don't say it. I ask, you answer."

"I obey Your Majesty's decree."

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath, stared fixedly at Huang Zicheng, and asked,

"When Su Qiao slapped our Yunwen, you said you were unconscious?"

"Is that so or not?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly roared.

Huang Zicheng's soul nearly flew to the highest heavens.

"No, I, I was completely blank in my mind at the time, only thinking to quickly order someone to save the Crown Prince..."

Zhu Yuanzhang had truly climbed out of a mountain of knives and a sea of fire.

Naturally, he could see through it.

Although the injuries on Huang Zicheng and Zhu Yunwen's faces looked terrifying,

they could not possibly have knocked anyone unconscious from slapping.

Even though Zhu Yuanzhang had long guessed the scene at that time,

hearing Huang Zicheng say it so shamelessly,

Old Zhu still felt a nameless fire rise in his chest.

He kicked up, striking Huang Zicheng on the shoulder, and sent Huang Zicheng rolling away with one kick.

"Get out! How dare you say such a thing?!"

Huang Zicheng got up from the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, saying,

"I have studied since childhood, have no strength to bind a chicken, and have never seen such..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said sternly,

"Did Su Qiao see such things?"

"Did Su Qiao not study hard since childhood?"

"Did Su Qiao have the strength to bind a chicken?"

"Why did Su Qiao lock Qi Tai outside? Have you figured this out?!"

"Because he knew himself that if one more person came in, he wouldn't be able to win!"

Su Qiao is a scholar.

You, Huang Zicheng, are a scholar.

Why should you, a scholar, be the exception?

Furthermore.

What is Su Qiao's build? What is your build, Huang Zicheng?

Since entering the Donggong to serve as Mr.,

Huang Zicheng has grown fatter and fatter, his weight now equaling two Su Qiaos.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Huang Zicheng with disdain and said,

"You were beaten down by Su Qiao."

"Is all this flesh of yours eaten for nothing?!"

"If this flesh of yours were on a farmer, the Great Ming could produce several more acres of grain each year!"

Huang Zicheng knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, saying,

"I deserve to die. I will stop eating meat when I return."

Zhu Yunwen also spoke up on Huang Zicheng's behalf.

"Grandfather Emperor, that Su Qiao is terrifying; it is no wonder Master Huang is at fault."

Zhu Yuanzhang then turned his gaze back to Zhu Yunwen.

"Zhu Yunwen, when Su Qiao slapped Huang Zicheng, what were you doing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen froze.

In an instant, he stood stunned in place.

Why is this coming at me again?

"Grandfather Emperor... Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Yunwen."

"When things had already reached that point, were you still putting on airs as the Crown Prince, waiting for your ministers to shield you from disaster?!"

"If only you had joined forces with Huang Zicheng at that moment, would you now need to come here and complain to us?!"

Just looking at Zhu Yunwen's state.

Zhu Yuanzhang could already predict.

Once Zhu Di marches on Jin Ling, Zhu Yunwen's first reaction will surely be to push Huang Zicheng, Watching Qi Tai, and others out for Zhu Di to behead.

Zhu Yuanzhang's questioning voice was deafening.

But Zhu Yunwen was shaken dumb in place.

He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with some reluctance.

Zhu Yuanzhang, already in a rage, was instantly provoked by Zhu Yunwen's gaze.

"Why are you looking at us like that? Do you want to spar with us? Get up; we will not punish you. If you can defeat us, we will execute Su Qiao right now!"

Zhu Yuanzhang roared this sentence at Zhu Yunwen.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen hurriedly knelt on the ground and explained.

"Your grandson dares not; Your grandson simply does not understand. On what grounds can Su Qiao disregard hierarchy..."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the trembling Zhu Yunwen.

Impatiently, he lifted Zhu Yunwen's chin and said.

"Because you are still alive right now!"

"Do you understand?! Foolish child!"

"Just now in the prison, if Su Qiao had had even a shred of treacherous intent, how could you have the life to come and complain now!"

Even if Su Qiao truly was Zhu Di's man.

Just now in the prison, Su Qiao could have directly killed Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Di would have had to become Emperor regardless.

But Su Qiao did not!