Chapter 408

Even so, Ma Kui and the others, standing several zhang away, forcibly held back the fifty-odd Embroidered Uniform Guard riders who had galloped up.

Su Qiao heard the commotion and found it somewhat strange.

Who has such boldness as to ride horses within the city?

Of course, the Embroidered Uniform Guard enjoy certain privileges; if it were an urgent matter, riding horses would be understandable.

But if they are deliberately insolent, then do not blame me for taking action.

Su Qiao, supporting Liu Rushi as they stood in place, gazed intently at the leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard opposite them.

Hmm, wearing a black cloak in broad daylight—what is this ailment?

Do they die upon seeing the light?

"Enough, I am here to find the Imperial Envoy Su Qiao!"

The person in the black cloak produced a jade pendant representing Zhu Youjian's identity and flashed it briefly.

Everyone present immediately knelt to the ground.

"As if the Emperor himself were present!"

Su Qiao was even more bewildered and likewise bowed his head along with Liu Rushi.

You are not following the expected script!

His mind raced with many thoughts: what does it mean that Zhu Youjian suddenly sent an envoy bearing such a token?

Could there be trouble in Jingcheng, and are they summoning me back?

Before Su Qiao could figure out the question, a familiar voice entered his ears...

"Let us go inside and speak first!"

Hearing this familiar voice, Su Qiao's doubts grew even more severe.

I have absolutely heard this voice before!

Yet something was amiss: the person holding Zhu Youjian's jade pendant, whom I also know, besides Wang Chengen, seems to be no one else.

I can absolutely identify Wang Chengen's voice!

Su Qiao could be one hundred percent certain that the person in the black robe was not Wang Chengen.

Then who is it?

Carrying these doubts in his heart, Su Qiao led the person in the black robe into the courtyard.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Zhu Di decisively threw off his cloak and removed the black robe.

Su Qiao immediately recognized him, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

While I was here guessing left and right, I never expected that old rascal Zhu Di would come again!

"Your subject, Jianguotai Sect, greets Your Majesty Emperor Taizong!"

Su Qiao clasped his hands and bowed with utter helplessness.

Although he did not know why Zhu Di had suddenly come running again.

However, Su Qiao knew that he, arriving with Zhu Youjian's jade pendant and heading straight for this Su Fu in Suzhou, must have a matter to discuss with him!

"Enough; if you are unwilling to bow, then rise."

Zhu Di teased Su Qiao once, then took the initiative, found a seat, and sat down himself.

Although he was not yet an old man with withered limbs.

Yet he was certainly not as vigorous as when he rode the battlefield in his youth.

Even though Nanjingcheng is quite close to Suzhou, he had ridden hard for a long time all the way.

His body nearly fell apart, all because he feared Su Qiao might lose.

But after entering the Suzhou prefecture, he discovered the situation was not as he had imagined.

He had arrived too late; Su Qiao had already finished fighting, and the Japanese pirates had been exterminated.

Moreover, yesterday, Song Qiao had even led the army back to participate in the ceremony.

His entire journey could be considered a wasted trip.

However, a wasted trip cannot simply be wasted; Zhu Di rarely ventures out and does not wish to remain idle in the palace.

Ma Kui and the others had all seen Zhu Di before and knew his identity; they had only met previously in Jingcheng, within the halls of Su Fu.

They all shut their mouths, stepped aside, and stood very respectfully.

261, Zhu Di with his thick eyebrows and bright eyes!

"Your Majesty..."

"You have seen me at my father's place before; aside from these few here, who could possibly recognize me? Just call me by my name."

Zhu Di, for some reason, unexpectedly asked Su Qiao to address him directly by his name.

Could Su Qiao possibly agree to that?

"Zhu Di, why have you come? Is there something you need, or has the Emperor summoned you to request aid?"

Su Qiao was not at all polite.

Zhu Di gave Su Qiao a gloomy glance. "You truly are impolite."

"Of course; I am simply too excellent, with only one flaw: I am far too honest and straightforward!"

Su Qiao said, completely unconcerned.

As if he had not heard the sarcasm in Zhu Di's tone.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's mouth twitched twice. "This time I came because Zhu Youjian requested aid; your guess was not entirely wrong. However, he did not ask me, but rather asked my father. Do you not remember who my father is?"

Su Qiao blinked his eyes. "Of course I cannot forget!"

Regarding Zhu Yuanzhang, Su Qiao truly felt extremely troubled.

Why not just chop me down directly?

But he didn't; he insisted on finding ways to make himself suffer.

He couldn't even avoid making himself suffer!

So he was sent here to Zhu Youjian, and he couldn't even get a moment's rest.

Noticing Su Qiao's changing expression, Zhu Di smiled and said, "Enough, you don't need to look like that. Zhu Youjian and my father are both worried about your safety, so they sent me. I rushed all the way to Nanjing, yet I still arrived too late."

"Not too late, not too late. I'm quite grateful that you came."

Su Qiao said this politely.

Zhu Di slapped his thigh. "Good! I knew it. You, Su Qiao, are a fine minister. Although the Japanese pirates have been wiped out, I don't want to return just yet. Fortunately, besides you and these few others, no one else knows my identity here, so I'll stay a few more days."

The knife was finally revealed!

Was Zhu Di here to scout the situation?

Among the several emperors of the old Zhu family, hardly any were normal.

Except for Zhu Yuanzhang!

Some practiced alchemy, some did carpentry, some ran out wandering and got caught, some visited brothels...

Tsk, tsk, tsk...

They were simply the finest specimens!

Zhu Di originally had thick eyebrows and bright eyes, looking quite reliable; how had he awakened this unreliable hidden attribute?

Su Qiao widened his eyes and asked Zhu Di, "But what about state affairs? If you're gone for a few days, it's fine, but aren't you afraid problems will arise if you stay out too long?"

Who knew Zhu Di would shake his head without hesitation? "No problem, nothing will go wrong. Before I left, I gave clear instructions: if any problem truly arises, whoever causes it, I will deal with them. One cannot occupy a latrine without defecating!"

"Vulgar!" Su Qiao rolled his eyes and said.

Zhu Di glared, and Ma Kui and the others immediately lowered their heads hard, almost curling into a ball!

This Mr. Su's courage is simply too great!

If they hadn't known this person's identity, it would be one thing, but knowing it and still speaking like this is simply not fearing death.

Zhu Di glared again. "You don't really think I truly dare not kill you, do you?"

Hearing this, Su Qiao shrugged. "You really dare not kill me. First, no one else here knows who you are. Second, there is Emperor Sizong Lie. If he knew of your actions, he would surely reprimand you first. As for Emperor Sizong Lie, well, currently the sky is high and the emperor is far away!"

Hearing Su Qiao's words, Zhu Di thought for a moment; indeed, it was so.

If he told others who he was, they would likely not worship him, but might even tie him up and throw him into prison.

Zhu Youjian is currently in the capital and cannot prove his identity for him.

That jade pendant likewise cannot prove who he is.

At best, it would only let people know he represents Your Majesty.

"Very well, I... I will spare you for now. Just pray that later my father doesn't send you to me!"