Chapter 13: Damn, I Showed Off Too Much

"Speaking of which, this Lv Ben can be considered a great Confucian scholar of the current age. Although he only holds a third-rank title, he is a close minister to the Son of Heaven; letting him tutor Zhu Gaoxu is more than enough."

Hearing these words from his cheap grandfather, Zhu Gaoxu gave a disdainful smile in his heart.

Others might not know what kind of person Lv Ben was, but how could he not know?

The death of Zhu Xiongying, son of the Crown Prince Zhu Biao, definitely had something to do with him, yet this man did have some ability.

Not only did he make his grandfather and a group of court officials call him upright and clean, but even Lao Zhu was fooled by him time and again.

After his death, Zhu Yuanzhang even broke precedent to issue an imperial decree, having the Ministry of Works provide a coffin and bestowing a burial site south of Zhongshan.

Of course, it was better for him to keep these things to himself; after all, in the eyes of outsiders, he was merely a four-year-old child.

"Gaoxu." Seeing Zhu Gaoxu lost in thought, Xu Da couldn't help but call out, "You must study your lessons well with Lv Ben, and at the same time, you must also build good relations with the imperial grandsons."

"Grandfather, just set your heart at ease." After hearing Xu Da's words, Zhu Gaoxu patted his little chest and promised.

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu's appearance, he couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head; how could he not know what his grandson was like?

What Zhu Gaoxu said with his mouth and what he thought in his heart—no one knew.

Next, Zhu Gaoxu was no longer interested in the conversation between Xu Da and the others, so he found a random opportunity to slip out the door.

Xu Da was a noble Duke, so the Wei State Duke Mansion was naturally very grand.

Rockeries, flowing water, pavilions, and terraces—everything was there.

In Kyoto, there was the Wangfu of the Prince of Yan, and he basically lived in the Wangfu of the Prince of Yan. Plus, having to go to the Imperial Palace often, he really hadn't properly toured this Duke Mansion.

As he turned through the corridors, Zhu Gaoxu passed through the garden, and a huge martial arts practice field came into view.

Thinking about it, it made sense; with Xu Da being the number one military hero of the current dynasty, and also arguably the number one military commander, how could there not be a place for martial arts practice in his home?

Seeing this huge practice field with all eighteen types of weapons on display, Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up.

"Why didn't I think of this place?"

Zhu Gaoxu patted his forehead; with ready-made weapons right here, why was he acting like a fool, going to the Imperial Palace to saw wood?

Taking two quick steps to the weapon rack, Zhu Gaoxu rubbed his hands together as he looked at the great guan dao that was more than three times his height.

"You're the one!"

After saying this, Zhu Gaoxu gripped the handle of the blade, which was as thick as his own arm, with both hands, slowly pulled the great guan dao out, and then actually began to wield it.

In the future, when rebelling against that brat Zhu Yunwen, using force would certainly be unavoidable; such things had to be started from childhood.

It's a good thing I'm young; starting to practice now, by the time Lao Zhu kicks the bucket, it will be time for me to perform.

Thinking this in his heart, Zhu Gaoxu wielded it even more vigorously.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Duke Mansion, Mao Xiang had arrived.

"Duke of Wei, this subordinate has come under imperial order to protect the Nanyang Commandery Prince. I ask that the Duke take me to see the Nanyang Commandery Prince."

Xu Da raised an eyebrow slightly, and couldn't help but exclaim in his heart: "He came so fast!"

Zhu Yuanzhang had just issued the decree, and not even an hour had passed before this Mao Xiang arrived; he didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

Although he was surprised, Xu Da did not show it on his face, and he cupped his hands in a joking manner: "Why? General Mao, you've come so quickly, are you afraid that the Nanyang Commandery Prince might encounter some mishap here in my Duke Mansion?"

"The Duke is joking; this subordinate is merely honoring His Majesty's decree!"

Facing Xu Da's joke, Mao Xiang remained expressionless throughout, only hoping to see Zhu Gaoxu as soon as possible.

Seeing that Mao Xiang had even brought up Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da couldn't joke anymore, so he gestured for him to follow and led Mao Xiang toward the back.

Xu Da didn't know where Zhu Gaoxu had run off to, but after asking the servants, he learned that the brat had run to the martial arts practice field. Knowing the destructive power of that brat Zhu Gaoxu, Xu Da immediately led Mao Xiang and walked quickly toward the practice field.

"Damn it, this brat ran off to my practice field without anyone watching him. General Mao, please follow me."

As the group passed through the garden, they saw Zhu Gaoxu holding a great guan dao three or four times his height, swinging it in the center of the field with such force that it whistled through the air.

Seeing this scene, everyone broke out in a cold sweat.

Among them, Xu Miaoyun was the most worried.

She had heard people say that her own boy was born with divine strength, but she had never seen it for herself.

Besides, being born with divine strength shouldn't be like this, right?

To be able to easily lift a great guan dao that was taller and heavier than himself, and to be able to wield it so easily?

By comparison, what military generals like Xu Da and Mao Xiang were thinking was different.

Worry was worry, but they were equally shocked!

Others might not know, but military generals like them knew all too well.

One look was enough to know that this great guan dao weighed at least fifty or sixty catties. For Zhu Gaoxu to be able to wield it so easily at such a young age before his strength had fully developed—this was clearly the talent of a natural-born military general!

Perhaps even the likes of the Martial Saint Guan Gong couldn't compare to this, right?

"Gaoxu, hurry up and put that great blade down."

It was Xu Miaojin who reacted first and hurriedly called for Zhu Gaoxu to stop.

Hearing his aunt's voice, Zhu Gaoxu realized that a group of people was standing not far away, looking at him as if he were a monster.

"Damn, I showed off too much."

He muttered to himself in his heart, then hurriedly put down the great guan dao in his hands.

At this time, Mao Xiang had already walked up to him and took the lead in saluting: "This subordinate has come under imperial order to lead three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards to protect the Commandery Prince."