Chapter 146: He Was, to Some Extent, a Playboy Before

"Today's itinerary is primarily to receive the Goryeo envoys. His Majesty is currently busy with state affairs, so this trip will have to trouble the Prince."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu smiled faintly and said, "Sharing the burden for His Majesty is the duty of us subjects; there is no talk of trouble or no trouble."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu speak this way, that official Chen naturally nodded and chimed in with a remark.

With what needed to be said finished, official Chen had a yamen runner go prepare the sedan chair.

Just as they were about to head out, official Chen called over another official wearing court robes.

And this official was clearly of low rank.

Upon seeing him, he first performed a salute to official Chen, then cast his gaze toward Zhu Gaoxu.

At this moment, official Chen explained, "This is His Majesty's imperial grandson, son of the Prince of Yan, Nanyang Commandery Prince, Director of Military Equipment of the Divine Weapon Battalion, overseer of two thousand five hundred troops outside the city, and General Who Suppresses Rebels personally appointed by His Majesty, Prince Zhu."

Hearing this long string of introductions from official Chen, Zhu Gaoxu felt his face flush slightly.

He had not expected that, as he muddled along, he had unknowingly accumulated so many titles.

The newly arrived official bowed somewhat nervously and said, "Your subordinate Chen Xingshan, currently serving as Director of the Bureau of Reception, pays respects to Your Highness."

After hearing Chen Xingshan's words, Zhu Gaoxu narrowed his eyes slightly and then cast his gaze toward the Left Vice Minister of Rites, Chen Hao, who was standing to the side.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu's gaze, Chen Hao immediately understood Zhu Gaoxu's meaning.

He then said quite naturally, "This person is indeed my clansman."

Having obtained the answer he sought, Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said nothing more.

Afterward, seeing that everything that needed to be said had been said, he left the Ministry of Rites yamen with the two men.

Today, Zhu Gaoxu was riding in a Feudatory Prince Carriage.

When meeting outsiders, one naturally had to display the demeanor of a great nation.

One could not be as casual as when returning home on ordinary days.

Otherwise, not only would the other party look down on him, but one could not let them look down on Great Ming.

Just like that, Zhu Gaoxu and the two officials surnamed Chen proceeded one after the other toward the Post House where the envoys were being received.

As a member of the Bureau of Reception, Chen Xingshan was primarily responsible for the food, clothing, housing, and transportation of foreign envoys.

Chen Xingshan had already met with the envoys from various countries before, which was why Chen Hao had brought this clansman of his along.

Along the way, Zhu Gaoxu sat in the Feudatory Prince Carriage, boredly watching the pedestrians on the road.

For some reason, his heart turned to the Goryeo envoys.

The "Stick Country" of later generations...

Should he put some thought into tricking them?

As Zhu Gaoxu thought this, he couldn't help but secretly ponder the possibilities.

In just this short while, the carriage stopped, and Zhu Gaoxu knew they had arrived.

After getting off the carriage, Zhu Gaoxu and Chen Hao walked on the left and right, with Chen Xingshan following silently behind.

Zhu Gaoxu walked into the Post Station, and under the guidance of Chen Xingshan, he finally met the envoys who had come from Goryeo.

There were three Goryeo envoys in total, all of whom were male.

After meeting, Chen Xingshan led them into the main hall, and both sides sat opposite each other to begin the main business of the day.

It was inevitable to start with mutual introductions.

The other side began first.

Among the three envoys, the middle-aged man who led them spoke first.

"Your humble subject, Minister of Rites Wang Ren, has brought two subordinates to offer birthday wishes to the Holy Emperor."

Zhu Gaoxu sat to the side, yawning out of boredom.

Upon hearing that the other party was a Minister of Rites, he chuckled.

Put that way, the other party's official rank should be higher than Chen Hao's; after all, Chen Hao was only a Left Vice Minister of Rites, while the person opposite was a Minister.

Yet that Wang Ren referred to himself as a humble subject, and judging by his demeanor, he was actually slightly subservient toward Chen Hao.

And Chen Hao was not the least bit awkward, as if it were only natural.

Zhu Gaoxu understood this very well; they were just a vassal state, so what kind of airs did they need to put on?

As for what the other two were called or what their official ranks were, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't be bothered to listen.

And Zhu Gaoxu was naturally even less inclined to introduce himself.

After the other side finished their introductions, Chen Hao saw that Zhu Gaoxu had no intention of speaking, so he immediately stood up and took the initiative to say, "This is the imperial grandson of the Holy Mountain, son of the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, personally appointed by His Majesty as Nanyang Commandery Prince and General Who Suppresses Rebels, currently serving as Director of Military Equipment of the Divine Weapon Battalion, in command of two thousand five hundred elite troops."

After rattling off that long list of titles, the three people opposite were left stunned.

Clearly, they had not expected that Zhu Gaoxu, at such a young age, would hold such a high position.

Although they had sensed that Zhu Gaoxu's status was extraordinary, they had not expected him to have so many titles at such a young age.

Naturally, they dared not be negligent, and the few who had just sat down hurriedly stood up again to perform a salute to Zhu Gaoxu.

To this, Zhu Gaoxu merely nodded faintly, then lightly raised his hand to signal them to forgo the formalities.

Zhu Gaoxu's arrogant attitude caused one of them to feel somewhat dissatisfied.

In fact, all three were somewhat dissatisfied, but Wang Ren and another did not show it.

The third person clearly did not have much depth of character and wore everything on his face.

Zhu Gaoxu, of course, saw this.

But he didn't take it to heart at all.

Don't forget, he was, to some extent, a playboy before.

The reason he had no bad record now was not because he had become sensible and restrained himself, but entirely because he was too busy or had no opportunity to show off; now that the opportunity had come, how could Zhu Gaoxu let them off?

wap.