Chapter 25: Zhu Di Returns to the Capital

Rubbing his own backside, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly felt the bow in his hand was no longer appealing.

The hunt could not continue today; he simply didn't have the heart for it now.

His mind was entirely filled with thoughts of how to protect his smooth, shiny little bottom.

With a wave of his small hand, Zhu Gaoxu led Mao Xiang and his party back to the camp.

On the way back, Zhu Gaoxu discovered that the guards and the personnel managing the hunting ground had disappeared at some point.

He reckoned this was Zhu Yuanzhang's doing; after all, letting a few assassins enter the Royal Hunting Ground so easily was a matter that definitely required an explanation.

The fate of these people likely wouldn't be very good.

However, such matters were not his concern, and ignoring this small interlude, Zhu Gaoxu spurred his horse to gallop faster toward the camp in the distance, where smoke from cooking fires was rising continuously.

At this moment, it was just noon, and after returning, Zhu Gaoxu entered his large tent, where the table was spread with delicacies, yet he had not the slightest appetite.

He was still worried about his backside.

"This won't do, I must think of a way in advance to strive for a lenient handling from Dad."

The best method was nothing more than to keep not returning and wait for the matter to cool down.

Once everyone's anger had dissipated, he would return then, and at most, it would just be a couple of threats to finish it off.

But when he learned that Zhu Di would return to the capital tomorrow, Zhu Gaoxu understood in his heart that his good days were truly numbered.

After all, since his dad was coming back, it would be unreasonable for him to keep drifting outside; even if he played dumb, he reckoned that with his dad's temper, he could personally come out of the city to drag him back.

He reckoned that by that time, these three hundred Brocade Guards might not be very useful.

"I wonder if it would be of any use to have the Brocade Guards protect me when Dad beats me..."

For the sake of his own backside, Zhu Gaoxu was truly desperate, even coming up with the idea of having the Brocade Guards beat his own dad up.

He hurriedly shook his head, casting this dangerous thought out of his mind, while simultaneously, a trace of anger toward Lao Zhu could not help but rise in his heart.

"Damn it, Lao Zhu is still the most ruthless!"

If anyone said Zhu Di's return to the capital had nothing to do with Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Gaoxu wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.

He had been thinking in his heart earlier that, at any rate, Lv Ben was a high-ranking official in the court and also his teacher.

He had angered Lv Ben to such an extent, so why did Zhu Yuanzhang have no reaction at all?

It turned out he was waiting for him here.

Zhu Yuanzhang must have wanted him to return long ago, and Zhu Gaoxu even believed that Zhu Yuanzhang had a hundred ways to make Zhu Gaoxu return to the capital.

But Zhu Yuanzhang had chosen the most ruthless move.

Pretend to ignore it, then call your dad back and let your dad deal with you.

Don't you pit your dad every day?

Now that he's brought your dad right in front of you, let's see how you pit him now.

"It seems that to solve the problem, the root cause still lies with Lao Zhu... but for now, I must also stabilize things with Dad..."

Thinking through the key to this, Zhu Gaoxu's eyes rolled, and then a plan came to mind...

Zhu Gaoxu called Mao Xiang over to give him some instructions, and then spent the entire afternoon in his large tent mysteriously tinkering with something.

Just like that, until late at night, Zhu Gaoxu finally fell asleep, feeling slightly exhausted.

Zhu Di's return to the capital was even earlier than Zhu Gaoxu had anticipated.

The next morning, Zhu Di had already arrived outside the city of Kyoto.

The most important thing was that the first thing Zhu Di did upon returning was to look for him.

This was what surprised Zhu Gaoxu the most.

Just as Zhu Gaoxu was still having a sweet dream in his large tent.

Thinking about how he would be like a fish in water in all the major places in Kyoto ten years later, he suddenly felt a chill at his feet.

Then, this chill swept through his entire body.

The next second, Zhu Gaoxu opened his eyes and saw Zhu Di standing by his bed, looking at him coldly.

"Dad... you... why are you here?"

"I was afraid that if I didn't come to see you again, you would sell our family off."

"......"

Zhu Gaoxu had no way to respond to this.

Zhu Gaoxu was not stupid either; he knew his dad was in a fit of rage, so he simply shut his mouth and said nothing.

He just put on a pitiful expression and stared blankly at Zhu Di.

Seeing his own son looking at him so pitifully, Zhu Di's face darkened.

After all, he was his own son, and he was deeply loved by him.

He sighed secretly, flicked his sleeves forcefully, and said, "Hurry up and get out here once you've finished tidying up!"

After saying this, he walked straight out of the large tent.

Watching Zhu Di walk out of his large tent, Zhu Gaoxu breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't beaten him up the moment they met, so this first hurdle was considered passed.

Not daring to delay any longer, Zhu Gaoxu hurriedly got up to tidy up and put on his clothes.

While getting dressed, Zhu Gaoxu muttered in a low voice, "Just got back and didn't go back to the palace to see Lao Zhu first, but came here to catch me instead; what kind of deep hatred and resentment is this? It seems this time I'm done for."

Sure enough, when Zhu Gaoxu walked out of the large tent, he saw Zhu Di standing not far away with an ashen face, watching him.

Glancing at the full set of yellow rosewood tables and chairs beside Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu coughed dryly and trotted toward Zhu Di.

Before Zhu Di could speak, Zhu Gaoxu took the lead and said, "Child previously hunted a large tiger in this hunting ground, and fortunately, the fur is intact. Now I present it to Father; this tiger skin is more in keeping with Father's mighty style!"

After speaking, he waved his hand and had Mao Xiang bring over the tiger skin that had been prepared earlier.

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, Zhu Di silently lowered the large hand he had already raised above his head.

His iron-blue complexion also eased a little.

Seeing this scene, Zhu Gaoxu could not help but nod to himself.

His old man's emotions were already being held firmly in his grasp.