Chapter 27: A Slip of the Tongue?

Hearing that his old man wanted his Embroidered Uniform Guard to wear plain clothes, Zhu Gaoxu hurriedly raised his head to object.

One must know that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was currently his ultimate tool for showing off.

Just ask, when three hundred men in flying-fish robes stand somewhere, who isn't afraid?

If these people wore plain clothes now, what difference would there be between them and ordinary commoners?

That wouldn't even be as impressive as him taking a few servants out.

After all, the standard equipment for a playboy always includes a few wicked lackeys.

However, no sooner had he raised his head than Zhu Di slapped him back down.

The words of objection were naturally suppressed as well.

Zhu Di certainly had his own thoughts.

He felt that this son of his would not rest until he had driven him to his ruin.

Previously, he had felt that this son was quite good, and among his three sons, Zhu Gaoxu was the one he doted on the most.

But ever since arriving in Jingcheng, this son of his had changed.

Damn it, it was as if he had been acting for four years, and then finally had the chance to reveal his true nature, so he went straight to screwing him over.

Use that brain of yours to think; even his father, Zhu Yuanzhang, wouldn't put on such a grand display while wandering around Jingcheng.

You, a four-year-old child, dragging the Embroidered Uniform Guard around Jingcheng all day long.

Those sour scholars and censors naturally wouldn't lecture you, you brat; in the end, wouldn't I, your father, have to foot the bill?

Therefore, Zhu Di made up his mind that he must correct this bad habit of Zhu Gaoxu's.

And Mao Xiang, watching Zhu Gaoxu's expression of daring to be angry but not daring to speak, also felt like laughing inside.

He knew this master's temperament all too well.

The number of people who could keep Zhu Gaoxu in check did not exceed the fingers on one hand, and Zhu Di was definitely one of them.

Seeing Zhu Di look at him, Mao Xiang, knowing there was no more excitement to watch, nodded and agreed without hesitation.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was originally suited to staying in the shadows; it was Zhu Gaoxu who had insisted on doing it this way.

Now that Zhu Di requested a return to the original state, Mao Xiang was naturally happy to comply.

As they walked and talked, the eunuch leading the way stopped his steps.

At this moment, Zhu Di also ceased his exchange with Mao Xiang.

An old eunuch walked over from in front of the Fengtian Hall, replaced the previous eunuch, and walked to the front of Zhu Di.

"This old servant greets the Prince of Yan. His Majesty has an edict: the Prince of Yan need not report upon arriving at the hall and may enter directly."

After hearing this, Zhu Di nodded; he clearly held this old eunuch in high regard and thanked him several times.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Li."

Having said this, he then led Zhu Gaoxu and Mao Xiang into the Fengtian Hall.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang sat high upon the Dragon Throne, looking at the memorials from various regions without casting his gaze aside.

After Zhu Di and the others entered the hall, they all lowered their heads and respectfully paid their respects to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Even the fearless Zhu Gaoxu stood honestly behind his father at this time, not daring to speak much.

Just like that, after a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have finished reading the memorials in his hand, and only then did he unhurriedly raise his head.

"The Fourth has arrived. Someone, grant a seat!"

After he finished speaking, a young eunuch immediately brought over a stool.

And Zhu Di sat cautiously on the edge of it.

Once Zhu Di was seated, Zhu Yuanzhang did not engage in the expected reminiscing, but went straight to business.

"Fourth, the North is currently suffering from constant natural disasters. You have returned from the North; tell Us properly about the current situation in the North."

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's question, Zhu Di, whose back was already straight, subconsciously straightened it even more, and then replied: "The current situation in the North is indeed not optimistic; even my fief, Beiping, is in a very bad state."

Although Zhu Di did not state the specific circumstances, based on his few words, Zhu Yuanzhang understood the disaster situation in the northern provinces even more clearly, which made Zhu Yuanzhang somewhat silent.

And with Zhu Yuanzhang's silence, the entire Fengtian Hall suddenly became oppressive.

An invisible pressure weighed upon the few of them; for a time, it felt as if their breathing had become a fraction quieter.

Just at this moment, Zhu Gaoxu picked his nose and said: "We can't control natural disasters, but we can't control man-made ones? If we minimize the losses and let the North stabilize quickly, wouldn't that be great?"

As soon as these words left Zhu Gaoxu's mouth, Zhu Di was so frightened that he stood up straight from the stool.

He almost gave his father-pit-digging son a big slap in the face right in front of Zhu Yuanzhang.

He now suspected that his son had put all his talent points into digging pits for his father.

"And what, you think you're so special?"

"Who among those present doesn't know what should be done?"

"If you want to die, don't drag your old man into it!"

Zhu Di felt like dying; inside, he was cursing this father-pit-digging son of his to death.

Zhu Yuanzhang was clearly in a bad mood now; if one word was said wrong, even he, as the son, would not be able to avoid punishment.

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang cast his gaze toward his son, he comforted himself in his heart: "After all, he is my own flesh and blood."

He then took a step forward, blocked in front of Zhu Gaoxu, and said: "Father Emperor, Gaoxu spoke without thinking; please do not take it to heart, Father Emperor."

Spoke without thinking?

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled in his heart; he knew exactly what this little monkey was like.

Looking at the terrified Zhu Di below, Zhu Yuanzhang's originally terrible mood suddenly became somewhat happy.

"This Fourth must have witnessed the little monkey's talent for digging pits for his father; then I shall add some fuel to the fire for you!"

Thinking this, Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately stiffened his face and said to Zhu Di: "Fourth, did I tell you to speak?"

"Since this little monkey wants to talk, I will let him talk his fill. If he speaks well, I have rewards; if he speaks poorly, I will ask you, his father, how you have been teaching your child!"