Chapter 66: The Dilapidated Palace Hall

Zhu Gaoxu knew that it was impossible for Zhu Yuanzhang to have called him to the palace for just such a small matter.

The real business was surely yet to come.

Sure enough, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke next.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard reported today that there are leads regarding the death of Dong Li from Wanhua Pavilion."

Hearing this from Lao Zhu, Zhu Gaoxu had some guesses in his heart; he roughly knew why Lao Zhu's expression was so gloomy.

He clearly remembered this case; the matter had been handed over to the Ministry of Justice.

Yet the one reporting it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This indicated that someone did not want Lao Zhu to know who killed Dong Li.

And yet the Ministry of Justice had still done so.

This showed that the people behind it had reach that could touch the heavens!

If not for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lao Zhu would likely have been kept in the dark.

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu frowned, then asked, "Exactly who has such capability?"

What Zhu Gaoxu was naturally asking was who had such great capability to handle the Ministry of Justice.

This was also a roundabout way of asking who the mastermind behind the scenes was.

But Lao Zhu's answer was somewhat beyond Zhu Gaoxu's expectations.

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "I don't know who it is either."

"The Ministry of Justice found some things, but then the trail suddenly went cold; it is clear someone wants to protect the person behind this."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has a mole in the Ministry of Justice who passed the news to me. I only know that this Wanhua Pavilion is not simple; if not for this matter, I truly wouldn't have known there was such a big fish in Jingcheng."

Zhu Gaoxu became even more confused upon hearing this.

How did this get tangled up with Wanhua Pavilion again?

He opened his mouth to ask more, but was cut off by Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Do not get involved in this matter anymore. This is also why I don't want you to get tangled up with those people from the pugilistic world; you could be sold out and still be counting the money for them."

"Today you must promise me to train the troops well and absolutely do not get involved with those people from the pugilistic world."

Seeing Lao Zhu's serious expression, although Zhu Gaoxu was curious, he resisted asking further and nodded in agreement.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu like this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction, then chatted briefly about domestic matters before dismissing Zhu Gaoxu.

Leaving the palace, Zhu Gaoxu felt like a performer, a performer belonging exclusively to Lao Zhu.

Summoned by Lao Zhu at will, dismissed at will, having to be obedient, having to solve problems for Lao Zhu, and not allowed to lose his temper—the key point was that there was no money!

Sighing, Zhu Gaoxu left the palace under the escort of a young eunuch.

Actually, he could have stayed the night in the palace, but Zhu Gaoxu did not intend to do so.

He decided to take the opportunity to complete his check-in task today.

If he had stayed in the palace just now, he would certainly have been assigned to some palace hall, and with eunuchs and palace maids everywhere, it would be impossible to act.

Having just left the palace, Zhu Gaoxu circled around outside for a bit, then turned around and headed back toward the palace.

He had a special Imperial Edict from Zhu Yuanzhang; Lao Zhu had specifically given him a gold medallion.

He could enter the palace at any time, and no one would stop him at all.

Although Zhu Gaoxu had not finished touring the entire Imperial Palace, there were many unfamiliar places inside.

But since he was summoned by Lao Zhu every day, it was not difficult to find that dilapidated palace hall according to his memory.

The journey was fairly safe and sound.

He avoided patrolling guards when he could; if he really couldn't avoid them, it didn't matter—he would take out the medallion Lao Zhu gave him, and no one would dare to say anything more.

Finally, after walking for half an hour, Zhu Gaoxu arrived once again in front of the dilapidated palace hall.

Honestly, Zhu Gaoxu didn't know what this palace hall was called either.

There were no markings, and no plaque hung on the door frame.

Through the gap in the locked gate, Zhu Gaoxu could only see darkness inside, like an abyss.

Honestly, Zhu Gaoxu was a little afraid.

He had thought about asking Mao Xiang if there was no other way.

But he only thought about it and then gave up.

For one, if he asked Mao Xiang, the other party might not necessarily tell him.

For another, he might expose himself; if this place really was some incredible forbidden area, the other party might see how curious he was and instead strengthen the guard here, making it even harder to enter later.

The main point was that Zhu Gaoxu felt the system shouldn't be trying to harm him or intentionally sending him to his death.

Thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu took two steps forward and reached the gate.

As soon as he got close, he smelled a rotting odor through the gap in the door.

Honestly, in such a vast Imperial Palace, having such a place could be called extremely eerie.

After all, even if the Imperial Palace wasn't that magnificent, it was at least very clean and tidy, but this palace hall alone seemed invisible, with no one managing or cleaning it.

Although he knew it wasn't normal, since he had already arrived, Zhu Gaoxu still decided to follow the original plan and go in to take a look.

He checked the gate; unexpectedly, it wasn't locked, and it didn't look like it was locked from the inside either. He tentatively pushed the door, and to his surprise, it moved.

"Creeeak—"

The gate had clearly not been opened for years; the heavy gate had only just been pushed open a little when it made a sound.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu didn't dare open the door wide. Fortunately, his body was small, so he pushed it open a little more with effort, then turned sideways and squeezed through the door.

Just as he entered the palace hall, a chill surged into his heart, and with a gust of night wind, Zhu Gaoxu almost wet himself.

Honestly, it really wasn't that he was cowardly, but it was like a haunted house inside. Looking by the moonlight, a locust tree was planted in the center of the courtyard, its shadow dancing with the wind on the surrounding walls.

Added to such an atmosphere, Zhu Gaoxu wanted to turn around and leave immediately.