RPAGF Chapter 41 Yuan Gong's Face Reading
Chapter 41 Yuan Gong's Face Reading
While Zhu Yuanzhang was catching up with Dai Sigong, Zhu Gaoxi took the opportunity to slip back to the vegetable garden.
After settling the eight young eunuchs, Li Hui returned to the palace to report back.
"Young Prince, Chief Secretary Jin Zhong requests your presence at the Prince's residence," Li Hui said in a low voice.
Jin Zhong?
The name seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn't recall it immediately.
Zhu Gaoxi concentrated his brainpower and racked his brains for a long time, but still came up with nothing, so he simply gave up.
Anyway, Jin Zhong is my cheap father's man, so he must have carried my cheap father's instructions. We'll find out tomorrow when we ask him.
Zhu Gaoxi came up with six names: Hanyue, Hanfeng, Hanshu, Handa, Hanchen, and Hanling, and let the newly arrived eunuchs choose them.
After the selection was completed, the usual self-introductions were given. The oldest was sixteen years old, and the youngest was twelve.
Han Yue is thirteen years old, Han Feng is fifteen years old, Han Shu is sixteen years old, Han Da is twelve years old, Han Chen is thirteen years old, and Han Ling is fourteen years old.
Their tasks were directly assigned by Sanbao, and after they became familiar with each other, Zhu Gaoxi sent them off to do their own work.
The original names of the eight eunuchs who were expelled from the palace should no longer be used. They should be reassigned after some time. Zhu Gaoxi asked Sanbao to come up with eight names and write them down on paper in advance so that they could be distributed at the Prince of Yan's residence the next day.
With eight people in the Prince's residence, they needed to be given some tasks to do, and they also needed to continue their studies. Simply beginning their education was far from enough. In the capital, the best place to study would be with Xu Zengshou, but they couldn't be too blatant, lest they incur the old emperor's displeasure.
The old emperor had eyes and ears everywhere, and very little could be hidden from him; one had to be wary.
The best way is to use stew as a shield. As long as it's related to stew, the old emperor's principles will be greatly compromised.
Hopefully, Youdun will reply soon.
Zhu Gaoxi fell into a deep sleep, attended to by Yunfei and Yunlu.
Girls are gentle and delicate, unlike Sanbao and Lihui who are rough and careless. Zhu Gaoxi's happiness index soared.
The next day, Zhu Gaoxi went to the Qianqing Palace to ask for leave. Zhu Yuanzhang squinted and asked, "What good things did your father bring you?"
"Grandson doesn't know, but if I get a treasure, I'll definitely show it to my grandfather first," Zhu Gaoxi said shrewdly and cleverly.
"Your father is very shrewd; he certainly won't let you suffer any losses. He's probably teaching you to get benefits from us," Zhu Yuanzhang said, feigning a sense of impending doom.
"Everything my grandson has comes from his grandfather, and he loves his grandfather the most," Zhu Gaoxi said, his words as sweet as honey.
Zhu Yuanzhang curled his lip and snorted, "He just knows how to fool us with sweet words."
Upon arriving at the Prince of Yan's residence, Jin Zhong was already waiting.
"Your humble servant Jin Zhong greets Your Highness."
Zhu Gaoxi put on an air of authority, pretending to be cautious and composed, and said, "Lord Jin, you must have had a long journey."
Jin Zhong was dressed like a scholar and looked to be in his forties, older than his adoptive father.
After entering the room and taking a seat, Zhu Gaoxi smiled slightly and asked, "Has Father sent any letters?"
"No, Your Highness," Jin Zhong hurriedly stood up to answer.
"Lord Jin, there's no need for such formalities. Please be seated," Zhu Gaoxi said, gesturing for him to sit. He then asked, "Did Father send Lord Jin with a message?"
There wasn't even a letter. What is this cheapskate father up to?
"His Highness didn't send a message, but only one hundred taels of gold. If it's not enough for the princess's dowry, Your Highness may add more as appropriate," Jin Zhong said, standing up and handing over the gift list.
Sanbao took it and handed it to Zhu Gaoxi.
Zhu Gaoxi opened the gift list and asked routinely, "How are Father and Mother's health?"
"Your Highness and Princess are in good health, so Your Highness need not worry," Jin Zhong said, rising and taking out a stack of papers from his sleeve. "These are some paintings that Your Highness asked me to give to Your Highness."
Zhu Gaoxi's cheap father was always up to something new, and even produced a few paintings. Zhu Gaoxi opened them with great interest, and upon seeing the contents of the paintings, his eyes instantly welled up with tears.
They were all painted by my cheap mother, Prince He.
A woman who misses her son day and night imagines a happy scene of being with him.
Fishing together, chasing dragonflies together, eating together, taking walks after meals together, reading together...
Seeing this, Sanbao quickly took Jinzhong out.
What does "cheap dad" mean by that?
So you're threatening me with my cheap mother?
Zhu Gaoxi wiped away his tears, feeling that his adoptive father had no good intentions, as he had never brought these things out before.
Sanbao quietly returned to Zhu Gaoxi's side. Seeing Zhu Gaoxi's absent-minded look, he whispered, "Perhaps, the prince is reminding the young prince to be careful in everything and not to be too hasty."
Zhu Gaoxi calmed himself down a bit and ordered, "Let Yunfei come in and help me wash up."
Yunfei washed away his tears and covered his face with a warm, dry towel for a while, trying to erase the traces of crying.
"Why is the cloth warm?" Zhu Gaoxi asked.
"This servant has been out in the sun," Yunfei whispered into Zhu Gaoxi's ear, "There's an elderly person with the chief clerk, waiting to see the young prince."
"Who is it?" Zhu Gaoxi asked warily.
"The servant heard the chief clerk address him as Mr. Yuan."
Zhu Gaoxi closed his eyes and held Yunfei's hand, preventing her from leaving.
I had no other thoughts, I just wanted to calm my mind.
After a moment, Zhu Gaoxi released Yunfei, told her to clean up the room, and got up to go outside to see who this person was.
In the courtyard, Jin Zhong stood with a man who looked to be in his sixties.
The man had gray hair, was composed, and had bright, piercing eyes.
He looks younger than Zhu Yuanzhang and his surname is Yuan. Who exactly is this person?
Upon seeing Zhu Gaoxi emerge, Jin Zhong hurriedly led the man over to pay his respects.
"Your Highness, this Mr. Yuan is a good friend of mine. Hearing of Your Highness's exceptional talent, he has come to pay his respects," Jin Zhong introduced warmly.
"Young Prince, I have come here because of your reputation. I apologize for disturbing you," Mr. Yuan greeted him respectfully.
Could it be Yuan Gong?!
Zhu Gaoxi suddenly had a brilliant idea: Yuan Gong, who was skilled in physiognomy, was one of his father's advisors.
When Yuan Gong met Daoyan at Songshan Temple, he exclaimed in surprise, "What an extraordinary monk! His eyes are triangular, his body is like a sick tiger, and he must be bloodthirsty. He must be a follower of Liu Bingzhong."
What is this cheap dad up to? Is he trying to get Yuan Gong to tell my fortune?
Worried that Yuan Gong might say something shocking in the courtyard, Zhu Gaoxi turned away to avoid his gaze and said politely, "Mr. Yuan, please come in and sit down."
It is said that Yuan Gong was quite famous in the Yuan Dynasty, and had told the fortunes of hundreds of scholars and officials, "with remarkable accuracy in every single one of them."
It seems that his adoptive father values his fate quite a bit.
Feudal superstition is deadly!
Zhu Gaoxi sighed inwardly.
I never expected my cheap dad to be such a weirdo and unreliable person!
Well, being an agricultural expert or a wealthy prince is fine too; there's no need to fight for the highest position.
Zhu Gaoxi walked in calmly with a belief that he was ready to die for his cause.
Out of professional habit, Mr. Yuan kept his eyes glued to Zhu Gaoxi.
Zhu Gaoxi guessed correctly; he was indeed Yuan Gong. Several years ago, on Daoyan's recommendation, he went to Beiping to meet Zhu Di and said that Zhu Di would surely ascend the throne in the future.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Di's fourth son came back to life. Yuan Gong noticed a change in Zhu Di's fortune and became very flustered, wondering where the problem lay.
After meeting Zhu Gaoxi, it seemed that the answer had been found.
Yuan Gong observed carefully again and again, fearing he might make a mistake.
Zhu Gaoxi felt uncomfortable under their gaze and couldn't help but cough lightly.
Jin Zhong thought to himself, "I never expected the young prince to be so calm and composed under Yuan Gong's scrutiny. He truly has an extraordinary demeanor and seems to be blessed with a destiny."