Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Qian Lingzi replied, "My surname is Su, my given name is Huaiyuan, and my courtesy name is Zixiu. I currently live in Guixiang, west of the city, and make a living by teaching. If Your Highness is willing to meet him, you will know that he is an extraordinary person."

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Han, his eyes showing some excitement: "Uncle?"

Zhu Han glanced at him and said with a smile, "If you want to see him, I will accompany you on this trip. I want to see how talented this 'Su Huaiyuan' is."

Zhu Biao nodded and said firmly: "I want to see him. I want to use him."

To the west of Chang'an Street, Gui Lane is deep and secluded. Deep in the courtyard, there is an old osmanthus tree with lush branches and leaves, casting a thick shade.

The morning breeze suddenly rises, the branches and leaves sway, and the fallen petals silently fall on the bluestone road, seemingly unintentional, yet as if they have been waiting for a long time.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Han walked slowly side by side, and the people who were with them were all far behind, leaving only the two of them to watch the scene.

"This place is quite quiet." Zhu Han stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the osmanthus tree, and whispered, "It's much more breathable than deep inside the palace wall."

Zhu Biao nodded slightly and said thoughtfully: "Guixiang hides someone, but it doesn't seem small. If he is really the person Qian Lingzi mentioned, it does make sense."

Zhu Han turned his head and smiled: "You no longer believe one side's words, but you also know how to verify one side's words - Ah Biao, this is like a person who wants to sit on the dragon throne."

Zhu Biao smiled and raised his hand to straighten his collar: "Uncle Emperor treats me like a son. If I don't make progress, wouldn't I be ashamed of your kindness?"

These words were spoken in a gentle manner, yet they also carried a sharpness rarely seen in a young man.

After hearing this, Zhu Han just smiled quietly and said nothing.

When the gate opened, a middle-aged man dressed as a book boy came out and bowed respectfully, saying, "My two nobles, please follow me. The teacher is waiting in the study."

The two walked in slowly, stepped over the stone steps, passed through the corridors and pavilions, and finally arrived in front of a study. Under the eaves hung a white background with black ink plaques, four characters: "Holding the simple without words".

Zhu Biao stopped and looked at the four words for a long time, then asked in a low voice: "Uncle, what do you think of these four words?"

Zhu Han smiled and said, "The speaker is silent, and the talented are not ostentatious. This is in line with the meaning of 'hiding one's edge and concealing one's weapon'. Since he did not enter the officialdom for fame, perhaps he really has some backbone."

As they were talking, the wooden door opened from the inside.

A young man in a blue shirt stood inside the door, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a gaunt complexion, deep eyes, and a calm expression, yet he exuded an indescribable sense of concentration.

He clasped his fists and bowed, his voice clear and loud: "I, Su Huaiyuan, pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the King of Wei."

Zhu Biao looked at his face carefully. After a long while, he said, "Aren't you surprised that I came?"

Su Huaiyuan smiled softly: "It's useless to be surprised or not. Since I know that Qian Lingzi went there for me, I should have this awareness."

Zhu Han nodded: "Very alert indeed."

Su Huaiyuan walked in sideways. The study was simply furnished with bookshelves on the four walls. On the desk there was an unclosed volume of military strategy and half a volume of historical manuscripts.

Zhu Biao sat in front of the couch and said, "Qian Lingzi recommended you, saying that you can help the prince conquer the world. I don't believe in fortune-telling, I believe in people. Do you dare to tell me: what can you do?"

Su Huaiyuan said calmly, "If the Crown Prince asks about the situation in the world, I am still a commoner. If you ask about the hearts of the people under your rule, I can offer a strategy. If you ask about the way of the world, I can practice a principle."

"Oh?" Zhu Biao's eyes moved slightly, and he asked calmly, "How do you offer suggestions?"

Su Huaiyuan walked to the table and unfolded a hand-drawn map, on which were laid out the Nine Lanes and Seven Alleys, with many details marked on them, such as the lane owners, village heads, temples, bookstores, wine shops, and vendors, as dense as a spider web.

Zhu Han glanced over and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Is this... the layout of the capital market?"

Su Huaiyuan nodded: "Where people live, where they eat, where they talk, where things happen, all happen in the streets and alleys. If you want to know the direction of the wind, you need to observe it from where the wind blows."

Zhu Biao stared at him for a long time, his eyes becoming more and more serious: "How can you draw so detailed?"

Su Huaiyuan replied, "I have lived in the neighborhood for five years, visited more than 300 households, observed their livelihoods, recorded their words and deeds, and compiled the atlas at night. It took more than a year to complete it."

Zhu Biao's tone was not aware of slowness, as if he was talking to himself: "If I had this map, I could control the causes of all things that have not happened..."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "You think quickly."

Zhu Biao coughed lightly and looked at Su Huaiyuan again: "This map can be used, but there is still no substance between you and me. Since you want to join us, is there anything you can do?"

Su Huaiyuan bowed and said, "Is there anyone that the Crown Prince wants to know about, but dares not ask openly or probe openly?"

Zhu Biao's eyes narrowed slightly: "Yes."

"Then hand it over to me." Su Huaiyuan's expression remained unchanged. "Within three days, return it with its original appearance, along with his words, deeds, relationships, likes and dislikes, without a single word missing."

Zhu Han looked at the young man and suddenly asked, "Do you know that what you are doing now has already entered a vortex?"

Su Huaiyuan looked at him and said in a low and determined tone: "I am willing to sink my boat and brave the waves for the prince, even if I fall into the mud, I will not regret it."

Zhu Han stared at her quietly for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "With your personality, if I had met you five years earlier, I would have made you suffer. But now... it's just right."

Zhu Biao stood up, his expression bright: "I will wait for you for three days. If you can really find out who I am asking about, I will allow you to enter the East Palace."

Su Huaiyuan bowed down: "I obey your command."

When the two of them left, it was almost noon. Zhu Biao came out of Guixiang and suddenly whispered, "Uncle, I suddenly had an idea in my mind."

"Ok?"

“The world is vast, and there are many intelligent people. If I want to employ people, I want to use their bones and souls, not just their skills.”

Zhu Han looked at him and nodded slowly: "You couldn't say this before."

Zhu Biao suddenly laughed: "But I said it today."

Zhu Han also smiled: "Then I will wait for you to say one day: 'I am the destiny.'"

Zhu Biao replied in a low voice: "If that day comes, I won't have to tell you, you will know it yourself."

The two walked side by side, the sun was shining brightly, and the fallen leaves looked like gold.

The autumn sun shines through the palace walls, dappling onto the stone paths of the imperial garden.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Han walked side by side, their steps slow and gentle, as if they were enjoying this rare moment of peace. Zhu Biao looked solemn, as if he had something on his mind.

"Uncle," Zhu Biao suddenly asked, "Do you think Su Huaiyuan is trustworthy?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly and looked at the lake in the distance. "Whether you believe it or not, the key lies in how you view him. If he is really talented, he can be used. If he has bad intentions, he cannot be used even if he is very talented."

Zhu Biao nodded, "I understand. But I always feel like he seems to be hiding something."

Zhu Han stopped and turned to look at Zhu Biao. "A Biao, who in this world doesn't have secrets? The key is whether these secrets will affect you."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and said softly, "Uncle, I want to test him myself."

Zhu Han's eyes flashed with approval, "Good, you have courage. But remember to leave some room, don't push too hard." Three days later, Zhu Biao and Zhu Han came to Guixiang again. Su Huaiyuan had been waiting at the door for a long time. When he saw the two of them coming, he immediately saluted, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the King of Wei, Su has sorted out the things he investigated."

Zhu Biao took the scroll handed to him by Su Huaiyuan and unfolded it to take a closer look.

The scroll recorded in detail the whereabouts, words and deeds of the people Zhu Biao cared about, and even some subtle habits were not missed.

Zhu Biao closed the scroll and looked at Su Huaiyuan with deep eyes, "You did a good job." He paused and continued, "But I still have one favor to ask of you."

Su Huaiyuan responded respectfully: "Your Highness, please speak."

"I hope you can help me investigate an old incident in the palace." Zhu Biao's tone was calm, but with unquestionable majesty.

Su Huaiyuan was slightly stunned, then nodded, "Su is willing to serve Your Highness."

Zhu Han watched the two of them from the side, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew that Zhu Biao was gradually growing up and learning to think and make decisions independently.

After leaving Guixiang, Zhu Biao and Zhu Han took a walk in the Imperial Garden.

Zhu Biao looked ahead and spoke slowly, "Uncle, I want to set up a special agency to be responsible for intelligence collection and analysis."

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow, "Oh? How are you going to operate it?"

"I plan to recruit talented people from all over the country and assign them to different regions to collect various types of information. At the same time, a strict screening and assessment mechanism will be established to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the intelligence."

Zhu Han nodded. "That's a good idea. However, intelligence work requires extremely high confidentiality and loyalty. You have to make sure these people are absolutely loyal to you."

Zhu Biao said firmly: "I will personally select and train them to ensure their loyalty."

Zhu Han looked at Zhu Biao with relief in his eyes, "A Biao, you are no longer the ignorant boy you were before."

Zhu Biao smiled slightly, "Thanks to the teachings of the emperor's uncle."

The secret agents sent by Zhu Han followed silently behind, never leaving their side.

Su Huaiyuan walked through the back streets of the imperial city and finally came to a dilapidated teahouse.

After he sat down, the teahouse owner immediately came up to him and asked in a low voice, "Sir, is there any new news tonight?"

"Someone sent a message saying that someone has dug up that old case again." Su Huaiyuan said in a low voice, frowning.

"What?!" The shopkeeper's face changed drastically, "Didn't the case have been dealt with long ago?"

Su Huaiyuan sneered: "Yes, we tried very hard to cover it up, but some people just wouldn't give up."

The spy saw it all and quickly returned to the palace to report to Zhu Han.

After hearing this, Zhu Han's eyes gradually became serious: "Old case? It seems that Su Huaiyuan is not only a city guard, but also has connections with some secret forces. This matter must not let him involve Zhu Biao."

He decided to personally investigate the origins of the teahouse. The next day, Zhu Han traveled incognito, brought a few smart guards, and went directly to the teahouse.

At the same time, Zhu Biao was studying an ancestral book in the Prince's Mansion, when suddenly a personal guard came in hurriedly: "Your Highness, there was a sudden news in the palace that an old case has been turned up."

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment: "Old case? What old case?"

The guard shook his head: "I didn't hear it clearly, I just know that the emperor has summoned several important officials to the palace to discuss the matter."

Zhu Biao seemed to be thinking: "My father personally asked about this, it seems that this matter is very important."

At this time, Zhu Han happened to return home. After hearing the news, his face darkened: "Zhu Biao, don't interfere in the palace, I will handle it."

Zhu Biao nodded. He knew his uncle's character very well and knew that once he decided to intervene, he would be sure of success.

That night, Zhu Han sent out spies again to track Su Huaiyuan's every move.

This time, the spy discovered that Su Huaiyuan not only had connections with the teahouse owner, but also had a private meeting with an elderly eunuch in the palace.

This eunuch was the only person who knew about the old case.

Zhu Han realized that Su Huaiyuan was obviously looking for evidence from an old case. Once it fell into the hands of criminals, it would very likely affect Zhu Biao's position as crown prince.

Zhu Han smiled coldly: "Since Su Huaiyuan wants to dig up old cases, I will go with the flow and see what he is investigating."

He ordered the guards to arrange people to keep a close eye on Su Huaiyuan, and instructed several shrewd servants to secretly find out the eunuch's background.

Then there was a whisper: "Your Highness, the spies reported that Su Huaiyuan went to the teahouse again, and this time he seemed to have brought someone else with him."

"Another person? Who?" Zhu Han gently closed the folding fan and frowned slightly.

"It's an elderly eunuch in the palace, and it is said that he is involved in that old case." The spy replied in a low voice.

Zhu Han nodded slightly, his thoughts surging in his mind.

Su Huaiyuan is the garrison commander of the imperial city on the surface, but he is secretly investigating an old case, and this eunuch seems to be the key.

His eyes darkened, and his voice was calm and firm: "Let's go to the teahouse too."

A moment later, Zhu Han changed into ordinary cloth clothes and quietly left the palace with a few trusted guards.

The streets were quiet, with only the occasional drumbeat echoing in the night wind. They walked silently through the streets and finally arrived outside the teahouse.

Zhu Han raised his head and glanced at the dim plaque, and said softly, "You stay outside and don't act rashly." After that, he walked into the teahouse alone, his steps were so light that he hardly attracted any attention.

The lights in the teahouse were dim. Guests were sitting in groups of three or four in the corners, talking in low voices. The shopkeeper stood behind the counter with his usual smile on his face.

Zhu Han took a quick glance and his sight fell on a private room on the second floor.

There, Su Huaiyuan was talking to the eunuch in a low voice, his face gloomy. Zhu Han walked to the corner downstairs calmly, ordered a pot of tea, and listened silently.

"Father-in-law, so many years have passed, and no one has ever known what you did back then, right?" Su Huaiyuan lowered his voice, with a hint of tentativeness in his tone.

"Sir Su, what you said is strange. The matter was settled when His Majesty personally approved it. What can a mere eunuch like me know?" The eunuch laughed dryly and his voice was hoarse.

"Is the dust settled?" Su Huaiyuan sneered, "Then why are there still people asking around about what happened back then? Even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seems to have heard something about it."

"Crown Prince?" The eunuch's face changed slightly, and then he forced himself to calm down, "Sir Su, are you kidding me? Your Highness is the orthodox Crown Prince, how could he be interested in these old things?"

"Whether you are interested or not, we both know it." Su Huaiyuan's voice gradually became colder, "I just want to know, who personally ordered the blockade of this matter back then? If it is really as you said, it was the order of His Majesty, then why are there still people trying to dig out the truth?"

The eunuch laughed dryly and shook his sleeves: "Master Su, don't ask too much about this kind of thing. It will not do you any good to know too much."

"No benefit?" Su Huaiyuan suddenly stood up and slammed his palm on the table. The teacup fell over and the tea splashed everywhere. He leaned over and approached the eunuch, his voice low and roaring, "Don't forget, you were also a participant in this matter back then. Once something happens, neither you nor I can escape!" (End of this chapter)