Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Zhu Yuanzhang took off his clothes and slowly sank into the bathtub.

The scalding water penetrated into my muscles and bones through my pores, and my nerves that had been tense during the day in Juxian Building finally relaxed.

The scent of milk mixed with roses lingered around his nose. He leaned comfortably against the bucket, looking at the petals floating on the water. Suddenly, he remembered Zhu Biao chasing butterflies in the imperial garden when he was a child, and a smile unconsciously appeared on the corners of his mouth.

"Master, be gentler..." The maid knelt beside the tub and rubbed his shoulders and neck with her fingertips dipped in bath salts.

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes, allowing the massage with just the right strength to dispel his fatigue. Suddenly he remembered the calculation in Wang Hongru's eyes, and his smile turned into a cold snort.

The world is bustling with businessmen pursuing profits and nobles vying for power. It is just like the flower petals in the bathtub: they look gorgeous, but in fact they are just playthings that can be manipulated by anyone.

"Your Majesty, is the water temperature a little cooler?" Wang Zhong spoke nervously when he saw his expression suddenly change.

"Cool?" Zhu Yuanzhang slapped the water and splashed it all over Wang Zhong's face. "I'm really worried! Once I find out the details of those bastards in Prince Yan's Mansion, I'll make them know what the hell is going on in this world!"

He grabbed the copper ladle and scooped water onto his head. The water droplets slid down his silver hair, reflecting tiny lights in the candlelight.

As he was speaking, the sound of a pipa was heard from outside, and the graceful melody floated in through the carved window lattices.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to signal the maid to leave, and walked to the window with his upper body naked.

Through the misty gauze curtain, I could see a singer singing softly with a pipa in her arms on the waterside pavilion in the center of the courtyard, and koi in the pond swimming with fallen flowers in their mouths. It was a beautiful picture of wealth and splendor in the world.

"Wang Zhong," he said, his voice suddenly becoming low as he turned his back to the door, "go and call the accountant and tell him that Zhu Wusi wants to book all the private rooms tonight."

"Ah? This..." Wang Zhong was stunned and said quickly, "Your Majesty, it must be very expensive to book Tianshang Renjian!"

"What are you afraid of? We'll just blame Ouyang Lun for the trouble." Zhu Yuanzhang turned around, his eyes glittering with cunning, "We come to our own son-in-law's shop to enjoy ourselves, and we can pay for it ourselves?"

"Uh" Wang Zhong was stunned.

"Your Majesty, even if we are doing this for the sake of the Prince Consort, there are only two of us. Isn't it a bit of a waste to book the entire Heaven on Earth?"

"Who said it's just the two of us?" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and continued, "We had a great chat with Wang Hongru today, let's call them all over!"

"Let's say a wealthy businessman wants to host a banquet for his friends. We have to let everyone enjoy the registration for the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow, right?"

"I understand!" Wang Zhong nodded and went down to prepare immediately.

Wang Hongru's fingers holding the gold-plated invitation trembled slightly. The candlelight danced on the three tiny characters of "Zhu Wu Si", making the blue veins on his forehead faintly visible.

The gold thread embedded in the corners of the invitation shone coldly in the twilight. This kind of brocade with lotus pattern, which was a tribute from the Western Regions, could not be cut into half a piece for clothing even if ordinary merchants spent all their money, let alone use it to make invitations.

"Manager Wang, this..." Manager Zhang beside him tugged at his sleeves, staring at the red bird pattern on the invitation with cinnabar seal with cloudy eyes, "Could this seal be..."

Several sharp-eyed businessmen gathered around, almost poking the invitation with their rough fingers: "This brocade! Could it be the tribute to the palace last year?" "And this Vermillion Bird Seal, could it be something from the inner court?" Amid the chaotic discussions, Wang Hongru felt his temples throbbing.

"Shut up!" He slammed the invitation on the table, causing the tea in the cup to splash out. "You all look so ignorant! It's just an invitation, is it worth making such a fuss?" Having said that, his eyes couldn't help but sweep over the gold thread on the edge of the invitation. The fine lines flowed under the candlelight, clearly the work of the Imperial Household Department.

In the corner, a skinny businessman wearing a melon-shaped hat hunched his neck and said, "Manager Wang, this Zhu Wusi's background is unknown. He looked like an ordinary businessman in Juxian Building during the day. But now he suddenly puts on such a show... Could he be a liar?"

"Liar?" Wang Hongru sneered, a sinister look flashing in his eyes. "If he is really a liar, how can he produce such a valuable invitation?" He grabbed the invitation and waved it in front of everyone. "Besides, tomorrow is the day for the Ministry of Revenue to register. What if this Zhu Wusi is really some hidden nobleman? Can we afford to offend him?"

Shopkeeper Zhang twisted his sparse beard and frowned, "But Shopkeeper Wang, you must be on guard against others! Have you forgotten the advice of the counselor in Prince Yan's mansion?"

"Yanwang Mansion?" Wang Hongru sneered, "Can the people in Yanwang Mansion bring us real money? This Zhu Wusi might be an opportunity!" He glanced at everyone, his eyes full of temptation, "Think about it, if we can get close to such a person, will we be left out of the fat meat of the new city's investment promotion?"

The room fell into a brief silence, with only the crackling of the candle wick. After a while, a bearded man slammed the table and said, "Manager Wang is right! Fortune and wealth are achieved through risk. Let's fight!"

"Yes! Let's fight!" "Maybe he is a noble man!" Amid the voices of agreement, Wang Hongru curled up a barely perceptible sneer. He carefully put away the invitation, but in his heart he was thinking: Who is this Zhu Wusi? If he is really sent by the court, can he deal with it?
"Let's be on time!" Wang Hongru stood up and glanced at everyone, "Everyone, cheer up and don't be impolite!"

The businessmen nodded one after another, with excitement and trepidation in their eyes.

When the merchants stepped into Paradise on Earth, the oncoming ambergris almost suffocated them.

The gilded animal-head incense burner spewed out clouds of mist, making the entire building look like the fairyland of Penglai.

The luminous pearls wrapped around the vermilion lacquered columns made everyone's faces pale. A few small merchants even reached out to touch the emerald dragon patterns inlaid on the wall, only to be awakened by the stern shouts of the security guards.

"Everyone!" A hearty laugh came from the second floor. Zhu Yuanzhang leaned against the carved red sandalwood railing, and the 18-bead bodhi bracelet on his wrist rang softly with his movements. "I am honored to meet you all today, and I have prepared some wine. I hope you will do me the honor!"

Wang Hongru looked up, his pupils suddenly contracted. The plain-dressed "Zhu Wusi" during the day was now wearing a moon-white satin gown, with a jade pendant on his waist as soft as sheep fat. The most shocking thing was the four guards standing behind him with their hands hanging down - the swords on their waists had no patterns, but they were the unique dragon-patterned swords of the inner court guards. "What...what does this mean?" Shopkeeper Zhang pulled Wang Hongru's sleeve, his voice trembling, "Shopkeeper Wang, have we run into some royal palace?"

Wang Hongru tried to remain calm, straightened his clothes and went up the stairs.

The scene in the elegant room on the second floor made him gasp: the floor was covered with a lotus-pattern carpet sent as a tribute from Persia, which made no sound when stepped on; the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls were authentic works of Zhao Mengfu from the previous dynasty; even the teacups were from the official kiln with ice crack patterns, and they glowed with a faint blue sheen under the candlelight.

"Brother Zhu, this is..." Before Wang Hongru could finish his words, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Manager Wang, please don't be so formal!" Zhu Yuanzhang personally poured a cup of Biluochun tea, the tea flowing in the luminous cup like jade, "Tomorrow is the day to register with the Ministry of Revenue, don't go home until you are drunk tonight!"

As soon as he finished speaking, eight dancers in brocade skirts filed in.

The fans they held were decorated with pearls and corals, and every time they danced, they brought up tiny pearls. The merchants were stunned, and some even subconsciously touched their waist bags - the jewelry on these dancers was equivalent to their shop's half-year income.

"Brother Zhu is very generous!" Wang Hongru forced a smile, but cold sweat oozed from his forehead.

He suddenly remembered the demeanor of Zhu Yuanzhang during the day, and then looked at the scene in front of him, and his heart was alarmed. Such financial resources are definitely not something that an ordinary wealthy businessman can have. Could it be that he is really a hidden royal relative?
After three rounds of drinks, Zhu Yuanzhang clapped his hands, and the whole building suddenly darkened.

Just as everyone was panicking, dozens of Kongming lanterns rose into the sky from the courtyard, lighting up the night sky as bright as day. The word "Zhu" was embroidered with gold thread on the lanterns, which fluttered in the night wind.

"This... is this a rebellion?" A businessman was so scared that his wine glass fell to the ground. The crisp sound of the glass breaking was particularly harsh in the silence.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly: "Don't be afraid! This is just what I prepared to liven up the atmosphere!" He raised his hand to signal, and the singing girls came in one after another with lacquer trays. The trays were filled with gold ingots and pearls. "Everyone sitting here tonight will have a share!"

Wang Hongru looked at the wealth piled up like a mountain in front of him, and he pressed his fingers deeply into his palms to calm himself down.

He suddenly remembered Zhu Yuanzhang's questioning about the details of the investment promotion during the day, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat - could this person be sent by the court to investigate the truth? But if he was really an imperial envoy, why did he approach them as a merchant?

"Brother Zhu treats us so well, we are overwhelmed!" Wang Hongru stood up and saluted, his eyes fixed on the jade pendant on Zhu Yuanzhang's waist. The faintly visible coiled dragon pattern on it was 70% similar to the one worn by the current emperor. "I just don't know what Brother Zhu thinks about the new city's investment promotion..."

"There's no rush for this!" Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to interrupt. The amber wine swayed in the luminous cup, reflecting the cold light in his eyes. "Drink this cup first!"

The merchants looked at each other in bewilderment and could only raise their glasses. The wine took a sip and had a richer taste than anything they had ever tasted before.

Wang Hongru licked his lips, and the aroma of wine lingering on the tip of his tongue actually had a faint scent of camphor - this was the recipe unique to the royal wine.

Zhu Yuanzhang put down his wine glass, stroked the rim with his fingertips, and glanced at everyone at the table with a half-smile.

The candlelight flickered in his eyes, making the smile more elusive. "Tomorrow we will register at the Ministry of Revenue. Are you willing to listen to what Zhu has to say?"

Wang Hongru's Adam's apple rolled, and he suppressed the doubts in his heart, and stood up first: "Brother Zhu, since you have a brilliant idea, we are all ears!" His voice was filled with deliberate enthusiasm, but his eyes secretly glanced at the sword with a dragon pattern on the waist of the guard behind Zhu Yuanzhang - that was clearly a standard weapon that only the guards of the inner court were equipped with. Who was this man in front of him?
Shopkeeper Zhang's hand twirling his beard trembled slightly, and he hesitated and said, "Brother Zhu, although attracting investment is profitable, it is complicated..."

"Complicated?" Zhu Yuanzhang laughed suddenly, causing the canary hanging under the corridor to flap its wings.

He slammed the table, and the Biluochun tea in the cup splashed. "It's just a trap set by those parasites in the Ministry of Industry! As long as we join forces, are we afraid that we can't take over this new city?"

In the corner, a thin businessman wearing a melon-shaped hat shrank his neck and muttered softly: "But the 30% deposit..."

"What's the deposit?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to interrupt, took out a golden official note from his sleeve, and slammed it on the table, "Zhu has a million taels of silver here, just take it as your sincerity to join the partnership!"

The moment the banknote was unfolded, everyone in the room was shocked.

One million taels of silver is enough to buy all the shops on Suzaku Street! The merchants stared with wide eyes and their breathing became rapid.

Wang Hongru stared at the big vermilion seal of the Ministry of Revenue on the banknote, and the veins on his forehead throbbed - such a huge amount of official banknotes were something that ordinary people had never seen before, but this person just casually threw it out!

"Brother Zhu, what are you doing..." Wang Hongru's voice was hoarse, and alarm bells were ringing in his heart. He suddenly remembered Zhu Yuanzhang's questioning about the details of the investment promotion in Juxian Building during the day. Looking at the amazing financial resources in front of him, his back was immediately soaked with cold sweat. Could this person really be an imperial envoy sent by the court? But if so, why would he condescend to deal with these merchants?
"Don't think too much!" Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the wine glass, and the amber wine swayed in the luminous cup. "Tomorrow, the Ministry of Revenue will register, and everything will be based on Zhu. Just follow me, and I guarantee that you will make a lot of money!" He swept his eyes over the crowd, and his tone was full of unquestionable majesty, "If others want to eat the fat meat alone, they have to ask me if I agree!"

These words were like a huge rock thrown into a deep pool, stirring up thousands of waves. The businessmen looked at each other with different expressions. Some were excited, some were nervous, and most were cautiously testing. The bearded man slapped the table and said, "Okay! Boss Zhu is so generous, I, Zhang, will follow you!"

"We are also willing to follow Boss Zhu!" Amid the endless voices of agreement, Wang Hongru gritted his teeth and forced a smile: "Boss Zhu, since you are so courageous, we will naturally obey your orders!" But he was thinking in his heart that if he could really get close to this big Buddha, he might be able to get greater benefits from the new city's investment promotion; but if the bet is wrong... Thinking of this, he secretly glanced at the jade pendant with coiled dragon pattern on Zhu Yuanzhang's waist, and his back felt cold again.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and raised his hand to signal the singing girls to pour the wine. The gilded wine pot was poured, and the amber wine was poured into the ice crack official kiln cup, showing an attractive luster. "Come, drink this cup, we are in the same boat!"

The merchants raised their glasses one after another, and the rich aroma of camphor spread on their tongues. Wang Hongru licked his lips, and became more and more certain in his heart - this is clearly the imperial wine! He secretly glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang's cheerful appearance, and suddenly remembered the advice of the elder of the Shanxi Merchants Association: "In the capital, the more ordinary people look, the more likely they are to hide shocking secrets." At this moment, he felt like he was dancing on the edge of a knife. If he was not careful, he would be doomed.

After three rounds of drinking, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly put down his glass, his expression stern: "Let me be frank, tomorrow when the registration starts, if anyone dares to play tricks..." He swept his eyes over everyone, his eyes were chilling, "Don't blame me for being rude!"

Everyone agreed, with cold sweat on their foreheads. Wang Hongru forced himself to remain calm and responded with a smile: "Brother Zhu, don't worry, we will work together!" But he was secretly planning in his heart. When he arrived at the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow, he had to find a chance to test this man's background. If he could find out where he came from, maybe he could turn the tables on him... (End of this chapter)