Ming Dynasty: The ghost betrays the Confucian sage, my son Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 174 Zhu Yuanzhang: Are you the Fourth Master’s eldest disciple? Isn't this a coincidence?

On the broad street, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Xuansu rode side by side. The autumn sunshine gently fell on them, drawing two long shadows, as if telling the past years.

"Your Majesty, I really didn't expect that we would meet again one day." Zhang Xuansu said with emotion.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked surprised: "Mr. Zhang, it turns out that you are the fourth master's apprentice. For so many years, we have been looking for you and want to see you, but you have never shown up."

Zhang Xuansu smiled calmly: "That year, I was seriously injured by the Thirteen Wings in order to save you, and my life was almost hanging by a thread. Fortunately, my master came to the rescue and I was able to save my life."

"It turns out that Fourth Master saved you!" Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed.

"Yes, my cultivation was completely ruined during that time, and I thought I had no hope in this life. But Fourth Master not only saved me, but also accepted me as his disciple, so that I could practice cultivation again." Zhang Xuansu sighed lightly.

"Have you told the fourth master that you have saved the emperor?" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, "My fourth brother said that his senior brother was the one who the emperor asked for but did not see."

"Yes, I told the master how I was injured." Zhang Xuansu's face flashed with surprise, "Is my third junior brother your son?"

"It's the dog Zhu Di." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and nodded.

Zhang Xuansu looked tangled, but finally nodded and agreed to Zhu Yuanzhang's request.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly: "He doesn't know. The reasons are quite complicated. Please hide something for us. When the time is right, I will personally explain everything to Fourth Master."

In a quiet courtyard in the north of the city, three women floated down.

"My master, he doesn't know your identities?" Zhang Xuansu asked.

"Pindao can take action, but Pindao doesn't kill people." Zhang Xuansu nodded.

Wu Yu wears a purple robe, which is mysterious and noble; Ao Gu wears a black robe, which is profound and unpredictable; Wener's pink robe dances lightly, with a hint of cunning in her agility. They couldn't hide the look of shock on their faces.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued: "This assassination is obviously aimed at the Fourth Master. We will ask the Jin Yiwei to investigate. At that time, we will also ask Mr. Da to take action to resolve these threats to the Fourth Master Zhu."

Wu Yu smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Originally, even if we failed to assassinate Fourth Master Zhu, we could still seriously injure him with those poisons. In this way, no one can compete with us for Confucianism and Tibet. Now, we ourselves lost heavily."

Ao Gu frowned and thought deeply: "Tanma Junsi once investigated this person. His name is Zhang Xuansu. The information does not show that he has any extraordinary qualities. However, when I saw him today, his cultivation was simply unbelievable. It’s incredible.”

Ao Gu's face became more and more ugly: "The situation has become more and more complicated. Fourth Master Zhu's strength cannot be underestimated, and with the mysterious 'jun' intervening, it will not be easy for us to get Ruzang." We must re-plan and take a long-term approach."

In the Kunning Palace late at night, candlelight flickered.

"Mr. Zhang, you are still like that." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

"Master of the Academy, is he so powerful?" Wu Yu's voice was filled with a tremor of disbelief, "I almost had to use all my strength to catch his thunderous palm."

……

A cold light flashed in Wu Yu's eyes, and a sneer curled up at the corner of his mouth: "It's time to talk to people from the Ming Cult and Japan. If the three of us join forces, we will definitely be able to turn things around."

Zhu Yuanzhang held a grand celebration banquet for Xu Da today. He was slightly drunk and felt a little dizzy. Empress Ma gently brought a bowl of hangover soup. He took it and drank it in one gulp, feeling refreshed.

A strange smile appeared on Wen'er's face, and she sighed: "This operation really steals the chicken but loses the rice. Our Demon Sect has suffered heavy losses, and those old men will definitely be nagging at us after we go back."

……

She couldn't help but picture the figure of the kid who was the leader of the Bombing Sky Gang. His blood could actually suppress poisons. What kind of weird physique was this?

Ao Gu's eyes lit up when she heard this, as if she saw new hope.

Suddenly, there was the sound of drums and bursts of noise outside, and Ao Gu snorted: "It's Xu Da who is back. This time their Northern Expedition has completely cleared the Central Plains."

"Sister, go get those boxes." Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

Queen Ma was startled for a moment, then turned around and took out three simple boxes from the inner room. What is hidden in these boxes is Zhu Yuanzhang's records of the general's merits and demerits over the years. Only the couple know the secrets.

She sat down calmly and gently opened the lid of the box, only to see stacks of notes neatly placed inside. She pointed at these notes and sighed: "Look, this is what you wrote down when you were the commander-in-chief. This is the record of you becoming Queen Wu. And this box is what you wrote down after the decisive battle at Poyang Lake." . Chongba, every time I help you sort this out, I feel mixed emotions."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at these records written by himself and was filled with emotion. He gently stroked Queen Ma's back and said softly: "Sister, no one is perfect, and this minister is not perfect. The king must know the good and the bad, and know the light and the dark."

Empress Ma nodded slightly. She also understood Zhu Yuanzhang's painstaking efforts and recorded these in order to better control the officials.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly and continued: "Sister, prepare three pieces of cloth for me, one yellow, one red, and one green. We have to classify these papers and paste them up, so that whose merits and demerits can be clearly seen. Tonight , we stayed up late together to sort this out and finalize the matter of the knighthood."

When Queen Ma heard this, she glared and said, "I've been busy all day. Who will stay up late with you? You can go alone."

However, there was a hint of doting and helplessness in her tone.

Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his brows and smiled bitterly: "We have already prepared for the ceremony for the conferment of the title. This matter has been delayed again and again, and it will soon be the third year of Hongwu. The generals are eager to wait for the conferment. Xu Da is also back today. , while everyone is here at the end of the year, this matter cannot be postponed any longer. At least the list must be confirmed first." Empress Ma nodded proudly: "You really have to ask me about this, I know all your adopted sons and nephews. ”

With that said, she got up and got ready.

Zhu Yuanzhang drank a few more mouthfuls of hangover soup, rubbed his face, and felt much more energetic.

……

Soon, Queen Ma was ready. Three pieces of cloth were hung on the board in front of them: one yellow, one red, and one green.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood in front of the cloth, shook the box in his hand and said: "This yellow cloth represents the duke, the red cloth represents the marquis, and the green cloth represents the earl. In this box are the civil and military ministers of the third rank or above of the imperial court. You read the names one by one. Let's Put their names on the cloth based on their merits, demerits and qualifications.”

Queen Ma nodded with a smile.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed and he emphasized: "Sister, let's not quarrel tonight. If there is any disagreement, we, Emperor Zhu, will make the final decision."

Empress Ma pondered for a while and nodded: "Okay! But let's talk it over first. If I have any objections, you have to let me finish my words before I hammer down."

"It's settled!" Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, then took out a name and said, "Xuda."

"Duke!" Queen Ma blurted out.

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and asked her to paste Xu Da's name on the yellow cloth.

"Li Shanchang." He read his name again.

"Duke." Queen Ma said.

As the names were posted one by one, Zhu Yuanzhang read out: "Liu Bowen."

Queen Ma didn't even think about it: "Duke."

However, Zhu Yuanzhang stopped her and said in a deep voice: "Earl!"

Queen Ma was stunned, why could Liu Bowen only be an earl? His contribution is not inferior to that of Li Shanchang. However, Zhu Yuanzhang gave her a look: "Don't argue, he is the earl."

The couple stayed together until late at night. Empress Ma couldn't hold on any longer and lay down first, while Zhu Yuanzhang was still staring at the three pieces of cloth. Eventually, he changed a few more lists.

He sat on the edge of the soft couch, leaning against Queen Ma and thinking. Queen Ma was awakened by his leaning on her and gave him an elbow: "Get out of the way and use me as a cushion?"

Queen Ma woke up, sat up and went to drink tea. She glanced at the three pieces of cloth and exclaimed: "Where is Tang He? Why did you put him in the Marquis? Chongba, are you confused? Tang He Juyi He was the one who asked you to join the army earlier than you. He was President Qian at that time. He must be a duke. If you put him among your nephews, how... is this okay? "

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were sharp and he shook his head: "Sister, our old brother will not argue with us. He will never argue with us."

Queen Ma hesitated to speak.

She knew that if Tang He was placed as a marquis, no one would dare to say that the title was unfair. But this is unfair to Tang He.

……

The mountain behind the academy.

Fourth Master Zhu held the weak Zhao Xuanzhen in his arms. Her jade-like skin showed a faint blush, and her eyes were downcast, as if there was a pool of spring water rippling in them.

Fourth Master Zhu hugged her slender waist tightly and whispered about the assassination he encountered while hunting today. Zhao Xuanzhen listened, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist, her clear and beautiful eyes full of worry: "Farewell? So, could it be that someone from the Thirteenth Wing did it?"

A cold and stern light flashed in her eyes, and it was fleeting. She had clearly warned Wu Yu, so why was Fourth Master Zhu still assassinated?

Fourth Master Zhu gently stroked her silky hair and chuckled, "What kind of hatred or resentment? Are you going to put me to death like this? Didn't I just rob you?"

Hearing this, Zhao Xuanzhen frowned slightly and said coquettishly: "What does this have to do with me? Think about it carefully, is there anything else that has offended others recently?"

"Could it be for Confucianism and Tibet?" Fourth Master Zhu frowned and fell into deep thought.

"I don't know if that thing is real." Zhao Xuanzhen's mature and charming eyes blinked, "Do you have a clue? So they are looking for you?"

"There is a clue." Fourth Master Zhu shook his head.

Fourth Master Zhu looked at Zhao Xuanzhen's delicate body with icy muscles and jade bones, and swallowed his saliva unsatisfactorily, with the heat in his eyes igniting again. Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes were slightly closed, shy but full of enthusiasm.

Soon, the soft couch creaked rhythmically, and Zhao Xuanzhen's ethereal and melodious voice came from time to time.

(End of this chapter)