My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

August of the sixteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, late summer and early autumn, Nanjing.

The Qinhuai River shimmered with a golden glow under the setting sun.

The riverside houses and pavilions, with their flying eaves and colorful lanterns, are lined up one after another on both banks. Their reflections are on the shimmering water, swaying gently with the ripples, like a flowing, richly colored scroll painting of the Jiangnan region.

The air was filled with the scents of cosmetics, wine, food, and a slightly fishy smell from the moisture, along with the faint sounds of string and wind instruments and the soft, melodious voices of singing girls, all of which created a unique atmosphere on the banks of the Qinhuai River that was both noisy and decadent.

As dusk falls and the lights come on, the various lanterns hanging on both sides of the river are lit one after another, resembling two winding dragons of light, illuminating the winding river in a dreamlike way.

On the river, painted boats slowly passed by, their lights shining brightly, and bursts of laughter and music emanating from them.

On the shore, pedestrians thronged shoulder to shoulder, including scholars, merchants, tourists, ordinary people, and even heavily made-up women leaning against the railings, creating a bustling and lively scene of city life at night.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a young man dressed as an ordinary scholar, wearing a moon-white silk shirt, a light blue vest, and a square turban, strolled with great interest through the streets and alleys along the riverbank.

He was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a handsome face and clear, bright eyes. His gaze carried a composure and curiosity that seemed slightly out of place for his age.

This man was Zhu Cilang, who had returned from Fujian.

Zhu Cilang spent about twenty days in Fujian, engaging in in-depth discussions with Zheng Zhilong and his family, as well as local officials in Fujian. He also inspected the navy and ports, gaining a more direct understanding of the specific situation regarding coastal defense, trade, and the Zheng family's influence in the southeast.

He then set off to return to Nanjing.

Coincidentally, the fleet only arrived at Longjiang Pass in Nanjing this evening.

Instead of immediately setting up a grand procession and making a big show of entering the city to return to the palace, he first sent people to escort Zheng Xiaomei, Qiqige, and others back to their accommodations arranged at the Nanjing Imperial Palace. He himself only brought a few close attendants, changed into casual clothes, and strolled to the famous and long-awaited Qinhuai River, wanting to personally experience the customs and culture of this "golden land of the Six Dynasties".

He was followed closely by four people.

The two closest to him were naturally Li Hu, the commander of the Eastern Palace guards who was always by his side, and his trusted eunuch Ma Bao.

Li Hu was a burly man. Although he was dressed as an ordinary servant, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and he always vigilantly scanned the surroundings for any movement that might pose a threat to the Crown Prince.

Ma Bao, on the other hand, seemed much more clever, carrying an inconspicuous bundle containing some emergency money and items.

The other two were Luo Yangxing, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who rushed to meet the Crown Prince after receiving news of his quiet return to the capital.

The other one was Zhang Shize, the heir apparent of the Duke of England.

Zhang Shize was ordered by Emperor Chongzhen to come to the dock to welcome the Crown Prince and to be responsible for part of the guard duties.

When the two saw that the Crown Prince had changed into civilian clothes and was eager to stroll along the Qinhuai River, they could not dissuade him, so they had no choice but to change into civilian clothes as "attendants" and blend into the crowd to protect him.

Zhang Shize was a bit older and had a relatively carefree personality. He didn't think much of the Crown Prince's "refined interests" and was even quite interested in them himself.

Of course, on the surface only these four people were accompanying him, but in secret, mainly the elite Jinyiwei brought by Luo Yangxing, at least two or three hundred disguised guards and strongmen had already been quietly scattered in the streets, docks, bridges, teahouses and taverns that Zhu Cilang might pass through, forming an invisible but tight protective net.

Any suspicious person who approaches within thirty steps of the Crown Prince will immediately be subject to cross-surveillance from multiple lines of vision.

Luo Yangxing appeared calm, but in reality, he was on edge, knowing full well that the responsibility on his shoulders was heavier than Mount Tai.

Luo Yangxing originally planned to take advantage of the opportunity to accompany the Crown Prince on a walk and report some important developments in Nanjing recently, as well as the intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to the Crown Prince.

However, he saw that Zhu Cilang was completely like a young nobleman on an outing, sometimes stopping to admire a delicate riverside house, sometimes listening to the clear and melodious singing coming from a painted boat, and sometimes showing interest in the roadside stalls selling clay figurines, paper cuttings, and lanterns, completely immersed in the local customs.

Luo Yangxing swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue several times.

He knew that it would be unwise to disturb the Crown Prince's leisurely mood with political affairs at this moment.

What made Luo Yangxing even more uneasy and secretly distressed was that this was the Qinhuai River! The world-famous den of iniquity! Although at this moment they were just strolling around the outer streets and had not ventured into the famous brothels and entertainment districts.

But the air thick with a decadent and ambiguous atmosphere, and the exquisite buildings along the riverbank with their colorful lights bearing the names of "So-and-so Courtyard" and "So-and-so Building," all reminded him of the "special" nature of this place.

What he feared most was that this young prince might suddenly decide, or be attracted by the reputation of "Qinhuai Romance", to go to those places to "see" and "listen to some music".

Then Luo Yangxing really couldn't hold back anymore!
Should he stop him? If the Crown Prince insists on going, how dare a mere subject forcibly obstruct the heir apparent?

If the crown prince gets angry, he won't be able to bear the consequences.

Should we not stop him? If the Crown Prince were to actually enter such a place, what if some ignorant censor or rival found out and wrote a report accusing him of "the Crown Prince frequenting brothels"? Or worse, what if something went wrong there?

How many heads does Luo Yangxing have to chop off?
I'm afraid that in the emperor's wrath, the entire Luo family will suffer! This is practically a death trap!
Therefore, Luo Yangxing was on tenterhooks the whole way, hoping that the Crown Prince would soon have had his fill of sightseeing and that the novelty would wear off so he could voluntarily suggest returning to the palace.

He even prayed silently in his heart that the crown prince simply enjoyed the lively street scene and had no interest in matters of "romance".

In contrast, Zhang Shize seemed much more relaxed.

He was born into a noble family and, although he was usually restrained, he was no stranger to the bustling places in the capital and Nanjing.

He would occasionally point to a building with a historical background and whisper a few anecdotes to Zhu Cilang, or tell him some interesting stories from the streets, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Before we knew it, it had gotten completely dark.

The lanterns along the banks of the Qinhuai River are even brighter, their reflections shimmering in the water, creating a mesmerizing scene.

More pleasure boats appeared on the river, and the sounds of string and wind instruments became increasingly clear.

Luo Yangxing glanced at the sky, then at the Crown Prince who remained enthusiastic and showed no sign of returning home, and his anxiety reached its peak.

He gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and moved closer to Zhu Cilang, deliberately lowering his voice to a volume that only a few people nearby could hear:
“Young master, look, it’s getting late, the lanterns are just coming on, and the river breeze is getting cool. Master is still waiting for you to come back for dinner. He must be getting impatient. Why don’t we go back today? If we have some free time another day, we can come back and explore more.” He didn’t dare to say “Your Majesty” or “return to the palace” directly, so he could only use “Master” and “return to the mansion” to refer to them.

His eyes were pleading, hoping the Crown Prince would understand his difficulties.

Zhu Cilang was watching several children releasing lotus lanterns under an arched bridge not far away when he heard this. He turned around, a relaxed smile on his face, and waved his hand.
"It's alright, it's alright. It's not easy to come out like this. It's not too late to pay our respects to Father tomorrow morning. It's a rare sight to see such a beautiful night scene. Let's enjoy the night view of Jinling a little longer. No rush, let's stroll around some more."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yangxing's heart sank. All the words of advice he wanted to offer were swallowed back, but he dared not show the slightest displeasure on his face. He could only force a smile and awkwardly reply:
"Yes, sir, you are right."

He then shut his mouth in exasperation, and could only nervously observe his surroundings while quickly calculating in his mind how he could tactfully yet firmly "suggest" that they change their destination if the Crown Prince really suggested going to those places.

Just as Luo Yangxing was struggling with his inner conflict, a rich aroma mixed with lard, scallions, and broth wafted over on the evening breeze and entered their nostrils.

The aroma was simple yet enticing, a stark contrast to the luxurious flavors of the surrounding dishes and drinks, making it exceptionally appetizing.

Zhu Cilang followed the aroma and saw a simple but clean wonton stall set up beside the stone steps of the riverbank not far ahead.

The stall owner was an elderly man with gray hair but a vigorous spirit. He was stirring the boiling bone broth in a large pot with a long ladle, the milky white soup steaming hot.

There was a low table and a few benches nearby, where two or three porters were already sitting and slurping their food. Business seemed to be good.

"goo"

Someone's stomach let out a soft growl, seemingly fitting the occasion.

Zhu Cilang touched his stomach. Since disembarking in the afternoon, he had only had some snacks at the dock. Now, enticed by the aroma, he did feel a bit hungry.

He smiled, pointed to the wonton stall, and said to the crowd:
"After walking for so long, I'm getting a bit hungry. These wontons smell delicious. How about we grab a bite here and try some authentic Nanjing snacks?"

Li Hu and Ma Bao naturally had no objections.

Zhang Shize nodded with a smile:

"Listen to me, young master, these roadside stalls often have a unique charm."

Only Luo Yangxing was terrified when he heard that the Crown Prince was going to eat at a roadside stall!
This is outrageous! The Crown Prince is of noble birth. If the food outside is unclean and he gets sick from it, Luo Yangxing wouldn't have enough heads to chop off even if he had ten!
He quickly stepped forward and, almost instinctively, spoke in a very low but urgent voice to dissuade him:

"Young Master! You mustn't! We don't know the quality of food outside, and the utensils and bowls may not be clean. What if we get an upset stomach or something is not clean? If you're hungry, Young Master, let's go back to the manor or find a clean and bright restaurant. Wouldn't that be safer?"

Although he lowered his voice, his anxious tone still carried a hint of urgency, which was faintly heard by the elderly man selling goods nearby in the quiet evening breeze.

The old man had sharp ears; upon hearing this, he immediately stopped eating, raised his head, and stared at Luo Yangxing with his somewhat cloudy but shrewd eyes, his face instantly showing displeasure.

He sized up Luo Yangxing and saw that although he was dressed plainly, his demeanor was not that of an ordinary person, and his words implied disdain for his stall, which immediately made him angry.

The old man slammed his long ladle against the side of the pot, making a crisp "clang," and then pointed at Luo Yangxing and started shouting:
"Hey! How dare you talk like that? I've been running this wonton stall by the Qinhuai River for over ten years. Everyone in the neighborhood knows that my wontons are made with high-quality ingredients, have delicious broth, and are always clean. And you, you come up here and say things like 'unclean' or 'I don't know the details'? Aren't you just slandering me and ruining my reputation?"

"The meat I used for this minced meat was just bought from the butcher this afternoon, and I watched it being chopped! The shrimp were also freshly peeled, and the greens were picked from the field at noon, they're still so fresh! This bone broth has been simmering since this morning, look at the color of the broth, it's as white as milk! The bowls and chopsticks were all scalded with boiling water and dried in the sun! Which eye of yours saw that it wasn't clean?"

The old man got angrier and angrier as he spoke, and his voice got louder, attracting the curious glances of several customers eating wontons and passersby.

Luo Yangxing was immediately embarrassed by the old man's barrage of words, and his face turned bright red.

He was a high-ranking commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, usually so powerful and imposing. He had never been so berated by a common old man.
Normally, he would have had his men take down this "troublemaker" with a single glance.

But right now, with the Crown Prince right beside him, looking on with amusement, how could he dare to show any official power?
He had no choice but to suppress his anger, forcing out a smile that looked more like a grimace, and bowed to the old man, saying:

"Old man, you've misunderstood! You've misunderstood! That's not what I meant. I was just saying it casually, worried that my young master has a weak stomach. I had absolutely no intention of slandering him!"

"Just something offhand?"

The old man, however, persisted and said angrily.

"Do you know that if others hear your casual remark, they might think there's something wrong with the food I, Old Wang, eat? How am I supposed to keep my business going? You look like a respectable person, but how can you talk so irresponsibly!"

Luo Yangxing was speechless, only able to force a laugh. He had never been so embarrassed in his life.

Just then, a clear, melodious voice, like that of a nightingale, came from the side:
"Grandpa, what's wrong? Who made you angry?"

A young girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, carrying a bamboo basket, walked briskly up the stone steps from the riverbank.

She wore a slightly worn blue cloth dress, her hair was styled in two buns, her skin was a healthy honey color, her features weren't particularly beautiful, but her eyes were big and bright, radiating a cleverness and liveliness.

The bamboo basket contained some washed wild vegetables and a few eggs, indicating that the person had just returned from shopping or working nearby.

Seeing her granddaughter, the old woman felt even more emboldened. Pointing at Luo Yangxing, she said angrily:

"Pear Blossom, you've come at the perfect time! You be the judge! This person just said out of the blue that our wontons aren't clean and will make you sick! Isn't that infuriating?"

Upon hearing this, the girl named Pear Blossom raised an eyebrow, her bright eyes immediately glaring at Luo Yangxing, anger appearing on her face, her voice clear yet tinged with displeasure:

"You're being completely unreasonable! My grandfather has been running my family's wonton stall for over ten years. We use fresh ingredients, change the broth frequently, and boil the bowls and chopsticks every day. Everyone in the neighborhood praises it! You haven't even tasted a bite, so how dare you say it's bad or unclean? Isn't this ruining our reputation? You look so respectable, how can you be so unreasonable!"

Pear Blossom is young and speaks directly, and when it comes to protecting her family's business, she is even more blunt.

Luo Yangxing was caught in the crossfire of the grandfather and grandson, one old and one young, their backs to the screen, and he was so ashamed that he wanted to disappear. His face turned red and then white, then white and then red again. He was speechless and couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time.

As a high-ranking official of the Imperial Guard, how could he have ever been openly rebuked by such a commoner? And yet, he couldn't retaliate; this feeling of humiliation almost made him vomit blood. (End of Chapter)