The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Tang Yin became a prisoner.

All the privileges previously afforded to him by the Prince of Ning's mansion were stripped away, and he was imprisoned in a private dungeon, isolated from the outside world.

This was a form of punishment from Zhu Chenhao.

When Zhu Chenhao returned to the Ning Prince's Mansion, Lou Suzhen was already waiting for him in the main hall.

"Your Highness," Lou Suzhen stepped forward and bowed, "Why didn't Mr. Tang return with you? How is his condition now? Is it necessary to send someone to help him again?"

What an intelligent person Lou Suzhen was?

When she learned that Tang Yin had gone out with her husband and had not returned together, and that she could not contact Tang Yin anywhere, she guessed that something might have happened to Tang Yin.

Zhu Chenhao said, "Today I took Tang Yin to see my adopted son, but unexpectedly Tang Yin suddenly had a hysterical attack and bumped into my adopted son, which frightened him. His condition is becoming increasingly uncontrollable, and he even tried to hurt people. I can only arrange for him to rest in a secluded place and not see outsiders for the time being."

Even now, Zhu Chenhao still doesn't want to expose Tang Yin's true colors in front of his wife, mainly because he doesn't want to hurt her feelings.

Putting aside everything else, Zhu Chenhao at least has a deep affection for his wife.

Lou Suzhen comes from a powerful family and has a strong influence. In recent years, she has helped the Prince of Ning's mansion recruit many famous scholars and is Zhu Chenhao's strongest supporter.

Lou Suzhen asked with concern, "What about Yi'er?"

"He's alright," Zhu Chenhao said. "Have him come over to pay his respects to you these next couple of days. This child... he's had a tough time. Despite all the hardships he's faced, he still looks forward. In the future, let him participate more in the affairs of the Ning Prince's Mansion. He can handle things on his own. Sigh! Much better than the second son."

Zhu Chenhao's expression softened considerably when his son was mentioned.

Prince Ning had four sons. His eldest son died young, and his second and third sons were born to Lou Suzhen and were legitimate sons.

The fourth son was born out of wedlock.

Lou Suzhen, seeing that her husband was unwilling to say much to her, wisely stopped asking further questions.

She wanted to plead for Tang Yin, but didn't know how to start.

After all, even Tang Yin himself had never admitted to her that he was faking madness. Was she supposed to tell her husband that she actually saw through everything but had just been unwilling to say it before?

……

……

Although Lou Suzhen didn't explain things clearly to Zhu Chenhao in person, she still sent someone to inquire about Tang Yin's situation.

"Your Highness, Mr. Tang did indeed accompany the Prince to see the Young Prince, and was then taken away in a carriage. We don't know where he was taken, but he probably didn't leave the city. When we asked other people involved in the matter, they all said they knew nothing about it." The person in charge of gathering information for Lou Suzhen was Zhang Yuan, a lady-in-waiting from the Prince's mansion. She was around thirty years old, and although she wasn't particularly charming, she had a slightly alluring air about her and a shrewd look on her face.

Although she did not serve as Lou Suzhen's inner court steward, she often helped her deal with officials and gentry in the city, such as fundraising and disaster relief. She also had a good relationship with the socialites and noblewomen of Nanchang.

Because she was well-connected with everyone, she was also very good at gathering information, making her Lou Suzhen's strategist and advisor.

Lou Suzhen asked, "From what you've seen, what's the story with Mr. Tang?"

"I dare not speak presumptuously, but judging from the situation, the Ning Prince's Mansion's attitude towards Mr. Tang is not as it used to be." Zhang Yuan's words revealed the crux of the matter.

Previously, everyone in the Ning Prince's Mansion flattered Tang Yin, but now they avoid him like the plague, as if they are all afraid of being associated with him.

Figure out what really happened yourself.

Lou Suzhen frowned and said, "Just because he went to see Yi'er?"

She was also very surprised. The Prince of Ning had said that he was going to receive guests, but it turned out that the guests he was receiving were her son.

Why was Tang Yin pushed into a quagmire and unable to get out after the meeting ended?

Zhang Yuan said, "I don't know the specifics, but I heard that the young prince, accompanied by Mr. Gongsun, went towards South Lake. This is the first time the young prince has appeared in public since he returned from his disappearance."

"Hmm." Lou Suzhen was relieved to hear that her son was safe and sound and could even go boating on the lake.

She just couldn't understand how Tang Yin's accident was connected to her son.

……

……

Xinghualou (Apricot Blossom Pavilion)

Zhu Yi stood at the second-floor window, gazing at the beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains before him.

The beautiful scenery of March was right before his eyes, but he had no heart to appreciate it... He felt a deep sorrow, as if he had fallen into hell.

Now, even if he didn't want to admit it, he had to. This was indeed not a scenario fabricated for him by others; he had indeed come to the Ming Dynasty.

There is no room for even the slightest doubt.

He had previously considered the possibility that someone might be imprisoning him in the film studio with ulterior motives, but the sheer scale and lack of any sense of civilization in the scene before him... could not possibly be created anywhere else.

"Young Master, I will not accompany you upstairs." On the narrow path by the lake below the window, Gongsun Jin was still looking up at Zhu Yi, who was admiring the scenery.

The second floor of Xinghualou was Lou Suzhen's private place.

It was as if Zhu Yi had entered his elderly mother's boudoir.

The room was furnished very elegantly, and the most eye-catching and luxurious item was the dressing table that was said to belong to the Princess Ning.

Although there weren't many cosmetics available these days, Zhu Chenhao collected famous rouge and face powder from the market to satisfy his wife, filling the air with a strange fragrance.

He still wasn't quite used to this place, so he casually picked up an inconspicuous box of cosmetics from the table.

It seemed like some kind of driving force was propelling him... It didn't seem to be about possessiveness, he just wanted to take it back and study it... What exactly do women use to enhance their appearance these days?

"Young Master...won't you stay a little longer? There are some scholars over there, seemingly reciting poems. As you know, your mother is a talented poet. These people are trying to get closer to Xinghua Tower in this way, or perhaps attract the Princess's attention." Gongsun Jin saw Zhu Yi come downstairs and couldn't help but walk over, bow, and say with a smile.

Zhu Yi wondered, was this considered attracting attention? Or did his cheapskate father simply enjoy using this method to recruit talent?

Can rebellious talents emerge from among the wild bees and butterflies?

"Mr. Gong... no, I should address you as Mr. Gongsun, shouldn't I?" Zhu Yi said with an unfriendly expression.

Gongsun Jin hurriedly said, "You may call me whatever you wish, but why not just call me by my name? My name is Gongsun Jin."

Zhu Yi frowned and said, "Earlier, you came to ask me if I had any impression of Gongsun Jin. Were you afraid that you were among those who reported the traitors of the Prince of Ning's mansion to my father?"

"Ah? No, no..." Gongsun Jin was sweating profusely.

He didn't expect that Prince Ning would be in such a hurry to sit down and have a formal conversation with his son for the first time, and that they would recognize each other on the spot.

Zhu Yi said, "So, Mr. Gongsun is also afraid that his will is not firm enough, and that he might do something in the future that would betray the Prince Ning's Mansion?"

"Young Master, please don't think that way. I just haven't heard you mention it before, so I wanted to know if I could leave my mark on history. Alas! It's a pity that I'm not capable enough and haven't had such good fortune. I absolutely have no intention of being disloyal to the Prince of Ning's Mansion." Gongsun Jin quickly defended himself.

Zhu Yi smiled and said, "Mr. Gongsun is wise and resourceful, and I doubt he would make such a basic mistake. You were deliberately testing me, but actually... you wanted to give me a weakness so I could have leverage over you, to show that you would be willing to serve me wholeheartedly in the future, right?"

According to Zhu Yi, as long as I tell my father about your situation, he will definitely think that you are afraid of being a traitor and that you have ulterior motives.

This is very disadvantageous for you.

But if I look at it from another angle, I can think of it as your sincerity in surrendering, handing over your weakness to me.

"Ah? Hehe." Gongsun Jin immediately understood Zhu Yi's meaning and quickly said with a bowing and scraping posture, "Young Master, how could I not serve you wholeheartedly? I am loyal to the Prince Ning's Mansion and to you, Young Master."

"oh."

Zhu Yi did not delve further into this issue.

At least Gongsun Jin seems to be a smart man. He may not be very loyal, but it's good to have someone to run errands and do daily chores for you.

He now also needs to understand the power dynamics within the Ning Prince's mansion through Gongsun Jin.

"I'd like to travel around a bit," Zhu Yi instructed. "I'll trouble Mr. Gongsun to make the arrangements."

"This..." Gongsun Jin seemed very embarrassed.

Zhu Yi frowned, his face showing displeasure, and said, "You just said you'd do your utmost, and you can't even handle this small matter?"

Gongsun Jin said helplessly, "Young Master, it's like this, shouldn't you go back and prepare properly for your upcoming meeting with your father?"

"Prepare what?" Zhu Yi asked. "Didn't we just finish talking?"

Gongsun Jin leaned closer and whispered, "Of course it's a grand plan to raise an army! Do you know how anxious the Prince has been these past two days? Now that he's convinced you're from hundreds of years in the future, the Prince is in a good mood because you can help him achieve his great cause."

Now it was Zhu Yi's turn to be speechless.

Is my time travel experience that exciting?

He's immediately transported to the Prince Ning's mansion in the tenth year of the Zhengde reign, and he's even become the Prince Ning's third son? And he's already plotting a rebellion right from the start?

My father is neither the emperor nor the eldest son of the Prince of Ning... What is the purpose of my running around like this?

To become the second Zhu Gaoxu?

Would it be more practical for me to find a ship, sail across the ocean to America, and make a living?