The Ming Dynasty: Starting with taking Old Zhu on a journey to the future

"Sir, our restaurant does not accept bills."

"I'll go home and get it for you."

The waiter's face turned cold. He blocked Zhu Jihuang's path and pulled out a stick from who-knows-where: "Trying to eat for free? If you don't have money, why are you eating tea? I had to run several blocks to buy it for you."

The restaurant didn't have tea, so he went to buy it from several other streets.

"If you don't come up with the money today, don't even think about leaving this room."

"You look all dressed up, but you're a penniless wretch."

Just as the two sides were at an impasse.

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly turned back.

Seeing this, Zhu Jihuang quickly said, "Cousin! I've already given all my money to Chen Yuan, I have no money to pay the bill."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu was slightly taken aback.

They weren't stingy and paid the bill right away.

"How much?"

"A bowl of tea, a private room, and a broken teacup, totaling six taels and four mace."

Six taels and four mace?

"So expensive?"

"Sir, we don't have much tea or private rooms, but the key issue is the teacup you broke."

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Zhu Jihuang.

Despite being a prince, he was not wealthy.

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and pay the bill.

After paying the bill, the waiter finally put on a smile and greeted us warmly, "Take care, sir! Welcome back again!"

Zhu Jihuang patted his sleeves: "Next time, only a dog will come!"

……

At Jiang Huan's home.

When Lan Chen returned home, Jiang Huan's wife, Chen, had already prepared the meal.

He saw that there was only Lan Chen there.

Chen asked, "Where is my husband?"

"Oh, him? Something came up at court, he'll probably be back later."

Seeing this, Madam Chen didn't say anything more and immediately had a servant bring water for Lan Chen to wash his hands.

Then eat.

Looking at Jiang Huan's wife, Chen, and their two sons sitting around the table.

Something feels off.

It feels like a cuckoo has taken over someone else's nest.

after eating.

Nothing much happened in the afternoon.

Occasionally, he would teach Jiang Huan's son and daughter some arithmetic problems.

In terms of Confucianism, I am certainly no match for school teachers, those who dedicate their lives to studying Confucian classics.

However, my mathematical knowledge is sufficient to teach the two children.

Time flies.

Then evening came.

It was also the time agreed upon with Chen Yuan.

Lan Chen immediately got up and prepared to go to the appointment.

Seeing this, Chen asked, "Mr. Lan, are you coming back for dinner?"

If they're not coming back, prepare less.

Lan Chen waved his hand: "It depends on the situation. There's a high chance he won't be coming back."

……

Jiangdongmen Subdistrict.

The windows of every house in the surrounding area were tightly closed.

There is a curfew in the capital.

People are not allowed to wander around outside.

However, special locations require special treatment.

You can't exactly go to the sixteenth floor to shop in broad daylight, can you?

Therefore, most wealthy and powerful men would spend their time there at night and then stay overnight.

Therefore, people are allowed to wander around the sixteenth floor.

As long as you don't go beyond the sixteenth floor, it's fine.

Lan Chen looked around: "Strange, why isn't anyone here?"

Did they stand me up?

After searching around, Lan Chen still couldn't find Chen Yuan.

It's in the alleyway right around the corner.

Several people dressed in black and holding cold blades came into view.

Lan Chen frowned.

I initially thought I had stumbled upon a crime scene.

Unexpectedly, the gazes of those people turned in their direction.

When they walk to the left, their heads move to the left; when they walk to the right, their heads move to the right.

Clearly, this is not a crime scene.

These people seem to be here to kill me.

It seems that Chen Yuan's purpose was to lure me here so that he could get rid of me.

As the saying goes, "lust is a knife above one's head," and the ancients were right.

What Lan Chen couldn't understand was that, looking back on his experiences over the past few days, he didn't seem to have offended anyone.

Could they be enemies of the Duke of Liang's family?

But since his own father was already imprisoned, why would he go to such lengths to assassinate him?

However, killing oneself is not so easy.

"Imperial Guards! Someone's trying to kill me! If you don't come out now, I'm really going to die!"

"I'll die, then let's see who among you can withstand His Majesty's wrath!"

A loud and clear voice.

The sound echoed throughout the alley.

The next second, several Imperial Guards emerged from the shadows behind them.

He then shielded Lan Chen in front of him.

Lan Chen smiled slightly: "Let's take them down!"

He dared to keep the appointment not because he was driven by lust, but because he knew the truth.

Zhu Yuanzhang certainly wouldn't let himself be left to his own devices.

However, the Imperial Guards did not listen to Lan Chen.

"Our only responsibility is to protect you."

As long as Lan Chen's life is safe, that's all that matters.

There's no need to risk your life.

Therefore, the Imperial Guards did not choose to confront them directly.

Instead, he picked up Lan Chen and prepared to escape.

However, the alley behind them was also blocked.

"Escape? Where can they escape to? Kill them all, including the Imperial Guards!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Yun, the leader of the Imperial Guards, was immediately enraged.

"Do they really think our Imperial Guards are pushovers?!"

Qian Yun immediately blew the whistle around his neck.

Request support!

Upon seeing this, the leader of the men in black immediately rushed forward with his knife.

The two sides began a fierce battle.

The alleyway is narrow, only wide enough for two or three people to move around.

Those Jinyiwei who were able to serve in the capital were all highly skilled.

Therefore, even with a numerical disadvantage, they can still resist by relying on the terrain.

Zhu Gaoxu stood in the shadows of a pavilion, looking at the situation in the alley with a solemn expression.

Surprisingly, he had the Embroidered Uniform Guard protecting him.

Zhu Jihuang... This kid actually didn't tell me.

But the arrow was already on the bowstring, and there was no choice but to release it.

Since we've already started, we can't give up halfway.

We'll settle accounts with Zhu Jihuang later.

Zhu Gaoxu immediately picked up his bow and arrow, aiming his eyes at Lan Chen, who was being protected by the Imperial Guards.

Take a deep breath.

Concentrate intently.

Three breaths later, Zhu Gaoxu released the bowstring with his left hand.

An arrow pierced the sky.

It accurately struck a member of the Imperial Guard in the shoulder.

Zhu Gaoxu frowned: "It missed."

He nocked the arrow again, aimed, took a deep breath, and released the bowstring.

All in one go.

The arrow did not miss its mark.

It hit Lan Chen precisely.

Lan Chen suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder.

How could it hit?

Despite being protected by three Imperial Guards in front of him, the arrow still managed to hit him.

Therefore, there is only one reason.

The hidden arrow came from above.

Lan Chen looked up and gazed at a pavilion not far away.

A figure could be vaguely seen in the shadows.

Unfortunately, even with his excellent eyesight, the person was wearing a mask and he couldn't see what they looked like.

As the Imperial Guards fell one by one before his eyes, Lan Chen's vision gradually began to blur.

He leaned against the wall and fainted.

……

at the same time.

At Jiang Huan's home.

Jiang Huan had just returned home after the interrogation ended. After washing up, he prepared to eat.

However, Lan Chen was not seen.

So he asked his wife beside him, "Where's Lan Chen? Why didn't he come for dinner?"

Ms. Chen explained, "Oh, Mr. Lan said someone wants to invite him to drinks with a womanizer, so he might not be back tonight. He told us not to wait for him."

Drinking with courtesans?

Lan Chen stays at home cultivating Taoism year-round, so do he still have friends inviting him to parties and drinking parties?

Jiang Huan frowned deeply.

After thinking it over, he stood up and put on the flying fish robe that had already been hung up.

After taking off his embroidered spring knife, Jiang Huan walked towards the door, saying, "I'll go find him. You guys eat first."

As soon as Jiang Huan arrived at the door...

A member of the Imperial Guard rode up to the gate, dismounted, and knelt on one knee, saying, "My lord!"

"Ding Qiu?"

Jiang Huan suddenly had a bad feeling.

Ding Qiu gasped for breath and hurriedly reported, "My lord, something terrible has happened! Lan Chen was assassinated on Jiangdongmen Street, and his fate is unknown!"