The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

"Alright, it's settled then."

Zhu Houzhao was furious at the sight of Empress Dowager Zhang's domineering attitude, but he was helpless.

No matter what, she was his mother, and legally, she was the Empress Dowager. He really couldn't do anything about Empress Dowager Zhang.

The longer Zhu Houzhao remained in this position, the more he understood the pressure that Emperor Hongzhi had faced, especially when Empress Dowager Zhou was still alive. Facing his grandmother, who controlled the harem, Emperor Hongzhi had no power to resist. Fortunately, Empress Dowager Zhou had passed away in the seventeenth year of Hongzhi's reign; otherwise, he might have been oppressed just like his father.

"Your son will not disturb Mother Empress any longer."

Zhu Houzhao said something and then turned to leave.

This time, Empress Dowager Zhang didn't even respond; she closed her eyes as if she hadn't heard anything.

The mother and son parted on bad terms once again.

Chapter 551: On Fu (a type of Chinese prose-poem)

……

Liu Jin escorted Jiang Ning out of the palace, being extremely attentive along the way. If it weren't for the servant sent by Chen Qingyuan waiting for Jiang Ning, he would have taken her directly back to Chen Qingyuan's residence.

By the time Jiang Ning returned to the Chen residence, it was already dark. Linghu Chong had been waiting for quite some time. Chen Qingyuan was still at the Ministry of Revenue, where affairs were extremely busy, and he often didn't return until very late.

After learning that Jiang Ning had returned, Linghu Chong went to find him.

"Junior brother, why did you take so long?"

Linghu Chong wasn't worried about Jiang Ning being in danger; he was just curious.

"Who exactly is your friend? Why are you being so mysterious? I asked Minister Chen, but he wouldn't tell me. Is your friend someone special?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "It is indeed a bit special."

Linghu Chong asked in surprise, "Could he be some prince or nobleman?"

"It's a little higher than this."

Linghu Chong paused for a moment, then didn't ask any further questions.

How long do you plan to stay in the capital?

Jiang Ning said, "It should only take a few days."

Linghu Chong nodded, then winked at Jiang Ning and chuckled.

Jiang Ning was puzzled: "What's wrong?"

Linghu Chong smiled mysteriously: "While you were away, Miss Chen kept asking me about you."

Jiang Ning paused for a moment, then chuckled, shook his head, and left.

The next day.

Zhu Houzhao sent someone to invite Jiang Ning again, and the person sent was Liu Jin once more.

Liu Jin was just as attentive to Jiang Ning as he was yesterday, even more so than yesterday, his face beaming with joy.

However, Jiang Ning did not enter the palace this time, but stayed in a courtyard outside the palace.

"Brother Jiang, please have a seat."

Zhu Houzhao was sitting in the courtyard when he saw Jiang Ning arrive. He warmly invited Jiang Ning to sit down.

Jiang Ning was puzzled as to why Zhu Houzhao was meeting him here. Before he could ask, Zhu Houzhao said, "Brother Jiang, there are many eyes in the palace, so it's not convenient to meet here."

Listening to Zhu Houzhao's words, Jiang Ning thought of what had happened before he left yesterday, and he already had the answer in his heart. He nodded.

After he sat down, Zhu Houzhao began to talk impatiently about what he wanted to do in the future.

Since their conversation yesterday, Zhu Houzhao has regarded Jiang Ning as a close friend and a like-minded fellow traveler. Therefore, when he met Jiang Ning, he couldn't help but talk about his ambitions.

"Brother Jiang, I'm preparing..."

Zhu Houzhao wanted to reinstate the ancestral system left by Zhu Yuanzhang, putting shackles back on the necks of Ming Dynasty officials. Officials who embezzled more than sixty taels of silver would be skinned alive. In addition, Zhu Houzhao also wanted to implement an inspection system, which was tantamount to taking the lives of these civil officials who had become lazy and corrupt during the Hongzhi reign. Moreover, Zhu Houzhao reorganized the military camp and took military power back from the civil official group.

As Jiang Ning listened to Zhu Houzhao's words, Jiang Ning couldn't help but frown.

Political struggles have always been the most dangerous. In addition to open and covert power struggles, one must also guard against assassinations from all sides. Zhu Houzhao has only been on the throne for a short time, so it is very difficult for him to do these things. The best outcome for him is to become a puppet, and he will most likely drown one day.

Jiang Ning then gave Zhu Houzhao a few words of advice.

"I know."

Zhu Houzhao nodded.

He knew that doing these things was dangerous and he understood how much resistance there would be, so he was very cautious. He planned to take back military power first and then proceed slowly.

After Zhu Houzhao finished explaining his ideas, he began to discuss with Jiang Ning, focusing on issues related to the system.

Now that he knew Zhu Houzhao's ideals and ideas, Jiang Ning shared some of his thoughts.

With each word Jiang Ning spoke, Zhu Houzhao's eyes shone even brighter.

"Indeed, what Brother Jiang said coincides with what I said."

Zhu Houzhao said.

"In fact, I have long known that the people of my Great Ming Dynasty are no longer able to bear the taxes, and that a thorough reform is necessary to revitalize the Great Ming Dynasty."

Jiang Ning was referring to issues related to taxation.

Over the years, he had traveled to many places and naturally knew that the people were bearing taxes they should not have to bear. Their land was being plundered and acquired by officials and gentry, but the taxes were not reduced at all, and there were even various miscellaneous taxes. Their land had to support the entire official and gentry group of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, Jiang Ning proposed to reform the tax system.

In fact, Zhu Houzhao already had a rough idea of ​​what Jiang Ning was talking about, but after Jiang Ning explained it, Zhu Houzhao's idea was gradually refined.

Zhu Houzhao was very excited. He was excited that Jiang Ning thought the same way as him, but he was even more surprised that Jiang Ning, a man of the martial arts world, had such vision and perspective.

In fact, Jiang Ning didn't say much today, only briefly mentioning some tax-related issues, but it was enough to astonish Zhu Houzhao.

Jiang Ning and Zhu Houzhao then talked for a while longer. By then it was noon, but Zhu Houzhao still showed no intention of returning to the palace. Instead, he looked at Jiang Ning with a serious expression.

"Brother Jiang, can I do what you did yesterday?"

Jiang Ning asked in surprise, "Which one?"

Zhu Houzhao's eyes were bright, and he was gesturing with his hands.

"It's like what you did yesterday, you just swung your sword once and a white light shot out with incredible power! What is that? I want to learn!"

Jiang Ning tentatively asked, "Sword energy?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I want to learn that!"

Jiang Ning couldn't help but laugh.

"That might be a bit difficult."

Zhu Houzhao frowned upon hearing this: "How difficult is it?"

Jiang Ning briefly explained that sword energy requires internal force to be released, and that ordinary sword energy is not that powerful.

Zhu Houzhao listened with a solemn expression, then asked a question: "Brother Jiang, if I start practicing now, when do you think I can reach your level?"

Jiang Ning laughed and said, "It should be several decades."

Upon hearing that it would take decades to train, Zhu Houzhao looked disappointed, but he did not give up. He said, "Brother Jiang, since your martial arts are so high, I would like to learn your martial arts to strengthen my body. Could you teach me some?"

Jiang Ning nodded: "It's no problem for improving physical fitness."

Upon receiving the promise, Zhu Houzhao finally smiled, his face beaming with excitement.

Zhu Houzhao was impatient and couldn't wait to learn martial arts. Jiang Ning was not surprised and taught him some basic body-training martial arts of the Huashan School. By the time Zhu Houzhao finished learning, it was already afternoon.

"Brother Jiang, the martial arts you taught me are indeed much more unique. Actually, I also looked for some books in the palace, but they were not very good. The ones you taught me are much better."

Zhu Houzhao said excitedly.

Jiang Ning smiled but didn't say anything, though he was indeed a little surprised.

Although Zhu Houzhao was past the age of practicing martial arts, it was clear that he had a decent foundation. He could complete a set of Huashan basic body-strengthening exercises without getting tired, which meant that he had a foundation in martial arts. However, that was all; he was unlikely to become a master, but he could certainly improve his physical fitness.

Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Ning with excitement and said, "Brother Jiang, since you have taught me martial arts, shall I become your disciple?"

Jiang Ning was surprised, then shook his head.

"These are all basic Huashan skills, nothing special, there's no need to become a disciple."

Taking the emperor as an apprentice would certainly be a gimmick, but I think I'll pass on that idea.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning's refusal, Zhu Houzhao was not discouraged, but instead said...

"Since Brother Jiang is unwilling to accept me as your disciple, how about we address each other as brothers from this day forward?"

Chapter 552: Addressing Each Other as Brothers

"what?"

Jiang Ning was taken aback.

"This... there's no need for that, these are just basic body-training techniques from Mount Hua, nothing important."

Jiang Ning frowned slightly, somewhat hesitant.

Zhu Houzhao's expression turned serious: "Brother Jiang, do you think I'm not qualified to be your brother?"

"No, that's not it."

Jiang Ning shook his head and said, "Since you put it that way, then so be it."

Zhu Houzhao then smiled.

"I haven't asked Brother Jiang how old he is yet?"

Jiang Ning said, "Twenty-one."

He turned twenty last year, and will be twenty-one this April.

"I see."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "You are a few years older than me, so you are my elder brother."