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

He was willing to travel thousands of miles to protect Zhu Houzhao not because of Zhu Houzhao's status, but because of Zhu Houzhao's ambition.

Zhu Houzhao's path was different from his, but roughly the same, so they could be considered fellow travelers. Moreover, Zhu Houzhao was one of the few people in Jiangning who could truly be called a friend.

Emperors are different from ordinary people. Jiang Ning has read many stories about "the cunning rabbit dies and the hunting dog is cooked, and the birds are gone and the good bow is put away." He knows that when emperors are young or powerless, they are full of gratitude and dependence on those who can help them. However, once an emperor has the power of life and death, he will often kill those who once helped him.

Nevertheless, Jiang Ning was still willing to help Zhu Houzhao, not only because he wanted to see the great harmony that Zhu Houzhao spoke of, but also because of the...friendship he had with Zhu Houzhao?

Having received Jiang Ning's promise, Zhu Houzhao felt relieved, but the conversation with Jiang Ning did give him pause for thought.

The Wudang Sect is a major sect in the martial arts world with many experts. If we ask the experts from the Chongxu Sect and the Wudang Sect to protect him, Chongxu will surely not refuse.

“Brother Jiang, you haven’t slept all night and have killed quite a few bandits. You must be exhausted. I’ll have Gu Daban take you down to rest.”

Zhu Houzhao stood up and said.

Having been in a coma for so long, and then pretending to be in a coma for several more days, Zhu Houzhao still had a lot of things to do.

"Does the palace have a collection of books?"

Jiang Ning asked a question.

Zhu Houzhao was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening.

"Have."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said to Gu Dayong, "Gu Dayong, take Brother Jiang to the Wenyuan Pavilion. From now on, Brother Jiang will be free to come and go from the Wenyuan Pavilion."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gu Dayong responded, then looked at Jiang Ning, bowed slightly and said, "Hero Jiang, please follow me."

Now that Gu Dayong knew Jiang Ning's status, his tone became even more respectful.

Thank you.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

"Brother Jiang, what book would you like to read?"

Zhu Houzhao asked curiously.

"The Yongle Encyclopedia".

Chapter 657: The Yongle Encyclopedia

"You want to see the Yongle Encyclopedia?"

Zhu Houzhao was taken aback.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded.

The Yongle Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive encyclopedia in history, containing classics, history, philosophy, and literature, covering all aspects from astronomy to geography, yin and yang, medicine, Buddhist and Taoist scriptures, and so on. Its scale and content are unparalleled, and Jiang Ning is very interested in it.

Unfortunately, the Yongle Encyclopedia was damaged and lost during wars and dynastic changes, leaving only a fragmentary copy. Jiangning had no chance to see it, so now that there is an opportunity to see the original copy, Jiangning will naturally not miss it.

"Brother Jiang, what aspect do you want to see?"

Zhu Houzhao became interested.

"The Yongle Encyclopedia, commissioned by Emperor Taizong and written by Xie Jin and Yao Guangxiao, comprises more than 20,000 volumes and covers various fields. Without a specific goal, it would be impossible to finish reading the Yongle Encyclopedia in a day or two."

Zhu Houzhao also enjoyed reading the Yongle Encyclopedia, but he only read about military strategy and rarely touched on other areas. It wasn't that he didn't want to read it, but the Yongle Encyclopedia was simply too large, with more than 20,000 volumes, and he could never finish reading it in his lifetime.

"Um……"

Jiang Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Let's look at the Daoist Canon first."

The Daoist Canon is not a single book, but a collection of Daoist scriptures, such as the Tao Te Ching and the Lingbao Wuliang Duren Shangpin Miaojing, which are often read in Jiangning.

Although the Huashan School is a Taoist sect and has a considerable number of Taoist books, the imperial court certainly has more Taoist books in its collection than the Huashan School.

Zhu Houzhao nodded and gave Gu Dayong a wink.

"Master Jiang, please come with me."

Gu Dayong said respectfully.

Jiang Ning nodded and then walked out of the hall.

After Jiang Ning left, Zhu Houzhao's face darkened again, and it was a long time before Gu Dayong returned.

"Is Jiang Ning watching?"

"Yes."

Gu Dayong said respectfully, "Master Jiang is already reading in the Wenyuan Pavilion."

Zhu Houzhao was somewhat surprised. Jiang Ning hadn't slept all night yet still had the energy to read, unlike him who was already exhausted. Were all martial artists this resilient?

Shaking his head, Zhu Houzhao ignored the matter and asked.

"How's the interrogation of those men going?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Dayong said solemnly, "Your Majesty, those officials have been detained in prison and interrogated all night, but they still refuse to confess."

"Humph."

Zhu Houzhao's face darkened.

"Continue the investigation; a result must be reached within three days."

Upon hearing this timeframe, Gu Dayong immediately thought of Zhu Houzhao's earlier statement that he would meet with the court officials at the morning court session in three days. Now, Zhu Houzhao had given him another three days, clearly indicating that he intended to give the civil officials a shock at the morning court session.

"Gu Daban, I don't care what methods you use, I'm only giving you three days."

Zhu Houzhao said.

Listening to Zhu Houzhao's calm tone, although he didn't mention the consequences, Gu Dayong knew that this was related to whether he could hold onto his position as the head of the Eastern Depot.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, if I cannot extract a confession within three days, I am willing to offer my head in return."

Gu Dayong's face revealed a sinister expression, but this expression was not directed at Zhu Houzhao, but at the officials in the prison.

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, and Gu Dayong withdrew, heading straight for the prison after leaving the Qianqing Palace.

Two days later.

"Brother Jiang, what are you looking at?"

Jiang Ning was lying on a recliner flipping through a book when Zhu Houzhao came over curiously.

"The Supreme True Wisdom Precepts of the Great Grade".

Jiangning Road.

Zhu Houzhao said "oh," picked up a book from the table next to Jiang Ning, glanced at it, and then put it back.

Jiang Ning originally planned to read in the Wenyuan Pavilion, but Zhu Houzhao was in a state of extreme insecurity, so Jiang Ning continued to read in the Qianqing Palace.

Two days have passed since the night Lan Fenghuang was killed and the officials who conspired with her were arrested. Zhu Shijin, the leader of the Hundred Medicines Sect who escaped, has still not been caught. It is unknown whether he has fled the capital. However, the Eastern Depot has not given up the search and has instead made even greater moves.

In the past few days, the Eastern Depot has been conducting a large-scale search and arrest operation, which has prompted more civil officials to impeach it. In the past two days alone, there have been several stacks of memorials impeaching the Eastern Depot. Zhu Houzhao has kept them all in the palace and suppressed them.

For the past two days, Gu Dayong has been completely immersed in the prison and hasn't left it, interrogating those officials day and night.

During this period, an incident occurred where the wife of one of the arrested officials went to the Eastern Depot to demand his release that very day, and many civil officials also lent their support.

The civil officials thought the Eastern Depot would be afraid of their power and would give in and release the woman, but the next day the woman only got back an arm.

The official was dismembered in prison that same day.

This scene further enraged the civil officials, and memorials impeaching the Eastern Depot poured into the palace like snowflakes.

Zhu Houzhao ignored all these memorials.

Zhu Houzhao was eating while looking at the confession in his hand.

Tomorrow is his last day with Gu Dayong, but Gu Dayong got the verdict in just two days.

When those officials were first arrested and imprisoned, they refused to admit their crimes and even shouted that the Eastern Depot should release them immediately, otherwise the court would not let them off the hook.

Faced with these stubborn individuals, Gu Dayong immediately chose one to dismember in front of the others, making them turn pale.

But they still didn't confess. Gu Dayong then skinned one of them alive, which finally broke their defenses, and they confessed.

After reading the confession, Zhu Houzhao's face turned very gloomy.

At this moment, Gu Dayong was kneeling in front of Zhu Houzhao, trembling with fear.

Gu Dayong was already terrified when he read the confession; he never expected to uncover so much more.

At this moment, Gu Dayong thought of the questions those people asked him before he confessed.

"Eunuch Gu, are we just going to answer whatever they ask, and implicate whoever they're dragged into?"

Gu Dayong was so eager to make a contribution that he didn't realize the seriousness of the matter at all. His hands were shaking when he received the confession.

boom!

Zhu Houzhao suddenly smashed the tea set on the ground, scattering tea shards and tea everywhere.

Zhu Houzhao's face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with barely concealed rage.

Upon seeing this, Gu Dayong immediately pressed his head to the ground, trembling with fear and not daring to utter a single word.

Ok?

Jiang Ning, who was reading a book, looked over here, wondering what was written in the confession that made Zhu Houzhao so angry.

After a while.

"Grasp."

Zhu Houzhao practically gritted his teeth as he uttered that word.

Gu Dayong, who was originally delighted by the results of the trial, was not overjoyed at this moment. He looked up and glanced cautiously at Zhu Houzhao.

"Your Majesty, is it the confession that says everyone should be arrested, or...?"

At this moment, Gu Dayong's asking such a foolish question was not because he was foolish, but because his heart was trembling.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at him, and although he didn't say anything, the meaning in his eyes was clear.