Chapter 6: The Unique Zhu Family and the Cricket Emperor

Having been assassinated numerous times, and even having had a close brush with death on one occasion, he places immense importance on his personal safety

Familiar with his actions, Gu Dayong naturally understood that the emperor was enraged, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I have already investigated the women around the Empress Dowager. It is confirmed that she is the illegitimate daughter of the guilty minister Zhang Heling"

Gu Dayong gritted his teeth in anger, for an old palace maid and a illegitimate daughter had nearly led him to be dispatched by Zhu Houzhao to that cursed place in Liaodong to farm. This grudge and hatred, if he could not achieve something significant, he would not be worthy of his title as one of the Eight Tigers among the inner servants.

One of the eight inner servants of Zhu Houzhao, the Director of the Western Depot, Gu Dayong, paid a formal tribute to Zhu Houzhao

When all is considered, he is indeed not much inferior to the illustrious achievements of the Hongwu and Yongle emperors, who are celebrated throughout the ages.

Welcome Emperor Zhu Zhanji of the Ming Dynasty to the group chat

Zhu Houzhao was most adept at killing both physically and psychologically

Gu Dayong would do it without needing to be instructed by Zhu Houzhao. After mingling with Zhu Houzhao for so many years, he may not have learned much else, but he certainly mastered the art of tormenting others that Zhu Houzhao excelled at.

Zhu Houzhao's Persian cat was placed aside, while his palm was already resting on the hilt of the dragon-patterned embroidered spring knife

Zhu Houzhao's voice gradually turned cold; he did not care whether Zhang Heling's daughter was legitimate or illegitimate, he only cared about how she managed to infiltrate the imperial palace

Zhu Houzhao spoke in a low tone, his expression calm, yet he frightened Gu Dayong considerably: "Your Majesty, please forgive me; I deserve to die."

Murder is merely a momentary wail of despair, lacking any real significance. Watching people perish from exhaustion or starvation in the hopeless, icy wilderness has instead become a peculiar hobby for this notorious eunuch.

Once again entering the mysterious space, the three emperors of the Ming Dynasty—Hongwu, Jianwen, and Yongle—have all arrived. Old Zhu's face darkened, and the uncle and nephew, Zhu Di and Zhu Yunjun, looked at each other with disdain.

If anyone could freely enter and exit the palace, what would the palace be? A sieve full of holes? How can the safety of this emperor be ensured

"The Wang lady, who is by the side of the Empress Dowager, is the illegitimate daughter of Zhang Heling. She was able to enter the palace only by bribing the Wang lady. The subordinates, seeing that the Wang lady is favored by the Empress Dowager, did not dare to stop her"

Unrestrained like the gentry of Jiangnan, rampant and arrogant like the families of Linhai, lawless and scholarly like Prince Ning Zhu Chenhao, yet what of it? In the fields of Liaodong, the land was cultivated and the wilderness tamed, breaking their very backbone. No matter how much you inherit poetry and books, how wealthy your family is, or how noble your status, in the face of hunger and cold, you must bow your head and submit.

A mere old palace maid is able to freely bring an outsider in and out of the imperial palace. Gu Dayong, is it your incompetence, or am I blind to the truth

Of course, excluding Zhu Di and Zhu Yunwen, this pair of rebellious son and grandson

Lady Wang, this person Zhu Houzhao is somewhat familiar. She was a close maid who accompanied Empress Dowager Zhang when she married Emperor Hongzhi. Having spent a long time in the palace and followed the Empress Dowager for many years, she gained the latter's trust and was thus respectfully referred to as "Lady Wang" by the eunuchs and palace maids.

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, signaling Liu Jin and Gu Dayong to withdraw; he was going to have a chat with his ancestors

Step aside

How could I, Zhu Di, have descendants like you

The power is astonishing like Liu Jian, what about Xie Qian? After two years of farming in Liaodong, he has learned to be obedient.

The servant Gu Dayong pays his respects to Your Majesty

He did not dare to harbor resentment towards Zhu Houzhao, for he, like Liu Jin, was acutely aware of Zhu Houzhao's terror, a terror so profound that it left him incapable of feeling even the slightest dissatisfaction. Even if Zhu Houzhao truly sent him to Liaodong to farm, he would still go there with great joy.

As an emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he does not feel that he is significantly inferior to Hongwu or Yongle

The good holy grandson, the good holy grandson has arrived, a distant and prolonged mechanical sound resonates throughout the mysterious space

Zhu Houzhao did not genuinely intend to appoint Gu Dayong. Although this individual is not particularly admirable, he is obedient and easy to manage. However, it is still necessary to keep him in check to prevent him from daydreaming all day long.

I entrust the security of the palace to you, not for you to be idle; do not let me down again

He was also someone who had worked as a supervisor in Liaodong, fully aware of the horrors there. Not only was it bitterly cold, but one also had to toil hard in the fields; if one did not farm or work, there would be no food to eat. In recent years, countless gentry and nobles had perished from overwork or starvation in Liaodong, and he absolutely did not want to meet such a dismal fate

Your Majesty, rest assured, I know what to do

Please tell me, what is going on

"Lord Hongwu, Lord Yongle, have arrived!"

Zhu Houzhao warned Gu Dayong once again, and then instructed: "Investigate carefully; if there are no issues, send it to Liaodong. Aren't they trying to deal with Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling through the library? Then they might as well go to Liaodong to accompany those two scoundrels!"

Old Zhu let out a cold snort, but he did not hold it against Zhu Houzhao. As the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he was not petty enough to bear a grudge against his own descendants

Bowing down like pounding garlic, in a state of extreme fear, Gu Dayong's heart was trembling violently, terrified that Zhu Houzhao, in a fit of anger, would send him directly to Liaodong to farm the land; once he went to that cursed place, he would never return

Liu Jin, who followed Zhu Houzhao day and night, felt that Zhu Houzhao was somewhat unusual today, but he did not think much of it. Together with Gu Dayong, he slowly exited the leopard room, not forgetting to take along the elegantly poised Persian cat. He knew that Zhu Houzhao did not like to be disturbed when he was contemplating issues.

When mentioning the Zhang brothers, Zhu Houzhao could not help but feel a surge of anger. The only time in his life that he nearly stepped into the gates of hell was due to these two "good uncles".

This is the last time; if you cannot handle it well, you might as well go to Liaodong and farm for two years. I believe that the harsh environment in Liaodong will help you improve your abilities

Zhu Di expressed great displeasure, feeling that his descendants showed him no respect whatsoever, which was simply unacceptable. However, his beloved grandson was in line with his wishes, not only excelling in both literary and martial skills but also being extremely filial towards him

Zhu Yuanzhang expelled the Hu people and restored China, directly annihilating the Northern Yuan. Today, the grasslands are developing towards a direction of being able to sing and dance.

How did one enter the palace

Can you still guarantee the safety of this palace? Can you still perform your duties as the supervisor of the Western Depot?

Not only him, but also members of the Eight Tigers among the inner court officials, such as Liu Jin, Zhang Yong, Ma Yongcheng, Gao Feng, Luo Xiang, Wei Bin, and Qiu Ju, similarly followed Zhu Houzhao's example, with a particular fondness for sending people to Liaodong to starve or work to death

Zhu Houzhao casually greeted Old Zhu and Zhu Di, his tone completely placing himself on the same level as the two great emperors, Hongwu and Yongle

This servant obeys your command

Zhu Houzhao rarely killed, but this does not mean that he was truly kind-hearted and compassionate. Rather, his methods were more terrifying than killing, capable of making life worse than death

One of the remarkable emperors of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di's esteemed grandson, the Cricket Emperor Zhu Zhanji makes his appearance

Disrespectful!

Zhu Di launched five campaigns against the northern deserts and made seven voyages to the Western seas. He also dispatched troops to annihilate Fusang and seized the Iwami Silver Mine, thereby enriching the treasury of the Ming Dynasty. The remnants of Fusang are still striving to cultivate the land in Liaodong, seeking the forgiveness of this Holy Emperor of the Celestial Empire