Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 1030: Changing the Heart of an Old Friend

Now that he had made up his mind, Zhu Su was no longer anxious. After all, it was getting late tonight, so he calmed down, took a bath, changed his clothes, and had a good rest for the night.

When Zhu Su woke up from his bed the next morning, Di Meng had already taken the note from the Zhou Palace to invite Dong Ji to come. Hearing that Dong Ji was already waiting in the front hall, Zhu Su, who was having breakfast, asked someone to call him. After a while, Dong Ji, wearing a mandarin duck war jacket, came in with a servant. When he saw Zhu Su, he knelt down and kowtowed respectfully, saying, "I am General Dong Ji, and I pay my respects to His Highness the Fifth Prince!"

"Dong Ji." Zhu Su personally helped him up. He looked around at him for a while, then smiled and said, "It has been several years since we parted at the border that year, right?"

"I haven't seen you for several years. You look much fairer. In my memory, you were still the one holding a knife with red eyes, ready to chase and kill the Tartar cavalry general..."

"When I saw you today, I almost didn't recognize you!"

"I am ashamed." Dong Ji scratched his head and said with some emotion: "It was such a pleasure to follow you on the battlefield back then."

"Your Highness is still as elegant as ever, and has made countless achievements, but I am..."

"It's not as good as it was back then... I'm sorry to make you laugh, Your Highness."

He touched his thighs rather nervously. The thighs that used to chase galloping horses were now covered with fat. Even Dong Ji had become fatter, making his mandarin duck battle jacket bulge.

"Hey, you are being very literary. I remember that you always said 'I' and 'I' when you spoke." Zhu Su said with a smile. "It seems that the soil and water of Yingtian nourish people. I summoned you so early, so you must not have eaten yet? Come on, serve General Dong a breakfast."

Dong Ji declined several times, and then he sat down cautiously. Soon, the servant brought more food. Zhu Su smiled and said, "The breakfast in my Zhou Palace is not any delicacies. It's just some steamed buns and soy milk bought from outside the palace. Don't be disgusted."

Dong Ji even said he didn't dare, and took a bite of the bun. Zhu Su then smiled and asked, "How are you doing in Yingtian Prefecture now?"

"Oh," Dong Ji quickly put down the steamed bun in his hand, wiped it on his battle robe with his hand, and smiled at Zhu Su: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am grateful for your kindness. Everything has been fine in Yingtian Prefecture these years."

"Some time ago, my wife gave birth to a son for me. My Dong family now has a successor, and I am content." He looked a little embarrassed.

"Really?" Zhu Su smiled warmly, "That's right, I want to congratulate you on the birth of your precious son. I also had a son a few days ago, and the two boys can serve as companions."

Dong Ji was surprised and delighted when he heard this. If his son could be a companion to the young master, he would not have to worry about his life. He was naturally grateful.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, and when the atmosphere became more or less harmonious, Zhu Su got straight to the point: "Dong Ji, I heard that you are now in the Wucheng Military Command, and are in charge of the southern suburbs?"

"Yes." Dong Ji sat up straight and said, "What do you want, Your Highness? I will do my best to do it for Your Highness."

"It's not like I'm giving you any orders." Zhu Su took the silk handed over by Sanbao and wiped his mouth: "You should also know that the Bifeng Royal Manor in the south of the city was built by me in the early years."

"Now, there are still many businesses in my palace, all arranged there."

"Yes. I will definitely perform my duties conscientiously and maintain the safety of Bifeng Royal Manor." Dong Ji said loyally.

"Yes. Very good." Zhu Su nodded, then changed the subject and said, "But I heard that a foreigner died in the south of the city a few days ago?"

"Fan...Fan people?" Dong Ji was startled, then his face changed, and he quickly pretended to be enlightened, saying: "Oh...Oh! It's the drunken Fan people! Your Highness, have you heard of it too?"

"Drunk to death? Is there really a person who died of drunkenness? What if he was poisoned?" Zhu Su leaned his head towards Dong Ji, looking very concerned about the matter. "There was a murder in the south of the city. This prince is really worried."

"It is said that the foreigners often come to the wine shop in the imperial manor to ask for wine... If some evil person kills the foreigners, then my Bifeng Imperial Manor will also be in danger, right?"

“This…” Dong Ji hesitated for a while, and finally said, “But Your Highness, the prefect has already reached a conclusion, saying that this foreigner died of drunkenness…”

"Well, it's better to be safe than sorry." Zhu Su said, looking worried. "What if there really is a villain causing trouble, and then causing chaos, or even killing people in the imperial manor? What should we do then?"

"Most of the people in the Royal Manor are my personal soldiers and their families. If something happens to them, how can I face these warriors who have protected me so well? Moreover, I have a lot of businesses and shops in the Royal Manor. If a few more people die, who will dare to go to the Bifeng Royal Manor to buy goods?"

"That foreigner had no relatives. When the prefectural magistrate ruled the case, they probably closed it casually without any thorough investigation. I'd better investigate the cause of his death." Zhu Su said. "If he really died of drunkenness, I can rest assured."

Dong Ji hesitated to speak, with a hint of difficulty on his face, but he was an old subordinate of Zhu Su and he really did not have the courage to refuse Zhu Su's request.

After thinking it over again, Dong Ji gritted his teeth and said, "If Your Highness wants me to re-investigate the case of the drunken death of a foreigner, I will obey your orders. However, Lord Liang has already closed the case. If I intervene again, I am afraid that Lord Liang will be angry."

"No problem." Zhu Su said casually, "If Liang Fuyin has any complaints, you can just say that you were ordered by me."

Besides, since the matter had already been discussed, there was basically no chance for him to refuse. Dong Ji had no choice but to bow and say, "In that case, I will obey your order."

"Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

"Well, thank you for your help." Zhu Su showed a satisfied smile. Seeing that Zhu Su had finished his story, Dong Ji tactfully took his leave.

After Dong Ji left, Di Meng asked Zhu Su in confusion, "Your Highness."

"This Dong Ji is also your highness's close confidant and old friend. Why don't you just tell us the whole story instead of making these excuses?"

"If he knew the cause and effect, wouldn't he be more dedicated?"

"I originally wanted to tell him the truth directly." Zhu Su said. "But... can Dong Ji really be trusted?"

"How can this be unbelievable?" Di Meng was stunned. "Dong Ji was your highness's former subordinate, and he was also greatly favored by your highness. His military achievements in the past were commended by your highness."

"How dare he betray His Highness?"

"It is true," Zhu Su said, his eyes still fixed on the direction where Dong Ji left. "If it was the Dong Ji of the past, the one covered in blood and holding a sword ready to fight the Tartars, I would naturally trust him."

"But... you've seen it too. How can he look like the brave general he once was?"

"He's in this state now... let alone chasing a galloping horse, I'm afraid he'd be out of breath just swinging that big sword he used to use, right?"

"How many years have passed since he was transferred to Yingtian?"

Di Meng was silent after hearing this. In the past, he and Dong Ji had fought side by side. After hearing what Zhu Su said, he recalled it a little and felt that what Zhu Su said did make sense.

A brave and invincible general on the battlefield, nowadays, has become so worldly-wise. He is more like a...

merchant?

"Perhaps I am overthinking it... Anyway, it doesn't matter." Zhu Su said. "Di Meng, go get someone to find a few coroners. Since the Five Cities Military Department has come forward, Abigail's body must be dug up and examined again."

"You can find out the reason for Abigail's death when you have the chance. I want a definite answer."

"Yes." Di Meng replied, and then he clasped his fists and walked out. Zhu Su's eyes turned to the seat where Dong Ji had just sat. There, a bowl of soy milk and a steamed bun were almost untouched.

"It's only been a few years since the good days of the Ming Dynasty..." Zhu Su shook his head, stood up and went to the backyard.

……

Dong Ji left Prince Zhou's palace and walked a few steps outside. He glanced and saw that no one followed him out of the palace, so he hurriedly took a few steps and turned a corner in a hurry.

"...Master?" A coachman, who was sitting by the road leaning against a carriage, saw Dong Ji turn out and quickly stood up to lift the curtain for him. Dong Ji quickly got into the carriage and sat down. The coachman immediately asked, "Master, are we going back to the mansion, or?"

"What mansion are you going back to?" Dong Ji closed the curtains impatiently, and a muffled voice came out from the car, "Go to the west of the city, Zhu's house!"

"Uh...ah?" The driver was stunned. In broad daylight, the master did not return to the palace after seeing the prince, nor did he go to the camp to take up duty. What was he doing at Zhu's house?
"Didn't you hear? Hurry up!" Dong Ji scolded.

The driver did not dare to ask any more questions and quickly raised the whip. The carriage sped along the deserted streets in the early morning, but Dong Ji, who was in the carriage, was already sweating through his heavy shirt.

"It's a disaster, it's a disaster..." Dong Ji murmured.

……

Yingtian Prefecture has a square layout, and the residences of princes and nobles like Zhou Wang Zhu Su are mostly located in the east of the city. On the other hand, the west of the city is mostly the residences of merchants and wealthy families.

Although there are many restrictions on merchants and wealthy families in the laws of the Ming Dynasty, for those businessmen who are good at scheming, they still have countless ways to show off their "wealth". Therefore, although the mansions in the west of the city are not as good as those in the east of the city, most of them are also large in scale.

Among them, the largest one is undoubtedly the "Zhu Mansion". It is said that this Zhu Mansion was the garden of a high-ranking official in the Yuan court in the early years, but now it is the residence of Zhu Fu, the president of Yingtian Chamber of Commerce.

Although the garden does not exceed the regulations, it covers a vast area and uses luxurious materials. The precious flowers and trees that occasionally peek out from inside the walls also give a glimpse into the luxury of the garden.

At this time, Zhu Fu was talking with his son Zhu Junyu in the study in the garden. The young master of the Zhu family was quite naughty, and the master often called him to the study to scold him privately. Therefore, the servants outside the study all looked indifferent, and no one cared what the master and the young master said. Those who were supposed to guard the door did so, and those who were supposed to sweep the floor did so.

Anyway, the master has been focusing on Taoist qi-cultivation skills in recent years, and at most he would say a few words to the young master in a lukewarm manner. After a while, the young master would still come out in a nonchalant manner... They have long been accustomed to it.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang, as if something had broken apart in the study. The servants outside the door were startled. The servants guarding the door were afraid that something had happened inside, so they rushed in in a hurry, "Master, Master, are you all right?"

In the study, a Song Dynasty sky-blue glaze porcelain vase that the master had loved so much disappeared, leaving only a mess of porcelain pieces on the ground. The master who practiced "Qi-nourishing Kung Fu" stared at the young master with a breathless look, as if he wanted to eat him.

"Who let you in? Get out! Get out!" Seeing the study door being pushed open, Master Zhu Fu suddenly turned around, and his red face frightened all the servants. Seeing the master so angry, the servants did not dare to disobey, and they all ran away with their heads in their arms. Then they heard a "bang" and the door was slammed shut by the master.

"You... you rebellious son, why... you went to kill that foreign devil!" Zhu Fu was panting heavily, his forehead was already soaked with sweat, and he looked as miserable as if he had been covered with oil. "You..." He instinctively lowered his voice, and his body even trembled a little: "Aren't you... courting trouble!"

Last night, I invited King Zhou to my party. I wanted to get him drunk so that I could get a share of Wuqu Port in Annan for the merchants in Jinling, including myself. Wuqu Port is a mountain of gold and silver. If I can't get involved, I'm really itching.

Unexpectedly, the King of Zhou was young, but he was a man of sperm. Even when he was drunk, he did not relax at all. After preparing a feast with great difficulty, it turned out to be nothing in the end. Thinking that he could not get his hands on the gold and silver of Annan, Zhu Fu was so depressed that he tossed and turned all night and could not sleep.

Unexpectedly, when he woke up, he received an even more explosive piece of news like a bolt from the blue, which almost frightened him to the ground: his good son, who was incapable of doing anything but always causing trouble, learned that the people from the Maritime Affairs Department had found the foreigner named Abigail, and he actually took the initiative to kill that foreigner!
"Dad, why are you so timid? He's just a foreigner, isn't he?" Even though his father smashed a Song Dynasty celadon porcelain vase, this second-generation rich kid named Zhu Junyu still looked careless. He reached out to scratch his ears, which were buzzing from the shock, and even curled his mustache at his father in disdain.

"I am also cleaning up the mess for our family. Those people on the sea were dishonest and even released someone to Yingtian Prefecture. If I hadn't overheard Yang Shiqi asking him about the Srivijaya pirates, our family wouldn't have known that there was such a fish that slipped through the net."

"How did you come up with that fancy word? ... The longer the night, the more trouble you have! If we keep this trouble, what if he remembers something and tells Yang about it? Wouldn't that mean our family will be in danger?"

(End of this chapter)