Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 121: Demoted to a Commoner! King Jin is Frightened [Please Subscribe]

After the eunuch left the hall, Liu Kuan said, "Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

He did not ask Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao to keep the exposure of Zhu Chong's negative information secret.

Firstly, there is already a tacit understanding between the king and his subjects on such matters, so there is no need to state it again every time.

Secondly, even if it was kept secret, once Zhu Chong found out later that he was from later generations, he would probably guess something.

However, even if Zhu Chong held a grudge against him, Liu Kuan was not afraid - the Ming Dynasty would never fall into the hands of someone like Zhu Chong.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not in the mood to talk to Liu Kuan about anything else, so he waved his hand and let him go.

···
In front of the Prince of Qin's Palace.

The personal soldiers surrounding Zhu Chong had dispersed, but Zhu Chong still held the knife and sat on his horse, refusing to get off.

Since he was a child, he often cried and threw a tantrum in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma. He was well aware of the situation and knew that things were not yet settled and he could not be careless.

Da da da.

A eunuch rode up, jumped off his horse, and shouted, "The Emperor has ordered His Highness the Prince of Qin to come into the palace and have an audience!"

Summon me into the palace?

Zhu Chong couldn't guess what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking for a moment.

But he refused to lose face in front of these slaves, so he pointed at the people around him with his knife in hand and said, "Did you all see that? Father is still very concerned about me and won't let you slaves mistreat me so easily."

Then he said to Zhu Ying who was watching the show over there, "Third brother, if you want to learn second brother's methods, do it sooner rather than later. If you delay, it may not be effective. Hahahaha."

At the end of his speech, he laughed three times, turned his horse around and rushed towards the palace.

Zhu Xing looked at Zhu Chong's departing back with a frown on his face, unable to guess Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude for a moment.

But I vaguely feel that things will not be so easy.

"If the emperor really allows the second son to keep a few slaves and some utensils, we can get the same treatment even if we don't make a fuss - and just wait patiently."

With this in mind, Zhu Ying continued to stand outside, watching the palace servants move away the various luxurious appliances in his house...
But Zhu Chong rode on his good horse and soon arrived in front of Fengxian Hall.

After entering the main hall, he first glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, but could not see anything, so he could only bow and greet him politely.

"Your son pays respects to the Emperor and the Crown Prince."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say "Stand up," but instead asked, "I heard that when you woke up from your nap you yelled 'Father, spare my life!' and then you tried to smash the mouths of four maids?"

Zhu Chong didn't expect that Zhu Yuanzhang would know about this so soon, and he couldn't help but feel resentful.

"Those servants really have Father's spies among them. I knew it was right to beat them! I'll beat them hard again until they dare not complain to Father again!"

Zhu Yuanzhang, unaware of Zhu Chong's thoughts, continued, "You just expressed your willingness to return to the Great Hall to study and receive our training, and now you're threatening your guards with a knife and preventing the palace servants from carrying out your orders."

"Tell me, what's the logic behind this? How can we trust you again?"

Zhu Chong finally found the opportunity to speak. Rubbing his eyes until they turned red, he cried, "Father, I have agreed to be tempered, but you can't take away everything in the mansion. If everything is gone, how can I live?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "Back then, we had nothing and had to beg for food with a broken bowl, but we managed to get by. You have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a palace to live in, yet you say you can't make a living?"

Zhu Chong squeezed out a few tears and said, "Father is the true dragon emperor. How can I compare to him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly slammed the table and shouted, "If I can live well, why can't you, my son?"

Then he walked down and asked sternly, "Also, you smashed someone's mouth over such a trivial matter. How could you do such a wicked thing?"

In the past, Zhu Yuanzhang rarely reprimanded Zhu Chong harshly for such things. However, this kind of questioning instead aroused Zhu Chong's rebellious psychology.

He said in confusion and anger, "I just beat up a few slave girls. Why is Father blaming me so much?!"

"A few slave girls?" Zhu Yuanzhang's rage erupted upon hearing this. "You cruel and stupid beast, a few slave girls can take your life if pushed to the limit. Do you understand that?!"

As he said that, he slapped Zhu Chong in the face.

Zhu Yuanzhang's hand was very strong and he struck out in anger, knocking Zhu Chong to the side.

At this moment, not only was his face burning with pain and his ears buzzing, he was also confused.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang was strict with his sons, he never hit anyone - even for a naughty boy like him since childhood, this was the first time he was beaten.

For a moment I just felt unbelievable.

After beating Zhu Chong, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little distressed and regretful for a while, but when he thought of the bad things Zhu Chong had done in history and his ending, he hardened his heart in an instant and turned to walk towards the dragon throne.

"Come here, strip Zhu Chong of his dragon robe and remove his Yishan crown! Then have the Imperial Academy draft an edict: Prince Zhu Chong of Qin is cruel and unjust, and has refused to repent. He is to be demoted to a commoner to see what happens next!"

After sitting back on the dragon throne, Zhu Yuanzhang saw that no one had delivered his decree, so he slammed the imperial desk and said, "Didn't you hear my decree?!"

Li Gui shuddered and walked out in a hurry.

Soon several personal soldiers came in, and after paying their respects, they began to strip Zhu Chong of his robe and hat.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Chong only reacted at this time.

Zhu Chong frantically changed his kneeling position and raised his head to beg for mercy: "Father, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance!"

Zhu Biao also knelt down and said, "Father, please calm down. My second brother's mistakes were minor after all. Why should he be punished like this? Please be lenient with him." "Lenient with him? Will you and I have a chance to teach him to correct his mistakes when he commits a serious one?!" Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Biao fiercely, then shouted to his personal guards, "What are you all standing there for? Strip him of his clothes and hat!"

Several personal soldiers attacked him, but Zhu Chong was so frightened that he did not resist, and soon he was left with only his inner clothes.

Although there were several large heaters in Fengxian Hall, he still felt bone-chillingly cold, cold from the inside out.

He understood that this time his father was really going to punish him severely - he would be reduced to a commoner and would probably be imprisoned in Fengyang for the rest of his life.

really.

Zhu Yuanzhang added: "Take him to the Prince of Qin's mansion and place him under house arrest, so we don't have to worry about him!"

This time, the royal guards did not hesitate and directly dragged Zhu Chong away.

Zhu Yuanzhang calmed down and said, "Draft another decree: Send someone to Xi'an to bring Zhu Chong's family to the capital. They must be well protected on the way and nothing must happen to them."

After a pause, he continued, "Biao'er, send someone to warn the guards at the Prince of Qin's mansion. After all, the weather is cold. Don't let that evil creature get sick from the cold and make your mother worry."

"Yes," Zhu Biao responded first, feeling relieved. He thought there was still room for maneuver in Zhu Chong's case, so he asked tentatively, "How does your Majesty plan to deal with my second brother? He can't be kept under house arrest in the Prince of Qin's mansion forever, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Keep him under house arrest? Doesn't that mean we're supporting him and letting him eat and drink for free?"

"I've already made up my mind. We'll change his name and have him settled in the inner city where the poor people live."

"Give him some initial money and food, and then arrange a hard labor job for him at the docks. Send two groups of people, visible and covert, to watch him. Don't allow him to do anything else. Let him know what a truly hard life is like!"

Zhu Biao was slightly surprised when he heard this. He didn't expect that Zhu Yuanzhang had even thought of a way to deal with Zhu Chong.

From this perspective, it is unlikely that Zhu Chong's title of prince will be restored until he truly changes.

He thought for a moment and said, "Father, if my second brother is just forced to do hard labor, he won't be able to change even if he wants to, and he'll be unhappy. Why not give him a few acres of land?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Well, I'll give him another five mu of land. When Guanyinnu, Deng and other women arrive, I'll give them each a loom."

"That Deng has been spoiled since she was little. Not only is she cruel and domineering, she can't stand hardship. But the second son has a lot in common with her and dotes on her in every way."

"Hmph, let's see if he can still dote on Deng Shi so much after becoming a poor couple!"

Zhu Biao's brows showed worry when he heard this. He asked, "What about my second brother's child?"

Zhu Chong currently had two concubines. Although Guanyinnu had married into his family a few years earlier, she was rejected by Zhu Chong because she was the sister of Wang Baobao, a famous general of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, so he had no children.

Zhu Chong's only son now was born to Deng a year ago and was named Zhu Shangbing.

Zhu Yuanzhang was determined to discipline Zhu Chong, but he did not want his one-year-old grandson to suffer, so he said, "Send him to the palace to be taken care of with the other princes, and be looked after by your mother."

···
Zhu Xing saw that the things in the mansion were almost emptied out and was hesitating whether to go in when he saw Eunuch Wang coming over with a young eunuch.

Eunuch Wang continued to smile and said, "The Emperor has ordered that His Highness the Prince of Jin change out of his splendid attire. It's not convenient outside, so would His Highness please change inside the palace?"

Zhu Ying finally understood why Zhu Chong had thrown a tantrum before.

How could a prince of the Ming Dynasty not be angry when he was forced to change clothes by slaves in the street?
He had a murderous look in his eyes and said coldly, "You came here asking for a horse, and I gave it to you. Now you're even trying to strip me of my clothes? I'm standing right here, do you dare to do that?"

Eunuch Wang smiled bitterly, "Your Highness, Prince Jin, you clearly know that this is the Emperor's will, so why do you have to embarrass this servant?"

Zhu Ying wanted to say something else when he noticed some movement from the Prince of Qin's Mansion.

Looking up, I saw a carriage approaching.

The carriage stopped in front of the Prince of Qin's palace, and the imperial guards brought down a man in a white undergarment with disheveled hair.

"This is... my dick?!"

Zhu Ying found it unbelievable.

Then, a eunuch accompanying the carriage shouted, "The Emperor has issued an edict: Prince Qin Zhu Chong is cruel and unjust, and refuses to repent. He is to be demoted to a commoner to see what happens next!"

After saying this, he stuffed the imperial edict into the man's hand and left with his men.

The man was taken into the Qin Palace by the imperial guards like a walking corpse.

After reading this, Zhu Ying was stunned and his mind went blank.

"Father actually demoted the second son to a commoner?!"

"Isn't it just a bit of a tantrum? Why is he punished so severely?"

"Fortunately... fortunately I didn't get involved with the second brother, otherwise wouldn't I have ended up like this?"

Just when Zhu Xing was filled with fear, the eunuch Wang next to him began to urge him.

"Your Highness, Prince Jin? It's getting late and cold, and everyone is waiting to return to the palace after completing their errands. You should change your clothes quickly."

Zhu Ying came back to his senses and wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out.

Finally, he silently took the coarse cloth clothes from the little eunuch and walked into the Prince of Jin's Mansion.

　First update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)