After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

The atmosphere in the Imperial Hospital was somewhat strange.

The Hongzhi Emperor looked at his good son with a livid face.

Yesterday they said they'd kick the latrine, I thought it was just talk, but today the latrine exploded.

Zhu Houzhao knew he had made a mistake, so he knelt on the ground, head down, not daring to utter a sound.

After being treated at the Imperial Medical Academy, Wang Ao was fortunate to have only suffered superficial injuries and was not in mortal danger.

Although he broke several ribs and is now lame, at his age, to have suddenly experienced such a calamity and still survive is truly a blessing.

"His Majesty……"

He saw the Hongzhi Emperor, struggled to sit up in bed, and bowed.

The Hongzhi Emperor stepped forward and pressed him down, saying, "Minister Wang, lie down quickly and rest well!"

"Your Majesty, I am well and need not worry."

"Rest assured, I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly!"

After Emperor Hongzhi finished speaking, he looked at Zhu Houzhao.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Zhu Houzhao stammered, "Your Majesty, I went to the toilet, but who knew... who knew... the latrine suddenly exploded..."

"snort!"

The Hongzhi Emperor snorted coldly, "Are you kidding me?"

An explosion in a cesspool? That's unheard of and unseen!

"Tell me honestly, where did you get the gunpowder from?"

"Father, I am innocent!"

"Still trying to argue!"

The Hongzhi Emperor became even more enraged and ordered, "Guards, go to the Eastern Palace immediately and find the gunpowder!"

Upon hearing this, Commander Li Chun hurriedly stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, please calm down. The Eastern Palace is under extremely strict control. I guarantee with my life that there is absolutely no way anyone could have brought in gunpowder."

The Hongzhi Emperor countered, "Without gunpowder, how do you explain the explosion?"

Li Chun was in a difficult position and could only say, "When we arrived at the scene, we searched carefully and found no trace of gunpowder. It should be... it should be spontaneous combustion."

The Hongzhi Emperor roared, "Spontaneous combustion, is that it? There are so many latrines in the Forbidden City, set one on fire for me to see!"

Li Chun's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

At this moment, Wang Ao, lying on the bed, suddenly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. This old minister has suddenly remembered something."

The Hongzhi Emperor softened his tone and said, "Minister Wang, please speak."

Wang Ao leaned back on the couch and said, "This old minister remembers a record in the History of Song that in the first month of the third year of Shaoxing, a fire broke out in the latrine in Chizhou. The fire started out of nowhere and burned more than 120 houses. At the time, I did not understand it and thought it was caused by lightning. Now it seems that the phenomenon of latrines spontaneously combusting is true. It's just that I am not knowledgeable enough to know the reason behind it."

The Hongzhi Emperor looked at Zhu Houzhao lying on the ground, and was greatly puzzled.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that there was another person kneeling behind Zhu Houzhao, whose body was wrapped in bandages.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Liu Jin, so he asked, "Liu Jin, you speak!"

Liu Jin was startled and looked at Zhu Houzhao with unease.

Upon seeing this, the Hongzhi Emperor added, "If you dare to deceive me, I will exterminate your entire family!"

Liu Jin was on the verge of tears. He had no power or influence, and he thought that by following the Crown Prince, he could rise to prominence in the future. He never expected that he would have to drag his entire family down with him.

Zhu Houzhao winked at him: "Liu Banban, the Emperor is asking you a question. Report the truth!"

Liu Jin had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has never been in contact with gunpowder. The explosion in the latrine had absolutely nothing to do with him!"

The Hongzhi Emperor then asked, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

Liu Jin nodded repeatedly and said, "I was there at the time. If there had been gunpowder or something similar, I would have hidden far away. How could I have ended up in such a sorry state?"

The Hongzhi Emperor still didn't believe him, and slowly said, "If you help the Crown Prince conceal this, I will not let you off easily!"

"Everything I have said is true. I humbly beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

Liu Jin kowtowed repeatedly, and blood immediately seeped through the white cloth that had just been wrapped around his head.

Emperor Hongzhi then believed it to some extent, after all, no one would dare to joke about the loss of nine generations of their family.

How could he know that what Liu Jin just said, seemingly true, was not the whole truth?

The Crown Prince had indeed never been in contact with gunpowder, and the explosion in the cesspool was started by Liu Jin. The Crown Prince was standing at a distance watching at the time, so it wouldn't be a lie for him to say it was nothing.

The reason he was so badly injured was because he was unaware of the power of the methane gas beforehand.

Since what is said is true, it doesn't count as deceiving the emperor, right?

Emperor Hongzhi then returned to Wang Ao's side and said, "Minister Wang, please rest well after you return. I have instructed the Imperial Pharmacy to select some nourishing foods, which will be sent to your residence shortly."

Wang Ao was deeply moved: "This old minister thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"

The Hongzhi Emperor nodded slightly and continued, "A urgent report has arrived from Xuanfu: a group of Tatars has been appearing recently, burning, killing, and looting in the border towns. They are extremely arrogant. The Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of War are discussing countermeasures, so I will not accompany you any longer!"

Wang Ao hurriedly replied, "Public affairs are of utmost importance; this old minister respectfully sees Your Majesty off!"

"You stay in bed and don't get up!"

After Emperor Hongzhi finished speaking, he glared at Zhu Houzhao again before leaving.

Zhu Houzhao finally breathed a sigh of relief, came to the bedside, looked at Wang Ao who was covered in wounds, and suddenly smiled.

Wang Ao was bewildered and asked, "Why is Your Highness laughing?"

Zhu Houzhao said, "Master Wang, do you think we can make weapons from latrines?"

"what?"

Wang Ao was completely bewildered and at a loss.

Zhu Houzhao, however, already had a new idea and said, "Master Wang, please rest well. I'm going to study!"

After saying that, he left quickly, and Liu Jin hurriedly followed, but he was also seriously injured and walked with a limp.

"Liu Jin, I need you to do something!"

Liu Jin hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, please give your orders!"

Zhu Houzhao stopped and solemnly declared, "I want to leave the palace!"

Liu Jin looked bewildered and asked, "Your Highness, what are you going to do now?"

Zhu Houzhao said, "Didn't you hear what Father Emperor said? A group of Tatars have arrived in Xuanfu. This is a perfect opportunity!"

Liu Jin was truly confused and asked, "This servant is ignorant; what opportunity does Your Highness speak of?"

Zhu Houzhao smiled confidently, then stepped forward and whispered, "Therefore, if distant peoples are not convinced, we should cultivate virtue to attract them. There's another saying: 'Since they've come, let them rest in peace!' I want those Tartars to understand what the Way is. Since they've come, let them rest here!"

Liu Jin gasped and asked, "Is Your Highness going to Xuanfu?"

"Do you know how terrifyingly powerful I am now!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded, his youthful face brimming with confidence.

His personality was completely different from that of the Hongzhi Emperor; from a young age, he aspired to fight on the battlefield.

Today I witnessed the power of the Dao with my own eyes. Just then, the Tatars invaded, which was like a gift delivered to my doorstep!

Liu Jin was completely flustered and said cautiously, "Your Highness, this servant... this servant has something to say, but I don't know if I should say it..."

Zhu Houzhao's smile vanished instantly, and he frowned, saying, "Since you know it's inappropriate to speak of it, then don't! Quickly arrange your departure from the palace. Remember, this matter must not be leaked. If Father finds out, I will say it was you who arranged it!"

Liu Jin was on the verge of tears: "Your Highness has left the palace without permission. If anything happens to you, this servant simply cannot bear the responsibility!"

Did I ask you to take responsibility?

Zhu Houzhao looked at him disdainfully and said, "Do as I say, and if anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility! If you don't, I'll tell Father that you lied just now, a crime of deceiving the emperor, punishable by the extermination of your entire family!"

Liu Jin was completely devastated, thinking to himself, "I'd rather have been blown up by the cesspool!"