Chapter 17 My Father Loves Me
Neither Zhu Chong nor Zhu Gang had expected that the imperial edict would arrive just after Zhu Gang was carried back to Fengyang.

Zhu Chong laughed when he heard this and said, "Father is a man who hates evil. He probably still can't get rid of his hatred after beating you! Look, Father sent a fast horse to deal with you when you were on your way. You are so confused."

Zhu Chong's face could not hide his joy, but he also showed regret reluctantly. At this moment, he just wanted to say that although the big stick that was about to hit him would hit Zhu Gang, the pain would be on himself.

Zhu Gang's face was grim, and he muttered, "Why are you still coming after you've already been beaten?"

The two brothers were about to go to the bell and drum tower to receive the order when another eunuch hurried in.

The eunuch shouted, "Your Highness, Prince Jin, I know that the Prince Jin is injured and should not move too much. Your Majesty has ordered that the Prince Jin does not need to perform full ceremony or set up an altar to burn incense when receiving an order."

As he spoke, in full view of the crowd, he took out the imperial edict, held it in his hands, and slowly unfolded it, saying, "The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, decrees this."

Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang looked at each other in bewilderment. They really couldn't guess what their father, the emperor, who was far away in Nanjing City, was like. As the saying goes, the emperor's mind is hard to predict, but they didn't know what the emperor was up to now.

"Prince Zhu Gang of Jin is still young and inexperienced, but he has repeatedly presented his insights to the emperor..."

When Zhu Gang heard this, he was surprised, touched his head, and couldn't help muttering: "Are you praising me?"

Zhu Chong, however, pricked up his ears, and the smile on his face gradually faded like the clouds after the wind passed.

"I was born a commoner, and I have experienced the sufferings of the world. I worked hard to make myself strong, and only then did I achieve today's great cause. What I am worried about now is that my sons were born in the deep palace, do not know the sufferings of the world, and prefer leisure to work. That is why I ordered the King of Qin and the King of Jin to go to Fengyang to farm and study, hoping that your sons can make progress and serve the great cause. Recently, the King of Jin has repeatedly written to me, and his words have made me look at him with new eyes. Among my sons, only the third son Zhu Gang is extremely intelligent and has won my heart. It can be seen that in Fengyang, Zhu Gang's academic performance has made great progress and he can distinguish right from wrong. I am very relieved."

Zhu Gang's eyes were already wide open.

He suddenly felt refreshed and he didn't even feel any pain from the wounds on his body.

Soon, he realized that this was a serious imperial edict, which had obviously been polished by the Secretariat.

What does this mean?
This means that this imperial edict went through a formal procedure, not only was it copied and backed up in the palace, but it was also copied into the imperial gazette to announce it to the world.

When Zhu Gang thought of this, he felt a warm current flowing through his body. My father loves me.

Zhu Chong originally wanted to prepare a silk scarf and use it to wipe the tears and snot of his poor third brother and comfort him.

Who would have thought... that my father would be so caring towards my third brother!
But then the eunuch said, "If a son is not taught, it is the fault of the father. If a son is not taught strictly, it is the fault of the teacher. Now the King of Jin has made great progress in his studies. He is smart and studious, and his attendants have made outstanding contributions. I order the King of Jin's Chief Clerk Zhou Chang to be promoted to the title of Zhongyi Dafu and to be appointed as a reader in the Hanlin Academy. The rest of the people will be rewarded with 10,000 yuan each. Please work hard. I admire you!"

Zhu Gang trembled all over and was stunned for a moment, not knowing what to do.

Zhu Chong was also confused, but his heart was extremely complicated. In fact, rationally speaking, he felt that at this time, he should deliberately smile, ease the atmosphere, and say congratulations, but these words were like a mouthful of old phlegm, blocking his mouth and he couldn't say them.

"Zhou Chang..." Zhu Chong muttered silently in his heart, and seemed to have a deeper impression of this person.

"Qian...Qianqiu..." Zhu Gang suddenly murmured to himself, and suddenly, a gleam of light seemed to flash in his eyes.

Could it be... that it was because of Qianqiu's rules that made the emperor so pleased?
But why did my father beat me?
Could it be... that this rule is so powerful that the emperor is worried that he is too smart, so he is giving him a little punishment?
oops……

Zhu Gang suddenly felt full of energy, but he couldn't help wondering, this contribution should be passed down for generations, so why did his father reward Zhou Chang?

Countless thoughts came to my mind.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict smiled and said, "Besides this, your majesty has another oral order."

When Qin Wang Zhu Chong heard that there was more, his heart sank, and he said indifferently: "If it is just a verbal instruction to my third brother, I'd better avoid it."

The eunuch smiled and said, "Your Highness, Prince of Qin, you are also involved in this." "Me?" Zhu Chong perked up and said, "Tell me quickly."

The eunuch said, "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, has told the King of Qin and the King of Jin. I have always thought that you two boys are the most stubborn. Now the King of Jin has made some progress, but I heard that the King of Qin is pretending to be dead on his sickbed every day. Today I have told the King of Qin that you are a man, can't you bear a beating? You are still acting like a woman, and you are always sad and miserable. What's the reason?"

After hearing this, Zhu Chong's face turned pale, and he hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I wish you all the best."

He knew his father. Normally, if his father said something like this, if he dared not admit his mistake again, he would probably be beaten up.

But... at this moment he felt as if his heart was being cut out and it hurt so much.

He buried his head, gritted his teeth, and softly recited a name: "Zhou... Chang..."

The eunuch continued, "The King of Jin is able to get close to wise men, but the King of Qin is so dull, I'm afraid he is surrounded by people who are good at flattery. Taking shortcuts is a taboo for men. If you do it again, I will break your legs, and the legs of the people around the King of Qin's palace will also be broken."

Zhu Chong's face turned pale and he was sweating profusely.

But then the eunuch said, "So I think that since you two are farming and studying in Fengyang, you should not continue to indulge yourself. If you don't experience the hardships of the people and learn the arts of civil and martial arts, how can you continue the great cause? From now on, the two sons will move out of the imperial city of Fengyang, and each will be given 50 acres of land. You two will be taught to make a living on your own, and your subordinates are not allowed to help you. If anyone dares to help you privately, I will kill him. I respect you."

After reading this, the eunuch did not dare to stay and left in a hurry.

After hearing this, Zhu Chong turned pale and stood there in a daze.

Instead, Zhu Gang glanced at him and said, "Second brother, are you okay?"

Zhu Chong murmured, "I have to make a living on my own. How can I be wronged... What have I done to myself?"

As he spoke, he staggered away.

Zhu Gang couldn't help but touch his head, with a hint of confusion on his face.

What does it mean to make a living on your own? What is father talking about?
But soon, he threw all these out of his mind, and suddenly rushed to Deng Qianqiu, who was standing aside and found it unbelievable, and said ecstatically: "Haha, Fengchu, Fengchu, my dearest and most beloved Fengchu, haha, the two of us are really amazing."

Deng Qianqiu was dumbfounded at the way Zhu Yuanzhang taught his son. At this moment, he saw Zhu Gang excitedly approaching him and trying to hug him. He suddenly felt his scalp tingling, and quickly stepped aside, saying with a smile: "Congratulations, Your Highness."

"I will write a letter to tell my father that this idea was yours..."

Deng Qianqiu's face changed, and he waved his hands hurriedly, "Your Highness, no, no."

Zhu Gang was surprised and asked, "Why not?"

Deng Qianqiu murmured in his heart, I still want to live a few more years, I really don’t dare to hang around in front of your father.

But of course I can't say that, hey...it's not easy for a man to keep a low profile.

Deng Qianqiu then raised his chin slightly at a thirty-degree angle and said slowly in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "Because I don't seek fame or fortune. Fame, fortune and position are like floating clouds to me."

Zhu Gang's body was shocked, and a look of admiration subconsciously appeared on his face. He said, "Very good, the same goes for me."

Deng Qianqiu glanced at Zhu Gang from the corner of his eye and thought to himself, "Shameless."

(End of this chapter)