Chapter 36 The Truth
Deng Qianqiu said with emotion: "If it weren't for you, I would still be in jail. You are my lifesaver."

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious that this guy dared to call him brother.

But it seemed that when he thought that Ji'an Hou Lu Zhongheng was just this guy's "good brother", he seemed to feel better.

He looked at Deng Qianqiu carefully in the light of the lamp and the moon, and couldn't help muttering in his heart: "Resemblance, too much like him."

This thought suddenly made him feel mixed emotions.

"My friend, why are you here? Are you visiting a friend or staying here temporarily?"

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent and said nothing.

This made Deng Qianqiu very embarrassed, but no matter what, this man could be considered his benefactor. Deng Qianqiu thought to himself, he is worthy of being the man who saved me. He is so cold and unkind, and I like him even more.

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked, "Why did the Yiluansi ask you to be on duty here?"

Deng Qianqiu smiled and said, "Ah... this... maybe it's because I'm young."

Zhu Yuanzhang finally smiled a little and said, "I also heard that you seem to be disliked in the Yiluansi."

In fact, Deng Qianqiu knew that the matter between him and the marquis would spread very quickly. The entire imperial city was actually a large intelligence gathering station. Any disturbance, especially any fun-related one, would surely spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred.

This is exactly the effect Deng Qianqiu wanted.

He said, "I'm a stranger here and don't have many friends, so... it's only natural that people don't like me. But after we've been together for a while, they'll know who I am and naturally start to like me."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't know for a moment whether Deng Qianqiu was really stupid or just pretending to be stupid. Things in the palace were never that simple.

He suddenly thought, "You are so alone, don't you have any friends in Nanjing, not even one?"

Deng Qianqiu said awkwardly: "Yes, there is one, but...but..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "But friends may not be trustworthy, right?"

Deng Qianqiu shook his head like a rattle. He had a good impression of Zhu Yuanzhang. He was on night duty at this time and had nothing to do anyway. However, he felt that he could not say much about the matter between him and Zhu Gang.

He just said, "My friend has nothing to say to me, so I should be honest with him."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard these words, he suddenly felt a strange emotion in his heart.

Perhaps he was touched by the cold moon in the sky, or perhaps because the boy who looked like an old friend reminded him of many past events, he suddenly said coldly: "You are still young and you don't know how dangerous this world is. Things in the world are not as simple as you think. As for so-called friends, they are just people who get what they need from each other at certain times."

Deng Qianqiu frowned after hearing his words, and felt a chill.

Shivering with cold air.

Deng Qianqiu has lived two lives and has seen the dangers of the world, but unlike the old man in front of him, he still believes that there are pure things in this world.

So Deng Qianqiu said: "Brother, what you said is a bit paranoid. Could it be that brother... has been abandoned by his friends?"

As soon as these words were spoken, it seemed to suddenly touch something in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart. Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly showed murderous intent on his face. This murderous intent hidden under the moonlight made Deng Qianqiu feel a strong chill for no reason.

Deng Qianqiu subconsciously took a step back. Looking at the young man in front of him, Zhu Yuanzhang realized something and quickly returned to his normal state. However, he looked at Deng Qianqiu deeply and said calmly and indifferently, "You really got it right."

Deng Qianqiu said: "I don't know who it is, and what did he do to offend you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang walked in the narrow alley with his hands behind his back, looking at the lights in the courtyard, occasionally hearing the music of stringed instruments or faint laughter. He said, "When I was in a low position and ragged clothes, I met a scholar."

Deng Qianqiu was in a good mood. He liked to listen to such gossip, which might be a common problem among all the security guards guarding the gate.

Deng Qianqiu immediately followed Zhu Yuanzhang closely, listening attentively as Zhu Yuanzhang reminisced about the past.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "This scholar did not take my status as lowly as mine, but felt like an old friend to me right away. He not only taught me how to read, but also gave me clothes to wear and ate with me. At that time, the world was in chaos, but he was willing to be loyal to me and condescend to work for me."

Deng Qianqiu couldn't help but say: "It's great to meet such a friend. Life is like this, I should be content."

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored Deng Qianqiu's chatter and continued, "Although we were poor and humble at that time, the days are still unforgettable. When it was freezing cold, we slept together. In private, he would secretly tear off the cotton wool in his clothes and stuff it into mine to keep me warm. After I won a battle, I would save the best wine and meat I had captured and give them to him. In fact, I can read and write now, thanks to him. He also taught me a lot of principles from books. And I..."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, his bloodshot eyes became even redder, and he continued in a sad tone: "And I also taught him how to make a living in this world. At that time, I thought that one day, we brothers would create great achievements and share wealth."

Deng Qianqiu sighed: "It's really not easy in troubled times... It's hard to live, I really can't imagine how you guys are..."

Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted Deng Qianqiu imperiously and said, "Don't interrupt."

Deng Qianqiu shook his head. This guy has a very bad temper!

Zhu Yuanzhang pursed his lips and continued, "You must be thinking that this man is my good brother, and that he will be loyal to me in the future and willing to share the joys and sorrows with me, right?"

Deng Qianqiu nodded: "It should be so."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled sarcastically and said, "But do you know that when a war was imminent, this person suddenly disappeared without a trace."

"Ah..." Deng Qianqiu was stunned: "This... is unexpected. At the critical moment of life and death, he is afraid of death. It seems that you really misjudged him."

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and shook his head.

Deng Qianqiu was filled with righteous indignation: "People who are afraid of death are really hateful. If they are afraid of death, why didn't they say it earlier? Now they abandon their friends. They are really ruthless and worse than pigs and dogs. Brother, you don't have to be depressed. After all, there are only a few people like them in the world. Most people are as righteous as me."

"Besides, you don't have to be sad. There is always justice in this world. Even if he survives, he will be punished by God."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and looked at Deng Qianqiu deeply with a complicated expression.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "You mean... this person will not have a good ending in the future?"

Deng Qianqiu heard from Zhu Yuanzhang's tone that Zhu Yuanzhang felt regret and sadness for this old friend, and of course, anger.

Because of this, Deng Qianqiu naturally wanted to comfort him. Deng Qianqiu gritted his teeth and said, "Not only will he not have a good ending, it is simply unforgivable. Such a heartless and ungrateful person, what kind of ending can he have? Such a person will have no buttocks when he gives birth to a son."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

(End of this chapter)