Chapter 48 Alone
Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry at all. He walked out from behind the curtain, stared at Zhu Gang and said, "I called you here for only one thing. You have been working hard to run the workshop these days, and I am very pleased."

Zhu Gang had a bitter face. He was surprised for a moment, then he suddenly looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang. Then the panic in his eyes disappeared at once, and the corners of his mouth began to curl up slightly: "Really? Father, don't lie to me. You don't want to trick me first, and then..."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained calm and said, "That centurion is called Deng Qianqiu, right?"

Zhu Gang said honestly: "Yes."

Zhu Yuanzhang said patiently: "Since you are running a business with him, you should encourage him and make him more ambitious. What I hate most is people who give up halfway. Do you understand?"

Zhu Fan: "..."

Seeing that Zhu Gang didn't say anything, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice became even lower: "Just run the workshop well. If there is anything, there is no harm in listening to his advice. Even I have to respect the wise and learn from the good! You are nothing, you must not be stubborn, understand? This Deng Qianqiu is about the same age as you, I heard you say last time that he is quiet and doesn't like to show off. How can a man be without ambition? You need to enlighten him more."

Zhu Gang felt that his mind was a little confused, and he didn't know what his father was up to this time, so he could only say repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes, he really has no ambition, and I must encourage him."

"Good." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and said, "I am very satisfied that you have such filial piety. Go away now."

Zhu Gang was confused and said goodbye. He couldn't help muttering in his heart: "What the hell is this? I thought I would be punished again today. If you don't want to beat me up, why did you summon me for no reason? Just to say this nonsense?"

……

Zhu Yuanzhang waited until Zhu Gang left before he said to the person behind the curtain: "This Deng Qianqiu is quite interesting."

Tang He was standing behind the curtain. When Zhu Gang entered the hall just now, he did not make any movement. Tang He did not want to get involved in the affairs between them as father and son.

However, Tang He was slightly pleased to see that His Majesty had suddenly shown such great interest in Deng Qianqiu.

However, he did not show his joy, but said: "Your Majesty, young people should be tempered more. He is still young, so don't let him become arrogant."

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I have my own ideas. Why didn't you go to visit this kid when he came to the capital?"

Tang He thought to himself, His Majesty has always said that I favor Deng Qianqiu. If I go to visit him again, wouldn’t it be confirmed that I favor him?
However, he could not say what he was thinking. After thinking for a while, he said, "I am indeed quite concerned about him, but because of this concern, I did not go to visit him."

"Oh?" Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be in a good mood and said, "Tell me why this happened?"

Tang He said, "I have inquired about Deng Qianqiu's personality. I heard that he has a peculiar temper, is not close to anyone, and is mean to others. Some time ago, Marquis Ji'an was rejected by him. In addition, I heard that people from Yiluansi and above have a bad relationship with him. I really don't want to follow Marquis Ji'an and bring disgrace upon myself."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but laugh: "That kid really doesn't know etiquette. Otherwise, why would he hang out with Tang'er? But... we should look at people's strengths, so that we can make the best use of them."

Tang He was a little confused. What happened to His Majesty today?
Zhu Yuanzhang's face suddenly turned serious: "I heard that his father also came to Nanjing."

"Ah..." Tang He seemed surprised and asked, "Your Majesty, when did this happen?"

Zhu Yuanzhang had his hands behind his back, his eyes showing no emotion, but his tone became more and more serious: "I am going to take part in the provincial examination in Nanzhili. How come you don't know anything about this?"

Tang He was shocked: "Provincial examination? Him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have found the answer from Tang He's face, so he said nonchalantly: "Back then, the three of us had set our ambitions. My ambition was to achieve unprecedented achievements and establish a career that would last forever. If I remember correctly, his ambition was to help the world and bring peace to the people, right?"

Tang He said ashamedly, "Of course I remember." Zhu Yuanzhang paced a few steps and sighed, "It's a pity that all these are in the past. If he wants to take the exam, then let him take it. It's just a pity... It's unwise for him to do this. There are so many scholars in this world, and there are so many great scholars and celebrities! This time, I want to recruit the best talents in the world. He is not young anymore, and his academic performance is not bad, but compared with others, it is far behind. Today, I have achieved my wish and am the emperor. But he... I am afraid he will not be able to get his wish."

Tang He couldn't help but feel sorry for the person Zhu Yuanzhang was talking about. He couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, we are acquainted after all. If he wants fame and honor, why don't you grant him an official position..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face suddenly turned cold: "The rules of conferring titles for military merit and selecting officials through imperial examinations are set by me. If I change them without authorization, who will trust me in the future? Moreover, given his personality, do you really think he will accept my charity?"

Tang He lowered his eyes slightly and remained silent.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked out the window not far away, looking at the endless blue outside, and said calmly: "This is fate. Things that are not destined to be in his destiny will naturally not be there. Even if he wants to force it, it will be useless. Isn't this how things are in the world? Where in the world can you get what you want? Just like me, although I got what I wanted, but... now I am also a lonely man..."

.........

"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered this servant to come and tell you something. He said that it would be good for you to walk around occasionally. He heard this from Deng Qianqiu."

A eunuch received the oral order and arrived at the bedroom.

In the bedroom, Empress Ma had no choice but to lie on the phoenix couch to take care of her pregnancy.

Zhu Jingjing stood aside, holding a book and reading in front of Empress Ma.

The book they were reading was "Instructions for Women". Empress Ma was extremely concerned about the education of this princess who was about to reach adulthood, which was of course due to the influence of the education of the Yuan Dynasty.

During the Yuan Dynasty, princesses would also be granted fiefs, and many princesses were extremely unruly after they got married. There were even rumors that they beat and kicked their husband's family.

This was unacceptable to Empress Ma. The daughter of a royal family was of noble status and was already feared by others. If she had a rude temper and would attack her husband and parents-in-law at any time after marrying, how could there be family harmony?
The eunuch's oral instructions gave Zhu Jingjing a break. She put down her book and said, "Mother, it's great that you can walk around and stretch your muscles. I was worried that you would have to lie on this couch all the time in the future."

Fortunately, Empress Ma did not drink much of the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician at the beginning, and she also took the medicine to preserve the fetus in time. After a few days of rest, her body felt much better.

At this time, Empress Ma seemed to be delighted. She said, "Deng Qianqiu is indeed worthy of being called a gynecologist. He is quite capable. Since this is his medical advice, I think... it won't be wrong to follow his advice."

Immediately, she was about to get up, and the palace maid beside her hurriedly helped Queen Ma to get up.

Zhu Jingjing no longer needed to study. A hint of joy flashed across her pretty face. She said, "Mother, I heard that Deng Qianqiu really bought mint with fifty coins and earned a lot of silver, about two hundred thousand taels. This is what my father muttered yesterday... I heard it clearly."

"Really?" Empress Ma was thoughtful. She was born in poverty, so she knew the weight of two hundred thousand taels of silver. She couldn't help but be very surprised: "Your Majesty, didn't you ask about the whole story?"

Zhu Jingjing raised her beautiful eyebrows and said, "This... this... I don't know. I only know that my third brother and his friends didn't commit any crime. Mother, I see that Deng Qianqiu is so young, the same age as my third brother. I never thought that he would have such a skill."

Empress Ma was even more surprised, and then she smiled and said, "If you really have such a great ability, it would be amazing. Your father will definitely value you."

Zhu Jingjing shook his head and said, "But I also heard that the emperor seemed to be worried about this matter. Deng Qianqiu seemed unwilling to continue the business. So much so that the emperor was worried that he called my third brother to the palace and gave him a severe warning, teaching him to make Deng Qianqiu ambitious."

....
Recommend a book, My Uncle is Zhu Di!

(End of this chapter)