novelSusiti Chapter 48 You really think you're His Majesty's own son?!
Chapter 48 You really think you're His Majesty's own son?!
Gurgle!
Hu Weiyong held the teacup and gulped down several mouthfuls of water.
The choking sensation in my throat gradually dissipated, and the surging fear in my heart was also barely suppressed.
He took a deep breath, his mind racing, silently pondering:
No! I am the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty, holding the reins of the government and deeply trusted by His Majesty. How could I be so easily frightened by a few words from this country bumpkin in his twenties?
He said I was destined to die, but these things hadn't happened yet.
In the end, isn't it just the same tricks used by those charlatans to cheat and swindle?
By throwing out a scary ending to frighten everyone, they're just trying to extract some benefits.
If the incident hadn't happened later, he could have said that his words had enlightened me and thus earned him credit.
If it really happens, he can boast that he had foresight and calculated it accurately, and he will always be right.
It seems that His Majesty was deceived by his sweet words and only took him as his adopted son on a whim.
So what if he's an adopted son?
Over the years, Your Majesty has taken in at least eighty or a hundred adopted sons. Some have died, some have been demoted, and many were executed by Your Majesty's own order. How much attention can a country boy possibly receive from Your Majesty?
Does he really think he's His Majesty's own son?!
Moreover, His Majesty has not yet revealed his true identity to Zhu Yao, which further proves my guess.
His Majesty merely found this lad amusing for a moment and did not truly take him to heart. Why should I lose my composure over his few nonsensical words?
Having figured everything out, Hu Weiyong regained his composure, forced a gentle smile back onto his face, and bowed to Zhu Yao, saying, "Young Master Zhu, at such a young age, you possess such unique insight and profound understanding; it is truly rare!"
"In my humble opinion, with your abilities, it would be a waste for you to remain merely in the Liu household. You should truly enter the court, serve the emperor, and assist His Majesty. Only in this way can you truly live up to your talents!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Hu Weiyong, a smile of approval appearing on his face, secretly praising him in his heart:
Not bad, not bad. Hu Weiyong is indeed quite magnanimous. Yao'er spoke so frankly about him just now, yet he not only didn't hold a grudge, but also took the initiative to recommend Yao'er for an official position. He is a man who understands the bigger picture.
He put down his chopsticks and advised Zhu Yao, "Yao'er, look how highly Manager Gu thinks of you. Why don't you enter the court and take up an official post? I'll put in a good word for you and guarantee you a bright future."
"If you don't want to go to a bustling place like Jinling, and don't want to deal with the trivial matters of the court, you can be an official in Chenzhou. I will arrange a leisurely and respectable position for you, which will not only be a disservice to you, but also allow you to make use of your talents."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao looked speechless, rolled his eyes, and said helplessly, "Dad, I'm fed up with you guys. I knew I shouldn't have talked to you about all that nonsense. Why do you keep trying to persuade me to become an official?"
"What? Do you think the Ming Dynasty is your private property? You can just go wherever you want and make arrangements for people as you please?"
"If Old Zhu finds out, every single one of us here will be beheaded!"
"No, no, I'm not going no matter what. I don't want to go to Jinling to face Old Zhu. That guy has too many schemes, I can't handle him."
Zhu Yuanzhang's smile froze, and he was somewhat speechless. He hadn't expected Zhu Yao to be so determined to resist becoming an official.
After thinking for a moment, he changed his reason and softened his tone: "Yao'er, listen to your father. We are all merchants. In this chaotic world, only if someone in the family becomes an official can we live a stable life and not be bullied."
"If you become an official, you will not only protect our family, but also bring glory to our family. It will allow our family to hold our heads high in Chenzhou and even the entire Ming Dynasty. Isn't that wonderful?"
After listening, Zhu Yao rolled his eyes again, saying casually, "Dad, you don't only have me as your son. Just let your other brothers go. Why are you so fixated on me?"
He paused, then emphasized, "Oh, right, Dad, please don't put me in your family tree. If Old Zhu goes crazy one day and tries to kill our whole family, I can escape and avoid being implicated."
Zhu Yuanzhang was instantly speechless, his face filled with helplessness and even a hint of grievance, inwardly roaring:
They keep threatening to wipe out entire families. Do you think I'm the kind of person who indiscriminately kills innocent people and exterminates nine generations of their families?!
He suppressed his anger, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Yao'er, what nonsense are you spouting! What do you mean by 'annihilating the entire family'? You're just saying such unlucky things!"
Zhu Yao waved his hand dismissively and said, "Dad, I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about Old Zhu. When that guy gets angry, he's capable of anything. We have to be careful."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's lips twitched, and several black lines appeared on his forehead. He was speechless for a moment and could only sit there awkwardly, feeling both angry and amused.
He was right in front of his son, yet his son kept calling him "Old Zhu" and describing him as so cruel. It was truly both laughable and pathetic.
Liu Bowen, watching the father and son bickering, couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Hu Weiyong, meanwhile, held his teacup, pretending to drink, but a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes. It seemed his guess was right; His Majesty indeed only regarded Zhu Yao as an interesting junior and did not truly value him.
The copper pot was still bubbling, and the spicy aroma was still strong. The oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard was completely broken by the bickering between the father and son. However, Zhu Yuanzhang was still thinking about how to make his son willingly enter the court as an official, even though he saw Zhu Yao's rebellious look on his face.
.....
Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless after being choked by Zhu Yao's words. He turned his head and glanced at Liu Bowen, who was sitting quietly to the side. His eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately said, "Yao'er, what you said is wrong."
"As we all know, Liu Bowen, the Marquis of Chengyi, was a man of great talent and wisdom. His Majesty sent people to invite him time and time again, and he eventually came out of seclusion to serve as an official, assisting His Majesty in planning and pacifying the four directions, and finally helping His Majesty to seize the world and establish the Ming Dynasty."
People praise him as a modern-day Zhuge Liang! He will surely be remembered in history!
"Son, let's be honest, your talent and knowledge are in no way inferior to Liu Bowen's. With such great abilities, you can't just stay hidden in Liu's mansion forever, can you?"
He turned to look at Liu Bowen, his tone earnest: "Old Liu, you're right, aren't you?"
"You've always been with Yao'er, so you know his abilities best. You should also try to persuade him to dispel his concerns and enter the court to serve in the government."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bowen nodded slightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He actually envied Zhu Yao from the bottom of his heart. Living a leisurely life in the courtyard, without any constraints, without getting involved in court disputes, and without having to live in fear, was exactly the life he had always dreamed of.
But then I thought, Zhu Yao is so talented and insightful. If he just stays in this courtyard and doesn't use his skills for the court or to benefit the people, it would be a real waste and a disservice to the talents that Heaven has given him.
Furthermore, since the emperor himself had asked him to persuade the emperor, he dared not refuse.