The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun

Page 317

The Empress Dowager's face darkened: "He's your uncle, how can you be so heartless?"

Zhu Shou chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, you're exaggerating. We haven't stripped him of his title, have we? We're just trying to scare him so he won't do anything that would offend both heaven and man and ruin the reputation of our imperial family."

The Empress Dowager ignored his explanation.

"What do you mean by 'divine wrath and popular resentment'? Is it really that exaggerated? I know you don't like Yanling and Heling, but they are my own brothers and your own uncles. Blood is thicker than water, so why are you being so harsh on them?"

Zhu Shou's smile faded slightly.

"It's not that I don't care about family ties, but does Mother know what they've done? I've heard that they've seized farmland, bullied men and women, and allowed their servants to beat up commoners in the streets. Just a few days ago, they even threatened to throw the civilians who blocked my horse into the Ministry of Justice's prison. The Ministry of Justice is the court's authority over criminal law; it's a public institution. Does he think he owns the Ministry of Justice for himself?"

The Queen Mother disagreed.

"It's just taking some land, what's the big deal? As for those words, they were just said in anger. Your father was very tolerant of them when he was still alive, why do you have to make things difficult for them?"

My father is my father, and I am me.

Zhu Shou felt a chill in his heart when he saw that the Empress Dowager spoke so casually and without any concern.

They prioritize their own small family over the greater good.

This is his mother.

She only cared about her two younger brothers, and she loved them even more than her own son.

Seeing that Zhu Shou remained silent, the Empress Dowager knew what he was thinking and lost the will to speak. She had originally intended to have Zhu Shou stay for dinner at Kunning Palace, but now she simply said she was tired and left.

Only Zhu Shou remained, sitting quietly.

"emperor."

"A eunuch said cautiously."

Zhu Shou glanced at him and stood up.

"Go back to the palace."

Upon returning to the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Shou learned that Mu Bin had already gone to the Imperial Study to await an audience, so he went directly to the Imperial Study.

"I see your Majesty."

Mu Bin waited in the Imperial Study for a while, and knelt down on one knee after seeing Zhu Shou.

"No gift."

Zhu Shou waved his hand, sat down at the imperial table, and gestured for Mu Bin to rise.

"How's the matter I asked you to investigate going?"

Mu Bin quickly took out a small notebook from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.

"Your Majesty, this is all the information about Jiangning."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shou took the notebook, opened it, and browsed the information inside.

"Huashan Sect, Jiangning?"

Chapter 422: Spontaneous Combustion

Upon seeing the words "Huashan Sect," Zhu Shou understood immediately.

It seems he's a member of the martial arts world.

But how could a mere江湖人士 (jianghu shishi, a person of martial arts and chivalry) command such respect from Chen Qingyuan, a vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue?

Zhu Shou frowned slightly and continued reading.

"The Great Hero of Guanzhong?"

Zhu Shou raised an eyebrow, discovering that Jiangning actually had a gold medal title awarded by the imperial court.

"Yes, Your Majesty, it has been checked. The gold medal was awarded last year."

Mu Bin quickly replied.

last year?

That was during his father's reign.

Zhu Shou nodded and continued reading.

However, there wasn't much information after that. It only recorded some things about Jiangning, such as the bandit suppression in Shaanxi a few years ago, the siege of Mount Hua by a group of unorthodox people last year, and some other major events in the martial arts world.

That's all the information; it'll be gone soon, and there won't be any more.

After all, the time to investigate information is only two or three days. Even the Imperial Guards couldn't find out the life story of someone thousands of miles away in such a short time. Mu Bin had already done his best to find out this much.

After reading these, Zhu Shou looked at Mu Bin.

What kind of sect is the Huashan Sect?

Mu Bin quickly replied, "It's a sect in Shaanxi, established on Mount Hua, so it's called the Huashan Sect. It seems to be a branch of the Quanzhen School, a Taoist sect."

He had already thoroughly investigated the Huashan Sect before reporting back to Zhu Shou.

Taoist sects?

Zhu Shou nodded.

No wonder he could sense that Jiang Ning was very familiar with Taoist scriptures when they talked.

After reading it, Zhu Shou closed the notebook. At this moment, his mind was not on Jiang Ning, but on other information.

"I never imagined that these martial arts practitioners would become so arrogant, completely disregarding the imperial court."

Zhu Shou thought to himself.

The Ming Dynasty is currently facing serious internal problems. The civil officials in the court are corrupt, the army is decadent, the national treasury is empty, and the court can no longer control other places, leaving those Jianghu people to run rampant.

Zhu Shou never expected that he would inherit such a mess as soon as he ascended the throne.

The Ming Dynasty is now on the verge of collapse.

"You did very well."

Zhu Shou was lost in thought, but he didn't show it on his face. He said to Mu Bin, "Continue to investigate Jiang Ning. At the same time, pay attention to what those Jianghu people outside are doing and keep track of their movements."

Mu Bin accepted the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

……

After seeing Chen Qingyuan off, Jiang Ning went back to his room to rest. The next morning, Zhu Shou arrived as promised.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but admire Zhu Shou's persistence.

He said he would take him to tour the capital, and he meant it.

For the next two days, Zhu Shou arrived early every day without fail, which even impressed the eunuchs who were secretly following him.

"Brother Jiang, it's getting late. Let's tour the capital together again tomorrow morning."

As it approached dusk, Zhu Shou glanced at the sky and prepared to take his leave.

These past few days, Zhu Shou has been returning home close to dusk, and then coming to find Jiang Ning early the next morning, always on time.

However, Jiang Ning shook his head and said, "I'm already preparing to leave the capital."

"what?"

Zhu Shou was surprised.

"So fast?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "I only came to the capital for a few days to visit, and I don't plan to stay any longer. I am very grateful to Brother Zhu for taking me around the capital these past few days."

"Brother Jiang, what are you saying?"

Zhu Shou said unhappily, "Brother Jiang and I hit it off immediately, and I feel that we share the same interests. I have long regarded Brother Jiang as a friend. Are you trying to be distant with me?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "It is my good fortune to have made a friend like Brother Zhu in the capital."

Zhu Shou then laughed and asked, "Brother Jiang, where are you planning to go?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Traveling around."

Zhu Shou felt somewhat regretful.

"Brother Jiang, I don't know when we will meet again after this parting."

Zhu Shou added, "It's a pity, I still wish to share a drink and have some more fun with Brother Jiang."

Jiang Ning then said, "All good things must come to an end. If Brother Zhu has the opportunity to visit Mount Hua in Shaanxi, I will also show him the beautiful scenery of Mount Hua."

Zhu Shou smiled and said, "Is it a deal?"

Jiang Ning nodded: "It's a deal."

"Farewell."

"Farewell."

The two bowed and said goodbye.

Watching Zhu Shou's departing figure, Jiang Ning's eyes remained unmoved. After standing there for a while, he returned to the inn.

After returning to the inn, I packed my things and prepared to check out and leave.

It's almost dusk now. Although it's not dark yet, if we're going to keep going, we should probably start our journey early tomorrow morning. However, Jiang Ning doesn't plan to stay another night. He'll leave the capital city tonight after finishing his business.

When Jiang Ning arrived at the city gate and was about to leave the city, he coincidentally ran into the same city guard from last time.

Are you heading out of the city?

The soldier guarding the city recognized Jiang Ning immediately upon seeing him.

Although several days had passed, he still had a deep impression of Jiang Ning, after all, he had almost captured Jiang Ning.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning smiled and nodded.

This time, they didn't check his travel permit. After showing the gold medal to the soldiers guarding the city, Jiang Ning successfully left the city.

However, Jiang Ning did not leave the city for long before turning back after nightfall.

The tall city walls appeared eerie and silent at night, with soldiers guarding the tops.

Jiang Ning looked at the city wall facing him; although it was towering, it was no obstacle for him.

call out!call out!call out!

With a light tap of his foot, Jiang Ning flew towards the city wall.

At this moment, the soldiers guarding the city wall were discussing some rather trivial topics and did not notice Jiang Ning at all, only hearing a faint sound.

"What's the noise?"

One of the soldiers frowned.

The group stopped talking and began to search their surroundings, but found nothing unusual. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning was already in the city.

Jiang Ning hurried toward a certain place, his figure flashing and disappearing in the darkness.

In the past few days, he has not only toured the capital, but also thoroughly understood the residence of Lord Zhang. At the same time, he has also been investigating what Lord Zhang has been doing.

He bullied men and women, disregarded human life, acted tyrannically, and ordered his servants to beat ordinary people in the street. There was basically no one who was wrongly accused of this.

Jiang Ning moved quickly and arrived at a luxurious mansion with the words "Zhang Mansion" written above the gate.

Jiang Ning looked up and then turned and went into the mansion.

A secluded residence within the Marquis's mansion.

The bed shook violently, accompanied by the woman's moans and the man's heavy breathing. After a while, the bed stopped shaking after the man let out a low growl.

"My lord, you're so fierce!"

A woman spoke softly on the bed.

Lord Zhang, lying to one side with his chest heaving violently, smiled smugly.

"Master Hou."