"So lacking in manners, why don't you kneel down and beg for forgiveness..."
The Emperor couldn't help but rebuke him!
"Don't be so short-tempered. You're not young anymore; getting angry is bad for your health, and it's such a hassle for the whole family to be kneeling all the time..."
Li Zhu said with a kind smile!
"You...are arrogant..."
The Emperor was so angry he could hardly breathe. How could they possibly disregard him? While the phrase "family" had touched him somewhat, this behavior was utterly rude…
"A young man who isn't reckless isn't a true youth. When I was my age, my father was already leading troops into battle. I imagine my father, who achieved early success, was even more reckless than I was, right? After all, what soldier on the battlefield doesn't have a temper?"
After being flattered by Li Zhu, the Emperor's expression not only softened, but he also spoke with a hint of reminiscence.
"That's right, don't you know who I am? Back then, I led three thousand soldiers, fought my way through the wilderness, and conquered countless heroes, making them submit to my feet..."
"It's a real pity I couldn't follow my father in conquering the world and witness how a great hero like you was born..."
Li Zhu said with a hint of regret.
"A great hero!"
The emperor's mind conjured up images of himself charging through enemy lines with a spear in hand. It was an unforgettable time, a time of hearty drinking and feasting, experiencing with all his might the thrill of fluttering banners, decisive battles, and the trials of charging into the fray...
"Yes, it's a real pity that I, as your son, can only enjoy peace and tranquility and cannot become a great hero like you..."
Li Zhu remarked with a sigh that he had long understood the principle of speaking one way to one person and another way to another. He believed that his adoptive father, the emperor, certainly enjoyed being praised, as those in high positions craved recognition the most…
"There's nothing to regret. If you can quell Zhu Wen's rebellion in Youzhou, then you will be a great hero of our New Tang Dynasty..."
The Emperor seemed to have forgotten Li Zhu's rudeness and began to talk to him seriously!
Li Zhu could tell that his adoptive father, the emperor, was no longer resisting him. However, he currently lacked military power, and dared not take on such a major task as quelling the rebellion. Nevertheless, he believed that Chen Qingzhi could resolve the issue in Youzhou, but it was still too early to report back…
"Father, I am about to depart for Xiliang, and I may not be able to offer any assistance in suppressing the rebellion..."
Li Zhu said cautiously!
"Yes, I hope you take this trip to Xiliang seriously. Whether you can seize control of the world depends on your performance this time..."
Upon hearing his adoptive father's words, Li Zhu couldn't help but frown, wondering what the other party meant. Wasn't he going there for a marriage alliance? Was there some other special mission?
"Your subject will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations..."
Li Zhu could only agree blankly, still unclear about what the other party meant by "performance"...
"Very good, I believe you can do it. You don't need to worry about the academy's affairs; everything will proceed according to your plan. I will have people regularly send you the latest updates, and you can make changes at any time if there's anything inappropriate..."
"Thank you for your support, Father..."
"This is also to replenish the treasury of the new Tang Dynasty. Supporting you is, in effect, supporting the new Tang Dynasty..."
"Father, I have a request!"
Li Zhu felt that their conversation had warmed up enough, so he started preparing to get down to business...
"What is it? Speak!"
The emperor's expression remained unchanged, conveying both a subtle sense of detachment and an unfathomable feeling.
"Your Majesty, I wish to borrow Consort Zhu for a purpose..."
Thump!
Li Zhu's words terrified Eunuch Tang so much that he knelt on the ground. After all, he had overheard such a huge secret, and he might be killed...
"What did you say?"
The Emperor looked at Li Zhu in shock, never expecting his son to have such a peculiar hobby!
Even if he no longer had any feelings for Consort Zhu, she was still his consort and, according to seniority, Li Zhu's elder. Such a request was really too much!
Seeing their reactions, Li Zhu knew they had misunderstood, so he quickly explained the whole story, and finally said helplessly.
"Father, I had no choice. They demanded that I bring Consort Zhu with me before they would release Wang Riqing and Yuwen Yingying..."
"Zhu'er, are you sure Zhu Wen sent people to do this?"
After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor looked at him seriously and asked, a hint of wisdom flashing in his eyes. He also carefully observed Li Zhu's reaction, seemingly assessing him...
Li Zhu pondered for a moment before replying.
"I thought carefully about who would want to save Consort Zhu, and in the end I could only think of Shi Le and Zhu Wen. Shi Le is already a cripple. Although he successfully escaped, it is hard to say whether he can still control the Jie tribe, so he can be ruled out. A person who is too busy to take care of himself is incapable of saving Consort Zhu. So that leaves only Consort Zhu's father, Zhu Wen..."
Therefore, I boldly speculate that the mastermind behind Qingqing and Yingying's abduction is Zhu Wen's man!
"Nothing is absolute. Often, the answer you get most easily is the answer that others want you to know. Do you understand?"
Zhu Wen displayed extraordinary bravery when he followed me, but he was cunning, cruel by nature, and enjoyed toying with his own daughters-in-law…
Back then, he betrayed his master and surrendered to the previous dynasty, but seeing the previous dynasty fall, he then surrendered to me. Therefore, I have always been wary of him!
Zhu Wen may have realized this as well, and sent his daughter to me to dispel my suspicions about him. However, Consort Zhu was naturally dissolute, and I suspected that she had an ambiguous relationship with her father, so I never had a good impression of her...
However, Consort Zhu was indeed incredibly loyal to her father. In order to gain the support of the Jie tribe, she even cheated on me and Shi Le behind my back. This shows that Zhu Wen was willing to sacrifice anyone for himself!
So do you think Zhu Wen would go to any lengths to save his daughter? I think in his heart, Consort Zhu was nothing more than a useless pawn to be discarded; he wouldn't go to such lengths to rescue her…”
Upon hearing his adoptive father's words, Li Zhu's mind went blank. How could he have forgotten Zhu Wen's character? This guy was a complete freak; how could he possibly care about other people's lives? In his previous life, this guy died at the hands of his own son and even stole his daughter-in-law. How could such a person care about the life or death of a woman?
However, all he wanted now was to take Consort Zhu away to rescue his woman, so he pleaded.
"Father, all I know right now is that Qingqing and Yingying are in grave danger, and I must save them..."
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