activa-t Chapter 110 Zhu Wushi, show me your loyalty!
Chapter 110 Zhu Wushi, show me your loyalty!
Chapter 110 Zhu Wushi, show me your loyalty!
There are only three Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom seeds in total.
When Su Xin was seriously injured and on the verge of death while protecting Gu Santong, Zhu Wushi fed her a Tianxiang cardamom, which saved her life but also put her into a permanent slumber.
She will only wake up again when Su Xin takes the second Tianxiang cardamom.
However, waking up does not mean recovery. Only when she takes a third Tianxiang Doukou within a year will she be completely well.
For the past twenty years, Zhu Wushi has painstakingly searched for the remaining two Heavenly Fragrance Cardamoms, but without finding a single clue.
Now that Zhu Houzhao had directly handed him a Tianxiang cardamom, Zhu Wushi was overjoyed.
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao told Zhu Wushi that he had not only obtained the second Tianxiang Doukou, but also had a clue about the last Tianxiang Doukou.
These successive pieces of good news shocked Zhu Wushi beyond measure, plunging him into ecstasy.
Amidst this ecstasy, Zhu Wushi also felt a deep sense of apprehension, or rather, terror.
He never expected that Zhu Houzhao knew about Su Xin's existence, and even knew that Su Xin had already taken the first Tianxiang cardamom.
What else within the entire Dragon Guard Manor was unknown to Zhu Houzhao?
Does he even know the secret files of the Ten Great Generals?
The Secret Files of the Ten Generals are confidential intelligence on the ten generals of the nine important border towns, which Zhu Wushi collected over twenty years using the tight intelligence network of the Dragon Guard Manor.
This file records the privacy and secrets of the ten generals of the nine border towns, including the terrifying general Ling Luoshi, the invincible general Situ Badao, the rose general Yu Chuntong, and the beheading general Mo Fuda.
This file is of paramount importance. Zhu ignored the fact that he collected this intelligence with the intention of using it to threaten and control the military when he plotted something big in the future.
If Zhu Houzhao already knew about the existence of this file, how would he view himself? Would he already suspect him of having rebellious intentions?
Thinking of this, Zhu Wushi felt a chill in his heart, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
In this extreme state of extremes, Zhu Wushi's spirit and soul were being repeatedly scorched.
Fortunately, Zhu Houzhao did not mention anything else, and Zhu ignored him and kowtowed repeatedly to show his loyalty.
"Your Majesty's kindness is etched in my heart. I am willing to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty and devotion!"
Zhu Houzhao smiled casually: "You are my imperial uncle, so don't worry about such a small matter."
"Go, I have ordered people to clean up the Prince Qing's mansion where you used to live. Go back and take a look."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This humble subject takes his leave!"
Zhu Wushi bowed and took his leave, exiting the Cining Palace.
But Zhu Wushi knew very well that although Zhu Houzhao said he didn't need to take it to heart, if he really didn't care, then there would be a problem with his position as a prince.
Seeing Zhu Wushi walk out of the main hall, Cao Zhengchun silently breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward with a smile: "Lord Divine Marquis, this way please."
"please."
After Zhu Wushi left, Zhu Houzhao took out another identical wooden box from the drawer.
Open the wooden box, and inside is an identical Tianxiang cardamom.
This third Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom had actually always been in his possession.
However, it won't be so easy for Zhu Wushi to obtain this last Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom.
"Zhu Wushi, my good imperial uncle, if you want this last Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom, then you'd better show me your loyalty."
Zhu Houzhao closed the wooden box, a smile playing on his lips.
After leaving the heavily guarded Forbidden City, Zhu Wushi felt a slight sense of relief.
Regardless, Zhu Wushi was generally excited and thrilled after receiving the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom.
Back at the Prince Qing's residence, Zhu Wushi looked at the familiar scenes and was filled with emotion.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Zhu Wushi immediately summoned Duan Tianya, Gui Haiyidao, and Cheng Shifei, who were in the capital.
Although Shangguan Haitang was also in the capital, she lived deep within the palace, and Zhu Wushi dared not contact her rashly.
Soon, Duan Tianya, Gui Haiyidao, and Cheng Shifei arrived at the Prince Qing's residence.
"Godfather!"
"My lord!"
Zhu Wushi nodded and asked seriously, "You've been in the capital for several days now. What's the situation there?"
Duan Tianya cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency, the capital has been a place where hidden talents abound these days."
"To date, there are more than a dozen top-tier martial arts masters in the capital with known names."
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"Including Wudang Elder Mu Daoren, Qingyi Tower Master Huo Xiu, Emei Sect Leader Abbess Miejue, Huo, Beggar Clan Leader Shi Huolong, Kunlun Sect Leader He Taichong, and the Xuanming Elders, among others."
Guihai Yidao added, "Lu Xiaofeng, Hua Manlou, Sikong Zhaixing, and others have also gathered in the capital."
"I also met Yin Tianzheng, the White-browed Eagle King; Xie Xun, the Golden-haired Lion King; and Yang Xiao, the Left Guardian of Light."
As Duan Tianya and Gui Haiyidao rattled off these renowned names in the martial arts world, Zhu Wushi's expression grew increasingly solemn.
Besides the extinct Shaolin Temple, Emei, Wudang, Beggars' Sect, Kunlun, Ming Cult, and wandering martial arts practitioners, almost all of them gathered in the capital.
The capital city today is like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment, and the fuse that will ignite it is the duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue.
No one dared to imagine what would happen on the night of the full moon when Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue fought their final battle at the Forbidden City.
Zhu Wushi coldly ordered: "Pass down the word that all imperial secret agents must be on high alert and strictly monitor all martial arts figures in the capital."
"Anyone who causes trouble or commits crimes shall be immediately apprehended and handed over to the Imperial Guard for handling."
"If they dare to resist arrest, show no mercy and kill them immediately!"
"Yes, Godfather!"
"Also, on the night of the full moon, all three of you will accompany me to the palace."
"Remember this: your most important task is to protect His Majesty's safety!"
"If these traitors were to harm even a hair on His Majesty's head, I will hold you all accountable!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Duan Tianya, Gui Haiyidao, and Cheng Shifei stood up straight and solemnly accepted the order.
Within days of Zhu Wushi's arrival in the capital, princes from all over the country also began to arrive.
These princes did not have the privilege of being able to enter the palace and meet the emperor in advance, as Zhu Wushi did.
They were all arranged to stay in the Southern Palace, waiting for the Mid-Autumn Festival to travel to the capital together to meet the Emperor.
The behavior of these princes after arriving in the capital varied.
Some princes simply stayed obediently in their courtyards, waiting for Zhu Houzhao to summon them.
For example, King Min, King Su, and King Jing.
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Some princes would gather their friends and companions to visit other princes and plot important matters together.
For example, the Prince of Ning, the Prince of Shu, the Prince of Chu, and the Prince of De.
It should be noted that these feudal lords were all born in their respective fiefdoms and had never met any other feudal lords in their entire lives.
But because they shared the same identity and interests, they quickly became very close and formed a united front.
The more they talked, the more they enjoyed themselves and the more they clicked, and the more confident they felt that their grand plan was going to succeed.
After that, they were no longer satisfied with just a few people; they wanted to involve more vassal kings and have them voice their opinions.
So they began to proactively visit other vassal kings and make their demands.
Some princes agreed, while others refused.
"Where you sit determines where you stand," and the vassal kings who agreed to the terms were mostly granted fiefdoms in the wealthy southern regions.
For example, Hubei and Hunan, Ganzhou, Zhejiang and Fujian, and the Jiangnan region.
The princes who refused them were granted fiefdoms in harsh and cold regions such as northern Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Yunnan, and Guizhou.
Of course, these vassal kings who refused them were often the subject of their backstabbing and criticism.
"Oh, right, we still have a vassal king we haven't visited yet."
Prince Ning, Zhu Chenhao, slapped his forehead and said, suppressing his excitement.
Prince Zhu Binhan of Shu asked curiously, "Haven't we visited all the princes who have already come to the capital?"
"Who are you talking about? Has a new regional prince arrived in the capital?"
Zhu Chenhao shook his head: "Have you all forgotten that Prince Qing, Zhu Wushi, is still in the capital!"
"Ah! Zhu Wushi!"
Zhu Binhan was startled, and then his heart began to pound wildly.
Yup!
Zhu Wushi was different from these distant relatives; he was the late emperor's own younger brother and Your Majesty's own uncle!
His relationship with His Majesty is much closer than that of these other people.
In addition, Zhu Wushi was the only prince among all the princes of the Ming Dynasty who had real power.
Zhu Wushi held the power of the Dragon Guard Manor, a position that many vassal kings envied.
Furthermore, Prince Qing's fiefdom was located in Shuntian Prefecture, with numerous territories and fertile land. This reduction of fiefdoms has severely damaged Prince Qing's interests.
They went to visit Prince Qing, and Prince Qing would certainly support them.
Thinking of this, the Prince of Ning, the Prince of Shu, the Prince of Chu, the Prince of De, and others were also filled with excitement.
"Yeah, and Zhu Wushi too!"
"I heard that Zhu Wushi doesn't live in the Southern Palace, but in his former residence, the Prince of Qing's Mansion."
"Even after many years away in his fiefdom, His Majesty has still preserved the Prince Qing's residence. It seems that Prince Qing truly enjoys His Majesty's trust!"
"With Prince Qing's involvement, His Majesty will surely concede this time!"
The more they thought about it, the more excited they became. So they immediately went to the outside of Prince Qing's mansion in groups and presented their visiting cards to the imperial spies outside the mansion.
After the imperial spies presented the visiting cards to Zhu Wushi, he read them and immediately guessed the purpose of these vassal kings.
"Hmph! A bunch of idiots!"
The capital city was filled with imperial guards and secret agents from the Imperial Guard and the Dragon Guard Manor.
These were all Zhu Houzhao's spies, and nothing they did could escape his notice.
Zhu Wushi was unwilling to get involved in the naive and ignorant plans of these vassal kings.
Zhu Wushi burned the letter of invitation to the ground and said coldly, "Tell them that I am not here and they should leave."
"Yes, my lord!"
When the imperial spies relayed Zhu's words to the various princes waiting outside the Prince Qing's mansion,
The princes looked at each other, completely bewildered.
It seems they were turned away by Zhu Wushi?