Ming Dynasty: What's wrong with being a leisurely crown prince?

Chapter 48 Training Zhu Gaoxu Progress +1

Outside the Kunning Palace, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu walked side by side.

Zhu Gaochi had a smile on his face and walked slowly.

Zhu Gaoxu looked preoccupied, seemingly lost in thought, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Zhu Gaochi.

Each time Zhu Gaochi looked at him, Zhu Gaoxu's lips moved slightly, his mouth opening as if he wanted to say something, but in the end no sound came out.

After walking for a while, and seeing that they were about to leave the palace gate, Zhu Gaoxu could no longer hold back.

"Big brother."

"Huh? Second brother, is that you speaking? What did you call me?"

Zhu Gaochi stopped and looked at Zhu Gaoxu with a puzzled expression, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

Zhu Gaoxu spoke very softly; it was the softest voice Zhu Gaochi had ever heard. But since it was just the two of them and they were close together, Zhu Gaochi still heard him clearly.

Zhu Gaochi pretended not to hear clearly, but obviously wanted to hear it again.

Zhu Gaoxu was immediately enraged when he saw Zhu Gaochi's expression.

"Boss, let me tell you, don't think that just because you helped me this time, I'll let you off the hook. Don't even think about it!"

Zhu Gaochi originally wanted to call him "elder brother," but looking at Zhu Gaochi's face, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't bring himself to say it.

While he was inside, Xu Miaoyun had already agreed to let him stay temporarily, even if it was only temporary, at least he wouldn't have to go out to take up his fiefdom.

It could be said that Zhu Gaochi helped him a lot in this matter; otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to refuse Xu Miaoyun.

Originally, I wanted to thank Zhu Gaochi. Whether Zhu Gaochi's intentions were sincere or not, at least he helped me.

But seeing Zhu Gaochi's barely suppressed smirk and that face that he felt deserved a beating, Zhu Gaoxu's anger flared up again.

He simply couldn't bring himself to say anything conciliatory.

Zhu Gaochi's anger and the surge of shame caused Zhu Gaoxu's face to turn red instantly.

After uttering those harsh words, Zhu Gaoxu hurriedly left, completely ignoring Zhu Gaochi.

Watching Zhu Gaoxu's departing figure, Zhu Gaochi smiled even more happily.

He also realized that Zhu Gaoxu seemed to be a bit arrogant, which was completely different from Zhu Gaoxu's image.

But Zhu Gaochi had no intention of letting Zhu Gaoxu off so easily; this was a rare opportunity to tease Zhu Gaoxu.

"Second brother, wait for me, slow down..."

"Boss, I'm not trying to be mean, but you really need to work on your physique. You look like this, even a three-year-old could take you down."

"Second brother, just say what you want. Don't resort to personal attacks. What kind of three-year-old could take me down? You bring him here, let's see if you can take me down then~"

Zhu Gaoxu helped Zhu Gaochi up, but the two brothers were talking about each other with disdain.

After what happened at Kunning Palace, the relationship between the two brothers has obviously improved a lot compared to before, but it only appears to have improved.

Zhu Gaochi didn't mention the help he had just given, and Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything to thank him either; it was as if the two of them were on the same wavelength.

"Big brother, can you really cure Mother's illness?"

"Second brother, didn't I tell you? There's hope. That's why I'm reading medical books."

After they finished speaking, the two fell silent again until they arrived outside the palace. Zhu Gaoxu helped Zhu Gaochi into the carriage, then rode his horse. He paused for a moment, looking at Zhu Gaochi sticking his head out, and hesitated for a long time.

"Boss, are you annoying or what? I'm leaving."

Zhu Gaoxu ultimately couldn't bring himself to call him "elder brother" at this moment, and after saying that, he immediately rode off on his horse.

Zhu Gaochi was amused to see Zhu Gaoxu leave like that.

"This person, fine, doesn't say anything, but then says I'm annoying. Tell me, what kind of talk is that?"

Zhu Gaochi asked the coachman and guards who were accompanying him, but everyone lowered their heads and no one uttered a sound.

Just as Zhu Gaochi was about to lower the carriage curtain and enter the carriage, the sound of hooves rang out, and Zhu Gaoxu turned back.

"Thanks, brother."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu finish speaking hastily, his face turned even redder. Before he could say anything, Zhu Gaoxu rode away without looking back.

Zhu Gaochi shook his head and smiled, then got into the car.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu was still the same as before, Zhu Gaochi understood that after these two interactions and the events that occurred at Kunning Palace, the relationship between him and Zhu Gaoxu had indeed eased considerably.

The most obvious change was that Zhu Gaoxu's gaze towards him no longer held the same disgust as before.

Furthermore, Zhu Gaoxu now knew what kind of person he was, and the personal grudges between the two dissipated considerably.

Although the inevitable conflicts will still exist, at least what he has done has had an effect. The two are not as tense as before, which is a good start.

To truly change Zhu Gaoxu is a long and arduous task.

He has only taken the first step.

Not long after Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu left, Zhu Di arrived at Xu Miaoyun's place.

"Si Lang, you don't look well. What happened?"

Xu Miaoyun looked at Zhu Di as he entered the room. Even though Zhu Di was well hidden, Xu Miaoyun still managed to discover him.

Zhu Di took a sip of the tea poured by Xu Miaoyun and said with a smile, "It's nothing, everything is fine, you're overthinking it."

By the way, are you feeling better now? How are you feeling overall?

Zhu Di quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the matter any longer and worry Xu Miaoyun.

Xu Miaoyun knew all this perfectly well. She sat down and said softly, "The method the boss mentioned is quite effective. My cough is much better than before."

Don't worry about my health. Don't let my health affect national affairs.

Silang, you are now the emperor, and everything should be for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and its people.

I heard that your plans to build Beiping were opposed by Xie Jin again. Did you remove him from his position as Grand Secretary?

Seeing that Zhu Di wouldn't speak, Xu Miaoyun had no choice but to tell him herself.

In fact, even though Zhu Di and his son Zhu Gaochi didn't tell her those things and tried their best not to let her know, who would dare not tell her what she wanted to know?

There was actually a pattern during the Yongle reign.

Offending Zhu Di might offer a sliver of hope, but offending Xu Miaoyun would practically guarantee certain death.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di no longer concealed his feelings.

"You have eyes like fire; nothing can be hidden from you."

Zhu Di was genuinely expressing his feelings. He always hid his worries very well, but Xu Miaoyun could always see through them at a glance. He felt helpless because he had concealed them so well.

He nodded and then recounted the whole story.

Now that Xu Miaoyun already knew, Zhu Di no longer tried to hide it from her.

If things aren't explained clearly, it will only distract and worry Xu Miaoyun more.

After saying that, Zhu Di slowly opened his mouth.

"This matter did make me angry, but not to the point that I would do this."

I just wanted to see if what the boss said was true or false.

Upon hearing this, Xu Miaoyun felt a mix of emotions.

She desperately wanted to persuade Zhu Di not to do this, that there was no need to test Zhu Gaochi, but now that Zhu Di had already started, it was too late for her to persuade him.

In fact, she didn't care whether those things were true or false. Even if they were false, if Zhu Gaochi could keep pretending, then they would be true.

"Silang, don't do things like this again."

If you want to test the boss, you can do it in other ways. How can you involve state affairs?

As for the problems the boss mentioned, don't you think that since the boss brought them up, given his personality, how could he not have a solution?

What the second brother told you this time is probably what the eldest brother was thinking.

"You and your son are really something. Why can't you talk things out properly? One of you tries to pressure the eldest son by using his supporters, while the other tries to test him by using the second son."

Xu Miaoyun spoke of these things with a hint of helplessness.

These two, father and son, do exactly the same things.