"Yes, I remember it, Dad!"

The people must not be allowed to starve. Zhu Biao had been hearing Zhu Yuanzhang repeating this since he was a child. If he could not figure out why Zhu Yuanzhang was so keen on food, he would not be worthy of being the crown prince. Moreover, what Zhu Yuanzhang said was the truth. The people must not be allowed to starve. This was an absolute truth. If the people could not survive, they would rebel.

"The south, whether it's islands or anything else in the south, especially this piece called Indochina Peninsula, we must take it back!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes turned red when he thought of the fact that these places could produce three crops a year. It would be a pity if such good grain-producing land was not in the hands of the Ming Dynasty. "It would be a waste to keep so much grain outside. It would be better to use it to feed our people. While our brothers are still here, let them lead the troops to fight. If they win, we will make them kings!"

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Zhu Biao couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Okay, I will go back and make preparations, and I will definitely prepare well."

Zhu Biao also heard about the matter of conferring the title of king, and he had no objection to it. Besides, with the "Enfeoffment Order" in place, Zhu Biao was not worried at all about how much trouble they could make.

Even if they are dissatisfied and want to rebel... so what?
With Zhu Kai around, anyone who rebels would be a joke!
……

Lan Yu went to find Zhu Kai, but not in the palace, but in the former Prince Wu's Mansion.

Last year, Zhu Kai asked Zhu Yuanzhang for an outer residence, and Zhu Yuanzhang awarded Zhu Kai the Prince of Wu's Mansion where he used to live. After Zhu Kai's transformation, the mansion became a place of filth and corruption.

If Zhou Heng brought the Yingtian Prefecture's constables to the Prince of Wu's Palace now, he would definitely catch all these people in one fell swoop... They are all lawless playboys in Yingtian Prefecture. If we use the Ming Dynasty laws to judge them, I don't know how many times they would have been beheaded.

Lan Yu rode on a horse, with his chest and abdomen exposed, carrying a bramble on his back, and slowly walked towards the Prince of Wu's palace.

Zhou Heng, who had just been released from prison, was conducting a public opinion poll to see if Zhu Kai was as kind to the people as Meng Duan said. Then he saw Lan Yu riding on a horse, on his way to the Prince of Wu's mansion to apologize.

Ok?
Zhou Heng had been in Yingtian Prefecture for a relatively short time. He knew Lan Yu's name, but he didn't know about the conflict between Lan Yu and Zhu Kai.

Although he didn't understand what happened, Zhou Heng thought that it was very inappropriate for Lan Yu to apologize to Zhu Kai. Putting aside other things, at least Lan Yu was Zhu Kai's elder. How could an elder take the blame for a younger person?
Isn't this an act that is disrespectful to the emperor and the father, and has no moral principles?

Think about Zhu Kai again...he can really do such a thing.

Zhou Heng felt very angry, and the words he wanted to scold Zhu Kai were on the tip of his throat...

Forget it, this is someone else’s business, what does it have to do with me?
They are high above, the nobles at the top of the Ming Dynasty pyramid, while I am just a prime minister. I should think about how to make the people live a good life.

I found a few vendors and asked them whether the Second Prince had ever bullied anyone. The answer I got was affirmative: "Bullying no one. Every time they come out to buy things, they give enough money, and sometimes even more."

If you give money, does that make you a good person?
Isn't this a matter of course?

Zhou Heng could not accept this argument, and he asked again: "Is there anyone who doesn't pay?"

"...That's not the case, but they never bullied us and they spoke very politely."

The vendor didn't know how to explain it. He just felt that it was enough that someone of such a high status was speaking to him politely.

As for what Meng Duan said about Zhu Kai's generosity, Zhou Heng had never heard of it.

Is Meng Duan really telling a story?

Zhou Heng was a little skeptical, so he tried to ask in a different way: "Well, there is a man called Master Kai in Yingtian Prefecture, do you know him?"

"Mr. Kai? I know, I know! He's a good man!"

When the vendor mentioned 'Master Kai', he immediately became very excited: "He is the god of us common people, sent by God to protect us common people. In the past, there was a young man named Li Qi who often bullied us. Later, he was beaten several times by that man named 'Master Kai' and he dared not bully us anymore. I heard that he is a noble of the royal family, otherwise how could he dare to beat Li Qi?"

When Li Qi was mentioned, the vendors sneered at him, as if mentioning his name would dirty their mouths. Zhou Heng did not expect that what "Mr. Kai" did was really like what Meng Duan said, he was a good person, but they did not seem to know that Mr. Kai was Zhu Kai.

Zhou Heng walked and asked along the way. When he was about to leave this street and go to another street, he found that someone had been following him. He turned around and saw... it was an old man. The old man found that he was seen by Zhou Heng, and did not pretend, but came directly to Zhou Heng.

"My dear father-in-law, you..."

"I am Song Lian."

Song Lian?

Why does this name sound familiar?

Looking at Song Lian more carefully, it seems that this old man has a kind of momentum, not like an ordinary person, and has a certain authority. Thinking of someone named Song Lian in Yingtian Prefecture... Zhou Heng shuddered all over: "You, are you Lord Jing Lian?"

"Yes."

Song Lian did not hide his identity and asked Zhou Heng, "Are you also investigating the Second Prince?"

“It’s not checking, it’s verifying.”

Zhou Heng did not dare to lie in front of Song Lian, and told him everything about his experience. Then he said, "Today, I can see that the Second Prince is not fake in his kindness to the people."

The results obtained by Song Lian were similar to those seen by Zhou Heng.

But the more this happened, the more uncomfortable Song Lian felt. Isn't it good for Zhu Kai to be a good playboy? Why should he be so nice to the people?

Perhaps, if Zhu Kai was really as unforgivable as he previously believed, Song Lian wouldn't have to worry so much.

Glancing at Zhou Heng, Song Lian asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

Zhou Heng shook his head. After these days of investigation, he found that it was really a bit of a disruption to his worldview. He suddenly realized that everything he had insisted on was wrong: "From now on, I will only think about doing good things for the people. As for the rest... I can't do anything else."

"Humph!"

He is another person with an unstable mind, and another person who is deceived by Zhu Kai's appearance.

Song Lian didn't want to have too much conversation with such a person, so he left in anger!

Zhou Heng didn’t understand why Song Lian was angry, but...what does this have to do with me?

From this moment on, only one sentence remained of the "Four Sentences of Hengqu" that Zhou Heng insisted on: Establish a mission for the people!
As long as the people could live better and better, Zhou Heng would be satisfied.

……

Lan Yu appeared outside the Wu Wang Mansion with a bramble on his back. How could the gatekeeper of the Wu Wang Mansion have seen such a scene? He hurried to report to Zhu Kai.

Zhu Kai was drinking with the other wise men at this time.

Before the Chinese New Year, they went to Hong Xiu Zhao once and almost spent the New Year in prison, so they were more careful and changed the venue of the party to the Prince of Wu's Palace.

Although the location is not in Hong Xiu Zhao, the girls inside are all from Hong Xiu Zhao. Bringing the girls out is not a difficult task for the wise men. Besides, Hong Xiu Zhao is about to open a branch, so naturally they have to win over this group of financial backers and meet their requests.

The doorman came over to report to Zhu Kai that Lan Yu was kneeling outside the door with a bramble on his back. He looked around and then quickly locked his eyes on Chang Sheng and Chang Sen.

These two guys are Chang Mao's younger brothers. They were having a party at Prince Wu's Mansion today, and they should have been the ones who told Lan Yu.

"Brother Kai, don't blame us."

Chang Sheng was embarrassed to face Zhu Kai, but he said calmly: "My uncle said that he came to apologize to you. Xiao Sen and I didn't want to bother with him, but my eldest brother was kneeling in front of me to beg for mercy. We had no choice but to agree."

"Great, it turns out there's a traitor in our team!"

Xu Yingxu stood up immediately and pointed at Chang Sheng and said, "Brothers, what should we do if a traitor appears?"

"Never mind him, just beat him up first!!"

The other wise men didn't wait for Zhu Kai to say anything, they just rushed forward and started beating him. Of course, it was just a lot of noise with little action. They were all brothers, could they really kill him?
The main reason was that he was worried that Zhu Kai would be angry because his whereabouts were revealed.

"Okay, okay, stop acting."

Zhu Kai did not mean to blame Chang Sheng and Chang Sen. They were brothers who had grown up with him. This was not a big deal at all. Zhu Kai did not want to blame anyone: "Let Miss Lan come in. Don't ask for forgiveness. Just come here and dance for us. I won't care about what happened in the past."

Dance?

Chang Sheng and Chang Sen were a little surprised when they heard this.

Speaking of playing, Zhu Kai is still good at it. He dared to make Lan Yu dance... He even dared to do such an insulting thing. He wanted to say something, but he thought that the person who made the request was Zhu Kai, and the person who completed the request was Lan Yu. What does it have to do with him?
Moreover, what Lan Yu did before was indeed a bit excessive. He wanted to torture Zhu Kai to death. Now Zhu Kai just asked him to dance for a dance. This can't be considered excessive, right?

"Mr. Kai is still good at playing."

Chang Sen gave Zhu Kai a thumbs up and said, "I'll go call my uncle over. If he's willing, then he'll agree. If not, then let him leave."

I guess Lan Yu was unwilling.

However, after about an incense stick of time, Lan Yu finally came in.

Not only did she come in, she also changed into women's clothes and put on blush... In addition, Lan Yu was a little thin to begin with, and seeing her wearing women's clothes at this time really ruined people's three views.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Lan Yu. Lan Yu closed her eyes, hardened her heart... and began to dance.

It is not the Jiangnan dance of the people living by the small bridges and flowing water, but a dance similar to that of the grassland, which looks very tough and domineering.

Everyone looked at Lan Yu. None of them could have imagined that the arrogant and proud Lan Yu would actually accept such an insult of cross-dressing and even mistake him for a singer... No, he was even worse than a singer, because he was a man!
Such a drastic contrast left all the wise men present dumbfounded and unable to utter a word.

Mr. Kai is awesome!
He could actually force Lan Yu to this point.

Zhu Kai looked at Lan Yu dancing without saying a word and kept drinking.

When the song ended, Lan Yu also stopped, bowed and faced Zhu Kai: "Master Kai, is this possible?"

"Keep your head up."

Zhu Kai asked Lan Yu to raise her head, and after their eyes met, he asked, "Do you hate me?"

"Don't hate!"

"Don't hate, or don't dare to hate?"

"If the ruler orders his subject to die, the subject must die."

Lan Yu's answer was very firm, and every word came out from between his teeth: "Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor."

"it is good!"

Zhu Kai picked up the wine bowl and said, "Sit down and drink!"

"Yes!"

Lan Yu didn't even change his clothes, just sat down and started drinking.

……

In the evening, Lan Yu returned home drunk and was sent home by Chang Sheng and Chang Sen.

Chang Mao, who had been waiting at home, saw Lan Yu coming back drunk, and was sent back by Chang Sheng and Chang Sen. He immediately asked, "Did you drink with Zhu Kai?"

"Yes."

When Chang Sheng heard Chang Mao calling Zhu Kai by name, he said in dissatisfaction, "Brother, Kai is the prince, don't call him by his name."

"fart!"

Chang Mao cursed, "Is Zhu Kai your father? Get out...don't teach me a lesson!"

"..."

Get out!
Chang Sheng and Chang Sen both followed Zhu Kai and had no interest in Chang Mao. Moreover, he wanted to act like an "elder brother is like a father" in front of them, but they didn't buy it at all.

Just one sentence: Who do you think you are?

Just as he was about to leave, Chang Mao called him back, "Come back!"

Chang Sheng and Chang Sen stopped and just stood at the door. Chang Mao knew that he couldn't control his two brothers, and he was very helpless. He just asked about Lan Yu: "Did he accept your uncle's apology?"

"Accepted."

"Did you drink the wine...at the Prince of Wu's mansion?"

"Yes!"

"… Is it as simple as just asking for forgiveness?"

Chang Mao felt a little bit unconvinced. When did Zhu Kai become so easy to talk to?
"No."

Chang Sheng squatted for a moment, then said, "Uncle danced for Kai Ge'er, and then he forgave uncle."

"what?"

Chang Mao couldn't help it and asked loudly: "Let uncle dance?"

Chang Sen: “Yeah.”

"Bastard!"

Chang Mao walked forward, looked at his two younger brothers, and without saying a word, he slapped them twice: "Why didn't you stop it?"

Chang Sheng, who was slapped, felt it was a bit unbelievable, and Chang Sen was also very puzzled.

Lan Yu didn't say anything, why are you, Chang Maosheng, so generous?

Chang Sen wanted to argue with Chang Mao, but was stopped by Chang Sheng. Facing the extremely angry Chang Mao, Chang Sheng was not afraid at all and said directly: "Brother, uncle wants to apologize, and you asked us to help. We told you and uncle the news that Brother Kai left the palace. Other things have nothing to do with us. Moreover, if uncle doesn't want to jump, he can just leave. What does it have to do with us?"

"Yes, uncle endured the humiliation, but why was he willing to endure this humiliation, brother, have you ever thought about it?"

After saying that, Chang Sheng pushed away Chang Mao who was standing in front of him and said, "From now on, take care of yourself, big brother!"

"…Take care, bro!"

Chang Sen also followed Chang Sheng and left together.

Looking at his two younger brothers leaving, Chang Mao opened his mouth, but finally swallowed back what he was about to say.

These two bastards don’t even know they’re being used by others!

……

The next day, Lan Yu woke up. Chang Mao stayed with him all night. When he saw Lan Yu wake up, Chang Mao walked up to him with red eyes and said, "Uncle, you..."

"What are you doing?"

Lan Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "What do you mean by 'I'? Don't cry!"

"Uncle, is it worth it?"

Chang Mao couldn't help but said, "We can't fight. We don't want this Duke Zheng anymore. Doesn't the Crown Prince trust his brother Kai? Just let him believe it. Why should we suffer such humiliation?"

Why bother?

Lan Yu sighed.

He did it for Zhu Biao, but wasn't it also for himself?

Lan Yu didn't want to stay in Yingtian Prefecture forever! He wanted to go out to fight, to leave his name in history, to be crowned as the Wolf's Lair, and to be awarded the title of Champion Marquis... (End of this chapter)