Chapter 53: Metamorphosis
Lu Song was greatly inspired by Yuan Zonggao's words.
When he went to contact Captain Lin that night, he knew what to say and what not to say. The most important thing was to ensure that the Jinyiwei would not know that Zhu Houcong had fallen into the fire and was rescued by Zhu Hao.
If the Jinyiwei knew that he and Zhu Hao not only did not help kill Zhu Houcong, but instead rescued him, the punishment from the Jinyiwei would probably not be light.
As for Zhu Hao, he took the opportunity to discuss the latest business strategy with Zhu Niang that night.
"Xiaohao, our business with Mr. Su is still going on, and we are making more and more money, but I am becoming more and more uneasy. If the government finds out... we will be in an irretrievable situation... It will be a long time before you come of age, and I want to save some more money and then sell the business..."
After Zhu Niang learned that her son was in danger in the palace, she felt that her persistence was meaningless.
It would be better to go back to the Zhu family with her son. Even if he is not so well off, her son can still practice martial arts. Even if he does not inherit the position of Jinyi Guards left by his father, mother and son can live in peace if they work hard. Even if they live a mediocre life, it is much better than letting her son take risks in the palace and live on the edge of a knife all day long.
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Mom, the Magistrate of Changshou is now my classmate, so he won't make things difficult for us. The Zhu family won't cause trouble for us because I'm in the palace... We got through all the difficulties back then, isn't it too early to give up now?"
Zhu Niang didn't say anything, but it was obvious that she had her own ideas.
A widow is raising a young son, so she won't obey him in everything and she still has to take action when necessary.
…
…
The next morning, when Zhu Hao was discussing with Yu San about recruiting people outside the city to increase the number of salt fields, Zhu Ting came running over: "Brother, grandma is here."
Zhu Hao had already expected Zhu Jia's arrival.
He put down what he was doing and went to the main hall to meet Zhu Jia.
At this time, Zhu Jia was sitting in front of her son's spirit tablet with a gloomy face.
Aunt Li was in the front taking care of the shop business and didn't come over, while Aunt Zhu was standing aside with tears in her eyes.
Apparently, before Zhu Hao came, Zhu Niang had begged her mother-in-law, hoping that Zhu Hao would not enter the palace again, but was ruthlessly rejected.
"Zhu Hao, what happened in the palace yesterday?" Zhu Jia asked with a gloomy face.
Zhu Hao said aggrievedly: "Someone wants to burn me to death."
Zhu Jiashi was not surprised at all, and said with a straight face: "Are you saying that the fire in the palace has something to do with you? I heard that a child was rescued from the fire. Was it you?"
Zhu Hao had long thought that a fire in the palace would cause a huge commotion, and it was impossible for the Zhu family and the Jinyiwei behind them, who were keeping an eye on the palace, to be completely unaware of it.
Zhu Hao said: "I was almost fainted by the smoke at that time, I... I don't know..."
That depends on how Lu Song reported to Captain Lin, and how much Captain Lin told Zhu Jia.
In Zhu Hao's opinion, he could completely turn a blind eye to this matter. As long as he let Zhu Jia know that the fire was set against him and that he was in danger, that would be enough.
Zhu Jia obviously didn't know the details, and continued to ask with a gloomy face: "Then why are you at home today and not going back to the palace?"
Zhu Niang knelt down and said, "Mother, Xiaohao's identity has been exposed, and the palace has evil intentions... If we go back now, won't we be sending him to death?"
That being said, how could Zhu Jia give in?
"He accidentally revealed his identity, who can he blame? Besides, he was the one who agreed to the job, is he going to back out now? If so, won't everyone in Anlu know that my Zhu family has ill intentions towards Prince Xing's Mansion?" Zhu Jia glared at her daughter-in-law angrily.
"cough!"
Zhu Hao coughed and said, "Grandmother, may I ask, before I entered the palace, was the Prince Xing's Palace unaware of the purpose of the Zhu family's move to Anlu?"
Zhu Jia said angrily, "You bastard! Third brother, this is the son you taught? How can you talk to your elders like this?"
Zhu Hao refused to give in and said, "Grandmother, I am only telling the truth... On the first day I entered the palace, people around me were talking about me, saying that I was a member of the Zhu family, and that Yuan Changshi of the palace had ordered that I be kept under close watch and that I should be prevented from having too much contact with the prince..."
"At the time, I didn't understand why I was being targeted. It wasn't until yesterday when I was almost burned to death in the fire that I finally figured it out. In fact, from the first day, they didn't intend to let me stay in the palace for long!"
It was still some defiance, but this time Zhu Jia was not as furious as before.
It's obvious. The people in Prince Xing's Mansion are not fools. When recruiting a companion for the little prince, would they not investigate the child's identity and background?
Knowing that this child is from the Zhu family, will give him the opportunity to access the core secrets of the palace?
What does Prince Xing’s Mansion care about most?
Of course, it is the absolute safety of Crown Prince Zhu Houcong!
“You must go back!”
Zhu Jia shouted sternly.
Zhu Hao didn't answer this time.
That's what I want you to say!
The reason why Yuan Zonggao was not in a hurry to find him back was probably that he was waiting for the Zhu family to put pressure on him and his mother. You just came to their door like this, and you didn't escape their plan, nor did you exceed my expectations.
It’s a natural thing, just go back!
"mother……"
Zhu Niang was determined. She knelt on the ground and kowtowed continuously, hoping that the old lady would soften her heart.
But Zhu Jia was unmoved. She stood up and walked towards the door, saying coldly, "If you don't go, your family will take your son back and send him to the kiln as a laborer. He will never make a living... You decide!"
Zhu Niang's body shook violently.
There is such a grandmother?
Zhu Hao is the direct descendant of the Zhu family!
If you fail to complete the Zhu family's mission, you will be sent to the kiln? Do the Zhu family still have humanity?
…
…
"Mom, get up."
Seeing the old lady slam the door and leave, Zhu Hao shook his head and sighed, then bent down to support Zhu Niang.
The old lady's personal visit had a significant meaning, which was to make Zhu Niang, who had always had high hopes for her family, face the reality that it was necessary for her son to enter the palace.
If the old lady hadn't come to threaten her, Zhu Niang would never have let her son return to the palace.
The mother and son went to the backyard to see Zhu Jia off, but saw Butler Liu standing abruptly in front of the Moon Gate.
Zhu Hao noticed that Butler Liu looked a little abnormal. He suddenly remembered that when he was talking to the old lady in the main room just now, there was a dark shadow outside the window. Could it be that Butler Liu was lying there eavesdropping?
Later, because the old lady left the house suddenly, Butler Liu retreated in a hurry, so that he who was originally waiting at the backyard door was now outside the second backyard door.
Zhu Hao thought to himself, "This old fellow looks honest and kind, and is devoted to his master. He is quite trusted by the old lady. Why would he want to find out about the internal affairs of my Zhu family, especially about my situation in the palace? Could he be a member of the Jinyiwei as well?"
"Old lady."
Butler Liu's expression quickly returned to calm, as if he had just come in from the back door to greet Zhu Jia.
Zhu Jia ignored him and walked straight to the back door.
Zhu Niang originally wanted to follow and beg, but the old lady suddenly turned around and glared at her fiercely. Zhu Niang trembled violently all over and could only watch Zhu Jia leave heartlessly.
Butler Liu followed him out the door and glanced at Zhu Hao intentionally or unintentionally as he turned around to close the door.
Originally, Zhu Hao had not paid attention to this person, but because he secretly spied on the affairs of the Zhu family, he became suspicious and secretly tried to figure out the reason.
…
…
After Zhu Jia left, Zhu Niang's face looked gray.
As he walked towards the front yard with his son, he was in a trance and almost tripped over a wooden shelf on the ground. Fortunately, Zhu Hao stepped forward in time to help him.
"Mom, I've said it before, the Zhu family has no favors towards us. If we have a chance in the future, we must get rid of the family's control."
Zhu Hao said, "But I can understand my grandmother's thoughts... I finally have an insider who can spy on the palace's intelligence. How could she allow me to leave without saying anything?"
Zhu Niang didn't say much.
Zhu Niang looked unusual that day and did not talk to her son. She just silently packed her son's bedding and luggage.
That afternoon, when Zhu Hao was about to end his vacation and report back to the palace, Zhu Niang said to her son, "I've thought about it. In the future, I might expand my business to Jiangxi and transport salt eastward along the Yangtze River... If it's feasible, I'll find a way to let you study in Jiangxi and never return to Anlu."
This was not a big deal, Zhu Hao looked at Zhu Niang with a higher opinion again.
A feudal and conservative woman, she was worried that smuggling salt would affect her son's future, and wanted to stop as soon as possible and return to her family.
But now, for the sake of her son, she was thinking about letting her son leave the Huguang area. She probably thought that no matter how powerful the Zhu family was, they would not be able to interfere in the Jiangxi and Jiangxi areas.
Sending his son to study in another place can help him avoid being involved in the disputes between the Zhu family and the royal palace to the greatest extent.
"Mom, you are so thoughtful... I want to tell you a secret, but you must keep it a secret." Zhu Hao looked mysterious.
"Huh?" Zhu Niang was puzzled.
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Do you know why the Chief Secretary of Prince Xing's Mansion came to visit me personally? Actually, I saved a person from the fire yesterday. He was Prince Xing's only son... I risked my life to save him from the brink of death. Do you think the people in the palace will hurt me again?"
"ah?"
This time Zhu Niang's face was filled with shock.
Zhu Hao said: "Originally, I entered the palace with many dangers, but I am a good friend of Prince Xing. If the current emperor continues to have no children, Prince Xing will be the first in line to the throne in the future, equivalent to the crown prince..."
"I saved the prince of Xingwang from danger. If the people of Xingwang Mansion repay kindness with resentment and continue to harm me, then that is against the will of heaven. How can they be qualified to inherit the throne?"
The look of astonishment on Zhu Niang's face still did not dissipate, and she hurriedly asked: "Xiao Hao, do you know what you are talking about?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said, " I actually wanted to tell mother that I am very safe in the palace... Only by describing my experience in the palace as full of dangers will grandmother feel that she owes us and stop making things difficult for us. This will help mother do business and our family survive in Anlu in the future."
"So, mother, you don't have to worry about my going to Jiangxi and Ganzhou for the time being. I will study hard in the palace and strive to become the prince's right-hand man. I will rise to prominence in the future and win an imperial decree for you."
Zhu Niang never expected that such words would come from the mouth of a child, and this child was her own son.
How could an ordinary person have such insight?
"Mother, let me tell you another secret. This is actually the second time I've saved Prince Xing. There was one time before that... How fate do you think we have? Whenever he's in danger, I'll appear in front of him. If he really has a chance to become emperor in the future..."
Zhu Niang couldn't bear it any longer, so she stretched out her delicate hand to cover her son's mouth, stopping him from speaking any further.
"Xiaohao, as long as you are safe in the palace, no matter how your studies go, I don't have to worry so much. You... take care of yourself!"
Zhu Niang's purpose is very simple. As long as her son is safe, everything else is just a passing cloud.
