Chapter 78 When the truth becomes false, the false becomes true
There was no incident that day.
Because the Jinyiwei knew that the information of their spies planted in the palace had been leaked, they no longer issued missions rashly. Zhu Hao's goal was achieved. He no longer had to face the scrutiny of the people in the palace, and his life would slowly return to peace.
In the afternoon, he returned to the palace early as usual, but the difference was that Jing Hong also came back that day.
"Why don't you stay at home for one more night? Why do you come back so early?" Zhu Hao looked at Jing Hong.
Jing Hong was evasive and did not give a direct answer.
Zhu Hao probably felt that this kid was addicted to reading big books, or he wanted to come back a day early and try to go out to listen to books. He was afraid that it was not as interesting at home as in the palace.
Just as the two were about to go for dinner, Lu Song arrived first, followed by Yuan Zonggao.
"I came to see how you are living...Are you used to living in the palace?"
Yuan Zonggao had a smile like an old fox on his face.
Zhu Hao knew very well that Yuan Zonggao suddenly came to the West Courtyard looking for him, but he still pretended to be innocent and went out with Jing Hong to greet him.
Yuan Zonggao did not enter the house. He just looked through the window in the yard, then waved to Zhu Hao: "Zhu Hao, come out for a moment. I want to ask about your studies."
Jing Hong couldn't help but look at Zhu Hao with a bit of envy.
He is very knowledgeable, but the chief secretary of the royal palace came just to chat with Zhu Hao and didn't even look at him. It's really frustrating to compare yourself with others!
Then Yuan Zonggao took Zhu Hao out of the yard, found a secluded corner and asked, "Is your mother okay at home?"
Zhu Hao thought, it would be more practical to ask me directly who I met and what I said. Don't treat me like a seven-year-old kid, okay?
"Mom is fine, and my aunt and sister at home are also fine. It's just that business is a little slow, but it has been much better recently than before..." Zhu Hao was just getting by. He would answer whatever you asked me.
Isn't it just fooling each other?
It seems like no one would do that.
Yuan Zonggao nodded and said, "Zhu Hao, when you go back home, will the Zhu family... look for you?"
Zhu Hao said, "Yes, my grandmother usually comes to our house early in the morning to ask about my situation in the palace, including my daily studies and daily life , but this morning it was my second uncle who came to see me."
"So what did you say to him this time?"
Yuan Zonggao went around in circles and finally got to the point.
Zhu Hao did not hesitate at all: "I told him that Mr. Sui left and was replaced by a new Mr. Gongsun. I usually live with Jing Hong..."
"oh."
Yuan Zonggao nodded again, "Then have you told him that you usually go out of the palace at night?"
Zhu Hao finally understood why Yuan Zonggao was so cautious and came to inquire in person. It was probably because he heard that Zhu Hao would often go out of the palace. Although he knew that he went to listen to books, who knew if he was going to contact someone secretly?
Especially this time when Zhu Hao returned home, he did not contact the insider in the palace as he expected. Yuan Zonggao thought that maybe Zhu Hao had met the insider in the palace when he went out to listen to books before, so the palace came to nothing?
Zhu Hao blushed and lowered his head in shame.
"Yuan Changshi, to be honest, the storytelling stand outside was actually set up by me and a man named Yu San. He was a worker hired by my mother. I took the script that Mr. Lu gave me and asked him to open a storytelling stand outside. I wanted to make some money to help relieve the financial pressure at home."
To gain people's trust, you must be honest. The highest level of deception is to tell the whole truth.
Zhu Hao had tried to get Lu Song to join him before. He knew clearly that it was easy to hide this from his family, but it was difficult to hide it from the palace. How many people and spies did they have? You want to get some information in the small Anlu area. Do you think you have the ability to hide it?
Yuan Zonggao asked curiously, "The story you told the prince before was written by Mr. Lu?"
"Yes, otherwise, with my knowledge, where can I hear such a story? Mr. Lu is really a good man. Although I have not been with him for a long time, he not only taught me knowledge and taught me the principles of being a human being, but also told me stories."
Combining lies with the truth, you won't think that this story is something I heard in my previous life, and you don't believe that I am a time traveler, right?
I just found a way that you can accept to make the lie become the truth.
Yuan Zonggao glanced at Lu Song standing at the door, and his slightly teasing look clearly told Zhu Hao that Lu Song had told Zhu Hao about how he tried to persuade Zhu Hao to invest in the bookstall in order to gain the trust of the palace.
Zhu Hao thought, "Old Lu, Old Lu, you work really hard to protect your wife and children. Aren't you afraid that Yuan Zonggao will wonder why I brought you in?"
Yuan Zonggao said, "It's rare for you to have a business mind at such a young age... But I'm afraid that this will delay your studies, so you should try not to care about the bookstall business... How about this, I'll ask Lu Dianzhang to help you look after it from time to time. After all, it's close to the palace. If you want to go out again, tell Lu Dianzhang in advance and let him go with you."
Otherwise, why do people say Yuan Zonggao is an old fox?
Zhu Hao thought that Yuan Zonggao's move killed two birds with one stone. It not only appeased him, but also allowed Lu Song to keep an eye on him every time. If he wanted to go to the bookstore to meet someone again in the future, the palace would be able to find out and cut off your communication channels with the outside world.
But the problem is...
I go home once every ten days. It's impossible for you to completely cut off my connection with the Jinyiwei, right?
"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Yuan. I will study hard in the future."
Zhu Hao nodded solemnly, like a good boy who was eager to learn.
Yuan Zonggao smiled and said, "Zhu Hao, you are very smart and will become a great man in the future. You must cherish this rare learning opportunity now. If you have anything else, you must tell me... It's getting late. You should go have dinner first. I will go back first."
After saying this, he left without asking Zhu Hao whether he had ever seen any inside information in the palace.
This fully demonstrated that Yuan Zonggao still had great reservations in his trust in him. This old fox still wanted to play the long game and hook the big fish. If he asked me about this matter and I told the Zhu family, wouldn't it be tantamount to letting the Jinyiwei and the Zhu family know that the palace was on guard?
But if you don’t tell me, don’t I know?
Now it is Lu Song who sells you out, not me.
…
…
Lu Song was ordered by Yuan Zonggao to "monitor" Zhu Hao.
When Zhu Hao and Jing Hong were having dinner, Lu Song sat at the same table with his sword on the table, looking murderous.
Zhu Hao frowned and asked, "Lu Dianzhang, I want to go out of the palace to listen to a book tonight. Is that okay?"
Jing Hong was about to take his bowl to sit at the next table, but when he heard Zhu Hao's words, he put the bowl down again, his face full of excitement... Didn't he go back to the palace a day earlier just to listen to books? He hadn't even asked Zhu Hao for anything, but he invited him?
Oh no, that’s not right. Zhu Hao is inviting Lu Song!
This person is a dangerous person, Xiao Haozi, no matter how enthusiastic you are, we can't be stupid!
Lu Song frowned and said, "You didn't have to come back today. You stayed at home and wanted to listen to books . Who could stop you?"
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "I live at home, and my mother is very strict, so it's inconvenient to go out, so I went back to the palace. But Yuan Changshi said that if I leave the palace again in the future, you have to accompany me."
Lu Song was silent for a moment.
Now Jinghong started to feel uneasy.
Could it be that even Yuan Changshi knew that I had run away at night with Zhu Hao? What I thought was a secret was no longer a secret? If this got to my father's ears, would I dare to go home in the future?
"Since Yuan Changshi has no objection to Lu Dianzhang accompanying me to the bookstore, then please don't refuse Lu Dianzhang's offer to invest in the bookstore... You don't have to spend any money, as long as they use your name, no one will dare to cause trouble in the bookstore... I will give you 20% of my income every month, what do you think?"
Yu San gave 30%, Lu Song gave 20%, and Zhu Hao himself held 50% and was still the major shareholder.
Lu Song obviously did not take the investment in the bookstore seriously. As a military household who had never done business before, he had no idea how much money he could make by running a book stall. He subconsciously thought that the iron rice bowl in the palace was the most important, and the rest were just empty talk.
"We'll talk about this later. You must take me with you when you go out at night. If you leave the palace without permission, you will most likely be kicked out, and you will lose the opportunity to study completely!"
Lu Song finally said this almost threateningly.
When Lu Song stood up and left, Zhu Hao felt helpless...
I'm afraid the palace has thoroughly investigated his background these days!
The palace knew that he had no way out and felt that they could hold him tightly under control. That was why Yuan Zonggao felt confident in allowing him, a spy from the Imperial Guard, to stay in the palace so that he could easily contact Zhu San and Zhu Si without fear of backlash!
Zhu Hao thought, "Old Lu, you still don't understand who is on the same side as you... The palace? The Imperial Guards? Only me! You still want to oppose me? If I hadn't reminded you this time, you wouldn't even know how you died!"
…
…
In the evening, Zhu Hao took Jing Hong and went out of the palace to listen to stories accompanied by Lu Song.
When they arrived at the storytelling venue, Yu San came over nervously and whispered, "Brother Hao, you have to be careful. Madam San heard that there is a storytelling venue here these past two days. It is very lively at night. You never know when someone will come to listen to the storytelling. If you run into them then... it will be hard to explain!"
Lu Song frowned.
Is this some kind of communication code?
Who is the third wife?
Zhu Hao nodded and asked Yu San to take care of the storytelling venue. Then he turned to explain to Lu Song: "What he meant was that my mother also knew there was a storytelling venue here and might come to listen to the stories. He was afraid that my mother would catch me in the act."
Lu Song didn't take it seriously, but Jing Hong on the side became nervous.
Isn’t what Yu San reminded Zhu Hao of exactly what he should be worried about?
There were so many people in the county office, and many of them knew him, the son of the county magistrate. How could there be no one who came to listen to the book? If they ran into him...
"Kyoko, relax."
Zhu Hao seemed to understand Jing Hong's thoughts and consoled her, "I plan to let Yu San open a few private rooms so that our identities won't be exposed."
Lu Song asked with a straight face: "How can you open a private room in such a simple venue?"
Zhu Hao said: "Can I build two rows of lofts on both sides of the storytelling stage? The private rooms are located on the lofts that are two people high, facing the storytelling stage at an angle. This will not affect the ticket sales below, and people can sit in the private rooms and listen to the storytelling from a high vantage point, which is quite unique.
"Powerful and wealthy people come to listen to stories, they want a quiet and elegant environment, and they can avoid contact with ordinary people. I think they will flock to it. I can make money and provide convenience for myself by arranging this, so why not do it? I am the boss of my business. If Lu Dianzhang is interested in this, just join us."
