Author's Note: Zhu Ci: No matter how pretty you are, you can't fight me for territory! A kitten crouching low, staring at Fu's claws. jpg
Next update at 6:00 PM~
Chapter 95
As the man drew closer, Zhu Ci faintly smelled the scent of blood and lime.
The wooden box was placed on the side tea table, Fu said in a relaxed manner, "The head you requested, Your Highness, has been delivered."
Zhu Ci twitched his fingers, momentarily unsure of how he felt.
However, he only paused for a moment before immediately opening the wooden box.
Inside was none other than the severed head of Zhu Yousong.
Perhaps because the weather was gradually becoming hot, the wooden box contained not only lime but also ice, all to ensure that Zhu Yousong's head would not rot.
Zhu Ci indifferently closed the wooden box and shouted, "Jiang Quan."
Jiang Quan immediately stepped forward, hearing his young master's voice, which held neither anger nor joy: "This thing.. throw it in the river to feed the fish."
Sigh, throwing it into the river to feed the fish would be too good for this tyrant.
It was just a pity that he couldn't do anything else; he couldn't exactly let people smash this head to pieces, could he?
He himself did not care about his reputation, but he had to at least care about the mental health of his subordinates.
Jiang Quan handed the wooden box to the guards outside the door and quickly returned, staring at Fu as if he were looking at some ferocious monster.
Fu gave a light chuckle. "Rest assured, I will not tell anyone."
Zhu Ci sneered, "It matters not. So what if people find out? Am I the only one in this world who wishes him a death without a proper burial?"
That being said, Zhu Ci also knew what kind of slander he would face if this news were to spread.
Even ordinary commoners would not approve of his actions, making it extremely difficult to win the people's hearts.
However, things that even scholars and commoners could not accept seemed to mean nothing in this hall.
Jiang Quan and Jiang Xueyan, needless to say, obeyed his every word; whatever he said was law. Moreover, they did not even know who the owner of this head was, so naturally, they felt nothing.
As for Fu.. this man truly was born with a rebellious streak; he actually didn't think there was anything wrong with what he had done.
When the deal was made, Fu Huaizhang had acted very calmly, now he even delivered himself straight to the enemy immediately after being wounded; he truly didn't seem like someone from this era.
The most important thing was that the other party actually didn't intend to make a scene out of this matter; it was strange, very strange.
Although the two of them had conducted several business deals, their relationship was, in truth, quite subtle.
Neither friend nor foe.
Fu's attitude was ambiguous, leaving him uncertain as to how to handle him.
He looked at Fu, feeling a momentary sense of regret that he once again could not read any information from the other's facial expressions.
The other party remained silent, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
The life-saving debt is set aside, the previous promise has been fulfilled, now what?
Zhu Ci had not yet guessed anything when Fu spoke up, "I have heard that under the support of Zheng Zhilong and others, the Prince of Tang, Zhu Yujian, has already proclaimed himself Emperor and changed the era name to Longwu."
After hearing this, Zhu Ci reflected for a moment; it seemed that the Prince of Tang was a man who was difficult to judge throughout his life.
When he was in the Eastern Palace before, he had read the court records, most of Zhu Yujian's life up to this point had been spent in captivity.
Imprisoned by his grandfather, who wished to depose the eldest and enthrone the youngest, he was further stripped of his status and reduced to a commoner for defying imperial orders by recruiting troops to march north to "aid the throne" against the Qing, was subsequently confined within the high walls of Fengyang.
Together, those two instances amounted to twenty-three years.
This person certainly had ability, at least far more than Zhu Yousong, but unfortunately, he also lacked the ability to turn the tide. If he remembered correctly, Zhu Yujian only served as Emperor for a single year.
He lowered his eyes and asked, "Why does Brother Huaizhang suddenly bring this up?"
Fu said, "Emperor Longwu has ordered a military draft, at the same time, he intends to personally lead a campaign, and.. he has also secretly ordered the execution of all of Zhu Yousong's descendants."
Oh boy.
Sitting at home, yet enemies descend from the sky.
Zhu Ci glanced at Fu: "I'm afraid this person won't let you off either, will he?"
Fu said, "He did indeed send people to offer surrender, but that is not the reason I am saying this."
Zhu Ci looked at him with some confusion, then heard the Marquis of Huating, who had already rebelled, speak: "The late Emperor has passed away; His Highness is rightfully entitled to ascend the throne before the imperial spirit."
After hearing this, Zhu Ci instinctively sat up straight, looking at Fu with a face full of shock.
Wait a moment?
What did he say?
Succession before the spirit? Where is the spirit? Succession to what position?
Marquis of Huating, do you still remember that you are a rebel?
Do you also intend to install a puppet emperor?
As soon as this idea entered his mind, Zhu Ci rejected it.
He was neither a useless waste like Zhu Yousong, nor some soft-hearted good man.
If Fu had said this to Zhu Ci, he might have had the heart of a powerful official, but in Zhu Ci's eyes.. if one dared to be a powerful official, one could only wait for their head to roll.
Zhu Ci stared fixedly at Fu for a long time before finally taking a deep breath and saying, "You all may withdraw for now."
Jiang Xueyan and Jiang Quan had also been startled by Fu's words just now, upon hearing Zhu Ci's command, they reflexively bowed and withdrew.
Fu made a gesture for Lu Zheng to also withdraw.
After everyone had withdrawn, Zhu Ci asked, "Are you serious?"
Fu asked, "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Zhu Ci said casually, "I can't tell."
Fu laughed, removing his veiled hat to reveal a countenance that was unlike any ordinary person's, as if he had stepped straight out of a myth.
Zhu Ci..
Why was he so quick-tongued? He could easily be deceived by this face!
He took a glance at Fu Huaizhang's face before lowering his eyes; at this stage, he could only try to avoid looking at him.
Fu seemed to notice, yet also seemed not to notice, said, "Does Your Highness truly have no such intention?"
Zhu Ci truly had not thought of this matter; he had been focused solely on resisting the Tartars, since he didn't even care about his reputation, why would he care about his status?
He stared at Fu for a long time, his mind racing with many different thoughts that he couldn't quite sort through.
The various wounds on his body were using pain to distract him, if his intuition served him correctly, he seemed to be running a slight fever as well.
In this state, it was unlikely that he could think rationally.
Zhu Ci asked, "I heard before that you have intentions to contend for the Central Plains."
Fu replied indifferently, "The Central Plains is currently in the hands of the Tartars. If I wanted to contend for the Central Plains, I would first have to defeat Your Highness, I would also have to be wary of the Prince of Tang. I know quite well why Great Ming has come to this point. Rather than continuing this endless attrition, it would be better to consolidate my forces first."
These words were reasonable; if anyone else had said them, he wouldn't have found them strange, but Fu.. he could already establish himself as a king, so why would he need to bow his head to anyone?
If they truly fought, Zhu Ci would at most end up in a mutual defeat with him; winning would be very difficult.
Zhu Ci narrowed his eyes and asked directly, "Marquis Fu, what kind of act is this? Could it be that you're hoping I'll abdicate to you in the future?"
If the throne truly fell into his hands, he would never let it go; abdication was absolutely out of the question, unless he fought Fu to a mutual destruction.
But would internal strife be any better than the current situation?
Had Fu not considered this issue, or was he absolutely confident, or did he simply not understand him at all?
Fu laughed. "I wouldn't dare ask Your Highness to abdicate, not to mention that Your Highness is not someone easily manipulated."
Zhu Ci was somewhat puzzled. "Then you.."
Fu leaned back against the chair and looked outside, saying softly, "I am a person who cannot face the light, this world has no need for me."
Zhu Ci said subconsciously, "Don't talk nonsense. Didn't I say that as long as you are well-protected, you won't need to hide during the day?"
“It is inconvenient after all. Moreover, they all say I have intentions of competing for the Central Plains; if I were to say I never had such intentions from the very beginning, would Your Highness believe me?”
Zhu Ci was slightly stunned, he looked at Fu with some confusion. "Then what is the purpose of your military preparations?"
Fu's preparations for rebellion were truly too thorough, making Zhu Ci wonder if he had harbored rebellious intentions even before being enfeoffed as a marquis.
Although it didn't make sense logically, it was indeed so according to Zhu Ci's calculations.
Because many things cannot be prepared in just a few short months; one must realize that Zhu Yousong has been Emperor for less than nine months.
Fu stared at him with those pale blue eyes, after a long silence, said slowly, "I only want Zhu Yousong's entire family to die."
Oh ho, so he really does have a grudge against Zhu Yousong, it's just that.. Zhu Yousong's entire family..
He raised his hand and pointed at himself with a look of confusion.
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Author's Note: Zhu Ci: I seem to be from the same family as him. *An evil kitten kicks a wooden box containing a severed head into the river. jpg*
Next update tomorrow morning at six o'clock~
Chapter 96
Fu Yu said with a smile, "It's not that you aren't. Strictly speaking, you could be considered as having done me a favor."
The original Crown Prince was already dead; this person before him had nothing to do with Zhu Yousong.
Zhu Ci tilted his head and looked at Fu, asking, "Then why didn't you go find Zhu Ci?"
Zhu Ci was the one who truly had nothing to do with Zhu Yousong, he was also the legitimate Crown Prince.
Fu was somewhat speechless: "Looking for him is nothing more than repeating past mistakes."