PDLP Chapter 220 Zhang Ru, the Scholar! The Yongle Emperor is Injured!
Chapter 220 Zhang Ru, the Scholar! The Yongle Emperor is Injured!
"What brings His Majesty to the Imperial Stables?"
Chen Fan squinted and asked.
"Godfather, I just found out too..." The little stool shook its head slightly.
"His Majesty didn't mention this before..."
Chen Fan nodded.
He figured that no matter what Emperor Yongle was doing at the Imperial Horse Stables, he had to make preparations.
Otherwise, if this emperor discovers something, he'll be in trouble!
After a while.
In front of the gate of the Imperial Horse Stable.
"His Majesty has arrived..."
As the eunuch's shouts rang out.
Emperor Yongle and his entourage arrived at the gate of the Imperial Horse Stable.
There weren't many people accompanying him, only Commander Ma, Xiao Dengzi, a group of palace maids, eunuchs, and Imperial Guards!
The Yongle Emperor, who was at the head of the group, had a smile on his face.
"Eunuch Xiao Chenzi of the Imperial Horse Stables greets Your Majesty..."
Chen Fan, who was guarding the gate, saw the emperor arrive!
He immediately bowed respectfully in greeting.
Emperor Yongle nodded slightly.
He didn't take the lowly eunuch seriously and turned around to say:
"Otomo... I heard you've come back here... Is this place really that good?!"
Upon hearing the inquiry.
Xiao Dengzi's expression changed.
He glanced furtively at his godfather and replied:
"Your Majesty... Xiaodengzi has raised horses here for many years and has indeed developed some affection for them... He is reluctant to part with them."
"Really?" Emperor Yongle asked in surprise.
"I never imagined a eunuch like you could be so loyal and compassionate... I heard you're the godson of that Eunuch Chen from back then... What a pity... I've seen him before..."
"Your Majesty... Xiao Dengzi is indeed Eunuch Chen's godson," Xiao Dengzi replied impeccably.
The Yongle Emperor fell silent.
With his hands behind his back, he strode confidently through the gate.
The accompanying palace maids and eunuchs followed in single file!
Seeing this, Chen Fan, who was walking at the very back, became puzzled.
Is it possible that Emperor Yongle came to the Imperial Horse Stable just to ask a couple of questions?
Confused, he shook his head inwardly and quickly followed!
They hadn't walked far.
The Yongle Emperor stopped at the horse pen.
It was faintly visible that a few more horses had appeared in the horse pen.
These horses were all brought back from the front lines.
They all bear the marks of their deeds and the scars of their battles.
Compared to the ordinary imperial horses kept here, they have a much higher status!
Emperor Yongle stood before a lame imperial horse and sighed:
"General Wang Hu, in order to save me... risked his life, fighting alone on horseback against hundreds of enemies, ultimately dying amidst a hail of blades, leaving only this horse to survive..."
After saying that...
Emperor Yongle's eyes welled up with tears.
He came here to reminisce, and it turned out he was here for these horses.
Upon seeing this, Chen Fan suddenly realized what was going on.
I've been pondering this since the reign of Emperor Hongwu.
The Imperial Horse Stables initially bred warhorses, but eventually degenerated into merely raising imperial horses.
The warhorses, on the other hand, were raised in a horse farm.
The imperial horses were simply everyday mounts provided to the royal family!
Over time, horses that were wounded in battle or had grown old were also sent here.
Chen Fan remembered when Black Wind came here decades ago.
It seems that the Hongwu Emperor also visited this place and expressed his feelings!
After many years, this scene stirred up some emotions in him!
After expressing his feelings, Emperor Yongle bestowed many gifts upon the Imperial Horse Administration.
Escorted by Xiaodengzi and others, they hurriedly left.
After the person left.
Chen Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought the Yongle Emperor had summoned him for some important matter, but it turned out to be just a false alarm!
Chen Fan shook his head inwardly, his thoughts churning.
He turned and walked towards the Imperial Horse Stables.
These past two days have been spent refining elixirs.
Chen Fan felt his mind was unstable again!
Especially yesterday, when he was making pills for Wu Yuezi, he went completely insane!
That frenzied feeling left Chen Fan somewhat frightened!
It's not the alchemy itself that's scary, but the alchemy process leading to demonic possession is!
To prevent this!
Chen Fan decided to come and read some books!
When passing by the Imperial Garden.
He was drawn to those decadent songs again.
Looking around, it seems the Yongle Emperor is indulging in song and dance once again!
He was drinking and having fun, a stark contrast to his earlier dejected state!
"Pah... Emperors are all hypocrites..."
Chen Fan squinted as he spat.
They also began to seriously appreciate art.
After seeing something dull and uninteresting.
Chen Fan then turned and left!
We passed several artificial hills along the way.
He also took the time to comprehend the internal array patterns.
It accumulates little by little.
Chen Fan has comprehended almost a third of the Zhou Tian Grand Array of this imperial palace!
There is still a long way to go before we can fully master the formation.
Chen Fan wasn't in a hurry about this.
He prefers to take things slowly and always feels that being impatient for quick results is a bad thing.
They hadn't walked far.
The library came into view.
Chen Fan glanced at the young scholar with his divine sense and it wasn't hard to tell that the young scholar had come again!
After spending these days together, I've come to understand you.
Only then did he learn that the man's surname was Zhang and his given name was Ru.
He was the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examination during the reign of Emperor Yongle.
It is said that Zhang Ru was a man of great learning and talent, and was greatly favored by the Yongle Emperor.
Moreover, this person was an avid reader, so the Yongle Emperor granted him the right to freely visit the imperial library.
Lost in thought, Chen Fan vanished into the house in a blur.
Look closely.
Zhang Ru, dressed in a red official robe.
I am currently sitting by the window, reading attentively.
With his brows slightly furrowed, he was completely unaware that someone had entered the room!
Chen Fan still did not disturb them.
Upon arriving at the attic, he immediately selected several books and began reading.
As the saying goes, "Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles."
Only reading could bring Chen Fan inner peace and spiritual joy.
That wonderful sense of peace quickly captivated him.
I don't know how much time has passed.
Chen Fan was suddenly awakened by a gust of cold wind.
It wasn't that it was cold, but that someone had come into the house!
Upon waking, Chen Fan looked closely and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes!
The newcomer was none other than the Yongle Emperor!
With his hands behind his back, he was talking to Zhang Ru about something!
"Zhang Ru... how is your assessment? Have you found the method I'm looking for?"
Hearing His Majesty's question.
Zhang Ru shook his head slightly.
He stood up, frowning, and said:
"Your Majesty... This is the first time I've ever planned such a ruthless act as annexing seven kingdoms... Given the current strength of the Great Abyss... we can only proceed cautiously!"
"That's fine," Emperor Yongle said with a light laugh.
"I am almost forty-five years old this year, in the prime of my life. Do you think it will be difficult to conquer the states of Han and Chu within three years...?"
Zhang Ru's expression changed.
Looking at the emperor before him, who loved war, he said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty may be able to conquer the three kingdoms, but the Great Abyss will also be exhausted... In my opinion, after conquering the State of Han, you should allow ten years for recuperation!"
ten years?
Emperor Yongle shook his head slightly.
With his hands behind his back, he chuckled softly:
"I don't have ten years left... Zhang Ru, it seems you still need to think... No rush, there's still plenty of time..."
This made Chen Fan, who was in the attic, pause in his tracks upon hearing it.
He subconsciously spread his divine sense to investigate Emperor Yongle.
It's not hard to see that this emperor seems to be in poor health!
That emptiness wasn't caused by indulging in pleasure, but by war!
Emperor Yongle was actually injured!
It seems that the assassination attempt on the Great Yan was probably not as simple as the outside world had made it out to be!
And this guy even made peace with Emperor Jianwen!
This level of vision is truly unmatched!
"Who's here?"
Just as Chen Fan was feeling sentimental.
Emperor Yongle suddenly roared...