The strongest eldest son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 81 Uncle and Nephew Reunited, Back in the Day, Your Father and I...

Upon seeing this, Xu Da immediately brought up a private matter known only to him and Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Nephew, wait a minute!"

"Have you ever given your dad a special hot pot base so he could cook something delicious whenever he's out?"

Zhu Yao's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded gently, his guard largely lifted.

Xu Da seized the opportunity and revealed another crucial secret.

"And that wildly popular sweet potato business is a money-making scheme that you, young master, devised for your father; this matter is extremely secretive!"

"No outsiders know this!"

After two top-secret private matters were accurately predicted, Zhu Yao completely lowered his guard and had no more doubts.

He quickly raised his hand and ordered Mu Yan, "Untie them immediately. They're all on our side. It's all a misunderstanding."

After being untied, Zhu Yao looked apologetic and bowed to the two of them in apology.

"Please forgive me, my two uncles. Recently, there have been many villains and spies secretly spying on this place. I had no choice but to set up many traps and defenses. I apologize for any offense caused."

Xu Da and Deng Yu rubbed their aching wrists and quickly waved their hands, but their hearts were filled with turbulent emotions.

The two were secretly moved and deeply shocked.

This is no ordinary residential security setup. The intricate mechanisms, strict security, and terrifying interrogation system here are far superior to even the defenses of the imperial palace!

The ruthless and harsh interrogation methods were so outrageous that just thinking about them sends chills down one's spine.

Seeing the two looking disheveled, Zhu Yao quickly and gently made arrangements.

"You two have had a long and tiring journey. I'll have someone prepare a clean room, hot water, and meals for you. Please rest and recuperate for now."

The servants then led Xu Da and Deng Yu to an elegant guest room to rest. After closing the door, they found themselves alone.

Deng Yu rubbed his numb shoulder, looked at Xu Da with a puzzled expression, and asked in a low voice.

"Old Xu, you just mentioned Zhu Yuanlong? Who is he? I have followed His Majesty for many years and have never heard of this name."

Xu Da rolled his eyes at him, annoyed, and sighed softly.

"Who else could it be? Zhu Yuanlong, it's His Majesty the present!"

Deng Yu's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with disbelief, and he exclaimed in a low voice.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty has this name? How come I had no idea?"

Xu Da explained slowly, his tone carrying a touch of melancholy tinged with the weight of time.

"Yuanlong is the name His Majesty used when he became a monk at Huangjue Temple in his early years. Very few people know it. Among all the civil and military officials, only Tang He and I are aware of it."

Deng Yu suddenly realized, and a moment later, his mind went blank, and he froze on the spot.

He suddenly recalled the young master he had just seen, his expression changed drastically, and his voice trembled slightly.

"I understand... I completely understand! That young man just now, isn't he... isn't he His Majesty's son?"

"But I have met all of His Majesty's sons, and I have never met anyone like this!"

Xu Da lowered his head and pondered for a moment, his eyes filled with unwavering certainty, before slowly revealing the truth.

"If I am not mistaken, His Majesty has recently been going on a large scale to select wives and consorts for the princes."

"That extremely mysterious, exceptionally talented, and wealthy prince—it is him!"

These words struck Deng Yu like a thunderbolt. His eyes widened in shock, and he stood there dumbfounded, unable to recover for a long time.

The guest room was silent. Deng Yu recovered his senses, his face still full of horror, and he gasped in a low voice.

"I never imagined that His Majesty would have a bastard child of such a young age hidden away. This is utterly shocking!"

His brows furrowed tightly, his expression resolute, and his tone tinged with resistance.

"No, I absolutely cannot marry my daughter to this young master!"

Xu Da turned his head to look at him and asked softly, "Why are you so opposed?"

Deng Yu looked solemn as he recounted the reasons one by one, his eyes filled with concern.

"Firstly, this child's background is secret, he has no official status, and he is not a legitimate registered prince of the royal family. His marriage will be without status or recognition, which would be unfair to my daughter."

"Secondly, His Majesty has kept this matter hidden for many years, which must be due to other considerations. This matter is extremely complicated, and a hasty marriage may embroil us in a secret conflict."

"Thirdly, this man is cautious and ruthless in his actions. His mansion is heavily guarded and his torture is terrifying. His character is no ordinary wealthy young man. It is unlikely that my daughter will have a peaceful life after marrying into his household."

After saying this, Deng Yu immediately raised his hand to straighten his clothes, showing his intention to leave.

"After resting for a while, I will find an excuse to take my daughter away from Chenzhou. This marriage proposal must not be accepted."

Xu Da raised his hand and pressed it on his shoulder, his expression calm, and whispered his dissuasion.

"Keep calm and don't act impulsively. At this point, leaving rashly will only arouse suspicion."

"His Majesty has gone to great lengths to arrange this matchmaking event; there must be a profound purpose behind it. Let's observe the situation first and find out the details before making a decision."

Upon hearing this, Deng Yu hesitated slightly, but ultimately suppressed his eagerness and slowly nodded in agreement.

Just as the two were whispering and discussing, soft footsteps came from outside the door, and Zhu Yao came to visit them in person.

Zhu Yao pushed open the door and entered, a gentle smile on his face. His gaze fell on the two of them, and he calmly asked a question.

"My two uncles, have you rested for a while? Are you feeling alright? May I ask your identities and why you would visit this place so late at night?"

Xu Da and Deng Yu exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other. They tacitly suppressed their true identities and prepared their explanations.

Xu Da spoke first, his tone gentle and natural, without any flaws.

"We are both ordinary merchants. We met your father, Zhu Yuanlong, many years ago and we did business together."

Deng Yu quickly echoed this, adding to the story.

"That's right. We are now shareholders of your father's chamber of commerce. We were passing through Chenzhou and learned that your father was here, so we wanted to pay him a visit."

"It was too late to knock on the door and disturb them, so I thought I'd just check around nearby. I never expected this misunderstanding to happen."

Upon hearing the explanation, Zhu Yao instantly breathed a sigh of relief, and the wariness on his face completely disappeared.

"I see. I was just feeling uneasy, fearing that you two were government officials coming to cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xu Da immediately chimed in, feigning dissatisfaction as he sighed.

"What you say is absolutely right, young master. Those court officials are always arrogant and domineering, and their rules are complicated and annoying."

Deng Yu quickly nodded in agreement, a sneer on his face.

"Officials are mostly aloof and unapproachable, and we merchants are most reluctant to deal with government officials."

After a few words, all the misunderstandings disappeared, and the atmosphere among the three of them instantly became relaxed and harmonious.

Zhu Yao, being a cheerful and outgoing person, immediately extended an invitation with a smile upon seeing the two's friendly demeanor.

"Since they are my father's old friends and elders in the Chamber of Commerce, they are like family. I have prepared hot pot and food, so why don't we have a drink and chat together?"

Xu Da and Deng Yu readily agreed and accepted the invitation.

Before long, the charcoal fire in the hall of the Liu residence was warm, the brass hot pot was bubbling and the red broth was boiling.

The rich, spicy aroma permeated the air, lingering between the beams and pillars, filling the entire hall and whetting the appetite.

The table was neatly arranged with layers of meat and vegetable dishes, including tender slices of meat, seasonal vegetables, and braised side dishes.

The crisp, fine wine is poured into a white porcelain glass; the liquid is clear and bright, and the aroma is subtle and refreshing.

Zhu Yao, Xu Da, and Deng Yu sat around a table, the warm yellow light creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

Zhu Yao has a graceful posture, a generous and unrestrained demeanor, and speaks with profound insight and unique perspectives. His vision and perspective far surpass those of ordinary young people.

Xu Da picked up his wine glass, took a small sip of warm wine, and his heavy heart from the past completely relaxed, his eyebrows and eyes softening considerably.

Looking at the steaming hot pot in front of him, he couldn't help but smile and begin to recount old stories.

"Speaking of which, Brother Yuanlong and I have known each other since childhood. When we were young, our families were poor, and we spent every day together, enduring countless hardships."

"Back then, we had nothing. We often went up the mountain together to dig for wild vegetables and pick up grass roots. Life was poor, but it was also quite fulfilling."

"Unfortunately, later..."