lovenovelstory Chapter 95 Examination Guidelines
Chapter 95 Examination Guidelines
As expected, Zhu Yunwen requested the old emperor to allow Liu Jing to serve as a tutor in the Eastern Palace.
"Grandpa, Mr. Liu is a man of exceptional talent and strategic acumen. He is indispensable to Uncle Nineteen," Zhu Gaoxi interjected, trying to dissuade him.
The nineteenth prince, Zhu Hui, was only seventeen years old. He was one of the nine great border princes along the Great Wall and was stationed in Xuanfu, a key border town. He clearly needed a strategist to assist him.
What I can't have, no one else can have either.
Zhu Gaoxi disdained the kind of madness that resembled that of Ma Gang leader's wife in the Beggars' Sect.
He genuinely believed that Liu Jing's talents were better suited to staying on the frontier, devising strategies, and defending against foreign enemies.
We cannot focus solely on internal strife and neglect the concerns about border troubles.
After Zhu Gaoxi finished speaking, he quietly observed Zhu Yunwen's emotional changes.
If we can analyze and determine the pattern of their emotional fluctuations, it will be much easier to handle them in the future, which can be considered an unexpected gain.
After listening, the old emperor nodded approvingly, "Xi'er is right, let Mr. Liu stay in Xuanfu."
"Once Ji Xi returns to his fiefdom, I'll have your eleventh uncle bring Fang Xiaoru over," the old emperor added, mindful of the Crown Prince's feelings.
However, Zhu Yunwen was still very angry, but he couldn't vent his anger because Liu Jing was present.
Zhu Jixi, that troublemaker, was always causing trouble when he was with Zhu Gaoxi. He was always plotting to sabotage things, stirring up trouble and making waves everywhere. But when he was with Zhu Gaoxi, he was like a different person. He became a warm-hearted older brother and even offered to return to his fiefdom.
Just now, Zhu Gaoxi casually and simply said a few words and pulled Prince Gu into his camp, which made him seem like he didn't understand the needs of the border.
But my grandfather thought he was right.
In front of Liu Jing, he was outshone by a five-year-old child.
How could he not be angry?
Zhu Yunwen suppressed his anger and tried his best to appear nonchalant, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.
Zhu Gaoxi saw this and kept it in mind, planning to return to the vegetable garden and write it down for future reference.
To test Zhu Yunwen's reaction, attempt to guide his emotional changes, and strive to gain the upper hand in the contest.
If he's willing to get angry, then let him get so angry he explodes.
Zhu Gaoxi was focused on finding ways to make Zhu Yunwen exhaust himself, so that he wouldn't have much energy to improve himself.
Even if you gather a lot of experts, it's all for nothing if you can't make accurate judgments yourself.
Advisors only provide alternatives; the final decision rests with oneself.
Attempting to rely on advisors to make decisions for oneself is foolish and futile, and will inevitably lead to failure.
If one does not diligently cultivate inner strength, is too concerned with superficial gains and losses, and has no time to calm down, organize one's thoughts, and expand one's knowledge and experience, how can one not fail?
At noon, after leaving the Qianqing Palace, on the way back to the vegetable garden, Zhu Gaoxi, seeing that no one was around, took Zhu Youdun's hand and said, "Brother, let's go back to the Prince's Mansion for lunch, and while we're at it, see what Ji Gang looks like?"
He's just a clerk; why would he need to make a special trip back to the Prince's residence?
Zhu Youdun was very puzzled.
However, he trusted Zhu Gaoxi's arrangements and therefore did not raise any objections.
Upon arriving at the Prince of Wu's residence, Zhu Gaoxu pulled him to a secluded courtyard and whispered, "What does our father mean? He sent a stranger over. I've never seen Ji Gang before, but he looks about the same age as Zhang Fu."
"He's quite clever, not very talkative, but he answers every question with a single sentence. His eyes are cunning, as if he can see right through people."
"Fourth brother, be careful. People who are too lively are unreliable and we can't use them."
Zhu Gaoxi thanked his second brother for the reminder and went out, asking Yin Changlong to take Ji Gang to his courtyard.
Wearing a square-shaped headscarf and a blue robe, he was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, of medium height, neither fat nor thin, with bright, clear, and unrestrained eyes, full of tension.
Under Zhu Gaoxi's scrutiny, Ji Gang remained calm and composed.
"He does have some composure," Zhu Gaoxi thought to himself as he withdrew his gaze.
His eyes gleamed intensely, revealing ambition and desire, intense and undisguised.
Zhu Gaoxi dismissed everyone, leaving only the three of them in the room.
"Ji Gang, did Father ask you to deliver a message?" Zhu Gaoxi asked, exchanging a thoughtful glance with Zhu Youdun.
"Your Highness did indeed send me a letter."
Ji Gang took the letter out of his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Zhu Gaoxi took it and handed it to Zhu Youdun, saying, "Brother, take a look."
Zhu Youdun opened the letter, read it for a moment, and handed it back to Zhu Gaoxi.
This is a letter written in Zhu Di's own handwriting; Zhu Gaoxi recognized his adoptive father's handwriting.
The description of Ji Gang in the letter was similar to Liu Jing's account.
In his letter, Zhu Di said that he had Ji Gang bring thirty secret guards from the Prince of Yan's residence to be in charge of correspondence between the capital and the Prince of Yan's residence.
"Where is he?" Zhu Gaoxi asked calmly.
"Your Highness, we will arrive in two days," Ji Gang replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. "To avoid Lord Liu Jing finding out, Your Highness has instructed them to depart two days later."
"How long have we been at the Prince of Yan's residence?" Zhu Youdun asked the crucial question on behalf of Zhu Gaoxi.
"Two months," Ji Gang answered truthfully.
"How can we trust you?" Zhu Youdun then asked.
"My family has all moved to Beiping," Ji Gang had prepared for this.
"Who lives in your family?" Zhu Youdun asked further.
"My parents and grandfather are all alive, and I have a wife, two concubines, a son, and a daughter," Ji Gang replied calmly.
"If we don't ask, how long do you plan to keep the prince's letter hidden?" Zhu Youdun's tone was cold and sharp.
"Before departing from Beiping, the Prince specifically instructed that if the young prince did not inquire, the secret guards should be sent back to Beiping," Ji Gang replied calmly.
"You will first serve as a clerk in the Prince of Wu's residence. After you have made some contributions, you will be promoted slowly," Zhu Gaoxi said thoughtfully. "As for those secret guards, once they arrive, they will all be handed over to my second brother, who will handle them himself."
"Your Majesty, I will obey your orders. However, before I set off, Your Majesty had a deep conversation with me. The Wu Prince's secret guards urgently need a deputy commander. Just in case, I suggest that we make arrangements as soon as possible," Ji Gang volunteered.
"If something goes wrong, you will definitely be held responsible. Do you really dare to take on this position as a deputy commander?" Zhu Youdun asked, narrowing his eyes.
"You're just taking the blame for someone else; it's not too late to regret it now," Zhu Gaoxi advised, adding fuel to the fire.
"It would be an honor for me to be of use to the young prince," Ji Gang said without any fear.
Zhu Gaoxi and Zhu Youdun exchanged a smile and bluntly stated, "The secret guards sent by Father cannot be entrusted to you. If you dare to reveal even a single word about the secret guards of the Prince of Wu's residence, you should consider the consequences yourself."
"Your humble servant is willing to accept the order and will never regret it," Ji Gang said resolutely.
"You spent half a day at the Prince of Wu's residence. Did you discover anything?" Zhu Youdun wanted to test him and see how capable he really was.
"Someone is spying on the Prince's residence," Ji Gang replied with a frown. What puzzled him was that the other party seemed to be deliberately letting him discover them, intentionally giving themselves away and making a commotion. "They seem to be looking for trouble to provoke the people in the Prince's residence."
Having passed the observation test, further assessment of riding and archery skills was required, which was to be handled by Zhu Gaoxi and Guan Tong.