Seeing Emperor Hongzhi in casual clothes, Chen Ziyu and Zhu Houzhao were stunned on the spot.
Xiao Jing ordered the accompanying guards in disguise to guard the door, and then closed the door gently, apparently not wanting to disturb the handymen working outside.
After reacting, the two of them quickly knelt down on the ground with their heads lowered and did not dare to say a word. Liu Jin lay on the ground trembling all over.
They didn't know how long Emperor Hongzhi had been here and how much of their conversation they heard.
Emperor Hongzhi, with his hands behind his back, passed by the two of them and walked straight to the barrel, leaned over and looked into the barrel, and then looked around again.
After a long while, Emperor Hongzhi said calmly: "Prince, please explain why you appear here! If I hadn't gone to Zhanshi Mansion on a whim, I might not have known that you sneak out of the palace every now and then!"
Zhu Houzhao made a sound, turned his head and glanced at Chen Ziyu beside him, and the two looked at each other in confusion.
According to Zhu Houzhao's understanding of his father, the calmer he spoke, the greater the anger brewing in his heart.
Just when he was thinking about what to do, he caught a glimpse of Liu Jin in the corner. He immediately raised his head and pointed at Liu Jin and said:
"Father, Liu Jin, it was Liu Jin who told me that the first batch of cod liver oil had been produced and encouraged my son to leave the palace!"
"Really?" Emperor Hongzhi's voice was still extremely calm, and he continued: "Liu Jin, tell me!"
Liu Jin was scared to death. How could he dare to speak at this time?
If he admits it, it will be a serious crime of beheading. If he doesn't admit it, he may be beaten to death by Zhu Houzhao when he returns to Zhan Shifu!
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty...slave...slave...servant..."
Liu Jincheng hesitated in fear for a long time without saying a word!
Seeing this scene, Emperor Hongzhi naturally understood what was going on. He turned his head and looked at Zhu Houzhao who was kneeling on the ground and said coldly:
"You traitor! You are still the heir apparent! A manly man, have I ever taught you to shift the responsibility to others when you do something wrong? Have all the masters ever taught you?"
Chen Ziyu on the side couldn't stand it anymore and raised his head to meet Emperor Hongzhi's gaze.
Just when he was about to open his mouth and take over the responsibility, he saw Emperor Hongzhi glare at him fiercely, signaling him to shut up!
Chen Ziyu was so frightened that he dared not speak!
Zhu Houzhao was made red-faced by what Emperor Hongzhi said. He had always flaunted himself as a great hero!
In shame and frustration, he hung his head and told the whole story in detail.
Chen Ziyu secretly raised his head and glanced at Emperor Hongzhi, then immediately lowered his head.
Emperor Hongzhi's expression did not show any fluctuation, and he still looked untroubled.
However, after Zhu Houzhao finished explaining honestly, the corners of Emperor Hongzhi's eyes relaxed slightly for a moment, and it passed in a flash!
After a moment, Emperor Hongzhi squinted his eyes and said calmly: "Chen Aiqing stays, I have something to ask! The others will go out and wait!"
After finishing speaking, he glanced at Xiao Jing casually.
Xiao Jing understood immediately, and quickly helped Zhu Houzhao up, then gently kicked Liu Jin who was lying on the ground, and led the two of them out of the warehouse, leaving a separate space for Emperor Hongzhi and Chen Ziyu.
Emperor Hongzhi saw the others leaving, so he walked aside, moved a stool and sat down. Then he said to Chen Ziyu in a gentle tone: "Ziyu, please get back on your feet!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Chen Ziyu carefully got up from the ground, polished the dust on his knees, bowed his hands and said honestly: "Your Majesty, the matter of the Empress Dowager..."
"Haha, Ziyu doesn't need to explain, I don't blame you!" Emperor Hongzhi interrupted Chen Ziyu's defense with a smile.
Looking at Emperor Hongzhi who was completely different from just now, Chen Ziyu was a little confused for a moment. He was clearly furious just now, but now it was windy and drizzle.
Is this the so-called sacred heart that is unpredictable and accompanies you like a tiger?
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Chen Ziyu scratched his head and looked at Emperor Hongzhi with a confused expression.
Emperor Hongzhi's eyes were shining with a hint of relief, and he slowly said:
"Ziyu, I stood outside the door and listened for as long as a stick of incense. I heard every word of your conversation with the prince!"
Hearing Emperor Hongzhi say this, Chen Ziyu felt as if he had no clothes on, and all his little thoughts were exposed in broad daylight!
"I was a little angry at first. You two were so audacious that you actually wanted to use the Queen Mother to achieve your goal of making money. Although this is just a trivial matter, if word gets out, how will the royal family's face be saved?"
"But..." Emperor Hongzhi paused for a moment, stood up, and continued with a glowing face and a bright face: "But, I didn't expect that the prince... the prince actually realized the concept of diligence and caring for the people through this simple workshop. Although the truth is somewhat superficial, it is extremely precious to the prince!"
At this time, Emperor Hongzhi was obviously a little excited, "Over the years, I have worked hard for the prince and invited countless well-educated people to teach him, but it seems to have no effect. Sometimes I wonder, it is the prince who has not worked hard. Or are you really that stupid?"
"Just now, when I was standing outside the door and heard what you said, I suddenly realized that the reason why the prince is like this is because the method is wrong! I remember Ziyu once said that interest is the best master. I just said this today When you really understand, it’s no wonder that Ziyu’s knowledge makes Li Dongyang admire him!”
Although Emperor Hongzhi is an emperor, he is also a father who loves his son and eagerly hopes that his son will become a dragon!
These years of experience have made him suspicious of Zhu Houzhao deep in his heart, but now everything clearly tells him that it is not that his son is not good, but that the methods of those professors are wrong!
He heard every word of what Zhu Houzhao said with his own ears. There was no one who taught him in advance, so he was convinced that Zhu Houzhao really felt it and figured out the truth himself!
Of course, Chen Ziyu is the one who deserves the most credit!
Chen Ziyu's face turned red and he smiled coquettishly: "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. In fact, I...I didn't do anything. It's all because the prince is smart and has nothing to do with me!"
"Nonsense!" Emperor Hongzhi pretended to be angry, "I know all about the prince's virtues!"
"The reason why I let the prince go out is precisely because I know the prince's temperament very well. He is one of those people who will open a dyeing workshop for just three points of color. Once he knows that I praise him, his tail will definitely be raised to the sky!"
"I am not confused, I know very well that without you, there would be no prince today!
Chen Ziyu was speechless. What happened to Emperor Hongzhi? He took all the credit for himself!
Emperor Hongzhi took a deep breath, his face suddenly became serious, and he said:
"Ziyu, tell me honestly, the reason why you started these cod liver oil transactions and let the prince participate in it is just to make the prince understand the principle of being diligent and caring for the people?"
"..."
Chen Ziyu looked at Emperor Hongzhi with a dumbfounded expression!
