Chapter 138: Where are your shackles?

The various vassal kings entering capital appeared more composed and relaxed compared to the previous year.

After nearly a year of observation, the vassal kings had come to understand that Zhu Yunwen was not a ruthless person, and didn’t intend to “trim the vassals.” Apart from reclaiming the farmland “mistakenly” taken away by the kings, he had taken no other actions.

However, the news of the king of Liao, Zhu Zhi, and the king of Min, Zhu Geng, engaging in business surprised the other kings.

Due to the distance from the capital, the news was limited, and they had only heard that the two kings had lost their fiefdoms. Despite retaining their titles, they had to give up their prestigious royal positions and work as lowly merchants’ laborers.

This news puzzled the other kings. How could kings manage humble businesses?

It wasn’t just a matter of King of Liao and King of Min’s face; it concerned the face of the entire imperial family.

When people discussed King of Su, Zhu Yang, if someone mentioned: Look, that’s King of Su, He’s a good person, but unfortunately, he has two brothers engaged in business, so embarrassing.”

King of Su could only sigh: family’s misfortune.

Although the vassal kings didn’t openly express their discontent, privately, many speculated that this must be Zhu Yunwen’s method of “trimming the vassals.” It was assumed that the two kings in the capital were leading a miserable life, shedding tears daily.

Several kings harbored such thoughts, including the King of Dai, Zhu Gui, King of Su, Zhu Yang, and the King of Ning, Zhu Quan.

Although the three kings had come to the capital from different places, what a coincidence they met outside the capital. Consequently, the three kings jointly entered the capital. After entering their mansion, they changed into casual clothes, they didn’t go to greet Zhu Yunwen Instead, they went to King of Liao’s residence.

The Emperor had promised the two kings an “exchange of fiefdoms,” but the result? instead of allowing them to take up their new fiefdoms, he revoked their existing ones. This displeased the other vassal kings and left them feeling cold.

However, Prince Liao and Prince Min were still brothers of the imperial family. Zhu Yunwen was merely their nephew. Where was the logic in nephews always bullying their uncles? Even though he was the emperor, there should be consideration for family ties.

When they arrived at King of Liao’s residence, Zhu Gui, Zhu Yang, and Zhu Quan didn’t wait for an announcement. They went straight in and found Zhu Zhi holding a chicken leg in the main hall, looking at them with confusion.

Zhu Zhi swallowed the meat in his mouth, blinked, and said, “Thirteenth Brother, Fourteenth Brother, Seventeenth Brother, you’re here. Quickly, please have a seat. Someone, bring out my Huqiu!”

“Huqiu?”

Prince Liao stared, unable to believe it, shaking his head. He then looked at Zhu Gui and Zhu Yong, and the three of them exchanged confused glances, looking dumbfounded.

“Look at my feet!”

Zhu Gui took a step forward, pulled Zhu Zhi out, checked his feet, found nothing unusual, and was somewhat disbelieving. He even stepped on Zhu Zhi’s foot a few times, accidentally stepping on the top, causing Zhu Zhi to jump in pain.

“Brother Thirteen, is this a special greeting from Datong?” Zhu Zhi was quite depressed.

“Where are the shackles on you?” Zhu Yang frowned and asked.

Zhu Gui and Zhu Quan stared at Zhu Zhi.

Zhu Zhi took a bite of the chicken leg, comforting himself over the pain in his foot, saying, “What shackles? I have no idea what you’re talking about. Since you’re here, as brothers, I should entertain you well. How about I treat you tonight at the Qingyan Tower?”

“Qingyan Tower? Weren’t you sentenced to work as a merchant, confined to the mansion?” Zhu Gui was full of suspicion.

Does this confinement come with the treatment of visiting brothels?

If so, I’d also like to be confined…

No way, how could I think like that?

It must be the case that one becomes tainted by the company they keep, and I’ve been influenced by this Zhu Zhi.

“Punishment? Confinement? Thirteenth brother, what are you talking about?”

Zhu Zhi was even more puzzled.

He was just enjoying his meal, and without any notice, they came in. If it wasn’t stepping on him, it was cursing at him. What did they mean?

Zhu Quan sat down, looked at the sumptuous table, and exclaimed, “Thirteenth brother, fourteenth brother, look, does this look like the treatment of confinement? The cost of this meal must be no less than fifty taels, right? We never had such a feast at the border!”

“Fifty taels? No way.”

Zhu Zhi chuckled, saying to Zhu Quan, who picked up his cup, “It’s only two hundred taels…”

“What?”

Zhu Quan’s hand trembled.

Two hundred taels for a meal?

This was two hundred taels, equivalent to nearly four hundred stones of grain, enough for ten thousand soldiers to eat for several days!

Such extravagance was truly teeth-gritting, envy-inducing…

With a spirit of not wasting, Zhu Gui, Zhu Yong, and Zhu Quan sat down and helped Zhu Zhi solve this shameful problem.

Zhu Zhi was extremely depressed. He hadn’t even finished a chicken leg, and they had swept through like a tornado, leaving only a mess. Cold leftovers?

Could it be that they hadn’t eaten the whole way and turned into hungry ghosts?

“I’m full!”

Zhu Gui took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

“Comfortable!”

Zhu Yong leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach.

“Burp—”

Zhu Quan ate too much.

This was how a king should live. We’ve truly suffered.

It wasn’t surprising that the three kings were distressed. Zhu Gui, in Datong, had a lot of hills and mountains. Despite being close to the Yellow River, disasters like torrential rain during the rainy season were common, and it rarely rained during other times. How much could they produce? Just having some vegetables to eat on a regular basis was a blessing.

Zhu Yang was also having a hard time. Originally, his fief was already remote, located in Pingliang Prefecture. Later, with just a word from Zhu Yuanzhang, he was transferred to an even more remote area in Ganzhou. Looking around, apart from the desert, there was still the desert.

Digging for food in the desert, what kind of delicacies could they eat?

King of Ning Zhu Quan was also not having it easy. Staying in the northeast Da Ning, with the howling cold winds, occasionally being able to hunt improved their diet. But most of the time, they froze in their rooms like grandchildren.

The journey was long, and it wasn’t easy for places inside the mainland to send them things. Even if they transported a radish, by the time it arrived, it could be treated as dried radish.

Vassal king, vassal king, it sounded good—having soldiers, power, and a high position. However, the living conditions were truly tough. Even if they seized a beautiful woman, oppressed the common people, and fought a few battles with the Oirats and Tatar, it wouldn’t solve the problem of insufficient production in their territories…

“Are you really doing business?”

Zhu Gui asked seriously.

Looking at Zhu Zhi’s state, it seemed like he had no worries and lived a life of luxury.

Zhu Zhi wiped his hands, smiled, and said, “Yes, both the eighteenth brother and I are in business.”

“But, ancestral regulations…”

Zhu Yang furrowed his brow.

The words his old man said hadn’t been heard by anyone. Was it appropriate?

Zhu Zhi sighed and said, “Father’s original intention was good, but it may not be feasible.”

“How so?”

Zhu Quan asked somewhat puzzled.

Zhu Zhi looked at Zhu Gui, Zhu Yang, and Zhu Quan seriously, then said slowly, “If the world supports the Zhus, then who will support the world? This is what His Majesty said to me and King of Min.”

“Support the Zhus? What does that mean?”

The three brothers all frowned.

This statement sounded quite harsh.

What did it mean? Were we, the kings, dragging down the country by using a bit of national salary?

His Majesty’s words seemed a bit too much!

Zhu Zhi could see the dissatisfaction in the three brothers. Wasn’t he and the eighteenth prince in the same position back then?

But if His Majesty didn’t take any action, supporting the Zhus would become a reality!

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