Chapter 64: Old Zhu and Empress Ma

Because old Zhu was present, Zhang Bo and Zhu Biao did not continue their previous conversation. After negotiating the price briefly, Zhang Bo watched as Zhu Biao and old Zhu departed.

He knew that after Zhu Biao escorted old Zhu back, he would definitely return.

Not only because of the late Ming Dynasty matter he had mentioned earlier, but Zhu Biao also had questions to ask him; he just wondered what Zhu Biao's questions would be this time.

After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the father and son of the Ming dynasty returned to the Forbidden City.

Looking at the towering palace before him, Zhu Yuanzhang could not help feeling a sense of emotion.

Who would have thought that this trip of his would take him not only to later generations, but also back to the Western Han Dynasty a millennium ago.

The Western Han Dynasty... Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che...

A look of distress appeared on Zhu Yuanzhang's face at this moment, as if this trip to the Western Han had not been as high-spirited as he had boasted before.

A moment later, the Hongwu Emperor of Ming adjusted his mindset and looked toward the small handcart that Zhu Biao was pulling, which held the harvest from this trip.

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a box about two feet square from the cart and said to Zhu Biao, who was pulling it.

"Biao'er, instruct the palace servants to deliver things like salt and sugar to the Directorate of Palace Delicacies. I am going to your mother's palace to tell her about what we saw and heard today."

"Yes, Father."

Watching his old man stride away swiftly while cradling the small box, Zhu Biao smiled helplessly.

His father had important matters, and so did he.

Next, he needed to melt the rewarded gold bullion into small gold beans, and then head to the eatery to inquire about the affairs of the late Ming Dynasty.

Jogging all the way, Zhu Yuanzhang soon arrived at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Because of his rapid run, he was inevitably a bit out of breath.

Judging from the smile on his face, however, he did not mind it at all.

"Empress, Empress."

As soon as he entered the hall, Zhu Yuanzhang eagerly began calling out to Empress Ma.

Empress Ma stopped her work, turned her head, and looked at the hurried Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Chongba, what has happened? Why are you in such a rush?"

"Hehe, Empress, guess where I went these past few days."

Facing the smug Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma merely smiled, walked over to the table, and poured a cup of tea for him.

"Chongba, could it be that you went to later generations, or traveled to the Western Han Dynasty?"

This...

Zhu Yuanzhang was instantly rendered speechless.

He almost forgot that Biao'er had already seen Empress Ma before coming to see him earlier.

"Hehe, Empress, this trip of mine took me to both later generations and the Western Han Dynasty, and I even met that Emperor Wu of Han from the Western Han."

With that, Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the teacup on the table and drained it in one gulp.

I must say, the tea at Empress Ma's place is still the best to drink.

Empress Ma was also extremely interested in Zhu Yuanzhang's meeting with Emperor Wu of Han.

"Chongba, did you converse with Emperor Wu of Han?"

"Naturally. That fellow Liu Che is very much to my liking, and we share many of the same traits.

Empress, you should have seen it—when Liu Che learned that I actually started out as a beggar, his jaw nearly dropped wide open. After all, Liu Bang, the founding emperor of their Han Dynasty, was a township chief, which still counts as a minor official.

Given my background, I am quite unique among the founding emperors of unified dynasties.

However, that fellow Liu Che wasn't entirely fair; he kept bringing up the conquest of Langjuxu. Empress, it infuriated me to no end! Tell me, when on earth will my Ming Dynasty produce a military talent capable of conquering Langjuxu?

Those old fellows who followed me to conquer the world are all getting old now; I doubt they can undertake such a long-distance expedition.

Among the younger generation, Lan Yu seems quite decent—perhaps he can achieve the feat of conquering Langjuxu in the future, and the third and fourth sons are also possibilities.

Of course, I wasn't going to let him mock me for nothing. I mocked him right back, ridiculing his relationship with his son. Haha, just seeing that angry face of his made me feel immensely amused."

After Empress Ma refilled Zhu Yuanzhang's teacup, she stood quietly by his side, watching the smiling Zhu Yuanzhang before her and listening as he recounted the sights and sounds of his journey, a gentle smile spreading across her face.

Ever since the Hu Weiyong case and crown prince Xiongying's serious illness some time ago, this man before her had not shown such a radiant smile in a very long time.

"Empress, during this trip to later generations, I also learned that Biao'er will eventually become the Taizong of my Ming Dynasty. Ah, look at my poor memory, I forgot to ask Biao'er what his future achievements will be. Still, even if he can't surpass Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, he surely won't be far behind.

Oh, by the way, Empress, this time when I returned from later generations, I brought back quite a few novel gadgets."

With that, Zhu Yuanzhang opened the paper box and took out a lighter.

"Empress, look, no flint is needed—just a gentle press and a flame will rise."

With a "click" as Zhu Yuanzhang pressed it, the lighter immediately produced a flame.

When had Empress Ma ever witnessed such a sight? She stared blankly at the rising flame.

Truly miraculous.

"Empress, there's more."

Zhu Yuanzhang reached into the box again and waved a mirror, about the size of two or three palms, in front of Empress Ma.

"This mirror is as bright as water and can reflect a person's image clearly. I specially brought it back for you, Empress. But earlier, I clearly told the shopkeeper that I wanted a mirror half a person tall, yet now it's only this small."

Empress Ma took the mirror from Zhu Yuanzhang's hand, glanced at it for just a few moments, and then gently laid it down.

"Chongba, that shopkeeper not only saved Xiongying but also took you on a trip to the Western Han Dynasty. You must thank him properly."

"Of course I know that. Look, I've already had Biao'er prepare the rewards, and I'll be able to take them to him in a few days."

"In that case, that is good."

"By the way, Empress, would you like to visit later generations as well?"

Empress Ma looked slightly surprised.

"Chongba, can I go too?"

"It should be no problem at all. Biao'er said that anyone famous in history can go. As my, Zhu Chongba's, empress, how could you possibly not go?"

"Chongba, wouldn't that be very troublesome?"

"Empress, don't worry, it's not troublesome at all. Just follow Biao'er when the time comes."

Seeing that it was so simple, Empress Ma could not help feeling a sense of anticipation in her heart.

...

In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, in Xinye, within Liu Bei's residence.

In the corner of an ordinary courtyard, several crop plants were cultivated; these were precisely the seed crops that Liu Bei had brought back from later generations.

However, these specific few plants in front of them had been deliberately planted by Liu Bei in the courtyard for research and observation.

A child of about ten years old was gazing with curious eyes at the plants before him, while concurrently recording something on bamboo slips with a writing brush.

"Changgeng, these few crop plants in the courtyard are the ones we obtained from the shopkeeper."

Zhuge Liang's voice reached the child's ears.

The child stood up and looked toward the doorway.

He saw Zhuge Liang leading a person into the courtyard, and that person was Song Yingxing.

"Tea- Teacher."

The child bowed deeply with clasped hands toward Zhuge Liang.

Song Yingxing glanced at the child with considerable surprise.

For someone to call Zhuge Liang their teacher, they must surely not be a person of obscurity.

"Changgeng, let me introduce you. This is Deng Fan, courtesy name Shizai."