The Ming Dynasty: Reshaping the Land

Chapter 31 Drag Me Down

When Li Jinglong and Song Zhong rushed to the clubhouse, they found that Lao Zhu was not at the entrance.

"Where is His Majesty?" Li Jinglong looked at Song Zhong suspiciously. He was supposed to be waiting at the door.

"I...I don't know!" Song Zhong was stunned for a moment, looking around. "We don't have enough money! And you won't let us in!"

Damn it! Li Jinglong smirked.

"Come here!" Li Jinglong turned his gaze to the servant at the door.

"My lord, you've arrived!" The servant bowed, his face full of obsequious smiles.

"Where is the elderly man who came with this gentleman?"

Upon hearing this, the servant glanced at Song Zhong and said, "My lord, that gentleman has gone inside!"

"How did you get in?" Li Jinglong frowned and looked at Song Zhong. Didn't he say he didn't bring any money?

"My lord, that gentleman pawned a jade pendant, saying that someone will bring the money later!" the servant reported truthfully.

Upon hearing the servant's words, Li Jinglong nearly stumbled. He hurriedly ran to the counter and took Old Zhu's jade pendant from the maid's hand.

"My lord?" Song Zhong couldn't help but call out when he saw Li Jinglong staring blankly at the jade pendant.

"Which room?" Li Jinglong asked the servant.

"Lan Yue Xuan!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong led Song Zhong straight to the third floor of the main building.

Upon arriving at the door and finding nothing amiss, Li Jinglong glanced suspiciously at Song Zhong, who was also looking at Li Jinglong with the same question in mind.

With a determined heart, Li Jinglong stepped forward and knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door of Lanyue Pavilion opened. The moment the maid saw Li Jinglong, she immediately bowed. Song Zhong swallowed hard as he looked at the curve of her chest.

When Li Jinglong entered, he saw Old Zhu leaning back in his meditation chair, closing his eyes to rest.

"Master, I'm back!" Before Li Jinglong could speak, Song Zhong greeted him.

"Greetings, Uncle!" Li Jinglong could only change his form of address and bow.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Li Jinglong, before closing them again to rest.

The melodious sound of the guzheng, when it reached Li Jinglong's ears, was no longer pleasant to listen to; it was nothing but torment.

Li Jinglong felt a chill run down his spine, unable to fathom Old Zhu's meaning.

After a long while, the maid who played the guzheng finished her piece. Li Jinglong thought it was his turn next, but unexpectedly, Old Zhu waved his hand, indicating that he should continue.

Li Jinglong felt helpless. "Just give me a straight answer, old man!"

Upon seeing the maid serving tea, Li Jinglong had a sudden inspiration. He stepped forward, gestured for the maid to step back, and prepared tea for Old Zhu himself.

"Look at the mess you've made, and you still have the nerve to come here!" Old Zhu raised his eyelids and sneered.

Li Jinglong stared wide-eyed at Zhu Yuanzhang. Good heavens, so you've had your fill of enjoyment and are now going to start messing things up, huh?

"Hehe!" Li Jinglong chuckled ingratiatingly, "Uncle knows that rich people just like novel things. It's not shameful for your grandson to cater to their tastes and earn some money!"

Old Zhu opened his eyes, glanced at Li Jinglong with disdain, then closed his eyes again, completely ignoring Li Jinglong!

As the music ended, Old Zhu opened his eyes, waved his hand, and signaled everyone to leave. Li Jinglong's heart skipped a beat.

broken!

Old Zhu straightened up, sat on the meditation chair, and waved to Li Jinglong with a smile.

"Well... Uncle, just give the order, and I'll do it for you right away!" Li Jinglong forced out two dry laughs, his body remaining completely still, not daring to step forward at all.

"Come here!" Zhu Yuanzhang called again, and Li Jinglong had no choice but to move forward in small steps, constantly looking back at the door.

Li Er, if you don't bring the Crown Prince here soon, today the Duke will make you taste the bitterness of being slapped!

"Hurry up!" Old Zhu glared at him and urged.

One step, two steps, closer, even closer!

Two meters away from Lao Zhu, Li Jinglong stopped and stood respectfully to the side with his head bowed.

"Did you come up with the idea to build this clubhouse?" Old Zhu pointed around the room and said expressionlessly.

"Uncle, it was after consulting some suggestions that I finally decided on this!" Li Jinglong was a little confused, so he had no choice but to answer truthfully.

"Hmm, he knows how to enjoy life. Come see me at the Hall of Diligent Governance after the morning court session tomorrow!" With that, Old Zhu stood up from his meditation chair and walked out without looking back.

As Li Jinglong watched Old Zhu's figure disappear through the door, a bitter smile appeared on his face. It seemed he couldn't escape a beating tomorrow!

No sooner had Zhu Yuanzhang left than Li Er arrived at the meeting place with a message from Zhu Biao, saying that he would arrive shortly.

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong secretly slapped his thigh. What a mess this is! Why isn't Old Zhu playing by the rules? Didn't Zhu Biao come all this way for nothing?

Since we're already here, we might as well let Zhu Biao enjoy himself a bit, so Li Jinglong instructed Li Er beside him:

"Go and tidy up. Two singing girls and a tea master are coming over. I'll be here to entertain His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"My lord, you're not entertaining His Highness the Crown Prince, are you?" Li Er gasped, then his face contorted with a bitter expression. "If His Majesty finds out, my lord!"

"What are you afraid of?" Li Jinglong was inwardly very guilty, but he remained defiant. "His Majesty just enjoyed himself, so can't His Highness the Crown Prince enjoy himself too?"

Li Er had no choice but to nod in agreement and went out to instruct the girls to come inside.

A moment later, Zhu Biao hurriedly appeared at Heaven and Earth, only to find that his father was not there. He complained, "Jiujiang, Father Emperor is here? Are you trying to fool me?"

Li Jinglong said with a worried expression, "Your Highness, His Majesty was just here, but he only just left. He told me to wait for him at the Jinshen Hall tomorrow!"

"Well then, since Father has left, I'll head back first!" Zhu Biao sighed and nodded.

Li Jinglong grabbed Zhu Biao, "Your Highness, since you're already here, at least take a look at my place!"

"What's so interesting about this!" Zhu Biao shook his head, looking uninterested.

Seeing this, Li Jinglong grabbed Zhu Biao and, while doing so, instructed Li Yuan, who was not far away, "Immediately prepare the 'Heavenly Palace,' His Highness and I will go there right away!"

Just kidding, Zhu Biao is here, if Li Jinglong doesn't let Zhu Biao experience it, what will happen to Lao Zhu tomorrow?

The four ironclad principles of life, let's start with Biaozi!

Upon hearing Li Jinglong's arrangements, Zhu Biao frowned slightly. Clearly, as a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Song Lian, Zhu Biao harbored some resistance to these arrangements.

"Your Highness, rest assured, this place is by no means a brothel. We're just having some tea and listening to some music!" Li Jinglong explained with a smile.

After much persuasion, Li Jinglong finally led Zhu Biao into the private room of the Heavenly Palace. After the two sat down, a maid wearing a fitted long dress immediately began to boil water and make tea.

When Zhu Biao saw the woman's attire, although a hint of doubt and confusion flashed in his eyes, he did not ask any questions. However, when the white-clad Arab woman in a cheongsam and the Korean woman entered, Li Jinglong could feel that Zhu Biao's breathing had become a few beats heavier.