novelAbuy Chapter 43 Zhu Zhanji, the Guinea Pig: This Pie-in-the-Sky Is Really Fun
Chapter 43 Zhu Zhanji, the Guinea Pig: This Pie-in-the-Sky Is Really Fun
Zhu Di looked at Zhu Zhanji and asked, "And what else? Tell me!"
"And my second uncle, he even vomited blood, which looks very serious."
"Yeah?"
Zhu Di, with his sharp eyes, stared intently at Zhu Zhanji. He knew his eldest grandson better than anyone else.
I suspect this kid wasn't telling the truth.
"You tell me the truth, what's going on?" Zhu Di roared. "If you don't tell me the truth, I'll spank you!"
Zhu Zhanji's lips twitched; he knew that his grandfather had already guessed what was going on.
Facing Zhu Di's gaze, Zhu Zhanji quickly said, "Actually... just as Grandfather thought, he was indeed faking illness."
Zhu Di angrily said, "That brat, do you think I don't know what kind of person he is?"
"He was faking illness, he definitely was!"
"He said, if he were to become regent, wouldn't that implicate the crown prince and the grandson in injustice?"
Zhu Zhanji said cautiously, "My second uncle also said, he also said..."
"What else did he say?"
Zhu Zhanji said, "He also said, 'Grandfather, you use people when you need them, and you don't use them when you don't.'"
"You bastard!"
"That unfilial son! How dare he speak to me like that?!" Zhu Di roared. "This time, I'll tear his filthy mouth apart!"
Zhu Di was a little vulnerable because Zhu Gaoxu had seen through his little scheme.
"Grandfather, please calm down. I feel that this is an opportunity!" Zhu Zhanji suddenly pulled Zhu Di.
"Um?!"
Zhu Di asked疑惑地问道, "Tell me, what kind of opportunity is it?"
Upon seeing this, Zhu Zhanji told him about Zhu Gaoxu's intention to teach him alchemy.
"Are you telling the truth, kid?"
"Does the second prince really have this idea?" Zhu Di's heart skipped a beat.
"That's what my second uncle told me," Zhu Zhanji said. "How about I go to my second uncle's place to keep an eye on things these next few days? If he really taught me the art of alchemy, I can also help my grandfather."
"Good grandson, good grandson!"
Zhu Di was deeply moved and patted Zhu Zhanji on the shoulder.
"I haven't spoiled you for nothing. It's wonderful that you have this intention." Zhu Di said with obvious satisfaction, "For the time being, you will stay in the Prince of Han's residence. Your second uncle will teach you alchemy; just learn!"
Zhu Zhanji nodded vigorously, his heart filled with excitement.
"However," Zhu Di said, "the Second Prince told you to keep this alchemy learning a secret, so keep it a secret. Also, don't tell your parents for now."
"Grandfather, I understand, and I know what to do." Zhu Zhanji suppressed his excitement.
"Go," Zhu Di waved his hand.
Zhu Zhanji silently withdrew from the Fengtian Hall.
Looking at his excited grandson, Zhu Di shook his head.
"Grandson, you're still too young. I suspect the second son has some ulterior motive in having Zhanji refine pills..."
Zhu Di muttered to himself. With his temperament, he naturally guessed that this matter was not so simple.
However, he was also unhappy.
"This second son of mine actually saw through my thoughts. In that case, it won't be easy for me to get any benefits from him..."
Zhu Di was very unhappy. The reason he appointed Zhu Gaochi as regent this time was to make him bleed some money.
With war looming in the north and the eldest son short of money, he set his sights on Zhu Gaochi, hoping the young man would eagerly assume the role of regent and contribute to the next northern expedition.
But what about now?
Not only did this kid not fall for the trap, he also figured out exactly what he was thinking.
That brat even said that I use people when I need them and ignore them when I don't!
Am I that kind of person?
"This kid's gotten smarter. Looks like it won't be so easy to trick him next."
…………
In the Han Prince's residence, Zhu Gaoxu was looking at the alchemical cauldron in his room.
"Achoo!"
He then sneezed violently.
"My lord, what's wrong with you?" asked the Princess Consort of Han.
"I guess that old bastard Emperor is talking badly about me, isn't he?" Zhu Gaoxu frowned, feeling quite dissatisfied.
Princess Consort of Han: ...
"How did you guess it would be His Majesty?" asked the Princess Consort of Han.
Zhu Gaoxu said, "Besides this old man, who else has this much free time?"
The Princess Consort of Han remained silent.
"Next, we'll refine the Beauty Elixir."
"The reason I taught Zhu Zhanji alchemy this time was simply to use him as a shield," Zhu Gaoxu said. "That kid can't keep a secret. I reckon if the emperor asks him, he'll tell the truth."
"Doesn't that mean the Emperor will find out about your feigned illness?" Princess Han asked worriedly.
"It's alright!" Zhu Gaoxu said calmly. "Even if the emperor is angry, if he knew that I taught the crown prince how to make elixirs, he probably wouldn't target me."
"The Crown Prince is Zhu Di's most favored successor, and if I were to teach him alchemy, the Emperor would be overjoyed!"
"By then, how could the emperor possibly still be bothering me while I'm refining elixirs?"
"As for Zhu Zhanji..."
Zhu Gaoxu smiled slightly.
Princess Han remained silent, but she knew her husband well enough to know that her grandson, Zhu Zhanji, was likely in for some trouble.
The next morning, Zhu Zhanji arrived at the Prince of Han's residence early.
In the room at that moment, he witnessed his second uncle displaying his extraordinary power.
Flames suddenly appeared in his hand, and those terrifying flames burned on the cauldron.
Finally, the heavy cauldron trembled slightly, and in a short while, several pills flew out from inside the cauldron.
"It's done?" Zhu Zhanji opened his mouth.
Zhu Gaoxu put the pill in his hand.
"This beauty pill isn't too difficult to make. Compared to the rejuvenating pill, it's much simpler," Zhu Gaoxu muttered to himself.
"Second Uncle, you're amazing!"
Zhu Zhanji asked with admiration, "Second Uncle, was the flame you just unleashed also your skill?"
"As a master alchemist, this fire technique was naturally created by me," Zhu Gaoxu said calmly. Then, he suddenly took out a bottle of pills.
This is a defective product he produced.
Before Zhu Zhanji arrived, the first batch of beauty pills he refined included several defective ones!
It's perfect to bring it here so Zhu Zhanji can try it out.
Nephews are just for taking advantage of.
"This is a pill I refined. The success rate of this pill is not very high. Nephew, would you be willing to test it on me?" Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Zhanji seriously.
"A drug trial?" Zhu Zhanji's eyelids twitched; he sensed something bad was about to happen.
"If you want to refine elixirs, you must learn how to test the ingredients."
Zhu Gaoxu patiently explained, "You don't even know the properties of elixirs. How can you become a master alchemist in the future?"
Zhu Gaochi started making empty promises.
Damn, this feeling of making empty promises is really satisfying!
No wonder the old man always manages to make empty promises to himself!
Zhu Zhanji gritted his teeth and took the bottle of pills.
"I'll try!"
"What a fine nephew!"
Zhu Gaoxu said, "Then what are you waiting for? Why don't you give it a try?"
"The pill I've refined this time is even more potent than the Rejuvenation Pill. You're the first test subject; if it succeeds, it will benefit you too!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji, the guinea pig, perked up!
After my second uncle said that, it was all worth it! Everything was worth it!