Chapter 17: Boarding the Rogue's Carriage

“Ah?”

Chen Kan was somewhat confused. Had Zhu Gaoxu lost his mind?

“What are you standing there for? Get in the carriage, or do you plan to walk over?”

Zhu Gaoxu climbed back into the carriage.

Staring at the carriage before him, Chen Kan hesitated.

In his heart, he truly did not want to have any connection with this prince who would one day be made into a chicken stew by the cricket emperor.

But right now, he had no power or influence.

If he offended him, who knew if he might turn hostile?

Glancing at the two burly guards with fierce faces beside Zhu Gaoxu, Chen Kan reluctantly climbed into the carriage.

“Forget it, a wise man adapts to the times,” he comforted himself.

Huddled in a corner of the carriage, Chen Kan tried his best to remain silent.

Fortunately, Zhu Gaoxu did not press further.

The carriage slowly departed from the Eighteen Lanes, heading toward the Judelou by the Qinhuai River.

Two grown men sitting together in one carriage made Chen Kan uneasy.

His mind involuntarily conjured words like secret room and electric chair.

He had heard that Zhu Gaoxu was cruel and bloodthirsty, with a violent temper, and most importantly, he was indiscriminate in his appetites.

Chen Kan, being slight and weak, couldn’t help but shudder at the dreadful consequences that might await him.

A fine sweat broke out on his forehead.

At that moment, Zhu Gaoxu raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his brow.

Then, muttering softly, “This damned Jiangnan weather is oppressively hot.”

As he spoke, he lifted his hand to undo his robe.

Chen Kan watched as he took it off and tossed it to another corner of the carriage.

His face instantly turned pale with terror.

Damn, I’ve boarded a pirate ship—no, a pirate carriage!

I’m doomed, help!

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at Judelou.”

The gruff voice of the guard sounded like heavenly music to Chen Kan’s ears at that moment.

Chen Kan leapt down from the carriage, casting an appreciative glance at the guard.

Even that fierce-faced guard suddenly became a symbol of safety.

The guard scratched his head.

This Chen Gongzi’s gaze looks really strange.

Could it be...?

The guard silently stepped back a pace, putting some distance between himself and Chen Kan.

Zhu Gaoxu pulled back the carriage curtain and jumped down.

Frowning, he said, “It’s still more comfortable in Beiping. This damned weather in Jinling.”

Judelou was a frequent gathering place for the city’s high officials and nobles, and the waiters at the door could tell at a glance who was who.

Especially since Zhu Gaoxu was a regular visitor.

As soon as Zhu Gaoxu stepped down, two waiters hurried over from afar, bowing and scraping.

“Welcome, Prince Jun. Your presence graces Judelou. Please, the private room upstairs awaits you, Your Highness!”

“The usual. I’m entertaining friends today. Prepare a table of hearty dishes,” Zhu Gaoxu said lightly, then led Chen Kan up to the second floor with practiced ease.

They took a seat in an elegant room overlooking the Qinhuai River.

A servant quickly propped open the window to give Zhu Gaoxu a better view.

No sooner had Chen Kan and Zhu Gaoxu sat down than the owner, bowing repeatedly, brought in a steaming porcelain bottle.

“Your Highness, the dishes will be ready shortly. Please enjoy some sweet wine to dispel the heat.”

After placing the bottle on the table, he bowed and quickly exited.

Zhu Gaoxu had not brought any maidservants, so Chen Kan had to pour the sweet wine himself.

Mainly because he dared not let Zhu Gaoxu pour for him.

Taking two porcelain cups, Chen Kan poured one for Zhu Gaoxu.

“Your Highness, please.”

Then he filled his own cup and drank it down.

A chill slid from his mouth to his stomach, then down to his feet before rising again to the crown of his head.

The sweet aroma of rice wine mixed with osmanthus and honeysuckle exploded in his mouth.

Chen Kan couldn’t help but shiver.

“Refreshing to the core, heart soaring, invigorating!”

He exclaimed, then refilled Zhu Gaoxu’s cup.

Sweet wine was a uniquely southern drink.

During the Ming dynasty, high-proof white liquor was widespread.

But the people of Jiangnan disliked that throat-burning stuff, favoring this sour-sweet rice wine instead.

The icy wine quickly dispelled their heat.

As exquisite dishes arrived one after another, Chen Kan finally relaxed and began to eat heartily.

Zhu Gaoxu was straightforward. If he invited Chen Kan to eat, he truly meant it.

Yet he himself sat there, cup after cup of sweet wine, not touching the food.

In a rare moment, Chen Kan glanced at Zhu Gaoxu and curiously asked, “Your Highness, aren’t you eating?”

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head. “The weather is too hot. I have no appetite. You eat.”

After several rounds of wine and tasting the dishes, Zhu Gaoxu finally asked, “May I speak now?”

Chen Kan looked up. “Speak about what?”

“Why your luck is always so good.”

Chen Kan smirked. “Who knows? Why don’t you ask why I’m always so unlucky?”

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head. “This time, everyone thought you were doomed. I was already preparing to plead for you at the execution ground before my father. But who could have imagined you actually persuaded Fang Xiaoru? Unbelievable.”

“Maybe Heaven hasn’t given up on me, or perhaps the King of Hell doesn’t want me yet,” Chen Kan shrugged.

As for Zhu Gaoxu’s talk about pleading for him, Chen Kan took it with a grain of salt.

He didn’t believe their friendship was deep enough for Zhu Gaoxu to defy Zhu Di on his behalf.

Zhu Gaoxu didn’t dwell on it, shifting the topic.

“Chen Kan, I believe you’re eighteen this year?”

Chen Kan was puzzled by the sudden question but nodded.

“Yes.”

Zhu Gaoxu pondered. “Tomorrow my father will ascend the throne. Do you know what day it is today?”

“What day?”

Zhu Gaoxu set down his cup. “The day Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng are executed.”

Chen Kan paused mid-bite, then replied coolly, “Oh? What does that have to do with me?”

Zhu Gaoxu chuckled. “Fair enough.”

Then, with a serious tone, he said, “Chen Kan, as the saying goes, a new emperor brings new ministers. Tomorrow my father takes the throne, and the Ming dynasty’s history will open a new chapter. Are you willing to be part of it? To see what my father’s rule will look like?”

Chen Kan frowned. “What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“Chen Kan, I want to recommend you for office. Are you willing?”

After much beating around the bush, Zhu Gaoxu finally revealed the purpose of his visit.

Chen Kan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar; alarm bells rang in his heart.

What was Zhu Gaoxu implying?

Another new emperor, new ministers, and now this recommendation for office.

Was he already beginning to lay his plans?

But his father hadn’t even ascended the throne yet.