pertwk Page 408
Page 408
Jiang Ning's move not only stunned Zhu Houzhao, but even the guards looked like they had seen a ghost.
Brother Jiang.
Zhu Houzhao looked solemnly at the lake surface, which had returned to calm, and then turned to look at Jiang Ning.
"Do all people in the martial arts world have such destructive power?"
Jiang Ning's move truly astonished Zhu Houzhao, to the point that he couldn't help but ask this question.
"That's not the case."
Jiang Ning smiled and sheathed his sword.
His words relieved Zhu Houzhao, who seemed to laugh at himself.
He was overthinking it. Jiang Ning's martial arts skills ranked third in the righteous path. He didn't represent the entire martial arts world because he was already at the top of the martial arts world. The people below him didn't have such terrifying power.
But Zhu Houzhao remembered another question and asked curiously, "Brother Jiang, your martial arts skills are among the best in the martial arts world. How many people do you think can do what you just did?"
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and shook his head.
"do not know."
Zhu Houzhao then asked, "Then how many people do you think can surpass you?"
Jiang Ning shook his head again: "I don't know."
"You don't even know this?"
Zhu Houzhao was surprised.
"Since you rank third on the righteous path, that means there are only two or three people in the martial arts world who are more powerful than you. How come you still don't know that?"
Jiang Ning truly did not know.
The world is so vast. Besides the well-known masters, how many other masters live in seclusion in the mountains and among the common people? To say nothing of others, there is Feng Qingyang living in seclusion on Jade Maiden Peak of Mount Hua. What about other places? Are there unknown, unparalleled masters living in seclusion as well?
Jiang Ning never underestimated himself, believing that he was still very weak. He was indeed very strong, but he was not arrogant either. He always understood that there was always someone better than him.
Arrogance and inferiority are both stumbling blocks to progress. Jiang Ning's only thought so far is to take one step at a time until he reaches the pinnacle and no one can surpass him.
Hearing Jiang Ning's thoughts, Zhu Houzhao didn't know what he was thinking.
How can a person who is neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat, neither haughty in strength nor humble in weakness not succeed?
At this moment, many guards and eunuchs outside the garden came toward this side.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
The guards and eunuchs were terrified, thinking something had happened to Zhu Houzhao, and they were in complete chaos.
"Stop arguing, stop making a scene!"
Zhu Houzhao rebuked these people: "I have nothing to do, all of you may leave!"
The imperial power of Zhu Houzhao calmed them down, and they all agreed to leave.
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao looked curiously at the Zhenwu Sword at Jiang Ning's waist.
"Brother Jiang, why did your sword suddenly emit such a chilling aura just now?"
Jiang Ning explained, "It's a bit special; it only behaves this way after I infuse it with internal energy."
"Oh?"
Zhu Houzhao became interested upon hearing this: "Could I borrow it to take a look?"
Jiang Ning did not refuse and took off the Zhenwu Sword for Zhu Houzhao to see.
Zhu Houzhao took the sword, drew it, and exclaimed in surprise.
"Zhenwu?"
Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Ning in surprise: "Brother Jiang, is this sword called Zhenwu?"
Jiang Ning nodded.
"How strange and bizarre!"
Zhu Houzhao clicked his tongue in amazement: "I heard that there is also a Zhenwu sword enshrined in Wudang Mountain. That sword is the personal sword of Zhang Zhenren, the founder of Wudang. It is regarded as the treasure of the Wudang sect. Brother Jiang, you also have a Zhenwu sword. That is really strange."
Jiang Ning asked, "Have you seen the Zhenwu Sword of Wudang?"
Zhu Houzhao shook his head.
"No, I just remembered something."
Zhu Houzhao returned the Zhenwu Sword and smiled at Jiang Ning, saying, "Speaking of Wudang Mountain, I am reminded of Emperor Taizong Wen."
The Emperor Taizong Wen mentioned by Zhu Houzhao is Zhu Di.
"When Emperor Taizong Wen had not yet ascended the throne, he was constantly suppressed and persecuted by Emperor Jianwen. Later, Emperor Taizong Wen had no choice but to raise an army to resist, which led to the Jingnan Campaign."
Zhu Houzhao and Jiang Ning left the lake and continued walking in the palace. As they walked, Zhu Houzhao recounted this period of history.
"After Emperor Taizong raised his army, he was as if divinely aided, and fought all the way to the capital to completely reverse the situation and seize the throne. This led to the five expeditions to the Mongolian Plateau, the seven voyages to the Western Ocean, and the establishment of the Yongle Emperor, who became the Yongle Emperor of the prosperous era."
When Zhu Di, his ancestor, was mentioned, Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up. He had great respect and admiration for this ancestor.
Jiang Ning nodded silently.
"I got so excited that I started to go off on a tangent."
Zhu Houzhao laughed and changed the subject again: "When Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he announced to the world that the True Martial Emperor had secretly helped him and protected him on his way to the throne. Therefore, he bestowed upon the True Martial Emperor the title of You Sheng Zhen Jun. Later, temples were built in the capital and Wudang Mountain."
Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Ning and smiled, "Brother Jiang, do you know why Emperor Taizong built the Zhenwu Emperor Temple on Wudang Mountain?"
Jiang Ning said, "It is said that Zhenwu the Great is the incarnation of Emperor Zhuanxu in ancient times, and the place where Wudang Mountain is located was the ancient Chu State. Emperor Zhuanxu was the patriarch of the Chu State. Zhenwu the Great is also enshrined on Wudang Mountain, and the Wudang Sect is also a major Taoist sect. That's why Emperor Taizong built the Zhenwu the Great Temple on Wudang Mountain."
Zhu Houzhao laughed and said, "Brother Jiang is very knowledgeable. Indeed, Emperor Taizong chose Wudang Mountain as the site for the sacrificial ceremony for this very reason."
Jiang Ning nodded.
Zhu Houzhao laughed and said, "Speaking of the Wudang Sect, I've heard that it's a major sect in the martial arts world. Their current leader is called Chongxu, and he seems to be quite powerful. Have you met him, Brother Jiang?"
Jiang Ning nodded. "You've also met Daoist Chongxu?"
Zhu Houzhao laughed: "No, I did see him a few times when my father was alive."
Zhu Houzhao's father was the Hongzhi Emperor, Zhu Youxin.
Jiang Ning nodded.
As the two walked through the palace, Jiang Ning suddenly asked a question.
Is the imperial court behind Wudang?
Zhu Houzhao was taken aback upon hearing this, turned to look at Jiang Ning, and nodded after a moment.
"Yes."
Zhu Houzhao said, "I won't hide it from you, Wudang is actually a pawn that the imperial court has planted in the martial arts world."
Jiang Ning nodded and said nothing more.
In fact, he had already anticipated this.
Although martial arts practitioners deeply resent the imperial court and try their best to distance themselves from it to avoid being labeled as its lackeys by other martial arts practitioners, how can they, living in the martial arts world, ignore the imperial court? And how could the imperial court possibly stand by and watch so many martial arts practitioners with extraordinary skills wreak havoc throughout the Ming Dynasty?
The imperial court may not intervene directly, but it will certainly have its own pawns planted in the martial arts world.
"I won't hide anything from you. In fact, the imperial court has always been very annoyed by these lawless Jianghu people and has wanted to suppress them. Before the Hongzhi era, the imperial court was able to suppress these Jianghu people, but after the Hongzhi era, it could no longer suppress them. Various forces in the court were fighting each other, and the army was in disarray, which led to the current situation."
Although the Hongzhi Emperor was Zhu Houzhao's father, Zhu Houzhao showed no mercy when evaluating the Hongzhi Emperor.
In his view, the Ming Dynasty's current state was inextricably linked to the overall ecological environment of the Hongzhi era.
Chapter 550: Mother and Son
There's a saying that a son shouldn't speak ill of his father, but Zhu Houzhao didn't have a good opinion of the Hongzhi Emperor, which clearly shows that he had a lot of opinions about him.
"However, we can't entirely blame him; he was also helpless."
Zhu Houzhao said softly.
As the only surviving son of the Hongzhi Emperor, he clearly understood Zhu Youxin's helplessness, because Zhu Youxin had to face not only the court, but also the harem.
With ministers seizing power in the court and Empress Dowager Zhou controlling the inner palace, Zhu Youxin had no chance of turning the tables.
Zhu Houzhao had not seen these things clearly in the past, but after he ascended the throne, he was able to understand the helplessness his father had felt when he was in this position.
However, Zhu Houzhao did not reveal these matters; they were all palace secrets and there was no need to tell Jiang Ning.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Just then, several eunuchs walked over from a short distance away and said to Zhu Houzhao.
"what's up?"
Zhu Houzhao frowned when he saw the eunuchs.
Because they are from Kunning Palace.
One of the eunuchs knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager heard a noise in the Qianqing Palace Garden and thought Your Majesty was unwell, so she sent us to inquire after your health."
Zhu Houzhao said expressionlessly, "Report to the Empress Dowager that I am fine."
After Zhu Houzhao said this, the eunuchs did not leave. The eunuch who had spoken earlier said again, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager heard that Your Majesty summoned a commoner. She does not know the reason. Now the Empress Dowager wants Your Majesty to go to Kunning Palace."
Zhu Houzhao's face turned pale for a moment after hearing this, but then he returned to normal.
"I understand."
Zhu Houzhao turned to look at Jiang Ning and said with a smile, "Brother Jiang, I'm afraid there won't be time to talk with you again today. I'll have my attendant escort you back, and I'll invite you to the palace for a chat tomorrow."
Although Zhu Houzhao's expression changed quickly, Jiang Ning still managed to catch it.
Jiang Ning glanced at Zhu Houzhao, then at the eunuchs; he could keenly sense the subtle atmosphere in the room.
"it is good."
Jiang Ning nodded, and Zhu Houzhao then ordered the eunuch who had led Jiang Ning into the palace to escort him out of the palace.
"Master Jiang, please."
The eunuch said respectfully.
Jiang Ning then left the palace under the guidance of the eunuch.
Throughout the journey, the eunuch was very respectful, bowing slightly, showing great awe for Jiang Ning.
"Master Jiang, your accent sounds somewhat familiar. May I ask where you're from?"
The eunuch, who hadn't spoken much along the way, suddenly spoke, his tone cautious and careful.
Jiang Ning looked at him and replied.
"Shaanxi".
"Is Master Jiang from Shaanxi?"
The eunuch was overjoyed upon hearing this.
"Oh my, what a coincidence!"
Jiang Ning laughed and said, "What? You're from Shaanxi too?"
“Master Jiang, my hometown is Xianyang, Shaanxi. We are from the same hometown as you, Master Jiang. This is truly a blessing for my family.”
Jiang Ning glanced at him. "What's your name?"
"Our Liu Jin."
……
After bidding farewell to Jiang Ning, Zhu Houzhao did not immediately go to Kunning Palace, but instead returned to Qianqing Palace to bathe before setting off.
"Does Your Majesty have summoned me here to give you some instructions?"
Zhu Houzhao got straight to the point.
In the past, Zhu Houzhao would not have acted this way, but as his relationship with Empress Dowager Zhang deteriorated, Zhu Houzhao's attitude became more and more direct.
Empress Dowager Zhang, who had originally wanted to show him some concern, also lost her temper.