Chapter 1: The Miserable Transmigration

  The "Ming History" does not have a high evaluation of Zhu Houzhao, pointing out that he is greedy for pleasure, greedy for wine, fond of women, likes to use troops, is unreliable and acts recklessly. However, people who truly understand the history of the Ming dynasty know that Zhu Houzhao is not an emperor who is completely unworthy, but rather from many things it can be seen that he is resolute and decisive, a monarch with the potential to be a wise ruler.

  Zhu Youtang's father, Zhu Youcheng, also known as the Ming Xiaozong Emperor, is one of the few emperors in history who can be considered a wise and capable ruler. The "Ming History" evaluates Zhu Youcheng mainly with eight words: "frugal and self-disciplined, diligent in governance and loving the people." The Hongzhi era was a period of revival for the Ming dynasty, during which there were many upright officials, such as Wang Shu, Li Dongyang, and Liu Daxia.

  As the only son of Zhu Youtang, Zhu Houzhao grew up under the pampering of his parents, saying that he was a foolish ruler would be more accurate to say that he was a spoiled child.

  After watching "Victoria's Secret", Zhu Houzhao chose five girls to go to the largest room in Qunfang Pavilion, "Qunfang Residence". Without guessing too much, it is clear that tonight Zhu Houzhao wants to be Zhao Zilong of Changshan, killing seven and coming out seven. Of course, absolutely not just seven in and seven out.

  It's late at night.

  Most of the guests had already left, and only a few chose to stay overnight. Zhu Houzhao was naturally one of them. After Jiang Xia handled everything, he also prepared to rest, but when he went to the third floor, he happened to meet Zhang Yong.

  Jiang Xia raised his hand in a salute and called out: "Master Zhang."

  Zhang Yong waved his hand and smiled, saying: "Young Master Jiang is being polite. You and my master are sworn brothers, how dare I call myself 'master' in front of you? Just call me Zhang Yong directly, it's too formal and makes us seem distant."

  Does it seem unfamiliar? Jiang Xia was taken aback, thinking what's this about seeming unfamiliar? Wasn't it always unfamiliar to begin with, never felt like we were close anyway?

  However, there is a saying that if people respect me for one foot, I will respect them for ten feet. Seeing Zhang Yong being so polite, Jiang Xia smiled and said: "Calling you by your full name seems too disrespectful, if 'master' is not unacceptable, then let's just call you 'Zhang Dage'?"

  "Ah..." Zhang Yong thought to himself for a moment, Jiang Xia was the Emperor's "older brother", if Jiang Xia called him "older brother". Wouldn't that make him the Emperor's "older brother" as well? Zhang Yong immediately shook his head and said: "This is probably not suitable, after all, Young Master Jiang you are my master's 'sworn older brother', if you address me as an elder, wouldn't I be overstepping?"

  The winding road is indeed long, Jiang Xia muttered to herself, but her face smiled and said: "Brother Zhang doesn't have to worry, we all take care of our own business, not continuous. In front of Lao Er, I don't call Brother Zhang 'big brother'."

  Zhang Yong was not a hesitant person either, and upon hearing Jiang Xia say this, he nodded decisively and said: "Alright, then let's do as Brother Jiang says."

  Zhang Yong took out a red note from his bosom and handed it to Jiang Xiaodao: "Brother Jiang, next month at the end of the month, I will be hosting an antique appraisal meeting in my home's side courtyard. I hope you can come over and join us then."

  "What's an appraisal meeting?" Jiang Xia took the note, although he still didn't know what form the appraisal meeting would take. But when he heard Zhang Yong say that he had his own separate courtyard, Jiang Xia was secretly shocked. He had long guessed that Zhu Shou's family was wealthy, but he hadn't expected it to be to this extent - a servant actually having their own separate courtyard and being able to host an appraisal meeting.

  Although surprised in his heart, Jiang Xia still nodded and said: "Thank you, Brother Zhang, for the invitation. I will definitely come at that time. However, I am a poor man with nothing valuable to give as a gift."

  Jiang Xia suspected that Zhang Yong invited himself to ask for money, so he first used the sentence "body without long things" to block this possibility.

  Zhang Yong smiled and hastily waved his hand: "There's no need for Brother Jiang to bring any big gifts, as long as you can come, I, Zhang Yong, will feel greatly honored."

  "Zhang is being polite." Seeing Zhang Yong being so courteous, Jiang Xia's impression of him improved somewhat. He pointed to the floor below and said: "Zhang, Second Brother is probably asleep now, or I can arrange for two girls to keep you company, and you can rest early?"

  When he heard Jiang Xia say that he wanted to arrange two girls for himself, Zhang Yong's cheeks twitched slightly. If this were said by an ordinary person, Zhang Yong would definitely be angry, but since it was said by Jiang Xia, Zhang Yong forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and smiled, shaking his head: "Thank you, brother, for your good intentions, but I must ensure my master's safety, so I appreciate your kindness."

  Jiang Xia glanced at Zhang Yong, actually he could see that both Zhang Yong and Liu Jing were practitioners' sons. Especially Liu Jing, his foundation was very solid, his hands were covered with calluses, absolutely a person who had put in hard work on his kung fu.

  Jiang Xia stifled a yawn and waved his hand, saying: "Thanks, Zhang Ge, I'll just go back to my room to rest."

  "Good." Zhang Yong nodded and the two of them waved goodbye.

  In the same deep night, the lamp in the study of Li's mansion had been lit and never extinguished. Earlier, Cao Yuan specially let someone buy an invitation letter to enter the Qunfang Pavilion at a high price. After watching the performance of Qunfang Pavilion, Cao Yuan immediately came to report to Li's mansion.

  Cao Yuan told Li Dongyang everything he saw.

  After listening to Cao Yuan's report, Li Dongyang, who was usually calm and composed, couldn't help but throw the purple gold jade lotus tea cup in his hand to the ground. Fortunately, there was a carpet on the floor, so it didn't break.

  "Violating moral principles, corrupting social customs to the extreme. This person is a great demon, if not eliminated, will surely become a great calamity."

  After a long silence, Li Dongyang spoke out the words one by one. Each word that came out of Li Dongyang's mouth made people feel like it was a powerful and sonorous declaration.

  Li Dongyang looked up and gazed at Cao Yuan, who had been waiting in the study. He said, "Cao Yuan, you go inform Wang Shifu, the vice prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, tomorrow morning that the Qunfang Pavilion must be closed within seven days. If it's not closed, he can wait to become an official in Sichuan next year."

  "Yes!" Cao Yuan stood up and responded with a slight bow, then took a deep breath and said: "Teacher, if there's nothing else, the student will take his leave first."

  Li Dongyang nodded and waved his hand: "Go."

  Cao Yuanyong bowed his head and made a gesture of respect towards Li Dongyang, "Your student takes his leave."

  Li Dongyang nodded slightly, and Cao Yuan respectfully exited Li Dongyang's room. After Cao Yuan closed the door to Li Dongyang's study, Li Dongyang let out a long sigh and muttered to himself: "When a country is about to perish, monsters will appear. Jiang Xia... deserves to die!"

  Morning. The sunshine is all over the land, indicating that today will be a good day.

  The girls of Qunfang Pavilion, who were used to sleeping in late, got up very early today, because today was the day when the celebration meeting of Qunfang Pavilion was held.

  The maidservants in the Qunfang Pavilion were all sold to the pavilion, and by rights anything they did was what they should do. They never thought that after doing one thing well, they would still have a reward.

  In the grand hall of Qunfang Pavilion, all nearly four hundred people from top to bottom, including the young ladies, servants, tea servers, and turtle-footed attendants, were all gathered in the hall. Jiang Xia and Kang Qingyan stood on the stage, where a large wooden board was placed with a list of merits written on it, while the content below was covered with red paper.

  Kang Qingyan hasn't been paying much attention to things lately, so at this celebration meeting she just simply said a few words of praise for everyone's hard work and then let Jiang Xia speak. Jiang Xia stood on the stage and said to everyone: "I think that talking is useless, first we need to show our skills."

  Jiang Xia clapped his hands, and four guards carried two large chests onto the stage. Jiang Xia nodded to indicate that the guards should open the chests. As soon as they were opened, both chests were filled with glittering silver.

  "Wow......" Seeing so much silver, the people in the Qunfang Pavilion couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. They had already begun to wonder if some of this silver would be given to them as a reward.

  He pointed to the achievement chart and said, "In recent days, everyone has been working hard for those two T-stage shows. According to each person's contribution, I made this achievement chart. It may not be completely fair, but I hope you can understand that absolute fairness does not exist. I have tried my best to achieve relative fairness."

  Jiang Xia unfolded the lowest red paper on the merit list, which had a name, position and reward written on it.

  Most people are illiterate, but they can still recognize their own names. Ma Dasao, who was in charge of washing clothes for the girls, struggled to read out in a low voice: "Ma Cuixiang... ten... ten taels?"

  Ma Cuixiang wasn't quite sure what it meant, but the faint guess in her heart made her whole body tremble with excitement.

  Jiang Xia said at this moment: "I'll read it out to everyone, Huanyi Department Ma Cuixiang, rewarded with 10 taels of silver; Liu Xiuhua, rewarded with 10 taels of silver; Wang Dagou, rewarded with 10 taels of silver; Li Cuicun......"

  "Alright, those whose names have been called, come on stage to receive your prize."

  "Ten taels? Ten taels of silver?" The work of the laundry department was to help the girls wash clothes, or wash bedding. These sisters' monthly salary was only 700 wen, and those who had been working for a longer time were paid no more than 800 wen. Now, being rewarded with ten taels of silver at once was equivalent to their wages for over a year.

  The sisters went on stage in a daze, and after Jiang Xia personally handed them the silver, several of the sisters looked as if they were in a dream. It wasn't until Jiang Xia smiled and said, "Sisters, you can get off the stage now that you've received the silver."

  Several of them suddenly woke up like a dream, and one of the sisters cried out "Wah" and immediately knelt on the ground, knocking her head against Jiang Xia's feet: "Thank you, Master Jiang, thank you, Master Jiang, my old man's illness... has been saved...... it's been saved......"

  Jiang Xia was taken aback for a moment, and he asked: "What's wrong? Is Uncle ill?"

  Jiang Xia took out a ten-tael silver note from his bosom and stuffed it into the hand of the elder sister, saying: "Elder sister, you are an employee of Qunfang Pavilion, which means you are a member of Qunfang Pavilion. Your affairs are also the affairs of Qunfang Pavilion. Why didn't you say earlier that someone in your family was ill? This little bit of silver is given by me privately, and later I will go with Brother Han to visit Uncle together."

  The woman was stunned, earlier it was ten taels, now again ten taels? Looking at the treasure in her hand, the woman cried even harder, she said while crying: "Master Jiang is really a great good person, I will definitely do my best to work for Guanfang Pavilion, even if you let me be a cow or a horse for Guanfang Pavilion, I am willing..."