In Le'an Prefecture, Prince Han's Mansion, when the sun rose as high as one person, Zhu Gaoxu could no longer sit still and began to wander back and forth in the hall.
Today, Mr. Zhang, who is very different in both the way he reaches out and the way he sees things, has made a date with himself to meet for the second time.
Now Zhu Gaoxu is a true loner. He needs a unique and talented person to help him and re-open the great cause of winning a place in the court.
On the table, a bowl of hot tea was placed quietly. Zhang Jinbao, who had returned home in vain yesterday, no longer had any joy in becoming the personal guard of the King of Han. He lowered his head and carefully looked at Zhu Gaoxu's every move, for fear of himself.
By accident, I violated the prince's taboo again.
Walking to the door of the hall, Zhu Gaoxi raised his head and looked at the sun in the sky: "It's almost time, come with me to the tavern."
"Your Majesty, it's breakfast time soon. How about we go after you have breakfast?" Zhang Jinbao said in a low voice.
Just now, the people in the kitchen had come to inform me that breakfast would be ready soon, and asked me to wait for a while before taking the prince there. Going out to drink without eating breakfast would inevitably cause some harm to the body.
"I'm not going to eat, let's go." Looking at the sun in the sky again, Zhu Gaoxu put his hands behind his back and stepped out of the threshold of the hall.
Today, it is much earlier than yesterday when we went out. The people working in the fields have not returned yet. The whole street is empty except for a few idle people who gather together to gossip about things that have nothing to do with them.
It seemed very deserted.
Perhaps because he was anxious, he couldn't help but speed up his steps. After a while, Zhu Gaoxi arrived at the tavern where he was yesterday.
The door of the tavern was open, and from a distance you could see the shopkeeper holding a white rag and wiping the tables in the hall one by one.
After casually glancing at the flag that was the only sign of the tavern, Zhu Gaoxi walked in.
"Your Majesty, you are here." Seeing Zhu Gaoxu, the shopkeeper hurriedly put down the rag in his hand and greeted him respectfully.
Yesterday, from the conversation between several people, the shopkeeper already knew that this middle-aged man dressed elegantly and luxuriously was the owner of the Hanwang Mansion in Le'an Prefecture.
Although he had never met Zhu Gaoxu before, the rumors that Zhu Gaoxi was extremely violent and murderous had already been ingrained in his mind.
But yesterday, Zhu Gaoxu's actions completely overturned this impression in his mind.
Not only did he speak kindly, but he also specially asked his servants to come to the tavern and pay all the expenses for yesterday. It seems that the previous rumors about the King of Han cannot be believed.
Today, when he saw Zhu Gaoxu coming to the door again, the shopkeeper was filled with joy. However, because of his innate admiration for the prince, he lost the enthusiasm of yesterday and only had respect from the bottom of his heart.
"Well," Zhu Gaosui responded, "Did anyone come to pay you for the drink yesterday?"
Zhu Gaosui sat at a table and looked around. There was no one there, and he felt a little disappointed.
"Yes, yes." The shopkeeper nodded hurriedly and respectfully, "All the accounts from yesterday have been settled. What does the prince want today?"
"Just pick up something you're good at." Zhu Gaoxu said calmly. He wanted to ask the shopkeeper when the old man came yesterday, but when the words came to his lips, he held back.
No matter how hungry I am for talents, I still have to maintain the modesty I should have in front of these ordinary people.
"Okay, my lord, wait a moment." The shopkeeper hurriedly ran into the back room.
Perhaps he had been prepared in advance, and without much effort, several exquisite side dishes were already placed on Zhu Gaoxu's table. The shopkeeper brought up a jar of the old shaju from yesterday before respectfully leaving.
Before waiting for Mr. Zhang, Zhu Gaoxu had no intention of using his chopsticks. Seeing the time passing by little by little, and there was still no one at the door, Zhu Gaoxu almost couldn't help but want to curse.
However, after experiencing the setback of having his right hand chopped off, Zhu Gaoxu has completely learned to tolerate it. Now, all he can do is to accumulate popularity, accumulate wealth, and strive to get back everything that belongs to him.
Zhang Jinbao poured a full bowl of soju for Zhu Gaoxu, and then stood beside him, not daring to make a sound.
Yesterday, the prince asked him to sit down, but today, looking at the expressionless face of the prince, Zhang Jinbao dared to sit down.
"Shopkeeper, here's a plate of boiled chicken legs, and a jar of good old soju." A loud voice came from outside the door, and then, Mr. Zhang's somewhat fat figure came into Zhu Gaoxu's eyes.
"Okay, sir, you can sit down wherever you like." The shopkeeper stood silently at the counter for a long time, not daring to say anything. When he saw the regular customer from yesterday, he couldn't help but take the opportunity to respond loudly to release the depression in his heart.
"Ah, the prince came early." Seeing Zhu Gaoxu who had already started eating, Mr. Zhang walked over and sat down next to him.
"I had nothing to do, so I came out for a walk. What's more, I have an appointment with Mr. Zhang today. I didn't want you to wait here, so I came over early." Putting down his chopsticks and looking at Mr. Zhang, Zhu Gaoxu's face showed a trace of emotion.
smile.
The shopkeeper had already walked out with a plate of boiled chicken legs. When he saw Mr. Zhang sitting on Hanwang's table, he was stunned for a moment, then he squeezed out a smile, put the chicken legs down, and left in a hurry.
This time, the shopkeeper did not walk into the counter, but went directly into the back room.
I can open a tavern on the street, but I just don’t understand. I have seen too many things.
The two of them will definitely talk about some important things today, but as a common man, it is better not to hear about these things.
Curiosity killed the cat. I have a family and I don’t want to leave them early.
Picking up a chicken drumstick on the plate, Mr. Zhang took a bite without politeness. Then he picked up the wine jar on the table and poured a full bowl of it.
Looking at Mr. Zhang's eating appearance, Zhu Gaoxu leaned back on his chair: "May I ask where Mr. Zhang is from?"
"Jingcheng." Zhang Lao said, picking up the wine bowl and taking a big sip.
"Capital?" Zhu Gaoxu said with a trace of suspicion on his face, "There is still some distance between this place and the capital. Mr. Zhang came to Le'an Prefecture just to remind me not to be decadent, right?!"
After two chicken drumsticks, Mr. Zhang seemed to be no longer hungry. He wiped his mouth and looked up at Zhu Gaoxu: "Ask your guards to guard the door."
Zhu Gaoxu was stunned for a moment, then raised his left hand and waved it lightly.
Zhang Jinbao had already understood it, and without saying a word, he walked to the door of the tavern and closed the door behind him.
"The fact that King Han is here so early shows that you are still somewhat sincere, and I won't make any more detours with you. I came to Le'an Prefecture just to cooperate with you."
Mr. Zhang became serious and his eyes were so profound that even Zhu Gaoxu, who was well-informed, could not see through it.