Volume 1, Chapter 10: Father, I Have Encountered an Extraordinary Person!
Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Zhu Yuanzhang was bent over, diligently reviewing memorials.
“Father!” Zhu Biao stepped in briskly and bowed respectfully to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Just moments ago, he had detected poison within Lady Chang’s quarters using a device. It was exactly as Jiang Lin had warned! Yet, he had not prematurely alerted anyone; instead, he had quietly ordered a search within the Eastern Palace to uncover the mastermind behind the attempt on Lady Chang’s life.
At this moment, Zhu Biao was completely convinced by Jiang Lin, placing full trust in him. Unable to remain seated, he had immediately come to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to report to his father.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked up and, upon seeing Zhu Biao, his face broke into a radiant smile.
“Biao’er, you’ve returned?”
“I heard you took Lady Chang and Xiong Ying out of the palace today for an outing?”
“How was it? Did anything interesting happen? Tell me about it…”
“Father, I was just about to tell you. I met a remarkable man.”
Zhu Biao bowed again and began recounting the story of Jiang Lin.
“This man’s name is Jiang Lin. He claims to be a traveler from more than six hundred years in the future—a time traveler.”
“More than six hundred years from now?!” Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned, his gaze narrowing as he looked at Zhu Biao with disbelief.
“Biao’er, do you really believe such nonsense?”
In Zhu Yuanzhang’s mind, his son had always been the epitome of wisdom and intelligence—how could he be so easily taken in by the ramblings of a charlatan?
At that moment, Zhu Biao took out three small sacks of seeds given to him by Jiang Lin.
“Father, these are items from the future that Jiang Lin entrusted to me.”
“They are seeds of potato, corn, and sweet potato.”
“He said these three crops yield extraordinarily high harvests, up to twenty shi per mu at most!”
“Did you say twenty?” Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes widened in shock.
Considering the current grain yields of the Ming Dynasty, a good harvest would be just over one shi per mu.
Page 2
But now, his son claimed these seeds could produce as much as twenty shi per mu.
What did this mean?
It was utterly impossible!
Alas… his Biao’er had truly been hoodwinked!
How could he believe such absurd tales?
“If such crops yielding twenty shi per mu really existed, our people in Ming would never suffer hunger again. Why wouldn’t he bring them forward sooner to secure high office and wealth?”
“Do you think he doesn’t want to?” Zhu Yuanzhang’s voice suddenly rose, filled with anger.
“No, he dares not!”
“Because he can fool ignorant peasants, but he can’t fool me!”
“If he dares to deceive me, I’ll have his entire family’s heads chopped off!”
Faced with Zhu Yuanzhang’s fierce outburst, Zhu Biao, however, responded with conviction:
“Father, this time you are mistaken. Perhaps Jiang Lin truly does not want to do so!”
“Or maybe, he simply scorns official positions!”
“You…” Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback, eyes wide.
He could hardly believe what he was hearing from his son.
Had it been anyone else, Zhu Yuanzhang would have lost patience long ago.
But because it was Zhu Biao, he calmed himself.
Indeed!
Such unbelievable tales—why did Biao’er believe so wholeheartedly?
It made no sense!
In his eyes, Zhu Biao was no fool.
Could it be… that man truly possessed extraordinary qualities that had won over Biao’er?
Realizing his words may have been a bit strong, Zhu Biao continued:
“Father, I did not mean to offend you earlier!”
“But Jiang Lin really has no interest in officialdom.”
“The residence he lives in is extraordinary—beyond what words can describe. I fear you would be utterly shocked if you saw it with your own eyes.”
“I only stayed there half a day, yet I already felt reluctant to leave.”
“Now, please allow me to explain the full story…”
Zhu Biao stepped closer to his father and began his detailed account.
After hearing Zhu Biao’s words, Zhu Yuanzhang’s heart began to waver.
When Zhu Biao produced a glass cup, Zhu Yuanzhang was completely stunned, for such a finely crafted glass cup was beyond the capabilities of the Ming.
Could it be… that the remarkable man named Jiang Lin was truly from over six hundred years hence?
Frowning deeply, Zhu Yuanzhang asked in disbelief, “Biao’er, are these glass cups also items from the future?”
“Yes!” Zhu Biao nodded and continued, “Jiang Lin said this object is not called ‘liuli’ (colored glaze) in the future, but ‘glass.’”
“In that era, it is a very common item that nearly every household possesses.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang grew increasingly curious about this visitor from the distant future.
“Biao’er, accompany me tomorrow. I want to meet this Jiang Lin with my own eyes.”
After much hesitation, Zhu Yuanzhang finally resolved to meet this extraordinary man.
Seeing this, Zhu Biao smiled and nodded in agreement.
Meeting Jiang Lin tomorrow was already part of his plan.
He wanted to see if he could learn the identity of the mastermind plotting against Lady Chang.
And he was eager to ask Jiang Lin about the future of the Ming Dynasty—his curiosity was boundless.
“Oh, Father, I suddenly remembered something else.”
At these words, a joyful smile spread across Zhu Biao’s face.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang’s interest was piqued.
“Father, this matter concerns Xiong Ying.”
“Jiang Lin told me that the third emperor of Ming is called the Yongle Emperor by those in the future!”
“Hah, the Yongle Emperor—that’s quite a formidable name! I never expected Xiong Ying to be so accomplished. He has not disappointed us.”
…