Exposed After I became an Immortal
Chapter 21 - The Lonely Old Zhu and the Mature Spiritual Sprout Rice! Zhu Biao's Sighs!

Chapter 21: The Lonely Old Zhu and the Mature Spiritual Sprout Rice! Zhu Biao’s Sighs!

“Forget the past? Forget the past events?”

[TL note: Wangcheng means ‘Forget the Dust.’ Symbolising detachment from the worldly concerns.]

Zhu Biao murmured to himself, his eyes shimmering. Then, he bowed deeply to Zhu Xuanji.

“Many thanks to Realized Being for the moniker.”

Zhu Xuanji glanced at Zhu Biao. This was the first time he had observed this father of his, the Deputy Emperor of Ming, up close. He was only thirty-eight years old. Yet, his temples were already graying.

It was evident his life as the Crown Prince was indeed laborious.

…

Late at night.

Ming Dynasty.

Jinling City*.

[*present day Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. Historical name: Jinling.]

In the imperial palace, in one of the palaces.

Zhu Yuanzhang, with a head full of white hair, sat alone on the imperial throne, reviewing memorials after the painful loss of his beloved son.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew into the hall. He tightened his clothes. Habitually, he called out.

“Eldest … Look at this memorial …”

There was no response in the hall. Only the faint sound of the wind brushed past Zhu Yuanzhang’s face.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked utterly lost, clenching his teeth. His right hand, holding the imperial brush, trembled even more.

The eldest was gone. The Crown Prince he had meticulously cultivated for thirty years.

Was gone.

A white-haired man sending off a black-haired one.

How could the life of Old Zhu be so bitter?

He lost his parents early! In his middle age, he lost his wife and eldest grandson! In old age, he lost his son!

Though he ascended to the throne and became the sovereign of the realm, became the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty … Yet, his life was extremely bitter!

“Eldest, you are truly heartless. Leaving your father behind, running off on your own. Father knows, sitting on the emperor’s throne is not easy. If you found it too hard, you should have told father earlier. Father wouldn’t have made you bear such a heavy burden. You just left your father like this! This vast Ming Dynasty, who will inherit it … Eldest … you have really given father a difficult problem!”

Zhu Yuanzhang, with his head full of gray hair, sat in the hall, muttering to himself.

The candlelight flickered, casting an even more eerie light on his wrinkled face.

…

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since Zhu Biao came to Zhongshan. In three months’ time, Zhu Biao’s physical condition had improved significantly.

This noon, by the shore of Xuanwu Lake. The little monkey, Xiao Liuzi, brought over a fragrant bamboo tube of rice and placed it in front of Zhu Biao and Zhu Xuanji.

Zhu Xuanji had set up a stone table by the shore of Xuanwu Lake, he had carved a chessboard on it.

In his leisure time, he would play chess with Zhu Biao by the lake. Enjoying the surrounding scenery. It was an incomparable delight.

“Master! This is the newly matured five-colored spiritual sprout rice! According to your instructions, it’s made as bamboo tube rice! Just freshly cooked. Please try it!”

Xiao Liuzi was very clever! His learning ability was top-notch. The most important thing was, he also learned to cook from Zhu Xuanji!

Zhu Xuanji’s cooking skills were his experience from his previous life.

At that time, as a working man, his biggest hobby was to buy some ingredients during his breaks and cook a delicious meal in his small home.

After coming to this world, it was hard for him to cook without rice!

Moreover, over the years, there were always spiritual herbs and fruits to sustain him. The spiritual energy in these herbs and fruits were abundant. It could significantly improve one’s physical condition. Therefore, over the years, he rarely cooked. It was only in the past two years, with more leisure time. That he would occasionally replace some mountain ingredients to make some light dishes.

The little monkey, Xiao Liuzi, learned cooking during these times.

Zhu Biao was already used to the little monkey, Xiao Liuzi, who could speak human language and acted like a little adult. He was not surprised that Xiao Liuzi could cook.

Because, in these three months on Zhongshan, he had learned that on Zhongshan there were more than just one spiritually intelligent creature like the big mountain dog.

Besides the big mountain dog, there was also this little monkey …

And the big pheasant that crowed incessantly in the morning!

And the extremely white fair little white snake!

And the silver fish that cultivated in Xuanwu Lake.

And an old tortoise over a hundred years old.

If it weren’t for his rebirth and being brought into Yunmeng Dao Pavilion by Daoist Xuanji, and giving him a second life, he probably wouldn’t have known about such a different scene on Zhongshan. Indeed, it was a blessed land of celestial beings!

In these three months on Zhongshan, it was the most relaxed three months of his life.

In these three months, he could say, his entire being had undergone earth-shattering changes. Not only physically, but also in his entire mindset had undergone significant transformation.

It was like a lifetime, like the different seasons passing.

Earlier, he was the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty. Busy with state affairs from morning till night. His entire body and mind were in a constantly tense state.

But now, his entire being was relaxed!

Inside and out!

It was an unprecedented relaxation!

Between heaven and earth.

There was natural creation. For a person to cultivate oneself, it was indeed a blessing!

At this moment, the fragrance of the five-colored spiritual sprout rice had already wafted through the air. Zhu Xuanji, sitting beside him, smiled and said: “This five-colored spiritual sprout rice is the first batch to mature. It’s different from those spiritual herbs and fruits. Please, help yourself!”

Zhu Biao didn’t stand on ceremony.

After three months with Daoist Xuanji, he understood Daoist Xuanji disliked formalities. He also disliked pleasantries.

Eat when it’s time to eat.

Drink when it’s time to drink.

That was true temperament.

Zhu Biao picked up the bamboo tube, using bamboo chopsticks to scoop out the spiritual sprout rice. He began eating it bite by bite.

“Not bad! Really good! The spiritual sprout rice has five colors! It’s naturally fragrant! With the unique aroma of the bamboo tube! This spiritual sprout rice is truly a rare delicacy in the world.” Zhu Biao had tasted many delicacies.

But today, after eating this spiritual sprout rice. He realized that there was such delicious rice in the world.

At this moment, Zhu Biao suddenly sighed: “If all the people in the world could eat this rice! There would be no problems in this world!”

Upon hearing Zhu Biao’s words.

Zhu Xuanji couldn’t help but laugh.

“If that time really comes. The world would be in an unprecedented state of peace!”