As the only son of Zhu Youzang, the Emperor Xiaozong of Ming Dynasty, who survived until adulthood, Zhu Houzhao had never had any brothers and sisters. There were several cousins ​​who often didn’t meet and had no deep feelings.

At this moment, when Zhu Houzhao heard Jiang Xia mention swornship, he was immediately excited.

Zhang Yong originally wanted to persuade Zhu Houzhao. He just said "Your Majesty..." After saying these three words, Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said, "What, I'm going to prepare for swornship, everything you need..." Zhu Houzhao turned his head and asked Jiang Xia: "What do you need?"

As the head of Qianmen, it is common to be sworn, so Jiang Xia recited the things to be sworn as if he were a few of his family: "A statue of Guan Gong, three animals sacrificed pork, fish, eggs, and a live rooster. A bowl of white wine, two golden orchids and a pair of incense and candles."

"Yes! That's all." Although Zhu Houzhao didn't know if he really needed these things to become a sworn brother, his intuition told him that Jiang Xia was right. Zhu Houzhao urged Zhang Yong to say, "Go quickly, I...I'll wait here."

He almost let go of the words, and Zhu Houzhao was shocked. He secretly glanced at Jiang Xia and found that Jiang Xia's face was not abnormal. Then he felt relieved.

"Yes!" Zhang Yong responded and immediately ran out to prepare.

There were only two people left in the room, Jiang Xia and Zhu Houzhao. Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Xia and said, "My name is Zhu Shou, from Shuntian Prefecture. He was born on the eighth day of the ninth day of the fourth year of Hongzhi. He just turned 21 years old this year. How old are you?"

Jiang Xia smiled and said, "My name is Jiang Xia, a native of Suzhou. He was born on the tenth day of May 2nd year of Hongzhi. He is twenty-three years old this year, two years older than you. So from now on, I will be the eldest and you will be the second."

"Second..." Jiang Xia silently read this title in her heart, and couldn't help but want to laugh when she looked at Zhu Houzhao's appearance.

Zhu Houzhao was slightly stunned, pointed to her nose and said, "I am the second child?"

"Uh...yes, you are the second child. You are younger than me, so you are naturally the second child." Jiang Xia said.

"No." Zhu Houzhao shook his head firmly, "I have always been the biggest since I was a child, and no one has ever been older than me. So I can't be the second child, you are the second child." After that, Zhu Houzhao took out a stack of Daming Baobao from his arms and handed it to Jiang Xia: "As long as you promise to let me be the first child, you are the second child, all these money will belong to you."

"Forget it! I won't be sworn brothers!" Jiang Xia suddenly stood up from her seat, looking angry.

His anger not only scared Zhu Houzhao, but also Liu Jin and Kang Qingyan, who were hiding next to the Mudan Pavilion, were also scared. Kang Qingyan couldn't help but mutter in his mouth: "This fool, why are he angry with the emperor? Just be the second child, and there is so much money to take."

In the Peony Pavilion, Jiang Xia shook her sleeves and said straight: "Zhu Shou, you insult me! Although I am poor, I am poor and have a backbone. I think you are a good person and have a destiny to me, so I proposed to be sworn brothers with you, but you are now insulting me with silver. Is it great to have money? I, Jiang Xia, think it's nothing great, because I have always regarded money as dirt."

"It's so shameless." Hearing this, Kang Qingyan, who was eavesdropping next door, couldn't help but murmur. A person who would scold the old shrew for money actually said that he treated money like dirt and said so righteously. Kang Qingyan couldn't help but think in his heart, how thick is this to be so righteous?

"Oh, it's a pity..." Liu Jin sighed slightly, "The young man is still too impulsive. How could the emperor be the second most proud of heaven? He angered the emperor. The Pitian Fugui, who was about to get, disappeared like this."

Liu Jin served Zhu Houzhao for many years and naturally knew Zhu Houzhao's temperament very well. But he knew Zhu Houzhao, who was wearing a royal robe, but he did not know Zhu Shou during the private visit. In Zhu Houzhao's life, there was only one person who scolded him, that is his late father Zhu Youzhao. Now that he heard Jiang Xia say this, Zhu Houzhao was not angry, but felt a little fresh.

He reached out to pull Jiangxia's sleeve and said, "Jiang...Jiangxia, I didn't mean to insult you with the money just now. I'm used to it, so... I'm sorry..."

Jiang Xia looked back at Zhu Houzhao: "Did you really admit your mistake?"

Zhu Houzhao was slightly stunned and nodded with a smile: "Yes, I really admit my mistake."

After hearing this, Jiang Xia nodded with satisfaction and said, "Okay, since you really admit your mistake, I will forgive you. But I can make it clear that we two have sworn brothers, so I should be the ones who are good at it. If you are not convinced, you can draw a picture. We can choose to compete with both literary and martial arts. The second one loses, and the eldest one wins."

"Okay. Just compare." Zhu Houzhao responded, "I'll compete with you..."

Zhu Houzhao was stumped by comparing something. He knew that he could not compare to Jiang Xia in the essay. Jiang Xia's good handwriting and he actually wrote something "long" couplet. He could tell at a glance that he was a knowledgeable person, at least... more knowledgeable than himself. Zhu Houzhao knew this.

Isn't it compared to literary talent? The dignified emperor's emperor fights and fights with others, and it's not very appropriate no matter how you think about it. After thinking for a while, Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up and said, "Yes, I'll draw lots with you. Whoever catches the 'boss' is the boss, and what if anyone catches the 'boss' is the second? Everything is decided by God, so no one has any objections."

Jiang Xia thought about it and nodded and said, "Okay, I'll follow you."

"Then wait a moment, I'll let you make two lots."

After saying that, Zhu Houzhao left the door.

Zhu Houzhao happened to meet Han Yu outside the door, and he stopped him: "Hey, stop."

Han Yu turned his head and saw that it was Zhu Houzhao. Although he didn't know Zhu Houzhao's identity, he knew Zhang Yong who followed Zhu Houzhao. The person who could make Zhang Yong cautious, even if he was not the emperor, he would definitely be a royal relative. So Han Yu nodded and said, "Hello, Master."

Zhu Houzhao looked back and saw that Jiang Xia was not looking at the door. He immediately took out a piece of Daming treasure banknote from his arms and handed it to Han Yu and said, "You should prepare three lots for me immediately, with two 'seconds' and one 'brother'."

"Second? Boss?" Han Yu was a little confused.

Zhu Houzhao frowned and said angrily: "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you go quickly!"

"Oh, yes..." Han Yu was startled when he saw Zhu Houzhao getting angry. He immediately ran to prepare lots of paper for Zhu Houzhao.

According to Zhu Houzhao's instructions, two "seconds" and one "brother" were written on the lot. Although Han Yu didn't know the words, these words were not difficult for him.

After writing, Han Yu hurriedly ran back and handed the lot of paper to Zhu Houzhao.

After taking care of it, Zhu Hou nodded with satisfaction and then returned to the room.

In the room, Jiang Xia leisurely sat on the stool and poured himself a cup of tea. Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "For fairness, I specially asked the people from Qunfang Pavilion to write these two lots. Take a look, one is the eldest and the other is the second."

Jiang Xia took a look and nodded and said, "Although the words are a bit ugly, they can barely recognize them. Well, since you are all ready, let's start."

"Okay." Zhu Houzhao carefully stacked the lots and tried to fold them into the same one. The light of his eyes secretly looked at Jiang Xia. When Jiang Xia was not paying attention, he took out the lot of paper with the words "second" hidden in his sleeve and changed the lot of paper with the words "brother" into his sleeve.

Zhu Houzhao's plan was very simple. Once he changed it like this, the two lots of paper would become the "second one". No matter which piece Jiang Xia draws, it would definitely be the "second one". After he draws one casually, he can take out the "big" in his sleeve and replace it with the "second one". Then he will be the "big" no matter what.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but smile at the corner of her mouth. He felt that he was too smart.

After the two lots of papers were put out, Zhu Houzhao asked Jiang Xia: "How? Should you draw first or I draw first? To show fairness, I'd better let you draw first?"

Jiang Xia looked at Zhu Houzhao, and he said suspiciously: "Why do I feel a little wrong? Why are you smiling so treacherously? It seems that you have won this game. Is there something wrong with Loanwen? If I don't believe it, I have to open it and check it."

As he said that, Jiang Xia reached out to get the lot. Zhu Houzhao immediately grabbed Jiang Xia's hand and said nervously: "Where...what is there? Didn't I check it for you just now? Why? Don't you believe me?"

Jiang Xia looked at Zhu Houzhao for a while and nodded and took his hand back and said, "That's right, since we are going to be brothers of different surnames, we should trust each other, I believe in you."

"Hu..." Zhu Houzhao breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Xia said: "Then I will choose."

"Yes." Zhu Houzhao nodded, "You choose."

Jiang Xia smiled slightly, and he took out a lot of text from the two lots. When Zhu Houzhao was about to reach out to get the remaining lot, Jiang Xia grabbed his hand and said, "Don't go and get it, I know I've won. I can guarantee that the one I hold in my hand must be the 'Boss'."

After saying that, Jiang Xia didn't read the lot, so he put the lot of paper in his mouth and chewed it a few times and swallowed it into his stomach. Then he opened the remaining lot and said, "What I ate is the 'Boss', then this one must be the 'Double'."

Jiang Xia opened the lot of paper and saw that the words "Old Second" were indeed written on it.

Jiang Xia pushed the lot of paper to Zhu Houzhao and said with a smile: "How? God has helped me, I am destined to be the boss. Hahaha..."

Zhu Houzhao looked at the lot of paper with the "second son" written in front of him. In his life, he finally understood what it means not to play according to the routine. He had already won, but unexpectedly, Jiang Xia was reversed like this.

Jiang Xia looked at Zhu Houzhao and said, "How? Are you convinced? Why are you still standing there? Call me brother."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Xia and was silent for about two or three seconds, and finally nodded and shouted: "Brother."

"Hahahaha..." Jiang Xia laughed happily, and he patted Zhu Houzhao's shoulder and said, "Okay, then you will be my second child from now on."
Chapter completed!