Chapter 205: Are You Crazy? Asking Prince Yan Zhu Di To Support Abolishing Feudal Lords?! Seeking Monthly Tickets
“Oh my! My Investigator Song!”
Zhang Biao reacted quickly and exclaimed, even dramatically patting his chest as if greatly startled.
Although he was well aware of Old Zhu’s intention in sending Song Zhong to his side, he hadn’t expected that Song Zhong would be so ‘dedicated’ under the ‘curse of Censor Zhang, who dies upon contact.’
So, after a startled exclamation, he forced himself to remain calm and teased Song Zhong:
“I say, Investigator Song! Why do you walk so silently? Are you trying to scare this official to death so you can take over the Anti-corruption Bureau’s mess early?”
As he spoke, he naturally began to remove the laborer’s outfit stained with mud, his movements as swift as changing slippers at home, as if he had just gone out to take out the trash.
Song Zhong wore a standard, almost measured smile of respect, his voice as gentle as if greeting an old friend:
“Lord Zhang jokes. I was merely worried about your safety and came to check.”
Saying this, he looked Zhang Biao up and down as if carefully choosing his words, and said:
“But at this late hour, with the dew settling, you are wearing such ‘casual clothes’. If you encounter the night patrol guards, there might be a misunderstanding, and if your precious self is harmed, I would be unforgivable for ten thousand deaths!”
His words were elegant, but his eyes scanned Zhang Biao’s discarded dirty clothes like the finest comb, inch by inch.
Especially the mud stains on the knees and elbows, and the damp soil and grass clinging to the edges of Zhang Biao’s shoes, which were distinctly different from the soil near the official residence.
He even twitched his nose slightly, as if trying to discern any peculiar scent on Zhang Biao.
Zhang Biao cursed ‘old fox’ inwardly, but feigned indifference, tossing the dirty clothes carelessly into a corner and sprawling onto the heated brick bed opposite Song Zhong:
“I appreciate Investigator Song’s concern! I was just getting a headache writing that darn memorial, so I went out for some fresh air and to stretch my limbs!”
“And to observe public sentiment, see if there are any scoundrels committing crimes, and get our Anti-corruption Bureau off to a start!”
As he spoke, he picked up the draft memorial on the desk, covered in drawings of turtles and strange symbols, and casually shook it:
“You see, my inspiration only comes when I’m out in the cold wind!”
Song Zhong’s gaze lingered on the scribbled mess for a moment, the corners of his mouth dipping almost imperceptibly before returning to his humble demeanor:
“Sir is exhausted for public duty, I admire you. However…”
He changed tack, his tone carrying just the right amount of concern:
“In which direction did you go to observe public sentiment just now? So that I may record it, and if the Emperor asks, I can report truthfully, demonstrating the Director’s diligence.”
【 Damn it! Waiting for me here! 】
Zhang Biao’s alarm bells rang in his mind; this Song Zhong was indeed no easy adversary, every word laced with hooks.
Yet, he put on an expression of “You reminded me!”, hitting his forehead:
“Look at my memory! I was so focused on finding inspiration that I forgot to keep track of where I was going!”
“It seems… it seems I walked south? No, maybe east? Ah, it’s so dark at night, I can’t even tell east from west anymore, I was just wandering aimlessly!”
“Anyway, in the Capital City, under the Son of Heaven’s gaze, what danger could there be?”
He deliberately spoke vaguely and jokingly, trying to muddy the waters.
Song Zhong’s smile remained unchanged, but his eyes narrowed slightly, like a viper that had spotted its prey.
“South? East?”
He repeated softly, his tone flat but carrying an invisible pressure:
“Sir may not know, but the Southern Garrison is tonight investigating several unruly gangs. In the East City… there are also several Imperial Guard secret sentries watching people.”
“If you were to accidentally intrude, although it wouldn’t be dangerous, if you were to be bumped into by someone heedless, or if the secret sentries were to make a note of it, it would not be ideal.”
His words, though seemingly a reminder, were in fact a naked warning and a probe, implying that Zhang Biao’s movements were not untraceable and that he, Song Zhong, knew everything!
【 Damn Song Zhong! No wonder he could replace Jiang Huan later! 】
【 They’re truly not of the same flock, don’t belong to the same nest! 】
Zhang Biao cursed even more fiercely inwardly, but outwardly feigned shock:
“There’s such a thing? Oh dear, it’s a good thing Investigator Song reminded me! Next time I go out, I must check the almanac carefully! But speaking of which…”
His tone suddenly shifted, he leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously:
“Investigator Song, since your news is so well-informed, why don’t you help me brainstorm!”
Song Zhong raised an eyebrow: “Please speak, Sir.”
“I was thinking…”
Zhang Biao pointed to a crookedly drawn square on the draft:
“Our Anti-corruption Bureau shouldn’t just audit accounts; we need more technical methods! I plan to request from the Emperor to equip the men with a new type of gear!”
“What kind of gear?”
Song Zhong asked cooperatively, his eyes scrutinizing.
“Eavesdropping… no, ‘Super Hearing’!”
Zhang Biao almost let slip and quickly corrected himself, gesturing:
“It’s that copper tube that can hear conversations through walls! Think about it, those corrupt officials, they must speak in hushed tones behind closed doors, right?”
“With this treasure, no matter how quiet their voices, we can hear them clearly!”
“This is what we call technical anti-corruption, impossible to guard against!”
Song Zhong listened to this almost fantastical ‘gear’, and his smile finally faltered, his lips twitching slightly.
He suppressed the urge to retort and slowly said, “Sir’s ingenious ideas are truly awe-inspiring.”
“However, such an instrument is unheard of, and the artisans of the Ministry of Works would likely find it difficult to craft.”
“Furthermore, eavesdropping on private matters is not the act of a gentleman. If word were to spread, it might tarnish Sir’s reputation.”
His words were barbed, pointing out both the impracticality and subtly implying Zhang Biao’s methods were unethical.
“Reputation? What’s that worth?”
Zhang Biao waved his hand dismissively: “A cat is a good cat if it catches mice!”
“Investigator Song, you need to liberate your thinking! Our Anti-corruption Bureau does the job of offending people; what need is there for talk of gentlemen?”
After speaking, he stood up, patted Song Zhong’s shoulder, with an air of “I have high hopes for you”:
“So, Investigator Song, I see you are a capable person!”
“This ‘Super Hearing’ project, I’ll entrust it to you to research and see if it can be developed!”
“If funding is needed, once my memorial is approved, we can apply for it!”
Song Zhong was stunned by the ‘hot potato’ Zhang Biao casually tossed his way. Looking at Zhang Biao’s sincere eyes, he was momentarily unsure if he was truly mad or just pretending to be foolish.
He took a deep breath, knowing that further probing tonight would yield no substantial results and might even lead him astray by this lunatic.
He stood up, his face once again donning an impeccable mask of respect:
“Sir’s trust humbles me. However, the immediate priority is the memorial assigned by the Emperor.”
“Furthermore, it is late, and I should not disturb you further. Sir, please retire early and take care of your health.”
He deliberately glanced at the scribbled draft, his meaning clear: you should get back to serious work.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry! I’ll submit it on time!”
Zhang Biao grinned and escorted Song Zhong to the doorway:
“Investigator Song, you should also rest early. Tomorrow, you need to help me think about the ‘Internal Discipline Regulations for the Anti-corruption Bureau,’ focusing on preventing moles!”
His words seemed casual, yet they pricked Song Zhong like a needle.
Song Zhong’s footsteps faltered almost imperceptibly. Without turning back, he said faintly:
“Sir, rest assured, I understand.”
With that, he quickened his pace and melted into the night, his figure soon disappearing.
Closing the door, the smile on Zhang Biao’s face instantly froze.
He leaned against the door, his eyes as sharp as knives.
【 Song Zhong… is indeed a difficult opponent. Meticulous, quick-witted, with words laced with hidden meanings, and thoroughly aware of the goings-on in the Capital City. 】
The exchange just now, though it seemed he had the upper hand with his jokes, was incredibly perilous.
Song Zhong had almost explicitly revealed that he knew Zhang Biao had gone out and was trying to probe exactly where he had gone.
【 It seems I need to be even more careful in my actions from now on. This old fox is more difficult to deal with than the straightforward Jiang Huan. 】
He walked to the desk, looking at the relatively ‘proper’ memorial he had just begun writing, and snorted.
Old Zhu’s intention in sending Song Zhong to monitor, constrain, and even be ready to replace him was now clear.
But this only strengthened his resolve.
He picked up his brush again, no longer joking, his strokes vigorous as he transferred the clauses from his mind – some radical, some practical, some with hidden traps – onto paper.
What he was writing was not just a memorial, but a declaration of war!
A declaration of war against the decaying body of the Great Ming Empire!
And Song Zhong, and Old Zhu behind him, would be the opponents and pawns he had to face and utilize in this war.
“Want to play? Then let’s play big!”
Zhang Biao’s brush did not stop, his eyes burning with almost frantic fighting spirit:
“Let’s see who breaks first in this act of ‘Loyal and Devoted’ versus ‘Madcap Mayhem’!”
On the other side
Beiping, Prince Yan’s Mansion.
The mansion at night appeared even more imposing than in the day. The patrolling guards moved with light steps and sharp eyes, exuding a ferocity different from the Capital City’s imperial guards.
Inside the study, the candlelight burned brightly.
Prince Yan Zhu Di had dismissed all attendants, leaving only his confidant Ma Sanbao to guard the doorway.
He had just finished reading a secret letter written by Zhu Gaochi himself, delivered day and night through the highly confidential channel of ‘Mute Elder.’
The letter was long, detailing how Zhang Biao ‘coincidentally’ met Zhu Gao Sui, how he dangled the sweet potato and the prospect of cooperation as bait, and Zhu Gaochi’s grave concerns and deep analysis of the matter.
Zhu Di did not speak immediately.
He wore casual attire; his build was sturdy, his face resolute, the years of hardship guarding the border having etched deep lines on his brow. His tiger-like eyes, when opened and closed, gleamed with power, commanding respect without anger.
His fingers gently tapped on the smooth rosewood desk, producing a dull ‘thump-thump’ sound that was exceptionally clear in the silent study.
Furthermore, on the desk before him, besides the secret letter, lay the shriveled sweet potato, wrapped in brocade, that Zhu Gaochi had also sent.
“A yield of a thousand catties per mu… a divine omen…”
Zhu Di picked up the sweet potato and examined it closely.
His gaze lacked Zhu Gaochi’s initial solemnity or Zhu Gaochi’s fervor. Instead, it was one of almost cold scrutiny:
“Zhang Biao… a madman who has turned the Capital City upside down. Now that he has been released, he sends such a ‘divine omen’ to my Heir Apparent…”
The corner of his mouth curved into a faint, chilling smile that held no warmth, only deep calculation.
“Ma Sanbao.”
Zhu Di called out in a deep voice.
“Your Highness.”
Ma Sanbao pushed the door open and entered, bowing to receive orders.
“Go and invite Master Dao Yan over. Tell him I have something important to discuss.”
Zhu Di’s voice was steady, betraying no emotional fluctuation.
“Yes.”
Before long, Yao Guangxiao, dressed in a black monk’s robe, with a lean face and eyes as deep as an ancient well, entered the study silently.
“Your Highness summons me late at night; what is the important matter?”
Yao Guangxiao clasped his hands together, his voice serene.
Zhu Di bypassed pleasantries and pushed the secret letter in front of him, then placed the sweet potato next to the letter:
“Master, please read this first.”
Yao Guangxiao picked up the letter and scanned it quickly.
His expression remained calm, with only a minuscule flicker deep in his eyes upon seeing “a yield of a thousand catties per mu” and “Zhang Biao seeking cooperation.”
After finishing the letter, he picked up the sweet potato again, looked at it carefully, and even brought it to his nose to smell.
“Your Highness, what do you think?”
Yao Guangxiao put down the sweet potato and looked at Zhu Di.
Zhu Di stood up and walked to the hanging map of the Northern Border, his back to Yao Guangxiao, his voice low:
“Gao Chi’s analysis is good. If this item is real, it is indeed a divine omen for the nation, and also… a ‘fuse’ for times of chaos.”
“Zhang Biao, his actions are erratic and defy conventional logic. He seems mad, but every step he takes is filled with hidden intent.”
“His seeking out Gao Sui was no accident.”
He then turned sharply, his gaze like lightning, directly at Yao Guangxiao:
“Master, what do you think? Is this Zhang Biao genuinely seeking allies, or is he trying to divert trouble to Beiping, using my Prince Yan’s Mansion as a stepping stone for his next ‘audit’ to prove his loyalty to the Emperor?”
Yao Guangxiao pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
“Your Highness, judging by Zhang Biao’s previous actions, his target directly addresses the shortcomings of the Princes, and even… deeper matters.”
“If he wanted to prove his loyalty, he could have gathered more evidence and presented it directly to the Emperor, without the unnecessary risk of contacting the Heir Apparent.”
“This action seems more like… seeking an external force for a breakthrough. Or, he is looking for a witness, or even a participant, of sufficient weight for a greater storm.”
“Participant?”
Zhu Di’s eyes narrowed: “What does he want me to participate in? Opposing the court? Zhang Biao is not qualified or capable enough for that! Removing the ruler’s assistants? The time is not right, and the cause is not just!”
“Not so.”
Yao Guangxiao shook his head:
“Your Highness, what Zhang Biao seeks may not be direct military force. He is more like setting up a very large game of chess. Auditing the Princes is the overt line, and the Establishing the Crown Prince dispute is the covert line.”
“His seeking out Prince Yan’s Mansion may not be a request for Your Highness to immediately raise a banner of rebellion, but rather… hoping Your Highness will maintain a certain silence at a critical moment, or provide some convenience.”
After saying this, he pointed to the sweet potato, his eyes sharpening:
“This item, if it can truly yield a thousand catties per mu, its significance far exceeds that of a hundred thousand elite troops!”
“It can be said that this item concerns public trust and the destiny of the nation!”
“Zhang Biao offering this item is both bait and a test.”
“He is testing Your Highness’s ambition, and also testing Your Highness’s foresight and courage.”
As his words fell, the study fell into silence, broken only by the flickering candlelight.
After a long while, Zhu Di finally spoke with a deep sigh:
“Master, look at Zhang Biao. First he incites the abolition of the Princes’ salaries, and now he calls for auditing the Princes. His target is already obvious: he wants to incite my Imperial Father to enact the policy of abolishing feudal lords!”
He then snorted, a cold glint flashing in his tiger-like eyes:
“But then he turns around and approaches me, offering this so-called ‘divine omen,’ claiming cooperation.”
“On one hand, he wants to diminish my power, and on the other, he wants to cooperate with me? What kind of logic is that? Is this man truly mad, or does he think I, Zhu Di, am easily deceived?!”
Yao Guangxiao clasped his hands together, his tone calm but his words carrying immense weight:
“Your Highness, this humble monk believes that his previous incitement to abolish salaries and his current call to audit the Princes, their target is indeed the Princes.”
“But precisely because of this, his seeking cooperation with Your Highness at this moment appears exceptionally strange, and especially worthy of deep consideration.”
Zhu Di’s brow furrowed: “Master means?”
Yao Guangxiao raised his eyes, his gaze piercing, directly at Zhu Di:
“Your Highness, have you ever considered what the ‘cooperation’ Zhang Biao seeks truly entails?”
“If he wants to abolish feudal lords, he is making enemies of all the Princes, especially powerful ones like Your Highness. Why would he seek cooperation with his greatest enemy?”
Zhu Di fell silent, this was also his greatest confusion.
Yao Guangxiao paced slowly, his voice not loud, but striking Zhu Di’s heart like a heavy hammer:
“This humble monk has a bold hypothesis. Perhaps… what Zhang Biao wants is not simple confrontation, nor does he want Your Highness to join forces with other Princes against the court. The cooperation he desires might be the exact opposite—”
He paused, observing Zhu Di’s reaction, and then uttered the earth-shattering conjecture word by word:
“He perhaps wants Your Highness to… support his abolishing of feudal lords!”
“What?!”
Even with Zhu Di’s iron will, he was startled by this hypothesis and rose abruptly, his face filled with incredulous rage and absurdity:
“He wants me to support abolishing feudal lords? Abolish my own feudal domain?! Master, do you know what you are saying?! This is absolutely impossible!”
Facing Zhu Di’s anger, Yao Guangxiao’s expression remained unchanged; instead, he became even more composed:
“Your Highness, please calm your anger. Consider this: if Zhang Biao only wanted to overthrow one or two Princes, he wouldn’t need to go to such lengths, nor would he need to approach Your Highness.”
“Since his target is all the Princes, his ambition is not small.”
“And the matter of abolishing feudal lords is complex and fraught with resistance. It would be difficult for him alone, or even with the court’s strength, to avoid causing turmoil, or even… provoking strong Princes into rebellion.”
“But if there were a powerful Prince willing to assist, or even… take the lead?”
Yao Guangxiao’s gaze was terrifyingly profound:
“If Your Highness could ‘understand’ the court’s difficulties and ‘support’ the policy of abolishing feudal lords, even proactively cede some power, land, and guards as an example… then in the Emperor’s eyes, what would Your Highness’s posture be?”
“In the eyes of other Princes, what would Your Highness’s situation be? And in the future court, what initiative could Your Highness seize?”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Di’s breathing gradually became heavy.
He stared intently at Yao Guangxiao, as if seeing the loyal strategist who had followed him for many years for the first time.
This idea was too shocking, almost self-destructive.
“Let me willingly cede my own power? In exchange for my Imperial Father’s trust and future initiative?”
Zhu Di’s voice carried suppressed rage and a barely perceptible waver:
“Absurd! By doing so, what difference would I be from a lamb waiting to be slaughtered?!”
“Not so.”
Yao Guangxiao shook his head, his tone decisive:
“Your Highness, this is not self-abolition, but a strategy of retreating to advance, sacrificing a chariot to save the king, or even… shedding the cicada’s shell!”
“Your Highness, please consider, if Your Highness were to lead or deeply participate in this ‘abolishing feudal lords’ process, how much room for maneuver would there be? What should be abolished, what should be preserved, which Princes should be targeted for suppression, and which can be appeased… there is great wisdom in this.”
“And!”
Yao Guangxiao lowered his voice further, with a mysterious allure:
“Does Your Highness not want to know why Zhang Biao is so fixated on the Princes? Even willing to risk the wrath of the world?”
“This humble monk has been pondering the truth behind the Crown Prince’s death. The shadowy hand behind it, has Zhang Biao… discovered something? His targeting of the Princes, is it related to this?”
“Boom—!”
This sentence struck Zhu Di’s mind like a thunderbolt.
The death of Crown Prince Zhu Biao!
The greatest mystery shrouded over the Imperial Family!
The cold case that even the Imperial Father dared not mention, and tirelessly investigated!
Zhang Biao had previously impeached the Emperor concerning the Crown Prince’s death, and now all his actions seemed to implicitly point towards the Princes…
Zhu Di’s expression instantly became extremely grave, even tinged with a hint of alarm.
If Yao Guangxiao’s guess was true, then the truth and the power hidden behind Zhang Biao’s so-called ‘cooperation’ would far exceed his imagination!
This was no longer a simple power struggle, but a colossal wave involving the nation’s foundation and the blood of the heir apparent!
Supporting the abolition of feudal lords was perhaps the superficial aspect, a part of Zhang Biao’s plan.
Its true core might be to use the strength of Prince Yan’s Mansion to uncover a secret that could shake the entire Great Ming Empire!
And this sweet potato was one of the assurances Zhang Biao had thrown out to ensure that Prince Yan’s Mansion would be capable of handling any situation after the secret was revealed!
The study fell into a deathly silence.
Zhu Di stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the map for a long time. An unprecedented and fierce struggle was taking place within him.
Yao Guangxiao’s hypothesis was too bold, too subversive, yet upon careful reflection, it subtly aligned with Zhang Biao’s inexplicably unconventional behavior and deeply hidden motives.
Should he resolutely refuse and protect himself?
Or should he risk intervention, snatching a chance from the fire, to gamble on uncovering the truth and seizing an unprecedented initiative in the future upheaval?
After an unknown period, Zhu Di slowly turned around. His eyes had regained their calm, but beneath that calm lay surging undercurrents and a decision already made.
“Master!”
Zhu Di’s voice was hoarse yet firm: “Reply to Zhang Biao: ‘The sweet potato has been received. We await its effect. The storms in the Capital, Prince Yan’s Mansion observes quietly.'”
He did not explicitly agree to cooperate, but he left ample room for maneuver and indicated he would be observing the ‘storms in the Capital.’
This referred to both the Establishing the Crown Prince issue and possibly the turmoil surrounding the Crown Prince’s case.
“Furthermore!”
Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao, his eyes sharp:
“Mobilize all our forces to secretly investigate any traces related to the Princes before and after the Crown Prince’s death! Especially… Qin, Jin, Zhou, and even the late Prince Lu, and those around them!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yao Guangxiao bowed to accept the order.
He knew that Prince Yan had made his choice.
A path filled with unknowns and dangers, but also one that might lead to the highest position, had now unfolded beneath their feet.
Zhu Di looked out at the dark night sky again, as if he could see through mountains and rivers to the figure of the madman stirring up the waves in the Capital City.
“Zhang Biao… are you a man, a ghost, or… my good fortune?”
He murmured to himself, his hand slowly clenching, his knuckles turning white.
Requesting monthly tickets~
