Chapter 24: Old Zhu: You Dare To Blackmail Us? New Book Seeking Collection
Zhang Biao didn’t care if Jiang Huan’s CPU was about to overheat; he was immersed in the role of a miserable worker whose salary was in arrears, unable to extricate himself.
He became more agitated as he spoke, nearly spitting on the Hall of Supreme Harmony: “Your Majesty! Do the math! Seven shi and five dou, is that enough?! It’s not enough for shit!”
“Every day after work, I can only eat thin gruel with pickles! Censor Shen next door, he eats thin gruel with pickles every meal, his face has turned green!”
“I’m a bit better than him; occasionally, I can go to Wang Mazi’s place east of the city and buy half a pig’s head on credit for a feast, and even then, I still owe Wang Mazi three hundred wen for meat money!”
He looked up, his eyes a complex mixture of despair and a plea of ‘it’s up to you,’ staring intently at the gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Seeing that the gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony remained tightly shut, he knew the timing wasn’t right yet, and he continued his loud accusation: “Your Majesty! I know you are a good emperor who loves your people like your own children, but can you stand by and watch your people starve to death?”
“You’ve also suffered hardship and gone hungry. Do you still remember the taste of that sesame cake from back then?”
“I also know that you are overwhelmed with state affairs! I know you are heartbroken and still grieving the loss of the Crown Prince!”
His tone shifted, becoming sorrowful: “But you also need to understand us, your loyal censors!”
“We are also human; we need to eat, wear clothes, and support our families!”
“We brave the wind and rain, impeach this one, offer a dying for a cause to that one, risking our lives for what?”
He slapped his thigh hard, posing a soul-searching question: “Isn’t it all for that meager salary you pay on time, isn’t it to keep my family from starving to death?!”
“And now, look at this!”
Zhang Biao’s voice suddenly rose an octave, filled with the tragic grandeur of someone who has nothing left to lose: “We do the work, risking our lives! We offer admonishments, defying your wrath!”
“I’ve offended everyone I should have and shouldn’t have!”
“My head could be taken off at any moment, but this salary… it’s been seven months and twenty-one days in arrears, Your Majesty!”
He took a deep breath and, with all his might, roared out the admonishment that would surely be recorded in the history of the Great Ming Dynasty: “Your Majesty! The integrity of loyal officials cannot save the Great Ming! But a censor who can’t even get enough to eat! Can his words carry any weight?! He’s starving to death while offering a dying for a cause, he’ll be too weak to die, Your Majesty!”
As his words fell, Zhang Biao prostrated himself on the ground again, picked up the discarded, tattered 《 “Give Me Back My Hard-Earned Money” 》 with both hands, held it above his head, and said with a crying voice:
“I beg Your Majesty! For the sake of the fact that I am somewhat useful, please settle my owed salary first! I’m starving! I want to eat a full meal before I die! Please!”
Silence.
A silence so profound that a needle drop could be heard.
Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there was not a sound.
The onlookers held their breath, their spirits focused.
Only the whistling wind outside the hall seemed to be playing background music for this first salary-demanding censor in the history of the Great Ming.
“Creeaak—!”
The heavy palace gate finally opened slowly, accompanied by a sharp, high-pitched voice: “Imperial Oral Decree: Tell that! bastard! to! come! in—!”
The voice was full of rhythm and emotion.
Hearing this, the crowd outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony exchanged bewildered glances.
Only Zhang Biao showed a satisfied smile, then flicked his head towards Jiang Huan: “Commander Jiang, do you want to go in together?”
Jiang Huan: “.”
I really want to kill you, you scoundrel!
“Alright! Never mind, the Emperor didn’t summon you, so I’ll go in by myself then!”
With a laugh, Zhang Biao hopped up from the ground, then brushed the dust off his official robe. Holding the 《 “Give Me Back My Hard-Earned Money” 》 little notebook, he strode into the Hall of Supreme Harmony like a victorious rooster, head held high.
The onlookers around him couldn’t help but hold their breath for him.
Although they greatly admired Zhang Biao’s courage, especially his courage to speak his mind, they were not optimistic about his chances of getting his salary paid.
After all, they knew Old Zhu’s temper.
That was a man who would kill and flay people at the slightest disagreement.
Demanding a salary from him was no different from seeking one’s own death.
“Alas, I can’t believe Brother Zhang always remembers my family’s situation. I’m truly a terrible person for even thinking of watching his misfortune…”
From an unknown corner, Censor Shen touched his greenish cheeks, feeling so guilty he wanted to bury his head between his legs.
In other corners, the low-ranking capital officials were weeping for Zhang Biao, believing that his going in would likely lead to a grim fate.
“I don’t care, I’ll pay for Brother Zhang’s coffin!” a chubby censor said abruptly.
Other censors around also clamored to contribute money for incense and paper, for funeral expenses.
Zhang Biao, however, was oblivious to all this.
Because he was now standing beneath Old Zhu’s imperial steps again, holding the 《 “Give Me Back My Hard-Earned Money” 》 little notebook, with an expression of ‘facing death with a resolute will’ that made Old Zhu want to kill him.
“Zhang Biao…”
Old Zhu’s voice was gritted out from between his teeth: “Put down that broken… notebook!”
“Oh, alright.”
Zhang Biao obediently and tamely put it down.
However, the front of the text, with its characters, still faced Old Zhu.
Old Zhu’s forehead veins bulged, his hands tightened on the armrests of the dragon throne, creaking ominously.
Anger? Of course!
This scoundrel was simply insulting the Imperial Court!
Absurd? Utterly absurd!
He, the majestic Emperor, was being badgered for debt by a subject in person?
Bewildered?
His mind was now a whirlwind of ‘seven shi five dou,’ ‘five dou seven sheng,’ ‘three hundred wen meat money,’ and ‘too weak to offer a dying for a cause when hungry’ – these demonic numbers and phrases were frantically scrolling through his thoughts!
He opened his mouth, wanting to order Zhang Biao dragged out and beheaded without a second thought!
But looking at the tattered account book in Zhang Biao’s hand, his grief-stricken eyes, and that nonsensical phrase, ‘You are noble, you are remarkable,’ a huge, unprecedented sense of absurdity and powerlessness swept over him like a tsunami, instantly washing away all his murderous intent and imperial dignity.
He had killed countless people – corrupt officials, nobles, arrogant generals. But he had never killed a reckless censor who came to demand his salary while starving!
The feeling was like preparing a powerful ultimate move to instantly kill a BOSS after accumulating energy for a long time, only for the BOSS to suddenly pull out a broken bowl and pitifully say, “Brother, please be kind, give me a steamed bun. I’ll fight after I’ve eaten.”
Frustrated! Unimaginably frustrated!
Old Zhu’s withered hand trembled as he gripped the armrests of the dragon throne.
He wanted to slam the table, to roar, to have this bastard who had ruined his dignity be chopped into ten thousand pieces.
But his throat felt as if it were clogged with tattered cotton, and after a long while, only a distorted voice, filled with endless frustration and bewilderment, was squeezed out from between his teeth: “You… what do you want…”
Zhang Biao thought for a moment, cupped his hands, and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, my demands are simple: first, settle my salary for seven months and twenty-one days, then grant me fifty taels of silver. I wish to hire some maids to serve me!”
Old Zhu: “…”
Are you here to demand your salary or what?!
“Oh, right, and Censor Shen and the others too, settle their salaries as well. Their lives are not easy! You wouldn’t want them to offer a dying for a cause while starving, would you?”
Old Zhu: “…”
Fine, fine, fine! Now you’re extorting me?!
Requesting monthly tickets, requesting recommendation tickets
