Chapter 10: The Great Ming’s Top Prison Food!
There was no imagined spoiled food or rotten vegetables, not even coarse steamed corn buns.
Inside, there was shockingly…
A bowl of crystal-clear white rice!
A plate of glistening, stir-fried diced meat!
A plate of emerald green, stir-fried seasonal vegetables!
And a bowl of egg drop soup with floating oil and scallions?
Zhang Biao stared at the two dishes, one soup, and white rice in the food container, his eyes wide!
Although the delicacies in the real world were far better than this, in the Great Ming Dynasty, this was the first time he had seen such a lavish spread. His saliva was already flowing uncontrollably.
It was no wonder. The salary Old Zhu gave was so little that, let alone eating delicacies, even providing enough for a family to be full was a problem.
Otherwise, Censor Shen wouldn’t be squatting by the doorway every day, slurping congee from a coarse porcelain bowl.
After all, Zhang Biao had been in the Ming Dynasty for three months, and he had watched Censor Shen slurping congee for three months. You tell me, how could a respectable Seventh Rank Capital Official end up like this?
Speaking of which, it just brings tears to my eyes!
“This… this is for me?” Zhang Biao couldn’t believe it.
“Of course?”
The young prison guard leaned lazily against the bars and said, “Our Head Jiang said that you are a major criminal personally attended to by the Emperor, so you need special treatment. You get meat for every meal, and it’s all you can eat.”
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, pulled out a small oiled paper bag from his pocket, and threw it into the prison cell.
Seeing this, Zhang Biao didn’t hesitate at all and picked it up and opened it.
Inside, there were surprisingly several pieces of delicate mung bean cake!
“Is the food standard in this Imperial Prison this high?”
Zhang Biao could hardly believe his eyes. He felt a stark contrast to the brutal scene he had witnessed upon entering, and it completely shattered his worldview.
Then, he heard the young prison guard chuckle, “No one else gets this treatment! But who are you? You’re the one who dared to bundle tax increases, establishing the Crown Prince, and Ministry of Revenue corruption together in the Imperial Court and even volunteered to be flayed! Your name is already all over the Imperial Prison! The brothers all admire you as a true man!”
Having said that, he glanced around again and said in a lower voice, “Besides, our Head Jiang specifically instructed that Lu Ping, Qi Tai, and Zhao Qian are the ones who will be receiving focused attention! You… you’re just a bonus!”
“But since the Emperor himself threw you in, we have to maintain appearances. So, you just live here peacefully, eat well, drink well, and just consider it… a vacation?”
Zhang Biao: “…”
Vacation? What kind of vacation is this! Have you ever seen anyone take a vacation in the Imperial Prison?
And it’s all-inclusive, with meat, vegetables, and snacks?
The overwhelming sense of absurdity instantly dispelled the despair he had felt earlier.
But upon further thought, Zhang Biao suddenly had an epiphany.
That’s right!
Old Zhu threw me in so that the Trial by the Three Judicial Offices could investigate the instigators behind them. The focus isn’t on me, but on Lu Ping and the others!
I’m just a byproduct!
A byproduct of a ‘reckless youth’ who dared to speak his mind!
Before the mastermind behind the scenes is found, they not only wouldn’t dare to kill me, but they’d have to treat me well, lest I die in prison under unclear circumstances, making them, the Imperial Guard, appear incompetent.
Having figured this out, Zhang Biao’s eyes lit up with a ‘whoosh’!
This wasn’t a prison at all! This was clearly a haven for slacking off, with free food and lodging, safety, and no need to attend court every day!
As for transmigrating back to the real world?
What’s the hurry!
There are plenty of opportunities in the Imperial Prison!
Perhaps Old Zhu will remember me one day, and in his anger at my audacity in the court session, he’ll issue a decree to execute me in prison?
Or after the Trial by the Three Judicial Offices concludes, they’ll charge me with disrupting the court and drag me out for immediate execution?
Isn’t that just execution by beheading?
Even if Old Zhu doesn’t remember me, and the Trial by the Three Judicial Offices doesn’t convict me, I’ll just have to give Old Zhu some strong medicine!
Didn’t that netizen say it? In the 25th year of Hongwu, writing a plaque that says ‘Zhu Chongba, you favor the illegitimate and abandon the legitimate, going against human relations!’ is guaranteed to make Old Zhu go on a killing spree!
If he’s not mistaken, this must be about Old Zhu establishing Zhu Yunwen as the Imperial Grandson!
Although, according to some people, establishing Zhu Yunwen as the Imperial Grandson is not a problem because he genuinely fits the Primogeniture and Grandson Succession System.
However, some also say that Zhu Yunteng is the legitimate son, and Zhu Yunwen is the illegitimate second son, because Zhu Yunwen’s mother, Consort Lü, was later elevated to Crown Princess by Zhu Biao, so he cannot be counted as a legitimate son.
In any case, there is a lot of controversy about this matter online. Zhang Biao often browses the internet, so he is naturally aware of it.
But in Zhang Biao’s opinion, setting aside the Primogeniture and Grandson Succession System for now, with Zhu Yunwen’s capabilities, he can’t even hold onto the throne steadily, and he let Zhu Laosi succeed in the Jingnan campaign. He is a complete Useless Emperor!
For such a Useless Emperor to ascend the throne would be a dereliction of his duty as a Censor!
Therefore, if the day comes when Old Zhu truly establishes the Imperial Grandson, he will definitely die for his cause!
There’s no room for negotiation; he must oppose this Useless Emperor Zhu Yunwen!
He just doesn’t know when Old Zhu will establish the Imperial Grandson…
September?
There’s no specific date!
Forget it, I’ll just wait. I can’t get out of here anyway!
By staying here, I can observe Lu Ping and the other unlucky fellows being interrogated up close, and maybe even stumble upon some big gossip that Ming History doesn’t record?
This is much more satisfying than transmigrating back and binge-watching nonsensical historical dramas!
“Brother!”
Zhang Biao instantly put on an enthusiastic smile, popped a mung bean cake into his mouth, and asked indistinctly, “What’s your name?”
“Uh, it’s easy to say. My name is Zhu, you can call me Zhu Xiao San!”
The young prison guard seemed taken aback by Zhang Biao’s rapid change in attitude and spoke a bit incoherently.
“Zhu Xiao San? Oh! Third Brother!”
Zhang Biao immediately seized the opportunity, bowed with a smile, and said, “Please look after me in the future! These mung bean cakes are good. Can I have a chicken leg tomorrow?”
Zhu Xiao San: “…”
This guy’s adaptability is quite strong, isn’t it?
It’s quite interesting!
“Alright! Seeing how good your appetite is, I’ll add it for you tomorrow!”
Zhu Xiao San replied with a smile, then took the empty food container and ambled away, humming a livelier tune.
Zhang Biao, on the other hand, happily dug into the fragrant food and drank the hot egg drop soup, his previous despair completely gone.
“Tsk tsk, a blessing in disguise!”
He let out a satisfied burp and sprawled on the straw pile. Although it was still damp and uncomfortable, his mood was completely different.
“Old Zhu, oh Old Zhu, thank you for your care! You’ve let me experience the top-tier prison food of the Great Ming!”
“Lord Qi, Minister Zhao, Vice Minister Lü… you all have to hold on! Last a few more days! Don’t confess so quickly! Let me enjoy a few more days of this peaceful life with free food and lodging!”
“Once your Brother Biao has eaten his fill and rested…”
In a dark corner of the Imperial Prison, from a certain cell, came the faint snores of someone who was carefree.
Meanwhile, Lu Ping and the others in the Imperial Prison were experiencing the first round of enthusiastic “special attention” greetings, and screams could be vaguely heard.
In his sleep, Zhang Biao smacked his lips and mumbled, “Hmm, can I order food tomorrow? I want fish!”
Special Note: As this is an alternate history, do not calculate character ages based on historical figures. Focus solely on the plot.
