Chapter 163: Are You Teaching Me How To Be Emperor?! Monthly Ticket Bonus Update 2
Xi’an, Prince Qin’s Mansion.
Prince Qin Zhu Shuang was toasting and enjoying himself with his beautiful concubines when he received the imperial decree disguised as an order to ‘attend to the sick’.
Upon hearing it, a flicker of confusion crossed his corpulent face, immediately followed by overwhelming rage and suspicion.
“Attend to the sick?! What utter nonsense!”
Zhu Shuang shoved away the concubine in his arms, smashing the wine cup in his hand to smithereens, and roared, his voice echoing through the hall:
“My father is strong enough to kill tigers! When would he ever need me to attend to his sickness?! This is clearly the Hongmen Banquet! It’s aimed at me!”
He paced back and forth in the hall like a trapped beast, the fleshy folds on his face trembling with anger:
“My eldest brother must be dead, and the old man has taken a dislike to all of us sons! He’s looking for an excuse to deal with us!”
“It must be my fourth brother! It’s definitely my fourth brother causing trouble behind the scenes! He must have slandered me to the old man! He’s gone mad for the position of Crown Prince!”
He poured all his suspicion and wrath onto Prince Yan Zhu Di in Beiping, believing Zhu Di was framing him.
“Your Highness, please calm your anger! Your Highness, please calm your anger!”
The chief clerk of the prince’s mansion was terrified and quickly pleaded, “This is an imperial decree from His Majesty, sent by urgent express mail, how could it be false? Disobeying it is a grave crime!”
“A grave crime? What grave crime should I fear?!”
Although Zhu Shuang’s words were defiant, a hint of unconcealed fear flashed in the depths of his eyes.
No matter how unruly he was, he knew the consequences of defying his imperial father.
The fates of Hu Weiyong, Li Shanchang, and others were still fresh in his memory.
Struggle, curses, fear… various emotions intertwined in his heart.
“Your Highness~ Please don’t be angry. If you ask me, this matter is very strange.”
The favored concubine, Lady Wang, her eyes glistening, said in a voice sweet enough to be sickening:
“That ‘Red Lead Immortal Pill’ back then was prepared by the Prince Jin’s mansion, under the guise of celebrating your birthday. It was personally managed by Consort Deng, his most favored concubine, who sent someone to deliver it secretly.”
“They said it was refined by Prince Zhou and was more effective than the elixir formula we have… They also specifically instructed that this item was precious and should not be publicized.”
She gently fed a grape into Zhu Shuang’s mouth and continued to whisper:
“But now… it seems like it’s all your fault? If that elixir really had problems, why would His Highness Prince Jin give it to you? And as a birthday gift? What were his true intentions?”
Just then, a trusted eunuch quietly entered, presented a secret report, and added in a low voice:
“Your Highness, the informant from Prince Jin’s mansion also sent news, saying… saying that Consort Deng, whom Prince Jin favored, was officially reported as having died of illness, but in fact, she was silenced by His Highness Prince Jin… She was from the same hometown as the eunuchs Wang An and Wang Fu. Now, Wang An, Wang Fu, and Consort Deng are all dead…”
Lady Wang immediately interjected, feigning surprise: “Oh my! Silencing them, Your Highness? Isn’t that Wang An the old eunuch who was responsible for your tribute?”
“Your Highness, if Prince Jin bribed Wang An through Consort Deng, and Wang An’s brother served the Crown Prince… then wouldn’t it be possible…”
She paused, observed his expression, and feigned fear:
“The ‘elixir’ refined by Prince Zhou was originally good, but was it swapped by Wang An on the way? Replaced with the ‘elixir’ that Prince Jin sent as a ‘birthday gift’? Or mixed with something else? That’s what caused… the Crown Prince’s death?”
“Now, His Majesty is pinning all this enormous responsibility on you, Your Highness, while he remains unscathed…”
“After all, after you, Your Highness, he will be next…”
Zhu Shuang was already unsettled by the imperial decree. Now, stirred and guided by his favored concubine and the secret report, although his mind was not sharp, the rage of being schemed against by his brother instantly ignited to its extreme.
“Zhu Gang—!”
He suddenly lunged, kicking over the table in front of him. Fruits and wine spilled everywhere, his eyes bloodshot, like a frenzied wild boar:
“You bastard, my third brother! How dare you scheme against me like this?! Use me as a pawn?! And want me to take the blame for murdering the Crown Prince?! I’ll curse your ancestors!!”
He trembled with rage, all his fear now transformed into an intense hatred for Prince Jin Zhu Gang.
“You want me dead? Then you won’t have it easy either!”
Zhu Shuang’s face contorted, and he gasped, roaring:
“Prepare the carriages and horses! I’m going to the capital now! When I reach my imperial father, I’ll reveal everything I know and don’t know! We’ll die together!”
…
Meanwhile, in Taiyuan, Prince Jin’s Mansion.
In the study, the candlelight burned brightly.
Prince Jin Zhu Gang’s expression was even gloomier than the night outside.
Standing before him was his most trusted confidant.
The confidant’s voice was low and hurried: “Your Highness, your subordinate has carefully verified the expenditures of the imperial household in the period before Consort Deng’s demise.”
“A sum of a thousand taels of gold is unaccounted for. The accounts vaguely record it as ‘special use for the prince’s mansion,’ and it bears Consort Deng’s seal.”
“The timing… was shortly after the Crown Prince’s eunuch Wang Fu ‘fell into a well’ and his elder brother Wang An ‘died suddenly’.”
Zhu Gang’s fingers tightened abruptly, his fingertips turning white: “A thousand taels of gold… special use…”
His ominous premonition grew stronger.
The confidant continued: “Moreover, according to scattered clues, that gold seems to have eventually flowed towards Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi… And the hometown of the Wang Fu and Wang An brothers is Pingyang Prefecture!”
“Your subordinate suspects… that sum of money might be… the source of the thousand taels of gold buried in their ancestral home!”
“Bang—!”
Zhu Gang slammed his fist onto the desk, causing the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to jump.
He was not a fool and instantly connected all the clues!
Consort Deng! That woman he had once doted on, even allowing her to handle some of the prince’s mansion’s affairs!
Behind his back, she had used a large sum of money to bribe and silence key witnesses’ families who might be connected to the Crown Prince’s death?!
Why did she do this? Was she instructed by someone? Or trying to cover for someone?!
He had been kept in the dark all this time?! And possibly… been used as a pawn from beginning to end?!
An ice-cold fear and the rage of being manipulated swept over Zhu Gang.
He thought himself clever, but he never expected the biggest loophole might be with the woman by his side.
“Lady Deng—!”
Zhu Gang squeezed out the name from between his teeth, his eyes filled with malice and a hint of lingering fear.
He was now almost certain he had been framed!
And the scheme was very deep!
Just then, hurried footsteps were heard from outside the door. The chief clerk of the prince’s mansion, holding the urgent imperial decree for ‘attending to the sick,’ burst in, his face ashen:
“Your Highness! Your Highness! An urgent decree from the capital! The Emperor summons you to the capital immediately to attend to his sickness!”
Zhu Gang’s body stiffened. He slowly turned around, looking at the yellow silk decree, the last trace of color draining from his face.
It wasn’t long before he finished reading the entire contents of the imperial edict.
“Missing my son… attending to the sick…”
Zhu Gang repeatedly chewed on these words. His handsome yet somewhat sinister face showed shifting emotions.
His first thought was of the ‘Hongmen Banquet’.
Could it be… that the events in Shaanxi… and the events in the Eastern Palace… had all been investigated by his imperial father? Or was his imperial father unable to find evidence and intended to question him directly?
A chilling coldness shot up his spine to the top of his head!
But he forcefully suppressed the tempest within him, maintaining a calm facade, even forcing a look of ‘worry’:
“My imperial father’s health is poor, this son is burning with anxiety! Prepare immediately, this prince will travel day and night back to the capital to attend to my imperial father!”
Returning to the inner chamber and dismissing everyone, Zhu Gang’s calm facade instantly crumbled, replaced by profound gloom and anger.
“Investigate! Go investigate immediately! Where did things go wrong?! Were the officials in the prince’s mansion indiscreet? Or did the bad business in Xi’an implicate me? Or… my fourth brother!”
“Yes! It must be Zhu Di! He’s been secretly gathering evidence against me! He wants to borrow a knife to kill me!”
He paced the hall like a viper, his eyes filled with extreme malice.
He directed his greatest suspicion towards Prince Yan Zhu Di, with whom he had always had a poor relationship and who was his strongest competitor.
Fear and anger were almost consuming him.
He knew that if those matters were exposed, his journey to the capital would likely be perilous.
But the imperial decree had been issued, and he had no reason to refuse, nor dared to refuse.
He knew his imperial father’s methods better than anyone.
Finally, a ruthless and determined glint appeared in his eyes: “Issue an order to destroy all documents and accounts that might be related to Shaanxi and the Eastern Palace!”
“All trusted confidants who know about this, scatter and hide immediately! All those related to Consort Deng are to be secretly controlled!”
“If… if I don’t return, let them know what to do!”
He prepared for the worst, but would not simply wait to die.
“At the same time!”
an even more sinister gleam flashed in Zhu Gang’s eyes:
“Have our people release news that although Prince Yan is in Beiping, he has always been deeply concerned about the Crown Prince’s health, repeatedly sending people to deliver medicinal materials to Shaanxi, or directly to the Eastern Palace, and even consulting with alchemists in private on ways to maintain health…”
“Remember! Keep it vague, like the conjectures and whispers of low-ranking officials. Never let it be traced back to us!”
“Yes, Your Highness! Your subordinate will attend to it immediately!”
The confidant felt the prince’s killing intent and was awed, quickly accepting the order and leaving.
Zhu Gang stood alone in the room, squeezed the imperial decree in his hand, then walked to the window, looked towards the northeast, and squinted: “Fourth brother, you want to be the fisherman? You want to watch the snipe and the clam fight?”
“Hmph! I won’t let you have your way. If we die, we all die together!”
…
On the other side, in Kaifeng, Prince Zhou’s Mansion.
In a warm pavilion beside the medicinal garden, Prince Zhou Zhu Su was staring blankly at a secret letter he had just received from Prince Jin’s Mansion in Taiyuan.
The letter was from Prince Jin Zhu Gang’s confidant, and its tone was extremely anxious, even threatening:
“Fifth brother! Who else knows about the ‘Red Lead Immortal Pill’ you secretly sent me for stimulation back then, besides you?!
“Does that medicine have problems?! Speak quickly! If there’s even a single lie, neither of us will escape a burial place!”
Zhu Su scratched his head, his delicate face full of confusion and a… barely perceptible mischievous smile.
“What’s wrong with Third Brother? Why is he suddenly asking about this? Could it be that he’s… lost his vigor again? Wanting to try again?”
He muttered softly, feeling a little smug in his heart.
“It seems my ‘research results’ are still quite recognized by Third Brother. Although that medicine is potent and has considerable side effects, its effects are indeed remarkable.”
He picked up his brush, intending to write back, tease his third brother, and offer to ‘secretly’ prepare and send him some more effective new products.
Just then, a subordinate official from the prince’s mansion almost stumbled in, his voice trembling:
“Your Highness! Your Highness! An urgent decree from the capital… The Emperor… The Emperor summons you to the capital immediately with the manuscript of ‘The Herbal for Disaster Relief’ for an audience!”
The pen in Zhu Su’s hand ‘clattered’ onto the paper, smearing a large patch.
The relaxed mood he had just been in, thinking about sending ‘tonic’ to his third brother, vanished without a trace.
An imperial decree from his father… ‘The Herbal for Disaster Relief’… At the same time as his third brother’s inexplicable letter inquiring about old medicine…
An extremely strong ominous premonition, like icy river water, instantly engulfed him.
He suddenly realized that his third brother’s letter was probably not asking for medicine, but confirming… the shocking case that the medicine might have caused?!
Could it be… related to what had previously been rumored from Yingtian Prefecture?!
And he, unknowingly, seemed to have stepped into the center of a bottomless vortex.
Zhu Su’s face instantly turned pale, and the secret letter in his hand fluttered to the ground.
He opened his mouth, but found he couldn’t utter a single word, only boundless fear and bewilderment.
“Why… why me?”
He closed his eyes painfully, his voice trembling slightly:
“I have never participated in any struggle, I just want to compile my medical books and play with new ideas… Father… why don’t you trust me either?”
Although the events in Yingtian Prefecture had long reached him, he hadn’t paid much attention.
Because he thought that no matter how fiercely the fire in Yingtian Prefecture burned, it wouldn’t reach him.
Besides, that lunatic named Zhang Biao, even he couldn’t ‘audit’ himself.
However, he now realized that some things are like a tree wanting to be still, but the wind won’t stop. Perhaps from the moment Zhang Biao began his ‘crazy demand for salary,’ no one could escape.
Thinking of this, his heart was filled with bitterness and a sense of tragic helplessness.
He might have vaguely known about some of his brothers’ dirty dealings, but he had never thought he would be drawn into it himself.
Should he struggle? Resist?
He knew it was futile.
In the face of his father’s absolute authority, any resistance was suicide.
In the end, it turned into deep helplessness and a touch of scholarly melancholy.
He slowly crouched down, picked up the hoe, and carefully placed it aside, as if making a solemn farewell.
“Prepare it.”
He said to the subordinate official in a hoarse voice: “Gather all the manuscripts of ‘The Herbal for Disaster Relief’…”
He had compromised, carrying a heart full of injustice, fear, and a faint hope that his father would see the truth.
…
For the next period, as Old Zhu waited for Prince Qin, Prince Jin, and Prince Zhou to arrive in the capital, all the actions of the Imperial Guard seemed to have stopped.
Even the previously sealed nine gates were reopened.
It was as if everything had returned to peace.
However, the news of the three vassal princes being summoned to the capital ‘to attend to the sick’ and ‘to present manuscripts’ was still known to those well-informed.
This made all the officials and nobles in Yingtian Prefecture feel the oppressive atmosphere of an approaching storm, making them all fearful for their own safety and silent as cicadas.
And at this time, the Yingtian Imperial Palace, shrouded in dark clouds for days, finally welcomed a regular court session, which had not been held for a long time.
Civil and military officials, with uneasy hearts, entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony according to their ranks.
Everyone’s nerves were taut, and the air was filled with an invisible, suffocating pressure.
Everyone knew that recent turmoil had erupted in the capital, with undercurrents surging. The Emperor convening a court session at this moment was by no means just to handle daily state affairs.
Old Zhu sat high on the dragon throne, his expression calm, even less overtly violent than usual.
But his deep-set eyes and the occasional cold glint that flashed within them made all the officials who met his gaze instinctively lower their heads, not daring to look directly at him.
The court session proceeded as usual, handling a few unimportant matters regarding provisions for border garrisons and local reports, Old Zhu then seemingly casually tapped his finger on the imperial desk.
Liu Sanwu, a Hanlin Academy Scholar who had already received instructions, stepped forward, holding his tablet, his voice filled with grief and passion:
“Your subject Liu Sanwu impeaches Marquis of Jiangxia Zhou Dexing!”
“He, as a founding noble and recipient of the nation’s great favor, has failed to repay it, allowing his slaves to seize civilian land and oppress good people, and colluded with unlawful merchants to seek exorbitant profits!”
“His actions are truly ungrateful and betray the Emperor’s grace. I implore His Majesty to punish him severely!”
Immediately following, Imperial Son-in-Law Mei Yin also stepped forward, his tone equally stern:
“Your subject Mei Yin impeaches former Vice Minister of Revenue Fu Youwen, Minister of War Ru Chang, Minister of Works Zheng Ci, and Vice Minister of Personnel Zhai Shan!”
“These four individuals, as important ministers of the court, should have been incorrupt and devoted to public service, but instead, they formed factions for selfish gain, embezzled state funds, deceived superiors and concealed from subordinates, leading to deficits in the Ministry of Revenue, neglected weaponry, ruined construction projects, and corruption in the civil service!”
“Their crimes are too numerous to count, truly vermin of the state! I implore His Majesty to bring them to justice to warn future offenders!”
The consecutive impeachments by two influential figures, directly targeting nobles and fallen high officials, immediately caused a slight stir in the court, but it quickly returned to dead silence.
Everyone understood that this was not a simple impeachment, but the Emperor using Liu and Mei as his mouthpieces to set the tone once again, settle old scores, and issue a warning.
As expected, Old Zhu slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone’s ears, carrying a cold weight:
“I have heard this, and my heart is chilled.”
His gaze slowly swept over the officials below, who were as silent as cicadas.
“Some people, when I was fighting to establish this empire, endured hardship and shed blood. When I gained the empire, I gave you high positions, generous salaries, and wealth. I expected you to help me govern this country well and let the common people live good lives.”
“But some people? They can’t change the greed in their bones! They’ve forgotten their roots! Do you think this empire and its state are your gold mines for silver?! Do you think I am old and blind, deaf? That you can fool me as you please?”
His tone remained calm, but each word struck the hearts of many officials like a whip.
Especially those with unclean consciences, who had had dealings with Zhou Dexing, Fu Youwen, and others, were now sweating profusely, their legs turning weak.
“I tell you!”
Old Zhu’s voice suddenly rose a notch, like clashing metal, making people’s hearts tremble:
“The sky of this Great Ming will not fall! Even if it falls, I, Zhu Yuanzhang, will be the first to hold it up! It’s not up to you vermin to hollow out its foundations!”
“Anyone who thinks their neck is harder than the law, or harder than my blade, can certainly try!”
The last sentence, filled with killing intent, made the temperature in the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony seem to drop several degrees.
“Your subjects dare not! Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”
All the officials bowed in unison, not daring to even breathe.
Old Zhu looked at the trembling ministers below, but the irritation and violence that had arisen due to the Crown Prince’s matter did not subside; instead, it festered.
He waved his hand dismissively, preparing to announce the end of the court session.
However, at this very moment—
“Your subject! Censor Chen Qingtan! Has a memorial to present!”
A clear voice, yet filled with a resolute tone, broke the deathly silence in the hall.
A young official, no older than thirty, dressed in a blue censor’s robe, holding his tablet, strode out from the end of the ranks and knelt at the foot of the imperial steps.
His face was slightly pale from nervousness, but his eyes were exceptionally firm, even with a tragic air of ‘though a thousand men stand in my way, I shall go’.
Old Zhu’s brows furrowed instantly, and he looked impatiently at this ignorant young censor.
Liu Sanwu, Mei Yin, and others also cast surprised glances.
Chen Qingtan took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, his voice clear yet trembling, and loudly delivered the remonstrance he had prepared:
“Your Majesty! Your subject impeaches the fugitive Zhang Biao on four major charges!”
“First! Zhang Biao is arrogant and lawless, openly insulting sacred learning and slandering virtuous sages, his heart deserves to be condemned! Yet, although Your Majesty decreed his execution after the autumn, the procedure of a red-marked review and verdict has not been carried out according to the law! This leaves the national law suspended and the order unestablished! This is the first charge!”
“Second! Zhang Biao’s accomplices Shen Lang and Sun Gui, emboldened and audacious, trespassed into the highly confidential area of the Ministry of Revenue at night and committed theft. They were caught red-handed. Their crimes deserve execution! Yet, Your Majesty has not issued a clear decree for their punishment! This is the second charge!”
“Third! Another accomplice of Zhang Biao, Zhao Fengman, first colluded with Shen Lang in theft, and then caused a stampede by frightening cattle in the marketplace, disturbing the imperial procession of His Highness the Third Imperial Grandson and two princesses, leading to great chaos and nearly causing a catastrophe. His crimes are unforgivable even after ten thousand deaths! Yet, Your Majesty has also not punished him! This is the third charge!”
“Fourth! Zhang Biao’s remaining remnants Li Mo and Wu Nai Da, have been secretly fanning the flames, spreading rumors of ‘disgracing the imperial family,’ undermining the foundation of the state, and misleading the people, their crimes are heinous! I implore Your Majesty to immediately issue a decree to arrest and execute them to appease the people! This is the fourth charge!”
“Your Majesty! These four cases are all supported by solid evidence and have had severe repercussions!”
“Yet, Your Majesty has delayed their resolution, causing the law and discipline to be unclear, the people to be uneasy, and scoundrels to harbor a false sense of security, while loyal and righteous individuals sigh with regret!”
“Your subject boldly risks death to advise, imploring Your Majesty to swiftly bring them to justice to rectify the national law and purify the court! Only then can the hearts of the empire be calmed!”
After Chen Qingtan finished speaking, he heavily kowtowed on the cold floor tiles of the Golden Imperial Hall, remaining prostrate, appearing ready to face death.
The entire Hall of Supreme Harmony fell into a silence so profound that a needle could be heard.
All the officials were stunned, looking at this minor censor in disbelief.
What was he doing?!
Was he publicly accusing the Emperor of delaying official duties, showing leniency outside the law, and harboring fugitives?!
Didn’t he see the Emperor was just raging moments ago?! This was like pulling whiskers from a tiger’s mouth, seeking his own death!
As expected, Old Zhu on the dragon throne, his face darkened at a visible speed, his eyes narrowed slightly, a terrible storm churning within them.
He did not react immediately, but merely stared intently at Chen Qingtan, who was prostrate on the ground, with eyes as cold as an abyss, his fingers unconsciously and very slowly tapping the armrest of the dragon throne.
Those familiar with the Emperor knew that this was a precursor to his extreme fury.
The air in the hall seemed to solidify into ice, making it impossible to breathe.
Everyone thought that in the next second, the Emperor would order this ignorant censor to be dragged out and beheaded.
However, Old Zhu spoke, his voice eerily calm, so calm it was bone-chilling:
“Chen Qingtan.”
“Your subject… Your subject is here…”
Chen Qingtan’s body, prostrate on the ground, trembled slightly.
“Are you teaching me… how to be an Emperor?”
The voice was calm, and killing intent suddenly permeated the entire hall.
Everyone knew that the Emperor’s long-suppressed rage had been ignited at this moment.
Seeking monthly tickets~~!
Seeking monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, continued subscriptions, full subscriptions, and automatic subscriptions.
Remember to like the characters.
Thanks to Fallen Angel X1000 for the reward.
Also, the plot of this volume is nearing its end.
