Chapter 166: The Zhang Biao Case! Infinite Terror, Everyone Panics! Monthly Ticket Bonus Update 3 4
Old Zhu strode purposefully along the palace road towards Huagai Hall, his bearing still as imposing as ever.
Yet, each step felt as if he were treading on red-hot iron, carrying anger suppressed to its extreme and a fatigue that ran deep.
The clamor from the direction of Fengtian Hall gradually faded behind him, but the shouts of ‘Execute the traitor, correct the public’s perception!’ still buzzed in his ears like persistent flies.
His face was ashen, his jaw clenched, and in his eyes, which had witnessed the vicissitudes of the world, a storm heavier than dark clouds churned.
【 Ten thousand people petitioning for a life? What a grand display! 】
【 When I led thousands of troops to fight, you pedantic Confucian scholars were still digging for food in the fields! 】
He sneered inwardly, a cruel curve forming at the corner of his lips.
【 You think that with the words of scholars, with the so-called ‘Orthodox Tradition’ and ‘public opinion’, you can force me to yield? Force me to kill Zhang Biao, to plug my ears and blind my eyes? 】
【 Wishful thinking! 】
He understood the trick behind this all too well.
This was by no means spontaneous public opinion, but a meticulously planned ambush aimed at his thorough investigation into the Crown Prince’s death.
The objective was to muddy the waters, divert attention, and force him to quickly close the case and silence the witnesses.
【 Very well… 】
【 Let you all jump around for a while longer… 】
【 When my sons arrive… we’ll settle old and new scores together! 】
A chilling, ruthless glint flashed in Old Zhu’s eyes.
However, beneath this forcibly suppressed ferocity lay a deeper ache and an indescribable loneliness.
【 Biao’er… my son… 】
He murmured inwardly, a sharp pain piercing his heart.
【 If you have a spirit in heaven, look at these ‘good brothers’ of yours, look at these ‘loyal officials’ in the entire court! They are pushing father to a dead end! 】
His feelings for Zhu Biao were extremely complex, encompassing not only the pride and affection of a father for his excellent eldest son, but also the absolute trust and reliance of an Emperor on his heir.
Zhu Biao’s death was not just the grief of losing a son, but a fatal blow to the future of his dynasty.
Now, the process of investigating his death was so treacherous, possibly even involving his other sons, how could he not be heartbroken and enraged?
【 Even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs… 】
The saying flashed through his mind again, only to be replaced by colder thoughts.
The ruthlessness of the Emperor ultimately overshadowed the pain of the father.
In his heart, the stability of the Great Ming Empire was far more important than any personal emotion, including that of father and son.
As he entered Huagai Hall, the heavy doors slowly closed behind him, temporarily shutting out the external clamor.
The familiar scent of incense and the silence inside the hall eased his taut nerves slightly, but the oppressive feeling of an approaching storm diminished not at all.
He dismissed the ordinary palace maids and eunuchs who came to serve him, retaining only Yun Ming, the old eunuch who followed him like a shadow.
“Yun Ming.”
Old Zhu’s voice was tinged with a subtle hoarseness and fatigue. He rubbed his temples and sat down behind the imperial desk.
“Your servant is here.”
Yun Ming immediately bowed, his voice as light as a breeze.
“Where are Prince Qin, Prince Jin, and Prince Zhou?”
Old Zhu closed his eyes, his tone calm, as if asking about an ordinary matter.
“Reporting to Your Majesty…”
Yun Ming’s voice remained soft:
“A dispatch of eight hundred li reports that after Prince Qin received the decree… despite his grumbling, he departed from Xi’an three days ago. Based on the estimated travel time, he should arrive in the capital in another two or three days.”
“Prince Jin departed from Taiyuan slightly earlier, but due to the longer distance, he is expected to arrive around the same time as Prince Qin.”
“Prince Zhou departed from Kaifeng, the closest route, but… it is said that Prince Zhou spent some time organizing his manuscripts and only set off yesterday, and is expected to take another four or five days.”
Old Zhu let out a barely audible snort from his nostrils after listening.
【 Second Prince is indeed irritable, Third Prince is ‘obedient’, Fifth Prince… hmph, he’s probably scared witless, delaying as much as he can. 】
“What about Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, and Ye Sheng?”
Old Zhu opened his eyes, his gaze sharp: “How is my decree being executed?”
This was the crucial part!
Controlling the fiefdoms was like grasping the snake by its vital point!
Yun Ming lowered his head, his tone carrying a hint of cautious flattery:
“Your Majesty is wise. Upon receiving the secret decree, the three Dukes have secretly mobilized their elites under the guise of ‘autumn maneuver exercises’ and ‘strengthening defenses’, and have respectively arrived at their pre-arranged locations outside Xi’an, Taiyuan, and Kaifeng City.”
“As soon as the three Princes’ carriages are a certain distance from the city, they will immediately enter to take over defense and ‘protect’ the Prince’s Mansion. Everything is proceeding smoothly and no leaks have occurred.”
“Good.”
Old Zhu nodded with satisfaction, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
【 Well done. As long as the fiefdoms are under control, I doubt they can cause much trouble. 】
He pondered for a moment, as if suddenly remembering something, and his tone became somewhat inscrutable: “How has that child Yunteng been recently?”
When Zhu Yunteng was mentioned, a subtle complexity entered Yun Ming’s voice:
“Reporting to Your Majesty, His Highness the Third Imperial Grandson has been staying in the Northern Five Mansions Palace since presenting the iron box that day, living in seclusion!”
“It is said… he often stares blankly towards the east of Xiao Mausoleum, or clamors for pig’s head meat. Occasionally… he sits quietly on a stone bench in a small courtyard outside the palace for half the day.”
【 Pig’s head meat? That damned pig’s head meat again! Is it that delicious?! 】
【 That bastard Zhang Biao! He’s driven my grandson to madness! 】
Old Zhu felt indignant, but a trace of extremely faint tenderness, unnoticed even by himself, flickered in his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by deeper complexity.
【 That child… is like his father, values emotion, and is stubborn. 】
He sighed inwardly.
【 The contents of that iron box must have made him uncomfortable. But for him to have the courage to send it, this character… is stronger than I imagined. 】
Then, he continued to ask: “What about Yunwen? What has he been doing recently?”
Compared to Zhu Yunteng’s silence, Zhu Yunwen’s actions could better reflect the attitude of the Eastern Palace’s Consort Lü faction.
Yun Ming’s reply was even more cautious: “After returning to the Eastern Palace, His Highness the Second Imperial Grandson cried many times. Only recently, with Consort Lü’s comfort, has he returned to his studies to listen to Hanlin Academy Scholar Huang Zicheng lecture. He occasionally visits his two Princess sisters, and his words and actions… are quite virtuous, filial, benevolent, and diligent, with no abnormalities.”
【 Virtuous, filial, benevolent, diligent, with no abnormalities… 】
Old Zhu mulled over these words in his heart, his face showing no emotion.
The calmer Consort Lü and Yunwen were, the more his suspicion grew.
In such turbulent times, excessive calm was itself unusual.
【 Is he truly unaware, or… is he too good at acting? 】
He waved his hand, signaling Yun Ming to withdraw.
The hall was once again empty, with only him remaining.
Old Zhu leaned back on the dragon throne, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest, his gaze deep as he looked out at the hazy sky beyond the hall.
【 The Princes are about to enter the capital… the aftermath of the ten-thousand-person petition is not yet settled… the cause of Biao’er’s death is shrouded in mystery… 】
All clues, all pressures, all calculations, converged at this juncture.
He knew that the next few days would be crucial in deciding everything.
He was like an experienced hunter, having laid out a net, waiting only for the prey to walk into it.
Only this time, the prey in the net might well include his own sons.
A complex emotion, a mixture of imperial ruthlessness, paternal grief, and the stubborn insistence on uncovering the truth, surged within his chest.
Finally, all emotions transformed into a faint, chilling whisper that dissipated in the vast hall:
“Come, all of you… let me see who truly rules the heavens of this Great Ming!”
His gaze finally fell in the direction of the Imperial Prison, where the madman who had ignited all of this was held.
【 Zhang Biao… you’d better pray that all of this is true… 】
【 Otherwise, I don’t mind making you, the ‘monster’ who stirred up this storm, experience all the extreme tortures of the world before I settle accounts with my sons! 】
……
Meanwhile.
Jiang Huan’s actions were swift and decisive.
The interrogation methods of the Imperial Prison were almost effortless against these pampered censors.
In less than two days, a confession stained with blood lay on his desk.
The results were as he expected; the censors who had suddenly emerged were indeed instigated by someone.
But they knew very little about the person who had instigated them.
It was as if they had encountered difficulties, and someone had extended a helping hand, making them very grateful and wanting to repay the kindness.
They were then given a letter to ‘burn after reading’, telling them that they would be notified when their usefulness was required.
Thus, they received a monthly windfall, and for many years this continued, until one day, another letter arrived saying it was time to repay the favor.
The methods were generally similar.
Of course, some were threatened by having their secrets exposed, but the methods were the same as ‘repaying favors’; they still didn’t know who the other party was.
Jiang Huan did not give up the investigation after seeing these confessions.
He had people investigate their networks of connections, and sure enough, traces were found, such as several names and faint links pointing towards certain leaders of the ‘pure stream’ faction, and even subtle connections to several Princes.
And this was enough for Jiang Huan to report to the Emperor, and also enough to achieve the purpose of ‘killing the chicken to scare the monkeys’.
Two days later, outside the city gates, along the usually bustling official road, a chilling aura now pervaded.
Squadrons of well-armored Imperial Guard officers and soldiers from the Five City Patrols had completely cordoned off an open space.
In the center of the open space, a simple wooden platform had been hastily erected. On the platform knelt seven or eight officials in prison garb, their hair disheveled and their faces pale.
These were the very officials who had ‘died for a cause’ in the court session, demanding Zhang Biao’s swift execution.
Their mouths were stuffed with rags, allowing only muffled cries. Their eyes were filled with despair and fear.
Below the platform, a vast crowd knelt. These were the scholars and literati who had traveled from various regions to participate in the ‘ten-thousand-person petition’.
They had long since lost the passionate fervor of the previous two days. Their faces were pale, their bodies trembled, and many even lowered their heads, afraid to look at the scene on the platform.
The air was thick with the smell of sweat, dust, and an invisible, nauseating fear.
Jiang Huan, clad in a brand-new Flying Fish Robe, stood by the platform, his expression as cold as iron.
Beside him, a strong Imperial Guard, with a booming voice, held a document and, in a toneless voice, loudly proclaimed the crimes of the officials on the platform:
“Censor Chen Qingtan, colluded with factions, presumptuously speculated on the imperial will, and coerced His Majesty. His crime is punishable by death!”
“Director of the Ministry of Personnel Zhao Wenyuan, accepted unspecified bribes, spread rumors, and disrupted the court order. His crime is unforgivable!”
“Hanlin Academy Editor… Imperial Academy Doctor…”
With each name read, the corresponding official on the platform struggled violently, and a suppressed gasp and stir arose from the kneeling scholars in the crowd below.
When the last charge of ‘forming factions for selfish ends and plotting rebellion’ was read, the officer closed the document and took a step back.
Jiang Huan stepped forward, his cold gaze sweeping over the terrified scholars below. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears, carrying the bloody scent of rust:
“His Majesty has decreed: such treacherous individuals, who have brought chaos to the court, have had their crimes confirmed beyond doubt, and the law will show no mercy! Immediately—execute them!”
“Swish!”
Several burly executioners simultaneously raised their executioner’s axes.
The gleaming blades reflected dazzling light under the autumn sun.
“Mmm—!”
The prisoners on the platform let out their final, desperate whimpers.
Amidst the scholars below, finally, someone could not bear the immense psychological pressure. A young student of the Imperial Academy suddenly raised his head, tears streaming down his face, and cried out:
“No… don’t kill them! We… we were wrong! We’ll disperse now! Please, Your Majesty, show mercy!”
This cry was like a stone dropped into still water, instantly causing a chain reaction. Several more wavering scholars began to cry out, and some even tried to scramble up and flee. The scene was on the verge of chaos.
“Silence—!”
Just as the chaos was about to erupt, a clear but unmistakably authoritative voice suddenly rang out, overpowering all the noise.
A scholar in a blue robe, kneeling at the front of the crowd, suddenly straightened his back.
He was no older than thirty, with a lean face, but his eyes were as sharp as knives.
His name was Fang Xiaoru.
Although he was kneeling, his posture was upright, like a pine tree, forming a stark contrast to the fear-stricken and slumped individuals around him.
His gaze was like lightning as he swept over the collapsing scholars, his voice filled with heartbroken reprimand:
“You who read the books of the Sages, for what purpose?! To fear when faced with hardship, to retreat when fearing death, is this the way of a gentleman?!”
“Today, we kneel here to uphold the Orthodox Tradition, for the sake of public justice! Should we change our resolve because the blade is at our throats?!”
“Heads may be severed, blood may flow, but our righteous spirit cannot be extinguished!”
“If we shrink back out of fear of death, how are we any different from these sycophantic and self-serving individuals on the platform?! How dare we face Confucius again?!”
His words, each one sonorous, struck the ears of every scholar like thunder.
Those who had intended to retreat were shamed by his reprimand, their faces flushing red, and they lowered their heads. The disturbance was temporarily suppressed by his presence alone.
After speaking, Fang Xiaoru stopped looking at them and turned his gaze back to the execution platform, his face etched with a look of resolute calm, as if he had long since cast aside life and death.
Jiang Huan on the platform witnessed all of this.
His gaze lingered on Fang Xiaoru for a full three seconds.
In his hawk-like eyes, a highly complex emotion flickered.
There was surprise, scrutiny, and even a barely perceptible hint of admiration, but more than anything, there was coldness and vigilance.
【 Fang Xiaoru… truly lives up to his reputation. He’s a tough bone, and also… trouble. 】
But he did not say anything further, nor did he show any extra expression.
He merely gave an extremely slight, almost imperceptible nod to the executioners.
The next moment—
“Crack!”
“Crack!”
“Crack!”
Several sword lights flashed, and blood splashed!
Several heads fell instantly, rolling on the wooden platform, and the headless bodies collapsed.
A strong smell of blood instantly permeated the air.
There was a deathly silence from below the platform.
Immediately following, there were uncontrollable sounds of vomiting and low sobs.
Many scholars were so scared they collapsed on the ground, their faces ashen.
Only Fang Xiaoru remained kneeling upright, his face a little pale, but his eyes still firm, even with a tragic air of a martyr.
He stared intently at the corpses, as if to etch the tragic scene into his bones.
Jiang Huan watched all of this expressionlessly, as if he were merely completing a routine task.
He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to clear the scene, then turned, and surrounded by the Imperial Guard, he mounted his horse and rode directly towards the Imperial Palace.
From beginning to end, he did not look back at the collapsing scholars, nor did he look at Fang Xiaoru again.
…
Gradually, night fell.
The study in Prince Yan’s Mansion.
Candlelight flickered, casting the solemn and uneasy faces of the three brothers in and out of light.
Outside the window, the sounds of petitioning from the direction of the Gate of Heavenly Acceptance could still be faintly heard, like an unceasing tide, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
Zhu Gaochi angrily slammed his fist on the table:
“Ten thousand people petitioning! These pedantic Confucian scholars are insane! And Imperial Grandfather… did Imperial Grandfather just let them kneel there? And show them a warning by killing the chicken to scare the monkeys?!”
Zhu Gao Sui also looked full of lingering fear: “Second Brother, speak softer! There are Imperial Guard spies everywhere now! Who can guess Imperial Grandfather’s thoughts? I think this matter is extremely strange!”
Zhu Gaochi, sitting in the main seat, remained silent, his fingers unconsciously fiddling with the somewhat worn prayer beads. His plump face showed no discernible expression, but his slightly furrowed brow indicated his extreme inner turmoil.
The secret of the iron box, the princes being summoned, the ten thousand people petitioning… this series of events was like a tangled mess, making him feel unprecedented pressure and confusion.
Father King is far away in Beiping, what will he be thinking now? What instructions will he give them?
Just then, the study door was knocked four times, two urgent and two slow.
The three brothers immediately fell silent, looking alertly towards the doorway.
Zhu Gaochi gave a look, and Zhu Gaochi immediately moved silently behind the door like a leopard, his hand on the hilt.
Zhu Gao Sui leaned close to the door and whispered: “Who is it?”
The butler’s extremely low voice came from outside the door:
“Heir Apparent, and the two princes, a secret letter from Beiping has arrived! It was personally delivered by the mute elder from His Highness’s side, ensuring no one followed.”
The mute elder was one of Prince Yan Zhu Di’s most mysterious death warriors, skilled in stealth and infiltration, and was mute, only able to communicate through writing and gestures.
Him delivering a letter indicated the importance and secrecy of this matter.
Zhu Gaochi’s heart grew stern, and he immediately said: “Please come in quickly!”
The study door opened silently, and a thin, ordinary-looking old man in night-clothes, with no distinguishing features, glided in like a phantom.
He acted as if he didn’t notice the sword pressed against him by Zhu Gaochi, merely bowed slightly to Zhu Gaochi, then retrieved a small, sealed copper tube from his person and offered it with both hands.
Zhu Gaochi took the copper tube, confirmed it was sealed and intact, and nodded to the mute elder.
The mute elder bowed again and, as he had arrived, retreated silently from the study, melting into the night outside.
Silence returned to the study.
Zhu Gaochi took a deep breath, carefully unscrewed the copper tube, and poured out a paper strip as thin as a cicada’s wing.
Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gao Sui immediately crowded around, holding their breath.
Under the candlelight, only a few characters were written on the paper strip, in Zhu Di’s own hand. The strokes were strong, yet carried an indescribable solemnity:
Father is well. I trust you. Wait for the dawn.
Just these eight characters?
The three brothers exchanged glances, momentarily stunned and confused.
“Father is well? I trust you? Wait for the dawn?”
Zhu Gao Sui instinctively read them aloud, scratching his head: “What does Father King mean by this? Everything is well in Beiping? He trusts us? And tells us to… wait?”
Zhu Gaochi’s brows were tightly furrowed, clearly not fully understanding: “Wait for the dawn? Wait for what dawn? The capital is in chaos right now, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fifth Uncle have all been summoned, ten thousand people are blocking the palace gates petitioning, and we are sitting on a volcano. How can we wait? Does Father King not know the specific situation in the capital yet?”
However, Zhu Gaochi looked at these eight characters, and his gaze gradually deepened from initial confusion.
He understood his father better than his two younger brothers, and knew that his father would never act without reason.
He repeatedly savored these words.
“Father is well…”
He murmured, a hint of realization flashing in his eyes:
“Father King is telling us that Beiping is safe, he is well, and his foundation is stable, so we don’t need to worry about our rear. This is to stabilize our hearts.”
Having said this, he looked at Zhu Gaochi: “Second Brother, it was right for me to tell you to stop all actions before. At this moment, it’s better to do nothing than to act.”
Then, his gaze fell on the characters ‘I trust you’:
“Father King trusts our abilities and judgment, believing we can maintain our composure in this whirlpool and handle the current crisis. This is to steady our resolve.”
He said this to Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gao Sui, and also to himself.
Finally, his gaze fixed on the four characters ‘Wait for the dawn,’ and his voice gradually became steady and powerful:
“‘Wait for the dawn’… Father King is not telling us to passively wait.”
“He is telling us that the current chaos and darkness are only temporary! The true moment of ‘dawn’ has not yet arrived!”
He looked up at his two brothers, a relieved yet more solemn expression on his plump face:
“Father King sees further than us! All of this in the capital is likely still within Imperial Grandfather’s control, or perhaps… it was even planned or instigated by Imperial Grandfather himself!”
“Father King wants us to remain calm, not be confused by the current chaos, not act rashly, and most importantly, not be used as pawns by anyone!”
“We must be like hunters, patiently waiting for the most suitable moment to strike! Waiting for the situation to truly clear up, for the dawn to appear!”
Hearing their elder brother’s painstaking analysis, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gao Sui gradually came back to their senses. The anxiety and unease on their faces slowly gave way to a heavy sense of responsibility and vigilance.
They looked at the eight characters again, feeling their immense weight.
“Father King means… all of this now is still within Imperial Grandfather’s… or even Father’s expectations?”
Zhu Gaochi asked hesitantly, with a hint of disbelief in his voice.
“At least, Father King believes it is far from time for us to take risks.”
Zhu Gaochi nodded heavily, lit the paper strip with the candlelight, and watched it turn to ash:
“What we need to do is as Father King said, ‘wait for the dawn’.”
He paused, his eyes sharpening, and looked at his two brothers: “From this moment on, everyone in Prince Yan’s Mansion must appear more obedient and more low-key than usual!”
“Second Brother, especially you, absolutely must not step outside again! Control all your temper!”
“Third Brother, keep your mouth shut. Don’t talk carelessly, even to people within the mansion. If you’re bored, eat pig’s head meat, eat pig’s trotters, think of Brother Biao!”
“Then… what about that iron box?” Zhu Gao Sui asked in a low voice.
“It has nothing to do with us! Pretend nothing happened!” Zhu Gaochi said decisively.
Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gao Sui looked at each other, seeing determination in each other’s eyes, and nodded in unison: “Understood, Eldest Brother!”
Under the candlelight, the figures of the three brothers seemed more steady than before.
Although the storm outside was intensifying, this short but immensely weighty secret letter from their father was like a steady anchor cast into the stormy waves for them.
…
At the same time, inside Huagai Hall.
Jiang Huan knelt on one knee and reported the interrogation results and the execution process to Old Zhu in detail, including Fang Xiaoru’s performance at the execution ground and his speech, all recounted word for word.
Old Zhu listened quietly, his fingers habitually tapping the armrest, his face unreadable.
When he heard Fang Xiaoru scolding the retreating scholars and saying, “Heads can be severed, blood can flow, but righteous spirit cannot be taken,” his fingers paused slightly, and a very faint, inscrutable gleam flashed in his eyes.
Fang Xiaoru… that disciple of Song Lian? His reputation is quite famous!
He sneered inwardly.
Tough bones, unafraid of death, a talent for governing the realm, but unfortunately… too arrogant.
He needs to be suppressed for now, so he can achieve greatness in the future.
“Mm, I understand.”
Old Zhu’s voice was calm and unhurried, seemingly unsurprised by Fang Xiaoru’s behavior, nor particularly concerned.
“What happened to those terrified scholars afterward?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, after the execution, most were disoriented, and some have already begun to disperse.”
Jiang Huan replied cautiously: “But a part of them, led by Fang Xiaoru, are still kneeling in place, unmoving and silent, seeming to intend to die for a cause.”
“Die for a cause?”
Old Zhu’s lips curved into a mocking arc: “Then let them kneel. If they like kneeling, let them kneel to their heart’s content. I want to see how long their knees can be harder than my patience.”
He mused for a moment, a calculative glint in his eyes, and issued a new command:
“Issue an edict to Liu Sanwu, and to those few honest old fellows in the Censorate.”
“Tell them to persuade those kneeling scholars.”
“Inform them that regarding the Shaanxi old case, I will personally make a judgment and will soon issue a public decree to the entire realm.”
“If they disperse now, I will not hold them accountable.”
“If they stubbornly persist, and gather to coerce…”
Old Zhu’s voice suddenly turned cold: “Then next time, it won’t just be the few on the platform who are beheaded! Do not say that I did not warn you!”
This was a carrot and a stick.
It provided an easy way out while also drawing a final red line.
“Yes! Your subordinate understands!”
Jiang Huan accepted the order, but hesitated, then asked in a low voice: “Your Majesty, what about Fang Xiaoru?”
Old Zhu glanced at him, his eyes deep:
“Fang Xiaoru… for now, do not touch him.”
“This person’s reputation is too great. Killing him might chill the hearts of scholars across the realm, playing right into the hands of some people.”
“But remember his words and actions today.”
“This person… can be used, but not now. Let’s see how he acts in the future.”
Old Zhu’s attitude towards Fang Xiaoru was very clear.
Temporarily handle him with coldness, observe him, use his reputation to appease the scholars, but never promote him, and certainly monitor him closely.
“Your subordinate obeys the decree!”
Jiang Huan understood, knowing the Emperor had a complete plan, and immediately bowed and withdrew to make arrangements.
After watching Jiang Huan leave, Old Zhu’s gaze once again turned outward, as if he could penetrate the palace walls and see the scholars still kneeling and that upright figure.
The backbone of scholars… Hmph, I’ll see if their backbone is harder, or if my Great Ming’s solid empire is harder!
The sky of this Great Ming, ultimately, belongs to the Zhu family!
And those who are instigating you from behind… don’t think you’re the only one who can make moves!
“Yun Ming!”
Old Zhu called out unexpectedly.
Yun Ming immediately ran in to receive the order: “Your servant is here.”
“Tell Song Zhong!”
Old Zhu’s voice was terrifyingly calm, yet contained a storm:
“Triple the number of guards for Zhang Biao’s prison cell, all of them my old personal guards from my hometown! Without my order, not a single fly is allowed to get in!”
“If Zhang Biao loses a single strand of hair, or ‘commits suicide,’ Song Zhong and all his subordinates will bring their heads to me!”
“Yes! Your Majesty!”
Yun Ming trembled with fear, quickly bowed to receive the order, and scurried out to deliver it.
Old Zhu then looked at the mountain of memorials piled on the desk, a cruel smile on his lips.
“You want to use numbers to suppress me? I’ll show you what true ‘general trend’ means!”
Muttering, he picked up the vermilion brush and quickly wrote on a blank imperial edict, then stamped it with the Imperial Seal.
“Issue an edict! Order the Commander of the Five City Patrols, Chang Sen, to set up a ‘Drum of Hearing Petitions’ and a ‘Drum of Voicing Grievances’ each outside the Meridian Gate tomorrow!”
“Assign literate eunuchs to guard them! Announce to the entire city: anyone who knows of the Shaanxi old case, the Eastern Palace old affairs, or any corruption, illegality, or factionalism within the court, regardless of their status, can beat the drum to voice their grievances directly to the Heavenly Ear!”
“Those whose claims are verified will be rewarded! Those whose claims are false, if excusable, will be pardoned! If any official dares to obstruct the reporting of grievances, they will be treated as accomplices!”
You want to “petition for the masses” to kill Zhang Biao?
I’ll initiate a “petition for the masses” to report grievances!
Let’s see whose voice is louder! Let’s see who uncovers more dirty secrets! Let’s see who dies faster!
A cold glint flashed in Old Zhu’s eyes, which could see through the hearts and machinations of men.
And this imperial decree, like another clap of thunder, instantly spread throughout the entire city!
The capital, initially swept up in the public opinion demanding Zhang Biao’s execution, exploded once again!
Those who harbored grievances, secrets, or simply wanted to profit from the situation or get revenge on enemies began to stir.
The infinite terror made all officials with unclean records panic.
This was a shocking case even more terrifying than the three major cases before!
—The Zhang Biao case, completely solidified.
Seeking monthly tickets~
Seeking monthly tickets, seeking recommendation tickets, seeking full subscription, complete subscription, automatic subscription!
Remember to give characters a thumbs up.
Thanks to Fallen Angel X1000 for the reward!
Also, starting tomorrow is the climax of the plot.
It’s not that I’m slow, but that some things that need to be explained must be explained. This is my consistent style of writing stories. I don’t want a section of inexplicable plot to suddenly appear, so I need to explain it clearly first, and then unleash the action.
