Chapter 27: The Greatest Censor In History! New Book Seeking Collection
Old Zhu stared intently at the scoundrel below the steps, who was clutching his stomach with an expression that clearly said, ‘If you don’t give it to me, I’ll starve to death to spite you.’ A strong urge to chop him up and feed him to the dogs surged through his mind!
Jiang Huan, standing beside him, also stared intently at Old Zhu, his hand gripping the hilt so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
Whether he acted himself or handed the sword to Old Zhu, he would complete the task swiftly and decisively.
Because he could no longer suppress the urge to kill Zhang Biao.
This guy was shamelessly beyond all measure.
But
That fifty taels of silver had already been given out. Was he really going to let this scoundrel faint from hunger at the Hall of Supreme Harmony’s doorway? That would be an even greater embarrassment!
Old Zhu thought this to himself, when suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.
Something’s not right, this scoundrel is still seeking death!
He’s definitely counted on this!
That he would lose his temper and kill him because he ordered takeout at the Hall of Supreme Harmony!
After all, this matter… was outrageously defiant!!
Fine, fine, fine, this is testing Old Zhu’s patience!!
If Zhang Biao knew what Old Zhu was thinking, he would probably twitch at the corners of his mouth and wail, “No, Brother, I’m genuinely hungry!”
“Yun—Ming—!”
Old Zhu’s roar, hoarse with nearing collapse, shook dust from the hall ceiling.
Yun Ming scrambled forward: “Your servant is here!”
“Go! Go to the imperial kitchen!”
Old Zhu pointed at Zhang Biao, his finger trembling like a Parkinson’s patient: “For this, this starving ghost! Make a bowl of clear soup noodles! If you dare put an egg in it, I’ll skin you alive! Watch him finish it! Then! Immediately escort him out of the palace! As far away as possible!!”
“Your servant obeys! Your servant goes now!”
Yun Ming, terrified, scrambled out of the hall.
Zhang Biao’s eyes lit up, full of longing.
Old Zhu, however, closed his eyes and slumped back against the dragon throne, no longer willing to look at him.
He feared that one more glance would make him unable to resist strangling the censor with his own hands, the one who had disgraced his authority, pocketed fifty taels of his silver, and eaten a bowl of clear soup noodles.
Not long after, Yun Ming brought the noodles.
Zhang Biao was not polite; he took the noodles and sat cross-legged on the golden bricks of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, slurping them up with relish.
He was probably the first censor in the history of the Great Ming Dynasty to eat noodles in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
All of this was witnessed by Old Zhu, and an indescribable sense of frustration welled up in his heart again.
He, the dignified Hongwu Great Emperor, not only paid a salary out of his own private funds to a defiant young censor who had just cursed him to his face, but also let him eat a bowl of clear soup noodles in the Hall of Supreme Harmony?
The key was, he ate it so deliciously right in front of him!
What was wrong with this world?
Was he crazy? Or was he himself crazy?!
But beneath this suffocating rage, a sliver of extremely calm, calculating imperial ambition, like an undercurrent beneath ice, began to stir.
This Zhang Biao was a madman, a rebel, but also a rare, fearless individual who could burst open festering sores like a swift blade!
His words about official salaries leading to corruption, the hidden dangers posed by the princes, and the vacant successor position, though each word pierced the heart like a knife, were they not also each word drawing blood, striking at the deepest, most unwilling-to-face yet unavoidable worries in his heart?
With Biao’er gone, the future of the Great Ming was like a great ship sailing through treacherous, reef-filled waters.
What should he do?
No matter how brilliant Old Zhu was, he felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness and loneliness at this moment.
Kill Zhang Biao? A single blow would bring peace to his ears!
But what after killing him?
The festering sores would still be there, the hidden dangers would remain, and they would continue to rot beneath the guise of prosperous revelry!
The officials in the court were either timid yes-men or schemers with their own agendas. A ‘mad dog’ like Zhang Biao, who dared to pull off the Emperor’s dragon robe to see if there were any lice crawling inside, would be hard to find even with a lantern!
Moreover… this mad dog, he doesn’t fear death, he fears poverty!
He would drone on for half a day for three hundred coins of meat money!
For his salary, he would dare to produce a tattered account book demanding my hard-earned money!
Fearing poverty is good!
Fearing poverty means there’s a weakness!
With a weakness, he can be controlled!
The cold killing intent deep in Old Zhu’s eyes receded like a tide, replaced by something deeper, more complex—
The imperial art of discovering a peerless weapon and contemplating how to firmly control it.
“Are you done eating?”
Old Zhu’s voice was still hoarse and impatient, but the murderous rage had strangely dissipated.
“Oh, there’s still a mouthful of soup!”
Zhang Biao seemed to realize, “I’ll slurp this last mouthful! Just one!”
Veins bulged on Old Zhu’s forehead, and the killing intent he had finally suppressed was ignited again.
But soon, Zhang Biao finished the last drop of soup, nimbly stood up from the ground, brushed himself off, let out a burp, and bowed: “Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty cares for your officials, truly a wise ruler for all ages! I…”
Saying this, he almost forgot about the silver on the ground, quickly grabbed it, bowed again: “I’ll be going now! I won’t be an eyesore to you, Your Majesty!”
“Wait—!”
Old Zhu interrupted him coldly.
Zhang Biao froze, his heart sank, and he thought, No way, has Old Zhu gone back on his word? Is he going to take back the silver?!
Old Zhu’s tired but still sharp eyes locked onto him like a falcon’s, and he slowly said, “Zhang Biao, your salary, I’ve covered. Shen Lang’s salary, I’ve also taken care of. And that jade pendant, and the pig’s head meat, I’ve handled it all.”
“Now, I ask you.”
“Those matters you discussed with me earlier in the hall, about the princes, official salaries, and the successor position…”
His tone grew heavier with each word: “How do you think these issues should be resolved?”
Here it comes! It wasn’t that simple after all!
Zhang Biao, clutching the silver, his mind raced.
Old Zhu intended to use him as a tool!
If he didn’t answer, although he wouldn’t be killed, he’d likely face constant trouble.
If he answered, he would deviate from his original intention of ‘seeking death’.
So…
Thinking this, his eyes rolled, and he immediately put on an expression of ‘your humble servant is dull-witted’: “Replying to Your Majesty! These are matters of state! Your humble servant is lowly and his words are insignificant, how dare I presume to comment? Your Majesty is divinely wise and will make the final judgment!”
“Hmph!”
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted through his nose, clearly not buying it: “Lowly words? When you were pointing at my nose and cursing me in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, why didn’t you remember you were lowly and your words insignificant?! Stop with the empty talk! Speak! Say whatever comes to mind! If you say it wrong, I won’t blame you!”
“Of course!”
He changed tack and sneered, “You can also choose not to speak. After all, I have plenty of time!”
Good heavens!
This was utter shamelessness!
So, after I ate a bowl of your clear soup noodles, you’ve got me cornered?!
Zhang Biao felt speechless internally, but also full of helplessness.
He knew that if he didn’t say something today, Old Zhu might ‘torment’ him in some way, but he definitely wouldn’t kill him.
Sigh, it’s all just a game.
Requesting monthly tickets, requesting recommendation tickets
