Chapter 6: Old Zhu! Why Aren’t You Playing By The Rules Anymore!?
Although imperial censors dying for a cause was a common occurrence throughout history, cases of censors being killed were actually not that many.
Even in the Great Ming Dynasty under Old Zhu’s iron fist, few censors were killed.
Moreover, every censor who came out to die for a cause wasn’t truly seeking death.
Sometimes, what was called dying for a cause merely expressed a resolute attitude.
And those in power, unless they were incompetent rulers, or someone had transformed into ‘Monster Zhang Biao’, rarely used censors as scapegoats.
After all, censors were in this profession, and if you killed all the censors, who would dare offer admonishments in the future? It’s likely no one in the entire Imperial Court would dare to speak.
However, Zhang Biao’s outrageous move even baffled the usually bloodthirsty Old Zhu.
He looked at the stubborn young censor below who was actively seeking death with an expression of ‘loyal and unyielding’, then at the pale-faced, trembling Minister of Revenue Zhao Qian beside him, and finally at Lu Ping and Qi Tai kneeling on the ground.
An even more violent and chaotic wrath exploded in his chest like a volcano!
The matter of the Minister of Revenue Zhao Qian mentioning a tax increase made him feel stifled!
Lu Ping’s discussing the Crown Prince made him furious!
Qi Tai, under the guise of considering the nation, brought up the matter of establishing the Crown Prince again, causing his heart to bleed!
Now, a fearless Zhang Biao popped up, not only bundling all these vexing matters together but also actively requesting the most tragic form of death to ‘force the palace’?
Chaos!
It was truly too chaotic!
Kill!
They all deserve to be killed!
But I really can’t let you off easy!
“Very good, very good!”
Old Zhu laughed in extreme anger, his laughter like the cry of a night owl, making one’s scalp tingle: “What a loyal and upright official! What a regretless death!”
Saying this, he suddenly pointed at Zhang Biao, his voice like ice from the deepest hell: “Zhang Biao! You deceived the masses with demonic words, spread alarming falsehoods, and sowed discord between ruler and subjects! How dare you threaten me with your death!?”
“Talk about flaying and stuffing? You’re not worthy! I find it too dirty for my hands!!”
Old Zhu roared, shouting Zhang Biao’s long-desired command with all his might: “Guards! Take this ignorant fool! Who wants to stir up trouble and pretends to be righteous, this bastard thing, and…”
Hearing this, Zhang Biao’s heart pounded.
Here it comes, here it comes!
Execution by beheading!
Quickly!
Just say behead him!
“…Take him down!!”
Old Zhu panted, his voice hoarse and distorted with rage: “Throw him into the depths of the Imperial Prison! Together with Lu Ping, Qi Tai, and Zhao Qian, hand them over to the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Supreme Court for a thorough joint interrogation! Pry their mouths open! I want to see who! Who gave them the guts! To be so audacious?!”
“You must investigate clearly! Investigate their accomplices! Investigate who is behind them!”
“???”
Zhang Biao’s forehead was covered in question marks upon hearing this.
Old Zhu!
Why aren’t you playing by the rules?!
I was practically begging for death like this, how could you not kill me?!
The moment Zhang Biao was at a loss and filled with astonishment, several Imperial Guards lunged at him like wolves.
He immediately blurted out in panic: “Old Zhu! Kill me quickly! I’m in a hurry!”
“Silence!!!”
Old Zhu stomped his feet in anger: “Stuff that stinking mouth of his—drag him away!!!”
The officials in the Imperial Court exchanged glances upon seeing this.
At this moment, Liu Sanwu, a close minister of Zhu Yuanzhang, reminded him cautiously: “Your Majesty, tomorrow is the day the Crown Prince will be buried.”
“Enough, I’ll leave this matter to Jiang Huan. I need to see Biao’er one last time. Court is dismissed!”
Old Zhu waved his hand, exhausted.
Clearly, even Zhu Biao’s death could, at a critical moment, calm his wrath.
All the officials in the Imperial Court understood this clearly.
They just didn’t know how long this calm would last after Zhu Biao’s burial.
Soon, Old Zhu left the Hall of Supreme Harmony and headed to the Hall of Serene Repose where Zhu Biao’s coffin was placed.
At the same time, inside the Hall of Serene Repose.
A group of eunuchs and palace maids surrounded a woman in white, crying their hearts out.
The woman’s tears flowed like rain, and she seemed unable to even stand steady.
“Crown Prince! How could you bear to leave us women and children behind? What will I do in this vast Eastern Palace without you!”
“Crown Prince! Why didn’t you take me with you, so I could attend to you!”
The wails were so tragic that they would make listeners sad and cause tears to fall.
And this woman was none other than the mother of Zhu Yunwen, the Crown Prince’s secondary consort, Consort Lü.
“Imperial Consort!”
Seeing Consort Lü swaying precariously, Zhu Yunwen, who was kneeling behind her, quickly stepped forward to support her, his tears also flowing uncontrollably.
As for the other offspring of Zhu Biao, although they wanted to step forward to support her, they were blocked by Zhu Yunwen’s body and could only stare blankly at the scene, unsure whether to move or not.
“Imperial Consort, let me help you to the side hall to rest for a while. You’ve been crying all morning and haven’t had a drop of water. I’m worried…”
Zhu Yunwen whispered to Consort Lü, but the next moment he felt a sharp pain in his thigh and a low reprimand: “My son, you are foolish! Have you forgotten our mother and son’s great plan? Your Imperial Grandfather will be leaving court soon, how can we leave?”
“But your health…”
“If it can help my son achieve his great plan, I would have no regrets even if I died now!”
Hearing Consort Lü say this through gritted teeth, Zhu Yunwen was momentarily speechless.
He naturally knew his mother’s expectations for him, and he also knew the importance of that position.
But that position, besides himself, who else was more suitable?
Zhu Yunteng? A useless waste who hasn’t studied anything, why should he compete for the throne with me?
Second Uncle, Third Uncle? They fit the succession rules, but my Imperial Grandfather isn’t blind. He knows their character. Why would he choose them over me?
As for Fourth Uncle…
Thinking of this, Zhu Yunwen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
At this moment, a young eunuch quietly approached Consort Lü. While helping Zhu Yunwen support Consort Lü, he lowered his voice to report the day’s court affairs.
When Consort Lü heard that Lu Ping had been thrown into the Imperial Prison by Zhu Yuanzhang, her face turned deathly pale.
How could this be?
It’s been almost three months, why can’t the matter of establishing the Crown Prince still be brought up?
Could it be that the Emperor… has someone else in his heart?
Thinking of this, Consort Lü quickly looked at Zhu Yunwen.
She saw that Zhu Yunwen also looked somewhat bewildered and disbelieving.
Could it be that Imperial Grandfather really wants to establish Fourth Uncle?
“The Emperor has arrived—!”
Just as Zhu Yunwen and his mother were filled with worry, a loud and sharp announcement suddenly came from outside the hall.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!”
Hearing the announcement, everyone in the hall immediately stopped crying and, with sad and respectful expressions, kowtowed towards the door to greet him.
“Long live? What the hell long live!?”
Old Zhu complained inexplicably, then his gaze drifted hazily towards the coffin in the hall, lamenting, “My sister is gone, and my Biao’er is gone too. What’s the use of living long?!”
As his words fell, the hall instantly fell silent.
