Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 163 Are you teaching me how to be an emperor?! [Bonus Chapter 2 for Monthly Tickets]

Xi'an, Qin Prince's Palace.

When King Zhu Shuang of Qin received the imperial decree ostensibly to "attend to the ailing emperor," he was enjoying wine and revelry with his beautiful concubine.

Upon first hearing this, a look of astonishment flashed across his fat face, followed by overwhelming anger and doubt.

"Serving the sick?! What a load of bull!"

Zhu Shuang shoved his favored concubine away, smashed the wine cup in his hand to pieces, and roared throughout the palace:
"The old man is so healthy he could kill a tiger! When did he ever need me to take care of him when he was sick?! This is clearly a trap! They're after me!"

He paced back and forth in the hall like a caged beast, the fleshy muscles on his face trembling with rage.
"It must be because the eldest son is dead. The old man doesn't like any of us sons anymore! He's looking for an excuse to get rid of us!"

"It's still the fourth prince! It must be the fourth prince who's behind this! He's been slandering him to the old man! He's gone mad with ambition to become the crown prince!"

He vented all his suspicion and anger on Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, who was far away in Beiping, believing that Zhu Di was framing him behind the scenes.

"Your Highness, please calm down! Your Highness, please calm down!"

The chief clerk of the Prince's residence was terrified and hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "This is the Emperor's own decree, sent by express courier over 800 li. How could it be fake? To disobey the decree would be a serious crime!"

"A serious crime? I'm not afraid of any serious crime!"

Although Zhu Shuang was tough on the outside, a hint of fear flashed deep in his eyes.

No matter how outrageous he was, he knew what the consequences would be for defying his father.

The fates of Hu Weiyong, Li Shanchang, and others are still fresh in our minds.

Struggle, anger, fear... a mix of emotions swirled within him.

"Your Highness, please calm down. If you ask me, this matter is very strange."

The favored concubine, Lady Wang, had captivating eyes and a voice so sweet it was cloying:
"Back then, the 'Red Lead Elixir' was secretly delivered by the Prince of Jin's mansion, under the guise of celebrating your birthday. It was personally arranged by the most favored Consort Deng."

"It is said to have been refined by the King of Zhou, and its effects are stronger than the elixir we have... He also specifically instructed that this thing is precious and should not be publicized."

She gently fed the grapes into Zhu Shuang's mouth and continued to whisper:
"But now... it seems like it's all your fault, Your Highness? If that elixir really had a problem, why would His Highness Prince Jin give it to you? And as a birthday gift no less? What exactly is his intention?"

Just then, a trusted eunuch quietly entered, presented a secret report, and whispered:

"Your Highness, our spies from the Prince of Jin's residence have also sent word that... that Consort Deng, whom the Prince of Jin favored, ostensibly died of illness, was actually silenced by His Highness the Prince of Jin... She was from the same hometown as the Wang brothers, Wang An and Wang Fu. Now, Wang An, Wang Fu, and Consort Deng are all dead..."

Madam Wang immediately chimed in, feigning surprise: "Oh dear! Murder to silence a witness, Your Highness? Isn't that Wang An the old eunuch in charge of your tributes?"

"Your Highness, consider this: if Prince Jin bribed Wang An through Consort Deng, and Wang An's elder brother is someone who serves the Crown Prince... wouldn't that..."

She paused, observing his expression, and feigned fear as she said:
"The 'elixir' refined by the King of Zhou was originally good, but was it switched on the way by Wang An? Or was it replaced with the 'elixir' that the King of Jin sent as a 'birthday gift'? Or was it mixed with something else? That's what harmed... the Crown Prince?"

"Now, the Emperor is blaming you, Your Highness, for this enormous responsibility, while he remains unscathed..."

"After all, Your Highness, he's next..."

Zhu Shuang was already filled with doubt and uncertainty because of the imperial decree. Now, with his favorite concubine and the secret report stirring up and guiding him, although his mind was not clear, his anger at being betrayed by his brother was instantly ignited to the extreme.

"Zhu Gang—!"

He suddenly sprang up, kicking over the table in front of him, spilling fruit and wine all over the floor. His eyes were bloodshot, like a maddened wild boar.

"You son of a bitch, third brother! How dare you scheme against me like this?! Using me as a pawn?! You want me to take the blame for your plot to murder the crown prince?! I'll curse your ancestors!!"

He was so angry that he trembled all over, and all his fear turned into overwhelming hatred for Prince Zhu Gang of Jin.

You want me dead? I won't let you get away with this!

Zhu Shuang's face was contorted with rage as he roared, panting heavily:

"Prepare the carriages and horses! I'm heading to the capital right now! When I get to Father Emperor, I'm going to spill everything I know and don't know! We'll die together!"

……

Meanwhile, in Taiyuan, at the Prince of Jin's residence.

The study was brightly lit by candlelight.

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin's face was even more gloomy than the night outside the window.

Standing before him was his most trusted confidant and advisor.

The aide's voice was low and urgent: "Your Highness, I have carefully checked the treasury expenditures during the period before Consort Deng's death."

“A sum of gold worth a thousand taels was discovered, its whereabouts unknown. The accounts only vaguely recorded it as ‘special expenses of the Prince’s Palace,’ and it bore the seal of Consort Deng.”

"The timing... happened to be shortly after the Eastern Palace eunuch Wang Fu 'fell into the well' and his brother Wang An 'died suddenly'."

Zhu Gang's fingers tightened suddenly, his fingertips turning white: "A thousand taels of gold... for special purposes..."

His ominous premonition grew stronger and stronger.

The aide continued, "Moreover, based on scattered clues, the gold seems to have ultimately flowed towards Pingyang Prefecture in Shanxi... and the hometown of the Wang brothers, Fu and An, is Pingyang Prefecture!"

"I suspect... that money is probably... the source of the thousand taels of gold buried in their ancestral home!"

"boom--!"

Zhu Gang slammed his fist hard on the desk, causing the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to jump.

He wasn't stupid; he connected all the clues in an instant!

Consort Deng! The woman he once doted on, even allowing her to interfere in some of the affairs of the Prince's residence!

Behind my back, she used a huge sum of money to bribe and silence key witnesses and their families who might be connected to the prince's death?!

Why did she do this? Was she acting on someone's orders? Or was she trying to cover for someone?!

He had been kept in the dark the whole time?! Perhaps... he had been used as a pawn from beginning to end?!

A chilling fear and a furious sense of being manipulated instantly overwhelmed Zhu Gang.

He thought himself clever, but he didn't realize that the biggest flaw might lie with the person he was sleeping with.

"The Deng family—!"

Zhu Gang squeezed out the name through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with resentment and a hint of lingering fear.

He was now almost certain that he had been set up!
And their calculations are extremely sophisticated!
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and the chief steward of the Prince's mansion rushed in, his face ashen, carrying the urgent imperial edict ordering his arrival to attend to the ailing Prince.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! An urgent imperial decree has been issued from the capital! The Emperor summons you to the capital immediately to attend to his ailing father!"

Zhu Gang's body stiffened abruptly. He slowly turned around, looking at the imperial edict on yellow silk, the last trace of color draining from his face.

Before long, he had finished reading all the contents of the imperial edict.

"Missing my son... tending to his ailing body..."

Zhu Gang repeatedly pondered these words, his handsome yet somewhat sinister face shifting with an unpredictable expression.

The first thing that came to his mind was the 'Feast at Hongmen'.

Could it be... that the matter in Shaanxi... the matter in the Eastern Palace... has already been investigated and clarified by Father Emperor? Or is Father Emperor unable to find any evidence and intends to question him directly?
A chill instantly shot up my spine and up to the top of my head!

But he forcibly suppressed the turmoil within him, striving to maintain a calm expression on his face, even managing to squeeze out a hint of 'worry':

"Your Majesty is unwell, and I am deeply worried! I must prepare immediately, for I must travel to the capital overnight to attend to Your Majesty!"

Back in the inner palace, after dismissing everyone around him, Zhu Gang's calm instantly crumbled, replaced by utter gloom and anger.

"Investigate! Investigate immediately! Where exactly did things go wrong?! Was it a slip of the tongue by the officials in the Prince's residence? Or did something bad happen in Xi'an and implicate me? Or... Fourth Prince!"

"Yes! It must be Zhu Di! He's been secretly gathering dirt on me! He wants to use me as a tool to kill me!"

He stalked around the hall like a venomous snake, his eyes filled with extreme resentment.

He placed his greatest suspicions on Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, with whom he had a long-standing feud and was his most formidable rival.

Fear and anger nearly consumed him.

He knew that if those things were exposed, his trip to the capital would likely be fraught with danger.

But the imperial decree had already been issued, and he had no reason to refuse, much less dare to refuse.

He knew his father's methods better than anyone else.

Finally, a ruthless and resolute glint flashed in his eyes: "Send down the order to destroy all documents and accounts that may be related to Shaanxi or the Crown Prince!"

"All trusted confidants who know the truth must immediately disperse and go into hiding! All those connected to Consort Deng must be secretly detained!"

"If...if I don't return, let them know what to do!"

He had prepared for the worst, but he would never sit idly by and wait for his doom.

"at the same time!"

A more sinister glint flashed in Zhu Gang's eyes:
"Have our people spread the word that although the Prince of Yan is in Beiping, he has always been very concerned about the Crown Prince's health, and has repeatedly sent people to Shaanxi to deliver medicines, or even delivered them directly to the Eastern Palace, and has even privately consulted alchemists about the way to maintain health..."

"Remember! Keep it vague, like the speculation and whispers of low-level officials. Never let it trace back to us!"

"Yes, Your Highness! I will do it immediately!"

Sensing the prince's murderous intent, the trusted advisor was alarmed and quickly obeyed the order.

Zhu Gang stood alone in the room, clutching the imperial edict in his hand. He then walked to the window, looked northeast, and squinted, saying, "Fourth brother, do you want to be the fisherman? Do you want to watch the snipe and the clam fight?"

"Hmph! I'll not let you have your way. If we're going to die, we'll all die together!"

……

On the other side, in Kaifeng, at the Prince Zhou's Palace.

Inside the warm pavilion next to the herb garden, Prince Zhu Su of Zhou was staring blankly at a secret letter he had just received from the Prince of Jin's residence in Taiyuan.

The letter was delivered by a confidant of Prince Zhu Gang of Jin, and its tone was extremely anxious and even threatening:

[Fifth Prince! Who else besides you knew about the 'Red Lead Elixir' you secretly gave me to enhance my pleasure back then?!]

Is there something wrong with that elixir?! Speak quickly! If there's even the slightest falsehood, we'll both die a horrible death!

Zhu Su scratched his head, his handsome face full of doubt and a hint of... barely perceptible mischievous smile.

"What's wrong with Third Brother? Why are you suddenly asking about this? Could it be that you're... feeling weak again? Do you want to try again?"

He muttered to himself, feeling a little smug.

It seems my 'research findings' are quite well-received by Third Brother. Although the pill is potent and has significant side effects, its effects are indeed remarkable.

He picked up his pen, ready to reply, to tease his third brother, and to say that he could 'secretly' prepare some new products with even better effects for him.

Just then, an official from the Prince's residence practically stumbled in, his voice trembling:

"Your Highness! Your Highness! An urgent imperial decree from the capital! The Emperor summons you to the capital immediately with the manuscript of 'Emergency Relief Herbs'!" Zhu Su's pen fell onto the paper with a 'clatter,' staining it black.

The relaxed mood I had just been feeling, thinking about sending 'tonics' to my third brother, vanished without a trace.

The Emperor's decree... "The Famine Relief Herbs"... when my third brother inexplicably wrote to me questioning me about the old elixirs...

An extremely strong sense of foreboding, like icy river water, instantly overwhelmed him.

He suddenly realized that his third brother's letter was probably not a request for medicine, but rather an attempt to confirm... the earth-shattering case that the pill might have caused?!

Could it be... related to what happened in Yingtian Prefecture?!

And it seems that I have unknowingly stepped into the center of a bottomless vortex.

Zhu Su's face turned deathly pale instantly, and the secret letter in his hand fluttered to the ground.

He opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't utter a single word; all he felt was boundless fear and confusion.

"Why...why me?"

He closed his eyes in pain, his voice trembling slightly:
"I have never participated in any struggles. I only wanted to compile my medical books and try some new tricks... Father... why don't you believe me?"

Although news of what happened in Yingtian Prefecture had already reached him, he didn't care much about it.

He believed that no matter how fiercely the fire in Yingtian Prefecture burned, it wouldn't reach him.

Moreover, that madman named Zhang Biao can't even audit himself.

But now he realizes what it means to be restless when the wind won't stop. Perhaps from the moment Zhang Biao started his "frantic demand for back pay," no one has been spared.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel bitter and a sense of helplessness.

He might have vaguely known about some of the dirty dealings between the brothers, but he never imagined that he would be dragged into it.

Struggle? Rebel?
He knew it was futile.

Before the absolute authority of the Emperor, any act of resistance is tantamount to suicide.

Ultimately, it turned into a deep sense of helplessness and a touch of literary sorrow.

He slowly squatted down, picked up the hoe, and carefully put it away, as if he were saying a solemn farewell.

"Go get ready."

In a hoarse voice, he said to his subordinates, "Organize all the manuscripts of 'Emergency Relief Materia Medica'..."

He compromised, filled with resentment, fear, and a faint hope that his father would see the truth.

……

During the following period, as Zhu Yuanzhang was waiting for the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, and the Prince of Zhou to arrive in the capital, all the actions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard seemed to have ceased.

Even the nine gates that were originally sealed off have been reopened.

Everything seemed to have returned to calm.

However, the news that the three princes had been ordered to come to the capital to "attend to the sick" and "present their manuscripts" was still learned by well-informed people.

This made all the officials and nobles in Yingtian Prefecture feel the oppressive atmosphere of an impending storm, and everyone was in a state of fear and kept silent.

Meanwhile, the gloomy palace of Emperor Oten, which had been shrouded in gloom for days, finally welcomed the regular court session that had not been held for many days.

With hearts full of trepidation, civil and military officials entered the Fengtian Hall in rank order.

Everyone's nerves were on edge, and an invisible, suffocating pressure filled the air.

Everyone knows that the capital has recently been in turmoil, with undercurrents surging. The Emperor's convening of this court meeting is not simply a matter of handling routine government affairs.

Zhu sat high on the dragon throne, his face calm, even less obviously violent than usual.

But his deep-set eyes and the occasional glint of cold light in them made all the ministers who met his gaze instinctively lower their heads, not daring to look him in the eye.

The court session proceeded as scheduled. After handling a few trivial matters concerning border garrison provisions and local reports, Old Zhu casually tapped his finger on the imperial desk.

Having already received instructions, Hanlin Academician Liu Sanwu immediately stepped forward, holding his official tablet, his voice both sorrowful and impassioned:
"Your subject Liu Sanwu hereby impeaches Marquis Jiangxia, Zhou Dexing!"

"As a founding hero who received great favors from the country, he did not think of repaying them. Instead, he allowed his servants to seize farmland, oppress the good people, and collude with unscrupulous merchants to make huge profits!"

"His actions are truly ungrateful and disloyal, betraying the Emperor's grace. We earnestly request Your Majesty to punish him severely!"

Immediately afterward, Imperial Son-in-Law Mei Yin stepped forward, his tone equally stern:
"Your subject, Mei Yin, hereby impeaches the former Vice Minister of Revenue, Fu Youwen; the Minister of War, Ru Chang; the Minister of Works, Zheng Ci; and the Vice Minister of Personnel, Zhai Shan!"

"These four men, as important officials of the court, should have been honest and dedicated to their duties, but instead they formed cliques for personal gain, embezzled state funds, deceived their superiors and subordinates, causing the Ministry of Revenue to be in deficit, weapons to be neglected, fortifications to be in disrepair, and official corruption to occur!"

"His crimes are too numerous to list; he is truly a great scourge to the nation! We beseech Your Majesty to execute him according to the law, so as to serve as a warning to others!"

Two heavyweight figures stepped forward one after another to impeach officials, targeting nobles and fallen high-ranking officials, causing a slight commotion in the court, but it quickly returned to dead silence.

Everyone understood that this was not a simple impeachment, but rather the emperor using Liu and Mei to set the tone again, settle old scores, and send a warning to others.

Sure enough, Old Zhu spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, carrying a cold weight:

"When we heard that, we were heartbroken."

His gaze slowly swept over the officials who stood in trembling fear before the prince.

“Some of you have suffered and shed blood when you were fighting alongside us to conquer the country. Now that we have conquered the country, we have given you high-ranking positions, great wealth and honor. We are counting on you to help us govern this country well and let the people live a good life.”

"But what about some people? They can't change their greedy nature! They've forgotten their roots! They think this country has become a gold mine for them to make money? They think we're old, blind, and deaf? They think we can be easily fooled?"

His tone remained calm, but every word struck the hearts of many officials like a whip.

Those who had dirty hands and had connections with Zhou Dexing, Fu Youwen, and others were especially sweating profusely and their legs went weak.

"We'll tell you!"

Old Zhu's voice suddenly rose several decibels, like the clash of metal and stone, making people tremble:
"The sky over this Ming Dynasty won't fall! Even if it does, Zhu Yuanzhang will be the first to hold it up! It's not your place, you parasites, to try and undermine it!"

"Anyone who thinks their neck is harder than the law, harder than our blade, is welcome to try!"

The last sentence, filled with murderous intent, seemed to cause the temperature in the entire Fengtian Hall to drop several degrees.

"We dare not! Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

All the officials bowed deeply, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Looking at the trembling ministers below the stage, the old Zhu's frustration and rage caused by the matter of the crown prince did not subside; instead, they became even more aggrieved.

He waved his hand dismissively, ready to announce the end of the court session.

However, at this moment——

"Your subject, Imperial Censor Chen Qingtan, has a memorial to present!"

A clear yet resolute voice broke the deathly silence in the hall.

A man dressed in a blue imperial censor's robe, who appeared to be only about thirty years old, strode out from the end of the procession, holding a scepter, and knelt down below the imperial steps.

His face was slightly pale with tension, but his eyes were unusually firm, even carrying a tragic sense of "I will go even if there are thousands of people against me".

Old Zhu frowned instantly, looking impatiently at this reckless young censor.

Liu Sanwu, Mei Yin, and others also cast surprised glances at them.

Chen Qingtan took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and spoke clearly yet with a tremor in his voice, loudly proclaiming the advice he had prepared:

"Your Majesty! I impeach the criminal Zhang Biao for four major crimes!"

"Firstly! Zhang Biao is arrogant and immoral, openly insulting sacred learning and slandering the sages. His heart deserves to be punished! Although the Emperor has ordered him to be executed in the autumn, he has delayed in carrying out the legal procedure of execution by hanging red ribbons! This has caused the national law to be suspended and the discipline to be weakened! This is the first point!"

"Secondly! Zhang Biao's accomplices Shen Lang and Sun Gui, with audacity, broke into the Ministry of Revenue's confidential premises at night to commit theft. They were caught red-handed and deserve to be executed! However, His Majesty has yet to issue a decree to deal with them! This is the second reason!"

"Thirdly! Zhang Biao's other accomplice, Zhao Fengman, first conspired with Shen Lang to steal, and then staged a bull-startling incident in the market, disturbing His Highness the Third Prince and the two princesses, causing chaos and nearly leading to a major disaster. His crime is unforgivable! Yet His Majesty has not punished him! This is the third reason!"

"Fourth! Zhang Biao's remnants, Li Mo and Wu Naida, are secretly stirring up trouble, spreading rumors that they 'disgrace the imperial family,' shaking the foundation of the nation, and bewitching the people. Their crimes are heinous! We earnestly request Your Majesty to issue an edict immediately to arrest and execute them, so as to put the people at ease! This is the fourth point!"

"Your Majesty! The evidence in these four cases is irrefutable, and the impact is extremely negative!"

"The Emperor has been slow to make a decision, resulting in unclear laws and regulations, widespread panic, and the fact that treacherous officials are taking chances while loyal and upright officials are lamenting the situation!"

"Your Majesty, I dare to risk your life to remonstrate with you, humbly requesting that you swiftly uphold the law and rectify the court! Only in this way can the hearts of the people be at peace!"

After Chen Qingtan finished speaking, he slammed his head heavily on the cold floor tiles of the Golden Palace, remaining prostrate and unmoved, looking as if he were ready to die.

The entire Fengtian Hall fell into an instant, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All the officials were stunned, staring incredulously at the lowly censor.

What is he doing?!

Is he openly accusing the emperor of delaying state affairs, showing leniency outside the law, and protecting wanted criminals?!
Didn't he see the Emperor was just raging?! This is like pulling a tiger's whiskers—it's suicide!
Sure enough, Old Zhu on the dragon throne turned gloomy at a visible speed, his eyes narrowed slightly, and an extremely terrifying storm was churning inside.

He didn't lash out immediately, but stared intently at Chen Qingtan, who was lying on the ground, with his cold, abyss-like eyes, his fingers unconsciously and extremely slowly tapping the armrest of the dragon throne.

Those familiar with the emperor know that this is a prelude to his extreme rage.

The air inside the hall seemed to have frozen into ice, making it difficult to breathe.

Everyone thought that the emperor would order the arrogant censor to be dragged out and beheaded in the next second.

However, when Old Zhu spoke, his voice was unusually calm, so calm it was chilling:

"Chen Qingtan".

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is here..."

Chen Qingtan's body, lying on the ground, trembled slightly.

Are you teaching me... how to be an emperor?

The voice was calm, but a murderous intent suddenly filled the entire hall.

Everyone knew that the emperor's long-suppressed anger had been ignited at this moment.

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(End of this chapter)