Starting with his deathbed remonstrance to Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperors were brought to their knees.

"How could I joke about something so fundamental to the nation!"

Zhang Tu was so anxious his eyes turned red.

"The entire court is kneeling at the palace gates, praying for the Crown Prince's well-being! Let's hurry over!"

The Crown Prince actually jumped into the river, something Li Qing hadn't expected.

He vaguely remembered that in the Hongwu era documents he had read before, it seemed that Zhu Biao had jumped over the river.

Li Qing asked:

"How is the Crown Prince now? Has he been saved?"

"The guards pulled him out just in time, but he remains unconscious and is almost lifeless! All the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital have gone; whether he lives or dies is entirely up to fate!"

"Let's go over there first."

Li Qing pulled Zhang Tu along and hurried towards the palace.

On the way, Zhang Tu quickly recounted the whole story.

There was absolutely no struggle for the throne among the princes this time, no conspiracies or intrigues, for one simple reason...

Zhu Yuanzhang killed outspoken censors every day, and he was so ruthless that he drove the kind-hearted Zhu Biao to the brink of collapse!

During the Hongwu reign, censors were specifically tasked with offering advice to the emperor, and speaking frankly and remonstrating was their duty.

However, in the past six months, Zhu Yuanzhang's temper has become increasingly volatile, and his desire to kill has grown stronger.

If any censor dares to say something they don't want to hear, even if it's for the good of the Ming Dynasty, they will be killed on the spot!

Beheadings and executions of entire families were carried out. In just a few months, several outspoken censors were all gone, leaving no survivors.

Zhu Biao was kind-hearted and soft-hearted. He valued these loyal ministers the most and knelt before Zhu Yuanzhang several times to plead for them not to be killed, to leave them a way out, and to encourage them to speak freely.

But Zhu Yuanzhang was an emperor who fought his way to the top through countless battles. He hated soft-hearted people the most and directly scolded Zhu Biao for being too cowardly, not like an emperor, and unworthy to be the crown prince.

Especially the censor Chen Tao who spoke frankly last time; Zhu Biao wanted to save his life, but unfortunately, he failed.

Afterwards, Zhu Biao was devastated. He was already in poor health, and after staying up all night, he completely collapsed.

Early this morning, Zhu Biao, despite his illness, entered the palace and knelt in the Fengtian Hall, begging Zhu Yuanzhang to stop killing loyal ministers.

The father and son, one soft-hearted and the other ruthless, had completely different values ​​and argued on the spot.

Zhu Yuanzhang was enraged and publicly berated him with extremely harsh words, saying that if he dared to say another word, he would depose him from his position as crown prince.

Zhu Biao was utterly heartbroken and filled with despair.

Looking at his father's cold demeanor, watching loyal ministers die tragically one by one, and seeing no one in the court daring to speak the truth, he felt increasingly frustrated as he tried his best but couldn't change anything.

She ran out of the palace crying, rushed to the riverbank, and with a sudden resolve, jumped in!

When the guards found him, he was almost completely submerged. When they pulled him out, his face was frighteningly pale. He was barely clinging to life and was rushed to the Imperial Hospital for emergency treatment. His fate was uncertain.

This incident caused an uproar in Nanjing. All the civil and military officials panicked and knelt down at the palace gate to pray for blessings.

As for Zhu Yuanzhang, he stayed at home, never uttered a word, and made no move whatsoever.

"What's this about me?"

Upon hearing the name Chen Tao, Li Qing was taken aback. He hadn't expected that Zhu Biao had jumped into the river because of this.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's reaction was a bit strange.

His own son jumped into the river, so why is he still staying indoors?

After thinking carefully for a moment, Li Qing finally understood.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very likely afraid.

He killed people his whole life, cared about nothing, but he owed his eldest son a debt.

He never imagined that his daily killings would drive Zhu Biao to suicide!

Li Qing remembered that in the official history, Zhu Biao died of depression after falling out with Zhu Yuanzhang. He never expected that his time travel would create a butterfly effect, bringing the matter forward and even leading to his suicide by drowning!

"My lord, we've arrived at the palace gates. Be sure to keep your mouth shut!"

Looking from afar, the palace gates were a sea of ​​black, with hundreds of officials kneeling in complete silence, the atmosphere so oppressive it could suffocate anyone.

Zhang Tu nervously added another reminder.

Recently, several colleagues who had spoken to him have been killed for their remonstrances, and he's become somewhat afraid.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Li Qing waved his hand, not only refusing to back down, but also straightening his back, striding forward, and shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Our duty as censors is to offer advice and remonstrance; we mustn't embarrass the Censorate!"

"Oh no! Is Lord Sun going to commit suicide to remonstrate as well?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tu shuddered.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of his colleagues who had previously remonstrated with him to the death.

On the other side, Li Qing completely ignored the kneeling officials and forced his way forward.

He left behind all the lower-ranking censors, vice censors, deputy censors, and the top censor, rushing all the way to the front row, directly facing the palace gate.

"stop!"

The gatekeeper stepped forward with a knife to stop them, looking troubled.

Li Qing glared and immediately retorted:

"I am Sun Ping, the Imperial Censor! How dare you stop me?"

The guard trembled in fright and immediately lowered his head:

"My lord, please forgive me, but His Majesty has decreed that we will not see anyone today!"

"Don't try to intimidate me with His Majesty!"

Li Qing took a step forward, exuding an aura of power.

"Go in now and report that I have a matter of great importance concerning the life of the Crown Prince and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and I must see His Majesty in person!"

"If you dare not go and delay the important matter, I'll chop you up right now!"

The guard was so frightened his legs went weak.

The censors of the Hongwu era were not to be trifled with, let alone high-ranking officials of the fourth rank. Not to mention lowly soldiers, even high-ranking officials had to give way to them.

He dared not disobey and turned to run wildly into the palace.

This scene was witnessed by all the officials behind them.

The crowd stirred into quiet murmurs, and everyone looked up at Li Qing, their eyes filled with shock, admiration, and fear.

Lan Yu's founding heroes were also stunned.

The crown prince drowned, enraging the emperor. Everyone knelt, not daring to utter a sound, except for this censor, who dared to force his way in for an audience! Such audacity was unparalleled in the Ming Dynasty!

Several ministers secretly gave the head of the Censorate a thumbs up, admiring him in their hearts: the people of the Censorate are truly fearless!

The two chief censors exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with bitterness.

This has nothing to do with us!

The Censorate of the Ming Dynasty had long been a high-risk department. Every now and then, a censor would go crazy and ask the emperor to exterminate his ten clans. It was purely personal madness, and we were just collateral damage!

Just then, the tightly closed palace gates suddenly opened, and Zhu Yuanzhang emerged.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor!"

The shouts of the officials shook the heavens and echoed throughout the palace gates.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon carriage, escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

His face was frighteningly pale, his eyes were bloodshot, he was exhausted, angry and panicked, and even his dragon robe could not hide his murderous aura.

He spotted Li Qing standing in the crowd immediately; she stood out conspicuously.

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at him, his voice hoarse and cold:

"Sun Ping, everyone else is kneeling, but you're standing. What are you trying to do?"

Li Qing stood ramrod straight, unafraid, and said loudly:

"I see Your Majesty, but I have important matters to discuss. State affairs are of utmost importance; I have no time to kneel!"

What are you trying to say?

Zhu Yuanzhang leaned forward, his murderous aura pressing down on Li Qing.

The officials behind him were all holding their breath, feeling as if a huge rock was pressing on their chests.

People weren't afraid of Zhu Yuanzhang himself; he was just a mortal who could be killed with a single blow.

What everyone fears is the extermination of nine generations of their family, the execution of their entire clan!

But Li Qing is different.

He was a time traveler, with no family, no ties, and no extended family to exterminate. He came here for one purpose:

Seek death, provoke Zhu Yuanzhang, and the more gruesome the death, the greater the reward.

If you're not afraid of death, you're not afraid of anything!