The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

In the spring of the first year of the Yongle reign (1401), on the day of Xinmao, a grand sacrifice was held to Heaven and Earth in the southern suburbs. The emperor then returned to the Fengtian Hall, where civil and military officials performed the celebration ceremony.

Zhu Di, dressed in ochre-yellow robes, sat on the dragon throne and, facing the Minister of Rites Li Zhigang and others, decisively agreed to their request to upgrade Beiping to Beijing.

There was a murmur of discussion among the officials in the hall, but almost no one objected; some bowed in approval, while others nodded in admiration.

Only Lin Yue, a newly appointed official of the Six Ministries and a seventh-rank official standing on the steps outside the palace, suddenly stepped out of the court and loudly expressed his opposition.

"Your Majesty, I believe this is unacceptable!"

Lin Yue's opposition was deafening, instantly shattering the peaceful New Year atmosphere in Fengtian Hall. All the officials fell silent, turning their gazes to the young official in a blue robe with a still somewhat immature face.

Lin Yue strode forward, his gaze fixed on the dragon throne, showing no fear whatsoever.

He is a time traveler with a cheat code: as long as he dies from speaking frankly and offering advice, he can return to the modern world, become a Homelander, and do some incredible things.

Lin Yue had no intention of living if he sought advice at this grand court assembly today.

Zhu Di's face was gloomy. He whispered a few words to Hou Xian, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, before asking in a deep voice.

"Censor Lin, what insightful opinions do you, a censor, have?"

"I dare not presume to offer such a profound opinion. I only know that Your Majesty's actions will surely plunge the Ming Dynasty into peril!" Lin Yue stepped forward, his voice suddenly rising, "I wish to impeach Your Majesty for three major crimes, and I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

"Insolence!" Ji Gang, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, shouted sternly, his hand on the embroidered spring knife at his waist, but Zhu Di raised his hand to stop him.

Emperor Yongle was enraged and clearly intended to kill: "The censors have the responsibility to report matters based on hearsay. Speak now, and if you utter even the slightest falsehood, you will not be spared!"

"Every word I have said is true!" Lin Yue said loudly. "Your Majesty's first crime is abandoning the Jiangnan region, a land of abundant tax revenue, and recklessly moving the capital to Beiping, thus wasting the resources of the entire nation!"

The Jiangnan region, a land of fish and rice, was the foundation of the Ming Dynasty's tax revenue. The five prefectures of Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, Jiaxing, and Huzhou accounted for 30% of the nation's tax revenue!

Located in the northern frontier, far from grain and cotton producing areas, moving the capital would require conscripting a million laborers to build the palace and repair the canal, and transporting grain would be even more exhausting and costly.

Now that the war has just ended and the people are displaced and have not yet returned home, Your Majesty is already planning a massive construction project. How is this any different from the Qin Dynasty building the Great Wall or the Sui Dynasty constructing the Grand Canal?

The Fengtian Hall was immediately thrown into an uproar, with civil and military officials discussing the matter at length.

Whose subordinate is this censor? He is so brave, saying things that none of them dare to say.

Officials in Nanjing were generally reluctant to relocate the capital; who would want to move for no reason?

Zhu Di's face was filled with anger, but he did not interrupt: "Hmph, what are the other two crimes? Tell me them together."

Emperor Yongle was ruthless in dealing with civil and military officials. Whether they were the Grand Secretary or censors, those who failed to recognize the situation were either imprisoned or exiled, and many were even killed. For example, Xie Jin, the later Grand Secretary, was buried alive in the snow.

However, Zhu Di still had the magnanimity to let people finish speaking, so he let you die knowing why.

"The second crime is failing to establish an heir apparent, thus sowing discord among the princes and brothers, and failing in the duties of a ruler and a father!"

Lin Yue spoke faster, quickly saying what he had said.

"His Majesty has been on the throne for more than half a year, but the position of Crown Prince remains undecided."

During the Jingnan Campaign years ago, when His Majesty was trapped in Jinan, he said to Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han, "The Crown Prince is often ill, you should encourage him." These words spread throughout the army and were known throughout the land!

Now Your Majesty has rejected the ministers' proposal to establish an heir, and has not restrained the princes, allowing the two sons to fight openly and secretly. Isn't this deliberately stirring up discord between the brothers?

A ruler should safeguard the nation, and a father should uphold family values. How can Your Majesty set an example for the world and gain the trust of the people by acting in this way?

"Should we not follow the example of Emperor Taizong of Tang, allowing the poison of the Xuanwu Gate Incident to harm future generations of the Ming Dynasty?"

"How dare you, you brat!"

Zhu Di was furious and slammed his fist on the table.

The courtiers inside the hall were so frightened that they were thrown into chaos.

My goodness! This Lin Yue, a mere seventh-rank official, has some nerve. He has so many heads to chop off.

Doesn't he fear the wrath of his entire family after saying such a thing? Are his entire family like weeds that can be cut down and then grow back?

Faced with Emperor Yongle's raging fury, Lin Yue remained upright, even revealing a hesitant smile.

It's far too easy for him to die from speaking frankly and offering advice; he's only been in the Ming Dynasty for a day, and he's already rushing to complete the mission.

Zhu Di's face was ashen, his eyes sharp as knives as he looked at the arrogant young official before him: "How dare you speak so presumptuously about my family affairs!"

"Someone, bring him..."

Lin Yue showed no fear. Instead, he stepped forward and loudly interrupted Emperor Yongle's speech with a clear and forceful voice.

Since he was going to be beheaded anyway, he might as well vent his anger to the fullest. This was a chance to directly criticize Emperor Yongle, and Lin Yue had to consider whether this was his only opportunity in this life.

"What family matter is this? The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation, and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty is the most important matter concerning the entire country!"

Lin Yue spread his arms wide, surveying the officials in the Fengtian Hall with an imposing air.

"Your Majesty also has a third crime to denounce: illegitimate succession and falsification of historical records, which only makes matters worse!"

Although Your Majesty's uprising in Jingnan was ostensibly to "purge the court of corrupt officials," it was ultimately a usurpation of the throne by a vassal king, a fact known to all!

After Your Majesty ascended the throne, you burned the books of the Jianwen Emperor's reign and altered the "Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu" in an attempt to erase this period of history. Will this be of any use?

History can be altered, but people's hearts cannot be deceived!

"Beiping is the place where His Majesty rose to power. Moving the capital is merely an attempt to demonstrate legitimacy by using the place where the emperor once reigned. However, the hearts and minds of the people are never determined by the capital!"

Lin Yue stared intently at Zhu Di and roared with fearless spirit.

"If Your Majesty truly wishes to clear your name of the accusation of 'illegitimate succession,' the only way is to work diligently to govern the country, reduce taxes and levies, and allow the people to live and work in peace and contentment."

To rectify official corruption and make the bureaucracy clean and orderly.

Expanding territory and establishing a powerful Ming Dynasty that extends its influence across the world!

Instead of rushing to move the capital, wasting manpower and resources, and squandering the grain transport!

If Your Majesty can do these things, even if the historical records are not altered in a single word, the people of the world will say that the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was a sage ruler and the undisputed sovereign and father of the people.

But if Your Majesty fails to do so, and governs the realm in utter chaos, even if you transform Beiping into the greatest city in history, you will still be nothing more than a usurper!

The words "treasonous traitors" resounded like thunder, and the Fengtian Hall fell into complete silence.

The officials who had been watching the spectacle and waiting to see rivers of blood flow were now all silent, not daring to utter a single word.

This isn't advice; this is just courting death.

Lin Yue isn't a ruthless person, he's a madman!

It seems his extended family is like leeks—you can cut them and they'll grow back.

With a muffled thud, Zhu Di suddenly moved, his ochre-yellow robe sweeping across the gilded incense burner, scattering ambergris ash all over the ground.

This emperor, who had fought his way out of the Jingnan Rebellion, was enraged. He disregarded his imperial status and strode down the steps, his fist, as big as a sand pot, slamming into Lin Yue's face with a powerful gust of wind.

Holy crap!

Lin Yue felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, a sharp pain shooting through her cheek, and she was so dizzy and tearful from the beating that she felt dizzy.

Dude, you're the emperor! Shouldn't you normally shout for help and have a few strong men drag him out and behead him? Why did you do it yourself?