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

Seeing the chaos at the scene and noticing the Five Armies Commandery badge on the young man's waist, Huang Yan's expression instantly became subtle.

He reined in his horse and said in a deep voice, "In Nanjing, the capital of society, who dares to fight and injure people in the street?"

Upon seeing that the newcomer was none other than a powerful eunuch in the palace, the young man in brocade robes immediately felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly abandoned his arrogant demeanor, put on a wronged expression, and hurriedly tried to explain.

"Your Honor, please understand! It is not that we are deliberately causing trouble. It is simply that this old farmer owes a debt and refuses to pay. It is clearly stated in black and white that the amount is two hundred taels of silver. We are merely collecting the debt according to the agreement."

Unexpectedly, this corrupt official, without distinguishing right from wrong, immediately started hitting people. We were afraid that things would escalate, so we were forced to restrain him.

The young man in brocade pointed to Lin Yue, who was being held back by several people, and respectfully added, "There was no fighting between us, and no one was injured. If I have uttered even the slightest lie, I am willing to accept punishment!"

The young man in brocade robes thought that since he and his men were subordinates of the Left Commander Qiu Fu, he figured the latter wouldn't make things too difficult for them.

Huang Yan's eyes flickered. Qiu Fu was a meritorious official in the Jingnan Campaign. Although he had recently received some imperial favor, there was really no need for him to provoke Qiu Fu's subordinates.

He glanced at the old farmer and the bound girl on the ground, then looked at Lin Yue, whose mouth was gagged, his expression unchanged.

How things unfolded was none of his business; he was just a eunuch who came to deliver an imperial edict.

"I'm here to deliver an imperial edict to Lin, the censor. Release him first, and don't lose the decorum of a court official."

Huang Yan dismounted, unfurled a scroll of imperial edict, and proclaimed in a loud voice.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lin Yue, though eccentric in nature, possesses insightful strategies for controlling the vassal states with the navy. Therefore, you, Lin Yue, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Works, are hereby appointed to assist the eunuch Zheng He of the Directorate of Palace Attendants in overseeing the expansion of the treasure shipyard and supervising the construction of ocean-going treasure ships. This is the imperial decree!"

Lin Yue received the imperial edict, somewhat bewildered.

He just casually boasted to Zhu Di, how could he actually be put in charge of the treasure shipyard? Is it possible that he didn't know anything about carpentry, shipbuilding, or personnel management?

He suppressed his doubts, pointed at the young man in brocade robes and the servant, and said to Huang Yan.

"Father-in-law, this brat is the son of Chen Xian, a subordinate of Governor Qiu. Relying on his father's merits, he abducts women and beats the elderly in the street. He is simply ruining the reputation of meritorious officials and showing no respect for the law!"

"Since you're here with the Imperial Guards, quickly arrest them and interrogate them severely. Let's see how the Left Commander-in-Chief disciplines his subordinates' families!"

Huang Yan's face stiffened; he hadn't expected Lin Yue to directly name Qiu Fu.

He wanted to pretend he didn't know and slip away unnoticed, but now that he'd been exposed in public, he had to take action.

Huang Yan glanced at the two men, his face showing no favoritism, and his demeanor was completely businesslike: "Whether it is Chen Xian who failed to educate his son properly and allowed his family to commit evil, or Lin, the magistrate, who blocked the road and injured people, I can't figure it out for the time being."

Besides, we need to return to the palace to report to the Emperor, so we don't have time to get entangled here. Why don't we all go to Yingtian Prefecture to settle the matter? Yingtian Prefecture is fair in its judgments, so I'm sure they will make a just decision.

What do you two think?

"Why not!" Lin Yue immediately agreed.

"Cracking down on thugs who abduct women and beat the elderly and weak is the duty of officials. How can it be wrong?"

"Today we will go to Yingtian Prefecture and have the prefect judge whether this act of abusing the power of meritorious officials is legal or not!"

Going to the government is good, it doesn't matter which government office it is, as long as we can make a big fuss about it, it's a good thing.

Then we'll elevate the narrative significantly, give Qiu Fu and other meritorious officials of the Jingnan Campaign a good dressing down, and show them that they'll eventually die for their country, triggering a cheat code to go back and become citizens of the motherland.

Haha, thinking about it makes me feel really good.

The young man in brocade robes readily agreed: "I'll go! My actions are upright and lawful, what am I afraid of?"

"But you, you corrupt official, have blocked the road and injured someone without cause. Just wait and see how the authorities punish you!"

He was not afraid of anything because his father, Chen Xian, was Qiu Fu's confidant.

Even more importantly, the former prefect of Yingtian Prefecture died in the line of duty for Emperor Jianwen. At this time, there was no prefect in Nanjing. When they went to the government office, they would just disperse and there was nothing to be afraid of.

Seeing that neither of them had any objections, Huang Yan signaled to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to send a few men to lead everyone to report to the authorities.

Lin Yue quickly followed, but after only a few steps, he heard Huang Yan whisper a reminder.

"Lin Gejian, if I may ask a question, don't you find it strange?"

The Ming Dynasty had extremely strict household registration controls; farmers needed a travel permit to enter the city. How could ordinary farmers dare to linger in Nanjing at will?

In the early Ming Dynasty, especially during the Hongwu and Yongle reigns, household registration control was extremely strict, and ordinary farmers could not enter the city at will.

One must have a legitimate reason for entering the city to sell agricultural products or purchase farm tools, and apply for a travel permit from the village headman in order to enter the city smoothly.

The eunuch Huang Yan glanced at the old farmer who was still wiping away tears not far away, and lowered his voice even further.

"The abduction of women usually takes place in remote rural areas where it is not easy to be caught."

The old farmer's audacity in bringing a woman into the city, and then being robbed in such a bustling place as Pingkang Ward, is far too suspicious. It seems... like someone deliberately orchestrated it.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue simply chuckled and said righteously, "So what if it's strange? So what if someone deliberately arranged it?"

Did Qiu Fu's men not engage in illicit activities such as seizing farmland and running rampant in the countryside?

Whether it was deliberately arranged or a coincidence, as long as it's an evil deed, I'll take action against it!

As an official responsible for remonstrating with the emperor, I should offer my advice to the emperor and bring peace to the people.

Today, I, Lin Yue, plead for the people. If I am punished for this, it will be for fulfilling my duty and dying for my country—a worthy death!

Huang Yan glanced at Lin Yue with surprise. His words were half a reminder and half a warning.

He originally thought that Lin Yue's previous criticisms of relocating the capital and weakening the power of the vassal states were a deliberate attempt to gain fame, and that he was a pawn pushed out by some faction.

The fact that this matter is being investigated so severely today is nothing more than an attempt to incite conflict between the meritorious officials who helped quell the rebellion and His Majesty.

Now it seems that the other party's righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor does indeed give him the air of a righteous and upright official.

Huang Yan was deeply moved, realizing that he had previously underestimated this arrogant official.

Although the other party is arrogant in his words and impulsive in his actions, he is truly a gentleman who sincerely cares about the country and its people. It's a pity that he doesn't have much brains and can't see the undercurrents behind this.

Huang Yan shook his head and said nothing more. He simply mounted his horse and gave one more instruction.

"The affairs of the nation are at a critical juncture. Now that Lin, the remonstrator, has arrived at the government office, he must not act impulsively as he has on the street."

Lin Yue waved his hand, not taking those words to heart.

Huang Yan didn't care what he was thinking. He was happy to help the people seek justice, but if he couldn't, he would be killed.

He was eager to alarm Qiu Fu and make this meritorious official who had made the greatest contribution to the Jingnan Campaign hold a grudge against him.

It would be best to find a pretext to execute him later, so that he can return to the modern world and happily live as a citizen of the motherland. Wouldn't that be much more satisfying than him ranting and raving in the Ming Dynasty court every day?

The Imperial Guards led the way, the old farmer helped his daughter closely behind, while Lin Yue strolled at the back, conceiving his ideas for how to label, elevate, and value the subject later.