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

When Yang Shiqi returned to the Prince's residence, Zhu Gaochi was discussing matters with Xie Jin and Fang Bin in the study.

Upon seeing him enter, Zhu Gaochi raised his eyes and asked, "Mr. Yang, did Censor Lin grant your permission for this trip?"

Yang Shiqi bowed and replied, "Your Highness, Lin Gejian has directly declined the invitation."

He said that His Highness's private dealings with court officials violated the ancestral rules of the Hongwu Emperor, and might encourage feudal princes to curry favor with him, endangering the state. He also stated that he would submit a memorial to His Majesty at the morning court session tomorrow, strictly reiterating the prohibition.

He paused for a moment, then decided to give a completely truthful report.

"Lin, the remonstrator, still referred to himself as 'the heir of Yan,' and his words were quite stern, suggesting that he truly intended to submit a memorial to the emperor."

Zhu Gaochi was slightly surprised upon hearing this, and he lowered his head in silence, seemingly lost in thought.

Suddenly, Xie Jin clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Lin Boyan is indeed a man of integrity and uprightness!"

It is truly rare to uphold principles and principles and remain unmoved by wealth and power at such a time.

He looked at Zhu Gaochi, his tone earnest.

"Now that His Majesty has just established the empire, although the matter of the heir apparent has not been officially announced, Your Highness is the eldest son of the legitimate wife and has also made contributions in overseeing the country. You only need to handle government affairs legally and in accordance with regulations, and demonstrate your benevolence and talent."

His Majesty will naturally follow ancestral tradition in establishing an heir; it's only a matter of time. There's no need to rush into cultivating relationships with court officials.

Fang Bin, the Vice Minister of War, echoed, "What Hanlin Xie said is absolutely right."

"Your Highness, as the eldest son of the legitimate wife, has long been established in terms of status. His Majesty has no reason to favor the younger son over the eldest. You only need to wait for the right opportunity and fulfill your duties."

The burly and plump Zhu Gaochi nodded, his expression relaxing somewhat: "What you two say is not without reason."

Lin, the remonstrator, was known for his integrity and uprightness, both in the court and among the common people.

When dealing with such an upright person, others will only praise his impartiality and would never suspect that I am colluding with court officials.

The ancients said to be close to virtuous ministers and keep away from petty men. Such upright and honest ministers are precisely the kind of people I should learn from and associate with.

He pondered for a moment, then continued, "I have heard that Lin, the Censor, is incorruptible and lives a very frugal life."

Yesterday, he encountered injustice on the road and rescued the Chen father and daughter, and the rented house cost a considerable amount.

If this is the case, then in Chen Xiao's case, the Chen father and daughter are truly the victims. Now that their family business has declined and they are struggling to make a living, it would be better to include this sum of money in the Yingtian Prefecture's records for use as a settlement for Chen Xiao's case. This would not only alleviate their predicament but also align with the court's benevolent policy of showing compassion for loyal and virtuous officials.

The three people in the study had different expressions, but they all felt that this matter was not against the law and was just a favor, so they did not object.

Yang Shiqi recalled Lin Yue's strong personality and muttered to himself that this move might not be accepted, but he had no reason to object.

The three exchanged glances, none of them voiced any objection, and the matter was thus settled.

......

The next day, the morning court session began.

At the Fengtian Gate, the Korean envoys Ha Lun and Yi Ji, dressed in court attire almost identical to that of the Ming Dynasty, stood respectfully beneath the steps.

"Your Majesty, by order of King Yi Bang-won of Joseon, congratulates Your Majesty on Your Majesty's righteousness and the will of the people, for bringing peace and order to the world!"

The envoy, He Lun, bowed deeply, showing the utmost respect, and his words were full of reverence.

"In the past, our Joseon Dynasty was blessed with the great grace of Emperor Hongwu Taizu, who bestowed upon us an imperial edict and a golden seal, and conferred upon us the title of King, thus laying the foundation for our Eastern vassal state."

For decades, Korea has faithfully observed tributary relations, paying tribute annually without daring to overstep its bounds. Now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne, your virtuous rule extends far and wide, and the hearts of all under heaven are with you. The new dynasty is full of splendor, truly a blessing for the people and a fortune for our vassal states.

He raised his head slightly and said loudly, "Now, King Gongjeong (Lee Bang-won) has inherited the legacy of his ancestors and works tirelessly day and night. He only wishes to abide by the system of vassal states established by the founding emperor and to serve the Ming Dynasty as the patriarch for generations to come."

"I humbly beseech Your Majesty to consider my humble sincerity and reissue the imperial edict and seal, confirming the legitimacy of my monarch's throne. Joseon will then be even more subservient, paying tribute without ceasing, protecting our eastern borders, serving as a bulwark for the Ming Dynasty, and forever securing the friendly relations between our two nations, thus repaying Your Majesty's boundless grace!"

After speaking, he and his deputy Li Ji exchanged greetings and presented a sealed memorial along with ginseng, furs, Korean paper, and other local specialties. The memorial was written in a manner that was extremely submissive.

His loyalty was so evident that he seemed to want to be a loyal subject of the Ming Dynasty for generations to come.

Zhu Di reviewed the memorial and found it reasonable. He nodded to the envoy and said, "The Joseon Dynasty has occupied Korea for a long time. Considering your country's submissiveness, I hereby grant permission..."

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Before Emperor Yongle could finish speaking, Lin Yue stepped forward and loudly remonstrated against it.

Zhu Di frowned: "Lin Yue, what else do you have to say?"

Lin Yue raised his head, his eyes blazing: "That Li Fangyuan is a complete traitor!"

During the Hongwu reign, in order to help his father, Yi Seong-gye, usurp the throne of Goryeo, he personally assassinated the high-ranking official Jeong Mong-ju. Later, he instigated two rebellions by princes, killing his brothers and ministers, and forcing his father to abdicate. Such acts of patricide and usurpation are intolerable to Heaven and Earth!

He pointed directly at the Korean envoy and denounced him, saying, "The Jianwen Emperor was incompetent and foolish, unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery. He even appointed a usurper as king, which was already a breach of morality."

"Your Majesty is restoring order today to purge the disloyal from the realm and rebuild the order. How can you continue the mistakes of Jianwen and recognize the legitimacy of such treacherous officials?"

"The foundation of order and discipline is orthodoxy!"

Lin Yue stood tall and proud, his voice resounding throughout the palace.

"If Your Majesty bestows a title upon Li Fangyuan, it will be a sign to the world that usurpation is honorable. In the future, vassal states will follow suit, and members of the imperial family will covet the throne, causing great chaos in the world. How can Your Majesty then secure the country and subdue the four directions?"

Your Majesty, I humbly request that Your Majesty reject the request for investiture, issue a proclamation to Joseon, and appoint a virtuous and wise ruler to restore order to the nation!

After delivering a long speech of advice, Lin Yue was overjoyed.

He had almost run out of ideas to offer advice lately. He was just thinking of rehashing old news and criticizing Zhu Gaochi, but then a Korean envoy suddenly appeared, which reminded him of long-forgotten memories.

King Taejong of Joseon, Yi Bang-won, was comparable to Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty, or even worse. He launched numerous rebellions, killed his brothers, and imprisoned his father, showing a ruthlessness far exceeding that of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin.

In comparison, the Yongle Emperor, who merely punished his nephew, was considered a moral paragon.

Zhu Di's expression changed drastically, turning from white to green.

Lin Yue repeatedly mentioned the word "usurpation," which made him very uncomfortable.

His instincts as an emperor kicked in immediately; as he looked at Lin Yue, suspicion began to grow in his eyes, and killing intent surged.

He seized the throne in the name of pacifying the rebellion, and there were already discussions about usurping the throne in the court and among the people. Lin Yue's denunciation of Li Fangyuan at this moment was surely a veiled reference to himself.

Could it be that Lin Yue is also a remnant of the Jianwen Emperor?

The atmosphere at Fengtian Gate was tense. When the Korean envoy Yi Ji saw that Zhu Di looked unfriendly, he quickly spoke up to explain.

"Your humble servants are filled with trepidation and respect, and respectfully report to His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty."

Since the reign of Emperor Taejo Gojong, the small state of Joseon has been honored by the imperial court and has always upheld the rites of a vassal state, never neglecting the proper etiquette between ruler and subject.

Our late King Kangheon (Yi Seong-gye), by the grace of our Holy Ancestor, was granted a national title and imperial seal, and from then on became the eternal Eastern vassal, faithfully serving the people and paying tribute annually. Now, our sovereign, inheriting this legacy, is even more diligent in serving the great empire, day and night in vigilance, lest he fail to live up to the favor of the Heavenly Dynasty.

May Your Majesty see through this matter. All the subjects of our Joseon have always been loyal and obedient, regarding the Celestial Empire as our parents and the capital as our home. How could we dare to harbor any disloyal intentions?

"I humbly beseech Your Majesty, considering the sincere loyalty of my late sovereign and the hardships my small state has endured as a bulwark, to issue a special decree and reissue this imperial edict, so that my lord may retain his title and honor, and the people of the East may know the vastness of Your Majesty's power and the unwavering grace of Your Majesty."

"Nonsense!" Lin Yue shouted angrily, taking two steps forward and pointing at Li Ji before launching into a tirade.

"Stop barking and howling here! How wise and sagacious was Emperor Taizu Gaozu!"

Back then, Yi Seong-gye usurped the throne as a subject, deposed King Gongyang of Goryeo, and established himself as king. This was unacceptable according to the rules of propriety and law. King Taejo only granted him the title of "Acting Administrator of State Affairs," without formally bestowing upon him the title of king. How dare you call yourself king when the ruler of Joseon is not yet determined!

"And Lee Bang-won was even worse; his crime of murdering his own father and seizing the throne far exceeded that of Lee Seong-gye!"

How dare such treacherous officials and traitors speak of loyalty?

Li Ji's face turned pale, and he said urgently, "My lord, please don't make false accusations. My lord's ascension to the throne is due to the support of the court and the people. It is absolutely not, absolutely not..."

"Heh, absolutely nothing. What, you dare not utter the word 'treason'?!"

Lin Yue scoffed, then turned his attention to Li Ji himself.

"You, Li Ji, are a confidant of Li Bangyuan. During the first Prince Rebellion, you led your private army to besiege the palace and killed the Crown Prince Li Bangshuo's confidants. During the second rebellion, you even devised a plan to imprison and kill Prince Yian, Li Bangyi!"

You are a traitor and a villain, an accomplice to evil; your heart deserves to be condemned!

Lin Yue suddenly turned his head to look directly at Zhu Di, and casually cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Majesty! Such a treacherous minister dares to enter the court and deceive us. I believe he should be executed to uphold the law and serve as a warning to our vassal states."

Zhu Di could no longer contain his anger and loudly refuted him.

"Outrageous! Korea is the bulwark of Liaodong. If the Eastern Yuan is in chaos while the Northern Yuan is still intact, the border will inevitably be affected. How can you presume to make such a decision based on your own emotions?!"

He deliberately avoided the unpleasant topic of usurpation, and only refuted it from a strategic point of view: "The Yi family has already taken control of Joseon. At this time, to send troops to question and refuse to grant them titles will only push them towards the Northern Yuan, which is not good for the Ming Dynasty!"

"You've only been involved in court affairs for a few years; what do you know about matters of state and military affairs? I have my own judgment on this matter; don't spout nonsense anymore."

Lin Yue looked disdainful; it was just another one of those old-timer's platitudes.

He, Lin Yue, doesn't care about this or that; he's only criticizing you old-timers.

Instead of shutting up, he raised his voice and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Your subject only knows etiquette and law, and only knows the basic principles of governance!"

Your Majesty, having been incorporated into the imperial family as a vassal king, should have restored order and purged the disloyal subjects from the realm!

Now, however, they want to bestow titles upon usurpers. If this happens, the vassal states will follow suit, the imperial family will covet the throne, and chaos will be imminent!

Your Majesty's actions are tantamount to destroying the foundation of the state; they are truly the actions of a foolish ruler.

"How dare you!" Zhu Di's eyes turned bloodshot, his killing intent erupting completely. He roared, "Guards, drag this traitor out and execute him!"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Chen E, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Justice, suddenly stepped forward from his post and bowed to offer his advice.

"Although Lin's words were too extreme, he was worried about the country and his loyalty was evident!"

If we kill a loyal minister today, I fear it will discourage the scholars of the land. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!

Upon seeing this, Imperial Censor Chen Ying quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"I hope Your Majesty will make a wise decision! Lin Yue is a man of commendable loyalty, but he is inexperienced in the ways of the world and does not understand the advantages and disadvantages of diplomatic relations."

This presumptuous discussion of the Emperor's authority may seem offensive, but it may not necessarily reflect a true rebellious intent.

In my opinion, it would be better to temporarily detain him in the imperial prison and observe his future behavior...

Chen Ying's advice, which avoided the real issues and focused on the trivial, affirmed Lin Yue's loyalty and gave Zhu Di a way out.

Zhu Di stared intently at Lin Yue for a long time.

Emperor Yongle, ultimately wary of the stigma of "killing a loyal minister" and also mindful of his talent in paper money making, gritted his teeth and said.

"Hmph! I'll spare your life for now, you rebellious madman! Guards, take Lin Yue to the imperial prison and keep him under strict guard!"

The Imperial Guards responded and stepped forward, grabbed Lin Yue, gagged him, and quickly dragged him out of Fengtian Gate.

Zhu Di, still furious, swept his sleeves and shouted, "Court adjourned!"

He turned around and went into the inner hall first, leaving the court officials looking at each other in bewilderment. The Korean envoy had been lying on the ground at some point, his whole body already soaked in cold sweat.