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

The warmth of the inner chambers, fueled by the dragon's roar, could not dispel the restlessness in Zhu Di's heart.

He paced back and forth, his ochre-yellow casual clothes rustling, the same thought flashing through his mind: Lin Yue must not be killed.

Killing him would only worsen the reputation of the Yongle Emperor.

But let him go...

This young man is hot-blooded and impetuous, his passion is too boiling, and he speaks without thinking before submitting his memorial. Who knows what kind of trouble he might cause.

"Can Lin Yue be of use to me?" Zhu Di stopped and murmured.

He trusted Lin Yue's character. Three generations of loyal officials, he was all alone and had no ties. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had thoroughly investigated him and confirmed that Lin Yue had not pledged allegiance to any superior, making him a truly loyal and solitary official.

Such people don't target anyone intentionally; they just stick to their principles.

Moreover, Lin Yue's reputation for remonstrating to the death in the Fengtian Hall has spread throughout the capital. If we can win him over, we can not only demonstrate our magnanimity but also use him to silence public criticism.

Even an arrogant remonstrating official like Lin Yue can be used by me. Am I not a sage ruler?

As the saying goes, a gentleman can be deceived by his principles. Today, Emperor Yongle will use the greater good of the nation and its people to deceive this gentleman who has served three generations of loyal officials.

Having made up his mind, Zhu Di immediately ordered: "Prepare the carriage and go to the imperial prison."

The Imperial Prison wasn't exactly dark and damp, and it didn't have much of a musty smell, but it was extremely cold. Compared to the gilded splendor and warm, fragrant atmosphere of the Fengtian Hall, it was worlds apart.

Lin Yue sat cross-legged in the corner, without any shackles on his body. His willow-green robe was stained with chicken blood. His back was straight, and he closed his eyes to rest. Judging from his appearance alone, he could be described as extremely arrogant.

Footsteps echoed from the passageway, accompanied by the crisp sound of armor rubbing together.

Lin Yue suddenly opened his eyes and saw Zhu Di dressed in ordinary clothes, standing outside the prison cell surrounded by Ji Gang and others. His eyes lit up and his face broke into a look of wild joy, like a farmer who had been waiting for rain after a long drought. He stood up abruptly with bright eyes.

Lin Yue lunged at the cell door, his voice rising unconsciously due to excessive eagerness and anticipation.

"Your Majesty! Have you come here today to kill me?!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Gang's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously reached for the embroidered spring knife at his waist, wanting to angrily rebuke Lin Yue for his offensive remarks.

Zhu Di raised his hand to stop Ji Gang, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yue in the cell, lingering on his blood-stained clothes for a few more moments.

He was startled. Those were bloodstains from the blood-written letter on the clothes. Lin Yue's anger was so intense.

To Zhu Di, Lin Yue's unusual fervor and joy were the result of his serene acceptance of his fate, showing no fear of being a prisoner, but rather a burning desire in his eyes. This resolute disregard for life and death could not be faked.

Faced with Lin Yue's desire to die, Zhu Di couldn't help but start to reflect deeply. Had he really done something wrong?

"Perhaps Lin Yue is not arrogant and unruly, but rather he puts the nation above his personal honor and disgrace."

Zhu Di sighed inwardly, his gaze toward Lin Yue becoming increasingly complex, containing anger at being the one being criticized, but even more so, intense admiration.

He softened his tone, looked at Lin Yue quietly, and said in a deep voice, "If I want to kill you, I will not spare your life in the Fengtian Hall."

"Since you dare to impeach me for three major crimes to my face, do you only think of ending it all with death?"

Lin Yue is a loyal minister of three generations. His grandfather died for his country and his father died in battle. Now he is imprisoned by the emperor. Instead of begging for mercy, he hopes to die to prove his loyalty. This kind of integrity is exactly what he needs.

Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty urgently needed loyal and virtuous ministers to bolster his legitimacy.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue's joy instantly faded, replaced by disappointment. He didn't even bother with the honorifics anymore.

"You're not going to kill me? Then what are you doing in the imperial prison?"

Why is Zhu Di acting so unpredictably?

According to the usual plot, when he unleashed his fury in the Fengtian Hall, shouldn't Emperor Yongle be enraged, either killing him at the Zuoshun Gate or beheading him?

Then, he happily triggered his cheat ability, returning to the modern world as a citizen of his motherland. Zhu Di once again successfully intimidated the court and should properly control the government.

Why aren't they killing people anymore? This isn't how the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty unfolded!

Lin Yue's dejected expression, in Zhu Di's eyes, was nothing more than a political performance for the purpose of admonishing the emperor. Once one becomes an official, no one would easily show their emotions in front of the emperor.

Zhu Di became increasingly certain that Lin Yue was definitely an upright and honest official, and that life and death were of no importance to him.

Such outstanding talents must be firmly controlled.

Zhu Di thought for a moment, then adopted a conciliatory attitude and questioned, "I know you are outspoken and that everything you say is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty."

I have come to see you to ask what exactly you mean by "striving for good governance".

I also wanted to talk to you about the relocation of the capital. In your memorial, you vehemently criticized the wastefulness of the move, but how could you know that it was a move I had no other choice but to make?

Hearing Zhu Di's words, Lin Yue's expression darkened.

What does this mean? Historically, Zhu Di was so easy to talk to, yet he acted as if he were treating people with utmost courtesy.

Wasn't the agreed-upon punishment for offending the emperor and showing no remorse—the execution of ten generations of one's family? How can you be so lenient?

But it doesn't matter. Let's not care what Emperor Yongle does. Let's just criticize him. I don't believe that Zhu Di is really a ninja turtle who can endure so much.

Lin Yue quickly solidified his resolve to recklessly spew insults and court death.

"A last resort?" Lin Yue suddenly stood up and slammed his fist on the railing.

"Your Majesty, tell me, what is the reason for your helplessness? Beiping is the place where you rose to power, so you must squander the lives of the people to fulfill your dream?"

Zhu Di's expression darkened slightly, but he still explained, "Beiping is located in the northern frontier, where the remnants of the Mongol tribes are eyeing it covetously. I have lived in Yan for more than 20 years and I am well aware of the strategic importance of this place."

Establishing the capital in Beiping would allow for close command of border defenses and consolidation of the northern frontier, which is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty's long-term foundation!

Furthermore, I have already ordered the relocation of wealthy people from ten prefectures in Suzhou and nine provinces in Zhejiang to Beijing, and the relocation of those convicted of crimes of exile or less to cultivate land. Grain and provisions from Jiangnan are being transported north. All these preparations are aimed at making Beiping (Beijing) resemble an imperial capital as quickly as possible. How can this be considered wasteful?

Lin Yue covered his forehead and started laughing out loud.

"Hahaha, all of that is just high-sounding rhetoric!"

Does Your Majesty know how long it will take to build the palace in Beiping? How many laborers will need to be conscripted?

If we were to build a replica of the Nanjing palace, as far as I know, the palace itself would require 8,350 rooms. Logging large timbers would necessitate venturing into the deep mountains of Huguang and Sichuan, and the firing of bricks and tiles would require conscripting artisans from across the land. It would take at least ten years!

Lin Yue became more and more agitated as he spoke, and then he pointed at Zhu Di's nose and said, "For more than ten years, Your Majesty has been working in Nanjing, but you have been filling up the country's manpower and financial resources in Beiping!"

The people of the realm have just begun to settle down, and now they are being conscripted to repair cities and transport grain. The number mobilized is well over a million. Is this the "helplessness" Your Majesty speaks of?

Emperor Yongle was so angry that his face turned ashen. He was the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and he had given you so much face, yet you still dared to spew insults at me to my face. Did you have no dignity left?

Zhu Di roared, "Outrageous! If the northern border is unstable, the Ming Dynasty will never have peace! My actions are for a permanent solution, to protect all the people under heaven!"

Lin Yue chuckled and mocked in a sarcastic tone.

"If Your Majesty truly wishes to protect the people, you should govern the country properly in Nanjing!"

What? The northern frontier couldn't be stabilized in Nanjing? Was our Yongle Emperor so much inferior to the Taizu Emperor that he had to move the capital to secure the north?

(Yongle is an era name, which can be used as a title, but it's not very polite to do it that way.)