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

During the Ming Dynasty, students of the Imperial Academy were collectively referred to as "students of the Imperial Academy" and were divided into four categories: those who were recommended for admission, those who were recommended for admission, those who were granted admission through hereditary privilege, and those who were admitted through donation. Most students of the Imperial Academy came from noble and distinguished backgrounds.

Chen Mengxu, his face flushed red from the rebuttal, angrily retorted, "You arrogant brat!"

Having said that, he turned and quickly went to the palace to report, no longer arguing with Lin Yue.

Inside the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Di's face darkened immediately upon hearing that Lin Yue had struck the Dengwen Drum.

"Eunuch, what's the situation with Lin Yue?"

"I have already granted his request to go to Jiangnan to provide disaster relief, so why does he still want to beat the Dengwen Drum?"

The eunuch Hou Xian beside him bowed and dared not speak.

Zhu Di's anger subsided slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Issue an imperial decree to summon Lin Yue and the Chen father and daughter to the palace immediately!"

Before long, Lin Yue led the Chen father and daughter into the Wenhua Hall.

When the Chen father and daughter first saw the emperor, they were so frightened that their legs went weak and they knelt down on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Lin Yue stood ramrod straight, with an air of arrogance.

Upon seeing Lin Yue, Zhu Di angrily asked, "Lin Yue! What do you want?"

I have already granted you the authority to act expediently, so why do you still beat the Dengwen Drum and stir up trouble in the court and the country?

"Aren't you deliberately trying to cause me trouble?"

Lin Yue bowed respectfully, but his voice was firm and resolute: "Your Majesty's words are utterly wrong!"

The Dengwen Drum was established in the first year of the Hongwu reign of Emperor Taizu (Hongwu Emperor). It was specifically for handling major injustices and confidential matters. Beating the drum was to plead one's case to His Majesty, not to impeach him. How could it be considered as causing trouble for His Majesty?

"Oh?" Zhu Di laughed angrily. "So, according to you, beating the Dengwen Drum is a good thing?"

"Of course it's a good thing!" Lin Yue looked up and stared straight ahead, his voice booming, "Does Your Majesty know how severe the floods in Jiangnan are?"

The polders were completely submerged, the roads were filled with displaced people, and the corpses of the starving were everywhere!

Local officials and gentry colluded to conceal the truth, and relief grain was embezzled as soon as it passed through their hands. The Chen family, father and daughter, and other disaster victims, were already barely clinging to life!

He bowed and said urgently, "Although Your Majesty has authorized me, I will be facing a complex web of local officials on my journey to Jiangnan."

A group of corrupt officials colluded and concealed evidence of their crimes. As a mere seventh-rank official, even with the power to act expediently, I was inevitably constrained at every turn.

"Beat the drum of petition to let the world know about the disaster, to use His Majesty's divine power to deter the wicked, to prevent local officials from acting rashly, and to make the testimonies of the Chen father and daughter public, turning them into irrefutable evidence!"

Lin Yue said loudly, "What I ask for is nothing more than to be able to investigate corruption smoothly, distribute relief grain, and restore the livelihood of the people of Jiangnan."

We implore Your Majesty to make the wise decision!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di was so angry that he laughed instead. Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound of which seemed to echo through the beams and pillars of the palace.

"You audacious madman, you truly don't know your place! I already promoted you to Hanlin Lecturer a few days ago, making you a fifth-rank official. How dare you still call yourself a seventh-rank official? Are you dissatisfied with me?"

Zhu Di pointed at Lin Yue and began to spew profusely.

"What you're really saying is that you think I haven't given you enough power and you want more benefits."

"So, you mean I have to bestow upon you an imperial sword, like in the plays, before you'll stop? Otherwise, it means I'm blind and a foolish ruler?"

Lin Yue seemed oblivious to the sarcastic tone in his words, bowed respectfully, and said in a resounding voice.

"If Your Majesty would grant me this precious sword to establish your authority, and also allow me to command the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and grant me the power to act as I see fit, then corruption in Jiangnan will surely be eradicated, and the disaster situation can be resolved in a few days!"

"Your mother..." Zhu Di was furious at his overbearing manner. He glanced at the guards standing beside the imperial desk, grabbed the ceremonial weapon, the eight-sided Han sword, and threw it hard at Lin Yue.

"I'm giving you a sword today! Take it and get out of here, don't provoke me!"

The longsword clattered to the ground, its scabbard gilded.

Lin Yue bent down to pick it up, and gently pushed the sword back with his thumb. A cold glint appeared, startling the guards outside the hall. Several tall guards nervously approached.

Lin Yue glanced at the sharp blade, quite satisfied, and then asked, "Your Majesty, what about the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Are you coming again?!

Zhu Di's temples throbbed with veins, and he immediately interrupted him with a stern voice.

"Drag him out! I never want to see him again!"

Two guards stepped forward and grabbed Lin Yue from both sides, dragging him outside.

Lin Yue struggled to turn around and shouted, "It's fine if Your Majesty doesn't give me the Emperor's personal guards, but my official uniform was torn when it was thrown off the hot air balloon last time."

"Now, if I go to inspect the Jiangnan region wearing a seventh-rank official's blue robe, wouldn't the local officials look down on me? How can I convince them? At least bestow upon me a third-rank official's robe to save face!"

"Give it to him!" Zhu Di's roar echoed from within the palace, his tone filled with exasperation. "Immediately bestow upon him official robes. Guards, quickly gag him. We don't want to hear his voice right now."

Lin Yue was half-dragged and half-carried out of the palace, clutching the imperial Han sword tightly in her hand, while the Chen father and daughter were left inside the palace and did not come out with her.

As soon as they arrived at Chengtian Gate, a group of eunuchs and palace maids carrying clothes came to greet them, with the leading eunuch looking respectful.

"Scholar Lin, this is Li Da. I have come by His Majesty's decree to deliver the official robes of a third-rank official and to accompany him to Jiangnan."

Li Da was a trusted eunuch during the Yongle reign. Although he was not as famous as Zheng He or Hou Xian, he was still a confidant of the emperor. Later, he was sent as an envoy to seventeen countries in the Western Regions. He was capable and trusted, and was often ordered to supervise important palace affairs.

Then, a group of palace maids hurriedly helped Lin Yue change into a third-rank scarlet official robe with a jade belt around his waist in front of everyone.

Clothes make the man, and Lin Yue's change of clothes made him look like a completely different person, much more imposing.

No wonder Shen Sen felt that Lin Yue was some kind of royalty the moment he saw him.

Lin Yue changed his clothes in a daze, and then heard a series of neat footsteps. Dozens of Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes and with embroidered spring knives at their waists surrounded him. The leader had a resolute face and a strong build, and he bowed with his hands clasped.

"Scholar Lin, Liu Zhong, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is ordered by His Majesty to lead fifty elite guards to Jiangnan to arrest corrupt officials and protect the safety of the people."

According to the Ming Dynasty system, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a fourth-rank official, in charge of patrolling and arresting criminals.

Holding the imperial-bestowed Han sword, Lin Yue looked at his scarlet official robes and the Imperial Guards, and a smile finally appeared on his lips.

Zhu Di eventually sent his personal guards, and with this trip to Jiangnan, he finally had the leverage to change the course of the game.

To the corrupt officials in Jiangnan, just wait and see if Lin Yue kills you or not.

They must be given a massive purge of Jiangnan, like that of a benevolent father or Zhu Yuanzhang.

Censors, activate!

Lin Yue cupped his hands in greeting to the two men and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to trouble Eunuch Li to make this trip; the official robes fit perfectly."

With the assistance of Liu Qianshi and the imperial guards, corruption in Jiangnan will have nowhere to hide!

After he finished speaking, he strode forward, mounted his tall horse, and galloped confidently out of the city.

Li Da looked at his beloved horse being ridden away with a surprised expression.

What does that mean, Scholar Lin? That horse over there is the one prepared for you!