My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

The shopkeeper saw that Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an not only did not leave sensibly, but also argued loudly in public, appearing to be making a reasoned argument.

The anger that had been building up in his heart for years, fueled by hearing about the tragedies in Liaodong, suddenly surged to the top of his head like boiling oil being poured on him.

His usual facade of friendliness and business acumen was completely ripped off. His face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead, and he pointed at the two men, spitting almost onto their faces as he launched into a shrill, scathing attack:

"A scholar who passed the imperial examination? Bah!"

He spat fiercely, his eyes filled with contempt and disdain.

"A barbarian Tartar, you dare to call yourself a scholar? Who knows how you got your academic titles? Did you lick the boots of some superior, or did you take some shady, crooked path to get them?"

"Perhaps this is just a fig leaf that Governor Hong gave you surrendered captives to appease you! Get out of here! Don't defile my territory!"

These extremely malicious speculations and insults were like a red-hot branding iron, fiercely burning into the most sensitive and cherished self-esteem of Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an.

They studied diligently for years and endured hardships to obtain the title of Juren, which they cherished as their life. Now, they were being so disrespected and slandered by a common merchant. How could they not be angry?
"You're spouting nonsense!"

Wu Shouren felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his blood surging. The grievances, resentment, and pain of trying to fit in but always being rejected, which he had suppressed for many years because of his background, all erupted completely at this moment.

He no longer cared about manners and etiquette. With a roar, he charged forward like a caged beast, his right hand suddenly reaching out and grabbing the front of the shopkeeper's silk cotton-padded jacket.

The force was so great that it almost lifted the shopkeeper off the ground.

Seeing his companion suffer such a great humiliation, Chang Yong'an was also filled with righteous indignation and rushed forward without hesitation, ready to help Wu Shouren.

The shopkeeper was startled when his collar was grabbed, but he quickly recovered and, while struggling, yelled at the stunned waiter:
"What are you standing there for? Grab your weapons! Throw these two barbarians out of here!"

Although the waiter was somewhat timid, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and grab a broom from the doorway to join the fray when the shopkeeper spoke.

In an instant, the once quiet inn lobby was thrown into complete chaos.

Wu Shouren and the shopkeeper got into a fight, while Chang Yong'an fought with the waiter.

The tables and chairs were knocked over and scattered everywhere. The teapot and teacups on the table were smashed to pieces, and tea leaves and water stains were splashed all over the floor.

The students who tried to break up the fight were instead caught in the scuffle. Shouts, curses, shouts, and the sound of furniture being knocked over mingled together, echoing throughout the inn. This attracted the attention of passersby on the street outside, who stopped to look inside and discuss the scene with curiosity.

This sudden all-out attack was too loud, and to make matters worse, a patrol of soldiers belonging to the Central City Garrison was conducting a routine patrol along Rice Market Alley at that moment.

With the year-end approaching and Emperor Chongzhen's birthday drawing near, security in and around the capital was already tighter than usual.

In addition, with a large number of candidates from all over the country flocking to the capital for the imperial examinations, the situation was chaotic and unpredictable. To prevent any trouble from arising, the Five City Garrison Command, which was responsible for maintaining order in the capital, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which was full of spies, had already been ordered to strengthen patrols in various places.

The core area of ​​the capital had been peaceful for several days, but unexpectedly, such a fierce fight and noise could be heard from this relatively remote inn in the southern part of the city.

The junior officer in charge was an experienced veteran. Hearing the sound, he immediately became alert, placed his hand on his saber, and gave a low shout:
"Something's up! Follow me!"

He then led seven or eight soldiers armed with fire and water clubs and quickly rushed into the "Yuelai" Inn.

Upon entering the main hall, the chaotic scene before them caused the junior officers to frown.

Four or five men who looked like scholars were fighting, while a group of young people who looked like students were anxiously trying to break up the fight. The ground was littered with cups and plates, and the tables and chairs were askew.

"Stop! All of you stop! The Military Command is here. Who dares to be so insolent under the Emperor's nose!"

The junior officer channeled his inner energy and roared like thunder, simultaneously signaling his soldiers to step forward and forcibly separate the brawlers.

The well-trained soldiers immediately stepped forward, and in pairs, they forcefully separated Wu Shouren, Chang Yong'an, the shopkeeper, and the waiter who were still tearing at each other.

The four separated individuals glared at each other angrily, panting heavily.

Only then can the situation of both sides be clearly seen:

Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an were the most disheveled. Their scholar's headscarves were nowhere to be seen, their hair was disheveled, and their blue scholar's robes were torn in several places, revealing the cotton wadding inside.

His face was covered in bruises, and the corner of his mouth was cracked, with the blood seeping out looking particularly glaring against his pale face, clearly indicating that he had suffered a great loss of physical strength.

On the other hand, the shopkeeper and the waiter, although their hair was messy, their clothes were disheveled, and they were covered in dust, were strong and healthy because they had done manual labor for many years. In addition, they were experienced in fighting. Apart from looking a bit disheveled, they had no obvious injuries, but they were still cursing.

"What's going on? Why are you fighting in broad daylight? What kind of behavior is this!"

The junior officer's face was ashen. His sharp gaze swept over everyone present, finally landing on Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an, who were more seriously injured. He then glanced at the other students standing to the side, still shaken, and asked in a deep voice.

Before Wu and Chang could speak, the shopkeeper, as if seeing a savior, rushed forward and knelt down with a thud, sobbing and wailing, his voice exaggerated with a dramatic wailing tone:
"Sir! Justice! You must do us commoners justice!"

He pointed at Wu Shouren and Chang Yong'an, his voice trembling.

"It was these two Jurchens! Oh no, they were Jurchens! They insisted on staying at the inn, but my inn is a small business and I really dare not serve guests of such status, so I kindly advised them to find another place."

"Who would have thought they would become so enraged, not only hurling insults and abuse at me, but also resorting to violence! Look at the state they've left in my shop! How can I possibly survive after such losses! I beg you, sir, to severely punish these thugs and give me justice!"

As he spoke, he secretly observed the junior officer's expression.

Upon hearing this, Wu Shouren trembled with anger. Ignoring the pain in his mouth, he hurriedly tried to defend himself, his voice hoarse with emotion:
"My lord, please understand! Don't listen to his one-sided story! He discriminated against us because of our origins. Seeing that our household registration is 'Jurchen,' he spoke rudely, openly refused us service, and even insulted us, calling us Jurchen barbarians! We couldn't stand it, so we argued with him, and he pushed us first! We are scholars, how could we fight without cause? We were forced into this situation!"

Chang Yong'an, also covering his swollen cheek, said angrily:
“Sir, we are upright scholars of the Ming Dynasty, with travel permits and household registrations issued by the court as proof! This man not only insulted us, but also slandered the laws of the court. Please investigate, sir!”

Seeing this, other students from Liaodong who were traveling with them also spoke up to testify:

"Sir, it is indeed the shopkeeper who was unreasonable first!"

"Brother Wu and Brother Chang were just arguing based on reason; it was the shopkeeper who struck first!"

"The shopkeeper's words were truly unbearable to hear."

After listening to the conflicting accounts from both sides, the junior officer ordered his men to pick up the household registration documents that had been scattered on the ground and discarded by the shopkeeper during the registration process, and examine them carefully.

When his gaze fell on the two household registrations clearly marked "Jurchen households," his heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "This is bad!"
I know this is no ordinary neighborhood dispute or drunken brawl!

On one side are Han Chinese commoners who run shops and do business, and on the other side are Jurchen students who have the title of Juren but whose status is extremely sensitive and special!
This case involves the imperial court's ethnic policies, the sensitive situation in Liaodong, and the seriousness of the imperial examination system. Improper handling could spark controversy within the court and among the public, and even affect the stability of the frontier. The complexities involved are far beyond the grasp and decision-making power of a mere minor officer in the military command.

Thinking of this, a cold sweat broke out on his back. He knew that this matter had to be handled with care and reported as soon as possible.

He dared not delay and immediately turned serious, giving his subordinates instructions:

"Guards! Take all four individuals involved back to the Military Commandery for detailed questioning! Record the extent of the damage to the shop in detail! All other unrelated persons, disperse immediately and are not allowed to gather or watch here!"

Then, he pulled aside a trusted deputy and whispered urgently, "..."

"You must immediately ride back to the yamen and report this matter to the commander in its entirety, without missing a single word! Remember, you must emphasize the 'Jurchen' identity of the scholar involved! And find a way to use your connections to get the news to the Crown Prince as soon as possible!"

"This matter is of great importance and is beyond our ability to handle. I'm afraid we'll have to ask His Highness the Crown Prince for instructions in the end!"

Upon hearing this, the deputy knew the situation was urgent and immediately ran out as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, inside the warm pavilion of the Eastern Palace, a completely different scene unfolded.

Outside, the wind and snow howled, but inside it was warm as spring. The fine silver frost charcoal in the charcoal brazier was burning brightly, emitting a cozy warmth that completely kept out the severe cold.

The air was filled with the unique, elegant aroma of premium Longjing tea, which was refreshing and delightful.

Zhu Cilang, dressed in casual clothes, sat relaxed in the main seat. Opposite him was Hong Chengchou, who had just returned to the capital from Liaodong, looking travel-worn.

Although Hong Chengchou had changed into a clean official robe, his brows still showed the fatigue of a long journey, but even more so, the excitement and anticipation of meeting the crown prince and looking forward to the future.

With a smile on his face, Zhu Cilang personally picked up an elegantly shaped purple clay teapot and calmly refilled the teacup in front of Hong Chengchou with hot tea.

The tea was poured into the cup, creating delicate ripples and wisps of white steam.

"Your Highness! No! Absolutely not! How can this be allowed!"

Upon seeing this, Hong Chengchou sprang up from the cushioned embroidered stool as if he had been electrocuted, and immediately bowed deeply, his face filled with trepidation and flattery.

The Crown Prince personally poured tea for him—what a rare honor and favor this was! How could he possibly accept it so easily?

"Sit down, sit down."

Zhu Cilang smiled and waved his hand, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority.

“Minister Hong, there is no need for such formality. You have spent several years in Liaodong, where you have strengthened the army, pacified the refugees, expanded the agricultural land, and stabilized the precarious situation outside the Great Wall. This is a great achievement for the nation.”

"This cup of tea is not only to reward you for your hard work, but also to thank you on behalf of the court and the people of the world. You deserve it."

Hearing His Highness the Crown Prince so highly praise his achievements, Hong Chengchou felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.

He then stopped refusing and solemnly sat down again, his hands trembling slightly as he picked up the warm tea and drank it all in one gulp.

The warm tea glides down the throat, its warmth reaching deep into the lungs.

He then put down his teacup, gently wiped his eyes with the corner of his sleeve, and said with deep emotion:

"Your Highness, I am deeply grateful for your kindness and trust. Even if I were to give my life, I could not repay even a fraction of your kindness!"

Zhu Cilang nodded in satisfaction, quite pleased with Hong Chengchou's reaction.

He continued:
"Minister Hong, you have had a long and arduous journey. Now that you are back, it is time to fulfill the promise I made to you. After the New Year, the court will issue an imperial edict ordering you to join the cabinet and participate in state affairs."

"In the future, there will be countless matters concerning the military and the nation, and we will need you to share the burden for the court."

For any official who establishes himself as a civil servant, the phrase "entering the cabinet" represents the ultimate glory and pinnacle of power that he pursues throughout his life.

Upon hearing this, Hong Chengchou's heart pounded. He suppressed the overwhelming joy that was about to burst forth from his heart and rose from his seat again. He then straightened his clothes, gave a deep bow, and his voice was slightly hoarse with excitement.

"Your Majesty, I kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine favor! Your Majesty's trust in me is so great, I will certainly do my utmost to assist Your Majesty and serve the nation!"

The emperor and his minister then continued drinking tea and chatting in a harmonious atmosphere.

Just as Zhu Cilang was about to strike while the iron was hot and have an in-depth discussion with Hong Chengchou about opening up the sea to trade, reorganizing the navy, and future financial reforms of the court, light but hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Ma Bao quietly entered the warm pavilion and came to Zhu Cilang's side, bowing down and reporting in a very low voice:

"Your Highness, Li Ruolian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is urgently requesting an audience outside the palace. He says he has important matters to report in person."

"Li Ruolian?"

Zhu Cilang was slightly taken aback, a clear look of doubt flashing across his face.

As far as he knew, there had been no major military or national events or emergencies in or around the capital recently.

Moreover, as the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Li Ruolian should have known that Hong Chengchou was currently receiving an audience at the Eastern Palace. Unless it was something extremely important, he would never have come to disturb him rashly.

This sudden request for an audience left Zhu Cilang somewhat puzzled.

But after a moment's hesitation, he nodded:
"Show him in."

Seeing this, Hong Chengchou, who was standing nearby, immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said:
"Since Your Highness has important business to attend to, I shall take my leave now."

Zhu Cilang waved his hand dismissively and said:
"It's alright. Li Ruolian's request to see me now is probably just about routine matters such as the security of the capital or intelligence gathering, nothing secret."

"Minister Hong is about to join the cabinet, so it's good to know some things beforehand. Please sit down and listen."

In Zhu Cilang's view, allowing Hong Chengchou to listen in was both a manifestation of his trust in him and a way to help him become more familiar with central affairs.

Upon hearing this, Hong Chengchou could no longer insist and had no choice but to sit down again. However, his body subconsciously leaned forward slightly, maintaining a respectful listening posture, while a faint sense of unease arose in his heart.

Shortly after, Li Ruolian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, walked in hurriedly. (End of Chapter)