Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 172 Zhang Biao: Please address Your Majesty as Imperial Censor Zhang! [Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets: 9/10]

"Wang Yong! For embezzlement, bribery, and bullying of colleagues, he shall be punished by being skinned alive!"

When the old clerk from the Ministry of Revenue who had previously betrayed Shen Lang and Sun Gui was called out by the Imperial Guards, he was so terrified that he immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

"My lord! I'm innocent! I was forced into this by Fu Youwen and his gang! I have an eighty-year-old mother to support and young children to raise."

"Wait a minute!"

Before Wang Yong could finish his tearful plea, a member of the Imperial Guard immediately interrupted him, then took the verdict from his colleague and corrected him:
"You've mistaken him! This is the actual punishment for Wang Yong!"

"Oh, I think so, I must have misread it."

The colleague paused for a moment, then read out the new verdict: "Wang Yong! For colluding with Fu Youwen, he is guilty of treason and shall be executed by slow slicing, with his family property confiscated and his clan exterminated!"

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yong was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

"No! No! My family is innocent! They are innocent!"

However, his cries for justice did not win the sympathy of the Imperial Guards.

Before long, he was escorted to the execution ground, along with his entire family, all of them.

The same situation kept happening in the Six Ministries.

Blood stained the execution ground, the walls of the imperial prison, and the court of the Ming Dynasty.

This bloody storm, triggered by the death of Crown Prince Zhu Biao, and mixed with the grief of Emperor Zhu over the loss of his son, imperial suspicion, and the will to thoroughly settle scores, swept everything in the most cruel and thorough way.

However, after the bloodbath in the Six Ministries, Zhu Yuanzhang's sword did not stop at all. With an even more ruthless chill, it was swung directly at the power networks that the Prince of Qin's Mansion and the Prince of Jin's Mansion had cultivated in the capital for many years.

This time, what Old Zhu wanted was not a covert purge, but a high-profile trial and execution.

He wanted all the people in the city to see how these parasites who clung to the vassal king and committed numerous evils were crushed.

It was early morning, just as dawn was breaking.

A long procession of prison carts, escorted by heavy guards, slowly drove out of the imperial prison and headed towards the execution ground.

Unlike in the past, this time the number of prisoners being escorted was extremely large, numbering in the hundreds.

They were all dressed in white prison uniforms, with heavy wooden plaques stuck to their backs, on which their names and heinous crimes were written in vermilion.

The crowd of onlookers had already packed both sides of the street, making it impossible to move and creating a noisy atmosphere.

"Look! They're out!"

"So many corrupt officials! They're all men of the King of Qin and the King of Jin!"

"Heaven has opened its eyes! The Emperor is wise!"

Inside the prison van, the officials who once wielded power and influence now looked ashen-faced and dejected.

Some people had their eyes tightly shut and were trembling all over.

Some people tried to huddle up, trying to avoid the disdainful looks and rotten vegetable leaves thrown at them from both sides.

Some people had blank stares, as if they had already resigned themselves to their fate.

The soldiers maintaining order loudly read out the crimes of some of the main perpetrators, their voices carrying throughout the entire street:

"The corrupt official Zhou Bao! Formerly a councilor of the Shaanxi Provincial Administration Commission, he was a vassal of Prince Qin, Zhu Shuang!"

"Criminal First: During his time in Shaanxi, he colluded with the Prince of Qin's guards to forcibly seize thousands of acres of farmland, driving dozens of farmers to their deaths!"

"Second crime: Embezzling funds for river repairs and enriching himself, which led to the Yellow River breaching its banks and drowning countless people!"

"Criminal offense three: Presenting beautiful women and precious objects to the King of Qin, thus encouraging his extravagant lifestyle! This is an extremely heinous crime, punishable by death by a thousand cuts and the extermination of his entire family!"

"The corrupt official Qian Yi! Formerly a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, he was actually a spy planted in the court by Prince Zhu Gang of Jin!"

"Crime 1: Abusing his power to secretly sell the imperial grain tribute to the Prince of Jin's merchant caravan at a discounted price, thereby making exorbitant profits!"

"Second crime: Leaking Ministry of Revenue secrets, assisting Prince Jin in hoarding grain and manipulating grain prices!"

"Criminal three: Forming cliques for personal gain, excluding dissidents, and currying favor with court officials for the Prince of Jin; harboring wolfish ambitions; sentenced to immediate execution, confiscation of family property, and exile of his children three thousand li away!"

"Sun Wang, the disgraced official! Former deputy commander of the Five Cities Garrison, and a henchman of the King of Qin!"

"Criminal First: Conniving with the Qin King's guards to bully and dominate the market in the capital, beat the people, and forcibly abduct women!"

"Second crime: Abusing his power to secretly transport contraband for the King of Qin!"

"Criminal Three: Framing loyal officials, falsely accusing merchants who disobeyed the King of Qin of being bandits, imprisoning and torturing them! Cruel and tyrannical, sentenced to be cut in half at the waist!"

Each reading of the charges drew even more intense shouts and cheers from the onlookers.

"Well done! Those damned corrupt officials!"

"None of the King of Qin's men are good! They harmed us in Shaanxi, and they're still committing evil in the capital!"

"The Prince of Jin looks refined, yet his subordinates are so ruthless! He deserves to die!"

"Long live the Emperor! He has done justice for us common people!"

Rotten eggs, rotten vegetable leaves, and even stones rained down on the prison van.

The pent-up anger and grievances of the people were finally released at this moment.

The scene was almost out of control, filled with a violent and primal sense of justice.

The prison cart eventually arrived at the execution ground outside the Meridian Gate.

The area was already heavily guarded, with banners waving and imperial guards standing at attention with their swords drawn, exuding a murderous aura.

Jiang Huan sat high on the platform, his face cold and stern.

One group of prisoners after another were dragged off the prison vans and forced onto the execution platform.

The most cruel form of execution was slow slicing. The executioner was highly skilled, and with flashing blades, blood and flesh flew everywhere. The condemned official's screams were shrill and incessant, yet they drew cheers from the crowd watching below.

"Slice him! Slice him horribly! Let him taste the retribution for killing so many people!"

"Three thousand six hundred cuts! Not a single cut can be missed!"

The execution by being cut in half at the waist was carried out, and the giant axe fell.

The official's body was severed in two, his internal organs spilling out onto the ground. The bloody scene was nauseating, but it only further aroused the public's excited nerves.

"That's great! Let's see if these corrupt officials dare to bully the innocent again!"

"This is what happens when you become a lackey of a feudal lord!"

The execution of beheading was relatively swift. With each rise and fall of the executioner's blade, heads rolled off one by one, and the headless corpses were dragged away at will and piled up to the side like a small mountain.

The intense stench of blood permeated the entire execution ground, causing even seasoned veterans to change color slightly.

But the onlookers seemed to be caught up in a kind of fanatical emotion, cheering for every death and applauding every drop of blood spilled out.

This was not merely an execution, but a 'just performance' personally directed by the emperor and presented to the entire city.

He used the most extreme and bloody methods to declare the absolute crushing power of the imperial authority over the vassal kings, and also greatly satisfied the psychological desire of the common people for a "righteous and just official" to punish evil and promote good.

The stench of blood from the execution ground had not yet dissipated, but the teahouses and taverns in the city were already in an uproar.

"Have you heard? More than thirty heads were chopped off at Caishikou today! They were all henchmen of the King of Qin and the King of Jin!"

"It's not just beheading! There's also slow slicing and dismemberment! This is truly gratifying!"

"His Majesty is serious this time! These princes are already tyrannical in their localities, but they dare to extend their reach into the capital!"

"If you ask me, it was well done! Every single one of these officials was innocent! All they knew was how to curry favor with the prince and harm us ordinary people!"

"It seems His Majesty knows this perfectly well! No matter what prince or minister, as long as they dare to harm the Ming Dynasty and us common people, they will all lose their heads!"

At this moment, the hearts of the people, like never before, turned towards the Hongwu Emperor, who sat high on the dragon throne and used ruthless methods.

Through this bloody purge, he not only punished corruption and dealt a heavy blow to the power of the princes, but also cleverly portrayed himself as a "defender" of the interests of the common people.

The influence of the Prince of Qin's and Prince of Jin's mansions in the capital was almost completely eradicated, severely damaging their vitality.

It can be said that this purge targeting the Qin and Jin princely families, with its cruelty and openness, greatly shocked the court and the public, and completely changed the power structure of the capital.

With his blood and death, Old Zhu once again declared to everyone:

In this great Ming Dynasty, there can only be one sun!

But this storm is far from over.

Next came the massive purge of the princely fiefdoms.

However, besides the major purge in Yingtian Prefecture, which attracted much attention, there was also the group that had previously made a big fuss about "beheading Zhang Biao to set things right".

Although they were not affected by the Great Purge, they were still terrified.

"Brother Li... have you heard? Last night, many of the Prince of Qin's and Prince of Jin's men were arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard! I'm afraid Caishikou will be a river of blood today!"

A young student, his face pale, whispered to his classmate beside him, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"It's not just the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Qin's men! My uncle works in the Ministry of Revenue, and he said that the entire capital was under arrest last night! Many officials... just disappeared without a trace!"

"Are we... are we to continue kneeling here?"

Another person chimed in, their lips trembling:

"This is no longer a petition, this is... this is dancing on the edge of a knife!"

Panic spread through the population like a plague.

Some people started secretly wiping away tears.

Some people instinctively shrank back, wanting to leave this place of trouble.

That 'ten-thousand-word petition,' which once symbolized morality and courage, now lay forlornly on the ground, trampled with several dirty footprints, appearing utterly ironic.

"Bang! Bang!"

Just then, a series of heavy, orderly footsteps and the clatter of chains dragging on the ground approached from afar, striking everyone's heart like a death knell.

Everyone looked up in horror—

Squads of gleaming armored imperial guards escorted a long line of prisoners dressed in dubious uniforms, with disheveled hair and heavy shackles, slowly making their way from Chengtian Gate to the execution ground outside Meridian Gate.

Among the prisoners were faces they vaguely recognized.

He was an official who was full of vigor and confidence in the imperial court just yesterday.

At this moment, however, he was like a lamb to the slaughter, his face pale and his eyes empty.

What was even more chilling was that the Imperial Guards escorting them swept their cold gazes over the kneeling scholars, their lips curling into a faint hint of mockery and murderous intent.

An invisible fear gripped everyone instantly.

"I...I won't kneel anymore! I want to go home!"

One of the Kong family's collateral descendants, who had a weaker mental fortitude, finally broke down, crying and scrambling to his feet as he tried to run away from the crowd.

"I'm not kneeling anymore! This...this will cost me my head!"

"Let's go!"

Like a dam breaking, once the first breach occurs, there's a second, a third... More and more people waver, struggling to get up and escape this land that's about to be stained with blood.

"stop--!"

A thunderous roar suddenly rang out.

Fang Xiaoru, who had been kneeling at the front of the crowd as upright as a pine tree, suddenly turned around.

His gaunt face flushed red with extreme anger and disappointment, and his once sharp eyes now burned like flames as he stared intently at his comrades who wanted to back down.

"You insolent fools! How dare you speak like this?!"

Fang Xiaoru's voice was hoarse with excitement, yet it carried a powerful sense of grief and indignation that stunned many who wanted to flee.

"What is the purpose of studying the classics?! 'Wealth and honor cannot corrupt, poverty and hardship cannot sway, and power and force cannot subdue!' This is the integrity of a great man!"

"Now, at the mere sight of a few swords and the smell of blood, you're already as terrified as a stray dog, ready to abandon all morality?!"

He pointed at the prisoners being escorted, then at the imperial city, and roared in anguish:

"Look at this! It is precisely because there are treacherous officials in the court and a sinister atmosphere in the country that we must stand up and set things right!"

"Now that the treacherous officials are about to be eliminated, you all want to desert your posts?! Do you have any respect for Confucius? Do you have any respect for the knowledge in your hearts? Do you have any respect for... do you have any respect for this scholar's robe?!"

His rebuke was like a whip, striking the hearts of every coward, causing some to show shame and lower their heads.

However, fear is ultimately a more powerful force.

A once radical student of the Imperial Academy, now with red eyes and a sob in his voice, retorted:
“Mr. Fang! You make it sound so easy! Those are the Embroidered Uniform Guard! They are the imperial prison! They are responsible for the extermination of three generations of a family!”

"We...we are just defenseless scholars! What good will our deaths do?! What can we change?!"

"Yes, Brother Fang!"

Another person mustered his courage and said, "Your Majesty... His Majesty is clearly angry! He's being unreasonable! If we kneel down again, I'm afraid... I'm afraid we'll be the next ones dragged to the execution ground!"

"Even ants try to survive, Mr. Fang!"

"We...we just want to live..."

The instinct for survival overwhelmed empty moral principles and courage.

More and more people began to echo this sentiment, and cries, explanations, and complaints filled the air.

The crowd dispersed completely, their previous united front against the common enemy vanished, leaving only a panicked escape for their own lives.

As Fang Xiaoru watched the scene crumble before him like an avalanche, and saw those "comrades" who had once sworn oaths now scattered like birds and beasts, his outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and the anger on his face was gradually replaced by a huge sense of powerlessness and bewilderment.

He still stood tall, but his figure appeared particularly lonely and desolate in the empty square.

Why...why is this happening?

Is morality really so fragile?

In the face of absolute imperial power and violence, is the integrity of scholars really just a joke?

For the first time, he felt a subtle, indescribable wavering and deep doubt about his own beliefs.

Finally, he slowly lowered his arm, closed his eyes in despair, and let out a very soft but very heavy sigh.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the Meridian Gate Square, but it could not dispel the heavy stench of blood and despair.

The once-powerful "petition of the people" melted away like ice and snow under the sun under the ruthless execution of the Hongwu Emperor.

Only Fang Xiaoru remained, a solitary and stubborn figure, still kneeling on the spot, as if mourning a lost and unrealistic dream.

At this moment, in the Huagai Hall.

Old Zhu remained seated on the dragon throne, listening to Jiang Huan report the results in a hoarse voice.

"Your Majesty, Fu Youwen and the other ringleaders have been executed by slow slicing. Before they died, they tore at several dukes."

"The Prince of Qin's residence, the Prince of Jin's residence, and all those in Shaanxi connected to the Crown Prince have been executed."

"The Prince Lu's residence has also been forcibly demolished, attracting many onlookers. Some praised the Emperor's wisdom, while others condemned Prince Lu's past actions." "In the Eastern Palace, except for the elderly servants who were not related to Mingyu, Mingyue, and Prince Yunwen, everyone has been purged."

Of those students who knelt outside the city to 'plead' for their lives, only Fang Xiaoru remains….

Old Zhu closed his eyes, his face expressionless, and simply waved his hand slightly.

Jiang Huan immediately and tactfully withdrew.

In the empty hall, Old Zhu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls to see the land soaked in blood.

There was no joy, no relief, only a void of coldness and a deep-seated weariness.

[Biao'er, may you rest in peace.]

Father offered their blood as a sacrifice for you.

This Ming dynasty... your father will wash it clean with blood for your entire lineage.

Blood flows into a river.

But at the end of this river lies an even deeper, unfathomable darkness.

Old Zhu was somewhat bewildered at this moment.

He didn't know what to do next.

Just then, Yunming's voice rang out softly: "Your Majesty."

"explain."

Old Zhu didn't look at him, but simply gave a single word.

But then Yunming cautiously reported:

"Your Majesty, I have investigated and found that Consort Guo Ning went to Fengxian Hall because she was instigated by Consort Li Xian and Consort Ge Li."

"They had received many benefits and favors from the maternal families of the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, and the Prince of Zhou, so they were worried that the Emperor would be too harsh on the three princes and wanted Consort Guo to plead for them."

"Previously, Consort Guo Ning had always refused, and even admonished them with the rule that 'the inner palace must not interfere in politics.'"

"However, when they heard that the Emperor had gone to the Fengxian Hall with a sword and had summoned the three princes, they panicked, and thus..."

Yunming stopped there, but his meaning was clear.

Consort Guo Ning's intrusion into the palace was likely without ulterior motives.

But for Lao Zhu, it was foolish.

Therefore, Emperor Zhu showed no sympathy whatsoever for Consort Guo, and instead issued an extremely indifferent order:

"Pass on my decree: kill Consort Li and Consort Ge, and have them buried with Consort Guo!"

Yunming trembled, but dared not hesitate for a moment, and hurriedly replied, "This servant obeys!"

After receiving his orders, he prepared to turn and leave.

However, at that moment, Old Zhu suddenly realized what was happening and said coldly:
"Who passed the message to Guo Ningfei and the others? When did we get so many 'gossips' around us?"

Swish!
Upon hearing this, Yunming's expression changed drastically, and he knelt down with a thud, saying:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! It was my fault for failing to discipline your son! I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give you an explanation!"

Old Zhu snorted coldly, but did not reprimand Yunming, and said in a deep voice:
"Go and bring Jiang Huan in!"

"Yes!"

Yunming wiped away the non-existent cold sweat from his heart and scrambled out of the main hall.

Soon, Jiang Huan, who had been waiting outside the palace gate, entered the main hall.

But then Old Zhu calmly and indifferently asked, "How's the investigation going with that Wang woman from the Prince of Qin's residence and that Deng woman from the Prince of Jin's residence?"

Through the events surrounding the harem, he increasingly felt that there was someone behind Biao'er's death.

Because neither the King of Qin, the King of Jin, nor the King of Zhou had the ability to orchestrate such a grand scheme.

After all, 'death squads' are not something that ordinary people can train, and the fact that they can commit crimes right under his nose means they are not simple.

Jiang Huan reacted for a moment and quickly reported:

"Your Majesty, I have just received news from Shaanxi that Madam Deng died of illness several months ago, and shortly afterward, her entire family also died of poisoning, leaving no survivors."

"As for Lady Wang, she also died of illness shortly after the King of Qin went to the capital. It is said that she suffered from an acute illness. Her family members also suffered misfortune, and none of them survived."

"Shh!"

Old Zhu's eyes suddenly flashed with two terrifyingly cold beams, staring directly at Jiang Huan: "What are Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, and Ye Sheng doing? Weren't we told to keep an eye on everyone in the Prince's mansion?!"

"This"

Jiang Huan broke out in a cold sweat instantly, but still forced himself to say:
"These reports came from my subordinates. I need to investigate further to find out exactly what happened. Perhaps this was a premeditated murder to cover it up."

"what!"

Old Zhu grinned maliciously and said confidently:
"Is there any need to say more? This is murder to cover it up! There must have been others involved in Biao'er's death! Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Brother were all pawns!"

After saying this, he suddenly stood up from his seat and angrily said:

"Investigate! Trace this mastermind out bit by bit! We'll tear him to pieces!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Huan quickly accepted the order and was about to turn and leave.

Just then, Old Zhu seemed to remember something, and squinted as he said:
"How is that bastard Zhang Biao doing?"

"Your Majesty, before Fu Youwen and the others were escorted out of the torture chamber, Zhang Biao mocked their arrogant words in the prison cell, saying that the Ming Dynasty would continue to function no matter who left!"

"Even if we skin those parasites alive right now, there will be replacements!"

"They even said that the doctor named Yu Xin could replace Fu Youwen, and that Tie Xuan could replace Ru Chang, and even do a better job than them!"

"In addition, he also promoted several people from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Personnel. His scathing remarks left Fu Youwen and his colleagues utterly disheartened and filled with despair."

Old Zhu sneered, then muttered several names that Zhang Biao had mentioned, and said:
"We're going to see that bastard one last time! He might know who's behind this!"

"Ah? Your Majesty."

Jiang Huan was startled and quickly tried to dissuade Lao Zhu, since Lao Zhu never had anything good to do whenever he met Zhang Biao.

But Old Zhu looked at him coldly and said, "What, are you going to teach me how to do things too?"

"I dare not!"

Jiang Huan was so frightened that he dared not say another word. He immediately led the way for Old Zhu, heading towards the imperial prison.

In the deepest part of the imperial prison, there was cell number three, number A.

Compared to the bloodshed and turmoil outside, there was an eerie tranquility here.

Zhang Biao remained seated on the bed, even having changed into a relatively clean prison uniform and combed his hair slightly, looking more like a guest about to attend an ordinary date than a prisoner awaiting death.

The sound of heavy chains being dragged grew louder as they approached, breaking the silence of the cell.

The prison door was opened, and Zhu Yuanzhang appeared in the doorway.

He wasn't wearing a dragon robe, only a black casual outfit, but the invisible imperial pressure he exuded was more suffocating than any magnificent attire.

Jiang Huan followed behind him like a shadow, standing respectfully with her hands at her sides, even her breathing was extremely soft.

Old Zhu stepped into the cell, his gaze like two cold awls, instantly locking onto Zhang Biao on the bed.

He didn't speak immediately, but just stood there, staring intently at him, as if he wanted to see through and crush this 'monster' who had stirred up the entire Ming Dynasty from skin to bone, from flesh to soul.

The air in the cell seemed to freeze, so oppressive that it felt like one's heart would stop beating.

Zhang Biao felt the gaze that seemed to pierce through him, but he didn't care at all. He even lazily raised his eyelids, and a signature, deeply mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth:
"Oh? Isn't this our Hongwu Emperor? What, you've come personally to send this dying man on his final journey?"

He tilted his head, his tone light and casual, as if he were chatting about everyday matters:
"I heard there's a bloodbath outside? Those old guys like Fu Youwen and Ru Chang were torn to pieces? Tsk tsk, what a pity, I didn't get to see it with my own eyes."

He paused, his gaze sweeping mockingly across Old Zhu's face, which betrayed no emotion, and asked in a deliberately casual tone:

"By the way, Your Majesty, what do you plan to do with your precious sons... the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, and the Prince of Zhou? Will you imprison them? Or demote them to commoners? You can't... kill them all, can you? Even tigers don't eat their cubs, don't you think?"

These words were extremely malicious, hitting Old Zhu right where it hurt the most.

However, Old Zhu still did not react.

He didn't get angry, didn't argue, and didn't even blink.

He stood there quietly, like an unchanging rock, only his unfathomable eyes still fixed on Zhang Biao, filled with an extremely complex emotion.

There was murderous intent, a sense of inquiry, anger, and even a hint of indescribable scrutiny.

It was as if Zhang Biao's words were not meant to be hurtful, but rather the insignificant chirping of insects.

This extreme silence is more unsettling than any roar.

Zhang Biao's smile gradually faded.

He was used to Old Zhu's rage and his confrontational nature, but this complete disregard, this stare as if he were nothing but an inanimate object, made him feel an unprecedented discomfort and a faint unease.

He clicked his tongue, seemingly finding it uninteresting, and then turned his gaze to Jiang Huan, who stood behind Old Zhu like a clay or wooden sculpture.

"Commander Jiang!"

He changed his target, but his tone remained relaxed:
"What's wrong with Old Zhu? Has he lost his temper? Or is he worried about his son and can't bring himself to do it, so he's come here to sulk?"

Jiang Huan trembled, lowered her head even further, and cold sweat instantly soaked her back. She dared not respond to those words.

Zhang Biao waited a moment, but received no reply. He couldn't help but scoff, "Ha, boring."

The cell fell silent once again.

The only sounds were the crackling of the burning torches and Old Zhu's heavy, suppressed breathing.

I don't know how much time passed, it felt like an eternity.

Old Zhu finally made a move.

He moved his jaw very slowly and almost imperceptibly.

He didn't look at Jiang Huan; his gaze remained fixed on Zhang Biao's face like a nail.

But from deep within his throat, he squeezed out a word that was suppressed to the extreme, so cold it was devoid of any warmth:

"explain."

Just one word.

Jiang Huan felt as if he had received a pardon, or as if he had been set on the stake.

He dared not hesitate in the slightest, nor dared to embellish whatsoever, and spoke clearly in a voice as steady as possible, yet still trembling slightly:
"By order of the Emperor..."

Jiang Huan recounted almost all of Zhu Yuanzhang's decrees, including the punishment of the four princes, the Crown Prince, Shaanxi, and the cronies of the Princes of Qin and Jin.

With each word he spoke, Old Zhu's gaze sharpened, scanning Zhang Biao's face for the most subtle changes in expression, such as muscle twitches, the flicker of his eyes, and the rhythm of his breathing.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao's face first showed an undisguised surprise, as if he hadn't expected Old Zhu to be so ruthless and to cleanse so thoroughly.

But this surprise lasted only a moment, and he immediately returned to his nonchalant demeanor, even chuckling softly:

"Ha, confinement? Keeping vigil? What a pity, what a pity!"

He shook his head, his tone filled with exaggerated regret:
"Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang, who killed countless people, couldn't bring himself to kill his own son!"

"If you ask me, keeping such a scourge around is just a waste of food; we might as well cut it all down!"

"However..."

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat playful:
"That's about right. At least, I've achieved about 50% of my goal."

"What exactly is your purpose?"

Old Zhu finally spoke again, his voice still suppressed, but carrying an icy chill: "Are you forcing us to kill our son?!"

"Ah!"

Zhang Biao scoffed, meeting Old Zhu's gaze without flinching: "Do you really think your sons don't deserve to die? The beastly things they did—embezzling military funds, forming cliques, and possibly even indirectly causing the death of the crown prince! Didn't they deserve to die for every single one of them?!"

"I'm forcing you to investigate because I want to clean up this Ming Dynasty court! I want you to see clearly what kind of people your so-called 'protective shield' really is!"

"Sharp teeth and sharp mouths!"

A cold glint flashed in Old Zhu's eyes: "You think you can survive?"

"I never intended to live!"

Zhang Biao shrugged, looking like a bachelor:
"You're the one who won't let me die. Since I can't die, I should at least do something meaningful, right?"

"The meaning of a fart!"

Old Zhu's anger seemed to be ignited, and he took a step forward, his shadow almost enveloping Zhang Biao:
"You know everything, don't you?! You forced us to investigate just to see us suffer! To see us deal with our own son! To see our Ming Dynasty in turmoil! Isn't that right?!"

"No, no, no!"

Zhang Biao waved his hands repeatedly, a look of disdain on his face: "Don't think so highly of yourself! Whether you're in pain or not, whether your empire is stable or not, what does it have to do with me? I'm just giving it a push, letting the bomb that's going to explode explode sooner."

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming serious, and looked intently at Old Zhu:

"However, since we've already gone this far and lost so much blood, let's not waste it."

"What's the waste?"

Old Zhu frowned.

"Of course, we should abolish the system of stipends for feudal princes!"

Zhang Biao made a startling statement:

"Haven't you been asking me how to solve the deep-seated problems of the Ming Dynasty? I'll tell you now, the first thing to do is to deal with your sons!"

"Shut up!" Old Zhu's face turned ashen.

Zhang Biao ignored him and continued speaking to himself:

"They cultivate cliques, embezzle national funds, and prey on the people in their localities, posing a great threat to the country!"

"If we don't take action, even the best policies are worthless! Since you've chosen to take action, why not go all out and do it?"

"Anyway, you've won over a lot of public support with this 'sacrifice of family for the greater good' act. Tsk tsk, our Biao'er... you acted really well! It's a pity you didn't get the Best Actor award..."

"Zhang Biao—!"

Old Zhu finally lost his temper.

Zhang Biao was not to be outdone:
"Your Majesty, please address me as Imperial Censor Zhang!"

……

Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

　I wrote slowly, and only just finished now. Sorry. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

　　
　
(End of this chapter)