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

Chapter 220 Even if it means the extermination of my entire clan, I will still support him! [Bonus Chapters for Monthly Tickets: 26 & 27]

When Yunming, accompanied by two eunuchs, carried a heavy box into Zhang Biao's dilapidated courtyard and read out Old Zhu's "stingy" yet "reluctant" decree to add 10,000 taels of silver to the budget, Zhang Biao's reaction was nothing short of brilliant.

He first stared wide-eyed at the box of silver, as if he couldn't believe it.

Then he rushed forward, touched the cold silver ingot with his hand, and his face instantly lit up with an extremely exaggerated, ecstatic smile, like an old farmer seeing a gold ingot.

"Oh my! Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Emperor! I knew it!"

"I knew our Emperor was a financial expert! Look at him, wow, he 'invests' money so skillfully!"

After saying that, he turned to the bewildered veterans and said, "What are you all standing there for! Come and move it! The Emperor is very considerate of us; he knows our Anti-Corruption Bureau has it tough!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Biao hugged the box tightly, his face almost touching it. He looked exactly like a money-grubbing miser, bowing repeatedly towards the direction of the palace, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

Looking at Zhang Biao's pathetic state, Yunming's lips twitched, and the doubts he had felt about the Emperor's sudden generosity vanished instantly.

This censor is indeed a money-grubber...

Despite his discomfort, Yunming relayed Old Zhu's message: "Lord Zhang, the Emperor said that you... should spend your money sparingly."

"Save! We must save!"

Zhang Biao nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice, but his hands were tightly protecting the box:

"Please inform His Majesty, Eunuch Yun, that your subject Zhang Biao will certainly live up to His Majesty's grace and spend every penny wisely!"

"Strive to find out as soon as possible... find out irrefutable evidence of the corruption of those princes, and recover the embezzled funds!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "vassal kings" as if he were going to fight the vassal kings to the death after receiving the money.

Yunming nodded in satisfaction before leaving with his men.

The moment the courtyard gate closed, the ecstasy and fawning on Zhang Biao's face vanished instantly, replaced by a wicked grin of triumph and a cold, sharp glint.

He loosened his grip on the suitcase, even patting the hand that had been holding it with disdain.

"Bah! Ten thousand taels? Are you trying to fob me off? I want one hundred thousand taels, a million taels!"

He muttered something under his breath, but his eyes remained fixed on the box as he stroked his chin:

"However... even a small mosquito is still meat, so it's perfect for doing some side hustles."

Of course, he wouldn't take the money and fight the princes to the death, as Zhu Yuanzhang and the mastermind behind the scenes had hoped.

Old Zhu wanted to use this money to incite him to attack the vassal king, and the mastermind behind the scenes wanted to use confusing clues to guide him to attack the vassal king, but Zhang Biao refused!
"Old Zhou! Old Li!" Zhang Biao shouted.

"exist!"

"Take this ten thousand taels!"

"what?"

Old Zhou and Old Li were completely dumbfounded, their eyes filled with disbelief.

This is ten thousand taels!
They had never seen so much money in their lives!
He'd never even seen a hundred taels before, and now he's offering ten thousand taels? Is that appropriate?!
Seemingly noticing their hesitation, Zhang Biao glanced at them disdainfully and said smugly:

"Look at your pathetic self! From now on, follow me, Zhang Biao, and you'll be able to earn ten thousand taels, a hundred thousand taels, or even a million taels! Don't embarrass me!"

After saying that, he pointed to the box of silver:

"This money isn't for you to drink and carouse!"

"No, no, we wouldn't dare."

Several veterans blushed, then shook their heads vigorously.

Zhang Biao stared intently at them and continued:

"Don't forget the task I gave you: we need to put on a good show on the surface! Use this money to splurge on the canal transport line!"

"Recruit more informants, bribe more witnesses, and create more conflict!"

"I want everyone to think that I, Zhang Biao, have taken the Emperor's money and am now full of energy, ready to fight a big battle with the princes!"

"The bigger the commotion, the better! The more we spend, the better! Ideally, we should make Song Zhong and those eyes in the shadows think we're just fools with too much money!"

Old Zhou and Old Li reacted for a moment, then suddenly realized that this was a deliberate attempt to feign weakness and lull the enemy into a false sense of security!

"Understood! Don't worry, sir, we're experts at acting!"

Old Li patted his chest and gave a knowing smile.

"Loach, you're coming along too!"

Zhang Biao waved his hand and added, "Learn more about how to 'spend money recklessly'."

"Yes!"

The loach responded excitedly.

After assigning the roles to the 'main characters,' Zhang Biao turned his attention to Lao Sun and Lao Qian:

"Old Sun, Old Qian, get ready. We're ready to leave anytime we get the travel permits!"

"it is good!"

Old Sun and Old Qian spoke in unison.

The next morning, Zhang Biao changed into a relatively neat official robe and swaggered out of the courtyard.

As expected, Song Zhong appeared beside him as quickly as a shadow.

"Lord Zhang, what are the plans for today?" Song Zhong asked routinely.

"Arrangements? Of course!"

Zhang Biao clapped his hands loudly, as if afraid others wouldn't hear him:

"His Majesty has placed such trust in us, even allocating additional funding. Our Anti-Corruption Bureau cannot fail to live up to His Majesty's grace! I have decided to expand the scope of our investigation!"

Song Zhong's eyes flickered slightly: "Oh? Where does Your Excellency intend to begin?"

Where to begin?

Zhang Biao chuckled and pointed towards the imperial city: "Song Qianshi, do me a favor and talk to the relevant departments to get some travel permits for our Anti-Corruption Bureau to Tongzhou, Jinan, Wuchang, and even Chengdu!"

Song Zhong was taken aback. These places happened to be the key points of the Grand Canal transport where the fiefdoms or powerful influence of the Prince of Qi, the Prince of Chu, and the Prince of Shu were located.

"Lord Zhang, are you... going to personally investigate cases in various places?"

"if not?"

Zhang Biao spoke with righteous indignation:

"What real information can be uncovered by simply listening to reports in the capital? I want to go down to the provinces myself and see for myself how those princes manage their small territories!"

"What's this called? This is called 'downward-looking anti-corruption'! Going deep into the grassroots to obtain firsthand information!"

His words were spoken in a grand and dignified manner, as if he had been given a royal decree and was about to make a big splash.

This is exactly what Lao Zhu and the mastermind behind the scenes were 'hoping' to see.

After a moment's thought, Song Zhong felt that this was in line with Zhang Biao's usual 'madness' and the current situation, so he nodded and said:

"I will handle the travel permit. May I ask when you plan to depart, and where you intend to go first?"

"Well..."

Zhang Biao pretended to be deep in thought: "Wuchang is the closest, so let's start from Wuchang! Get the travel permits ready as soon as possible, and we can set off at any time!"

"Yes."

Song Zhong agreed, thinking to himself that they still had to fight to the death over the grain transport and the vassal kings.

However, Zhang Biao's next move left Song Zhong somewhat baffled.

In the days while waiting for his travel permit to be issued, Zhang Biao did indeed expand the scope of his investigation.

He instructed Lao Zhou and Lao Li to take the ten thousand taels of silver and launch a large-scale recruitment drive in the capital, hiring so-called "accounting experts" and "spies" from the underworld. The commotion was enormous and attracted attention from all sides.

However, at the same time, Zhang Biao, under the pretext of "needing someone familiar with military affairs to assist in verifying the guard posts that may be colluding with the canal transport," obtained a batch of copies of military farm accounts, weapons lists, and personnel files of several guard posts in the capital region and surrounding areas from the Ministry of War through Song Zhong.

These garrisons seemed to have little to do with corruption in the Grand Canal transport, or at least not at the core, including the garrison that oppressed Old Zhou's village.

Although Song Zhong found it somewhat strange, he thought that Zhang Biao had audited the Ministry of War before, so he assumed that this was just Zhang Biao's habitual "haphazard" approach to investigating cases, or that he was trying to probe the military personnel who were involved in the canal transport from the side, and did not investigate further.

After all, most of their energy and attention were drawn to the big commotion on Lao Zhou's side, 'preparing for an expedition to the fiefdoms of the vassal kings'.

A few days later, the travel permits to the territories of the various vassal kings were prepared and delivered to Zhang Biao.

Zhang Biao took the stack of travel permits, nodded in satisfaction, and then said to Song Zhong:
"Song Qian Shi, make preparations, we'll depart at dawn!"

"Where to?" Song Zhong asked instinctively.

"Wuchang!" Zhang Biao said without hesitation.

The next morning, Zhang Biao, accompanied by Lao Sun, Lao Qian, and several newly recruited, seemingly clever, subordinates, left the capital in a grand procession, heading straight for Wuchang, 'accompanied' by Song Zhong and several Imperial Guards.

the other side.

With Old Zhu's permission, Zhu Yunwen arrived at the 'Literary Festival' as he wished.

This grand ceremony was held in a spacious royal garden in the east of the city.

Several temporary platforms and sheds were set up inside, with separate sections for subjects such as classics, policy essays, poetry, mathematics, and crafts.

Scholars, literati, and skilled craftsmen from all over the country gathered here, some engaging in lively discussions, others engrossed in calculations, and still others displaying ingenious artifacts. It was truly a gathering of talented individuals and a vibrant scene.

"Wang Yue, this trip was truly worthwhile!"

Zhu Yunwen, dressed as a scholar, frequently sighed to his trusted eunuch dressed as a page beside him.

Meanwhile, the trusted eunuch Wang Yue cautiously kept a watchful eye on his surroundings, fearing that someone might be foolish enough to offend the imperial grandson.

Just then, someone passed by and whispered among themselves:
"This Hu Guang from Jiangxi truly lives up to his reputation; he's full of vigor!"

"Yes! Even I am ashamed of myself!"

"Who says otherwise? I thought I, a scholar with the talent of a Jinshi degree, was a dragon among men here!"

"I have admired you for a long time!"

"I am over-flattered!"

Hearing these comments, Zhu Yunwen's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't pay much attention to them. Then, with interest, he followed the crowd to the debate platform where the man named Hu Guang was.

Following Old Zhu's instructions to "listen more, observe more, and think more," he listened quietly for a while. Seeing that Hu Guangsheng was confident and smug, he hatched a plan and loudly interjected:
"Brother Hu's insightful remarks are truly admirable. However, you just used Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang as examples of the power of hegemony, but you seem unaware that Emperor Wu of Han repented at Luntai in his later years, and Emperor Taizong of Tang also suffered the consequences of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, which left a legacy of harm to later generations. The effects of hegemony are likely to be short-lived. I wonder what you can teach me?"

Hu Guang was feeling smug when he saw someone questioning him, and it was a stranger at that. He raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

Although Zhu Yunwen was wearing only an ordinary scholar's robe, his calm demeanor made him seem unlike an ordinary scholar.

Seeing this, Hu Guang slightly toned down his arrogance, but he did not back down and began to refute the argument by citing classical texts.

The two exchanged words for several rounds. Zhu Yunwen's arguments were solid, and although his words were not harsh, they always hit the nail on the head.

Although Hu Guang did not admit defeat, sweat was already beading on his forehead, and his momentum was not as strong as before.

He gave Zhu Yunwen a deep look, cupped his hands and said, "Brother, your insight is extraordinary. I have learned a great deal from you."

Despite saying that, there was a hint of resentment in his eyes.

Zhu Yunwen smiled slightly, returned the greeting, and left.

This young man is talented but impetuous. He is capable, but needs to be tempered and should not be given heavy responsibilities too soon.

He mentally assessed Hu Guang. Leaving the noisy area, he strolled to a relatively quiet corner, where he saw several students discussing a complex arithmetic problem.

One of them, dressed in a patched long gown, was taciturn but quickly pointed out several oversights in the calculations of others, using a simple and effective method.

Zhu Yunwen observed for a moment before stepping forward to speak: "This gentleman's calculations are exquisite. Are you Yang Shiqi from Huguang?"

The young man seemed surprised, looked up, his eyes simple and focused, and cupped his hands, saying, "It is I. And you are?"

Zhu Yunwen smiled and said, "I have heard of your name by chance. Just now I saw your solution to the problem. You did not follow the old rules and focused on practicality, which is admirable."

"I wonder what your insightful opinion is on the current problem of unclear accounts in the canal transport system?"

When asked about practical matters, Yang Shiqi hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying:

"The problem lies in the fragmented management and unclear responsibilities. If policies cannot be unified and corruption cannot be strictly investigated, even good laws will be difficult to implement."

He speaks clearly and logically, but only touches on the points and doesn't want to say more.

Zhu Yunwen felt that this person was down-to-earth and steady, a man who got things done, but too cautious. He encouraged him with a few words, "I hope you can apply what you have learned in the future," and then asked no more questions.

Yang Shiqi thanked him respectfully, his expression calm.

As I was walking, I suddenly heard a commotion ahead, accompanied by the sound of reciting poetry.

There stood a free-spirited and unconventional young scholar, surrounded by a crowd, composing an impromptu poem with remarkable literary talent. He was none other than the renowned Xie Jin from Jiangxi.

Xie Jin, with his sharp eyes, noticed Zhu Yunwen's extraordinary demeanor and took the initiative to invite him: "Brother, why don't you come over and critique the poems and essays together?"

Zhu Yunwen did not want to cause trouble, but having been called upon, he had no choice but to step forward.

Xie Jin enthusiastically invited him to recite a poem for the grand ceremony. Zhu Yunwen could not refuse, so he casually recited a moderate and peaceful poem appropriate for the occasion.

After listening, Xie Jin laughed and said, "Brother's poem is too steady and conventional, like an old master lecturing. It lacks genuine emotion!"

After finishing his sentence, he added in a didactic tone, "Poetry and prose should express one's true feelings to reveal one's true nature!"

Zhu Yunwen frowned slightly, displeased, and said indifferently, "Poetry is for expressing one's aspirations, and everyone has their own preferences. Being too sharp and revealing is not necessarily a good thing."

Having said that, he ignored Xie Jin and turned to leave.

This is a wild and arrogant scholar; though he possesses talent, his frivolous nature renders him unfit for important tasks.

He made this assessment of Xie Jin in his heart.

Afterwards, he chatted casually with some people for a few more minutes, but his interest had waned compared to when he first arrived.

However, during this time, he also met a student from Fujian named Yang Rong.

During the conversation, he found that this person had a mature understanding of the current situation and a broad perspective on analyzing problems. Just as he was about to have a deeper conversation, the other party skillfully steered the topic away, speaking so succinctly that it was difficult to discern his true thoughts.

[Deeply calculating and difficult to control.]

A sense of powerlessness rose in Zhu Yunwen's mind.

I spent most of the day wandering around and met many talented people, some sharp, some simple, some unrestrained, and some profound, but I always felt a distance between us. I failed to meet any like-minded people with whom I could share a common vision and offer assistance.

As the sun began to set, the crowds gradually dispersed.

Zhu Yunwen, with a hint of unfulfilled anticipation, strolled towards the garden exit.

As we passed through a secluded bamboo grove, a clear and indignant voice suddenly rang out from inside the pavilion:

"When rites and music collapse and the moral order is lost, it is not that the way of the sages and virtuous men is no longer present, but that those who uphold the way are not practicing it! If rites and laws are upheld and benevolence and righteousness are manifest, why should we worry about not eliminating treacherous officials and not bringing peace to the world?!"

The voice was powerful and carried an undeniable moral authority, instantly attracting Zhu Yunwen's attention.

He gestured for Wang Yue to stay where he was, and then quietly approached.

Inside the pavilion, a middle-aged scholar, about thirty years old, with a lean face and sharp eyes, dressed in a faded scholar's robe, was speaking eloquently to a book, surrounded by two or three young students who were listening intently.

Zhu Yunwen's heart stirred; this man's character and demeanor were far beyond those of an ordinary Confucian scholar.

He straightened his clothes, stepped into the pavilion, and bowed respectfully, saying:

"Greetings, sir. I was just passing by when I heard your profound words, which were truly inspiring. I am filled with admiration for you and apologize for disturbing you."

The scholar turned around at the sound of the voice, glanced at Zhu Yunwen, and saw that although he was simply dressed, he had an extraordinary bearing and spoke with humility, so he returned the greeting with a cupped-hand salute.

"I dare not accept such praise. I am Fang Xiaoru. I was merely speaking off the cuff, and I apologize for making a fool of myself."

[Fang Xiaoru? It really is him!]

Although Yunwen had already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth, he still couldn't help but feel excited when he confirmed it now.

He suppressed his emotions and showed genuine admiration on his face: "So it is Mr. Xizhi! I have long admired your name, and it is truly an honor to meet you today!"

He took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Fang Xiaoru, starting with the 'rites and laws' and 'benevolence and righteousness' he had just heard, and then discussing the classics, histories, philosophical works, and commentary on figures from ancient and modern times.

At first, Fang Xiaoru still maintained a certain air of a scholar, but Zhu Yunwen, with his profound insights and erudition, proved to be no ordinary wastrel, and Fang Xiaoru's interest in conversation was gradually piqued.

The two talked about everything from the profound meanings of the Spring and Autumn Annals to the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history, from the teachings of Confucius and Mencius to the current political situation, and the more they talked, the more they clicked.

Zhu Yunwen discovered that Fang Xiaoru was not a pedantic scholar who only talked about morality.

He was erudite and had a profound understanding of the merits and demerits of the systems of past dynasties and the benefits and drawbacks to people's livelihoods. What was even more remarkable was that his words and actions exuded a resolute spirit of "where the truth lies, I will go even if it means facing a million people."

This feeling was completely different from Zhu Yunwen's previous sharp exchanges with Hu Guang, his pragmatic and cautious interactions with Yang Shiqi, his unrestrained and superficial conversations with Xie Jin, and his cryptic and ambiguous interactions with Yang Rong.

This is a resonance of ideas, a deep recognition based on shared values.

Zhu Yunwen felt all the pent-up emotions in his chest disappear, as if he had found a true soulmate.

Seeing that the time was right and the other students in the pavilion had tactfully dispersed, Zhu Yunwen waved to Wang Yue, who was following him at a distance, to retreat further.

He sighed, his tone heavy with concern for the country and its people, and steered the conversation toward more practical concerns:
"Your scholarship is profound and comprehensive, and I admire it greatly."

"But nowadays, there seem to be treacherous officials in the court who are abusing their power. People like Zhang Biao act wildly and disregard moral principles, causing unrest in the court and the country. This is truly worrying. If this continues, the foundation of our Great Ming Dynasty may be shaken."

Upon hearing Zhang Biao's name, Fang Xiaoru's face immediately revealed undisguised contempt and anger, and his voice rose several decibels:
"Hmph! Zhang Biao? This scoundrel is nothing but a madman who relies on the emperor's favor to seek fame and fortune!"

"Auditing the Six Ministries? That's trampling on the laws of the court! Provoking the princes? That's sowing discord among the imperial family!"

"How are their actions any different from those of Wang Mang and Zhuo Dong in ancient times? If such treacherous people are not eliminated as soon as possible, they will surely become a great threat!"

His words were sharp and his criticism of Zhang Biao was merciless, which was exactly what Zhu Yunwen wanted to hear.

Seeing that Fang Xiaoru's emotions had been stirred, Zhu Yunwen sighed deeply, then steered the conversation toward the most central and sensitive concern:
"Alas, the presence of treacherous officials in the court is certainly a cause for concern. However, the real threat to the very foundation of the nation lies in the fact that the heir apparent is uncertain!"

"Whenever I think about this, it keeps me awake at night. I wonder what your opinion is on this?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoru's expression suddenly became extremely solemn.

He glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then lowered his voice, but his tone was resolute, carrying an undeniable authority:

"The position of crown prince is the foundation of the nation and the weight of the state; how can it be left vacant for long?"

He stared intently at Zhu Yunwen, as if trying to pierce through his disguise:
"According to the rules of etiquette, there is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and an order of seniority! His Highness the Second Grandson of the Emperor has long been established in terms of status, and his benevolence, filial piety, and intelligence are known throughout the land!"

"This is the fundamental principle and the right path, without a doubt!"

"Even if there are countless obstacles, we must persevere to the end. This is precisely the responsibility of us scholars to uphold the orthodox tradition and serve the country!"

These words struck Zhu Yunwen like a thunderbolt.

He hadn't expected Fang Xiaoru to be so direct and so firmly support him.

This was even more perfect than he had imagined.

He was overjoyed, but his face instantly showed fear. He hurriedly waved his hands, his voice tinged with panic.
"Sir, be careful with your words! Be careful with your words! How can such an important matter be discussed so casually?"

"Sir, you may not know this, but Scholar Liu Sanwu also strongly advocated this idea back then, and the result... alas, he was disgraced and his whole family was exiled. The lesson of his past is still fresh in our minds!"

"Sir, you are a man of great talent, a pillar of the nation. You must not bring upon yourself the calamity of having your entire family executed because of a junior's momentary presumptuous question!"

He deliberately brought up Liu Sanwu's tragic situation, both to test Fang Xiaoru's resolve and to cultivate an image of himself as a benevolent person who cherishes talent and cannot bear to see others in danger.

As expected, upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoru showed no fear whatsoever; instead, it stirred up his inherent fierceness and stubbornness.

He stood up abruptly, his voice hushed, yet each word struck like a hammer blow:
"Liu Gong upheld the righteous path. Although he suffered misfortune, his will shines as brightly as the sun and moon, and he is a role model for us all!"

"Fang Xiaoru has studied the classics since childhood. What has he learned? How can he remain silent out of fear of disaster and sit idly by while the righteous path declines? Establishing an heir to uphold justice is a matter of course!"

"If you bring disaster upon yourself by persisting in this matter, not to mention your entire family."

He paused, his eyes gleaming with an almost martyr-like light, and said, word by word:

"Even if you exterminate my entire clan, what do I have to fear?!"

What do we have to fear from ten clans!

These earth-shattering words sent a jolt through Zhu Yunwen's body; his blood seemed to freeze and then boil instantly.

Looking at Fang Xiaoru's face, which was slightly flushed with excitement but filled with unwavering determination and resolve, an indescribable surge of emotion welled up within him.

It was an extreme shock, an immense satisfaction, and a sense of peace, as if I had found a pillar of support!
This is exactly the kind of subject he wants!

With the support of such an upright Confucian scholar who was willing to risk his life and even disregard ten generations of his family for the sake of his 'righteous path,' how could Zhu Yunwen worry about not establishing a righteous cause and legitimacy? How could he worry about not winning the hearts of the literati?

But he knew that the more this was the case, the more he needed to "dissuade" and "benevolent" he needed to appear.

He quickly stood up, bowed deeply to Fang Xiaoru, and spoke earnestly, his voice even choked with emotion:

"Sir, your noble character and sincerity...I am...I am heartbroken!"

"But... but this must never be said to outsiders again!"

"Sir, you are a national treasure. You should preserve your health and use it for the future!"

"If His Highness the Second Grandson of the Emperor knew of your plight, he would surely not be able to bear seeing you in such danger! I... I take my leave!"

Having said that, he gave Fang Xiaoru no further chance to speak, as if he were truly afraid that Fang would be punished for his words. He hurriedly bowed and then left the pavilion in a flustered manner, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the bamboo path.

Fang Xiaoru stood there, watching Zhu Yunwen's hasty departure, his chest still heaving slightly with excitement.

He did not look down on the other party because of his cowardice. On the contrary, he felt that the boy was kind and knew how to cherish talents. He felt even more favor and expectation towards the 'second grandson of the emperor' whom he had never met.

As Zhu Yunwen strode out of the bamboo grove, once he was sure he was far from the pavilion and no one was around, the fear and panic on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an irrepressible excitement and a deep, cold calculation.

He glanced back at the pavilion hidden deep in the bamboo forest, a confident smile slowly curving his lips.

Fang Xiaoru... Fang Xiaoru!

[To have such a great scholar is better than having ten thousand soldiers!]

With his promise today that "I have nothing to fear from ten clans," my position among the literati will be as secure as Mount Tai!

[Grandpa Emperor...you will see it too!]

He felt that the path of the Crown Prince, which had been repeatedly thwarted by Zhang Biao, was now being infused with a powerful and righteous force.

Fang Xiaoru was the most important cornerstone in his efforts to shape the future landscape!
This trip incognito yielded results far exceeding expectations.

He not only gained a general understanding of the quality of the current intellectual elites, but also unexpectedly gained a supporter like Fang Xiaoru, who was extremely firm in his stance, highly respected, and willing to give everything for him.

Zhu Yunwen took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions, but the light in his eyes grew even more determined.

Zhang Biao... your good days are numbered.

The day I ascend to the throne as Crown Prince will be the day you, such a treacherous official, are beheaded!

Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)