Ming Dynasty: A centenarian madman criticizes the Grand Secretary and brings his coffin to court!

Images flow across the sky.

As the gates of the Southern Palace were welded shut, and as Empress Qian's cries were mercilessly suppressed by that washboard.

The Ming Dynasty seemed to have entered a rare period of stability.

however.

Calm waters often conceal much larger whirlpools!

The human heart is never satisfied.

Especially when you sit on that dragon throne that symbolizes supreme power, when you taste the feeling of being the only one who matters...

Would you still be willing to give up your position under someone else's son?

【Ding--】

[Time: The third year of the Jingtai reign.]

Location: Forbidden City, Beijing, Qianqing Palace Warm Pavilion.

[The Event: A Discussion of "Succession by Son Upon Father's Death" versus "Succession by Brother Upon Brother's Death"]

[A dramatic family drama!]

on the screen.

By this time, Emperor Jingtai, Zhu Qiyu, had long since shed his youthful naiveté and fear.

He wore a well-fitting dragon robe, had grown a beard, and his eyes held a deep, imperial air and...greed.

Over the past three years.

Under Yu Qian's governance and the deterrent effect of Gu Canghai, the Ming Dynasty's national strength gradually recovered.

Zhu Qiyu felt he was ready.

He felt he was a restorer of the dynasty!

but.

Whenever he saw the five-year-old Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen (Zhu Qizhen's son), who lived in the Eastern Palace.

He felt as if he had swallowed a fly!

On what grounds?

Why should I, who have worked so hard to govern the country, end up benefiting my brother's son?

I have sons too!

My son, Zhu Jianji, is intelligent and quick-witted. Why can't he be the crown prince?!

"No!"

"I want to change the heir!"

"I will ensure that the Ming Dynasty's empire will continue to be passed down through my lineage for generations to come!"

Zhu Qiyu made up his mind.

but.

He also knew that if he wanted to change the crown prince, he had to get past one hurdle.

That is--

Gu Canghai!

That living Yama who even dared to lock the retired emperor in a dog cage!

……

Inside the warm pavilion.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly.

Zhu Qiyu dismissed his attendants, leaving only his trusted eunuch Xing'an behind.

"Grand Tutor Xuan!"

A short while later.

"Squeak—"

The door was pushed open.

Gu Canghai carried the coffin (though it's not commonly used now, it was a must-have when entering the palace as a symbol of status) and swaggered in.

He placed the coffin upright at the doorway, like a door god.

Then he plopped down on the brocade stool without even bowing.

"Your Majesty is summoning this old minister?"

"Speak your mind, or shut up."

"This old minister still needs to go back and feed those vicious dogs!"

Zhu Qiyu's lips twitched, forcing a smile as he suppressed his displeasure:

"Grand Tutor, you've worked hard."

"I have a family matter to discuss with you today, Grand Tutor."

talking.

Zhu Qiyu gave Xing'an a wink.

Xing'an immediately carried a heavy sandalwood box and walked up to Gu Canghai.

turn on.

"Splash—"

Shining with golden light!

That was a whole box full of golden melon seeds!

Each one is exquisitely crafted, shimmering with an alluring luster under the candlelight.

This is the highest honor the emperor bestows upon his subjects!

This box is worth at least tens of thousands of taels of silver!

"Grand Tutor."

Zhu Qiyu said with a smile:

"I know the Grand Tutor is honest and upright, but he also needs to support his family."

"This is a small token of my appreciation; please use it to buy some wine for the Grand Tutor."

"As long as the Grand Tutor supports me on the next matter..."

"I guarantee that from now on, you'll have as many of these golden melon seeds as you want!"

bribe!

This is blatant bribery!

The emperor bribing his ministers was unprecedented in the history of the Ming Dynasty!

however.

Faced with this alluring golden light.

Gu Canghai's reaction instantly froze the smile on Zhu Qiyu's face.

"Golden melon seeds?"

Gu Canghai reached out and grabbed a handful.

I weighed it in my hand.

"Too light."

"The quality is also subpar."

then.

Under Zhu Qiyu's horrified gaze.

Gu Canghai suddenly raised his hand!

"Splash—!!!"

He scattered that handful of golden melon seeds directly onto the floor tiles of the main hall, just like scattering rice to feed chickens!

Clang, clang, clang, it rolls everywhere!

"What does Your Majesty mean by this?"

Gu Canghai patted the gold dust off his hands, looking disgusted.

"Trying to test an old minister with this piece of junk?"

"Which cadre couldn't withstand such a test?!"

"Do you think this old minister's coffin can't hold any money?"

"Do you still think that an old minister like yourself, at this age, doesn't need a little money to buy his life?"

"Come on, come on!"

Gu Canghai shouted to the eunuchs and guards at the door:

"Come in, all of you!"

"His Majesty has bestowed money upon us!"

"Whoever grabs it keeps it!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

boom!!!

This is a total slap in the face!

Throwing the emperor's gifts on the ground for others to snatch?

This is trampling on the emperor's dignity!

Zhu Qiyu was trembling with anger, but dared not retaliate. He could only wave his hand to tell the eunuchs who wanted to come in to get lost.

"Grand Tutor...you've misunderstood!"

Zhu Qiyu explained awkwardly:

"I just... I just felt..."

"I think the position of Crown Prince..."

at last.

See you in the picture!

When the word "Crown Prince" was mentioned, Zhu Qiyu stopped pretending.

He stood up and looked directly at Gu Canghai:

"Grand Tutor!"

"The current Crown Prince, Zhu Jianshen, is the son of that so-called 'Gate Emperor'!"

"The son must pay for the father's debts!"

"His father was responsible for the deaths of 200,000 soldiers; he was a sinner!"

"How can the son of a sinner inherit the throne?"

"My son, Zhu Jianji, is intelligent, benevolent, and filial; he is the crown prince bestowed upon the Ming Dynasty by Heaven!"

"I wish..."

"Depose Zhu Jianshen! Make Jianji the crown prince!"

"Please grant my request, Grand Tutor!"

Done.

Zhu Qiyu stared intently at Gu Canghai.

He's gambling.

Gu Canghai also dislikes Zhu Qizhen, so he will support changing the crown prince!

however.

After hearing these words, Gu Canghai...

They did not immediately express their opinion.

Instead, he slowly stood up.

They walked up to the imperial desk (dragon desk).

There, lay a symbol of the supreme imperial power—

The Imperial Seal of the State (and the Treasure of the Ming Emperor)!

Gu Canghai didn't even glance at Zhu Qiyu.

He landed right on my butt...

He sat down at the imperial desk!

This is the Dragon Table! It's where the emperor works!

Did he just sit down like that?

Their backs are still turned towards the emperor?

Zhu Qiyu's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he almost couldn't catch his breath!

What happened next caused his heart to stop!

Gu Canghai then took out two walnuts (collectible walnuts) from his pocket.

It was placed on the emperor's desk.

then.

Extend a hand.

He grabbed that heavy jade seal, which was carved with nine golden dragons!

Lift them high!

"Grand Tutor! No!" Zhu Qiyu screamed.

"Smack!!!"

A crisp sound!

The imperial seal slammed hard onto the walnut!

The walnuts are broken.

Imperial Seal...

Undamaged (after all, it's of good quality).

Gu Canghai picked up a walnut kernel, threw it into his mouth, and chewed it with a crunchy sound.

"Hmm, these walnuts are good, thin-shelled and generously filled."

"It's this hammer..."

Gu Canghai looked at the jade seal in his hand with disdain:

"It's a bit too light, it doesn't feel right in my hand."

"Slap! Slap!"

Two more times!

Gu Canghai was like someone using a brick to crack walnuts with the Ming Dynasty's imperial seal, completely oblivious to everyone else!

Each time it was smashed.

Zhu Qiyu's heart skipped a beat!

That's the Imperial Seal!

That was a symbol of imperial power!

You're going to use it to crack walnuts?

You have utterly shattered my face and the dignity of the Ming Dynasty!

……

The Hongwu Plane.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched this crazy scene unfold on the screen.

I was completely petrified.

He glanced at the identical jade seal on his desk, then at Gu Canghai in the picture, who was "enjoying a hearty meal."

"this……"

"That old madman..."

"He...he used our imperial seal to crack walnuts?"

"How dare he?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang felt that his worldview had been completely shattered!

I used to think that Gu Canghai bringing a coffin to court was already incredibly arrogant.

did not expect.

That's just basic operation!

Using an imperial seal to crack walnuts is the real deal—

They disregarded imperial power!

"Zhongba..."

Empress Ma said quietly from the side:

"This also shows..."

"In the heart of the vast ocean."

"This imperial power, this imperial seal..."

"It's not even worth as much as two walnuts."

……

on the screen.

Gu Canghai finished eating the walnuts.

He casually tossed the jade seal, covered in walnut crumbs, onto the table.

"Bang!"

then.

He clapped his hands, looking at Zhu Qiyu, who was almost crying from fright.

Finally, he spoke.

"You want to change the crown prince?"

"You want your son to take your place?"

A playful smile appeared on Gu Canghai's lips:

"Sure!"

"I have no objection!"

"Really?!" Zhu Qiyu was overjoyed, thinking he had misheard.

"but!"

Gu Canghai changed the subject, raising one finger:

"I have one condition!"

"What are your conditions? Grand Tutor, name yours! I will grant them all!"

"The conditions are very simple."

Gu Canghai pointed to the heavy snow falling outside the window:

"Your Zhu family's genes..."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

"This won't work!"

"I won't talk about Emperor Taizong, Emperor Renzong was fat, and Emperor Xuanzong died young."

"Your brother is a good-for-nothing."

"As for you..."

Gu Canghai looked Zhu Qiyu up and down:

"He's a walking pharmacy too!"

"so!"

"For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, and to prevent the throne from being passed on to a short-lived man."

"Your precious son, Zhu Jianji..."

"You have to be in good health!"

"We must be able to withstand setbacks!"

Gu Canghai walked to the window, opened it, and let the biting cold wind blow in:

"How about this?"

"As long as your son..."

"To be able to do this in such heavy snow!"

"Bare-chested!"

"Surround the Forbidden City!"

"Run three laps!"

"If you finish the run without catching a cold or getting a fever, and are still able to run and jump around..."

"I have to admit he's in good health!"

"I'll agree to make him the crown prince!"

"What if I run myself to death..."

Gu Canghai spread his hands, looking completely innocent:

"Then you can't blame this old minister."

"That's because he was destined for misfortune; he couldn't control the Ming Dynasty!"

"How is it?"

"Your Majesty, these conditions...are they fair?"

boom!!!

Is this what you call fair?

Making a child who is only a few years old run three laps shirtless in the snow?

That's the Forbidden City! A loop around it is several kilometers long!

This isn't a physical fitness test.

This is clearly an execution!

This is a veiled message to Zhu Qiyu—

You want to change the crown prince? Only if your son dies!

Zhu Qiyu felt a chill run through his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

He looked into Gu Canghai's eyes, which seemed cloudy but were actually radiant and seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.

I finally understand.

This is not about negotiating terms at all.

This is negotiating with the King of Hell!

Gu Canghai had no intention of letting him replace the crown prince!

even……

Gu Canghai was warning him!

Don't get any funny ideas!

Don't think that becoming emperor means you can do whatever you want!

In this Ming Dynasty.

Some of the rules were set by Gu Canghai!

"Grand...Grand Tutor..."

Zhu Qiyu's voice trembled:

"This...this is too..."

"Isn't that too much to ask?"

Is it difficult?

Gu Canghai picked up the jade seal and tossed it in his hand:

"When your great-grandfather was begging, it was a million times harder than this!"

"You stole the throne."

"You adopted the crown prince."

"Your Zhu family...you really know how to have fun!"

"If you want to play, then play by my rules!"

"Run!"

"Or... shut up!"

"Just focus on being a good emperor, and stop thinking about all that nonsense!"

Done.

Gu Canghai tossed the imperial seal into Zhu Qiyu's arms.

"Take it!"

"Clean it up!"

"It smells like walnuts!"

then.

He shouldered the coffin and strode out of the warm chamber.

Zhu Qiyu was left alone, clutching the cold jade seal.

Listening to the sound of wind and snow outside the window.

Desperate...

He collapsed to the ground.

Changing the crown prince?

Easy to store?

In front of this centenarian Grand Tutor.

That's a joke!