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

Images flow across the sky.

Nangong's thrilling "stealing the dog by climbing over the wall" farce ended in an extremely bizarre way.

Shi Heng and the others, who were originally trapped and killed in the inescapable net laid by Grand Tutor Gu, actually...

It was a miraculous success!

of course.

This was not because they were particularly brave, nor because the welded-closed door suddenly opened.

Rather, it's because...

Gu Fengzi, who was sitting on the city wall watching the play, suddenly felt—

"Killing people is boring, we need to raise pigs!"

"We need to let this pig come out on its own and show the world just how stupid it is!"

then.

Grand Tutor Gu waved his hand, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard withdrew from the area.

The seemingly indestructible iron gate was also "mysteriously" blasted open, leaving a hole.

Our "Great Ming War God" and "Oirat student" Zhu Qizhen.

at last……

They crawled out of the dog hole!

Freedom restored!

【Ding--】

[Time: Early morning of the 17th day of the first month of the eighth year of the Jingtai reign.]

Location: Forbidden City, Beijing, Fengtian Hall.

[Event: A situation dubbed the "Turmoil of Power," but in reality, a "Clown's Appearance on Stage"—]

[A grand restoration drama!]

on the screen.

The morning light is slightly dew.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, bells and drums resounded in unison.

As usual, all the civil and military officials arrived at the morning court, still half asleep.

however.

When they raised their heads and looked at the dragon throne that symbolized supreme power.

Everyone—

It exploded!

"Holy crap?!"

"Who is that?"

"Isn't that... the Emperor Emeritus?"

On the dragon throne.

The one sitting there was no longer the sickly Emperor Jingtai, Zhu Qiyu.

Instead, he was a bearded man, dressed in a dragon robe but still exuding a weathered, "study-abroad" vibe—

Zhu Qizhen!

At this moment, he...

Full of vigor and high spirits!

His face was glowing!

It was as if he wasn't the one who crawled through the dog hole last night, nor was he the one eating cornbread in Nangong!

He felt like he was capable again!

He is the 2.0 version of the Great Ming War God!

Be more confident!

It's expanding even further!

And... even more foolish!

"My lords!"

Zhu Qizhen waved his wide sleeves and let out the cry that had been suppressed for eight years:

"I--"

"Hu Hansan is back!!!"

"I have been restored to the throne!"

"This empire of the Ming Dynasty ultimately belongs to me!"

The assembled officials looked at each other, each feeling as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed a fly.

拜？

Or not to worship?

Pray, the ailing Emperor Jingtai is not dead yet!

If you don't bow, this man is already sitting on the dragon throne, with the fierce-looking Shi Heng and Xu Youzhen standing beside him!

It was at this awkward moment that you could practically dig out a three-bedroom apartment.

"Tick-tock—tick-tock—"

A very strange and untimely dripping sound broke the silence.

Followed by.

It was a burst of...

The sound of suona horns was so festive it was almost explosive!

"Beep—beep beep—beep beep beep!!!"

The melody is soaring!

Cheerful!

That's—"A Good Day"!

"Who?!"

Zhu Qizhen was startled and almost slipped off the dragon throne:

"Who's playing the suona?!"

"Don't you want to live anymore?!"

"Bang—!!!"

A loud bang!

The heavy door of Fengtian Hall was kicked open!

Sunlight streamed into the main hall.

A figure, backlit and carrying a huge object, strode in!

When you see the person's attire.

The entire audience...

Deathly silence!

All I saw was Gu Canghai.

That old madman who gave Zhu Qizhen eight years of nightmares.

Nowadays.

He wasn't wearing a python robe!

He wasn't wearing armor either!

Instead, she was wearing a...

Bright and eye-catching, dazzlingly red, even embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water—

A bright red wedding robe!!!

It's like a groom on his way to pick up his bride!

If you ignored the dark coffin he was carrying on his shoulder, it would definitely be a festive scene.

but!

A red robe with a coffin?

What the hell is this outfit?!

Who are they sending on their way?

"Oh dear!"

Gu Canghai's face was all smiles, a smile so bright it sent chills down one's spine.

He carried the coffin and walked straight to the center of the main hall.

"Bang!"

Slam the coffin to the ground!

The shockwave cracked several of the gold bricks!

then.

He bowed slightly to Zhu Qizhen, who was seated on the dragon throne.

Congratulations!

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"I heard that you..."

"Work has resumed?!"

"This old minister specially wore this newly made wedding robe to come and offer you my congratulations!"

"How is it?"

Gu Canghai spun around, displaying his crimson robe:

"Isn't it festive?"

"This is a treasured possession of this old minister, something I rarely wear, only using it in..."

Gu Canghai's eyes narrowed, and a terrifying smile spread across his lips:

"Only when sending someone on their way..."

"I finally dared to take it out and wear it!"

boom!!!

Zhu Qizhen looked at the red robe and the familiar coffin.

My calves started cramping instantly!

PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) occurred on the spot!

The "rocket-launched coffin" incident, the "accidental firing of the cannon," the "Nangong dog hole" incident...

Countless terrifying memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave!

"Grand...Grand Tutor..."

Zhu Qizhen's lips trembled, and his teeth chattered:

"You...you're here?"

"You...you weren't sick, were you?"

"Shi Heng said you're dying..."

"fart!"

Gu Canghai spat:

"Who said I'm going to die?"

"Your Majesty, you are not dead, how could this old minister dare to die?"

Gu Canghai patted the coffin beside him:

"This old minister's bones are still hale and hearty!"

"This old minister will spare his life..."

"Take a good look..."

"Look at you, the 'Great War God of the Ming Dynasty'..."

"How else can we keep squandering money!"

"And it can still be given to this Ming Dynasty..."

"What new tricks have you come up with?!"

irony!

A blatant irony!

Zhu Qizhen's face turned a deep purplish-red, yet he dared not refute it.

Because he was afraid!

He was afraid that this old madman might pull a Gatling gun out of his coffin and shoot him in the head if he didn't say something!

"Cough cough..."

Xu Youzhen, one of the "heroes who seized power," couldn't stand it any longer and stepped forward to make his presence known:

"Grand Tutor!"

"Your Majesty's restoration is the will of Heaven!"

"You are wearing a wedding robe and carrying a coffin into the palace; this is extremely disrespectful!"

"This is contempt for imperial authority!"

"Smack—!!!"

Before he could finish speaking...

Gu Canghai slapped him across the face!

Xu Youzhen was sent flying five meters away, crashing into a pillar and losing consciousness!

"Why are you interrupting when adults are talking?"

"I'm catching up with His Majesty, what right do you, a fallen dog, have to bark?"

Gu Canghai wiped his hands, not even glancing at Xu Youzhen.

then.

He pulled a thick ledger out of his pocket.

There's one more—

abacus!

"Your Majesty."

Gu Canghai fiddled with the abacus beads, making a crisp "clattering" sound.

"Now that you're back, back to work, and back to being emperor."

"So, should we...?"

"Is it time to settle the score?"

"What...what accounts?" Zhu Qizhen looked completely bewildered.

"Of course—"

Gu Canghai slammed the account book onto the dragon table:

"Tuition fees!!!"

"The year you 'studied' in the Oirat region!"

"Eat, drink, poop, pee, and sleep!"

"And there are the two thousand warhorses I gave to Esen to ransom you, my 'top-quality hostage'!"

"And what about the accommodation, food, and security fees (referring to those one hundred vicious dogs) you paid at the Nangong 'Sanatorium' over the past eight years!"

"Even..."

Gu Canghai pointed outside the city:

"The compensation for the 200,000 soldiers who died in the Tumu Crisis!"

"This debt..."

When do you plan to submit your expense report?

"not much!"

Gu Canghai held up five fingers:

"That's only fifty million taels of silver!"

"Give me the money!"

"As long as the money is there, this old minister will immediately pack his coffin and leave, never disturbing your pleasure as emperor!"

boom!!!

Fifty million taels?!

Even if you sold your entire Ming Dynasty, it wouldn't be worth fifty million taels of silver!

This is outright robbery!

This is like stripping the emperor bare to pay off his debts!

"Grand...Grand Tutor..."

Zhu Qizhen was almost in tears:

"I...I don't have any money!"

"The money in the national treasury..."

"That's from the national treasury, not yours!"

Gu Canghai interrupted him:

"That was money collected by the Jingtai Emperor! What does it have to do with you?"

"You want to be the emperor?"

"Sure!"

"Pay up or lose!"

"Or...?"

Gu Canghai's eyes turned cold, and he placed his hand on the coffin lid:

"Or I'll shove you into this coffin right now!"

"We'll send you back to the Oirat!"

"Let that old bastard Esen continue to support you!"

"Anyway, he misses you a lot!"

"No! No, no, no!"

Zhu Qizhen was so frightened that he jumped up from the dragon throne and scrambled to hide behind Shi Heng.

"I'll give it to you! I'll give it to you, okay?!"

"I'll have someone go and collect the funds immediately!"

"Grand Tutor, don't be impulsive! Please don't be impulsive!"

Persuaded!

I'm completely scared!

What restoration? What high spirits?

Faced with Gu Canghai, Zhu Qizhen was instantly exposed!

He's still the same coward who's only tough at home but kneels down at the first sign of trouble!

……

Beyond the sky.

The Hongwu Plane.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched this comical scene unfold on the screen.

Looking at that great-grandson who was being driven around in circles by Gu Canghai.

I felt both relieved and saddened.

"These are our descendants?"

"Is this the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"

"They're blocking the door demanding payment, and they want to send us back to the Oirat?"

"How embarrassing!"

"He's completely disgraced us!"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and looked at Gu Canghai in the picture:

"Gu the Madman is really ruthless!"

"This 'debt collection' tactic..."

"They completely shattered this kid's arrogance!"

"What will become of this emperor in the future...?"

"Probably even more of a grandson than a grandson!"

Zhu Di also looked helpless:

"The gentleman is giving him a warning."

"It's telling him that although you've restored the monarchy, this Ming Dynasty..."

"I'm still the one who calls the shots!"

"You're just someone who works to pay off debts!"

……

on the screen.

Gu Canghai looked at the terrified Zhu Qizhen and snorted coldly.

Put away the abacus.

"Alright."

"Since Your Majesty has agreed to repay the money, this old minister will grant you a few more days' grace."

"but……"

Gu Canghai pointed to the assembled civil and military officials, then to Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang hiding behind a pillar:

"I'm putting my words right here!"

"You can be the emperor."

"but!"

"If you dare to lay a finger on Yu Qian..."

"If you dare to bring up past grievances or kill meritorious officials..."

"If you dare to mess around like you did back then..."

"My coffin..."

Gu Canghai patted the dark coffin, producing a dull echo:

"We've always reserved a seat for you!"

"This restoration thing..."

"Practice makes perfect."

"If you don't behave..."

"I don't mind..."

"Let's get you another younger brother!"

"Did you understand?!"

"I...I understand!" Zhu Qizhen nodded frantically.

"That's more like it!"

Gu Canghai laughed heartily, picked up the coffin, and turned to leave.

That bright red wedding robe was particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

It looks like a burning flame!

It's like a...

The one that hangs forever over the head of a tyrant—

Battle flag!

Watching Gu Canghai's departing figure.

Zhu Qizhen slumped on the dragon throne, his whole body already soaked in cold sweat.

he knows.

His nightmare was far from over.

instead……

This is just the beginning!

As long as that old madman is still alive.

This emperor...

It will always just be a—

A worker in debt!