If you die, I will be able to inherit your cultivation.

This wasn't the first time Zhou Ming had challenged his authority; it started with the time he took Su Mubai away from him right in front of him at Yongning Gate.

They replaced his entire list of those to be rewarded with Su Mingyue's people.

And today, he even led a deer into the Hall of Supreme Harmony in court.

How dare a lowly servant be so insolent in front of him?

Meeting his furious gaze, Zhou Ming calmly took two steps back to the side of the hall, then turned to face the assembled officials and spoke loudly:

"Since Your Majesty does not believe my words, then so be it."

"Please, esteemed officials, bear witness." With that, Zhou Ming bowed to the civil and military officials.

"Gentlemen, look at the creatures on this throne. Are they deer or horses?"

"If you think this is a horse, please stand on my side. If you think this is a deer, please stand opposite me."

The hall fell silent once more.

Then, the civil officials' ranks began to move.

First, Physician Chen stroked his beard and walked steadily to Zhou Ming's side.

Then came the new Minister of Rites, followed by the Vice Minister of Works, one, two, ten, thirty.

The civil and military officials, as if being led by the same rope, lowered their heads, walked silently, and filed to Zhou Ming's side.

In just a short while, Zhou Ming was surrounded by a dense crowd, and the right side of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was packed full.

On the opposite side of Zhou Ming, there wasn't a single person in sight.

Su Mingli stood there, looking left and right, his face blank. He took two steps and then stopped, not knowing where to stand.

Eventually, an older man grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back into the crowd.

Zhou Ming stood alone at the very front of the assembled civil and military officials, facing the empty space opposite him, and calmly turned around.

He faced Emperor Yongchang on the dragon throne again, a faint smile playing on his lips, his tone as calm as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact:

"Your Majesty, now you believe this is a horse, right?!"

Emperor Yongchang stood there, his gaze sweeping from the dense crowd on the right side of the hall to the empty golden brick floor on the left.

His lips moved a few times, his Adam's apple bobbed violently, and something in his eyes seemed to have been crushed.

The hall was so quiet that you could hear the faint scraping sound of the deer's hooves pacing restlessly on the ground.

After a while, he slowly sat back on the dragon throne, sitting on the edge of the throne without leaning against the backrest, his hands resting limply on his knees.

He looked down at the group of civil and military officials below, who had their heads bowed and dared not look at him.

He glanced again at the kitchen steward standing at the very front of the assembled officials, a man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, who seemed completely unhurried. Suddenly, he realized that everything seemed rather meaningless.

He didn't look at the deer again, nor at the ministers, but slowly turned his head towards an empty area on the side of the hall, and softly responded:

"If you say it's a horse, then it's a horse."

He rubbed his temples, waved casually at the crowd with his other hand, his tone weary as if all his strength had been drained, devoid of any emotion:

"I am tired. Court may adjourn."

After saying this, he staggered to his feet from the dragon throne, and without waiting for everyone to kowtow, he turned around in a daze.

The hem of the bright yellow dragon robe swept across the gold brick floor, and his staggering figure disappeared into the shadows behind the screen of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Su Mingli stood there, watching Emperor Yongchang's bright yellow figure stagger and disappear behind the curtain of the side hall.

He turned to look at Zhou Ming, then at the civil and military officials in the hall who were bowing their heads and remaining silent.

He's not stupid. Although he doesn't usually like to use his brain, what he just saw...

Zhou Ming pointed to a deer and said it was a horse. Not a single courtier stood up to refute him; they all stood behind Zhou Ming.

He understood what this meant.

But even though I understand it, I'm still furious, and I can't stop being furious.

Before Emperor Yongchang could even bring up the matter he had promised in court, Zhou Ming's "calling a deer a horse" incident had already ruined everything.

He strode up to Zhou Ming, pointed his fan at his chest, and frowned so deeply it could trap a fly:

"Zhou Ming! His Majesty has already agreed to make me the governor of Yuyang County! Look at the mess you've made, you've angered His Majesty so much that he forgot to mention it!"

Zhou Ming looked down at the fan stuck in his chest, then at Su Mingli's face, which was slightly flushed with anger. He smiled slightly and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Young Master, aren't you now the Prefect of Yuyang County?"

Su Mingli was stunned by these words. His fan hung in mid-air, his mouth opened and closed, and he couldn't think straight for a moment.

"This... His Majesty hasn't issued the decree yet! This... this doesn't count!"

Zhou Ming didn't argue with him, but instead waved to the little eunuch at the entrance of the side hall.

The young eunuch trotted over and bowed, awaiting orders.

Zhou Ming lowered his head slightly and casually instructed, "Go to His Majesty and request an imperial decree for the young master, saying that he wishes to become the prefect of Yuyang County. Go."

The young eunuch didn't even dare to raise his head. He replied with a "Yes," then turned and ran quickly toward the side hall. His footsteps were light and hurried, echoing for a while in the empty Hall of Supreme Harmony.

While Su Mingli was still basking in his anger, Zhou Ming gestured with his chin toward the official robes he was wearing.

Su Mingli followed his gaze and looked down.

The dark red official robe he was wearing was one he had changed into at the mansion before leaving home today.

He admired himself in the bronze mirror for a while, thinking that the color was more dignified than the light red brocade robe, and that wearing it made him look quite like his father back then.

Just then, an aged yet steady voice came from beside him:

"Your Excellency, Prefect."

Su Mingli turned his head and saw that Old Doctor Chen was standing next to him, bowing slightly, his hands clasped in a fist, his wrinkled face displaying just the right amount of respect.

The old man's tone was impeccably serious, as if he were bowing to a superior who had been in office for many years:

"Your Excellency, the prefectural government has been prepared. When would you like to take office? I will arrange the carriages and ceremonial procession."

Su Mingli's eyes lit up immediately.

The Prefect's Mansion, his Prefect's Mansion.

He almost blurted out "Go now," but then he suddenly remembered something and froze in place.

He coughed, straightened his clothes, and raised his chin slightly, trying to appear less impatient.

"Wait, let's take the imperial edict before we leave."

Zhou Ming ignored him.

He turned around and walked leisurely toward the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

His steps were neither fast nor slow, the hem of his dark blue official robe brushing against the gold brick floor. The morning light shone on him from the open palace doors, casting a long shadow behind him.

Standing at the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhou Ming looked up at the sky.

The morning light was perfect, the sky was cloudless, and the old locust tree in the palace rustled in the wind.

He knew that what he did today would be recorded.

Calling a deer a horse.

The emperor was a figurehead.

The entire court of officials followed his lead without question, and history will surely record a severe accusation against him.

When later generations write about Zhou Ming, they will probably use terms like "powerful traitor" and "sycophant."

But so what?

History records may not show that Zhou Ming lived as long as he did.