The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Chen Wen took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, I have recently heard that there is much discussion in the streets and alleys of Nanjing, much of it concerning His Highness Prince Jiyang, his doctrine of 'investigating things,' and his business dealings. I should not disturb Your Majesty's ears with street gossip, but the rumors are rampant and have damaged the reputation of the Imperial Family and the orthodox path of learning. I dare not fail to report this."

The hall fell silent. All the civil and military officials turned their gazes to Chen Wen, then glanced furtively at Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han standing in front, and Zhu Di, who sat expressionless on the throne.

Zhu Di remained expressionless.

"Oh? Please elaborate."

Chen Wen straightened his back and said loudly.

"His Highness Prince Jiyang serialized the vernacular novel 'Jin Ping Mei' in the 'Da Ming Xin Bao'. The content mainly involved intimate affairs of women and obscene scenes in the marketplace, and the language was vulgar and offensive."

"The publication of such texts, which are eagerly circulated among scholars and common people, will not only fail to guide people towards goodness, but will also easily mislead people and corrupt customs. In particular, it is feared that young girls and ignorant youths who see them will imitate their behavior, causing endless harm!"

"If this continues, it may damage the very foundation of education."

He paused, and seeing that Zhu Di did not interrupt, he continued: "Secondly, Your Highness promoted the so-called 'investigation of things to gain new knowledge' and 'all things are made of dust' in the report, and even demonstrated it with strange and ingenious things."

"Such remarks are completely contrary to the sacred teaching of 'the unity of heaven and man'! Some students in the Imperial Academy have already been influenced by them, neglecting the classics and history, and instead indulging in cunning and ingenuity."

"The teachings of the sages are the foundation of a nation. If such heretical doctrines are allowed to spread, they may shake the foundation of the scholarly community and confuse right and wrong."

"Thirdly," Chen Wen said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, with the dignity of a prince, is involved in the lowly business of commerce, establishing 'Yu Xue Tang' and 'Sheng Chang Hao' to compete with the people for profits. This is especially true of the new-style looms. Although they have increased production, they have caused hundreds of weavers to lose their livelihoods, and resentment among the people has already arisen."

"All of these things are inconsistent with Your Highness's status as a member of the imperial family, and even more so with His Majesty's advocacy of frugality and compassion for the people's well-being."

"I have heard that 'a gentleman understands righteousness, while a petty person understands profit.' Your Highness's actions may mislead the people into thinking that the imperial family values ​​profit over righteousness, thus damaging the image of the royal family's benevolence!"

Chen Wen spoke earnestly, and at one point, his eyes even reddened slightly: "Your Majesty! His Highness the Prince of Jiyang is exceptionally intelligent and is a blessing to the nation."

"However, he is young and inexperienced, and has been misled by treacherous and wicked people, which has led to a great uproar. Your Majesty, I implore you to strictly discipline the Prince of Jiyang, order him to stay at home and study, and cultivate his character; and to ban the inappropriate content of the Da Ming Xin Bao and prohibit fallacies and heresies."

"Stop the businesses that compete with the people for profit, so as to set the record straight, dispel rumors, preserve the reputation of the imperial family, and solidify the hearts of the people!"

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Many officials nodded secretly.

The philosophy of mind of the Prince of Jiyang had long been a source of dissatisfaction for some civil officials who adhered to the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism.

Moreover, Zhu Zhanjun's new type of loom is rapidly dominating the textile market in the Ming Dynasty.

Who doesn't have some involvement in the textile business?

The fact that their own interests had been harmed had long led some people to be quite dissatisfied with Zhu Zhanjun.

As for Zhu Zhanjun's theory of investigating things, it aroused great dissatisfaction within the Imperial Academy.

Especially the Confucian scholars who adhered to the teachings of the sages.

Which of the officials in the court today is not a student of the sage?

If Zhu Zhanjun's theory of investigating things affected the learning of the sages, it would be like undermining their foundation. In their eyes, those so-called "physical" knowledge were nothing but strange skills and tricks, which they had long been dissatisfied with.

Seeing Zhu Zhanjun being impeached, many people remained silent, yet harbored a sense of anticipation.

Zhu Gaochi lowered his eyelids, his chubby face revealing no expression.

Zhu Gaoxu, however, had a furrowed brow.

All eyes were focused on Zhu Di on the throne.

After listening to Chen Wen's report, Zhu Di's face remained expressionless.

"Chen Wen".

"Your subject is here."

"You say that Zhan Jun's *Jin Ping Mei* corrupts morals and bewitches people. I ask you, have you ever personally read the entire book?"

Chen Wen was taken aback, and hesitated before saying, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty has glanced through it several times, and there are indeed some inappropriate contents..."

"Having only skimmed through it a few times, you dare to assert that the entire book corrupts public morals?" Zhu Di interrupted him. "I have seen it with my own eyes. This book, though seemingly about the lives of ordinary people, actually contains satirical and cautionary messages. You have not read it in depth, but merely parrot what others say, yet you come to impeach me. This shows a lack of discernment."

"This..." Chen Wen's forehead was covered in sweat.

Zhu Di said calmly.

"Alright, let's leave it at that for today."

"Everyone, step back."

Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials looked at each other in bewilderment, and then bowed with their hands clasped.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

..........................

After the court session ended, the public opinion storm not only failed to subside, but instead caused even greater turmoil.

Prince Jiyang, Zhu Zhanjun, was, in recent years, the emperor's most favored grandson, second only to Zhu Zhanji.

Being impeached at the grand court assembly is no small matter.

Most importantly, the charges brought against Chen Wen, the supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, such as his involvement in the novel "Jin Ping Mei" and his alleged competition with the people for profit, were not even worth mentioning.

The most pointed criticism was against Zhu Zhanjun's theory of investigating things, which undermined the foundation of the sage's learning.

The teachings of sages maintained the stable rule of imperial power for thousands of years.

It's no small matter to label Zhu Zhanjun with such a serious charge.

Even though Zhu Di protected Zhu Zhanjun, he couldn't stop the public opinion.

In just half a day.

The nobles and scholars throughout Nanjing all knew about this.

News about Zhu Zhanjun spread like wildfire, with rumors and truths mixed together.

If you don't understand the Prince of Jiyang when communicating with others, you won't be able to join the conversation.

About two days later.

Qianqing Palace.

"Old monk..." Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao with a smile, "You're finally willing to leave your temple?"

Yao Guangxiao clasped his hands together and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty is joking."

"Although I reside in a Zen monastery, my heart is still with the nation."

"I have come today with a matter I wish to discuss with Your Majesty."

Zhu Di gestured for him to sit down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip: "Is it about Zhanjun? You've heard about what was said in court?"

"The people and the court are all talking about it." Yao Guangxiao sat calmly on the prayer mat opposite him, his gaze serene. "I know that His Majesty defended the Prince of Jiyang at the court meeting. However, the tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. Although Chen Wen's memorial was somewhat extreme, it may not be entirely without reason, nor is it merely his opinion."

Zhu Di put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest: "Old monk, do you also think Zhan Jun's actions were inappropriate?"

"No." Yao Guangxiao slowly shook his head. "His Highness Prince Jiyang is a man of extraordinary talent. Hot air balloons and new looms are all things that benefit the country and its people. The 'Memorial of Ten Thousand People' shows his pure heart. What I am concerned about is not the matter itself, but the way of things."

"The Way?" Zhu Di raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly." Yao Guangxiao's voice was deep and clear. "Your Highness advocates the investigation of things and the pursuit of knowledge in the Da Ming Xin Bao and gathers talents to study rare skills in the Bowen Hall. What you do and say seems novel and beneficial, but it is actually shaking the orthodox tradition in a subtle way."

He looked up at Zhu Di, his gaze deep: "Your Majesty, since Emperor Wu of Han exclusively promoted Confucianism, the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism has been passed down for thousands of years and has become the cornerstone for maintaining the relationship between the emperor and his subjects and for stabilizing the hearts of the people."

"Scholars read the books of sages and worthies in order to cultivate themselves, regulate their families, govern the country, and bring peace to the world, and to follow the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues, as well as the Mandate of Heaven and ethical principles."

"This is the foundation of the nation; it cannot be touched lightly."

"His Highness Prince Jiyang's 'investigation of things' emphasizes empirical evidence and neglects moral principles. He says that all things are composed of dust particles and that the sun and moon revolve around the earth. If such doctrines are allowed to spread, students will be curious and flock to them. In the long run, they may doubt the words of the sages and disregard the order of heaven and earth."

"If the hearts of scholars are in turmoil, and the moral order is shaken, how can the fundamental principles of morality be preserved? How can order be maintained?"

The air in the meditation room was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and for a moment, all was quiet.