Chapter 111

Besides, Esen had already gained more than enough advantage.

Returning now would still count as a triumphant retreat.

Zhu Di's brows were tightly furrowed.

He couldn't help but open the chat group.

Emperor Emperor Emperor Emperor Chengzu the Cultured:

"Father, the camp is stable for now."

"But I fear those Tartars might grease their heels and flee right this instant."

"No, I'll gather more grain and just charge out beyond the pass."

Emperor Taizu the Exalted:

"Save your breath. Can you sustain a campaign for even a year or half a year? Could that filial descendant of yours withstand you squandering his meager assets like this?"

Emperor Emperor Emperor Emperor Chengzu the Cultured:

"Then what should be done?"

"Just return like this? Won't that brat get sprayed to death by those scholar-officials?"

Emperor Taizu the Exalted:

"Nonsense. You ask me, but who am I supposed to ask?"

Emperor Emperor Emperor Emperor Chengzu the Cultured:

"Father, why don't you go ask that kid again? I sensed earlier that he has something to offer."

Emperor Sizong the Martyred:

"Indeed, Great-Grandfather, let us ask Su Qiao."

Upon seeing the name Su Qiao, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's old face immediately darkened.

Does one think I don't want to ask Su Qiao?

But when has that fellow Su Qiao ever spoken seriously?! 3.

96, Su Qiao: Your Majesty, you cannot die, Your Majesty! If you die, what will become of me!

Emperor Taizu the Exalted:

"Now I finally understand why that kid was ostracized by so many and didn't receive a single promotion for ten years."

"With a temper like his, which superior would ever promote him?"

"It was only because that kid suddenly had some matter during the palace examination that I fished him out."

"Otherwise, by now that kid would already be obediently serving as County Magistrate in Songjiang."

The several Zhu emperors in the chat group fell into silence.

Only Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian sent a message.

Emperor Sizong the Martyred:

"Great-Grandfather, this humble son believes that Su Qiao is indeed loyal."

"It is just that there may have been some misunderstandings when you spoke. Just think, how exactly did you phrase your questions?"

Emperor Taizu the Exalted:

"How else could one ask? It was merely a hypothetical."

"With a matter this grave, could I possibly speak to him directly?"

"..."

"Are you saying the problem lies precisely in this 'hypothetical'?!"

Emperor Sizong the Martyred:

"Exactly! Great-Grandfather, just imagine: if you were Su Qiao, and every day an emperor kept asking you 'what if, what if,' how would you feel?"

Emperor Yingzong the Wise:

"A benighted ruler."

Emperor Emperor Emperor Emperor Chengzu the Cultured:

"..."

Emperor Taizu the Exalted:

"..."

"Uh, Old Four, is that kid beside you right now?"

Emperor Emperor Emperor Emperor Chengzu the Cultured:

"He is."

Emperor Taizu the Exalted:

"Hang that kid up and whip him for me!"

"One hundred lashes! Whip him until he smokes!"

"Didn't I do all these things for his sake?"

"Calling me a benighted ruler?!"

"If I can't deal with Su Qiao, can't I at least deal with you?!"

Emperor Emperor Emperor Emperor Chengzu the Cultured:

"Very well, Father, I must attend to matters now. That kid runs a bit fast; I'll have Fan Zhong tie him up and bring him back."

Emperor Taizu the Exalted:

"Good, I will ponder a solution."

Under the gaze of the vanguard camp soldiers.

The Son of Heaven of Great Ming, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Qizhen, dashed out of the central army tent in a single stride.

Before he could run even a few steps,

he was tackled to the ground by a Zuoling of the vanguard camp.

He was then bound hand and foot and carried back into the central command tent.

Moments later,

the soldiers of the vanguard camp were ordered to cover their ears.

Even so,

the soldiers of the vanguard camp still heard Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Qizhen's shrieks of agony echoing from the command tent.

For a moment, an inexplicable sense of satisfaction welled up in the hearts of the troops.

……

……

Hearing Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian's words,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang finally had to reevaluate his manner of questioning.

That actually makes sense!

Always going on about "what if, what if"!

At the beginning of the palace examination, although Su Qiao spoke rather sharply,

he at least still behaved somewhat normally.

He at least retained some semblance of a civil official.

But look what state Su Qiao has been reduced to now, angered as he is?

Thinking of this,

even Old Zhu himself realized he had previously displayed something of a tyrant's demeanor.

Su Qiao is indeed loyal!

Since we cannot say "what if,"

then we can only pretend.

Upon this realization, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's expression immediately turned grave.

He slowly rose and said,

"Commander Commander Jiang Huang!"

"Your humble servant is present."

"Prepare the imperial procession to Donggong."

"Yes."

Moments later, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and Commander Commander Jiang Huang appeared silently within the Eastern Palace.

"Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen pays his respects to Your Imperial Grandfather."

"Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and remained seated to the side.

"All of you, rise."

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang with confusion and asked,

"Imperial Grandfather, are state affairs not busy today?"

Without even lifting his eyelids, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen and asked,

"Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, I have a question for you."

"How are things between you and Su Qiao now?"

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's heart tightened involuntarily.

Is Imperial Grandfather's test coming so soon?

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen dared not lie; lowering his head, he said,

"Imperial Grandfather, Mr. Su advised Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen not to serve as Crown Prince."

"Aside from that, your grandson and Mr. Su are absolutely close friends who share everything!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen with some doubt and asked,

"Is this true?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen looked firmly at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and said,

"It is true!"

Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai, standing to the side, immediately understood.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was testing the Crown Prince's ability to manage people!

Huang Huang Zicheng immediately looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang with excitement and said,

"Your Majesty, consider this: this youth Su Qiao genuinely believes from the bottom of his heart that the Prince is unworthy compared to the Prince of Yan."

"Yet Su Qiao advised the Prince to voluntarily relinquish the position."

"Although this partly reflects a shortsighted view of the Prince's talents, it sufficiently shows that Su Qiao truly has the Prince's best interests at heart."

Qi Tai, standing nearby, also suddenly realized.

He immediately echoed Huang Huang Zicheng's argument.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's original intention in placing Su Qiao in the Eastern Palace had clearly been to test Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's ability to manage people.

After hearing the two men's arguments,

a hint of joy involuntarily appeared on Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

Even I have not gotten along with Su Qiao this well.

Could it be that Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen possesses potential in managing people that I previously failed to notice?

"Good! Then I now have a matter to ask Su Qiao."

"I need you to help me stage a play; are you willing?"

Seeing Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were instantly overjoyed.

"Your subjects are willing!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang rose and said,

"Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, do not show yourself later."

"I will tell Su Qiao that you have gone out to suppress the Japanese pirates pirates, but are now trapped in Shandong, unable to move."

"You need not worry about the rest; I will handle the questioning naturally. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were startled.

They immediately cupped their fists and said,

"Your subjects receive the decree!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and said,

"If you are to act, act the whole part; if even the slightest flaw is exposed, I will hold you all accountable!"

Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai said in unison,

"Your subjects dare not!"

Looking at the demeanor of Huang Huang Zicheng and the other,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's suspended heart finally relaxed slightly.

He then raised his head and gave a glance to Commander Commander Jiang Huang in the distance.

"Go bring Su Qiao here."

"Yes!"

"Act convincingly! All of you! What kind of impression do these grinning faces give?"

"Remember, from this moment on, the Crown Prince is in grave danger, his life hanging by a thread!"

Everyone in the Eastern Palace trembled upon hearing this.

Each knelt to the ground and solemnly proclaimed in loud voices,

"Your subjects receive the decree!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright in the hall, nodded slightly, and said,

"Very well, go ahead; I will wait for you here!"

"Yes!"

Everyone in the Eastern Palace went about their own business, while Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, full of interest, picked up a plate of melons and fruits, initiated a video call, and watched Zhu Di beating Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Qizhen.

"Old Fourth, put some strength into it! Didn't you eat enough?"

"Father, I was chopping all night yesterday and didn't sleep well."

"You are truly useless; I am about your age now, and if I were there, I would have beaten this kid senseless!"

"..."

Before long.

Commander Commander Jiang Huang rode a fast horse straight into the Imperial Prison.

Before Su Qiao could react, Commander Commander Jiang Huang directly opened Su Qiao's cell door.

This left Su Qiao inside the cell completely stunned.

"Director Commander Commander Jiang, what is going on?"

"Mr. Su, do not ask so many questions; something has happened in the palace!"

The moment these words fell.

Everyone in the entire Imperial Prison immediately became alert.

Something happening in the palace.

That was intimately related to their lives and fortunes!

Before Su Qiao could react.

He was directly thrown onto a prisoner cart by Commander Commander Jiang Huang.

It was not until the moment he was thrown onto the prisoner cart that Su Qiao's brain began to spin rapidly.

How could something suddenly happen in the palace?

That is not right.

What could possibly be happening in the palace right now?

Moreover, even if something did happen, the only people in the palace currently worthy of the words "something happened."

Were none other than Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen.

Su Qiao's heart suddenly gave a "thump."

Oh no.

Could it be that I spoke too fiercely these past two days and angered Old Zhu to death?!

Do not let that happen!

The Space-Time Administration only left one instruction: Old Zhu must execute me before I can return.

If Old Zhu is dead, how am I supposed to return!