Chapter 15

After making discreet inquiries.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen finally heard that Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang had gone to the Imperial Prison.

Thinking of this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen immediately panicked and hastily summoned his two useless strategists.

—Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai.

Upon hearing this news, the two men were also extremely anxious.

"Two Masters, what strategy do you propose?"

"Do you also think Grandfather Emperor is considering establishing my Fourth Uncle as the heir apparent?"

Although Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were somewhat foolish,

they still understood certain matters.

If Old Zhu truly had even the slightest intention of killing Su Qiao,

Su Qiao would have long been cold by now.

Why wait until this moment?

After a long silence, Huang Huang Zicheng stared at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen and said,

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, in my humble opinion, the most urgent task is for Your Highness to personally visit the Imperial Prison."

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen looked at Huang Huang Zicheng in confusion and asked,

"Master Huang, what business do I have in the Imperial Prison?"

Huang Huang Zicheng immediately smiled with an air of profound mystery.

"Once Your Highness goes to the Imperial Prison,

I can devise the remaining plans on Your Highness's behalf.

If this person can be appeased, that would be best; but if he cannot be appeased,

as long as he shows even a hint of disdain in his words toward Your Highness, I can convict him of intending to assassinate the Emperor!

Not only that, but we can also smear the Prince of Yan, ensuring he ends up with mud in his trousers!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's eyes immediately lit up.

"In that case, I beg both Masters to accompany me!"

Having spoken, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen bowed deeply to the two men before him.

Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were clearly very susceptible to such treatment.

Seeing Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen perform the rites of a student toward his teachers, the two men immediately beamed with joy as they returned the bow, then walked together with Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen toward the Imperial Prison.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang,

after hastily returning to the Qianqing Palace, suddenly seemed to recall something.

He slapped his own forehead and hurriedly opened the chat group to send a message to Chongzhen.

The Ancestral Emperor Gao:

"Stop playing dead, boy! What is the situation on your end right now?"

The Martyr Emperor Sizong:

"Thank you for your concern, Ancestral Grandfather; the Tartars have already retreated, and your grandson is preparing to summon all imperial clansmen to the capital."

The Ancestral Emperor Gao:

"Go immediately to the Ministry of Personnel and retrieve the file of one individual."

The Martyr Emperor Sizong:

"Please give your instructions, Ancestral Grandfather."

The Ancestral Emperor Gao:

"This person's surname is Su, given name Qiao; he was a Jinshi in the Xinwei examination year of the 24th year of Hongwu. His specific ranking may differ between your time and mine. How is he evaluated in later historical records? Did he ever commit rebellion?"

The Martyr Emperor Sizong:

"Your grandson has not heard of this person, but rest assured, Ancestral Grandfather, I will investigate immediately!"

Watching Chongzhen's message,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but snort coldly.

"Little rascal, at least you are somewhat useful!"

Before long, Chongzhen retrieved Su Qiao's life record from the Ministry of Personnel and sent the message to Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang.

The Martyr Emperor Sizong:

"Ancestral Grandfather, your grandson has found the information.

Su Qiao was from Hedao Circuit; orphaned and suffering since childhood. In the third year of Hongwu, during the Northern Expedition of Prince Zhongshan Wuning, Xu Da, he rescued Xu Da from chaotic troops. Due to his status as a military household, his official record is incomplete.

In the 24th year of Hongwu, during the Xinwei examination, he was granted the title of Tong Jinshi, ranking eightieth in the third tier.

In the ninth month of the same year, he was assigned outside the capital as County Magistrate of Huating County in Songjiang Prefecture.

Because of his upright and blunt nature, he repeatedly offended his superiors and was thus sidelined in Huating, never utilized.

In the 32nd year of Hongwu—ah, no, the first year of Jianwen—the Prince of Yan raised his army in rebellion.

Su Qiao submitted a memorial requesting to go to war, but the Emperor refused.

In the twelfth month of the same year, Su Qiao submitted a memorial requesting the execution of Li Li Jinglong, Huang Huang Zicheng, and Qi Tai, stating directly that these three had misled the nation.

The Emperor flew into a rage, stripped him of his official rank, reduced him to a commoner, and declared he would never be employed again.

In the fourth year of Jianwen, when the Yan army entered the capital, the commoner Su Qiao committed suicide before the Xiaoling Mausoleum to die for his country; he left no sons."

17, Su Qiao: My apologies, Your Highness the Crown Prince!

When he saw the resume of Su Qiao sent by Chongzhen.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang instantly burst into tears of old age.

"A loyal subject, a truly loyal subject!"

"What virtue do I possess that at this advanced age, I have managed to recruit such talent!"

At least from this resume.

Su Qiao's loyalty was beyond doubt.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang immediately sent a message to Chongzhen.

The High Emperor Taizu:

"Do not just speak of his life story; how were his administrative achievements as a official in Huting County, Songjiang Prefecture?"

The Lie Emperor Sizong:

"Great-Grandfather, Great Ming has ancestral rules; for a seventh-rank County Magistrate, records do not go into such detail."

"Your subject could only find some information in local gazetteers."

"Regarding Su Qiao's own governance, the Ministry of Personnel archives say little, merely recording that Su Qiao repeatedly showed contempt for his superiors."

"However, what is interesting is that during the ten years Su Qiao served as County Magistrate of Huting."

"The Prefect of Songjiang Prefecture was promoted every single year, with the justification always being effective governance of the people."

"Yet the local gazetteers record that while all other counties in Songjiang Prefecture suffered multiple disasters, only Huting County remained free of calamity, with commoners from surrounding areas all fleeing into Huting to escape disaster..."

Seeing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but snort coldly.

The High Emperor Taizu:

"Does this even need thinking about?!"

"It must be that those damn superiors embezzled Su Qiao's achievements and pulled some trick of putting Zhang's cap on Li's head."

"Every single one of them got promoted."

"Leaving a loyal subject of our Great Ming idling away in Huting County for ten whole years!"

"By the way, how did Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai perform?"

The Lie Emperor Sizong:

"Great-Grandfather, do you truly wish to know?"

The High Emperor Taizu:

"Speak; I can take it!"

The Lie Emperor Sizong:

"In the first year of Jianwen, Huang Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, and Fang Fang Xiaoru submitted a memorial to the Jianwen Emperor proposing the implementation of new policies."