Chapter 18

But with Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's frail frame,

how could he possibly be a match for Su Qiao?

Su Qiao simply raised his hand and seized Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's wrist.

"Your Highness, I am not the Prince of Yan; I have never once taken the field to slay an enemy!"

"The Prince of Yan is a frontier prince who truly charges into battle! Do you think such petty tricks of yours could possibly harm His Highness the Prince of Yan?"

Having spoken, Su Qiao raised his hand and delivered another slap.

It landed fiercely on Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's right cheek.

A sharp "crack" rang out.

Both of Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's cheeks immediately swelled up.

At this moment, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen was utterly devoid of fighting spirit, held in Su Qiao's grip like a tiny chick.

By now, the wails of Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai were already soaring from the Imperial Prison straight to the clouds.

"Su Qiao! Su Qiao! If you must beat someone, beat me!"

"Whatever methods you have, use them on me; why involve His Highness?"

"Su Qiao, do you truly have no fear of death?!"

"..."

How could Su Qiao possibly spare a thought for Huang Huang Zicheng or Qi Tai?

While mocking Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, he simultaneously struck left and right, slapping the prince's face with fierce blows.

Having been clad in brocade and fed on delicacies since childhood,

and ever since Zhu Biao's death, being regarded by Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang as Zhu Biao's perfect substitute, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen had never even endured many of the hardships Zhu Biao himself had once suffered.

Here in the Imperial Prison,

the sound of "slap-slap,"

the wails of Huang Huang Zicheng and the others,

and the chopping sounds of the Embroidered Uniform Guards breaking locks rose and fell in turns.

"Where is Your Highness's lofty ambition?"

"Why do you not fight back?!"

"Villain, stop, you villain!"

"..."

Finally,

a sharp "snap" rang out.

The iron chains of the cell were finally severed by a Spring-Autumn Blade.

By the time the crowd rushed into the cell,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen had already been beaten by Su Qiao into unconsciousness.

"The Crown Prince! The Crown Prince!"

Everyone scrambled in a flurry to carry Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen out of the cell.

Huang Huang Zicheng, furious and exasperated, roared at Su Qiao:

"You brat Su Qiao, daring to injure my prince! This old man will fight you to the death!"

With that, Huang Huang Zicheng let out a howl and lunged at Su Qiao.

"Slap!" rang the sound.

Another fierce slap landed squarely on Huang Huang Zicheng's face.

Huang Huang Zicheng had never expected that even with the cell door open, Su Qiao would still dare to strike him!

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, and fearing Huang Huang Zicheng might get locked back in the cell by Su Qiao for another beating, Qi Tai hurried forward and desperately grabbed hold of Huang Huang Zicheng.

"Lord Huang, now that the Crown Prince has escaped peril, why entangle yourself with him?"

"Our most urgent task now is to submit a fierce impeachment against this Su Qiao! Let His Majesty the Son of Heaven decide everything!"

Clutching his swollen, red cheek, Huang Huang Zicheng glared at Su Qiao, who was barely suppressing a smile within the cell.

"You! ... Hmph!"

Qi Tai and Huang Huang Zicheng flicked their sleeves and departed.

After Huang Huang Zicheng and the others had left,

every prisoner and every member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the entire Imperial Prison stared at Su Qiao in shock.

Good heavens.

What an assignment this turned out to be today!

Beating the Crown Prince senseless—

something countless people might not encounter in several lifetimes.

Yet today, they had witnessed it!

Observing the expressions of the crowd,

Su Qiao could not help but bow to Commander Commander Jiang Huang outside the door and say,

"Commander Commander Commander Jiang, surely I am doomed to die now?"

The corner of Commander Commander Jiang Huang's mouth twitched slightly.

"Lord Su, you are truly this!"

Saying this, Commander Commander Jiang Huang could not help but give Su Qiao a thumbs-up.

Hearing this, Su Qiao could not help but lift his head and let out a long, howling laugh toward the sky.

"Hahahahaha!"

Everyone around cast looks of pity at Su Qiao.

What a pity.

Such a bright future, simply thrown onto the execution block...

Only Su Qiao paid not the slightest heed to these gazes.

A bunch of primitives.

What do you lot know, damn it!

I'll go back, sip happy water, and enjoy the air conditioning; isn't that more thrilling than being Emperor in this Great Ming?

There isn't even a single pair of black silk stockings.

What's the point of me living!

But since I've come to the Great Ming once.

I'll beat up Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen before going back.

That should be enough to brag about for the rest of my life, right?

Twenty! Have you, Huang Huang Zicheng, forgotten the principle that when the ruler is shamed, the minister must die?!

Inside the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was staring blankly at an "Imperial Edict" on the desk before him.

"Depose Crown Prince Zhu Biao, the Crown Prince of Yiwen."

"Posthumously confer the title of Prince of Wu upon the deposed Crown Prince Zhu Biao."

"Posthumously confer the title of Heir Apparent of Wu upon Zhu Zhu Zhu Xiongying."

"Enfeoff Imperial Grandson Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen as Prince of Guangze."

"Posthumously confer the title of Prince of Wu upon Heir Apparent of Wu, Zhu Zhu Zhu Xiongying."

"Re-enfeoff Prince of Wu, Zhu Zhu Zhu Xiongying, as Prince of Yu."

"...elder brother dies, younger brother succeeds; since Zhu Zhu Xiongying has no son, Imperial Grandson Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen shall inherit the position of Prince of Yu, and Imperial Grandson Yiteng shall be enfeoffed as Prince of Guangze..."

Once this Imperial Edict of Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang is promulgated.

The imperial throne would never again have any connection to Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen.

From now on.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen would be nothing more than an ordinary feudal prince of the Great Ming.

Old Zhu even thoughtfully changed the originally planned title of "Prince of Wu" to "Prince of Yu."

After all, Prince of Wu was the title Old Zhu held before ascending the throne.