Chapter 38

A rapid "thump-thump-thump" suddenly came from the entrance of the Sihe Academy.

"Is this the residence of Official Su?!"

"Open up! We know someone is inside!"

Su Qiao approached, wearing a look of utter confusion.

He peered out through the crack in the door.

Embroidered Uniform Guard!

It was all Embroidered Uniform Guard!

There were at least a dozen of them.

They had completely blocked his front door!

Has Old Zhu finally realized he needs to kill me?!

Thinking of this, Su Qiao felt a surge of joy in his heart.

Su Qiao threw open the main gate, straightened his black gauze cap with solemn dignity, and cried out loudly,

"Indeed, this humble..."

Before Su Qiao could finish, the guardsman hoisted him up and tossed him into the carriage waiting behind.

40, Su Qiao: I want the death penalty, not life imprisonment!

The group of guards paid no heed to Su Qiao being thrown about until he was dizzy inside the carriage.

The moment they hurled Su Qiao onto the vehicle,

they lashed their whips viciously against the horses' rumps.

The sounds of "crack," "crack," "crack" filled the air without pause.

Carriages in this era had no shock absorption.

Sitting inside, Su Qiao could feel it clearly.

This carriage never once had two wheels touching the ground at the same time!

"Slow down!"

"No, I am in a hurry, but not this much of a hurry!"

Along the way, the whips in the guards' hands were nearly striking sparks.

A journey that originally took two quarter-hours was forced complete in less than one.

By the time Su Qiao was dragged out of the carriage,

he felt that if it had lasted any longer, he would have been able to go back home for tea.

Su Qiao, struggling to crawl out of the carriage, had no time to regain his senses before being hauled directly into the Qianqing Palace.

At that moment, inside the great hall,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang was quietly observing Su Qiao, who had been thrown onto the floor.

"Su Qiao, let me ask you: was it you who told Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen that he could not control the court officials?"

Upon hearing this, joy instantly spread across Su Qiao's brow.

He declared solemnly in a loud voice,

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it was!"

Huang Huang Zicheng, hearing this, looked excitedly at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and said,

"Your Majesty, did you hear that? He admitted it! Su Qiao has admitted it!"

"This is the crime of deceiving the monarch, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang shot Huang Huang Zicheng a fierce glare.

Only then did Huang Huang Zicheng sheepishly shut his mouth.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang studied Su Qiao, hesitated for a long while, and finally gritted his teeth to ask,

"Then let me ask you: if a future ruler of our Great Ming were truly sidelined by the court officials, what should be done?"

As soon as these words were spoken,

Huang Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, and Su Qiao all froze in place, stunned.

Inside Su Qiao's heart, ten thousand horses galloped wildly.

Just kill me if you're going to kill me!

Why do you, Old Zhu, have so many questions!

Are you the 'Ten Thousand Whys'?!

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang saw Su Qiao's expression stiffen.

He immediately slapped his palm onto the table with a bang.

"I am asking you a question! What kind of attitude is this?!"

As soon as Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang spoke these words,

Su Qiao's eyes lit up even brighter.

He simply held his neck stiff, locking eyes with Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang right where he stood.

Even a fool could see that Su Qiao was challenging Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang.

Huang Huang Zicheng's eyes bulged round; he looked at Su Qiao and stammered,

"Su Qiao, you... Your Majesty, this..."

Su Qiao was barely holding back from bursting into laughter.

So getting beheaded by Old Zhu is this simple!

If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have spoken so much nonsense!

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned gloomy as he stared fixedly at Su Qiao and demanded

"I am asking you a question: if a future ruler is reduced to a puppet by court officials, what then?"

Su Qiao kept a straight face and said nothing.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's expression darkened further; he glared at Su Qiao and growled

"Do you truly think my temper is made of clay?!"

Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai fell silent at that moment.

Anyone with an ounce of sense could see it.

Old Zhu had now genuinely awakened thoughts of killing.

The entire hall was permeated with murderous intent.

"Bang!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his palm onto the imperial desk before him and roared until his voice cracked

"Guards!"

"Strip Su Qiao of his official robes! Drag him out through Wumen..."

Upon hearing this

a sudden light flashed in Su Qiao's eyes.

Listen!

What a beautiful sound!

After all these days of torment

I can finally go back.

Just as Su Qiao was reveling in his wonderful future life

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang cursed furiously

"Demote him to commoner status, never to be employed again, and exile him to Yunnan!"

"Yes!"

Two members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard strode in and yanked the black gauze cap right off Su Qiao's head.

Su Qiao was completely stunned.

Wait.

How did this turn into exile to Yunnan?!

Jin Ling might be somewhat lacking

but it is still far better than Yunnan!

At this time, it's still uncertain whether there are any Han people in that place!

What I want is the death penalty!

You give me a life sentence instead?!

Go fuck your mother?

Before Su Qiao could even open his mouth.

Two members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard directly hoisted Su Qiao up and dragged him out of the hall.

"No... wuwu..."

Before Su Qiao could even open his mouth.

He was immediately and "thoughtfully" gagged by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

If he were truly dragged out like this.

He would really be stuck in the Great Ming for the rest of his life!

Su Qiao stared fixedly at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and suddenly began to struggle with all his might.

Staring fixedly at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, he roared:

"Of course there is a way!"

"It's just a matter of whether Your Majesty is willing to listen."

The two members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang in confusion.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang made a gesture.

The two members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately withdrew.

Huang Huang Zicheng looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang with a face full of shock.

Not killing this kid already counted as him being incredibly lucky.

How could he possibly be fished back out now?!

Huang Huang Zicheng looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang excitedly and said:

"Your Majesty, this youth has shown disregard for his sovereign more than once or twice; please, Your Majesty, quickly expel him from the capital!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang immediately roared:

"Drag him out and slap his mouth twenty times!"

Several members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard looked at Su Qiao in confusion, about to act.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang immediately shouted sternly:

"I was talking about Huang Huang Zicheng!"

"Entering the palace without an edict, so noisy!"

Huang Huang Zicheng stared at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, dumbfounded.

Just as he was about to say something.

Before he could even come to his senses.

A slap landed fiercely on Huang Huang Zicheng's mouth...

Isn't this just getting something for nothing?

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

All was deathly silent.

Both Qi Tai and Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen stared dumbfounded at the ruler and subject before them.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang plopped down onto the dragon throne, crossed his legs, looked at Su Qiao, and squeezed out a single word through clenched teeth, ice-cold.

"Speak!"

Su Qiao stared solemnly at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and said through gritted teeth:

"If things truly reach that situation!"

"The future rulers of the Great Ming must have everything."

"The only thing they must not have is one thing!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang immediately sat up straight on the dragon throne, stared fixedly at Su Qiao, and asked:

"What thing?"

"Face!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but mutter:

"Must not have... face?! Must not have face?!"

Qi Tai couldn't help but stare dumbfounded at Su Qiao and angrily rebuked:

"How..."

The word "daring" had not yet left his lips.

When a sharp "Crack!" sounded from outside the palace gates.

Thinking of Huang Huang Zicheng's predicament.

Qi Tai consciously shut his mouth.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, all was deathly silent.

After a long while.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Su Qiao with wide, angry eyes.

"Can't you damn well speak properly?!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Su Qiao in a fit of rage.

He, the majestic Son of Heaven.

Does Su Qiao really not take me seriously?

Yet Su Qiao merely bowed slightly and said,

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject speaks no nonsense."

"If, as Your Majesty says, the Son of Heaven can do anything, then the greatest taboo is to care about face!"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's eyelids lifted slightly; he let out a long sigh and said,

"Then tell me, let us hear exactly how shameless you intend to be!"

Su Qiao took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at Old Zhu as he asked,

"As Your Majesty stated, strong enemies press upon our borders, rebels rise everywhere within, and treacherous officials dominate the court—is this not so?"

"It is!"

"Is there no money in the national treasury?"

"There is not!"

"And at present, there is no opportunity to confiscate estates?"

"There is not."

Su Qiao snorted coldly and said,

"Then it is simple enough."

"The future rulers of Great Ming need only borrow."

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Su Qiao with a face full of confusion and asked,

"Borrow?!"

Hearing Su Qiao say this, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's expression immediately relaxed.

"They refuse even to donate; do you think they would be willing to lend?"

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and could not help but smile, saying,

"If the Emperor borrows, they naturally dare not lend."

"For they know that even if the Emperor defaults on the debt, they would not dare to demand repayment."

"But what if it is not the Emperor who borrows?"

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Su Qiao with confusion and asked,

"If it is not the Emperor borrowing, then why would the future rulers of our Great Ming go through all this trouble?"

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang helplessly and said,

"Your Majesty, why are you so stubborn?"

Qi Tai looked at Su Qiao in shock and cursed angrily,