Chapter 68

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's mind.

The Ancestral Emperor Gao:

"No, these lads cannot be defeated!"

"I must speak with Lan Yu!"

"We have been duped by that mad scholar Su Qiao!"

The Martyr Emperor Sizong:

"Great-Grandfather, your grandson knows your heart aches, but you cannot always be like this..."

The Ancestral Emperor Gao:

"Nonsense! You boy are always thinking about the people's hearts and minds."

"Is there not a single thought in your head for the morale of the army?!"

"Our Great Ming's Princes of the Blood and Feudal Princes are being hacked down by the Tartars like chopping vegetables."

"What of the army's morale?! Have you thought about how crazed those Tartars beyond the passes will become?!"

Ignoring further nonsense from Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang abruptly rose to his feet, staring deathly at Mao Xiang, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard beside him, and roared:

"Embroidered Uniform Guard, immediately dispatch men to surround the Eastern Palace and arrest that mad scholar Su Qiao for me!"

"Do not let that boy escape!!!"

Main Text

70, Su Qiao: So only you have a mouth?

Amidst Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang's roaring.

A large contingent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard surrounded the Eastern Palace like arrows released from a bowstring.

Inside the Eastern Palace, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, Huang Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, and Lady Lu watched the scene before them with faces full of terror.

Lady Lu's mouth kept muttering incessantly:

"It's over, it's over. Has His Majesty truly decided to depose Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen..."

"Mr. Huang, Mr. Qi, you must save us, a widow and her orphan!"

"..."

The entire Eastern Palace descended into chaos.

Just at that moment, Commander Commander Jiang Huang galloped into the Eastern Palace on a warhorse.

"By decree of His Majesty: Do not disturb the Crown Prince; arrest the criminal Su Qiao immediately!"

"Yes!"

Hearing the exclamations of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The people within the Eastern Palace finally came to their senses.

Before long, a group of Embroidered Uniform Guard found Su Qiao, who was loafing around in the duty room.

"Grand Commander, we found him!"

Upon hearing this, Commander Commander Jiang Huang stepped forward and kicked open the door to Su Qiao's duty room.

Within the entire Eastern Palace, only Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, with a tense expression, ran up before Commander Commander Jiang Huang.

"Commander Commander Commander Jiang, Mr. Su indeed possesses great talent; could it be that the Imperial Grandfather has some misunderstanding?"

Lady Lu, looking at her foolish son, turned angrily toward the eunuchs behind her and scolded sharply:

"How have you been attending to His Highness? Hurry up and pull His Highness back!"

Ever since Su Qiao arrived at the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen had made up his mind that, no matter what, he would no longer be the Crown Prince.

Several times, he had even intended to write memorials requesting to be enfeoffed as the Prince of Yu.

Lady Lu witnessed all this, hating it in her heart; she had long been gnashing her teeth in rage.

Finally, the old man had seen reason.

So why was this foolish son rushing forward to speak up for Su Qiao?

Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai immediately stepped forward to drag Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen away.

"Commander Commander Commander Jiang, the Crown Prince is feeling somewhat unwell; please proceed with your duties."

"Mr. Huang, Mr. Qi, you and Mr. Su are colleagues; why do you not speak up for Mr. Su..."

Before Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen could even react.

He was already dragged aside by Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai.

Inside the main hall.

At this moment, only Commander Commander Jiang Huang and Su Qiao remained.

Su Qiao cast a disdainful glance at Commander Commander Jiang Huang.

"Commander Commander Commander Jiang, good morning."

Commander Commander Jiang Huang, brows knitted tightly, stared at Su Qiao and asked:

"Lord Su, among all the civil and military officials in the court, you are the only one who does not fear our Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Su Qiao did not even lift his eyelids.

"Nonsense, who wouldn't fear your Embroidered Uniform Guard after being arrested twice and released twice?"

"Are you playing 'Capture and Release Cao' here, or 'Seven Captures of Meng Huo'?"

Commander Commander Jiang Huang: "..."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard in the duty room looked at each other in bewilderment; finally, Commander Commander Jiang Huang said:

"By decree of His Majesty: Lord Su has harmed imperial clan members, deceived the sovereign, and plotted rebellion; his crimes are unforgivable."

"Immediately imprison him in the death row cell pending trial..."

Commander Commander Jiang Huang looked at Su Qiao's expressionless face, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Lord Su, are you not going to shout a few words?"

Su Qiao looked at Commander Commander Jiang Huang with a helpless expression and asked,

"What should I shout?"

Commander Commander Jiang Huang said, "Usually in such situations, an accused official will cry out their innocence a few times, then request an audience with Your Majesty."

Hearing this, Su Qiao nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Director Commander Commander Jiang, for the reminder."

Before his voice had even faded, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, bristling with rage, stormed into the duty room.

Seeing Commander Commander Jiang Huang still wasting words with Su Qiao,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang kicked Commander Commander Jiang Huang squarely in the buttocks.

"Did I send you here to reminisce with him, Su Qiao?"

"Is this how you handle arrests and duties for me?!"

Clutching his buttocks, Commander Commander Jiang Huang bowed to Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and said,

"This humble officer deserves ten thousand deaths."

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang stared fixedly at Su Qiao before him and asked,

"I will not speak of other matters."

"I ask only one thing."

"Do you, Su Qiao, admit your guilt?!"

At this moment, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen also broke free from the restraints of Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai.

He rushed before Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and said loudly, looking at him,

"Imperial Grandfather, is there some misunderstanding here?"

Having spoken, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen looked back at Su Qiao behind him and said,

"Mr. Su, please just admit your mistake to Imperial Grandfather first."

Having spoken, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen began frantically winking at Su Qiao.

Seeing Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's signal,

Su Qiao raised his head with a helpless expression, his eyes filled with helplessness, and then looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang with decisive firmness, saying,

"Yes, this subject did deceive the sovereign."

"This subject did harm members of the imperial clan."