Chapter 9

Hearing Old Zhu speak up with a question.

Everyone present immediately brimmed with jealousy.

What else should be done?

Confiscate military authority and send people to keep watch.

Does that even need asking?!

Even I could do it!

Lord Ru!

Look at us; we are your students too!

Under the sidelong glances of the crowd.

Su Qiao slowly raised his head, looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, and said loudly:

"The Grand Heir is weak and unable to control the realm; this subject believes Your Majesty should directly transmit the throne to the Prince of Yan!"

Silence.

A silence as dead as the grave.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, who had just been glaring sideways.

Ru Taisu, who was trembling with excitement.

And Huang Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, even those scholars who had felt a twinge of jealousy toward Su Qiao moments ago.

Their expressions all froze in place.

The group of new jinshi who had been clinging tightly to Ru Taisu.

All began involuntarily taking tiny steps to quietly distance themselves from Ru Taisu.

After all, their relationship was so intimate.

If Old Zhu executed Su Qiao.

Ru Taisu might not escape either.

Even Zhan Hui involuntarily shifted twice.

Soon, behind Ru Taisu, it was as if a barrier had appeared, isolating the teacher and student pair from everyone else.

When the crowd looked at Su Qiao again, any envy, jealousy, or hatred in their hearts had vanished completely.

Only pity remained in their hearts.

This kid has quite a fate.

It's just that his brain isn't very sharp.

Sigh...

So, in Your Majesty's eyes, the Great Ming doesn't even have one hundred and fifty years of national fortune?

Beneath the Gate of Heavenly Obedience.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Su Qiao with eyes ready to burst from rage.

Before Old Zhu could even speak.

Qi Tai and Huang Huang Zicheng took the lead, darting out like unleashed wild dogs, pointing at Su Qiao's nose and cursing bitterly:

"You brat, do you know what nonsense you are spouting?!"

"The Grand Heir bears the imperial mandate from above and inherits the direct lineage of the Crown Prince Yiwen from below; this is the Mandate of Heaven! Where does any other talk come from?!"

Spittle flying, Huang Huang Zicheng looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang and shouted loudly:

"I submit to Your Majesty that this mad scholar Su Qiao be immediately dragged out of Wumen and beaten to death with clubs!"

"Since yesterday, Su Qiao has repeatedly offended the Imperial Countenance; today he directly attacks the Sacred Will. This subject supports Lord Huang's proposal!"

As he spoke, Huang Huang Zicheng casually cast a glance toward Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, who stood beside Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen immediately stepped forward, feigning incoherence, and offered comfort:

"Imperial Grandfather, regardless of anything, Su Qiao acts with public loyalty and devotion to the state; everything he does is for the sake of the Great Ming's rivers and mountains and altars of soil and grain. This grandson, this grandson begs Imperial Grandfather to pardon Su Qiao!"

Every word Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen spoke was pleading for Su Qiao.

But spoken in Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's incoherent tone.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen might as well have written across his face: "Imperial Grandfather, I cannot control this fellow; hurry up and execute him!"

The veteran officials in the court.

Instantly sensed the intent to kill filling the imperial hall.

Ru Taisu, standing in the hall, now regretted it so deeply his intestines were turning green.

How could he have been so blind?

He had thought he had found an unparalleled genius.

How was this a genius?

This was simply seeking death!

Listening to the murmurs of the crowd.

Su Qiao was barely holding back from stepping out to second Huang Huang Zicheng's proposal.

Old Zhu!

Can you do it or not?!

Huang Huang Zicheng and these others are already preparing to eliminate me and find peace in my death!

Just approve it quickly!

But this time, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang quietly noticed the glance Huang Huang Zicheng had just cast.

If this were in the past.

Even if Old Zhu had seen it,

he would not have taken it to heart.

But today,

Old Zhu harbored doubts.

For the first time, he suspected that every action of this precious grandson before him was merely acted out under the instigation of Huang Huang Zicheng and others.

Old Zhu's gaze slowly shifted to Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, who was kneeling on the ground, and he smiled with the same benevolence as always, saying,

"Very well, since the Crown Prince pleads for you, I shall grant Su Qiao one more chance!"

As soon as these words were spoken,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen, kneeling on the ground, and Qi Tai and Huang Huang Zicheng, standing before Old Zhu,

were visibly stunned.

Inside Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's heart, ten thousand horses were galloping wildly.

No, Imperial Grandfather!

I was merely being polite with you.

You should have ordered him beheaded for your grandson immediately!

A flicker of disappointment flashed across Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen's face.

Even though it appeared only for an instant, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, seated upon the dragon throne, detected something amiss.

Years of experience in governing the empire told Old Zhu

that this grandson of his was merely pretending.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang ceased looking at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen.

The last shred of reason in his heart sustained Old Zhu; he wanted to hear Su Qiao finish stating his own thoughts!

"Su Qiao, since the Crown Prince has pleaded mercy on your behalf, I grant it."

"Today, I shall ask you properly: why do you say that the throne should simply be passed to the Prince of Yan?"

Su Qiao gritted his teeth and stared at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang.

So you still won't behead me, eh?

Very well, let me tell you!

Su Qiao stepped forward on his own accord, looked at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yunwen beside him, and asked,

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, after His Majesty passes away in a hundred years, will you not abolish the feudal principalities?"

Having said this, Su Qiao then turned his gaze to Huang Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai standing nearby.

"You two lords, after His Majesty passes away in a hundred years, even if the Crown Prince does not wish to abolish the feudal principalities, would you two not still submit memorials urging their abolition?"