Chapter 10

Hearing Old Zhu ask a question.

Everyone present immediately became jealous.

What else should be done?

Seize military power, send men to monitor.

Do you even need to ask?!

I could do it too if I tried!

My lord Ru!

Look at us, we're your students too!

Amidst the sidelong glances of the crowd.

Su Qiao slowly raised his head, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, and said in a loud voice:

"The Sun Er is weak, incapable of governing the realm. I humbly suggest Your Majesty bypass him and pass the throne directly to the Prince of Yan!"

Silence.

Deathly silence.

Zhu Yunwen, who had just been glancing sideways.

Ru Taisu, who had been wildly excited.

And Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai, even the scholars who had just been jealous of Su Qiao.

All their expressions froze in place.

The newly minted Jinshi who had been clinging tightly to Ru Taisu.

All were involuntarily taking tiny, stealthy steps backward, distancing themselves from Ru Taisu.

After all, their relationship was so close.

Old Zhu would kill Su Qiao.

Ru Taisu might not escape either.

Even Zhan Hui couldn't help shifting slightly.

Soon, it seemed as if a barrier had formed behind Ru Taisu, separating the teacher and student from the rest.

When the crowd looked at Su Qiao again, their envy and hatred had vanished.

Only pity remained.

This kid had good luck.

But his brain wasn't sharp.

Sigh…

Ten? So in Your Majesty's eyes, the Great Ming has less than one hundred and fifty years of imperial fortune?

Beneath Fengtian Sect.

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Su Qiao, eyes blazing with fury.

Before Old Zhu could speak.

Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng surged forward like runaway dogs, pointing at Su Qiao's nose and screaming:

"You brat, do you even know what nonsense you're spouting?!"

"The Sun Er has received the imperial mandate and is the rightful eldest son of the virtuous and cultured Crown Prince—this is Heaven's will! What other claim could there be?!"

Huang Zicheng, spittle flying, shouted at Zhu Yuanzhang:

"Your Majesty, I urge you to immediately expel this mad scholar Su Qiao through Tuichuwu Sect and beat him to death with clubs!"

"Since yesterday, Su Qiao has repeatedly insulted the imperial countenance; today he has directly challenged the sacred will. I second Lord Huang's proposal!"

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

Zhu Yunwen immediately stepped forward, feigning incoherence, and comforted:

"Grandfather, no matter what, Su Qing has always been loyal and devoted to the state, acting solely for the sake of the Great Ming's江山. Sun Er, Sun Er begs Your Majesty to pardon Su Qing!"

Every word Zhu Yunwen spoke was a plea for Su Qiao's life.

But delivered in Zhu Yunwen's incoherent tone.

Yunwen has already nearly written on his face: "Grandfather, I can't control this brute—kill him now!"

The veteran ministers.

Instantly sensed the killing intent in the court.

Ru Taisu, standing below the dais, now regretted it so deeply his intestines felt green.

How could he have been so blind?

He'd thought he'd found an unparalleled genius.

This wasn't a genius.

This was just plain suicide!

Listening to the murmurs of the crowd.

Su Qiao was just one step away from stepping forward to endorse Huang Zicheng's proposal.

Old Zhu!

Are you capable or not?!

Huang Zicheng and these others are already preparing to eliminate me!

Just approve it already!

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

In the past.

Even if Old Zhu had seen it.

He wouldn't have taken it to heart.

But today.

Old Zhu grew suspicious.

For the first time, he suspected that everything his precious grandson had done right before his eyes was merely an act put on under the instigation of Huang Zicheng and the others.

Old Zhu's gaze slowly turned to Zhu Yunwen, who was kneeling on the ground, and with the same kindly smile as always, he said

"Fine, since Grandfather Emperor agrees with you, let's give that Su Qiao one more chance!"

Once these words were spoken.

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

Were visibly taken aback.

In Zhu Yunwen's heart, ten thousand horses were already galloping.

No, Grandfather Emperor.

I was just being polite to you.

Hurry up and chop him down for your grandson!

A flash of disappointment crossed Zhu Yunwen's face.

Even if it appeared only for the briefest moment, Zhu Yuanzhang, seated on the dragon throne, noticed something was amiss.

Years of experience in governing the realm told Old Zhu.

That his own grandson was merely putting on an act.

Zhu Yuanzhang no longer looked at Zhu Yunwen.

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

"Su Qiao, the Grand Heir has pleaded for you, and I grant it."

"Today I shall properly ask you—why did you say we should simply pass the throne to the Prince of Yan?"

Su Qiao gritted his teeth and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

Still not chopping me down, huh?

Fine, I'll tell you!

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

"Grand Heir, in the future after Your Majesty passes on, will you not reduce the feudal princes' fiefs?"

Having said that, Su Qiao looked again at Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai beside him.

"My lords, in the future after Your Majesty passes on, even if the Grand Heir does not wish to reduce the fiefs, would the two of you truly not submit a memorial to that effect?"