Chapter 27

"In a year of great disaster, how can common folk hope to eat their fill? If we measure by eating one's fill, how much grain would even be enough?"

"Naturally, enough for all the people under heaven to eat thin porridge for three years!"

Su Qiao stared at Huang Zicheng as though looking at a fool.

Only after a long while did he spit out a single sentence.

"Then why don't you go eat three years of porridge yourself?"

26, Old Zhu: A lone minister, a lone minister indeed!

The moment Su Qiao's words fell.

Huang Zicheng's already unswollen fat face instantly flushed a deep crimson.

Su Qiao did not give Huang Zicheng any chance to speak.

Instead, he fixed Huang Zicheng with a cold laugh and said

"Or is it that in my lord Huang's eyes, a so-called age of prosperity means every commoner under heaven gets a bowl of porridge — and that is prosperity?!"

"His Majesty is a founding emperor who knows the hardships of the people; he can, of course, dismiss such talk of 'prosperity' with a laugh."

"But what of the later emperors of our Great Ming?!"

"Whenever officials throughout the realm submit memorials, those governing officials never fail to speak of a restoration, and those governing the people never fail to proclaim an age of prosperity. When later emperors take it as truth, what then?!"

The moment these words fell.

Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne broke out in a cold sweat in an instant.

Meanwhile, Chongzhen on the other end nearly burst into tears at hearing these words.

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Grandfather Emperor, Grandfather Emperor, this is exactly how they deceived your son!"

"When your son ascended the throne, the whole court of civil and military officials told me that my Chongzhen reign was one where all the upright filled the court! Memorials of congratulation from every region spoke of nothing but a Chongzhen restoration."

"A Chongzhen restoration! Grandfather Emperor, your son now sees those four characters and wants to laugh!"

Watching the message Chongzhen had sent him.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face on the dragon throne had already turned an iron blue.

Finally.

Su Qiao gazed quietly at Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne and said in a clear, ringing voice

"Your Majesty sees clearly — an age of prosperity should never come from the mouths of officials. Whether it is an age of prosperity or not, the common people themselves shall judge!"

The entire court fell into a deathly silence.

All the civil and military officials, especially every single scholar-official, could not help but clamp their mouths shut.

Everyone lowered their heads in silence.

But the glances cast toward Ru Taisu clearly carried a few extra measures of grievance.

At this moment, Ru Taisu regretted it so bitterly his guts were nearly turning green.

Does this kid have some kind of misunderstanding about how favors work?!

Is this how you repay a favor?!

Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Huang Zicheng beside him instantly jumped up in fury.

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"

"Su Qiao! What kind of outrageous talk is this?! Since ancient times, in a year of great disaster, if the common folk can get a mouthful of thin porridge, that is a thorough and complete age of prosperity! An age of good governance! It has been so since the time of Yao and Shun!"

"Besides, I serve as a reader-companion to the Crown Prince — how can I be mentioned in the same breath as starving commoners?"

"They are nothing but disaster victims; the fact that they can survive at all is already the vast grace of Heaven's majesty. What right do they have to be choosy?!"

"What are 'grassroots folk'? They are folk no more significant than a blade of grass!"

"A stinking beggar daring to complain the rice is sour?!"

Huang Zicheng had not noticed at all that Zhu Yuanzhang's old face on the dragon throne had already darkened.

Zhu Yunwen at the side could barely watch anymore out of sheer embarrassment.

"Mr. Huang, those words of yours are rather biased…"

Zhu Yunwen desperately winked at Huang Zicheng.

Huang Zicheng completely ignored Zhu Yunwen.

Still unsatisfied, he looked at Su Qiao, wanting to continue his tirade.

But just at that moment.

A cold, sinister voice quietly sounded from behind Huang Zicheng, saying

"That's right. I was indeed a stinking beggar."

"But I do mind the rice being sour."

"My lord Huang, any objections?"

"…"

Beneath Fengtian Sect, a deathly silence fell.

Only at this moment did Huang Zicheng remember that among the people before him, there was one who had truly begged for food.

Huang Zicheng shivered.

With a thud he dropped to his knees and cried out in a loud voice

"Your subject deserves death a thousand times over! I beg Your Majesty to punish your subject for his breach of decorum in the imperial presence!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said nothing, casting a cold glance at Huang Zicheng.

Without a single further word, he boarded the imperial sedan and departed toward the direction of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

The court of officials dispersed.

Seeing the resentful gazes of the hundred officials.

Su Qiao felt as if a huge stone had been lifted from his heart.

Now surely no one will speak up for me!

It was just that Su Qiao did not notice.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze toward him held even more appreciation.

This is a lonely minister!

I am already of such an advanced age.

Yet Heaven has sent me another lonely minister!

Only Huang Zicheng knelt on the spot, daring not to rise for a long time.

Until the hundred officials departed one after another.

Zhu Yunwen cautiously stepped forward and helped Huang Zicheng, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet.

"Mr. Huang need not worry excessively; it was merely a momentary slip of the tongue. I, Yunwen, will go and explain matters clearly to Imperial Grandfather on Mr. Huang's behalf."

Having spoken, Zhu Yunwen helped Huang Zicheng up from the ground.

Only at the moment Huang Zicheng was helped up from the ground did he realize his entire clothing was already soaked with cold sweat.

"Your Highness the Grandson of the Crown Prince, this subject, this subject truly did not mean it that way."

Zhu Yunwen comforted Huang Zicheng from the side.

At the same time, he gave orders to the little eunuchs beside him:

"You few, escort Mr. Huang back to his residence."

Unexpectedly, as soon as Zhu Yunwen spoke these words.

the personal little eunuch beside him frowned, his expression darkening, and said in a low voice:

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess just sent a message from court, ordering you to go immediately to see Mr. Huang and Mr. Qi after the court session ends!"

Zhu Yunwen's brows tightened, and he immediately sensed something was amiss.

"What has happened?"

That little eunuch hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, and merely stammered while looking at Zhu Yunwen:

"Your Highness, please do not ask; it is better to return to the palace first!"

Upon hearing the news, Huang Zicheng's fear vanished in an instant.

The few of them then hurriedly rushed toward the Donggong...

27, Zhu Yunwen: It's over; Imperial Grandfather truly intends to depose me!