Chapter 73

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

Great Emperor Taizu:

"No, these kids cannot be defeated!"

"I must speak with Lan Yu!"

"We have been deceived by that arrogant scholar Su Qiao!"

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Great-grandfather, I know you are heartbroken, but you cannot always be like this..."

Great Emperor Taizu:

"Nonsense! You young man are always thinking about the people's heart, the people's heart."

"Is there not a shred of military morale in your mind?!"

"Our Great Ming's Princes of the Blood and feudal princes were chopped down by the Tatars like vegetables."

"What about military morale?! Have you thought about how mad those Tatars outside the pass would become?!"

Ignoring Zhu Youjian's nonsense, Zhu Yuanzhang stood up abruptly, staring fiercely at the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Mao Xiang beside him and roared:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard must immediately surround Donggong and seize that arrogant scholar Su Qiao for me!"

"Do not let that boy escape!!!"

Main Text

70, Su Qiao: Is it just you who has a mouth?

Amidst Zhu Yuanzhang's roar.

A large contingent of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, like arrows loosed from a bowstring, surrounded Donggong.

Inside Donggong, Zhu Yunwen, Huang Zicheng, Watching Qi Tai, and Lady Lu looked at the scene before them with terror.

Lady Lu kept muttering:

"It's over, it's over, does Your Majesty truly intend to depose Zhu Yunwen..."

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

"..."

The entire Donggong descended into chaos.

At that moment, Jiang Huan rode a warhorse at full speed into Donggong.

"His Majesty has an edict: do not disturb the Crown Prince; seize the criminal Su Qiao immediately!"

"Yes!"

Hearing the Embroidered Uniform Guard's shouts.

The people inside Donggong finally came to their senses.

Shortly after, a group of Embroidered Uniform Guard found Su Qiao slacking off in the duty room.

"Grand Commander, we found him!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan stepped forward and kicked open Su Qiao's duty room door.

Inside the entire Donggong, only Zhu Yunwen, looking tense, ran to Jiang Huan.

"Commander Jiang, Mr. Su indeed possesses talent; does His Imperial Grandfather have some misunderstanding?"

Watching her foolish son, Lady Lu turned angrily to the eunuchs behind her and shouted sternly:

"How did you look after His Highness? Hurry and pull His Highness back!"

Since Su Qiao arrived at Donggong.

Zhu Yunwen had made up his mind that he would not be the Crown Prince under any circumstances.

Several times he even wanted to write a memorial requesting the title of Prince of Yu.

Lady Lu saw all this and hated it in her heart; she had long been grinding her teeth in hatred.

The old man had finally opened his mind.

Why is this foolish son rushing to speak up for Su Qiao?

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

"Commander Jiang, the Crown Prince is somewhat unwell; you attend to your duty."

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

Before Zhu Yunwen could react.

He was already pulled aside by Huang Zicheng and Watching Qi Tai.

In the main hall.

Only Jiang Huan and Su Qiao remained.

Su Qiao glanced at Jiang Huan with disdain.

"Commander Jiang, good morning."

Jiang Huan frowned and stared at Su Qiao, asking:

"Lord Su, among all the civil and military officials, you are the only one who is not afraid of our Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Su Qiao did not even lift his eyelids.

"Nonsense; if you catch someone twice and release them twice, how could they still fear your Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

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

Jiang Huan: "..."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard in the duty room exchanged glances; finally, Jiang Huan said:

"His Majesty has an edict: Lord Su has harmed members of the imperial clan, deceived the sovereign, and plotted rebellion; his crime is unforgivable."

"From this day forward, he is to be imprisoned as a death-row prisoner awaiting trial..."

Jiang Huan looked at Su Qiao, whose face was expressionless, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

"My lord Su, will you not cry out twice?"

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

"What should I cry out?"

Jiang Huan: "In cases like this, the offending official usually cries out twice that he is wronged, then requests to see Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Su Qiao nodded slightly.

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

Before the words had fully left his lips, Zhu Yuanzhang, his hair standing on end with rage, stormed into the duty room with fierce momentum.

Seeing that Jiang Huan was still wasting words with Su Qiao,

Zhu Yuanzhang kicked Jiang Huan in the buttocks.

"Did I send you here to catch up with old times with Su Qiao?"

"Is this how you carry out our orders to arrest someone?!"

Clutching his buttocks, Jiang Huan clasped his hands toward Zhu Yuanzhang and said,

"This humble officer deserves death a thousand times over."

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

"We will not speak of other matters."

"We ask only one thing."

"Do you, Su Qiao, confess to your crime?!"

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

He rushed to Zhu Yuanzhang's side, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, and shouted loudly,

"Grand Imperial Grandfather, is there perhaps some misunderstanding here?"

Having spoken, Zhu Yunwen turned to look at Su Qiao behind him and said,

"Mr. Su, please just apologize to Grand Imperial Grandfather first."

Having spoken, Zhu Yunwen frantically signaled Su Qiao with his eyes.

Seeing Zhu Yunwen's signal,

Su Qiao helplessly raised his head, his eyes filled with helplessness, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with firm resolve and said,

"Yes, this subject did deceive the monarch."

"This subject did harm the imperial clan."