Chapter 197: Heads Rolling

July 12, morning court.

Minister of Rites Tao Kai stepped forward, knelt and reported, "His Majesty, I have heard of the blank‑seal matter, but as I understand it, the use of blank seals in various regions is not to cheat; it is simply because travel is far and traffic inconvenient."

"If the numbers are wrong, checking back and forth wastes time and effort, so they stamp first and fill in later in the capital; this has been a long‑standing practice, not a deliberate deception."

"Long‑standing practice? Practice is right? Corrupt officials are also practice!" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

Another Imperial Censor stepped forward and said, "His Majesty, the blank seal is indeed improper, but there is no evidence that anyone has used it for embezzlement; killing dozens of officials over this might harm the court's vitality."

"When evidence appears it will be too late. I ask you, do you know about the blank‑seal matter?" Zhu Yuanzhang rose and scanned the ministers.

The hall fell silent.

"You know, right? Everyone knows, but no one told me. I sit in this position and know nothing of what's below. If we hadn't uncovered it ourselves by flipping through the Account Book, were you planning to hide it from me forever?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

The ministers knelt and cried, "We dare not!"

"Dare not? This is the evidence! The chief seal officials, deceiving the sovereign, deserve death!" Zhu Yuanzhang said, pointing at the stack of clear registers on the imperial desk.

Zhu Biao stepped forward, bowed and said, "Imperial Father, calm your anger; your son has already sent people to investigate thoroughly, and it will not be late to punish according to law once everything is clarified."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him, slowly returned to the dragon throne, and said gravely, "Investigate, investigate to the end; none of those found may be spared."

……

After the court adjourned, Zhu Biao returned to the Eastern Palace, where Chang Wan came to meet him.

"Prince, how is the situation?"

Zhu Biao shook his head and said, "Imperial Father is enraged; the ministers' pleas are useless. This time, it may turn into a river of blood."

Chang Wan gently grasped his hand and said, "Prince, what do you plan to do?"

"Do whatever must be done; the blank seal indeed should not exist, and even if no one embezzled, it is still deceiving the sovereign. If Imperial Father wants to kill, no one can stop him." Zhu Biao said with steady eyes.

He paused, then added, "However, we must not slaughter indiscriminately; those in subordinate posts and assistants truly only followed orders, their crimes do not merit death."

"When the facts are clarified, I will report, executing only the chief evildoers and exiling the rest."

Chang Wan nodded and said, "Prince, as long as you know the situation, that's enough."

……

July 15, the second batch of lists was submitted.

This time, it involved sixty‑three offices, sixty‑three chief seal officials, and over two hundred subordinate officials.

Zhu Biao stared at the list, silent for a long while.

Among these people, some were indeed corrupt officials, some merely followed procedure.

But in Imperial Father's eyes, they are all the same… because they deceived the sovereign.

He picked up a brush and marked on the list.

All chief seal officials' names were retained; among subordinates, a portion was crossed out.

"These have lighter crimes and may be exiled; these stay," he told the officials beside him.

The official took the list, glanced at it, and hesitated to speak.

"Speak…"

"Prince, these few… are from Jiangnan aristocratic families," the official whispered.

Zhu Biao glanced at him and said lightly, "I know; those who must die will die, those who must be exiled will be exiled; what does a noble family matter?"

The official felt a chill and dared not speak further.

……

July 20, Zhu Biao brought the final list into the palace to appear before the Emperor.

"Father, this is the list my son has clarified; there are one hundred three chief seal officials and three hundred seventy‑one subordinates. Among them, one hundred twenty‑seven have lighter crimes and can be exiled to the border passes.

The remaining chiefs, according to law, should be executed."

Zhu Yuanzhang took the list, examined it carefully, and nodded, "One hundred three, acceptable, not too many."

Zhu Biao said, "Father, I have a word."

"Speak."

"Among these chief seal officials, there are indeed corrupt ones, but some only followed procedure; I have examined their records, and some are upright officials with considerable reputation."

"If we execute them all, is it…"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to stop him, "Biao, do you know why I am so angry?"

Zhu Biao remained silent.

"It's not because of the blank seal itself; it's because they concealed it from me. I am the Emperor; I should know all affairs of the world, yet they conspired to hide it. What do they think I am? A deaf person? Or… a blind man!" Zhu Yuanzhang stood, walked to the window, and said.

"Biao, you will also become Emperor one day. Remember, the people below are best at concealment; they hide things from you far more than you know. If you are soft‑hearted, they will intensify their deceit."

Zhu Biao bowed and said, "Your son will remember."

"These people must be killed, must be killed, so that all under heaven see the fate of those who hide from me." Zhu Yuanzhang said, pointing at the list.

He paused, then added, "However, those you mentioned as upright may be dealt with leniently—confiscate their households, exile them, but not behead them; I'll grant you this courtesy."

Zhu Biao felt a warmth in his heart and said, "Thank you, Father."

……

July 25, the Imperial Edict was issued.

One hundred three chief seal officials were beheaded.

Among them, twenty‑seven, due to their reputation, were reduced to household confiscation and exile, sparing their lives.

The remaining three hundred seventy‑one subordinates were sentenced to a hundred lashes and exile to the border passes.

The execution ground was set outside Wu Men.

On the day of execution, dark clouds gathered densely.

Zhu Yong didn't go to see.

He stayed in Wu Wang Fu, keeping company with Guanyin Nu and Huanhuan.

Guanyin Nu saw his spirits were low and asked softly, "Prince, what's wrong?"

Zhu Yong shook his head, "Nothing, just… big brother has been quite tired these two days."

Guanyin Nu clasped his hand and said, "The Crown Prince is the one who does great deeds; the Prince can't help, so just take good care of yourself."

Zhu Yong nodded.

Outside the window, a muffled drumbeat drifted faintly.

That was the signal for an execution.

Zhu Yong held Huanhuan and gently covered her ears.

……

East Palace.

Zhu Biao stood by the window, gazing toward the Wu Gate, his expression calm.

Chang Wan walked to his side and said softly, "Prince, it's time to eat."

Zhu Biao gave a "Hmm," but did not move.

Chang Wan added, "Prince, the families of those people…"

"Those who should be executed, execute; those who should be exiled, exile; do it according to the edict," Zhu Biao said.

Chang Wan nodded, about to speak but stopped.

Zhu Biao turned his head, looked at her and asked, "Do you think I'm a bit cruel?"

Chang Wan shook her head, "I know, this is the law of the state; the Prince is merely enforcing it."

Zhu Biao smiled, his smile tinged with fatigue, and said, "Wanmei, do you know, among those people there is one who was the teacher who taught big brother to read back then.

His son is a magistrate in Henan, used a blank seal; he wrote to me pleading for mercy, and I did not reply."

Chang Wan fell silent.

"I cannot reply; if I do, the rules would be broken. Imperial Father is right; there are too many hidden matters among the people below. If I'm not ruthless, who will tell the truth to me about this empire in the future?"

Zhu Biao said softly.

He paused, then continued, "Second brother Han, I will protect him, but the tasks that must be done, I will not do any less."

Chang Wan leaned lightly on his shoulder, "Prince, I understand."

……

In the seventh month of the ninth year of Hongwu, the blank‑seal case concluded.

One hundred and three heads fell, and over three hundred people were exiled to the border passes.

The court and the world were shaken; the officialdom fell silent.

For several years thereafter, no one dared to use a blank seal.

And Zhu Yuanzhang, at the court meeting, said only one sentence: "Our eyes, none of you can hide anything from us."

……

On the first day of the eighth month, Zhu Yong went to see Zhu Biao.

In the East Palace, Zhu Biao was teaching Zhu Xiongying to write.

Zhu Xiongying, a little over four years old, could not hold the brush steadily, and his strokes on the paper were crooked.

"Second uncle!" Seeing Zhu Yong enter, Zhu Xiongying dropped his brush and ran over.

Zhu Yong scooped him up in one arm and laughed, "Xiong Ying, what are you writing?"

"Writing… writing dad's name." Zhu Xiongying said in a babyish voice.

Zhu Biao walked over smiling, "Second brother is here, sit."

The two brothers sat by the window.

Zhu Yong looked at Zhu Biao and thought he seemed thinner: "Big brother, you've been exhausted these days, haven't you?"

"It's fine; the matters are settled, so there's nothing more," Zhu Biao said, lifting his tea cup.

"Then you also must take good care of your own body."

Zhu Yong shook his head and said.

"Big brother, spare me, you rest assured…" Zhu Biao patted Zhu Yong's shoulder and said.