Chapter 17: A Battle of Wits and Words, Facing the Court Officials Head-On [Seeking Continued Reading]
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A sudden gasp—
The sweat on Huang Zicheng’s forehead could no longer be wiped away; an inexplicable sense of pressure and fear instantly overwhelmed them, causing their bodies to give way as they knelt with a thud inside the great hall.
They were like ducks caught by the neck, mouths wide open yet unable to utter a single sound.
Just as Zhu Yunxu had said, these men constantly preached about moral principles and ethics, yet now, in this moment, they completely disregarded the proper rites between ruler and subject.
No matter the time, the fault always lay with them.
At this moment, from Zhu Yunxu’s eyes, they saw an incredibly sharp gleam, as if a heavenly blade hung suspended above the Hall of Heavenly Obedience, ready to fall upon their necks at any instant.
This oppressive feeling was something they had only ever experienced from the late emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, never from anyone else.
The suffocating pressure made it difficult even to breathe.
“Is this still the timid Zhu Yunxu who once timidly obeyed in the main hall, always avoiding others?”
“He is concealing his power—and has done so for over ten years. It is truly terrifying.”
Just as Huang Zicheng’s thoughts drifted this way, someone could no longer bear it and stepped forward from the court officials.
The newcomer was slightly thin, with hollowed eyes but exceptionally spirited pupils.
Holding a tablet, he bowed deeply to Zhu Yunxu, who sat by the dragon throne, and said aloud, “Your Highness, I, Fang Xiaoru, pay my respects.”
Fang Xiaoru?
Zhu Yunxu’s gaze immediately fixed on him, a barely perceptible smile flickering at the corner of his mouth.
He hadn’t expected this stubborn fellow to show himself. It seemed there were indeed those unafraid of death.
Why was Fang Xiaoru called the “Iron Head”?
It was simple: this man had not only conspired with Huang Zicheng to urge Zhu Yunwen to reduce the power of the princes, but after Zhu Di’s successful rebellion, he had sternly refused to write an edict for him, and was ultimately subjected to the extermination of his entire ten-family clan by Zhu Di.
Fang Xiaoru was, in fact, Zhu Yunwen’s teacher, so it made sense that he stepped forward now.
“Oh? Lord Fang, what is your matter?” Zhu Yunxu asked, his gaze tinged with a strange expression.
Fang Xiaoru bowed once more and spoke truthfully, “Your Highness, I believe Lord Huang and the others should not be punished. They only wished to inquire about the Crown Prince’s situation, and their words were somewhat excessive.
If Your Highness prides himself on being a benevolent ruler and values moral principles so dearly, then forgiveness should be granted to them, and the Crown Prince should be summoned to preside over the court session.”
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“A benevolent ruler?” Zhu Yunxu chuckled with amusement, staring at Fang Xiaoru. “When did I ever claim to be a benevolent ruler?”
“And you all keep insisting that I call forth Zhu Yunwen to preside over the court. So I ask, on what grounds does Zhu Yunwen have the right?”
“In terms of legitimacy and seniority, what qualification does he have?”
...
“Your Highness! The Crown Prince is the legitimate eldest son. Do you refuse to acknowledge even this?” Huang Zicheng struggled to stand, raising his head to glare fiercely at Zhu Yunxu.
Zhu Yunxu’s eyes narrowed instantly, and murderous intent poured forth without restraint.
“Guards, seize this insolent man who disrupts the court and administer forty strokes of the cane.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
As Zhu Yunxu’s voice fell, the military officers responded thunderously.
Immediately, voices of dispute arose among the men:
“Heh heh! Your Highness, let me do it—I’m strong.”
“Get lost! Zhu Shou, go stand aside. I’m stronger; I should do it.”
“Enough, all of you! Let me handle this myself. I want to see just where Huang Zicheng gets the audacity to repeatedly challenge my nephew.”
In the end, Lan Yu shoved everyone aside, stepped before Huang Zicheng, grabbed the collar of his official robe, and dragged him out of the Hall of Heavenly Obedience.
The nobles from Huai West who failed to seize glory could only cast hostile looks toward Fang Xiaoru and the others, as if urging them to provoke the prince a little more—they were itching to act.
“Ahhh!”
Only after the agonized screams came from outside the hall did the court officials finally recover from the sudden upheaval.
Many eyes fixed on Zhu Yunxu, revealing a trace of fear.
Of course, some gazes turned to the beaming Huai West nobles, as if suddenly understanding the situation.
Several civil officials exchanged low whispers with furrowed brows.
“Lord Zhan, what in heaven’s name is happening today?”
The speaker was Xingbu Vice Minister Kai Ji. Standing beside him were currently the Left Minister of Personnel, Zhan Hui, and Minister of Rites, Chen Jing.
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Also present was Minister of Revenue, Fu Youwen, though none of the three spoke to him.
Although Fu Youwen was a civil official and held the position of Minister of Revenue among the Six Ministries, he was at odds with the civil official faction, belonging instead to the Huai West noble party.
Even though Fu Youwen disliked being labeled as part of the Huai West faction, his elder brother was Fu Youde, Duke of Yingguo, a prominent member of that faction.
Zhan Hui looked up at the young man seated beside the dragon throne, furrowing his brows and shaking his head slightly.
“It is clear that the palace situation changed last night, and our Third Prince has gained the support of the Huai West nobles...”
“Ah! How can this be? Are the Huai West nobles planning to install the Third Prince as a puppet?” Chen Jing whispered in shock.
Kai Ji said nothing further but fell into deep thought.
When he looked back at Zhu Yunxu, his eyes held a complex and indescribable meaning.
After a cup of tea passed—
Lan Yu dragged the bloodied and battered Huang Zicheng, returning him to the Hall of Heavenly Obedience. Like discarding refuse, he threw the man onto the floor, then glanced with a half-smile at Fang Xiaoru and the others before respectfully addressing Zhu Yunxu.
“Your Highness, the sentence has been carried out.”
“Hmm! Thank you, uncle.” Zhu Yunxu smiled warmly and nodded, allowing Lan Yu to retreat among the court officials.
The exchange of glances between the two was observed by all officials, causing many civil officials who had intended to speak for Zhu Yunwen to abandon their thoughts.
Indeed, they wished for Zhu Yunwen, nurtured by Confucian teachings, to ascend the throne. Compared to the gentle and refined Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Yunxu was regarded by them as a tyrant comparable to Zhu Yuanzhang.
But often, circumstances outweigh people. Though they were numerous, compared with the Huai West generals who controlled the military, they felt their necks were not tough enough.
Zhu Yunxu took in the changing expressions of everyone before him, then once again wore a jade-like gentle smile as he looked down at the man sprawled on the floor like a dead dog—Huang Zicheng.
“Lord Huang, do you now understand what respect and ceremony mean? What it means for a king’s wrath to be roused?”
“Bah! Tyrant.” Huang Zicheng’s bones were strong—he dared to spit a mouthful of blood at Zhu Yunxu and grit his teeth fiercely. “If you have the courage, kill me! The Crown Prince is the emperor’s appointed heir. You are nothing but a schemer seeking to usurp power.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
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