Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Chapter 61 Zhu Yuanzhang is furious! Get this rebellious son Zhu Biao out of here!
"I……"

Zhu Biao was sullen and didn't know what to say.

Then, Zhu Kai continued to remind Zhu Biao in a pretentious manner, with a loud voice: "Young Master, our family has less tax revenue. You must not tell His Royal Highness the Crown Prince about this. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is wise and intelligent. If he knew the truth, he would definitely impose the tax on us instead of the peasants!"

"..."

Zhu Biao looked at the "ferocious" Zhu Kai, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Second brother... So you are using Li You's identity to slander him to death, right?
Looking back, what happened today gradually spread among the people, and Li You became the spokesperson for the idiot.

Moreover, Zhu Kai mentioned the names and surnames, so even if Li You had a hundred mouths, he would not be able to explain what was going on.

As for who is the spokesperson for the big fool...

Needless to say, it was Li Qi whose identity was impersonated by Zhu Biao.

What a jerk!
Zhu Biao was angry at this time, but when he thought about what Zhu Kai had done, he couldn't help laughing.

However, Zhu Biao was moved. In such a big event, his second brother still considered him. He told the people that the crown prince Zhu Biao was wise and intelligent...

Zhu Kai, using Li You's identity, began to threaten the people: "You fools, as citizens of the Ming Dynasty, you don't care about the Ming Dynasty, and you always hurt the interests of the Ming Dynasty. I will report to His Majesty and ask him to skin you and stuff you with straw, and hang you on the city gate as a warning to others! Do you know about skinning and stuffing you with straw, and about burning you in the sky? Come on... I'll tell you."

Zhu Kai's words scared the people so much that they almost lost their souls. He lit sky lanterns, brushed his body with iron brushes, and was cut into pieces with 1,426 cuts... Zhu Kai had the potential to tell ghost stories, and he scared the people so much that they knelt down and begged for mercy.

We are just planting some land, is it necessary to be so cruel?

The people did not dare to say anything, after all, the 'Li You' in front of them was the nephew of Duke Hanguo and a person living in heaven.

How could such a person care about the lives of ordinary people?

Zhu Kai was very satisfied after threatening the people. He stood up and said proudly, "Let me tell you, I am Li You, the nephew of the Duke of Korea. If you are dissatisfied, you can come to me. Hahahaha... When I tell His Majesty what you did, His Majesty will definitely reward me with an earldom."

The people's faces showed great fear!

But in his heart, he had already cursed Li You's ancestors for eighteen generations.

There is no such inhuman thing.

Duke Hanguo, aren't you the first meritorious official in the founding of the Ming Dynasty? Look at your descendants, is what they do humane?
He treated us like common people and skinned us and stuffed us with straw, and yet he fawned on Your Majesty in exchange for a title... Such a person deserves to be put to death!

Don’t ask, the answer is that Li You is shameless and has lost all conscience!

For the sake of fame, wealth and power, they ignore the people.

Such people are truly shameless!
And Li Qi, this guy is not a good person either!
He was the first one to propose giving his family's land to Your Majesty. Li You is not a good person, and Li Qi is a family member to him, so how could he be a good person?

Thinking of this, a more profound question emerges in the minds of ordinary people.

Since both children are not good people, then Li Shanchang... can he be a good person?
How can a good person not be able to take care of his own children?
……

On the way back, Zhu Biao kept thinking about what happened today.

This was not the result he wanted to see, but it was a good thing to discover the problem.

"Second brother, Ming Dynasty is very grateful to you."

Zhu Biao was filled with emotion and said to Zhu Kai: "If you hadn't suggested that I come out and take a look, I'm afraid I would still be kept in the dark."

"Okay."

Zhu Kai said nonchalantly, "But, big brother, you have to give me a hundred taels of silver. We have agreed not to discuss politics today."

"I'll give you five hundred taels."

Zhu Biao seemed very heroic, and then asked Zhu Kai: "Second brother, do you have a solution to the problem?"

After wrapping up five sentences, he could now ask Zhu Kai questions with confidence: "All I can think of is to re-measure the land of the world, but what will happen after the land is measured? The grain in the hands of the scholars and officials will increase, and these grains will have to be exchanged for land sooner or later. The people have no surplus grain at home, what should be done?"

"Brother, since this is a stupid job, then use a stupid method to solve it. Isn't it enough to re-measure the land every ten years?"

Zhu Kai thought about the issue of the reduction of cultivated land in the future, so he said: "For example, after we measure the land this time, we will set a red line that the land of the Ming Dynasty cannot be less than a certain number of acres. If the land is reduced during the next land measurement, the relevant officials will be punished."

Zhu Kai also felt that his solution was difficult, so he simply said, "If you ask me, the land must be distributed to the people, and the family's land cannot exceed 500 acres."

Ultimately, the land still needs to be divided equally.

But...it can't be that easy.

Zhu Biao felt that this problem was very tricky and that his method would definitely not be able to solve it in a short period of time.

But if we use Zhu Kai's method and Zhu Yuanzhang's thunder-like methods, there will be no problem!

Who dares to draw a knife against Zhu Yuanzhang?

"Brother, I understand." Zhu Biao had an idea. "We can not check the land of common people, but we can check the land of scholars and nobles. Their land cannot be increased. If they increase, they will be severely punished!"

After hearing this, Zhu Kai nodded: "This is also a good idea."

Zhu Biao has never been a good man!
A gentle temperament is one thing, but there is another aspect that he has not yet shown.

"In the final analysis, the common people still don't have much money. Even if my father promotes commerce, the common people can't spare any extra manpower to engage in business."

The most important thing is that people don’t have much money.

Zhu Biao was very angry when he thought about the fact that the people had little money and were being extorted heavily by some people with ulterior motives under various pretexts.

"Second brother, we won't go back to the palace. Let's go to Yingtian Prefecture and look for Meng Duan."

He wanted to see how Meng Duan would treat him, the crown prince.

As for Meng Duan, Zhu Biao felt that he was relatively fair, upright, and clear about gratitude and resentment.

Such people can be considered talents. To manage Yingtian Prefecture, we need such upright people.

But he never expected that Meng Duan would abandon the people and impose all kinds of taxes on the people that the court did not have.

Zhu Biao, I can't tolerate this.

I thought of what Zhu Yuanzhang kept saying, that he was deceived and bewitched by all the officials!

He was still a little reluctant to believe it, but now he suddenly realized... it seemed to be true.

These people...don't care about the people at all.

Zhu Biao lowered his head and thought. Zhu Kai could see that his elder brother was really angry, so he didn't object to his actions. He sat in the carriage, holding his chin and looking out the window, his thoughts drifting to who knows where.

There's no point in taking the eldest brother out to play. It's better to take the fifth brother, Zhu Di, out to play.

Zhu Biao was led astray by his father. He always thinks about state affairs and wants me to become the emperor... If I become the emperor, will I work for the Zhu family?

Nonsence!

It is impossible for me to work. I will never work in this life!
Every day, I can only make a living by cutting leeks.

……

To go find Meng Duan, Zhu Biao and Zhu Kai could no longer use the identities of Li Qi and Li You, but Zhu Biao had already sensed the benefits of using someone else's identity.

This time when he came to see Meng Duan, Zhu Biao did not intend to reveal his identity directly, so he said to Zhu Kai: "Second brother, do me a favor. When we arrive in Yingtian Prefecture, you report your identity and I will not show up for now."

"Brother, you are addicted to using other people's identities, right?"

Zhu Kai curled his lips and said, "You can use it, but I am the second prince, with a high status. This identity is..."

Zhu Biao didn't waste time talking to Zhu Kai and stretched out his hand: "Five hundred taels!"

what?
You want to use my identity as the second prince for just five hundred taels?
"One thousand taels!"

"Six hundred, no more."

"Eight hundred taels, big brother, I gave you an 80% discount, no less... Big brother, I am the second prince after all, and I am still a top figure in Yingtian Prefecture. It would be beneath my status if the price was too low."

"Oh, you bastard... Seven hundred, this is the final price."

"Seven hundred? Are you sending dad away?"

Zhu Kai curled his lips and said to Zhu Biao in dissatisfaction: "Brother, I just reduced the price by 200 taels for you. You keep adding 100 taels to it. It's not sincere at all!"

"Seven hundred and fifty taels, that's it."

Zhu Kai stretched out his hand, "Give me money!"

"This... where can I find seven hundred and fifty taels?"

Zhu Biao didn't have the habit of carrying money when he went out, so he could only say, "Go back, I'll give you the money, okay?"

"Okay, that's what you said, brother. I am a trustworthy person."

Zhu Kai reminded Zhu Biao, "This is just you, big brother. If it was our father... I wouldn't do it. If I don't even write an IOU, my father will definitely default on the debt."

Deadbeat?

Zhu Biao's eyes lit up, as if he had gained some strange knowledge.

"How could I, the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, possibly refuse to pay you? Go ahead and ask, brother. Hehe... I'll give it to you when I get back."

"Oh, I'll believe you for once."

Zhu Kai then got down from the carriage, and Zhu Biao lowered his head like a servant, blending in with Mao Xiang, Jiang Lin and other Yiluansi strongmen, and followed them into Yingtian Prefecture.

Zhu Kai walked into the government office of Yingtian Prefecture with arrogance. Before the Yingtian Prefecture soldier standing at the door could come to ask him anything, he was pushed aside by Zhu Kai.

"Meng Duan, where is Meng Duan? Ask him to come out and see me!"

"May I ask, Your Excellency..."

"I am the second prince, Zhu Kai! Where is Meng Duan? Tell him to come out and see me!" Zhu Biao, who was mixed in the crowd, looked at Zhu Kai's arrogant look and couldn't help but pull Mao Xiang beside him and asked in a low voice: "My second brother... is this his usual style in Yingtian Prefecture?"

"No, no."

There are worse things done than this.

He just walked a little arrogantly, but Mao Xiang thought it was nothing.

Usually, when Zhu Kai and his group of wise men got into fights in the city and were unable to escape, they were caught by the people from Yingtian Prefecture. Usually, Mao Xiang and others would come and take Zhu Kai away.

Then, Meng Duan went to Zhu Yuanzhang to file a complaint against Zhu Kai.

It can be said that Zhu Kai and Meng Duan are old acquaintances.

Meng Duan thinks Zhu Kai is a nuisance and treats him harshly, even with disgust. Zhu Kai also doesn't want to see Meng Duan, thinking he is just an old man who only knows how to complain.

The two of them disliked each other.

Now that he has the chance, Zhu Kai must take revenge no matter what.

Not long after, the chancellor of Yingtian Prefecture came out and immediately bowed to Zhu Kai when he saw him.

"Your Highness the Second Prince."

Zhu Kai looked at the chancellor and asked again, "Where is Meng Duan? This prince has something to ask him. Ask him to come and see me immediately."

"Ah? This..."

The chancellor obviously had something to hide, and said with some hesitation:

"Your Highness, the Second Prince, Master Meng is not at home."

"What? Not in the house?"

Zhu Kai slammed the table, and then began to question: "So, is he on duty today? If he is on duty, why doesn't he come? Heh... Isn't it said that old man Meng is the most conscientious? Why doesn't he come to work in the mansion?"

"This……"

I am just a small chancellor, how can I be qualified to comment on Meng Duan?

The prefect simply ignored Zhu Kai's question and whispered, "If you have anything to say, you can tell me. I will report to Lord Meng when he arrives."

"you?"

Zhu Kai sneered, looked at the prefect, and said, "In Yingtian Prefecture, there are Korean officials who have seized the land of Daming and hired people to farm for them. Is this true?"

"Ah? This..."

When the prime minister heard Zhu Kai's words, his face changed color.

Zhu Biao stood behind Zhu Kai and observed without saying a word.

When he saw the color of the prime minister's face change, his face also turned dark.

It seems that the prime minister knows about it.

If the prime minister knows about it, then it means Meng Duan also knows about it.

"Also! What's up with this god and Buddha money?"

Zhu Kai asked sternly, staring at the chancellor: "Your Majesty, when did you ever set up such a tax?"

"This this……"

The prime minister's face had turned pale at this moment.

Zhu Kai, Zhu Kai, how come you know everything?

"Humph! He makes up all sorts of excuses to oppress the people. I think Meng Duan is tired of living!" Zhu Kai sat on the prefect's seat with a big horse and a golden knife. He looked at the pale-faced prefectural chancellor and shouted, "Go, call Meng Duan to me. If he doesn't come, I'll hold him responsible!"

"Doesn't he like to complain? Well, if he doesn't come, I'll go to Dad and complain. Let's see who gets the stick this time!"

When the prime minister heard what Zhu Kai said, he did not dare to be negligent and immediately sent someone out to find Meng Duan.

Zhu Kai winked at Mao Xiang, who immediately understood.

Then he took two people and followed him out quietly.

Not long after, the chancellor came back and said to Zhu Kai with an apologetic look, "Your Highness, Second Prince, I'm really sorry. Lord Meng is ill and needs to rest. I'm afraid he doesn't have time to see Your Highness, Second Prince."

"As for what you said, Lord Meng said... the Second Prince is still young and doesn't understand state affairs. He already knows about this matter, so there's no need for the Second Prince to worry about it."

After hearing what the prime minister said, Zhu Biao's face became even uglier.

This... Meng Duan actually dared to ignore my second brother!
Isn’t he afraid that his second brother will report to His Majesty?
This guy Meng Duan is really...hateful!
Zhu Biao clenched his fists in anger, and his knuckles turned white from being pinched.

He couldn't understand why the descendant of the sub-sage, who was so upright in front of him, was like this in front of others?
How dare he do this!

"Sick? Haha... that's a lame excuse."

Zhu Kai was not interested in Meng Duan's disregard. He sneered and then looked at Mao Xiang who had returned.

Mao Xiang nodded at Zhu Kai, as if he already knew where Meng Duan was.

Zhu Kai did not stop, he stood up and walked out: "I will go back to the palace and tell my father about Lord Meng's illness. Maybe my father will send two imperial doctors to take a look. If he is not sick, it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor!"

When the prime minister heard what Zhu Kai said, he broke out in a cold sweat!
He is Meng Duan's lackey. Meng Duan went out for a drink, how could he have imagined that Zhu Kai would suddenly visit Shuntian Prefecture?

Thinking that Zhu Kai would report to the emperor...the prime minister dared not stay any longer and hurried out to tell Meng Duan. If the emperor really sent the imperial physician to treat Meng Duan, it would be a big deal.

After walking out of the door, Zhu Kai and Zhu Biao, led by Mao Xiang, parked the carriage in the backyard of Huaiyang Tower.

Zhu Biao walked into the Huaiyang Building with a gloomy face. On the way here, Zhu Biao had heard Mao Xiang's report that Meng Duan was having dinner in the Huaiyang Building and there was no problem of him being sick at all.

This guy... actually dared to deceive the prince.

If Zhu Kai really told Zhu Yuanzhang about this!
Meng Duan and those who drank with Meng Duan cannot escape responsibility.

Zhu Biao was very angry!
Meng Duan claimed to be a descendant of Mencius, and people around him also commented that he was upright and incorruptible, but how could such an upright person ignore the prince?
Even if you don't want to contact Zhu Kai, he is still Zhu Yuanzhang's son!

Deceiving a member of the royal family is unforgivable!

Moreover, Meng Duan still ignored Zhu Kai's attitude in the face of two other incidents: imposing taxes on the people under various pretexts and Li Shanchang's family turning wasteland into private land. This destroyed Zhu Biao's impression of him as a loyal minister.

Meng Duan knew the seriousness of the matter, yet he dared to conceal it and not report it!

This is deceiving the king!

Deceiving the king!
Zhu Biao's three views were completely destroyed!

He now doesn't know if he can still distinguish between loyal ministers and treacherous ministers.

There was something wrong with the look in Zhu Biao's eyes and expression, and it was obvious that he was angry.

Alas... Dad is right. My elder brother was really pissed off by that group of scholars. Now, my elder brother's worldview should be completely ruined, right?
Zhu Kai saw Zhu Biao's collapsed heart, so he said to Zhu Biao: "Brother, calm down a little. I will go and see what the attitude of old man Meng Duan is."

Zhu Biao didn't say anything, obviously agreeing with Zhu Kai's proposal.

When Mao Xiang led them to the outside of the private room, the prime minister had already arrived and told Meng Duan that Zhu Kai had left for the palace.

It was unknown whether Meng Duan was drunk or he really didn't take Zhu Kai seriously. He still snorted with disdain: "Second Prince, a yellow-mouthed child who hasn't even read the Four Books and Five Classics, and you still want to participate in state affairs? What if he reports it to His Majesty? His Majesty dotes on the Second Prince on weekdays. Can he still trust the Second Prince in state affairs?"

"The princes are not allowed to leave the palace at will. Not only did the second prince leave the palace at will, but he also acted recklessly and relied on his status to bully the sons of the high officials in the court. I would like to ask your majesty for an explanation!"

"No problem, colleagues, keep drinking!"

Then, a lot of flattery was heard in the private room, saying that Meng Duan was not afraid of imperial power and was upright and incorruptible.

Zhu Biao can no longer look directly at the words "upright and incorruptible".

Using the words "upright and incorruptible" to describe Meng Duan is simply the biggest insult to these four words.

"No matter how young I am, I am not someone you, the descendant of a sub-saint, can bully."

Before seeing the person, he heard his voice first. Zhu Kai pushed open the door of the private room, stood at the door and looked at Meng Duan who was sitting in the main seat. He said with a fake smile: "Old man Meng, you are in a good mood, and the prefect... Didn't you say that old man Meng was sick? How come the wine and food in Huaiyang Pavilion can cure diseases?"

"This? This... Your Highness, Second Prince, how could you..."

The prime minister was surprised to see Zhu Kai coming in, but he quickly regained his composure.

Nothing surprising!
It must be that I exposed my whereabouts and led Zhu Kai here.

The other people were also high-ranking officials in the court, either officials from the Censorate or scholars from the Hanlin Academy. There were also several vice ministers of the Ministry of Revenue. There were twelve or thirteen people at the table, and their faces were flushed with drinking.

When they saw Zhu Kai appear, they were surprised, terrified, and disdainful...

A combination of all kinds of looks.

Zhu Kai didn't care at all, just looked at Meng Duan: "Old man Meng, I have already told you the problem of this prince. Now, you give me an explanation, why are there so many taxes on the people of Yingtian Prefecture that Your Majesty doesn't know about? What's the matter with the wasteland in Li Shanchang's family?" Meng Duan was calm and answered Zhu Kai's questions:
"Han State openly reclaimed wasteland, not for its own benefit, but to distribute the land to the people. This is a good thing, not only did the Duke of Han do nothing wrong, but it has benefited the people. What crime has he committed? As for how to increase the taxes in the court, this is a state affair. The Second Prince is still young and has not entered the court. I am a minister of the Son of Heaven, and I do not need to explain to the Second Prince."

"Stop talking nonsense here."

Zhu Kai didn't buy it at all and directly accused Meng Duan: "The tax rate of one tenth was set by our father. How can you make up excuses to increase the tax rate? Li Shanchang serves the country and the people? Haha... Old man, Li Shanchang's family collects one and a half stones of tax from ten stones. When did the court allow Li Shanchang to set his own tax rate?"

"I have also said that this is a state affair, and the Second Prince does not need to interfere."

Meng Duan's attitude towards Zhu Kai did not change at all. He looked at Zhu Kai and said, "On the contrary, it is you, Second Prince! The harm you have brought to the Ming Dynasty is much greater than those taxes."

"Me?" Zhu Kai was puzzled. "I have never even entered the imperial court. When did I bring disaster to the Ming Dynasty?"

"The Second Prince is deeply loved by His Majesty and has deep feelings for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The Second Prince is definitely innocent."

Maybe it was because he was drunk, but Meng Duan spoke very boldly. He said directly to Zhu Kai, "However, the Second Prince is naughty and doesn't like to study. Everything he does is outrageous. I have been the governor of Shuntian Prefecture for more than half a year. Among the cases I have taken over, 60% are about the Second Prince's misdeeds in the city. But... your sin will be in the future!"

At this point, Meng Duan stood up suddenly and glared at Zhu Kai: "The Second Prince doesn't like to study and is extremely naughty. What can you teach him to be like when you have children in the future? You have no ambition to take the throne, but what about your children? Do they have ambitions?"

"If your Highness the Second Prince really wants to do good for the Ming Dynasty, then please leave Yingtian Prefecture now and go back to where you should go. Your Highness the Second Prince, you have seen problems with taxes and that Korean officials have turned wasteland into private land. These are just minor flaws that can be fixed with a little investigation, but you can't. As long as you stay in Yingtian Prefecture, the Ming Dynasty will never be at peace!"

"Your Highness, Second Prince, after all I have said, don't you understand who is the root cause of the chaos in the Ming Dynasty?"

"Me?"

Zhu Kai laughed, "Old Man Meng, are you worried that I will rebel?"

Meng Duan said proudly: "Based on the current situation, the Second Prince will not do that, but if you interfere in the affairs of the court, I cannot guarantee it."

"Haha, Old Man Meng, Old Man Meng, I used to think you were just a stubborn old man, but I didn't expect you to be so filthy. You are not worthy of being the descendant of a sub-saint!"

Zhu Kai was so angry that he laughed!
He really didn't know how Meng Duan could have the nerve to say such shameless words.

Zhu Kai looked at Meng Duan, and Meng Duan also looked at Zhu Kai without any fear.

Suddenly, Zhu Kai said, "Brother, what will you do if I rebel?"

"If you want to rebel, you may have the support of Uncle Xu and Uncle Feng, but you still don't have enough troops."

Zhu Biao walked in from outside, looked at Meng Duan and the people in the room, and said to Zhu Kai very sincerely: "Second brother, if you want to rebel, tell me, I will let Brother Wenying and Brother Wenzhong send troops to help you, otherwise you may not have enough troops and horses, and I am afraid you can't beat Dad."

"Hahahahahaha..."

Zhu Kai smiled happily and looked at Meng Duan: "Old man Meng, did you hear that? I want to rebel, and big brother will support me!"

After saying that, Zhu Kai took a step forward and put his hands under the table!

With a flick of his hand, Zhu Kai threw all the food, wine, and dishes on the table onto the frightened courtier standing beside him.

Meng Duan still did not move.

Zhu Kai stepped forward, came in front of Meng Duan, and spat a mouthful of thick phlegm directly at him:
"He... tui!"

Looking at Meng Duan, Zhu Kai laughed in anger:

"I have never seen such a shameless person! If the sub-sage knew that there was a descendant like you, he would jump out of his coffin and kill you, the unworthy descendant!"

A mouthful of thick phlegm was spat directly onto Meng Duan's face.

But Meng Duan turned a deaf ear to it.

All his attention was focused on Zhu Biao. He never expected that not only Zhu Kai but also Zhu Biao would leave the palace today.

The other officials who were watching the excitement from the sidelines felt as if they were falling into an icy cave when they saw Zhu Biao.

They are not afraid of Zhu Kai.

Because Zhu Kai is the scum of the royal family and has long been pinned on the pillar of shame.

Even if they were beaten to death by Zhu Kai today, they would die without fear of imperial power, and their names would be recorded in history after their death.

However, Zhu Biao was different. He had always been called a gentleman and regarded as the future emperor who would prosper the Ming Dynasty. If they were killed by Zhu Biao, they would be infamous for eternity.

Looking at Meng Duan being insulted by Zhu Kai, Zhu Biao did not feel the slightest pleasure in his heart, but he also did not blame Zhu Kai for insulting him.

Zhu Kai had already restrained himself very much as he just spit out a mouthful of thick phlegm. If he had done that on the training ground, he would probably have torn Meng Duan in half!
"Second brother..."

Zhu Biao shouted, and Zhu Kai took a step back. He then stepped forward and looked at Meng Duan, ignoring the spit on his face. He just asked Meng Duan, "Mr. Meng, do you know that the people's fields are taxed without authorization?"

Meng Duan nodded: "Minister, I know!"

Zhu Biao asked again: "Do you know that in the Korean public family, wasteland was turned into private land?"

"I also know."

Every time Zhu Biao heard Meng Duan answer a question, the disappointment in his eyes grew deeper.

But, it's just disappointment.

Never despair.

Zhu Biao asked Meng Duan again: "Mr. Meng, what should we do now that he knows these things?"

Meng Duan still insisted on his point of view: "This is a national affair! How can we discuss it in a restaurant?"

The disappointment in Zhu Biao's eyes turned into despair. He almost suppressed his anger and roared: "Enough!"

Looking at the angry Zhu Biao, Meng Duan remained calm: "Your Highness, your emotions should not be revealed on your face. Please do not lose your composure."

"..."

Zhu Biao looked at Meng Duan, his chest heaving violently, as if he was trying to control the anger in his heart.

After a long while, Zhu Biao took two steps back and bowed to Meng Duan:
"I...thank you for your teachings, Mr. Meng."

Then, he raised his head and looked directly at Meng Duan: "I will never trust scholars again."

Meng Duan didn't say anything, just looked at Zhu Biao, without any change in his eyes.

"Where are Mao Xiang and Jiang Li?"

Zhu Biao gave the order directly.

Mao Xiang and Jiang Li looked at Zhu Kai: Brother Kai, what should we do?
Zhu Kai pouted at Zhu Biao. What else can he do? Big brother is angry now. Listen to him.

After receiving Zhu Kai's order, Mao Xiang and Jiang Li bowed to Zhu Biao and said, "We are here!"

"Meng Duan, He Chang, Jiang Jin..."

Zhu Biao called out the names of all the people present one by one: "They are idle and disrespectful to the royal family. They will be thrown into the prison. I will report to Your Majesty and then make the final decision!"

Mao Xiang and Jiang Li responded at the same time: "Yes, sir!"

After Zhu Biao finished speaking, he did not move, but looked at Meng Duan: "Mr. Meng, is this what you want to see?"

Meng Duan nodded: "That's what I want to see. I, a guilty minister, should be celebrated by the world!"

"……snort!"

When Zhu Biao faced Meng Duan, his eyes turned red and he couldn't utter a word.

He could only turn around and leave, waiting for Zhu Kai in the backyard.

Except for Meng Duan, other high-ranking officials who were drinking at the table were escorted away by the Yiluansi strongmen as if they had lost their parents, and in the end only Meng Duan was left.

There are also Zhu Kai, Mao Xiang and Jiang Li.

Mao Xiang and Jiang Li prepared to take Meng Duan away.

"and many more."

Zhu Kai called the two of them, then came to Meng Duan, looked at the phlegm on Meng Duan's face, and couldn't help but spit again: "You old bastard, are you trying to trick me here?"

"Ha ha……"

Meng Duan smiled, very happily: "I will swallow my pride. I would also like to thank the Second Prince for creating another holy ruler for the Ming Dynasty!"

"..."

Resisting the urge to beat Meng Duan up, Zhu Kai asked Meng Duan, "Does Dad know about this, too?"

"hehe."

Meng Duan laughed, looked at Zhu Kai and said, "It all depends on how the Second Prince asks His Majesty about this matter."

Mao Xiang and Jiang Li looked at Zhu Kai and then at Meng Duan.

Brother Kai, I don’t understand what you are saying, can you explain it to me?
"Take away."

Zhu Kai left in annoyance, waving his sleeves and saying, "Take him to the prison and serve him well. If old man Meng loses even a hair, I will skin both of you alive!"

"Uh……"

Mao Xiang and Jiang Li looked at Meng Duan.

I really want to beat this old guy up.

……

After returning to the palace, Zhu Biao and Zhu Kai immediately came to Zhu Yuanzhang's Jinshen Hall.

Zhu Biao stood in front.

Suppressing his inner anger, he reported to Zhu Yuanzhang what he encountered during his trip.

Zhu Kai stood behind Zhu Biao where he could not see, and cast a look of contempt at Zhu Yuanzhang.

This old man is a piece of shit.

He even cheated his own son, and the descendants of the Second Sage were used to cheat his own son as well.

After Zhu Biao finished his report, he asked Zhu Yuanzhang:

"Father, this matter is of great importance and concerns the foundation of the country. I ask you to investigate it thoroughly."

"Got it." Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have known about it for a long time. After listening to Zhu Biao's report, he looked very calm: "This matter is of great importance. We need to discuss it with the ministers during the court meeting. Meng Duan is the descendant of the Second Sage, so we need to treat him with caution."

"Dad, this matter concerns the people and must be dealt with severely."

Zhu Biao had already lost his trust in the literati, and he was still furious and determined to get this done: "Dad, you can't..."

"I said, enough is enough, don't you understand?"

Zhu Yuanzhang showed his majesty as an emperor and said, "Do you think you have figured it out now? Go back and continue thinking about what you should do and what you shouldn't do. If you can't figure it out, don't come to see me!"

"..."

Although Zhu Biao was unwilling, he still nodded in agreement.

When he saw Zhu Kai still standing behind him, he was suddenly startled.

Dad already knew that someone was collecting taxes under false pretenses, and that Li Shanchang turned wasteland into private land. He should also know... about the incident in which Zhu Kai spat on Meng Duan's face, right?
Ah, this...

Dad let me go but left my second brother behind. Isn't this a prelude to punishing my second brother?
No...absolutely not.

My second brother took me out today, and everything he did was because of me... I must not let my father punish my second brother.

Zhu Biao panicked, but still pretended to be calm and said to Zhu Kai: "Second brother, let's go."

As he spoke, Zhu Biao blinked vigorously, motioning Zhu Kai to go with him.

Zhu Kai did not move. This old fox's father was half doing it for Zhu Biao to see.

The other half is for yourself.

However, Zhu Biao is not aware of the half that is done for himself.

Where can Zhu Kai go?

He still has to settle accounts with Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting in the main hall, said, "You go, Kai'er stays."

"Dad, my second brother..."

"roll!"

Zhu Yuanzhang threw the memorial to the ground and glared at Zhu Biao: "If you don't get out, I'll let Yuan Qi kick you out!"

Zhu Biao was anxious at that time: "Dad, my second brother..."

“Yuan Qi!!!!”

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and said, "Kick this rebellious son out!"

"Dad, don't bother me, I can go by myself."

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Kai with a guilty look, full of apology.

Second brother, this time even I can’t save you.

But don't panic, second brother. I will go to Kunning Palace and ask mother to come over. She will definitely be able to save you.

Zhu Biao crawled to Kunning Palace to find Ma Xiuying, leaving only Zhu Kai, Zhu Yuanzhang and Yuan Qi in the hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything, but pretended to read the memorial. Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with a gloomy face and suddenly said, "Dad, why did you hold the memorial upside down?"

"what?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was startled and subconsciously turned the memorial over, but after turning it over, he found that the memorial was now turned upside down.

He immediately realized that he was being played by Zhu Kai, and threw the memorial in anger:
"Rebellious son! How dare you tease me?"

"Yuan Qi, bring me our belt! We're going to beat this little bastard to death!"

Yuan Qi: Where am I? Who am I? What am I doing?
Did someone just talk to me?
no?
Yuan Qi stood there, his eyes looking at his nose, his nose looking at his heart, and his heart looking at the soles of his shoes...it seemed as if he didn't hear what Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Old Zhu, that's enough of your acting."

Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with disdain and said:
"Father, you are such an old fox that you even deceived your son! You are even willing to sacrifice a loyal subject to change my brother's character?"

"..."

Zhu Kai asked very calmly, and there didn't seem to be any anger in his voice. However, when Zhu Yuanzhang heard Zhu Kai's calm tone, he felt a little uneasy, even... panicked.

Zhu Kai has always been either smiling playfully or giving serious reminders.

But Zhu Yuanzhang had never seen Zhu Kai as calm as he was today.

Zhu Yuanzhang originally wanted to pretend to be Zhu Biao and pretend to be Zhu Kai in order to fool Zhu Kai... What he did today was indeed not fair, but... Zhu Biao was the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty, what could he do?
However, he did deceive Zhu Kai, his most beloved child. Zhu Yuanzhang always thought Zhu Kai was a child until he grew up. Although he had grown up and what he did made Zhu Yuanzhang happy, he was just a child who never grew up.

But the current Zhu Kai made Zhu Yuanzhang feel unfamiliar.

I felt... that my son, who had never been angry with me before, was very angry.

"Second brother...ah no, Kai'er, Kai'er, listen to me, we have no other choice. Your eldest brother is not doing well, so don't we have to think of a solution?"

Zhu Yuanzhang quickly explained, and no longer sat in his seat to maintain his fatherly dignity. He stood up and sat on the steps: "Son, listen to me, it's all your elder brother's fault."

Zhu Kai was too lazy to listen to Zhu Yuanzhang's explanation: "My elder brother is kind-hearted, but he is not a fool, nor does he know nothing, nor is he a person without ruthless means. You can deceive him for a while, but can you deceive him forever? How can my elder brother be willing to be fooled by you like this?"

"Besides, Dad...you deceived me this time, and I'm very angry."

Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, "I always thought we were a family, so if you have anything to say, just say it directly, but you used deceptive means."

"Old Zhu, I don't like being deceived or used by others, and I don't like an elder of ours who can only say that he will stop spitting when we spit on him."

"Old Zhu, you've gone too far this time."

Gudong!

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help swallowing.

He really didn't expect that he only used a little bit of tricks and caused such a big reaction from Zhu Kai.

what……

This, Kai'er treated me as a family member, but I used court tactics to deceive him.

If it was just Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang would not feel so guilty for doing this. The key is Zhu Kai... He has always stayed away from the court and was always treated as a relative in the palace.

But what about yourself?

But he used the same methods he used on the crown prince and court officials to deceive his own family... Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help feeling guilty. He cared about his family and cared even more about the purity of his family. He liked this kind of pure warmth very much, but now he had destroyed this warmest harbor.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt nothing but guilt.

Yuan Qi, who was watching the play, couldn't help but look sideways when he heard Zhu Kai's words. It was the first time he heard Zhu Kai speak to Zhu Yuanzhang like this.

He didn't even call him "Dad", but just called him Old Zhu and called Zhu Yuanzhang an old fox... Even if she was the Queen, she wouldn't talk to His Majesty like this, right?

But why did I feel so touched when I heard Zhu Kai’s reasons?
Is this the feeling of home?

"Kai'er, I'm sorry. I was wrong. I should have made it clear to you in advance. Wasn't Dad afraid that you would disagree with me or that I would be exposed?"

Zhu Yuanzhang felt guilty and anxious, fearing that Zhu Kai would be angry and alienate him, so he immediately raised three fingers:
"Let's swear, okay? I will never use you again, never!"

"Don't give me that. I don't believe in ghosts and gods."

Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and asked him, "Old man Meng, what are you going to do?"

"He...he can't stay in the court any longer."

Zhu Yuanzhang had already made arrangements for Meng Duan. "There is a Bailu Academy in Yuzhang Prefecture. Let's send people to renovate it and prepare to let him be the dean to train talents for us."

"No need, leave Old Man Meng to me."

Zhu Kai said domineeringly, "Also, I remember that you have a set of Mencius Annotations written by Zhu Xi in your study, right? Give it to me."

"Okay, it's up to you. It's all up to you."

(End of this chapter)