Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

At that moment, Zhu Biao did not smile; he simply turned his head to look at the tall buildings in the distance.

Zhu Han stood with his hands behind his back, watching all this with a slightly amused smile on his face.

Wang Yan stood behind him and whispered, "He has 'benevolence' now; the next step should be 'power'."

Zhu Han nodded slowly: "They're moving faster than I expected."

Wang Yan smiled: "Because he has realized that not using force does not mean not touching people's hearts."

Zhu Han looked at Zhu Biao's isolated figure in the crowd and chuckled softly: "Then let him stir people's hearts. In the next round, it's time to get those old ministers who are holding tea to stand up and toast him with a cup of wine."

A breeze swept across Taiye Pond, reflecting the lingering sunset over the palace walls, the water shimmering like silk.

In the West Garden Pavilion, Zhu Han sat under the eaves, with wisps of tea smoke rising in front of him.

He doesn't rush into action, and he never makes a move lightly.

He waited to see if Zhu Biao could truly make the first few steps steady.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince did not go to his study this morning, but instead went to the Imperial Kitchen alone," Xiao Anzi whispered.

Zhu Han paused upon hearing this, put down his teacup, and turned his head to ask, "What is he going to do?"

"I heard that they asked about the old files of the Imperial Cuisine Department and visited several old chefs who made sweet soups. Then they summoned several old imperial chefs from the Imperial Kitchen to the East Palace."

Zhu Han's eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile curved his lips: "Not bad, he's made a move on 'food'."

Wang Yan arrived slowly at that moment, cupping his hands in greeting: "Your Highness has seen through it?"

Zhu Han nodded slightly: "Although the Eastern Palace is where the Crown Prince resides, he is always being led around by others. The Directorate of Ceremonies, the study, the lecture hall, even the route he takes has to be reported three times. But the 'food station' is different; that is a place he can summon at will."

Wang Yan showed his approval: "Although this move is small, it is actually related to dignity. If he controls the imperial meals, he can decide his own meals every day. Over time, he can cultivate a trusted confidant."

Zhu Han squinted at the setting sun on the horizon and suddenly asked, "What is the Empress Dowager's true intention in arranging for Lady Han to enter the palace?"

Wang Yan pondered for a moment and said, "On the surface, it is a trial marriage, but in reality, it is a test of their hearts. If the Crown Prince accepts Han, it means that he is willing to obey the Empress Dowager's arrangements; if he resists, he will be accused of being 'disobedient and unfilial'."

"But she forgot that Zhu Biao's greatest skill was walking on the edge of a knife without getting a drop of blood on his hands."

"He wants to establish his credibility now, not to please anyone, but to let everyone know that he has a standard in his heart and a fire in his eyes."

Zhu Han's lips curled slightly as he stood up, flicking his sleeves: "Let's go. It's time to let her Miss Han meet the true master of the Eastern Palace."

Inside Changchun Pavilion, Han Siyu sat upright in front of a bronze mirror, while two palace maids combed and styled her hair.

She was seventeen years old, born into the Han Governor's Mansion, with delicate features and a touch of heroism.

Having studied poetry, literature, and etiquette since childhood, I now enter the palace to cultivate virtue, knowing that I bear a heavy responsibility.

“Miss,” her personal maid whispered, “I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince hasn’t set foot here in a long time.”

Han Siyu opened her eyes, her gaze as cold as autumn water: "It's better if they don't come. Those who come talk too much, while those who leave are at peace."

"But Your Majesty..."

"The Empress Dowager gave me a title, but not a sword. If I cannot protect myself, I will be unworthy of being a daughter of the Han family."

She stood up and took out a pre-written "Admonitions for Women" from her sleeve.

He instructed the palace maid: "Send this to the East Palace and say that I have some thoughts after reading it and wish to ask the Crown Prince for guidance."

Just as the palace maid was about to respond, a voice suddenly interrupted her—

"No need to see it off."

Han Siyu's body trembled, and she turned her head sharply. She saw Zhu Biao standing outside the door, not wearing a python robe, but with a solemn expression.

"Your Highness." She quickly curtsied.

Zhu Biao stepped into the hall, his gaze sweeping over her face before landing on the "Admonitions for Women," and said in a calm tone, "You were indeed chosen by the Empress Dowager."

Han Siyu returned the greeting with composure and humility, saying, "Although I have entered the palace by imperial decree, I dare not presume to be the mistress of the Eastern Palace. If the Crown Prince finds this inappropriate, he may order me to leave immediately."

Zhu Biao stared at her, remaining silent for a long time.

Han Siyu kept her head down, her expression calm.

She didn't cry or defend herself; she just stood there quietly, like a sword yet to be drawn.

Do you know why I have come today?

"If Your Highness has any questions, I will answer them; if you give any orders, I will obey."

"I will neither ask nor command."

Zhu Biao spoke slowly, his tone carrying a subtle sharpness.

"I'm just here to tell you one thing. Those who enter the Eastern Palace are not here to accept arrangements, but to break them. If you understand this, you can stay; if you don't, pack your bags and leave immediately."

Han Siyu raised her eyes and looked directly at him.

“If the Crown Prince is referring to the ‘arrangement’ itself, Siyu dares not make a judgment; but if he is referring to whether I myself am the ‘arranger’, then I will dare to say: I am not.”

Zhu Biao was slightly surprised: "You're not?"

A glint of fire ignited in Han Siyu's eyes, showing no fear: "I came to the Eastern Palace not to become the Empress Dowager's pawn, nor for the glory of the Han family."

Zhu Biao was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "You're quite interesting. Fine, you can stay. But remember, staying is your own choice, not my mercy."

Han Siyu nodded: "Siyu understands."

Zhu Biao turned and left, but as he reached the door, he suddenly said, "Come with me to see someone tomorrow."

"Yes."

The next morning, in a side hall of the East Palace.

Han Siyu followed Zhu Biao into a simple and elegant small hall.

The hall was not luxurious, but the table was covered with fruits and pastries. A middle-aged man dressed in ordinary clothes sat next to him, and two young palace servants stood behind him.

Zhu Biao nodded slightly to the man: "This is Miss Han, who has just entered the Eastern Palace."

The man slowly stood up, expressionless: "My name is Luo Heng, and I am the deputy head of the Imperial Kitchen of the Eastern Palace."

Han Siyu frowned slightly, wondering why the Crown Prince had brought her to see a cook.

Zhu Biao said calmly, "Luo Heng is someone I personally appointed, in charge of the food and drink in the Eastern Palace. From today onwards, everything you eat and drink will be decided by him."

Han Siyu's expression changed, but she remained silent.

Zhu Biao turned to look at her: "You came to the Eastern Palace not to be a concubine, but to be a person. If a person cannot control his own three meals a day, he is not his own person."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Luo Heng looked up at her meaningfully and said, "Miss Han, I'm afraid you won't be able to get used to the food in the next few days."

A few days later, Zhu Han stood at the end of the Imperial Street and saw Zhu Biao personally inspecting the Eastern Palace Treasury and the Imperial Kitchen under the gaze of all the officials.

He didn't utter a word that day, but simply recorded everything.

He then summoned the former head eunuch, publicly ordered him to abdicate, personally established new rules, and dispatched eunuchs to inspect the meals, with a clear record kept of every meal.

This seemingly small move has deeply affected those "close to him".

Zhu Han narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly, "That's right. He's not chopping people up, he's chopping up the rules."

Wang Yan whispered from the side, "Cutting the rules is setting new ones. The Crown Prince wants people to know that the Eastern Palace is not a place to follow old precedents, but a place to follow the precedent set by Zhu Biao." Zhu Han turned around with his hands behind his back, "Have Old Jia prepare the horses. I will go to the palace tomorrow to see the Empress Dowager."

Wang Yan was taken aback: "Seeing her now?"

Zhu Han sneered: "The Crown Prince's sword fell quickly. If I don't draw my sword soon, she will really think that I, the royal uncle, only know how to drink tea and feed birds."

The Forbidden City was silent, except for a few lights still burning in the direction of the Qianqing Palace.

The Empress Dowager sat quietly on the warm couch, gently stroking a string of jade prayer beads with her fingertips.

She did not chant Buddhist prayers or recite scriptures, but her gaze was fixed on the distance outside the hall, as if she were looking at the frost and snow that had faded away in the past.

An old nanny stepped forward softly and whispered, "His Highness has arrived."

"Let him in." Her voice was low, yet authoritative.

Zhu Han entered the hall dressed in a black casual suit, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

He did not perform the grand etiquette of a subject to a ruler, but merely bowed with his hands clasped, his expression gentle: "Greetings, Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager looked up at him, her gaze as sharp as a knife and as cold as flowing ice: "You still remember me?"

Zhu Han smiled faintly: "Although I don't come to pay my respects often, I have never forgotten you. If you don't believe me, Your Majesty can ask those golden osmanthus trees. I send people to prune and water them every year without fail."

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly: "You, a prince, are quite carefree. The Eastern Palace is in turmoil, yet you sit idly by and watch the storm unfold without uttering a sound."

“My nephew has no real power to begin with. Now that the Crown Prince has come of age, he should test his abilities. If he doesn’t even dare to take food from his own bowl, how can he possibly rule the country in the future?”

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a half-smile: "You speak up for him, even more so than for your own father."

Zhu Han smiled but remained silent for a moment before asking, "Have the things the Crown Prince has done offended you?"

“He’s not stupid.” The Empress Dowager slowly put away her prayer beads. “He was just too hasty.”

"The reason for being anxious is because one is clear-headed. A clear-headed person can see the situation clearly and also discern the people involved."

The Empress Dowager suddenly asked, "What about the Han family girl? Are you telling the Crown Prince to ignore her?"

Zhu Han answered even faster: "She's not cold. She understands why she's here, and she knows what she should and shouldn't do. The Crown Prince didn't drive her away; instead, he sends people every day to ask her what she needs. That's enough."

The Empress Dowager stared at Zhu Han for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Do you really want to push that child into a mountain of knives?"

Zhu Han remained unmoved, simply replying quietly, "I didn't push him. I just placed the knife in his hand. Whether he retreats or goes, whether he defends or strikes, is his own choice."

The Empress Dowager's throat moved, but she remained silent for a long time.

After a long silence, she whispered, "But he's not you."

Zhu Han smiled softly: "If he were me, he would be destined not to go far. I have my own destiny, and what he is going to do is his destiny."

The room was silent.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand: "Enough. You may leave. I will not say another word to you today."

Zhu Han bowed and slowly retreated to the outside of the hall.

Suddenly, the Empress Dowager said calmly from behind, "If he can really support the Crown Prince, then you, as his uncle, should also seriously act as a subject."

Zhu Han did not turn around, nor did he stop walking. He only left behind a soft whisper: "Your subject Zhu Han is willing to use this body as a blade to protect my Crown Prince from worry."

The next morning, the front hall of the East Palace suddenly opened wide, and dozens of clerks dressed in plain clothes entered the palace, each carrying a book, their steps in unison.

Everyone in the palace turned their heads, wondering why they had come.

Zhu Biao personally went out to greet him, his face lacking its usual gentleness, and his eyes even held a hint of sharpness.

"Starting today, the Eastern Palace will re-register its archives. Since the establishment of the heir apparent, all those who have been involved in offerings, purchasing, accounting, tributes, and service must be re-registered. The deadline is ten days. Those who fail to do so will be considered to have resigned."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

An older eunuch whispered, "Your Highness, shouldn't we report this matter to the higher-ups...?"

Zhu Biao glanced at him coldly and said indifferently, "Who is in charge in the Eastern Palace?"

Before the eunuch could utter a word, he was rendered speechless by these words, his face turning bright red. He hurriedly knelt down and said, "This servant knows his mistake."

Zhu Biao swept his gaze across the room: "Today is not just about the whole organization, it's about the people. I want everyone to know who can stay and who must leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Yan, who was sitting next to him, handed him a red book: "Your Highness, please take a look at this first."

Zhu Biao took it, glanced at it, his gaze sweeping across the paper like a blade, and his lips twitched slightly: "Sure enough, a name that hasn't been changed for many years has never left the books."

He whispered, "Let's start with these 'ghosts'."

Those who had left their posts early, died of illness, or even passed away long ago were removed one by one, and the vacant positions were quickly filled—not by returning old people, but by new blood personally selected by Zhu Biao.

Documents flooded in like a tide, and the Eastern Palace was like a forging furnace.

Zhu Biao, on the other hand, was like a furnace, melting the old iron and forging it into a sharp edge.

As night fell, Zhu Han sat quietly in the study of the Prince's Mansion, turning the pages of books.

Wang Yanlai reported: "Today, the Crown Prince forcibly replaced six clerks in charge of the Eastern Palace and three senior supervisors. Someone has already submitted a memorial accusing him of 'overstepping his authority'."

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow and smiled: "As expected."

"Do you want to...?"

"No need," Zhu Han said calmly.
"Let those people do what they want. Let's just keep moving forward. If the Crown Prince can't stand firm in the face of adversity, he's not worthy of the position of heir apparent."

Wang Yan cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness is wise."

Zhu Han got up and walked to the window.

The sky outside was filled with stars, and the night was as still as a mirror.

He looked up at the sky and murmured, "Biao'er, this knife did not draw blood, but it touched a bone. If you take one more step forward, you will be the real crown prince."

A breeze swept through the corridor, and a piece of paper slid to the ground. Four characters, written in a flowing, elegant style, appeared on the paper: "The Laws and Decrees of the Eastern Palace."

Before the music palace, the wind blew the banners, and the afterglow of dusk fell on Zhu Biao's shoulders, outlining his increasingly upright figure.

He stood on the steps, facing a group of palace eunuchs, eunuchs, bibliographers, and newly appointed junior clerks, all with solemn expressions, none daring to raise their heads.

Zhu Biao spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clear and distinct:
"The Crown Prince's Palace of today is not the same as the Crown Prince's Palace of yesterday. From now on, all positions in the Crown Prince's Palace will not be based on birth or seniority, but solely on whether the candidate is competent."

Among the crowd, a young clerk slightly raised his eyes, his expression complex.

Born into a poor family, he passed the imperial examination through his literary talent and was personally selected by Zhu Biao to enter the palace. In the past, he never dared to hope to have a place in the Forbidden City, but now, having heard the Crown Prince's words with his own ears, he couldn't help but feel his heart surge with emotion.

"We understand!" the crowd responded in unison, their voices rising like a tidal wave.

Zhu Biao nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. He suddenly saw Han Siyu standing to the side, dressed in simple palace attire, holding a scroll in her hand. She didn't say a word, but her eyes were calm and composed.

He walked down the steps and toward her.

Han Siyu gave a slight bow: "Your Highness."

"You didn't copy 'Admonitions for Women' today, do you think the Crown Prince no longer needs the teachings of womanhood?"

Han Siyu raised her eyes, a hint of a smile in them: "Siyu is copying the 'Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era' today."

Zhu Biao was taken aback, then chuckled, "You certainly made a good choice."

"His Majesty personally taught the Crown Prince the *Zhenguan* since childhood. As a member of the Eastern Palace, I should also learn its principles." (End of Chapter)