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

Chen Heming dared not say more and hurriedly went out to prepare the car.

The western market of the capital was brightly lit, and the air was filled with the aroma of baked cakes and the sweetness of sugar figurines.

Zhu Han changed his clothes and walked slowly alone, with a bodyguard following behind him at a distance.

The sounds of street singers, storytellers, and hawkers filled the air.

He walked past a tea stall and heard people inside talking about how "the current crown prince eats with the common people, sleeps in bookstores at night, and sleeps with children." A group of people at a table were drinking tea and listening intently.

"I must say, this Crown Prince is truly a fine man!"

"What a load of rubbish! The royal family never bows and scrapes like that. It's clearly an act."

"You need to have the skill to act, otherwise why don't you go and do it yourself?"

The crowd burst into laughter, but their words carried a mixture of genuine respect and speculation.

Zhu Han smiled slightly and glanced at the storyteller. It was Guo Shengyang, a former vagrant, who was known for embellishing unfounded stories.

Now they are even cheering for the crown prince, which shows that the members of the society have long since infiltrated the common people.

"Hey, do you think that if the crown prince ascends the throne, will we wood sellers and flour millers be able to go to school and listen to lectures?"

Upon hearing this, the teahouse suddenly fell silent.

"Nonsense," a middle-aged man muttered. "With my rough hands, I could sell firewood for ten years and still not afford a single page of 'The Great Learning.' Schools are for scholars; what place is there for us?"

Zhu Han's heart skipped a beat.

The storyteller shook his head and smiled, then slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "You're wrong! If the Crown Prince truly lives up to his words and deeds, and one day a school opens in the neighborhood, you and I will all have the opportunity to hear a word of truth. This is not a dream, it's a reality."

As soon as the words were spoken, the expressions of the group changed, but none of them said anything more.

Zhu Han stood in the shadows, listening intently, and after a long while said, "This person can be remembered."

The guard nodded in agreement.

He continued walking forward and suddenly saw a commotion at the street corner ahead, as if children were fighting over a candy figurine, with cries mixed in.

An old man squatted down to comfort her; his clothes, though old, were clean.

Seeing Zhu Han stop, he looked up and smiled: "Sir, would you like a sugar figurine? The child is crying simply because he doesn't have the shape of a monkey."

Zhu Han squatted down to look at the candy stall and said with a smile, "Little boy, do you want a monkey?"

"Yes, monkeys are clever and can leap high into the branches; who wouldn't like that?" the old man said gently.

Zhu Han took out a few pieces of silver from his pocket and handed them to the old man: "Make three."

The old man was startled: "This...this is enough for ten."

"So he made ten and gave them to the children."

He watched the children chasing each other and whispered, "If they learn about good and bad, vision and change from a young age, they will not be fooled by clerks in the future."

When they returned to the mansion, it was already dawn.

Zhu Han took a bath and changed his clothes. Standing in front of the mirror, he still looked tired, but his mind was becoming clearer.

“System,” he called out.

[Ding, the host's current task has progressed to 58%]

[Unlock side quest: Encourage the Crown Prince to give a pre-examination speech at the Imperial Academy]

[Completion Reward: One page of the Heavenly Secrets Record (allows insight into people's hearts)]

Zhu Han's eyes flashed, and he said softly, "A speech before the examination? Hmm, it's time for Zhu Biao to establish his authority among the civil officials."

The Imperial College lecture hall had seats for a thousand people.

Zhu Biao, dressed in plain robes, stood on the high platform.

Below the platform sat scholars and successful candidates from all over the country. In the front row were Li Hongfu, the current head of the Imperial Academy, Xue Mingyuan, a compiler of the Hanlin Academy, and other academic luminaries.

The room fell silent.

Zhu Biao slowly began to speak: "Confucius once said: 'Government is about being upright. If you lead with uprightness, who would dare to be unrighteous?'—But what exactly does 'uprightness' mean?"

"Should we follow the rules of propriety and law? Should we obey the emperor's orders? Should we heed the opinions of the officials?"

“No.” His voice was not loud, but it was firm and resolute. “To be righteous, one must first rectify one’s heart, then one’s conduct, and finally one’s path.”

The crowd began to whisper among themselves, and discussions arose.

Xue Mingyuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he whispered to the person next to him, "These words... are not the words of a young man."

Li Hongfu stroked his beard without speaking, only staring at the young crown prince on the stage, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

Zhu Biao continued, “The current emperor is diligent in governing, and all officials are in charge of their duties. I, the crown prince, should do nothing but rectify my mind and understand the Way, so as not to disgrace the foundation of the country or the emperor’s mandate.”

"If I were to become the crown prince, upon assuming the throne, I would prioritize upholding the law, listen to the people, and respect Confucianism."

"The Imperial Academy is the place where all students of the world return to. Today I speak here not for power or profit, but only because I hope that you will enter officialdom in the future and live up to the expectations of the people."

There was complete silence below the podium.

Suddenly someone stood up and bowed deeply: "I am willing to follow the Crown Prince's will."

Immediately afterwards, everyone stood up and said in unison, "We are willing to follow the Crown Prince's will!"

The sound was like thunder, spreading throughout the Imperial College.

On the viewing platform in the distance, Zhu Han stood holding a jade slip, his expression unchanged, but his hand gently tightened on one corner of the jade slip.

Beside him, Chen Heming's eyes gleamed with ecstasy: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince... has established his authority."

“This is only the first step,” Zhu Han said slowly. “Have someone keep a close eye on Xue Mingyuan.”

"Are you afraid he'll object?"

"No," Zhu Han said calmly, "If he objects, it will only benefit me."

"That prince is..."

"I'm afraid he won't rebel."

Chen Heming was taken aback, then suddenly realized: "Does the Prince intend to use him to spread the Crown Prince's teachings into the court?"

Zhu Han nodded: "If you want the officials to listen to the Crown Prince, you must first make them believe in the Crown Prince."

Deep within the palace, in the imperial study.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat quietly, but tightly held a letter sent back from the Imperial Academy in his hand.

“This kid…” he grinned, “he actually has a good point.”

He turned to the eunuch beside him and said, "Issue my decree that the Crown Prince's lecture today be named 'Spring Altar Lecture on Morality' and be included in the Imperial Academy's curriculum."

"promise!"

Zhu Yuanzhang put down his book and muttered to himself, "Zhu Biao, if you can really live up to this... then this imperial uncle won't have protected you in vain."

The following day, a notice was posted in front of the Imperial Academy, a document titled "Spring Lecture on Morality," clearly stating the Crown Prince's aspirations.

Bookstores also copied "The Prince's Spring Altar Lectures" into books, which became popular in all directions within a few days. Some Confucian scholars even ranked it alongside "The Doctrine of the Mean" and "The Analects," saying that it "can be passed down to future generations and establish the will of a gentleman."

All of this came to Zhu Han's attention, and he uttered only one sentence: "It's gaining momentum."

"Your Highness, Xue Mingyuan entered the palace this morning, while the Crown Prince remains in the Eastern Palace."

Chen Heming walked quickly, his face slightly solemn. "I heard that it was Li Hongfu, the head of the Imperial Academy, who recommended him. He went straight to the Wenyuan Pavilion after the morning court session this morning."

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow slightly and said slowly with a smile, "Interesting. Xue Mingyuan did not refute it in a hurry, but was willing to enter the court. This move is not like him."

"Your Highness, you suspect..."

"No rush." ​​Zhu Han picked up a chess piece and placed it in a corner of the chessboard. "If he only wanted to refute, he could have done so in court. Why take this roundabout way? He's a smart man. He probably wants to use this to set conditions."

"condition?"

"Yes. People in the literary world must be grounded in reality before they dare to pursue lofty ambitions."

After Zhu Han finished speaking, he slowly walked to the window, looked at the golden tiles and red walls bathed in the sunlight, and said in a low voice, "If he wants to discuss positions and matters, I will give him the matters. But these matters will be set by me."

"Pass on the message."

"Your Highness, you want to... "Invite Xue Mingyuan to the Prince's residence. Invite him to watch a play."

Two days later, at the Prince of Jin's residence.

A winding stream flows, and willow catkins sway gently.

Zhu Han, dressed in casual clothes, stood beside the stage in the back garden, twirling a white jade folding fan between his fingers.

On stage, the opera being performed was "Farewell at the Long Pavilion," but it was sung in an old style, with a low, hoarse suona and a melodious singing style. Below the stage, several advisors and guests from the royal palace quietly sipped their tea, none of them speaking.

Xue Mingyuan was among them.

A pot of fragrant tea remained untouched for three rounds.

Zhu Han finally turned around slowly and looked at him: "Lord Xue, what did you hear?"

Xue Mingyuan nodded slightly: "Elegant. The singing style is simple and unadorned, yet full of charm."

"But this play, 'Farewell at the Long Pavilion,' is about 'patriots leaving their families to serve their country.'" Zhu Han chuckled. "Neither of us are actors in the play, so why are we watching it with more fascination than the actors themselves?"

Xue Mingyuan's eyes narrowed, and he put down his teacup: "Does Your Highness have something in mind?"

Zhu Han closed his folding fan, walked slowly forward, and sat down across the table from him.

"Yesterday, when you entered the Wenyuan Pavilion, instead of discussing the Crown Prince's words, you claimed that 'the lectures at the Spring Altar were lofty and ambitious, but not truly the learning of the imperial court.' These words have caused alarm among those at the Imperial Academy, while the common people are saying that 'Master Xue possesses unique foresight.' With this shift in opinion, what are you trying to achieve?"

Xue Mingyuan remained calm and smiled indifferently: "The Spring Altar said that it was the Crown Prince who threw the stone into the water, and I was merely measuring the waves."

Zhu Han looked at him, his eyes filled with a smile rather than anger: "I think you're just using this as bait. You want the scholars in the court to submit to you, and then you'll lead them to the Crown Prince's side."

"Since Your Highness understands this, why did you invite me to watch the play?"

Zhu Han stared at him for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do you know what actors are most afraid of when they perform?"

Xue Mingyuan was taken aback.

Before he could answer, Zhu Han said, "I'm afraid no one in the audience will listen, and I'm even more afraid that those in the audience may have ulterior motives."

"A play is performed for people to listen to, but if there is no real emotion on stage, no matter how well it is sung, it is just empty talk."

"I invited you to watch this show to tell you that the Crown Prince's play is not for you to change the lyrics or add music."

"If you are willing to advocate for him, you must know his intentions. If you want to create alternative interpretations, then you are going against your conscience."

His words were sharp as swords, piercing straight to the heart.

Xue Mingyuan's eyes darkened slightly, and after a long while, he finally uttered, "Your Highness seems to trust the Crown Prince too much."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "No. I believe in him because I know he can succeed."

The two looked at each other for a moment, when suddenly a gust of wind rose in the courtyard. The long sleeves on the stage were swirling and dancing with the music, and a strand of silk fell to the ground.

"Lord Xue, you're not afraid the play is fake, you're afraid the people are real."

Zhu Han suddenly spoke softly, "If you fear that the Crown Prince can truly change the political landscape, then your years of strategic planning will amount to nothing but a dream."

Xue Mingyuan's eyes widened, and a hint of emotion finally appeared on his face.

Zhu Han added, "If you truly know people, you should know that what Zhu Biao has in abundance is a willingness to listen."

He is not afraid of your dissenting opinions, but he is afraid that you are being hypocritical.

After that day, Xue Mingyuan resigned from his position as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy and requested to enter the Eastern Palace to teach and assist the Crown Prince in governing literature.

The imperial court was shaken, and the scholarly community was transformed.

Zhu Han, however, remained silent, quietly perusing the "Spring Altar Lectures" in the Moonlit Study, and smiled calmly: "Another piece has been placed."

The system voice then sounded—

[Side Quest Completed: Spring Lecture Notes Distributed]

[Reward received: "The Record of Heavenly Secrets - A Page of Human Relationships": Understanding people and their hearts, discerning subtle meanings in words.]

At the same time, in the study inside the Eastern Palace.

Zhu Biao stood with his hands behind his back before the scroll, his gaze intense.

What was spread out on the table were the recent works of scholars who had passed the imperial examinations, folk songs, reports from various government departments, and even "the words of the Crown Prince" recorded in teahouses.

He gently traced the pages with his fingers, then suddenly turned around and asked, "What is Uncle doing?"

The eunuch beside him whispered, "His Highness just ordered someone to send a thousand catties of pine nut candy and ten wooden book carts to the Imperial Academy and the National Academy. He said it was to 'help scholars sweeten their teeth and open their hearts.'"

Zhu Biao chuckled: "Can sugar open the heart?"

"The prince said that he would only listen to a word if it was sweet."

He looked out the window, his eyes filled with an unprecedented sense of peace.

"My royal uncle is doing something I dare not do."

“I only said a few words about books, but he turned those words into actions.”

“People say I am still young, my will is not firm, and my nature is still gentle… But they do not know that I am no longer a child, and my royal uncle has been paving the way for me step by step.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"In this life, if my Imperial Uncle is here, I, Zhu Biao, would dare to traverse countless mountains."

At this moment, Zhu Han was walking in the alleyway back to his residence.

The night was deep, and the moonlight was like a ribbon.

He suddenly looked up at the night sky and whispered, "System, next step—"

[Ding! Main quest progressed to 62%. Side quest triggered: "The Pact of Concealed Edge".]

[Note: In a few days, the three most talented men in the capital will host a "Hidden Edge Banquet," which is actually a test of the Crown Prince's "pure heart like a sword, can it conceal its edge?" The host must handle the situation appropriately, ensuring the Crown Prince can retreat without defeat, and advance to establish his reputation.]

Zhu Han sneered: "Hidden edge? Not afraid of the edge being too sharp."

"only……"

The lights inside flickered, casting strange, moving shadows on the walls.

"The Hidden Edge Banquet has finally arrived," he murmured to himself, a deep glint in his eyes.

The system notification sounded in my mind again:

[Ding! Side quest: "The Pact of Concealed Edge" has been triggered.]

[The Hidden Edge Banquet: Three talented scholars from the capital have hosted a feast, claiming it to test the Crown Prince's "pure heart like a sword." Please ensure the Crown Prince uses a strategy of feigned retreat to gain the upper hand, thus securing victory.]

Zhu Han closed his eyes and sighed softly. This "Hidden Edge Banquet" was not only a touchstone for Zhu Biao, but also a game of chess in the imperial court.

The three talented scholars in the capital were all outstanding figures in the literary world: Shen Hao, Lu Jin, and Liu Yin, collectively known as the "Three Heroes of the Capital".

The three men were highly learned and talented, and were greatly favored by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Shen Hao and Lu Jin, in particular, often exchanged words with the Crown Prince in court.

On the surface, they seem to respect each other, but in reality, they harbor resentment towards each other.

Liu Yin, though less well-known, was an expert in military strategy and domestic affairs, and enjoyed the support of scholars and civil officials.

They held this banquet not only to test the Crown Prince's ambition and character, but also to use it as an opportunity to observe his leadership abilities and whether he could control the court officials in the future.

More importantly, each of the three talented men had their own agenda.

However, in Zhu Han's view, these three people were nothing more than pieces in a game of chess.

The real chessboard is always in your own hands.

"If the Crown Prince can truly stabilize the situation by 'retreating to advance,' he can secure the region."

He spoke softly, his tone carrying a hint of confidence and composure, "But if the Crown Prince cannot resolve this 'hidden strength' situation, he can only proceed cautiously and seek another solution."

"Your Highness, the banquet has been prepared, and the three talented scholars have already entered."

Chen Heming rushed in from outside, looking nervous. "Please give your instructions, Your Highness."

Zhu Han smiled calmly: "A banquet is a banquet, and the matter of concealing one's talents remains concealed. Let's go, let's go meet these three talented men." (End of Chapter)