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

"As proposed by the Imperial Academy of Rites, I hereby approve it."

He put down his pen, his gaze fixed on the night outside the window, and murmured, "Zhu Biao..."

"Now you are able to assign responsibility, accept opinions, and make court officials dare to discuss matters together instead of discussing them privately."

"You have finally—become able to stand on the threshold of this land."

He paused, a very faint light appearing in his eyes:
"I can let go of your royal uncle's hand."

“If you can truly support the Crown Prince on your own, then I will no longer need to keep him outside the court.”

Inside the Chengyun Hall, incense burners emitted wisps of smoke.

Lin Zhiyuan was dressed in a blue cloth robe, tall and elegant, with clear, watery eyes.

He didn't resemble a scholar; rather, he looked more like a storyteller from olden times, dressed simply, yet possessing a dignified air.

Zhu Biao personally went to the hall and sat opposite him without a table, only a small table, a pot of tea, and two cups of tea.

“Mr. Lin,” Zhu Biao said, his voice low but steady, “Our Donggong Jiande Hall emphasizes ‘political consultation’ rather than ‘power control’; it emphasizes ‘righteousness’ rather than ‘private school’.”

Lin Zhiyuan bowed slightly, his tone calm: "I have long heard of Your Highness's words."

"That is why I did not avoid this invitation."

Zhu Biao smiled slightly: "You have resigned from your official post three times, yet you have not left the capital. Instead, you have set up a lecture hall in your private residence. On the seventh day, you lectured on 'Mencius: Gaozi,' in which you said, 'The people's fundamental principles cannot be humiliated.' Sir, could it be that you are truly observing me?"

Lin Zhiyuan said frankly, "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent to the throne. As a member of the scholarly community, how could I not observe him?"

"However, what I observe is not for praise or criticism, but only for a question in my heart."

"Your Highness, do you truly know what 'true heart' means?"

Zhu Biao did not answer, but instead asked, "What if I don't know?"

Lin Zhiyuan gazed at him silently for a moment before saying, "If Your Highness does not know, then you should learn."

“If Your Highness is confident in your knowledge, then you should proceed.”

“But if Your Highness is aware of the truth, but dares not speak or act because of power, etiquette, or court intrigue—that is the most unacceptable thing to do.”

Zhu Biao's eyes flickered for a moment, then he nodded: "Well said, 'Knowing but not doing' is unacceptable."

He slowly rose to his feet: “Sir, I invite you into Jiande Hall, not to assist in governance, nor to write policy proposals.”

"For one thing only—please join me in setting up a 'Questioning Lecture Hall,' where we will not discuss scriptures or laws, but only one question: 'What is the Emperor's Mind?'"

Lin Zhiyuan was moved and bowed again: "If the Crown Prince is willing to establish this lecture seat, although I am not familiar with political maneuvering, I am willing to respond with a word."

Three days later, the "Questioning the Source Lecture Series" was launched.

Unlike usual, the lecture was not held in the main hall, but in the corridor of the outer garden of the East Palace. Zhu Biao personally ascended the plain platform, and Lin Zhiyuan stood beside him.

Scholars, students, and even several court officials sat in the lower seats, not wearing court robes or formal attire, but holding only books.

Zhu Biao spoke:
"Today we are not discussing politics or laws."

"I will only discuss one thing: What is the role of a monarch?"

"I am willing to listen to the words of scholars, not for self-cultivation, but for correcting the root of the problem."

Lin Zhiyuan then quoted from the Spring and Autumn Annals, "Luxuriant Dew": "The ruler governs the world with his heart."

"If the ruler is not clear about his heart, his ministers will have no support; if the heart is not upright, the government will have no authority."

As soon as the words were spoken, someone in the hall suddenly stood up: "Your Highness, if one's heart is at odds with power, which should one follow?"

Zhu Biao remained silent.

Lin Zhiyuan replied: "The reason why a ruler is a ruler is not because of power, but because his heart can bring peace to people."

"To ensure that the world is free from fear and chaos is the way of the emperor."

Another person stood up: "If the ruler is wise but the ministers are treacherous, how should we deal with them?"

Zhu Biao then spoke: "The law."

"The mind is the foundation, and the law is the tool. If one has no tool to rely on, then the world will ultimately be empty talk."

During the lectures, he debated without arguing, and asked questions without mocking. After three days, the civil officials in the court all took notice.

Inside the Prince's study, Huang Qi presented a newly transcribed book: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince recently set up the 'Inquiry into Fundamentals Lecture Hall,' attracting scholars from all over, causing a great stir in the academic world."

"Some call him a 'master of all under heaven,' while others criticize him for 'deceiving ancestral classics,' but ultimately, no one dares to speak lightly of him."

After reading it, Zhu Han just smiled and said, "Now, he not only knows how to establish rules and laws, but also knows how to take the questions of the world and turn them into his own way."

Huang Qi sighed, "But this step is too ambitious, and it's bound to arouse dissent."

Zhu Han's eyes were deep: "That's what he has to bear."

In the Wenyuan Pavilion, the morning bell had just rung, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not immediately go to court. Instead, he sat alone behind his couch, deep in thought, playing with a black jade seal in his hand.

“Brother,” he murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on the overcast sky outside the window, “You helped Zhu Biao to this point; it is his blessing, and even more so, mine.”

A eunuch stood respectfully to the side when Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly whispered, "Go, summon Zhu Han to the cabinet."

Before an incense stick had burned, Zhu Han had already arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion in his everyday clothes.

He walked with a steady gait and a composed demeanor. After entering the cabinet, he did not immediately bow, but looked directly at Zhu Yuanzhang and smiled slightly: "Brother, you summoned me so early in the morning. Is the wind blowing again?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him for a long time before saying indifferently, "You are becoming less and less like my imperial brother."

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow: "What does that look like?"

Zhu Yuanzhang tossed the black jade seal onto the table and said slowly, "It seems to belong to someone who can rule the country alone."

Zhu Han remained silent, simply taking the seal and stroking it for a moment before saying, "I don't want this."

"I did not come here to establish a dynasty, but to help someone else smoothly sit on the throne."

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze sharpened slightly, and he asked in a deep voice, "Do you know how many criticisms from old officials I have already suppressed for this? The more you support Zhu Biao, the stronger he becomes, and the more it will show your power. Aren't you afraid that I will become suspicious?"

Zhu Han smiled and replied, "So what if I'm afraid? So what if I'm not afraid? If I were to be swayed by personal desires, Zhu Biao's position would be precarious."

"Since I am holding up an umbrella for the Crown Prince, I will not allow any shadow to fall upon him."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent.

Outside the window, the wind blew and leaves flew.

After a long silence, he finally said, "You're on the right path."

"But you know, if you walk too uprightly, you often won't go far."

Zhu Han replied, "I won't go far. I'll just go as far as I can."

“I shielded Zhu Biao from the rain not to protect him from all worries for the rest of his life, but to wait for the day when he can hold an umbrella for himself.”

"You will know on that day that I should step down."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, a hint of weariness finally flashing in his eyes, then he chuckled softly:

"Zhu Han, I never dreamed that you would be the person I trust the most."

"You may not have the destiny of an emperor, but you have the courage of one."

Meanwhile, inside Jiande Hall, Zhu Biao fell into a rare moment of deep thought.

Gu Qingping sat beside him, flipping through the newly transcribed "Brief Account of the Questions," occasionally pausing to make annotations.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked gently, putting down her pen.

“I want to practice ‘non-action’.” Zhu Biao looked at the fallen leaves in the courtyard. “My father once said that an emperor should ‘refrain from doing certain things’ rather than ‘be involved in everything’.”

"But I spend my days giving lectures, soliciting opinions, and asking questions about politics... Is this truly the path a crown prince should take?"

Gu Qingping pondered for a moment: "Are you worried that going too far might be counterproductive?"

Zhu Biao nodded: "Some people in the court have been whispering that I am 'too busy with lectures and not focused on politics,' and others have said that I, the Crown Prince, am overstepping my authority."

“My uncle never interfered, but I know he knew this day would come.”

Gu Qingping said in a low voice, "Then how do you intend to respond?"

Zhu Biao slowly stood up, gazing at the distant sky: "I cannot take it back, but I can turn it around."

“For the next three months, Jiande Hall will temporarily suspend its lectures and will no longer hold extensive discussions with scholars.”

“Instead of reforming internally, three cases were set up for deliberation: one on etiquette, one on laws and regulations, and one on human affairs.”

"The Crown Prince's responsibility lies in 'selecting talent' and 'rectifying the mind.'" "I will not speak of the ways of the world; from this day forward, I will only ask: Is this person in this dynasty truly suited for this position?"

Gu Qingping's eyes flickered slightly: "You want to propose a 'three-case trial discussion'?"

"This move, while avoiding the sharp edge of the political agenda, controls the essence of personnel matters."

Zhu Biao smiled faintly: "Then let's see who in the court is truly willing to select talents for the country, and who only wants to abuse their power."

“I do not vie for power with them; I simply sit by their side and listen to their chaos unfold.”

The three cases were set up in the back hall of the Eastern Palace, without court officials or foreign envoys, and were decided solely by the Crown Prince himself.

Every five days, a case is held where the three academies recommend three officials, three students, three scholars, and three clerks from each department. They debate on the spot whether the candidates are suitable for the position, and the crown prince makes the final decision.

When this law was introduced, the officials were initially in an uproar, but then flocked to it like moths to a flame.

Those in the court who considered themselves knowledgeable all wanted to observe the trend of this examination, and some even hoped to use it as a way to enter the Eastern Palace. They stepped forward to discuss the matter.

But Zhu Biao did not readily agree.

Anyone who tries to elevate someone with pretexts can be refuted with a single question:
"Did you recommend this person because of his talent, or because you have a personal connection with him?"

Once a word is spoken, no one dares to speak falsely.

Gu Qingping stood behind the curtain, gazing at the table and chair, her heart churning with unspoken emotions.

This is not a lecture, nor is it setting up an altar. Rather, it is sitting before the court, amidst the voices of the crowd, judging the attitudes of all officials with the eyes of one person.

That night, Zhu Han stood silently gazing at the sky in the palace, while Huang Qi beside him whispered:
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has set up three courts. Within three days, five people will resign, three will be transferred, and one will be removed from office."

"Liu Jin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, personally wrote a scroll and praised it, saying, 'The Crown Prince's heart is broken; this is the heart of the law.'"

On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the snow had not yet melted, and the pines and cypresses on both sides of the imperial road were covered with frost, silent as a tapestry.

The back hall of Jiande Hall was still brightly lit.

Zhu Biao sat alone on a high table in front of the hall, dressed in a plain robe, his face calm. He turned the pages of memorials between his fingers, and the sound of snow falling in the courtyard seemed to fall silent as well.

“Case number ten,” Zhu Biao murmured.

Behind the curtain, Gu Qingping picked up a pen and handed over a summary of the tenth case: "Of the three people recommended by the Ministry of Rites, one was originally a former official of the Ministry of Justice, who was dismissed for 'rejecting the memorial without evidence,' but is now listed again in the recommendation list."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly and tapped the corner of the table with his fingertips: "Why recommend again?"

Gu Qingping said, "The recommender said, 'The man has repented, and in recent years he has maintained a prudent and upright conduct, and has also achieved some success as an official.'"

Zhu Biao said calmly, "Can repentance offset political mistakes? Can official achievements wash away personal corruption?"

He suddenly stood up, stepped down from the table, and walked step by step into the courtyard. The snow had not reached his shoulders, but it landed on his dark hair and green robe, making him appear even more calm and solemn.

"Summon the recommending official."

"No discussion tonight."

"I only ask him one question—do you dare to speak frankly: Is this person fit for government service?"

Gu Qingping was taken aback: "Summoned tonight? Your Highness, isn't that too hasty?"

Zhu Biao quietly turned around: "It's not that I can't wait."

"The Crown Prince's Palace cannot allow such people to advance even an inch further."

“If I don’t ask today, someone will use the excuse that ‘old people can be redeemed’ to recommend another hundred people in the future.”

"Then what about my three cases?"

A moment later, a middle-aged official from the Ministry of Personnel entered the hall. Although his face was upright, there was a hint of unease in his eyes.

Zhu Biao did not order him to kneel or sit, but simply pointed to the snow and said, "The person you recommended, last year when he was on duty, made an unfounded judgment in a criminal case, resulting in the wrongful conviction of two people."

"Are you recommending him again today because he has repented, or do you have ulterior motives?"

The official bowed slightly: "Your Highness, I...I believe that this person has indeed reformed in recent years—"

I won't ask what you think.

Zhu Biao interrupted him, his tone devoid of anger, yet chilling to the bone, "I ask you: If this person's mistake were to repeat itself, would you take responsibility? Would you swear an oath?"

Cold sweat began to bead on the Qing official's forehead, but he still gritted his teeth and replied, "If I make another mistake, I am willing to be dismissed from office and never serve again!"

Zhu Biao stared at him for a moment, and finally said slowly, "You are an old minister. You know the ups and downs of officialdom, and you also know why the Crown Prince set up three cases."

“I will not criticize you for recommending the old, I only ask you whether, when you recommend someone, you still remember that ‘government is an instrument for the people,’ and not for personal reasons.”

"This time, I'll trust you."

"But this person is not included in the official register."

"You may return."

Upon hearing this, the Qing official felt relieved, but he remained silent and bowed for a long time before finally saying, "Your subject thanks Your Highness for your pardon."

He stepped back, and Gu Qingping walked to Zhu Biao's side, asking in a low voice, "Why did you let him go?"

Zhu Biao looked at the snow: "I set up this scheme to show people to be upright, not to settle old scores."

"If even one person cannot be forgiven for repentance, what good are my three cases?"

"I don't want to force Shihlin into a noose."

"I just want them to understand that recommending people is not only a responsibility, but also a matter of conscience."

The next day, in the Prince's study.

Huang Qi presented the first month's copy of the "Records of the Three Cases": "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has adjudicated a total of fourteen cases, rejecting seven recommendations, suspending three, and approving four."

"Many in the court say that his judgments are clear and distinct, while some officials also secretly say that the Crown Prince is becoming increasingly harsh and severe."

Zhu Han smiled: "It should be more drastic."

"If he weren't stern, how could he keep those opportunistic people in check?"

Huang Qi then whispered, "But there's one thing—"

"Last night, Lin Pei, the Minister of Personnel, entered the Imperial Academy's lecture hall and had a private conversation with his former subordinates. The three of them left the capital that night after the conversation."

Zhu Han's gaze sharpened slightly: "Leaving the capital?"

"Check where it went."

Huang Qi agreed.

Zhu Han had already gotten up and walked to the plum tree in the courtyard, his gaze lingering on the remaining snow on the branches.

He murmured, "Zhu Biao... if you can see this situation clearly, you will be one step closer to me."

At the same time, Zhu Biao sat alone in the back hall, with three brief records spread out on his desk.

Suddenly, light footsteps were heard, and Gu Qingping came through the snow, holding a yellow satin envelope in her hands.

"what is this?"

"This was presented by the Imperial Academy this morning." Gu Qingping slowly unfolded the document. "Before leaving the capital, Lin Pei left a dictation, which he instructed his students to transcribe."

Zhu Biao took it and read it aloud, word by word.

"The Crown Prince's three cases were resolved in the hearts of the people."

"The human heart is the most unpredictable. If the Crown Prince enforces the law too strictly, it may cause the scholars to have doubts."

"If a lecture hall is to be established in the future, Your Highness, please consider one thing: one need not completely abandon one's heart's desires."

After reading it, Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "Lin Pei's intention is to leave me a way out."

Gu Qingping nodded: "He said that the Crown Prince set up the case not to make enemies, but to establish credibility."

"In establishing trust, one should not be simplistic in judgment, but also be mindful of leniency."

Zhu Biao said in a low voice, "I know."

He put away the sealed book, looked at the first melting snow outside the window, and suddenly said, "In addition to the three tables, set up another table."

Gu Qingping was slightly surprised: "He Xi?"

Zhu Biao said, “'The Lecture Hall of Restoring the Mind'.”

"The lectures will focus on cases that have already been dismissed and individuals who have retired. The lecturers and former officials will jointly discuss their mistakes and areas for repentance." (End of Chapter)