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

"Also, have Ma Ang take ten men to the back alley of the West Depot tonight and keep watch until the fourth watch. If anyone is carrying goods out of the palace, no matter who it is, intercept them first."

Hao Duiying accepted the order and turned to leave.

Zhu Han remained alone in the study, gazing at the "Film History Jade Tablet" on the desk, a chill creeping into his heart.

As the night deepened, the wind in the back alley of the West Depot cut like a knife.
Ang and his companions remained hidden in the shadows, their eyes fixed on the direction of the palace gate.

As the fourth watch approached, a group of figures suddenly appeared, pushing a black wooden cart covered with a thick cloth.

The one leading them was a palace eunuch.

Ma Ang squinted and made a gesture. The shadow guards silently dispersed, sealing off the alleyway entrance.

"Stop."

The eunuch official was startled and was about to question him when Ma Ang came out and lifted the curtain.

Dozens of volumes of files were neatly stacked inside the wooden cart, all with the seal of the Ministry of Justice on their covers.

“Take it down,” Ma Ang said in a deep voice.

Several shadow guards stepped forward and quickly subdued the men.

The eunuch suddenly drew a dagger from his sleeve and held it to his throat: "Your Highness, don't even think about finding out—" Before he could finish speaking, he had already slit his throat and fallen to the ground.

The snow was soaked with blood, and the smell was foul.

Ma Ang frowned: "They really are assassins."

He immediately took out the dossier, sealed it in a box, and said, "To the Prince."

The following morning, Zhu Han carefully reviewed the files, his gaze gradually turning cold.

Every confession was altered; the original references to "daytime" and "northern envoy" were all erased and replaced with "internal strife in grain transport" and "financial deficit in textile manufacturing."

He looked up at Hao Duiying: "The only people who can make these changes are the copying office of the Hanlin Academy."

Hao Duiying immediately understood: "It's the Palace Copying Office."

Zhu Han stood up and put on his outer robe: "Let's go take a look."

The Copying Office, located behind the Qianqing Gate, was an important place for storing memorials and imperial edicts.

When Zhu Han arrived, the courtyard was quiet, with only a few minor officials copying documents.

Upon seeing the prince arrive, they all hurriedly bowed.

"No need to be polite."

Zhu Han looked around and his gaze fell on the innermost small room.

The door to the room was tightly closed, and a sign hanging at the entrance read, "Unfinished manuscript, no entry."

Who's inside?

"Your Highness, it is He Cheng, the Deputy Director of the Copying Office."

"He Cheng?" Zhu Han raised an eyebrow slightly. "Open it."

The minor official hesitated: "The deputy envoy ordered that it is forbidden—"

Zhu Han's eyes sharpened, and he said coldly, "Open."

The minor official dared not disobey and stepped forward with a trembling voice to push open the door.

Sure enough, there was someone inside. On the table were drafts that were not yet dry, and He Cheng was copying them down.

Hearing the sound, he looked up and his expression changed drastically.

"Your Highness—how did you get here?"

Zhu Han's gaze fell on the paper in his hand, which was not yet finished. It read, "The Northern Envoy reports the transfer of the silver for the internal supply..."

He slowly walked forward and reached for the paper. He Cheng was startled, and his hand trembled slightly as he took the pen.

"Is this the 'revised draft' you copied?" Zhu Han asked coldly.

"Your Highness misunderstands, I was merely following orders—"

"On whose orders?"

He Cheng's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his throat tightened: "Eunuch Liang Shou, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department."

"Liang Shou?"

Zhu Han's gaze turned cold, and he turned to Hao Duiying, instructing him: "Investigate Liang Shou's whereabouts immediately."

"Yes."

Seeing that the situation was not good, He Cheng wanted to retreat.

Zhu Han raised his hand and slammed his palm down, shattering the table and scattering ink and brushes.

"If you take another step, I will execute you right here and now."

"Your Highness...please forgive me! I was merely copying the manuscript! The order was conveyed by Eunuch Liang—"

"Passing what?"

“Eunuch Liang said that those documents should be presented to the Emperor and the title of ‘Northern Envoy’ should be changed to ‘Jiangnan Assistant Case’ to avoid arousing suspicion.”

Zhu Han's lips tightened slightly, his tone almost indifferent: "After you finish copying all this, where do you plan to go?"

"Return to the palace to await further instructions—"

"Waiting for imperial orders? I suppose we should go and collect our reward."

He Cheng was trembling all over.

Zhu Han slowly turned around and said to Hao Duiying outside the door, "Take him away and seal off the Copying Academy. No one is allowed to enter or leave."

"Follow the order."

As evening approached, Hao reported back to Ying.

"Your Highness, Liang Shou left the palace this morning, claiming he was ordered to check the treasury's silver reserves, and has not returned."

"Check the treasury?" Zhu Han said softly. "He's waiting for me to make a move. Fine, if that's the case, then give him the chance."

His gaze fell on the sunset outside the window, and he said in a calm tone, "Pass down the order: the Forbidden City will not be closed tonight."

It was late at night. The palace was unusually brightly lit.

Zhu Han changed into casual clothes and entered through a side door. Only Hao Duiying accompanied him.

The back alley of the Imperial Storehouse was eerily quiet. A pile of discarded wooden crates sat in the corner, and tiny footprints marked the ground.

Zhu Han squatted down, touched it lightly with his fingertips, and his brow twitched.

"A new sign. Right before the incense stick has burned."

The two of them walked close to the wall and turned into the inner storeroom, when they suddenly heard a soft rustling sound inside.

Zhu Han made a gesture, and the two silently approached.

The lamplight flickered. Liang Shou was bent over his desk writing something, with several gold seals and jade talismans on the table.

"Eunuch Liang works tirelessly through the night; he is indeed diligent in his duties," Zhu Han's voice suddenly rang out, drifting softly into the room.

Liang Shou turned around abruptly, his expression changed drastically, and the pen in his hand almost slipped from his grasp.

"Your Highness—how could you—"

"I've come to retrieve something." Zhu Han slowly approached, his gaze falling on the gold seals on the table.

Those are three seals: "Seal of the Imperial Advisor," "Seal of the Northern Bureau of Customs," and "Seal for the Imperial Censor's Use."

"So that's how it is. The 'Northern Envoy' is actually the Palace Attendant."

Liang Shou's face was ashen, and his lips trembled: "Your Highness, you misunderstand! I was only ordered to temporarily detain him; I dare not move him without permission—"

"On whose orders?"

Liang Shou gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Zhu Han's gaze shifted and landed on his sleeve. There was a bulge there, as if something was hidden inside.

"take it out."

Liang Shou hesitated, but Zhu Han stepped forward and slammed him onto the table with one hand.

A scroll of bamboo slips fell out of his sleeve and rolled to the ground.

The bamboo slips split open, revealing the seal's inscription: "Northern Envoy Liang".

The house was silent for a moment.

Zhu Han looked at the bamboo slips, his expression unchanged.

"It seems the original person died, and you succeeded him. Who gave you the authority to take over?"

Liang Shou pressed his forehead against the table, cold sweat pouring down his face: "Your Highness, I dare not speak."

"If you do not speak, the Ministry of Justice will question you tomorrow."

Liang Shou looked up, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, he bit his tongue, and blood gushed out.

Zhu Han reacted quickly, raising his hand to press on his neck, stopping the bleeding halfway.

"Want to die? It's not that easy."

He raised his head and said to Hao Duiying, "Take him away and imprison him in the Eastern Palace. He is not allowed to see anyone."

Hao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir."

Zhu Han's gaze returned to the gold seal on the table, his fingers gently tracing the mark engraved with "Beisi".

"So that's how it is. The Northern Envoy—is just using a palace official title as a cover."

He put away the three seals and the bamboo slips together.

As he stepped out of the storehouse, a night breeze swept over him. Zhu Han looked up at the sky above the deep palace, where the starlight was faint.

[Ding! Mission Complete: Purge the Jiangnan Shadow Line (Phase Two). Reward—The Shadow Guard Expansion Order is now in effect.]

He expressionlessly put away the jade token and said in a low voice, "Jiangnan is clean, but the palace is not yet clean."

Morning next day.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on his throne, his expression stern. All the civil and military officials in the hall stood solemnly.

Zhu Han entered the hall with the memorial, bowed, and presented it.

"Your Majesty, last night we discovered that Liang Shou, the chief steward of the Palace Supply Bureau, had been using the seals of the Three Departments to illegally alter documents from the Ministry of Justice, and was also secretly colluding with the Jiangnan Grain Transport Commissioner. All the evidence is available."

A commotion erupted in the hall. Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "What proof?"

Zhu Han raised his hand, and the guard presented him with a bamboo slip and a gold seal.

Zhu Yuanzhang took it, examined it closely for a long time, and his expression gradually turned cold.

Where is Liang Shou?

"He was imprisoned in the Eastern Palace, but did not die."

"Excellent!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his hand on the imperial desk, his voice booming like thunder. "Issue the imperial decree—Liang Shou is to be imprisoned and interrogated by the Three Judicial Offices! All those who have dealings with the Northern Judicial Offices shall be arrested!"

The assembled officials in the hall shouted in unison, "As you command!"

Zhu Han slowly withdrew, his gaze indifferent as he walked out of the palace gate.

Zhu Biao caught up and whispered, "Uncle, this thorough investigation may shake the inner palace."

"Let it vibrate then," Zhu Han said coldly. "As long as we can uproot it completely, we won't leave an inch behind."

After that, he walked away.

Evening, at the Prince's Mansion.

Hao Duiying brought a message: "Your Highness, Liang Shou fainted during his trial this morning, only uttering the words, 'The emperor's orders cannot be disobeyed.'"

Zhu Han stood by the window and listened quietly until the end.

"Fate?"

He turned around, his gaze darkening slightly in the candlelight.

"Then let's see who his 'superior' is."

Hao whispered to Ying, "I suspect it might be that the concubines in the palace are using this opportunity?"

"No." Zhu Han shook his head. "The one who can make the Imperial Guard move is not a concubine."

He paused, then slowly said, "It is above the head eunuch—the Bureau of Clothing and Costumes."

"Your Highness wants—"

"I will enter the palace tomorrow. I will have the Crown Prince request permission for me."

The snow has finally fallen.

The streets of the capital were covered with a thin layer of white, and fine icicles hung from the eaves of the palace walls.

The morning drum had just stopped, and the snow on the stone steps outside the Qianqing Palace had not yet been swept away. Several eunuchs were walking quickly with their heads down, not daring to make a sound.

Zhu Han entered the palace, followed by Hao Duiying.

The two walked very lightly, and the sound of their footsteps on the snow was particularly clear in the empty imperial road.

His visit was for the "Bureau of Clothing and Apparel".

The night before, Liang Shou fainted, and the words "The emperor's command cannot be disobeyed" stuck in Zhu Han's heart like a nail.

The gates of the Imperial Clothing Bureau were tightly closed and heavily guarded.

Zhu Han presented his token, and the gatekeeper, startled, hurriedly knelt down: "Your Highness, the game hasn't started yet—"

"Then I will open it here."

Zhu Han went inside by himself.

The Shangfu Bureau's buildings were spacious and deep, filled with the fragrance of textiles and embroidery mixed with the aroma of hot soup, and palace maids were busy arranging winter clothes.

They all stopped what they were doing when they saw him come in.

"Greetings, Prince Han."

"No gift."

Zhu Han walked past them and went straight into the back hall.

Hao Duiying lifted the curtain and entered, where she saw an old woman sitting on a couch, her silver hair tied with a crown, her expression calm and composed.

"This old servant greets Your Highness." The old woman prostrated herself on the ground, her voice low but steady.

"So you are Granny Su, the head of the Bureau of Clothing and Apparel?"

"Exactly."

Zhu Han sat down, his gaze sweeping across the room like a blade.

Dozens of unfinished dragon robe samples, all made by the emperor, were hanging on the wall.

"Are you aware of Liang Shou's matter?"

Granny Su looked up, her expression changing slightly: "Is the one Your Highness referring to the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Supply Bureau? This old servant... only heard that he was imprisoned last night."

"He confessed that he was ordered to correct the papers and received the order from you."

The air inside was stagnant, and the charcoal fire crackled softly.

"Your Highness is too kind. This old servant is in charge of weaving and clothing, how dare I interfere in politics?"

"How dare I?" Zhu Han said calmly. "I have investigated. Liang Shou has entered your trap three times in the past month, each time taking a sealed brocade pouch. Do you know what's in that pouch?"

Granny Su lowered her eyes: "Those are Buddhist scriptures entrusted to me by the Empress Dowager last month, instructing me to deliver them to the Imperial Household Department for use on the incense table—"

Zhu Han lightly tapped the table: "Buddhist scriptures? Who knew that they contained a confession from the Ministry of Justice?"

Granny Su was taken aback, her fingers trembled slightly, and she immediately prostrated herself on the ground: "Your Highness, please understand! This old servant was unaware!"

Zhu Han stared at her for a long time, then suddenly said, "Take me to your storeroom."

The imperial clothing storehouse was locked tight, and the two eunuchs outside had no choice but to hurriedly unlock it when they saw the prince arrive in person.

As soon as the wooden door opened, a cool fragrance wafted out. The shelves were piled high with textiles and brocade boxes.

Zhu Han's gaze shifted and landed on an ebony box at the deepest part of the room.

"Open."

Inside the box lay a gold-threaded pouch, its opening sealed with a red seal. The seal did not read "Shangfu" (尚服, meaning "Imperial Attendant"), but rather "Silijian" (司礼监, meaning "Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs").

Hao whispered to Ying, "Your Highness, the Directorate of Ceremonial is the agency in charge of imperial edicts."

Zhu Han's expression remained unchanged. He took out his knife and lightly flicked the wax seal, breaking it. Inside the bag was a thin bamboo scroll covered with white satin.

He slowly unfolded—

"Northern Envoy's Order: Since the uprising in Jiangnan, all officials in charge of grain transport, textile manufacturing, and the Imperial Supply Bureau are at the command of the Palace Envoy. Any unusual activity in Fengjiang must be secretly reported to the inner court."

The signature at the bottom clearly reads "Inner Palace Seal No. 1".

Zhu Han's eyes turned icy cold in an instant: "I've seen this seal before."

That was the imperial seal he had personally authenticated ten years ago when he was proofreading seals in the capital. There should only be one in the world, and it was held by the Director-General of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Granny Su knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "Your Highness, this old servant truly did not know this item was here! Since last month, when I was ordered by the Empress Dowager to organize and offer it up, I have not—"

"Shut up." Zhu Han raised his hand, his gaze fixed on her. "Has anyone else entered the storeroom that the Empress Dowager ordered you to tidy up?"

"Have."

"Who?"

"...Lu Gong, the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs."

Zhu Han slowly closed the bamboo slip and said in a deep voice, "Excellent."

When I left the Imperial Clothing Bureau, the sky was overcast. Snow was still falling, and the world was a gray-white expanse.

Hao asked Ying in a low voice, "Your Highness, what's the next step?"

"Go to the Directorate of Ceremonial."

“Your Highness—that’s someone close to the Emperor.”

"That's precisely why we must go."

Zhu Han mounted his horse, his robes billowing in the wind, revealing the jade tablet from the film history hidden in his sleeve, which flashed with a cold light.

At noon, the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The guards outside the palace gates were slightly surprised to see him arrive, but dared not stop him.

Lu Gong had already heard the news and was waiting in the hall.

This man was about forty years old, with a fair complexion and no beard, dressed in luxurious clothes, and with a gentle demeanor.

"Your Highness's arrival is an honor, I have failed to greet you properly."

Zhu Han sat down without looking away: "Eunuch Lu, please explain something."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"When did you order Liang Shou to change the Ministry of Justice's confession?"

Lu Gong's smile remained unchanged: "Your Highness, what makes you say such a thing? How dare this servant interfere with state affairs?"

“The bamboo slips printed on them are yours.”

"Your Highness may have misjudged—"

Zhu Han suddenly slammed his hand on the table, his voice as deep as iron: "I have never been wrong. This seal comes from the First Supervisor of the Imperial Household Department. You only have the secondary seal; the main seal is beside your elder brother's desk. Without the main seal, you cannot make this mark."

Lu Gong was slightly taken aback, but after a moment he still smiled: "Your Highness misunderstands. That seal... was made by order of the Empress Dowager."

"Empress Dowager?" Zhu Han's gaze suddenly turned cold.

"Yes. The Empress Dowager heard about the chaos in Jiangnan and feared that His Majesty would be troubled, so she ordered me to temporarily take over the revision of the grain transport documents to ease His Majesty's mind."

"To appease the Emperor?" Zhu Han slowly rose and took a step closer. "Then why did you secretly order the various departments in Jiangnan to 'submit to the Northern Envoy's commands'?"

Lu Gong's smile faded slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Your Highness, if your words were to be spread, it would be a great act of treason."

"So you think I wouldn't dare?"

“If Your Highness truly dared to do so, you should be entering the Qianqing Palace right now, not coming here.”

The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned cold. The two looked at each other.

Zhu Han suddenly reached out, took out a bamboo slip from his bosom, and slammed it onto the table.

"Now that I have come, I am not afraid of rebellion."

Lu Gong stared for a moment, then slowly sighed, "Your Highness, you've investigated too deeply."

"That proves I was right." (End of Chapter)