Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 13 You're a real talent! [New book, please add to your collection]

"Zhang Biao! That's enough!"

Qi Tai's mental torture of Zhang Biao had reached its breaking point.

But Zhang Biao had no intention of letting him go.

Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng can be considered Zhu Yunwen's hidden dragon and phoenix chicks.

In other words, even if Qi Tai is imprisoned by Zhu Yuanzhang for the matter of choosing an heir, he will most likely be fine.

Moreover, this incident will earn him Zhu Yunwen's deep trust.

Therefore, Zhang Biao's current thought is to take them with him as much as possible, so that they won't cause trouble for the Ming Dynasty in the future.

"What do you mean 'enough,' Lord Qi? Are you ordering food? The point is, you don't even have the ability! This is the Imperial Prison, not the Crown Prince's Palace! Zhu Yunwen has Huang Zicheng by his side; you wouldn't even get a chance to eat shit while it's still warm!"

"You vulgar brat! You...you're so insolent!"

"Really? I think I've been reckless too. Anyway, I don't want to live anymore! Why don't you die with me? At least we'll have company on the way!"

"Zhang Biao! Shut up!"

"Oh, Lord Lü! What's this? You're planning to come with me too? Very well! One of us will stay, two will feel guilty, and the three of us will travel together~"

"Imperial Censor Zhang! You seem to be in high spirits."

Just as Zhang Biao was cursing and unconsciously started humming lyrics, Zhu Gaosui strolled over carrying a food box, a hint of amusement on his face.

Clearly, he had also heard the commotion next door and Zhang Biao's heated debate with the group of scholars.

"Third Brother!? You're here again!?"

Zhang Biao sprang to the edge of the fence with a swift movement, his eyes shining.

"What's wrong? Missing me?"

Zhu Gaosui raised an eyebrow, seemingly becoming increasingly interested in this Imperial Censor Zhang.

But Zhang Biao quickly interjected, "Of course we have to think about it! You're my bread and butter!"

"Ah!"

Zhu Gaosui laughed, then couldn't help but retort, "With your glib tongue, you shouldn't be an imperial censor, you should be a treacherous minister!"

"No, no, no, being a treacherous official means a slower death, while being a censor means a faster one!"

"Uh"

Zhu Gaosui's lips twitched, then he waved his hand with a wry smile: "Alright, stop joking around, come on, take a look at your food!"

After saying that, he pushed the food box in his hand over: "Yesterday was the day of the Crown Prince's funeral. Chief Jiang transferred some people, but I heard that you wanted to eat fish, so I had someone get it for you!"

"Really? Then I'm in for a treat today!"

Zhang Biao couldn't wait to open the food box lid.

Hey!
A bowl of white rice remains glistening.

A plate of bright green stir-fried vegetables.

A bowl of soup with oil and egg shreds floating on top.

The main course was surprisingly a steamed fish!

Although small, the scales were scraped clean, the flesh was snow-white, and it was topped with a few shreds of ginger and scallions, emitting an enticing aroma. "Steamed sea bass?!"

Zhang Biao exclaimed in delight, almost drooling, "Third Brother is such a good friend!"

"Don't thank me, this is Chief Jiang's arrangement. He said he'd take good care of you!"

"Then please thank him for me!"

Zhu Gaosui rolled his eyes: "Thank me my ass! Chief Jiang is just worried that you won't be in the mood during the joint trial by the three judicial departments, making it seem like our Embroidered Uniform Guard hasn't been hospitable enough. Hurry up and eat your food!"

Zhang Biao didn't bother with formalities and picked up his chopsticks to poke at the tender fish.

The fish is fresh, tender, and smooth when you bite into it!

Although the seasoning is simple, consisting only of ginger, scallions, and salt, the freshness of the ingredients and the perfect cooking time make it taste more authentic than some of the overcooked fish he has eaten in the real world.

"Mmm! Delicious! This fish is so fresh!"

He wolfed down his food while praising it indistinctly: "Third Brother, the food at your prison is better than any restaurant outside! With this kind of treatment, I'd like to stay a few more days!"

In the next cell, Zhao Qian, who had just endured two rounds of enthusiastic greetings from the Imperial Guards and been thoroughly berated by Zhang Biao, was starving. The aroma of fish wafting over, the sound of Zhang Biao chewing and his satisfied sighs, made his eyes turn green with envy, and his stomach began to rumble.

Although he hated Zhang Biao to the core, his appetite overcame his hatred.

He clung weakly to the cold fence, calling out in their direction, "Censor Zhang, don't you have any sense of camaraderie? Share a bite with this old man!"

With his mouth full of fish, Zhang Biao didn't even look up and mumbled, "Lord Zhao, please save your breath! This is my 'last meal' for disrupting the court, sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers, and spreading rumors! The Emperor still remembers your 'brilliant plan' of increasing taxes by 30%!"

"Just relax and wait for the joint trial by the three judicial departments. Who knows, your meals tomorrow might be better than mine? Like steamed live people or something."

"You! Pfft—!"

Zhao Qian was already hungry and angry. Upon hearing this, he couldn't catch his breath, his vision went black, and he fainted.

On the other side, Lü Ping was even more despondent, while Qi Tai closed his eyes to rest, but his tightly pursed lips and slightly twitching Adam's apple revealed that they were also being tormented by this 'top-class prison food'.

Zhu Gaosui watched Zhang Biao eat heartily, then glanced at the several key individuals next door who looked ashen-faced, and couldn't help but chuckle.

He squatted down and looked at Zhang Biao with great interest: "You really have a big heart. The outside world is in an uproar because of your 'die-hard remonstrance' of offering to be skinned alive. Some people in the Censorate say you are a remonstrating minister for all time, while others say you are a madman who is just trying to attract attention!"

"The officials of the Six Ministries would love to tear you apart, especially those from the Ministry of Revenue. And you, on the other hand, act like nothing happened?"

Zhang Biao swallowed the last bite of fish, let out a satisfied burp, and slowly sipped his egg drop soup with a small spoon: "Let them argue, let them curse. They can't stop them from talking, can I? Besides..."

He put down his spoon, wiped his mouth, and a sly look appeared on his face: "The more I eat and sleep well here, the angrier those people outside who want to see me suffer and cry their eyes out will be, right? It would be better if they were angry to death! Isn't that more satisfying than arguing with them?"

He paused, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and asked with a hint of mysterious gossip, "Third Brother, anything interesting happened outside today? Like... my roommates?"

As he spoke, he gestured towards Lü Ping's direction with his lip: "Nothing's happening at home? Haven't they thought about pulling some strings to get him out?"

Zhu Gaosui's eyes flickered slightly. This guy seemed carefree, but he was actually quite shrewd.

He stood up lazily, dusted off his clothes, and said, "Some things are none of our business as lowly fry! As for getting someone out of trouble?"

He scoffed, his gaze sweeping over Lü Ping and the others with a cold mockery: "Once you're in the imperial prison, a wanted criminal personally ordered by the Emperor to be tried by the Three Judicial Offices, who has the guts to bail you out? Who has the ability to bail you out? Just wait patiently for your trial! I'm leaving, I'll bring you a roast chicken tomorrow!"

"Thanks, Third Brother! I'll have Juxianlou!"

Zhang Biao shouted at Zhu Gaosui's retreating figure.

Zhu Gaosui paused, finally managing to utter only one sentence: "You're a fucking genius!"

(End of this chapter)