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

Chapter 2: Everyone's drunk, but I alone die! [New book, please add to your collection]

In the early morning in Yingtian Prefecture, the air still carried a hint of coolness.

Zhang Biao lay on a hard bed and suddenly opened his eyes.

He skillfully proceeded to the next step, completing the action in one smooth motion.

1. Touch your neck – all is fine!
2. Look at the arm—the pure white countdown disappears!
3. Feel your body – my back doesn't ache anymore and my legs don't hurt anymore, but I just feel like playing on my phone!
Zhang Biao nimbly got out of bed, first straightened his faded blue seventh-rank censor's robe, then adjusted his crooked black gauze hat in the blurry bronze mirror before pushing open the door and going out.

"call"

A breath of fresh air, unlike anything in modern times, wafted over my face, carrying a hint of the smell of cooking fires.

Although the death rate among officials under Zhu was high, he still received all the benefits he was entitled to.

For example, the dormitory where Zhang Biao lived was arranged by the imperial court. Although it was simple, it was very close to the capital, making it convenient for him to attend court.

However, this official position also fully demonstrates Zhu's wisdom, which is that people are grouped by their kind and things are clustered by their type. What kind of official you are, that's what kind of officials surround you. Don't think about climbing the social ladder and getting promoted in one step.

Good morning, Brother Zhang!

Shen, the Imperial Censor next door, was slurping porridge from a rough porcelain bowl at the door. When he saw Zhang Biao, he greeted him warmly: "You look rosy-cheeked and full of energy today. Something good must have happened!"

Zhang Biao paused, inwardly scoffing. "Red-cheeked? That's just the flush from being scared off beheading! Spirited? I'm in a hurry to be reborn, Brother Shen! A good thing, indeed! Yesterday, when Old Zhu dragged me out of the Meridian Gate to be beheaded, you were scared to death!"
Good morning, Brother Shen! Thank you for your blessings!

He forced a standard, slightly stiff, professional smile: "Yes! Today is a good day for offering advice!"

"Uh"

Imperial Censor Shen felt that Zhang Biao had become increasingly strange lately. Every time he spoke of remonstrating, his tone was filled with a tragic grandeur, like "the wind howls and the Yi River is cold," and his eyes always revealed a strange excitement. So he couldn't help but kindly remind him, "Brother Zhang's courage is commendable! However, His Majesty's imperial power is at its peak these days, so it's best to be careful!"

After saying this, he looked around again and lowered his voice, saying, "We just killed one of our colleagues yesterday."

Isn't that colleague me?

Zhang Biao was inwardly amused and exasperated, but outwardly he nodded solemnly, displaying a resolute expression of 'I understand, but I won't': "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Shen! But as censors, it is our duty, and we cannot shirk it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he stood tall and straightened his back, joining the flow of people heading towards Chengtian Gate.

Colleagues either hurried along or chatted in twos and threes, their conversations consisting of trivial matters or official gossip.

"Good morning, Lord Zhao! I heard that the price of rice in the west of the city went up again yesterday?"

"That's right, sigh, life is tough these days."

"Imperial Censor Wang, have you submitted your memorial impeaching the Ministry of Works for embezzlement?"

"Shh, keep your voice down, they're still considering it."

Zhang Biao listened to these outdated ideas without any emotional fluctuation; he even felt a little amused.

You're all talking about my 'past life'!
This feeling of being the only one sober while everyone else is drunk, and then having to go and die is just so cool!
Perhaps because Zhu Biao had only recently died, Old Zhu was filled with a low mood.

Inside the majestic Fengtian Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified. Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the dragon throne, dressed in a bright yellow robe. His long face was taut, and his sharp eyes swept over the ministers below.

[Hmm, excellent facial expression control; anger is building up—it's the familiar formula, the familiar taste.]

Zhang Biao thought to himself, and could even imagine an invisible progress bar above his head, just waiting for him to 'ignite' it.

Although the court assembly was held every day, the court discussions proceeded in an orderly manner.

"Speak if you have something to report, otherwise the court is adjourned—" a eunuch in charge of ceremonies called out routinely.

"Your Majesty!"

The Minister of Works stepped forward, his voice booming like a bell: "To demonstrate the majesty of the Celestial Empire, I request that the Imperial Road in front of the Fengtian Hall be rebuilt, using Kunlun white jade, carved with dragons and painted with phoenixes, and that nine gilded dragon pillars be added to each side. This is a monumental achievement, to be admired by all generations, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Biao's eyes lit up.

Great! This is a huge project!
Waste of time and money! A perfect example of a major blunder!!
The Minister of Works was still eloquently describing how the white jade imperial road would shine for eternity.

As Zhu Yuanzhang listened, his fingers began to tap the armrest habitually, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Your Majesty! I have a memorial to present!" Zhang Biao seized the opportunity, took a step forward, and spoke in a loud voice.

brush!
All eyes were on them.

Zhu Yuanzhang's sharp gaze swept over, his displeasure at being interrupted evident: "Speak!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao took a deep breath, and then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, made a gesture that made everyone's jaws drop—

He suddenly loosened his official robe belt!

"hiss--!"

A collective gasp filled the hall, and several officials were so angry they nearly fainted on the spot.

Zhu Yuanzhang's fingers, which were tapping the armrest, froze, and his sharp gaze turned into pure, incredulous bewilderment.

Zhang Biao quickly untied his blue official robe and spread it out on the ground.

Then, they started taking off their official boots?!
"Imperial Censor Zhang! How dare you!"

The Minister of Rites was so angry that his beard trembled: "What kind of decorum is this, to undress in front of the palace?!"

Zhang Biao ignored him and deftly placed the two official boots side by side next to his official robe.

At this moment, he was barefoot, wearing only a shirt and trousers, standing on the cold, smooth gold brick floor.

Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, including Zhu Yuanzhang, who seemed to regard him as a mental patient, Zhang Biao gave a bright and cheerful smile towards the dragon throne.

"Your Majesty! The Minister of Works wishes to repair the Imperial Road with white jade; this is an excellent proposal!"

"However, words alone are insufficient to demonstrate its benefits. I, your humble servant, am willing to offer myself as a brick and my feet as a ruler, to personally measure and demonstrate to Your Majesty and all my colleagues just how slippery, how expensive, and how impractical this white jade imperial road truly is!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Biao made a move.

Instead of leaving, he slid down the smooth, mirror-like gold brick floor.

The movements were as fluid as if they were wearing roller skates.

"Ouch!"

He let out an exaggerated cry of surprise, his body swaying from side to side, his arms flailing wildly as if he were about to fall at any moment, yet he managed to maintain his balance with remarkable difficulty.

He slid down the Fengtian Hall, right in front of the court officials and the emperor.

As he skated, he also started singing loudly in a very rhythmic tone, with lyrics all made up on the spot:

"The Imperial Road is slippery~ slippery~ slippery~"

"Money's all gone~ Money's all gone~"

"The people suffer so much! So much! So much!"

"The Emperor is so foolish! So foolish!"

The entire Fengtian Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was petrified!

Eyeballs fell out and landed all over the floor!
What... what kind of operation is this?!

He actually danced in front of the palace?!
Zhu Yuanzhang's face went from bewildered to ashen, and then flushed red.

He watched the junior censor, dressed in his undergarments, sliding around in the Fengtian Hall and singing insulting lyrics, and felt his sanity snapping one by one.

The sound of tapping on the armrests was as dense as drumbeats.

A raging fire was brewing, ready to erupt.

"Zhang! Biao—!!"

(End of this chapter)