Time Travel: After Seizing the Throne, I Lead the Ming Dynasty to Take Off

Chapter 1426

"And when Yingtian Prefecture belatedly realized this strange matter... you can probably imagine that many of your former students and officials will inevitably feel awe and fear towards His Majesty, and will no longer be of service to me."

"It is precisely because of this that Your Excellency has been subjected to torture in the imperial prison for half a month. It is not that I am not worried about Your Excellency outside, but I am truly... at a loss."

Chen Zhou explained the matter with a mixture of helplessness and guilt.

The attempt to oppose the new policies and rescue Zhan Hui, who had been thrown into prison by Zhu Yunwen, was already extremely sensitive. Chen Zhou naturally dared not be too blatant and could only be extremely cautious. He was extremely anxious these days.

Chen Zhou finished speaking.

Before Zhan Hui could say anything more, Marquis Heqing Zhang Yi, Marquis Zhulu Zhu Shou, and Marquis Huaiyuan Cao Xing broke down in shock: "They were all left behind in the Alchemy Department by that kid?! They were all left behind in the Alchemy Department... How could Lan Yu and the others be so easily defeated, so useless?!"

"Could it be that he's too old? Can't fight anymore!?"

"What the hell do you mean we can't fight anymore? We're older than him, aren't we? If it were me, I wouldn't let that little emperor wipe out our entire army!"

"Exactly! Besides, they have so many trusted and elite soldiers under their command! Who hasn't taken in a few capable adopted sons? Lan Yu even boasts of having eight hundred adopted sons in the army... These guys aren't going to the Alchemy Department to fight, they're all going to eat shit, right?"

"Damn it... this is weird... this is weird beyond belief!"

"..."

Having spent so many days in the imperial prison, they naturally no longer naively believed that Lan Yu and his men could easily take down the young emperor Zhu Yunwen as they had originally envisioned.

They knew something must have happened outside.

During this time, they thought that Lan Yu and his gang of "rebels" might indeed be temporarily suppressed by Zhu Yunwen using some unexpected means. However, none of them ever thought that Zhu Yunwen, the young emperor who rose to power with their help, might completely eliminate the power and turmoil of the Huaixi nobles.

Not to mention how easily and thoroughly it was handled...

—It's like a joke!

Upon learning of this, the three of them couldn't help but curse and swear—it meant they were completely isolated and helpless, and there was no longer any hope of Lan Yu and the others coming to rescue them...

"What? Have they never fought a war or never eaten? They can't even handle this brat? A bunch of useless trash!!"

"What the hell is this? It's all over, everything's over..."

"Today, the young emperor even specially sent us to the Ministry of Justice prison. After the joint trial by the three judicial departments, they will directly punish us!"

"..."

The three of them were completely baffled and were also feeling increasingly frustrated and angry. They all looked extremely angry, but as they continued to curse, a visible fear and panic appeared on their faces.

At the same time, after hearing this, Zhan Hui's heart sank to the bottom. He remained silent for a while before sighing blankly and saying awkwardly, "It's not your fault. How many officials in the court aren't adept at navigating social situations and being worldly-wise? To put it bluntly, they're all just seeking advantage and avoiding harm."

Although Chen Zhou's words were like a bolt from the blue for him, Zhan Hui was not someone who would easily lose his temper, having reached his current position. At this moment, he suppressed his anger and appeared remarkably calm.

He also knew that his current situation was not optimistic, and he might have to rely on Chen Zhou, the student he had personally promoted in the past.

So after a moment of contemplation, he added, “It is rare to find someone like you who, knowing I have been released from prison, immediately sought a way to see me.”

After saying that, he glanced at the student dressed as a prison guard in front of him with mixed feelings. His heart was filled with both warmth and coldness. As the saying goes, true friendship is revealed in times of trouble. He had finally seen who truly cared for him.

Chen Zhou had risked coming here because of this friendship. Hearing Zhan Hui's affirmation, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart and immediately said, "You flatter me, sir. Back then, my family was poor and had no money to bribe officials. If it weren't for your discerning eye, sir, how could I be where I am today? I will do as you command. However, I am foolish and don't know how to help you break this deadlock."

And when he said this.

Zhang Yi, Zhu Shou, and Cao Xing, who were busy cursing and swearing next door, immediately quieted down and put on a fawning expression, looking at Zhan Hui and saying, "Lord Zhan, the three of us are now carrying the same crime as you, so we can be considered to be in the same boat. You are the Minister of Rites and the Left Censor-in-Chief... surely you have some way to deal with this?"

They have now lost all their support and are completely at Zhu Yunwen's mercy. The only straw they can grasp is Zhan Hui, the ill-fated scholar they previously looked down upon. Even the most unruly person has to put aside his arrogance now.

After all, Zhan Hui's influence in the court was undeniable.

Seeing how quickly Zhang Yi and the other two changed their expressions, Zhan Hui snorted disdainfully, rolled his eyes, and said sarcastically, "You brothers all hold the title of marquis. If I, Zhan Hui, were to stand on the same rope as you, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stand up."

He hadn't forgotten that these three had been mocking him not long ago.

Zhang Yi and his two companions, however, did not concern themselves with matters of principle or integrity like scholars. They shamelessly retorted, "We can stand firm, we can stand firm! Who says we can't? We are marquises of the current dynasty, and you are the Minister of Personnel and the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!"

For them, struggling to survive is nothing to be ashamed of.

Zhan Hui was too lazy to pay them any more attention.

He shook his head helplessly, took a deep breath, and looked at Chen Zhou with a serious expression, saying, "According to what you've said, given the current situation, we don't know where the nobles of Huaixi and the rebel soldiers are or what their situation is. It's impossible to use them to create chaos, and hindering the new policies... is also unlikely. So we can only settle for second best..."

"Settling for second best?" Chen Zhou asked, somewhat puzzled, not understanding for a moment what Zhan Hui meant.

Zhan Hui narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "I have now been transferred here to the Ministry of Justice prison. The next step is to face a joint trial by the three judicial departments..."