After hearing the story of "the palace maid, unable to bear the torment, attempted to strangle the emperor in anger but failed," the entire court fell silent.
To be fair, this "Emperor Daojun" was ruthless enough, which Zhu Yuanzhang could understand. No matter how much torture the palace women suffered, the crime of regicide could not be let off lightly.
This concerns the dignity of the court and the royal family.
Thinking of the great achievements of "Emperor Daojun" in future history books, Old Zhu felt that he had lost all face.
When the emperor is unhappy, he needs to find a place to vent his anger, and who else could be the culprit? The Taoist sect!
It was all the Taoist alchemists who lured their own children, advocating for immortality and Taoist cultivation. Otherwise, how could such a wise and benevolent ruler have turned into a tyrannical and incompetent one?
Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it more and more and felt it made sense, so he said angrily:
"The Taoist priests are hateful; they spread heretical doctrines and mislead the people, tempting the king to neglect state affairs..."
He launched into a tirade of curses, after which several quick-witted courtiers realized what was happening and rushed to echo his sentiments.
With just a few words, the mistakes made by the "Taoist Emperor" were easily shifted onto the Taoist sect.
The others also realized, "That's right, they're all emperors with the surname Zhu, how can they admit that it's entirely their own child's fault? That would be contradicting themselves."
If there's a problem, you should actively try to shift the blame.
Zhu Di greatly admired his father's quick reaction and shamelessly made a few verbal attacks on the Daoist sect.
At this moment, Liu Xian felt a little impatient. She extended her bright red forked tongue and gently licked her upper lip, leaving a glistening water stain.
A seductive voice, dripping with merciless mockery:
"Alright, flies don't land on eggs without cracks. When your innocent emperor was in power, he treated the national treasury as his private treasury. Any minister who could get money for him to cultivate Taoism was considered a good minister."
To dedicate the entire nation's resources to his ascension to immortality—this ruthless and merciless nature is quite reminiscent of the demonic path.
Everyone felt awkward, and some even resentful. Why did they have to expose them?
Everyone knows the main problem lies with that emperor in later generations; isn't this just giving face to the family of one's immediate superior?
Zhu Yuanzhang, however, was thick-skinned and chuckled as he replied:
"That's what I think too, but the Taoist sect also has a responsibility. However, I plan to deal with family matters later."
As he spoke, he glared at Zhu Di with a look that said, "You just wait."
Poor Zhu Di was filled with fear and anxiety. Suddenly, he realized that although these were his descendants, so many generations had passed, and perhaps the problem lay with someone else.
I'll go home later and check on my eldest's homework...
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and casually issued an order to the Daolu Division to reduce the number of ordination certificates issued each year to a limit of ten people.
Those without Taoist credentials are considered unlicensed Taoists, not recognized by the imperial court, and not trusted by the common people.
A hint of a smile flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. To strike a snake, you must hit its vital spot. Now they're going to be in complete chaos.
If one cannot legitimately recruit disciples, it is like a stream whose source is blocked, and it will gradually dry up.
That's really tragic.
However, she wasn't exaggerating; these were all real events that happened in later generations.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, bowed to Liu Xian, and thanked her sincerely:
"Thank you, Immortal Liu, for informing me of matters concerning the future."
"It's just an equal exchange," Liu Xian said nonchalantly, then suddenly leaned over and whispered in his ear:
"You'd better keep that pre-Qin Qi cultivator in Your Majesty's palace well hidden. What if the Daoist sect gets angry and tries to assassinate him?"
Everyone saw Liu Xian whisper something in His Majesty's ear, and the emperor's expression changed slightly, almost as if he was about to ask a question.
Fortunately, the next second, he caught the playful and amused look in Liu Xian's eyes and swallowed his words back.
The turmoil in his heart could not be stopped for a moment. Zhu Yuanzhang originally thought that the existence of Princess Nongyu was kept completely a secret.
Apart from a handful of people, no one knew about it, and he rarely bothered Princess Nongyu to avoid being noticed by those with ulterior motives.
Furthermore, a large part of the reason for concealing Princess Nongyu's existence was to guard against Liu Xian, who was right in front of them.
Now, Liu Xian has casually revealed this hidden card, and Zhu Yuanzhang, caught off guard, was naturally shocked and terrified.
Looking into the emperor's bewildered eyes, Liu Xian smiled broadly, abruptly changing the subject, leaving everyone puzzled:
"Why are you so surprised? Come and see your next descendant."
Zhu Yuanzhang's lips twitched, and he nodded insincerely, pretending not to see the questioning looks from his sons and ministers below.
Turning around, his tiger-like eyes slightly widened, he looked at each person with a warning, and the rows of people lowered their heads in unison, like fields of harvested wheat.
"Hmm, I'm starting to wonder if His Majesty has some kind of special bloodline, that so many geniuses could emerge from his descendants..."
Liu Xian drew out her voice, tilted her head and rested her chin on her hand, speaking in a tone that seemed both sarcastic and sincere. Zhu Yuanzhang pulled hard with his hand, pulling out several hairs from his beard.
Ignoring the pain, he slumped over and beckoned to the fourth brother to come over.
Zhu Di, bewildered, obediently came over, only to be met with a furious blow to the head. He was both angry and confused.
"Father, what mistake have I made? Why are you hitting me?"
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, "It's nothing, I just suddenly felt an itch. You're my son, can't you help your father relieve his itch?"
You son of a bitch, what kind of bastards did you give birth to?
After beating his son, Old Zhu took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself. He figured he was no worse than a ruler of a fallen kingdom. He was easygoing. Qin Shi Huang had even dreamed of a Qin dynasty that would last forever, but it only lasted two generations before it collapsed.
Which dynasty hasn't fallen one day? No, my heart still aches.
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was very solemn: "Please speak, Immortal Liu. I can bear it."
Are you sure?
"Sure."
Those who looked up from the system gossip section shook their heads: "Hopefully you won't faint after hearing this, Amen."
Liu Xian sat up straight, pointed at Zhu Di, and said with a smile:
"As is customary, let me mention some of your strengths so that you can feel better and not have to worry about people dying when I am about to undergo my tribulation."
Suddenly, the emperor and his ministers were struck dumb. Liu Xian was making such a serious point. What on earth had this person done that could be so infuriating?
"Hmm, let me think about it." Liu Xian frowned in distress.
"Born legitimately, he succeeded to the throne as the Crown Prince. Although his birth mother was initially a Consort, she was later made Empress."
Everyone nodded in agreement; this upheld the patriarchal system.
"Then the practice of funerary sacrifice was abolished, so that the concubines in the harem no longer had to live in constant fear..."
Upon hearing this, many people turned to look at the emperor, for it was Zhu Yuanzhang who had started this barbaric practice of burying people alive with the emperor.
In theory, concubines with children were exempt from being buried alive with the emperor, but in reality, if they were of low status or offended the succeeding emperor, they would be required to be buried alive with him.
This caused the concubines in the harem to fight desperately for the emperor's favor, fearing that if they did not have children, they would be forced to be buried alive with him after his death.
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