Chapter 18: His Majesty Orders Qin Feng to Set Fire to His Own Garden?

Fengtian Hall.
On the grand throne, ministers were engaged in heated debate.
"Qin Feng is utterly reckless! How could he set fire to tens of thousands of acres of the Imperial Forest Garden?"
"Unbelievable! Even His Majesty cannot protect such a brazen and lawless scoundrel this time."
"The royal gardens were just completed; they represent the dignity of the monarchy! Qin Feng, that shameless dog, disregards the emperor’s honor."
"A few days ago, both His Majesty and the Crown Prince tried hard to shield Qin Feng’s outrageous actions. Now that he has burned the Imperial Forest Garden, he has slapped the faces of the emperor and the crown prince hard!"

Meanwhile, Hu Weiyong secretly rejoiced within—he had finally caught Qin Feng in a trap.
At that moment, someone whispered in his ear, causing his expression to change drastically.
"Useless! A bunch of idiots! Good-for-nothings!"

Hu Weiyong had just received news about a group of assassins. These outlaws had not only failed to kill Qin Feng but had been recruited by him instead.
Yet each of those men was a wanted criminal by the court!
If the information was true, Qin Feng harboring court fugitives meant he was sheltering enemies of the state.
Gasp!

Hu Weiyong drew a sharp breath, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips.
Qin Feng, oh Qin Feng, you truly think yourself clever!
Since you have taken in these fugitives, I will have you impeached. Let’s see if you live or die!

With this thought, Hu Weiyong quickly concocted a plan and whispered into the Minister of Punishments’ ear about the fugitives in the Imperial Forest Garden.

When Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao anxiously entered the hall, ministers lined up on both sides, and the morning court session began.

Song Lian knelt, clutching an ivory tablet, and bowed deeply, speaking solemnly, "Your Majesty, my nephew Song Qing is in charge of guarding the Imperial Forest Garden. He has been diligent without a moment’s negligence."
"Yet Qin Feng is lawless, not only breaking in with troops but setting the garden ablaze. This is a heinous crime. If not handed over to the Ministry of Punishments, it will be difficult to maintain order!"
"I humbly beseech Your Majesty to uphold justice on behalf of your servant!"

Seeing Song Lian kneeling and pleading with tears in his voice, the ministers were moved, and murmurs echoed throughout the hall.

Hu Weiyong snorted coldly, secretly thrilled.
Qin Feng, do you see?
This entire court wishes for your swift death!

A newly appointed tutor to the Crown Prince had already stirred dissatisfaction among the ministers.
How long could His Majesty protect you?

Zhu Yuanzhang sat uneasily on the dragon throne, as if on pins and needles.

---

Those old pedantic scholars, when have they ever refrained from impeaching Qin Feng?
But burning the Imperial Forest Garden with troops was indeed excessive, no wonder the ministers were outraged!

Damn Qin Feng!
He borrowed our Imperial Forest Garden but never said for what purpose.
In the end, we suffered a silent loss!
A garden spanning tens of thousands of acres—do you think it’s easy to build?
What you burned was not just a royal garden; it was a mountain of gold and silver!

Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his forehead and asked, "Where is the Imperial Forest Garden’s steward? I want to understand the situation. If the facts are true, Qin Feng’s wanton recklessness will be severely punished."

Zhu Yuanzhang was forced into a corner!
The royal garden represented the royal dignity!
Now it was reduced to ashes by fire. If Qin Feng went unpunished, how could the emperor govern others or command respect from his ministers?

Hu Weiyong was ecstatic to hear Zhu Yuanzhang finally relent, feeling a sweet sense of vengeance fulfilled.

Song Lian said eagerly, "Your Majesty is wise! My nephew waits outside, ready at your command."

"Summon him."

"Announce: Song Qing, steward of the Imperial Forest Garden, may enter Your Majesty’s presence!"

After the eunuch’s summons echoed, Song Qing, dressed in a ninth-rank official’s uniform, scrambled into the hall.

He knelt without raising his head, trembling as he said, "Your servant Song Qing greets Your Majesty. I am incompetent and failed to stop Qin Feng from setting fire to the Imperial Forest Garden. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Zhu Yuanzhang’s voice was stern, "What exactly happened that day? Speak truthfully without concealment! If you dare deceive or fabricate, I will not spare you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang’s imposing presence frightened the timid Song Qing, who sobbed, "I truly had no choice! Truly no choice!"
"That day, Qin Feng led armored soldiers into the garden, brandished the imperial golden plaque, saying he acted on Your Majesty’s orders, and then..."

"Then he set fire to the Imperial Forest Garden! The flames raged for three whole days! The royal garden was destroyed in an instant!"
"Every word I speak is the truth. I beg Your Majesty for a just judgment."

After hearing Song Qing, Zhu Biao suddenly found a cunning angle to defend Qin Feng.

"Your Majesty, if what Song Qing says is true, then accusing Qin Feng of lawlessness is utterly absurd. Qin Feng was carrying out an imperial order; where is the fault?"

The ministers were stunned!
If Qin Feng bore the imperial golden plaque when setting fire to the garden, does that mean...
His Majesty ordered Qin Feng to burn his own garden?
This...

---

The ministers were horrified, suddenly silent.
If this was truly His Majesty’s command, then wouldn’t accusing Qin Feng be tantamount to accusing the emperor himself?

Zhu Yuanzhang calmly surveyed the ministers and thundered, "If you are dissatisfied with Qin Feng for burning the Imperial Forest Garden, then direct your grievances at me! Let me see who still bears ill will toward me!"

His words terrified the ministers who immediately prostrated themselves, obediently keeping silent.

Why should the emperor explain his actions?
The whole realm belongs to him; he does as he wishes. Who dares question him?

Sweating profusely, Song Qing nearly fainted in the hall.
He was but a lowly ninth-rank official—how could he dare displease His Majesty?

Song Lian’s clothes were soaked through as he glared fiercely at Song Qing.
That scoundrel! How could he betray his uncle so?
If you had said Qin Feng carried the imperial golden plaque on a mission, how could I have foolishly reported this and offended His Majesty?
Now everything was ruined!

Anyone dissatisfied with the burning of the Imperial Forest Garden was now effectively offending His Majesty.

Hu Weiyong had hoped to use this incident to punish Qin Feng as deserved.
But the political situation changed in an instant—Qin Feng’s act of arson took a shocking turn!
His Majesty was using Qin Feng as bait!

Hu Weiyong patted his chest, relieved he hadn’t used the event to impeach Qin Feng this morning.

Just as he was inwardly congratulating himself, Zhu Yuanzhang’s face suddenly darkened as he commanded from the throne, "Hu Weiyong! How is the investigation I ordered progressing? Have the reasons behind the Yellow River breach been determined by the Secretariat?"

Hu Weiyong trembled, hurriedly crawling forward to kneel, stammering, "Your Majesty, the river issue is complex, involving many officials. I... I have not yet discovered the cause. I beg Your Majesty to punish me for my negligence!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly, "If you cannot clarify the matter, then bring all officials involved in the river breach to the capital for inquiry! There is no such thing as an unsolvable matter!"
"If you dare to stall me again, then resign your post as Chancellor! You waste time conspiring against Qin Feng but neglect your duties. What good are you to me?"
"I grant you three days. If you cannot solve the river issue by then, you will go tilling fields! Court dismissed!"

After venting his anger, the ministers lay trembling on the floor.

Hu Weiyong’s shirt was soaked with cold sweat.
The river issue was about to be exposed after all!