Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

After Gu Qingping finished her explanation, there was warm applause from the audience. The female officials nodded in praise, obviously very satisfied with her performance.

The assessment continued, and the women showed off their talents one after another. Some sang and danced, some recited poems and painted, and the whole selection venue was very lively.

However, in this bustle, Zhu Han keenly sensed a hint of something unusual.

He looked around and found that several guards looked a little strange. They kept looking at the corners, as if they were looking for something. Zhu Han was startled and immediately realized that someone might have sneaked into the selection site.

"Biao'er, be careful." Zhu Han whispered to Zhu Biao, with a hint of vigilance in his tone, "Someone has sneaked in."

Zhu Biao's face suddenly changed when he heard this. He quickly glanced around and indeed found several guards with suspicious looks. He immediately whispered, "Pass the order down, strengthen the guard, and make sure to capture these people!"

The guards took the order and quickly started searching the selection venue. Zhu Han walked to a corner and carefully observed those suspicious people.

He found that although these people were wearing guards' uniforms, their movements seemed a bit stiff and they were obviously not real guards.

"Who sent these people?" Zhu Han thought to himself, "Could it be Zhu Di?"

As he was thinking, a guard came running over and whispered, "Your Highness, we have captured several suspicious people. They claimed to be guards from Prince Yan's Palace and said they were ordered to protect the safety of the selection site."

Zhu Han sneered, his eyes flashing with a cold light: "Protect? I think it's destruction. Bring them here, I want to interrogate them personally."

The guards took the order and left. Soon after, they brought several suspicious people to Zhu Han. These people were disheveled and looked panicked, and were obviously frightened by the sudden appearance of the guards.

"Who sent you?" Zhu Han asked coldly, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

One of them looked up at Zhu Han and said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, we are the guards of Prince Yan's Mansion. We are really ordered to come here to protect the selection venue."

Zhu Han snorted coldly: "Protect? You look like you are here to protect? Tell me, who asked you to come?"

The man gritted his teeth and lowered his head without saying anything. Seeing this, Zhu Han's eyes flashed with murderous intent: "Don't say it? Well, then I will let you taste the methods of Prince Jing's Mansion!"

He waved his hand, signaling the guards to come forward. The guards immediately came forward, pinned the men to the ground, and prepared to torture them.

Just then, a familiar voice came: "Wait!"

Zhu Han turned around and saw Zhu Di walking slowly towards him with a sneer on his face. Behind him were several guards, all holding weapons and looking aggressive.

"Fourth Prince, what do you mean?" Zhu Han asked coldly, his eyes shooting at Zhu Di like lightning.

Zhu Di smiled slightly, with a hint of provocation in his tone: "Uncle, I just heard that there were suspicious people at the selection site, so I came here to check. I didn't expect that you would set up a private punishment hall here. What's your intention?"

Zhu Han sneered: "Privately set up a torture chamber? I think you sent people to destroy the selection site, and I caught you on the spot!"

Zhu Di shook his head and said innocently, "Uncle, you misunderstood. These people are indeed the guards I sent, but they are only here to protect me and have no ill intentions."

Zhu Han stared at Zhu Di with a sharp gaze: "Protect? I think it's sabotage! You clearly want to disrupt the selection process and prevent Biao'er from successfully choosing the Crown Princess!"

Zhu Di laughed: "Uncle, you are so sensitive. I am just concerned about my nephew's marriage and sent someone to protect him. I didn't expect you to be so suspicious. It's really disheartening."

Zhu Biao stepped forward and looked at Zhu Di coldly: "Fourth Prince, I appreciate your kindness. But the selection site will be guarded by guards, so you don't need to worry about it. You should take these people back."

Zhu Di sneered: "Nephew, are you trying to drive me away? I sent people to protect you with good intentions, but you are so ungrateful. It seems that you have really grown up and become more powerful."

Zhu Biao frowned, and said with a bit of displeasure: "Fourth Prince, please don't make trouble. The selection site is undergoing an assessment. If you have nothing to do, please go back."

Zhu Di sneered: "Nephew, do you think you can drive me away like this? I tell you, no one can stop me from doing what I want to do!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand, signaling the guards behind him to come forward. The guards immediately drew their weapons and surrounded Zhu Han and Zhu Biao.

Zhu Han sneered, with a murderous look in his eyes: "Zhu Di, do you think you can threaten me like this? I tell you, I, Zhu Han, am not a vegetarian!"

Just as he was about to make a move, Zhu Biao reached out to stop him: "Uncle, don't be impulsive. This is the selection site. If you make a move here, it might disturb the women."

Zhu Han hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Okay, Biaoer, I'll listen to you."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, signaling the guards to withdraw. Then, he turned to Zhu Biao and said, "Nephew, continue the selection. I will watch from here and see what kind of crown princess you can choose."

Zhu Biao snorted coldly and ignored Zhu Di. He turned to the female officials and said, "Continue the examination without being disturbed by anyone."

The female officials took the order and left, and the selection site became lively again. However, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao knew that this selection was no longer simple. Zhu Di's intervention made this selection full of variables.

"Uncle, do you think Zhu Di will give up?" Zhu Biao asked in a low voice, with some worry in his eyes.

Zhu Han shook his head: "No. Zhu Di is very ambitious, he will never give up this opportunity easily. He will definitely try his best to sabotage this selection and prevent you from successfully choosing the Crown Princess."

Zhu Biao frowned: "Then what should we do? Should we just let him do whatever he wants?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes showing some wisdom: "Biao'er, don't worry. Although Zhu Di is cunning, we are not vegetarians. As long as we stay calm, we will definitely find a way to deal with it."

As he spoke, he whispered, "Go and make arrangements to strengthen the security of the selection site. At the same time, send someone to keep a close eye on Zhu Di's every move to prevent him from doing anything else."

Zhu Biao took the order and left, quickly arranging guards to strengthen the vigilance. At the same time, he also sent people to keep a close eye on Zhu Di to prevent him from doing anything out of line again.

Su Jinyun came on stage again. She was wearing a gorgeous dance costume and walked onto the stage lightly.

She opened her red lips and began to sing a moving song. Her voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of nature, which made people intoxicated.

However, Zhu Di looked at her coldly and whispered, "Humph, she's just a vase. How can she hold the position of Crown Princess?"

When Gu Qingping came on stage, Zhu Di's eyes flashed with approval: "This woman is quite calm and reserved, she is a good candidate." But he quickly shook his head: "However, she is too ordinary, I am afraid she will not be able to calm down those women in the harem."

When Zhao Wan'er went on stage to play the piano, Zhu Di's eyes flashed with disdain: "This woman is too weak to achieve great things. How can the position of Crown Princess fall into her hands?"

Zhu Han watched Zhu Di's reaction from the sidelines, thinking to himself: "Zhu Di is very ambitious, he will never give up the position of Crown Princess easily. It seems that I have to find a way to make him give up."

Just as he was thinking, a guard came running over and whispered, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince asks you to come over."

Zhu Han nodded, turned to Zhu Di and said, "Fourth Prince, I have something else to do, so I won't accompany you. You stay here and watch."

As he said that, he turned and left, and came to Zhu Biao. Zhu Biao whispered: "Uncle, Zhu Di is making trouble at the selection site, what should we do?"

Zhu Han smiled slightly, his eyes showing some wisdom: "Biao'er, don't worry. I already have a solution. You just need to continue the assessment, and I will make Zhu Di retreat when he sees the difficulty."

Zhu Biao felt an inexplicable sense of relief when he heard this. He nodded and turned around to continue presiding over the examination.

Zhu Han quietly came to the other side of the selection site and found a guard leader. He whispered, "Go and make arrangements so that Zhu Di's men cannot get close to the selection site. At the same time, send someone to keep an eye on his every move to prevent him from doing anything else."

The head of the imperial guards took the order and quickly arranged for people to strengthen the guard. At the same time, he also sent people to keep a close eye on Zhu Di to prevent him from doing anything out of line again.

Zhu Di soon realized something was wrong. He found that his people were blocked outside the selection site and could not approach. His face darkened and anger surged in his heart.

"Zhu Han, you old fox!" Zhu Di cursed in a low voice, "How dare you stop my people! I think you are tired of living!"

He was about to step forward to argue, but was stopped by a guard: "Your Highness, the selection site is undergoing an assessment, please do not disturb."

Zhu Di sneered and waved his hand to push the guards away: "Get out of here! No one can stop me from doing what I want to do!"

As he said this, he strode towards the selection venue. However, as soon as he approached, he was surrounded by a group of guards.

The head of the guards said coldly: "Your Highness, Prince Yan, please don't make things difficult for us. The selection site is undergoing an assessment, please don't disturb us."

Zhu Di's face turned pale, and he glared at the guard leader: "You dare to stop me? Do you know who I am?"

The head of the guards said expressionlessly: "I know you are His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan, but there are rules at the selection site. No one is allowed to disturb us. Please forgive me."

Zhu Di gnashed his teeth and said, "Okay! You just wait! I, Zhu Di, will never give up!"

Finally, the assessment was over. The ladies began to tally up the scores and prepare to select the final candidate for the Crown Princess. Zhu Biao stood aside, nervously looking at the record books in the ladies' hands.

"Biao'er, don't be nervous." Zhu Han said softly, "No matter what the result is, this is your choice. As long as you think it is right, just do it."

Zhu Biao nodded, but his heart was filled with trepidation. Soon after, the ladies calculated the scores.

They handed the record book to Zhu Biao and whispered, "Your Highness, this is the final score. You can check it yourself."

Zhu Biao took the record book and flipped through it nervously. He found that Gu Qingping had the highest score, followed by Su Jinyun and Zhao Waner.

He thought to himself: "Qingping has the highest score, but she is too ordinary; Jinyun is talented, but too sharp; Wan'er is gentle and delicate, but a little weak. Who should I choose?"

As he was hesitating, Zhu Han came over and whispered, "Biao'er, don't hesitate. You already have the answer in your heart. Just do what you want, and you won't go wrong."

Zhu Biao felt an inexplicable courage when he heard this. He raised his head and looked at the ladies firmly: "I have decided to choose Gu Qingping as the Crown Princess."

Upon hearing this, the female officials bowed their heads and saluted: "Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

When Gu Qingping heard the news, a pleasant smile appeared on her face. She raised her head and looked at Zhu Biao tenderly, her heart full of gratitude.

When Zhu Di heard the news, his face suddenly turned pale. He looked at Zhu Biao coldly and whispered, "Nephew, I am very disappointed with your choice. Gu Qingping is just an ordinary woman. How can she bear the responsibility of being the Crown Princess?"

Zhu Biao glanced at Zhu Di coldly, with a firm tone in his voice: "Fourth Prince, my choice has nothing to do with you. Gu Qingping is the best candidate in my mind, and I will never change my mind."

Zhu Di sneered: "Good! Nephew, you have guts! I hope you won't regret it in the future!"

The news that Zhu Biao had chosen Gu Qingping as the Crown Princess was like a spring breeze, blowing away the tension and anxiety in the selection venue.

The female officials congratulated Zhu Biao one after another, and the women were either happy or worried, with mixed feelings in their hearts.

Zhu Biao stood on the high platform, looking at Gu Qingping with a firm gaze, his heart filled with unprecedented peace of mind and joy.

He turned to Zhu Han and said, "Uncle, I will report the selection results to my father right away."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in his eyes: "Biao'er, your choice is very wise. Gu Qingping is steady and reserved, and is exactly the candidate for the Crown Princess you need. Go ahead, I believe that the emperor will be satisfied."

Zhu Biao nodded slightly, turned around and led Gu Qingping and several guards towards the imperial study. Along the way, he held Gu Qingping's hand tightly, as if to convey this joy and peace of mind to her.

In the imperial study, Zhu Yuanzhang was reviewing memorials with his head down, his brows furrowed, obviously worried about the trivial matters in the court.

Hearing footsteps outside the door, he looked up and saw Zhu Biao and Gu Qingping walking in, with a hint of surprise on his face.

"Biao'er, why are you here?" Zhu Yuanzhang put down the pen in his hand, with a hint of doubt in his tone.

Zhu Biao knelt down and saluted, saying respectfully: "Father, I have something important to report."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "Get up, and tell me what you want to say."

Zhu Biao stood up, took Gu Qingping to Zhu Yuanzhang, and said softly: "Father, I have already chosen the candidate for the Crown Princess." (End of this chapter)