Chapter Four: Moral Coercion

In the blink of an eye, Zhu Gaozu transformed once more into a bright and cheerful young man, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

Chen Kan bowed to him, forcing a strained smile onto his face.

“Take care of yourself.”

With a meaningful glance at Chen Kan, Zhu Gaozu turned and left.

Watching Zhu Gaozu and his retinue of henchmen disappear, the prison guard locked the cell door once again, and Chen Kan collapsed onto the floor.

It wasn’t that Zhu Gaozu had frightened him; rather, he felt mentally exhausted.

“What the hell is all this about...” Chen Kan wanted to vent, but before any curse could escape his lips, he swallowed it back.

Just moments ago, Fang Xiaoru, who had been so righteous and unyielding, was now eating the gruel from the wooden basin.

This scene was hard for Chen Kan to believe.

At a time like this, he could still eat? What a saint.

Watching Fang Xiaoru take small bites of the gruel, Chen Kan murmured softly, “Teacher, Zhu Gaozu said the Prince of Yan will pay respects at the Xiaoling Mausoleum three days from now...”

“Mhm!” Fang Xiaoru responded without even lifting his head.

Chen Kan grew anxious and asked, “Teacher, aren’t you worried at all?”

“Worried?” Fang Xiaoru’s hand froze mid-air, surprised. “Worried about what?”

Chen Kan: “???”

This is so hard, who understands me here...

Chen Kan felt there was definitely a generational gap between himself and Fang Xiaoru.

Yes, a serious one.

Otherwise, how could communication be so difficult?

“Teacher...” Chen Kan hesitated.

“I know what you’re worried about,” Fang Xiaoru said. “Three days from now, the Prince of Yan will pay respects to the late emperor and ascend the throne—that’s inevitable. But most of the loyal ministers from the Jianwen era are already imprisoned and powerless to stop this treason. What use is it to worry?”

Chen Kan: “......”

The way Fang Xiaoru kept calling him “Prince of Yan” sent chills down Chen Kan’s spine.

Moreover, who the hell told you I was worried about that?

What I wanted to say was: “Surrender, Teacher Fang; outside, it’s all treachery.”

Gathering his thoughts, Chen Kan realized Fang Xiaoru was feigning ignorance.

There was no way he didn’t understand what Chen Kan meant.

When Zhu Gaozu came, Chen Kan had already been quite blatant.

It was almost like saying, “Zhu Gaozu, you can’t kill Fang Xiaoru; if you do, there’ll be no one left to write your father’s enthronement edict.”

Fang Xiaoru was hailed as a prodigy of Ming scholarship; Chen Kan couldn’t believe he wouldn’t catch the implication.

Since Fang Xiaoru was playing dumb, Chen Kan decided not to beat around the bush either.

Taking a deep breath, calming himself, he sat cross-legged in front of Fang Xiaoru and carefully organized his words.

“Teacher, what I mean is—I don’t want you to die.”

As soon as he said this, a flicker of guilt crossed Chen Kan’s mind.

But the thought of being torn apart in three days erased that guilt completely.

“Heh,” Fang Xiaoru smiled, thinking Chen Kan was worried about the purge of Jianwen loyalists after Zhu Di’s enthronement.

Then he comforted him, “Everyone must die; death can be as weighty as Mount Tai or as light as a feather. To be remembered for generations in the annals of history is no small honor. Yuan Sheng, you need not pity me.”

Chen Kan wanted to spit blood. Who’s pitying you? I’m worried about my own miserable life!

But Chen Kan couldn’t bring himself to say that to Fang Xiaoru directly.

After all, the harshest ancient punishment was the extermination of nine clans.

And Chen Kan, as Fang Xiaoru’s student, would normally be safe even if Fang Xiaoru’s nine clans were wiped out.

But who would have thought Zhu Di would be the first to dare to say, “If you want to exterminate nine clans, I’ll exterminate ten,” and if the tenth clan doesn’t exist, he’ll find a way to make one up—no discounts whatsoever.

Chen Kan now felt like a seventy-year-old man who married a young, beautiful wife but found himself impotent.

Should he confess to Fang Xiaoru that his ten clans would be exterminated and that he himself would be implicated?

Not to mention whether Fang Xiaoru would believe it, even if Chen Kan did say it, surviving the Zhaojailu prison would be impossible without being ruined.

Martyrdom for righteousness was the universal value of this world.

In a realm where morality reigns supreme, a tarnished reputation meant complete ruin.

Chen Kan wanted to live, but not as an outcast.

He certainly didn’t want to live as a coward who feared death, selfishly abandoning loyalty for profit.

Pushing this thought away, Chen Kan shook his head.

“I’m not worried about that.”

“Heh, then what are you worried about? Worried that if I die, you’ll lose your place to eat?”

Fang Xiaoru’s sudden dark humor left Chen Kan both laughing and crying.

With a bitter smile, he replied, “I’m old enough to be an adult; I’m not worried about that.”

“Then what are you worried about? Eat your meal quickly.”

Fang Xiaoru urged him on and began eating the gruel again.

Chen Kan’s life was in danger; how could he focus on eating? Besides, this stuff was truly hard to swallow.

Watching Fang Xiaoru eat so contentedly, Chen Kan found he genuinely admired the old man.

Not everyone could face death with such calm courage.

His thoughts shifted, and he suddenly asked, “Teacher, in your heart, which weighs more: the hollow title of loyalty to the monarch and love for the country, or the common people of the realm?”

Indeed, Chen Kan decided to morally corner Fang Xiaoru.

After all, a gentleman can be cornered with principles.

He refused to believe Fang Xiaoru cared for nothing in this world.

Since you’re not afraid of blades and bloodshed, I’ll press you with the fate of the people.

Are you afraid?

Sure enough, at Chen Kan’s words, Fang Xiaoru quickly set down the wooden basin.

Then he solemnly said, “Mencius said: ‘The people are the most important, the state comes second, and the ruler is the least.’ In my heart, naturally, the common people carry more weight.”

“What’s wrong? Why this sudden question?”

Chen Kan smiled, “Nothing.”

Then he asked again, “Then, Teacher, what do you think of the Reign of Zhenguan?”

A flicker of surprise passed through Fang Xiaoru’s eyes, but he replied, “The Reign of Zhenguan brought peace to the land, secured the borders, and allowed the people to live and work in peace. It is undoubtedly one of the rare golden ages in history.”

Hearing Fang Xiaoru’s evaluation, Chen Kan had his answer.

He went on, “During the Tang, there was a traitorous minister named Wei Zheng. He once served as a groom to the crown prince and repeatedly advised Crown Prince Li Jiancheng to eliminate his own brothers. After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he served as chancellor under Emperor Taizong and assisted in founding the Reign of Zhenguan.”

Then he asked, “What do you think of Wei Zheng?”

This time, Fang Xiaoru did not answer immediately. After a moment of thought, he said, “Wei Zheng was undoubtedly a renowned minister throughout history.”

Then he shook his head. “I know, Yuan Sheng, you want to seek a glimmer of hope for me, but the Prince of Yan is not Emperor Taizong.”

“The Prince of Yan is cruel and obstinate. Once enthroned, he will wage endless wars, impose heavy taxes, and bring ruin to the world.”

“Moreover, though the common people are important, moral ethics and social order must also be upheld. The late emperor and His Majesty both treated me sincerely; how could I become a traitorous minister to the Prince of Yan?”