Chapter 7: Mr. Qin, His Majesty summons you to attend the imperial council!-Império Ming: Depois que Revelei Minha Viagem no Tempo, Velho Zhu Ficou Atordoado(Do seu lado)

Inside the grand and imposing Fengtian Hall, Old Zhu sat upon the dragon throne, his eyes scanning the gathered ministers like a hawk.

The ministers knelt in unison, their voices thundering through the hall.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Ten thousand years!"

In the eyes of the officials, Old Zhu was the true Son of Heaven, the supreme sovereign. Before him, everyone had to be servile and tread as if on thin ice.

"Ministers, rise."

With a casual word from Old Zhu, the officials stood up, breathing a collective sigh of relief. Dressed in blue and red official robes and holding ivory tablets, the civil and military officials stood in two rows on either side.

Old Zhu said in a deep voice, "Summon the Crown Prince's Tutor, Qin Feng, for an audience."

Wang Jinghong shouted at the top of his lungs, "Summon the Crown Prince's Tutor, Qin Feng, for an audience!"

The sharp, shrill tone echoed repeatedly through the hall.

Led by Xu Da, the military officials, and led by Hu Weiyong, the civil officials, all could not help but look toward the hall entrance. Whispers broke out among them, a constant murmur filling the air.

"Who exactly is this Crown Prince's Tutor handpicked by His Majesty?"

"Could this new tutor be from one of the great Confucian families, the Northern or Southern Kongs?"

"I have never heard the name Qin Feng. He has never even set foot in the Imperial Academy; what profound knowledge could he possibly possess to qualify as the Crown Prince's Tutor?"

As the eunuch’s announcement faded, Qin Feng entered the hall wearing a blue official robe. His slender frame was far too small to fill out the garment, leaving the long hem to drag across the floor. Seeing his ridiculous appearance, the officials were baffled. How could a slovenly person like this be the Emperor’s choice for the Crown Prince's Tutor?

Aside from Old Zhu, Zhu Biao, and Wang Jinghong, who had already witnessed Qin Feng's intellect, none of the other ministers knew him.

Qin Feng cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings to all the ministers!"

Hu Weiyong’s expression darkened. He immediately stepped forward and declared, "Your Majesty, this man is disrespectful before the throne. Failing to kneel before the Son of Heaven is an act of grave insubordination. I request that Your Majesty hand him over to the Ministry of Justice to be judged for his crimes."

Qin Feng glanced at Hu Weiyong with a frown, muttering to himself, *I hold a minor position, and you want to punish me? Luckily, I cleared the matter of court etiquette with Old Zhu yesterday, or I would have been nagged to death by you pedantic scholars! Besides, with the Hongwu Emperor backing me, what can you possibly do?*

Before Qin Feng could retort, Crown Prince Zhu Biao stepped out and bowed. "Chancellor Hu, you take this too seriously. Master Qin is new and unfamiliar with court customs. I hope Your Majesty will pardon his lack of decorum."

Qin Feng gave Zhu Biao a friendly look. The Crown Prince was indeed as benevolent and righteous as the history books described.

Old Zhu signaled to Wang Jinghong, who immediately understood. He hurried over to Qin Feng and said, "Master Qin, His Majesty requests your presence to listen to the proceedings at the foot of the throne."

*Listen to the proceedings at the foot of the throne?*

The ministers stood dumbfounded, staring at Qin Feng. Who on earth was this man to receive such preferential treatment from the Emperor? Even Zhu Biao looked at his father in bewilderment, wondering if he had heard correctly.

Old Zhu did not care what the ministers thought of his attitude toward Qin Feng. Qin Feng carried great destiny, linked to the future of the Ming Dynasty; he dared not offend him lightly. Since he couldn't stop the wagging tongues, he might as well let them taste the consequences of offending a great sage.

Hearing Wang Jinghong’s words, the ministers looked at Qin Feng with envy. Qin Feng made a face at Hu Weiyong, then swaggered up the steps to stand beside the dragon throne. His carefree, arrogant gait made the officials want to kick him from behind. Even the cunning Hu Weiyong and the illustrious Xu Da were left bewildered. They could not fathom what Old Zhu was planning by appointing a young man of the Crown Prince's age as his tutor.

Hu Weiyong was filled with jealousy. Everyone craved the Emperor's favor. He had spent years climbing to the position of Chancellor by maintaining the Huai-Xi nobility and currying favor with his predecessor, Li Shanchang. He didn’t know what background this Qin Feng had, but to be appointed a tutor and invited to listen to the throne in one swoop was an excessive honor. Furthermore, this man was far too insolent. Even during the morning court, he was chatting idly with the Emperor's eunuch.

Standing beside Wang Jinghong, Qin Feng smiled and whispered, "Eunuch Wang, we meet again. How did the matter I entrusted you with yesterday go?"

Wang Jinghong replied quietly, "This old servant has already handled it for you, Master Qin."

"Then I thank you, Eunuch Wang."

Seeing Qin Feng’s grinning face, Hu Weiyong could no longer ignore his insolent attitude. He stepped forward and said in a cold voice, "May I ask what academic qualifications this tutor handpicked by His Majesty possesses? At such a young age, what credentials do you have to teach the Crown Prince? Your Majesty, I urge you to reconsider. Do not be blinded by those with ulterior motives."

Zhu Biao bowed. "Chancellor Hu, Master Qin has profound knowledge of mathematics. After learning from him yesterday, I felt as if I had been enlightened."

*Mathematics?* That was a trivial, useless skill! Yet, judging by the Crown Prince's words, he seemed to hold Qin Feng’s mathematical prowess in high regard. *Absurd! Utterly absurd! If he is allowed to mislead the Crown Prince, the future of the nation will be ruined!*

The civil officials looked at Qin Feng with disdain. A courtier who relied on opportunism to win the Emperor's favor was beneath those who had entered the court through the imperial examinations.

Hu Weiyong sneered, "Mathematics is merely a petty trick. The Crown Prince’s studies should focus on the art of governance."

Old Zhu’s temper flared at these words. *Do you, a mere minister, have the right to dictate what my son should learn?*

Just as Old Zhu was about to erupt, Qin Feng smiled and asked, "Then, in your opinion, what knowledge should a Crown Prince's Tutor possess?"

"You are young, lack qualifications, have never earned a degree, and haven't even entered the Imperial Academy. On what basis are you the tutor?"

"The Crown Prince is the future of the Ming Dynasty. His tutor should be a man of vast learning, a great Confucian scholar! Your Majesty! I implore you to disregard the words of villains and not allow the Crown Prince’s education to be ruined!"

Old Zhu ignored Hu Weiyong entirely, keeping his eyes fixed on Qin Feng. He wanted to see how this man, who claimed to be from the future, would handle these old, wily ministers. This was the part he found most entertaining.

Qin Feng smiled at Hu Weiyong and said, enunciating every word: "Then, tell me, does the ability to compose a poem in seven steps count as knowledge?"