Flat Rabbit nodded along in a half-understanding way, clearly not interested in digging deeper, because in its mind, if the learned people had already explained things like this, then there was no need to overthink it, just follow along and things would work out.
It pulled out a large sack, tossed the jade inside with a casual flick, then waved at the others with a grin that looked entirely too pleased with itself.
"Come on, come on, anything you pick up goes in here, we will submit everything to the village treasury together, and after a few days, I will go file an application to take it back out, hehehe."
The others burst into laughter at once.
"Only you, Rabbit, would dare apply for something like that, nobody else has the guts to even try."
"That is right, if it were us, we would not even dare open our mouths."
Laughing and chatting, the group continued deeper into the palace.
Along the way, every palace hall they passed showed signs of having been ransacked by palace maids and eunuchs, leaving chaos everywhere, valuables stripped away in haste, yet plenty of items still scattered about, abandoned in the panic.
From time to time, a body could be seen lying on the ground, the result of desperate struggles over wealth, where people had turned on each other in their final moments.
At the sight of this, several people instinctively lifted their heads to look at the faint golden hand in the sky, half-hidden within the clouds, and a thought rose quietly in their hearts.
If Dao Xuan Tianzun had not insisted all this time on strict moral discipline within the Gao Family Village regional militia, then perhaps right now it would be their own people inside this palace, hacking at each other over treasures, descending into the same kind of rot.
That kind of foresight was not something ordinary people could possess.
They walked on in silence for a while, until at last they arrived at the Hall of Imperial Supremacy.
The moment they stepped forward, they saw Crown Prince Zhu Cilang kneeling to the left of the entrance, and beside him stood Yong Wang-Zhu Cijiong and Ding Wang-Zhu Cihuan, the three brothers dressed in ragged commoner clothing, with the words "obedient citizen" pasted onto their hats in crude characters.
Everyone paused, caught completely off guard, unsure how to respond to such a scene.
Before anyone could decide what to do, hurried footsteps approached from the distance as Mi Qingli ran over, raising a token high in his hand.
"I am an agent of the Sky Shield Bureau, Mi Qingli. By the order of Dao Xuan Tianzun, I am here to escort Zhu Youjian's family members for unified management."
Zhu Cunji blinked, then pointed at himself.
"Wait, do I count as his family?"
Zhu Youzhong raised a brow.
"I suppose I count as well?"
Zhu Yujian spread his hands.
"That would make quite a large family."
The group burst into laughter.
Mi Qingli shook his head.
"Stop joking, everyone knows what is meant. Direct family only, wife, children, daughters. Those who have already branched out do not count. You all handle your own matters, I will take these children first."
They had been worrying about what to do with the three boys, so having someone step in to take responsibility felt like a great relief, and they watched as Mi Qingli led them away before turning and entering the hall.
This was the place where the Ming court once held its assemblies, where officials argued fiercely day after day, sometimes even coming to blows right in the hall, yet now it stood empty and silent, a vast space stretching out with only a few palace cats wandering lazily inside.
One large orange cat spotted them and bolted in an instant, disappearing into a hole with a flash of fur.
The group looked around, exchanging glances, until Chen Qianhu finally spoke.
"With things like this, what do we actually do next? Zhu Youjian has been brought down, the officials are all hiding in their homes, do we set up a new emperor?"
"A new emperor or not is not the key point," Zhu Yujian replied calmly, his tone steady, yet carrying a weight that drew everyone's attention. "What is clear is that the system of rule by one must end, what comes next has to be rule by many."
Zhu Youzhong nodded.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun himself said it clearly, who sits on the throne is not important, but a system where one person decides everything cannot continue."
Flat Rabbit scratched its head.
"This is where my knowledge ends, you scholars handle it, discuss it among yourselves, and once you are done, just let Dao Xuan Tianzun take a look, that should settle everything."
The suggestion was so straightforward that the others found themselves nodding in agreement almost immediately.
"Yes, that makes sense, we discuss among ourselves, that is rule by many, and once we reach a conclusion, we let Dao Xuan Tianzun make the final call."
However, before the thought could fully settle, the golden-thread Dao Xuan Tianzun on Zhu Yujian's chest suddenly spoke, its voice carrying a faint trace of amusement.
"That will not do. If only a few of you discuss matters and then hand everything to me for a final decision, how is that fundamentally different from the Six Ministries discussing matters and then submitting them to the emperor for approval?"
Chen Qianhu responded without hesitation.
"Of course it is different, you are Dao Xuan Tianzun, you know five hundred years into the past, five hundred years into the future, and everything in between, you cannot be wrong, letting you decide would prevent us from making mistakes."
Laughter echoed again.
The cotton-thread Dao Xuan Tianzun on Chen Qianhu's chest spoke next.
"When I travel across the world, visiting distant mountains and rivers, will you all simply wait for me to return before making decisions?"
Silence.
Then the cotton-thread Dao Xuan Tianzun on Flat Rabbit's chest added another question.
"When I go into seclusion for cultivation, will you suspend all governance and wait for me as well, would that not simply return things to the old days?"
More silence.
Then the golden-thread Dao Xuan Tianzun on Zhu Cunji's chest spoke, its tone now calm and firm.
"This world ultimately belongs to you, and to the people, not to me. I can help you for a time, but not for a lifetime. What you need to build is a system of governance that can function even without me, not one where the emperor's rule is simply replaced by mine."
That single statement struck everyone like a sudden jolt.
"Think carefully, do not rush your decisions," Li Daoxuan continued. "I will watch from above, and only watch. You have already read enough from the heavenly texts, I do not intend to say another word."
With that, every Dao Xuan Tianzun, whether golden-thread, silver-thread, or cotton-thread, fell silent all at once.
The hall was left in complete stillness.
Several seconds passed before Zhu Cunji finally spoke, scratching his head awkwardly.
"You all know me, I am nothing but a useless playboy, governing a country is not something I understand, I will return to Shaanxi and bring over the real scholars to offer advice."
Chen Qianhu laughed.
"I am just an actor, I will also need to find people with real knowledge to help."
Flat Rabbit slapped its forehead.
"Sichuan has plenty of local chieftains and administrators who actually know how to manage territories, I should go ask them what they think."
Zhu Youzhong nodded.
"I will call in capable people from Henan as well."
Zhu Youxu added thoughtfully.
"And the old official system must be reorganized and cleaned up."
A moment later, everyone spoke at once.
"There is too much to do."
"There is no way we can finish all of it quickly."
…
The next day, the Public Governance faction issued a joint proclamation to the former officials of the Ming court.
"All civil and military officials are to submit their names and positions by the following day, and three days later present themselves for court. Those willing to serve will be appointed according to their abilities, those unwilling may return to their hometowns."
The moment the order was released, those eager for official careers rushed forward to register, while others chose to remain in the shadows, quietly observing how the situation would develop.
Three days later, the registered officials gathered outside Meridian Gate, dressed in simple blue robes and small caps, kneeling as they waited to be called.
Men who once carried themselves with dignity, men known for clever speech or literary fame, men full of pride or sharp tongues, all now stood with lowered heads, subdued and cautious, like wooden figures stripped of their former presence.
Some had shaved their heads to become monks, others feigned illness with cloth wrapped around their foreheads, all manner of strange behaviors on display, far too many to fully describe.
Among the crowd stood He Fengsheng, the former Grand Secretary.
Beside him was Liang Shixian.
The two stood in line, waiting as the members of the Public Governance faction reviewed their registrations and decided whether they would be retained.
He Fengsheng lowered his voice.
"Brother Liang, do you think I will still be able to secure a position this time?"
Liang Shixian smiled faintly.
"I thought your only goal was to drift along and preserve your life, why are you suddenly so eager to return to office?"
He Fengsheng let out a quiet laugh.
"That is different. Drifting along while holding office still comes with a salary, and the higher the position, the higher the pay."
The moment his words fell, a voice rang out from inside.
"He Fengsheng, you are next."