Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 182 Zhu Houzhao's Death Shocks Everyone
For the sake of the Ming Dynasty's eternal prosperity, we beg the emperor to die?

Zhu Houzhao's eyes widened, filled with disbelief and resistance.

If Zhu Jinzhen felt that he was blocking his way and wanted to kill him, the emperor, Zhu Houzhao would have to accept his fate no matter how unwilling he was. But to change an ancestral precept, you want me, an emperor, to die once?
No, that's not right, is it?
Zhu Jinzhen's words echoed in the Qianqing Palace, sending chills down Zhu Houzhao's spine.

However, he did not notice the mocking look in Zhu Jinzhen's eyes.

In fact, Zhu Jinzhen did have such an idea.

The Ming emperor's blood is easily soluble in water.

There is only one way to stop this.

kill!

Only by slaughtering until heads roll and blood flows like rivers, until no one dares to harbor any dissent, and by binding the lives and fortunes of the most powerful people in the court to the emperor, can this situation be truly and effectively curbed.

To avoid becoming like the Ming emperors in normal history.

It is readily soluble in water.

Or it may be easily burned by fire.

However, a single sentence from Changsun Wangqing made Zhu Jinzhen abandon this idea.

"Your Highness has transcended the mortal realm and is on the verge of immortality. The future of the Ming Dynasty and even the entire world rests solely on Your Highness's shoulders. Is there any need to fear the treacherous schemes of those civil and military officials in the court?"

These words jolted Zhu Jinzhen awake from his reverie.

It was only then that he realized what it had to do with him that the Ming emperor was easily soluble in water.

Unless his net actually finds some time travelers, or has some kind of conceptual ability or terminology targeting him, it's unlikely.

Otherwise, with just these officials in the court, Zhu Jinzhen could easily suppress a large number of them and replace them with a large number of new ones.

Establish separate ancestral precepts?

Zhu Jinzhen's words were the supreme authority of the Ming Dynasty, so there was no need for that thing at all.

"Perhaps, you are right."

Zhu Houzhao gave a bitter laugh and almost stumbled and fell.

Zhu Jinzhen's previous words shattered his already dwindling mental defenses. There are many ways to change ancestral precepts and intimidate future generations, but the simplest and most effective way is undoubtedly to use his life as emperor.

"Prince Su."

"Ok?"

"After I leave, please treat Yunluo well. She grew up in the palace and although she is a bit willful, she is kind by nature. If you don't like her, find her a good family. This is my last request."

“This is easy,” Zhu Jinzhen nodded in agreement.

"Furthermore, these treacherous officials deserve to be executed by everyone." Zhu Houzhao pointed at Zhu Wushi, Li Dongyang, and others. If it weren't for their actions, according to Zhu Houzhao's plan, he would only need to deliver the imperial edict to Zhu Jinzhen, wait for him to raise an army in accordance with the edict, and then hand over the imperial power.

How did things get to such an uncontrollable point?

Zhu Jinzhen glanced at Zhu Wushi and the others: "Treason is a crime that punishes nine generations of one's family. Since they have participated, whether for profit or power, they will ultimately not escape death."

"Besides, I need to make an example of them, and they are the perfect candidates."

"Very well, I'm off!"

Zhu Houzhao closed his eyes in despair, and with a wave of his hand, a dagger that had been prepared beforehand fell into his palm. He then stabbed it into his abdomen with his other hand. Excruciating pain swept through his body, but the death he had been waiting for was slow to come.

Then, Zhu Houzhao cried out, his face pale, "It hurts, it hurts, Prince Su, help... help me!" Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that although the dagger in Zhu Houzhao's hand had pierced his abdomen and blood was gushing out, staining his dragon robe red, the dagger, though sharp, could not kill him quickly.

Don't forget, besides being the emperor, Zhu Houzhao also secretly possessed the cultivation of a Master of the Mysterious Pointing Sect.

He committed suicide with just a dagger; how could he die so quickly?

"Row!"

Zhu Jinzhen was speechless, but he still spread his hands to show that he was definitely a helpful person. With a wave of his hand, a powerful force carried the dagger and Zhu Houzhao directly to the wall of Qianqing Palace.

"puff!"

"Prince Su, you are still too..."

Zhu Houzhao spat out a mouthful of blood. Before he could finish speaking, his head lolled to the side, and he fell silent.

"Your Majesty!!!" Li Dongyang and Yang Yanhe cried out at the same time, turning around and kowtowing repeatedly to Zhu Houzhao, whether it was crocodile tears or repentance was unknown.

Yang Yanhe kept wiping away tears. Zhu Houzhao was, after all, his student, so there was still some affection between them.

But it could also be a case of "the rabbit mourns the fox's death."

At this moment, Yang Ning asked, somewhat puzzled, "Your Highness, the Emperor..."

"Oh, he's just thinking about dying, it's okay."

Zhu Jinzhen knew what Yang Ning wanted to ask. Whether Zhu Houzhao was dead or alive was irrelevant, but it would be best if he didn't die. After all, if he died, Zhu would ignore how they would pull off the switcheroo and mix up the real thing tomorrow.
"Can't think straight? Try dying?" Zhu Wushi's eyes twitched wildly, somewhat confused, a strange feeling creeping into his heart. But he had no time to empathize with Zhu Houzhao or feel a sense of shared sorrow, because he knew that now that he had fallen into Zhu Jinzhen's hands, his fate would only be worse.

However, Zhu Jinzhen didn't bother to even glance at him.

After Li Dongyang and the other cabinet ministers finished wailing, and seeing Zhu Houzhao completely dead, Zhu Jinzhen waved his hand and snatched the dagger that Zhu Houzhao had stuck in his abdomen from a distance.

As the emperor's corpse slowly slid down the wall, Li Dongyang and Yang Yan rushed forward to support it, seemingly trying to preserve the last shred of dignity for the emperor.

However, when their hands touched Zhu Houzhao's body...

Zhu Houzhao suddenly let out a "uh..." sound, as if a drowning person had suddenly gasped for breath, and then opened a pair of bewildered and empty eyes.

"A ghost...a ghost!" Li Dongyang's eyes rolled back and he fainted instantly.

"It's...it's back from the dead?!" Yang Yanhe shakily let go, trying to crawl out, but found his legs were as weak as noodles, completely unresponsive. He cursed inwardly, "Damn legs, move! Move already!!!"

The other cabinet ministers were now trembling like leaves, frantically swallowing their saliva.

They witnessed Zhu Houzhao's death firsthand.

When Zhu Jinzhen pinned Zhu Houzhao to the wall of Qianqing Palace, the dagger pierced through his body, leaving a huge hole. The large pool of blood on the ground also proved that Zhu Houzhao was truly dead.

But now, what exactly is going on?
Not to mention the civil officials like Yang Yanhe and Li Dongyang in the cabinet, even Zhu Wushi was dumbfounded, his eyes wide open as if he had seen the most unbelievable thing in the world.

After all, just a moment ago he was feeling the same way about the tragic fate that was about to befall him, and he was even starting to think about his beloved girl, Su Xin.

What happened next? Zhu Houzhao suddenly came back to life?

Such a magical thing, even if Zhu Wushi is knowledgeable and experienced, he has never heard of it or experienced it!

He, Zhu Wushi, the First Celestial Being of the Ming Dynasty, had cultivated the Absorption Technique to its highest level. At such close range, Zhu Wushi truly felt Zhu Houzhao die, his heartbeat and breathing completely stopped, and his aura dissipated.

Can……

How did he come back to life?

(End of this chapter)