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

Chapter 323 Zhu Wushi Changes His Words
To plot against the emperor is the same crime as treason.

It is a heinous crime that would result in the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Under everyone's gaze, all the civil and military officials secretly shook their heads, believing that no matter what, Zhu Wushi would never admit to such a heinous crime. At that moment, Zhu Wushi's clenched fist loosened and tightened again.

Finally, he lowered his head in dejection.
"The disgraced official Zhu Wushi..."

"Confess!"

Zhu Wushi's voice was very soft, but in the silent Fengtian Hall, it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Divine Marquis?" Li Dongyang's eyes widened in anger, his face still showing disbelief.

Their rebellion failed, and they were executed along with their entire clan, even their nine generations of relatives. Li Dongyang, Yang Yanhe, and others had no complaints. Since ancient times, the victor is king and the loser is villain.

But Zhu Houzhao's death really had nothing to do with them!
Zhu Wushi took on this responsibility, which was tantamount to nailing Yang Yanhe, Li Dongyang, and other cabinet elders to the pillar of historical shame, making them despised by future generations.

Yang Yanhe also showed a look of disbelief.

Based on their understanding of Zhu Wushi, given his ruthless and ambitious nature, he was determined to face death calmly after the victory or defeat, and was by no means a coward who feared death.

If that's the case, why would you agree to this fabricated charge?

As everyone knows...

Zhu Wushi was also helpless.

Everyone has weaknesses, but Zhu ignored his biggest weakness... which was in someone else's hands.

……

Let's rewind to half an hour earlier, before Zhu Jinzhen's army had taken over the palace.

Ignore it!

A gentle, familiar voice made Zhu Wushi's body tremble violently, and he turned around in disbelief.

"This...this is...Su Xin?" Zhu Wushi trembled as he turned to look at the figure outside Qianqing Palace, the one he had been longing for.

A pure heart?!

Zhu rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Swish~!

Su Xin's figure was like a ghost, instantly crossing a hundred feet and appearing in front of Zhu Wushi. Looking at the man who once moved her heart, her disheveled and wretched appearance, like a stray dog, was completely different from the once spirited Zhu Tiedan.

“The Profound Realm.” Although Zhu Wushi was crippled, his eyesight was still sharp, and he immediately noticed Su Xin’s difference.

Each step covered dozens of feet, and his figure was as light and graceful as a feather.

He is a true master of the Finger-Pointing Mystery Sect.

"Ignore it, you've aged a lot."

"Su Xin, aren't you...?" A hint of malice and suspicion flashed in Zhu Wushi's eyes. Although he was excited, he was not blinded by joy, because he knew that Su Xin could not possibly be in front of him, but should be sleeping in Tianchi.

Su Xin seemed to see through Zhu Wushi's thoughts and smiled gently: "It was His Highness Prince Su who saved me. A month ago, he ordered someone to bring me out of Tianchi and used Tianxiang Douka to wake me up and heal me. It was also through the Xuanjia Secret Guard's account that I learned... Wushi, you have done so much for me."

Immediately, Su Xin recounted what she had learned from the Xuanjia Secret Guards about Zhu Wushi's deep affection for her and his actions.

"Really?" Zhu Wushi was somewhat incredulous, but considering Zhu Jinzhen's unpredictable methods and the rumors circulating about the Heavenly Sword, he ultimately chose to believe it.

Because Zhu Jinzhen had no reason to lie to him anymore.

At that time, the capital was under Zhu Jinzhen's control. Even if he wanted to kill Zhu Wushi, any secret guard could easily do it. Zhu Wushi, who had already lost everything, did not think that he had anything left for Zhu Jinzhen to scheme against.

Zhu Wushi and Su Xin, having been separated for so long, should have had endless things to say to each other. However, Zhu Jinzhen had already led his army into the palace, and Zhu Wushi could only watch helplessly as Su Xin was forcibly taken away by the secret guards, who then relayed to Zhu Wushi the instructions Zhu Jinzhen had given him long ago.

Admitting treason means bearing eternal infamy.

But if you don't acknowledge it...

It doesn't matter if we can't share a fur coat in life or a grave in death.

Zhu Wushi was even more afraid that after his death, Su Xin would suffer a miserable fate.

The secret guard only brought Zhu Jinzhen's words: "Zhu Wushi, don't you want Suxin to return to Gu Santong's side, to live happily ever after, and grow old together?"

These words struck a nerve with Zhu Wushi.

Zhu Wushi couldn't even accept Su Xin remarrying, let alone returning to Gu Santong's side and living happily ever after? This would be more painful for him than killing Zhu Wushi and subjecting him to the excruciating torture of being sliced ​​into a thousand pieces.

Therefore, Zhu ignored the server.

He had no choice.

In the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Wushi emphatically recounted that he had conspired with the cabinet to commit treason, and that he knew Zhu Jinzhen's army had already entered the capital. In desperation, he harbored evil intentions, and thus Yang Yanhe and his associates, along with Zhu Wushi, resorted to regicide as a last resort.

"So...so that's how it is?"

"Your Excellency, how could they be so foolish!"

"Damn it, how hateful! Zhu Wushi, Yang Yanhe, how dare you act so recklessly?"

"Killing the emperor is a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. How dare you... deceive the emperor like this? How dare you commit such treason!"

The Fengtian Hall erupted in chaos. The officials glared angrily at Zhu Wushi and Yang Yanhe, launching a verbal and written attack. Many civil officials even wore expressions of deep sorrow and indignation.

Didn't they know there was something fishy going on?
they know.

There might be some fools standing on the Fengtian Hall, but there would never be any stupid or ignorant people.

They believed Zhu Wushi's words, but not many of them.

But how this play is performed is not up to them, nor to Zhu Wushi, but to the people sitting on the throne watching the play. As long as they can satisfy this new emperor of the Ming Dynasty, let alone Zhu Wushi admitting to the treason and regicide.

Even if they deny it to the death, Zhu Houzhao is lying right in front of them now, and the officials will pin the blame on them to prevent more people from being implicated.

However, quite a few people stood up to defend Zhu Wushi, or rather, to defend Yang Yanhe and other cabinet ministers.

A third-rank official stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highness Prince Su, I believe that Grand Secretary Li has worked diligently for our Great Ming for many years and has made great contributions. Even if he had a momentary lapse in judgment, he would never have committed such a heinous act of regicide."

"His Majesty's sudden death must be suspicious."

"Your Highness, I believe we should not only listen to the Iron-Blooded Marquis's one-sided account. Please consider this carefully."

"Yes, Your Highness. Grand Secretary Yang is His Majesty's teacher. Perhaps there are differences in political views, but I believe that Grand Secretary Yang would not be so heartless as to disregard the proper relationship between ruler and subject, or the bond between teacher and student, and would not dare to kill His Majesty."

"There must be something strange about this."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that this case be jointly tried by the three judicial departments, with the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard conducting a joint investigation, so as to clear the names of the Grand Secretaries and allow Your Majesty to rest in peace after the injustice has been redressed."

"Wei Chen seconded the proposal."

"Your Majesty, I, Du Zhongyong, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, also request Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Officials from various departments and ministries bravely stepped forward to plead for Yang Yanhe and Li Dongyang, along with other cabinet ministers. It wasn't that they weren't afraid of death, but rather that if the entire cabinet fell, they would be punished by Zhu Jinzhen for regicide and treason.

They will inevitably be among the officials implicated.

(End of this chapter)