Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 159 We Don't Mind Using Our Son's Blood to Wash Away the Ming Dynasty [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Inside the Huagai Hall, the candlelight cast flickering shadows on Old Zhu's icy killing intent.

On the emperor's desk, two blood-stained iron boxes containing transcribed contents lay side by side, like two unsheathed blades, radiating a chilling light.

Jiang Huan knelt below, her forehead pressed tightly against the cold floor tiles.

Although he was extremely unwilling, he still tried his best to repeat Zhang Biao's treasonous and extremely malicious 'confession' in a calm but undisguised tone.

With each additional word spoken, the air in the hall seemed to solidify further, and the temperature dropped by one degree.

When he heard Zhang Biao threaten to fabricate eight hundred versions of the old Zhu family's sordid affairs—the brothers killing each other, the father and sons being suspicious of each other, and the children and grandchildren being beasts—and spread them throughout the world, the veins on the back of the old Zhu's hand, which was resting on the armrest of the dragon throne, suddenly bulged out like writhing dragons.

"Squeak..."

He actually managed to crack the hard rosewood armrest by squeezing it.

A raging fire of anger surged within him like magma, threatening to shatter the calm shell of an emperor.

[A death row inmate! An insignificant ant! How dare he threaten us like this!?]

[How dare they trample on the dignity of our Zhu family imperial family like this!?]

Kill him! He must be torn to pieces immediately! Crippled into a thousand pieces—!

The thought roared through his mind like an instinct.

However, at the height of his rage, Zhu Yuanzhang's extraordinary rationality and ruthless imperial mind forcefully suppressed this pure killing intent.

He slowly and with extreme restraint released his fingers, which had been gripping the armrest so tightly they were almost crushing it.

[Do not kill]

At least not now.

Zhang Biao, that madman, may seem insane, but every word he utters hits us where it hurts most and where we can't ignore it.

[Royal dignity, historical records, public opinion...]

These seemingly ethereal yet incredibly weighty things were precisely one of the greatest obsessions of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor who came from humble origins and placed great importance on his posthumous reputation.

【Good...very good...you bastard...we really underestimated your ruthlessness and intelligence, you shameless rogue!】

Are you trying to force us to clean house... to force us to kill our sons and brothers? Do you think we wouldn't dare?

Old Zhu sneered inwardly, his anger turning into calm.

His most important task now is not to kill, nor to hold a grudge against a dying man, but to clarify the truth and stabilize the situation as quickly as possible and at the lowest cost.

Killing Zhang Biao was simple, but the consequences were unpredictable.

This 'madman' must have left himself a backup plan before he died.

Otherwise, he would never have failed to realize that if he died, Shen Lang and the other four would surely die as well.

The fact that he dared to go to jail shows that he had already planned everything out.

He has enough leverage to prevent us from killing Shen Lang and the other four.

Perhaps it was the insidious methods revealed in his seemingly deliberate, yet provocative, actions...

In that case
The most urgent task is to shut him up, pry out everything he knows, and then let him disappear quietly, as he desires.

At the same time, it is essential to ensure that the five boys who know a lot of inside information do not speak recklessly.

Thinking of this, Old Zhu's gaze became deep and unfathomable.

"Jiang Huan".

"Chen is here!"

Jiang Huan lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

Where are Zhang Biao's five accomplices now?

Old Zhu's voice was eerily calm, devoid of any anger.

"Your Majesty, Shen Lang and Sun Gui are imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail. Li Mo, Wu Naida, Zhao Fengman... were just captured by the Five Cities Garrison and are being escorted to the Ministry of Justice."

"Take them all to the imperial prison!"

Old Zhu calmly ordered, "Lock them in the cell next to Zhang Biao's. Let the brothers 'reunite'."

"this…."

Jiang Huan was slightly taken aback, but immediately understood: "Your Majesty is wise! I will take care of it immediately!"

By placing Zhang Biao's men under his watchful eye, the Emperor not only kept them under close surveillance but also used them as leverage and hostages.

They used their safety to torment and force Zhang Biao to submit.

"besides!"

Old Zhu added, a cold smile curving his lips: "Send people to 'urge' Zhang Biao to write a confession non-stop for twelve hours. Tell him that our patience is limited."

"Incidentally, so that he can always hear the 'commotion' of his five brothers being interrogated in turn."

"Let's see if he's just being stubborn, or if his brothers are just as tough."

The implication in those words sent a chill down Jiang Huan's spine.

The Emperor is trying to win Zhang Biao's heart; he wants to use the five people's continued fear and possible screams to break down Zhang Biao's psychological defenses.

"My lord, I understand!"

Jiang Huan kowtowed deeply.

"Go."

Old Zhu waved his hand:
"Tell Song Zhong that we need to see Liu Chun's confession and the investigation results as soon as possible. News from Shaanxi and the various regional princes should also be sent urgently!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Huan responded and quickly retreated, his steps even more hurried than when he arrived.

Old Zhu was left alone in the hall once again.

[Saying our Ming Dynasty is rotten to the core? What a fine example of "what the superiors do, the inferiors follow"! What a righteous and awe-inspiring attitude!]

[That bastard actually dared to say that we can't make up for it and that we're the biggest parasites! What audacity!]

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the deep night. His gaze seemed to penetrate the palace walls, revealing the demons and monsters that were stirring in the darkness.

Second brother, third brother, fifth brother... and those parasites who are your lackeys...

You'd better pray that Biao'er's death really has nothing to do with you...

【otherwise……】

A hint of near-madness, a dual tyranny belonging to both a father and an emperor, flashed in his eyes.

We wouldn't mind using your blood to wash away the stain on this Ming Dynasty once more!

"call"

He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions.

Now, he has to wait.

Song Zhong pried open the mouths of Liu Chun and those eunuchs.

Waiting for news from Shaanxi and the fiefdoms of the vassal kings.

The rats in Yingtian Prefecture, startled by the rumors he had deliberately spread, jumped out of their holes on their own.

As for Zhang Biao...

A cold, calculating glint flashed in Old Zhu's eyes.

Once we've gotten everything we want... you can set off.

"Yunming!"

Old Zhu called out softly again.

Yun Ming moved with lightning speed to stand before Old Zhu, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty."

"Has the investigation into Sun Ren's death been completed?"

"Your Majesty, I have just received Commander Song's report. Please take a look..."

As he spoke, he handed the document in his hand to Old Zhu.

Without saying a word, Old Zhu took the document and unfolded it to examine it.

The contents mainly consist of Lü's confession, the confessions of two Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), and the confessions of other eyewitnesses.

In this confession, Lady Lü tearfully recounted her fear that Zhu Yunwen would act rashly and anger the emperor, revealing her complete ignorance of the iron box. She even blamed herself for being an inadequate mother...

In short, he felt extremely guilty and terrified, which made Old Zhu frown slightly.

As for the statements of the two Imperial Guards, they insisted that they were on guard duty by imperial decree, and that it was an accident that Zhu Yunwen took away their Embroidered Spring Blade, because they were afraid of harming His Highness.

The testimonies of other eyewitnesses mostly stated that Sun Ren was in a hurry and even rushed over to dissuade Zhu Yunwen. As for what Sun Ren actually said to Zhu Yunwen, it is unclear.

"Ah!"

After reading all the testimonies, Old Zhu couldn't help but sneer and sigh to himself, "As expected of the concubine chosen by our Biao'er! Very good indeed!"

Although these words were meant to praise the Lü family, they sent a chill down Yunming's spine.

Clearly, even though Lady Lü has been temporarily cleared of suspicion of plotting against the Crown Prince, the Emperor is no longer satisfied with this Crown Princess.

But Old Zhu said calmly and indifferently:
"Issue my decree: Lady Lü has neglected discipline and failed to manage her household properly. She is hereby ordered to correct her mistakes and reform herself. If this happens again, we will not let her off lightly."

"In addition, inform Song Zhong to transfer the two Imperial Guards who are on duty today to the northern desert and never recall them."

"promise!"

Yunming immediately accepted the order, then turned and left the Huagai Hall.

He knew that the Eastern Palace was no longer the place of 'pure filial piety' in the Emperor's heart.

.........

the other side.

The East Palace, a side hall where Zhu Mingyue and Zhu Mingyu reside.

The atmosphere inside the hall was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Zhu Mingyue sat by the window, unconsciously twisting a silk handkerchief in her hand. Her beautiful eyes were red and swollen, filled with immense fear and worry, and tears streamed down her face silently like broken beads.

Her gentle nature seemed so helpless in the face of this raging storm.

"Big sister! Please stop crying!"

Zhu Mingyu paced restlessly back and forth in the hall, her almond-shaped eyes, so similar to Chang Shi's, burning with anger and an barely suppressed excitement.

"I think Yunwen did the right thing! If it were me, I would have killed that old eunuch too!"

"Why are they stopping us from seeing our grandfather? Why is my second brother allowed in? They're just bullying us motherless children!"

Although she was also afraid, she admired her brother's resolute courage and felt a sense of catharsis after being suppressed for a long time.

Zhang Biao's 'crazy talk' seemed to have planted a seed of rebellion in her heart.

"But...but that's a capital offense!"

Zhu Mingyue's voice was choked with sobs and filled with despair:

"Yunhua...he was beaten by the Emperor...I don't know where he's locked up now...Waaah...If only Father and Mother were here..."

Just then, a palace maid's somewhat flustered voice came from outside the hall: "Your Highness...why have you come?"

Immediately afterwards, the palace doors were pushed open, and Lady Lü entered, surrounded by a group of palace maids and nannies.

Today she was dressed in a simple palace gown, without any makeup. Her face was pale, her eyes were slightly red, and her brows were shrouded in a deep, unyielding sorrow and weariness, as if she had just experienced a great blow and injustice. She looked pitiful.

"Bright moon, bright jade..."

As soon as she entered, her gaze fell on the two sisters. Her voice was soft yet tinged with a sob. She quickly stepped forward, first taking Zhu Mingyue's cold hand, then trying to pat Zhu Mingyu's shoulder with her other hand. Her eyes were filled with sincere concern and heartache.
“Good children, you…you have been frightened…”

Zhu Mingyue seemed to have found her pillar of support, grabbing Lü Shi's hand and crying even harder: "Mother... Yunhuo... what will happen to him..."

Zhu Mingyu subconsciously took a half step back, avoiding Lu Shi's touch, and scrutinized Lu Shi with a pair of sharp eyes, carrying a hint of barely perceptible vigilance.

She always felt that there was something hidden behind her stepmother's gentleness.

When Lu's hand missed its target, a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment and displeasure flashed across her face, but it quickly turned into a deeper sorrow.

She picked up a silk handkerchief and gently wiped away non-existent tears, her voice growing even more tender and sorrowful:
"Alas... I've heard everything... Yunhuo... he's so impulsive..." "How could he commit such a heinous act... carrying a weapon, alarming the Emperor, and... even taking a life..."

"How...how can I face my deceased sister, how can I face His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Every sentence she uttered seemed to express sympathy for Zhu Yunwen, but in reality, she kept emphasizing his rebelliousness and guilt, cleverly placing herself in the position of a victim and a helpless elder.

"But it's my mother!"

Zhu Mingyue cried as she defended herself:

“Yunhu said… he said he had a huge injustice to report to his grandfather, it was about his father… he was forced into it…”

"Silly boy!"

Madam Lü immediately interrupted her, her tone filled with a pained indignation that 'you are still young and don't understand.'

"Can't we talk things out properly, no matter how important this is? Why do we have to resort to this risky approach?"

"Now that we have angered the Emperor, even if there is a true injustice, how can the Emperor listen to a single word? On the contrary, it will only increase our guilt and implicate us!"

As she spoke, she carefully observed the sisters' reactions, especially Zhu Mingyu's:
"Just now... just now I was also given a decree by Eunuch Yun... His Majesty was furious, and even I was reprimanded... for failing to discipline his children properly..."

She timely revealed her grievances and lingering fear, successfully diverting Zhu Mingyue's attention to her fear of the emperor's wrath.

Zhu Mingyu suddenly spoke up, looking directly at Madam Lü: "Mother, why did the Emperor reprimand you?"

Lady Lü's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained delicate and sorrowful as she gently shook her head, avoiding the main point:

"What else could it be...? It's nothing more than blaming me for failing to notice Yunhu's abnormal emotions in time, and for failing to properly comfort her... It's my dereliction of duty... I've let my sister down..."

She skillfully steered the conversation back to her dereliction of duty and self-blame, never mentioning the fatal copy paper.

"Yun-yi too!"

She sighed again: "Can't you tell me what's wronged you have?"

"Although I am your stepmother, I have always treated you as my own children..."

"If he had spoken up earlier, I would have risked my life to plead his case before the Emperor. How could things have come to this?"

"Now he's imprisoned in the Fifth Northern Prison, a cold and remote place. How can he possibly endure it..."

Her words revealed her love and helplessness, while subtly pointing out Zhu Yunwen's distrust of her and subtly sowing discord. Finally, she emphasized the hardships of the North Fifth Institute, exacerbating Zhu Mingyue's fear and worry.

really.

Upon hearing that the North Fifth Palace was a cold and remote place, Zhu Mingyue cried even harder: "Mother...please...think of a way to save Yunhuo..."

Lady Lü sneered inwardly, but her face showed even more sorrow.

She gently pulled Zhu Mingyue into her arms, stroking her hair, her voice so tender it was almost hypnotic:
"Good child, don't be afraid, don't be afraid..."

"I will find a way... We must wait until His Majesty calms down... You all must behave yourselves and not cause any more trouble, and you must not act impulsively like Yunhuo... Your mother is here for you..."

She kept saying she would find a solution, but it was all empty talk. Her real purpose was to appease and stabilize these two potential threats.

Especially for the hot-tempered Zhu Mingyu, to prevent them from causing any more trouble and dragging her down with them.

"You must remember this!"

She emphasized her words at the end, with a hint of warning that was barely perceptible:

"These are turbulent times, so you must be careful with your words and actions. For your own sake, and for... Yunhuo's sake, you must behave yourselves and not give others any ammunition against you."

"Otherwise, even Mother... wouldn't be able to protect you..."

After a wonderful performance, Lady Lü gave her a few more words of advice and left some snacks to comfort her. Then, with a worried and tired look on her face, she left surrounded by palace servants.

The palace gates closed.

Zhu Mingyue was still immersed in grief and fear, and believed Lu Shi's words without a doubt, feeling that her mother was both troubled and kind.

Zhu Mingyu walked to the window, watching Lu Shi's departing figure. She let out a cold snort and muttered a curse under her breath:
"Hypocrite! You didn't even cry as well as I did! You're nowhere near as good as Zhang Biao!"

Her intuition told her that this stepmother was not as simple as she appeared.

The opportunity that the younger brother and Zhang Biao's five brothers risked their lives for must not be 'appeased' like this.

A resolute glint flashed in her eyes, a glint beyond her years.

……

At the same time, Jiang Huan personally led a team of elite guards to the Ministry of Justice prison.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed urgently and ominously in the silent night.

However, just a hundred paces from the Ministry of Justice's prison, Jiang Huan's keen senses suddenly caught a very short metallic clang and a muffled groan coming from the darkness ahead.

"wrong!"

Jiang Huan's expression suddenly changed, and he shouted sharply:

"Quick! Charge in—!"

The guards drew their swords instantly and pounced on the prison gate like arrows released from a bow.

The guards who should have been at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice prison were nowhere to be seen.

The prison door was ajar, and faint sounds of fighting and shouting could be heard from inside.

Alarm bells rang in Jiang Huan's mind. He kicked open the cell door, and the sight before him made his pupils shrink.

Inside the prison passage, several masked men dressed in black were engaged in a fierce battle with a small number of prison guards from the Ministry of Justice.

These men in black were ruthless and cunning, each move deadly; they were clearly well-trained assassins.

The bodies of three or four prison guards were already lying on the ground.

Deeper inside, another group could be vaguely seen attempting to rush into the prison area where prisoners were held.

"Kill without mercy!"

Without any hesitation, Jiang Huan roared, drew his embroidered spring knife, and charged forward at the forefront.

The elite guards joined the battle like wolves and tigers, instantly turning the tide of the battle.

The Imperial Guards were known for their ruthless fighting skills, and with their numerical and equipment advantages, two men in black were quickly cut down by a flurry of blows.

But those assassins were extremely brave. Seeing that their mission was being thwarted, they showed no fear of death and instead launched an even fiercer attack, trying to break through the blockade.

"Their target is those three that were just delivered!"

A wounded clerk from the Ministry of Justice shouted hoarsely, pointing in the direction from which Li Mo, Wu Naida, and Zhao Fengman had been escorted.

Jiang Huan felt a chill run down his spine.

[Murder to silence witnesses! Sure enough, someone couldn't sit still any longer!]

He immediately dispatched a group of men to block the assassins at the entrance of the passage, while he led his men to charge into the inner prison area.

Just as I rounded a corner, I saw a scene that made my eyes widen in horror.

A middle-aged man dressed in the uniform of a prison official from the Ministry of Justice was giving orders with a ferocious expression, directing two of his henchmen dressed as jailers in an attempt to forcibly open a cell where Li Mo and the other two were being held temporarily.

The lock on the cell door appeared to have been broken!
Li Mo and the other two were tightly bound and gagged. When they saw Jiang Huan rush in, their eyes lit up with hope, and they struggled desperately, making 'woo woo' sounds.

"Wang Siyuan! How dare you—!"

Jiang Huan roared and charged away.

When the prison warden saw Jiang Huan, extreme terror and despair flashed across his face. But he gritted his teeth and, instead of stopping, roared at his two henchmen, "Quick! Kill them!"

At the same time, he drew a short blade from behind and personally lunged at Zhao Fengman inside the prison.

"court death!"

A murderous glint flashed in Jiang Huan's eyes, and the Embroidered Spring Blade in his hand transformed into a cold light, striking first despite being behind, and slashing straight at Wang Siyu's back.

The prison warden seemed to know nothing about martial arts, or perhaps he was determined to die, for he neither dodged nor evaded.

"puff--!"

The blade easily tore through the official robe and cut into his vest.

Wang Siyu's forward momentum suddenly halted, and he spat out a mouthful of blood as the short blade in his hand clattered to the ground.

He turned his head with difficulty and glanced at Jiang Huan, his eyes filled with resentment, fear, and a strange sense of relief.

Just then, the two 'prison guards' henchmen who were breaking the locks realized that their mission had been exposed. Without hesitation, they abandoned their task, exchanged a glance, and simultaneously bit into the poison sac in their mouths.

Almost simultaneously, the black-clad assassins who were stubbornly resisting at the other end of the passage also made the same move.

"Stop them—!"

Jiang Huan was shocked and furious, but it was too late.

Within a breath or two, all the attackers, including Wang Siyu, turned from black to purple, their bodies convulsed violently, black blood spilled from their mouths and noses, and they all collapsed and died.

The whole process was breathtakingly fast.

From the moment Jiang Huan stormed in until all the enemies committed suicide by poison, only a few dozen breaths had passed.

Inside the Ministry of Justice prison, an eerie silence instantly descended, with only the heavy stench of blood and the faint scent of bitter almonds lingering in the air.

Jiang Huan stared at the corpses scattered on the ground with a grim expression, especially Wang Siyu, who was dressed in the official robes of the Ministry of Justice.

[Murder to silence witnesses! Dead men tell no tales!]

The other party's methods were ruthless, decisive, and meticulous to an appalling degree.

Even mid-level officials within their own camp were willing to abandon their positions.

"check!"

Jiang Huan forced out a single word through gritted teeth, his voice so cold it could freeze blood:
"Investigate this Wang Siyuan! His place of origin, his family, all his connections, and all his recent whereabouts! Take control of everyone who has been in contact with him!"

"Yes!"

The guards behind him immediately obeyed the order and sent out several men to act swiftly.

Jiang Huan then strode to the cell and checked on Li Mo and the other two.

Although the three were frightened, they were not injured. However, they were all pale as they looked at the bloody scene before them.

"Untie them, put them in shackles, and immediately transfer them to the imperial prison!"

Jiang Huan gave the order, his tone leaving no room for argument.

This place is no longer safe.

However, less than half an hour later, a spy sent to investigate rushed back to the imperial prison, reporting with a grim expression:
“Commander…Wang Siyu’s home…is gone…”

Jiang Huan's heart sank: "What do you mean 'gone'?!"

"When our subordinates arrived at Prisoner Wang's house... they found the gate tightly closed, with thick smoke billowing out... after breaking down the gate..."

"His elderly mother, wife, and two young children were found dead in his home... all poisoned... their bodies were still warm... the murderer also set fire to the house in an attempt to destroy the evidence..."

The guard's voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating that he had witnessed an extremely horrific scene.

"Bam—!"

Jiang Huan slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, and his eyes flashed with unbelievable shock and anger!
Eliminate them completely! Leave no one alive!

The other party was so ruthless and meticulous.

They didn't leave a single survivor or a single clue.

This is no longer a simple silencing; it is the most thorough and terrifying cleanup.

A chilling coldness instantly swept over Jiang Huan's entire body.

He was facing an extremely formidable and ruthless opponent.

He dared not delay for a moment and immediately went to the palace to report the series of changes and the results of the investigation to Zhu Yuanzhang without missing a single word.

Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

　Yesterday, after the bonus chapter for the Alliance Leader, I almost forgot about the bonus chapter for monthly votes!

　　(>﹏<) There are currently 6000 monthly passes.

　　According to this month's bonus chapter rules, there is no guaranteed bonus chapter; 500 monthly votes will result in one bonus chapter, which is 12 chapters.

　　[But my tenosynovitis flared up again today, so I'll add more tomorrow!]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)