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

Chapter 168 The Cause of Zhu Biao's Death, the Cruel Truth, Old Zhu Draws His Sword! [Bonus Chapter 6 for Monthly Tickets]

Old Zhu quickly regained his composure, his face showing no trace of joy or anger, only a profound and unfathomable calm.

"Oh, I see."

He leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping over Yun Ming, his tone as calm as if he were arranging a routine family dinner:

"Preach our will."

"King Zhu Shuang of Qin is tired from his journey. Let him go to Xiaoling Mausoleum to kowtow to his ancestors and calm his mind."

"After he kowtows, he will be placed in the Repentance Courtyard next to the Imperial Clan Court. Without our decree, he is not allowed to go out or see anyone. Let him think carefully about what 'good deeds' he has done in Shaanxi."

"Prince Zhu Gang of Jin..."

Old Zhu paused, his eyes turning slightly cold:

"Hasn't he always considered himself a 'wise king' and loved reading? Let's send him to the main hall! Find the 'Ancestral Instructions' and the 'Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government' for him, and let him review them carefully, so he can learn the ways of being a subject and a son!"

"Similarly, without our decree, no one may leave the main hall even a step."

"King Zhu Su of Zhou!"

Old Zhu's tone seemed to soften slightly, but it still carried an undeniable air of authority:
"He's soft-hearted and timid, so don't scare him."

“Let him go back to his old residence in the capital. Tell him to rest well and not to overthink things. But…”

Old Zhu changed the subject, his gaze sharpening:

"Send heavy troops to 'protect' the Prince's mansion, inside and out, and don't let a single bird fly in! If he asks, just say that things have been unsettled in the capital lately, and that we're doing this for his own good."

Yunming listened respectfully with his head bowed, his heart filled with awe.

The Emperor's arrangement, though seemingly ordinary, was in fact extremely ruthless.

Go to Xiaoling Mausoleum? That would make the hot-tempered King Qin feel guilty and suppress his anger in front of his ancestors!

Go to the Great Hall? That would expose the self-proclaimed wise Prince Jin to the sages' teachings!

Returning him to the old palace and placing him under house arrest? That would be forcing the timid Prince Zhou to suffer alone in familiar surroundings!

Most importantly, the three were completely isolated, placed in three different locations, and guarded by soldiers, thus completely eliminating any possibility of them colluding or giving the same story!
This is to break down their psychological defenses one by one!

"Understood! I will do it immediately!"

Yunming bowed and accepted the order.

"besides!"

Old Zhu added in a low voice:

"Tell Jiang Huan's men to keep their eyes wide open!"

"The people who serve the three princes record every word they say, every person they meet, and even their expressions while eating and sleeping, and report it to us word for word!"

"Yes!"

After Yunming withdrew, Old Zhu picked up his vermilion brush again, but his gaze did not fall on the memorial. Instead, he looked at the gray sky outside the hall, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

Second brother, third brother, fifth brother...

We'll see which of you three will give out first...

Whoever has a guilty conscience can give us a 'surprise'...

……

On the other side, in that same dark room that no one knew about.

"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"

A subordinate dressed in a black robe rushed in with a panicked report, his voice filled with terror:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty ignored the 'petition of the people,' and instead issued an edict... He ordered the setting up of the Grievance Drum and the Petition Drum at the Meridian Gate, in order to encourage people throughout the land to file petitions to the Emperor, directly addressing the past events in Shaanxi and the Eastern Palace!"

"The Meridian Gate is now crowded with all sorts of people, a real mixed bag!"

"Several officials we secretly supported have been implicated!"

"Furthermore... one of our lines of communication with the Five Armies Commandery was exposed by a retired commander! The losses were devastating!"

"Snapped!"

In the darkness, something seemed to be crushed.

After a brief, suffocating silence, the prince's voice rang out again, still composed: "Oh? Is that so? Interesting!"

Although his words were light, the languor had vanished, replaced by a cold sharpness and a hint of annoyance at being caught off guard.

【Good...good...my father...you still do things so unpredictably...】

Are you trying to throw the Ming Dynasty into complete chaos?! Are you truly insane?!

No! You've always been a madman! A complete and utter madman!

He hadn't expected Old Zhu to break the deadlock in such an almost shameless way.

This completely disrupted his plan to quickly resolve the matter by leveraging the "general trend".

[The grievance drum... Is it going to dig up all the old grievances and shady dealings and expose them?!]

Are you really willing to turn the entire nation upside down for the sake of a dead son?!

A chilling sense of crisis struck him like lightning.

He instantly realized that he had made a fatal mistake.

Clearly, he underestimated Lao Zhu's determination, and also underestimated that 'madman' Zhang Biao.

If he had ignored Zhang Biao and his men from the beginning, perhaps none of this would have happened.

But it's too late to regret it now.

The waters are too murky; even if you wanted to silence them, you might not be able to find the right target...

No further action is permitted!

Any attempt to intercept, remedy, or even probe will be tantamount to walking into a trap, given the Emperor's current state of high vigilance and rage!

[This is all a clear message to Father: I have a guilty conscience! I am involved in the eldest son's death!]

"The more you do, the more mistakes you make!"

The prince practically gritted his teeth as he squeezed out those four words.

He abruptly closed his eyes, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart and that rare sense of panic.

A moment later, when he opened his eyes again, all his emotions had vanished, leaving only an extreme, cold rationality and cruelty.

He glanced at his subordinates, still kneeling on the ground awaiting instructions, his voice returning to its previous indifference, even colder than before, utterly devoid of any warmth:

"Order: All plans are to be terminated immediately. Everyone, enter the deepest silence. This operation will never be initiated except by my personal presence."

The subordinate was taken aback: "Your Highness, what about the petition from the people and the grievance drum..."

"Don't worry about it anymore."

The prince interrupted him, his tone resolute: "That was a battle for survival, it has nothing to do with us."

"The top priority now is to 'cut off the tail.' Completely cut off the tail."

His voice was eerily calm, as if he were talking about something trivial that had nothing to do with him:

"First, let our 'needle' in the Qin Prince's mansion, Lady Wang, 'die of illness.' Make it seem like an accident, like an illness caused by accumulated resentment."

"Secondly, that old eunuch from the Imperial Pharmacy made him 'fall into a well'."

"Third, the shadowy figure who was in charge of relaying messages to the Chief Secretary of the Prince of Jin's residence arranged for him to have a 'sudden illness' and die suddenly."

"Fourth, that clerk in the Shaanxi Provincial Military Command knew too much, which led to his 'death' in the fight against bandits."

With each word he spoke, his subordinate's body would tremble almost imperceptibly.

These people were all deeply hidden agents who had been operating for many years, but now they are to be completely eliminated without hesitation.

"remember!"

The prince's voice was as cold as ice that had stood for ten thousand years:
"It must be clean, it must be natural, it must look like they were just unlucky or accidentally caught up in this mess. There must be no trace pointing to us."

"After you've done all this, you should also leave Yingtian for a while and go back to your hometown in Southern Zhili to 'rest' for a period of time. Without my orders, you are not allowed to come back or contact any of your old acquaintances."

"But your lord..."

The subordinate's voice trembled, which meant that the power they had built up over the years would be completely severed by more than half.

"Excuting an order."

The prince's tone left no room for argument: "Cutting off the tail is for survival. A tail can grow back. When a person dies, everything is gone."

"Yes...I understand!"

The subordinate kowtowed repeatedly, his voice carrying a hint of sorrow and resolve.

However, the prince had not finished speaking.

But then a sigh suddenly came from inside the room, and after a moment, a solemn voice said:

"Remind my mother to burn less incense and chant Buddhist prayers, and to take better care of her health."

The subordinate paused for a moment, then replied "Yes," and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Once again, only the prince remained in the room.

He slowly sat back in the shadows, as if he had completely merged with the darkness, and there was no sound left.

[Father... Zhang Biao...]

Go ahead and fight, go ahead and investigate.

All the threads have been broken. All the traces have been erased.

Even if there really is something in that iron box, we can only find some unclaimed, wandering ghosts, or... 'evidence' pointing to the crimes of my good brothers.

In the darkness, a cold and empty smile curved the corners of his mouth.

As for me, I am merely an innocent, law-abiding vassal king who might be caught in the crossfire.

Watching a show?

No, from now on, I won't even watch plays.

The truly skillful concealment is not about hiding behind the scenes, but about completely disappearing from everyone's sight and speculation.

The prince chose the most thorough, and also the most dangerous, method.

He transformed himself into nothingness, waiting for the storm that might never come to pass, or waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Dust billowed along the official road leading to Yingtian Prefecture.

The carriage of King Zhu Shuang of Qin was the most ostentatious, with elite guards and fluttering banners, but he himself sat in the large carriage with a gloomy face, irritably drinking wine.

When he left Xi'an, that old fellow Feng Sheng gave him a forced, insincere farewell, which made him feel extremely humiliated and uneasy.

He knew that his fiefdom was under control, and this trip to the capital was likely to end badly.

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin's carriage appeared much more understated, but his narrow eyes gleamed with shrewdness.

He kept recalling the secret discussions he had with his advisors before leaving Taiyuan, and pondering how to deal with the situation after arriving in Beijing, and how to shift the blame to others, especially that hot-tempered second son.

Prince Zhu Su's carriage moved the slowest. He dawdled the whole way, his face pale, and he had to stop every now and then to 'rest', as if the capital were a den of dragons and tigers.

His mind was filled with his collection of rare medical books and plant illustrations, and he just hoped that this unexpected disaster would pass quickly.

Although Zhu's order was for them to enter the city separately and go directly to their designated locations, a brief encounter before entering the city was inevitable.

From the moment he received the imperial decree, Zhu Shuang was filled with pent-up anger, and now he found everything displeasing.

Just as his procession was about to turn onto the road leading to Xiaoling Mausoleum, they encountered another procession that was slightly smaller but had a more elaborate and solemn ceremonial guard.

That was the carriage of Prince Zhu Gang of Jin.

Zhu Gang sat in an elegantly decorated carriage, with a corner of the curtain lifted.

He had a thin face and deep eyes. He seemed calm, but his tightly pursed lips and slightly furrowed brows revealed his inner turmoil.

Soon, he saw Zhu Shuang, who seemed to be waiting for him on purpose. Their eyes met briefly in the air.

In that instant, the two brothers saw surprise, scrutiny, and an indescribable wariness and distance in each other's eyes.

Zhu Shuang snorted coldly, raised his chin as a greeting, his eyes seeming to say, "Look what you've done!"

Zhu Gang merely nodded slightly, his eyes indifferent, and then lowered the carriage curtain, cutting off the outside world.

He was more thoughtful and considered more deeply.

The second son's tribute... the fifth son's 'elixir'... Father's intentions...

He had to remain absolutely calm.

The two teams passed each other without exchanging a word, but an invisible tension and suspicion permeated the air.

Further away, the carriage of King Zhu Su of Zhou appeared low-key and even somewhat rushed.

He was practically curled up in the carriage, his face pale, his hands unconsciously twirling a string of prayer beads, muttering incantations, whether in prayer or to calm his wildly beating heart, it was unclear.

When he saw his two elder brothers' procession in the distance, he shrank back in fear and urged the driver to speed up, as if afraid of being caught up in his brothers' vortex.

He was filled with a childlike fear of his father, the emperor, whom he was about to face.

Before long, Zhu Shuang arrived at the Xiaoling Mausoleum's Repentance Courtyard.

This is a courtyard located next to the imperial mausoleum, with a quiet and solemn environment.

Zhu Shuang kicked open the door and looked around the room, which contained nothing but a bed, a desk, and ancestral tablets. He was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed.

"Reflect on your mistakes? Reflect on my ass!"

He growled in a low voice and kicked over the prayer mat in front of him:
"I've been guarding the border in Shaanxi, and even if I haven't achieved anything great, I've certainly put in the hard work! Why am I being locked up here like a prisoner?"

He paced back and forth restlessly, his mind a jumbled mess.

He did have some shady dealings in Shaanxi and had been quite lenient with his subordinates, but he felt that he couldn't possibly be involved in his elder brother's death!

Which bastard stabbed us in the back? Was it the third brother? The fourth brother? Or that madman Zhang Biao?

This state of isolation, interrogation, and having no one to consult with brought his already volatile temper to the brink of explosion.

The guards were like wooden stakes, and to any question he asked, they would only reply, "Your Highness, please forgive me, this humble general only obeys the Emperor's decree."

Meanwhile, on the other side is the main hall.

This is where Zhu Gang and his friends studied when they were young.

This place is filled with Zhu Gang's memories.

The Grand Hall still retains its scholarly atmosphere, but now it resembles a magnificent prison.

Zhu Gang sat in the spot where he used to study, with the "Ancestral Instructions" spread out in front of him, but he couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, his eyes frighteningly calm.

He had guessed about 70-80% of his father's intentions.

[Isolation, interrogation, psychological warfare.]

Don't panic, absolutely don't panic.

He meticulously reviewed any clues he might have left behind.

The connections with Fu Youwen and others have been thoroughly cleaned up.

Corruption and factionalism in Shaanxi? It's mainly the second son who's in charge.

The Eastern Palace? Judging from the way the second brother acted just now, it didn't seem like the fear and dread one would feel for killing their elder brother.

The only variables are that metal box and Zhang Biao's mouth... Just how many secrets does he know?

What Zhu Gang is most worried about now is not that he is directly involved in the case, but that he will be implicated by the foolish things done by Zhu Shuang or Zhu Su, or that his father will take the opportunity to weaken his power.

He had to appear extremely submissive and honest, and even... could occasionally and 'reluctantly' reveal some trivial questions about his second son to divert attention?

This thought lingered in his mind.

King Zhu Su of Zhou.

He returned to the familiar old palace, but felt no sense of peace.

Looking at the noticeably increased number of expressionless guards inside and outside the courtyard, he felt as if every gaze was scrutinizing him.

He locked himself in his study, feeling restless and uneasy.

He had always avoided power struggles and only enjoyed studying medicine and herbs, but ironically, his hobby had now become the prime suspect.

He didn't know who had leaked the information about the 'elixir', but that's precisely why he couldn't guarantee that no one would use it to frame him.

"How to do how to do……"

He muttered to himself, his face deathly pale.

He wanted to seek help from the Prince of Yan's mansion... but he was afraid of implicating his own brother.

He wanted to go to his father to explain... but he was afraid that saying too much would lead to trouble.

This extreme fear and helplessness almost drove him insane.

His biggest regret now is that he didn't firmly refuse the offer to be enfeoffed and instead stayed in the capital as a leisurely prince.

……

Imperial Prison, interrogation room.

Upon receiving Zhu's new orders, Song Zhong once again began a thorough investigation with trepidation.

Because of the direction of the thorough investigation provided by Zhu Yuanzhang, he focused his attention on the officials accompanying Crown Prince Zhu Biao on his inspection tour of Shaanxi.

Through these officials' descriptions, he obtained astonishing news.

It turned out that Zhu Biao's old illness relapsed during his inspection of Shaanxi, and he was in unbearable pain, so he had to stay at the Prince of Qin's residence for a while to recuperate.

The disease Zhu Biao contracted was called 'back carbuncle'.

It's actually just a bacterial infection. In modern times, a few antibiotics would cure it, but in ancient times, it was a stubborn and incurable disease.

The following story is recorded in "Guo Que", a book privately compiled by Tan Qian, a historian from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

This record states that before Zhu Biao's inspection tour of Shaanxi, he contracted a severe carbuncle on his back, which at one point brought him to the brink of death.

The original text reads: "In the summer of the year Gengwu, in the sixth month, Yiwen suffered from severe back carbuncles and cried out incessantly. I stroked the carbuncle with tears in my eyes and did not leave it for a moment, day and night. Hearing the carbuncles, he was terrified as if he were not alive. I personally sucked on the carbuncle, and it healed in more than ten days."

Judging from this description, Zhu Biao's back sores were quite severe, and his cries of pain even alerted Old Zhu.

Zhu Yunwen personally sucked the pus from his father's sores, curing his father's serious illness, and thus gained the favor of the old Zhu.

Therefore, upon receiving this astonishing news, Song Zhong immediately went back to find Liu Chun, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, to inquire about Zhu Biao's treatment.

Normally, such highly confidential matters would be a capital offense, let alone asking about them.

But things are different now; he has been ordered by the emperor to thoroughly investigate this matter.

"Liu Chun! I ask you! How has His Highness the Crown Prince's carbuncle been traditionally treated? What medicines have been used?!"

Song Zhong stared intently at Liu Chun, his voice low but filled with a terrifying urgency.

"His Highness the Crown Prince's carbuncle?"

Liu Chun was taken aback by the question and replied blankly:
"They have always been carefully treated by the Imperial Medical Academy, using external and internal remedies to clear heat and detoxify, and promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, such as Coptis chinensis, honeysuckle, frankincense, and myrrh..."

How effective are these medications?

Song Zhong interrupted him: "What should His Highness do when he is in severe pain?"

"This……"

Liu Chun looked troubled and couldn't help but say:

"The pain from the carbuncle on his back is extremely severe, and even with medication, it is difficult to completely suppress. When the pain is intense... Your Highness usually endures it... Sometimes... sometimes he also uses some calming incense to help him fall asleep..."

"A calming fragrance?"

Song Zhong's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stepped forward to ask:

"Besides the regular provisions for the palace, are there any other items used? For example... for example, those presented by the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, or other vassal kings?!"

"what?"

Liu Chun's face turned deathly pale in an instant, his lips trembled, as if he had thought of something extremely terrifying and dared not answer.

"Say!"

Song Zhong grabbed his collar, his eyes practically spitting fire: "If a single word you say now is false, you will be killed on the spot!"

Liu Chun completely broke down, tears streaming down his face, and said in a trembling voice:

"My lord...my lord, spare me...I vaguely remember...it seems...it seems that once...Your Highness's carbuncle flared up even more severely, the pain was unbearable...and you couldn't sleep at night...You did indeed ask me privately...about that exotic fragrance from the Western Regions, 'Ambergris Warmth'..."

"And the 'top-grade benzoin' presented by His Highness the Prince of Qin... does it... have a strong analgesic and sedative effect...?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty only said that it might have a slight effect... But Your Highness... Your Highness..."

"What happened to His Highness?!"

Song Zhong's voice was trembling.

"His Highness...after that, it seems...he didn't ask any more questions...but when I checked his pulse several times later, I vaguely felt that His Highness's spirits seemed to have improved slightly..."

Liu Chun lay prone on the ground:

"But the pulse... is becoming increasingly deep and strange... I have doubts in my heart, but I dare not ask any more questions..."

At this point, he broke down in tears:

"I am guilty! If I had thought things through more carefully at the time, if I had risked my life to offer my advice... perhaps..."

Boom!

Song Zhong felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He staggered back two steps and crashed into the cold rack.

It all made sense.

Does it contain ambergris? Does it contain top-grade benzoin? Who knows, it might also contain 'red lead elixir'!
Those seemingly conspiratorial "unusual offerings" and "secret medicines" may not actually be the result of a premeditated plot to harm someone, but rather the Crown Prince Zhu Biao himself.

In desperation, he secretly performed self-medication to alleviate the unbearable pain from the carbuncle on his back.

He dared not make a sound, because he was the crown prince and could not let people know that he relied on these things that might have toxic side effects, or even be considered "potent drugs" to relieve pain!
He must maintain a healthy and composed image!

Therefore, after he may have realized that his body was being harmed by these drugs, or was worried that things would be exposed, he used various excuses to remove the old eunuch Wang Fu, who knew about the matter, as well as Wang Yue, Li Gonggong, and Lan Xin, who were involved, from the East Palace!

This wasn't to silence them, it was to cover it up!
To cover up the fact that he, the crown prince, was overwhelmed by the burden and was secretly taking medicine!

The "tribute" from those vassal kings may have been intended to please him by offering these "good things," but it inadvertently hastened his death!

In other words, this may not have been a meticulously planned murder.

This was a tragic self-destruction caused by illness, despair, forbearance, and pressure from the court.

This truth sent chills down Song Zhong's spine more than any conspiracy!
His Highness the Crown Prince did not die at the hands of his brothers, but from unspeakable pain and the immense pressure of being the heir apparent!

And it was extremely cruel.

He didn't know how Lao Zhu would react after learning the truth, so he could only report it truthfully.

.........

Inside the Huagai Hall, the candlelight was bright, but it could not dispel the bone-chilling cold.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright behind his desk like a stone statue, listening to Jiang Huan's report.

When he heard that "hundreds of people have gathered outside the Meridian Gate to file complaints, most of whom are commoners complaining or seeking personal revenge, but a few have also mentioned the grain and provisions of Shaanxi and the former officials of the Eastern Palace," his wrinkled face remained expressionless. Only in his deep-set eyes did a cold and satisfied look flash across his face.

Good, very good. The muddier the water, the more likely the fish are to panic and flee indiscriminately.

This is the effect he wants.

Let those rats hiding in the gutters show their tails in the terrifying atmosphere of public denunciation.

"Keep an eye on those people."

Old Zhu's voice was hoarse and calm, yet it carried an undeniable killing intent:
"Those who speak the truth will be richly rewarded according to the decree. Those who speak the falsehood but whose circumstances are excusable will simply be dismissed. Those who take this opportunity to make false accusations or confuse the public..."

He paused, then tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, producing a dull sound: "Find out who is behind this, execute them on the spot, and make an example of them."

"Yes!"

Jiang Huan felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that the emperor was using this 'public anger' as a pretext to carry out a purge.

After reporting the accusation, Jiang Huan hesitated for a moment, but still braced himself and described the reactions of the three princes upon their arrival as objectively as possible.

This includes Qin King Zhu Shuang's furious kicking of the door, Jin King Zhu Gang's unusual calmness, and Zhou King Zhu Su's panicked loss of composure.

After hearing the description of his sons, Old Zhu remained silent for a long time.

A suffocating silence fell over the hall.

The only sounds were the occasional crackling of the burning candle and Old Zhu's slow, heavy breathing.

Jiang Huan knelt on the ground, burying his head even lower, not daring to even breathe.

He could sense that the emperor on the dragon throne was currently enveloped in an extremely complex emotion.

Finally, Old Zhu slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the dark night sky outside the palace, as if he could see through the many palace walls and see his three sons, whom he had separated.

A faint, almost imperceptible look of fatigue and pain crossed his face.

[Shuang'er is still as irritable and easily angered as ever, showing no improvement whatsoever...]

Gang'er is quite composed; her thoughts are so deep that even we can't see through her...

Su'er...sigh, this child has always been timid; she's probably really terrified...

In that instant, he was not a cold-blooded emperor, but simply an old father looking at his good-for-nothing sons.

But this moment of weakness lasted only a moment.

The next moment, Old Zhu's eyes turned icy cold again, even sharper and more ruthless than before.

The emperor's coldness and suspicion overwhelmed that pitiful fatherly love like a tidal wave.

[Irritability? Perhaps it's just an act to show us, a cover for his guilty conscience!]

Calm? That's even more terrifying. It suggests they were prepared all along, or... their conscience is so clear it's questionable!

Fear? Hmph, if they didn't have something to hide, why would they be so afraid?!

In his view, every reaction of his sons could be a pretense, or evidence of their crimes.

He abruptly averted his gaze, no longer looking at the troubling night, and stared intently at Jiang Huan, his voice suddenly becoming sharp:

"Tell the guards!"

"Keep a close eye on them!"

"Isn't the King of Qin short-tempered? Let him be! Let's see how many things he smashes! Write down every single complaint and every single word he utters!"

"Isn't the Prince of Jin calm? Then let him 'study' properly! Keep track of how often he turns the pages, how long he daydreams, and even the intensity of his breathing!"

"Isn't the King of Zhou afraid? Let him be afraid! But we must also guard against him resorting to desperate measures, or... being silenced!"

His tone grew increasingly chilling with each sentence, carrying an almost cruel scrutiny:

"Let's see if they can't hold back first, or if the people behind them can't keep their tempers up!"

"Sir, obey the order!"

Jiang Huan felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet.

The emperor was putting his sons on the fire to be roasted, using their torment and loss of composure to test his suspicions or force out the truth.

"Go."

Old Zhu waved his hand, as if he had exhausted all his strength, leaned back on the dragon throne, and closed his eyes.

Jiang Huan felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quietly withdrew from the main hall.

Once again, only Old Zhu remained in the empty Huagai Hall.

His eyes were closed, but his furrowed brows and slightly trembling fingers betrayed that his inner peace was far from what appeared to be.

Complex emotions toward his sons, a persistent pursuit of the truth, and ruthless calculations for the stability of his empire... all these emotions clashed violently within him.

In the end, all of this turned into a very soft, very cold sigh, dissipating into the frigid air:

"Biao'er... if you have a spirit in heaven, please bless your father... so that he doesn't lose any more sons..."

This almost prayerful whisper was filled with the emperor's helplessness and a profound sense of sorrow.

But when he opened his eyes again, all that remained was absolute coldness and resolve.

But what if they were really involved in plotting to harm you...?

Then don't blame Dad for being heartless!

The throne of an emperor is ultimately forged from bones and blood.

At that very moment, Song Zhong appeared outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, Commander Song requests an audience!"

"Ok?"

Old Zhu's heart skipped a beat; he had a vague sense of foreboding.

He had previously asked Song Zhong to thoroughly investigate Zhu Biao's death again, and if Song Zhong had no results, he would not have come to see him.

In other words, Song Zhong's request to see him meant that the truth had come to light?!

For some reason, he suddenly realized that the truth he had been thinking about day and night and was desperate to find out was making him hesitate at the very moment it was about to be revealed.

No! We can't back down! We must know the truth! Otherwise, how can we face the deceased Biao'er?

"Let him in!"

Old Zhu forced himself to remain calm, his tone revealing a tension he himself was unaware of, as he issued the order.

Soon, Song Zhong, with heavy steps and a heart full of fear, entered the main hall, raised his memorial, and said:

"Your Majesty, I hereby report the latest investigation findings regarding the cause of the Crown Prince's death!"

Sure enough!

The truth has indeed been revealed!
"Send it up!"

Before long, an old eunuch took the memorial from Song Zhong and carefully handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Old Zhu took a deep breath and then opened it to take a look.

With just one glance, his eyes instantly turned bloodshot, his face filled with astonishment, shock, fear, and bewilderment.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha—!"

A burst of maniacal, beast-like laughter, inhuman and inhuman, suddenly echoed throughout the hall.

"Yunming, where's our sword?!"

Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

　My reasoning regarding Zhu Biao's cause of death is based on historical data and is a reasonable speculation. Please don't take the plot of this book too seriously.

　　Although I already had a draft in mind, writing it down was still quite difficult, so it's a bit late. Sorry!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)