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

Chapter 174 Zhang Biao! We'll make sure everyone watches you die! [Bonus Chapter 11 for Monthly Tickets]

As Zhu walked out of the imperial prison and basked in the sunlight once more, his face was even more gloomy than when he went in.

Zhang Biao's words echoed repeatedly in his mind like a curse.

Don't you already have the answer in your heart?

You might... also find it difficult to do it.

He raised his head and looked at the gray sky, a storm brewing in his eyes once more.

[Can't bring yourself to do it?]

【Humph! 】

Before the mighty Ming Dynasty, there was nothing that Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't bring himself to destroy!

Investigate! We'll dig three feet into the ground to find that 'ghost' hidden deepest in the deepest recesses!

The emperor's obsession and ruthlessness once again overwhelmed everything.

The storm sparked by Zhu Biao's death is far from over.

On his way back to the palace, Zhu felt increasingly uneasy.

The answer? What answer?
Who is the real mastermind hiding behind the kings of Qin, Jin, and Zhou, possibly using them all as pawns? Someone even the madman Zhang Biao doesn't know!

Old Zhu's gaze gradually darkened.

Qin King Zhu Shuang was tyrannical and brainless, Jin King Zhu Gang was shrewd but limited in vision, and Zhou King Zhu Su was timid and cowardly.

They might have the audacity to engage in corruption, form cliques, or even engage in petty tricks, but to orchestrate a grand scheme that could potentially involve the assassination of the crown prince and then erase all traces of it so cleanly? They lack both the ability and the courage!
In this bloody purge, who benefited the most?
On the surface, it was Zhu Yuanzhang who consolidated imperial power to an unprecedented degree.

But if we consider the power of the regional kings...

With the downfall of the Prince of Qin and the Prince of Jin, Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, whose strength was relatively intact and who had always been ambitious and talented, suddenly stood out.

[Fourth brother... could it be you?]

Once this thought arises, it grows wildly like weeds.

Zhu Di's military achievements, his management of Beiping, the capable generals under his command, his usual composure and shrewdness... everything gave Old Zhu a foothold for suspicion.

"Jiang Huan!"

Old Zhu's icy voice suddenly rang out.

"Chen is here!"

Jiang Huan appeared like a ghost.

Old Zhu slowed his pace, but instead of looking at him, he calmly gave the order:

"Go to the Prince of Yan's residence and ask our three 'good grandsons' again."

Jiang Huan's heart tightened, knowing that a real storm was about to descend upon the Prince of Yan's residence.

"What does Your Majesty wish to ask?" Jiang Huan asked cautiously.

Old Zhu hesitated for a moment, then his tone became even calmer and more menacing:
"First, ask them what their opinions are on the recent turmoil in the court and the imprisonment of the three kings of Qin, Jin, and Zhou. Let them share their insights!"

"Secondly, Zhang Biao had mentioned the harm caused by the vassal kings on several occasions, and even went so far as to say that the vassal kings' salaries should be abolished. Zhu Gaosui had contacted Zhang Biao many times. Did he discuss this matter with him? Or... heard similar remarks from him?"

"Third, and most importantly!"

Old Zhu's eyes were sharp as knives: "Ask them directly, as far as they know, what is the relationship between their father and the three kings of Qin, Jin, and Zhou? Has he ever made any comments on the old affairs of Shaanxi, or even the old affairs of the crown prince?!"

[Was this a test to see if the Prince of Yan had any improper ambitions for the position of Crown Prince, or had engaged in any inappropriate words or actions?]

Jiang Huan held his breath and memorized these probing questions.

"besides!"

Old Zhu threw out the last, and most fatal, test.

He paused, his voice lowered, yet carrying a chilling blend of warmth and expectation:
"Tell them that the Kings of Qin and Jin are incompetent and have broken our hearts. Now, with the heavy responsibility of the northern frontier, among all my sons, after much thought, the most capable and the one I trust the most is their father."

"Ask them what they think if we issue an edict summoning their fathers back to the capital immediately to take over the central government and assist in governing the country."

boom!
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan trembled violently and almost lost his balance.

This is no inquiry; it's poison disguised as honey! A deadly trap that could plunge the Prince of Yan's mansion into an abyss of no return!

If Zhu Gaochi and his brothers showed even the slightest joy or agreement, it would confirm that the Prince of Yan's family harbored ambitions to seize the throne!
If one shows resistance or refusal, it may be interpreted as having a guilty conscience or being disrespectful to the imperial decree!

No matter how you answer, it could lead to utter disaster!

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty understands!"

Jiang Huan's voice was hoarse; he knew this was an extremely dangerous mission.

"Go."

Old Zhu waved his hand, as if he were simply issuing a routine order: "Remember, bring back to us every single word they said, verbatim."

……

the other side.

Inside the side hall of the Eastern Palace, where Zhu Yunwen and his two siblings once lived, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Although when Zhu Yuanzhang cleaned the Eastern Palace, he specially released several old palace servants who had taken care of Zhu Mingyue and Zhu Mingyu since they were young, this did not bring much warmth. Instead, it highlighted the delicate and dangerous situation at the moment.

"Sister! Please let me go!"

Zhu Mingyu clenched her fists, and in her almond-shaped eyes, which resembled her mother Chang's, a stubborn and unwilling flame burned.

In front of her was an exquisite food box containing ginseng soup that she had personally prepared, following the example Zhu Yunwen had made before.

"Yun Tong is all alone over there, I wonder how scared he must be! That illegitimate son was released, why can't Yun Tong?"

"Since Grandfather was able to let Granny Chen and the others come back to take care of us, it means he still cares about us! If I go and beg him now, maybe... maybe he'll soften his heart?"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her voice rising several decibels: "Even if we can't let Yunhuo come back, we can lock him up there to take care of him! It's better than being here in fear, unable to do anything!"

"Mingyu! Calm down!"

Zhu Mingyue's face was pale. She grabbed her younger sister's wrist, her gentle eyes filled with fear and worry, and her voice was trembling with tears:

"Grandfather just killed so many people! Consort Guo, Consort Li, Consort Ge... they're all gone just like that!"

"Everyone inside and outside the palace is trembling with fear now! How dare you walk into the line of fire?!"

She pulled Zhu Mingyu forcefully, trying to get her to sit down: "Second Brother was able to come back because... because Consort Lü and some people in the court spoke up for him!"

"And what about us? What do we have? Even our uncles and aunts have to tremble under the Emperor's butcher's knife. We are just rootless duckweed in the palace!"

"Grandpa Emperor's release of Granny Chen and the others is already an immense favor. How can we possibly push our luck?"

Zhu Mingyue trembled uncontrollably at the thought of the horrific state of the palace servants who were dragged away.

"Grandfather is still furious. If you go now, you're not pleading for mercy, you're sending yourself to your death!"

"What if we anger him and implicate Yunhu? What if we implicate all of us?"

"But are we just going to stand by and watch?!"

Zhu Mingyu abruptly shook off her sister's hand, tears welling in her eyes, but stubbornly refusing to fall.
"Like Zhang Biao said, should I be a coward? No way! I'm going to give it a try! At worst... at worst, I'll give my life for him!"

After saying that, she ignored Zhu Mingyue's desperate attempts to stop her, picked up the food box, and resolutely turned and rushed out of the palace gate.

"Mingyu! Come back!"

Zhu Mingyue chased after her sister to the door, watching her disappear around the corner of the palace path. She slumped weakly against the door frame, tears streaming down her face, her heart filled with endless fear and despair.

……

Meanwhile, in the East Palace, main hall.

Unlike the desolate and oppressive atmosphere of the side hall, this place still maintains the decorum and dignity befitting a crown princess.

But the tension of surviving a disaster permeated the air more intensely than anywhere else.

Lady Lü sat in front of her dressing table, her face, though well-maintained, reflected in the bronze mirror, showing signs of weariness and fear.

Her fingers unconsciously brushed against a golden phoenix hairpin, a gift from Zhu Biao when he was alive, but now it only felt icy cold.

This massive purge was like a hurricane, almost dragging the Eastern Palace into an abyss of no return.

Although she and Zhu Yunwen ultimately escaped unharmed, the fear of having a blade hanging over her neck was deeply ingrained in her bones.

She knew perfectly well that she had escaped this calamity not because she was innocent, but because the Emperor still needed the Crown Prince's name to stabilize the situation.

Or rather... it's not the right time to touch her yet.

"Mother..."

Zhu Yunwen's voice rang out from the side, carrying a slight, almost imperceptible tremor and a deep sense of unease.

He was dressed in plain clothes, his face was pale, and his eyes were unfocused. He had long lost the composure of his former status as a 'virtuous grandson of the emperor'.

Looking at her son in the mirror, Madam Lü felt a pang of pain in her heart, but even more so, a deep worry and disappointment at his lack of progress.

She put down the hairpin, turned around, and tried to make her voice sound calm: "Wen'er, what's wrong? Did you hear some gossip again?"

Zhu Yunwen strode to Lady Lü's side, lowered his voice, and spoke with a tone full of resentment and fear:
"Mother, don't you find it strange? This time, when the Emperor cleansed us, all of us were cleaned up, even Consort Guo and the others... but he released those old nannies who served Mingyue and Mingyu! What does that mean?"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke:
"Does the Emperor feel he owes Yunhu a debt? Or... or has he changed his mind because Yunhu made a contribution by presenting the 'iron box'? Or... does he want to make Yunhu the Crown Prince?!"

At this point, his eyes sharpened and darkened: "How about we find a way... to get rid of him?"

He said the last sentence almost through gritted teeth, with a sense of betrayal, anger, and fear.

He had coveted the position of Crown Prince for far too long and considered himself the rightful heir, but now he felt an unprecedented threat.

Upon hearing this, Lady Lü's heart sank.

Her worst fears came true!

Yunwen is still young and impatient. In this tense time, he still dares to think in this most sensitive direction!

She abruptly stood up, her face drained of color, a flash of disbelief and anger crossing her eyes. Without thinking, she raised her hand—

"Snapped--!"

A crisp slap landed squarely on Zhu Yunwen's face!
Zhu Yunwen staggered from the blow, covering his face, completely stunned. He stared blankly at his mother, seemingly unable to believe that his usually gentle mother would hit him.

"You bastard! Have you lost your mind?!"

Lu's voice trembled sharply with extreme fear and anger. She pointed at Zhu Yunwen's nose and rebuked him fiercely, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between her teeth:
"You dare to think such a thing as being beheaded?! And you dare to say it out loud?! Do you even know what time it is?!"

"The Emperor can kill even his own concubines, sons, and their cronies without batting an eye!"

"You're going to harm Zhu Yunwen at this time? Do you think my son and I have too many lives?! Do you want to drag the entire Eastern Palace down with him?!"

Lu's chest heaved violently, her eyes filled with lingering fear and disappointment.

She has painstakingly built this situation over many years, walking on thin ice, and it cannot be ruined by her son's momentary foolishness and impulsiveness.

Zhu Yunwen was jolted awake by his mother's harsh rebuke and the slap. The burning pain on his face was nothing compared to the fear in his heart.

He immediately realized how dangerous his previous thought had been, and promptly knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling with tears:

"Mother, please calm down! Your son knows he was wrong! Your son was confused for a moment, blinded by greed! He will never dare to think such things again!"

Seeing her son's pale face and tears streaming down his face, Mrs. Lü's heart softened again, but she felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

She sighed, bent down to help Zhu Yunwen up, and gently wiped the tear stains and faint red finger marks from his face with a handkerchief. Her tone softened, but carried an undeniable warning:
"Wen'er, remember your mother's words. Especially in times like these, you must remain calm and composed!"

"You are the legitimate son, your status has been established long ago. As long as you don't make any mistakes, no one can take your place!"

"Zhu Yuntong? He's just a child who lost his parents. Even if the Emperor takes pity on him for a while, what trouble can he cause? If you touch him now, you're just giving others a handle to use against you and destroying your own Great Wall!"

She cupped her son's face in her hands, looking at him with unwavering eyes:
"Trust your mother. As long as you behave well and don't make any mistakes, the position of Crown Prince will always be yours! No one can take it away from you!"

Under his mother's gaze, Zhu Yunwen gradually calmed down and nodded emphatically: "Your subject understands, Your subject will listen to Mother."

Just then, a strange palace maid's voice rang out from outside the door: "Your Majesty!"

"Ok?"

Both Lady Lü and Zhu Yunwen were startled, but quickly regained their composure. Lady Lü then tidied her appearance and asked calmly, "What is it?"

"Your Highness, Princess Mingyu has taken the ginseng soup to the Huagai Palace."

What does Zhu Mingyu mean? Is she copying me by serving ginseng soup?

[And at this time?]

Was she going to curry favor with her grandfather, the Emperor? Or was she trying to plead for Zhu Yunwen?!

Upon hearing the palace maid's report, Zhu Yunwen immediately frowned, and displeasure appeared on his face.

But having just been scolded by his mother, he dared not lash out again, and simply snorted and turned his head away.

Ms. Lü's reaction was quite different.

A fleeting look of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly regained her calm and composed demeanor, as if she had only heard about something trivial.

She even gave a slight, seemingly kind smile as she casually addressed the palace maid:

"Oh? Mingyu has become more sensible and filial than before. She knows how to care for her grandfather. Alright, I understand. You may leave."

After dismissing the palace maids, only the mother and son remained in the hall once again.

Zhu Yunwen looked at his mother in confusion: "Mother, why are you praising her? She's clearly..."

"Shut up!"

Lady Lü immediately interrupted him, her eyes sweeping sternly over the surroundings, and she lowered her voice:

"Walls have ears! Who knows how many eyes are still watching us in the Eastern Palace?"

She took a deep breath, her tone becoming unusually calm and profound:

Whether Mingyu's intention in offering the ginseng soup was sincere or not is none of our business. Why should we create trouble for ourselves?

"Remember your mother's words!"

Lady Lü admonished her son, word by word: "At this critical juncture, the more you do, the more mistakes you will make. Doing nothing is the best course of action."

"The Emperor's decision to release a few of the old women may simply be a matter of imperial strategy and a way to maintain balance. If we overreact, then we have truly lost."

Zhu Yunwen looked into his mother's unfathomable eyes, seemingly understanding but not quite, but finally nodded: "Your subject will remember Mother's teachings."

Lady Lü patted his hand, her gaze fixed on the gloomy sky outside the palace, her thoughts extremely complex.

[Consort Guo is a cautionary tale... Now, survival and stability are more important than anything else.]

As for that position... if we can wait, it will eventually belong to Wen'er.

Having gone through this bloody ordeal, the Lü family became more cautious and resilient.

She was like a vine deeply rooted in the shadow of the palace walls, perhaps without sunlight, but possessing amazing vitality, waiting for her opportunity.

……

After leaving the imperial prison, Zhu Yuanzhang did not return directly to the Huagai Palace, nor did he go to any of the concubines' palaces.

He dismissed all his attendants and, like a lonely ghost, walked alone on the silent palace path.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long, making each step feel as heavy as if he were dragging a thousand-pound shackle.

Unbeknownst to him, he had walked to the depths of a palace garden, where there was a courtyard that was locked all year round but kept very clean.

This is a corner of a side hall of the Kunning Palace where Empress Ma lived during her lifetime.

After her death, the place was sealed off by order of Emperor Zhu, and no one was allowed to approach it except for the mute old palace servants who cleaned it regularly.

He pulled a small, slightly rusted brass key from a hidden pocket close to his body, his fingers trembling slightly as he inserted it into the keyhole.

With a 'click,' the lock that had been sealed for many years was opened.

A scent mixed with a faint musty smell and a long-lost, sweet fragrance from memory wafted towards me.

Old Zhu paused for a moment, as if he needed to muster tremendous courage to step over that threshold.

There were no lights in the hall; only the cool moonlight shone through the window lattices, illuminating the fine dust particles floating in the air.

Everything was arranged exactly as it was during Empress Ma's lifetime, spotless, yet lifeless.

The bronze mirror on the dressing table was covered with silk cloth, and the brocade quilt on the bed was neatly folded, as if the owner had only left temporarily.

Old Zhu slowly walked to the bedside, reached out, and gently stroked the cold brocade quilt fabric, his movements as careful as if touching a fragile treasure.

His fingertips traced the familiar lotus pattern on the quilt, as if he could feel a trace of warmth that had long since faded away.

He slumped onto the footstool, his back to the empty bed, his obese body appearing unusually hunched and fragile at that moment.

The imperial majesty he had been maintaining collapsed completely, leaving only a weary, pained old man filled with inner turmoil.

"Xiuying..."

He called out to the empty palace in a very soft, hoarse voice, filled with endless longing and sobs.

In his mind, Zhang Biao's crazed face and his unfinished words echoed like a leech.

What happened to Empress Ma...?

Zhang Biao didn't say the word 'death,' but he knew it!

He dared not think about it! He couldn't think about it!

Xiuying's death is his deepest pain and the most untouchable taboo!
That was due to overwork, an accident, or the injustice of fate!

How could it possibly be related to... or other conspiracies?!
"Impossible...absolutely impossible..."

Old Zhu shook his head vigorously, as if trying to shake off this terrible thought, his hands gripping his knees tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"That's a madman! A monster! He's just trying to provoke us! To throw us into a panic! How can we believe him?!"

He seemed to be trying to convince himself, but his voice trembled uncontrollably.

but……

All those things Zhang Biao said before—about Shaanxi, about the Eastern Palace, about Fu Youwen and their secrets—were ultimately not proven true.
This madman, just how much does he know?!
Did he really uncover a truth that even he himself dared not face?
The thought of this possibility sent a chill down Old Zhu's spine, a fear that was more terrifying than facing a thousand troops.

If even Xiuying's death is considered... then what is the meaning of his life as emperor?
On what terrifying nothingness was the land he protected built?

A tremendous fear and a panic of shattered cognition nearly consumed him.

Just then, Zhang Biao's face, which was sometimes playful, sometimes sarcastic, and sometimes all-knowing, clearly appeared before my eyes again.

Along with his groundbreaking remarks, his outrageous statements that directly addressed deep-seated problems, and his seemingly crazy yet always insightful judgments...

Old Zhu's feelings were extremely complicated.

Hate?

I hate them to the core!

This madman has turned his court upside down, forced him to deal with his son himself, and now he's touching his deepest wounds! He wishes he could tear him to pieces!

But... besides hatred, there seems to be something else.

A hint of appreciation, even regret, that he himself was unwilling to admit.

"Sooyoung..."

Old Zhu raised his head and looked at the cold moon outside the window, as if he were talking to his wife in the afterlife, his voice filled with pain and confusion.

"Tell me... just who is Zhang Biao?"

"He cursed at us, he insulted us, he made us so angry we were practically fuming..."

"But what he said... felt like he was cutting away rotten flesh for us. It hurts, but... maybe he's right?"

He said, "Leave tomorrow's problems to tomorrow's people, and let today's people do today's things well..."

"That makes some sense. If he were an official in the court, perhaps... perhaps he could really become a loyal minister like Wei Zheng?"

His tone carried a complex emotion that surprised even himself.

"But he's a madman! A madman who's obsessed with dying!"

"He doesn't want official position or personal gain; he just wants to oppose us! He wants to tear away all pretenses!"

"He now... dares to... dares to mention you..."

Old Zhu's voice choked again, filled with intense killing intent:
"He must die! Just because he dared to mention you, he deserves to die! We absolutely cannot let him live!"

However, when the decision to 'execute' was actually uttered, he felt no joy whatsoever; instead, a tremendous emptiness and resentment welled up within him.

Killing Zhang Biao is tantamount to personally extinguishing this dangerous lamp that illuminates the darkness.

In the future, who will dare to say those harsh but potentially true words without any regard for the consequences?

Who else could use such an extreme method to force him to see things he doesn't want to see?
He seemed to see Empress Ma's gentle yet reproachful gaze looking at him.

"Xiuying, I know... you're kind-hearted, you must think I'm too murderous..."

"But...we are the emperor! We cannot allow anyone to threaten the Zhu family's rule, nor can we allow any secret to shake the foundation of the nation!"

“This Zhang Biao…he knows too much…he’s too dangerous…”

Old Zhu seemed to be explaining to his deceased wife, or perhaps trying to convince himself.

The emperor's ruthlessness ultimately prevailed.

Personal admiration and regret are insignificant in the face of national security.

He slowly stood up, took one last look around the room filled with memories, and his eyes hardened like iron once more.

"It's time to end this..."

He muttered to himself, "It's all time to end this."

After saying that, Old Zhu took another deep look at everything that Empress Ma had left behind, and sighed helplessly.

He blew out a small lamp that he had unconsciously lit, turned around, and resolutely walked out of the dusty palace.

Immediately afterwards, he locked the door again, as if locking away the last bit of tenderness in his heart.

Under the moonlight, his back was still upright, but shrouded in an impenetrable loneliness and coldness.

Zhang Biao must die.

This was a choice made by an emperor, unrelated to love or hate, solely for the sake of the nation.

As for the terrible mystery surrounding Empress Ma's death, he forcibly suppressed it into the darkest corner of his heart, perhaps never to be touched again.

Before long, he returned to the Huagai Hall.

The first words spoken upon entering the hall were a chilling imperial decree:

"Yunming! Convey my decree! Change Zhang Biao's execution from tomorrow noon to three days later! We want everyone to see him die!"

"He wants meaning, doesn't he? Fine! Let's grant his wish!"

"We must make all the civil and military officials, nobles, and common people witness the execution! And those corrupt scholars who 'petitioned' to kill him too!"

"A bunch of rabble who shout about 'tradition' and 'righteousness' all day long, but when death is imminent, they're the first to run away!"

"We need to show them what a martyr really is!"

"Yes……"

Yunming responded with a trembling voice and was just about to go and deliver the imperial decree.

Suddenly, a vibrant, lush 'splat' sound came from outside the hall.

"who!?"

Old Zhu flew into a rage, his murderous intent surging fiercely.

Asking for a monthly ticket~
　This chapter is from yesterday; I didn't finish writing it last night.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)