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

Chapter 58: He used all my lines! [Seeking monthly votes]

The chaos, curses, sorrow, and absurdity in Fengtian Hall Square had not yet reached Huagai Hall.

At this moment, Zhang Biao was still standing in Old Zhu's bedroom, ignoring everything around him, staring intently at Old Zhu on the dragon bed.

He didn't believe that Old Zhu would be so easily angered to death.

"Zhang Biao! You are a monster who brings disaster to the country and its people!"

Although he had been thoroughly berated by Zhang Biao, Liu Sanwu couldn't help but point at Zhang Biao with deep hatred as he looked at the dying Emperor Zhu on the dragon bed, saying, "If the Emperor suffers even the slightest mishap, I will tear you to pieces!"

"You little beast! You just wait!"

Mei Yin spat out the words, his voice dripping with murderous intent, through gritted teeth: "If His Majesty's health is harmed, I will surely grind you to dust!"

Although Jiang Huan did not speak, the veins on the back of his hand, which was pressed on the hilt of his knife, bulged, and his cold eyes were fixed on Zhang Biao's throat.

If anything were to happen to Lao Zhu, or if Zhang Biao made any further unusual moves, he would kill Zhang Biao without hesitation, even if it meant dying together with him.

However, Zhang Biao ignored their curses and murderous intent.

All his senses were focused on the faint breath on the dragon bed.

He even silently counted the faint rises and falls of Old Zhu's chest in his mind. Each faint breath made his tense nerves relax slightly, only to tighten again due to the delay of the next breath.

Time flowed slowly amidst extreme anxiety and superficial stillness, each breath feeling like an eternity.

He didn't know how much time had passed, maybe half an incense stick's time, maybe a full incense stick's time, when Zhang Biao felt that his heart was about to be burned through.

"Uh cough."

A very faint cough, tinged with phlegm, came from the imperial bed like heavenly music.

"Your Majesty! His Majesty has awakened!"

The old doctor, who had been staring intently at Old Zhu's face, was so excited that his voice changed.

The bedroom fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on the dragon bed.

Old Zhu's eyelids twitched a few times with difficulty before he slowly opened them.

Those eyes, once as sharp as a hawk's, were now filled with bloodshot veins, and deep within them lay an unfathomable weariness and a chilling emptiness.

His sallow face was bloodless, and there were still traces of blood on the corners of his mouth.

His gaze swept very slowly over the people gathered around the bed.

Finally, that gaze, seemingly devoid of all warmth, fell upon Zhang Biao, who remained standing in place, clutching the blood-stained ledger tightly in his hand, like two blunt knives tempered with ice.

The moment their eyes met, Zhang Biao was taken aback for a moment, then gave a cold smile.

Seeing this, Old Zhu's lips moved very slightly, his voice weak but carrying an undeniable force: "Zhang Biao stays, everyone else leave."

"emperor!"

Liu Sanwu and Mei Yin exclaimed in surprise at the same time, wanting to offer their opinions.

"roll!"

Old Zhu suddenly raised his voice, and although he was still weak, it instantly silenced everyone.

"Jiang Huan, guard the door. Anyone who approaches, kill them on the spot!"

Old Zhu gave the order again, but his eyes never left Zhang Biao.

"Sir, obey the order!"

Without any hesitation, Jiang Huan immediately bowed and accepted the order, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes flashing like lightning, signaling everyone to leave.

His gaze lingered on Zhang Biao for a moment, filled with warning and a sense of 'you're dead'.

Despite their reluctance and worries, Liu Sanwu and Mei Yin could only retreat, turning back every few steps, under Jiang Huan's icy gaze.

The imperial physician was also signaled by Jiang Huan to leave, leaving only the most basic emergency medicines nearby.

The heavy door slammed shut behind me, cutting off the outside world with a dull thud. The large bedroom was instantly filled only with the lingering smells of medicine and blood, and a suffocating silence.

"Zhang Biao."

Old Zhu's voice rang out again, clearer and colder than before, each word like an ice bead hitting the ground: "You think you're so great, so high and mighty, you can insult Zhu Chongba now."

Zhang Biao: "."

No! You're talking about my words!
Zhang Biao was speechless for a moment.

But Old Zhu ignored him, and forced himself to get up from the dragon bed, saying in a muffled voice like thunder, "You cursed our parents and Zhu Chongba to the point of starvation! You cursed them to death! You cursed them ruthlessly!"

This ruthless and satisfying act was devoid of any praise, only a chilling coldness.

"But do you know how we got to where we are today, step by step, from that little monk who held a broken bowl, was looked down upon by others, and was even less than a dog?"

"What do you want to say?"

Zhang Biao was fearless, even a little amused: "You're destined for greatness?"

"What kind of destiny is this!"

Old Zhu interrupted him angrily, his voice suddenly turning cold, carrying a ruthless and chilling quality: "It's about killing! Killing Yuan soldiers! Killing corrupt officials! Killing everyone who stands in our way and harms the common people!"

"We're risking our lives in this rebellion not to sit on the dragon throne and enjoy a life of luxury! It's to prevent a few Wang Zhongs from starving to death! To prevent a few Li Mos from pawning their ancestral books! To prevent a few..."

"Alright, alright! I can't be bothered to listen to your nonsense!"

Zhang Biao impatiently interrupted Lao Zhu, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"You think you can fool me with what you're saying? You can only fool those bookworms who've gone stupid from studying too much."

"If you truly cared about the common people and those low-ranking officials in Beijing, you wouldn't have come up with so many messy policies, turning back the clock of history! You wouldn't have ignored the lives of those low-ranking officials in Beijing after I demanded my unpaid wages from you!"

He paused, a disgusted expression on his face, and said, "Stop with your hypocritical act! You're just a selfish and incompetent ruler!"

"Hahaha!"

Old Zhu suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter.

That laughter sent chills down your spine.

After a long pause, he finally stopped laughing and looked at Zhang Biao with a playful expression: "You say we're selfish, but what about you?"

"how do I?"

Zhang Biao's heart skipped a beat, and he had a vague sense of foreboding.

But then Old Zhu said calmly and indifferently, "Have you ever thought about what will happen to the people around you after you die, or rather, to those low-ranking officials in Beijing that you instigated to act recklessly?"

Boom——!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao was struck dumb, his mind going completely blank.

He never imagined that Old Zhu could be so shameless and brazen.

He actually threatened me with Shen Lang and the others' lives?!

Countless complex emotions, including anger, frustration, and resentment, converged into a raging torrent that suddenly erupted.

He disregarded everything else and cursed at Old Zhu again: "Fuck you! You son of a bitch!"

Old Zhu was stunned for a moment, but not to be outdone, he immediately retorted with a curse: "You son of a bitch!"

At this moment, a court historian, who had just rushed out of the bedroom with his notebook in hand and filled with righteous indignation, was shocked to hear two shouts of insults coming from inside.

"Holy crap, this Imperial Censor!"

"Holy crap, this emperor!"

"Isn't this playing with fire?! Holy crap!!"

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(End of this chapter)