I, Zhu Yunwen of the Ming Dynasty, resurrected Empress Ma at the start.

Lan Yu was suddenly taken aback.

"Your Highness, what do you mean? I don't understand."

He raised his eyes and stared intently at Zhu Yunwen, his eyes filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

The boy before me is completely different from who he used to be.

How could that timid child who always bowed his head and spoke softly have changed so much overnight?

That gaze, that bearing, that sharp edge in his words…

He doesn't seem like a fourteen-year-old boy at all.

Zhu Yunwen chuckled softly.

"Uncle, why pretend to be ignorant when you know the truth?"

"What I am saying, do you not know in your heart?"

Lan Yu remained silent, her mind racing with calculations.

What exactly is this kid trying to do?

Did he come by himself, or...?

Seeing his wary expression, Zhu Yunwen remained calm and composed.

He leaned back, casually crossed his legs, and spoke in a light tone, yet every word was piercing.

"Uncle, your current situation is vastly different from what it was a few years ago."

"With the passing of my cheap old man, you lost your biggest backer in the court."

"Old Deng is wary of you founding ministers every day, giving this one a warning today and dealing with that one tomorrow."

"In a few days, I'm afraid you, Duke of Liang, will be added to the imperial prison."

"You must know all this! You should know it better than I do!"

Lan Yu's expression suddenly changed.

How could he not know?

It is precisely because I know the truth that I toss and turn every night, unable to sleep.

These words actually came from the mouth of a fourteen-year-old boy...

And it's this Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Yunwen, although the legitimate son of the former crown prince, was basically a useless person.

How could such a big change have occurred?

He gazed at Zhu Yunwen, then suddenly realized something and asked in a deep voice.

"Who is this 'Old Deng' that Your Highness speaks of?"

Zhu Yunwen blinked and spoke frankly and without restraint.

"It was my imperial grandfather, His Majesty the present. Who else could it be but him?"

Lan Yu's lips twitched suddenly.

Old Deng...

How dare they address His Majesty as "Old Deng"...

This kid is incredibly audacious.

Although he didn't know what "Lao Deng" meant, daring to call His Majesty "Lao Deng" was extremely disrespectful.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yunwen dared to address him in that way.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and continued to press for answers.

"Then what is the purpose of Your Highness's visit today?"

The tone has changed.

There was no longer a trace of insincere politeness, only the fierce and unyielding spirit unique to veteran generals on the battlefield.

"Did you come to catch up with me? Or were you deliberately trying to intimidate me?"

He paused, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

"Or perhaps, His Majesty instructed you to come and sound out my intentions?"

He had to think about it this way.

Who can say for sure that the upheaval in the court yesterday wasn't orchestrated by His Majesty?

He ordered Zhu Yunwen to perform a play, and then personally came to test his feelings...

Zhu Yunwen was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha--"

He laughed so hard he almost fell over, and only after he finished laughing did he wipe the smile from the corners of his eyes.

"Uncle, you're overthinking it."

"If that old man could command me, the sun would rise in the west."

"And do you think I, Zhu Yunwen, am someone that old Deng can control?"

His smile vanished, and his eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp.

"I'm not here to scare you, nor am I someone sent by that old man."

"I have come today for only one thing."

Lan Yu's gaze was fixed.

"What is it?"

Zhu Yunwen spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his voice booming like thunder.

"rebellion."

Lan Yu's pupils suddenly contracted, and he was greatly shocked.

rebellion?!

What did he hear?!

The moment those two words came out of Zhu Yunwen's mouth, it terrified him even more than hearing that Empress Ma had come back to life.

"Your Highness, you..."

He opened his mouth, but was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.

Zhu Yunwen gave him no chance to recover, took something out of his pocket, and slammed it on the table.

"Duke of Liang, do you recognize this item?"

Lan Yu looked down.

A golden seal stood quietly, square and upright, with phoenixes carved on top and seal script inscribed below.

His eyes widened suddenly, and his blood almost froze.

This is... the Empress's golden seal!

Lan Yu stared intently at the gold seal on the table, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

The Empress's Golden Seal!

How did such a thing end up in Zhu Yunwen's hands?

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhu Yunwen, his voice already distorted.

"Your Highness! This...this is truly the Empress's golden seal? Why is it in your possession?"

Zhu Yunwen still had his legs crossed, looking calm and composed, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Of course it was given to me by my grandmother, did I steal it?"

Lan Yu was speechless for a moment.

Steal? Who would dare steal the Empress's golden seal? That's a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!

But Grandma… he actually addressed the Empress so casually…

His mind raced.

He witnessed the events in the court yesterday and was deeply shocked and incredulous.

Empress Ma, who had been dead for ten years, miraculously returned to the Fengtian Hall alive.

He pondered this matter all night, but could not find a solution.

Looking at the young man before him again, a chilling thought suddenly arose in his mind—

The Empress's resurrection—could it truly be related to Zhu Yunwen?

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask a question but then stopped, unsure of where to begin.

Zhu Yuntong chuckled softly when he saw his hesitant expression.

"Uncle, I know what you want to ask."

"Are you trying to ask why my grandmother suddenly came back to life?"

Lan Yu nodded deeply.

Zhu Yunwen casually waved his hand.

"Let's put this matter aside for now. I know you're anxious, but let's talk about the important things first."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Lan Yu's eyes.

"Uncle, I only have one question for you: to rebel or not to rebel?"

Lan Yu's expression changed drastically.

rebellion?!

The two words that came out of Zhu Yunwen's mouth made him even more terrified than the golden seal.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and his face darkened.

"Your Highness, do you know what you're saying?"

"Treason? Whose rebellion are you plotting? His Majesty's?"

He stared intently at Zhu Yunwen, his eyes filled with scrutiny, vigilance, and a lingering suspicion.

Could this kid be someone His Majesty sent to test him?

What happened in court yesterday might have been a scheme orchestrated by His Majesty!

First, have Zhu Yunwen put on a show, then come personally to get information out of him...

Seeing his wary expression, Zhu Yunwen suddenly smiled brightly.

"Uncle, you're quick-witted."

Unfortunately, you're overthinking it.

He pointed to the gold seal on the table.

"If I were truly sent by that old Deng, would I dare to show myself with Grandma's golden seal?"

"If old Deng knew that Grandma had bestowed the golden seal upon me, he would probably be furious!"

Lan Yu was taken aback, but after thinking about it carefully, she realized that it made sense.

Zhu Yunwen's smile faded, and his expression turned serious.

"Uncle, let's not beat around the bush."

"You know your current situation better than anyone. You also understand Old Deng's suspicious nature better than anyone else. If Zhu Yunwen ascends the throne, you know perfectly well what will become of us."

"I'll only ask you one question: do you want to sit and wait to die, or are you willing to take a gamble and fight for your life?"