I was to be executed by Zhu Yuanzhang, and Empress Ma smashed Zhu Yuanzhang's jade seal.

Outside the Fengtian Hall, on Baiyuping, the wind and snow intensified.

Zhu Yuanzhang knelt there, holding the already cold woman in his arms tightly.

The whole world disappeared, leaving only him and her.

He felt neither cold nor pain, nor even the blood flowing down his forehead.

All his senses were focused on the person in his arms.

He could feel her body hardening little by little, the once soft and warm touch being replaced by a chilling stiffness that terrified him.

He could smell the familiar scent of soap in her hair, but the fragrance grew fainter and fainter, mixed with the bloody smell emanating from his own mouth, turning into the smell of despair.

"Girl..."

His lips trembled, and the sound he made was hoarse and unpleasant, as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper.

"Say something to us..."

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, like a lost child, trying his best to smell the last of her scent.

He could no longer hear the cries, screams, and chaotic footsteps around him.

In his world, only the howling of the wind and snow and the slow, heavy beating of his own heart remained.

One stroke after another, bidding farewell to the person in his arms.

He began to gently and carefully sway her body, as if afraid of hurting her.

"Please don't sleep, okay?"

"We know you're tired... You've never had a truly comfortable day in your life."

His thoughts began to drift uncontrollably away, back to decades ago.

That was in Haozhou City, when he was a poor boy named Zhu Chongba who couldn't even get enough to eat.

She is Guo Zixing's adopted daughter, a wealthy young lady.

But she just happened to fall for him, this penniless beggar.

He remembered the first time he saw her; she was wearing a clean cloth dress, not some fine silk or satin, but in his eyes, she was more beautiful than a fairy from heaven.

There was no disdain or contempt in her eyes when she looked at him; only a tenderness that he couldn't understand.

At that time, he couldn't even afford a decent betrothal gift.

But every time she saw him, she was still smiling, and didn't seem to be in any pain.

He vowed then and there that he would treat this woman well for the rest of his life.

We must ensure she lives a good life and never suffer any more injustice.

But what did he do?

He became emperor, and she became empress.

He gave her a status and wealth that all women in the world envied, but did he ever give her a single day of true peace of mind?

No.

He is suspicious every day, and he kills people every day.

He killed the brothers who fought alongside him to establish the empire, and the civil officials he disliked.

Every time he was about to kill someone, she would come and try to stop him.

"Zhongba, kill fewer people, do some good for the children."

"Zhongba, that man has rendered meritorious service. You can't kill him just because he said a few unpleasant things."

"Zhongba, if you continue like this, you'll end up all alone."

Did he listen?

He listened at first, but then he became increasingly impatient.

He thought, what would a woman like her know?

He was clearing obstacles for the Ming Dynasty to remain a lasting dynasty.

He was thinking of their descendants.

Looking back now, he was such a bastard!

What obstacles did he clear?

He simply killed everyone who could tell him the truth, turning himself into a complete loner.

He even...

He even doubted her!

He doubted the woman who had stood by him through mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

Suspecting her relationship with Mu Ying...

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his heart tightly, causing him so much pain that he almost suffocated.

"Pfft—" Another mouthful of blood gushed out, splattering onto her bright yellow phoenix robe, like blooming blood-red plum blossoms.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

He stretched out his trembling hand, trying to wipe away the bloodstains, but his hand was also covered in blood, and the more he wiped, the dirtier it became. The bright yellow stain was quickly stained beyond recognition.

"I've gotten you dirty...girl...I've gotten you dirty..."

He cried like a child, tears and snot mixed together with the blood on his forehead, flowing all over his face.

He had never been so embarrassed or regretful in his entire life.

He won the world, but lost her.

What use is this world then?

Then what's the point of being an emperor?

"Girl..."

He held her in his arms, his voice almost frantic, pleading, "Let's not be emperor anymore... let's not be emperor anymore, okay?"

"Let's give the throne to Biao'er and let him do it. He's kind and benevolent, and he'll do a better job than us."

"We'll take you away, we'll go back to Haozhou. We'll go to Huangjue Temple again, we'll grow vegetables for you, and you'll cook for us. We'll live a normal life, and never have to worry about all this fighting and killing again..."

"Wake up, look at us...just one look..."

As he spoke, he kissed her cold forehead again and again.

He wished it was all just a nightmare.

As long as he opens his eyes, she is still sleeping peacefully beside him, and as usual, she will gently persuade him when he throws a tantrum.

However, the person in his arms did not respond to him.

Her body grew colder and colder, as cold as ice, making his heart ache.

An unprecedented panic overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

Do not!

She can't die!

His sister is made of steel, how could she possibly die?

Back then, on Chen Youliang's ship, a hail of arrows rained down, and she shielded him with her own body to protect him.

That time, she bled a lot, and everyone thought she wouldn't survive, but she pulled through.

Another time, she had a difficult labor when giving birth to Biao'er. She was in pain for a whole day and night, and almost bled out.

The imperial physicians all said there was no hope, and told him to prepare for his death.

But he knelt outside the delivery room all night begging, and in the end, she still gave birth to Biao'er safely.

How could she possibly be dead?

He still died because of this one...

At such a ridiculous moment?

Zhu Yuanzhang's mind was in complete chaos.

He couldn't understand it, and he couldn't accept it.

He raised his head, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the stunned civil and military officials around him, and over the trembling eunuchs and palace maids.

His gaze finally fell on the few imperial physicians in the distance who were carrying medicine chests and were equally terrified.

Correct!

Imperial Physician!

And there's the imperial physician!

A crazy idea exploded in his mind.

"Someone come here!"

He roared with all his might, his voice piercing the wind and snow.

"deliver an imperial order!"

The eunuch closest to him trembled with fright and crawled to his knees, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty...what are your orders...?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared intently at him and roared, enunciating each word clearly, "Send out an imperial edict to the world!"

"Summon all the renowned doctors in the land! No matter who they are, no matter where they are! As long as they can come!"

"Tell them! Whoever can save the Empress will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"

His voice echoed across the empty Baiyuping, carrying a reckless madness.

He wants to use his imperial power to snatch people from the King of Hell!

He refused to believe that there was truly no one in the world who could save his sister.

He refused to believe that the King of Hell would dare to take the person he, Zhu Yuanzhang, wanted!

The eunuch delivering the decree was so terrified by his appearance that he nearly fainted. He scrambled out, stammering incoherently, "Reveal His Majesty's decree! Reveal His Majesty's decree!"

The entire area in front of the Fengtian Hall was in complete chaos.

Zhu Yuanzhang, however, exhausted all his strength and lowered his head again to look at the woman in his arms.

A near-neurotic smile appeared on his face.

"Hey girl, did you hear that?"

"We've called all the best doctors in the world to save you, you'll be alright."

"Wait a little longer... wait a little longer for us..."

"If you dare to leave without waiting for us..."

He stopped abruptly at this point.

He looked at her peaceful face, which looked like she was just sleeping, and his heart clenched.

Unspeakable grief and despair once again engulfed him.

He lowered his head and gently pressed his forehead against her cold forehead.

"Girl..."

His voice was as soft as a sigh.

"If you really leave... I'll come and join you."

"We're worried about you walking alone on the road to the underworld."

"We'll die with you."