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

She immediately instructed her father and brother, Lü Chang, to spare no expense and use all their connections to ensure that Zhu Muying's case was closed!

We must not allow him any chance to turn things around!

Originally, things were going very smoothly.

Zhu Muying was imprisoned; the charges against him were irrefutable, and he was awaiting execution at the Meridian Gate.

But she never expected that Empress Ma and Crown Prince Zhu Biao would react so strongly!

Even more unexpectedly, Zhu Muying, that wicked star, was still able to stir up trouble even while in prison, and brought the matter to the point of a public trial!

That day, Lady Lü's heart sank to the bottom.

She thought the plan was going to fail.

But now it seems that things are developing even better than she expected!

Did Zhu Muying commit suicide?

OK!

The more gruesome the death, the better!

It would be best if he were to die on the spot, so that everyone could see the fate of this traitor!

Several princes staged a coup?

better!

This is a heinous crime!

This is what His Majesty hates the most!

This is a perfect opportunity to suppress them all at once!

Especially Crown Prince Zhu Biao!

A venomous glint flashed in Lady Lü's eyes.

She knew that although Crown Prince Zhu Biao was her husband, his heart was never with her.

In Zhu Biao's heart, there was only his principal wife, Lady Chang, his eldest son, Zhu Xiong Ying, and his brothers!

This time, for Zhu Muying's sake, Zhu Biao did not hesitate to throw away his crown as crown prince and request to be deposed.

To others, this is a testament to the deep bond between brothers.

But in Lü's view, this was utterly foolish!

If you don't even want the position of Crown Prince, what can my son hope for?

Since you, Zhu Biao, disregard the lives of my mother and me for the sake of your brothers, then don't blame me for being ruthless!

"Where is my father?"

After calming down, Madam Lü asked.

"Your Majesty, Lord Lü is currently among the officials. I have already sent word to him, instructing him to act according to the circumstances."

"it is good."

Lady Lü nodded, a ruthless glint in her eyes. "Go and deliver another message. Tell my father that now is the best opportunity! His Majesty is furious and hates nothing more than princes forming factions and challenging imperial authority! Make him stand up immediately and impeach them!"

"Greetings...Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince?"

The little eunuch was startled.

"Foolish!"

Lady Lü snorted coldly, "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, the apple of His Majesty's eye. To impeach him now is tantamount to courting death!"

A cold smile curved her lips.

"Have him direct his anger at Zhu Muying! Say that Zhu Muying is the culprit, inciting the princes to plot a rebellion! And while we're at it, give a warning to the Prince of Qin and the Prince of Yan, saying that they disregard imperial authority and act disloyally!"

"In this way, we both appease His Majesty's anger and remove the Crown Prince from the picture. His Majesty is looking for a way out, and my father is simply offering him one! His Majesty will be overjoyed and will surely look upon my father and our Lü family in a different light!"

"Most importantly, once Zhu Muying is proven guilty of 'bewitching the prince,' he's doomed! Not even a god can save him!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The young eunuch listened intently, nodding repeatedly, his face full of admiration.

"Go quickly!"

Lady Lü waved her hand.

"yes!"

The young eunuch accepted the order and hurriedly withdrew.

Silence returned to the inner palace.

Lady Lü slowly walked to the window, gazing in the direction of the Meridian Gate, a determined smile on her face.

Zhu Muying, Chang Shi, Zhu Xiong Ying...

Your good days are over.

From this day forward, this Eastern Palace and this Ming Dynasty will belong to my Lü family and my son Zhu Yunwen!

She had already seen Zhu Muying's blood splattered at the Meridian Gate, Chang Shi crying until she went blind, and her son Zhu Yunwen, dressed in a brand-new imperial grandson's robes, receiving the homage of civil and military officials.

What a beautiful scene that was!

Meridian Gate Square.

Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, and others were on the verge of attacking Zhu Yuanzhang.

The entire court was filled with trepidation.

"Your Majesty! Your subject has something to report!"

The crowd looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged official with a thin face and a goatee walking out from the ranks of civil officials.

It was none other than Lü Ben, the Minister of Rites of the current dynasty.

Lü Ben's appearance surprised everyone.

The father of the Crown Prince's concubine, Lady Lü.

A shrewd and worldly-wise old hand in officialdom, adept at figuring out the intentions of his superiors.

What does he want to do by stepping forward at this time?

Lu Ben walked to the center of the square, first glancing at the scene of "brothers fighting and fathers turning against each other" with great sorrow, and then kneeling heavily before Zhu Yuanzhang on the high platform, tears streaming down his face.

"Your Majesty! This old minister's heart is breaking at the sight before him!"

"A country has its laws, and a family has its rules! The majesty of the emperor cannot be disrespected!"

"Today, Prince Zhu Muying, burdened with the grave crime of treason, not only shows no remorse but also incites the princes and generals to openly defy His Majesty! This is an act of heinous rebellion, a crime deserving of death!"

Lü Ben's voice was impassioned and filled with the indignation of a "loyal minister".

His words stunned most of the people present.

At this point, would you dare to add fuel to the fire?

Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and others glared at him angrily.

What does "coercing generals and commanders" mean?

Are we blind or stupid, needing Zhu Muying to manipulate us?

However, Lü Ben ignored the stares of those around him.

He felt he had seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

The message from his daughter confirmed his judgment: His Majesty had been cornered and needed a way out, and even more so, a target to vent his anger on!

And that target was Zhu Muying!

If I were to stand up now, denounce Zhu Muying's crimes, and place all the blame on him alone, while also giving a warning to the "misbehaving" Prince Qin and Prince Yan, I could perfectly please His Majesty!

As for the crown prince?

My daughter told me not to touch it.

Therefore, Lü Ben continued in his "righteous" voice, loudly proclaiming, "Your Majesty! Prince Qin, Prince Yan, and the others are young and ignorant, misled by treacherous officials, which is why they have committed such acts of contempt for imperial authority. I implore Your Majesty, considering that they are princes and descendants of the emperor, to be lenient with them, allowing them to reflect on their actions behind closed doors!"

"But! Prince Zhu Muying! The mastermind behind this case! He is cunning and ruthless. First, he spread rumors to sow discord between His Majesty and the Crown Prince. Then, during the public trial, he used clever words and flattery to distort the truth! Now, he has even dragged several princes and the nation's generals into this mess! His wickedness is beyond description!"

"Your Majesty, I implore you to act decisively and swiftly to execute this scoundrel, in order to uphold the law, serve as a warning to others, and ensure the peace of the realm, so as to prevent future troubles!"

After saying that, he slammed his head heavily to the ground.

"Your Majesty, please execute Zhu Muying!"

He believed that his heartfelt words of "sharing the emperor's worries and eliminating harm for the country" would surely please His Majesty.

He had even planned how he would submit a memorial to the emperor after Zhu Muying was beheaded, in order to save face for the emperor and quell public opinion.

At that time, Lü Ben will be the number one hero in restoring order!

Their Lü family will surely soar to great heights!

However, what he received was not Zhu Yuanzhang's praise.

Instead, there was only deathly silence.

Lu Ben looked up with some surprise, only to meet Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze.

There was no sorrow or regret, nor the praise and satisfaction he had anticipated.

There is only something endless, cold, and capable of freezing one's soul...

Killing intent!

"What...what did you just say?"

"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, please execute the Prince of Ying..."

Lu Ben felt uneasy under Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze, but he still gritted his teeth and repeated it.

"Oh……"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly laughed.

He looked at Lü Ben kneeling on the ground as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Who do you think you are?"

Lü Ben was completely stunned.

Varied……

What's going on?

That's not how the script was written!

Am I trying to ease your worries?

Am I handing you a ladder?

How come...

Why is that reaction?

"Who do you think you are!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, "How dare you interfere in our family affairs?!"

"How dare you talk about Biao'er!"

"It's only natural for a father to discipline his son! And it's also understandable that he'd protect his brother!"

"Who do you think you are, an outsider, to dare speak ill of the Crown Prince here?!"

Lü Ben was completely stunned!

They called for Zhu Muying's execution.

Now that it's Zhu Biao's turn, why is he suddenly so protective of his own?