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

Inside the Fengtian Hall, there was a deathly silence.

The image of Lü Ben being stripped of his official robes and dragged away like a dead dog is still deeply etched in everyone's mind.

The mournful wailing seemed to still linger on the beams of the main hall, sending a chill down the spines of all the civil and military officials.

Everyone could see that the emperor was making an example of someone.

But what about the monkey after killing the chicken?

All eyes were drawn once again to the young man who had stood tall the whole time.

The Prince of Ying, Zhu Muying.

He remained standing there, his shackles cold, the bloodstains on his neck a shocking sight.

He didn't look at Lü Ben being dragged away, or even at his father on the high platform; he simply looked quietly at his brothers who were still kneeling on the ground.

Zhu Biao's forehead was cut open, and blood flowed down his cheeks, mingling with his tears, making him look utterly disheveled.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di all had red eyes, their faces filled with worry and lingering fear.

Zhu Muying felt a mix of emotions.

There was warmth, but also bitterness.

He knew that he had been given a second chance at life today.

It wasn't because of his performance of committing suicide, but because of his good brothers, and the group of generals in the audience who were willing to risk their lives for him.

But then?

He knew his father all too well.

Zhu Yuanzhang was the kind of person who could back down, but he would never admit his mistakes.

In today's situation, he was cornered and had no choice but to retreat.

But he will definitely remember this debt.

If Zhu Muying doesn't die today, he will surely become a poisonous thorn stuck in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, causing him pain day and night.

His emperor father was having a headache over how to deal with his "rebellious son".

Killing is not an option; it must not be done in public.

If that scene were to repeat itself, the morale of the Ming Dynasty's army would truly crumble.

Letting go is even more impossible.

If we just let this go so easily after making such a big fuss today, what will become of the emperor's face?

Where is the majesty of imperial power?

What will the world think of him?

Therefore, they must be punished, and severely punished at that.

Punish him enough to quell his anger, punish him enough to demonstrate his authority to the world, punish him enough...

It will allow him to find a way to gracefully step down.

Just as everyone held their breath, awaiting the oppressive moment of the emperor's final verdict.

An elderly figure slowly walked out from the ranks of civil officials.

He was dressed in a crimson prime minister's court robe, his hair was gray, but his steps were steady.

Every step felt like stepping on everyone's heartbeat.

Left Chancellor, Li Shanchang.

He was the head of the civil officials of the time and a veteran minister who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang from his humble beginnings.

As soon as he stepped forward, everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and other military generals all changed their expressions and their eyes instantly became wary.

They just went through Lü Ben, and now they're having another Li Shanchang.

What tricks are these civil officials up to this time?

They weren't afraid to stand up to the emperor, but they were afraid of these civil officials stabbing them in the back and playing dirty tricks they couldn't understand.

Even Zhu Biao, who was kneeling on the ground, couldn't help but look up nervously at the teacher he usually respected.

Ignoring the various gazes around him, Li Shanchang walked to the center of the hall, bowed deeply to Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon throne, held his scepter, and spoke in a solemn yet powerful voice.

The voice echoed throughout the empty Fengtian Hall, every word crystal clear.

"Your Majesty, Li Shanchang, Duke of Han and Left Chancellor, hereby impeach Prince Zhu Muying!"

boom!

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in uproar as if struck by a thunderbolt.

Impeach?

At this time, should the King be impeached?

Is this because the fire isn't burning hot enough, so they're pouring another bucket of oil on it?

Xu Da clenched his fist instantly, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

He stared intently at Li Shanchang's back. If looks could kill, Li Shanchang would probably be torn to pieces by now.

"Li Shanchang! You..."

Chang Yuchun had a very impatient temper and was about to lose his temper on the spot.

"The King of Kaiping!"

Xu Da grabbed him and whispered sharply, "Calm down! Let's see what he's trying to say!"

Chang Yuchun's chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath, but he managed to hold it in.

On the high platform, Zhu Yuanzhang's originally gloomy face showed a slight change in his eyes after hearing the name Li Shanchang.

He remained silent, only looking at Li Shanchang, signaling him to continue.

Only Zhu Muying remained completely still.

The moment Li Shanchang spoke, he understood.

This prime minister, later known as "Xiao He of the Ming Dynasty," was not there to kick someone when they were down.

He's here to break the deadlock.

Even more so...

He saved his life!

Li Shanchang's aged yet steady voice continued to echo in the main hall.

"Your Majesty, I impeach Prince Zhu Muying for three crimes!"

"His first crime was failing to properly manage his subordinates and his household! As a prince, five hundred sets of armor were found privately stored in his residence. Although no evidence of treason was found, the presence of such prohibited items in a prince's residence was a huge oversight! This is his crime of negligence!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Da and the others were all taken aback.

The crime of negligence?

Li Shanchang actually brushed aside the heinous crime of "treason" with the mere phrase "oversight."

Although it still sounds like a conviction, the feeling it evokes is completely different!

Li Shanchang paused, then his voice suddenly rose a few decibels.

"His second crime is his breach of decorum before the throne, disregarding the distinction between ruler and subject! Today, during the public trial at the Meridian Gate, the Prince of England's words were excessive, repeatedly contradicting His Majesty, and even threatening suicide. This is utterly disrespectful! As a son, he is unfilial! As a subject, he is disloyal! This is his crime of disrespect!"

Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, and the others felt their hearts tighten upon hearing this.

Disloyalty and filial impiety were crimes that could lead to death in ancient times.

However, the third charge against Li Shanchang immediately followed, and everyone sensed something different.

"His third crime was his carelessness, which stirred up the court! The case of the King of England was originally a routine criminal case, but because of his special status and outstanding achievements, it caused turmoil in the court and among the people, unrest in the army, and a rift between father and son, and between the monarch and his ministers! Although this was not his intention, the storm was started because of him, and this is his fault for being careless!"

"Pass"!

Li Shanchang used the word "过" (guò).

Sin and transgression, a difference of just one word, yet worlds apart!

The three charges were presented in a logical and righteous manner, as if they were truly impeaching a prince who had committed heinous crimes.

Upon closer examination, all three sins are raised high but then fall lightly!

The first provision changed the capital offense of treason to dereliction of duty due to negligence in management.

The second article changed the serious crime of forcing the emperor to abdicate into the rudeness of disrespecting elders.

The third article goes even further, portraying the crisis that threatens the very foundation of the nation as an unintentional mistake.

This is hardly an impeachment.

This is clearly a case of feigning retreat to advance, using the guise of impeachment to actually exonerate someone!

He is using the methods of a civil official and the rules of the imperial court to redefine the nature of Zhu Muying's earth-shattering case!

They turned a seemingly hopeless situation around!

None of the officials in the court were fools.

The civil officials watched Li Shanchang's retreating figure with eyes full of admiration and understanding.

clever!

That's brilliant!

This is the true way of being a prime minister!

This preserved the emperor's dignity, saved the lives of the meritorious officials, and gave everyone a way out.

Xu Da and the others also realized what was happening, and their tense bodies relaxed considerably. The look in their eyes as they looked at Li Shanchang changed from anger to something more complicated.

These military generals only knew how to be straightforward and fight to the death.

But they don't understand that sometimes, the intrigue and power struggles within the imperial court are more dangerous than those on the battlefield, and require even more wisdom.

Li Shanchang seemed oblivious to everyone's reactions. He bowed deeply to Zhu Yuanzhang once more and presented the solution he had prepared long ago.

"Your Majesty, while the King of England has made mistakes, his merits are also undeniable!"

"His northern expedition across the desert, his sealing of the wolf's lair, and his unparalleled achievements have made a mark on the history of our Great Ming! His merits are worthy of being recorded in history! His merits and demerits offset each other, and his crimes do not warrant death!"

"Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty's wise decision!"

Li Shanchang raised his head, his voice booming, and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Remove his title of Prince of Ying and reclaim all his princely fiefdoms and estates!"

"Strip him of his military power, and remove him from all his military posts as Deputy Marshal of the Armed Forces!"

"Considering his contributions to the state, he is spared the death penalty but demoted to commoner status!"

"Exiled...to the northern frontier! To the place where he once fought, to guard the nation's borders for life, never to be summoned again, never to set foot in Nanjing!"

Li Shanchang's voice echoed in the silent Fengtian Hall.

Dethrone your title!

Reduce his power!

He was demoted to a commoner!

Forever guarding the northern frontier!

This punishment is undeniably severe.

A prince with unparalleled achievements and immense power is about to become a prisoner, worse off than an ordinary citizen, in the blink of an eye.

This is enough to demonstrate the strictness of the emperor's laws, enough to quell His Majesty's wrath, and enough to give the people of the world an explanation.

But in the end, he survived.

Moreover, instead of being exiled to the malarial and malaria-ridden regions of Qiongzhou or Yunnan and Guizhou, he was sent back to the northern frontier, which he knew best.

There is undoubtedly a hint of "granting leniency in consideration of their merits" in this.

Although Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and other generals felt bitter and resentful for the King of England, they knew that this was the best outcome they could achieve at the moment.

If the struggle continues, it will truly drive the emperor to his death, resulting in mutual destruction and no one escaping unscathed.

They all knelt down, their voices heavy with sorrow: "We, your subjects, second that request!"

Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, and the others exchanged glances, then knelt down as well, their voices hoarse: "Your subjects thank Your Majesty for sparing our lives!"

They knew that although their fifth brother had suffered a great injustice, as long as he was alive, that was better than anything else.

In an instant, all the civil and military officials knelt down.

"We, your subjects, second that proposal!"

"Please, Your Majesty, make your judgment!"

The thunderous roar handed the final decision to the man seated on the dragon throne.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked expressionlessly at the kneeling crowd below.

He looked at Xu Da, who was filled with grief; at Chang Yuchun, who was filled with resentment; at Zhu Biao, who seemed relieved; and at Zhu Di, whose eyes held a complex expression…

Finally, his gaze fell on the only person who hadn't knelt down from beginning to end.

His fifth son, Zhu Muying.

Zhu Muying was also looking at him.

The father and son's eyes met in the air.

Zhu Muying's eyes were calm, as calm as a bottomless ancient well.

Zhu Yuanzhang, however, gleaned a great deal from that tranquility.

There was disappointment, sorrow, mockery, and even...

There was also a sliver of pity.

mercy?

Why should a dying prisoner like him show mercy to me, the supreme ruler?!

An unnamed rage surged up from the depths of Zhu Yuanzhang's heart once again.

He admitted that Li Shanchang's move was very clever.

This solution seemed tailor-made for him.

They gave him a way out, saved his face, and also naturally and completely removed Zhu Muying, this major threat, from the center of power.

It looks perfect.

But who was Zhu Yuanzhang?

He was an emperor who crawled out of a pile of corpses!

His suspicion and paranoia had long been ingrained in his very being!

He knew better than anyone that Li Shanchang's plan contained a fatal flaw!

Exiled to the northern frontier?

That was Yuan Dadu!

Exiled to Dadu (Beijing)?

Should we send him to guard the nation's borders?

Haha, you talk a good game but you sing a good game!

What kind of place was Yuan Dadu?

That was Zhu Muying's headquarters, which she had managed for many years!

This is where he rose to power!

Throughout the entire northern border defense line of the Ming Dynasty, from the general to the squad leader, which one of them wasn't promoted by Zhu Muying?

Who among them hasn't received his kindness?

He went back today wearing a prince's python robe, and those people listened to him.

He'll go back in prison tomorrow, and those people will still listen to him!

In that land of the northern frontier, the name Zhu Muying was more effective than Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial edicts!

Sending him to Yuan Dadu was not a way for him to atone for his sins; it was like releasing a tiger back into the mountains!

Even with a son who held immense military power and enjoyed unparalleled prestige, he couldn't sleep at night in the capital, right under his nose.

Now we need to put him in a place far from the emperor's reach, where no one can check or balance him?

That's not about atonement, that's about giving him a chance!

Give him a chance to accumulate strength, win over people's hearts, and wait for the right opportunity!

When the Crown Prince Zhu Biao ascends the throne in the future, will he be able to control his fifth brother, who has been running the northern frontier for ten or twenty years, given his kind and benevolent nature?

At that time, as long as there is the slightest change in the morale of the Northern Frontier Army, his fifth son will raise his arms and call for action, and the entire Ming Dynasty will be plunged into a crisis of regional separatism in an instant!

Li Shanchang, are you really confused, or are you playing tricks on us?

Are you trying to ease our burdens, or are you sowing the seeds of even greater disaster for our descendants?!

A murderous glint flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.