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

Outside Kunning Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched Empress Ma's resolute figure rush out, his heart in turmoil.

"Quickly, stop the Empress! Don't let her go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple!"

He roared at the eunuchs and guards outside the palace.

Several quick-witted eunuchs scrambled forward, but dared not actually lay a hand on Empress Ma. They could only spread their arms, kneel on the ground, and cry out, "Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"Get out of here!"

Empress Ma's eyes were red. At this moment, although she was filled with grief and indignation, she still maintained the demeanor of an empress and showed no sign of losing her composure or going mad.

She was not an out-of-control, shrewish woman, but the Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty, who was well-versed in court politics and understood the emperor's mind. She knew that the fifth prince had been wronged, and she knew even more that if this matter was not handled properly, it would shake the foundation of the country.

We are dealing with family matters now, and we cannot let the people of the world suffer because of the Zhu family's family affairs.

She pushed aside the eunuch blocking her way without pausing her steps.

Zhu Yuanzhang was both anxious and angry, so he personally chased after her and grabbed Empress Ma's wrist.

"Girl! Are you crazy! Let's talk this out behind closed doors. What kind of behavior is this, causing a scene at the Imperial Ancestral Temple?!"

"Let me go!"

Empress Ma struggled fiercely, but as a woman, her strength was no match for Zhu Yuanzhang, a man who had spent half his life on the battlefield.

"Zhu Chongba, your insistence on unjustly killing your own son today chills not only the heart of the Fifth Prince, but also the hearts of all the soldiers and officials! If you insist on this course of action, I will enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple today and, before our ancestors, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this empire!"

Unable to break free, Empress Ma, in desperation, bit Zhu Yuanzhang's arm hard, her strength restrained but her attitude resolute, only to force him to come to his senses, not to fight out of spite.

"Hiss—" Zhu Yuanzhang gasped in pain, but still held on tightly.

Blood flowed down his arm, dripping onto the bright yellow dragon robe, spreading into glaring red blooms.

The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs were all terrified, kneeling on the ground with their heads bowed, unable to bear witnessing this shocking scene.

The emperor and empress of the Ming Dynasty argued and confronted each other outside the Kunning Palace over the choice between the country and their familial ties, affecting the nerves of the entire imperial city.

"Bite! Bite as hard as you want!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was also stubborn. Even though the bite made his veins bulge, he didn't back down an inch. "Even if you bite me to death today, I will never let you cause trouble at the Imperial Ancestral Temple! This matter concerns the eternal foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and we cannot tolerate womanly mercy!"

Empress Ma was filled with grief and indignation at his stubbornness and relentless obsession, but she quickly suppressed all her emotions, regained her composure and dignified demeanor as the Empress.

She opened her mouth, wiped away the bloodstains from the corner of her lips, her eyes clear and resolute, without a trace of weakness or sorrow.

"Zhu Chongba, are you truly so heartless, willing to unjustly kill your own meritorious son just to pave the way for the crown prince?"

"It's not that we're heartless!"

Looking at the teeth marks on his arm, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a mix of pain and anger, and his voice softened. "Sister, listen to me. Fifth Brother's situation isn't as simple as you think. He wields too much power, and his prestige in the army is too high. As long as we're here, we can keep him in check. But what will happen to Biao'er if we're gone? We can't leave Biao'er with such a powerful and influential younger brother!"

"So you're going to frame him for treason and have him killed?"

Empress Ma's tone was somber yet her arguments were clear: "Don't you know what kind of person Biao'er is? He is kind and gentle, and values ​​brotherhood above all else! Today, you unjustly killed the Fifth Prince, seemingly clearing obstacles for him, but in reality, you are planting the seeds of eternal infamy for him! When he ascends the throne, the world will only say that he relied on his father's favor to harm his own brothers and could not tolerate meritorious officials!"

"we……"

Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless when asked the question.

He was so focused on clearing obstacles for Zhu Biao that he forgot that doing so might leave an indelible thorn in Zhu Biao's heart and chill the hearts of the people.

"You're not helping Biao'er, you're harming him, and you're undermining the foundation of the Ming Dynasty!"

Empress Ma's words were earnest and incisive: "Your slaughter of the founding heroes has already terrified the court. Now you are unjustly killing a prince with outstanding military achievements, a pillar of the state! Capable ministers and loyal generals are all in danger. If the Ming Dynasty faces turmoil and upheaval on the borders, who will Biao'er rely on? Will he rely on civil officials who only talk about righteousness, or on the extravagant and pleasure-seeking members of the imperial family?"

These insightful and clear-headed words struck Zhu Yuanzhang's heart like a series of heavy hammer blows.

He wasn't unaware of these potential problems, but his extreme obsession with consolidating imperial power overwhelmed all rational considerations.

Looking at Empress Ma's calm and dignified demeanor, her eyes filled with concern for the country and its people, he felt a surge of guilt and finally slowly released his grip on her wrist.

"Sister, I know you feel sorry for Fifth Brother, and how could I not feel the same pain? But I am the emperor, and I must prioritize the well-being of the country."

He sighed deeply, his tone full of exhaustion and helplessness, "Stop arguing and making a scene, go back and rest. Let us think this over carefully and handle it properly."

Empress Ma knew Zhu Yuanzhang's temperament well; he was stubborn, suspicious, and resistant to persuasion. Now that he had softened, she prepared to appease him to prevent family matters from interfering with state affairs.

As the head of the six palaces, she was well-versed in the art of forbearance, strategic planning, and assessing the situation. She would never act impulsively or lose her composure, much less coerce the emperor or disrupt the court by resorting to such inappropriate methods as starvation or self-harm.

Otherwise, the world will descend into chaos, and the people will once again suffer.

That would be the fault of the Ming Emperor and Empress!

She concealed the sorrow in her eyes, her expression returning to calm and dignified. She nodded slightly, said no more, and turned back to Kunning Palace with composure. Her steps were steady, showing no sign of panic or resoluteness.

Zhu Yuanzhang assumed that she had already let go of her resentment and tacitly agreed to back down, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Unbeknownst to him, as Empress Ma turned around, her eyes flashed with extreme calmness and meticulous planning.

She wouldn't cause trouble, make a scene, or resort to self-harm or coercion. Instead, she would use her authority as the Empress Dowager and her lifetime of prestige to secretly plan and protect her children, thus stabilizing the court.

Upon returning to Kunning Palace, Empress Ma dismissed all palace servants and eunuchs. The palace was solemn and quiet, without a trace of grief or chaos.

She sat upright before her dressing table, looking at her dignified yet haggard face in the mirror, her mind clear as a mirror.

Zhu Yuanzhang was blinded by suspicion of imperial power and acted arbitrarily. Pleading for mercy was useless and arguing was pointless. If he wanted to save his unjustly accused fifth son and stabilize the turbulent Ming Dynasty, he could only rely on a meticulous plan and leverage external forces to break the deadlock.

Throughout her life, she assisted Zhu Yuanzhang in establishing the empire, managing the harem, stabilizing the inner court, and reassuring the people. Having witnessed the power struggles of the court, she had long since honed both ruthless methods and a compassionate heart.

The world may be in chaos, and the court may be embroiled in conflict, but as the mother of the nation, she must never lose her composure.

Her gaze was calm, without a trace of weakness, and she spoke steadily to the outside of the hall: "Someone come here."

The personal maidservant bowed and entered, asking respectfully, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"By imperial decree, all departments of the six palaces shall remain on duty as usual, and the morning and evening greetings and meal arrangements shall continue as before. No one shall leave their post without authorization, discuss the court in private, or spread rumors."

Empress Ma's voice was calm yet authoritative, firmly maintaining order in the inner palace and preventing any unrest or giving others a handle to use against her. "Anyone who dares to speak ill of the Prince of Ying or spread rumors will be immediately punished with caning and expelled from the capital."

The old nanny, filled with awe, bowed and accepted the order: "This servant obeys."

After stabilizing the inner palace, Empress Ma continued in a deep voice, "Go to the Eastern Palace immediately and convey my oral decree to summon the Crown Prince to Kunning Palace to see me. Tell the Crown Prince that this matter concerns the lives of his brothers, the stability of the court, and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. Instruct him to set aside all distractions, remain calm, and come to discuss the matter as soon as possible."

She did not coerce or threaten anyone, but instead made calm and strategic plans that prioritized the overall situation, demonstrating the vision and wisdom of a virtuous empress.