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

Empress Ma's plain palace dress was stained red, and so was Zhu Yuanzhang's panicked gaze.

Clang!

The Chengji Sword fell onto the Fengtian Hall with a metallic sound!

Zhu Yuanzhang embraced Empress Ma tightly.

"The Imperial Physician!"

"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

Before the people in the hall could recover from this shock, another series of increasingly mournful urgent shouts came from outside the palace, piercing the sky and overwhelming the panic in the hall!

"Urgent report! Urgent report! Mutiny has broken out among the armies in the northern frontier! The generals of each garrison are out of control, abandoning their lines and breaking camps without authorization!"

"The iron cavalry of the northern frontier has broken through Dezhou, their advance heading straight for Jining, leaving the entire flank of Huaixi completely undefended!"

Two consecutive deaths struck like a thunderbolt, even more devastating and intense than the earlier fall of the Yellow River, shattering the last vestiges of peace in the Fengtian Hall.

The second group of Imperial Guard scouts were covered in blood, their armor tattered, and their warhorses long since exhausted and dead. The group rushed into the imperial city on foot, collapsed at the foot of the steps, their heads hitting the gold bricks, blood and tears splattering everywhere, barely breathing.

The Imperial Guards, once known for their blood-stained flying fish robes and dusty embroidered spring knives, are now facing the most perilous national crisis since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

Ma Xiuying shook off Zhu Yuanzhang, took Zhu Muying's arm, her lips still wet with blood, but her eyes showed no weakness. When she turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang, all that remained was a chilling coldness and mockery.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood frozen in place, the echo of her question still ringing in his ears.

His heart was suddenly gripped by a dense, dull pain, and the surging guilt and regret overwhelmed the emperor's tyranny and majesty.

He didn't need her to question him again; those thoughts, clouded by suspicion of imperial power, were now completely pierced by the vivid memories of the past.

He knew perfectly well that there was no evidence, no accomplices, no secret letters, and the so-called treason was nothing but a fabrication from beginning to end.

It was he who, in a moment of suspicion, without asking any questions, falsely accused the fifth prince, who was guarding the border and protecting the country, of a capital crime, and personally forced his most loyal and valiant King of England to his death.

Zhu Chongba, Zhu Chongba, how cold-hearted and foolish you are!

You've forgotten how Guo Zixing imprisoned you, trapped you, and cut off your food. Sister, carrying a scalding hot pancake, even with your chest and abdomen burned and ulcerated, you risked your life to keep you alive. In your most desperate and helpless moment, you protected your life and gave you a chance to live.

You've forgotten that when your army was defeated and routed, surrounded and your forces wiped out, with no way forward, it was she, a frail woman, who braved mountains of corpses and seas of blood, undeterred by swords and gore, who carried you for dozens of miles, dragging you back from the dead.

You've forgotten that when you first started your rebellion, your army was small, your generals few, your morale was low, your supplies were cut off, and your heart was restless. It was she who used her entire dowry and all her savings to reward the army, soothe the weary soldiers, and win back the hearts of the scattered men, stabilizing your crumbling foundation and accumulating the capital for you to conquer the world.

At that time, you were penniless, destitute, and living under someone else's roof, struggling every step of the way. You never looked down on her because she was a woman. You respected her, cherished her, and trusted her. You listened to her advice in everything and always remembered her kindness.

But now that you have established your rule over the world, possess the four seas, ascended to the throne, and hold the power of life and death, you have forgotten the true friendship forged in adversity, lost your original intentions and true heart, and are left only with the suspicion, indifference, and lust for power of an emperor.

You now constantly criticize women for interfering in politics and accuse her of making unwarranted comments on imperial decisions, but you've forgotten that this vast empire was never conquered by you alone!

She was there for you as you rose from the mud and fought through blood, she was there to help you survive the chaos of a world where you faced death at the hands of others, and she was there to help you overcome countless desperate situations and crises, helping you build the great Ming Dynasty step by step!

As the emperor, you are obsessed with consolidating imperial power, fearing those with great merit who might threaten the emperor, and wary of the power of generals and commanders.

You know better than anyone else that Mu Ying is loyal and courageous, unparalleled in his loyalty and bravery. He has guarded the northern frontier for half his life, never suffering a defeat in a hundred battles. He has never overstepped his bounds and has never harbored any rebellious thoughts.

If he really wanted to rebel, why would he return to the capital alone and walk into a trap?

He commands 100,000 elite troops from the northern frontier. If he coveted the throne, why would he need you to fabricate charges, frame him, and kill him?

As long as his iron cavalry marches south, the tens of thousands of troops of the capital garrison in Yingtian Prefecture will be no match for him, and your dragon throne will be in grave danger!

But for the sake of that illusory imperial power and to eliminate any unfounded hidden dangers, you would rather wrongly kill loyal officials and destroy your own pillars than let things slide and be convicted.

Even if the sacrifice is made by your closest relatives who have guarded the borders of the country for you, fought half their lives, and remained loyal and devoted, and are the only barrier that supports the stability of half of the northern border of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a sharp pain in his chest, and his face turned pale and bluish.

Empress Ma slowly awoke.

The wound on his palm was so deep that it penetrated to the bone, causing Zhu Yuanzhang immense pain and regret.

"Girl, why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you doing this to yourself!"

"Zhu Chongba, you say my son is rebelling."

"Where's the evidence? Where are the other people? Have you caught one of his accomplices? Have you found one of his secret letters?"

"Based on a few unfounded rumors, and on the so-called banner of 'purging the emperor's inner circle,' you've concluded he's plotting a rebellion?!"

"Now that my son is dead, all those people he intimidated have rebelled. It's not that my son rebelled, it's that you overthrew the pillar of the Ming Dynasty!"

Empress Ma spoke sternly, leaving Zhu Yuanzhang speechless.

Yes, surely he understands these principles?

He understands.

But he couldn't believe it.

As an emperor, he would rather kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free.

Any sign that threatens his imperial power must be nipped in the bud.

Even if that person is his own son.

However, in front of the entire court of civil and military officials...

Zhu Yuanzhang was hit where it hurt and roared in anger and embarrassment.

"That's enough!"

"We are the emperor! If we say he's plotting a rebellion, then he is plotting a rebellion! It's not your place, a mere woman, to interfere!"

He wanted to regain his imperial authority.

But he was wrong.

On this occasion, in front of this woman, his imperial majesty is utterly worthless.

"fair sex?"

Empress Ma looked at him, and the last trace of warmth in her eyes vanished completely.

"Good, what a virtuous woman."

She nodded, her expression eerily calm.

"Zhu Chongba, have you forgotten who it was that, when you were imprisoned by Guo Zixing and on the verge of starvation, hid a pancake in their clothes, burned a large chunk of their chest, and still sent it to you?"

"Have you forgotten who carried you for dozens of miles through piles of corpses when you were defeated?"

"Have you forgotten who it was who used all their dowry to reward your soldiers and help you win their hearts?"

"Why didn't you call me a virtuous woman back then?!"

"Now that you're emperor and rule the world, you despise me, a mere woman, for being an eyesore?!"

"Zhu Chongba, you're truly outstanding!"

Empress Ma's words were like a series of resounding slaps to Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

He also slapped the faces of six generals, including Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, who were kneeling beside him.

Which of these old brothers hasn't received kindness from their sister-in-law?

During those difficult years, it was my sister-in-law who took care of each of them like a real older sister.

Now, His Majesty actually said such things about my sister-in-law!

Xu Da was the first to lose his temper.

He took half a step forward, blocking Empress Ma's side, his voice deep and resonant.

"Your Majesty, my sister-in-law still has an injury on her hand. Please have her get it bandaged first."

These words sound like concern, but in reality, they are a warning.

A warning to Zhu Yuanzhang: Don't go too far!

We old folks are all watching!

Chang Yuchun had an even more volatile temper. He stood up abruptly, pointed at Zhu Yuanzhang's nose, and stared with eyes as wide as copper bells.

"Zhu Chongba! Are you even human?! My sister-in-law suffered so much for you! And now that you're emperor, you turn your back on us?!"

"If you dare say another harsh word to my sister-in-law today, I, Chang Yuchun, will be the first to object! At worst, we'll quit our official positions and go back to Haozhou to farm!"

"Yes! I'm quitting!"

"Let's go back to Haozhou and farm!"

Li Wenzhong, Tang He, Deng Yu, and Lan Yu all stood up as well.

Six figures, as tall as iron towers, stood in unison behind Empress Ma, forming an impenetrable human wall.

The awe they once held for Zhu Yuanzhang was gone from their eyes.

There was only disappointment and anger.

Zhu Yuanzhang was completely dumbfounded.

He looked at his six brothers who had once shared life and death with him, but now stood on the opposite side.

He felt betrayed by the whole world.

The atmosphere inside the Fengtian Hall was no longer just oppressive, but on the verge of exploding.

On one side is the emperor, who holds the reins of power over the world but is deserted by all.

On the other side is the Empress, heartbroken but backed by the strongest military group in the Ming Dynasty.

This is no longer a simple quarrel between husband and wife or a family conflict.

This was a direct confrontation between imperial power and military power, a confrontation so powerful it could shake the very foundations of the nation.

The civil officials kneeling on the ground lowered their heads even further, wishing they could faint on the spot.

They can't afford to offend any of them.

Speaking up for the emperor?

Those six killing gods could tear them apart on the spot.

Speak up for the Empress?

Once the matter was over and the emperor had recovered, the first thing he did was to punish them.

This is truly a battle of gods, where mortals suffer.

Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry at the sight before him that he trembled all over and his lips quivered.

He wanted to get angry, to yell, and to order these "traitors" to be dragged out and beheaded.

But he didn't dare.

He knew better than anyone what these six people in front of him represented.

They were not just six dukes and marquises.

Behind them stood hundreds of thousands of the most elite and skilled troops of the entire Ming Dynasty!

If he dares to do anything to these six people today, the troops stationed in various places will immediately mutini tomorrow.

At that time, he, the emperor, will truly be all alone.

This Ming dynasty is likely to perish after only two generations.

Zhu Yuanzhang worked so hard, rising from a beggar monk to the emperor, only to end up like this?

Do not!

He can't accept it!

He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart.

He knew that he couldn't confront this issue head-on any longer.

He had to back down and find a way to save face.

He shifted his gaze from the six faces that he both hated and feared, and returned it to Empress Ma.

He knew that the key to solving this deadlock lay with this woman.

Once she gives the word, these six old guys will naturally lose their backbone.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression changed repeatedly.

Eventually, the imperial majesty and anger on his face slowly faded away.

Instead, he wore an expression that was almost one of grievance and exhaustion.

He looked at Empress Ma, and his voice softened.

"Sooyoung...we...we were wrong, okay?"

He dropped the pronoun "朕" (zhen, meaning "I" or "the emperor") and switched back to using "咱" (z

This is a term of endearment that the couple uses only in private.

"I was just confused from anger and said something nonsense. Don't take it to heart."

As he spoke, he cautiously reached out, trying to touch the sword in Empress Ma's hand.

"Put the sword down, okay? Look at your hand, the bleeding won't stop. It breaks our hearts to see it."

His tone was very low and soft, even pleading.

This was the first time Zhu Yuanzhang, after becoming emperor, had been so humble in front of so many people.

The civil officials kneeling on the ground were dumbfounded.

They simply couldn't believe their ears.

That decisive and ruthless Hongwu Emperor, whose word was law, actually...

How could someone speak in such a tone?

It seems the rumors are true.

Your Majesty is truly afraid of the Empress!

However, Empress Ma remained unmoved.

She simply stared coldly at Zhu Yuanzhang, her eyes still as cold as ice.

"Feeling sorry for you?"

She repeated the two words, a mocking smile playing on her lips, "Zhu Yuanzhang, put away your old tricks."

"If you really cared, you wouldn't have just watched Lao Wu die in front of you."

"If you truly cared, you wouldn't still be insisting he committed treason."

"If you truly cared, you wouldn't have used the phrase 'a woman' to shut me up!"

The sword in her hand remained firmly pointed at him, without the slightest wavering.

"If you don't give Fifth Brother justice today, and if you don't expose those treacherous officials who framed him!"

"I, Ma Xiuying, will die with you right here in Fengtian Hall!"

The four words "to perish together" were spoken with unwavering resolve and resounding force.