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

On the Fengtian Hall.

"Sister-in-law, please say something."

"Just say the word, sister-in-law."

"What my brother can do, my sister-in-law can do too!"

"Those concubines who stepped into the Fengtian Hall were to be beheaded!"

They could tolerate Zhu Yuanzhang's anger.

But they could not tolerate him humiliating their sister-in-law, whom they considered like a dear older sister!

By doing this, Zhu Yuanzhang completely shattered the last remaining bond between them!

The atmosphere inside the Fengtian Hall was no longer tense.

Rather, the powder keg has been ignited and could explode at any moment!

"Aren't you going yet!"

Zhu Yuanzhang roared!

At this moment, the little eunuch stumbled and ran towards the inner palace!

……

Kunning Palace.

This was the residence of the Empress of the Ming Dynasty, a place that women all over the world longed for.

In the past, this place was always filled with a warm and gentle atmosphere, just like its owner, who was kind and benevolent.

But today, Kunning Palace is deathly silent.

The palace maids and eunuchs knelt outside the hall, all silent and trembling, even their breathing was carefully controlled.

They all knew that the Empress had gone to the Fengtian Hall.

The Crown Prince went first.

They went with a sword.

They also knew that something big had happened in the Fengtian Hall.

His Highness the King is dead.

The Empress and His Majesty have completely fallen out.

Every piece of news felt like a boulder weighing on everyone's hearts.

Just then, a series of hurried and frantic footsteps approached from afar.

A young eunuch responsible for guarding the palace gates scrambled in, his face deathly pale.

"No...this is terrible!"

He fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling violently with fear.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty has issued a decree! Summon...summon all the concubines in the harem to the Fengtian Hall immediately!"

What?!

The head maid of Kunning Palace, who was kneeling at the front, suddenly raised her head, her usually composed face filled with shock.

Summon all the concubines to Fengtian Hall?

What is Fengtian Hall?

That's where the emperor handled state affairs and summoned his ministers!

It is a vital location for the nation!

Since ancient times, it has been an ironclad rule that women in the imperial harem could not enter the court without an imperial edict!

Has His Majesty gone mad today?!

What exactly does he want to do?

The head maid's heart sank.

She considered an extremely terrifying possibility.

Your Majesty, this is going to...

She didn't dare to think about it anymore.

"Quickly! Go and inform all the palaces!"

She stood up abruptly, her voice becoming shrill with urgency.

"His Majesty has decreed that no one may disobey! Go now!"

……

Yikun Palace.

Consort Hu, the birth mother of Prince Zhu Zhen of Chu, was sitting by the window, holding a scroll of Buddhist scriptures in her hand, but she couldn't concentrate on reading a single word.

Her mind was in turmoil.

The news coming from Fengtian Hall was increasingly alarming.

Prince Zhu Muying, the boy who always followed behind the Crown Prince with a bright, sunny smile, died just like that.

He died in front of his father, the emperor.

Consort Hu's heart ached whenever she thought of that scene.

Although she was not Zhu Muying's biological mother, she watched all these princes grow up.

Zhu Muying, in particular, was very close to her son Zhu Zhen, who was about the same age, and he often came to her palace to pay his respects.

What a fine child he was! He was well-educated, brave, and respectful to his elder brothers. He was also always courteous to his stepmothers, never displaying the slightest air of a prince.

How could he possibly plot a rebellion?

Consort Hu did not believe it.

She felt even more sorry for the Empress.

The Empress treated her, and all the sisters in the harem, like family.

If anyone in a family was in trouble, the Empress would always secretly help them.

Whenever someone fell ill, the Empress would personally visit them, showing concern and care.

The Empress always stood up for anyone who was wronged and never showed favoritism.

In this cannibalistic imperial harem, it was only because of the Empress that these concubines could live like human beings and have some dignity.

Now, the Empress's son is dead, forced to his death by His Majesty.

How much pain she must be in!

Consort Hu put down the Buddhist scriptures, put her hands together, and was about to recite a mantra for the Empress's rebirth, praying for the Buddha's blessing.

Outside the palace, hurried footsteps and the sharp voice of a eunuch delivering an imperial decree could be heard.

"His Majesty has decreed that Consort Hu must immediately proceed to the Fengtian Hall!"

Consort Hu suddenly stood up, and the color drained completely from her face in an instant.

To Fengtian Hall?

Why?

An ominous premonition instantly enveloped her heart.

She dared not delay, and with the support of palace maids, she practically ran out of Yikun Palace. ...

Jingren Palace.

Consort Guo Ning and Consort Guo Hui, these two sisters, sat together, speechless, their eyes filled with tears.

They have transformed from young girls into imperial concubines.

Their feelings towards Zhu Yuanzhang were complex.

There is respect, there is awe, and there is also affection between husband and wife.

But their feelings for Empress Ma were very pure.

That is, respect and gratitude.

Back then, when they first married Zhu Yuanzhang, they were filled with trepidation.

Because Empress Ma was the legal wife.

They were afraid that she would treat them badly and ostracize them like the other wives.

But they were wrong.

Empress Ma treated them even better than her own sisters.

They always get the best food and useful items first.

When they were wronged, Empress Ma was even angrier than they were and would go directly to Zhu Yuanzhang to argue with him.

That period was the most difficult time for the two sisters.

Their position in the military became very awkward.

It was Empress Ma who protected them under her wing, preventing anyone from saying a word against them or giving them any attitude.

They remembered this kindness for the rest of their lives.

So when they heard the news of the King's death, their hearts were broken.

They knew that the Empress was about to collapse.

They wanted to visit Kunning Palace and keep their eldest sister company, but they didn't dare.

Because they knew that this was a matter between His Majesty and the Empress, and that their involvement would only make things worse.

But now, the emperor's decree has been delivered directly to their palace.

"His Majesty has decreed that Consort Guo Ning and Consort Guo Huihui must immediately proceed to the Fengtian Hall!"

The two sisters exchanged a glance, and both saw deep fear in each other's eyes.

They didn't know what the emperor wanted to do.

But they knew it was definitely not a good thing.

……

Consort Sun of Chengqian Palace, Consort Li of Yonghe Palace...

At the same time, all the noble concubines in the harem received this unbelievable imperial edict.

Filled with the same unease and fear, they emerged from their respective palaces, led by eunuchs.

Along the way, they saw each other.

Everyone was pale-faced and walking hurriedly.

No one speaks.

A storm is brewing.

The wind fills the tower!

They had no idea what awaited them.

But they all shared a common thought.

No matter what happens, they will protect the Empress.

Just like back then, when the Empress protected them.

When this group of pampered and elegant ladies of the imperial harem stepped into the Fengtian Hall, which symbolized the highest power of the empire, for the first time...

Everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

A strong, pungent smell of blood filled the air.

Bloodstains were visible on the gold-brick-paved ground.

A boy dressed in prince's robes lay quietly on the ground, a gruesome hole in his chest that had stopped bleeding.

That is……

Your Majesty!

Although they had heard rumors beforehand, all the concubines still couldn't help but gasp when they saw this horrific scene with their own eyes.

Some of the more timid ones were so frightened that they turned pale and almost fainted.

What terrified them even more was the standoff inside the hall.

On one side was His Majesty the Emperor, who sat high on the dragon throne, his face ashen and his eyes filled with madness.

On the other side was the Empress, holding a long sword dripping with blood, dressed in plain clothes, yet standing tall and straight like a pine tree.

Behind the Empress stood six figures as tall as iron towers.

Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, Tang He, Deng Yu, Lan Yu...

The six most formidable men of the Ming Dynasty, now fully armored and glaring, stood like six guardian deities protecting the Empress.

Opposite them, all the civil and military officials knelt on the ground, their heads buried tightly, not daring to utter a single word.

What kind of formation is this?

This is……

Is this going to lead to a merger?!

The concubines were so frightened that their legs went weak, and they knelt down on the ground, trembling.

"They're all here?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's icy voice broke the deathly silence.

His gaze swept across the faces of the terrified concubines, finally settling on Empress Ma.

A cruel smile appeared on his face.

"Ma Xiuying, open your eyes and take a good look!"

He pointed at the group of concubines kneeling below, his voice filled with arrogance and malice.

"Look at us, even without you, we still have so many women!"

"Which one of them isn't younger than you? Which one isn't more beautiful than you?"

"Do you really think that the Empress of the Ming Dynasty can't be anyone but you?!"

"Let me tell you! If you dare to argue with us again today!"

"We'll depose you as empress in front of all of them! We'll banish you to the cold palace!"

"Then, we'll choose one of them to be the new queen!"

"We'll make you see with your own eyes how you went from a high and mighty empress to a useless person, worse than a palace maid!"

"We'll show you what happens to those who oppose us!"

"Tell me! Who wants to be empress? We'll make her empress right now!"

The numerous concubines were stunned into silence!

Who will be the empress?

Immediately shut down?

An immense favor will soon descend upon them!

This is an immense favor.

……

At that moment, they heard Chang Yuchun speaking to Empress Ma.

"Sister-in-law, please say something. What my brother can do, I can do too!"

They were immediately stunned.

What the older brother can do, the older sister-in-law can do too.

What can it do?

……

An extra chapter has been added!

This chapter is an extra chapter due to 500 requests for more updates.

I'm still begging for more updates.