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

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his many concubines and demanded, "Tell me! Who wants to be empress? We'll make her empress immediately!"

The concubines kneeling on the ground were terrified.

They finally understood why the emperor had summoned them.

These words are so vicious and malicious!

He's trying to kill me by destroying my spirit!

Who dares to say that I want to be empress?

Who dares?

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice, like the cold wind of December, swept through every corner of the Fengtian Hall and into the hearts of everyone present.

He thought that his words would be enough to break down Ma Xiuying's last psychological defenses.

He believed that declaring in front of so many concubines that he would depose the empress and establish a new one was the ultimate humiliation for a woman.

He thought that the concubines who usually fought over him would pounce on him like hungry wolves, eager to pledge their loyalty to him as emperor, when faced with the immense temptation of the position of "Empress".

He thought he would see Ma Xiuying's desperate state of being abandoned by everyone and isolated.

That way, he can regain his sense of control as an emperor.

However, he was wrong once again.

This mistake was more outrageous than any other time.

He was high above, possessing all the world's wealth and power, and had long been accustomed to viewing everything through the lens of power.

He forgot that people's hearts cannot be completely controlled by power.

He forgot that these "tools" in his eyes, these "women" who could be replaced at will, were also living, breathing human beings.

They have their own thoughts and feelings, and they know who is truly good to them.

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking those vicious words, an eerie silence fell over the Fengtian Hall.

The scene he had envisioned, where concubines vied to curry favor with him, did not materialize.

The despairing and broken expression he had envisioned did not appear.

Empress Ma stood quietly, not even lifting her eyelids. Zhu Yuanzhang's words were like the buzzing of flies, not worth her attention at all.

After the initial shock and fear, the group of concubines kneeling below reacted in a way that surprised Zhu Yuanzhang.

Standing at the very front, Consort Hu took a deep breath and used all her strength.

She was the birth mother of Zhu Zhen, the Prince of Chu, and her status in the harem was second only to the Empress.

She knew that at this moment, she had to step forward.

She slowly stood up from the ground.

This action seemed particularly abrupt, especially since everyone else was kneeling.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

"Ms. Hu, what are you trying to say?"

He believed that Consort Hu was the first person to try and vie for the empress's position.

A cold smile even appeared on his lips.

Look, Ma Xiuying, these are the sisters you've been protecting.

However, Consort Hu's next move instantly froze the smile on his face.

Consort Hu did not approach him. Instead, she straightened her clothes, turned around, and respectfully performed a deep curtsy towards Empress Ma.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Her voice wasn't loud, but in the deathly silent hall, it was as clear as thunder.

"In my opinion, only my eldest sister is worthy of the title 'Empress' in the whole world."

"Without the Empress, I would rather spend the rest of my life in seclusion with a Buddhist lamp and a monk than dare to harbor even the slightest covetous thought."

After saying that, she bowed deeply again.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face instantly darkened.

This……

What does this mean?

Instead of trying to please the emperor, she went to pay homage to Ma Xiuying?

She also said something like, "I'd rather become a nun than be an empress?"

This is a slap in his face!

However, before he could react, something even more shocking happened.

Standing behind Consort Hu, Consorts Guo Ning and Guo Hui also helped each other to their feet.

They, too, did not look at the emperor on the dragon throne, but went straight to Empress Ma and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

Consort Guo Ning raised her head, tears blurring her vision.

"Eldest sister, if it weren't for you protecting us back then, my sister and I would have been dead long ago."

"We will remember this kindness for the rest of our lives."

"Today, His Majesty intends to depose you from your position as Empress, but I will not allow it!"

Consort Guo Hui also broke down in tears, saying, "Elder sister, you will always be our beloved elder sister, the only Empress in our hearts! No one can replace you!"

One, two, three...

Consort Sun, Consort Li...

All the concubines who were summoned to the Fengtian Hall seemed to have planned it all out beforehand.

One by one, they got up from the ground.

Then, without exception, they all walked up to Empress Ma and knelt down.

None of them looked at the emperor on the dragon throne, whose face had become extremely pale.

In their eyes, there was only the woman holding a long sword and dressed in plain clothes.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

"Your Majesty, I only acknowledge the Empress!"

"Your Majesty, please rescind your decree! Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the nation, and her virtue matches her position! She must not be deposed!"

Each sound, each word, merged into a tremendous wave of sound, echoing repeatedly within the Fengtian Hall.

This is no longer a plea for mercy.

This is a coup attempt!

It was the entire Ming Dynasty imperial harem that united to pressure the emperor!

Zhu Yuanzhang was completely dumbfounded.

He sat blankly on the dragon throne, staring at the unbelievable scene before him.

He looked at those women who were usually as docile as cats in his presence, but now they all stood tall and stood against him.

He looked at them, kneeling at Ma Xiuying's feet like stars surrounding the moon, their respect and protectiveness in their eyes genuine.

Why?

Why is that?

He didn't understand.

He, Zhu Yuanzhang, was the emperor, the Son of Heaven, and the heaven of all of them!

He can give them wealth and honor, and he can give them the highest status!

Why would they rather protect an empress who is about to be deposed than try to please themselves?

What kind of bewitching potion did Ma Xiuying give these women?!

Little did he know.

What Empress Ma gave them was not wealth and luxury, nor gold and silver.

Rather, it is respect, protection, and sincerity.

In this cold and ruthless palace, there is only one glimmer of human warmth.

These things are far more precious than the position of empress or the emperor's favor.

The six generals, including Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, were filled with mixed emotions as they watched this scene unfold.

Their anger subsided somewhat.

Instead, I felt an indescribable sense of emotion and relief.

Sister-in-law, still the same sister-in-law.

Whether it was the impoverished, fledgling team back then, or the magnificent Ming Dynasty imperial palace today.

She always manages to use her personal charm to make everyone willingly follow and protect her.

Brother, did you see that?

This is the true meaning of "He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world."

And you have completely lost all humanity.

"They've rebelled! They've all rebelled!"

Zhu Yuanzhang finally recovered from his great shock.

What followed was an overwhelming, unvented, and destructive rage.

He suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, pointed at the kneeling concubines below, and his voice was no longer a roar, but a scream.

"You...you bunch of bastards!"

"We've given you fine clothes and sumptuous food, you've enjoyed wealth and luxury! Is this how you repay us?!"

"Do you even see me as the emperor anymore?!"

"Help! Help!"

He roared wildly.

"Drag all these vile women out! Throw them all into the cold palace! Leave no one alive!"

However, his roar echoed in the empty hall, but no one responded.

Everyone looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, and then at Empress Ma.

The guard tried to move, but was held back by Jiang Huan, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Between the emperor and the empress.

Whom do you want to listen to?

Did Zhu Yuanzhang dismiss Empress Ma?

If Zhu Yuanzhang regrets it tomorrow, he'll kneel down and beg the Empress to reconcile.

I'll turn around and teach you a lesson, you jerk!

%

Brothers, there's an update coming.

Tomorrow's update will be a full update at 9 AM.

I'll continue like today, writing one chapter at a time and updating them separately.