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

Inside the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed the jade ruyi scepter on the dragon desk, which he could use to scratch an itch at any time, and roared!

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

The jade ruyi pointed to the numerous concubines.

"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!"

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

The guards outside the palace stood motionless, like wooden or clay sculptures, not daring to move.

Just then, Empress Ma, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

Her voice was calm, yet it carried an irresistible air of authority.

"Get up, everyone."

She spoke calmly to the concubines kneeling before her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."

Consort Hu and the others then helped each other to their feet and silently retreated behind Empress Ma.

They demonstrated their stance through their actions.

Today, they stand with Her Majesty the Empress!

Empress Ma looked at them, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes.

Then, she turned her head and looked again at the man on the dragon throne, who was already looking utterly dejected.

"Zhu Chongba".

Her voice remained calm.

Empress Ma walked up to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"You can depose me from my position as empress, but you cannot humiliate me!"

"Now, issue an edict to depose me from my position as empress."

Empress Ma's voice was completely calm, like a still feather gently drifting down.

However, this feather, when it landed in Zhu Yuanzhang's ear, felt heavier than Mount Tai.

He looked at Empress Ma and the large, dark crowd behind her.

On the left is the strongest group of military generals in the Ming Dynasty, led by Xu Da.

On the right is his entire harem, headed by Consort Hu.

And in the middle of them was his crown prince, Zhu Biao.

These people should have been his strongest supporters and the most solid foundation of his imperial power.

But now, they have all stood against him, confronting him in a way that he cannot understand or accept.

"Liu Sanwu".

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice became unusually calm, so calm that it sent chills down one's spine.

Liu Sanwu, who was lying on the ground, shuddered when he heard the emperor call his name and struggled to get up.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is here..."

"We just asked you to draft an imperial edict, why didn't you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang descended the imperial steps one by one.

The violence and madness he had displayed earlier were gone, replaced by a cold, venomous aura.

Liu Sanwu's heart skipped a beat.

He knew that the emperor was going to make an example of him.

He's finished.

"Back...back to Your Majesty..."

Liu Sanwu's lips trembled, and his mind went completely blank.

How should he answer?

You dare not?

That is disobeying an imperial order.

You think it's inappropriate?

That would be presumptuous to discuss the emperor's will.

No matter how you look at it, it's all the same – death.

"Speak."

Zhu Yuanzhang had already walked up to him, looking down at him.

"We'll give you a chance to live."

"Now, in front of everyone, tell us why you haven't drafted an imperial edict?"

"If you explain it well, we'll let you off the hook."

Liu Sanwu's mind was racing.

This was the emperor's last chance for him.

It is also a deadly trap.

He knew that what the emperor wanted to hear wasn't some grand philosophy.

What the emperor wanted to hear was Liu Sanwu's absolute obedience to imperial power.

All he had to do now was kowtow and admit his mistakes, say that he was guilty and that he shouldn't have tried to guess the emperor's intentions, and then pick up a pen and write the edict to depose the empress.

He might be able to save his life.

But can he write?

His writing completely offended the Empress and the six Dukes.

Even if the emperor doesn't kill him today, he won't survive once this matter is over.

Moreover, having spent his entire life studying the classics, his sense of morality and conscience would not allow him to write such a foolish edict that would shake the world and be condemned by future generations!

Liu Sanwu was torn between his inner thoughts and his own conscience.

On one side, there is life.

On one side, there is death.

On one hand, there is the struggle to survive.

On one side is integrity.

He looked at the emperor, whose face was ashen, standing before the dragon throne.

He turned his head again and glanced at the empress, who held a long sword and stood tall.

He remembered the scene of His Highness the King of England crashing into the Fengtian Hall and dying.

He remembered Xu Miaoyun's words, "To be buried with her in the same coffin, to be together for eternity."

His heart-wrenching words.

He remembered the Empress's resounding questions, each one firm and powerful.

A surge of passion welled up from the depths of his heart.

Liu Sanwu, a scholar who spent his life studying, rose to the position of Minister of Rites, in charge of the rites and laws of the realm.

In the end, are we not even as good as a prince, a weak woman, or an empress?

Was he really going to write this edict, which would be infamous for eternity, just to survive?

Do not!

He can't!

What is there to fear in death?

Death is inevitable for everyone; some deaths are heavier than Mount Tai, while others are lighter than a feather.

If he were to write this edict today to save his own life, then Liu Sanwu would truly be less important than a feather.

If he were to die today, for the sake of the world's laws and moral principles, in this Fengtian Hall...

At the very least, history books will record his name, Liu Sanwu!

Thinking of this, a light that was never before shone brightly in Liu Sanwu's originally cloudy eyes.

His originally hunched back slowly straightened.

He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, and his voice, no longer trembling, became exceptionally clear and loud.

"Return to Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, there are three reasons why I will not draft this edict."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes narrowed.

He never expected that this usually timid old man would dare to negotiate with him at this moment.

"explain."

He wanted to hear what this old scoundrel had to say.

Firstly.

Liu Sanwu's voice resounded throughout the hall.

"Your Majesty's Empress is His Majesty's wife, sharing deep affection and loyalty with him. Together they founded the Ming Dynasty, her contributions to the nation and her virtue benefiting all people! She is revered by all under Heaven! She is the foundation of the nation! Deposing the Empress would shake the very foundation of the country! Your subject dares not even consider it!"

Secondly.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has done nothing wrong! Today's events stem from the death of Prince Ying! His Highness Prince Ying was loyal, filial, and righteous, yet he died unjustly. Your Majesty's act of seeking justice for your son is a mother's natural instinct; what wrong has it done? Instead of offering condolences to the Empress, His Majesty intends to depose her and install a new emperor; this is an immoral act! I cannot bear to do it!"

Thirdly!

Liu Sanwu's voice rose a few decibels, and his righteous spirit moved everyone present.

"Your Majesty, I am the Minister of Rites of the Great Ming Dynasty, in charge of all rites and laws! Deposing an empress is a great loss to the nation, and it should never be done unless there is an unforgivable crime! If I were to write this edict that disrupts the country in order to survive, in the face of the emperor's wickedness, how could I face my ancestors? How could I face the people of the world? And how could I face the annals of history after my death?!"

"Therefore, I would rather die than comply with this edict!"

"I'd rather die than submit!"

Liu Sanwu practically roared out the last four words.

An immense power erupted from his frail body.

After saying this, he kowtowed heavily to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Then, he suddenly stood up, turned around, and rammed his head hard into the golden dragon pillar next to him!

He wanted to prove his innocence with his death!

He would use his own blood to defend the righteousness in his heart!

"Lord Liu!"

"don't want!"

This sudden scene stunned everyone!

No one expected that this Minister of Rites, who was known as a "good guy," would have such a fierce side!

The prime minister, Hu Weiyong, who was closest to him, was so frightened that he scrambled to pull him away.

But it was too late.

Liu Sanwu's actions were too fast and too decisive.

Everyone watched as Liu Sanwu crashed into the dragon pillar of the Fengtian Hall!