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

Inside Jinling City.

Swords were drawn and weapons were locked in a standoff.

Zhu Muying looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, who was holding a golden sword, on the city wall of Jinling.

"Zhu Chongba! Does he really wish I were dead?!"

Three months ago, in the northern border region.

The sandstorm was like a knife, stinging people's faces.

Under the dim light, the endless camps resembled giant beasts lying on the earth, silent and oppressive.

A bloody battle had just ended, and the air was still filled with the stench of rust and blood.

Zhu Muying stood on a sand dune, her black cloak fluttering wildly in the wind.

Beneath his feet lay the battlefield, which had just been cleared. Beneath the yellow sand lay countless broken spears and armor, as well as the bones of countless Northern Yuan Tartars.

Behind him, eighteen guards stood like javelins, silently watching their commander's back.

They had been following this youngest prince of the Ming Dynasty in this harsh and cold land of the northern frontier for three whole years.

Over the past three years, they have fought hundreds of battles, large and small, from an unknown small tribe all the way to right under the nose of the Northern Yuan royal court.

They forcibly built an indestructible barrier for the Ming Dynasty in the north, using mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"Your Highness, everything has been counted."

A bodyguard captain named Chen Wu stepped forward and reported in a hoarse voice, "In this battle, our army suffered 157 dead, 36 wounded, more than 8,000 enemy soldiers killed, 3,000 captured, and 165,000 cattle, sheep and horses seized."

Zhu Muying didn't turn around, but simply gave a faint "hmm".

These cold, hard numbers pained him.

Each number represents a vibrant life and a family.

They will never see their husbands, sons, and father again!

War is about exchanging human lives for war merits, and using cold, hard numbers to build up so-called glory.

He raised his head and looked south.

He hadn't been back to Jinling City, that magnificent cage, for three years.

I wonder if Mother is in good health?

Is the eldest brother's position as crown prince still secure?

And Uncle Xu and Uncle Chang...

He knew in his heart that the more illustrious his military achievements were as a prince in the capital, the more of a thorn in the side of his father, the emperor.

The power is high.

These four words are like a mountain, pressing down on the heads of all the meritorious officials throughout history.

And he, Zhu Muying, was the adopted son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He held a large army and his prestige spread throughout the nine border regions.

This thorn in his side has probably caused his father, the emperor, to be restless and unable to eat or sleep.

"Your Highness, are you homesick?"

Chen Wu had followed Zhu Muying for many years and understood him best.

Zhu Muying withdrew her gaze, twitched the corners of her mouth into a smile, and said, "What's the use of thinking about it? If His Majesty doesn't summon us, we'll probably just grow old and die here in the northern frontier for the rest of our lives."

His tone carried a hint of self-deprecation.

He knew that his father would not easily allow him to return to the capital.

Sending him to guard the northern frontier was ostensibly a sign of reliance, but in reality, it was a form of exile.

Like a tiger kept outside a cage, it can guard the house for its owner without getting in the way or threatening the owner's position.

"That's good too."

Chen Wu grinned, revealing two rows of teeth that were slightly yellowed from the wind and sand. "This vast northern desert, with its high sky and distant lands, is much better than being controlled by everyone in the capital. My brothers all say that following Your Highness is a real treat!"

Zhu Muying glanced back at him but didn't say anything.

happy?

maybe.

For these veterans who had crawled out of piles of corpses, eating meat in large chunks, drinking wine in large bowls, and killing the enemy with gusto was the greatest pleasure.

But he can't.

He was a prince, the son of Zhu Yuanzhang.

From the day he was brought into the palace, he was destined to be drawn into the most complex vortex in the world.

What he thought about was never pleasure, but how to survive.

Live a little longer.

Just then, on the distant horizon, a fast horse galloped towards the camp, kicking up dust.

"Your Highness, look!"

A sharp-eyed guard pointed into the distance and shouted.

All eyes turned to them.

The knight was extremely fast, and the horse he rode was exceptionally fine, clearly a messenger horse used for urgent 800-li (400 km) deliveries at the post station.

Moreover, the person on horseback was holding a bright yellow flag high in his hand.

"It's an imperial edict!"

Chen Wu's expression changed instantly.

Zhu Muying's pupils contracted slightly, and her heart skipped a beat.

What was bound to happen has finally happened.

Without saying a word, he turned and walked toward the large tent at the foot of the hill.

A moment later, the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree was led to the central military tent.

The eunuch was covered in dust from the journey, his face was pale, and his lips were chapped; he was clearly exhausted.

But upon seeing Zhu Muying, he forced himself to be energetic, pulled out a roll of bright yellow silk from his pocket, and began to read it aloud in a high-pitched voice.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

Zhu Muying, along with Chen Wu and other generals, knelt down on the ground.

"...Therefore, Prince Mu Ying, now of age, possesses both virtue and talent, and has repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, which greatly pleases me. Now, there is Miao Yun, daughter of Duke Xu Da of Wei, who is graceful, elegant, and exceptionally beautiful—truly a perfect match. I hereby bestow this marriage upon the two, and a wedding date shall be chosen. Prince Mu Ying is hereby ordered to immediately relinquish his military command, which shall be temporarily assumed by his deputy, and return to the capital at the utmost urgency! This is my decree!"

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, the entire tent fell into a deathly silence.

All the generals were dumbfounded.

A marriage arranged by imperial decree?

With the daughter of the Duke of Wei?

This……

This sounds like the best news ever!

Xu Da, the Duke of Wei, was the first meritorious official in the founding of the state, and his prestige in the army was unmatched.

If His Majesty the King were to marry his daughter, it would be a powerful alliance, like adding wings to a tiger!

Can……

Why now?

Why at this crucial juncture?

Moreover, Your Highness must immediately relinquish your military power and return to the capital at all costs.

This imperial edict, no matter how you look at it, seems off.

Everyone's eyes instinctively turned to Zhu Muying, who was kneeling at the front.

Zhu Muying remained kneeling there, head bowed, making it impossible to see his expression.

In his heart, however, a storm was already raging.

A betrothal to Xu Miaoyun?

Father, you really know how to pick people!

Uncle Xu held immense power over the military, commanding widespread support within the army.

I, Zhu Muying, have a certain reputation in the northern frontier and am deeply loved by the soldiers of the nine border regions.

With our two families united in marriage, who in this world can shake our resolve?

On the surface, this imperial edict appears to be an immense favor.

But in reality, it was a death warrant!

He's testing us!

They're testing me, and they're also testing Uncle Xu!

If I gladly accept the order and happily return to be his son-in-law, then in his eyes I will be seen as having rebellious intentions and wanting to use the power of the Xu family to shake his imperial authority.

If I disobey the imperial decree, it will only confirm my guilt of having an army and plotting a rebellion!

Either way, it's all the same – death!

What a brilliant "open strategy"!

Zhu Muying felt a chill rising straight up her spine.

Has his father's suspicion reached such a level?

Can't he even tolerate his son, whom he raised from childhood, who risked his life for him and made great contributions in battle?

He could even imagine that Jinling City must be rife with undercurrents at this moment.

The spies of the Embroidered Uniform Guard have probably already spread to every corner of the Prince of Ying's mansion and the Duke of Wei's mansion, just waiting for him to return so they can find a pretext to wipe him and the Xu family out in one fell swoop!

"His Royal Highness? Your Highness?"

When the eunuch delivering the imperial decree saw that he hadn't reacted for a while, he cautiously offered a reminder.

Zhu Muying took a deep breath, suppressing all the emotions in her heart.

He slowly raised his head, his face now displaying an expression of mixed surprise and delight.

"Your subject... Your subject Zhu Muying, receives the imperial decree!"

He raised both hands high above his head and respectfully accepted the heavy imperial edict from the eunuch.

"Thank you for your trouble, Father-in-law."

He stood up, smiled kindly at the eunuch, and took a heavy money bag from Chen Wu's hand, stuffing it into the eunuch's hand. "It's just a small token of my appreciation, I hope you'll accept it, sir."

The eunuch squeezed the money pouch, his weariness vanished, and he smiled like a flower.

"Your Highness, you are too kind! It is all I should do! Congratulations, Your Highness! To marry the daughter of the Duke of Wei is an immense blessing!"

"Yes, it is my blessing."

Zhu Muying's smile widened. "I never expected that Father would still care about my marriage. To my shame, I've been in the north for three years and have almost forgotten what Jinling looks like."

As he spoke, he personally led the eunuchs to a side tent to rest.

The generals in the main tent were all bewildered by their prince's beaming face.

Is it...

Are we overthinking it?

Your Highness...

Are you really happy?

Indeed, it's a marriage proposal, and to have the daughter of the Duke of Wei is a dream come true for countless princes and nobles. It's normal for His Highness to be happy.

Only Chen Wu, watching Zhu Muying's retreating figure, frowned deeply.

He's been following His Highness for so many years, if others can't see it, how could he not?

The happier His Highness laughs, the stronger the murderous intent in his heart!

It seems that the city of Jinling is truly about to undergo a major upheaval.

After settling the imperial eunuch who had delivered the decree, Zhu Muying returned to his command tent.

He dismissed everyone around him, leaving only Chen Wu.

The moment he entered the tent, the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold and solemn expression.

He threw the scroll of imperial edict on the table; it was not a favor, but a hot potato.

What do you think?

He asked.

Chen Wu remained silent for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "A trap."

"Go on."

"Your Majesty, why did you have to bestow this imperial decree at this very moment, right after we won a great victory and are at the height of our prestige? Moreover, you are ordered to immediately relinquish your military power and return to the capital at the last minute."

Chen Wu paused, raised his head, looked into Zhu Muying's eyes, and said, word by word, "He's scared."

Zhu Muying's eyes flickered, but she didn't say anything.

Chen Wu continued, "He fears your growing power will overshadow the emperor, and he fears you joining forces with the Duke of Wei. This imperial edict, ostensibly a marriage decree, is in reality a summons to the capital to strip you of your military power and sever your ties with the Xu family. This is not a favor at all; it's a trap!"

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Zhu Muying slowly clapped her hands, a smile of approval on her face.

"Not bad, Chen Wu. You've made great progress after following me for so many years."

He walked to the table, picked up the scroll of imperial edict again, and weighed it in his hand.

"You're absolutely right. It is indeed a trap. A trap that I knew was a trap, but I still had to jump into it."

"Your Highness!"

Chen Wu knelt down with a thud, saying urgently, "We can't go! Going there is like entering a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, a near-certain death! His Majesty... he's already decided to kill us!"

"Not going?"

"To refuse is to defy imperial orders and harbor military power. Do you believe me? If I dare say 'no' today, tomorrow, the army that will punish me will march into this northern frontier!"

"Let's go to war!"

"If that's the case, won't my elder brother and mother be spending their days in tears!"

Zhu Muying was thinking about her mother and brother Zhu Biao!