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

"You...you...how can you be so stubborn!"

Zhu Biao pointed at him, too angry to speak.

Seeing this, Madam Chang quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, you two brothers, you always start arguing as soon as you see each other. Fifth brother just got back, can't you talk things out properly?"

She gave Zhu Biao a wink, signaling him to stop talking.

Then, she turned to Zhu Muying and said softly, "Fifth brother, your eldest brother is doing this for your own good. The palace is not like the military camp; people's hearts are complicated. You should always be careful in everything you do."

As she spoke, she subtly slipped a handkerchief into Zhu Muying's hand.

"This is what your mother asked me to give you when I went to pay my respects to her a few days ago. She said it's osmanthus cake, your favorite food when you were little, and she specially had it made by the imperial kitchen."

Zhu Muying took the handkerchief and felt it; it did indeed contain a piece of pastry.

A thought struck him; he knew this thing was probably not so simple.

He calmly tucked the handkerchief into his pocket and smiled at Madam Chang.

"My sister-in-law still loves me the most."

After finishing her meal, Zhu Muying got up to say goodbye.

Zhu Biao escorted him to the gate of the East Palace, watching his retreating figure, hesitant to speak.

In the end, it all turned into a long sigh.

Zhu Muying, still on horseback, turned back to Zhu Biao, waved, and wore that same arrogant smile.

However, the moment he turned his head, his gaze became incredibly solemn.

He could feel that, not far from the East Palace, that cold, viper-like gaze was once again fixed on him at the street corner.

He knew that every word he had said and every expression he had made in the Eastern Palace would soon reach that person's ears without missing a single word.

And he successfully extricated Crown Prince Zhu Biao from this vortex.

From this moment on, Zhu Muying will be fighting alone.

He touched the handkerchief in his pocket, which was still warm, and his eyes became even more profound.

The Royal Palace of England.

Located on the most bustling Zhuque Street in Jinling City, it faces the Duke of Wei's mansion across the distance.

Three years ago, Zhu Muying went to war in the northern frontier, and this mansion was completely sealed off.

Now that the master has returned, the gates of the palace have reopened, and the two majestic stone lions in front of the gate are spotless, gleaming with an aura of authority in the sunlight.

"Welcome back to the Prince's residence!"

When Zhu Muying appeared at the gate of the Prince's Mansion on horseback, the steward and servants who had been waiting there all knelt down.

"Get up, everyone."

Zhu Muying dismounted, tossed the reins to a servant beside him, and strode into the mansion.

He walked away with a brisk pace, his eyes fixed straight ahead, showing no lingering attachment to the mansion he had left three years ago.

Only Chen Wu, who was following behind him, knew that his palms were covered in sweat.

This palace was the most concentrated place for the emperor's spies.

Here, every word they say and every action they take is magnified and then reaches the emperor's ears.

"Your Highness, your bedroom is still arranged exactly as it was before you left the capital. Are you satisfied?"

The old butler followed behind and asked cautiously.

"Um."

Zhu Muying simply responded with a faint sound, and without pausing, walked straight toward the study.

"Summon everyone in the manor to the front courtyard. I have something to say."

"Yes."

The old steward dared not ask any more questions and quickly withdrew.

Zhu Muying pushed open the door to the study and went inside.

The study was spotless.

The bookshelves were filled with various military books and strategies.

On the wall hangs a huge map of the territory.

Everything was exactly the same as when Zhu Muying left.

He walked to the desk, looked at the familiar inkstone and wolf-hair brush on it, and felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of disorientation.

It is here that strategists strategize and win victories from afar.

Sitting here, I am about to decide the life and death of countless people.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He knew that the real show would begin the moment he stepped into the palace.

He walked to the wall, looked at the huge map of the territory, and finally his gaze fell on the location of the capital city.

He reached out and tapped it gently.

"Chen Wu".

"Your subordinate is here."

Chen Wu stepped forward.

"Don't you think this city of Jinling resembles a giant chessboard?"

Zhu Muying didn't turn around, but asked quietly.

Chen Wu remained silent.

Zhu Muying said to himself, "Look, the Imperial Palace is the 'General,' the Eastern Palace is the 'Advisor,' the Six Ministries are the 'Elephants,' the Civil Officials are the 'Pawns,' and we, the noble military officers, are the 'Chariots,' 'Horses,' and 'Cannons.'"

"We are all pieces on this chessboard, moving and fighting according to our own rules."

"But there can only be one person playing chess."

As he spoke, he pressed his finger heavily on the location of the palace.

"And he can change the rules at any time, and even remove the pieces directly from the board."

Chen Wu's heart skipped a beat.

He knew that His Highness's words were meant for him, but also for those ears hidden in the shadows.

This is an expression of dissatisfaction.

A prince who held considerable military power and whose achievements threatened the emperor expressed his dissatisfaction to the person playing chess.

Just then, a very faint, almost imperceptible sound came from the beam of the study.

A barely perceptible smile curved the corners of Zhu Muying's lips.

The fish has taken the bait.

He suddenly turned around and took a sword hanging on the wall.

With a clang!

The sword was drawn, its cold light gleaming!

"Who's up there! Get down here for me!"

He shouted sharply, his voice like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

Chen Wu was also startled by his sudden action.

With a flick of his wrist, Zhu Muying sent the sword hurtling towards the roof beam like a bolt of lightning!

"puff!"

A muffled thud.

Immediately afterwards, a black figure fell straight down from the roof beam.

It was a man dressed in black, with the sword stuck in his chest, blood gushing from the wound.

His eyes widened, and his face showed an expression of disbelief.

He never imagined that he would be exposed until his death.

Even more unexpectedly, His Highness the King of England made a killing move right from the start!

Chen Wu's pupils contracted sharply as he looked at the corpse on the ground.

Embroidered Uniform Guard!

From the token at the man's waist, he could confirm that this man was a spy from the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

His Highness...

He actually killed a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

This……

This is a heinous crime!

"Hmph! You cowardly rat, hiding your face and scurrying away!"

Zhu Muying snorted coldly, walked to the corpse, and kicked him over.

"How dare you be so insolent in my own palace! Do you think I'm made of clay?"

He glanced at the token at the man's waist, and a contemptuous sneer appeared on his face.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard? Impressive!"

"Someone come here!"

He shouted loudly towards the door.

Hearing the commotion, the servants outside the door ran in trembling fear.

When they saw the corpse in the study, they all turned pale with fright and collapsed to the ground.

"Hang this corpse on the flagpole of the palace!"

Zhu Muying's voice was cold and devoid of emotion.

"Let everyone in Jinling see this! This is what happens when someone trespasses on my Prince Ying's residence!"

"Your Highness...you mustn't!"

The old steward scrambled in, knelt on the ground, and clung to Zhu Muying's leg, crying out, "Your Highness, this is the Embroidered Uniform Guard! His Majesty's personal guard! You killed him and are going to leave his body exposed! This...this is going to cause a huge uproar!"

"To cause a major upheaval?"

Zhu Muying kicked the old butler away, her eyes looking down at him disdainfully.

"I, Zhu Muying, have killed more Tartars in the northern frontier than there are rats in this Nanjing! Heavens, I've already exposed that!"

"I'd like to see if Father Emperor would punish me for the sake of such a lowly servant!"

His voice was filled with fearless arrogance.

The old steward and all the servants were terrified.

The prince in front of them was simply a madman!

A complete madman!

Only Chen Wu knew the truth.

Your Highness has gone mad.

He's adding fuel to the fire!

He wanted to provoke the emperor in the most extreme and arrogant way possible!

He wanted to convince the emperor that he, Zhu Muying, was a brave but reckless, arrogant and domineering military man!

In this way, the emperor will become even more careless towards him.

Only then will he feel that he has completely taken control of the situation.

That's how he gradually walked into the trap that was tailor-made for him!

That was a very risky move!

It's like dancing on a knife's edge!

Chen Wu's heart was in his throat.

Just then, a cool voice came from the study doorway.

"What a magnificent sight, Your Highness the King."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a thin man wearing a bronze mask standing at the door.

He appeared like a ghost, silently and without a trace.

He carried no weapons, but the chilling aura emanating from his very bones was more terrifying than any sword or blade.

Chen Wu's pupils suddenly contracted.

This mask...

It is the symbol of His Highness's most mysterious intelligence team, the "Scouts"!

How did they end up here?

Zhu Muying's eyes flickered slightly when she saw the person who had arrived.

But his expression remained unchanged; he simply stared coldly at the other person.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you cause trouble in my residence?"

The man in the bronze mask did not answer his question.

He slowly walked into the study, his gaze sweeping over the corpse on the floor before finally settling on Zhu Muying's face.

A soft laugh came from beneath the mask.

"Well done, Your Majesty!"