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

A thought flashed through Zhu Yuanzhang's mind like lightning.

His eyes suddenly lit up.

Correct!

We still have them!

We still have that blade, loyal only to us, hidden in the darkness!

Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart pounded wildly.

How could he have forgotten them?

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was established by him and was his most trusted and most secretive armed force.

They are not subject to the control of any department, but only obey his orders.

Their duties were to monitor officials, gather intelligence, and... carry out shady assassination missions.

To prepare for today's scheme, he had long ago instructed Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Mao Xiang, the deputy commander, to lay a tight net inside and outside the palace.

They possess the most elite assassins and powerful crossbows, purchased at great expense from the Western Regions, capable of piercing iron armor.

They are like a group of venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, waiting only for one command to unleash a fatal blow!

No matter how powerful Zhu Muying is, he is still a human being, not a god!

Even if he wears armor, there will always be blind spots that he can't protect!

Just one arrow!

As long as I can kill this rebellious son with one arrow!

His hundreds of thousands of troops, leaderless, are bound to fall into chaos!

When the time comes, I can raise my voice and explain the advantages and disadvantages, and I might be able to regain control of the situation!

This is his last chance!

It was also his only hope of turning things around!

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, which had sunk to the bottom, became fiery again.

His gaze began to wander uncontrollably around the Fengtian Hall.

He is searching.

He was searching for those hidden behind the beams and curtains, the final assassins who belonged to him!

Jiang Huan!

Mao Xiang!

Where are you?!

Why haven't you made a move yet?!

Can't you see that your emperor is being driven to the brink of despair by this rebellious son?!

In Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, a frantic cry was raging.

His subtle movement, though concealed, could hardly escape Zhu Muying's eyes.

From the moment Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up again, Zhu Muying had been observing him vigilantly.

He knew his father all too well.

This is a gambler who will never give up until he's driven to the brink of disaster.

He would never give up so easily.

He must have a backup plan.

What could it be?

Zhu Muying's mind was racing.

The imperial guards in the palace have become mere decorations.

The Beijing garrison outside the city had already surrendered upon seeing the enemy.

What other cards can he play?

Suddenly, the name of an organization flashed through Zhu Muying's mind.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A knowing smile curved his lips.

It turned out to be the case.

He was still hoping that his loyal dogs, hidden in the gutter, would come out and save him.

It's both pathetic and laughable.

Looking into Zhu Yuanzhang's expectant and anxious eyes, Zhu Muying felt a faint pity.

Poor old man.

You probably don't know this yet.

Your so-called "loyal dogs" have long since changed owners.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not notice the change in Zhu Muying's eyes.

All his attention was focused on finding traces of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He even began to subtly move his body behind the pillars of the main hall.

He was creating a better angle and opportunity for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to assassinate him.

Time passed, second by second.

The main hall remained deathly silent.

The anticipated scene of thousands of arrows being fired did not occur.

Forget crossbows, we didn't even see a single hair on the head of the Imperial Guards.

What happened?

Jiang Huan and Mao Xiang were his most trusted confidants, and they would never betray him!

Could it be that something unexpected happened?

Zhu Yuanzhang's heart sank little by little.

The newly ignited flame of hope is being extinguished at a visible speed.

He couldn't wait any longer.

If he waited any longer, his last shred of willpower would be worn away.

He decided to take the initiative to break the deadlock!

He wanted to personally call out those two loyal dogs!

"Jiang Huan!"

A roar, like that of a trapped beast, suddenly burst from Zhu Yuanzhang's throat!

His voice, filled with so much anger, anxiety, and resentment, became exceptionally sharp and piercing, echoing in the empty Fengtian Hall, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

"Mao Xiang!"

He then shouted out another name.

"Are you both dead?!"

"We've raised you all for so many years! Now, we've been driven to this point! Where are you?!"

"Get out here right now! Let's do it!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a madman.

He no longer cared about the dignity and composure of an emperor.

He was like a gambler who had lost all his chips, hysterically calling out his last trump card.

However, all that answered him was deathly silence.

The main hall remained as quiet as ever.

It was so quiet you could hear everyone's heartbeat.

Behind the beams and pillars, there is nothing.

Behind the curtain, there was nothing.

None of the Jinyiwei assassins he had hoped for, armed with powerful crossbows and descending from the sky, appeared.

The entire Fengtian Hall seemed to have become a huge, empty stage filled with irony.

"..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's roar came to an abrupt halt.

He stood there, mouth agape, stunned, his expression shifting from madness to bewilderment, and then to... indescribable terror.

How could this happen?

What about people?

Where are my people?!

What happened to my invincible Imperial Guards, who were loyal only to me?!

A terrifying thought, one he dared not delve into, coiled around his heart like a venomous snake.

Just then, a calm voice rang out softly.

"Father."

It is Zhu Muying.

Throughout the entire performance, he simply watched Zhu Yuanzhang quietly, even wearing a slightly amused smile on his face.

"Are you looking for Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Mao Xiang, the deputy commander?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's body suddenly stiffened.

He slowly, with great difficulty, turned his head to look at Zhu Muying.

That look in his eyes was like looking at a demon that had crawled out of hell.

Zhu Muying ignored his terrified look and continued speaking:

"Are you still hoping that they will lead their elite cavalry captains out from some corner and shoot me through the throat with poisoned crossbow bolts, so as to salvage this inevitable defeat for you?"

His voice was very soft and gentle, like a lover's whisper.

But to Zhu Yuanzhang, it was more terrifying and chilling than any thunderous roar.

How...how did he know?!

How could he have known that his last trump card was the Embroidered Uniform Guard?!

"You..." Zhu Yuanzhang's lips trembled, his teeth chattering uncontrollably, "You... what have you done to them?"

He asked the question that he feared most and least wanted to know the answer to.

Zhu Muying smiled.

His smile was so calm and serene.

"Your subject did nothing to them."

"When they were about to imprison me in the imperial prison, I knew that the blade in Father's hand was extremely sharp!"

Zhu Muying clapped her hands.

The scout wearing a bronze mask strode into the hall.

The scout was carrying two bloody heads.

After Zhu Yuanzhang clearly saw the face of the severed head.

His expression changed drastically!