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

The civil officials breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

But then Xu Da changed the subject.

"However! His Majesty's crimes are heinous and have aroused the wrath of both gods and men. If he is not punished, we will be unable to answer to the people, and the morale of the army and the people will be unstable!"

"Therefore, I believe there is a way to achieve the best of both worlds in this matter!"

All eyes were on Xu Da.

Xu Da said, enunciating each word clearly, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that Your Highness the Crown Prince immediately assume the regency and take control of the government!"

"Your Majesty... shall abdicate and recuperate, no longer concerning yourself with state affairs. At the same time, you must issue an edict of self-reproach, proclaiming it to the world, acknowledging your mistakes, exonerating His Highness the Prince of Ying, and appeasing the people!"

Xu Da's suggestion was a revelation to everyone!

high!

That's brilliant!

This is simply the most perfect solution under the current circumstances!

Appointing the crown prince to oversee the state ensured a smooth transition of power and was in accordance with the law.

By forcing the emperor to abdicate and issuing the "Edict of Self-Reproach," the emperor was stripped of his real power, made to pay the price for his crimes, and given the people an explanation.

Most importantly, Zhu Yuanzhang's title of "Emperor" was preserved, allowing him to "abdicate and recuperate" instead of being brutally "deposed." This can be considered as preserving the last bit of dignity for the royal family and the Ming Dynasty.

"The Duke of Wei's words are those of a wise and experienced ruler! I second that opinion!"

"We second that proposal!"

In a short time, both military generals and civil officials found an acceptable way out.

They all knelt down, their shouts echoing like a tsunami in the Fengtian Hall.

"Please, Your Highness, assume the regency!"

"Your Majesty, please issue an edict of self-reproach!"

All eyes eventually focused on the three people on the steps of the palace.

Empress Ma, Zhu Biao, Zhu Muying.

The future of this empire will be decided by their word.

Zhu Muying glanced at Zhu Biao beside her, whose expression was constantly changing, and understood.

Xu Da's suggestion was indeed the best solution.

Letting the old man Zhu Yuanzhang spend the rest of his life in shame and regret is far more satisfying than killing him outright.

Moreover, allowing his elder brother Zhu Biao to smoothly ascend to power was in line with his original plan.

He nodded almost imperceptibly at Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao received his brother's signal, and his last hesitation was overcome.

He took a deep breath and stepped away from his mother.

He first glanced at his father, who was slumped on the ground like a walking corpse.

Then, he turned around and bowed deeply to Empress Ma.

"Mother, Father... although he has made a grave mistake, he is still my father, the sovereign and father of all people."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you preserve Father's title and allow him to retire to the palace to live out his remaining years in peace, without interfering in state affairs."

"As for the vast land of the Ming Dynasty, this great nation..."

Zhu Biao raised his head, looking firmly at his mother and the assembled officials behind him, his voice strong and clear!

"Your subject is willing to shoulder this heavy responsibility for the Great Ming!"

These words were spoken with sincerity and a strong sense of responsibility, which made everyone present nod in agreement.

As expected of His Highness the Crown Prince, whose reputation for benevolence is known throughout the land!

Even at this point, they could still salvage some dignity for their father.

All eyes finally fell on Empress Ma.

She remained silent.

She was looking at the man kneeling on the ground, the man who had once shared life and death with her.

He was looking at his son, who was kneeling on the ground, pleading with him, the son on whom he had placed half his life's hopes.

She was looking at her other son, who was standing beside her and had narrowly escaped death because of her husband's suspicion.

For a long, long time.

Just when the air in the main hall was almost frozen.

Empress Ma finally, slowly, raised her hand.

"Granted."

Empress Ma's voice was very soft, very soft, carrying a lingering weariness.

But these two words, a divine decree, instantly determined the fate of an empire and the end of an emperor.

As those two words were uttered, everyone in the entire Fengtian Hall breathed a sigh of relief.

A cataclysmic storm, capable of overturning an entire dynasty, has finally come to a close in the most peaceful and dignified manner.

Next, Empress Ma began to issue imperial edicts in an orderly manner, each one determining the future of the Ming Dynasty.

First, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, due to "ill health," retired to the inner palace to recuperate, no longer attending court or dealing with state affairs.

His imperial title was retained.

Second, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, in conjunction with the Grand Secretariat, was instructed to immediately draft an edict of self-reproach, to be proclaimed to the world in the name of the Emperor.

The edict must explicitly acknowledge that there was "framing and framing" in the case of "Prince Ying's rebellion," and completely exonerate and vindicate Prince Ying, Zhu Muying.

At the same time, he ordered a retrial of a series of wrongful convictions, including the "King of England Case," to restore justice to the nation.

Third, Crown Prince Zhu Biao was appointed to "oversee the state" immediately, taking charge of all military and national affairs.

All government affairs were handled by the Crown Prince.

Fourth, a "Council for Assisting the Crown Prince in Overseeing the State" was specially established.

The core of the council was composed of Prince Zhu Muying, Duke Xu Da of Wei, Duke Lan Yu of Liang, and Earl Liu Bowen of Chengyi. All major military and national affairs had to be discussed by the council before being submitted to the Crown Prince for final decision.

One imperial edict after another was issued from Empress Ma's mouth, clear and firm.

Everyone present was deeply shaken.

Everyone understood that Empress Ma's move was absolutely brilliant!

She neither chose the most extreme and turbulent approach of "deposing the emperor," nor did she exterminate Zhu Yuanzhang.

She merely used "gentle" methods to completely undermine Zhu Yuanzhang, turning him into a living memorial tablet with no real power.

At the same time, by establishing the "Assistant Council," she cleverly incorporated Zhu Muying, a "variable" who held considerable military power, as well as military bigwigs such as Xu Da and Lan Yu, into the new power system.

In this way, the military was appeased, and Zhu Muying was given a legitimate reason to participate in court affairs, forming a subtle new pattern of mutual checks and balances and cooperation with Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

Such political skill and balancing act made all the seasoned veterans present feel inferior.

They then realized that this Ming Dynasty empress, who usually lived deep in the inner palace and was known for her virtue and benevolence, was never some naive and innocent woman who didn't care about politics.

Her political acumen was perhaps in no way inferior to that of her husband, Zhu Yuanzhang!

No one raised any objections to Empress Ma's arrangements.

The civil service group preserved what they valued most: "legal system" and "decency".

The military group received the "rehabilitation" and "respect" they had longed for.

Zhu Muying, on the other hand, achieved his initial goal without bloodshed, and even gained far more than he had expected.

This is an ending that satisfies all the victors.

As for that one and only loser...

Zhu Yuanzhang did not utter another word from beginning to end.

He slumped there on the cold gold bricks, like a clay sculpture stripped of its soul, his eyes lifeless, listening to his wife, one decree after another, stripping him of everything he had fought for his entire life to obtain.

He did not resist or struggle.

Because he knew that everything was over.

After Empress Ma announced the final imperial edict, she did not look at her husband again.

She simply glanced deeply at the high dragon throne, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Then, she turned around, her magnificent golden cloak drawing a resolute arc in the air.

"Let's go."

She spoke softly to her two sons beside her.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Muying, one on each side, supported her arms again and accompanied her as she walked out of the hall.

All the civil and military officials in the Fengtian Hall automatically parted to both sides, bowed respectfully, and made way for them.

Everyone's eyes were filled with awe.

As the three of them passed by Zhu Yuanzhang, who was slumped on the ground.

Zhu Biao's steps clearly faltered for a moment.

A look of reluctance and pain flashed across his face.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

However, a hand gently pressed on his shoulder.

It is Zhu Muying.

Zhu Muying didn't look at Zhu Yuanzhang; he just looked at his elder brother and gently shook his head.

Then, in a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "Big brother, let's go."

"it's over."

Zhu Biao's body trembled slightly.

He glanced at his expressionless younger brother, then at his father, who had completely transformed into a pitiful old man.

In the end, he closed his eyes, suppressing his last bit of reluctance.

Yes.

ended.

The era that belonged to his father—an era of iron-fisted rule, suspicion, and slaughter—had come to a complete end.

And a brand new era, belonging to him and his brothers, is about to begin.

Without further hesitation, Zhu Biao, supporting his mother, took firm steps toward the bright sunshine outside the hall.

Six generals, along with the entire court of civil and military officials, followed closely behind.

The once grand Fengtian Hall was soon left with only that one lonely figure, abandoned by the whole world.

Just as Empress Ma was about to step out of the threshold of Fengtian Hall and bask in the warm sunlight outside the hall.

Her body, which had been taut and as strong as steel, suddenly swayed.

Her whole body slumped to the side.

"Mother!"

"Your Majesty!"

Zhu Biao and Zhu Muying were shocked and quickly supported her from both sides.

Only then did they realize that this woman, who had just been the most powerful woman in the land and the one who controlled the fate of the entire empire, was now as pale as paper, with fine beads of cold sweat on her forehead.

Those phoenix eyes, which had just been filled with majesty, were now etched with endless, deep-seated weariness.

This great queen, this strong mother, held up the sky for her son and for the country.

Her strength finally ran out.

Zhu Biao felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly by someone's hand, the pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He watched helplessly as his mother's face instantly lost all color, and as she collapsed into his arms, completely panicked.

"Mother! Mother, what's wrong?!"

He shouted incoherently, his voice filled with terror, "Quick! Quickly summon the imperial physician! Quickly summon the imperial physician!"

The composure and responsibility that had just been established as the Crown Prince Regent crumbled instantly the moment his mother fell.

Zhu Muying checked her mother's breath and her face turned deathly pale.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang ran over!

"Girl! Girl, please don't scare me!"

"Go to the Imperial Hospital! Summon all the imperial physicians on duty! Run there!"

at this time.

Numerous imperial physicians examined Empress Ma's breathing.

His expression changed drastically!

"Your Majesty! The Empress has passed away!"