Sky Curtain: The opening scene explains the four major cases of the Ming Dynasty plus the early Ming

The judgment of the heavens shook some parallel universes of the Ming Dynasty, but some remained unaffected and continued on their predetermined paths.

In a parallel world during the Yongle reign, in the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Di personally led the Embroidered Uniform Guard, like a bloody storm sweeping through the palace, uprooting a group of civil officials led by Yang Rong and Jin Youzi, along with the deeply entrenched family forces behind them!

Inside the imperial prison, cries of agony filled the air.

In the most ruthless way, the Yongle Emperor declared to everyone that anyone who dared to covet his Zhu family's imperial power would only have one fate!

In a parallel universe during the Hongxi Dynasty, Zhu Gaochi, who was despised, unleashed an unprecedented imperial rage in the final moments of his life.

He pointed at the terrified Zhang Shi, roared and gave the order to be executed, and then beat and killed everyone in the Imperial Hospital.

This "Emperor Renzong," who was elevated to a divine status by civil officials, finally washed away the foolishness and shame of his life with a bloody purge before his death.

In a parallel universe during the first year of the Xuande reign, Zhu Zhanji's methods surpassed even his predecessors.

He not only purged the harem, but also swiftly rounded up the Three Yangs and their cronies. He personally oversaw the burning of the draft of the "Veritable Records of Emperor Xuanzong," a book full of lies that was about to be compiled.

In different parallel universes, three emperors with the same name, though similar in appearance, used equally ruthless methods to thwart a conspiracy that was about to devour the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

However, in a parallel universe during the orthodox seventh year, this conspiracy had already fermented into a malignant tumor, and in a timeline that had just been completely exposed by the heavens, everything went to another extreme.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen, only fourteen years old, sat blankly on the dragon throne.

His body was trembling slightly, not from fear, but from a chilling rage welling up from the depths of his bones.

It turns out that his beloved imperial grandmother, Lady Zhang, was the murderer who killed his imperial grandfather!

It turns out that the mother he was attached to, Empress Sun, was an accomplice who killed his biological father and the enemy who took him away from his real mother!

It turns out that the "Three Yangs" whom he relied on as pillars of the nation were actually traitors who stole the throne from his Zhu family!

He is not the emperor!

He was nothing more than a sacrificial offering, kept in captivity by this pack of jackals and tigers, ready to be slaughtered at any moment!

His descendants, visible in the sky, told him the truth!

"Someone come here..."

Zhu Qizhen suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, and with all his might, he imitated the image of his young father in the first year of the Xuande reign in a parallel universe, and let out a roar befitting an emperor.

"Guards! Convey my decree! Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ma Shun, immediately..."

His words came to an abrupt end.

The main hall was empty except for a few old eunuchs kneeling on the ground trembling, their heads bowed lower than anyone else's, as if they hadn't heard a word he said.

His voice, which belonged to the emperor, failed to elicit even a single echo in this magnificent golden cage.

A cruel truth was slammed into Zhu Qizhen's face.

His father, Zhu Zhanji, was able to decide life and death with a single word because, although he was effectively sidelined, he still retained the emperor's authority and some control over the Imperial Guards, border troops, the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

And what about him?

A puppet who has been completely isolated since the age of seven!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard? That's managed by the Empress Dowager Zhang's maternal relatives!

The Beijing Garrison? That's the sphere of influence of the Three Yangs and the Minister of War!

The entire palace, from top to bottom, all the palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, were all people of his "good mother," Empress Sun!

He is truly a lonely man!

"His Majesty……"

An old voice rang out; it was Wang Zhen, the eunuch who had watched him grow up. At this moment, the future Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who would later wield immense power in the court, had only ashen despair on his face.

"It's too late... Your Majesty, it's all too late..."

Wang Zhen's voice was choked with sobs.

"The palace gates... are already locked!"

at the same time.

The former elegance and majesty of the Cining Palace have long been gone, replaced by hysterical madness.

"Kill him!"

Empress Dowager Zhang, whose face was once hailed as a "female Yao and Shun," was now covered with hideous lines, and her voice was shrill and piercing!

"He must be killed! He knows everything!"

Beside her, Empress Dowager Sun Ruowei also paled, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.

She knew better than anyone what fate awaited her if Zhu Qizhen, this "insider," were allowed to live!

Demoted to commoner status? Banished to the cold palace?

Do not!

Knowing her adopted son as she did, she knew he would absolutely use the cruelest methods to avenge his biological mother, Hu Shanxiang, and his father, Zhu Zhanji!

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

A calm voice quelled the panic of the two women.

Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi.

This white-haired, seemingly kind and honest elder, "wise minister," now had a venomous glint in his eyes.

"Now that things have come to this, panicking is useless."

He spoke slowly, each word carrying a chilling killing intent.

"What Tianmu said has driven us into a corner. Since there is no way to retreat, then... there is no need to retreat any further!"

"Your Majesty, they can no longer be kept alive."

Yang Shiqi's words sent a chill down the spines of both Zhang and Sun Ruowei.

"Killing the emperor... this... this is regicide!" Zhang's voice trembled.

"Hmph." Yang Shiqi let out a cold snort. "Empress Dowager, have you forgotten how the late Emperor 'died suddenly'? And how Emperor Xuanzong 'passed away'?"

"We've been on this path for a long time!"

"Stopping now means certain death! Taking another step forward, we forge an imperial edict, claiming that His Majesty, upon hearing the celestial pronouncements, was overcome with fear and anxiety, and tragically died! We then enthrone Prince Cheng, Zhu Qiyu, as emperor. We will still be meritorious officials who followed the emperor, and we can still control the court!"

"Prince Cheng is young and easier to control than Zhu Qizhen!"

These words were like the most potent poison, instantly injected into the hearts of Zhang and Sun Ruowei.

Yes!

Anyway, I've already killed him once, or twice!

What harm is there in killing one more?

"good!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Sun Ruowei's eyes, and she was the first to make a decision!

"Let's do as Mr. Yang says!"

"The palace guards are all my men! The military power of the Beijing garrison is in the hands of the Zhang family and Grand Secretary Yang!"

"Tonight, let this emperor who knows too much... pass away!"

"Every palace servant and eunuch who has seen the celestial canopy or heard anything they shouldn't have—leave no one alive!"

"All of them...were buried alive with the dead!"

A storm of regicide, orchestrated by the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and the Grand Secretary, is quietly brewing deep within the Forbidden City, targeting the Ming Emperor!

Late at night.

Outside the Qianqing Palace, the sound of armor clashing rhythmically could be heard.

The firelight illuminated the windowpane in a crimson glow.

Zhu Qizhen stood in the center of the main hall, his small body ramrod straight.

He looked at the door, which was brightly lit by countless torches, and at the figures moving around outside it.

He knew they were there to kill him.

His grandmother, his mother, and his teachers.

At that moment, he suddenly smiled.

His laughter was utterly sorrowful.

It turns out that the Tumu Crisis recorded in history books was not the lowest point in his life at all.

At this very moment, in this palace where no one can hear his cries for help, being confronted with a knife by his closest and most trusted relatives is the darkest and most desperate moment of his life!

"Wang Zhen".

He spoke softly.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wang Zhen knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"Go and fetch the sword that my father left me."

Zhu Qizhen's voice was eerily calm.

"I am the emperor of the Zhu family!"

"Even if I die, I will die standing!"

"I want them to know that in the Zhu family, there are no cowards who die on their knees!"

"boom--!"

The gates of the Qianqing Palace were smashed open by a tremendous force!