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

Zhu Dijun's voice carried a leisurely air, like a cat playing with a mouse.

"Fellow countrymen, what do we, the scholars of China, value?"

"It is 'Cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world'!"

"But before all that, there is one most fundamental thing, and that is—filial piety!"

"Our bodies, hair, and skin are given to us by our parents; we dare not damage them, this is the beginning of filial piety."

"To establish oneself in the right path, to make a name for oneself in posterity, and to bring honor to one's parents—this is the ultimate expression of filial piety."

Zhu Dijun's voice echoed throughout the myriad worlds and timelines, and every scholar involuntarily nodded in agreement.

This is a belief etched into their very bones.

"So, what is the first thing a scholar does after ten years of hard study, passing the imperial examination with flying colors, rising to the highest official rank, and becoming a 'wise prime minister'?"

Instead of giving an immediate answer, Zhu Dijun asked a question in return.

This question does not need an answer.

The same scene comes to mind for readers of all times and places.

That is to return home in glory, pay homage to ancestors, and bring honor to the family!

Inform your ancestors of your achievements in the most solemn way!

"That's right."

Zhu Dijun's voice rang out again, tinged with sarcasm.

"The best way is to have the most detailed epitaphs engraved on the graves built for parents and grandparents!"

"If the parents of a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) or an official pass away, their epitaphs will invariably record in detail, 'Son So-and-so passed the Jinshi examination and was appointed to a certain official position!'"

"This is the most crucial and striking part of the entire epitaph!"

"This is the highest honor to show one's achievements and filial piety to one's parents who are buried in the earth, and to all relatives and neighbors who come to pay their respects!"

"The epitaph of Zhang Wenjun from the Ming Dynasty clearly records that his elder brother, Zhang Wenxi, was appointed as the magistrate of Le'an County after becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). It even emphasizes that he only took on the responsibility of taking care of his father because his brother became an official, which delayed his future."

"Family members, look, even our brothers' achievements are being recorded and emphasized!"

"So here's the question."

A cruel smile curled at the corners of Zhu Dijun's mouth.

"You, Yang Shiqi."

He rose to the position of Grand Secretary, served five emperors without falling from power, and wielded immense influence, earning him the reputation of a "wise prime minister of his generation."

"Your biological father, your mother, your stepfather..."

Why isn't your name on their tombstones?

boom!!!!

This sentence is heavier than all the previous speculations and hypotheses combined!

It was like an invisible, immense hammer, striking with tremendous force and precision across all time and space, onto the very top of every Yang Shiqi's head!

It struck a chord with all emperors, generals, scholars, and officials who revered Confucian ethics!

No name?!

How is that possible!

Is this something a scholar would do?!

This is a dynasty that governs the country with "filial piety" as its guiding principle. How could its chief minister commit such a colossal mistake?!

This is not a simple oversight!

This is the most thorough betrayal of ethical principles!

This is the most fundamental denial of one's own background!

Inside the Hongwu Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, a laugh filled with boundless murderous intent and contempt.

"I knew it!"

"What kind of good thing could a beast that doesn't even recognize its own ancestors be!"

"What's the point of talking about 'benevolent governance' or 'serving the country and its people'?"

"Pooh!"

"He doesn't even care about his own parents' graves, how can he have any regard for his ruler or the people of the world?"

At this moment, in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind, Yang Shiqi had been labeled as an unforgivable son, even more so than a corrupt official or a traitor!

This kind of person has lost even the basic principles of being a human being!

Above the sky, Zhu Dijun gave no one a chance to breathe, and he immediately threw out the second set of documents.

The image shows two completely different geographical archives.

One document points to Taihe, Jiangxi.

The other document, however, points to Yanmiao Village in Wanglu Town, Shandong Province.

"Family members, something even more interesting is coming."

"Regarding the burial place of our Grand Secretary Yang, there are two completely different versions circulating among the people and in some local chronicles."

One source says he was buried in his hometown of Jiangxi.

"The other one, however, spoke with absolute certainty that his grave is in Shandong."

Zhu Dijun's voice was full of playfulness.

"How can one person have two graves?"

"Is it a cenotaph? Or is it for someone else?"

"Or perhaps..."

"The identity of 'Yang Shiqi,' from beginning to end, was a meticulously crafted symbol that could be placed anywhere at will...?"

"One is in Jiangxi, and the other is in Shandong. This makes it convenient for you behind-the-scenes manipulators to fabricate different stories according to your different needs, doesn't it?"

"puff--"

During the Xuande reign, Yang Shiqi, who was kneeling on the throne, could no longer hold on. He spat out a mouthful of blood onto the gold bricks and instantly collapsed.

It’s over.

He knew it was all over.

Doubts about one's identity can be refuted.

The accusation of regicide can be denied.

However, the fact that one's name is not on the ancestral grave is something that cannot be erased!

This is an ironclad rule etched into the very fabric of Chinese civilization!

A son who has achieved great success cannot help but leave his name on his parents' epitaph!

unless……

He is not their son at all!

On the sky, Juditch seemed to think he wasn't dead fast enough, so she delivered the final blow.

Finally, let's look at the compensation package.

"After Yang Shiqi's death, he was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Tutor and the posthumous name 'Wenzhen'. What an honor this was!"

"But his biological father was a schoolteacher who died young. His stepfather was an ordinary farmer. His mother was a woman who remarried. According to our later archaeological discoveries, their tombs were simple and shabby, no different from those of ordinary people."

"Family members, do you think this is normal?"

"His immense wealth and overwhelming power were not given back to his so-called 'closest relatives' in the slightest."

"This isn't about bringing honor to one's ancestors; it's about sowing discord!"

"It's a complete and irreparable rift in terms of identity and origin!"

The three pieces of evidence, like three towering mountains, crashed down upon us!

The ghost of a mentor has entered officialdom!

An unfilial son whose ancestral graves don't match!

A life torn apart by wealth and estrangement from family!

At this moment, all the logic is perfectly closed!

In all timelines, Yang Shiqi lay limp on the ground, his eyes vacant and his face ashen.

Their mouths were open, but no sound came out; they could only twitch helplessly like fish out of water.

On the sky, Judy Jun watched all this with a devilish smile.

He slowly uttered those most heart-wrenching words to the myriad worlds and timelines.

"Family members, if you want evidence, you can go to his parents' epitaphs and compare them with the places I mentioned."

"certainly……"

His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with undisguised malice.

"It's also possible that the ghosts behind Yang Shiqi are now desperate and are directing some of the people around you to take shovels and torches to destroy those tombstones."

"After all, destroying evidence is what they do best, isn't it?"

The words fell.

All time and space, all emperors, all heads of noble families, all suddenly looked at their ministers and clansmen from "Jiangxi" and "Shandong"!

That look was as if he were looking at a group of evil ghosts who were about to dig up his ancestral graves!