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

When Yu Qian's last shred of moral charisma vanished with the irrefutable evidence of "plagiarism".

The entire puzzle of the Tumu Crisis has finally been completed, with its darkest and most important piece now in place.

At this moment, all the clues converged.

This formed a web of crimes that enveloped the entire Ming Dynasty court.

Above the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice became more solemn and cold than ever before.

He was like a final judge, beginning to take stock of the evil spirits hidden beneath the hero's skin in this earth-shattering case.

"Now, family members, let's do a debriefing."

Who were the participants in this large-scale joint execution targeting Emperor Zhu Qizhen of the Ming Dynasty?

The scene on the screen changed, revealing a huge diagram showing the relationships between the characters.

It was a map, made up of countless black lines, the Alliance of Monarchists!

"First on the list: Chief Strategist, a political evergreen, the newly appointed Grand Secretary, and a veteran of five reigns—Chen Xun!"

Zhu Dijun's voice pointed to the most crucial name at the center of the network.

"This veteran official from Jiangxi, serving five emperors, perfectly replicated the path of his predecessor, Yang Shiqi. He infiltrated the heart of power for decades, finally seizing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at Tumu Fortress. He exploited the civil service's fear of the emperor's anti-corruption campaign, orchestrated the entire conspiracy, and, after its success, naturally ascended to the pinnacle of power, becoming the de facto prime minister of the Ming Empire!"

"He is the biggest political beneficiary of this coup!"

"Second place: the frontline commander-in-chief, the military's spokesperson, the 'savior prime minister'—Yu Qian!"

Zhu Dijun's gaze fell on the name next to Chen Xun, filled with sarcasm.

"This high-ranking official who served as governor of Shanxi for nineteen years, turning a blind eye to the deterioration of the border defenses; this 'loyal minister' who formed a marriage alliance with the regicide Yang Hong; this 'moral exemplar' who built a glorious image for himself by plagiarizing poems..."

"During the Tumu Crisis, he acted as an inside man and the mastermind behind the military. He tacitly approved of and even participated in the corruption and mutiny plots of the border generals. Afterwards, he stepped forward as a 'savior' to clean up the mess, taking control of all military power and turning the Ming Dynasty's army into the private property of the civil official group!"

"He is the biggest military beneficiary of this coup!"

"The third, a conspirator within the inner palace, is the Empress Dowager of the Empire—Sun Ruowei!"

The appearance of this name has once again stirred up waves across all time and space.

But this time, people were no longer so shocked.

After being bombarded by the three Yangs, Chen Xun, and Yu Qian, the addition of Empress Dowager Sun seems "reasonable".

"Family members, don't forget."

Zhu Dijun coldly reminded him.

"From instigating Zhu Zhanji's early death to ruling from behind the curtain, and then allowing the Three Yangs to usurp imperial power, this wicked empress was never a simple character."

"After the Tumu Crisis, without her approval and her imperial seal representing the highest legal authority, Chen Xun and Yu Qian would never have been able to so smoothly purge the imperial faction, let alone support the new emperor Zhu Qiyu!"

"She is the source of legitimacy for this coup! She is the protective umbrella that cloaks all rebels in a veneer of legitimacy!"

"She traded her son's throne for the support of the entire civil service to continue ruling from behind the curtain! It was a dirty political deal!"

"Finally, and most directly, the executioners were the Xuanda border army generals, led by Yang Hong, Yang Jun, Yang Neng, and their sons Yang Xin!"

On the sky, the excavated yellow earth of Tumubao and the blood-soaked ditches appeared.

"They are the most vicious pack of dogs kept on the border by the civil service!"

"They embezzled military farms, withheld rations and pay, and turned the nation's soldiers into their own private slaves!"

"When the emperor's executioner's blade was about to fall upon them, they did not hesitate to choose betrayal!"

"They secretly colluded with the Oirat and Tatar tribes of the grasslands; they turned their swords against their own comrades; they personally sent their emperor into the enemy's encirclement!"

"They are the executioners, the ones with the most blood on their hands, and the most unforgivable in this horrific case of regicide!"

Chen Xun, Yu Qian, Sun Ruowei, Yang Hong...

One after another, names that held high positions or shone brightly in history books were now nailed to the same pillar of shame.

They formed a perfect closed loop of regicide, from the Grand Secretary to the Empress Dowager in the inner palace to the generals on the frontier!

They conspired to orchestrate the darkest and most shameless military coup in the history of the Ming Dynasty!

"I...I don't know what to say anymore...My mind is numb..."

"An alliance... a regicide alliance composed of the prime minister, the empress dowager, the marshal, and the general... How terrifying..."

"Zhu Qizhen wasn't facing any border troubles; he was facing the entire corrupt and decadent bureaucratic system of the Ming Dynasty!"

"He's only in his twenties... How could a young man in his twenties possibly win against a group of cunning old foxes and wicked devils who have become masters of their craft?"

"I finally understand why Brother Jun said Zhu Qizhen was a tragic hero. He wasn't stupid; he was just too naive. He thought he was facing ministers, but he didn't realize they were a pack of wolves eager to devour him!"

"Right now, I only want to know one thing... Zhu Qizhen was later restored to the throne! After he came back, what did he do to all these people?!"

This question reflects the sentiments of everyone.

revenge!

When the truth is revealed, when all the injustices are redressed.

Everyone longs to see a satisfying, bloody revenge!

In the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong reign, in the Oirat army camp.

Zhu Qizhen gazed silently at the sky, at the list of "Alliance of Emperor Killers".

His face was devoid of grief and indignation, devoid of self-mockery, leaving only a chilling coldness that seemed to emanate from the deepest hell.

He etched those names, one by one, into his very bones.

Chen Xun.

Yu Qian.

Sun Ruowei.

Yang Hong.

And then there's his beloved younger brother, Zhu Qiyu.

He knew he would go back.

No matter the cost, he will definitely return to the Forbidden City that belongs to him.

Then, he will use the most cruel and brutal methods to make all those who betrayed him pay for their crimes in blood!

Above the sky, Zhu Dijun seemed to sense the shared expectation across all realms and timelines.

A bloodthirsty smile slowly crept onto the corners of his mouth.

"Family members, don't worry."

"The most fascinating thing about history is its reversals."

"The triumphant return, later known as the 'Tumu Crisis,' is about to unfold!"

"And our protagonist, the Great Ming War God, Emperor Zhu Qizhen, will also transform into a true, cold-blooded emperor after undergoing hellish trials!"

"His war with the entire civil service has only just begun, entering its second half!"