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

Nangong.

It was less a palace and more a magnificent prison forgotten by the Forbidden City.

The vermilion palace walls were already mottled, and the golden glazed tiles were covered with a layer of indelible grayness.

The air was thick with an aura of decay and despair, a stark contrast to the bustling imperial city just a wall away, as if they were two different worlds.

Zhu Dijun's feet rustled softly on the stone path covered with fallen leaves.

Every step felt like walking on the dust of history.

He was still being supported by Xing'an, and his appearance, so critically ill that he seemed on the verge of collapse at any moment, was enough to make any observer lower their guard considerably.

But his perception was sharper than ever before.

He could sense that behind the artificial hill, in the corner of the palace wall, and in the cracks of the tightly closed palace doors, there were pairs of eyes hidden.

There is one with Sun Ruowei.

Yu Qian is one of them.

There might even be Zhu Qizhen's own.

They are all watching.

Let's see what tricks this emperor, who has just lost his son and is on a mental breakdown, is up to.

In that unseen moment when no one was watching, a cold smile curled at the corner of Zhu Dijun's mouth.

What he wanted was for them to see.

The clearer you can see it, the better.

Soon, he spotted his target.

Under a withered locust tree, a thin figure timidly hid behind a palace maid, revealing only a pair of clear, black and white eyes filled with terror.

That child was Zhu Jianshen.

The palace maid protecting him was dressed in simple clothes and had an ordinary appearance, but her eyes were calm and composed, unlike those of a servant.

Wan Zhen'er.

The future Consort Wan.

A woman who could make Zhu Jianshen infatuated with her for life, even to the point of deposing his empress for her.

Zhu Dijun's gaze swept over the two of them, and he instantly made a decision in his mind.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Xing'an's weak and feeble voice made the two already frightened people tremble violently.

Zhu Jianshen let out a "waaaah" and almost cried, clutching Wan Zhen'er's clothes tightly and hiding his whole body.

Wan Zhen'er immediately knelt down, tightly protecting Zhu Jianshen in her arms, burying her head deep in her chest, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"This servant...this servant Wan Zhen'er greets Your Majesty..."

fear.

That's the only emotion here.

In their eyes, Zhu Qiyu was their uncle who had usurped their father's throne, a demon who could take their lives at any moment.

In the live broadcast room, the viewers' hearts were also on edge.

[“Here it comes! The main event is here! How will the anchorwoman win over this future emperor?”]

"This child is so pitiful. Look at his eyes, he looks like a frightened fawn."

"Wan Zhen'er was already protecting him like this at this point; no wonder she'll become a Noble Consort later."

"I bet five cents the streamer is going to start showing off his acting skills again!"

Judy Gun did not immediately make them get up.

He just stood there, silently watching the hidden child with a sad, empty gaze.

He just watched without saying a word.

Time passed by, second by second.

That silent gaze was more oppressive than any thunderous rage.

Wan Zhen'er's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Just when she thought the emperor was about to unleash his fury, she heard a faint sigh.

That sigh was filled with weariness and desolation.

"well……"

Zhu Dijun slowly walked forward, each step feeling like he was dragging a heavy burden.

He coughed twice, his voice so weak it seemed as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind.

"Don't be afraid..."

He spoke to the trembling palace maid in an almost gentle tone.

Get up.

He then looked at Zhu Jianshen, who was hiding behind him, and tried his best to force a smile that looked worse than a grimace.

"Kimi...is that so?"

"I am... Uncle."

His voice was hoarse and nasal, as if he had just been crying.

"Uncle's Ji'er... is gone..."

"Uncle... just wanted to come and see you..."

These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity, and were deeply moving and poignant.

His deathly pale face, coupled with the emperor's humble posture, instantly diluted most of the tense atmosphere on the scene.

What those eyes that were secretly watching saw and heard was only a pitiful father who had lost his child coming to his nephew for a little comfort.

Reasonable.

Zhu Jianshen still didn't dare to come out. He only peeked out from behind Wan Zhen'er, his eyes filled with fear and curiosity as he secretly observed this legendary, vicious uncle.

Judy Gun didn't pressure him.

He glanced around the desolate courtyard, his gaze landing on a simple shuttlecock made of chicken feathers and copper coins at Wan Zhen'er's feet.

That's what they were playing with just now.

An idea took shape in his mind.

"You guys..." Judy Jun pointed to the shuttlecock, a hint of curiosity in her voice, "Were you playing with this just now?"

Wan Zhen'er stiffened and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, it was...it was just that I was bored and taught the Crown Prince to play shuttlecock to pass the time..."

"Oh……"

Zhu Dijun nodded, and then he said something that surprised everyone.

"Jian Shen, and this Wan Palace Maid."

His voice remained gentle, even carrying a hint of childlike pleading.

"Shall we... play shuttlecock together?"

boom!

This statement was even more bizarre than the previous proposal to establish a crown prince in the Cining Palace!

The spies lurking in the shadows were completely dumbfounded.

Kicking...kicking a shuttlecock?

An emperor came to the Southern Palace to find the son of the deposed emperor and play shuttlecock.

Has he gone mad?!

The screen above was instantly flooded with a series of "Holy crap!"

【"???????????????"】

"I'm dumbfounded! I'm really dumbfounded! How did my brain work like this? Like kicking a shuttlecock?"

"A stroke of genius! This is absolutely a stroke of genius! Everyone thought he was going to use political pressure or try to win people over with sweet talk, but he just wanted to play a game!"

"I get it! A master! This is a true master! Any words are superfluous at this moment; they could be interpreted in countless political ways! Only play! This purest, most purposeless behavior is the best way to dispel everyone's suspicions!"

[He wasn't speaking to Zhu Jianshen; he was saying to everyone watching him: Look, I really didn't mean anything by it. I'm just a crazy person having a fit of fun, a pathetic wretch missing his son!]

"This tactic is called 'Childlike Innocence'! Using the most innocent method to conceal the deepest scheming! If Empress Sun and the others saw this, they would only think that this emperor is completely useless and no longer poses any threat!"

Wan Zhen'er and Zhu Jianshen were also stunned.

They stared blankly at Judy Jun, completely unable to comprehend what was happening before their eyes.

Ignoring them, Zhu Dijun bent down and picked up the shuttlecock.

His weakened body due to poisoning made even this simple movement somewhat strenuous.

He held the shuttlecock in his palm and gave Zhu Jianshen an encouraging smile.

"Come."

"Uncle... I'll teach you a new way to play."

As he spoke, he lightly tiptoed on his toes.

The colorful shuttlecock flew up lightly, drawing a beautiful arc in the air, and then... with a thud, it landed crookedly two steps away.

The movements were clumsy and laughable.

"Cough cough..." Zhu Dijun choked and looked a little embarrassed.

This appearance completely dispelled the last trace of fear in Zhu Jianshen's heart.

He even felt that his uncle, the emperor, who was high and mighty in front of him, was a little... pitiful.

Zhu Dijun did not give up, picked up the shuttlecock again, and tried again.

once.

twice.

His movements remained clumsy, and his stamina was clearly failing him; he soon found himself panting heavily, sweat beading on his forehead.

Xing'an was extremely anxious, but dared not step forward.

But in Zhu Jianshen's terrified eyes, a glimmer of light gradually appeared.

He looked at his uncle, who kept failing but kept trying, and his little fists clenched unconsciously.

Finally, when Judy Jun failed again and was panting heavily with her hands on her knees, a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz rang out.

"No...that's not it..."

Zhu Jianshen stepped out from behind Wan Zhen'er and whispered, "You have to...you have to kick with the inside of your foot to make it stable..."

Zhu Dijun looked up and pretended to be surprised.

"Really? You try it."

Zhu Jianshen hesitated for a moment and glanced at Wan Zhen'er.

Wan Zhen'er gave him an encouraging look.

He finally mustered up his courage, jogged over, and picked up the shuttlecock.

He imitated Zhu Dijun, tossing the shuttlecock upwards and then kicking it precisely with the inside of his small foot!

The shuttlecock flew steadily up and then fell back down.

One, two, three...

Although it wasn't much, it was a hundred times better than Judy Jun's clumsy appearance.

"good!"

Zhu Dijun clapped his hands and laughed, the laughter resonating deep within his lungs, which then triggered a violent coughing fit.

He coughed as he gave Zhu Jianshen a thumbs up.

"Kenshin...that's amazing!"

"Much better than Uncle..."

The undisguised praise and the "clumsiness" that an emperor displayed in front of him brought a shy yet proud smile to Zhu Jianshen's small face for the first time.

He glanced at Zhu Dijun, then at Wan Zhen'er, and the iceberg in his eyes was quietly melting.

This scene was relayed back to Cining Palace exactly as it was, reaching the ears of Yu Qian and Chen Xun.

Upon hearing the scout's report, Sun Ruowei's brows furrowed into a deep frown.

Kicking shuttlecock?

He really... just went there to have fun?

An emperor who has just lost his son and is suffering a mental breakdown seems to be able to explain any irrational behavior he might do.

At this moment, her vigilance subtly relaxed by a third.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the Southern Palace.

As Judy Jun watched the child gradually lower his guard and even begin to teach him skills, a chill ran through the depths of his lowered eyes.

The first step is complete.

He used a game to temporarily lull everyone into a false sense of security.

In the heart of this future chess piece, a small seed called "closeness" was planted.

This is a dead end.

He brought it back to life with just a small shuttlecock.