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

Dead silence.

The deathly silence of Nangong seemed to swallow up all other sounds.

Zhu Qizhen stood frozen in place, as if his soul had been ripped out.

"Mutual vendettas, mutual destruction..."

These eight words, like eight poisoned steel needles, pierced his brain, making his whole body go numb.

He looked at the "younger brother" in front of him. His calm face reflected the pale moonlight outside the window, making him look like a demon returning from hell.

However, Zhu Qizhen was not a fool after all.

He was once an emperor, and he also eked out a living in the tents of the Oirats. Now, in this prison of the Southern Palace, he plots day and night how to escape and how to reclaim everything that belongs to him.

After a brief, intense shock, a jolt of electricity shot through his spine.

He guessed it!

He guessed the only chance of survival behind this madman's plan!

Live to the death!

Shedding its skin like a cicada!

These two words made his heart pound wildly, almost bursting out of his chest!

but……

A more deadly and terrifying question instantly seized his entire mind.

"What will happen to Jian Shen after we...we leave Nangong?"

Zhu Qizhen's voice trembled violently with excitement and fear.

He grabbed Judy Jun's shoulder, his eyes bloodshot.

"If we 'die,' will they immediately enthrone Jian Shen as emperor?"

"At that time, he, a young child, will be surrounded by that pack of jackals and tigers, becoming their puppet!"

"Does this mean that the legal standing of us two 'dead' people has completely vanished?!"

That's the most deadly thing!

They went to great lengths to escape, only to find their son becoming someone else's trump card, while they themselves became rootless duckweed, unable to stir up any more waves!

Zhu Dijun's eyes remained completely unmoved by Zhu Qizhen's loss of control.

He just looked at him quietly and asked a question in return.

"Brother, do you believe me?"

"What?" Zhu Qizhen was taken aback.

"If you were any minister in the court with a modicum of sense, do you believe Zhu Jianshen could have ascended the throne peacefully and without difficulty?"

Zhu Dijun's tone was calm, yet it was like an ice pick, piercing into Zhu Qizhen's chaotic thoughts.

Zhu Qizhen's breath hitched.

He put himself in their shoes.

Just moments before, Yu Qian and Empress Dowager Sun's faction had driven the emperor and the retired emperor into a desperate situation.

Shortly afterward, the emperor and the retired emperor died "mysteriously" in a fire caused by a "fraternal feud".

Then, with faces full of grief, they put the "former crown prince" who had Zhu Qizhen's blood in his veins back on the throne.

This……

"I don't believe it!"

Zhu Qizhen practically roared it out!

This makes no sense at all!

This is practically having the words "We are the murderers" engraved on their foreheads!

"Yes, if it were me, I wouldn't believe it either."

Zhu Dijun finally revealed a slight smile, a smug, knowing smile.

"So, Your Majesty, did you see it?"

"This is our opportunity."

"Thank goodness..." he sighed, "this imperial court isn't entirely dominated by the Jiangxi clique."

"There are others."

"For example..." Zhu Dijun's gaze turned to another direction in the capital, where there stood a magnificent mansion.

"The British Duchy".

British public!

Zhang Fu!

The leader of the Wu Xun who fought to the death in Tumu Fortress to protect Zhu Qizhen!

Zhu Qizhen's heart clenched violently.

"Should we...go find him?"

His voice was dry and filled with uncertainty.

"The Duke of Ying, Zhang Fu, is dead. His eldest son, Zhang Mao, is now the heir to the title, and he's still just a child. For us to go find him would be... far too risky!"

"We have no choice but to take risks."

Zhu Dijun's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Brother, this is our only way to survive!"

"The civil service is not a monolithic entity! Yu Qian and his group wanted to install a puppet ruler, but would the founding military leaders willingly allow the civil service to completely dominate them?"

"The Zhang family was the first fuse that ignited the fury of the Wu Xun Group!"

"As long as we can leave Nangong alive and appear before Zhang Mao as both 'Emperor' and 'Retired Emperor'!"

"Which explanation do you think is more convincing: Yu Qian's claim of 'accidental death,' or the explanation given by us two living, breathing people?!"

Zhu Qizhen's breathing became extremely heavy.

He got it.

This is the final step in the entire plan!

Faking death to escape is just the beginning!

The real killer move is to ignite the decades-long conflict between the civil service and military factions!

Let them fight like dogs!

Meanwhile, the two brothers can stay behind the scenes and reap the benefits!

but……

What if it fails?

What if the Zhang family doesn't dare to accept them?

What if the Wu Xun Group has been completely suppressed and dares not resist?

As if seeing through Zhu Qizhen's last hesitation, the smile on Zhu Dijun's face slowly faded.

Instead, there was a resolute and tragic determination to burn one's bridges.

"Brother Emperor."

He gently patted Zhu Qizhen on the shoulder.

"If even this step fails."

"Then let's..."

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately the final solution that made Zhu Qizhen's soul tremble.

"Learn from Cao Mao!"

Cao Mao!

The young emperor who uttered "Sima Zhao's intentions are obvious to everyone," then drew his sword, boarded his carriage, led hundreds of servants, and charged towards the powerful minister's residence, ultimately dying beside his carriage!

"We will use our lives, the lives of our two brothers, and the blood of this emperor!"

"Go and break down the gates of that British Duke's mansion!"

"Go and wake up all those dukes and nobles in the court!"

"Go tell Jian Shen, tell the whole world!"

"Who is the real traitor to the nation!"

Zhu Dijun's voice was not loud, but every word was heart-wrenching and every sentence was piercing!

"Let us use our lives to fight for my dear nephew... a righteous cause for future revenge!"

At this moment, Zhu Qizhen looked at the "younger brother" in front of him.

What he saw was no longer a madman or a schemer.

Rather, it was someone willing to use their own head and blood to pave a path to survival for future generations…

A true emperor!

The last vestige of hesitation in his heart vanished completely.

Instead, there was endless sorrow and overwhelming fighting spirit!

"good!"

Zhu Qizhen clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, and his eyes flashed with a death-defying light.

"We'll do as you say!"

"I...no, I, Zhu Qizhen, will dedicate my life to you...to the very end!"