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

"Fire!"

"The Nangong Palace is on fire!"

A piercing scream shattered the tranquility of the imperial city.

Countless palace servants, eunuchs, and guards were awakened from their sleep, staring in horror at the sky that was illuminated by the firelight as if it were daytime.

Nangong!

Everyone knows perfectly well who's being held in that place!

The sounds of gongs, screams, and footsteps created a chaotic scene.

Buckets of water were poured onto the raging fire of the palace, but it was like a drop in the ocean, instantly evaporating into white steam.

The fire was too big!

That's huge; it doesn't seem like an accident.

It's more like... a long-planned scheme!

……

Renshou Palace, the sleeping quarters of Empress Dowager Sun.

The candlelight was bright, and the warmth was like spring.

Sun Ruowei, the most powerful woman in the Ming Dynasty, is having a secret meeting with three of the most powerful men in the court, a meeting that will determine the future of the empire.

Yu Qian, Chen Xun, and Wang Wen.

They have just reached a consensus.

One consensus, enough to change the world.

"Tomorrow morning, I will summon the Emperor to the Southern Palace to visit him, citing the reason that the Emperor Emeritus misses his son."

Empress Dowager Sun twirled the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, her voice calm yet exuding an undeniable authority.

"At that time, Nangong accidentally caught fire, and the two brothers tragically perished in the flames..."

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen should ascend the throne immediately. You gentlemen are the senior advisors who will make decisions and assist in governing."

Chen Xun and Wang Wen's eyes gleamed with barely suppressed excitement and greed.

Only Yu Qian, with a slight frown, held his teacup and remained silent for a long time.

"Is there anything amiss, from a public perspective?"

Chen Xun noticed his unusual behavior.

Yu Qian put down his teacup and said in a deep voice:

"That's too hasty. His Majesty just went mad in the palace, and we turn around and have him 'accidentally' die? What will the world think of us?"

"You're overthinking it."

Wang Wen sneered.

"A madman who would curse his own son to frame a loyal official deserves to die! The world will only applaud!"

"That's right," Chen Xun echoed.

"As long as we control the capital garrison, block the news, and introduce His Highness the Crown Prince to stabilize public sentiment, the rumors will soon subside."

Empress Dowager Sun nodded and was about to speak.

Just then—

"Bang!"

The door to the sleeping quarters was smashed open by a eunuch who tumbled and crawled!

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

The eunuch's face was deathly pale, and his voice was trembling uncontrollably.

"How dare you!" a palace maid beside Empress Dowager Sun shouted sternly.

Empress Dowager Sun frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

"What's the matter that you're so panicked?"

"Nan...Nangong..."

The eunuch knelt on the ground, pointing in the direction outside the window, speaking incoherently.

"Nangong is on fire!!"

boom!

These words struck the heads of the four people in the hall like a thunderbolt from the heavens!

With a tremor of her hand, the precious Buddhist prayer beads snapped instantly, scattering the beads all over the ground with a crackling sound!

Yu Qian, Chen Xun, and Wang Wen all jumped up from their chairs, their faces bearing the same expression.

Can't believe it!

"What did you say?!"

Chen Xun rushed over, grabbed the eunuch by the collar, and his face contorted with rage.

"Nangong is on fire?!"

"Yes...yes, Your Excellency..."

The eunuch was terrified.

"The fire...the fire is huge, it's been burning for...it's been burning for half an hour!"

Half an hour!

Yu Qian's heart sank suddenly.

Such a huge fire, burning for so long, what about the people inside...?

The four people looked at each other in bewilderment.

In each other's eyes, they saw shock, confusion, and... a deep suspicion!

It was supposed to be tomorrow!

who is it? !

Who made the move first?!

Is that you?

Or is it you?

Is it that you don't want to share this enormous credit and want to take it all for yourself?!

The atmosphere inside the sealed room instantly plummeted to freezing point.

That fragile alliance, which had just been established, crumbled at this moment!

"It wasn't me!"

Wang Wen was the first to jump up, pointing at Yu Qian and Chen Xun, and roaring angrily.

"Don't look at me like that! I, Wang Wen, am not that despicable!"

"It wasn't me either!"

Chen Xun also hurriedly distanced himself from the matter, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Empress Dowager Sun in the main seat.

Empress Dowager Sun's face turned ashen. She looked at the three ministers who distrusted each other, and her anger surged.

It's them?

Or... are there other people in the palace who also want to get rid of those brothers and have made the first move?

In this deathly silence.

Yu Qian, the Minister of War who had maintained a calm demeanor throughout, suddenly had a thought that made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave!

wrong!

That's not right!

What a coincidence!

What a coincidence!

They had barely finished their discussion when a fire broke out in Nangong!

There's no such thing as a coincidence in this world!

unless……

Unless, this is not an accident!

It wasn't any of them who did it!

But...

A terrible, crazy thought popped into Yu Qian's mind.

He suddenly looked up at the blood-red night sky outside the window, and his blood seemed to freeze completely at that moment.

"us……"

Yu Qian's voice was dry, as if it had been sanded.

"We... fell for their trap..."

"What?"

Chen Xun and Wang Wen were taken aback.

Yu Qian ignored them. He just walked back step by step, looking lost and dejected, until he finally slumped down in his chair.

In his mind, Zhu Dijun's crazy words in the Fengtian Hall kept echoing.

"My sword will teach them how to hold a pen."

Now he understands.

That knife wasn't meant to kill.

It's for... committing suicide!

"frame……"

Yu Qian uttered two words of despair.

"This is a frame-up!!"

Chen Xun's body jolted violently!

He instantly understood what Yu Qian meant!

He thought of that famous anecdote from history books!

Cheng Ji, who led troops into the palace and murdered the young emperor Cao Mao, ultimately brought eternal infamy upon the Sima family!

And they...

Even if Zhu Qiyu had taken the initiative to propose making Zhu Jianshen the crown prince during the morning court session, the fire at the Southern Palace would now turn into a coup by the court officials, forcing Emperor Zhu Qiyu to make the son of the retired Emperor Zhu Qizhen the crown prince!

Before long, night fell, and the emperor and the retired emperor died "mysteriously" in the fire at the Southern Palace!

This……

What's the difference between this and Sima Zhao killing Cao Mao and then feigning tears for him?!

"quick!"

The color drained from Chen Xun's face, and he let out a scream that sounded inhuman!

"Quickly, put out the fire!!"

"Pass down the order! Rescue His Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus at all costs!!"

He acted like a madman, roaring at the guards outside the palace.

"They can't die!"

"At least for now... I absolutely cannot die!!"

"otherwise……"

He looked at Yu Qian, Wang Wen, and Empress Dowager Sun, whose faces were also ashen, and his voice was distorted by extreme fear.

"Otherwise, we'll be like Sima Zhao!"

"We have all become traitors whose intentions are as clear as day!!"