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

"His Majesty!"

Wan Zhen'er's scream pierced the deathly silence of Qianqing Palace.

She rushed forward without hesitation and used her sleeve to wipe the blood from Zhu Jianshen's mouth.

However, Zhu Jianshen seemed oblivious.

He simply waved his hand, indicating that Wan Zhen'er need not panic.

He slowly wiped the crimson from his lips with the back of his hand, and then gently smeared the blood onto the armrest of the dragon throne beneath him.

The movements were gentle, carrying a strange sense of longing.

Those eyes, which had just been filled with rage and sorrow, had now calmed down.

It was as calm as a frozen sea of ​​blood.

There was no ripple, only biting cold.

He survived.

He survived the assassination attempt, which was later known as the "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons".

But he also understood that from that moment on, the Zhu Jianshen of the past was dead.

He died in his mother's kindness, in his wife's gentleness, and in the "loyalty" of his entire court.

The one sitting on this dragon throne now is just an avenger.

"Family members, the blood on the dragon throne heralds the start of a war."

Above the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice rang out again, carrying an almost cold calm.

"Do you think what's coming next will be a massive, sweeping purge?"

"No."

"You are about to witness an investigation that is more absurd, more ridiculous, and more chilling than the assassination itself!"

In the scene, time begins to flow.

July to September of the twelfth year of the Chenghua reign (1443)

For two months, the entire Forbidden City was shrouded in a depressing atmosphere.

Countless Imperial Guards and Eastern Depot agents, like mad dogs, searched the palace thoroughly.

However, what Zhu Jianshen received was one piece of news after another that plunged his heart into an icy abyss.

"Family members, after a two-month investigation, our Emperor Xianzong has discovered in despair..."

"His once-proud palace defense system is now a complete sieve!"

Zhu Dijun's voice sounded like he was reading a death report.

"A captain in the Imperial Guard responsible for guarding the palace has been bribed!"

"The Eastern Depot, responsible for internal surveillance, has a leader who is an inside man!"

"Even the Emperor's most trusted imperial horse stables, the Tengxiang and Wuxiang Four Guards, had people involved!"

"Not to mention, the nineteen guards, including the Golden Guard, the Imperial Guard, and the Imperial Army, are deeply entrenched and a mixed bag, making it impossible to distinguish who is loyal and who is treacherous!"

"What a terrifying reality this is!"

"The emperor's sword, the emperor's shield, the emperor's eyes and ears—all failed him overnight!"

"He became truly alone!"

These words sent chills down the spines of emperors throughout history.

They can tolerate the stupidity of their subjects and the incompetence of their generals, but they absolutely cannot tolerate the violent machine upon which they depend for survival being eroded from within!

This is more deadly than any betrayal!

"So, what was uncovered two months later in this earth-shattering treason case?"

A mocking smile appeared on Zhu Dijun's face.

He slammed a historical document heavily onto the sky!

[The Veritable Records of Emperor Xianzong of Ming]

"Our historians, with their brilliant pens, have recorded a 'truth' worthy of being recorded in history!"

"Next, please enjoy the suspenseful drama written, directed, and acted by the Ming Dynasty's civil official group—[The Case of the Demonic Li Zilong]!"

On the sky, the actual records were displayed word by word.

In layman's terms, it means...

"There was a social idler named Li Zilong. He somehow got some money and bribed the eunuchs in the palace, as well as a few minor officials of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Then, he bribed an official in the Bureau of Textile and Dyeing to forge tokens and documents that allowed him to freely enter and leave the palace."

"This Li Zilong, relying on these things, swaggered into the palace, and even climbed to the highest point of the palace—Wansui Hill, the place where the Chongzhen Emperor later hanged himself, and pointed out the entire Forbidden City!"

Finally, during the morning court session, he raised his arm and rallied the troops, launching a rebellion!

Zhu Dijun spread his hands, facing the myriad worlds and timelines, and made a helpless expression.

"Family members, do you believe it?"

"Could a street urchin really command the palace guards?"

"Could an ordinary person have planned such a meticulous assassination?"

"If you told this story to a three-year-old, they'd slap you across the face!"

The chat in the "Modern Live Room" is already in stitches.

["Hahahaha! I'm fucking dying of laughter! Does this guy think the emperor is an idiot, or that he thinks we, his descendants, are idiots?"]

[“Best comedy of the year! A street urchin overthrows an empire, he's a waste of time not being a screenwriter in Hollywood!”]

"The most outrageous thing is that the investigation process was even more absurd! The key witness, the eunuch Wei Han from the Textile and Dyeing Bureau, immediately 'committed suicide out of fear of punishment'! The trail went cold!"

"Got it! In the end, they just killed Li Zilong and four other unlucky guys, and then hastily closed the case! This isn't investigating a case; it's clearly destroying evidence!"

In all the myriad realms and timelines, the faces of all the emperors were so gloomy they seemed to drip water.

They couldn't laugh.

Because they knew that this seemingly absurd record was the most vicious insult to imperial power!

This is pointing a finger at the emperor and telling him:

Yes, it was us who did it.

But you have no evidence.

You can't touch us!

The Chenghua Era.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

As Zhu Jianshen looked at the records on the sky and the closing memorial that he had personally approved, a smile slowly appeared on his face.

That smile sent chills down Wan Zhen'er's spine.

"Well done... well done, Li Zilong..."

He murmured softly, as if in praise, yet also as if in curse.

He finally realized that relying on the existing system, he would never be able to kill all his enemies.

For they are the ones who wrote the law, and they are also the ones who enforce it.

They are the rule-makers.

And for him, the emperor, to seek revenge, he must become... a rule-breaker!

"So, family members, after receiving this 'investigation report,' our Emperor Xianzong did two things."

Above the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice became extremely chilling.

"The first case occurred in September of the twelfth year of the Chenghua reign, which was the same month the case was closed!"

"The Emperor has issued an edict, bestowing upon Wan Zhen'er the title of Imperial Noble Consort!"

"Family members, pay attention to this title: Imperial Noble Consort! At that time, this was a rank second only to the Empress! This is a direct way of telling everyone, especially the two in Cining Palace and Kunning Palace!"

"I'll protect this woman!"

"If you touch her, you're touching me!"

"This is a declaration of war!"

"And the second thing was four months later, when all preparations were complete."

Zhu Dijun took a deep breath, and the scene suddenly changed!

Time, freeze!

[The first month of the thirteenth year of the Chenghua reign!]

Inside the cold, dark hall, a figure knelt before Zhu Jianshen.

It was Wang Zhi!

"Wang Zhi".

Zhu Jianshen's voice revealed no emotion.

"This servant is here."

"The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are both useless."

"I want a new knife."

"A sword that obeys only my command."

"A knife that can tear through all pretense and uncover all conspiracies."

"Do you dare to accept?"

Wang Zhi suddenly looked up, and his eyes shone with an astonishing light on his effeminate face!

He kowtowed deeply, his voice as firm as metal and stone!

"For Your Majesty, I would gladly die a thousand deaths!"

Above the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice boomed like thunder!

"Family members!"

"On this very day!"

"A secret service agency completely independent of all government institutions, responsible only to the emperor himself—the most powerful and feared intelligence agency in the history of the Ming Dynasty!"

"West Police Station!"

"It's born!"

"And its first admiral was none other than the one who would later become famous..."

"The factory's most beautiful girl—Wang Zhi!"

The Chenghua Era.

Upon hearing the strange name mentioned on the sky, Wang Zhi's cheeks instantly flushed red.

Factory... Factory Flower?

What kind of outrageous and inhumane words are these!

He is a real man... even though he has a physical disability, he should not be humiliated like this!

But as he looked at the sky, and at the descendant who had spoken of all the grievances and truths for His Majesty and for himself, his shame and anger eventually turned into a warm current.

He knew this was not a humiliation.

This is... recognition from a thousand years later!

He kowtowed again, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"This servant... obeys the decree!"

From this day forward, he will no longer be that bullied little eunuch.

He will be the sharpest and most ruthless... butcher's knife in the emperor's hands!