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

Zhu Dijun's voice echoed clearly in every corner of all time and space.

"And Zhu Yunwen was, in their eyes, the most perfect candidate!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere within the imperial palace in Yingtian Prefecture during the first year of the Jianwen reign changed abruptly.

The young Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen was still immersed in the excitement of posthumously vindicating himself, believing that the heavens were finally about to expose his uncle, the Prince of Yan's, wolfish ambitions.

However, the expressions on the faces of Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru, and others around him were not very pleasant.

What does "the perfect candidate" mean?

This statement sounds like it's saying that His Majesty is an easy puppet to manipulate.

They were virtuous ministers who assisted the wise ruler, initiated the "Jianwen New Deal," and aimed to eliminate the malpractices of the Hongwu reign and restore the rule of Yao and Shun!

However, before they could think it through, Zhu Dijun's next words from above the sky were like a resounding slap in the face to all of them.

"Of course, one emperor alone is not enough."

"The agents of the Khazars need a group of like-minded 'teammates' to work together to usher in the great cause of usurping imperial power and overthrowing the Ming Dynasty."

A hint of undisguised sarcasm curled at the corner of Zhu Dijun's mouth.

"And family members, anyone who is even slightly familiar with the history of the Ming Dynasty knows that Zhu Yunwen, along with his most trusted ministers Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, and Fang Xiaoru, this group of four, have a very... resounding reputation in later generations."

Above the sky, the scene shifts.

The portraits of Zhu Yunwen, Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, and Fang Xiaoru appear side by side.

Immediately afterwards, four large, mocking black characters slammed heavily onto the portrait!

【The Four Idiots of Jianwen】!

"puff--"

In modern live streaming rooms, countless people spit out their water.

Immediately afterwards, the barrage of comments flooded the entire screen like a burst dam!

"Here he comes! He's here! The number one group of the early Ming Dynasty, the Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather!"

"Hahaha, I would call them the 'Ming Dynasty's Empire Handed Over' Dream Team!"

"Jianwen: I have three loyal ministers who can bring peace to the realm. Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng: We have a brilliant plan to weaken the power of the princes. Fang Xiaoru: I'll be responsible for cursing and getting myself killed. A perfect closed loop!"

"Jun-ge, you're truly amazing! You've snatched all the bamboo shoots! Now you're going straight for the trump card, huh!"

"I feel sorry for Old Zhu for a second. He worked so hard to build this empire, only to pass it on to this precious grandson and his 'Sleeping Dragon and Phoenix Chicks'..."

These barrages of playful and sarcastic comments were projected clearly through the sky, word for word, into all the ancient times and spaces!

In the first year of the Jianwen reign, in Yingtian Prefecture.

Dead!

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence!

The young Emperor Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen, stared blankly at the four glaring black characters on the sky, then looked at the scrolling "bullet comments" beside him, which he could not understand but could sense the malice within.

Foolish...idiot?

Am I... a fool?

My Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Huang Zicheng; my Minister of War, Qi Tai; and my Academician of the Hanlin Academy, Fang Xiaoru—these learned and virtuous ministers, revered as role models by scholars throughout the land, are fools?

We, the ruler and his ministers, were of one mind, worked diligently to govern, and eliminated corrupt practices. How did we end up being...fools?!

A tremendous, unprecedented sense of humiliation, like an icy tide, instantly overwhelmed Zhu Yunwen.

His face turned from white to red, then from red to green, and his hands gripping the armrests of the dragon throne trembled violently from excessive force.

"Absurd! Utter nonsense!"

Minister of War Qi Tai was the first to jump out, pointing at the sky, trembling with anger.

"Our assistance to His Majesty in suppressing the rebellion of Yan was a righteous act to uphold the nation! How dare these scoundrels of later generations slander us like this!"

"That's right!" Huang Zicheng's face flushed red, filled with grief and indignation. "This is a descendant of Prince Di of Yan, shamelessly slandering our dynasty! His heart is despicable! His heart is truly despicable!"

Only Fang Xiaoru, the great Confucian scholar hailed as a "seed of learning," stared intently at the sky, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

He valued his reputation above all else and considered himself a sage.

But now, in the eyes of future generations, he is associated with the word "stupid," which is worse than being killed!

In the eleventh year of the Hongwu reign, at the Fengtian Hall.

The atmosphere was beyond just oppressive.

That was the stillness before a volcanic eruption.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared intently at the four large characters on the sky: "The Four Fools of Jianwen".

He was so angry about that anecdote about "having an affair with his daughter-in-law" that he was practically jumping out of his skin.

Now, he felt as if the top of his head was about to be blown off by this newfound rage!

If the previous unofficial histories were an insult to his character...

So these "Four Fools of Jianwen" are the ultimate judgment on his life's work and the future of the entire Ming Dynasty!

He saw it on the sky: Zhu Yunwen's grandson, and the civil officials standing beside him.

He remembered!

That Huang Zicheng is the tutor of the Crown Prince!

That Qi Tai was also personally promoted by him!

Fang Xiaoru was a "wise and talented" man he left to his grandson!

The results of it?

In the end, after all the hard work we put into paving the way for him, killing his meritorious officials, and clearing obstacles for him, he just found these three... idiots... to assist him?

Then, the four of them—the emperor and his ministers—became known as the "Four Fools" in later generations?!

Our empire has been handed over to these four idiots?!

"Thump!"

Zhu Biao, the crown prince who was by Zhu Yuanzhang's side, suddenly felt his vision go black, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

His face was deathly pale, and he muttered to himself, "Yunwen... Yunwen... how could he..."

He couldn't accept that his kind and filial son would become the "foolish" emperor in other people's eyes!

After his extreme anger, Zhu Yuanzhang calmed down.

A glacial, chilling calm.

His gaze slowly swept across the main hall.

The light swept over Zhu Biao, who was slumped on the ground.

He glanced at Xu Da and Li Shanchang, who were both stunned.

Finally, his gaze fell on Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, who had looked completely bewildered from beginning to end, as if he were an outsider.

Fourth brother...

The screen above said that it was the descendants of the fourth son broadcasting live.

The sky above said that Jianwen was reducing the power of the princes, and that power was being reduced to the fourth prince.

The sky above said that the fourth prince eventually became emperor.

At this moment, all the clues pointed to an answer that Zhu Yuanzhang was unwilling to believe, yet had to face.

It was these four idiots who drove the fourth brother to rebel!

These four idiots are the ones who started the civil war in our Zhu family!

These four idiots almost handed over the Ming Dynasty, which we had worked so hard to build!

"Good...good...good indeed, the four Jianwen idiots..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's teeth were clenched so tightly that they seemed to be squeezing out every word from between his teeth.

He suddenly turned around and kicked the dragon throne next to him!

"Clang—!"

The heavy golden nanmu dragon throne was kicked over by him and fell to the ground with a loud bang!

"Is our grandson an idiot?!"

A deafening roar echoed throughout the entire Fengtian Hall.

"Our empire has been ruined by these four fools?!"

"Khazar! Huang Zicheng! Qi Tai! Fang Xiaoru!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were bloodshot, like a ferocious tiger ready to devour its prey. He pointed at the sky and roared, enunciating each word clearly:

"We can't let these idiots ruin our big plan!"

"We've stripped ourselves bare!"