Chapter 146: Old Zhu, What Will You Choose?! 【 Seeking Monthly Tickets 】
Jiang Huan, almost crawling, reported the details of the confiscation of the Jiangxia Marquis Manor and the list of unbearable evidence to Old Zhu in the Hall of Heavenly Purity.
He did not exaggerate, but described Zhou Ji’s depravity, the conclusive evidence of forbidden medicine, and Zhou De’s initial arrogance and final collapse in the most straightforward and coldest language.
Every word was like a piece of ice, thrown into Old Zhu’s already boiling oil pan.
But the expected thunderous rage did not immediately occur.
On the dragon throne, Old Zhu was unusually silent.
He listened, his face expressionless.
Only his deep-set eyes became redder and brighter, like two glowing branding irons embedded in his frozen face.
His hands on the imperial desk were clenched so tightly with extreme force that his knuckles turned white, and he even trembled slightly.
But he himself was as steady as a volcano on the verge of eruption, instantly frozen.
“This subject has had all the criminals arrested and put into the Imperial Prison for trial, the Marquis Manor has been sealed, and relevant evidence has been secured…”
Jiang Huan’s voice grew lower and lower, until it was almost inaudible, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold floor tiles, not daring to look up.
A deathly silence enveloped the Main Hall.
Time seemed to pass for a century.
Finally, Old Zhu slowly raised his head.
His gaze did not fall on Jiang Huan but drifted into the void, his voice hoarse and low, yet carrying a calmness that could freeze the soul:
“Zhou Dexing… good, very good.”
“My meritorious official… my good Marquis…”
“He gave birth to… a good son…”
Every word he spoke was extremely slow, as if squeezed from beneath eternal ice, carrying a bone-chilling cold and the extreme pain of being utterly betrayed.
Zhou Dexing was his old brother from Huai Xi, one who had faced danger with him.
He even remembered Zhou Dexing’s feigned profundity and slight fawning when he divined his fate back then.
Now, his son had used such dirty means to reach into his imperial harem.
This was slapping him in the face! This was digging up his Zhu family’s ancestral grave!
Yet, this extreme humiliation and anger did not cause him to roar or smash things; only the redness in his eyes intensified.
“Jiang Huan.”
Old Zhu’s voice was still calm.
“This subject… this subject is here…”
“In the Imperial Prison, ‘take good care’ of Zhou Ji for us.”
Old Zhu said calmly and indifferently:
“We want to know where those medicines came from? Who gave him the prescription? Besides the imperial harem, who else did he give them to? Find out everything, word for word.”
“Yes!”
Jiang Huan felt a chill rush from the base of his spine to the top of his head.
The calmer the Emperor was, the heavier his killing intent!
Zhou Ji’s fate would likely be a hundred times more miserable than that of the worst prisoner in the Imperial Prison!
“As for Zhou Dexing…”
Old Zhu paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, but it was instantly submerged by coldness:
“Confine him to the Marquis Manor. Without our decree, no one is allowed to visit. Once the case is clear, we will deal with him accordingly.”
He did not kill Zhou Dexing immediately, not out of lingering affection, but to keep him, perhaps to uncover more, or as a more cruel punishment.
“And!”
Old Zhu’s gaze finally fell on Jiang Huan, a gaze that felt like an ice pick piercing him:
“Continue investigating. Follow this lead, and dig deep for us. Inside and outside the palace, anyone involved, not one is to be missed.”
“This subject obeys the decree!”
Jiang Huan kowtowed heavily and retreated from the suffocating Main Hall as if fleeing.
In the empty hall, only Old Zhu remained.
He slowly picked up the list of evidence left by Jiang Huan, looking at the descriptions of various lewd tools and ambiguous letters. His hands finally began to tremble uncontrollably.
Damn it!
Rebellious son!
How dare you?!
“Pfft—!”
A mouthful of long-suppressed stagnant blood suddenly spurted from his mouth, splashing onto the imperial yellow imperial desk, a shocking sight.
But he seemed oblivious, only staring with his blood-red eyes at the pool of blood and the list.
Biao’er…
Did I… really harm you?
It was my poor supervision, my indulgence of these vermin, that led you to…
The thought, forcibly implanted by Zhang Biao and which he desperately resisted, gnawed at his heart like a viper once more.
Immense anger, bone-chilling humiliation, and the great suspicion and guilt over the Crown Prince’s death…
All sorts of emotions churned and clashed within his chest like lava, almost tearing him apart.
………
On the other side, in the depths of the Imperial Prison.
Although Zhang Biao could not see the bloody storm outside with his own eyes, he could feel the storm’s power gathering frantically from the suddenly intensified murderous atmosphere within the Imperial Prison.
Zhou Dexing… Marquis of Jiangxia… is just the beginning…
Old Zhu, are you in great pain and anger now?
You know it, don’t you? You don’t want to touch them, do you? But now it’s beyond your control…
He leaned against the cold wall, his face devoid of any triumphant expression, only a deep, almost indifferent scrutiny.
His actions were a pretense of seeking death; the deeper purpose was to test, to ‘audit’ the highest power core of this dynasty!
He wanted to know the bottom line of Old Zhu, the founder of the Great Ming Dynasty!
How far could his anti-corruption go? Would he only swat flies, or dare to attack tigers? Even… dare to uncover the pus and maggots beneath that most magnificent robe?
Why was corruption perennial in the Hongwu era? Why did it increase despite repeated bans? The root cause was the corruption at the top!
The nobles were arrogant, meritorious officials were self-important, and imperial relatives were intertwined, forming a vast interest group attached to the dynasty’s body!
Old Zhu had killed countless minor and middle officials with severe laws, but he was often hesitant and worried when it came to this core interest group.
This was the true soil of corruption!
Zhang Biao wanted to expose all of this in the most insane and direct way, forcing Old Zhu to make a choice!
Would he use the emperor’s ruthlessness and decisiveness, weep to slay Ma Su, and completely reshape the court order?
Or, for the sake of so-called stability and family affection, would he once again raise his hand high and bring it down lightly, continuing to maintain that false prosperity?
Old Zhu, what will you choose?
For the sake of your Zhu family’s empire, will you cruelly cut the bone to heal the poison?
Or for your pathetic self-esteem and so-called family affection, will you compromise again?
Zhang Biao’s gaze was sharp as a knife, as if it could pierce through layers of palace walls and see the emperor, who was caught in immense pain and struggle.
He didn’t care whether Zhou Dexing or Li Dexing died specifically; what he cared about was Old Zhu’s attitude, and the depth and breadth this ‘audit’ would ultimately achieve.
Changing the world has never been easy.
Especially changing an established old world with deeply entrenched interests.
But if one dares not even lift the lid at the highest level, if one dares not even squeeze the sores on one’s own body, then the so-called anti-corruption and the so-called Hongwu era are nothing but a self-deceiving joke.
He stayed in this world, ignited a fire, and threw it into the darkest and most rotten corner of this dynasty.
Now, he was like a calm observer, waiting to see how far this fire would burn, how much dirt it would illuminate, and what it could change.
Burn, burn brighter.
Let me see if you, the Hongwu Great Emperor, truly deserve the title of ‘Great Emperor’.
Let me see if this era can still be saved…
………
Meanwhile, in the small ancestral hall of the Chang Family Old Residence, incense smoke curled, and the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.
Zhu Yunteng, Zhu Mingyue, and Zhu Mingyu, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt respectfully before the memorial tablet of their birth mother, Consort Chang.
The ceremony and offerings arranged by Consort Lü were neat and thoughtful, leaving no room for criticism, yet they made the worship seem like the completion of a cold task rather than a sincere remembrance between mother and children.
The founding Duke Chang Sheng, and their maternal uncle Chang Sen, as representatives of the Chang family, accompanied them.
Chang Sheng’s expression was calm, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, observing his nephew whom he had not seen in a long time without making a sound.
Chang Sen’s eyes, however, held undisguised heartache and concern.
The memorial ceremony proceeded as scheduled.
Zhu Mingyue lowered her head, silently shedding tears, while Zhu Mingyu maintained a solemn expression, but her gaze occasionally flickered towards her maternal uncle and brother.
Zhu Yunteng remained silent throughout, but each kowtow was exceptionally heavy, as if sealing a resolve into the ground.
After the ceremony, the eunuchs and palace maids arranged by Consort Lü discreetly withdrew to wait outside the courtyard.
Chang Sheng then stepped forward, his voice low and with a barely perceptible huskiness:
“Yunteng, Mingyue, Mingyu, please accept my condolences. Your mother’s spirit in heaven will surely be pleased to see you grow into adulthood.”
Zhu Mingyue nodded, choking back a sob.
Zhu Mingyu couldn’t help but tug on Chang Sen’s sleeve and whispered, “Little Uncle…”
Chang Sen patted her hand in comfort, his gaze falling worriedly on Zhu Yunteng, who had been silent.
Just then, Zhu Yunteng suddenly raised his head, tears still on his face, but his eyes burned with a flame that Chang Sheng and Chang Sen had never seen before, resolute, even with a hint of madness.
He looked at Chang Sheng, his voice trembling slightly from nervousness and excitement, but exceptionally clear: “Second Uncle…”
This address made Chang Sheng’s heart lurch.
He had a premonition that this nephew seemed different from before.
Zhu Yunteng took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and said word by word:
“This nephew… does not want to live in a daze anymore.”
“I don’t want to be treated as waste anymore, as… a stumbling block that can be discarded at any time.”
Chang Sheng’s gaze suddenly sharpened, and he stared intently at him: “Yunteng, you…”
“Second Uncle!”
Zhu Yunteng interrupted him, his voice choked with tears:
“Li Jinglong has fallen! Guo Ying has also fallen! Grandfather Emperor’s blade has been raised! Who will be next?!”
“Will it be me? Will it be Eldest Sister and Second Sister? Or… the Chang family?!”
Boom!
These words struck Chang Sheng and Chang Sen like heavy hammers on their hearts!
Their faces instantly changed!
“Yunteng! Speak with caution!”
Chang Sheng reprimanded in a low voice, his gaze warily scanning outside the window.
“Caution? If we are too cautious, we will wait for death!”
Zhu Yunteng lunged forward, tightly grasping Chang Sheng’s sleeve as if it were a life-saving straw, his eyes red:
“Second Uncle! That position… should have belonged to my father! To my elder brother!”
“I am the legitimate grandson! My blood flows with the blood of the Chang family and the Great Ming imperial family!”
“Why… why should it be given to a son of a concubine?! Why do we have to live like rats in a ditch, looking at others’ faces and begging for charity?!”
“I want to fight! Second Uncle! Help me!”
The last four words were almost a roar, filled with endless grievance, unwillingness, and the desperation of burning all bridges.
Whoosh!
These words, even more direct and shocking than what he had said to his sisters in the palace!
Chang Sheng and Chang Sen were completely stunned!
Chang Sen’s mouth hung open, wide enough to fit an egg. He looked at his nephew, who seemed to have been reborn overnight, and felt a rush of blood to his head!
Zhu Mingyue was so frightened she almost fainted, covering her mouth tightly.
Zhu Mingyu, however, had shining eyes with excitement, nodding vigorously, wishing she could repeat her brother’s words.
Chang Sheng’s heart pounded wildly, immense shock and unprecedented pressure instantly seizing him.
He stared intently at Zhu Yunteng, trying to find a trace of hesitation or jest in his eyes, but he only saw burning flames and undeniable resolve.
Contending for the throne?! This was a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire clan!
Especially when the Emperor was so sensitive and enraged at this moment!
But Zhu Yunteng’s words… struck the deepest pain and injustice in his heart!
The decline of the Chang family, the neglect of his nephew and nieces, the constant pressure from Consort Lü and her son… How could he not be indignant about all this?
Just as Chang Sheng’s mind was in chaos, weighing the earth-shattering pros and cons—
“Crash!”
The door of the ancestral hall was violently pushed open from the outside!
A trusted household general of Chang Sheng, without even time to salute, rushed in with a face as pale as paper, scrambling and crawling, his voice distorted by extreme fear:
“Duke! Third Master! Something’s wrong! Something… something terrible has happened!”
Chang Sheng turned sharply and said sternly, “What are you panicking about?! What kind of decorum is this?!”
The household general fell to the ground, his voice trembling to the point of incoherence: “It… it’s the court session! At the Gate of Heavenly Acceptance… the Drum of Hearing Petitions has sounded!”
“An old lawyer… accused the imperial harem of using forbidden medicine and plotting to murder the imperial heir! It also implicates the Shaanxi old case and… and the Crown Prince!”
“What?!”
Chang Sheng, Chang Sen, and Zhu Mingyue exclaimed in unison, their faces changing drastically.
The household general continued to cry out: “The Emperor is enraged! He immediately sent the officials Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, Zheng Ci, and Zhai Shan to the Imperial Prison! He said… he said they would be charged with treason!”
“Rumble—!”
This news, more than Zhu Yunteng’s declaration, was like a thunderclap from the heavens, striking down on everyone in the room!
Forbidden palace medicine!
Plotting to murder the imperial heir!
Shaanxi old case!
The Crown Prince!
Four Grand Secretariat officials imprisoned! Treason!?
Every word represented the ultimate taboo and the most terrifying bloodshed!
Chang Sheng felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making him ice-cold all over.
He instantly understood why Zhu Yunteng had said, ‘Grandfather Emperor’s blade has been raised’.
This was no longer raising the blade; the blade had already fallen!
Zhu Mingyue directly collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Zhu Mingyu’s small face turned pale, and she instinctively grabbed her brother’s arm.
Chang Sen was even more dumbfounded, muttering, “Mad… they’ve all gone mad…”
And Zhu Yunteng—
After the initial extreme shock, the color drained from his face, but the flames in his eyes did not extinguish; instead, they burned even more frantically, even more resolutely!
He shoved Zhu Mingyu, who was supporting him, away, stood up straight, and then looked at Chang Sheng, who was also trembling from the earth-shattering news, his voice hoarse but with an unusual calmness, even a hint of eerie excitement.
“Second Uncle… did you hear?”
“The blade… has fallen.”
“Next… it’s our turn to take the stage.”
“Either we wait to be chopped by this blade too.”
“Or… we go and grasp this blade!”
His gaze was directed towards the Imperial Palace, where a storm was raging.
And this storm had finally engulfed everyone, leaving no one able to stand aside.
Chang Sheng looked at his nephew’s completely different, even somewhat unfamiliar, frantic eyes, and then recalled the shocking news, feeling a great, chilling sense of destiny descend upon him.
He opened his mouth, but found his throat so dry that he couldn’t utter a sound.
Tonight, no one would sleep.
Please vote for monthly tickets~
