Chapter 189: Who Sits On The Throne Is Still Sitting On The Throne? The Great Ming’s Xuanwu Gate!? 【 Monthly Ticket Bonus Update 18 】
The news of Zhang Biao’s release spread like wildfire to every corner of Yingtian Prefecture.
Although Old Zhu pardoned Zhang Biao’s death sentence, everyone believed that even if pardoned, Zhang Biao would not be set free, and Old Zhu would surely imprison him until death.
After all, not a single deed Zhang Biao committed was something that would allow him to live well.
However, Old Zhu’s actions once again exceeded everyone’s expectations.
If it weren’t for the ferocity of the massacre two months ago, another wave of people would likely have ‘requested Zhang Biao’s execution.’
And at this moment, inside a quiet Buddhist hall in the imperial harem.
The woman in plain clothes was reciting scriptures with her eyes closed, and the Buddhist hall door was gently pushed open by an old nanny.
“Your Ladyship…”
The nanny’s voice trembled almost imperceptibly: “News from the imperial court… from the imperial court…”
“Speak!”
The woman calmly uttered a single word, without opening her eyes.
The nanny continued:
“His Majesty decreed today that the house arrest of Zhang Biao is lifted! He is now free, and can even brazenly go to the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, or even ‘Zui Xian Ju’ to gather information…”
Upon hearing this, the woman’s fingers, which were moving prayer beads, suddenly stopped. Her tone was filled with confusion and anger:
“Is Zhu Chongba truly mad? That Zhang Biao, it’s one thing not to kill him, but to actually dare to release him…”
Her thoughts were the same as those of the vast majority of ‘wise men’; even if Old Zhu didn’t kill Zhang Biao, imprisoning him until death would be the most reasonable outcome, most beneficial to the court’s interests.
Moreover, as long as Zhang Biao remained securely imprisoned and unable to cause trouble, their mother and son would be safe, and the secrets that had been buried would continue to lie dormant.
But now… Old Zhu had released this biggest variable again.
“Now that the internal and external troubles of the Great Ming are just showing signs of calming down, with the remnants of Northern Yuan coveting the throne, and the court’s vitality greatly weakened by this purge, he isn’t thinking of how to recuperate and stabilize the empire, but instead releases that scoundrel Zhang Biao?!”
“Does he think the world is too peaceful? Is he truly not afraid that the Great Ming Empire will be turned upside down by his own hands?!”
The woman spoke with increasing agitation, her chest heaving slightly, clearly deeply shaken internally.
She utterly failed to understand why her husband, who had always been shrewd and ruthless, would make such a seemingly foolish decision.
The old nanny also looked pale:
“Your Ladyship, Zhang Biao is such a wicked person, almost no one knows what he will do next. What if he turns against us, what should we do?”
“Why panic?!”
The woman suppressed her shock and anger, the turmoil in her eyes gradually being covered by cold rationality:
“If Zhang Biao truly knew about our mother and son, with his previous madness, he would have revealed it to Zhu Chongba long ago, why would he wait until today?”
“Then the Public Order Memorial?”
“Hmph! It’s just him playing gods and ghosts!”
She snorted dismissively, then meticulously reviewed all of Zhang Biao’s previous ‘mad words and actions.’ Indeed, there were no direct indications pointing to her and her son.
He targeted Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, those nobles, and even involved the Princes of Qin, Jin, Zhou, and Lu, and even Prince Yan Zhu Di, but never touched the imperial harem, let alone her son.
“He might know some peripheral details, but he definitely doesn’t know the root of it.”
The woman’s judgment was firm: “His Majesty’s action can only mean one of two things: either he has truly gone mad and is destroying his own strong defenses. Or… he has a deeper scheme, wanting us to panic upon hearing of Zhang Biao’s release.”
“However…”
A cold glint flashed in the woman’s eyes, and her tone became chilling:
“If this villain lives, he will always be a hidden danger. He was released this time, who knows if he won’t cause bigger trouble next time. What if… what if one day he really stumbles upon something…”
She pondered for a moment, her fingertips pressing hard, almost leaving an imprint on the sandalwood prayer beads.
“Tell the people in the Imperial Guard”
Her voice was very low, carrying an undeniable killing intent:
“Keep an eye on Zhang Biao! If he behaves himself, let him live a few more days for now. If he makes any move, or… if there’s an opportunity…”
She did not finish her sentence, but the old nanny already understood perfectly.
If a suitable opportunity arose, no need to ask for instructions, directly create an accident and eliminate the problem forever.
“Yes! This old servant understands!”
The old nanny bowed and left, accepting the order.
The Buddhist hall was once again empty, with only the woman inside.
She slowly sat up straight, looking towards the gloomy sky outside the window, her gaze deep.
“Ma Xiuying… did you see this?”
She murmured to herself, her voice carrying a complex mockery:
“Your man has gone mad. He truly doesn’t care about anything anymore… even a madman like Zhang Biao, who could destroy everything, he dares to use again…”
“That’s fine… let him stir things up. The muddier this water gets, the more beneficial it might be for us mother and son.”
“As long as he dies… who sits on the throne of the Great Ming, it doesn’t matter.”
She closed her eyes again, moving the prayer beads, and the sound of scriptures began again, but it seemed to carry a hint of bloody killing intent.
Zhang Biao’s release, like a huge stone thrown into the seemingly calm stagnant water of the deep palace, stirred ripples that were silently spreading.
…
“Sis! Sis! Did you hear?”
Zhu Mingyu rushed into the room like a gust of wind, not even bothering to wipe the rain from her face. Her face, usually carrying a bit of stubbornness and impulsiveness, was now filled with incredible ecstasy, her voice altered:
“Zhang Biao! That madman Zhang Biao! Imperial Grandfather released him! He’s free!”
Zhu Mingyue, who was embroidering by the window, heard this and the embroidery needle in her hand suddenly pricked her fingertip. A drop of crimson blood instantly seeped out, staining the plain white silk.
She didn’t notice at all. She suddenly looked up, her gentle eyes widened, filled with shock, joy, and a hint of tears that had been suppressed for a long time, now suddenly released.
“Really… really?”
Her voice trembled, with a hint of crying: “Mingyu, don’t lie to me! Imperial Grandfather… how could he…”
“It’s absolutely true!”
Zhu Mingyu nodded vigorously, excitedly grabbing her sister’s hand:
“It’s all over the capital! They say his sentence is over, and he’s restored to his original position! Although no one dares to openly discuss it, the news is definitely reliable!”
“I knew it! I knew that madman wouldn’t fall that easily! He’s the hero who cursed at Imperial Grandfather several times!”
The sisters hugged each other tightly, crying and laughing, as if to release all the fear, worry, suppression, and humiliation of the past few months in this moment.
Zhang Biao’s rebirth was, for them, not just about one person’s life and death, but a symbol.
The ‘madman’ who dared to challenge darkness and tear apart hypocrisy was free, which meant that this suffocating dark night might not be entirely without light.
After the excitement, Zhu Mingyu immediately thought of her younger brother.
“I have to go tell Yunteng!”
She wiped away her tears and turned to run out: “He’ll be very happy to hear this news!”
“Wait!”
Zhu Mingyue quickly pulled her back, a hint of worry returning to her face: “Be careful of eavesdroppers… and, Yunteng…”
She recalled that her brother had become increasingly silent and forbearing since submitting the iron box, and felt a pang of heartache.
Zhu Mingyu paid no heed, broke free from her sister’s grasp: “What are you afraid of! This is great news! We must tell Yunteng!”
She quickly walked through the corridor and arrived at the side hall of the Northern Five Offices where Zhu Yunteng lived alone.
At this moment, Zhu Yunteng was copying a calligraphy piece by his father, Prince Zhu Biao. His strokes were steady, but his slightly furrowed brow indicated his unease.
“Yunteng! That madman Zhang Biao! No, your Mr. Zhang has been released by Imperial Grandfather! He’s free!”
When he heard the news brought by Zhu Mingyu, the hand holding the brush in Zhu Yunteng’s hand suddenly paused. A drop of thick ink landed on the xuan paper, quickly spreading into a dark stain.
He looked up, and his eyes instantly erupted with bright light, a joy that came from the bottom of his heart, impossible to hide.
Mr. Zhang is free?
The good man who exposed the truth of his father’s death, who gave him the most important lesson in his life, wasn’t imprisoned to death by Imperial Grandfather?
That’s great!
But this joy lasted only a brief moment before being replaced by a deeper worry.
He put down his brush, walked to the window, and looked at the continuous rain outside, his voice low:
“He’s out… it’s a good thing. But, second sister, he offended so many people… even if Imperial Grandfather doesn’t touch him for now, will those people let him go?”
He thought of Zhang Biao’s five brothers: Shen Lang, Sun Gui, Zhao Fengman, Li Mo, and Wu Nai Da.
To his knowledge, these five men had all been taken away by his Imperial Grandfather. And the current Zhang Biao, alone, was like a wolf surrounded in a forest, every step could lead to a trap.
Suddenly, a strong impulse surged into Zhu Yunteng’s heart.
He wanted to contact Zhang Biao!
He wanted to know the truth about his father’s and brother’s deaths!
He wanted to use Zhang Biao’s strength to carve a path of survival in this desperate imperial palace!
However, after an equally impulsive moment, he knew he couldn’t.
He didn’t know how many pairs of eyes were watching him.
Any unusual action of his could bring disaster upon himself and his two sisters, and could also drag Zhang Biao, who had just escaped danger, back into the abyss.
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deeply into his palm, forcing himself to calm down through the pain.
“We… can’t do anything right now.”
Zhu Yunteng’s voice carried a hint of bitterness and helplessness: “We can only wait and see. I hope Mr. Zhang… has good fortune.”
He was perhaps comforting his sister, but more likely convincing himself.
Zhu Mingyu looked at her brother’s feigned maturity, and her heart ached.
She suddenly remembered something and lowered her voice:
“There’s one more thing… I overheard some palace servants privately discussing that Imperial Grandfather seems… seems to still intend to establish that son of a concubine as the Imperial Grandson.”
Boom!
This sentence exploded in Zhu Yunteng’s mind like a clap of thunder.
His body trembled almost imperceptibly, his face instantly turned pale, and a chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Imperial Grandson… this meant that the lineage of Consort Chang would be completely marginalized, perhaps even purged.
He, Zhu Yunteng, would forever lose that position, and perhaps even the chance to be a stable Prince would become a luxury.
However, no unusual expression appeared on his face. He merely lowered his eyelids very quickly, concealing the churning emotions in his eyes, and said in a tone as calm as it was cold:
“I know.”
After speaking, he no longer looked at Zhu Mingyu and turned towards the place where weapons were hung in the hall, picking up an unsharpened practice spear.
“I’m going to practice martial arts.”
He needed to vent, to channel this sudden intensified sense of crisis and unwillingness into every chop, thrust, and parry.
Perhaps sweat could temporarily dilute the biting chill in his heart.
Zhu Mingyu watched her brother’s silent and resolute back, opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing, only sighed softly and withdrew.
In the side hall, only the sound of the wind created by Zhu Yunteng wielding his spear remained, along with the ceaseless, cold rain outside the window.
He knew that Zhang Biao’s release from prison was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
And the discussion about the Imperial Grandson foreshadowed an even greater storm to come.
He had to become stronger, more patient.
Before dawn, he had to first learn to hide himself in the darkness and survive.
At the same time, in the Eastern Palace, Consort Lü’s sleeping quarters.
“Mother! I heard that madman Zhang Biao has been released by Imperial Grandfather! He wasn’t beheaded by Imperial Grandfather, nor imprisoned to death!”
Zhu Yunwen, his voice choked with tears, came to Consort Lü’s sleeping quarters.
Upon hearing this, Consort Lü’s face instantly turned pale.
The teacup in her hand fell onto her skirt with a ‘crack.’ The scalding tea wetted a large area, but she was completely unaware.
“You… what did you say? That madman Zhang Biao… he’s been released?!”
Her voice trembled uncontrollably, and her usually gentle eyebrows were now filled with terror and disbelief.
“Yes! It’s all over the palace and outside, it’s no longer a secret.”
Zhu Yunwen said with a dejected expression: “Moreover, it was an imperial decree from Imperial Grandfather. Not only is he free, but he’s also restored to his original position.”
“Imperial decree… imperial decree…”
Consort Lü murmured to herself, her body trembling slightly.
The name Zhang Biao was like a nightmare.
The “audit” storm that swept through the court last time led to the imprisonment of dukes and marquises Guo Ying and Li Jinglong, and ultimately the downfall of high officials from the Six Ministries like Fu Youwen and Ru Chang. She thought that matter was over.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Biao “talked nonsense” again in the Imperial Prison, implicating “forbidden palace medicine” and the “Shaanxi old case,” especially casting suspicion on the cause of the Crown Prince’s death. It was like a sharp sword hanging over her head, making her unable to sleep for more than two months.
She had thought Zhang Biao was surely doomed, and all his secrets and fears would be buried with his death.
In the end, Zhang Biao wrote a Public Order Memorial, causing Old Zhu to pardon him at the last moment, imprison him in his official residence, and place him under strict guard by the Imperial Guard.
She had thought that even if Zhang Biao’s death sentence was pardoned, he would ultimately be imprisoned until death, no different from being dead.
However, she now heard that the madman had been released, released in just two months?!
Why did His Majesty release him? Could it be related to Xiong Ying?
An immense fear seized Consort Lü’s heart, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
“Imperial Consort? What’s wrong?”
Zhu Yunwen was startled to see his mother’s distraught and disheveled state, and quickly went to support her.
“Don’t be afraid! Wen’er, don’t be afraid!”
Consort Lü gripped Zhu Yunwen’s hand tightly, as if to transmit strength to him, and also to encourage herself:
“You are His Majesty’s legitimate grandson, the most noble Imperial Grandson of the Great Ming! That madman is merely a clown, even if he’s out, he can’t stir up any great waves!”
Her tone was firm, but the worry deep in her eyes could not be hidden from Zhu Yunwen.
“But Imperial Consort!”
Zhu Yunwen said worriedly:
“He was so crazy before, and now he’s narrowly escaped death, will he become even more unbridled? Or even… spout nonsense again, slander Mother, or… target me?”
This was exactly what Consort Lü feared the most.
Zhang Biao’s mouth was too terrifying.
He could make the dead seem alive, and turn a trivial matter into a monstrous one.
Who knew what poison he would spew out this time now that he was released?
“He wouldn’t dare!”
Consort Lü forced herself to remain calm: “Although His Majesty pardoned him, he will never indulge his recklessness again!”
“Remember, Wen’er, from now on, you must be even more cautious in your words and actions. In front of His Majesty, you must appear even more filial, diligent, and steady!”
“You must let His Majesty see your virtue, your ability!”
“As for Zhang Biao…”
A cold glint flashed in Consort Lü’s eyes: “If he’s wise and behaves himself, then so be it. If he dares to cause trouble again, there will naturally be people… who cannot tolerate him!”
These words were pointed.
Zhang Biao had offended too many people; nobles, civil officials, and even other princes. There were countless people who wanted him dead.
“Imperial Consort means…”
Zhu Yunwen seemed to understand something.
“We don’t know anything, and we don’t do anything.”
Consort Lü lowered her voice and instructed: “Keep an eye on our own people, and mind our own mouths. Everything, we will wait and see. His Majesty… is watching.”
Zhu Yunwen nodded heavily, keeping his mother’s admonitions firmly in mind.
However, the unease in his heart did not dissipate because of this.
Consort Lü sighed helplessly when she saw this, then stroked her son’s face, and said with some hesitation:
“Originally, I didn’t want to tell you this news, fearing you would lose your composure again, like last time.”
“But, to give you some reassurance, listen to your mother.”
“What does Mother want to say?”
Zhu Yunwen’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but look up at Consort Lü, his eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.
Consort Lü smiled faintly and said in a very low voice:
“Mother heard that His Majesty will convene a Grand Court Session in three days, and it is highly likely to be related to establishing the Crown Prince. Perhaps, our mother and son can finally get their wish this time.”
Rumble!
Zhu Yunwen was struck by lightning upon hearing this.
Immense excitement dispelled all previous unease, replaced by uncontrollable excitement.
He quickly grabbed Consort Lü’s hand, tighter than Consort Lü had before, and then said with a trembling voice: “Mother, is this true?”
Consort Lü smiled and nodded, but did not say a word.
But at this moment, a thousand words were not as significant as this nod.
“Haha… hahaha!”
Zhu Yunwen couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
He tried hard to maintain the solemnity expected of a ‘Crown Prince,’ but the upturned corners of his mouth and the ecstasy in his eyes could not be concealed.
What is mine will be mine, after all!
Zhang Biao! No matter how mad you are, you are a subject, and I am the sovereign!
So what if you’re out? You’re just an ant crawling at my feet! If you’re sensible, just live on humbly! If you dare to cause trouble again…
After his laughter, a coldness flashed in Zhu Yunwen’s eyes, inconsistent with his usual gentle demeanor.
Imperial Grandfather won’t kill you, but when I ascend the throne, I will surely kill you!
Please double the monthly tickets~
