Daming: After self-explosive time travel, Lao Zhu's mentality collapsed

"I dare not!" Wang Yiwan immediately knelt down and thanked him, with awe in his words.

Chu Ze looked at his trembling appearance, and a smile appeared on his lips, but he did not embarrass himself. He turned and left, walking away with his hands behind his back, his outer robe wide and the corners of his clothes fluttering in the wind.

The night was dark, and the sound of gongs and drums could be heard from somewhere in the city, as if there was an undercurrent. Just as the Jinyiwei and the waiters were still in shock, Chu Ze suddenly stopped, turned his back to everyone, and said in a low and deep voice: "Send the order to summon the 'Five Prisons Without Form' to the capital."

As soon as these words were spoken, the people kneeling on the ground trembled violently.

"Five Prisons without Form" is a killer group that has left a bloody legend in both the rivers and lakes and the imperial court. They use the three extreme punishments to arrange the formation and implement the "one to control a hundred" to the fullest. Since Chu Ze ascended the throne, there has been no news of this group, but I didn't expect that the emperor would personally order them to be recruited into the capital today. Its intention is intriguing.

The entire hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, as if even the sound of breathing was swallowed up by the murderous aura of these four words.

Chu Ze said nothing, still standing there. His eyes seemed to penetrate the darkness, reaching the unknown hidden behind the shadows. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth slowly rose again, but this time the smile was a bit cold and ruthless, like the anger of an emperor.

"Since the Marquis of Zhenbei has sent me a letter of challenge, I will personally fight him in a big fight."

The night was deep, and the wind was as cold as a knife. On an unnamed cliff outside Taijing City, the mist was lingering, and the rustling of branches was occasionally mixed with the echoes of ghosts and wolves. A line of black shadows rushed in from afar, stepping on the grass and trees silently, but each step left a deep footprint, as if the earth was trembling slightly.

The leader suddenly stopped. He was tall and thin, with broad shoulders and back. He was dressed in black like a ghost, and his face was covered with a hideous copper mask. He raised his hand and all the figures behind him stopped. In an instant, even the wind seemed to be suppressed, and the surrounding area within a hundred feet was silent.

"Chief, why did you stop suddenly?" A hoarse voice sounded, with a hint of cynicism in the tone.

"Rest here." The man called the leader said calmly, his voice as cold as iron. His pupils were slightly gray, and he stared at the direction of Taijing in the distance through the mask. His voice was like a hoarse whisper from the other side, "The trial will begin at noon tomorrow in the palace. Tonight, we cannot attract anyone who should not be noticed."

There were only a few barely audible sneers, and a hunchbacked man in the team raised his hand and scratched his nose a few times, saying nonchalantly: "Heh, when did the dignified 'Five Hells Without Form' become a black tortoise dog running errands for the emperor? Leader, do you really believe that the former 'chosen one' will keep his promise to us?"

Before he finished speaking, the leader's eyes suddenly darkened. He turned his head slowly, and his cold tone revealed a murderous intent that was invisible to the naked eye: "Erosion Tail, do you think you still have a chance to question me?"

As soon as these words came out, the casual atmosphere just now froze instantly! The man called Eclipse Tail shuddered slightly, as if he had barely lost his breath, gritted his teeth and replied in a low voice: "I dare not."

Not far away, a mountain cat lying in ambush in the bushes raised its fur, screamed and ran away, but was hit on the forehead by a flying stone and died on the spot.

The leader snorted coldly, "Don't dare, it's better that you never dare. If you don't believe him, Chu Ze, you can try to see if you can survive in Taijing City until tomorrow morning." He slowly retracted his gaze, and his words were both a warning and a threat, suffocating.

The attendants immediately fell silent. This was the iron rule they had followed for more than a decade. The fate of the "Five Prisons" was never controlled by them. The one who was playing chess was none other than the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who was so versatile and yet so unpredictable.

Little did they know that in the inner hall of the imperial palace, another storm was brewing. Beside the desk, Chu Ze was alone, reviewing the memorials. His expression was calm, but he could not hide the murderous intent that flashed across his eyes. He picked up a piece of tea leaves casually and put it in his mouth to chew. Before he drank the tea, the coolness entered his throat.

"Marquis of Zhenbei..." Chu Ze murmured these four words, with a cold smile that was difficult to discern. "It seems that you only have this much trick up your sleeve. You dare to use 300,000 troops as a cover and 20 secret passages to transport military pay and gold coupons. You might as well tell me, if all this is revealed tomorrow, what can you use to resist me?"

Outside the door, the voice of attendant Wang Yiwan interrupted his thoughts. He said hurriedly and respectfully: "Your Majesty, Princess Changle wants to see you."

Chu Ze was stunned, and when he heard this, he actually looked at him with interest.

"Let her in."

Soon, a fragrant breeze came, and a smiling woman lifted the curtain and walked in. The person was Chu Ze's niece, Princess Changle, who had been loved since childhood, but because of her deep scheming and inexplicable smile, it was always difficult to get to know her. She was wearing a light gold palace dress, embellished with crystal pearls and jade, and she was peerless but beautiful with a bit of coolness.

"Uncle Emperor." She bowed gracefully, her voice like the chirping of an oriole, but with a hint of elusive irony, "It's late at night, why don't you go to rest? What big thing are you planning?"

"Planning something big?" Chu Ze raised his eyebrows, half smiling, his deep gaze seemed to pierce through her inner being, "How about you plan it for me? That would be exactly what you want."

Princess Changle was slightly startled when she heard this, then she smiled softly, "Uncle Emperor, how can I be considered someone who can plan state affairs? But after hearing about tomorrow's event, I am worried, so I came here to ask you."

Chu Ze stared at her for a moment, but did not answer. Instead, he said in a calm tone, "I heard that you had an encounter with the descendants of the Marquis of Zhenbei at a banquet in the northern palace a month ago? What are they like? Is it worth your worry?"

After these words were spoken, Princess Changle's eyes flickered slightly, and her knuckles tightened a little, but she concealed her emotions without leaving any trace, lowered her eyelashes, and smiled slightly, "It turned out to be just some ordinary greetings, why did the emperor uncle bring up such meaningless topics?"

The corners of Chu Ze's mouth suddenly turned cold, and he laughed coldly: "Meaningless? Since it's meaningless, then tomorrow you will watch me recreate a stage for the destruction of heaven and earth."

A hint of uneasiness flashed across Changle's brows for a moment. Was she pretending, or was she hiding it too deeply? Even she found it irritating.

She knew this man too well. When Chu Ze smiled, it was usually the most dangerous time. But today, this smile actually made her feel a little chilly for no reason.

Suddenly, Chu Ze turned around, his eyes were as bright as torches, but his voice was as cold as frost:

"Remember, don't be absent tomorrow."

The next morning, the city of Taijing was filled with wind and clouds. The first rays of sunlight shone through the red columns of the palace walls, but did not dissipate the cold and murderous air, as if the heavens were also paving the way for a bloody storm today. (End of this chapter)