The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 509 Li Zuo strangles Zhu Wen
Night fell later than before the New Year, but when it finally descended, a lingering chill permeated the air. Fine snowflakes silently drifted down again, quietly covering the messy traces left by vehicles and pedestrians during the day, leaving only a blurry white expanse.

Several lights in the small courtyard deep in Yongning Lane went out, leaving only a sliver of warm light shining through the window of the main hall, casting a lonely yellow glow on the snow in the courtyard.

The door opened softly, and Xiao Yan stepped out first. The collar of his old cloak framed his defined jawline. Dressed in a blue robe and white cloak, he appeared from afar as a refined gentleman, unparalleled in the world. This caused even the maids in the courtyard, who knew his identity to blush and their hearts to race.

Xiao Yan looked up at the night sky, where snowflakes were falling, his expression silent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Behind her, Zhang Zhenniang followed closely, her heavy cloak covering her entire body, her veil pulled low, obscuring most of her face, revealing only a glimpse of her alluring profile.

Her hands were tucked into her sleeves, her fingertips unconsciously twisting together. Everything that had just happened in the courtyard—the neighbor woman's initial arrogance followed by her subsequent obsequiousness, the officials' trembling humility, and the fate that the man beside her had so casually decided—all of this stirred her emotions, making it difficult for her to remain calm.

However, following him into this snowy night, heading towards an unknown destination, still filled her with both longing and apprehension.

An inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage was waiting at the alley entrance, driven by the same young page with two striking red eyebrows.

Upon seeing the two emerge, Zhong Xiao Kui jumped off the carriage shaft, bowed, and opened the carriage door.

Xiao Yan was about to board the carriage, but then naturally turned to the side and extended his hand to Zhang Zhenniang. Zhang Zhenniang was slightly taken aback, seemingly unable to believe it, yet also somewhat flattered. After hesitating for a moment, she finally pursed her lips and happily placed her slightly cool and trembling hand into his warm palm, using his strength to board the carriage.

The car interior was small and simply furnished, but a small heater was burning, dispelling some of the chill. Xiao Yan sat down opposite her, closed his eyes as if to rest, and remained silent. Zhang Zhenniang stole glances at his face but dared not disturb him.

The wheels creaked monotonously as they rolled over the snow-covered cobblestones, passing through the increasingly quiet market.

Outside the carriage, a few sporadic firecrackers occasionally broke the silence, or the laughter of children returning home late could be heard, only to be swallowed up by the boundless silence again. Zhang Zhenniang sat upright, her gaze mostly fixed on the face opposite her, a face that had once caused a sensation among the young ladies and women of the entire city, then occasionally shifting away, her thoughts as chaotic and disordered as the snowflakes blown by the wind outside the carriage.

She had no idea what awaited her at the end of this journey, nor did she know what the supreme ruler of the world was thinking.

The carriage traveled for about 15 minutes before slowly coming to a stop.

"Young Master, we've arrived." Zhong Xiaokui's deep voice came from outside the carriage.

Xiao Yan opened his eyes, his gaze clear and without a trace of weariness. He got out of the car first and reached his hand into the car again.

Zhang Zhenniang took a deep breath and, with his help, stepped down from the carriage.

Before me stood the side gate of a magnificent temple, its vermilion doors taking on a somber hue in the night and snow. The plaque hanging above the gate was shrouded in shadow, yet the four ancient characters "Da Xiangguo Temple" were still discernible. The area around the temple was eerily quiet; the usual bustling activity of incense burning and the clamor of people seemed utterly shut out by this snowy night, save for the low, mournful whistling of the cold wind sweeping through the eaves and brackets.

Looking at this place, Zhang Zhenniang couldn't help but be startled, a nameless fear welling up in her heart. But when she saw Xiao Yan's profile, she felt relieved again, and just bit her lip and lowered her head without saying a word.

Zhong Xiaokui stepped forward and tapped the door a few times with her fingertips. The side door slid open silently a crack, and a man dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard peeked out. Upon seeing Zhong Xiaokui and the figure behind her, he immediately bowed and knelt on one knee to pay his respects.

"Your Majesty, the temple has been completely cleared out, and all unauthorized personnel have been removed. Commander Li is guarding the temple, and Zhu Wen is currently being held in a meditation room in the back courtyard."

Zhong Xiaokui lowered her voice slightly, only allowing Xiao Yan and Zhang Zhenniang beside her to hear. She paused briefly, looked up at Xiao Yan, and a rare hint of hesitation appeared in her usually cold eyes. She then said, "I believe that this matter is... filthy and might disturb Your Majesty's ears. It would be better if I handled it myself, and I will surely deal with it cleanly and efficiently, leaving no loose ends."

Only after hearing this did Zhang Zhenniang finally realize what she was supposed to do on this trip, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched her sleeves again.

Xiao Yan listened to Zhong Xiao Kui's suggestion, glanced at the secluded paths within the temple, and couldn't help but smile: "Killing the emperor and usurping the throne is the greatest evil in the world; killing one's father is the deepest hatred in human relations. If I were to avoid such matters, how could I comfort the spirits of the late emperor and my brothers in heaven? How could I set the record straight for the world?"

He strode inside, his footsteps landing steadily on the cleaned but still slightly snow-covered flagstones. Zhang Zhenniang bit her lip, pulled her cloak tighter around herself, and quickly followed. Zhong Xiaokui said nothing more, silently following behind, her sharp eyes scanning the surrounding shadows warily. She summoned the Imperial Guard and asked him a few questions in a low voice.

The temple was empty and deserted, with only a few lamps flickering under the eaves, casting the three people's shadows, which were sometimes long and sometimes short, onto the walls and the ground.

Passing through several palaces, the deeper they went, the sparser the lights became, and the colder it grew. Finally, they stopped in front of an extremely secluded courtyard. At the gate, Li Mang, the tall and thin Northern Garrison Commander with a long scar on his face, stood solemnly with his hand on his sword.

Upon seeing Xiao Yan, Li Mang immediately knelt on one knee: "Your subject Li Mang pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Get up." Xiao Yan nodded slightly. "Is there anything unusual?"

"Your Majesty, there is nothing unusual. Ever since the Zhu family moved to Luoyang, leaving this scoundrel behind, he has been sometimes raving and cursing, and sometimes begging for his life in fear. He is no longer in his right mind and is at his last gasp." Li Mang stood up and answered respectfully.

Xiao Yan asked no more questions, pushed open the wooden door, and walked into the courtyard. There was only one lonely meditation room in the courtyard, with extremely dim light shining through the paper windows, as if it could be blown out by the wind at any moment.

Inside the meditation room, Zhu Wen was curled up in the corner of the bed. Compared to when Zhu Youzhen visited him two months ago, when he was still somewhat well-off, he now had gray and disheveled hair, sunken cheeks, and all the domineering and arrogant air of the past had vanished, leaving only a muddled and vicious old man.

Hearing the steady footsteps outside the door, unlike those of the usual food delivery person, he suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise and uncertainty flashing in his cloudy eyes.

Immediately, when the figure pushed open the door and appeared clearly in his field of vision, the initial surprise was quickly overwhelmed by immense fear and despair. He was so horrified that he turned pale and instinctively wanted to shrink deeper into the corner. A deep-seated fear made him instantly speechless, and then he felt a chill spread throughout his body.

But then, all his emotions instantly transformed into a hysterical frenzy, making him appear ferocious.

"Hahaha...hahaha!" Zhu Wen struggled to stand up, but stumbled and had to lean against the wall, letting out a maniacal laugh. "It's you! Li Zuo! You little beast! You've finally come! What are you doing here? To see how your Zhu family's grandfather dies?"

Zhu Wen wasn't stupid. Seeing Xiao Yan arrive in person, he knew it was all for naught and he was doomed. Since begging for mercy was useless, why not unleash a torrent of curses?

So, panting heavily, he stared intently at Xiao Yan: "The victor is king, the loser is villain, I accept it! I only regret that I didn't issue an edict to execute you, you wolf cub, back in the Jiao Lan Hall! Raising a tiger is a recipe for disaster! Your Li family's fate was long gone, this world should belong to me, Zhu San! I've been an emperor, slept with imperial concubines, and enjoyed all the glory of the world, even if I die, it's worth it, better than that good-for-nothing Li Ye! The empire he couldn't protect, I'll sit on! The women he couldn't protect, I'll play with! Hahahaha!"

Foul language kept gushing from his mouth, echoing in the small, dark meditation room, as if the louder the sound, the more it proved that he was not afraid.

Xiao Yan stood quietly at the door, listening to his roar. His face was expressionless, showing neither anger nor pleasure. He was not even moved by the foul language directed at Emperor Zhaozong. His gaze was like that of someone looking at a dying rat, with only a condescending look.

Zhu Wen's maniacal laughter and curses appeared somewhat comical and futile in the face of Xiao Yan's demeanor. His laughter gradually became dry and weak, eventually even becoming somewhat off-key, beyond his own control.

The other party didn't respond at all, showing no anger or rebuttal. They just stared at him indifferently, as if the words Zhu Wen shouted with his last breath were nothing more than insignificant noise in the wind.

This disregard for him was more humiliating and frustrating to Zhu Wen than any angry retort. He felt as if his all-out punch had landed on empty air, and had instead exhausted his meager strength.

Xiao Yan only turned slightly to the side when Zhu Wen's laughter had to stop due to shortness of breath and embarrassment, turning into a cough that seemed to be about to vomit his lungs out.

Zhang Zhenniang, who had been following behind him with her face covered by a veil, stepped forward.

She raised her slightly trembling hand and slowly lifted the veil from her head.

In the dim light, the face that Zhu Wen had once been so infatuated with and used to humiliate Zhu Yougui was revealed. Although it had endured fear, struggle, and the marks of time, its features still retained their former charm, and now appeared unusually vivid due to a complex emotion.

Zhu Wen's maniacal laughter and coughing stopped abruptly.

His eyes widened, almost bulging out of their sockets, as he stared intently at Zhang Zhenniang, as if witnessing the most unbelievable sight in the world. He opened his mouth, glanced at Xiao Yan who remained calm beside him, and made a strange "hoarse" sound in his throat.

Only then did he understand why Xiao Yan hadn't spoken up to refute him earlier. His curses were merely a way to get some satisfaction out of things, and were meaningless in terms of the facts. They weren't worth Xiao Yan wasting his breath on.

But what truly broke Zhu Wen's defenses was right here.

Zhu Wen trembled for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out a voice: "You...you slut...why are you here...you, you adulterous couple!"

Zhang Zhenniang's heart pounded violently in her chest. But seeing the man who had once made her live in fear and humiliation day and night in such a wretched state, and feeling the mountain-like, steady presence beside her, an unprecedented courage mixed with years of pent-up hatred surged up.

Her voice initially trembled slightly, but quickly became clear, even deliberately tinged with a touch of softness, which seemed quite out of place in the cold, gloomy meditation room.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's grace, I have long been freed from suffering and serve Your Majesty. Zhu Wen, you are tyrannical and wicked, devoid of all humanity. Your current fate is divine retribution. How dare you ask me why I am here?"

As she spoke, she even deliberately took half a step closer to Xiao Yan, tilted her head slightly to look at him, and in the eyes of outsiders, her posture was somewhat intimate and dependent.

This action and these words directly and precisely broke through Zhu Wen's last defenses.

"You...you all..." Zhu Wen's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his finger trembling as he pointed at the two men, his blood rushing to his head, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. "Adulterous couple! You scoundrels! Li Zuo! You...you actually...you shameless bastard! You will all die a horrible death! You will all die a horrible death!"

Overwhelmed by rage and the torment and fear inflicted upon him by the Embroidered Uniform Guard over the past few days, Zhu Wen suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. A metallic taste rose in his throat, and he couldn't catch his breath. His eyes rolled upwards, and his body fell straight backward, crashing heavily onto the bed. His limbs twitched, as if he were about to pass out.

Xiao Yan's gaze remained calm, and though he made no visible movement, he flicked his right index finger with an extremely slight flick. A wisp of chaotic energy was transmitted into Zhu Wen's heart meridian from a distance, forcibly sustaining his last breath and stimulating him to regain consciousness.

Zhu Wen gasped sharply, his chest heaving violently. His unfocused gaze refocused, but all he could see were the indifferent figures of the adulterous couple. Endless humiliation, anger, and despair instantly engulfed him. He opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but could only let out a hoarse hissing sound.

Just then, Xiao Yan, who had been indifferent all along, finally let out a cold laugh.

"Zhu Wen, you just said that you have enjoyed all the glory and wealth of the world, possessed a vast empire, and had grown tired of beautiful women... so it was worth dying for, is that right?"

Xiao Yan calmly swept his gaze across the dark and damp meditation room.

"Look, all you have left is this tiny space with its four walls, a filthy monk's robe, and a worldwide infamy. Is this all your worldly glory? What about your empire? What about your throne? And in whose hands does it now?"

Zhu Wen trembled violently, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan, however, seemed not to notice his reaction and continued in his straightforward tone:
"You say you've been with women... Ha. I don't know what it was like, nor do I care to know. I only know that Zhenniang is now standing willingly by my side, watching you wag your tail and beg for mercy like a wild dog, only to meet a terrible end."

"Everything you possessed, valued, and flaunted, I have stripped away and crushed. You are a joke in life. And in death, I will make you a joke that future generations can witness."

Before Zhu Wen could unleash his fury, Xiao Yan stopped looking at him and turned his gaze to Li Mang, who was guarding the door: "Send him on his way, hang him with a white silk ribbon."

Li Mang bowed and clasped his hands, his armor clanging loudly: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

With a wave of his hand, two guards in brocade robes who had been waiting outside the courtyard rushed into the meditation room like wolves and tigers, roughly lifting up the struggling Zhu Wen from the left and right.

Looking at the trembling body filled with fear and rage, Xiao Yan added, "Furthermore, by imperial decree, once he has breathed his last, the Ministry of Works shall supervise the casting of a kneeling statue of Zhu Wen Iron, based on his body and covered with molten iron. This statue shall kneel before the He Mausoleum for eternity, with an inscription in front of it detailing his crimes of regicide, usurpation, and wreaking havoc on the world. It shall endure the elements and be condemned by all ages to atone for his sins."

Zhu Wen, who had just been driven to despair and forcibly dragged back to his senses, and was being held by the Imperial Guards, suddenly raised his head upon hearing this. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fear was even greater than the fear of death. He could only muster the last of his strength to roar out, "Li Zuo! You're poisonous...you...uh..."

Before the man could finish speaking, Li Mang didn't allow him to say anything more. He stepped forward, grabbed Zhu Wen's hair and forced him to look up. Then, he used the white silk ribbon in his hand to quickly and accurately put it around the man's neck and suddenly crossed the ribbon with force!

Two guards in brocade robes held Zhu Wen down firmly on either side. Zhu Wen's final curses turned into guttural groans, and he uttered no more. His face quickly turned from flushed to bluish-purple, his eyes bulging out horribly, staring fixedly at the ceiling of the meditation room, his legs kicking wildly.

The whole process was short, even remarkably efficient. Soon, Zhu Wen's struggles weakened, and finally his body stiffened, his head drooping limply to one side, and he fell completely silent. Only his wide-open eyes still held the madness and fear of his dying moments.

Compared to his cruel and tyrannical killings of his subjects during his lifetime, Zhu Wen's death was much more palatable.

Xiao Yan watched all this coldly until he was sure that the person's breath had completely stopped before he said indifferently, "Clean it up."

After saying that, he turned and walked out. Throughout the entire process, his emotions remained remarkably calm.

Zhang Zhenniang looked at the ugly corpse on the ground, then glanced at Xiao Yan's back. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings, and she quickly followed after him.

The snow continued to fall silently, covering the footprints of the way they had come, and seemingly trying to erase everything that had just happened in this secluded Zen temple. Xiao Yan did not immediately return to the capital. The carriage left the Great Xiangguo Temple, but circled the city for a while before finally stopping in front of a small, quiet house on another peaceful street. It was clear that everything had been prepared there; Yun'er and the other maids had been brought there, and everything was provided—quiet and secluded.

"You shall rest here tonight," Xiao Yan said to Zhang Zhenniang. "No one will disturb your peace here."

Zhang Zhenniang breathed a sigh of relief and bowed gracefully: "This concubine... thanks Your Majesty for making arrangements."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to enter the study that had been prepared in the courtyard. He wasn't sleepy; he just needed a quiet place to process his thoughts. Zhong Xiao Kui stood quietly outside the study, like a shadow blending into the night.

That night, the emperor did not return to the palace.

------

The following morning, after the snow had cleared, sunlight barely pierced through the clouds, casting a pale golden sheen on the glazed tiles of the imperial city.

Inside the Lizheng Hall, a warm and inviting atmosphere prevailed. The Empress was having breakfast with Ji Ruxue. The hall was quiet, save for the occasional soft clinking of a silver spoon against a porcelain bowl.

Yu Youshu, dressed in the attire of a court lady, quietly entered, walked to the Empress's side, and whispered a few words of report.

The Empress paused slightly in her hand holding the silver spoon, then resumed her normal sips of soup, as if she had only heard something trivial. She raised her phoenix eyes slightly to look at Ji Ruxue opposite her.

Ji Ruxue also stopped what she was doing and quietly looked back. Their eyes met for a moment, both of them calm and composed.

"Understood." The Empress's voice was calm and unwavering, revealing no emotion. "The execution of Zhu Wen can be considered a consolation to the spirits of the late Emperor and Empress Dowager in heaven."

Her tone was casual, as if she were simply stating a fact, without needing to inquire about who, when, or how this fact was achieved, let alone point it out.

Ji Ruxue nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

She followed Xiao Yan through countless storms, deeply understanding the cruelty of politics and the necessary means, and realizing that Zhu Wen's fate was already sealed.

Compared to the details of the process, the final outcome is more important. As for Xiao Yan's overnight stay outside the palace... that seems even less important.

They trusted Xiao Yan and knew that he was not someone who indulged in selfish desires, and that there must be a reason for his actions.

Breakfast continued, the atmosphere remaining peaceful and gentle, as if nothing unusual had happened the night before.

However, although the imperial harem did not react to this matter, before dawn, a large number of figures had already knelt down in the vast square in front of Xuande Gate of the Imperial City.

Purple robes, scarlet robes, blue robes, green robes... led by Han Yanhui, the Grand Secretary, Jing Xiang, the Grand Councilor, and Wang Yanzhang, the Privy Councilor, along with the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries, the head of the Censorate, and many other nobles and military generals, all officials in the capital who were of high rank and had heard the news, gathered here in unison.

They couldn't even wait for the normal opening time of court, and they completely disregarded the custom of being on holiday for the New Year. It was as if an invisible force was driving them to rush to the palace gates in this cold morning.

Fine snowflakes fell silently again, clinging to their official hats, shoulders, and backs, accumulating into a thin layer. No one reached out to wipe it away, but Ding Zhaopu, who was standing to the side with a group of palace servants, was busy, covering them with umbrellas and cloaks, afraid that something might happen to this group of high-ranking officials.

Everyone bowed their heads, held their breath, and remained completely silent in the vast square, save for the occasional rustling of the wind as it swept across the flagpoles. On those faces, some aged, some young and vigorous, the expressions were solemn, yet a barely concealed urgency and determination shone through their brows.

...

The carriage departed from the secluded courtyard where Zhang Zhenniang was being housed, crunching over the snow-covered stone road, and steadily headed towards the imperial city. Inside the carriage, Xiao Yan closed his eyes to rest. The events of the previous night had not left too many marks on his face; in fact, his aura was more relaxed than usual.

As the carriage reached the end of the Imperial Street and was about to turn into the square leading directly to Xuande Gate, Zhong Xiaokui, who had been driving, spoke in a very low voice into the carriage: "Your Majesty, there is something amiss ahead."

Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze showing no sign of sleepiness: "Speak."

"Before Xuande Gate, civil and military officials were kneeling. Judging from their attire, almost all the ministers and key officials from the Three Departments, Six Ministries, Privy Council, and Censorate were present. It seemed that they had been kneeling and waiting for quite some time."

Xiao Yan's expression showed little surprise upon hearing this. He gestured for the carriage not to stop and to continue its journey.

The carriage slowly drove into the square and came to a stop a few dozen steps away from the palace gate.

Zhong Xiao Kui deftly opened the car door and stood aside.

Xiao Yan stepped out of the carriage, stood on the driver's seat, and glanced at the kneeling officials, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!" Led by Han Yanhui, the ministers shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the empty square.

"Rise, my lords." Xiao Yan's voice came through the morning air. "Today is not a day for the grand court session, and it is also during the New Year holiday. What is the purpose of your gathering at the palace gate?"

Han Yanhui did not rise. Instead, he lowered his head even further, his voice trembling with self-reproach: "Your Majesty! We deserve to die a thousand deaths! We have come to beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"

"Apologize?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile and chuckle. "What crime has Prime Minister Han committed?"

Han Yanhui raised his head, his face filled with self-reproach and sorrow: "We have heard that last night, a righteous man, driven by loyalty and indignation, could not bear to see the traitor Zhu Wen linger on the verge of death, nor could he bear to see Your Majesty's reputation suffer even the slightest criticism for dealing with this villain. He secretly went to the Xiangguo Temple and strangled the traitor Zhu Wen. Although this is gratifying, the root cause lies with us, as prime ministers, for our failure to restrain and supervise, which led to this private execution. We have neglected our duties, and we beg Your Majesty to severely punish us!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sikong Yangshe suddenly slammed his head against the ground with a dull thud, tears streaming down his face, his voice choked yet unusually loud:

"Your Majesty! It is not the fault of Chancellor Han! It is the fault of this old minister! It is the fault of this old minister Yang She! Zhu Wen murdered Emperor Zhaozong and harmed the royal family. His crimes are heinous. As a loyal subject of Emperor Zhaozong, I have long hated him so much that I wish I could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin! This matter was done by my own will, by sending my personal assassins! It has nothing to do with Chancellor Han or any of my colleagues! Your Majesty! I killed Zhu Wen! I beg Your Majesty to punish this old minister and uphold the law of the land!"

He was extremely agitated and spoke with absolute certainty, as if he had truly orchestrated everything and was the one who "killed" Zhu Wen, and he wanted to take the blame upon himself.

"Your Majesty! I was also involved!"

"I am also aware of this matter!"

"Your subject is willing to accept his punishment!"

Immediately afterwards, a large number of officials, including Jing Xiang, Wang Yanzhang, and even Li Si'an, spoke up, some admitting to involvement, others claiming knowledge, and still others requesting that they be punished as well.

So the scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment, with everyone scrambling to take the blame for the murder of the former emperor, as if it were some great achievement, or as if they were afraid that Xiao Yan would be involved in the matter in any way.

Even Zhong Xiaokui, who was standing behind Xiao Yan, could understand that these people's attitude was clearly intended to completely remove Xiao Yan from the picture, so as not to cause any damage to the reputation of this wise and sagacious emperor.

The officials gave a variety of reasons: some said it was to repay the emperor's kindness, some said it was out of righteous indignation, and some even said that they had observed the celestial phenomena last night and saw that Zhu Wen was destined to die...

Xiao Yan stood before the carriage, listening quietly and watching the surging emotions of the officials below, all pleading guilty. His gaze moved from Han Yanhui's thin face to Yang She's tearful eyes, then from Wang Yanzhang's resolute face to the anxious faces of Jing Xiang and the others.

Suddenly, he shook his head and then burst into loud laughter.

The laughter was clear and loud, yet it carried an indescribable, powerful momentum that instantly overwhelmed all the sounds of apology and echoed far and wide in front of the snow-covered palace gates.

The ministers were startled by the sudden laughter and looked up in astonishment at the emperor high above.

As the laughter subsided, Xiao Yan stood tall, his hand on his belt, his posture as upright as a pine tree braving the snow. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across the entire room, and his voice suddenly turned deep, each word clear and distinct, reaching everyone's ears:

Why must you gentlemen do this?

"Zhu Wen murdered my father and usurped my kingdom. His crimes are heinous and abhorrent to both gods and men. As his son, is it not only natural for me to avenge this blood feud?"

"As the ruler of the world, is it not only right and proper for me to execute this treacherous villain who has brought disaster to the country, in order to uphold the laws and regulations of the nation?"

His gaze was sharp as a knife, staring intently at the assembled officials. He stepped down from his carriage and walked slowly toward them, his voice growing louder with each step.

"This matter is perfectly aboveboard. What is there for me to hide? Why should you bury your heads in the sand and take the blame for me, turning this righteous revenge into a sneaky private punishment!"

The courtiers were completely silent, staring blankly at their emperor.

Xiao Yan suddenly raised his arm and pointed at the historian who had been standing quietly to the side, his face already flushed with tension and excitement, and his hand holding the pen trembling slightly.

Caught off guard by the emperor's direct rebuke, the historian was so frightened that he shuddered, his face drained of all color, turning deathly pale, and he could barely hold onto his pen.

Xiao Yan's voice rang out, decisive and unquestionable.

"remember--"

"On the second day of the first month of the first year of Hongwu, at night."

He swept his gaze across the assembled officials, then placed his hand on his belt, turned and walked toward his carriage, his voice echoing across the silent square, piercing the wind and snow, reaching the ears of everyone present:

"Li Zuo personally went to the Daxiangguo Temple and ordered Zhu Wen to be strangled in the meditation room to avenge his father and the country. He also used Zhu Wen's body as a model to cast a kneeling statue with molten iron, which would kneel in front of the He Mausoleum for eternity, with his crimes engraved in stone as a warning to others."

"Write this down clearly for me, not a single word may be added or removed!"

A deathly silence fell over the square. Only the cold wind, whipping up snowflakes, swept over the frozen bodies of the crowd, but even the touch of the wind and snow could not alleviate the shock in their hearts.

All the ministers looked up at that figure, at his upright and unyielding demeanor, and at his kingly bearing of all responsibilities without any embellishment.

At this moment, all notions of keeping secrets from the ruler, posthumous reputation, and intricate power struggles seem insignificant and laughable in the face of such openness.

The historian's initial fear was instantly replaced by an unprecedented excitement. His face flushed red again, and although his hand holding the pen was still trembling slightly, it was no longer because of fear, but because he realized that he was recording a groundbreaking scene that would be remembered for thousands of years.

He wielded his pen with lightning speed, striving to imprint every word and gesture of the emperor onto the annals of history, his ink strokes seemingly carrying the sound of metal and stone.

By the time Xiao Yan finished speaking, he had already walked to the carriage parked to the side. Zhong Xiao Kui was already standing by the carriage, opening the door.

He climbed onto the carriage frame, the hem of his old cloak fluttering slightly in the wind, leaving behind a tall and straight silhouette. The carriage curtain fell, blocking the view from both inside and outside.

The carriage started again, this time without stopping, passing directly through the still kneeling officials. But the instant the wheels crossed the palace gate, Xiao Yan's calm and resonant voice clearly penetrated the carriage, echoing in the ears of every bowing official:

"I have been ordained by Heaven to rule the world, to punish the traitors and avenge the national humiliation. This is the righteous path, and all under Heaven should witness it. If such a righteous matter requires my subjects to find fault and cover it up, to take the blame for me, then what face do I have to rule as emperor, and what right do I have to face this vast land and all the people under Heaven?!"

After a long period of stunned silence, the civil and military officials finally realized what was happening when they looked at the carriage frame. Led by Han Yanhui, all the officials bowed deeply once again.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"We are utterly subdued!"

The roar surged and crashed through the snow curtain, soaring straight into the heavens.

(End of this chapter)