The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 32 Seven Star Sword
From the Vermilion Bird Avenue, hundreds of scholars knelt to thank Li Qi, and the atmosphere in the literati community changed once again.

Since Li Qi embarked on the path of sainthood, he has been like a blazing sun, winning every debate and being convinced by every discussion of the Way. It is clear to all discerning people that he has the bearing of a saint!

The scholars of Jiangnan had developed a fear of Li Qi and restrained their disciples, no longer willing to compete with him or become his stepping stones or ladders to success. This was not a complete surrender, but rather a belief that "Li Qi is just a lone army with many incompetent followers. Once Li Qi falls from power, they will be nothing more than clay chickens and earthen dogs."

When Li Qi heard this, he was teaching Li Xianmu and almost burst out laughing. Li Xianmu's talent was enough to inherit his mantle, carry it forward, and dominate the world's scholars for another generation.

Li Qi did not pay much attention to this matter. Not to mention that he had things to do, the provincial examination in Zhili was about to begin in a few months, and as the chief examiner, he was responsible for setting the questions.

Secondly, the conflict between Lan Yu and Zhu Yuanzhang had intensified to the extreme. The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was about to accuse Lan Yu of treason. At that time, everyone was in danger, and meritorious officials and veteran generals were almost wiped out. Who would care about the affairs of the literati?

The Blue Party's imprisonment swept through like a whirlwind, first imprisoning more than twenty dukes and marquises, and then its military cronies, numbering in the tens of thousands, who would be buried with it.

……

As spring transitions into summer, the morning light shines down from the east, a gentle breeze blows, and the fragrance of perfumes from the Qinhuai River seems to reach the inner palace. Between the three palaces and beneath the white jade steps, officials gather, whispering and chattering.

The nobles standing below the stage whispered among themselves, their eyes occasionally glancing at Liang Guogong Lan Yu and the others who were bound and kneeling on the ground, their hearts filled with endless doubts.

Last night, the palace gates were opened wide, and then an imperial edict came from the palace, ordering all officials of the seventh rank and above, as well as princes, dukes, and earls in the capital, to enter the palace tomorrow morning.

We await Your Majesty's instructions.

This is not a normal day for court assembly.

Whenever there is any unusual situation in the country, it must be treated with caution. Therefore, everyone who received the imperial edict knew that something big was about to happen.

Even the boldest person never imagined that they would meet Duke Lan Yu of Liang here.

According to the precedent set in the Hu Dang case, shouldn't he have been executed directly?
What does Your Majesty intend to do?
Countless questions lingered in the minds of the court officials, and Li Qi was also filled with doubt, as this seemed to have never happened before in history.

Before long, the eunuch summoned the officials to the hall. The officials stopped their hushed discussions, composed themselves, and stepped onto the white jade steps. Holding their tablets, they followed behind the guide with their heads bowed. They went up the steps from the left and right gates outside the hall and walked into the Fengtian Hall. When they entered the hall, they carefully looked up and glanced around.

The Hongwu Emperor had actually already sat on the throne.

His face was dignified and solemn, seemingly no different from any other day.

His jet-black pupils seemed to be watching the assembled officials as they filed in, but also to be gazing at the clear, mirror-like sky outside the palace.

After entering the hall, the officials stood in their respective positions as arranged by the master of ceremonies. Led by the master of ceremonies, they bowed in unison to the emperor, then held their tablets, bowed their heads, and remained silent.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the Duke of Liang, Lan Yu, and other dukes and marquises who had also been brought to the Fengtian Hall. The sound of iron chains scraping against the ground was like flowing water.

The hall was quiet.

The courtiers all kept their eyes down, their ears focused on their own thoughts, while glancing out of the corner of their eyes at the emperor on the throne.

They waited quietly for the emperor to speak.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up abruptly!
His Majesty the Emperor rose from his throne, followed by the clanging of metal.

Only then did His Highness and his courtiers notice that the emperor had a sword hanging at his waist, its scabbard engraved with seven stars, inlaid with gold and jade, extremely luxurious.

As the old saying goes: Keep your sharp edge hidden!

However, the scabbard could not completely conceal the sharpness of this sword. From the moment the Seven Star Sword appeared before everyone, a chilling aura descended upon the Fengtian Hall.

The emperor stood before the throne, his pupils sweeping down, as black as ink, seemingly filled with a deep chill, his expression unreadable, only the hem of his imperial robe fluttering slightly.

“All of you, raise your heads.”

His Majesty the Emperor is extremely tall and stands at a high place; one must look up to see him.

So all the high-ranking officials of the Ming Dynasty, dressed in crimson and purple, looked up at that tall figure.

Even after seeing it a thousand times, I still feel its awe-inspiring power; those who achieve imperial power are truly no ordinary people.

Li Qi's gaze was fixed on the sword. He remembered his father saying that His Majesty possessed a cherished Seven-Star Sword that had accompanied him through the most difficult years, never being discarded. Lan Yu and the other meritorious officials and veteran generals, gazing at the sword, were somewhat moved. Before them no longer seemed to be towering palaces, no longer the supreme emperor, but rather the hero who once held the sword, unsheathed, vowing to bring peace to the world amidst the turmoil.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood at the head of the table, his left hand lightly pressing the hilt of his sword. Looking down from the Fengtian Hall, the rising sun fell precisely on the officials and ministers of the court.

His Majesty is truly different today!

This sentiment resonated with almost everyone at the same time.

His Majesty the Emperor shed his usual gloom and exuded a vibrant energy, as if they were seeing the emperor from the early days of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Qi also thought of a later evaluation of Zhu Yuanzhang: "Looking only at the first half of Zhu Yuanzhang's life, people all thought he was the second Emperor Taizong of Tang."

"Tattoo."

The emperor descended the steps and walked to Lan Yu, scrutinizing him for a long time. Lan Yu even felt his eyes stinging before the emperor asked expressionlessly, "Lan Yu, do you recognize this sword?"

The cloth strip was removed from Lan Yu's mouth, and the iron chains binding her body clanged and struggled as she hoarsely said, "I know."

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked the Seven-Star Sword, his voice filled with emotion and nostalgia echoing in everyone's ears: "Whenever I clean this sword, I can't help but recall those difficult years when I conquered the world."

It all started when we, in accordance with the will of Heaven, led our brothers to raise the banner of rebellion in Huaixi.

By the twelfth year of the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng era, and the second year of the Han Dynasty's Longfeng era, the Yuan army was pressing in, and Haozhou City was in imminent danger.

We have obtained this knife.

Do you still remember what I said to you in Haozhou City, holding this sword?

We declared that we must restore the Han dynasty's glory and revive the systems of the Tang and Song dynasties for the sake of all people. Even with a million Yuan soldiers, we will go!

The emperor's voice resounded throughout the palace.

"bass!"

A chilling aura emanated from the gleam of the blade and was reflected in the eyes of the assembled officials who witnessed this scene!

The sun is high in the sky!

Full of youthful vigor!

It is deeply moving, as if it takes everyone back to that chaotic world filled with bloodshed, turmoil, displacement, loneliness, and death.

"Back then, we were truly heroes!"

"At that time, Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, and many others were heroes, just like Liu Bang and Xiang Yu who eliminated the tyrannical Qin dynasty, and Emperor Taizong who quelled the chaos of the Sui dynasty."

"You, Lan Yu, were once a hero. You defeated the Yuan Dynasty in the Battle of Buyur Lake and made great contributions. We have conferred upon you the title of Duke of Liang!"

Even if you humiliated Emperor Yuan Shundi's concubine, we're thinking of letting it go.

As he listened to His Majesty the Emperor reminisce about the past, a light shone in Lan Yu's eyes. His pig-brain probably felt that he had regained his vitality.

Li Qi, however, roughly knew what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to do.

He reminisced about the past, yet held a knife in his hand.

Let us drink from this golden cup, for even the sharpest blade will not spare us!
"If only you had died then."

Zhu Yuanzhang gently stroked his precious sword, saying, "We wouldn't have to face today."

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall froze.

A warm breeze was blowing.

The blade's intent was chilling!
(End of this chapter)