The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 61 Zhu Yunwen's Death
As the first rays of dawn rise from the east, they fall upon the riverbank. The Yangtze River, stretching to the horizon, flows eastward, its waves sparkling in the light as they crash heavily against the shore.

The Yan soldiers crossed the river, a dark and heavy mass stretching as far as the eye could see, their faces, whether young or old, radiating excitement and agitation.

Prince Zhu Di of Yan stood before the majestic city, his armor clinging to his powerful frame, the sharp blade in his hand reflecting the morning light, carrying with it the lingering chill of dawn.

Shortly after, Zhu Di spurred his horse and galloped wildly in front of the vast army, making a final mobilization for the war.

……

Li Qizheng was summoned to the palace.

Han Dynasty Chancellor Xiao He once said: "Without magnificence, there is no way to show respect. Since ancient times, except for the Song Dynasty, the imperial palace has always been a place of great power and prestige."

But palaces are ultimately inanimate objects. Li Qi still remembers the day Zhu Yuanzhang died. The entire palace was filled with a cold and eerie atmosphere, and at this moment, the palace was filled with confusion and helplessness.

As he walked along, all he saw was desolation. The willows by the palace walls were covered with withered and yellowed leaves, and the ditches on both sides of the palace road were filled with debris. Under the eaves of Fengtian Hall, lanterns hung halfway down, swaying gently in the wind. The palace servants were absent-minded, their expressions filled with a sense of bewilderment.

Anyone who sees this scene would surely say that the tide has turned and their fate is sealed.
But who could believe that this was the second generation of a unified dynasty, lasting only three years?

Li Qi did not expect Zhu Yunwen to summon him to the palace at this time. Although it was unexpected, he naturally could not refuse to come.

Even though Zhu Yunwen was about to lose the throne, as long as Zhu Di had not yet captured the city, Zhu Yunwen would still be the emperor with great power.

Historically, he was able to kill Xu Zengshou with ease, so killing Li Qi now would not be difficult for him either.

Li Qi entered the Fengtian Hall and then met Zhu Yunwen; Fang Xiaoru was not there.

The once handsome and elegant emperor was now terribly haggard, his eyes red and swollen, indicating that he had not slept well for many days.

Upon seeing Li Qi enter, Zhu Yunwen seemed to see a savior, pleading deeply, "Uncle, I was wrong before, I regret not listening to you, which led to today's disaster. You have the wisdom to save me from this predicament."

But there's no going back in life.
Li Qi replied blankly, "Your Majesty, how could I possess such profound wisdom?"

The previous policies of weakening the power of regional princes and suppressing rebellions were not clever methods that others could not have come up with.

"I dared to offer my advice to Your Majesty only because I acted with a public-spirited heart."

Zhu Yunwen stared blankly at Li Qi, listening to these words, his hands losing all strength, and he sobbed, "What have I done all this time? Was there really no other way but to defend the city?"

Defend the city?

Li Qi shook his head. A solid fortress is always breached from within. Once the overall situation is lost and people's hearts are scattered, it is like a castle on the beach, which will fall apart at the slightest touch.

“Since the thirty-first year of Hongwu, Your Majesty has never believed my advice. If Your Majesty is willing to believe me today, then you should arrest all those who have been close friends with Prince Yan Zhu Di since childhood, such as Duke Cao Li Jinglong.”

The moment Li Qi finished speaking, Zhu Yunwen was stunned. He wasn't a complete fool, and naturally knew what Li Qi meant. A chill ran through him, and he stammered, "I have shown the Duke of Cao immense kindness. How could he betray me?"

Li Qi looked calmly at Zhu Yunwen, his voice completely flat, "Because he is a shameless person."

It's nothing for a shameless person to betray their benefactor.

Chaotic footsteps sounded outside the palace. A royal eunuch rushed in, knelt down with a thud, and wailed pitifully, "Your Majesty, Duke Cao, Li Jinglong, has opened the city gates. The rebel Yan has already entered the city!"

Li Qi fell silent. This was too fast; they had just finished speaking and were already in the city. He hadn't even escaped the palace yet. A deep, resonant bell seemed to echo in his ears, leaving Zhu Yunwen dizzy, his mouth dry, and speechless. An overwhelming sense of despair washed over him.

He swayed violently, looked at Li Qi, but didn't know what to say. A voice echoed in his heart, "Li Qi was right again. If only I had known..."

With his last breath, he asked the eunuch, "Has Zhu Di already entered the palace?"

"He won't go to the palace."

Li Qi suddenly said, and Zhu Yunwen looked over. Li Qi repeated, "He will not enter the palace."

The die is cast. He won't let his hands be stained with imperial blood. He'll wait for you to commit suicide or voluntarily abdicate in his favor.

Zhu Yunwen's expression changed drastically. "He's dreaming! He's nothing but a traitorous minister who dares to try and take the throne from me. Absolutely not!"
"I'll wait right here. Does he dare to commit regicide in broad daylight?"

"Why not?"

Li Qi said calmly, "When Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, raised an army to quell the rebellion, he was already prepared for the extinction of his entire family. This is the struggle for the world."

He has come this far, and even bearing the stigma of regicide, he will not give up halfway. Did Your Majesty, in your reckless actions, never consider that this might happen?

Zhu Yunwen fell silent. He had never expected things to turn out this way. "Is there really no way to turn things around?"

Li Qi was already extremely impatient. The emperor, a dignified ruler, didn't even have the will to die. He was incompetent, loved to play games, and couldn't stand losing.

If it weren't for maintaining his public image and not wanting to provoke Zhu Yunwen and drag him down with him, Li Qi would have already started criticizing him.

We can't stay here any longer.

[Exchange 200 achievement points for two Yellow-tier item, Psychedelic Incense. Current remaining achievement points: 400.]

The wisps of incense smoke filled the hall, creating a scene resembling a fairyland. Zhu Yunwen felt as if a mournful and distant voice was coming from a faraway place.

The voice was mournful and plaintive, filled with tears and endless pain; its tone was extremely sorrowful.

"For forty years, my home and country have been separated by three thousand miles of mountains and rivers. Phoenix pavilions and dragon towers reach the sky, jade trees and coral branches form a misty canopy. How often have I known war? In an instant, I became a captive, and my waist and temples have turned gray. The most poignant moment was when I hastily left the ancestral temple, and the music hall still played farewell songs. I wept as I faced the palace maids."

After singing it once, he sang it again and again: "Once you become a captive, your slender waist and graying temples will wither away."

In the hazy, gentle breeze, Zhu Yunwen recalled asking Fang Xiaoru what would happen if Yingtian couldn't be defended. Fang Xiaoru had replied resolutely, "It is only right for an emperor to die for the country. Should he be subjected to the humiliation of treacherous officials?"

How could the emperor tolerate the humiliation inflicted by rebellious ministers and traitors?

With double the dose administered, Zhu Yunwen was now deeply trapped in the illusion and unable to escape, while Li Qi took the opportunity to leave.

He walked to the palace gate and was about to go out when he suddenly heard a commotion. Looking back at Fengtian Hall, he saw that it was engulfed in flames!
The timing was perfect. There were eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial guards in the hall, and everyone could see that the imperial son-in-law, Li Qi, had finished his conversation and left the palace normally. No one would think that the emperor's self-immolation was related to him.

He didn't know whether the historical Zhu Yunwen was dead or not, but the Zhu Yunwen of this life was definitely dead!
[Zhu Yunwen died, achievement points +1000, current achievement points 1400.]

The warm sunlight shone on him, but he felt no relief. Zhu Yunwen was just an interlude in the Ming Dynasty. The meeting with Zhu Di that followed would be the crucial moment that would determine his life and the fate of his family!

(End of this chapter)