Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 11 is simply too brutal! [New book, please add to your favorites]

"Third son! Come back with me right now! Father's angry!"

Zhu Gaosui had just come out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard office when he bumped into Zhu Gaoxu, who had come to find him.

"Second brother?"

Zhu Gaosui paused for a moment, then walked up with a beaming smile: "Second Brother! Let me tell you, I met a very interesting person in the imperial prison today, he..."

"Imperial Prison? What are you doing at Imperial Prison?!"

Zhu Gaoxu was startled and quickly interrupted him, asking, "What's going on?!"

"Hey! Look how nervous you are! I just went in to broaden my horizons, and I actually encountered something interesting!"

"Foolish! Don't you know what the Imperial Prison is?! Be careful, or your father will punish you!"

"Don't try to scare me with your father! It was the Emperor who sent me to train in the Embroidered Uniform Guard! Besides, this isn't the first time Father has been angry. With the eldest son standing up for him, what are you afraid of?" Zhu Gaosui said dismissively.

"you!"

Zhu Gaoxu was taken aback, then, somewhat embarrassed and angry, said, "I can't be bothered with you! Anyway, it was Father who sent me to find you! Just wait to get a beating when we get back!"

"Oh? Did Father send you?"

Zhu Gaosui panicked: "Has something happened? I heard that my grandfather was furious in court today and imprisoned several people, including Qi Tai, the Left Vice Minister of War, and Zhao Qian, the Minister of Revenue!"

"These things have absolutely nothing to do with us! Dad probably has other things to tell us."

"Oh, then let's hurry up and go! Don't make Dad angry!"

"Aren't you afraid?"

"I'm terrified!"

And so, the two brothers left, exchanging banter.

Their gazes, which had been watching them leave, returned to an alley not far away, and then the figures quickly disappeared into the shadows of the alley.

Meanwhile, at the Qin King's Mansion.

Zhu Shuang sat in his study, his mind replaying the conversation between Zhu Gang and Zhu Di that day, and the more he thought about it, the more something seemed amiss.

Since ancient times, the selection of an heir has always been a major event for princes.

Open and covert struggles are perfectly normal.

Judging from Zhu Gang and Zhu Di's attitude, it was as if it had nothing to do with them.

Of course, with me, the second oldest, around, it really has nothing to do with them.

But the key point is, their attitude is just too abnormal!
"Does Father really intend to make my eldest brother's son the heir instead of me?"

Thinking of this, a violent glint flashed in Zhu Shuang's eyes, and his hands clenched involuntarily.

Although Old Zhu was well aware of his love for Zhu Biao, Zhu Biao was already dead, so why should he give that love to Zhu Biao's son?

Zhu Shuang was very confused and furious.

Just then, a voice came from outside the door: "Your Highness, Liu Wu requests an audience!"

"What is it?! Didn't I tell you not to bother me?! Do you want to die?!"

Zhu Shuang roared in fury.

A sound of knees falling to the ground came from outside the door, followed by a trembling voice: "Your Highness, it was you who instructed me to inquire about this matter."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shuang suddenly remembered that there was such a thing, then calmed down and said coldly, "Get in here!"

"Yes"

Soon, the eunuch named Liu Wu cautiously entered and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, this is what happened in the court today. Please take a look!"

After saying this, he handed over a folded document.

Zhu Shuang narrowed his eyes, said nothing, and picked up the memorial to read it.

"That Imperial Censor Zhang deserves to die! How dare he defy the Emperor!" "And this Lü Ping... Hmm? His surname is Lü?"

Zhu Shuang looked at the memorial, paused slightly, then frowned and asked, "What is the relationship between Lü Ping and the Crown Princess Lü?"

"Your Highness, according to my investigation, Lü Ping has no direct relation to the Lü family, but in terms of clan, he should be considered a distant cousin."

"Is Lü Ping's proposal to establish an heir related to the Lü family?"

"this."

Liu Wu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don't know either. If it's related, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will definitely be able to find out, but the Lü family hasn't made any move."

"Hmph! A mere woman daring to meddle in politics is simply courting death!"

Zhu Shuang scoffed disdainfully, then narrowed his eyes and said, "Then tell me, does the Emperor intend to make Zhu Yunwen the Crown Prince?"

"Your Highness! How dare this humble servant presume to know Your Majesty's intentions!"

Liu Wu knelt down with a thud: "Please, please spare me!"

"Useless trash! What use are you to me?!"

Zhu Shuang flew into a rage: "Guards! Drag him away and slap him!!"

"Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

the other side.

After a round of interrogation, Lü Ping, Qi Tai, and Zhao Qian finally returned to their cells.

But now, they no longer resemble court officials at all; they are all a pitiful sight.

"My lords, how was your experience in the imperial prison? It's much more intense than the 30% tax increase in Jiangnan, isn't it?"

Zhang Biao's eyes gleamed in the dim light, his face showing no sympathy but rather excitement and schadenfreude.

"Zhang Biao! You beast!! It's all your fault! I'll haunt you even as a ghost—ah!!"

Seemingly because the roar aggravated his wound, Zhao Qian let out a scream and stopped, panting heavily.

But how could Zhang Biao let others insult him without retaliating?

He picked at his ear, his tone as casual as if he were chatting with someone: "Minister Zhao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!"

"The wronged souls of the people of Jiangnan haven't even come to settle scores with you yet, and you're already blaming me? It was you who suggested increasing taxes, wasn't it? 'For the country's urgent needs.' Tsk tsk, how nice that sounds! Now you know what an urgent need is? I think your eyebrows are almost burned off!"

"Zhang Biao! What you've done!"

Qi Tai seemed to want to curse, but the intense pain left him only able to gasp for breath.

"Lord Qi, save your energy!"

Zhang Biao rolled his eyes, then said jokingly, "I heard that you didn't make a mistake for nine years before you changed your name. What happened? The Crown Prince just died not long ago, and you've already made a mistake?"

"Oh dear, what's the rush! The Emperor still has a few years left to live. If you want to gain merit by supporting the Emperor's rise to power, there's no need to rush!"

"You were worried the Emperor would get tired? I just want to laugh! Now you don't need to worry about that anymore. Just enjoy Commander Jiang's hospitality! Your dedication to the country is truly touching! I just wonder if it touched Commander Jiang's weaponry?"

"Ho ho ho"

All that could be heard from Lü Ping's side was the sound of meaningless gasps.

"Minister Lü? Lord Lü?"

Zhang Biao deliberately raised his voice: "Why are you silent now? Weren't you quite loud when you proposed the establishment of an heir in court that day? Ah! Your Majesty! A country cannot be without an heir for a single day!"

"Haha! You're absolutely right!"

"Your Majesty has surely felt your deep concern for the country and its people! Commander Jiang has certainly felt it too! You see, he is repaying you doubly in return!"

Every word Zhang Biao uttered was like a poisoned knife, precisely stabbing the three men in their most painful spots, subjecting them to both physical and mental torture.

That's absolutely brutal.

(End of this chapter)