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

Chapter 155 The Revenge for Father's Murder! Will Grandfather Avenge Him? [Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader AyeSire7]

[You unfilial son! You scoundrel! You idiot!]

They're all pressuring us! They're all scheming against us!

Just moments before Zhu Yunwen uttered those words, the atmosphere inside the Huagai Hall was as oppressive as the deathly silence before a storm.

Old Zhu sat sullenly on the dragon throne, looking at the confession presented by Jiang Huan with a gloomy expression. The restlessness and suspicion in his heart were like intertwined vines, getting tighter and tighter.

Just as this boundless oppression was about to engulf him, the palace door opened softly, and Zhu Yunwen, carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, walked in cautiously with his head down.

"Grandson pays respects to His Majesty!"

Zhu Yunwen's voice was clear and resonant, carrying just the right amount of worry and respect: "Hearing that Your Majesty was angry, my mother was uneasy and specially ordered me to bring you ginseng soup. Please take good care of Your Majesty's health."

His manners were impeccable, and his attitude respectful; amidst the gloom and scheming, he was like a breath of fresh air.

Old Zhu raised his eyelids and looked at his grandson, who had been intelligent since childhood and whom he loved and had high hopes for. Looking at the steaming ginseng soup in the grandson's hand, a slight, imperceptible softening appeared deep in his cold and hard heart.

【fine……】

Thankfully, Biao'er has such a pure and filial child... It wasn't for nothing that we doted on him...

The anger, suspicion, and exhaustion of the past few days seemed to find a small solace at this moment.

He was unusually calm and didn't get angry. He just waved his hand wearily, signaling Yunming and the others to step back.

Zhu Yunwen was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward, gently placing the ginseng soup on the imperial table. He stood aside with his head bowed and eyes lowered, not daring to say a word, but perfectly playing the role of a filial grandson who was worried about his grandfather's health.

Old Zhu picked up the bowl of ginseng soup, and the warmth seeped through the porcelain, slightly warming his icy fingertips.

"call"

He took a deep breath, and the unique slightly bitter aroma of ginseng soup entered his nostrils, making his tense nerves seem to relax a little.

However, just as he was about to take a sip to temporarily relieve his almost exploding headache and turmoil—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

suddenly!

The heavy, urgent knocking on the door, like an out-of-control war drum, rang out without warning in the outer hall!
Immediately following were faint shouts, screams, and a piercing cry that he couldn't possibly have mistaken:
"Sun Chen Zhu Yunwen! I have a great injustice regarding my father's death! I risk my life to see my Imperial Grandfather—!!"

"Pa-ta-!"

Old Zhu's hand suddenly trembled, and the ginseng soup bowl he had just brought to his lips slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.

The warm ginseng soup and porcelain shards splashed everywhere, soaking him and Zhu Yunwen next to him.

But he was completely unaware.

His body stiffened abruptly, and the slight warmth that had just appeared on his face froze instantly.

In an instant, it cracked like ice, replaced by utter astonishment, rage, and a deep-seated, indescribable fear.

Yun-hu?!
That grandson who's always been dissolute, ignorant, and utterly useless?!
What did he just shout?! The cause of his father's death?! A tremendous injustice?! And he even risked his life to see him?! What happened outside?!

"Yunming—!"

Old Zhu's roar, like that of a wounded tiger, exploded in the hall, more terrifying than ever before.

His temples throbbed, and an extremely ominous premonition, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly coiled around his heart.

Yunming was so frightened that he scrambled to the entrance of the main hall and tremblingly opened a crack to look out.

He glanced at it once, and as if struck by lightning, he jerked back, his face ashen, and staggered back into the hall, his voice trembling uncontrollably:
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty...His Third Grandson...he...he's holding a knife! He's covered in blood!"

"There's someone lying on the ground...it looks like Eunuch Sun...he's...he's not breathing!"

"His Highness the Third Prince... he seems to have gone mad! He keeps shouting... shouting about the cause of the Crown Prince's death..."

Every word was like a heavy hammer, striking Old Zhu's heart hard.

Holding a knife!?
Covered in blood!?
He killed the eunuch?! Has he gone mad?!
They're still shouting... about the cause of Biao'er's death?!
After the immense shock and absurdity came a more complex and turbulent emotion, like a tsunami. It was shock at Zhu Yunwen's sudden madness and bloody methods, and anger at Zhu Yunwen for committing such a treasonous act within the palace and right under his nose.

Or... or is it still that cry of 'Father's cause of death,' 'a colossal injustice'?!

All of this, like the sharpest awl, pierced deep into the forbidden zone of his heart that he was most unwilling to touch, most afraid of, yet which was constantly aching!

He wants to know the truth!

He wanted to know more than anyone else how Biao'er had died!

Because no father can bear to see his beloved son, on whom he has placed his hopes, die in such an unclear and unexplained way!
However, for some reason, when the truth was about to be revealed, Lao Zhu felt a strange fear!
He was afraid the results of the investigation would be unbearable! He was afraid to face the cold, cruel truth that might even point to his closest relatives!
This extreme contradiction, this intertwining of desire and fear, left him frozen in place for a moment, his face shifting unpredictably, his chest heaving violently as if he couldn't breathe.

Zhu Yunwen, standing to the side, was stunned by the sudden turn of events and his grandfather's terrifying expression.

Even the robe soaked with ginseng soup clung to his body, feeling icy cold, but he felt nothing; only boundless fear gripped him.

Suddenly, Old Zhu turned sharply to Zhu Yunwen, his gaze like two tangible lightning bolts, shooting towards his grandson who had just been playing the role of a dutiful son in front of him:

"Yunwen, what exactly happened outside when you came in?!"

"Ah? This"

Zhu Yunwen trembled at the gaze, his face turning deathly pale. He hurriedly knelt down and cried out, "Grandson...Grandson doesn't know! When I came in, my third brother was just stopped outside. I really don't know why he suddenly went berserk, Your Majesty!"

He was so eager to distance himself from the situation that his voice was trembling with tears.

"Going berserk?"

Old Zhu sneered, not believing this argument at all.

He knew all too well the tricks of the palace. If he hadn't been pushed to the limit, how could his usually timid grandson have done something so horrifying?

And they keep shouting about the 'cause of my father's death' and 'a great injustice'?!

His gaze swept over the shattered ginseng soup bowl on the ground, a hint of extreme irritation and suspicion flashing in his eyes.

Lady Lü... Yunwen... what have you been doing behind my back?!

Old Zhu's suspicions reached their peak at this moment.

The Imperial Guards inside the palace were on high alert, instantly becoming alert, their hands gripping their sword hilts tightly, their eyes sharp as eagles, ready to protect the emperor or carry out orders at any moment.

Outside the hall, Zhu Yunwen's tearful and resolute cries continued, each one like a heavy hammer, striking the eardrums of everyone inside, and even more so, striking the heart of the old Zhu who was being tormented repeatedly.

"Grandfather! This iron box contains account books detailing corruption in Shaanxi and irregularities in the Crown Prince's spending! It may contain clues to a plot to murder the Crown Prince!"

"Zhao Fengman, Shen Lang, and others risked their lives to deliver this item!"

"Sun Chen was obstructed and threatened, even his sister's life was used against him! He had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure!"

"I beg Your Majesty to investigate! Please seek justice for my father!"

[A metal box! Evidence!]

[Clue! Facing death!]

[Obstruction or threat!?]

These words, like fragments, spun and pieced together wildly in Lao Zhu's mind!
Could it be... that Yun-hu isn't crazy? Isn't he just being misled? Did he really... obtain something?!
The extreme, complex emotions of wanting to know what was in the box immediately, yet being afraid to know what was inside, almost tore him apart!

Ultimately, the ultimate question about the crown prince's death, and the emperor's unyielding authority, overwhelmed the fear of the truth.

His gaze suddenly turned terrifying as he stared intently at Yun Ming. His voice, distorted by extreme emotion, carried an undeniable resolve: "Open the door!"

"Yes!"

Yunming turned pale with fright and hurriedly ordered the Imperial Guards to open the palace gates.

"Boom!"

The heavy palace doors were opened once more.

Outside the door, the strong stench of blood hit you first.

Zhu Yunwen's small figure stood at the doorway, covered in blood, with warm blood dripping from the embroidered spring knife in his hand, forming a small dark red pool at his feet.

His face was as pale as paper, but his eyes were frighteningly bright, burning with hatred, determination, and a near-mad indignation.

He was still clutching the blood-stained metal box tightly in his arms.

This scene is so visually striking that it makes everyone who sees it gasp in shock.

Zhu Yunwen's pupils contracted, and he couldn't help but shout, "Yunwen! Put down your weapon! Do you want to rebel?!"

Zhu Yunwen seemed not to hear his reprimand. His gaze pierced through the crack in the door and was fixed on the tall figure on the dragon throne inside the hall.

"Grandpa Emperor—!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking from the excitement and exertion:
"I, Sun Chen, know I deserve to die for barging into the palace today! But I would rather die a bloody death than let my father die an unjust death! And let those treacherous villains who killed him go unpunished!"

As he spoke, he knelt down with a thud outside the threshold, threw the blood-stained embroidered spring knife aside with a clang, then raised the blood-stained iron box high and shouted with all his might:
"I, Sun Chen, am of low status and have been repeatedly obstructed and threatened, even having my sister's life used against me! I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure, which has alarmed Your Majesty!"

"I beg Your Majesty to investigate! Please uphold justice for my father, the Crown Prince Yiwen of the Great Ming Dynasty!"

He almost cried out the last sentence, with the deepest sorrow of a son for his father and the most desperate yearning for justice from a victim.

The entire Huagai Hall fell into a deathly silence once again.

Only Zhu Yunwen's suppressed sobs and heavy breathing could be heard.

Old Zhu stared intently at the blood-stained iron box, his facial muscles twitching violently.

Corruption in Shaanxi! Abnormal spending at the Eastern Palace! Suspected plot to murder the Crown Prince! Threatening the Imperial Grandson!?

Every word was like a heavy hammer, striking his heart hard.

All his previous doubts, suspicions, and anger seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

His gaze abruptly shifted to Zhu Yunwen, who was kneeling on the ground trembling like a leaf, his eyes as cold as ice: "Ginseng soup? Hmm? What a timely delivery!"

Zhu Yunwen was so frightened that his soul almost left his body, and tears streamed down his face:

"Grandfather, you are wise! I am innocent! I know nothing! It must be my third brother who has been misled and framed me..."

"Shut up--!"

Old Zhu interrupted him with a loud shout, abruptly stood up from the dragon throne, and walked step by step down the imperial steps toward the palace gate.

His footsteps were heavy as mountains, and every step made the hearts of everyone in the hall tremble.

He walked to the door, where a huge shadow loomed over Zhu Yunwen, who was kneeling in a pool of blood.

He didn't immediately take the iron box, but first glanced at the eunuch's corpse next to him, and then at the bloodstained sword that had been thrown aside.

Finally, the gaze returned to Zhu Yuntong's small face, which was a mixture of blood, tears, and unwavering stubbornness.

"Zhu Yunxi!"

Old Zhu suddenly spoke in an unusually calm voice, devoid of any discernible emotion:

"Do you know that breaking into the palace with a weapon, killing a eunuch, or alarming the emperor are all capital offenses?"

"Sun Chen understands!"

Zhu Yunwen raised his head, meeting his grandfather's terrifying gaze without fear. His voice was hoarse from crying, yet unusually clear:
“But Sun Chen knows even more that as a son, if he knows that his father is wronged but cannot speak out, and lives on in this world, he is worse than a pig or a dog!”

"If today, Sun Chen's death can be exchanged for the Emperor's thorough investigation into the cause of Father's death and the elimination of treacherous officials, then Sun Chen's death will be worthwhile!"

Upon hearing this, Old Zhu's pupils contracted slightly as he stared at his grandson, who seemed to have undergone a complete transformation overnight, without saying a word for a long time.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone held their breath.

"Yunming".

Old Zhu spoke abruptly, his voice eerily calm, yet carrying immense power:

"Take Yunwen to the back hall to rest and change into clean clothes. Without our decree, he is not allowed to leave even a step, nor is anyone allowed to touch him."

These words sounded like expressions of concern, but in reality, they were an instantaneous move to place Zhu Yunwen under house arrest and isolate him.

He no longer trusts anyone, not even his grandson, whom he had just felt was 'pure and filial'.

The 'threats' and 'obstructions' mentioned by Zhu Yunwen made him instinctively develop the deepest suspicions about all possible related personnel.

Since Lady Lü's trusted eunuch died here, Lady Lü's son must first take him under control.

"Grandpa Huang!"

Zhu Yunwen looked up in alarm, wanting to explain, but was forced to swallow his words by Old Zhu's cold gaze.

Helpless, he could only be led away from the main hall, pale-faced, by Yunming and another eunuch, who practically supported him but actually escorted him.

After dealing with Zhu Yunwen, Old Zhu's gaze returned to Zhu Yunhuo.

He did not immediately tell Zhu Yunwen to get up, nor did he take the iron box. Instead, he gave an order to a commander of the Imperial Guards at the door, his voice still steady but leaving no room for doubt:

"Song Zhong, examine Eunuch Sun's body and confirm the cause of death. Detain all the guards and eunuchs who witnessed this incident outside the palace and interrogate them rigorously!"

"We need to know every detail of what just happened, every single word spoken!"

"If even half of what you said is untrue, you know the consequences."

"Yes!"

The commander of the Imperial Guard named Song Zhong felt a chill run down his spine and immediately accepted the order and left.

This is to completely block the news and cross-verify the authenticity of Zhu Yunwen's words.

Only then did Old Zhu slowly walk into Zhu Yunwen's room.

He didn't bend down, but instead lowered his gaze, looking down as if examining an extremely dangerous yet extremely important object. "Zhu Yuntong!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that could crush a person's spine: "You're saying that this box contains evidence about the cause of your father's death?"

"It's...Grandpa Emperor..."

Zhu Yuntong raised his head, tears mingling with blood as they streamed down his face, his voice choked yet resolute.

"You're saying that Zhao Qian was silenced because of this, and that Zhao Fengman, Shen Lang, and others died for delivering this item?"

"Yes!"

"You're saying this was given to you by Zhao Fengman? He's gone to his death now?"

"Yes! He said he wanted to be with his brother, and that they were people of today doing things of today. Giving this box to Sun Chen is entirely up to Sun Chen's conscience; whether he gives it to the Emperor is up to him."

"You're saying you were obstructed and threatened, even threatened with your sister's life?"

"Yes! Sun Chen is absolutely not lying!"

"it is good."

Old Zhu nodded, his face still revealing neither joy nor anger: "We'll tentatively believe in your courage to risk your life to storm the palace."

But then his tone abruptly shifted, becoming extremely sharp and suspicious:
"But we need to investigate whether the contents of this box are real or fake, whether they have been tampered with, or whether they have been used to frame someone."

He would never completely believe all of this just because of Zhu Yunwen's grief and anger.

He even suspected that this was another of Zhang Biao's treacherous schemes.

"Present the tin box."

Old Zhu gave the order, but still did not go to receive it himself. Instead, he gestured to another trusted old eunuch beside him.

The old eunuch stepped forward tremblingly, carefully taking the blood-stained, wet iron box from Zhu Yunwen's hands as if it were a bomb. Then, with his head bowed, he raised it high above his head and presented it to the old man.

Old Zhu still didn't touch the box with his hands, but instead used his sharp eyes to carefully scan the bloodstains, the marks on the lock, and even the wear and tear on the edges of the box.

Every detail can provide information.

“Open it,” he commanded.

The old eunuch opened the box with trembling hands.

Old Zhu's gaze fell into the box like that of a hawk.

Those old account books, those yellowed letters, and that glaring fragment of bright yellow silk—everything exuded an ominous aura.

But instead of immediately looking through it, he directly ordered, "Someone, convey my decree."

"First, immediately and secretly summon Duke Tang He of Xin State and Duke Chang Sheng of Kai State to the palace! Let them enter directly through the Xihua Gate without making a sound!"

"Second, have Liu Chun, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, and all the imperial physicians who have examined the Crown Prince or prescribed medicines since the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, immediately wait in the side hall!"

"Stand back in your positions! No talking or leaving without our orders!"

"Third, investigate the Ministry of War and the Five Cities Garrison. Who arranged the patrol route today? Why couldn't we find Li Mo and Wu Naida for several days, but suddenly found them today? Also, how did Zhao Fengman hand over the iron box? Did he give a copy to someone else? Find out all of this!"

"fourth!"

For the first time, his gaze finally fell truly on the object in the iron box, his eyes filled with a terrifying depth:
"Make three copies of all the items in the box immediately! Seal the originals and no one is to touch them without my written order!"

"We need to personally review one copy, send one copy to Tang He's office, and send one copy to the Accounting Department for verification by several specialists in charge of accounting documents!"

This series of orders, swift and ruthless, left no room for error, fully demonstrated the extreme calmness, ruthlessness, and desire for control of a suspicious emperor when faced with a shocking secret that could shake the foundations of the country.

He will not listen to or believe any side; he will mobilize all possible resources to verify and analyze the secrets inside the iron box from different angles.

He wanted to ensure that the 'truth' he saw was as close to the truth as possible, rather than a 'truth' that had been carefully designed by someone.

Finally, he turned his gaze back to Zhu Yunwen, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

This grandson's actions today disrupted everything and uncovered something he may never want to face.

"Yunxi!"

His tone softened slightly, but it still carried a scrutinizing quality:

"What you did today may spare you the death penalty, but you will not escape punishment. Go and rest in the side hall for now. We will summon you when we need to ask you questions."

He neither said he believed nor he said he did not believe.

Simply placing him under temporary control serves both as protection and as a form of isolation and investigation.

Zhu Yunwen felt a little relieved when he heard that "the death penalty can be waived," but when he heard the rest, he realized that his grandfather did not completely believe him, and his heart tightened again.

But he has done his best; the rest can only be left to his grandfather and 'tomorrow'.

He immediately kowtowed: "Your humble servant... thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Two guards stepped forward, carefully helped him up, and led him to a side hall.

However, just as the two guards were about to help Zhu Yunwen turn around, the old Zhu's icy voice rang out again, like cold iron falling to the ground:

"and many more--!"

The guards immediately stopped in their tracks.

Zhu Yunwen struggled to his feet, raised his face, which was covered in blood and tears, and looked at his supreme grandfather, his eyes filled with confusion and a trace of resolute determination.

Old Zhu's gaze was like two cold scalpels, slowly sweeping across Zhu Yunwen's face, as if trying to pierce through his flesh and see into the deepest thoughts of his soul.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze again, and Jiang Huan and his trusted eunuchs held their breath.

Old Zhu remained silent for a good dozen breaths before slowly speaking in an extremely calm tone, devoid of any emotion, and uttering a shocking question:

"Yun-tong, let me ask you something."

"If...if the investigation into your father's death, after all its searching, ultimately reveals...to be related to one of your royal uncles."

"What do you intend to do?"

Boom——!
This question struck Zhu Yunwen like a bolt from the blue.

Not only him, but even the Imperial Guards who were supporting him were horrified and instinctively lowered their heads even further, wishing they were deaf at that moment.

This question is too malicious and too terrifying!

It directly points to the most cruel and bloody wounds of the imperial family!

Zhu Yunwen's body trembled violently, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He was clearly stunned by this assumption, and the color drained from his face instantly.

The royal uncle? Who killed my father?
The faces of several princely uncles flashed through his mind in an instant, and he was gripped by immense shock and fear.

But only for a moment.

The grief and hatred that fueled his storming of the palace and his killings, the extreme pain stemming from the loss of his father, instantly overwhelmed all fear and hesitation.

Without almost a second thought, he abruptly raised his head. His eyes, which had previously held a hint of timidity and sadness, now held only a primal, chilling killing intent. He forced out a single, resolute word through clenched teeth:
"kill--!"

This word, clear, cold, and filled with unquestionable resolve, echoed in the deathly silent hall.

Good guy!
So exciting!

The Imperial Guards, eunuchs, and palace maids around them were completely stunned when they heard this word!

For the first time, Old Zhu's face showed obvious and uncontrollable astonishment and shock!
He even subconsciously leaned back slightly, as if stung by the chilling killing intent contained in those words.

He had anticipated that Zhu Yunwen would be afraid, hesitate, cry, and even beg his grandfather to make the decision...

But to his utter surprise, he received such a swift and ruthless "kill"!

This is completely unlike what a timid and taciturn teenager would say!
This ruthlessness, this decisiveness...who does it resemble?
A fleeting, extremely complex, and perhaps even imperceptible, admiration flashed in the deepest recesses of his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by a thicker cloud of imperial suspicion and fury.

His face quickly darkened, like the sky before a storm, and his voice suddenly became stern and oppressive:
"Kill? What a fine word, 'kill'!"

"To seek revenge, they are willing to kill their own flesh and blood, showing no humanity or kinship whatsoever! How are they any different from beasts?!"

"Based on what you just said, we can't let you live!"

The emperor's suspicions quickly gained the upper hand.

Will a grandson who can say "kill" to his uncle without hesitation raise a butcher's knife against his other brothers or even his imperial grandfather in the future?

This uncontrolled flame of revenge is too dangerous!

Faced with his grandfather's thunderous rage and the death threat of "you cannot be spared," Zhu Yunwen's body trembled with fear, but his eyes flashed with indescribable terror and sorrow.

He was saddened by his grandfather's rebuke and inability to empathize, and feared death.

But when he saw his grandfather's eyes, which were full of suspicion and scrutiny, a strange courage, or rather, a desperate resignation, surged up again.

Instead of backing down, he suddenly raised his head, and for the first time looked directly into Old Zhu's terrifying gaze with an almost equal, tearful, and questioning look. His voice was hoarse but exceptionally clear as he retorted:

"Grandpa Huang!"

"Sun Chen also wants to ask you this!"

"If... if someone murdered your father, murdered Emperor Injo Sun! What... would you do?!"

"Do you even consider human relationships and family ties?!"

Boom——! !

These words, even more so than the word "kill" from before, were like a thunderbolt striking Old Zhu squarely on the top of his head!
He was instantly petrified and froze on the spot!
His face froze, his expression hardened, his expression darkened, his expression suspicious... leaving only utter astonishment and a shock that felt like his deepest sore spot had been hit!

Zhu Yuanzhang, a commoner, ascended to the throne. Throughout his life, he was decisive and ruthless. Who had ever dared to speak to him like that?
Or is he using his father, who died young and worked hard all his life, as an analogy to question him?
But this statement is so cunning and ruthless that it tears away all the pretense and gets straight to the heart of the matter.

The hatred for the murder of one's father! This is the deepest, most irreconcilable hatred in human nature!
"You...you unfilial grandson!"

Overwhelmed by shock and rage, Old Zhu strode up to Zhu Yunwen, raised his hand, and with all his might, delivered a resounding slap to Zhu Yunwen's face!
The slap was extremely heavy, and Zhu Yunwen was so hard that he staggered a few steps and fell to the ground. His mouth split open instantly, blood flowed freely, and half of his cheek swelled up.

But unexpectedly, Zhu Yunwen did not cry or beg for mercy.

He simply wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, slowly raised his head, and in his eyes, the fear and sadness seemed to have been completely dispelled, replaced by a colder, almost desperate calm and resolve.

He looked at his enraged grandfather and repeated, word by word, "The hatred for killing one's father is irreconcilable!"

"Hahahaha! Good! What a perfect 'irreconcilable enmity'!"

Old Zhu was so angry that he laughed, his laughter filled with violence and a kind of madness from being utterly offended.

He raised his hand again, ready to kill this 'inhuman' rebellious grandson on the spot.

However, when his gaze met Zhu Yunwen's clear yet lifeless eyes, saw his swollen cheeks and the blood constantly overflowing from the corner of his mouth, and recalled his bloody courage in storming the palace today, as well as the 'evidence' he spoke of regarding Biao'er's cause of death...

In particular, the thought-provoking question, "What would you do if someone murdered Emperor Injo?" echoed in his mind like a curse, causing his hand, which was filled with murderous intent, to freeze in mid-air.

He thought of Biao'er, his kind but short-lived son.

He thought of Madam Chang, that gentle daughter-in-law.

He thought back to how he had neglected and ignored Yun-hu and her brother over the years…

An extremely complex emotion, a mixture of rage, guilt, suspicion, and even a hint of weariness, ultimately overwhelmed his pure killing intent.

The raised hand was finally lowered, powerless yet incredibly heavy.

Old Zhu was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently, staring at Zhu Yunwen lying on the ground with a complicated expression for a long, long time.

Finally, he turned away from Zhu Yunwen, his voice extremely weary yet undeniably cold, and waved to the two Imperial Guards: "Take him away."

"Imprison him in the empty palace of the Fifth Northern Palace, and assign reliable guards to watch over him. He must have three meals a day, but without my decree, no one is allowed to visit him, nor is he allowed to step out of the palace gates!"

"Anyone who leaks even a single word of what happened in the palace today will be executed by slow slicing, and their entire family will be exterminated!"

"I...obey the order!"

The two Imperial Guards were greatly shocked and immediately bowed to accept the order.

The North Fifth Palace... that's where the Cold Palace is located, and the confinement there is much more severe than that in the side halls.

Is the Emperor protecting him, or...?

Two Imperial Guards stepped forward again, and this time, they practically dragged Zhu Yunwen up from the ground and carried him away from the main hall.

Zhu Yunwen did not resist or speak again. In the instant he was turned and led away, he took one last look at Old Zhu's tall but somewhat lonely and stiff back, his eyes filled with complex and unfathomable emotions.

The palace doors slowly closed again.

Old Zhu stood alone in the center of the empty hall, with shattered ginseng soup and still-dry bloodstains at his feet.

He slowly closed his eyes, his grandson's words echoing repeatedly in his mind: 'What would you do if someone murdered Emperor Renjo?'

And that cold and resolute word 'kill'.

After a long while, he let out a very soft sigh, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

[A karmic entanglement...it's all a karmic entanglement...]

……

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　This is a combined chapter of two parts.

　　I wanted to write a super long chapter, but my abilities are limited. There's one more chapter, but it'll be later! It'll have to wait until after get off work.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)