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

Chapter 158 Zhang Biao: Finally, I can go home! [Bonus Chapter 4 for Alliance Leader AyeSire7]

Old Zhu was unaware that Yingtian Prefecture was brewing a campaign that would unleash his overwhelming murderous intent.

At this point, although he had a complete chain of evidence, there was one key point that he was still not very clear about.

The evidence in the iron box points to the fact that corruption, factionalism, interference in local affairs, and even interference in the Crown Prince's palace do exist in Shaanxi.

This was actually not unexpected by Lao Zhu.

After all, Zhu Biao's trip to Shaanxi was to secretly investigate these matters.

Moreover, the evidence in the iron box also points to Zhu Shuang, the Prince of Qin, Zhu Gang, the Prince of Jin, or people related to them.

However, the cause of Zhu Biao's death remains a mystery.

Even if the iron box also contained an account book detailing "abnormal expenses of the Crown Prince's Palace," it doesn't prove that that was the direct cause of Zhu Biao's death.

After all, Old Zhu was very clear about Zhu Biao's situation at the time.

He desperately wanted to know what methods or means the other party had used to kill his beloved son right under his nose.

Therefore, not long after Tang He, Chang Sheng, and Jiang Huan left, Zhu Yuanzhang had Song Zhong bring Liu Chun, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy.

"Your subject... Your subject Liu Chun pays his respects... Your Majesty..."

Liu Chun's voice trembled so badly it was almost incoherent.

Old Zhu didn't tell him to get up immediately, but stared at him intently with his icy eyes that could freeze the soul.

He stared for a good dozen breaths, until Liu Chun was almost collapsing to the ground, before slowly speaking, his voice so calm it was chilling:
"Liu Chun, let me ask you something."

"In the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu's reign, during the Crown Prince's serious illness, were there any unusual spices or medicinal herbs used in the Eastern Palace, especially in Consort Lü's palace?"

Liu Chun shuddered violently, his forehead instantly covered in cold sweat, and he lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head.
"Your Majesty...it has been a long time...I...I need to consult the archives in the Imperial Household Department..."

"file?"

Old Zhu sneered, then picked up the copy of the Crown Prince's expenses from the imperial desk and threw it in front of Liu Chun.

"Look at these records! Think it over! Think carefully! If there's even a single lie or concealment, we'll make your entire Liu family wish they were dead!"

The cold paper hit Liu Chun's face, and he felt as if he had been branded with a hot iron. He picked it up with trembling hands, glanced at it a few times, and his face turned ashen.

The names, quantities, and dates of the spices recorded above were like keys that instantly unlocked a deliberately sealed and terrifying past in his memory.

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!"

Liu Chun completely broke down, kowtowing repeatedly, his voice shrill: "I remember now... there was something unusual... at that time, Consort Lü's palace... did indeed use a large amount of benzoin and styrax..."

"There are also some medicinal herbs that are not officially included in the Imperial Medical Bureau's prescriptions... It is said that His Highness the Crown Prince dislikes the smell of medicine, so they are used to mask it... Also, the Empress often suffers from insomnia and needs to use some sleep-aiding spices..."

"Sleep aid?"

Old Zhu's voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder: "What kind of sleep-aiding fragrance needs 'red lead'?! What kind of masking medicine needs 'musk' that clashes with the properties of Prince's Decoction?!"

"Liu Chun! How could you become the head of the Imperial Medical Academy?! Why didn't you report it at the time?!"

The words 'red lead' struck Liu Chun like a thunderbolt, leaving him utterly terrified.

He hadn't expected the Emperor to know this; he thought it wasn't in the ledger.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I am guilty! I am guilty!"

Liu Chun was in tears, almost incoherent:
"At that time... at that time, Consort Lü was deeply favored by His Highness the Crown Prince... regarding her palace expenses... I dare not question too much..."

"And those things... do indeed have a calming effect... I never expected this... I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

His explanations were weak and feeble, filled with fear and a desire to shirk responsibility, but they indirectly confirmed the authenticity of the account records.

Indeed, during the Crown Prince's serious illness, the Lü family palace used a large number of these ambiguous and even dangerous items.

After hearing this, Old Zhu's chest heaved violently, and his eyes raged with fury, but he forcibly suppressed the urge to lash out immediately.

Liu Chun's fear was real, and his dereliction of duty was also real, but his explanation...

The phrases "dared not question," "deeply favored," and "truly has a calming effect" seem to blur the line between Lu's actions and those of "concerned confusion" or "ignorance," without directly pointing to "murder."

Is this the truth, or a more sophisticated disguise?
Old Zhu's paranoia reached its peak at this moment.

Instead of immediately punishing Liu Chun, he softly called out to the empty hall, "Yunming!"

"Your Majesty!"

Yunming immediately came over.

"To the East Palace!"

Old Zhu's voice was deep and filled with unquestionable authority: "Give the copy of the document about the expenses of the Crown Prince's Palace that we just gave you to Lady Lü."

He specifically emphasized the character "赐" (bestow).

"Tell her that I've been feeling restless lately, unable to sleep at night, and always dreaming about Biao'er. Ask her to see if the things on this can be made into a calming sachet to help me fall asleep."

These words sound ordinary, but they are actually extremely malicious!
He asked his wife to make a "calming" sachet based on clues suggesting his son's possible death.
What irony and psychological torture this is! It's also the most direct warning and test!

Yunming felt a chill run down her spine, but dared not show it in the slightest. She quickly bowed and said, "This servant obeys!"

"besides!"

Old Zhu added, his eyes cold:

“Watch her every expression after receiving the decree, and listen carefully to every word she says. When you return, report back to us without missing a single word.”

"Yes!"

Yunming carefully took the piece of paper that felt like a death warrant and quickly retreated.

Old Zhu sat alone on the dragon throne and slowly closed his eyes.

The Lü family?

Logically speaking, she, a woman, only achieved her current status by relying on Biao'er and Yunwen!
If Biao'er lives, she will be the most noble and unparalleled Crown Princess, the future Empress!

If Biao'er dies, she and Yunwen will be like rootless duckweed!

What reason would she have to destroy her own Great Wall? It simply doesn't make sense!
But these records pointing to the Crown Prince's palace inevitably lead to suspicion being placed on her!

after all……

Thinking of this, Old Zhu frowned slightly, then dismissed all his previous suspicions.

Something is wrong!
This record pointing to the Crown Prince's palace not only fails to prove that Lady Lü is guilty, but is more like an extremely insidious smokescreen, a smokescreen that attempts to divert the blame and confuse him!

The real mastermind is trying to use us to get rid of the Lü family and Yunwen, and further shake the foundation of the country.
Or are they trying to use our suspicions about the Crown Prince to cover up their true crimes?

Old Zhu's brain was working at lightning speed, and all the doubts were instantly rearranged and recombined.

Shaanxi! The word "Shaanxi" appears repeatedly in the account book!
And then there was the word "藩" (fan) that Fu Youwen and others almost blurted out while they were arguing!

And... the second son was enfeoffed in Xi'an, where he operated in Shaanxi for many years and his power was deeply rooted!
The third brother has also interfered in Shaanxi affairs on several occasions!

That's it! It's only them!
These princes, who also shared the surname Zhu, held considerable military power, and harbored ambitions for the throne, were the only ones with the motive and the ability to weave such a massive conspiracy!
They should kill Biao'er, disrupt the court, and ideally use him to get rid of Zhu Yunwen, the almost 'predetermined' heir, so that they can have a chance to seize the throne!
A chilling killing intent emanated from Old Zhu, as if it were a tangible force, a hundred times more intense than when he had suspected the Lü family before!
Being betrayed by his own son, and possibly even indirectly causing the death of his beloved son, this sense of betrayal and anger almost consumed him!
But he managed to control himself.

He knew that the more this was the case, the calmer he needed to be.

A moment later, Old Zhu opened his eyes again, glanced at the copying paper on his desk, tossed it aside casually, and said calmly and indifferently:
"Liu Chun, take a look at this. Think carefully about it. In the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu's reign, who purchased these things? Who recommended them? Through whom were they delivered to the Eastern Palace? We need names, channels, and details of every person involved!"

He changed his questioning strategy.

His questions were precise and ruthless.

It completely skips over 'why Lü used it' and goes straight to the source of the supply chain.

Liu Chun's hands trembled as he picked up the paper. With just one glance, he felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and cold sweat poured out like a waterfall.

He knew there was no escaping it now.

This time, the Emperor wasn't asking about efficacy or responsibility, but about the source.

This is about getting to the bottom of things.

Moreover, the contents on this page are already quite detailed.

He can no longer shirk responsibility.

"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty..."

Liu Chun's teeth chattered as his mind raced through his extreme fear, frantically trying to recall: "The procurement...most of it was supplied by the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Revenue...but some special items...seemed to be...seemed to be tributes or festival gifts from various regional princes and nobles..."

"name!"

Old Zhu slammed his hand on the table with a thunderous sound.

He didn't want to hear this nonsense; he wanted to hear the most crucial information directly.

After all, the previous troubles had completely worn him down.

Liu Chun trembled with fright and blurted out:
"Your Majesty the Prince of Qin once presented the finest musk and benzoin from Longxi... Your Majesty the Prince of Jin also sent ginseng and agarwood from Shanxi... and..."

He thought for a moment, then continued:
"And back then, the Duke of Liang also sent some rare medicinal herbs from beyond the Great Wall..."

He recounted all the donors he could possibly recall.

Both princes and nobles attempted to divert attention and lessen their own guilt.

"King of Qin...King of Jin..."

Old Zhu's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he thought to himself, "As expected, they are there!"

Especially the second one! The musk from Shaanxi!

However, Lan Yu shouldn't harm Biao'er!

"anything else?!"

He pressed him further, each word laced with intense murderous intent:
"Who are the eunuchs who handle the procurement of the Crown Prince's daily necessities? Who is responsible for receiving and inspecting them? Are there any palace maids or eunuchs around Consort Lü who have a particular fondness for this?"

Liu Chun was now completely intimidated by Old Zhu's murderous intent and dared not conceal anything any longer:

"Your Majesty, I recall that the person in charge of purchasing supplies for the Crown Prince's Palace at that time was Sun Yue, the Junior Supervisor of the Directorate of Palace Attendants... and the person responsible for receiving and inspecting the supplies was Eunuch Li from the Crown Prince's Palace Pharmacy..."

"The most trusted head maid of Consort Lü is named Lanxin... Lanxin is always in charge of fetching incense and medicine..."

"But many of these people... were later sent to the laundry department for some kind of mistake, or died of illness..."

Died of illness? Sent away?

Old Zhu sneered inwardly; this was a typical method of killing someone to silence them and cut off all leads.

The two eunuchs in Lady Lü's palace killed each other before, so there was no way to prove it.

However, this was not a big deal for Lao Zhu, and he did not investigate it further.

After all, he wasn't completely unaware of the sordid affairs within the palace.

As long as you don't cross his bottom line, he'll turn a blind eye.

“Wang Yue, Eunuch Zhang, Lan Xin…”

Old Zhu silently recited these names, like a hungry wolf memorizing the scent of its prey.

"Song Zhong!"

"Chen is here!"

"Find these three men immediately! Whether they're alive or dead, find out how they died!"

"Arrest and interrogate everyone who has had contact with them!"

"in addition."

He paused, his gaze turning deep to Liu Chun, and said coldly:

"Take Judge Liu away and make him write down everything he just said, as well as every single person and source of medicine related to the Crown Prince's use that he can think of! If he misses even one, we'll have him skinned alive!"

"Yes!"

Without any hesitation, Song Zhong dragged the limp Liu Chun away.

Clues are gradually emerging, though they are vague. However, the cause of Zhu Biao's death clearly points to the prince and the possibly bribed eunuch.

Silence returned to the palace, but the storm in Old Zhu's heart intensified.

He was almost certain that there was one, or even several, powerful figures who were continuously sending poisonous and harmful substances into the Eastern Palace through offerings and bribing eunuchs, plotting to harm his son, Biao'er, for a long time.

Yes, he even suspected that Zhu Biao's death was not a sudden, violent one, but a slow murder.

But just then, Yunming returned.

His face was even paler than when he left, and he even looked a little dazed.

"Your Majesty..."

Yunming knelt on the ground, his voice weak:

"This servant... has already delivered His Majesty's 'decree' and that piece of paper to Consort Lü..."

What was her reaction?

Old Zhu's voice was cold and emotionless.

Yunming swallowed hard and replied with difficulty:

"At first, the Empress was puzzled, but she took the paper and examined it closely... As she looked at it, her face instantly turned pale... and her hands trembled violently..."

"Then, she suddenly looked up at the servant girl, her eyes filled with terror and injustice..."

"She immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly in the direction of the Hall of Literary Glory, saying...saying..."

"say what?!"

She said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! My heart for Your Highness is as clear as day! I would never dare to use such a vicious thing before Your Highness!"

"She also said, 'Someone must have framed me and the Crown Prince! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!'... After saying this, she fainted... The Crown Prince's Palace was now in complete chaos..."

After Yunming finished speaking, he lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

After hearing this, the last trace of doubt in Old Zhu's eyes completely disappeared.

Lu's reaction was a genuine expression of extreme fear and injustice after being suddenly smeared with the overwhelming accusation of murdering her husband.

If she were truly the murderer, it would be impossible for her to exhibit such a violent, almost collapsing reaction without any prior warning.

[As expected... she was also a pawn, or even a target.]

Old Zhu felt an even greater chill in his heart.

The person behind the scenes not only harmed his son, but also wanted him to destroy his daughter-in-law and grandson with his own hands!
Its heart is awkward!

"Summon the imperial physician to take a look."

Old Zhu gave a curt instruction, his tone devoid of any emotion: "Let her rest well. The affairs of the Crown Prince's Palace will be temporarily handled by someone else."

"Yes."

Yunming breathed a sigh of relief and quickly withdrew.

At this moment, clues gradually formed in Old Zhu's mind:

[Origin] Gifts presented by feudal lords/tribute to nobles.

[Channel] Bribed eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Pharmacy. [Received/Used] Personnel within the Eastern Palace, who may have been misled or exploited.

[Target] Crown Prince Zhu Biao

At the same time, the other party is also guiding the investigation towards the Lü family and Yunwen, killing two birds with one stone.

What an intricate web! What a cruel heart!
His gaze returned to the blood-stained iron box, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp and resolute.

Even though the second brother is the prime suspect, he doesn't have the brains to set up such a meticulously crafted trap...

As for the third son, he certainly has the brains, but how did he manage to get his hands on the Crown Prince's palace?

[And what role does the Fifth Prince play in all this? How did Zhou Ji obtain the improved drug from him? And how did he connect with the harem? Or rather...]

[This wasn't just something the second, third, and fifth brothers were involved in...]

Thinking of this, a chill he had never felt before spread through Old Zhu's heart.

How could his beloved son suffer such malice? Weren't the brothers very harmonious?

Why? Why is this happening?!
These beasts!!
"puff--!"

Old Zhu was instantly consumed by rage and felt as if he were about to vomit blood, but he forced it back down.

No matter how big the net is, no matter who it involves, he will tear it apart completely.

Second brother, third brother, fifth brother, it's best if it's not you...

Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless...

.......
the other side.

The Imperial Prison, Room 3, Class A.

Zhang Biao was sitting with his legs crossed, examining something in the dim light reflected from the vent using his set of glass wine glasses, humming a tuneless, off-key song:

"We ordinary people are really happy today..."

The next moment, footsteps were heard.

It was heavy, oppressive, and carried a fierce aura that seemed to have just crawled out of a bloody vortex.

Jiang Huan was soon standing outside the prison gate.

His face was darker than the bottom of a pot, but he looked at the culprit inside with a complicated expression.

"Oh? Isn't this our Commander Jiang?"

"The wind is quite noisy today."

Zhang Biao didn't even turn his head, and lazily spoke:
"Judging from your face, did you just get scolded by Old Zhu? Or did you fall into the latrine while walking? Tsk, I can smell this even through the fence, what bad luck!"

Jiang Huan's cheeks puffed out as he forcefully suppressed the urge to draw his sword, his voice dry and cold:

"Zhang Biao, this is an imperial edict."

"Oh? What instructions does Old Zhu have now?"

Zhang Biao then slowly turned around, swirling his wine glass: "Are you planning to treat me to my last meal before my execution, or are you thinking of some new way to torment me?"

"The Emperor is asking you a question!"

Jiang Huan stared at him, enunciating each word clearly: "The final confession, to write it or not to write it?"

"Write it! Of course I'll write it!"

Zhang Biao answered with unusual ease, then immediately looked troubled: "But you know, when I write, I need inspiration and material. This prison is dark and gloomy, how would I know what's happening outside?"

"Oh, by the way, has Wang Mazi's pig's head meat come in any new dishes? And is Zuixianlou's roast chicken still being served?"

"Zhang Biao!"

Jiang Huan suppressed his anger and interrupted Zhang Biao's nonsense with a low shout.

Zhang Biao shrugged dismissively and said:

"Okay, to tell you the truth, without anything fresh and exciting, what I write will be dry and uninteresting. Old Zhu will definitely be dissatisfied, and you might have to make another trip. Isn't that too much trouble?"

As he spoke, he blinked, giving Jiang Huan an innocent look that said, "I'm doing this entirely for your sake."

"you!"

Jiang Huan was so angry that he almost couldn't breathe.

He knew this madman was up to his old tricks again, but he was bound by imperial orders, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and recount the earth-shattering events of the day as briefly as possible.

From the sound of the petition drum, to the old lawyer carrying a package and pointing directly at the palace, to Fu Youwen and his three companions implicating the princes, to Zhu Yunwen's blood splattering in the Hall of Literary Glory, where he slashed a eunuch and presented an iron box to plead his innocence, and then to the Prince of Yan's residence 'coincidentally' handing over another iron box, the two iron boxes piecing together a complete chain of evidence...

Jiang Huan spoke concisely, trying to avoid any emotional coloring, but the twists and turns, the tragedy, and the unbelievable nature of the whole process still unconsciously brought a few waves to his tone.

He was unaware that Zhang Biao had already tricked his subordinates into knowing some of the details, but after he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the cell.

Zhang Biao stood there, holding his wine glass, stunned. The nonchalant look on his face gradually disappeared, his mouth slightly open, his eyes fixed on something as if he had heard something utterly absurd.

Seeing this, Jiang Huan sneered inwardly.

[Hmph, scared out of your wits, aren't you? Now you know you've gone too far, haven't you?]

However, the next second——

"Pfft—hahaha! Hiccup, hahaha—!"

Zhang Biao suddenly burst into a deafening burst of wild laughter.

He laughed so hard he almost fell over, his hand slipped from the glass, and he didn't care that he spilled wine all over himself. He even rolled onto the bed, pounding on the mattress.

"Oh my god! I'm dying of laughter! Hahaha! They're all geniuses! They're all fucking geniuses!"

"Zhao Fengman! Li Mo! Wu Naida! You guys are all movie stars! Give us an award! You absolutely must give us an award!"

"You two are undoubtedly the best leading men in the Ming Dynasty!"

Jiang Huan: "???"

Zhang Biao pounded the bed while laughing and cursing:
"I only gave you some bait and direction, and you guys actually put on this annual palace intrigue revenge drama?!"

"Blood splattered in the Imperial Palace? A knife cleaved an old eunuch? Two boxes combined? My goodness!"

"I wouldn't even dare to write a plot like this in my novels! It's a hundred times more exciting than any storyteller in a teahouse!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he sat up abruptly, wiping away tears of laughter, and looked at the stunned Jiang Huan, excitedly asking:

"And then what? And then what? What was Old Zhu's reaction? Did he get so angry that he literally exploded on the spot?"

"Or are you going to draw your sword and kill your son or grandson? Tell me quickly!"

"..."

Jiang Huan's face turned completely black.

He felt he wasn't there to interrogate the man, but rather to tell him stories and amuse him!
"Shut up!"

Jiang Huan abruptly interrupted Zhang Biao's maniacal laughter, his face so dark it could drip water: "Zhang Biao! The Emperor has no time to listen to your nonsense! Confession! Write it down immediately!"

He paused, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes, and decided to increase the pressure: "His Majesty also instructed me to tell you that Shen Lang, Sun Gui, Li Mo, Wu Naida, and Zhao Fengman are all guilty of crimes punishable by death!"

"If you don't tell the truth, their lives will be in danger!"

He thought this would scare Zhang Biao.

To everyone's surprise, Zhang Biao's smile vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely strange expression that mixed mockery and pity.

"Jiang Huan!"

Zhang Biao's voice was soft, yet carried a strange power as he changed the subject:

"Why do you think a dynasty that has only been established for a few decades would fall into ruin?"

"Can a few corrupt officials really ruin it?"

"Will killing a few Fu Youwens, Ru Changs, or Zhou Dexings make things better?"

"Or is it possible to achieve lasting fame by stirring up a few cases like Hu Weiyong's, Guo Huan's, the blank seal case, or even Zhang Biao's?"

"This……"

Jiang Huan was stunned by these three soul-searching questions.

Asking him to kill or investigate cases is fine, but asking him to discuss such profound issues is really asking too much of him.

However, Zhang Biao did not expect him to answer him.

Zhang Biao leaned forward slightly, his gaze like two quenched daggers, piercing straight into the depths of Jiang Huan's soul.

"I'm telling you, it's impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Because the root of the problem is rotten, Jiang Huan!"

"It starts to rot from the top!"

"The father suspects the son, the son plots against the father, brothers quarrel, and uncles and nephews distrust each other!"

"The princes were lawless in their fiefdoms, treating the people like dirt, indulging in pleasure, and competing with each other in extravagance!"

"Today you refine elixirs, tomorrow he concocts secret medicines—it's a competition to see who can be more absurd and more playful!"

"What the superiors do, the subordinates will follow suit! If the princes above are all playing this game, how can the sons of nobles, officials, and powerful families below not follow suit? How can they not plunder the people's wealth to satisfy their extravagant desires?!"

Zhang Biao's tone grew colder and sharper: "I checked the accounts? What I found was just the tip of the iceberg!"

"These are the few rotten fruits that inevitably grow on this decaying tree!"

"Corruption in Shaanxi, misappropriation of funds for river works, arms trafficking... which of these doesn't have the shadow of the Prince's Mansion behind it? Doesn't it have the tacit approval or even involvement of those nobles?!"

"Why did the Crown Prince die? Perhaps he was truly ill, or perhaps he died from exhaustion! But he was facing a mess that was rotten to the core!"

"He can't fix it! He has no way to fix it! Because his father is the biggest one..."

"Shut up--!"

Jiang Huan interrupted sharply, his flying fish robe already soaked with cold sweat, and he dared not listen any longer.

Zhang Biao laughed, a laugh filled with endless sorrow and mockery:
"What? Scared? Jiang Huan, even you, the emperor's vicious dog, have moments of fear?"

"Didn't you convey Old Zhu's oral order? Didn't he tell me to write a final confession? This is my confession!"

"I'm telling you, I know! I knew all along that investigating would lead to this result!"

"But I'll still investigate!"

"I'm going to expose it! I'm going to let Zhu Chongba see clearly what kind of people these princes he personally appointed, and the Zhu family's empire that he's so proud of, really are!"

"Doesn't he like killing? Let him kill! Let him see which of his good sons and good brothers he should kill first!"

boom!
Jiang Huan was struck dumb, frozen in place, his whole body ice-cold.

Looking at the seemingly insane death row inmate before him, he felt a chill run down his spine for the first time.

“Madman…you really are a madman…” Jiang Huan muttered to herself, involuntarily taking a step back.

"Now!"

Zhang Biao ignored him, reverting to his nonchalant demeanor, and said with a faint smile, "Go back, go back and report to Old Zhu, tell him that his sons have prepared a great gift for him."

"Let's see if he chooses to continue covering it up and pretending everything is fine..."

"Or should we choose... to put aside our own family for the greater good, clean house, and leave the Zhu family with a slightly cleaner empire?"

"As for my five brothers..."

He paused, then slowly stood up, walked to the fence, almost touching Jiang Huan's face, lowered his voice, and spoke slowly and deliberately in a tone as if chatting casually:

"Commander Jiang, please go back and tell Old Zhu."

"If he dares to lay a finger on them."

"I, Zhang Biao, guarantee to make up eight hundred different versions of that messy affair in the Zhu family, with its brothers killing each other, fathers and sons distrusting each other, and children and grandchildren being beasts!"

"For example, 'The Hongwu Emperor Kills His Nephew at Night,' 'The Secret History of the Prince of Qin's Favored Concubine and the Destruction of His Wife,' and 'The Case of the Prince of Lu's Alchemy and the Murder of His Child,' etc., I guarantee that each one will be wonderful, with a dramatic plot and vivid details."

"Then what!"

Zhang Biao smiled like a fox that had just stolen some fish:
"I will let these stories fly to every corner of the Ming Dynasty in a way that Commander Jiang could never imagine and could never stop, from being heard by even a three-year-old."

"Do you think people will think then? How will the historians record it?"

Guess again!

Zhang Biao's smile turned cold: "Is it more important for Old Zhu to kill my five brothers to vent his anger, or is it more important for the reputation of the Zhu family, and the facade of 'filial piety' and 'brotherly harmony' that he has painstakingly maintained?"

Jiang Huan felt a cold sweat break out all over his body and his scalp tingle.

This complete madman!
This is a blatant and extremely malicious threat!

Moreover, this threat... happened to strike at the emperor's greatest weakness—

Reputation and royal dignity.

He had no doubt that this madman was absolutely capable of doing it!
And there is definitely a way to do it!
"You...you dare!?"

Jiang Huan's voice trembled slightly.

"Do you think I dare?"

Zhang Biao raised an eyebrow, took a step back, and resumed his lazy demeanor:

"Anyway, I'm going to die anyway, so taking the Zhu family's reputation down with me is a sure win! Oh, and remember to tell Old Zhu exactly what I said."

Jiang Huan stared intently at Zhang Biao, as if she wanted to tear him to pieces with her gaze.

But in the end, he found himself completely helpless against this stubborn person.

He stomped his foot and almost gritted his teeth as he squeezed out three words: "You just wait!"

Then he turned around and, as if fleeing a plague, strode out of the prison.

He had to deliver this crucial message to the Emperor immediately.

In the cell, Zhang Biao watched Jiang Huan's disheveled departure, a cold smile curving his lips.

Zhu Chongba, your family affairs are also national affairs.

Forget about any talk of a family-run empire; with me here, the world belongs to everyone.

He lay back down on the bed, put his hands behind his head, stared at the dark ceiling, and muttered to himself:
Looks like I can finally go home.

He knew that Old Zhu was truly determined to kill him this time.

The truth has come to light. Old Zhu, now it's up to you to see how ruthless you can be.

……

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　Alright! The bonus chapter for the Alliance Leader is finished! Whew~ Whew~ Writing these long chapters these past few days has been really tiring! Because there were so many things to explain, including foreshadowing for the next volume. After that, depending on the subscription situation, I'll decide whether to continue with long chapters or the standard 4000-word chapters.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)