I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

"Hahaha!"

Xiao Jingting laughed loudly, as if he could already see himself ascending the dragon throne.

"Take your men and follow me to defend the king."

Immediately, a group of over a thousand people surged toward Xuanhua Gate like a tidal wave, the clanging of armor particularly jarring in the night.

Xiao Jingting took the lead, his brocade robe fluttering in the wind, his face showing a sickly excitement.

Zhu Qi's lips curled into a barely perceptible, cold smile.

He glanced sideways at the crazed Xiao Jingting beside him, cursing him inwardly as an idiot.

Flames soared into the sky in front of Xuanhua Gate.

Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan and Marquis Ningguo Xie Yu stood side by side, with a dark mass of elite patrol troops behind them.

He looked at Prince Yu with a cold smile, his voice filled with the excitement of victory.

"Xiao Jinghuan, how dare you collude with the Duke of Qing in a rebellion! Your crime is unforgivable!"

Xie Yu stepped forward at the opportune moment, and the sword at his waist was drawn with a clang.

"Patrol battalion, listen to my command: Slay the traitors!"

Thousands of armored soldiers responded in unison.

Prince Yu, Xiao Jinghuan, was deathly pale, with only Qin Banruo and a few hundred private soldiers standing beside him.

He looked frantically at Prince Jing: "Jingyan, the Crown Prince has gone mad! He's trying to use this opportunity to get rid of us! Come help us!"

Prince Jing, Xiao Jingyan, frowned deeply, and the few hundred or so guards behind him quietly gripped the hilts of their swords.

His gaze shifted between the Crown Prince and Prince Yu, his mind in turmoil.

He didn't want to help either of them, but it was clear that only one of the guys could survive tonight.

Rumble!

A series of footsteps approached from afar; it was Xiao Jingting leading over a thousand Imperial Guards.

The three of them immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at Xiao Jingting.

I go!

They even brought out the Imperial Guards!

Xiao Jingting, you son of a bitch, you have no martial ethics whatsoever.

The prince clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

They thought victory was assured, but unexpectedly, a surprise attack came out of nowhere.

"Third brother, are you crazy?!"

His eyes widened in anger, and he pointed at the Imperial Guards behind Xiao Jingting, shouting sternly, "Unauthorized deployment of the Imperial Guards? Are you trying to rebel?"

Xiao Jingting sat high on his horse, slowly adjusting his wrist guards, a cold laugh playing on his lips.

"Your Highness, what are you saying? Didn't you also bring the patrol battalion?"

When Prince Yu saw Xiao Jingting's troops, he was first startled, then overjoyed.

"Third brother, third brother, save us! That mad prince is trying to use this opportunity to get rid of us brothers!"

Prince Jing took a half step back without making a sound, and quietly placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword.

The scene became awkward for a moment.

We looked at each other, neither daring to make the first move.

Swish!

Just then, hundreds of torches suddenly lit up on the city wall, illuminating the night sky as bright as day.

The prince and his entourage looked up sharply and saw that the crenellations of the city wall were densely packed with archers and crossbowmen in iron armor.

The cold arrowheads gleamed in the firelight, and the fully drawn bowstring emitted a teeth-grinding creak.

"this…"

The Crown Prince's face turned deathly pale instantly, and Prince Yu staggered back two steps, almost tripping over his own cloak.

Even the usually composed Prince Jing couldn't help but tighten his grip on the sword hilt at this moment.

squeak - ah -

The next second, the heavy Xuanhua Gate opened again, and the sound of uniform footsteps rang out like muffled thunder.

The armored torrent of the Tengxiang Four Guards surged out of the city gate, their cold spears and halberds forming an impenetrable steel jungle.

They directly surrounded all the troops brought by the Crown Prince, Prince Yu, Prince Jing, and Prince Yu.

Large beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.

Then, Yan Song slowly walked out from behind the door.

"Gentlemen."

He bowed slightly, a perfectly timed smile on his face.

"A royal decree!"

"In this freezing weather, don't just stand here exposed to the cold wind. All of you, go kneel outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation!"

Chapter 53 Why is Heaven so jealous of Meng Zhi!

Upon hearing this, the prince's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed.

Prince Yu's face was ashen, and even Qin Banruo's hand supporting him was trembling.

Prince Yu dismounted and looked at Zhu Qi for help. Zhu Qi shook his head, his lips forming four words.

"Don't be impatient!"

Prince Jing silently removed his sword and was the first to turn and walk towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Yan Song stepped aside to make way, silently watching these princes who had been so tense just moments before now walk forward with their heads down like stray dogs.

Seeing this, Xie Yu and the others also stopped fighting.

Without Zhu Houcong's orders, they were caught in a dilemma: to leave or not to leave.

They had no choice but to lay down their weapons and stand still.

The four of them walked on the blood-stained palace bricks all the way to the outside of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

At this moment, the white marble steps in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation were stained red with blood.

The scene before me was horrifying.

The square in front of the palace was packed with people, their frozen expressions still showing the terror of their impending deaths.

The soldiers of the Tengxiang Four Guards stood on both sides, holding long halberds.

The armor was imposing, and the killing intent was almost tangible.

The vermilion doors of the Hall of Mental Cultivation were tightly shut, resembling a giant maw ready to devour anyone who might enter.

Snapped!

The piercing crack of the whip tore through the night sky.

The Duke of Qingguo was suspended by iron chains in front of the palace. With each swing of the python whip soaked in salt water in Cao Zhengchun's hand, a piece of flesh and blood was torn apart.

This once powerful duke was now unrecognizable, his screams hoarse and piercing like those of a vengeful ghost.

"Ah...ah...have mercy..."

When Prince Yu, Xiao Jinghuan, saw that the Duke of Qing was no longer human, he was so frightened that he immediately knelt down on the ground.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner clothes.

Everyone in the court knew that the Duke of Qing was his most capable right-hand man.

This is a complete disaster!

Dead brain, turn around!

Quickly think of a way to sever ties with the Duke of Qing!

Upon seeing this, the crown prince let out a cold laugh, lifted his python robe, and knelt upright.

His slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner fear.

After all, he was still within the period of his house arrest.

Not only did he selfishly leave the palace, but he also almost got into a fight with some of his brothers at Xuanhua Gate.

Who can bear this!

Prince Yu was also filled with anxiety and regret.

Deploying troops without authorization is a serious crime. How could you be so blinded by greed and want to get yourself killed?

Only Prince Jing knelt with an open and honest expression, for he was the only one who truly wanted to save the emperor.

The vast plaza in front of the palace was now filled only with the sound of whips and the screams of the Duke of Qing.

Behind the tightly closed palace door, Lady Yue and Consort Hui anxiously peered out through the narrow gaps.

The two women's handkerchiefs had long been twisted beyond recognition by their fingers.

"Stop looking, come and sit down."

Zhu Houcong leaned against the dragon-patterned soft couch, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, yet it made the two concubines tremble.

Consort Yue forced a smile as she returned to the bedside, her slender fingers gently tracing the Emperor's chest: "Your Majesty... what are your plans regarding the princes?"

"snort!"

Zhu Houcong snorted coldly: "In my opinion, all these rebellious sons should be stripped of their titles and reduced to commoners!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Hui quickly replied, "Your Majesty is wise. I believe they were so anxious to save their father that they lost their composure."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Consort Yue quickly echoed, "Please, give these children a chance to repent!"

Zhu Houcong suddenly opened his eyes and scrutinized the two of them.

"What? Are you going to make the decision for me?"

The two trembled as if they were being shaken, and immediately knelt down in front of the soft couch.

"Your Majesty, I dare not!"

The next second, a large, iron-like hand pressed down on the back of the two concubines' heads.

"I am very angry right now..."

Half an hour later, Zhu Houcong stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at them condescendingly: "Are you numb yet?"

The two nodded subconsciously, then realized something was wrong and hurriedly shook their heads.

Her hairpins were disheveled, her makeup was smudged, and she no longer possessed the dignity of a favored concubine.

"That's right, it's numb."

Zhu Houcong said calmly, "I'm giving you a small punishment today as a warning, so you'll remember the price of speaking recklessly."

Seeing the two looking so aggrieved, Zhu Houcong straightened up and walked out of the hall.

"Rest assured, I will only give them a slight punishment; after all, they are all my sons."

Only after Zhu Houcong had completely walked out of the palace gate did the two of them collapse to the ground.

Consort Yue covered her mouth and exchanged a glance with Consort Hui.

All that work wasn't for nothing.

Outside the palace, the wind was biting cold. The four princes knelt on the white marble steps, their faces turning blue from the cold.

When the two dragon-patterned boots came into their view, all four of them simultaneously touched their foreheads to the ground and held their breath.