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

Zhu Houcong strode up to them, his gaze sweeping across the back of each son's neck like a knife.

These few good-for-nothings think they can rebel?

I can control you guys, but it's like an old lady pinching her nose and squeezing her hand.

Then he suddenly raised his foot and kicked Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan to the ground, while talking.

"Fine, if you don't want to live a good life, then let's not live one at all."

"Just the four of you... you think you can just kick the nest?"

"Get some breakfast!"

Seeing that the others remained silent, Zhu Houcong's voice boomed like thunder:

"Your Highness~"

Xiao Jingxuan trembled all over and crawled forward on his knees, his forehead hitting the cold bluestone slab heavily.

"Your Majesty, I am here..."

Zhu Houcong pointed at Xiao Jingxuan and cursed:

"Look at yourself, with your pointed mouth and monkey-like face. Look in the mirror, where is your imperial bearing?!"

Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan was so frightened by what he heard that he trembled and buried his head even deeper.

His gaze then shifted to Prince Yu, and his voice suddenly hardened.

"Prince Yu~"

The call made Xiao Jinghuan tremble. He hurriedly crawled forward on his knees, his forehead hitting the ground heavily.

"Your son...your subject is here."

"You always tell people you're like me, but how are you like me at all? You're far better at winning people over and being two-faced than me!"

boom!

After saying that, he kicked Prince Yu three zhang away with a powerful kick to the chest.

Zhu Houcong's gaze then turned to Prince Jing: "Prince Jing~"

Xiao Jingyan straightened his back: "Your subject is here!"

"A dignified eighth-rank master, it takes him this long to walk from Prince Jing's residence to Xuanhua Gate?"

"Are you also hoping I'll die soon?"

"Your subject had no such intention, it's just..."

What is it?

"I bestowed upon you the title of Prince of the Fifth Rank, and this is how you repay me?"

After speaking, Zhu Houcong ignored Xiao Jingyan's defiant expression and went to Prince Yu.

"Prince Yu~"

Xiao Jingting was already trembling like a leaf.

"Your son...your subject is here!"

"The Imperial Guard General is quite something; with a single call, he can lead troops to force the emperor to abdicate."

“I’m scared and can’t sleep with you kneeling here.”

"Father! It is I, Laiqin..."

"boom!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Houcong kicked him, sending him tumbling away.

At this moment, Yan Song hurriedly crossed the corridor and bowed to Zhu Houcong to report.

"Your Majesty, the civil and military officials have been waiting outside the Hall of Heroes for quite some time."

Zhu Houcong then relented, stood with his hands behind his back, and coldly said, "Summon them."

Before long, the officials, panting and carrying the hems of their official robes, arrived in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Seeing the emperor's face ashen and grim, he immediately knelt down and paid his respects.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

"Get up, everyone."

Just then, Cao Zhengchun stumbled into the crowd, his whisk tipping to one side.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling: "Something terrible has happened! Commander Meng... Commander Meng has been murdered!"

"Were you framed?"

"What?"

"How can this be?"

"Commander Meng is a Grandmaster!"

The court officials were in an uproar.

Even the usually composed Hu Ruzhen's eyes widened at this moment.

Before the doubts subsided, four agents from the Eastern Depot slowly carried Meng Zhi's body in.

In the snow, the headless body remained in a fighting posture, the blood at the severed neck already congealed.

The angry, wide-eyed head was solemnly placed on the brocade.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Houcong was overcome with grief. He staggered forward and touched Meng Zhi's cold face with trembling hands.

"Why is Heaven so jealous of my Great Commander Meng!"

Chapter 54 The Imperial Flogging

Zhu Houcong's mournful howl echoed in the night sky for a long time, and the officials held their breath and lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

They stared at the headless corpse on the ground, still unable to believe it.

The invincible commander of the Mongol army had indeed perished.

After a long while, Zhu Houcong slowly composed himself, his gloomy gaze sweeping over the assembled officials like a sharp blade.

"Convey my decree!"

His voice was deep and authoritative.

"Meng Zhi, the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guards, was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Valor, buried with the rites due to a prince, and his spirit tablet was placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Each word was spoken slowly and deliberately, with a firm and resounding tone.

"His sons and grandsons shall inherit the position without fail, and shall be granted a certificate of merit and incorruptibility."

"Within three days, the entire city was draped in mourning."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Anyone found drinking and making merry shall be executed immediately!"

The officials were shocked to hear this. Since the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty, very few people have had such an honor!

At this moment, Cao Zhengchun crawled forward on his knees, his voice barely audible.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, when we arrived at the Meng residence, the entire Meng family of nineteen had already been murdered."

"what?"

Zhu Houcong was struck dumb, staggering back several steps, his face turning deathly pale, his trembling fingers gripping the front of his dragon robe tightly.

"I have failed Meng Zhi!"

His voice was so hoarse that he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

The next second, he suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the four princes kneeling on the ground.

"It's all your fault!"

Zhu Houcong suddenly sprang to his feet, kicking the nearest Prince Yu to the ground, trembling with rage.

"You unfilial sons! You have caused me to lose a beloved general!"

"Guards, drag these four rebellious sons away and beat them to death, so they may be buried with my Grand Commander Meng!"

"Father...Father Emperor?"

The four princes were struck dumb, their faces filled with disbelief.

Prince Yu collapsed to the ground, Prince Jing clenched his fists, and the Crown Prince was so frightened that he wet his pants.

What the hell does this have to do with me?!

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

All the officials knelt down in unison, their foreheads banging loudly as they kowtowed.

Lou Zhijing, an elderly man, wept uncontrollably.

"If Your Majesty decides to proceed in this way, how will Commander Meng rest in peace in the afterlife!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Qi Min banged her head on the ground, crying, "The prince is the foundation of the nation! This is absolutely unacceptable!"

Zhao Mengjing crawled forward on her knees and clung tightly to Zhu Houcong's dragon boots.

"We beg Your Majesty to show leniency. Commander Meng, in heaven, would certainly not wish to see Your Majesty in this state."

Zhu Houcong pointed at the crowd with trembling hands, his chest heaving violently: "Fine...fine, you all tried to stop me."

"Your Majesty, we humbly beg you to prioritize the well-being of the nation!"

Zhu Houcong could only sigh and wave his hand wearily.

"He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment."

"Each person shall be given fifteen strokes of the cane in court, as a warning to others."

"As you command!"

The four princes were immediately taken by the Eastern Depot to the open space in front of the palace.

The heavy court rod struck the bluestone slab with a chilling thud.

"Snapped!"

When the first blow landed, the prince let out a bloodcurdling scream like a pig being slaughtered.

"Snapped!"

Prince Yu was in so much pain that he bit his lip until it bled, and blood dripped down his chin.

The sounds of flogging and screams mingled together, echoing across the silent palace walls.

The officials bowed their heads, listening to the wailing all around them, their faces ashen.

The fifteen strokes were quickly completed.

Zhu Houcong stood with his hands behind his back, coldly watching his four sons slumped on the ground in a pathetic state.

"Everyone should make their own plans and pay their own debts. These fifteen strokes of the cane are to teach you a lesson."

He then stopped looking at the four people and continued, "I am actually a protective father, but I don't protect every child."

[Recite a famous quote from Emperor Jiajing reasonably, play Emperor Jiajing +1, reward: Medicine King's Golden Elixir]

"Take this traitorous official, for example. He's a Duke of the current dynasty, a second-rank military marquis, and has enjoyed imperial favor for generations..."

Zhu Houcong pointed at the Duke of Qing, who was chained up, and raised his voice with each title he said, until finally it was almost squeezed out through clenched teeth.

"To dare to commit treason is utterly unforgivable!"

"Issue the imperial decree: behead him and display his head to the public; exterminate his entire clan—nine generations!"