"Your Majesty, the prince and your lords are still kneeling outside the palace. Are you really not seeing them?"
Brother Li Wu took advantage of the opportunity to hold the lamp and asked in a low voice.
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Brother Li Wu and said in a deep voice: "Is Wang Chengen really dead?"
Brother Li Wu nodded and said, "He is really dead!"
"Because he died a heroic death, in order to commend his achievements, Queen Zhou specially had his body transported back to the capital for burial!"
"The general has taken the opportunity to check before, and there is no doubt that it is Wang Chengen!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he knew that Empress Zhou's move was not only to repay Wang Chengen's kindness, but also to warn him.
Because Wang Chengen was dead, only Fan Fucui and others had seen the handwriting previously produced by Zhou Hou, and it had now been destroyed by Chen Liangmo.
Today, only Wang Dehua still has Wang Chengen's handwriting in his hands, and it is the only evidence that can withstand testing.
Although Empress Zhou has denied the authenticity of the handwriting today, if Empress Zhou or Zhu Cixiang and others suddenly pass away, the situation will definitely be reversed.
I think the reason Zhou Hou dared to do this was because he was confident that he could control the handwriting.
This way, she would be invincible.
It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang hasn't figured it out yet, that is, since Zhou Hou wants to deal with him, why does he go to such trouble? Is it because the other party knows his plan and is not confident in getting rid of him?
But if an opportunity like today is missed, on what occasion will he attack him in the future?
You must know that the generals who command the army today are all promoted by him. Once the rebels are defeated, they will definitely return to the capital. By then, won't Zhou Hou have no chance?
Thinking of this, he looked at Brother Li Wu again and asked, "How is the situation with the Queen?"
Brother Li Wu said hesitantly: "I heard that the Queen is seriously injured. If she can't wake up tonight, I'm afraid...I'm afraid she may never wake up again!"
"It is said that?"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "Is Kunning Palace very well defended?"
Brother Li Wu shook his head and said, "No, it's just that Fei Zhen'e, who is around Queen Zhou, is very cautious. Apart from letting the imperial doctor in for diagnosis and treatment, not even Princess Kunxing is allowed in!"
"Princess Kunxing is not allowed to enter either?"
Zhu Yuanzhang repeated it subconsciously, and then thought about the fact that Zhou Hou only brought Fei Zhen'e with him before, and said with some surprise: "Fei Zhen'e is just a personal maid of the queen, how can she be so presumptuous? Does she have any special status?" ?」
Brother Li Wu said: "The general has already investigated her. She is just an ordinary maid. Because last time when His Royal Highness the Prince was punished at Chengtianmen, she dissuaded the Queen. The Queen felt that she had some knowledge, so she accepted her as his maid. Personal maid."
"Later, when His Majesty left the capital, Li Zushu and others came to invade the palace. She also behaved well. From then on, the Empress treated her differently."
"Furthermore, I heard that the Queen seemed to have said in a daze that everyone should wait outside, so Fei Zhen'e was the only one waiting in the palace!"
"She's the only one?"
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered: "Where is Zhou Jing now?"
Brother Li Wu thought for a while and said, "Zhou Jing was in Kunning Palace before, but was sent out by Fei Zhen'e later. Now he is rectifying the bodyguards of His Highness the Crown Prince!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Zhou Hou had sent away all his confidants, he couldn't help but secretly thought: "If she wants to deal with us, why doesn't she rely on the help of her relatives? Is it because she is afraid that she will implicate them if she fails?"
"But if we were to fight her to the death, how could she think that we would show mercy to her relatives?"
"Could it be that what she did before was just a test?"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head slightly when he had this thought.
Because of Chongzhen's memory and his intention to avoid Zhou Hou, he didn't know much about Zhou Hou's situation.
After today's events, he had roughly seen Zhou Hou's abilities and knew that the other party was also a person with a high level of intelligence.
Although Zhou Hou's previous performance was slightly lacking, it was also due to limited knowledge, but it was by no means a lack of talent.
Moreover, judging from the previous events, Zhou Hou planned this matter more than just a day, and he would definitely not reveal the threat when he was tempted.
language.
What's more, although Chen Liangmo, who assassinated Zhou Hou Wang Zhang and destroyed Wang Chengen's handwriting today, was upright, he was also a smart man and loyal to the Ming Dynasty.
If Zhou Hou had no ironclad evidence, the other party would never be involved in this matter.
Because no matter whether Zhou Hou succeeds or not, there is no possibility for either of them to survive. The only difference is whether the entire clan is executed.
"It seems that she has confirmed that I am not Chongzhen, but why did he deliberately test me before?"
"Is it a bit of luck, or is it just a last memory?"
Zhu Yuanzhang could not guess what Empress Zhou was thinking for a while, so he asked Brother Li Wu who was standing beside him respectfully: "The prince has been outside the palace and never visited the queen?"
Brother Li Wu shook his head and said, "No!"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked again: "He doesn't know the queen's situation?"
Brother Li Wu nodded and said, "I probably don't know!"
"Because not many people in Kunning Palace know about the Queen's situation, the general also spent a lot of effort to find out."
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a while and then ordered: "Go to Kunning Palace again and make sure to find out the queen's situation."
"Attention, this matter must be carried out secretly, and no one can discover it, otherwise, you will bring it up to see me!"
Brother Li Wu was startled when he heard this, and then quickly responded and walked out cautiously.
About half an hour later, Brother Li Wu came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the general interrogated a palace official who was very close to Fei Zhen'e, and secretly checked the imperial doctor's prescriptions and medicine residues, etc., and then sneaked into the palace. After checking the Queen’s injuries, it is true that the Queen’s life is in danger...”
"Is your life in danger?"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "We have seen the Queen's injuries before. Although Wang Zhang's knife stabbed deeply, it was not fatal. How could she be in critical condition?"
Brother Li Wu said: "Although Wang Zhang's sword was not fatal, the empress had been poisoned before, and her body had long been weakened. After this sword attack, it is almost impossible to save her!"
"poisoned?!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's heart trembled slightly, and then he said slowly and lowly: "Is it impossible to solve it?"
Brother Li Wu nodded and said: "The poison is quite weird, and it has penetrated deep into the five internal organs. Unless a god comes down to earth, it will never be spared!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his heart skipped a beat.
He was silent for a while and then said to Brother Li Wu: "Let the prince come in!"
Brother Li Wu bowed and walked out quickly.
After a while, Zhu Cixi walked in.
However, he was the only one who came in, and Brother Li Wu did not follow him.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, he couldn't help but think highly of Brother Li Wu.
Just when he was thinking about what to talk to Zhu Cixiang first, Zhu Cixiang took the lead and said, "Father, I know that you are very angry right now."
"My son also thinks that those rebellious people deserve to be killed, but even if they deserve to die, they cannot be killed like this..."
After Zhu Cihong finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to give in and nodded, tentatively saying: "Okay, my father will kill for one more day. After killing Wang Zhang, Chen Liangmo and others, the others will be handed over to the Ministry of Punishment for disposal!"
Zhu Cixiang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said: "Father, my son and I also want to kill Wang Zhang to vent our anger on our mother, but for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, we cannot kill like this..."
Because Zhu Yuanzhang heard that Zhou Hou would die, he suspected that the other party had told Zhu Cihong everything, so he used Wang and Chen to test it.
At this moment, seeing Zhu Cixi not giving in even an inch, arguing with reason without hesitation, he felt relieved a little.
He argued with Zhu Cixiang pretending to be unhappy, and finally agreed pretending to be helpless.
When Zhu Cihong saw Zhu Yuanzhang agreeing, he thanked him excitedly.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw Zhu Cixiang's innocent smile, he comforted him and felt that he was not in vain this time.
It turns out that after what happened to Li Zushu, he had deliberately restrained his murderous nature.
The reason why he went on a killing spree today was firstly to shock Empress Zhou, and secondly because he was so angry that he couldn't calm down.
Of course, he has another plan
, just to create an opportunity for Zhu Cixiang to win over people's hearts.
After all, his bloodthirsty reputation is well known, and no matter how hard he washes it away, he can't wash it away.
But Zhu Cixiang was different. He had a reputation as a kindhearted person among the courtiers, but because he was still young, his reputation was not obvious.
Now that he has brought tens of thousands of people to life in one fell swoop, he will not only be famous, but also win over a large number of people, which will be of great benefit to his future.
"Okay, stop flattering your father, go and deal with this matter quickly, and then accompany your father to see your mother and queen!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and interrupted Zhu Cixiang's boasting, with a gentle expression on his face.
After Zhu Cihong bowed in agreement, he walked briskly outside.
After a while, a burst of cheers came from outside the palace.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard the sound, he also showed a comfortable smile.
