The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 698 Do you want to know the truth?
"The victor is king, the loser is villain; it has always been so!" A ruthless glint flashed in Zhang Xiang's eyes. "Today, it's either you or me who dies!"

Having said that, Zhang Xiang suddenly drew his long sword from his waist and thrust it at Ye Qingzhou.

Ye Qingzhou was prepared and dodged to the side, drawing his sword at the same time to engage in fierce combat with Zhang Xiang.

Both were martial arts masters; their swords flashed, each strike potentially fatal. The howling mountain wind added to the chilling atmosphere.

Ye Qingzhou was anxious; he had to deal with Zhang Xiang as soon as possible and then find the Emperor.

He seized an opportunity and stabbed Zhang Xiang in the shoulder with his sword.

Zhang Xiang cried out in pain and took a few steps back.

Ye Qingzhou pressed his advantage, his sword aimed directly at Zhang Xiang's throat.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded: "Stop!"

Ye Qingzhou and Zhang Xiang stopped at the same time and looked in the direction of the sound.

Suddenly, Zhu Xiong Ying appeared at the edge of the cliff.

"Your Majesty!" Ye Qingzhou exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and delight.

Zhu Xiong Ying's face remained calm, his eyes coldly fixed on Zhang Xiang: "Zhang Xiang, why are you doing this?"

Zhang Xiang clutched his wound, his face pale: "Your Majesty, this old minister...this old minister only wanted to..."

"What are you thinking? Do you want to usurp the throne?" Zhu Xiong Ying interrupted him sharply.

Zhang Xiang's expression changed, and he knelt down on the ground: "Your Majesty, this old minister dares not!"

"Dare not?" Zhu Xiong Ying sneered. "You kidnapped me and forced Ye Qingzhou to hand over the Imperial Seal. Isn't that an act of usurpation?"

Zhang Xiang trembled all over and dared not speak again.

Zhu Xiong Ying walked up to him, looking down at him condescendingly: "Prime Minister Zhang, I have treated you well, why do you betray me like this?"

Zhang Xiang raised his head, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness: "Your Majesty, I have served you for many years, and even if I have not made any great contributions, I have certainly worked hard! But what have you done? You are increasingly distrusting me, and have even begun to give Ye Qingzhou important positions! I am not convinced!"

"Dissatisfied?" A cold glint flashed in Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes. "I am the emperor, and you are merely a subject! I can appoint whomever I wish to appoint! What right do you have to dissent?"

Zhang Xiang's face flushed red, but he was speechless.

Zhu Xiong Ying ignored him and turned to Ye Qingzhou, saying, "Ye Qingzhou, seize Zhang Xiang and escort him back to the capital to await his judgment!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Qingzhou bowed and accepted the order, then stepped forward to tie up Zhang Xiang.

Zhang Xiang struggled and roared, "Zhu Xiong Ying! You'll die a horrible death! You'll regret this!"

Zhu Xiong Ying stared at him coldly without saying a word.

Ye Qingzhou escorted Zhang Xiang down the mountain, while Zhu Xiong Ying stood alone on the mountaintop, gazing into the distance.

The night wind blew against his robes, making them flutter.

His eyes were deep and cold, as if they held endless secrets.

……

Upon returning to the capital, Zhu Xiong Ying ordered Zhang Xiang to be imprisoned and executed at a later date.

When the news spread, the entire court was in an uproar.

No one expected that Zhang Xiang, the Grand Secretary who held a high position and was second only to the emperor, would commit such a treasonous act.

Ye Qingzhou, for his meritorious service in saving the emperor, was granted the title of Duke Protector of the Nation and awarded ten thousand taels of gold.

For a time, Ye Qingzhou was incredibly popular and became the most sought-after figure in the Ming Dynasty.

However, Ye Qingzhou did not feel any joy.

He always had a question in his mind: Why did Zhang Xiang kidnap the emperor? Was there someone else behind him?

He always felt that this matter was not so simple.

……

One day, Ye Qingzhou was handling official business at his residence when suddenly a man in black burst in. The man in black was masked, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes.

"Who are you?" Ye Qingzhou asked warily.

The man in black didn't speak, but simply took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Ye Qingzhou.

Ye Qingzhou took the letter, opened it, and his expression changed drastically.

The letter contained only a few short sentences: "The Ghostly Sorrow of West Mountain has a hidden story. Come quickly!"

Ye Qingzhou was startled. He knew that someone must have deliberately left this letter for him.

And this person is very likely the mastermind behind it all!

He immediately changed into night clothes and quietly left the mansion, heading once again to the Western Hills' Ghostly Sorrow.

……

The ghosts of the Western Hills are filled with sorrow; the night is as dark as ink.

Following the instructions in the letter, Ye Qingzhou arrived at a secluded cave.

Inside the cave, a man in black stood quietly with his back to him.

"Who are you?" Ye Qingzhou asked in a deep voice.

The man in black slowly turned around, revealing a familiar face.

"It's you!" Ye Qingzhou exclaimed in surprise.

The man in black was none other than... Zhu Xiong Ying!

Ye Qingzhou stared wide-eyed at what was happening before her in disbelief.

"Your Majesty...you..."

Zhu Xiong Ying revealed a strange smile: "Ye Qingzhou, you are very clever to have found this place."

"Your Majesty, what exactly is going on?" Ye Qingzhou was filled with doubt.

Zhu Xiong Ying walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Ye Qingzhou, do you want to know the truth?"

Ye Qingzhou nodded without hesitation.

Zhu Xiong Ying leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Actually... all of this was arranged by me..."

Ye Qingzhou felt a chill run from his feet to the top of his head. He instinctively took a step back, staring at the person in front of him in disbelief. In the Ghostly Cave of Xishan, the night wind howled, and the torches crackled in the cave, casting flickering light on Zhu Xiong Ying's face, making him appear like a ghost.

"Your Majesty...you...what is the reason for this?" Ye Qingzhou's voice trembled. He felt as if he had fallen into a huge whirlpool and could not understand what was happening in front of him.

Zhu Xiong Ying sneered, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Ye Qingzhou, do you really think I'm so easily kidnapped?"

He strolled up to Ye Qingzhou, gently lifted his chin with a finger, and said in a flippant tone, "You have rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor, so I will naturally reward you handsomely. Duke of Protectorate, ten thousand taels of gold, these are all what you deserve."

Ye Qingzhou abruptly slapped Zhu Xiong Ying's hand away and angrily said, "Your Majesty! Are you toying with me? Prime Minister Zhang, he..."

“Zhang Xiang?” Zhu Xiong Ying laughed loudly, the laughter echoing in the cave, sounding particularly sinister. “He is nothing more than a pawn of mine.”

He walked to the fire, picked up a burning stick, and waved it casually in the air: "I knew long ago that he harbored rebellious intentions, so I used a trick to lure him into a trap."

"Those...those assassins..." Ye Qingzhou's voice was a little hoarse.

"It was also arranged by me," Zhu Xiong Ying said casually. "I want to see who is truly loyal to me in this critical moment."

Ye Qingzhou felt a surge of anger rush to his head. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, "Your Majesty! What about the people of the world? What about the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Xiong Ying turned around, staring coldly at Ye Qingzhou: "The world? The country? These all belong to me! I can do whatever I want with them!"

He threw the wooden stick in his hand into the fire, the firelight illuminating his distorted face: "Ye Qingzhou, you are very smart and loyal, but unfortunately, you chose the wrong side."

"I'm giving you a chance. Submit to me, and I'll let you continue to enjoy wealth and honor, second only to me."

(End of this chapter)