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

Chapter 770 A Death warrant from hell
To Zhu Xiong Ying, Liu Ru Yan's sorrow seemed more like a betrayal. Rage surged within him, like a volcano about to erupt. "You wretch! How dare you stop me?!" he roared, his sword thrusting even more fiercely, aimed directly at Liu Ru Yan's throat.

Liu Ruyan closed her eyes, as if she had accepted the arrival of death. However, the expected pain did not come. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Zhu Biao standing in front of her, the tip of Zhu Xiong Ying's sword resting less than an inch in front of Zhu Biao's chest.

"Father," Zhu Biao's voice was weak but firm, "I beg you, lay down your butcher's knife."

Zhu Xiong Ying's sword trembled. Looking at the man before him who had risked his life to protect a woman, the surging anger in his heart gradually subsided. In its place, an indescribable sorrow filled his heart.

"Biao'er..." Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was hoarse, "You...are you really going to betray me for this woman?"

Zhu Biao smiled bitterly, "Your subject is not betraying you, it's just... that I don't want to see any more killing."

At this moment, Liu Ruyan spoke up: "Your Majesty, you were once a man of great talent and ambition, expanding the territory and displaying such heroic spirit! Now, however, for the sake of the throne, you are willing to kill your own flesh and blood, disregarding the country and its people. Is this... really what you want?"

Her voice, like a sharp thorn, pierced Zhu Xiong Ying's heart. He looked around; his once loyal soldiers now hung their heads, unable to meet his gaze. His most beloved son shielded him, protecting the concubine he had once cherished. And he, like a madman, brandished his sword, wanting to kill them.

Zhu Xiong Ying dejectedly lowered his sword. His former ambitions had deflated like a punctured balloon, never to rise again.

"I... have lost." He uttered these three words weakly, as if he had used up all his strength.

Zhu Biao supported the swaying Zhu Xiong Ying, his eyes filled with regret, "Father, you did not lose, you are just... tired."

Zhu Xiong Ying closed his eyes, two streams of tears slowly flowing down his wrinkled cheeks. He knew he had lost, utterly and completely. He had lost to time, to people's hearts, and to himself.

Liu Ruyan sighed softly and stepped forward to support Zhu Xiong Ying on the other side. "Your Majesty, let's go back to the palace."

Zhu Xiong Ying remained silent, allowing Zhu Biao and Liu Ru Yan to support him as he walked step by step away from the battlefield where he had once dominated the battlefield.

Upon returning to the palace, Zhu Xiong Ying locked himself in the imperial study for three days and three nights. Three days later, he issued an edict abdicating in favor of Zhu Yunwen, retiring to the position of Emperor Emeritus and ceasing all involvement in politics.

After Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, he changed the era name to "Jianwen" and is historically known as the Jianwen Emperor. He worked diligently and cared for the people, and under his rule, the Ming Dynasty gradually recovered its former prosperity.

Zhu Xiong Ying, on the other hand, lived a peaceful life in the inner palace. He spent his days reading and painting, enjoying his remaining years, seemingly having forgotten his past glory and desolation.

However, the peaceful life did not last long.

One day, Zhu Xiong Ying was taking a walk in the garden when he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps. He looked up and saw a man dressed in black running quickly toward him.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!" the man in black exclaimed breathlessly. "The Prince of Yan... the Prince of Yan has rebelled!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying's expression changed drastically. He never imagined that his most valued son would rebel at this time!

"Why would the Prince of Yan do this?" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice trembled, filled with disbelief.

The man in black said, "The Prince of Yan said... that Your Majesty was forced to abdicate, and he wants... he wants to seek justice for Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiong Ying felt a mix of emotions. He didn't know if Zhu Di was truly acting for his sake or for his own.

"Where is he now?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked in a deep voice. "The Prince of Yan has led his army and captured Jinan City, and is approaching the capital!" the man in black said.

Zhu Xiong Ying took a deep breath, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. He knew that a major battle was inevitable.

"By imperial decree, summon all soldiers and prepare for battle!" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was full of authority and domineering power.

Although he had abdicated, he was still the retired emperor of the Ming Dynasty! He would never allow anyone to destroy the empire he had built with his own hands!

In the imperial study, Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the map hanging on the wall with a furrowed brow.

"Prince Yan...do you really want to force me to take up the butcher's knife again?" he murmured to himself, a complex look flashing in his eyes...

Zhu Xiong Ying slumped onto the dragon throne, its gilded dragon carvings still dazzling, yet unable to illuminate his somber face. He seemed ten years older; his once sharp, hawk-like eyes were now clouded and bloodshot. He gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles white, as if he wanted to crush the chair, a symbol of imperial power.

“Prince Yan…rebellious son!” He spat out these words through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows.

"Your Majesty," the old eunuch Wang Zhong carefully served a cup of ginseng tea, "please take care of your health."

Zhu Xiong Ying didn't even look, and swept the tea leaves away, spilling them all over the ground. Wang Zhong was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a thud, trembling.

"Imperial body? What imperial body do I still have! The Ming Dynasty that I built with my own hands is about to be destroyed in the hands of this rebellious son!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared, his voice echoing in the empty imperial study.

He abruptly stood up, walked to the hanging map, and stared intently at the red dot representing Beiping. That was Zhu Di's stronghold, and also the place that caused him the most heartache at that moment.

"Issue the decree to summon all soldiers. I am going to lead the army in person!" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice carried an unquestionable majesty, as if he had returned to that era of great power and influence.

Wang Zhong was stunned for a moment, then said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! You...you have already abdicated..."

"Abdicate?" Zhu Xiong Ying sneered. "When did I ever say I would truly abdicate? This empire belongs to me! No one can take it away!"

He turned around, his eyes flashing with a cold light. "Go, summon Emperor Jianwen!"

Emperor Jianwen, Zhu Yunwen, rushed over and, upon seeing the enraged Zhu Xiong Ying, turned pale with fright and knelt down with a thud, crying out, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at him coldly, without a trace of kinship in his eyes, "I ask you, can you protect this empire?"

Zhu Yunwen trembled all over and couldn't utter a single word. He had been well-versed in literature since childhood and was kind-hearted; he had never seen anything like this before.

"I will ask you one more time, can you protect this empire?" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was like a death knell from hell.

Zhu Yunwen shook his head, crying, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your grandson... Your grandson is incompetent..."

(End of this chapter)