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

Chapter 819 Falling into an abyss of no return
"Father, your son..." Zhu Biao hesitated, his eyes darting around like a fox whose tail had been caught.

Zhu Xiong Ying narrowed his eyes, an imperial aura emanating from him that made Zhu Biao breathless. He snorted coldly, "Stop stammering! What kind of decorum is this! I want to see what shameful things you're hiding from me!"

"Father, you are wise. Your son did indeed... have contact with envoys from various countries..." Zhu Biao's voice was as low as a mosquito's buzz, and he lowered his head even further.

"Contact? Hmph, it's probably collusion!" Zhu Xiong Ying slammed his fist on the armrest of the dragon throne and roared, "They forced me to abdicate, and what did you do? Are you also hoping for my early death so you can take my place?!"

Zhu Biao trembled with fear and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Father, please calm your anger! Your son would never dare to have such a thought! Your son only..."

"Just what? Say it!"

Zhu Biao took a deep breath and said with a sense of desperation, "Your subject only wishes to persuade Father Emperor to abdicate and yield the throne to a worthy successor..."

"Insolence!" Zhu Xiong Ying was furious. He grabbed the teacup beside him and smashed it hard against Zhu Biao. The scalding tea splashed all over him, and the porcelain shards cut his cheek, causing blood to flow down the wound.

"You...you unfilial son! I've worked so hard to build this empire, and you actually want to hand it over to someone else?!" Zhu Xiong Ying trembled with rage, pointing his finger at Zhu Biao's nose and cursing, "I think you've been deceived by the sweet words of those barbarian vassals! What benefits have they given you that have made you so heartless!"

Zhu Biao covered his face, his eyes filled with grievance: "Father, I am devoted to the Ming Dynasty and have never thought of betraying you! I just feel that you are now obsessed with cultivating immortality and neglecting state affairs. The Ming Dynasty is becoming weaker and weaker and the people are suffering... If this continues, the Ming Dynasty will be in danger!"

"Shut up!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared. "What did I cultivate immortality for? Wasn't it to make the Ming Dynasty stronger? What do you know?!"

"Your Majesty, I do not understand!" Zhu Biao retorted, meeting Zhu Xiong Ying's gaze without fear. "All I know is that since Father Emperor began cultivating immortality, the national treasury has been empty, and the people's resentment has boiled over! Disasters have been occurring in various places, and people have been displaced! Father Emperor, have you ever personally witnessed the tragic scene of corpses lying everywhere? Have you ever heard the heart-wrenching cries of the people?!"

Zhu Xiong Ying was stunned. He had never imagined that his dedication to the Ming Dynasty would backfire and harm it.

He slumped onto the dragon throne, muttering to himself, "Could it be... that I was really wrong?"

“Father, you are not wrong.” Zhu Biao walked up to Zhu Xiong Ying, knelt down and said, “You have only been blinded by the pursuit of immortality, forgetting that the people are the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. Your son begs you, Father, to abandon the pursuit of immortality, revitalize the court, and bring the Ming Dynasty back on the right track!”

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Zhu Biao, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes.

"Biao'er, do you really think I should give up cultivating immortality?"

"Father, cultivating immortality cannot make the Ming Dynasty strong. Only when the people live in peace and prosperity can the country truly become strong!"

Zhu Xiong Ying remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh: "Perhaps... you are right."

He stood up, walked outside the hall, looked at the bright moon in the sky, and felt a mix of emotions.

"Guards!" he shouted. "Issue my decree: I have an important announcement to make at the morning court tomorrow!"

……

The next morning at court, all the civil and military officials gathered together, all curious about what important matter the emperor was going to announce.

Zhu Xiong Ying, dressed in a dragon robe, sat majestically on the dragon throne. His gaze swept over the assembled officials, and he slowly said, "I have decided to abandon my cultivation of immortality and concentrate on governing the country!" As soon as he said this, the court erupted in uproar.

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable!" Li Jinglong was the first to stand up and object. "Cultivating immortality is a national policy of our Great Ming Dynasty. How can we abandon it so easily?!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Shen Wansan echoed, "If we abandon the cultivation of immortality, our Great Ming will lose the power to contend with other countries!"

"My mind is made up, no need for further words!" Zhu Xiongwen said firmly. "I have realized that cultivating immortality cannot make the Ming Dynasty strong. Only when the people live in peace and prosperity can the country truly be strong! From today onwards, I will abolish the national policy of cultivating immortality and devote all resources to developing people's livelihoods so that the people of the Ming Dynasty can live a good life!"

The ministers looked at each other, not daring to refute any further.

However, at that moment, a sharp voice suddenly rang out: "Your Majesty, you must think this through! If you give up cultivating immortality, our Great Ming will become the target of everyone's attacks! When the allied forces of various countries come to attack, how will our Great Ming resist?!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man in a Taoist robe slowly walk out; it was none other than the Imperial Preceptor Zhang Sanfeng.

Zhang Sanfeng walked up to Zhu Xiong Ying and said with a pained expression, "Your Majesty, you have been bewitched by the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince doesn't understand the importance of cultivating immortality at all. He just wants you to give up cultivating immortality so that he can take control of the court!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Zhu Biao roared. "I'm devoted to the country, how dare you slander me?!"

"Hmph, Your Highness, do you dare say you have no selfish motives?" Zhang Sanfeng sneered. "Do you dare say you haven't thought about replacing His Majesty's position?"

Zhu Biao was speechless at Zhang Sanfeng's words. He had indeed thought about becoming emperor, but he had never thought about harming his father.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the scene before him, a sense of doubt creeping into his heart. He looked at Zhu Biao, his eyes filled with inquiry.

"Biao'er, tell me honestly, did you...?"

Zhu Biao was caught off guard by Zhang Sanfeng's sudden questioning, his face flushed red, and he was speechless for a long time. He did indeed yearn for the throne, but not out of personal desire, but because he firmly believed that he was more suitable to govern the country than his father. He took a deep breath and was about to speak in his defense when Zhu Xiong Ying raised his hand to stop him.

Zhu Xiong Ying's gaze swept back and forth between Zhu Biao and Zhang Sanfeng, his suspicions deepening. He knew his son; Zhu Biao, though ambitious, was by no means a treacherous man. And Zhang Sanfeng, as the Imperial Preceptor, had always been loyal and had never harbored any disloyalty. So, who was lying?
“Zhang Sanfeng,” Zhu Xiong Ying asked in a deep voice, “why did you slander the Crown Prince?”

Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard and said with a pained expression, "Your Majesty, I am not slandering the Crown Prince, but for the sake of the Ming Dynasty! The Crown Prince is young and impetuous and does not understand the importance of cultivating immortality. If he were to control the government, our Ming Dynasty would surely be plunged into an abyss of no return!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Zhu Biao finally couldn't hold back and roared, "When did I say I wanted to give up cultivating immortality? I just hoped that Father Emperor could focus more on governing the country instead of blindly pursuing immortality!"

"Hmph, Your Highness, that's just sophistry!" Zhang Sanfeng sneered. "Dare you say you've never considered taking His Majesty's place?"

"I..." Zhu Biao was speechless for a moment. He had indeed thought about becoming emperor, but he had never thought about harming his father.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the scene before him, his confusion deepening. He waved his hand, signaling the two to quiet down.

(End of this chapter)