Chapter 668
: Zhu Biao's Scheme, and the Imperial Music Bureau's Fengluan Lin De's Des
Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne in the Kunning Palace, looking down at Zhu Chong who was kneeling in front of him.
Zhu Chong looked spineless and submissive.
His body trembled slightly, like a frightened quail.
Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on the dragon throne and witnessed Zhu Chong's submissive attitude.
His heart was like a raging sea, with a surge of extremely complex emotions.
These emotions are like a tangled mess, tangled and difficult to describe.
Then Zhu Chong's brows were furrowed as if they were tightened ropes, and the wrinkles were deep, just like the ravines carved by time.
Every line seems to hide deep dissatisfaction and worry.
Zhu Yuanzhang was dissatisfied with Zhu Chong's cowardice and was worried that the Ming Dynasty would not be stable if it was handed over to a person with such a temperament.
Immediately his eyes turned, like a flash of cold lightning suddenly in the cold night, sharp and pointed, shooting straight at Zhu Chong.
That gaze seemed to have the power to penetrate people's hearts, as if it wanted to see through this second son thoroughly from the outside to the inside, and explore his true thoughts and temperament deep in his heart.
Under this lightning-like gaze, Zhu Chong seemed to be fixed in place, unable to move, and could only tremble.
"Second brother, you look like a prince, how can you be like that?"
Zhu Yuanzhang spoke, his voice echoing in the empty hall.
"The King of Qin is so cowardly, he has no spirit of a king at all.
How can we ensure the stability of our Ming Dynasty in the future?"
Zhu Chong lowered his head, not daring to say a word, but his body trembled even more violently.
Zhu Yuanzhang then turned his gaze to Zhu Gang who was standing beside him. Seeing that he looked nervous, he frowned slightly and said, "Third brother, most of the people here are not outsiders. If you have anything to say, you can speak frankly."
Zhu Gang bowed quickly and said slowly, "Father, I think the most urgent thing is to investigate the source of the assassin.
As for the traitor hidden in the Jinyiwei, we can send someone to investigate secretly to avoid alerting the enemy."
Zhu Biao nodded upon hearing this and continued, "Father, I think what my third brother said is absolutely right.
The reason why the assassin was able to run rampant in the palace was probably that he had planned this for a long time.
Even if one or two traitors are caught, it is difficult to completely eliminate the hidden dangers.
It would be better to adopt the strategy of "openly repairing the plank road while secretly marching through Chencang".
We might as well follow the wish of the mastermind behind this and, according to your previous decree, arrest the entire family of Lin De, the head of the Jiaofang Bureau, and execute them on a certain day.
When the mastermind sees that his conspiracy has succeeded, he will definitely jump out to add insult to injury.
This way, we can not only follow the clues to find more clues, but also let wavering people like Jiang Lin see the methods of the court and the emperor!"
Linde listened from the side, his heart surging like a raging storm.
He was well aware of the cruelty of court struggles. As a small official in the Jiaofangsi, he was nothing more than an insignificant ant in this turbulent vortex of power.
Although Lind is cautious and tries hard to maintain relationships with all parties on weekdays, he can't avoid making enemies.
When the Kunning Palace assassination incident broke out, fear followed him from the moment he was suspected.
At this moment, Lin De glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang who was high above him. His dignified face was intimidating without even being angry.
Then he glanced at the people around him with different expressions, and realized that he was in a desperate situation.
Thinking back on his experiences in the palace over the years, those times when he was excluded and made things difficult for himself, especially the deliberate harassment by Zhao Xiuyong, the Minister of Rites, Lin De felt an irrepressible anger and resentment in his heart.
He swore to himself: "I can't die, and nothing can happen to my family."
Although Lind knew that making random accusations could lead to serious consequences, he could no longer care about that at this critical moment.
Instead of sitting and waiting to die, it is better to fight hard, maybe there is still a glimmer of hope.
At this moment, Lu Feng, who was standing not far away, lost all the color on his face. His hands trembled unconsciously, and his fingers hanging at his sides clenched into fists, then slowly loosened them, as if this could ease the fear in his heart.
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have noticed something strange about Lu Feng, and his eyes fell on him coldly.
"Lu Feng, what do you want to say?"
Lu Feng's heart trembled, and he knelt down quickly with a plop, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I... I will do my best to assist in the investigation of this matter, and I will not dare to slack off in the slightest."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, "It would be better if this were the case. If there really is a traitor among the Jinyiwei, you will also be blamed."
Lu Feng felt like he was sitting on pins and needles at the moment, with beads of sweat the size of beans on his forehead rolling down like beads that had broken off a string.
"Plop" and "plop" sounds were heard on the cold ground, creating tiny splashes of water.
The chill of the ground seeped into his heart through the sound, making him even more frightened.
Lu Feng clenched his teeth, hesitated for a long time, and then raised his head slightly.
His eyes were full of cowardice and fear, and he glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang secretly like a thief.
Zhu Yuanzhang was seen sitting upright, his eyes like cold stars, sharp and majestic.
It seemed to be able to penetrate Lu Feng's skin and flesh, reaching deep into his heart, and knowing every secret in his heart.
As soon as Lu Feng came into contact with this gaze, he felt like he was struck by lightning and his whole body trembled.
He quickly lowered his head, wishing he could bury his head in the ground.
At the same time, Lu Feng's heart was beating violently as if there was a lively rabbit in his heart.
He prayed silently, his lips moving slightly.
Pray to God for protection and hope that Zhu Yuanzhang will show mercy.
Let yourself go this time and avoid the impending disaster.
At this time, Empress Ma sat quietly beside Zhu Yuanzhang. Although she tried her best to cheer herself up, the fatigue between her brows was like a mist that lingered and was difficult to conceal.
She slowly moved her eyes, her movements gentle and slow.
That gaze was like a clear spring, slowly flowing towards where Zhu Gang was.
Queen Ma's eyes were filled with the tenderness and concern unique to motherhood, just like the warm sunshine in spring, bringing warm warmth.
Trying to penetrate this heavy atmosphere that seemed to be real and give Zhu Gang some comfort.
That gaze was like a pair of invisible hands, gently caressing Zhu Gang's body and mind, conveying silent comfort and care.
In this depressing environment, it is like a ray of light, lighting up a glimmer of hope.
When Zhu Gang saw this look, his heart suddenly sank, and he thought to himself: Is the look from my mother hinting that I have done something wrong that I need to face?
Or does she know that there is something unspeakable in my heart?
Once this thought suddenly occurred in Zhu Gang's mind, it was like a sharp wedge that instantly wedged into his already tense nerves.
The nerves became increasingly tense, as if they could not bear the heavy burden and might break at any time.
I saw a layer of fine beads of sweat quietly oozing out of Zhu Gang's forehead as if it were just a drizzle, and then slowly sliding down his cheeks which were slightly red due to nervousness.
Zhu Gang's back, which was originally as straight as a pine tree, now seemed to be pressed down by an invisible force.
He felt a little stiff, having lost his former uprightness and composure.
Looking at his eyes again, they were full of surprise and panic.
Suspicion is like the flickering ghost fire in the cold night, revealing fear and speculation about the unknown.
Being in a panic is like a frightened bird, which will be panic-stricken and at a loss at the slightest sign of trouble.
At this moment, those eyes were wandering left and right, as if there was a danger hidden in every corner of this palace that could swallow him up at any time.
Empress Ma seemed to notice Zhu Gang's strangeness, and she moved her lips slightly, wanting to say something but stopping herself, and finally just sighed softly. (End of this chapter)