Chapter 25: Zhang Xiude Confesses

Zhu Youxiao looked at Sun Chengzong, nodded, and said in a sincere tone: "It's nothing more than believing it exists rather than not. If it works, that's naturally good; if it doesn't, there's no loss either. Rest assured, Minister Sun, I have a plan in mind and know what to do."

Sun Chengzong had originally entered the palace with some anger, and the words he had prepared were somewhat fierce—after all, that Ming emperor who believed in Daoism and sought immortality hadn't brought any benefit to the Great Ming.

But now, seeing Zhu Youxiao's demeanor, Sun Chengzong found he couldn't say those words anymore. He could only hint at things and stop there. Since Zhu Youxiao had spoken thus, he couldn't say anything more.

"In that case, I shall take my leave. Your Majesty, take good care of your health." Sun Chengzong stood up, bowed, then turned and walked out.

Zhu Youxiao watched Sun Chengzong's retreating figure, his expression softening considerably, and slowly sank into contemplation.

Zhu Youxiao held goodwill toward Sun Chengzong, and this goodwill mostly stemmed from Sun Chengzong's fate in his previous life.

In the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the Qing army launched a major offensive. In the eleventh month, they attacked Gaoyang.

Sun Chengzong, who had been living in retirement, led the entire city's soldiers and civilians in defending the city. When the city fell, he was captured and hanged himself.

His five sons, six grandsons, two nephews, and eight grand-nephews died in battle. Over a hundred members of the Sun family perished. Sun Chengzong was seventy-six years old at the time.

Wasn't Sun Chengzong's ending a microcosm of the Great Ming itself? The great hall toppled, the state crumbled, the glorious Great Ming lost everything in a single morning.

Standing up from the wheelchair, Zhu Youxiao walked expressionlessly to the entrance of the great hall.

The sky outside remained overcast, snowflakes drifting down, the air slightly cold. Wasn't this weather also a metaphor for the Great Ming?

Lifting his head to gaze at the sky, Zhu Youxiao said softly: "In this life, I will not let you meet such an end. In this life, the Great Ming will not be as it was before."

"This rivers-and-mountains will not topple again, this state will not crumble again. For that, even if I am branded the number one fatuous ruler of a thousand ages, I will not hesitate."

Watching Zhu Youxiao standing there gazing at the sky, a trace of worry flickered across Chen Hong's face. After a moment, he walked to Zhu Youxiao's side and said softly: "Your Majesty, the weather is cold. Please mind your health."

Zhu Youxiao turned to glance at Chen Hong, then walked back to his wheelchair. Afterward, he said flatly: "Push me back."

Following Zhu Youxiao's command, Chen Hong stepped forward a few paces, reached out, and gently pushed Zhu Youxiao's wheelchair, disappearing into the dark palace. They seemed to walk into the gaping maw of darkness, quickly vanishing from sight, never to be seen again.

After Sun Chengzong left the palace, news from within the palace spread out.

His Majesty was ill—already to the point of being unable to walk properly. Though it was said to be a cold, the scope of "catching a cold" could cover a great deal.

It wasn't as if there had never been a Great Ming emperor who died from catching a cold. The ministers each felt a strange mix of emotions.

The Eastern Depot, inside the prison.

Wei Zhongxian looked expressionlessly at Sun Yunhe before him, while Sun Yunhe stood timidly to the side, clearly afraid that Wei Zhongxian might lose his temper.

"Has someone talked?" Wei Zhongxian looked at Sun Yunhe and asked directly. He was truly anxious—if he couldn't extract anything more, then this matter would become serious.

His Majesty had been waiting for news from him. If he had no news to report, then Wei Zhongxian felt his own end might be near. He didn't want to die.

"Grand Director, someone has talked." Sun Yunhe quickly stepped forward a few paces, then said respectfully: "Zhang Xiude has talked."

Hearing this, Wei Zhongxian was overjoyed. He stood up directly and strode into the prison, asking as he walked: "What did he say?"

"Grand Director, this subordinate hasn't had time to interrogate him yet." Sun Yunhe hurriedly bowed, his face full of fawning smiles.

In truth, it wasn't that he hadn't had time to ask—it was that he couldn't ask. Sun Yunhe had no idea what Wei Zhongxian wanted to extract from Zhang Xiude's mouth.

If he asked and asked the wrong thing, wouldn't he catch the blame? Sun Yunhe wasn't stupid. From Wei Zhongxian's attitude, he could tell this was certainly a major case.

Wei Zhongxian shot Sun Yunhe an appreciative glance, his expression satisfied. This Sun Yunhe was very good—he knew how to conduct himself.

Leading his men to the cell, Zhang Xiude had already been brought up. The man was bound to a pillar, head hanging low, his body covered in bloody welts—clearly left behind from torture.

Looking at Zhang Xiude's condition, Wei Zhongxian felt no disgust at all—only delight. Finally, someone had talked. As long as someone opened their mouth, this matter became much easier to handle.

"Zhang Xiude, I hear you're willing to talk now? Then go ahead and say it." As he spoke, Wei Zhongxian sat down on the chair that a young eunuch behind him had brought over.

"I... I was the one who framed Xiong Tingbi. I don't know anything about the Liaodong matters. I've never even been there. Those things I said, those things were all told to me by someone else." Zhang Xiude lifted his head and said in a trembling voice.

Wei Zhongxian immediately grew excited and pressed: "Who?"

"It was Li Ruzhen, the Regional Commander of Liaodong." Zhang Xiude said directly: "At the time, Li Ruzhen came to me with his request and gave me three thousand taels of silver."

After saying this, Zhang Xiude lowered his head directly, seeming to have used up all his strength and fainted.

Wei Zhongxian was overjoyed and quickly said: "Someone, have him make his mark. Untie him and take him down for proper medical treatment. Don't let anything go wrong with him."

The clerk quickly brought over the confession document, then took Zhang Xiude's hand and pressed his fingerprint onto it. Afterward, the man was carried down.

Wei Zhongxian held the document as if it were a priceless treasure.

Glancing at Sun Yunhe, Wei Zhongxian said: "You keep a close watch on him. I'm going to the palace right now. If anything happens to him, you know what your fate will be."

Sun Yunhe naturally dared not be negligent and quickly said: "Rest assured, Grand Director. This subordinate will handle matters properly and absolutely won't make any mistakes."

Wei Zhongxian dared not delay. He immediately led his men into the palace. Finally, he had obtained what he wanted—this was a golden opportunity!

The Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youxiao watched Han Li packing his things, his face showing no particular expression. This man was nothing but a wandering charlatan, eating well and dressing well within the palace. Zhu Youxiao naturally wouldn't pity him.

Glancing at Chen Hong beside him, Zhu Youxiao instructed: "Keep an eye on him. Don't let anything go wrong."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant understands." Chen Hong hurriedly bowed and nodded, not daring the slightest negligence. He knew well that his master was far from what he appeared to be.

Returning to the warm chamber in his wheelchair, Zhu Youxiao learned that Wei Zhongxian had arrived.

Glancing at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao instructed: "Let him in."

Before long, Wei Zhongxian walked in from outside with joy written all over his face—clearly, there was good news.