Chapter 376

"Big Li..."

Zhu Zai stood beside the coffin, looking at Li Miao, who was lying inside with a mutilated body and unconscious. The hand he rested on the edge of the coffin clenched tightly, with such force that it even crushed the wood.

Splinters pierced his palm, and blood flowed down the edge of the coffin, yet he did not notice it at all.

After a long while, he reached out to straighten Li Miao's collar. He then carefully tucked up his scattered long hair.

"Look at this lazy appearance of yours; I've told you so many times and you never listen... You need to dress properly; you're always slouching around all day, no wonder you haven't found a wife even in your thirties... You make this old man angry all day long; I originally thought I would be angered to death before you, how could you be so disappointing..."

Zhu Zai rambled on.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, no one dared to make a sound.

Even Heaven-Men like Ruan Mei and Zhu Shoujing, whose realms were far superior to Zhu Zai's, did not dare to make a move.

They all felt that this old man, who had seemed to lose his temper over the past year due to political affairs, was gradually becoming sharp.

Killing intent.

If the killing intent emanating from Li Miao was as scorching as the midday sun in midsummer, then Zhu Zai's killing intent was like the damp air in winter, seeping into the joints and soaking into the bone marrow, unavoidable and unstoppable.

Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhu Zai.

That old man who, after growing old and frail and being suspected by the Emperor, had gradually thought of retiring behind the scenes and handing the Embroidered Uniform Guard over to Li Miao, was bit by bit recovering the sharpness and cruelty of his youth.

An Ziyang spoke with hesitation.

"Old Commander..." he still addressed him this way: "You don't need to be anxious; the Commander said before falling into a deep sleep that he would wake up in three to five days; right now it's just..."

Zhu Zai swept a glance at him.

An Ziyang swallowed his words back.

The Emperor spoke after careful consideration.

"Official Zhu, I have investigated Official Li's condition; although it is eerie, his true Qi circulation and the operation of his cycles are still running, so it should be as he said, nothing serious."

Zhu Zai slowly shook his head.

"No."

"Your Majesty does not understand him."

"This guy has the most arrogant temperament; he never wants to show weakness in front of anyone. Even if it's difficult or tiring, he always puts on a relaxed appearance in front of his own people. If it weren't for the situation forcing him, if there were any other choice, he would never reveal this disheveled posture in front of me..."

"He is just such a... stubborn character."

"Since he was a child, it has been like this."

As Zhu Zai sighed for the last time and straightened up, everyone present shivered.

"It is this old man who relied on him too much, always handing the burden to his shoulders. A few days ago, when he asked An Ziyang to prepare for the Wang Gongchang matter, I even thought it might just be a precautionary measure."

"An Ziyang had an argument with me, and I forcibly suppressed it... Actually, it shouldn't have been like this; he carried too much, causing us people to develop a lazy and slack heart..."

His words carried self-mockery, but his gaze swept over everyone present.

"Before, this old man was wrong."

"Wrong in always thinking about the big picture, thinking about seeking perfection, being hesitant, and finally forcing Big Li into the current situation."

"An Ziyang, Mei Qinghe."

The two stepped forward and cupped their hands.

"I order you two to lead four retainers to search for all Wu Lin people in the capital. Regardless of sect, background, or realm, capture them all and take them to the old site of Wang Gongchang. If there is the slightest resistance, do not ask for reasons, kill them without mercy."

"Yes!"

An Ziyang and Mei Qinghe took the order and left.

"Zhu Shoujing, Ruan Mei."

"You two lead the Xiaolingwei and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search the capital. All Heaven-Men, regardless of appearance, physique, or background, are to be treated as Yingzhou thieves and killed on the spot."

Zhu Shoujing did not speak, but Ruan Mei suddenly raised her head.

Her gaze met Zhu Zai's, and she suddenly shivered, lowered her head, and answered with a bow.

"Yes!"

She took the order and left.

Zhu Zai turned his gaze to the side again.

"Cao Hanyan, Gao Ling, you two are Big Li's newly recruited subordinates; you haven't seen me before, and I don't know your temperaments. You don't have to take the following task."

Cao Hanyan and Gao Ling stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"Old Master, please give your orders."

"Whatever Grandpa Zhu says, we do!"

Cao Hanyan suddenly turned his head to look at Gao Ling, then suddenly lowered his head, secretly regretting why he hadn't briefed Gao Ling beforehand.

Yes, logically speaking, Gao Ling had always called Li Miao uncle, so calling Zhu Zai grandpa by seniority was reasonable... The key was that Li Miao was willing to make this joke, but Zhu Zai might not be!

But fortunately, Zhu Zai didn't seem to care.

He just swept a faint glance at Gao Ling and continued.

"I order you two to lead the Imperial Guard to kill all eunuchs and palace maids in the palace, except for those verified by His Majesty; if there is the slightest suspicion, execute them on the spot."

Cao Hanyan gritted his teeth. "... es."

He knew what Zhu Zai meant.

This was to clear out all the Liu Jin clones hidden in the palace.

Actually, this was something that should have been done long ago.

But this move was too big, and involved too many lives, so Zhu Zai had never acted... But now, he didn't care.

Among them, many innocent people would inevitably be involved.

Cao Hanyan didn't want to do this, but if it were handed to others, more would be killed. So he could only agree; at least if he did it, fewer people would die.

Gao Ling had no burden, just nodded in agreement, grabbed Cao Hanyan, and went out the door.

After giving the orders in a few sentences.

The palace became empty.

Only the Emperor, Zhu Zai, and an old man remained.

Minister of Justice, Tang Lanzhou.

The old man, whose wife was killed by the fake Li Miao who came to his door last night and was later saved by Li Miao, was now sitting on a chair to the side, hands clasped on his knees, eyes closed, as if dozing off.

"Lord Tang."

Zhu Zai called out.

Tang Lanzhou opened his eyes and looked at Zhu Zai.

Zhu Zai paused.

He had originally looked down on this Lord Tang.

Cautious, fawning, hesitant; among the heads of the six ministries in the Great Ming court, this Lord Tang was the easiest to bully.

But as their gazes met, Zhu Zai almost didn't recognize him.

That weak and timid old man had disappeared.

A pair of eyes as deep as the sea and as dark as an abyss, no longer showing any cowardice, leaving only dead silence and calmness.

Tang Lanzhou slowly stood up and bowed to Zhu Zai.

"This old man understands, Lord Zhu."

"The person who killed my wife last night was a Wu Lin person colluding with Yan Song. Killing me was to trigger chaos in the court, stir up the civil officials' dissatisfaction with the royal family again, and repeat the forced palace incident, right?"

Zhu Zai nodded.

Tang Lanzhou said expressionlessly and calmly.

"I understand."

"In that case, I am willing to do one thing for Lord Zhu."

Zhu Zai frowned.

"What thing?"

"Cleanse the court, slaughter the civil officials, and root them out."

Tang Lanzhou calmly took out a stack of documents from his bosom.

"This is all the dirt I have collected on officials over the past few decades. Before, I thought that perhaps if I encountered disaster one day, I could trade it for my life; now, it is just right for use."

"The matter of slaughtering civil officials, if done by me, a veteran official of two reigns, the highest-ranking civil official still alive, and the head of the Ministry of Justice, should be more convenient."

"Those students and former subordinates of mine have never dealt with the royal family before; I think even if more people are killed, it won't lead the matter to the royal family."

After he finished speaking, he bowed and turned to walk out.

Zhu Zai gritted his teeth and asked.

"After Lord Tang finishes these things, have you thought about how you will end up?"

Tang Lanzhou waved his hand.

"Death is all there is."

"Lord Zhu can take this old man's head to calm the situation; I will hand over all my students and former subordinates to you. I only hope that after I die, Lord Zhu and His Majesty can take care of them a little."

"By the way, my wife's remains need a good coroner to piece together; please trouble Lord Zhu to find a capable person from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Once pieced together, let me know, so I can prepare to die."

Zhu Zai called out again.

"Lord Tang, in the past I only thought you were a bit pedantic and weak; now it seems you are also a person who can get things done. Why not discuss a plan to only cleanse Yan Song's party—"

Tang Lanzhou had already walked far away.

His calm voice came from afar.

"No need, this old man is also just seeking death."

"I want to kill people, I can't help it, Lord Zhu."