Chapter 428: The Old Man Indulges in Youthful Madness

"Big Li..."

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

Splinters pierced his palm, and blood flowed down the edge of the coffin, but 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. Always looking so sloppy, no wonder you haven't found a wife even in your thirties... Always making me angry. I originally thought I would die before you, why are you 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, dared not make a move.

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

Killing intent.

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

The Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhu Zai.

That old man who, due to old age and infirmity, coupled with the Emperor's suspicion, had gradually thought of retiring behind the scenes and handing the Embroidered Uniform Guard over to Li Miao, had gradually recovered the sharpness and cruelty of his youth.

An Ziyang spoke hesitantly.

"Old Commander..." he still addressed him this way: "You don't need to be anxious. Before the Commander fell into a deep sleep, he said he would wake up within three to five days. Right now, it's just..."

Zhu Zai swept a glance at him.

An Ziyang swallowed his words back.

It was the Emperor who spoke after deliberation.

"Minister Zhu, I have examined Minister Li's condition. Although it is strange, his True Qi circulation and Zhou Tian operation are still running. It should be as he said, no major harm."

Zhu Zai shook his head slowly.

"No."

"Your Majesty does not understand him."

"This guy has the most arrogant temperament and never wants to show weakness in front of anyone. Even if it is difficult or tiring, he always maintains a relaxed appearance in front of his own people. If it weren't for the situation forcing his hand, if there were any other choice, he would never show this wretched state in front of me..."

"He is just such a stubborn person."

"Since he was small, it has been like this."

As Zhu Zai let out a final sigh and straightened up, everyone present shivered.

"It is I who relied on him too much, always placing the burden on 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 suppressed it by force... Actually, it shouldn't have been like this. He carried too much, causing us to develop a sense of laziness and slackness..."

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

"Before, I was wrong."

"I was wrong to always think about the big picture, to think about seeking perfection, to be hesitant, and in the end, I forced Big Li into his current predicament."

"An Ziyang, Mei Qinghe."

The two stepped forward and cupped their fists.

"I order you two to lead four attendants to search for all Jianghu people in the capital. Regardless of sect, background, or realm, capture them all and take them to the site of the old 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 looked up.

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

"Yes!"

She took the order and left.

Zhu Zai turned his gaze to the side.

"Cao Hanyan, Gao Anyu, 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 on the next task."

Cao Hanyan and Gao Anyu 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 Anyu, then lowered his head abruptly, secretly regretting not having briefed Gao Anyu beforehand.

Yes, logically speaking, Gao Anyu had always called Li Miao uncle, so calling Zhu Zai grandpa based on 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 did not seem to mind.

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

"I order you two to lead the Imperial Guards to execute 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. "... Yes."

He knew what Zhu Zai meant.

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

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

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

This would inevitably involve many innocent people.

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

Gao Anyu had no burden and just nodded in agreement, pulling Cao Hanyan out the door.

After giving the orders in a few sentences.

The palace was emptied out.

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 last night and who was later saved by Li Miao, was now sitting on a chair to the side, hands clasped on his knees, eyes closed, seemingly 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, sycophantic, and timid; among all 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 cowardly old man had disappeared.

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

Tang Lanzhou stood up slowly and bowed to Zhu Zai.

"I understand, Lord Zhu."

"The person who killed my wife last night was a Jianghu person colluding with Yan Song. Killing me was to trigger turmoil in the court, to stir up the civil officials' dissatisfaction with the imperial clan again, to repeat the forced abdication, right?"

Zhu Zai nodded.

Tang Lanzhou said calmly and expressionlessly.

"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 completely."

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

"These are all the leverage I have collected on officials over the decades. I originally thought that perhaps one day if I met with disaster, I could trade them for my life, but now they are just right."

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

"Those students and former subordinates of mine have never had dealings with the imperial clan before. I think even if many people are killed, it won't lead the matter to the imperial clan."

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."

"Lord Zhu, please take my head to appease the situation. I will hand over all my students and former subordinates to you. I hope that after I die, Lord Zhu and His Majesty can take care of them a little."

"By the way, the remains of my wife need a good coroner to piece together. I 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, I am just seeking death."

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

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 429 =====