Within this time, Liu Bowen repeatedly wanted to intervene, but was stopped by Zhu Yuanzhang’s sharp gaze.
In the end, Liu Bowen could only let out a light sigh; the matter had come to this, and further intervention was useless.
Therefore, he sat on his chair, silently waiting for Wu Tao to finish reciting.
The entire piece concluded with, "History, ancient and modern, rests herein. It records order and chaos, reveals rise and fall; Five thousand years, the ancient land of China recorded!"
When Wu Tao finished reciting, the sounds of thunder and lightning not only did not cease, but grew even louder.
The great hall was eerily silent!
No one dared to speak, not even Zhu Biao and Zhu Di, who should have said something, kept their heads down with clasped hands, not daring to make a sound.
The two, with their minds highly focused, had certainly noticed the lines: "Emperor Taizu rises, the Great Ming is founded. Renamed Hongwu, capital at Jinling. Succession by alternate generations, Zhu Yunwen, ascended not long, overthrown. Zhu Di prevails, wins the throne, named Chengzu, moves to Yanjing. The Ming dynasty, sixteen rulers, begins with commoners, until Chongzhen. Corrupt eunuchs rampant, bandits like a forest. Li Chuang emerges, imperial artifact consumed by flames. Chongzhen dies, the Ming perishes, two hundred years of foundation turned to dust."
Zhu Biao and Zhu Di were so frightened by these lines that cold sweat broke out on their foreheads.
Furthermore, it was not only this, but these words also gradually sowed discord between the two brothers.
The reason for this was that Zhu Biao's eldest son was named Zhu Yunwen.
According to the meaning of Wu Tao's earlier words, Zhu Yuanzhang had not passed the throne to his sons, but had passed it down to his grandson, Zhu Yunwen.
And Zhu Di, as an uncle, had launched a rebellion after Zhu Yuanzhang's death, seizing the throne that rightfully belonged to his nephew.
At this moment, apart from the fierce wind and lightning outside the hall, everyone inside was silent, as if struck by fear.
The air in the great hall was so condensed and oppressive that it was difficult to even breathe.
Yet, at this tense and awkward moment, a discordant sound arose.
"Wah… wah… wah…"
Zhu Chongwen, only four or five years old, sat in his mother's arms, stimulated by the oppressive atmosphere around him…
The young Zhu Yunwen, scared, burst into loud cries. His voice was so loud that it shattered the solemn atmosphere and relieved everyone from their suppression.
Originally, to create a harmonious atmosphere, Zhu Yuanzhang had never allowed Zhu Yunwen to be taken away.
During meals, the Crown Princess personally fed him!
With his mother beside him to soothe him, Zhu Yunwen naturally wouldn't cry or fuss.
However, when Wu Tao began to act delirious and utter earth-shattering words, the Crown Princess herself was almost scared to wet herself, and had no time or energy to attend to her son.
Only now, the continuous thunder and lightning had become the final straw that broke the camel's back. Zhu Yunwen, startled, began to cry uncontrollably.
The Crown Princess, holding Zhu Yunwen, was almost scared to death.
She whispered to Zhu Yunwen to stop crying, and then knelt in a panic, crying, "Your Majesty, forgive me! Your Majesty, forgive me!"
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression remained grim, and he said nothing.
Empress Ma, standing beside him, waved her hand and said to the Crown Princess, "Take Yunwen and withdraw. This is not your fault."
Immediately after, Empress Ma turned to all the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall and said, "All of you, withdraw. And keep your mouths shut. Do not speak of what you should not, or you will be killed without mercy!"
By the end, Empress Ma's tone was filled with killing intent.
The waiting eunuchs and palace maids in the hall quickly bowed and expressed their gratitude, then retreated in haste.
It was a joke; if such a matter were to leak out, the entire Great Ming Empire would be shaken!
Even a fool would know that the words Wu Tao spoke today had shaken the heavens.
These were not words that people of their status should know. To stay would be to court death.
Moreover, even having heard this, their lives might be in danger.
For once this news leaked out, the first to be killed would be the palace maids and eunuchs who had been in the hall.
Soon, only Zhu Yuanzhang, Empress Ma, Wu Tao, Liu Bowen, Zhu Biao, and Zhu Di remained in the hall.
Liu Bowen, who was always shrewd and experienced, upon realizing that he was the only outsider unrelated to the matter in the hall at this moment, immediately became agitated.
Did he not understand the same logic as those eunuchs and palace maids?
Thinking of this, Liu Bowen began to feel restless.
Then, with a slight turn of his eyes, Liu Bowen came up with an idea: to feign illness.
Liu Bowen suddenly doubled over, his body curled up, and began to cough violently.
Then he stood up and reported to Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Your humble servant has caught a cold today and can no longer bear it. Please excuse your servant, as I must leave the imperial palace to recuperate at my residence."
Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Empress Ma interjected, "Imperial Physician Sun from the Imperial Hospital is best at treating colds. Master Bowen, have him prescribe you some medicine for recovery. Also, Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, you two go with..."
Empress Ma's sudden interjection was to use this opportunity to send Liu Bowen, Zhu Biao, and Zhu Di away. If it were just Liu Bowen, why go through such elaborate trouble?
Liu Bowen, Zhu Biao, and Zhu Di quickly agreed, but at this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said, "No need. Liu Bowen, your trick of feigning illness has been used for so many years, do you really think I don't know?"
"Hmph, why bother finding Imperial Physician Sun? Today, you will die here, even if you don't want to!"
"Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, you two also stay. After all, today's events concern both of you."
"I'm afraid you wouldn't sleep tonight even if you went back. Why not stay and hear what's going on."
After speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his gaze to Wu Tao and asked with great trepidation, "Can the empire I built only last for two hundred years?"
Hearing this, Wu Tao looked Zhu Yuanzhang up and down and replied with a drunken slur, "What? What… two hundred years? You mean time, right?"
"Uh…"
Wu Tao then let out another alcoholic hiccup, suddenly seemed to understand something, and said hazily, "Oh, oh, oh… you mean the national destiny, right? Almos... almost…"
"Hahaha! Two hundred years of national destiny is not bad. Among so many countries throughout history, less than ten have had a national destiny exceeding two hundred years. What more dissatisfaction do you have?"
At this moment, he was truly drunk.
Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth tightly, his eyes flickering, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
A moment later, Zhu Yuanzhang asked again, "Then, may I ask True Person Qingyun, is there a way to prolong the national destiny of my Great Ming?"
Hearing this, Liu Bowen, who was nearby, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, only a sigh escaped his lips.
At this point, Liu Bowen no longer had the courage to provoke Zhu Yuanzhang's anger.
Because if Zhu Yuanzhang truly became angry, it would not be just him who would be killed, but all his friends and relatives.
That was hundreds of lives.
At this moment, he could only hope that Wu Tao's mind still retained some semblance of reason and that he would speak his mind.
However, maintaining reason while drunk was easier said than done.
Wu Tao, with his eyes glazed over, scanned everyone in the hall, then threw away the wine cup in his hand.
He stood up and said, stammering, "How… how to prolong an empire's national destiny, this humble Taoist does not know…"
"However, this humble Taoist knows… how to change history…"
"Hiccup… As long as… as long as you don't pass the throne to that child who was crying in the hall earlier…"
"It should… it should not be… more than two hundred years."
Astonishment, everyone was stunned. Another silence fell upon the great hall!
Especially Zhu Biao, the question marks in his heart were piling up like mountains!
What did that mean? Why wasn't I, the Crown Prince, the emperor? Instead, my own son became emperor before me.
…
As for Liu Bowen, he was already panicking.
What a joke! The Crown Prince was standing right there, and you're saying Zhu Yuanzhang will pass the throne down to his son?
Damn it, can't you commit suicide in a less suicidal way…
If these people in the great hall really decided to hold a grudge, the thousands of disciples and grandchildren of Qingyun Temple would have to be buried with you.
Everyone could see the bewilderment on Zhu Biao's face, while Zhu Di's face showed panic and gloom.
Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Empress Ma couldn't help but say, "True Person Qingyun is drunk and speaking nonsense?"
"Biao'er is standing here, perfectly fine. Why would Chongzhen pass the throne down to his grandson by alternate succession?"
After all, Zhu Biao was the Crown Prince. The only way his son Zhu Yunwen could become emperor was if Zhu Biao died, and he died before Zhu Yuanzhang.
Moreover, even now, Empress Ma had not forgotten the words Wu Tao had spoken earlier.
Her eldest son's child, the legitimate grandson Zhu Yunwen, after ascending the throne, was overthrown by her youngest son Zhu Di, who was Zhu Yunwen's own uncle!
Although the world said there was no kinship in royalty, and history was filled with examples of fathers killing sons, mothers killing sons, and sons killing mothers for the throne.
Emperor Wu of Han killed his wife, Wu Zetian killed her son, Li Shimin killed his brother, and so on. There were too many to count.
But when faced with it, who wouldn't feel a chill in their heart?
(This new book is continuously being updated, please collect, recommend, forward, and subscribe. Support genuine works. Come to Zongheng Chinese Network and help out. Give me more. Thank you friends. Your support is my motivation!)