lovenovelstory Chapter 19: The Weight of History, China's Darkest Hour
Chapter 19: The Weight of History, China's Darkest Hour
As darkness fell, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a long breath, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
He sat in the chair, motionless for a long time.
None of the officials in the main hall dared to stand up, let alone speak.
This day was so exciting that some people's hearts could hardly take it.
Zhu Yuanzhang finally spoke, his voice hoarse.
"All of you, step back. Keep quiet about what happened today."
The officials, as if granted a general amnesty, all kowtowed.
"Your Majesty, we obey."
The crowd filed out, their pace much faster than usual, as if fleeing some raging flood or ferocious beast.
Xu Da walked to the door, then suddenly stopped, turned around and glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang sitting alone in the hall. His lips moved, but in the end he said nothing.
He lost his parents in his early years, his wife and grandson in his middle age, and his son in his old age.
In the twilight, the body of the Hongwu Emperor, who rose from humble beginnings to restore China, also seemed somewhat hunched.
Xu Da didn't say anything, but silently turned and left.
The image of my daughter's sweet smile is still etched in my mind.
Even though father and daughter are separated by hundreds of years, knowing that his daughter is happy is enough for him.
As for that young man named Liu Yan...
Xu Da shook his head and gave a wry smile.
Oh well, children and grandchildren have their own destinies.
Liu Bowen walked at the back, his gait no longer leisurely, and a rare trace of sorrow appeared on his face.
He pondered over and over the words on the sky: the Hu Weiyong case, the Empty Seal case, the Lan Yu case—these four major cases of the Hongwu era implicated hundreds of thousands of people.
He glanced at the backs of his colleagues beside him, then his gaze fell on Hu Weiyong, who was being helped away quickly, and he sighed inwardly.
"The fate of the Ming Dynasty is about to change!"
In the twilight, Empress Ma slowly walked to Zhu Yuanzhang's side, reached out and hugged his arm, resting her face on his shoulder.
"The merits and demerits of future generations will be judged by posterity, whether he is a great emperor or a murderous tyrant."
"In my eyes, you will always be the Chongba who came out of Haozhou City and led his brothers to conquer the world."
"Whether it's good or bad, I'll bear it all with you."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes reddened.
He didn't say anything more, but simply held Empress Ma's hand tightly.
The two sat on the threshold of Fengtian Hall, gazing at the starry sky, in silence for a long, long time.
Inside the Yongle court, Zhu Di waved his hand.
"All of you, step back."
After saying this, the Yongle Emperor, who had been tough his entire life, turned and walked into the palace, his back view exuding an indescribable loneliness.
The officials filed away, and Zhu Zhanji was also released.
In the Prince of Han's mansion, Zhu Gaoxu cleaved the shield in the hands of his sparring guard with a single stroke, venting his anger with all his might until he finally collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, had somehow already sat down beside him. At this moment, the two unfortunate brothers looked at each other in silence.
After a long silence, Zhu Gaoxu spoke sternly.
"My life has been ruined by that old man. When I was in school, he beat me like a dog. When I was in the army, he tried to get me to rebel!"
"But I want to live! He also told me that anyone who isn't afraid to die can become emperor!"
"And now? What do I have left? To be turned into braised chicken in a clay pot by my own nephew? To become the subject of ridicule and gossip?"
"When we attacked Jinan back then, we suffered heavy losses. Tie Xuan, who was defending Jinan, was a real man. He held firm and refused to come out. The imperial army surrounded us on the banks of the Yellow River, and a chaotic battle ensued! I was the one who rescued the old man from a pile of corpses!"
"He told me that the Crown Prince is often ill; you should encourage him!"
"But now he's denying it!"
Zhu Gaoxu's unwilling voice echoed in the sky.
The eighth year of the Xuande reign, Qianqing Palace.
The sky darkened.
Zhu Zhanji remained standing motionless in front of the palace gate.
The head eunuch cautiously stepped forward and said softly.
"Your Majesty, it is late at night; you should rest."
Zhu Zhanji did not answer, but simply looked up at the starry sky with an empty gaze.
The night wind blew, stirring his clothes and the white hair at his temples.
He was pondering: what should be the future of the Ming Dynasty?
626 AD, the first year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty, Taiji Palace.
Li Shimin sat in his study, the tea in front of him had gone cold, but he did not drink it.
Changsun Wuji sat opposite him, his face also solemn.
Auxiliary machine.
Li Shimin suddenly spoke.
"Your subject is here."
"Do you think that one day one of my descendants will become a mere gatekeeper emperor?"
Changsun Wuji was slightly taken aback, and then said.
"Your Majesty is wise and mighty; the descendants of the Tang Dynasty should not be in such a state..."
Changsun Wuji didn't finish speaking, but Li Shimin already understood what he meant.
"from"
The first year of the Jianlong era of the Great Song Dynasty, Bianliang.
Zhao Kuangyin stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky, remaining silent for a long time.
"Guangyi".
"Brother, what is it?"
"Do you think our Great Song Dynasty will one day have a loyal minister like Yu Qian?"
Zhao Guangyi thought for a moment and then said.
"If you, elder brother, follow the example of Yao and Shun, you will naturally have loyal ministers."
Zhao Kuangyin shook his head and gave a wry smile.
"I have a feeling that my Great Song Dynasty may not be as good as the Great Ming Dynasty. Even if there is no emperor who knocks on the door, there may still be a foolish ruler who will bring down the country."
Emperor Huizong of Song: Emperor Taizu was truly accurate in judging people!
Beyond the celestial canopy, countless emperors and generals from different eras are destined to be sleepless tonight.
The next day, as the morning sun shone on the golden tiles of the palace, a time that should have been the most leisurely for the day, the emperors from all timelines stopped what they were doing as the night began to fall.
In the Qin Dynasty, Ying Zheng put down the bamboo slips in his hand.
In the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin put down his vermilion pen, which was used to review memorials.
In the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin stood atop the city wall of Bianliang, gazing at the distant horizon.
Countless eyes are looking in the same direction.
Above the sky, Liu Yan and Xu Miaoyun appeared.
However, compared to yesterday, both of them were dressed in black today, simple and solemn, without a single other color.
Xu Miaoyun's hair was simply tied back, without any fancy accessories or bright colors.
The two stood in a wide square, surrounded by quiet, without the noise of tourists or the hawking of vendors, only the howling wind and the occasional birdsong.
At this moment, Xu Miaoyun was not as lively and cheerful as yesterday. Her hands hung at her sides, her fingers intertwined, clearly showing some tension.
She glanced at Liu Yan, who nodded slightly without saying anything, but gently squeezed her hand.
This scene was witnessed by Zhu Di during the Yongle reign, who immediately roared.
"What has this brat done to my Miaoyun!"
Before Zhu Di could understand why Miao Yun seemed so nervous today, Liu Yan turned his gaze to the camera, calm and profound.
Liu Yan's voice wasn't loud, but at this moment every word was clear, like a breeze that travels through a thousand years, falling into everyone's ears.
"Throughout China's millennia of history, the mountains and rivers have risen and fallen."
"It once enjoyed the glorious era when all nations paid tribute, but it also experienced the decline and devastation of a broken country."
Xu Miaoyun stood quietly beside him, listening intently.
"Nanjing, the ancient capital, boasts a thousand-year-old cultural heritage."
"It has witnessed the prosperity of the Six Dynasties, the splendor of the Ming Dynasty, and the devastation of war and turmoil. It has also endured the darkest calamities of the collapse of the country and the loss of lives."
Liu Yan paused for a moment, then looked away from the camera and gazed at the silent building behind her.
"The former prosperity and the devastation are intertwined here."
"The wounds of history have never truly healed."
Liu Yan looked at the camera again, her voice lowered, carrying an indescribable weight.
"So today, I will take you all to see the darkest moment in Chinese history."
"Remember history and never forget national humiliation."
Liu Yan took a deep breath and said the destination of today's trip, word by word.
"Today we are here: the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall."