In the temporary palace of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Ming was sitting on the dragon throne, while Zhang Liang was standing beside her. They were the only two people in the hall.
"Your Majesty, Governor Zhu Da wants to see you."
Emperor Ming didn't seem to be surprised at all, as if he knew Zhu Yuanzhang would come, and said calmly: "Let him come in."
"promise."
Zhu Yuanzhang walked in slowly, looked at the frowning Emperor Ming above, and the expressionless Zhang Liang. After taking a deep breath, he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I need an explanation."
Emperor Ming's face showed pain, and she was unwilling to take action against Zhu Yuanzhang from the bottom of her heart, and this was obviously not what she wanted to hear.
"Senior Brother Zhu, what explanation do you want?"
After Emperor Ming proclaimed himself emperor, he had not called Zhu Yuanzhang that way for many years. This familiar title also brought back Zhu Yuanzhang's memories, but he soon woke up from his memories.
Zhu Yuanzhang stared into Emperor Ming's beautiful eyes and said in a deep voice: "There are many explanations, such as the transaction between the master and Qin Hao before his temporary death, and the relationship between His Majesty and Qin Hao."
Emperor Ming was inexplicably shocked when he heard this, and thought to himself: How could he know this?
Emperor Ming turned his head to look at Zhang Liang, only to see that he also looked surprised. Little did he know that this was actually Zhang Liang's deliberate pretense. If Zhang Liang hadn't deliberately revealed the information, Fan Zeng would never have guessed Zhang Jue even if he tried hard.
on the body.
"As expected of Fan Zeng, he has indeed guessed it. This play will be exciting now." Zhang Liang said secretly.
Emperor Ming took a deep breath, opened his lips and teeth slightly, and said: "Brother Zhu, this is not something that can be explained clearly in one or two sentences."
"It's okay. I have plenty of time, so I can take my time and listen to His Majesty's stories." Zhu Yuanzhang pressed.
Emperor Ming's brows furrowed again, and the ideological struggle in his heart was extremely fierce. After careful consideration, he finally decided to tell Zhu Yuanzhang the truth.
"Before I was recognized as my adopted daughter by my adoptive father, my name was actually Ren Hongchang, and I was from Bingzhou. My biological father was a petty official, and I was a sworn brother with my adoptive father.
Fourteen years ago, because my biological father rescued my adoptive father, my whole family was robbed and dozens of members of my family were slaughtered. My mother protected me and escaped all the way. Fortunately, Mr. Guiguzi was able to survive..."
Emperor Ming spoke calmly, without any emotion, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Zhu Yuanzhang below showed a complicated look. He was used to the warmth and coldness of the world. He had seen many miserable experiences, but he did not expect that Emperor Ming's childhood would be so miserable. What he did not expect was that Emperor Ming and Qin Hao actually
We've known each other since childhood.
"So Your Majesty, you are actually from the Guigu sect, and not only do you know Qin Hao, but you are also childhood sweethearts?"
Zhu Yuanzhang forced himself to calm down, but his voice was still trembling when he spoke. It was obvious that his heart was not calm at all at this moment.
"That's right."
Emperor Ming nodded. She also knew that the truth would be cruel to Zhu Yuanzhang, but there was nothing she could do about it, because the truth was the truth.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhang Liang again and asked: "Do all these masters know?"
Zhang Liang nodded and said, "Brother, he knows everything."
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but take a deep breath after hearing this. He did not suspect that the two of them were lying, because there was no need to lie at this time. He had tried his best to overestimate the complexity of the matter, but when he knew the truth, he realized that he still underestimated it.
the level of complexity.
Zhang Jiaoming knew the relationship between Emperor Ming and Qin Hao, but still chose to let her inherit the throne as a woman, disguised as a man. This was obviously something that had been planned for a long time, and was even chosen because of Qin Hao.
Successed by Emperor Ming.
In addition, Zhang Jiao also knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was in love with Emperor Ming. If Emperor Ming succeeded him, Zhu Yuanzhang's goal would not be to seize the throne by force, but to marry Emperor Ming and sit on the throne of Emperor Ming upright.
As soon as he thought of this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt extremely bitter in his heart, and said secretly: "Master, you still regard your disciple as a dead end. Besides, do you really think so highly of Qin Hao?"
Even if Zhu Yuanzhang was unwilling, he had to admit that his master's vision before his death was still very accurate. For now, Qin Hao's achievements were indeed greater than his. If he had received gifts from the Ming Dynasty, then Qin Hao would have almost unified the world.
It's a sure thing.
But Zhu Yuanzhang was unwilling to give in. He did not think that he was inferior to Qin Hao, and he had just started to exert his strength. Although Qin Hao was stronger than him at present, it did not mean that he would be stronger than him in the future. But if the Ming Dynasty belonged to Qin Hao,
Then he has no hope of catching up with Qin Hao.
"Why? Why? Why..."
Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his fists with a ferocious expression, but roared crazily deep in his heart. He had obviously worked so hard, and had given everything he had for Ming Dynasty and Emperor Ming, but both the master and Emperor Ming chose others. This made him
How can this be accepted?
"...That's what happened. My adoptive father exchanged the future with Qin Hao for the present, but even if we tried our best, we still couldn't grasp the present, so we also lost the future to Qin Hao, and now it's here
It's time to admit defeat.
The original intention of the adoptive father to raise the army was never for power, but for the welfare of the people of the world. However, in the era started by the adoptive father, tens of millions of people died in just ten years.
We originally wanted to benefit the people, but instead of breaking through, we harmed the people. If we cannot reunify the world as soon as possible, the current era will evolve into a new Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and the casualties in the world will be even more tragic.
My Ming Dynasty has completely offended the great families and does not have the strength to unify the world at all. Only by joining forces with Qin Hao can we unify the world as soon as possible and prevent a darker era from coming."
Emperor Ming looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with hope and said seriously: "So, Brother Zhu, please tell me your choice, which is to follow me and join forces with Qin Hao to end the troubled times and restore peace and tranquility to the people of the world.
Or should you stick to your own ambitions and disregard the lives of the people?"
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Emperor Ming had issued an ultimatum. If the next answer was not what she wanted, even if he would not die today, he would obviously not be able to get out of the palace. But it would be even more difficult for him to give up his ambition.
Better to die.
Zhu Yuanzhang took a long breath and raised his head, looked at Emperor Ming calmly and said, "I have one more question? In your Majesty's heart, what do you think of me?"
"Brother, I have always regarded my senior brother as a real brother. If my senior brother is willing, he will still be my brother in the future." Emperor Ming said seriously.
Just a brother?
Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little sad, but then he secretly said: I am not willing to just be your brother.
"I have one last question, Your Majesty, do you really love Qin Hao?"
Emperor Ming was stunned for a moment, then frowned and said, "Senior Brother Zhu, what do you mean by this?"
"I understand. Let me put it another way. Does Your Majesty think Qin Hao really loves you?"
A cold light flashed in Emperor Ming's eyes, and his eyes gradually became colder.
On the other side, Zhang Liang had a hint of amusement in his eyes, and he hid it so well that neither Emperor Ming nor Zhu Yuanzhang noticed it.
"As expected of the person chosen by eldest brother, Zhu Yuanzhang, you are indeed not simple." Zhang Liang said secretly.
Zhu Yuanzhang did not pay attention to Emperor Ming's murderous eyes, and sneered: "Although I am willing to follow Your Majesty and cooperate with Qin Hao to end the troubled times as soon as possible, there is one condition."