Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 108 The Queen Mother Li scandal was revealed! Zhu Yijun’s revenge!
  "Ah? Zhang Cheng was stabbed more than a dozen times by Zhang Chonghui?"

Zhu Yijun was also stunned. He couldn't even tell whether he was dreaming just now or whether he was dreaming now.

"Your Majesty! It's absolutely true!" Chen Ju said eagerly, seeming to be very worried about Zhang Cheng's injury:

"Eunuch Zhang Cheng was stabbed so much that he was covered in blood! It looks scary! The bleeding hasn't stopped yet!"

"He's covered in blood..." Zhu Yijun seemed to have seen 'Zhang Cheng' covered in blood with his own eyes. His eyes were filled with panic and emptiness.

Zhu Yijun was stunned like this for a long time, letting Chen Ju chatter from the side. He seemed to listen, but in fact, the only thing that filled his mind was Sun Hai's hoarse shouting.

"Is he dead?"

After some time passed, Zhu Yijun finally spoke up, but he just asked such a rather 'cold and ruthless' question.

Chen Ju was speechless for a moment, and then quickly replied: "Returning to your Majesty, fortunately, the dozen or so knives that Zhang Chonghui stabbed were not fatal, so Eunuch Zhang Cheng should not be in danger of his life."

"It's better if you don't die." Zhu Yijun said lightly again, as if Zhang Cheng was alive or dead.

But in the blink of an eye, Zhu Yijun started to ask seriously, "Where did Zhang Chonghui get the knife?"

Zhu Yijun didn't understand why Zhang Chonghui had a 'sharp weapon' like a knife on his body. After all, no matter who he was, he would be searched as long as he entered the palace.

Not to mention that Zhang Chonghui was 'lifted' out of Beizhen Fusi's prison. As a result, there was no chance that he would have a sharp weapon like a knife hidden in his body.

"Back to the Emperor," Chen Ju replied: "The murder weapon that Zhang Chonghui stabbed Zhang Cheng's father-in-law was not a real 'knife', but a hidden weapon that looked like a silver bracelet but actually revealed a sharp blade when the mechanism was pressed. "

While replying, Chen Ju presented the "special hidden weapon" that "appeared" as a silver bracelet to Zhu Yijun.

Zhu Yijun didn't take it, he just looked at it expressionlessly, because this 'bracelet' was so familiar to him.

This is Queen Mother Li's bracelet.

"What time is it?" Zhu Yijun suddenly asked.

Chen Ju didn't quite understand. His Majesty the Emperor asked Shi Shi what he was doing. But he could only reply:

"If I go back to the Emperor, it will be midnight in less than half an hour."

"It's still so early..." Zhu Yijun closed his eyes and sighed softly.

He thought he slept for a long time, but he didn't expect that it would only be an hour or two.

"Change my clothes for me." Zhu Yijun ordered with a yawn.

"Ah...ah?" Chen Ju couldn't understand. After all, it was almost midnight, which was a good time to sleep.

Does His Majesty the Emperor get up at this time? What kind of trouble is this?
  Is it possible that His Majesty the Emperor is going to see Zhang Cheng in person?
  But... even though something happened to Zhang Cheng... there is no need for His Majesty the Emperor to get up in person... to visit a eunuch in person, right?

Just when Chen Ju couldn't understand why His Majesty the Emperor 'suddenly' cared so much about Zhang Cheng, a notification made him instantly enlightened!
  "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother said there is something urgent. Please go to Cining Palace immediately."

Zhu Yijun, who heard the communication, seemed to have expected such a thing. He calmly replied with three words:

"understood."

At this moment, Chen Ju finally understood that His Majesty the Emperor was not going to see Zhang Cheng at all, but had already guessed that the Queen Mother would announce that he would go to Cining Palace to 'talk'!

……

Cining Palace.

When he walked outside the main hall, Zhu Yijun shook off Chen Ju who was supporting him. Instead, he dragged his remaining leg alone and limped toward the temple with a cane.

Almost as expected, Zhu Yijun only saw Queen Mother Li in the palace. The other party was still kneeling and sitting in front of the Guanyin statue, still twirling the string of Buddhist beads.

"Greetings, son to mother."

Zhu Yijun was leaning on crutches and was about to kneel down to Queen Mother Li. His movements seemed very laborious.

"Wait." Queen Mother Li interrupted her son's kneeling action, but she did not look at him, her eyes were still on the kind-faced Guanyin statue.

Zhu Yijun was also unceremonious. While standing up straight with a cane, he said with some perfunctory thanks: "Then my son will not be welcome..."

"Kneel down beside me." Before Zhu Yijun could finish thanking him, Empress Dowager Li ordered.

This time, Queen Mother Li finally looked at Zhu Yijun.

Zhu Yijun was just stunned for a moment, and soon walked to Empress Dowager Li on crutches, and knelt down next to his mother again with difficulty and in embarrassment, in front of the Guanyin statue.

Seeing the emperor's son walking so hard that even kneeling was so painful, Queen Mother Li didn't even reach out to help him.

She just looked at her son calmly, just like when Zhu Yijun was a child and first learned to walk.

At that time, everyone asked Queen Mother Li to help her son who had just learned to walk, but she directly refused others' persuasion.

Not only that, Queen Mother Li didn't even let others help little Zhu Yijun who was 'learning to walk'.

Because Queen Mother Li knew that her son would be the emperor in the future!
  The aloof emperor will be lonely all his life! The emperor's road can only be walked by himself, no one can 'help' him!

Although it was a bit difficult, Zhu Yijun finally knelt down and sat down.

It has been a long time since he knelt in front of this Guanyin statue, and it has been a long time since he knelt beside Queen Mother Li.

At this moment, the distance between mother and son was so close, only an inch apart.

The 'distance' between mother and son is so far, even if they are close at hand, they can't even talk to each other for more than half a sentence.

"Mother, are you calling me here so late because you are too worried about whether something will happen to me after you fell down in the afternoon?"

Zhu Yijun spoke first, and it was clear that he was being yin and yang.

After all, when Zhu Yijun fell that afternoon, he did it in front of Empress Dowager Li, the 'old lady'.

As a result, Queen Mother Li, as a mother, not only did not go to Qianqing Palace in person to 'condol' her emperor's son. Even in the middle of the night, he called his son, who was suffering from discomfort in his legs and feet, from all the way over.

Queen Mother Li could naturally tell that Zhu Yijun was yin and yang her, but she seemed not to understand and turned to talk about another thing.

"Jun'er, are you still not going to let go of the Zhang family?" Queen Mother Li asked directly, but her eyes turned from her son back to the Guanyin statue.

Zhu Yijun looked at Queen Mother Li in surprise, seeming a little surprised by the other party's "directness".

However, what Zhu Yijun said next was surprising: "Mother, you haven't called me like this for a long time."

After the words fell, Queen Mother Li's hand that was twisting the beads stopped.

"Really?" Queen Mother Li asked expressionlessly. It was supposed to be a 'touching' question, but it made Queen Mother Li smile bitterly, and said with a bitter smile:
  "Yes, for so many years, you, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, have been 'very good'. So good that I almost forgot that you are the Jun'er who I brought up."

The "good" in Empress Dowager Li's words is quite meaningful. After all, an emperor who does not go to court and has no ministers, and who has made the whole court full of chaos because of the "establishment of the crown prince", how can he be responsible for an emperor? The word 'good'?
  Zhu Yijun knew that his mother was incompetent in his role as the emperor of Yin and Yang, and he blamed his son for being unfilial.

Zhu Yijun knew everything, but he imitated the way Empress Dowager Li didn't hear it, and took something out of his sleeve. "Mother, you are too careless. How could such personal jewelry fall into the hands of outsiders?"

While Zhu Yijun was speaking, he took out the 'bracelet' that Zhang Chonghui had used to stab Zhang Cheng more than a dozen times. While handing it to Queen Mother Li with both hands, he did not forget to say:

"It still fell into the hands of a male of the Zhang family. If this kind of thing spreads, how bad will your reputation be?"

This time, Queen Mother Li couldn't help but become angry after all! After all, her emperor's son had made it so 'obvious' that he wanted to embarrass her as a mother!

"Emperor! What do you mean?" Queen Mother Li asked coldly.

"Emperor? Does the queen mother refuse to call me by my nickname again?" Zhu Yijun sighed seriously, obviously showing off.

"Emperor!" Empress Dowager Li still called her this way. This time she vomited out all the words she had wanted to say to the emperor's son for a long time:

"Since we, mother and son, are so incompatible with each other, I will make it clear to you once and for all!
  Zhang Juzheng is also your teacher after all, and he is already dead! His home was also confiscated by you! His sons are even more dead and disabled!
  The Zhang family is already in such a state of decline, why are you still unwilling to let him go? What about sparing his descendants? "

As Queen Mother Li spoke, she was already a little jealous and choked with tears, and she didn't know if she really felt it.

The mother was almost crying. As a son, Zhu Yijun should have been extremely grieved, kowtowed and admitted his mistake, and cried and begged his mother not to be angry and stop crying.

After all, that's what Zhu Yijun did the 'last time'. In the seventh year of Wanli when he was almost 'deposed', in the seventh year of Wanli when he was 'forced' to issue the edict of sin against himself.

However, it is no longer the seventh year of Wanli, and Zhu Yijun is no longer the 'little Wanli' who faces being 'deposed' at any time.

The emperor has grown up. Feng Bao, who was watching him all the time, is dead. Empress Dowager Li, who wanted to manipulate him, is old. Even Zhang Juzheng, who forced him to issue a sinful edict and could make the final decision to 'destroy' him, is dead. !
  "Mother." Zhu Yijun also turned cold. Facing his mother, whose eyes were red and sobbing slightly, there was no trace of distress on his face, and there was no trace of warmth in his tone:
  "Since you said it so straightforwardly, then I will also tell you straightforwardly!
  That's right, I just don't plan to let Zhang Juzheng go! I just don’t plan to let Zhang Juzheng’s descendants go!
  It’s true that Zhang Juzheng was my teacher, but I have already been extremely kind and righteous to him!
  During the years when he was the chief minister, he did it in front of all the ministers! Humiliate me as much as you want! And because of something bigger than that, you forced me to issue that bullshit sinner's edict!
  Oh, I almost forgot! That Sin Ji Zhao is still 'thank you' to you! After all, it was you who wanted to depose me as the emperor in the first place! Let my brother take my place again!
  It's you! You used Huo Guang to scare me! It was you who punished me to go to the Ancestral Temple! In front of our ancestors! They say they want to depose me as the emperor!
  It's you! It was you who ordered Sun Hai to be killed! It was you who killed him with just a few words!

Do you think I cut off the hair of the palace maids because they were disobedient? Is this an act of cowardice or cruelty?

But you ordered Sun Hai to be killed with a stick? He was beaten to death in front of me! "

At this point, Zhu Yijun's eyes were red. The scene of Sun Hai being beaten to death in front of his eyes now echoed in his mind again.

"He was beaten to death in front of me..." Zhu Yijun looked in a trance, recalling and murmuring:

"With only a dozen sticks... Sun Hai died... He didn't even have time to shout out a few words of pain... He died...

I thought he fainted from pain...I thought he could wake up...I didn't expect him...he died like that...

He just gave me an idea... He just asked me to chop off the hair of the palace maid... He was beaten to death like that..."

Zhu Yijun covered his face tightly, and there were a few water marks between the palms covering his face, but he did not make a sound of gasping.

It didn't last long. Zhu Yijun let go of his palm and didn't look at the embarrassment in his eyes. He still had that indifferent expression, but said with a strong sense of revenge:

"Mother, I know you want to save Zhang Chonghui, but I don't agree. Let me tell you clearly, Zhang Chonghui is already destined to die!
  Not only did he cause my son to lose two teeth, but he also caused me, the emperor, to stumble in front of so many people!
  He even took the 'personal' bracelet of you, the Queen Mother, and stabbed Zhang Cheng, who was the Chief of Ceremonies and the Admiral of the East Factory, alive more than ten times!

Mother, that boy Zhang Chonghui has committed so many capital crimes! I can’t wait until the demon book case is over! His boy is certain to die!
  Also, I don’t know what Zhang Chonghui told you in private! I just want to tell you! You are not young anymore! For the sake of your reputation in your later years, you still..."

"Snapped!"

A loud slap slapped Zhu Yijun hard on the face, forcibly interrupting his 'revengeful' voice of questioning!

It was Empress Dowager Li who slapped her!

Empress Dowager Li raised her numb palms, her eyes filled with tears were so hazy that she could not clearly see the emperor's son in front of her.

"You know what you are talking about..." Queen Mother Li's voice was trembling, and the disappointment in her son's words was so full that it overflowed, as if it was about to break at any time.

"Queen Mother...I...I didn't mean that..." Seeing that Queen Mother Li was really disappointed and sad about herself, Zhu Yijun panicked...

The reason why a child dares to behave unscrupulously towards his parents is because he knows that his parents will not be truly angry with him no matter what.

But if the sincerity of this loved one is truly hurt, then there is really nothing left...

"You are humiliating me..." Queen Mother Li cried more and more seriously, tears of extreme disappointment flowed down, and she couldn't stop.

Over the years, the grievances that had accumulated in this woman's heart could no longer be blocked at this moment. In an instant, they poured out like a flood bursting its embankment!

"Jun'er, I know you blame me, I know you blame me... After all these years, I know you have been blaming me for being too strict with you, blaming me for letting Feng Bao spy on you...

But it's been so long, Feng Baodu is dead, you've been spying on me for so many years, and you still don't let me meet your brother...

Emperor...Jun'er...you should have finished your revenge on me, right? Can you please stop making trouble like this?
  Jun'er, I am your mother, and I am the person who knows you best in the world. I know how much you hate Zhang Juzheng, but have you ever thought about one thing?

You cling to Zhang Juzheng's faults and refuse to let go. You cling to Zhang Juzheng's descendants and want them to never have peace...

But have you ever thought about how the ministers of the previous dynasty would think of you if your actions fell into the eyes of them?

Lao'er is only eleven years old this year. Like a child, she knows how to treat loyal servants well, so that the servants will serve their master with all their heart!
  But what about you? You are the emperor! You treat Zhang Juzheng who has devoted his whole life for you like this, and treat his descendants like this. This is ugly to say... It's like a rabbit dying and a dog cooking!

emperor! Do you do this because you want all your subjects to see how ruthless and unjust you are as an emperor, and how many birds can be hidden behind the bow?
  Jun'er... do you think I do these thankless things for Zhang Juzheng? Do you think I did this for Zhang Chonghui? Do you think I do this for others?

Silly boy! I did all this for my mother! All for you! For you and your Ming Dynasty! "

By this point, Queen Mother Li was already crying, and Zhu Yijun was completely dumbfounded.

At this moment, both mother and son were crying, shedding tears.

Queen Mother Li's face was full of sadness, as if she had been greatly wronged.

Zhu Yijun's eyes were dull, as if he was surprised, but more suspicious.

"Mother, it was the son who was wrong."

Zhu Yijun was the first to admit his mistake, and his tone was very sincere. But in the blink of an eye, his next words were hesitant to say:
  "But... my son still has a question... about you, Queen Mother...

Do you really have no selfish feelings towards that Zhang Zhong...Zhang Juzheng...? "

Zhu Yijun's question directly confused Queen Mother Li...

She couldn't believe that she had given such a heartfelt explanation! But the emperor's son who she raised with her own hands would actually ask herself this kind of question...

Such a shameful question!

"Emperor, are you crazy?" Queen Mother Li asked unhappily, but her tears had stopped.

Zhu Yijun lowered his head and replied with an unclear expression: "Mother, my son is not crazy. It is really the rumors outside that are too dirty. They all say..."

"What did you say?" Queen Mother Li couldn't help but become curious.

"They all said..." Zhu Yijun seemed to be in a dilemma, but he still gritted his teeth and told his old mother the 'ridiculous' rumor, saying:

"They all said...that my younger brother is...the son of you and Zhang Juzheng..."

(End of this chapter)