Chapter 1, The Capital Changes Hands

Her voice was like the sound of falling snow, yet it was not loud. Behind a screen, it was hardly heard by those outside. Hong Dou heard it, but her eyes revealed the same coldness, "Indeed, the new sovereign is about to ascend the throne, how can we allow those ignorant commoners to comment and judge..."

There, Hong Dou has swiftly gone to tidy up the house. After the bloodshed and the perilous experiences, whether it is to praise or to criticize, those who have not personally experienced it cannot imagine that these renowned figures of the battlefield, with their formidable reputations, are actually quite difficult to reconcile with the mysterious and elusive image that makes them hard to approach.

Zhu Mingyue suddenly recalled that gentle and shy young man

Zhu gently cradled Zhu Mingyue's face, his brows and eyes filled with affection and joy

Zhu Neng slapped his forehead and said: "Look at my father's memory, that's right, that's right, it's the moon, the moon!"

Well, where is the kitchen

The city before us has just been seized

"Perhaps we should buy some servants," Zhu Mingyue said, "as we will need people during this period."

The carefree days of youth seem to slip through the fingers of a child, disappearing without a trace before one can grasp them. Later, she left the cold land of Beiping and came to the capital. Two years later, she entered the palace as a companion reader for the young prince.

Father

Since ancient times, victors have been kings and nobles, while the vanquished are mere bandits. People are adept at extolling the glory of the victors, yet they forget to extend a modicum of compassion and sympathy to those who have failed. However, she can be considered kind, as she at least did not torment the families of those whose power and status she sought to usurp

Hong Dou said, pursing her lips, could not help but add: "Miss, forgive me for being talkative, but at this time, shouldn't you be in the Feng Tian Hall, waiting for the arrival of the prince?"

The loyalists have turned into usurpers

It is indeed somewhat frightening

King Yan

Among the generals behind, some clicked their tongues in admiration. At the same time, someone expressed envy, saying: "I never expected that you, looking like a grim figure, could have such a beautiful daughter like a flower."

War and imperial power have become so intertwined under the infusion of blood and tears that it is impossible to clarify. If the Jianwen Emperor had not ordered the reduction of the feudal lords, would the Prince of Yan have been forced to rebel? Even if he did not rebel, would his fate have been different from that of other feudal lords? The regions of the feudal lords have always been a source of concern for that young emperor; without eradicating them, it is insufficient to secure the throne. For instance, the Princes of Dai and Min were stripped of their powers and lands, reduced to commoners; the Prince of Xiang, on the other hand, closed the palace gates and his family committed suicide to express their resolve. The regions of the feudal lords have always been a source of concern for that young emperor; without eradicating them, it is insufficient to secure the throne. For instance, the Princes of Dai and Min were stripped of their powers and lands, reduced to commoners; the Prince of Xiang, on the other hand, closed the palace gates and his family committed suicide to express their resolve.

At the hour of Chen, the drums on the city tower were struck

Separated by a screen, Zhu Mingyue, sitting in the elegant room on the second floor, was gazing at the army slowly passing by on the street

Zhang Yi said helplessly: "Supporting the elderly and carrying the young, the journey is very long..."

It is the moon!

The young girl paused with the teacup in her hand, remaining silent.

Even those valiant soldiers charging into battle? Or perhaps, she, the so-called architect of this victory?

Whose fault is all of this, and who should take responsibility

Your father in the army often boasts about having a precious daughter, which is truly an exaggeration beyond compare. It has made our ears calloused from hearing it so much, and now we finally get to see her! At this moment, a military general laughed heartily.

Among the onlooking generals, someone laughed and said. Zhu glared, not even turning his head, and said: "Yes, hurry up and get the hell out of here, go find a place to sleep!"

The sudden elevation allowed her to catch a glimpse of the market outside the wall. At the same time, Zhu Mingyue lowered her head in astonishment, as a middle-aged man with a tuft of a big beard was looking up at her with a silly smile on his face

Zhu Jiamingyue left Beiping City for his hometown in Huizhou Prefecture at the age of seven. Later, he fell ill and spent a considerable time recuperating in Jiading City, Suzhou Prefecture. This "fact" was arranged with great meticulousness, and through Zhu Neng's incessant chatter, it became known to almost everyone in the Beiping military.

The red bean was somewhat annoyed, but more so, it was filled with pride and self-importance after gaining power. The change of rulers is often followed by a shift in authority; if a mere maidservant feels this way, how much more so do those supporters who have risked their lives and staked their fortunes, following closely behind with their heads tied to their belts.

The young girl cast her gaze beyond the teahouse, where a long line of people marched with resolute steps and an imposing presence, occupying the entirety of Chang'an Avenue, as if it would never end. In addition, a significant number of elite troops remained stationed outside the city to prevent any insurrection from the old forces of the capital.

Just like Zhu Mingyue herself, on the eve of the battle between the two armies, she had even written a farewell letter, sewn into her inner garment. If she were to be exposed and meet her demise, she only hoped to leave a memory for her father

Isn't the King of Yan the emperor's uncle? How could he kill his own nephew

A small face the size of a palm highlights her youthful age, with cheeks as smooth and white as porcelain; a pair of pitch-black eyes, with gently arched eyebrows, and a light brown beauty mark at the corner of her right eye, appearing as if on the verge of tears. Dressed in a light Xiang color six-panel pleated skirt, with her black hair styled in two buns, she exudes a pure beauty akin to a tender white peony, yet she seems to be an utterly ordinary girl from a common family. The daughters of officials and aristocrats are typically raised in seclusion, holding a ruyi, enjoying flowers in the courtyard, adhering to the principle of not stepping beyond the main gate or the second door, and rarely making public appearances. Dressed in a light Xiang color six-panel pleated skirt, with her black hair styled in two buns, she exudes a pure beauty akin to a tender white peony, yet she seems to be an utterly ordinary girl from a common family. The daughters of officials and aristocrats are typically raised in seclusion, holding a ruyi, enjoying flowers in the courtyard, adhering to the principle of not stepping beyond the main gate or the second door, and rarely making public appearances. However, whether or not she is the daughter of an official, the situation in the capital has changed; the emperor has died, and those ministers are not faring much better. A girl as ethereal as this one, if she were truly a relative of an official, would likely suffer the same fate.

She sighed and said

Another burst of laughter

Red Bean found herself in a bit of a predicament: "The capital is in such chaos right now, where can we find someone readily available? Moreover, with a residence like ours, they may not even be willing to come..." Having followed Zhu Mingyue into the palace since childhood, Red Bean was not very adept at managing the household affairs.

Will you?

In this day and age, what will not be done for the imperial throne? Heaven is blind, allowing this group of treacherous ministers and rebels to gain power

At that time, she was young, and many children teased her by making fun of her name. One day, she ran home crying, insisting that she wanted to change her name. At that moment, her father was completely bewildered and even cautiously asked if it was possible not to change it. As a result, she cried even harder, and her father, feeling heartbroken, immediately changed her name to Mingyue.

This outfit is too torn to be worn anymore, does anyone have a new one to lend me for a while

If General Zhang Yu were still alive, he would surely be furious, blowing his beard and glaring in anger

There were neither the grand welcomes adorned with flowers nor the lively and boisterous atmosphere. On the vast Chang'an Street, not even a single loud conversation could be heard. The common people gathered on both sides of the street, staring with curious eyes, observing this loyal army that had marched from Beiping all the way to the capital, Yingtianfu, scrutinizing these soldiers whose faces were solemn yet quite unfamiliar.

In a moment, Zhu, with his coarse voice, laughed loudly and scolded, "Damn it, my Zhu'er is a treasure, no, even more precious than a treasure! You all can just envy me."

In Zhu Mingyue's memory, the evenings of her childhood were often spent in the bustling and lively night markets of Beiping. Along the main street, the shouts of vendors, the laughter and chatter of children could be heard from afar, accompanied by the distinctive pungent smell of saltpeter and sulfur. These were performers, specializing in extraordinary acts such as fire breathing, knife throwing, and breaking stones on their chests, attracting passersby to solicit some tips.

The young girl took a sip of tea, her faint tone seemingly discussing the weather. "Capturing people causes unrest; they are all killed. Whatever they want to say, they can no longer express it. This can also serve to intimidate those so-called intellectuals, making them aware of what should be said and what should not be said."

Remaining outside the city, in addition to the Northern Army, there were also some of the Ning Wang's people, including one of his close uncles. Being forsaken by both friends and family is merely a reflection of this situation

Zhang Yidao: "The steward, the cook, and the servants are all on their way, but they will not arrive any sooner than before the New Year."

There are very few people in the family; besides her and her father, there is only a wet nurse who has taken care of her since childhood. Her biological mother passed away very early, and her father has been in the military for many years. Concerned that she might suffer due to her young age, he has never remarried. If it were not for her coming to Yingtian Prefecture at the age of seven and entering the palace at the age of nine, she would now be following those old family servants, hurrying from Beiping to the capital.

Zhu Mingyue set down the tea cup, and upon hearing those words, a rare warmth surfaced in her eyes

Red Bean pouted, wanting to refute something, yet could not find any faults.

In the midst of countless loyal troops fighting to defend the nation, there were still many outstanding generals in the ranks of those supporting the emperor in Beiping who vowed to follow the brilliant and decisive Yan Wang to the death. Among them was her father

Fortunately, I tidied up a few more rooms; otherwise, I would have had nowhere to stay

Pearl

The common people in the city are not wrong; the purpose of this loyalist army is indeed to conquer and seize power. Throughout the history of various dynasties, has there ever been a rebellion that did not use a grandiose banner? Moreover, in the current situation with the Prince of Yan—if the campaign lacks justification, how could he dare to commit such a grave offense against the world by openly rebelling against his own nephew

In terms of life in the residence, she actually does not understand much more than Hong Dou.

The red bean suddenly shouted out

It is said to be a new residence, but it is more accurate to describe it as a long-idle estate

Father, please put your daughter down

Indeed, the distance from Suzhou and Hangzhou to the capital is quite short, making us, the children who are not nearby, feel quite envious

Upon hearing this, I slightly turned my gaze.

Zhu Mingyue was quite astonished, yet an uncontrollable joy surged within her heart. When she focused her gaze behind her, she discovered that many generals of the loyalist army had also entered alongside her father, all standing under the tree, still in their military attire, looking over with beaming smiles.

Miss, the general has sent me back to deliver a message. The general has entered the palace with the Prince of Yan and will return to the residence later to reunite with you.

Has it been half an hour already? By the time we all enter the city, the city gates should be closed, right? Zhu Mingyue asked softly

In the thirteenth year of the Hongwu era, the Prince of Yan was granted a fief in the border regions, with his residence located in Beiping. His trusted aides and entourage also had their estates in Beiping, and there were no accommodations for them within the capital. At that time, he could not reside in the imperial palace alongside the Prince of Yan and could only temporarily requisition some residences within the city, while the original owners of those houses were all expelled.

Unlike the border towns, Yingtian Prefecture enforces a very strict curfew. Every evening, as dusk falls, the gates of the inner city are closed upon the sound of drums. After the designated time, wandering the streets is not permitted. However, this does not affect the taverns, gambling houses, and brothels, as they are located far from the inner city, situated in a chaotic area to the west of the city.

Indeed, this is not the time to observe from the tea houses in the marketplace, but within that magnificent and grand inner city of the palace, the place where she had spent a full five years, the palace gardens have been set ablaze, the consorts have perished, and the ministers, unable to endure the humiliation, have all taken their own lives, their blood staining the ground. In the vast palace, only the mournful cries of the eunuchs and palace maids remain, along with the halls and pavilions stained a deep crimson with blood

The heavy and slow drumbeats echoed from one city tower to another, each sound striking the heart. As the Hongwu Gate was opened, troops clad in military attire entered the city, adorned with red helmets and black armor, their phoenix-winged helmets bringing with them an air of solemnity and lethal authority.

The young girl set down her teacup and said softly, "Do not speak recklessly."

Zhang Yi rolled her eyes, wanting to remind her that this is no longer the palace.

If I had known earlier, I would have raised my daughter in Jiangnan. Just look at this girl, so fresh and lively in appearance. It seems that Jiangnan is indeed better for nurturing people than the north

Hong Dou also realized that she had spoken too much and hurriedly fell silent

To oppose the established order, yet to seek usurpation

This place is abandoned and unused, located on the street outside the West Gate of Xi'an. Zhu Mingyue has been in the palace all along, and apart from Hong Dou, there are no other servants attending to her. This courtyard was first tidied up by the chief guard beside her father, who entered the city. The few rooms in the back courtyard are still covered in dust and cobwebs, while the front and middle courtyards are relatively clean, making it suitable for habitation

Looking back now, I was young at that time and did not understand the significance of it all

Red Bean Avenue: "Previously, Commander Zhang sent someone to inform that the curfew tonight will be advanced. Not only within the palace and the imperial city, but the entire capital must be on guard day and night. It is expected that soon, a temporarily assigned infantry battalion from the Northern Army will come to sound the alarm and disperse the crowds on the streets..."

Tonight is undoubtedly a day of citywide martial law, and even through the courtyard walls, one can still feel the cold streets outside, as the wind stirs the falling leaves, stirring up a sense of silence and desolation

It is not merely a long journey; the soldiers of the Yan King's residence were well aware of the unpredictable path that lay ahead as they departed from Beiping. Engaging in treasonous plots, facing life-and-death situations, no one knew if they would return alive, so why bring their families along to face death together

Miss, would you like me to go out and teach them a lesson, or should I capture those few who have spoken disrespectfully?

You are a maid, and you cannot even boil water

After speaking, he continued to hold his daughter and laugh foolishly

As for the other matters, my father, being a man of the military, has never been one to concern himself much with the trivial affairs of the household, preferring to simplify things whenever possible

The fine Pu-erh tea brewed in the porcelain cup exudes a rich aroma, yet it gradually cools down, untouched, due to the collective condemnation of the indignant citizens, each voicing their grievances.

Arresting people is the duty of the Jinyiwei. If one truly cannot tolerate it, it would be better to execute a few as a warning to others

Zhang Yi thought to himself

Zhu Mingyue responded with a "hm" and then asked, "When will the people from Beiping Prefecture arrive?"

Red Bean widened her eyes in astonishment and said, "Before the New Year? That’s still more than five months away! What will we do during this time? There is only one servant at home, and no one else to attend to us."

The red bean, unaware of the myriad thoughts in her heart, happily nodded and said, "Indeed, returning to the residence is good; perhaps the master is already at the new mansion. It has been several years since we last met, and this time we will finally reunite with the young lady; it is bound to be a great joy!"

Five years have passed, and Zhu Mingyue gazes at the face before her, which is both dark and thin, with two deep scars on the forehead, causing her nose to feel a bit sour. Indeed, she still has another name.

Zhu Mingzhu, meaning "pearl of Zhu family," truly embodies a father's deep affection and cherished regard for his daughter

You have grown so much, let your father take a good look at you

She whispered a reminder

Just as she initially entered the palace as a mere companion reader, she never imagined that one day she would be involved in the brutal struggle for imperial power. Even more unfathomable was the fact that in this turmoil, which was cloaked under the guise of "eliminating the usurpers," she became one of those whom many aggrieved scholars accused of "fanning the flames and aiding the tyrant"

The young girl finished speaking and sent the head of the guards and the red beans away to prepare, while she returned to her chamber to pack her belongings. Last night, she had randomly chosen a room to sleep in, and it was only in the morning that she discovered the beams and pillars of the roof were all crooked, and a large section of the roof tiles was leaking. If it were the plum rain season, getting drenched would be secondary; the roof collapsing could very well result in being crushed inside.

It is simply that my memory is too poor, I even called the young lady's name incorrectly

Ah!

Standing under the tree in the courtyard, the young girl tiptoed, as if reminiscing, yet also gazing into the night market of Beiping, where a fleeting brilliance of fireworks had yet to fade, along with the faint salty aroma of tea eggs wafting from afar. In the next moment, she was lifted high into the air

Hong Dou cast a glance at Zhang Yi and said with confidence, "I am a personal maidservant, serving in the side hall. Boiling water? That is a menial task only performed by low-ranking palace maids!"

Under heaven, there is no land that does not belong to the king; where can one escape to, and for how long can one evade? He is the supreme royal figure, who once, with the blood of emperors, possessed the splendid mountains and rivers—much like the delicate and beautiful queen in the Spring and Harmony Palace, who, when the enemy army breached the city, chose to self-immolate to defend her dignity rather than suffer humiliation. The integrity that civil and military officials uphold throughout their lives seems not to be reflected in that young monarch; in the face of slaughter and persecution, he appears to be even less resolute than a woman.

Alright, let us not linger here and delay the reunion of the father and daughter

Those few just now, Qiu Fu, Jin Zhong, Li Bin, Xu Zhong, Fang Kuan...! ... are all renowned generals, any one of whom could easily slay a general in the midst of a hundred thousand troops, instilling fear in the hearts of the enemy! And now, they are all huddled together in a dilapidated and abandoned mansion, making do with their living conditions

All changes occur at a pace that is astonishing and beyond comprehension

You know nothing, my daughter originally did not have this name, it was changed later. I was so happy that I forgot! This valiant general, who is invincible on the battlefield, couldn't stop smiling.

Isn't it? Can't you find it yourself?

At that time, whenever the lights began to glow, her father would take her out of the house whenever he had free time, placing her on his neck and lifting her up to watch performances, admire lanterns, and taste snacks. In her memory, the sugar figurines were very sweet, and she also loved candied hawthorn, osmanthus wine, and peanut cake.

The generals clad in red and black armor walked away, murmuring to themselves and linking arms. The clean moonlight filtered through the treetops, casting a long shadow behind them

Zhang Yi was startled and quickly looked over, only to see Hong Dou with a nervous expression saying: "What should we do about the hot water? The residence still doesn't have a cook!"

The blood of the person who was executed has not yet dried, yet they are so eager to enter the city, occupying another's nest, without fear of divine retribution

Zhu Mingzhu

In the face of the impending executioner's blade, no one would willingly offer their neck for slaughter. Rather than being termed a reduction of feudal lords, it is more accurately described as a grand and brutal murder. The ensuing Jingnan Campaign saw both the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Ning as usurpers, yet the Jianwen Emperor is not without guilt either

She is already a young lady of thirteen or fourteen years, her stature has fully developed, it is quite a feat for her father to still lift her up as he did when she was little

As Hong Dou pulled down the tent while dusting it off, Zhang Yi reluctantly assisted her

Yes, Zhu Mingzhu, Pig Mingzhu

Such feelings are incomprehensible to those who have not experienced the trials of life and death.

Zhang Yi guessed what Hong Dou was thinking and waved his hand, saying: "Integrity cannot be eaten as food. Ordinary people are not like those arrogant scholars who are detached from reality; they do not obsess over who will take the throne. Right now, many families of officials in the capital have been expelled, and surely many servants have also been left wandering outside. I will go buy a few back; for now, it will suffice to gather some people."

Go back

Alas, who would believe it if I were to say it

Zhu Mingyue said: "Alright, there is no need to recruit too many people, lest those from Beiping come over, and it would be troublesome to dismiss them."

I wonder if the guards beside my father will repair the eaves of the house

Jokes aside, after many years in the military, he can still cook and sew, but such tasks are generally not supposed to be done by women, are they

Ah ... ...

In the future, the world will still bear the surname Zhu, but it will soon change from the nephew to the uncle.

Zhu Nengchu succeeded his father as the Deputy Qianhu of the Yanshan Guard, and he is also a renowned general under the command of the Prince of Yan, serving as the leader of the Left Army among the Five Armies of Huizhou. Today, he stands out as one of the foremost contributors in the Jingnan Campaign

Listening to the words of the soldiers, the father and daughter exchanged a glance and smiled in unison

Like her father, these are all the most trusted military officials favored by the Prince of Yan, otherwise they would not have been summoned directly to the imperial palace and only just now emerged.

This is the fourth year since the new emperor ascended the throne, and the entire Yingtian Prefecture is abuzz with whispers, quietly discussing the army of Prince Yan, which, under the banner of "Restoring the Emperor and Eliminating the Usurpers," after capturing the capital, not only failed to eradicate the treacherous and support the state, but instead forced the emperor and empress to their deaths. After the northern army occupied the imperial city, many high-ranking officials were detained, and soldiers clad in armor rampantly arrested and searched throughout the city, causing every household to shut their doors and extinguish their lights, leaving the populace in a state of panic.

Father is nostalgic; when he thinks about settling in Yingtian Prefecture in the future, he is determined to bring all the elderly from the mansion over.

One of the generals pondered, stroking his chin and smacking his lips, and said: "After all, she is a young lady, so her name should naturally be elegant. Compared to 'Mingzhu' (Bright Pearl), 'Mingyue' (Bright Moon) is indeed much better."

The chief guard, Zhang Yi, is a genuine northerner. Due to years of exposure to wind and sand, his skin is dry and dark red. He has a tall and robust physique, exuding an air of majesty.

At this hour, the Yingtian Prefecture must have already been abandoned. I wonder if the great ancestor foresaw that his grandson would face the calamity of being overthrown a century after his passing, and thus arranged a refuge for him far from the capital, allowing him to escape like a golden cicada shedding its shell, with Li replacing Tao. How could he survive such a brutal and bloody disaster? If that is the case, why then did he entrust the heavy burden of this empire to a frail youth?

Last night, a strange fire broke out in the imperial palace, with flames soaring into the sky, turning the entire palace city a bright red. Soon after, news spread that the young emperor and his empress, Lady Ma, perished together in the blaze

I want to take a hot shower! It has been over two months since I last touched water