Volume 2 Southern Continent Volume 2 Southern Continent Chapter 64 Hot Blood (7)

  Just now this sword's demeanor has indeed caused Zhu Ciyan's eyebrows and eyes to relax, her heart blooming with joy.

  He stepped aside to let him pass, his right hand swiftly grasped and shook, the other party's hand had already gone limp, unable to hold onto the sword, dropping it to the ground. Before the other party could say anything, Zhu Ciyan suddenly knelt down, saying in a low voice: "Your Majesty!"

  "Huh?"

  The other side let out a cry of surprise and emerged from behind the fake hill, but it wasn't Chongzhen, so who was it?

  "You?" Chongzhen's hair was disheveled, his expression was also wretched, but the space between his eyebrows could not hide a look of surprise, and of course, there was also an unmistakable joy in his eyes.

  "Little master, how did you come back!"

  Wang Chengen also flashed out, and just now they saw a team of cavalry rushing out from Xuanwu Gate to Wansui Mountain, but it was too far away to see clearly. However, it was assumed that the cavalry running in the palace would not be their own people, but must be rebel cavalry. At this time, several dozen people climbed up the mountain, and in the urgent moment, thinking of hanging oneself was not possible, so he hid his sword and waited for Zhu Cizhao to approach. Chongzhen could not hold back, wanting to draw his sword and fight to the death, which would be much better than being captured...

  It's like that. Wang Chengen's face was full of painful color, he shook his head and said: "Why bother coming? The enemy has already entered the outer city, young master, why bother coming in when everyone is trapped together?"

  "Wang Cheng'en is right!" Chongzhen had already seen Gong Yigong and others rushing over, so his face regained some of the emperor's dignity. He only looked at Zhu Cixiang and said: "Everyone says you are clever, why do you want to do such a foolish thing?"

  "The Emperor has been on the throne for many years, and his prestige has long entered people's hearts. Without the Emperor holding down the fort, even if his son is capable of leading troops into battle, among all the civil and military officials in the court, who can control him?"

  After finishing, Zhu Ciyan smiled slightly and said to Chongzhen: "Moreover, after all, it is a father-son relationship. If the emperor dies for the country, I have already sent someone to send the Ding Wang to Nanjing, with him there, it's the same."

  "Not the same!" Chongzhen didn't think deeply about Zhu Ciyan's previous words, but only responded to his later words, angrily shouting: "How can the Crown Prince be compared to you? Such self-deception and self-debasement, I am extremely displeased!"

  "The monarch and his subject are also father and son," Zhu Ciyan chuckled and said with a smile, "There are always times in life when one does something foolish. Besides, Your Majesty, I think sacrificing oneself to save their father cannot be considered foolish."

  "Alas!" Chongzhen still stamped his foot, but the expression between his eyebrows had also softened a lot.

  The father-son relationship is after all something that cannot be erased.

  It was Zhu Ciwen, who initially had a bit of a theatrical tone, and the acting required attention to detail. But in the end, after all, there was still a father-son relationship with Chongzhen in his soul, which is an unstoppable true emotion, so it came out, touching and without pretence.

  It was just his words, Chongzhen didn't listen carefully, but others had already heard the tone, unknowingly, Zhu Ciyu had lightly set the tone for the division of power with Chongzhen in the future, and everyone present was extremely intelligent, as soon as they heard it, they all understood.

  Gong Yonggu nodded secretly, thinking to himself: "The crown prince is young, but his martial prowess is extraordinary. Just look at the over 300 elite cavalrymen he has trained and you'll know what I mean. It's just like Emperor Taizong of Tang leading his elite cavalry in campaigns abroad, while the emperor stays within the palace... Such a plan really does give one hope..."

  The Crown Prince's words were too profound, and the crowd couldn't fully appreciate them for a while. Liu Wenbing stepped forward, bowed his head and said: "Please ask Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to leave the city as soon as possible!"

  "Yes!" Gong Yongguo also said: "We came along the way, and the bandits have not yet completely controlled the outer city. There are still many places that are loose and unguarded. Now we can rush out of the city and rush out, and we can ensure our safety!"

  "Is the outer city still intact?"

  Wang Chengen was also surprised and delighted, he generally took responsibility for the defense of Beijing, with the outer city still intact, the enemy troops could not penetrate deeply, and there was still a great opportunity to escape from the city. Therefore, he also said to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty must not hesitate again, I am willing to die to protect the imperial carriage."

  At the critical moment, Chongzhen was finally moved by Zhu Cizhao's performance. The father-son affection, combined with the desire to survive, made the usually majestic Emperor of the Ming Dynasty nod his head and say to Zhu Cizhao in a warm tone: "Since that's the case, I'll make a desperate attempt with my son!"

  "Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhu Cizhao was overjoyed in his heart. Chongzhen's temperament was very stubborn and eccentric, always faltering at critical moments. This time it concerned his own life, and Zhu Cizhao was also very afraid, fearing that this lord would really have to be tied up before he would leave.

  It's not that it can't be done, but the aftermath will definitely be quite something...

  Everyone rushed down the mountain, Chongzhen's riding skills were average, but fortunately he could gallop on horseback, and still took the original route out of the gate, passing through Xuanwu Gate and Yongxiang Lane to exit the palace from Donghua Gate.

  Arriving at the Jinshui Bridge, more than half of the eunuchs had already dispersed due to Zhu Ciyan's words, leaving behind only a mess of tattered clothes and shoes. Underneath the Jinshui Bridge, corpses floated everywhere in the water. Apart from this, there was only the imperial palace with its red walls and yellow tiles, which still stood majestically under the morning sun.

  Unconsciously, Chongzhen turned his horse's head around, and his eyes looked towards the Donghua Gate and the high and grand palace inside the palace gate. Everything was still familiar, but at this moment, he had to bid farewell temporarily!

  This thirty-four-year-old emperor, born into luxury and wealth, except for the few years of his father's cautious and prudent reign as crown prince, had never suffered any hardship or injustice, even in the tumultuous years. Then, after ascending to the throne and ruling the empire for seventeen years, he was forced to abdicate today...

  This imperial palace, he has lived here since the day he was born... To others, this place may be mysterious and majestic, or it may carry too many other things, but to Chongzhen, this is just his home.

  "Let's go!"

  No tears fell, but a few days ago, Chongzhen also shed many tears in front of the temple. At this moment, there was despair and new hope, so why cry?

  He cast a final glance at the Donghua Gate, then turned to Zhu Ciyan and said sternly: "Remember, my son, this life must not have any thoughts of settling down in Jiangnan, nor can you return to the capital. I will not be able to close my eyes in death!"

  "Yes, Your Majesty." At this moment, Zhu Ciyan also felt a strong sense of emotion... If not for this bit of feeling, what is the significance of being human?

  At this moment, he didn't reveal any emotions, just nodded heavily and although he left in a hurry, it wasn't too sad after all.

  At this time, the outer city was still quiet and deserted. Looking around, there were no people on the streets. Only when exiting the Dong'an Gate and heading towards the outer city did one see many commoners and households that had already hung white flags of surrender. Many families had placed incense tables in front of their doors with yellow paper signs bearing the words "obedient subjects" everywhere... Seeing this, Chongzhen's face, which had just been set in determination, also became particularly discomfited.

  He let out a deep sigh, if it were usual, he would have scolded the ministers for misleading the country, but now the people of the city had already abandoned him and the old dynasty, turning to the new one. Looking around, except for some eunuchs and palace maids who took their own lives, there was resistance only in a few places like Zhengyang Gate. What's the point of blaming others for the emperor's downfall?

  Such a situation made Chongzhen take a look, and his touch was truly a precious experience!

  When he was thinking of suicide, he also thought of writing in his will the words "Please do not harm my people", now looking at it, all the citizens of the city have surrendered, and the places that were once occupied are also safe and sound. Only after asking Gong Yonggong and others did I know that the bandits entered the city yesterday, without harming a single hair, except for killing many people when attacking the city gate, no one was mistakenly injured, and there was no looting at all.

  Hearing such words and looking at the scene before me is especially heartbreaking!

  As they approached the Chaoyang Gate, they saw many officials wearing green robes kneeling down to welcome them. Chongzhen's long-held tears finally rolled down again, and he only smiled bitterly: "The whole court has surrendered, I thought that except for my son and the royal family, there was no one else who would be loyal to our great Ming dynasty. Now it seems that after all, there are still some loyal and righteous scholars!"

  Having said that, he urged his horse to move forward and arrived in front of Wang Jia Yan and others. He actually personally bent down and used his hands to help Li Bang Hua and Wang Jia Yan and others get up.

  Li Banghua stood up at that time, with tears streaming down his face, and said: "The emperor is safe, it's really the good fortune of our great Ming dynasty, the good fortune of all the people in the world!"

  "Enough!" Chongzhen said to Li Banghua, this veteran minister, also without hiding his thoughts. Moreover, at this time, he should have spoken a few words of truth. For now, he just said to Li Banghua: "The people and the officials are all rebelling, it is I who has committed great wrongdoing."

  "No!" Li Banghua said seriously: "It's not that the emperor is harsh on his subjects, nor has he lost virtue. Although there have been mistakes in the use of personnel and administration, the emperor himself has no fault. Now that all the ministers and citizens have surrendered, it's actually just seeking benefits and avoiding harm, which is what everyone wants. There's nothing to say about this. In the future when the heavenly army returns, I guarantee that not only will there be no one in the city who will remain loyal to Li Zicheng, but they will also go out of the city to welcome them and cheer 'Long live the emperor'."

  After all, he is an old minister of several dynasties, and his explanation is also reasonable.

  Chongzhen nodded repeatedly as he listened, and Wang Jiayen said: "Since that's the case, we will escort Your Majesty out of the capital quickly. After arriving in Nanjing, we will regroup our troops and vow to launch a northern expedition."

  "We also wish to escort Your Majesty on a southern expedition!"

  At this time, there were also more than a dozen meritorious officials and ministers who had rushed to the city gate, among whom were several marquises and nobles. Chongzhen glanced at them, but didn't pay much attention to them. However, there were several literary attendants who caught his eye, and he said: "I thought that all civil officials were shameless, but I didn't expect that there would be loyal and dedicated scholars like you... The ancient saying goes, 'A strong wind can uproot the grass, but it cannot move the loyal ministers.' Indeed, this is true."

  Among the young officials, Chen Mingxia was the leader. At this time, listening to the emperor's praise and seeing the crown prince smiling at himself, he felt a little flustered in his heart. He usually spoke eloquently, but now he was tongue-tied and didn't know what to say.

  "It's fine as long as we're here!" Zhu Ciyan, who was already quite dignified and imposing like a young master of a wealthy family in front of the emperor, looked up at the sun and said decisively: "The bandits can reorganize their troops and chase us again, it's not difficult... We have at most half an hour to hurry on our way... We can't delay any longer!"

  "Alright, let's hear it from you!" Chongzhen finally had a bit of an air of confidence about him at this time. He immediately waved his whip and laughed loudly, saying: "Let's set off!"