I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 718 Hongmen Banquet

Chapter 718 Hongmen Banquet

Beneath the city wall, under the protection of Sheng Lan and others, Wang Wenzhou, shirtless and carrying a large knife, climbed the construction ladder.

Seeing that Wang Wenzhou was personally leading the attack on the city, his subordinates' fighting power soared, and the city walls they occupied grew larger and larger, and it was clear that they would soon break through the city.

Seeing that things were going badly, Yang Changsi sent someone to the palace to deliver a message while organizing a suicide squad to retake the lost city walls.

In the Imperial Study, Zhu Youjian learned the news and, after some thought, decided that she could only use her last trump card.

Yang Changsi originally sent someone to tell Zhu Youjian to flee as soon as the city fell. But Zhu Youjian, rather stubborn, preferred to die in battle rather than flee. He believed that the Ming Dynasty only had emperors who died in battle, not cowards who would flee.

"Xuan Liuru shall come to see me!" Zhu Youjian ordered.

"Your servant obeys the decree!" Wang Chengen quickly sent someone to summon Liu Rushi.

In no time, several eunuchs escorted Da Yu'er to the Imperial Study.

Zhu Youjian looked at Dayuer and asked, "Sister-in-law, I want to ask you one last time, could you please persuade Boxin?"

Da Yu'er said with a wry smile, "I cannot deny that you address me as your sister-in-law. However, I am not Liu Rushi."

Zhu Youjian shook his head helplessly. Liu Rushi and Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, really were quite alike; both were people who would disregard everything when they went crazy. What kind of time is this to deny that you are Liu Rushi?

Zhu Youjian felt he couldn't persuade Liu Rushi. He also knew that he had sent assassins, which ultimately led to Liu Xiaohua's death. Liu Rushi harbored resentment for this and didn't want to persuade Wang Wenzhou. This was understandable, since any mother would want to tear her child's killer to pieces.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand and ordered, "Take her with you and come to Guangning Gate."

Guangning Gate was one of the seven gates of the outer city of Beijing, and it was the location where Wang Wenzhou occupied a small section of the city wall.

Wang Chengen and others escorted Liu Rushi and followed behind Zhu Youjian. Just as they were about to leave the palace, Empress Zhou, heavily pregnant, took her son Zhu Cilang's hand and chased after them.

"Your Majesty, you must not take this risk! Let me go and persuade Boxin instead!" Empress Zhou said to Zhu Youjian.

"Hmph!" Zhu Youjian snorted coldly, not even bothering to look at Empress Zhou.

Ever since Empress Zhou became pregnant with Wang Wenzhou's illegitimate child, Zhu Youjian grew increasingly disgusted with her. However, he couldn't bear to kill her, so he could only try to avoid seeing her. Empress Zhou also knew she was in the wrong and always avoided Zhu Youjian. But today she had no choice but to see him; she felt that perhaps she could still persuade Wang Wenzhou. If Zhu Youjian went, his fate would likely be uncertain.

"Your Majesty! Please heed my advice!" Empress Zhou smiled bitterly to herself. Your Majesty, in all the time we've been husband and wife, when have you ever listened to my advice? If you had listened to me, none of this would have happened. Why are you so stubborn?

Zhu Youjian said coldly, "I can't afford to lose face like that! Go back!"

Zhu Cilang was eight years old this year. He did not understand why his father would treat his mother like this. His small eyes were filled with tears as he looked at Zhu Youjian with a wronged expression.

Zhu Youjian was truly afraid of losing face; he was an extremely proud man. Therefore, even when he was wrong, he rarely admitted it. As a result, many unfortunate officials not only took the blame for him but were ultimately beheaded by him.

To be honest, Zhu Youjian really had personality problems; otherwise, he wouldn't have been a killer of famous ministers and generals, and ultimately became the ruler who brought about the downfall of his country.

Empress Zhou pleaded desperately, "Your Majesty, I beg you! Please allow me to persuade Bo Xin. If he refuses to listen, I will die in front of him!"

"Get out!" Zhu Youjian roared, "Have you no shame? You may have no shame, but I still have one!"

The affair between Empress Zhou and Wang Wenzhou had become widely known, and was common knowledge among the court officials. Despite this, Zhu Youjian still believed it was just a rumor. However, if Empress Zhou were to publicly approach Wang Wenzhou, the rumor would be confirmed.

"Your Majesty..." Before Empress Zhou could finish speaking, Zhu Youjian strode forward and slapped her across the face.

Zhu Youjian said coldly, "Go back to the palace!"

Empress Zhou burst into tears. She felt deeply wronged and thought to herself, "Yes! That's right! Zhu Youjian, I have an ambiguous relationship with Wang Wenzhou, and the child is probably his too! But have you ever thought about why I'm like this? Isn't it all because of you?"

"Father!" Zhu Cilang said quickly when he saw his mother being hit, "Please don't be angry, Mother was also..."

"Slap!" Zhu Youjian slapped Zhu Cilang again, and said angrily, "Don't meddle in the affairs of adults! Go back to the palace with your mother right now!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Zhu Cilang cried in grievance, took Empress Zhou's hand, and whispered, "Mother, let's return to the palace!"

Zhu Youjian ignored Empress Zhou and hurriedly left with his entourage.

Empress Zhou watched Zhu Youjian's retreating figure, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "Zhu Youjian, oh Zhu Youjian," she thought, "no wonder that scoundrel Wang Wenzhou always calls you a pig. You truly are a pig! How many times have I advised you? When have you ever listened? If you had heeded even a single word of my advice, none of this would have happened!"

Zhu Youjian led his men and hurriedly arrived at Guangning Gate. Instantly, the morale of the soldiers guarding the city soared.

Under the protection of the guards, Zhu Youjian led Da Yu'er up the city wall.

"Stop! Wang Wenzhou, look who this is!" Zhu Youjian shouted.

On the city wall not far away, Wang Wenzhou was dumbfounded. He saw his beloved Ruru looking at him with teary eyes, under the control of several guards.

"Stop! Stop immediately!" Wang Wenzhou ordered a halt to the attack without saying a word.

Wang Wenzhou smiled bitterly to himself. How could this be? How could Ru Ru really have fallen into Zhu Youjian's hands? In any case, Ru Ru was still alive, and Wang Wenzhou was both excited and happy.

"Brother Zhu, let's talk this out! We can't play games like this!" Wang Wenzhou cursed inwardly, "Zhu Youjian, you're ruthless!"

Seeing Wang Wenzhou's anxious expression, Zhu Youjian smiled slightly, realizing he had miscalculated. He should have brought Liu Rushi out from the beginning; otherwise, so many people wouldn't have died in battle.

"Boxin! I haven't seen you in a long time. Come with me to the palace, I'll treat you to a drink!" Zhu Youjian said with a smile.

"Bah!" Wang Wenzhou cursed, "Zhu Youjian, do you think I'm that stupid? Even at the Feast at Hongmen, you wouldn't play like this! Men! Drag Zhu Youjian's two little brats out here!"

A short while later, several guards from the sedan chair carriers led Zhu Meichu and Zhu Cijiong out slowly from under the city wall.

Wang Wenzhou laughed and said, "Brother Zhu, a true man's actions should not harm his wife and children! We are all men, and we cannot do such despicable things. How about this, you release my Ru Ru, and I will release your son and daughter in return!"

"Heh!" Zhu Youjian sneered, "Boxin, you're joking! I trust you, how could you harm your adopted son and your daughter-in-law?"

Wang Wenzhou cursed inwardly, "Zhu Youjian, you are shameless! You don't even care about the lives of your own children?"