Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Upon hearing this news, Zhu Youcheng's face gradually darkened.

His once calm heart was now filled with anger, and a murderous intent arose within him.

“Bring him up.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Mou Bin turned and gave the order. Immediately, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard brought Zhang Cai, covered in blood, to the court.

Zhang Cai was now a shadow of his former self. His face was covered in bruises, his body was covered in cuts and wounds of all sizes, and one of his legs was broken.

Just by looking at his current miserable state, it was not difficult to imagine the inhuman treatment he had suffered in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's prison.

“Clap! Clap! Clap!”

Zhu Youcheng's sudden applause echoed in the empty Fengtian Gate Square, sounding particularly eerie.

A sneer appeared on Zhu Youcheng's face: “Zhang… Cai, is it?”

“A mere Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites dares to steal a woman from me, hahaha, wonderful, truly wonderful!”

“It seems I have been too merciful to you all.”

Zhu Youcheng laughed in anger. His cold laughter sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

Zhang Cai lay on the ground, struggling to turn his head towards Zhu Youcheng.

He didn't even have the strength to support himself to lift his head and straighten his body.

But he still tried to utter a weak and slurred plea for mercy.

“Your… Your Majesty… Your humble servant…”

Zhu Youcheng ignored him and spoke to himself.

“I am now somewhat curious as to what kind of Consort is worth you risking the extermination of your entire family to hide her away.”

“Mou Bin, where are the Consorts he hid away?”

Mou Bin quickly replied: “Your Majesty, the eight Consorts Zhang Cai attempted to hide were rescued by Zhuque, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Deputy Commander, during the attempt.”

“They are all still virgins and are currently being protected by the Zhuque Guard in their residence.”

“Bring them up.”

“Yes!”

Before long, the Zhuque Guard, wearing a red flying fish suit and a half-Zhuque mask, arrived before the court with eight beautiful women.

As soon as the eight women appeared, they immediately attracted the attention of most of the officials in the court.

After seeing their faces clearly, everyone suddenly understood why Zhang Cai dared to be so bold and reckless.

Such charming and lovely women, eight of them, there probably isn't a man in the world who wouldn't be tempted.

Zhuque walked in front, cupped her fist, knelt down, and saluted: “This humble officer, Zhuque, pays respects to Your Majesty!”

The eight women had never seen such a scene before. Their legs were weak as they walked on the Fengtian Gate Square, and they didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

They were on tenterhooks, feeling an invisible pressure weighing on them, so much so that they didn't dare to lift their heads, only staring at their toes.

Seeing Zhuque kneeling down in front, the eight of them quickly knelt on the ground.

“This subject greets His Majesty the Emperor!”

The melodious voices came from their mouths, like pearls falling on a jade plate, truly captivating.

Among the civil and military officials, many were secretly looking at the eight women, feeling a tickling sensation in their hearts.

Zhu Youcheng glanced at the ministers: “Gentlemen, would you like to get a closer look?”

Those curious, eager, and envious eyes immediately disappeared from the eight women.

The entire court of civil and military officials was so frightened that they knelt down, shouting: “We dare not!”

Some of the old ministers in the court even closed their eyes tightly, for fear of getting into any trouble.

Zhu Youcheng looked at the people below the steps. Only now did he realize that the Zhuque Guard was actually a woman.

“Zhuque has done well in this matter and should be rewarded.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Zhu Youcheng waved his hand at Zhuque, and Zhuque consciously got up and stood aside.

Then, Zhu Youcheng looked at the eight women.

“You few, raise your heads.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and others slowly raised their heads, looking at Zhu Youcheng with curiosity, excitement, and awe.

Thinking that the person in front of them was the emperor of the entire Ming Dynasty, and possibly their future husband.

Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and the others blushed.

Zhu Youcheng looked at them expressionlessly, feeling that these eight people were indeed good-looking, worthy of being called beauties chosen from thousands.

Zhu Youcheng nodded: “Take them into the palace for a thorough examination. If they are still chaste, they will stay in the palace. If not, they will be sent back to their place of origin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial went forward and led Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi, and others into the harem.

After Chen Yuanyuan and the others left, Zhu Youcheng looked at Zhang Cai.

Zhu Youcheng's eyes were cold, but there was a cruel smile on his lips.

“Since you can't control your lower body, then I will grant you the punishment of being torn apart by six horses, execute him immediately!”

“Mou Bin, exterminate Zhang Cai's entire family. Do not wait until tomorrow, execute them today!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Mou Bin accepted the order and immediately led people to rush towards Zhang Cai's home.

At the same time, two Embroidered Uniform Guards stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Cai, who was paralyzed on the ground, and took him to a place a little further away from Fengtian Gate.

Several Embroidered Uniform Guards went to the Imperial Horse Administration to fetch six tall horses.

During the execution, an Embroidered Uniform Guard asked: “I've only heard of being torn apart by five horses before. Which six places is His Majesty talking about to tie up?”

“Of course, we tie both the big head and the small head! Stop talking nonsense, execute him quickly!”

“Yes!”

Several Embroidered Uniform Guards tied six sturdy ropes to Zhang Cai's limbs and heads as quickly as possible, and then whipped the horses hard.

The horses, in pain, ran forward vigorously, pulling the six ropes in six different directions.

“Ahhhhh!!!!”

Zhang Cai screamed, the tearing pain coming from six different directions.

Soon, Zhang Cai could no longer scream. Blood from all over his body quickly gathered in his limbs, his skin turning red.

“Bang!”

Fresh blood and pieces of flesh splattered, creating a cloud of blood mist in Fengtian Gate Square.

All the officials present changed color upon seeing this.

The scene before them reminded them of the scarlet hell left behind after the ten thousand horses galloped under the city wall that day.

Zhu Youcheng stood up, scanned the ministers, and said in a stern tone.

“The imperial Consort selection is the most important thing in the harem. I will never tolerate anyone who tries to play tricks on this!”

“If I find out that anyone is still meddling in this selection, once verified, their entire family will be exterminated, without exception!”

Under Zhu Youcheng's cold gaze, all the civil and military officials lowered their heads.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Some officials even felt their whole bodies trembling, and even their voices became shaky.

In the process of Consort selection, secretly hiding Consorts is actually a minor matter.

The truly serious matter is that various nobles, gentry, and ministers carefully design to send the women they have cultivated into the harem.

These women will be like nails, piercing into the harem and transmitting information outwards.

If these women are fortunate enough to become imperial concubines, or even give birth to princes, then in a few years, there will be another drama of harem collusion with the cabinet to usurp the emperor's power.

Just like when Zhu Youcheng first ascended the throne, when the Zhou family controlled the government.

Zhu Youcheng will never allow such a thing to happen again!