20: Chapter 20 Damn, how can someone talk about rebellion so confidently?

After listening to General Lan Yu's impassioned speech, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression remained calm, but his cloudy old eyes slowly drifted away from the face of General Lan Yu, which was plastered with "loyalty and righteousness," and landed on the silent, head-bowed Duke of Cao beside him.

"Jiujiang."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was very flat, just like an old man on the street calling his own descendant.

Yet these two words made the Duke of Cao shudder all over, nearly causing him to collapse directly to the ground.

"This sinful subject is here!" He suddenly raised his head, his voice trembling slightly.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and said slowly, "That General Lan Yu is a brute; he'd dare to storm the palace with a blade in hand on a whim, and I believe it. But you, Duke of Cao, are different."

"Your father, Li Wenzhong, was my nephew and a scholar-general. You have lived in luxury since childhood, studied the works of sages, and frequented the Wenhua Hall. In this Yingtian Prefecture, who does not know that you, the Duke of Cao, are a refined and decent man?"

"I cannot understand," Zhu Yuanzhang's body leaned forward slightly, "why you would follow him in such nonsense? Did he feed you some bewitching potion, or are you saying that you also think I, as Emperor, have not been doing a good job?"

These words were spoken lightly, but the murderous intent within them caused the temperature of the entire Huagai Hall to drop by several degrees.

The Duke of Cao's mind buzzed, and cold sweat poured down his forehead like it was free, soaking his bangs and making him feel incredibly uncomfortable and sticky.

Subconsciously, he cast a quick glance out of the corner of his eye at the Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong, who was standing not far away.

That young man, wearing his blood-stained dark armor, stood there quietly, his face devoid of expression, his eyes as still as an ancient well.

Yet it was that very composure, that calmness of not changing color even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him, that felt like a shot of adrenaline piercing straight into the heart of the Duke of Cao.

Screw being afraid!

I even held the Xuanwu Gate; over ten thousand Imperial Guards couldn't kill me, so why should I be afraid of a few words from this old man?

My life is already on the line; backing down now would truly mean all my efforts were in vain!

Thinking this, the Duke of Cao steeled his heart and suddenly raised his head. That handsome face, which had been somewhat pale with fear, managed to force out an expression of absolute determination, as if he had cast life and death aside.

"Your Majesty!" His voice was still shaking a little, but he spoke with much more confidence, "This subject is different from General Lan Yu."

"Oh?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"This subject does not act for loyalty, nor for justice." The Duke of Cao took a deep breath, deciding to go all out. He looked directly into Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial eyes and said, word for word, "This subject acts for the wealth and status of the entire Li family, so that the title of Duke of Cao can remain in my hands and be passed down for another hundred years!"

Once these words were spoken, not to mention Zhu Yuanzhang, even General Lan Yu, who was kneeling beside him, was stunned silly.

Good heavens!

Has this kid lost his mind? Daring to openly state in front of the Emperor that he rebelled for his family's private interests? How is this any different from sticking his neck out to be chopped off?

The Crown Prince Zhu Yuntong stood to the side, a flash of approval deep within his eyes.

Beautiful!

This is exactly what the Duke of Cao should say.

Dealing with a shrewd person like Zhu Yuanzhang, playing with falsehoods or pretenses will only lead to being seen through immediately and dying faster. It is better to do as he did: lay the most real, most ugly motives out before him, bloody and raw.

I am just a selfish, self-interested villain, and everything I do is for the glory and wealth of our Li family.

Such a reason is something Zhu Yuanzhang can understand and accept even more.

Because he himself is the most selfish person under heaven, the one who views the world as his own "family domain."

Sure enough, after the initial shock, the icy murderous intent on Zhu Yuanzhang's face faded slightly, replaced by a more profound scrutiny.

"Continue."

"Yes!" Seeing that the Emperor did not fly into a rage on the spot, the Duke of Cao grew bolder.

"Your Majesty, although this subject is incompetent, I am not stupid. The Hu Weiyong case, the Blank Seal case, the Guo Huan case... Over these years, I have seen and remembered your thunderous methods."

"This subject knows that you did this for the eternal stability of the Great Ming and to pave the way for the Grand Imperial Heir. First you killed Chancellor Hu Weiyong, then you killed Li Shanchang; is it not General Lan Yu's turn next?"

"Once General Lan Yu falls, which of us military officers of the Huaixi Faction can escape? My father was your nephew, but so what? Back then, Chancellor Hu Weiyong was your in-law, yet did you blink an eye when you killed him?"

"This subject is terrified!" At this point, the Duke of Cao's voice carried a sob. It was not feigned; he was truly afraid. "Every night I have nightmares, dreaming that the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushes into my home and drags my whole family to the execution ground. I do not fear death, but I fear that my father Li Wenzhong's lifelong reputation will end in the extermination of our entire clan! I fear that after I die, when I reach the underworld, I will have no face to see my father!"

As he spoke, he kowtowed heavily, and his forehead soon began to bleed.

"Therefore, this subject had no choice but to gamble!"

"Gamble?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the Duke of Cao, signaling him to continue.

"Yes! Gamble!" The Duke of Cao became more agitated as he spoke, "Either way, it's death. Rather than waiting for the day you are in a bad mood and issue an imperial decree to confiscate my family's property, it is better to follow the Third Imperial Prince and stake our heads on the line for a gamble!"

"If we win the gamble, my Li family will be heroes who helped the new ruler ascend, enjoying a hundred years of wealth and status, as stable as Mount Tai!"

"If we lose the gamble…" The Duke of Cao gave a miserable laugh, "Then it is no different from now—just a matter of dying a few days earlier or later. At least this subject has resisted and fought for it; even on the road to the underworld, I can stand tall and say to my father, 'Son did not embarrass you!'"

His words were cowardly yet ruthless, shameless yet reckless.

It vividly portrayed the image of a young nobleman forced into a desperate situation, compelled to take a risk for the sake of his family's interests.

General Lan Yu listened from the side, his mouth agape.

Damn it, one can play it this way?

Something like treason, and it can be spoken of with such righteous indignation, so... refreshingly unconventional?

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the Duke of Cao, who was kneeling on the ground with an expression of "I am just a villain, I did it for money and power, do what you will," and did not speak for a long time.

This kid is interesting.

Much more interesting than his father, who was so upright it was almost pathological.

"Hmph," Zhu Yuanzhang tapped the steps beneath him with his fingers, making a "tap-tap" sound, "Using the lives of your Li clan's nine generations as a wager—your stakes are certainly not small."

He paused, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp.

"Then let me ask you, on what grounds do you think he can win?"