MISHAP 2

For a moment, Zhu Hui felt fear made his spirit leave his body. His face was completely pale this moment. His whole body trembled violently. My Heaven... is it my destiny to die here?

But Zhu Hui's fear had reached its peak. When the figures of three generals appeared before him, Zhu Hui was completely blank. He stared at the three generals, they had grim faces and were ready to kill him. Fear drove him to beg them for mercy. He was about to do that, when something tugged at him, forbade him.

Fourth Brother is not someone who can spare one's life easily. If he wants to do the killing, then he will kill that person in spite of everything. I am a Fan Wang, I won't beg for mercy by crawling down on myself, especially if it's useless! I'd better die gallantly here!

One of the generals moved forward, "Your Highness Gu Wang, do you know the reason why we come here?"

Zhu Hui swallowed hard. "Yes, I know."

"Therefore, you must forgive us for the action we will soon implement!"

Zhu Hui laughed. It was a bitter laugh. "Then if I say I won't forgive you, will you still do it?!"

In turn, the three generals swallowed hard. "But... you must still forgive us, because this is the Emperor's Order!"

"My Fourth Brother... I don't know what kind of mistake I've made that he holds grudge against me... I helped him by opening the Feng Tian Palace Gate during Jingnan Campaign... and this is how he repays me?" Zhu hui gazed up, looking at the blue sky. His face showed an expression of anger... mixed with helplessness.

The generals raised their swords. "We'll take those as the last words you want to say!"

Now Zhu Hui's trembling was really uncontrollable, his dizziness made him almost fall down, but he forced to straighten himself up, and closed his eyes. Letting the three generals take their lives in here, right now.

"It's not our own intentions to do that. Please excuse us!"

The three generals stepped forward. They swung their swords over the sky, then, shot them straight at Zhu Hui's neck.

He was going to die soon... even though he was not ready for it!

"Aaahhhh!"

"Stop that!"

Just now Zhu Hui screamed because he thought he was going to die, but it turned out that another scream had echoed, as loud as his. The whirring of the swords stopped, Zhu Hui could hear the generals' footsteps had stopped a few meters right in front of him. Be courageous, he opened his eyes.

The senior prime minister, Cheng Ji, had been standing behind the generals. The old man was gasping for breath. The generals stared at him. "Prime Minister Cheng! Why are you here?!"

Cheng Ji caught his breath, then answered softly, "To prevent you from killing Gu Wang!"

"You can't, Prime Minister! This is the Emperor's Order!"

"Yes, I know this is the Emperor's Order..."

"Hence, you mustn't block us!" The generals raised their swords again. "Move aside! Otherwise, you will become the rebel against the Emperor!"

"Because I know that it is the Emperor's Order, then I won't let the Emperor kill his own brother!"

Cheng Ji took a step forward, he was standing in the middle of them, as if he became Zhu Hui's protective shield. "Fighting between siblings is a very bad thing. Fighting with others has been a bad thing, moreover fighting with our own siblings. Yongle Emperor has become the Emperor, but still be cruel to his younger brother, it is against the rules of Confucius and must be corrected. Furthermore. Gu Wang isn't a bad leader, he is a benevolent leader instead. He is different from Yi Wang, he helps a lot of people in need!"

Zhu Hui was indeed famous as a good leader in the early era of the Ming Dynasty. With his talent in government management and administration, Changsha became a good and comfortable city to live in. He was very loved and adored by the whole Changsha community. Speaking honestly, this was the main reason why Zhu Hui disturbed Zhu Di the most. Zhu Di was afraid that the people would worship Zhu Hui more than him, and Zhu Hui would utilize that condition to rebel against him.

"Getting a leader with good morals is not easy, is that right?! Of the many dynasties that have fallen and risen, most leaders are chaotic evildoers who made the people suffered. Good leaders are a blessing for the country! We must be grateful that Changsha people be blessed because they are led by a kind Fan Wang. And now you want to kill him?! If later it brings misery to the people, will you be able to bear that sin?! Aren't you afraid of the Heaven's wrath?!"

The generals were stunned. It was not Cheng Ji's expression of anger that frightened them. It was, what he said. He accused them of provoking Heaven's wrath. So that, if they killed Zhu Hui, they would indirectly bring suffering to the people.

Of course they were unwilling to be the cause of people's suffering.

"However... this is His Majesty's Order, must not be violated..." One of the generals said chokingly.

The leader of the generals gazed closely at Zhu Hui and Cheng Ji. But his gaze was filled with confusion and frustration. His hand that was holding the sword trembled violently. He inhaled and exhaled, and inhaled and exhaled once again.

"I have been hesitant to accept this duty from the beginning. I have often heard about Gu Wang and his heartwarming kindness. But on the other hand... His Majesty's orders should not be violated... ah..." His hands trembled even harder. The sweat streaming down his face was getting heavier. He bit his lip.

Suddenly, he raised his sword.

"General... no!..." Cheng Ji shrieked.

The general said sadly. "Your Highness... take care of yourself!"

He thrust his sword into his stomach, and died instantly.

"General!!!" Zhu Hui and Cheng Ji screamed, very loud. But to their surprise, the other two generals also took the same steps as their leader.

"Your Highness... take care!"

A second later, they followed their leader to the afterlife.

Zhu Hui now looked at the three bodies covered in blood that lay pitifully in front of him, his vision blurred due to his teary eyes. In order to save Zhu Hui's life, those generals were willing to sacrifice their lives. Zhu Hui could not help but be silent for a long time. He could not say even a word, his eyes kept flickering with wet tears. He remained unmoved, not even caring the strong mountain winds which ruffled his hair and slapped his cheeks. He kept standing there, as if forgetting that the time was still running on.