YONGLE EMPEROR 1

"So? You refuse to accept me as the legitimate emperor?"

"Obviously! You are the traitor to the country! And as an uncle, you have been apostate, by overthrowing your own nephew!"

Sitting on The Dragon Throne in the Great Hall of Yingtian Palace, Zhu Di was now glaring furiously at Fang Xiaoru. Actually, the main reason why Zhu Di called that Jianwen Emperor's former advisor was not to argue with him. Zhu Di had noticed that Fang Xiaoru was a genius in calligraphy, and he wanted Fang Xiaoru used his calligraphy talent to write an inaugural address for him. At first Zhu Di still treated Fang Xiaoru very kindly. But what happened later was a long-standing debate between the two of them, and at its peak, Fang Xiaoru threw his brush, shouted, "If you want to kill me, then do that! I won't write any inaugural address for the traitor, never!"

Standing in the rows of Fan Wangs, Zhu Su stared in horror at the crossed-arms Fang Xiaoru who blatantly showed the act of rebellion. But not only Zhu Su, everyone also had the same thought as they realized that Zhu Di's eyes were burning with fury, and his hands squeezed into a fist.

Although Zhu Di was very eager to sentence Fang Xiaoru to death, he tried to still his rage and discouraged that eagerness. First, he had just become the emperor, he must avoid to be labeled as a cruel emperor who would do killing easily whenever he disliked somebody. Second, Yao Guangxiao had advised him to release Fang Xiaoru.

"I am sure, he will refuse to surrender even though Jingnan Campaign has ended. But I hope that you won't kill him. If Fang Xiaoru dies, the whole scholars of Ming can be vanished," said Yao Guangxiao.

"You want to die?... Other people struggle to live, you want to die instead, so funny..." Zhu Di snorted in disgust. "Guards! Tear his mouth to his ears! Let us see, can he still cry out his yearn to die after realizing that the process of dying is excruciating!"

This time Zhu Su bit his lip and lowered his eyes since he could not bear to see the torture carried out by the guards towards Fang Xiaoru. Many people did the same, as it took several minutes for them to be tormented by listening to the heartbreaking screams filling their ears, because after all, they could not close their ears in this situation.

Fang Xiaoru's lips were now fully covered in blood, and so were his ears. He breathed very rapidly due to extreme pain, tears and sweat flooded his entire face. Zhu Di looked at him sharply, and asked icily, "Do you want to change your mind?"

Fang Xiaoru's eyes flickered. "No matter how painful the torture I must endure, it will not change my principle and loyalty, you traitor!"

"You don't know the reality yet immediately label me as a traitor? If you were me, maybe you would do the same," Zhu Di said sarcastically.

"Liar! I know it very well, you have the tendency to rebel from the beginning! You join forces with Zhou Wang to fight His Majesty! But you are even worse than Zhou Wang who can still repent and help His Majesty, you always reject the peace treaty proposed by His Majesty! Such a disgustimg traitor, you are! Ming will experience downfall before long because of being led by the demon like you!"

Zhu Di nodded. His face had turned crimson.

"You are a real stubborn person. Neither persuasion nor argumentation can change your mind since you have been programmed to serve only Yunwen... I have no choice but break my promise to Sir Yao. You want to die?! Then, I'll grant your wish... but... you will not die alone. Because I will exterminate your family for nine kinships!"

One more time, the whole Great Hall gasped in shock. Zhu Di smiled coldly. "You must agree that family is the most important thing in life. You must protect your family in spite of everything, and if you let your family members executed, then you will have no face in front of your ancestors. Well, then! I still give you a chance! Apologize and write the inaugural address, then I will spare you and your whole family!"

But, against the grain, it was what Fang Xiaoru shouted shortly after, "Only nine! That's nothing, Yan Wang! If you want to be cruel, don't be half-hearted! Exterminate all of my disciples, so it's not called nine kinship exterminations again, but ten!"

Zhu Su widened his eyes as he could not believe with Fang Xiaoru's yell, thought with great disbelief, Ten kinship extermination?! Having nine kinships of our family to be sentenced to death is already an awful thing, now Fang Xiaoru even defies to exterminate ten kinships?! How many innocent people must die just because of this nerd's foolishness?!

Fang Xiaoru lifted his chin, said arrogantly, "By killing me, my family and all of my disciples... it means that you will exterminate hundreds of innocent lives. You have made such cruelty at the beginning of your reign, then it will become the curse for your throne. The entire Ming will perceive you as a vile, tyrannical, inhuman emperor." He chuckled. "Just do it! In the end, it's not me who will be the victim, it is you! You will become the Damned Emperor, and your people will condemn you!"

Fang Xiaoru... that is his real intention, then! He wants to defame Brother Di! He wants the people to get scared with Brother Di and unwilling to respect him wholeheartedly! Zhu Su looked anxiously at Zhu Di who turned silent with a hardened face. Brother Di! Don't do that! Otherwise, you will get into this motherf*cker's trap!...

Slowly, Zhu Di opened his mouth.

"I will grant your wish. I will do Ten Kinship Extermination!"

Soon the Great Hall turned boisterous. Everyone could no longer hold their surprise scream right now.

***

In the open area where the execution was going to be carried out.

Without delay, the imperial army had captured Fang Xiaoru's nine kinships of family members plus his disciples. All of them was forced to be fastened to stakes, the ropes tied them so tightly they could not move even one centimeter. The sun of late July was so fierce it tormented their bodies. Sweat soaked their frightened faces as they realized that they would soon lose their lives. All of convicts were piled in the center of the execution area, since they were being used as a warning to the public; Do not even try to fight the government or this was what they would get.

Since it was a must for commoners to watch the execution, then it was more required for the nobles to do the same. Once again, Zhu Su was forced to watch the process of gruesome execution which would shortly be implemented. Actually, he wanted to run as far as possible from this terrible place, but this was the ancient rule of feudalism. Even Zhu Di also witnessed the execution. Sitting on a magnificent chair with a huge royal umbrella above him, Zhu Di stared straight at Fang Xiaoru, who was tied to the pile in the center.

Zhu Di waved his hands. "Do the execution."

The chief of executioners shouted, "Do the execution!"

The executioners marched towards each of the prisoners, who were immediately agitated and busy begging for mercy. Watching at their pitiful faces, Zhu Su did not have the heart to see the execution. He was sure, he would surely release them all if he were the emperor.

But of course, Zhu Di was not Zhu Su.