Years later, in 1420.
Finally, the Beijing Palace had been built, the magnificent palace we now know as Forbidden City. It was truly incredible. The myth is that no even a single palace in the world that could match it at that time. The palace was so enormous that it could be called a "city". A sturdy bright red gate fenced the entire Forbidden City. Passing through a long tunnel, then arriving at the front yard of the first section, crossing over a spacious yard, walking through beautiful bridges above an artificial river, and passing through one more gate, then we will finally arrive at the Main Palace. It is said that the Forbidden City has 9,999 buildings, it is according to the rules of Fengshui mentioning that 10,000 will have the same meaning as the hailing of wansui - long life for ten thousand years which means forever. The connotation is the same as death, since logically nothing on this earth will last forever, except death.
The Forbidden City was designed beautifully and artistically, and based on the most updated geomancy science as well, it must not be designed by one or two people. The history expert estimated that there were about a thousand people who designed it, consisting of painters, sculptors, sculptors, layout experts, and also Fengshui experts. This time, those thousands of experts were standing in front of the Main Palace. They had worked hard for twenty years to complete this magnificent project, and once this project was accomplished, they knew that they would be rewarded.
So, all of them waited eagerly. As the super-majestic horse carriage passed by and Zhu Di stepped down from it, they all immediately kowtowed respectfully.
"Stand up, all of you!" Standing on the steps of the stairs, Zhu Di waved his hand.
"Thank you very much, Sire!" And they stood up.
"Today, I am very glad. The hard work and long struggles have finally paid off. What a great palace! Such an unmatched splendor! The whole world can witness the glory of The Great Ming just by looking at it!"
Zhu Di laughed out loud. Then he looked closely at the experts in front of him.
"And this magnificent, of course, isn't separated from your hard work. All of you, have exerted all your efforts and intelligence. I must give the highest appreciation to you! Your intelligence, really makes me salute!"
"We don't deserve it, Your Majesty!" They made courtesy.
"But just because you are so smart, I can't let you live."
Everyone looked up. There was something strange in Zhu Di's words... something strange, and also atrocious.
Zhu Di pressed his lips. "This palace is also designed with various secret paths. The escape routes if the enemy attacks... the routes to get out... the paths to trap the enemy... if you are alive, you may reveal it either on purpose or not. And I don't want it to happen even if it's just a possibility."
A group of well-built and fully armed soldiers immediately surrounded the entire yard. Now all experts screamed in panic. "Your Majesty! We... we won't do that... so... please... spare our lives!!!"
Zhu Di looked away, then turned around and entered the palace. He did not want to see the scene of the massacre which appeared afterwards.
The marble floor of Forbidden City's yard was immediately filled with the blood of its makers.
***
On Mount Yun Mu.
A man in his mid-forties was running in panic. Even though he was very tired, and even almost out of breath, but he forced himself to keep running. His luxurious robe that used to make him look elegant and elite now turned to a mess, it was even ripped here and there because of being torn apart by trees and rocks while he ran. The same with his hair, it was usually neatly combed but it was matted right now. He was even more like a poor convict than a noble, even though he was a member of the imperial family. The ruler of Changsha, Gu Wang, Zhu Hui.
But Zhu Hui could not care about all trifles like grace and neatness any longer, his life was more important than anything. That was why he ran away so desperately, he even climbed mountains that he had never climbed before. He must run away, or he would die. Killed by the imperial soldiers ordered by his own brother.
Zhu Hui had realized that Zhu Di was eager to get rid of him. Because Zhu Di ascended to the throne by the way of a coup, he was unallowed to ascend the throne but he could become the emperor, so he was worried that his brothers might take the same steps as he did. After all, Zhu Hui was not only the one Zhu Di kept an eye on. But because Zhu Hui was Zhu Di's half brother, and was a benevolent leader loved by the people, Zhu Di was worried about him. The last point played the most important role. Zhu Di was not worried about all of his siblings, he was only worried with those who were talented or those who were loved by the people. Like Zhu Su, his full brother, who had talent in writing medical books which managed to save many lives and was very kind to the people he led. Or Zhu Quan, Zhu Di's eighteenth half brother who contributed greatly to help him in Jingnan Campaign and had both military and literary skills. Zhu Di was worried about him, he thought Zhu Quan might become a wolf in sheep's clothing. There was also Zhu Bo, Zhu Di's seventh half brother who showed too frontal attitude that Zhu Di assumed as a tendency to rebel. Zhu Bo was also very good at military skills. But among all of them, it was Zhu Hui who disturbed Zhu Di the most. Zhu Di could no longer hold back his paranoia, so he finally sent three generals straight to Changsha to kill Zhu Hui.
Zhu Hui was an expert in politics and strategy, he was immediately informed that Zhu Di's three generals were aiming directly to assassinate him. Without wasting time anymore, Zhu Hui quickly fled from his palace. He did not even waste time to change his clothes into the clothes which were more suitable to escape than this fancy robes, or bid farewell to his family. Even a second was very valuable. A great panic made him manage to climb Mount Yun Mu Shan, he planned to hide there.
The pounding of the horse's steps was getting clearer and clearer. It was a fast step. Zhu Hui's heart seemed to stop beating. They've been chasing to here?!?
Zhu Hui forced his legs to run faster. After all, his strength had been much drained. He was basically a thinker and a planner, a scholar who was more concerned with books, physical matter was not his forte. Being able to run away fast like this had been a great achievement he should be proud of in his lifetime, but of course, he could not run any faster. Running fast made him out of breath, he was suffocated, and the sound of the horse's footsteps was getting much closer.
Zhu Hui's eyes went huge. In front of him, a deep ravine stretched out.