On March 18, the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, Shenshi, the Forbidden City, the Harem.

Zhu Youjian looked at the crown prince, queen and others expressionlessly, and spoke in a solemn tone.

"The rogues have captured the outer city and will start attacking the inner city tomorrow. I can't protect you. I have an edict here. Zhu Ci, Zhu Cijiong, Zhu Ci, I will send a lieutenant to escort you out of the capital. You are my Ming Dynasty

The blood of the dynasty must escape from the capital and revive our Ming Dynasty..."

Zhu Youjian went to the hospital because of his illness. He never thought about it. Zhu Ci, 16 years old, Zhu Cijiong, 14 years old, and Zhu Ci, 10 years old, have been in the capital since they were born. They are surrounded by a large group of people.

They had acted alone, but now the situation in the capital was in chaos. How could the three of them escape from the capital.

Zhu Youjian's eyes became sharp when he looked at Queen Zhou and others, including the eyes he looked at his daughters Princess Changping and Princess Zhaoren. The same was true. The blood of the royal family was noble and could never be tarnished by others.

Before Zhu Youjian could speak, Queen Zhou spoke.

"Your Majesty, you don't need to say anything. I know what to do."

Empress Zhou, who was usually gentle and elegant, looked at the few concubines. After Zhu Youjian became emperor, he was not lewd, and there were not many concubines in the harem.

"The capital city is in danger and may be captured by rogue bandits at any time. I won't say much about what you should do. You are all members of the royal family. You must preserve the dignity and blood of the royal family and not be tarnished in the slightest..."

Queen Zhou's voice was not loud, but her words were cold. As the queen in charge of all matters in the harem, Queen Zhou almost never said harsh words. This time, she had to stand up.

Empress Zhou did not speak to Princess Changping and Princess Zhaoren, nor did she make any requests to the two princesses.

Zhu Youjian knew it well and wanted to speak, but the words could not come out. Princess Changping was 16 years old and Princess Zhaoren was only 10 years old. It would be inhumane and cruel to ask them to commit suicide.

With a long sigh, Zhu Youjian stood up.

"The slave family respectfully sends you the emperor. Your Majesty, please take care of the dragon body..."

Queen Zhou's voice came, and Zhu Youjian's body trembled violently. Such words were often heard before, but now they are different. This may be the last time he hears them.

Zhu Youjian just stood for a moment, did not look back, and left with some staggering steps.

There was no expression on Queen Zhou's face as she looked at the more than ten eunuchs in the palace.

"You take the prince, the third prince, and the fourth prince and leave the palace now, find a place to hide, and take the two princesses back to the room to rest. The rest of the people stay here..."

Low sobs appeared, and everyone understood what Queen Zhou meant.

A few minutes later, there was only one kind of concubine left in the hall, and among them was Queen Yi'an, the queen of Zhu Youxiao, Emperor Xizong of Ming Dynasty.

Queen Zhou walked up to Queen Yi'an and bowed slightly.

"Sister, the slave family is in charge."

Queen Yi'an looked calm and nodded slightly as she looked at Queen Zhou.

"Sister, everything is at your discretion."

Queen Zhou raised her head and looked at everyone.

"All sisters above the concubines, please stay. The rest should disperse and leave the palace to escape. The emperor has a good life, and I hope you will remember the emperor's kindness..."

Crying suddenly appeared, and some people left the hall wiping tears.

There were only about ten people left in the main hall.

"Sisters, let's say goodbye to the Emperor here..."

...

March 19th, Mao hour.

The outer city of Beijing is quiet and solemn.

The Dashun Army has assembled and is preparing to launch an attack on the inner city.

Li Zicheng on horseback was preparing to issue an order for a full-scale attack.

The crisp sound of horse hoofbeats sounded, and the messenger came galloping over on horseback. When he dismounted, his face turned red.

"Report to King Chuang, Xizhimen has opened, Xizhimen has opened..."

Li Zicheng was stunned for a moment and looked at the messenger.

Within half a minute or so, Li Zicheng's face showed an expression of ecstasy.

"Understood, order the army to enter the inner city from Xizhimen and tell the Ming army guarding the inner city that if they submit to our Dashun army, they can save their lives. If they resist stubbornly, they will be killed without mercy..."

...

Less than half an hour passed, and all the gates of the inner city were opened. The sergeants of the Dashun Army entered the inner city in an orderly manner. There was no bloody fighting, and Li Zicheng easily captured the inner city.

The last thing left is the Imperial City.

Li Zicheng rode a horse and entered the inner city from Zhengyang Gate.

Entering from Zhengyang Gate is Daming Gate. The Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War and the Governor's Mansion of the Ming Dynasty are all here, as well as the famous Jin Yiwei of the Ming Dynasty.

At this moment, the Daming Gate has long been opened.

Since the capital of the Ming Dynasty was signed into Shuntian Mansion, no one except the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was allowed to ride a horse in the Daming Gate, but Li Zicheng entered the Daming Gate on a horse.

After passing the Daming Gate, you will reach the Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial City.

The Chengtian Gate in front is closed.

Li Zicheng looked at Chengtianmen and his face turned pale. This was his first time coming to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, and his first time seeing the palace of the Ming Dynasty in such a way.

Niu Jinxing, Song Xiance and others, behind Li Zicheng, had different expressions on their faces, but their eyes looked at Chengtianmen with ecstasy.

...

Zhu Youjian, who had stayed up all night, got the news that the inner city had been captured by Li Zicheng, and also found out that it was Cao Huachun who opened the city gate and let Li Zicheng in. At that moment, he was already numb.

When he stood up, walked out of the side hall, and headed towards the Huangji Hall in front, only Wang Chengen was left beside Zhu Youjian.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

The dull drumbeat sounded, which was the drumbeat to summon officials to the court meeting.

The empty hall and square were filled with the sound of drums. Zhu Youjian looked at the square in front of him. More than a month ago, it was still full of people, with many civil and military ministers standing there, but today none of them could be seen.

"I understand, I finally understand. I am a gift from those civil and military ministers to Li Zicheng. They can submit to Li Zicheng and keep their glory and wealth, but I have to go underground to meet their ancestors..."

There was no anger or sadness on Zhu Youjian's face, but just numbness.

Entering the main hall, Zhu Youjian didn't even look at the royal chariot above.

"Cheng'en, give me your sword..."

Wang Chengen was so frightened that his body trembled, and he knelt down and spoke.

"Your Majesty, you must take care of your dragon body..."

Zhu Youjian looked at Wang Chengen who was kneeling on the ground, said nothing, walked up to Wang Chengen, pulled out the sword from Wang Chengen's waist, and went straight towards the harem.

Wang Chengen quickly got up, followed behind, and trotted to keep up.

...

"Father, give me a hug..."

"Shua..."

Several cold rays of light flashed, and Princess Zhaoren, who was only ten years old, and the two maids beside Princess Zhaoren, all fell in a pool of blood. The two maids were unwilling to leave Princess Zhaoren and accompanied Princess Zhaoren underground.

The sixteen-year-old Princess Taiping, with a pale face, looked at her father Zhu Youjian with a ferocious face.

Zhu Youjian raised the sword in his hand and slashed with his eyes closed.

After a scream, Princess Taiping fell down, blood flowing from her broken arm.

When Zhu Youjian raised his sword again, Wang Chengen beside him knelt down without saying anything.

Zhu Youjian let out a long painful sigh, threw away the sword in his hand, and turned around to leave.

Outside the side hall, dozens of eunuchs have gathered, and they have prepared the people's clothes.

Wang Chengen knelt down again.

"The emperor must take care of the dragon body. I have gathered everyone to escort you out. As long as you leave the capital, you can go to Shandong or southern Zhili..."

This time, Zhu Youjian didn't say much and quickly changed into common people's clothes.

Donghua Gate and Xihua Gate were all closed, and no one could be seen in the Forbidden City. The sound coming from the direction of Chengtian Gate was very clear. They were rogue bandits preparing to enter the Forbidden City.

Zhu Youjian, who was pale, looked at Wang Chengen beside him.

"Cheng'en, destiny is like this, you don't have to think too much, just accompany me to change clothes..."

Returning to the Zhongji Hall, Zhu Youjian put on a yellow dragon robe, while Wang Chengen and others knelt in front, watching Zhu Youjian change. Zhu Youjian put on a dragon robe, which meant that he would not escape from the palace.

"Huang, Your Majesty, bandits are about to enter the palace..."

A eunuch hurried over.

Zhu Youjian looked at the eunuch kneeling on the ground with an indifferent expression.

"I understand. You are all here to resist the bandits. Cheng'en will accompany me to the inner garden..."

The Inner Garden is actually the royal back garden. It is at the very back of the Forbidden City. To enter the Inner Garden, you need to cross the Jinshui River.
To be continued...