"I know Father would definitely not agree, but once you’re dead, you won’t have a choice."
Zhang Yun nonchalantly spoke, "You gave me life, and as your son, it is my duty to ensure you get a proper burial. Otherwise, for such treasonous acts of aiding Dawei, conspiring with the Nangong Family of Nanchu in the murder of the Nanchu princess, inciting rebellion in Daliang, destabilizing imperial order and causing misery for the people, you would be dismembered by the Crown Prince."
Bloodshot with rage, Zhang Ping’s hand, which had been immobile till now, suddenly lifted, aimed to strangle Zhang Yun.
However, pitiful as it was, he couldn’t reach. He couldn’t even reach a fragment of Zhang Yun’s clothing. Zhang Yun stood just out of reach from his bed, displaying the distance between them for him to die with understanding.
"Uncle wasn’t killed by me, he was killed by Zhou Gu. My fifth brother wasn’t killed by me either, he was killed by Zhou Gu’s men. When I arrived at the city of Nanping, I truly wished to seize it for Father. If you resent anyone, resent Uncle in the afterlife. His reluctance to attack the city was not about caring for his nephew but was due to fear that if he immediately stormed the city and my elder brother died because of him, you would seek revenge afterward. This caused the best moment to attack the city to be missed."
Zhang Yun watched as Zhang Ping’s fury grew yet could do nothing but listen, his face growing a dark shade of purple, looking annoyed. Casually he continued, "Father should be comforted. Although the entire Zhang family has been executed in Daliang, leaving no descendants, my eldest brother and I still exist in Nanchu, remaining as your lineage. In the future, the two of us will be supporting the Nanchu princess."
Finally, Zhang Ping opened his mouth, "You... curse you."
Zhang Yun finally laughed, not denying the accusation, "Yes, I am a disappointment. Yet you taught me, Father, so rest easy."
He stepped away from the bed, allowing him to see Duan Xiao tied up on the ground, "Doctor Zhang and Mr. Duan, these two figures that you trust, I will take over their roles along with the command of two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers, leaving no loose ends for you to worry about." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
At that moment, Zhang Ping turned his eyes to Doctor Zhang. The doctor stepped back, bowing to Zhang Ping, who finally realized it was Doctor Zhang, the man he trusted most, who conspired with his son to betray him. And what of Duan Xiao...
He looked towards Duan Xiao and saw him tied to the ground with a sword held against his throat, his face pale and terrified as if fearing that at Zhang Yun’s nod, Le Shu would take his life.
With an outstretch hand and a hateful gaze, Zhang Ping choked on his breath and clinched his heart. His arm drooped, his eyes remained unblinked as he died.
Zhang Yun, staring at him, murmured, "I disclosed everything to you, Father, did you not understand? Shouldn’t you be the one to close your eyes? My mother is the one who died with her eyes open. As she lay dying, she could not see her beloved again. She was so close to buying her freedom. She held my hand and told me to live well, to not strive for anything unnecessary, and if possible, to leave the Zhang family. That was her expectation for me."
He lightly laughed, "I assume, she wished to have you killed, but she was too afraid to suggest it to me before she died. She was worried I would genuinely attempt it, only to be killed by you in retaliation. Therefore, she spoke to me in such a manner. Now I’ve killed you, I’ve likely fulfilled my mother’s dying wish. I was unfilial to Father, but I was dutiful to Mother. After all, Mother gave birth to only me, whereas you had others. I owe my entire filial piety to her, including the portion meant for you."
His smile vanished and his expression went blank again, "Originally, I intended to take my time in seeking retribution against you. You would gradually age, whereas I am still young. Time was plentiful, life was long."
He spoke in a detached voice, "However, Lady Su Qi was accommodating. She could bear having me around, so why would I force myself to take a detour? I have a better path to take. Who wouldn’t crave a brighter future? Thus, I will sever the bond of affection between us here!"
He spoke in measured tones, "Father, may your journey be smooth. Your royal ambitions, be it now or a thousand years later, will be viewed as a joke."
Absorbing his words, he turned around and looked at Duan Xiao.
Duan Xiao’s face was stricken with fear, pleading for mercy.
Zhang Yun told him, "Your wives and children have been taken into custody by my people. If you submit to me, I won’t just spare your life, but also those of your wives and children."
Duan Xiao kept nodding in agreement. If Zhang Yun could even kill the formidable Zhang Ping, his own father, why would he have any reason to resist him?
Zhang Yun saw that he seemed agreeable to the prospect and waved his hand lightly.
Le Shu withdrew his sword, untied Duan Xiao, and removed the gag from his mouth. He warned him in a low voice, "You’d better recognize your situation and cooperate with my master. If not, you will be the first to die."
"Yes, yes." Overcome with fear, Duan Xiao trembled, quickly nodding his head.
"Cry!" Zhang Yun commanded.
Duan Xiao, already petrified and on the verge of tears, immediately burst out crying,"General... How could you... How could you..."
Why were you killed?
Immediately, Doctor Zhang fell to his knees, declaring, "It is my incompetence. The general’s heart ailment became severe this time. Even my most advanced skills were of no avail."
Hearing the commotion, people outside rushed in.
They found Zhang Ping lying with his bloodshot eyes wide open, dead, while Zhang Yun looked pale. As the first people to rush in, Zhang Jin and Zhang Zun saw Zhang Yun suddenly draw his sword and hold it against Zhang Jin’s throat. His gaze cold and heavy, he accused, "You are the ones who killed Father."
Shocked, Zhang Jin looked at him, "What... what do you mean?"
"Before Father’s illness attacked, the last people he saw were you two. After you left, Father had an episode." Zhang Yun stared at Zhang Jin coldly, "Doctor Zhang also said it was a sudden attack from extreme anger, violating the rule of avoiding rage. What exactly did you do?"
Zhang Jin recalled. He had reported to Zhang Ping about Zhang Yun’s schemes. Pale and shaken, he shook his head, "No, it’s not related to us."
"What an ’unrelated’! Go explain it to Father in hell!" Zhang Yun twisted his wrist, stopping the debate, and slit Zhang Jin’s throat.
Decisive in his actions, Zhang Jin’s eyes popped open. He hadn’t even had the chance to utter a sound before he fell limp on the ground.
Zhang Yun withdrew his sword, not looking at the collapsed Zhang Jin. Instead, the sword moved to Zhang Zun’s throat, "Now it’s your turn to talk."
Zhang Zun, witnessing his elder brother’s murder, being only eleven years old and never experiencing such a jarring scene, let out a terrified scream, his wobbly knees barely supporting him.
Zhang Yun did not intend to kill him directly. But the scared eleven-year-old boy, accustomed to being spoiled and now terrified, unintentionally moved onto the sword blade.
"Pathetic!" Zhang Yun sneered coldly, withdrew his sword, and ordered, "Speak!"
Collapsing to the ground in fear, Zhang Zun whimpered, "We complained to Father that you... you schemed behind his back to kill Uncle and Elder Brother..."
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