Heroes of Troubled Times: Chronicles of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Cui Ying and Deng Yuanhui's faces changed drastically. They knelt down quickly, their bodies trembling, with innocent expressions on their faces.

"Master Zhu, we are wronged! How could Master Cui and I be involved in such a thing?" Deng Yuanhui's voice trembled as he tried to defend himself.

Zhu Wen sneered, his eyes full of disdain: "Do you think I will believe your sophistry?"

Tang Zhaozong sat on the throne, his face pale, his eyes flashing with shock and uneasiness. He didn't expect Zhu Wen to accuse Cui Ying and Deng Yuanhui like this.

"Zhu Wen, this matter has not been investigated clearly yet, don't rush to make a conclusion." Tang Zhaozong's voice was weak, trying to calm the situation.

Zhu Wen's eyes widened, his eyes flashing with dissatisfaction and anger: "Tang Zhaozong, are you going to defend these two traitors?"

Tang Zhaozong pondered for a moment, his eyes flashing with hesitation and reluctance. He knew that Zhu Wen was powerful, and if Cui Ying and Deng Yuanhui were found guilty, they would be severely punished.

"Zhu Wen, please step down for now. I will order someone to investigate this matter." Tang Zhaozong's voice was weak, but he tried to remain firm.

Zhu Wen's face twitched, and his eyes flashed with reluctance and anger. But he knew that he could not force Tang Zhaozong to make a decision. So he turned and left, leaving behind a tense and uneasy atmosphere.

In the following days, Tang Zhaozong ordered people to investigate the cause of Zhu Youlun's death. After a detailed investigation, it was confirmed that Zhu Youlun died of a sudden illness and had nothing to do with Cui Ying and Deng Yuanhui.

However, Zhu Wen was not reconciled. He sent his nephew Zhu Youliang to lead troops into Chang'an to arrest Cui Ying and Zheng Yuangui. Their homes were also confiscated, and their families were implicated.

Zhu Wen's power gradually expanded, and he forced Tang Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang. The prosperity of Chang'an gradually declined, and people's lives fell into chaos and hardship.

During the process of moving the capital, Zhu Wen's power became even greater, and his nephew Zhu Youliang held an important position. Cui Ying and Zheng Yuangui mysteriously disappeared during the escort, and some people said that they were secretly killed by Zhu Wen.

Tang Zhaozong lost power, and his eyes flashed with helplessness and grief. He knew that Zhu Wen's ambition could no longer be stopped, and the decline of the Tang Dynasty was inevitable.

The glory of Chang'an gradually faded, and Luoyang became the new capital. However, Zhu Wen's rule was not stable, and his tyranny and autocracy caused public resentment.

Under Zhu Wen's rule, Chang'an was no longer the prosperous scene of the past, and people's lives fell into hardship and fear. They longed for peace and tranquility, hoping to restore their former glory one day.

However, Zhu Wen's ambition did not stop. His rule triggered uprisings and resistance in various places, and the decline of the Tang Dynasty became more serious.

Under Zhu Wen's rule, Chang'an's glory gradually faded and turned into ruins and dust. Zhu Wen did not realize his ambitions after all, his rule was overthrown, and the Tang Dynasty completely declined.

In 904 AD, the autumn wind was bleak and the leaves were falling. Tang Zhaozong and the queen, dressed in gorgeous clothes, carried heavymood, left the once prosperous capital Chang'an, and embarked on the road to Luoyang.

Shanzhou, this ancient city between Chang'an and Luoyang, became their temporary stop. Outside the city, the army led by Zhu Wen was on full alert, and his eyes revealed a subtle cunning.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Wen has been waiting here for a long time." A servant reported to Tang Zhaozong carefully.

Tang Zhaozong frowned, his heart was full of hatred for Zhu Wen, but at the same time he knew that he was powerless to resist at this moment. He took a deep breath and slowly said: "Let him in."

Zhu Wen stepped into the tent, his steps were steady and powerful, his eyes looked directly at Tang Zhaozong, as if silently declaring his authority.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhu Wen, welcome you." Zhu Wen's voice was calm, but every word was like a heavy hammer hitting Tang Zhaozong's heart.

Tang Zhaozong tried to maintain the dignity of the emperor. He nodded slightly: "Zhu Wen, I remember your contribution in my heart. Today, I give you clothes and wine utensils as a reward."

Zhu Wen took the reward, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I will do my best to defend the Tang Dynasty."

The queen sat aside, and her eyes showed deep worry. She whispered to Tang Zhaozong: "Your Majesty, can our future really be stable?"

Tang Zhaozong held the queen's hand, and a trace of firmness flashed in his eyes: "Queen, no matter what the future holds, I will be with you."

Zhu Wen's eyes wandered between the two, and he secretly calculated his future plans in his heart. He knew that although Tang Zhaozong appreciated him on the surface, his hatred for him in his heart had not diminished.

As night fell, the night in Shanzhou seemed particularly quiet. Tang Zhaozong and the queen slept in each other's arms in the tent, while Zhu Wen was in a tent not far away, plotting the next move with his confidant.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of the night. A soldier ran into Zhu Wen's tent in a panic: "Sir, there is an assassin!"

Zhu Wen's eyes became sharp in an instant, he quickly got up and led the soldiers to Tang Zhaozong's tent. However, when they arrived, they saw chaos in the tent, and Tang Zhaozong and the queen had disappeared.

The night was as dark as ink, and the streets of Shanzhou looked particularly quiet under the moonlight. The figures of Tang Zhaozong and the queen hurried forward in the night, and their footsteps echoed in the empty streets, which seemed particularly heavy.

Tang Zhaozong's heart was full of uneasiness and worry, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed confusion about the future. He knew that Zhu Wen's ambition was like an undercurrent in the night, which could swallow them at any time.

The queen held Tang Zhaozong's hand tightly, with a determined light in her eyes. She comforted him softly: "Your Majesty, no matter how difficult the road ahead is, we must face it together."

Tang Zhaozong nodded slightly, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew that the queen's support was his greatest strength at the moment.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried horse hoovesThe sound broke the silence of the night. Tang Zhaozong and the queen immediately became alert. They quickly hid in a dark alley on the side, holding their breath and staring at the end of the street.

The cavalry led by Zhu Wen galloped past, and their eyes searched everywhere, obviously looking for the traces of Tang Zhaozong and the queen.

Tang Zhaozong's heartbeat accelerated. He knew that once they were discovered by Zhu Wen, they would have nowhere to escape. He held the queen's hand tightly, trying to pass on courage and strength to her.

The queen felt Tang Zhaozong's nervousness, and she whispered: "Your Majesty, we must believe that there is always a glimmer of hope."

Just then, a mysterious man in black quietly appeared in front of them. His eyes were deep and his voice was low: "Follow me, I can help you escape from here."

Tang Zhaozong and the queen looked at each other, and they knew that there was no other choice at the moment. They followed the man in black, through the winding alleys, and finally came to a hidden underground passage.

The man in black opened the door of the passage and motioned them to enter. Tang Zhaozong and the Queen did not hesitate. They quickly entered the passage. As the door closed, they seemed to be cut off from the outside world and entered an unknown world.

The passage was dark and damp, and the footsteps of Tang Zhaozong and the Queen echoed between the walls. Their hearts were filled with fear of the unknown, but at the same time they also held a glimmer of hope.

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