Zhu Zhanjun said he was going to the Imperial Palace, and he truly went.
He went there in a manner that surpassed everyone's imagination.
The people of the capital pushed open their windows and saw a troop of Silver Armored Cavalry surrounding a tall flagpole as they advanced toward the Imperial City.
Everyone thought they had not yet woken up.
That was, until they saw the bloodied, mangled figure tied to the flagpole.
It was Zhang Ke, the Yulin Guard Commander, who had still been cutting an imposing figure not long ago.
The entire capital erupted.
Had His Highness Prince Zheng gone mad?
He had tied a Second Rank Official to a flagpole and paraded him through the streets—and now he even intended to storm the Imperial Palace?
This was not merely audacious. He was slapping the emperor across the face.
Outside Chengtian Gate, the Imperial Forest Army guarding the Palace City stared at the imposing cavalry.
And at that especially conspicuous "human flagpole."
Every one of them was flustered, their minds blank.
"Who goes there? Halt at once!"
An Imperial Forest Army Commander forced himself forward and shouted a warning.
The answer he received was Zhu Zhanjun's indifferent gaze.
"I am Prince Zheng, Zhu Zhanjun."
"By order of Imperial Grandfather, I have come to capture the traitor Zhang Ke and enter the palace to see His Majesty!"
He invoked the emperor's name directly, speaking with righteous confidence.
The commander was rendered speechless.
An imperial order?
Had anyone ever tied a man to a flagpole and delivered him to the palace with such fanfare under an imperial order?
"Your Highness, this violates protocol!"
The commander was so anxious that sweat poured down his forehead.
"Please put Lord Zhang down first. This General will immediately report your arrival!"
"Put him down?"