Emperor Chongzhen's Last Words: The Ming Dynasty Still Has a Prince

The final years of the Great Ming.

The Manchu Tartars loom menacingly beyond the borders, while the rebel Li Zicheng advances on the capital from within.

With nowhere left to turn, the Chongzhen Emperor hangs himself at Coal Hill. Thinking back on the past, he writes a final decree: "If you dare to slaughter the innocent, my son Zhu Cixuan shall mete out Heaven's punishment in my stead and wipe out your entire clans!"

Then he calmly goes to his death.

"I can't believe Chongzhen is dead and still thinks he can scare me with a dead man! How ridiculous!"

Li Zicheng, having taken the capital, scoffs.

Dorgon, who later arrives in the imperial capital, is equally amused: "I, the Regent Prince, would like to see what your Zhu family can do to stop me from slaughtering these Han people. Zhu Cixuan? Hah! He's nothing but a good-for-nothing."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.