Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 653 Exchange
"Is the prince testing me? I have lived in the harem for a long time and have not been involved in affairs. Your Highness holds great power now, why would you bring up such things?" Although Concubine Li Kang is not young, she is actually not that old.

She entered the palace and was favored by Zhu Changluo, who was then the crown prince. She was only a teenager when she became Concubine Li Kangxi, and became the adoptive mother of Emperor Tianqi in her early twenties. Later, because of the sudden death of Emperor Taichang and the Palace Relocation Case, Concubine Li Kangxi was driven out of the Qianqing Palace and lived in the cold palace. She was only in her twenties.

More than ten years have passed, and now Li Kangfei is just forty years old. Although this age is not considered young for a woman in that era, and there are many grandmothers, Li Kangfei has lived in the harem for a long time and has been treated ordinary. However, since she fell from a high position and experienced a period of lows, she soon accepted the reality, lived a plain life every day, and kept a calm mind. The passing of time did not leave too many marks on her face. Judging from her appearance, Li Kangfei still has 70% of her former beauty, and is still the beauty that once made Emperor Taichang infatuated.

"I dare not. How could I use such a big thing to test the Queen Mother?" Zhu Shenzhui said sincerely, "The reason why I came to Beijing is to clear the emperor's side, quell the national crisis, restore order, eliminate the malpractices in the government, and revive the Ming Dynasty. I have no other intentions. These days, I have been busy with government affairs to stabilize the situation. I failed to visit the Queen Mother in time. This is my fault, how can I talk about other things?"

"I lived in Shanxi for a long time, far from the capital, but I also know the past of the empress dowager. The Donglin bandits committed treason and expelled the empress dowager from the Qianqing Palace, which led to the palace relocation. After I learned about it, I was often filled with indignation for the empress dowager, but I was powerless to do anything."

"When the late emperor was alive, he intended to make the empress dowager the imperial concubine first, and then the empress. Everyone knows this. But who would have thought that the late emperor would pass away so quickly? Moreover, the late emperor's deeds still make me suspect that there were treacherous officials in the court. Otherwise, how could such a thing happen when the late emperor was in his prime?"

"After the late emperor passed away, the empress dowager should have been in charge of government affairs, supporting the new emperor and sitting in the harem, but something like that happened, which makes people gnashing their teeth and regretful. To put it bluntly, the position of empress dowager was originally yours, but now you are just a concubine Kang, which is unacceptable both from the legal and ethical perspectives. Now that I am the regent and the head of the royal family, I naturally have to give the empress dowager an explanation according to the rules. Moreover, when the late emperor Tianqi was alive, there was also a plan to restore the empress dowager's status, but it was a pity that it was not done. Now I am just restoring the empress dowager's status according to the will of the two late emperors. Isn't this reasonable?"

Zhu Shenzhui's words were full of affection and sincerity, which moved Li Kangfei. Thinking of the two previous emperors, Li Kangfei couldn't help but shed tears. When Wanli died and Emperor Taichang ascended the throne, she was so high-spirited that she thought the position of empress was hers.

When Emperor Taichang suddenly passed away, Concubine Li Kang suffered a great blow. At that time, she didn't even get the position of Imperial Noble Concubine that was within her reach, and was still just a selected concubine in name.

In order to protect herself and her own interests, Concubine Li Kang could only place all her hopes on her adopted son Zhu Youxiao. She originally thought that if she could hold on to Zhu Youxiao, she would have bargaining chips with the Donglin Party, first become the empress dowager, and then support the emperor to ascend the throne, thus having someone to rely on in this life.

Unexpectedly, the Donglin Party was so shameless. They not only colluded with the Jinyiwei and the eunuchs in the palace, but also rushed into the Qianqing Palace with a coup, snatched her adopted son Zhu Youxiao away from her, and forced her to move to the palace. Having lost her trump card, without strong support from outside or help from inside, Li Kangfei, a weak woman, was completely powerless and could only leave the Qianqing Palace miserably, becoming a loser.

After that, she experienced the ups and downs of life in the cold palace and was bullied in the palace. If it weren't for her good luck and the fact that Zhu Youxiao still remembered his kindness as his adoptive mother after he ascended the throne, she would have died quietly in the cold palace.

A few years later, Emperor Tianqi suddenly conferred the title of Concubine Kang on her, which gave Concubine Li Kang hope. At that time, Concubine Li Kang was inexplicably excited, thinking that the hard days were finally over and that her adopted son still remembered her and had affection for her. Since she could be conferred the title of Concubine Kang, then one day she might be conferred the title of empress dowager. Even if she was not the empress dowager, it would be nice to have the title of concubine dowager. If this day really came, it would be a true reward for all the hard work.

Who would have thought that Emperor Tianqi would also be short-lived? He died mysteriously before he could do all these things. After Emperor Tianqi's death, Emperor Chongzhen came to the throne. Emperor Chongzhen didn't care about Concubine Li Kang at all, and let her die in the harem. This directly destroyed Concubine Li Kang's hopes. She had no choice but to continue to endure this day after day, year after year, until her daughter, Princess Le'an, was suddenly arranged to be married by Emperor Chongzhen, and Concubine Li Kang completely lost her last hope.

But today Zhu Shenzhu came to see her, a person who had been in the harem for many years and was almost forgotten by everyone. As soon as they met, he expressed his intention to respect the late emperor's will and enthrone her as empress dowager. This shocked Concubine Li Kang and she couldn't help but be secretly on guard.

She is no longer the ignorant young girl of her twenties. She is now forty and has experienced many ups and downs that many people have never experienced in their lives. In the harem over the years, she has been reflecting and thinking back on the past, and has gained a lot of insights. Therefore, she did not show much surprise at the news, but instead had other concerns.

After taking a deep look at Zhu Shenzhui, Li Kangfei had met Emperor Wanli and had personally experienced the reigns of Taichang, Tianqi and Chongzhen. It could be said that she was a woman who had met four generations of emperors of the Ming Dynasty.

Compared with these kings, Zhu Shencui in front of her was more like a real emperor in terms of manners and demeanor, especially his majestic appearance and elegant conversation, which made Concubine Li Kang sigh with emotion. No wonder Zhu Shencui, as an ordinary member of the royal family, could accomplish such a great thing. It was really not easy.

"I am just a woman who has lived in the palace for a long time. Your Majesty is now the regent. Since Your Majesty said that he would respect the late emperor's will, how can I refuse? But Your Majesty, I want to ask you a question, is that okay?"

"Please ask, Queen Mother. I will never lie to you." "Your Highness, if I were the Queen Mother, what would happen to you as the regent? What would happen to me as the Queen Mother?" Concubine Li Kang asked, looking towards Zhu Shenzhui with a serious expression.

Zhu Shenzhui laughed immediately. He didn't expect that Concubine Li Kang would ask this question directly. He originally thought that Concubine Li Kang would not ask, and everyone just knew it. It seems that the previous events have indeed changed Concubine Li Kang's character a lot. It is not a bad thing for her to ask this question. At least it shows Concubine Li Kang's true thoughts. In essence, she just wants a clear attitude and guarantee.

Zhu Shenzhu immediately told Li Kangfei that it was not difficult for her to be promoted to the position of Queen Mother, and that it was reasonable, legal, and in line with filial piety. Moreover, the position of Queen Mother originally belonged to Li Kangfei, and it was just returned to her now.

As for being promoted to the position of empress dowager, Concubine Li Kang only needed to do her duty well and stay in the harem as the empress dowager. The empress dowager did not need to worry about state affairs. According to Taizu's order, the harem was not allowed to interfere in government affairs. Naturally, the regent Zhu Shenzhui would lead the court to handle them.

In addition, the Queen Mother must show clear support for Zhu Shenzhui and directly issue an imperial decree to confirm the legitimacy of Zhu Shenzhui's position as regent. As long as the Queen Mother does this, it will be enough. Zhu Shenzhui will treat her with courtesy and ensure the Queen Mother's status and position, and will never let her down.

Another point, Zhu Shenzhui indirectly pointed out, was that it was Princess Le'an who arranged it.

Li Kangfei had one son and one daughter. The prince Huaihui Zhu Youmo died at the age of five, leaving only Princess Le'an. When the palace relocation case occurred, Li Kangfei was expelled from the Qianqing Palace to the harem, holding the young Princess Le'an in her arms. After that, the mother and daughter depended on each other in the harem and lived together for more than ten years.

Two years ago, Emperor Chongzhen arranged a marriage for his half sister, Gong Yonggu, who was a good friend of Emperor Chongzhen's cousin, Xinle Earl Liu Wenbing. Gong Yonggu was the son of Gong Can, a member of the Siyi Hall. Gong Can's official position was only the ninth rank, only slightly higher than that of a clerk. Although Gong Yonggu had some literary talent, he had no achievements and was not from a noble family. Betrothing Gong Yonggu, as Princess Le'an, was an injustice to her in every way.

Concubine Li Kang was very dissatisfied with this marriage. In her opinion, no matter what, she still had the title of Concubine Kang, while her daughter was the granddaughter of Emperor Wanli, the daughter of Emperor Taichang, the nominal sister of the previous Emperor Tianqi, the half-sister of the current Emperor Chongzhen, and a real princess of the Ming Dynasty.

A princess of such status, even if her family background is not taken into consideration, should she be betrothed to a suitable family for the sake of the two previous emperors? Not to mention the noble family of marquis, marrying into a family of hereditary military merit or scholarly family is the minimum. But Emperor Chongzhen married his sister to such a man, the son of a ninth-rank official with no official title. Such humiliation made Concubine Li Kang always indignant.

Although Princess Le'an and her husband Gong Yonggu were relatively harmonious after marriage and they had a son, the fact that the princess was marrying into such a family was still a thorn in Li Kangfei's heart. However, facing the Emperor Chongzhen's brutal marriage, she was helpless. She had no power at all and could not do anything, let alone change the status quo.

But then again, even if she accepted the reality, the grievance and resentment in her heart remained. Now Zhu Shenzhu took the initiative to propose that as long as Concubine Li Kang was willing to accept the position of Queen Mother and support her, he would not only give her the power of the harem, but also make proper arrangements for Princess Le'an.

Didn't Li Kangfei always worry about Gong Yonggu's status? This is very simple. Gong Yonggu now only has the title of a son-in-law, and is basically an idle person, but Zhu Shenzhu can make him rise to the top in one step. As long as his status as regent is stable, it will be easy to give Gong Yonggu a hereditary military position, and even make him an earl.

In this way, the descendants of Princess Le'an and Gong Yonggu would have a chance to come to the fore. They would no longer be ordinary relatives by marriage, but would directly enter the noble class, which would also fulfill one of Li Kangfei's obsessions.

"That's good..." Concubine Li Kang thought about it and finally agreed to Zhu Shenzhu's suggestion. On the one hand, Zhu Shenzhu was honest and gave enough benefits. On the other hand, the position of Queen Mother was what Concubine Li Kang had dreamed of all her life. Besides, she was not an empty Queen Mother. Zhu Shenzhu promised to give her the power to lead the harem, which was enough. As for national affairs, Concubine Li Kang also knew herself. She knew very well that Zhu Shenzhu would never let her interfere, and she would not be able to manage it even if she was asked to.

As long as she became the Empress Dowager, she would be able to finally have her cake and eat it too. All the palace maids and eunuchs who looked down on her, including the Empress and Imperial Concubines of Emperor Chongzhen, would have to bow to her, even Emperor Chongzhen. As the Empress Dowager, she would be the most honorable woman in the world, and she would be able to shake off her past depression and feel proud.

(End of this chapter)