Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 112 The Duke of England was so angry that he vomited blood: Do you want to become the real emperor?
"Mother, mother."

"Queen Mother, Queen Mother."

Everyone was in a panic. Zhu Qizhen reached out and picked up the empress dowager, shouting, "Quick, call the imperial physician!"

He carried the queen mother to the couch and felt her breath. She was still breathing, not dead. Although she fainted, her brows were furrowed, as if she was troubled.

"What are you worrying about?"

Zhu Qizhen muttered and took a closer look. The empress dowager was well maintained, with skin whiter than snow and delicate eyebrows. A strand of hair fell on her delicate collarbone, and he reached out to take it.

At this moment, the empress dowager's eyebrows trembled and she slowly opened her eyes. Zhu Qizhen asked with concern: "Mother, are you feeling better? You fainted just now."

"It's because of you that I'm angry." The Queen Mother coughed lightly.

At this moment, she looked weak, without her usual empress dowager airs. Her black and white eyes also had a softer color. She tilted her head slightly, as if she didn't want to look Zhu Qizhen in the eye.

Zhu Qizhen rarely saw the weak side of the empress dowager. He spread his hands in self-blame and said, "Mother, then punish me. Alas, mother is old after all, I will not make you angry in the future."

The Queen Mother's eyes, which originally had a hint of tenderness, suddenly turned fierce: "Do you dislike my old age?"

"No, no!" Zhu Qizhen shook his head quickly, "What I mean is that you, mother, must take good care of your health."

Sure enough, women care a lot about their age.

At this time, footsteps were heard, and Shuangxi came with the imperial physician. Zhu Qizhen called to the imperial physician, "Stop bowing, and diagnose the empress dowager. Why did she suddenly faint?"

After checking the patient's pulse, the doctor knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is exhausted and tired. I can prescribe a prescription for her to recover, but the Queen Mother can't go on like this. She needs to relax. Otherwise, if this continues for a long time, there will be... big problems."

"I understand." Zhu Qizhen raised his hand, "Go and write a prescription, Shuangxi, follow the imperial physician to get the medicine."

Shuangxi took the imperial physician out.

Zhu Qizhen walked to the Queen Mother's bedside and looked at her sick face. He sighed and said, "Why are you doing this? Take good care of her. I will do as you wish in the end."

After saying that, he turned and left, his tall back looking extremely lonely. The Queen Mother looked at his back, her eyes slightly drooping. The Emperor's words made her feel complicated.

Zhu Qizhen walked on the imperial road with a smile on his face.

Taking advantage of the Queen Mother's illness, he wanted to kill her. Oh no, he wanted to conquer her with his acting skills. Isn't she just worried about her own son who is far away in Mobei?

……

Zhang Ding's wife was sent to Beijing and was guarded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At the morning court, Yu Shiyue, the Minister of Justice, reported: "Your Majesty, before the truth came out, Liu Dingzhi was a suspect, so he should at least be dismissed. How can a suspect be the governor of a province?"

Some ministers seconded the proposal. Zhu Qizhen's eyes flashed coldly. He wanted to promote Liu Dingzhi to the governor of Henan. But Yu Shiyue's words just now were full of "reason", and he didn't know how to refute for a while.

At this time, Yu Qian, the Prince's Guardian, stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Liu Dingzhi was my subordinate before and came out of my governor's office. Therefore, I am willing to guarantee Liu Dingzhi. When the truth comes out one day, if Liu Dingzhi is guilty, I will be guilty as well. Please don't dismiss Liu Dingzhi."

The officials were shocked when they heard this. They did not expect that Yu Qian, who had always been in charge of military affairs, would stand up and vouch for Liu Dingzhi. Moreover, with Yu Qian's prestige, who could have any objection?

"Master Yu, please think twice." Duke Cheng snorted.

Yu Qian glanced over, with contempt and ridicule in his eyes, and said in a deep voice:
"Think twice? No need! If it is for the benefit of the country, I will do it at my own risk. While you are here to criticize Liu Dingzhi, he is leading the people to repair the river embankment day and night. While you are talking big, Liu Dingzhi is helping the people to get back the occupied land. The people of Henan have a good reputation for Liu Dingzhi. I don't believe that the people are blind and have misjudged him."

"You have been talking big in this palace all day long, with high-sounding words, but in fact you are just seeking official positions and titles. You are lazy and don't know how to distinguish grains. You are just talking nonsense to deceive the world and steal fame. How dare you criticize Liu Dingzhi who works for the people?"

Zhu Qizhen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, was a little confused.

Old Yu, why did you suddenly get mad? What triggered you?
"Since Yu Shaobao has guaranteed it, I certainly believe Liu Dingzhi." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, "After the truth is revealed, we will make a decision. For now, we will first try Zhang Ding's wife. The Dali Temple, Jinyiwei and the Metropolitan Procuratorate will jointly try her to show fairness."

The ministers had no choice but to obey the order, and Liu Dingzhi's danger was finally over.

……

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen came back from the morning court and immediately summoned Yu Qian. He opened his arms towards Yu Qian who came in and said, "Old Yu, what has irritated you? Why are you arguing with the ministers in the court?"

Yu Qian took out a letter and sighed, "This is a letter from Liu Dingzhi to me. He must have been really exhausted and came to complain to me. After reading it, I felt ashamed. I was angry when I saw those ministers who only talked but did not act in the morning court."

Zhu Qizhen took the letter and glanced at it quickly.

Dear Teacher:

Since I was appointed by the court and became the governor of Henan, time has passed quickly. The road to implementing the new policy has been full of ups and downs. The emperor's grace is great and he has high hopes for us. He wants to use this reform to promote benefits, eliminate disadvantages, and stabilize the country. However, under heavy pressure, it is difficult to move forward. The feeling is really hard to describe.

The local gentry, who were conservative and self-satisfied, regarded the new policy as an enemy and united to attack it. The sound of insults was endless and the words of attack were everywhere. Although I had the country in my heart and the people in my heart, I couldn't help but feel cold in the face of such a predicament. I couldn't sleep at night and couldn't enjoy my food.

However, I know that the great plan of the country cannot be shaken by the interests of the moment. If it is beneficial to the country, I will not regret it even if I die. Therefore, I endure silently and remain determined, hoping that with sincerity and perseverance, I can influence the stubborn stone, so that the light of the new policy can finally shine on the land of Henan and benefit thousands of people...

"It's not easy for Liu Dingzhi either." Zhu Qizhen sighed lightly.

"If it is beneficial to the country, I will fight for it regardless of life or death." Yu Qian bowed earnestly, "Liu Dingzhi will not give up, Your Majesty, please do not let him down."

Zhu Qizhen spread his hands and said, "Old Yu, do you think I am that kind of person?"

In fact, he did think in his heart that even if Liu Dingzhi died, he had to implement the new policy in Henan. Since ancient times, reforms and new policies have always resulted in deaths. As long as the new policy is implemented, it is worth it to kill Liu Dingzhi in the end to appease the anger of the gentry!

But I can only keep this thought in my heart. It would be best if Liu Dingzhi didn't die.

……

Not long after Yu Qian left, the Duke of Ying, who had not appeared for a long time, asked to see him. Zhu Qizhen was stunned for a moment, and immediately asked the eunuch to help the old Duke in.

The white-haired Duke of England Zhang Fu was really old, hunched over, and haggard, totally lacking the heroic spirit he had when he was on the battlefield. The eunuch brought a chair and helped him sit down.

"Old Duke, what is the matter that requires you to drag your sick body to see me?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

"While I can still move, I come to see Your Majesty. Who knows, one day I will go to see Taizong, Renzong and the late emperor." Zhang Fu smiled.

Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, and the eunuchs and maids in the hall retreated. He walked to Zhang Fu, squatted down, looked at his old face and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it."

Zhang Fu's cloudy eyes suddenly became sharp. He stared at him and said, "I regret that I shouldn't have let you pretend to be His Majesty. Now, you want to make yourself real, right?" Zhu Qizhen reached out and held the Duke of Ying's rough hands, and said in a cold voice, "How can you be a fake emperor? I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"

"You...you...cough cough..." The Duke of England coughed violently.

Zhu Qizhen reached out and patted his back, saying, "You are old, why do you care so much? The people of the world and the history books of later generations don't know what the fake emperor is, so what's the difference?"

Ying Gong's face flushed with anger, his eyes bulged: "If I go down, how can I face the ancestors of the Zhu family?"

Zhu Qizhen stood up suddenly and said condescendingly: "What do you want to do? Turn the world upside down, and then your Zhang family will be exterminated. Then you can go down and face your Zhang family's ancestors?"

Duke Ying picked up the tea on the table, drank it all, and gradually calmed down. He looked at Zhu Qizhen coldly and asked, "What do you want to do next? The Queen Mother must have noticed something. Are you going to kill her?"

"I will not kill unless it is absolutely necessary." Zhu Qizhen said angrily, "It has been so long, don't you see? I am dedicated to the Ming Dynasty and the people of the world."

The Duke of England snorted, "Don't think I don't know. You just want to let the ministers and the people of the world know that you will be a great sage king. You just want to get their support."

"Did I do anything wrong?" Zhu Qizhen asked, staring at the Duke of Ying.

The Duke of England hesitated to speak, and finally lowered his head. After a long silence, he raised his eyes and said, "I don't think I will live long. I beg you not to hurt the Queen Mother."

"If she doesn't force me, I won't hurt her." Zhu Qizhen said.

"I went to see the Queen Mother. She was sick. She was just an ordinary mother." The Duke of England sighed.

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

He always felt that the Duke of England was being deliberate in saying so much today.

……

Duke Yingguo came out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity and walked slowly on the Imperial Road. The cold autumn wind blew past him and he seemed a little unsteady. Yu Qian appeared from the side and held him up with his hand.

"Master Yu is probably waiting for me." Duke Ying glanced at him.

"Humph, you old fox, you can fool the emperor, but you can't fool me." Yu Qian snorted, "Who are you showing off your sickly look to? Your Majesty? What do you want to do?"

The Duke of England coughed a few times and snorted, "I am really old!"

Yu Qian glared at her and said, "You are old, so just stay at home. You are an old fool, one moment you see the Prince of Qing, the next you see the Queen Mother. I tell you, His Majesty is implementing a new policy, so don't make any trouble."

The Duke of England stopped, turned his head and stared at Yu Qian, and asked coldly: "Yu Qian, I am about to die, tell me the truth, what do you think?"

Yu Qian let go of the Duke of Yingguo, pondered for a while, and said with a smile: "In my heart, the world comes first, and then Your Majesty. No matter what I, Yu Qian, think, you, the Duke of Yingguo, should be executed along with your entire clan!"

Having said that, he strode away.

The Duke of England looked at his back, and a satisfied smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Yu Qian, Yu Qian, you will choose my side in the end."

……

Prince Qing's Palace.

Zhu Qiyu came to the back garden and clasped his fists towards Tung Xingdao in the pavilion: "Mr. Tung, I have sent someone to escort your uncle out of the city, so you can rest assured."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Tung bowed.

This time he deliberately invited his so-called second uncle to come to Beijing to see him, and the King of Qing also rewarded his second uncle with a lot of gold and silver. His purpose was to reassure the King of Qing that he, Tung Xingdao, was not alone and could be controlled.

"I just went to pay my respects to the Queen Mother. She is ill." Zhu Qiyu frowned. "She urged me to redeem my brother from Mobei. I refused because I was short of money."

Tung Xingdao smiled and said, "With the Queen Mother's intelligence, she knew that the money in the small inner treasury was enough to redeem the emperor. She is helpless now. This matter can only be done by you, Your Highness."

"Mr. Tung, how do you think I should deal with this? I can't just keep saying there's not enough money, can I?" Zhu Qizhen said, "Although the Queen Mother doesn't care about things, after all, many officials from the court to the local areas were promoted by her, so her prestige must still be there."

Tung Xingdao pondered for a moment and said, "The person must be redeemed, otherwise how can the fake emperor be driven off the throne? Although the Queen Mother promised you that she only wants the person to be safe and nothing else. But I don't believe her, so we need a time that is favorable to us."

"I am worried too." Zhu Qiyu said helplessly, "If the fake emperor really implements the new policy, then he will be deeply loved by the people. I will definitely have no chance."

Tung Xingdao seemed to be thinking about something, and then he said, "We can redeem the person secretly and control him first. Then we will take the initiative."

Zhu Qiyu's eyes lit up: "I will start making arrangements now."

……

As soon as he left the Prince of Qing's Palace, he ran into Duke Cheng who came in a hurry.

"Your Highness, are you going out?" Duke Cheng's face was solemn. "The interrogation of Madam Zhang Ding is about to come to a conclusion. Zhang Ding, this bastard, has ruined us. He seemed to listen to us and went to die, but he actually left a suicide note for his wife. Originally, it was to save her life, but when his wife heard that Zhang Ding was dead, she went straight to Yang Guifang and told her everything."

Zhu Qiyu was shocked: "Will it implicate you?"

Duke Cheng shook his head: "Not yet. The people I sent out have only met Zhang Ding. But I'm afraid the Jinyiwei will find out something."

"Why don't you get rid of the person you sent?" Zhu Qiyu said coldly.

"I'll do it right away!" Duke Cheng's face was grim, "I'll make sure there's no evidence against you!"

He left in a hurry. Zhu Qiyu looked at his back with a gloomy face and whispered to himself: "This reckless man, Duke Cheng, will implicate me sooner or later."

In his opinion, Duke Cheng had been targeted by the emperor for a long time, and something bad would happen sooner or later. But Duke Cheng had always been in the Queen Mother's camp and was in control of the Left Army Commander's Office, so his position was very important. Otherwise, he would have gotten rid of the reckless man long ago.

"Let the Queen Mother give some advice to Duke Cheng." He sighed softly.

He got on a carriage, which passed through the streets of the city and stopped in front of a house in the east of the city. He got off the carriage and walked towards the house. The two guards at the door saw him and bowed, "Greetings, lord."

"Is everyone here?" he asked.

"My lord, they came from the camp two days ago, waiting for your orders." One of the guards replied.

A cold light flashed in Zhu Qiyu's eyes.

(End of this chapter)