Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 117 The Queen Mother and the Fake Emperor are drunk and ridiculous

After Zhu Qizhen cleaned himself up, he came to Kunning Palace feeling refreshed.

The empress dowager looked like she had just woken up. Her long black hair, which had not been combed, reached her waist. She had a slender waist and was wearing a long white skirt that fell to the ground. She looked lazy but had a fairy-like otherworldly temperament.

"I pay my respects to my mother and wish you a happy new year. Give me the red envelope." Zhu Qizhen extended his hand after paying his respects.

The Queen Mother glanced at him and asked, "What red envelope?"

Zhu Qizhen looked very surprised, and said with resentment in his tone: "New Year's money? You didn't give me any last night on New Year's Eve, and today is the first day of the first lunar month, and I came to pay New Year's greetings early in the morning, and you don't give me any?"

"No!" Taihou shook her head decisively.

"You are the empress dowager, can you not be so stingy?" Zhu Qizhen glared, "Ordinary people would give a string of copper coins as New Year's money."

The Queen Mother ignored him and sat down on the chair. Shuangxi brought her a bowl of porridge. She sipped the porridge in small sips, her movements were very graceful, and every time she lowered her head, her soft hair fell down, blocking her beautiful face.

"Shuangxi, give me a bowl." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.

"Your Majesty, there is no room for you today." Shuangxi whispered, "The Queen Mother said you may not be able to get up."

Zhu Qizhen was furious. He slapped the table and stood up suddenly. Suddenly, he felt pain in his waist and covered it. The Queen Mother glanced at him again and smiled softly: "You are still young, you should know how to be moderate."

"I..." Zhu Qizhen sat down, "I'm fine!"

The Queen Mother winked at Shuangxi, and soon, Shuangxi brought a bowl of porridge. Zhu Qizhen also ate slowly and said, "Mother, it's time for rest next time, let's go out and play for a few days. Aren't you tired of staying in this deep palace all day?"

"I've been here for more than 20 years, I'm used to it." The Queen Mother snorted.

Seeing that she refused, Zhu Qizhen looked out the window and thought that this palace was a huge cage.

The Queen Mother looked at his eyes and asked again, "Where do you want to go to play? It's winter now."

Zhu Qizhen became interested and spread his hands: "Xiangshan Jingyi Garden, isn't there a palace there? Let's stay there for a few days and breathe the mountain air."

Xiangshan Jingyi Garden is actually a royal garden. The empress dowager blinked her beautiful eyes slightly, and finally nodded: "Okay, you arrange it, and take all the concubines with you."

……

That afternoon, a motorcade set out from the palace and headed for Jingyi Garden. They were all in the capital, not far away, and there was everything there, so there was no need to prepare too much.

It didn't take long before we arrived.

In winter, Xiangshan Mountain is covered with snow. The main peak, Xianglu Peak, is commonly known as "the ghost-seeing peak". It is high above sea level and looks even more majestic and spectacular after the snow. The mountains are undulating, with white snow and green pines interlaced, and the branches are covered with frost and snow, which is a beautiful sight.

In Jingyi Garden, the ancient buildings are more simple and elegant against the backdrop of snow. Walking along the winding path, with soft white snow under your feet and the occasional sound of pine waves in your ears, everything seems so peaceful and harmonious. On both sides of the path, there are towering ancient trees. Although they have fallen leaves, they still retain their vigorous beauty under the cover of snow.

Zhu Qizhen and the Queen Mother did not take a sedan chair, but walked side by side. The Queen Mother looked at the beautiful scenery in front of her, and her mood seemed to be brighter. She said, "We should go out and walk more."

As she was talking, her feet slipped and she fell backwards. Zhu Qizhen was quick to hug her around the waist and smiled, "Mother, take it easy. If you fall down, you will fall straight to the foot of the mountain."

A flash of panic appeared in the empress dowager's eyes, and she quickly stood firm, a blush flashing across her mature and charming face.

Zhu Qizhen put his arm around her waist and said, "Let's go. I'll support you."

The Queen Mother wanted to refuse, but looking at the mountain road in front of her, she let him go. She said as she walked, "Later, you will come with me to Yong'an Zen Temple to pray for blessings."

"Okay." Zhu Qizhen nodded.

Yong'an Zen Temple is the Xiangshan Temple of later generations. Not long after, they arrived at Yong'an Zen Temple. The empress dowager, who usually did not exercise much, was breathing slightly, her chest rising and falling, and there was a layer of fine beads of sweat on her fair face.

Zhu Qizhen looked at her, lost in thought for a moment, and said softly, "Mother, after you pay your respects, you should take a bath and change your clothes. In this winter, if your underwear gets wet, you will easily catch a cold."

What underwear? What are these words?

The queen mother's beautiful face instantly turned red, and her eyes were a little flustered. Fortunately, at this time, the abbot of the temple led a group of monks to come over and bowed to the two of them: "Greetings to the queen mother, your majesty."

"Are you all ready?" asked the Queen Mother.

"Just like before, everything is prepared according to your instructions, Your Majesty." The host nodded and said, "Your Majesty, please."

The Queen Mother glanced at Zhu Qizhen and said, "Pray for the Ming Dynasty with me."

……

The night in Xiangshan is even quieter than that in the palace.

Zhu Qizhen sat by the fire, looking at the intelligence report in his hand. This was just delivered by Shi Biao, the commander of the Jinyiwei. After reading it, he said speechlessly: "Wala envoy? Greeting me the New Year? It's really like a weasel greeting a chicken."

Shi Biao, who was standing nearby, had a strange look on his face: "Your Majesty, how can you say you are a chicken?"

"Don't be so clever in front of me." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, "Go and pass on the order, asking those military ministers to come to Xiangshan Palace tomorrow and meet the Wala envoy with me."

"Yes." Shi Biao took the order and hurried down the mountain overnight.

Zhu Qizhen yawned and stretched his hand to the stove. This mountain is good in every way, except that it is much colder than the palace.

"Your Majesty, it's late, it's time to go to bed." Came the Queen's voice.

She came over wearing a snow-white fox fur coat and sat directly on Zhu Qizhen's lap. The fur coat moved slightly, revealing a layer of snow. It turned out that she had just finished bathing and was only wearing a fox fur coat with nothing underneath.

How could Zhu Qizhen, a man of passion and righteousness, resist?

After a storm.

Zhu Qizhen embraced the queen, thinking about summoning the Wala envoy tomorrow. Would those grassland barbarians say that I am a fake right away?
"Don't move. It's drafty and cold."

The queen opened her eyes lazily, her long and curled eyelashes trembling slightly. She rolled her eyes at him and adjusted her sleeping position to make herself more comfortable.

"Does the Queen Mother know that the Oirat envoy has come to Beijing?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

"I haven't heard her mention it, and she hasn't made any preparations." The queen frowned, "I guess the visit of the Wala envoy this time has nothing to do with the queen mother."

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

The Wala envoys who came back this time were a bit strange. They had already arrived in Beijing, but they just reported it? How did they get here?

"When you go to pay your respects to the Queen Mother tomorrow, please mention that I want to summon the envoy of the Oirat Mongols," said Zhu Qizhen.

"Yeah." The queen held him tightly with her fair arms, leaned in his arms, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

……

The next day, noon.

Yu Qian, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and Yang Guifang arrived at the palace. Zhu Qizhen greeted them warmly and asked in confusion: "Where is the Duke of Jing? Why didn't he come with us?"

"The Duke is ill." Yu Qian was speechless. "He was drinking with others on New Year's Eve and fell in the snow. Fortunately, he was found. Otherwise, we would have gone to the banquet today."

Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand.

However, the fact that Duke Chen Mao of Jing was not here did not affect the matter. He invited everyone to take a seat and said, "I called you here for the following reasons: first, to let you relax in Xiangshan, second, to discuss important matters for next year, and third, to meet the Wala envoy with me."

"Your Majesty, let's hurry up." Yu Qian spread his hands, "I still want to stay at home with my children. Who would be willing to accompany you during the New Year?"

Zhu Qizhen: “!!!”

Old Yu, you really know how to tell the truth.

"What Yu Shaobao said is what I want to say." Xu Youzhen smiled.

He envied Yu Qian, who was like a friend to His Majesty. But he himself couldn't do that. Among the military ministers here, only Yu Qian could say that. Although Yang Guifang was always by His Majesty's side, she didn't dare to say that.

Zhu Qizhen paid no attention to Yu Qian's words. Instead, he looked at Shi Heng and asked, "What's the situation of the envoys from Wala this time? You should know something about it, right? The garrisons of Datong and Xuanfu are mostly your subordinates. The envoys must have passed through these two checkpoints."

Shi Heng nodded, pondered for a while, as if he was organizing his words, and bowed:

"Your Majesty, we should have received the news in advance, but because of the heavy snow some time ago, our messenger only arrived in Beijing a few hours earlier than the Wala envoy."

"The reason why the envoys came quietly this time is because they were not sent by Yesen. They were sent by the Wala Ala Zhiyuan. Ala is Yesen's prime minister. I guess Ala and Yesen must have a conflict, and they came to ask for help."

That's it!

A gleam of light flashed in Zhu Qizhen's eyes, which meant there was room for maneuver.

……

Half an hour later, the Wala envoys arrived. There were four of them. The leader was a strong man named Bolai, who was their leader. After they entered the hall, they looked arrogant and did not bow to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Shi Heng's temper flared up, and he was about to yell at her when a voice came from outside: "The Queen Mother is here!"

The Queen Mother strode in, followed by a group of eunuchs and palace maids. Zhu Qizhen saw the Queen Mother coming and stood up to greet her: "Mother, why are you here? It's freezing cold, don't catch a cold."

"I am not that weak." The Queen Mother glanced over and said, "I heard that the Wala envoys came? I am here to listen too."

Yu Qian, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and Yang Guifang all paid their respects to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother raised her hand calmly, sat down on the main seat, and her eyes fell on the four Wala people in the hall.

Zhu Qizhen winked at Yu Qian and the other four and asked them to stand on both sides. He himself sat down on the chair next to the empress dowager.

"Oirat people, what bring you to our Ming Dynasty?" the Queen Mother asked coldly.

The Bolai glanced back and forth between the Queen Mother and the Emperor, and then sneered: "I am following the order of Great Khan Yesen to advise you to pay tribute. Otherwise, after the snow melts, the 500,000 cavalrymen in Mobei will march south."

"Are all the envoys from Mobei so arrogant?" Zhu Qizhen asked, looking up.

Bolai suddenly drew out his scimitar and pointed his finger, roaring: "People from the Central Plains are sheep. No one can stop the iron hooves of Mobei."

Zhu Qizhen was puzzled, why did the Oirat Mongols send such a reckless man as an envoy?
"Sheep?" Zhu Qizhen stood up. "You have succeeded in angering me."

He took a step forward and drew the long sword in his hand. Seeing that he was about to take action himself, the Queen Mother shouted coldly: "Your Majesty, you don't have to..."

Zhu Qizhen turned his head and raised his eyebrows towards the Queen Mother: "Mother, watch carefully, this knife will be very handsome!"

Swish!
There was a flash of cold light, and he stepped forward with one foot, leaped up, and slashed down with a knife. Na Bolai was horrified, and the three people behind him reacted quickly and quickly blocked in front of him.

clang!
scold!
A burst of blood spurted out, accompanied by a scream, and the four Wala people were directly blown away. After falling to the ground, the left arm of one of them was chopped off.

Bolai knelt hurriedly and said, "Please forgive me, Emperor Ming."

Zhu Qizhen shook off the blood on the tip of his knife and said coldly, "It is not appropriate to kill in the New Year, so I will spare your lives. Come, take them away and bandage them."

Cao Jixiang came up with a few eunuchs and took the four Wala people away.

……

Zhu Qizhen came to the Empress Dowager and bowed: "Mother, these useless Wala envoys are all crude warriors. I will drive them out to avoid affecting our interest in enjoying the snow."

The Queen Mother's mind was still flashing with his amazing sword move. She was stunned for a moment, then she put away her expression and said, "Yesen wants us to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, which is absolutely impossible. If he wants to negotiate, he can send a normal delegation to negotiate."

"Yes." Zhu Qizhen nodded, "Mother, you should go and have a rest."

The Queen Mother stood up, glanced at Yu Qian and the other four, and strode away. Zhu Qizhen sat down on a chair and asked Yu Qian and the other four to sit down again.

"Didn't they say he was sent by Ala? How come he became Yesen? And he's so arrogant?" Xu Youzhen said angrily.

Zhu Qizhen seemed to be thinking about something, then turned to Shi Heng and said, "Go outside and keep an eye on it. Tell the Imperial Guards not to allow anyone to approach this hall."

Shi Heng did not ask any more questions and left.

Zhu Qizhen invited Yu Qian, Xu Youzhen and Yang Guifang to continue drinking tea and discussing government affairs.

At this time, the eunuch Cao Jixiang led Bo Lai in. Bo Lai knelt down directly in front of Zhu Qizhen and bowed, "Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I have something to discuss with you alone."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said to Qian, Xu Youzhen and Yang Guifang: "You go back first, I will call you later."

Although the three of them were extremely confused, they all retreated.

An hour later.

Zhu Qizhen ordered his men to send the four Wala monks directly down the mountain. They did not stay in Beijing and headed north that day.

Zhu Qizhen stood in front of the palace, looking north, and whispered to himself: "That Bolai looks like a reckless man, but he is actually very smart, and he can also cooperate with me in acting in front of the Queen Mother. I am optimistic about him."

He summoned Yu Qian, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and Yang Guifang again.

"Bolai was indeed sent by Ala. Simply put, Ala wanted to seize power and wanted to gain the support of our Ming Dynasty." Zhu Qizhen spread his hands, "I agree."

Shi Heng was surprised: "You agreed so soon?"

Yu Qian laughed at the side: "It's no use agreeing verbally. It seems that the civil strife in Mobei is more complicated than we thought. In this way, we can make a good plan."

"Use whatever means to sow discord." Zhu Qizhen said, "Let's discuss this matter today."

……

Twilight Quadruple.

Zhu Qizhen came out of the temporary palace and ordered Cao Jixiang to settle Yu Qian, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen and Yang Guifang. He himself came to the temporary palace of the empress dowager.

When he arrived at the gate, he saw the eunuchs and palace maids standing outside. He was surprised and asked, "What's going on?"

Shuangxi stepped forward hastily: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has kicked us out, and there is only one person inside."

Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand: "Are you sick again? Are you inexplicably unhappy every month?"

He pushed the door open and walked in. There were several charcoal stoves burning in the hall, making it very warm. As soon as he entered the door, he smelled a strong smell of alcohol.

When I turned around, I saw the Queen Mother huddled under the window, drinking from a wine jug. She was wearing a white dress and her hair was messy. She no longer looked as cool and dignified as before.

Zhu Qizhen looked at her and suddenly smiled: "Well, I'll change to the decadent route of a literary young woman."

The Queen Mother didn't hear his words clearly, and looked up at him: "Didn't you say that I can't be so arrogant all the time and should be myself? What? Are you not used to it?"

Zhu Qizhen was very confused.

He also picked up a pot of wine on the table, walked to her side, and sat down: "Come, I will drink with you."

He hadn't drunk for a long time, and after a few drinks, his face turned red. The Queen Mother looked at him with contempt, stood up and stood in front of the window, looking up, quietly looking at the crescent moon in the sky, her eyebrows and eyes were cold, and no one knew what she was thinking.

Under the moonlight, the beautiful oval face looks even more cool and beautiful, the eyes are like deep spring water, the skin is like solidified fat, with a hint of red in the snow-whiteness, like dewdrops in the early morning, tender and juicy.

A pair of small red lips, shining in the moonlight, made Zhu Qizhen's heart move, and he couldn't help but want to go forward and take a bite.

The Queen Mother suddenly turned around and said, "Let's make a deal!"

Zhu Qizhen looked at the pair of cold eyes and nodded with a smile: "Okay."

"I didn't tell you what it was, so you just tell me?" The Queen Mother's thin lips moved slightly, and her voice became softer.

Because I agreed to it casually.

Anyway, I don’t acknowledge what I said when I was drunk. No, I also don’t acknowledge what I said when I wasn’t drunk.

He smiled slightly and spread his hands: "You and I have experienced life and death together, we can't hurt each other, right?"

Tonight, he didn't call her mother once.

The Queen Mother looked at him, the moonlight behind him shining down, like a fairy from the Moon Palace. She just chuckled and said, "Let me think about it. Come, drink the wine."

Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand. Could it be that the Queen Mother had multiple personalities? Now she was acting like a chivalrous woman. Was she suppressed in the deep palace for too long?
……

After an unknown amount of time, a gust of cold wind blew in from the window. Zhu Qizhen, who had already fallen asleep, suddenly woke up. He looked down and saw the empress dowager in his arms. She murmured, then adjusted her sleeping position, as if she felt cold, and burrowed into his arms.

Zhu Qizhen patted his head.

Damn, the fake emperor and the queen mother are drunk, this is ridiculous.

The Queen Mother in his arms also woke up. She raised her head and their eyes met. The Queen Mother immediately jumped back and stood up, obviously flustered: "Drink...drank too much."

"Uh, I'll take my leave first." Zhu Qizhen also stood up.

He bowed and strode out. The maids and eunuchs outside the palace were all dozing off. Zhu Qizhen stretched out his hand and pinched Shuangxi's cheek to wake her up, saying, "The Queen Mother has drunk too much. You go in and watch."

Shuangxi blushed and bowed quickly: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Qizhen walked in the night, his mind cleared up a lot, thinking to himself, can I be a little more ridiculous? However, there are not many days like this, and in the future, there will always be a fallout.

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(End of this chapter)