Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 161: The Demon Queen: If we do this, we will be put into a pig cage

When the good news came, the government and the country were excited.

Zhu Qizhen announced the convening of a grand court meeting to reward the frontline soldiers. The court officials were also excited. After all, no one wanted to face Yesen's army coming to the capital again. The battle to defend the capital four years ago was still vivid in their minds.

"Your Majesty proposed that the war should be fought outside the country. I didn't dare to believe it at first, but now I believe it."

"That's great. We have the ability to keep Yesen out of the country. We don't have to worry anymore."

"It is said that in this battle, the new army's Shenji Battalion showed its might."

"When His Majesty allocated funds to the Divine Machine Camp to develop new muskets and new artillery, who among you objected?"

"Speaking of this, I have to mention the New Deal. If it weren't for the New Deal, the tax grain would have more than doubled. How could we have the food and silver to fight the war?"

The ministers stood in front of the Fengtian Hall, discussing and waiting for the grand court meeting to begin. After a while, the bell rang, and the ministers went to the Fengtian Hall one by one and stood in their seats according to their ranks.

A moment later, the emperor's carriage slowly arrived, and the ministers knelt respectfully to greet him. His Majesty Zhu Qizhen stepped into the dragon throne and sat down calmly, and the ministers then performed the ceremony of court attendance. He glanced at the kneeling ministers, and a feeling of emotion welled up in his heart: Unconsciously, he had become accustomed to the identity of being an emperor.

"Stand up." He spoke slowly, his voice steady and majestic.

All the ministers stood up, all looking very happy. The chief minister of the cabinet, Shang Lu, stepped forward, bowed his head and said:

"This great victory is the result of your Majesty's wise planning and the bravery of the soldiers. The excellent military equipment and sufficient food and grass are all due to your Majesty's foresight and good planning. The soldiers are united and share the same hatred of the enemy, which is also the result of your Majesty's kindness and power, and the encouragement. We, the ministers, should do our best to assist you and work together for the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Qizhen was very pleased to hear this flattery. All the ministers also congratulated him. Zhu Qizhen smiled and announced the rewards for the soldiers at the front.

……

Dunhuang City.

Yuan Bin came to see the Zhengtong Emperor in a hurry, holding a spy letter, with a serious face: "Your Majesty, I just received a spy letter that the Wala army attacked Datong City and was defeated by the Datong defenders. Guo Deng even led the army out of the city to pursue them and killed 20,000 enemies."

The Zhengtong Emperor took the intelligence report, scanned it, and sneered, "Is Yesen so bad now? Wasn't he very strong in Tumubao back then?"

Yuan Bin hesitated and said, "It's not that Yesen has become weaker, but the imperial army has become stronger. It is said that the false emperor ordered the development of new muskets and cannons, which have greatly increased their power. This time, outside Datong City, they almost annihilated the 10,000-man army of the Chijin tribe."

The orthodox emperor smiled bitterly: "If Yesen is completely defeated this time, the prestige of the false emperor will rise to a higher level, and it will be even more difficult for us in the future."

"Yes." Yuan Bin said, "Once the news of this great victory reaches the capital, the prestige of the pseudo-emperor will increase greatly. The rumors we spread will probably be drowned out by the news of this great victory. There will be fewer people who believe in them."

"I know that the people would certainly prefer to believe in an emperor who can win battles." The orthodox emperor rubbed his eyebrows.

The two were silent for a while, and Yuan Bin cheered up and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Our chances of winning are still great. With the Junshan Society, they will definitely try to welcome you back to the capital."

"Junshan Meeting is a way out for me." The eyes of the orthodox emperor lit up.

He seemed to have regained his confidence and asked, "Has the civil unrest in Guanxi not been quelled yet? Yahansha has not returned to Dunhuang yet."

Yuan Bin reported: "Yahansha has formed an alliance with Hamiweibulie. They are the two most powerful tribes in Guanxi. It is estimated that it will not take long to quell the rebellion."

The orthodox emperor felt that it would not be that simple.

It is obvious that the Jinyiwei were involved in the civil unrest in Guanxi, so this matter is not so easy to resolve.

……

Beijing.

After the grand court meeting, Zhu Qizhen was not idle.

The summer flood was coming, and he had earlier summoned Wang Lai, the governor of the river, to Beijing. Coincidentally, he arrived today. Zhu Qizhen summoned Wang Lai in the Imperial Garden. He didn't want to make it too serious, and wanted to show Wang Lai some affection.

At this time, the Imperial Garden is in full bloom, everything is revived, and the scene is full of vitality. When you step into the garden, the first thing that catches your eye is the flowers that are blooming, red like fire, pink like clouds, and white like snow. They are either in bud or in full bloom, emitting bursts of refreshing fragrance, attracting butterflies to dance and bees to collect honey.

The willow trees in the garden also put on new green clothes, and the willow branches swayed gently. The lake water was clear and sparkling, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds and the beautiful scenery around. Occasionally, a few water birds flew over the water, stirring up circles of ripples.

In the distance, rockeries are stacked and stone paths are winding. The sunlight shines through the gaps between the leaves and falls on the ground, forming mottled light and shadows, adding a bit of mystery and tranquility to the imperial garden.

Zhu Qizhen and Wang Lai strolled in this picturesque imperial garden, admiring the beautiful scenery and discussing state affairs in a relaxed atmosphere.

"Wang Lai, you have lost a lot of weight again." Zhu Qizhen said, "I wrote to you before, asking you to stop doing it yourself. You have to train apprentices, right? This is called reserving talents."

"Your Majesty, I haven't been in the water much recently, so those useless disciples are now able to take charge." Wang Lai chuckled.

"Where is your son? Is he still following you in the sun and rain? What a waste of his talent. He could have become a high-ranking official." Zhu Qizhen said with a smile.

Wang Lai shook his head: "That kid still needs to temper his temper."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "I will transfer him back to the capital later."

Wang Lai quickly shook his head to indicate that it was not necessary. He brought the topic to the point and said, "Your Majesty, I will report to you the details of the river so that you can have a better idea of ​​it."

"No rush, let's talk while eating." Zhu Qizhen pointed to the pavilion in front.

It turned out that wine and food had already been prepared in the pavilion. Wang Lai felt a sense of pride in his heart. He, Wang Lai, was the only one who could drink with His Majesty in the Imperial Garden.

……

The two drank a cup together, and Wang Lai began to talk about the situation of the river. The Yellow River renovation had just begun, and there were many things to do, but the war was also tense at the front. He knew that the first thing to do was to keep the canal open. Only when the canal was unobstructed could the grain from the south be transported smoothly to maintain the supply of grain and grass at the front.

"It's good that you can focus on the key points when doing things." Zhu Qizhen said, "The most important thing at the moment is to defeat Yesen."

Wang Lai bowed and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, if Yesen enters the pass, we, the people of Hedao, are willing to rush to the front line."

Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand: "If that time comes, not only you, but even I will have to go up there."

Wang Lai was anxious when he heard this: "No, Your Majesty, you can't lead the army in person anymore! You are in charge of the capital, and that is the pillar of the Ming Dynasty."

"Have you, Wang Lai, also learned to flatter?" Zhu Qizhen said with a smile.

"I am not trying to flatter you, I sincerely believe this." Wang Lai said sincerely, "Your Majesty, I have heard a lot of rumors along the way. I don't believe a single word of it. I shouldn't have said these words, but I was drunk and didn't care. Your Majesty, I and everyone in Hedao respect you."

There was still something unsaid in his mind, which was: Your Majesty, you have the people in your heart. For so many years, you are the only one who is determined to repair the Yellow River.

Zhu Qizhen smiled slightly: "I understand."

After Wang Lai finished speaking, he continued to report the details of the river, saying which opponents might be hit by disasters this year, what preparations they had made, etc. Zhu Qizhen needed to know these so that he could have a general idea of ​​the game. Otherwise, when the time came, he would need food and grass for war and disaster relief, and without an estimate in mind, he would be at a loss.

The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't realize the Queen Mother had also entered the Imperial Garden. However, the Queen Mother just watched from afar, wondering which minister the Emperor was drinking with that would make him pay so much attention to the Imperial Garden.

The Empress Dowager had never seen Wang Lai. It was not until Shuangxi asked Cao Jixiang, who was waiting to serve the Emperor not far away, that she found out that the man was the Governor of the River, Wang Lai.

"It's him. No wonder." The Queen Mother said softly, "His Majesty is calm. Even with the battle on the front line, he can still handle the affairs of the rear in an orderly manner. The summer flood is coming, and it's time to prepare in advance."

……

The dusk is vast.

Zhu Qizhen dragged his tired body to Kunning Palace.

The Queen Mother was sitting in front of the dressing table. She looked like she had just finished a bath. Her smooth black hair fell casually behind her. Her skin was as white as jade, and her eyebrows were bright. She was wearing a loose robe, which was lightly tied at the waist. Her curves were graceful, and her white and round shoulders were slightly exposed. When she saw Zhu Qizhen coming in, she lifted her robe to cover her shoulders.

"We've had a great victory at the front, but you're not holding a celebration party?" she asked calmly.

"It's just the beginning, and we don't know who will win." Zhu Qizhen walked behind her and smelled the fragrance. "So beautiful!"

The Queen Mother glanced at her, revealing an indescribable beauty in her every frown and smile. She snorted softly, "I don't know who said last time that I thought I was a peerless beauty. The only thing missing was the four words 'middle-aged woman'."

Zhu Qizhen placed his hands on her shoulders and lowered his head: "Isn't that because you are angry?"

The Queen Mother stood up, shook off his hand, stared at him with her beautiful eyes, and smiled coldly: "You said that if you are doomed, you will not let me go. Well, if I am doomed, I will not let you go either."

"It's really a bad fate." Zhu Qizhen raised his eyebrows.

"A fake emperor and a demon queen, isn't that a bad fate?" The queen mother leaned closer, her beautiful big eyes full of sarcasm, "If I were you, you would just kill me, the queen mother. You...are you really in love with me?"

Zhu Qizhen also came closer, smiling: "No, no, no, you are my life-saving talisman, it will be very useful to keep you. If you really die, I will let you die before me, don't worry."

The Queen Mother's seductive lips moved slightly: "Now that we have reached an agreement, how about a drink?"

Zhu Qizhen cursed in his heart, this woman is getting more and more crazy, but he smiled: "Okay."

The two of them sat down at the dining table and began to drink. The Queen Mother raised the wine jug and began to drink. A trickle of wine slowly flowed down her fair neck and into her barely visible undergarments.

"No matter what, I hope we can win the battle in Northern Frontier." The queen mother's face flushed, and her beautiful eyes were a little blurred.

Zhu Qizhen withdrew his gaze, and suddenly felt a little tired. He drank a sip and said, "I can win, for sure!"

After saying that, he got up and left.

The Queen Mother was a little surprised. On normal days, they would quarrel for a few words, but today he said two words and left. She supported her fair chin with one hand, slightly raised her cheek that brought disaster to the country and the people, and her eyes were dim.

……

Weiyuan Escort Agency.

Chief escort Li Molin is practicing boxing. Born in the outlaws, he is in his early forties, sturdy and majestic, and has learned a good set of martial arts. Ten years ago, he opened the Weiyuan Escort Agency with a group of outlaw brothers. Business is booming. Ten years later, the Weiyuan Escort Agency has become the best escort agency in the world. The escorts they escort from south to north and from east to west have never had any problems. The Weiyuan Escort Agency is also well-known and has branches in various places. This branch in the capital has been in operation for five years.

"Captain of the escorts, Mr. Ning is here." An escort came up to report.

"Please ask her to sit in the main hall. I will be there later." Li Molin said.

The escort took the order and left. Li Molin picked up the bucket in the yard to wash his body, went back to the house to change into an elegant robe, and walked out in high spirits.

He came to the lobby and saw a woman drinking tea elegantly. The woman was wearing a light blue dress, with an elegant figure, picturesque features, and dignified and elegant manners.

"Mr. Ning, sorry to have kept you waiting." Li Molin clasped his fists.

The woman only raised her eyes slightly, without standing up, and said calmly: "It's okay, the tea from Weiyuan Escort Agency is delicious, I'm tasting it now."

It looked a bit offensive, but Li Molin did not feel offended. The Ning family in front of him was the largest customer of his Weiyuan Escort Agency. It can be said that the Weiyuan Escort Agency started because of the Ning family.

Ning Dajia is the president of the Chamber of Commerce formed by the Huizhou merchants, Shanxi merchants, Fujian merchants, and Jiangsu merchants. Her guild hall is where merchants from all over the world gather. Over the years, Ning Dajia has mediated many disputes in the Chamber of Commerce, so she can become the president of the Chamber of Commerce and convince a group of men.

Ten years ago, Mr. Ning chose Weiyuan Escort Agency to escort the Chamber of Commerce, which led to the rapid development of Weiyuan Escort Agency. Li Molin was very polite to Mr. Ning: "Mr. Ning, I am visiting you. Do you have any escort to deliver?"

Mr. Ning shook his head and said, "I am here to remind you that Weiyuan Escort Agency is in trouble. Someone named Lin Laoqi has been arrested by the Jinyiwei. He just came back from the northwest."

Li Molin was shocked: "Yes."

Ning Dajia raised her beautiful and cold eyes at this time: "The matter in the northwest must be dealt with cleanly, otherwise, if the Jinyiwei targets us, Weiyuan Escort Agency will be finished."

Li Molin frowned, his face troubled.

Ning Dajia stood up and said coldly, "You don't need me to teach you anymore, do you? Weiyuan Escort Agency is so big, are you still afraid of dozens of people dying? Let them take all the blame and don't affect the entire escort agency."

"I understand." Li Molin nodded.

Ning Dajie walked away with an elegant posture, like a lady from a noble family. Who could have imagined that as soon as she opened her mouth, dozens of lives would be involved.

……

Dong Yuchang invited Wang Lai to drink at Taibai Tower. There was no other way. He was now a Beijing official, so he had to show off in front of Wang Lai. After three glasses of wine, the two of them recalled what happened in Shandong.

"Old Dong, His Majesty transferred you to his side because he trusts you!" Wang Lai said in a daze, "Our His Majesty has done so many good things, but in the end, there are only a few ministers he can trust. You must assist His Majesty well as a minister. If His Majesty is not easy to say, you should say it, and if it is difficult to do, you should do it."

Dong Yuchang glared angrily: "Old Wang, you still want to teach me how to be an official? Don't worry, I know everything, but I am just a nobody now and my words don't carry much weight."

Wang Lai suddenly came closer and lowered his voice and said, "Old Dong, the rumors about His Majesty..."

"Who cares what he says!" Dong Yuchang interrupted him and said firmly, "I only respect the current emperor."

Wang Lai was stunned for a moment, then raised his glass: "Then I won't say anything! Without the current Majesty, what river would I manage? Who would really care about the people on both sides of the Yellow River?"

The two clinked glasses of wine, and Dong Yuchang blinked: "Are you still thinking of asking His Majesty for money when you come to Beijing this time?"

"You old fox have figured it out." Wang Lai sighed, "But the situation is like this now. There is a war in the north. How can I speak up?"

Dong Yuchang sighed, "Old Prince, Old Prince, sometimes I really envy you. Do you think I am the only one who sees this? How could His Majesty not see it? He transferred one million taels from the inner treasury and kept it for you."

"Really?" Wang Lai was overjoyed.

"Of course, His Majesty also told me to say that I proposed it." Dong Yuchang looked jealous, "I think, among all the civil and military officials in the court, His Majesty values ​​you the most. Even Xu Youzhen from Jiangnan can't compare to you. Which minister does His Majesty care about so much? And he even cares about your face."

Wang Lai's eyes welled up with tears when he heard this. Dong Yuchang said quickly, "Stop, stop it. As long as you can tame the river, your Majesty's efforts will not be in vain."

"But I used the money from the inner treasury, so Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, the Empress..." Wang Lai looked embarrassed.

"Your Majesty said that we should tighten our belts and live a frugal life. How bad can it get? We don't have to worry about food and drink." Dong Yuchang took a sip of wine. "Just take it. If the Yellow River bursts its banks again, His Majesty will not be able to sleep when he thinks of the people who were drowned."

Wang Lai also took a gulp of wine and said, "If I can't cure the Yellow River in this lifetime, I, Wang Lai, will jump into the Yellow River."

Dong Yuchang: “!!!”

……

Night falls, Kunning Palace.

"Empress Dowager, it's time to eat." Shuangxi called softly.

The Queen Mother was standing in front of the window, wearing a simple long dress, with an elegant temperament and eyes like a pool of clear water. Even without makeup, she was extremely beautiful, with a slender figure and big places. Her long black hair fell to her slender waist and was gently tied up with a white ribbon. It was simple and exquisite, yet beautiful.

"Your Majesty is not here?" she whispered.

Looking at the empty table, her cold eyes blinked slightly, and she hummed to herself: "If you don't want to come, then don't come. I'll eat by myself."

After taking a small bite, she lost her appetite. She turned around and saw that it was already dark outside. She stood up and said, "Shuangxi, let's go to the Qianqing Palace."

Shuangxi followed behind her, thinking to herself, the Queen Mother and His Majesty clearly care about each other, why do they always quarrel when they meet? At the age of eighteen, she couldn't understand.

When they arrived at the gate of the Qianqing Palace, they saw Cao Jixiang leading the palace maids kneeling outside. The empress dowager asked in confusion, "What happened? Is your majesty angry?"

Cao Jixiang kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty came back from the palace and kicked us out before we even had dinner. Queen Mother, please go in and take a look."

The empress dowager waved her hand, telling the eunuchs and palace maids not to follow her. She walked in and came to the main hall. She heard snoring and saw the emperor lying on a soft mat with his legs spread out, soundly sleeping.

At this moment, the Queen Mother didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This guy drove out all the eunuchs and palace maids just to have a good sleep?

She came to Zhu Qizhen, squatted down slowly, looked at his angular face, and Emperor Xuanzong flashed through her mind. She shook her head vigorously, forcing herself not to think too much.

Just as she was about to stand up, Zhu Qizhen suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand. She glared at him, "Pretending to sleep?"

Zhu Qizhen pulled her hard, and she lost her balance and fell into his arms.

She bit her lower lip lightly with her silver teeth, her mature and charming eyes showing a hint of shyness and anger, making her look even more charming and seductive. That hint of anger after being wronged was breathtaking.

"What do you want to do?" she asked coldly.

"Can't you see this posture?" Zhu Qizhen raised his eyebrows. "What can a fake emperor and a demon queen do?"

The queen mother glared with shame and anger: "In the common people, if we do this, we will be thrown into a pig cage!"

Zhu Qizhen stretched out his hand and directly grasped her slender waist, exerting a little force, staring at her with a rather overbearing and predatory look, as if smiling: "Does it mean that we are having an affair?"

"Who... who has an affair with you?" The Queen Mother was both ashamed and angry.

"It's a legend. You are the Demon Queen." Zhu Qizhen raised his eyebrows.

The Queen Mother looked at him angrily, her beautiful eyes filled with charming shame and anger: "Let me go first."

Zhu Qizhen suddenly moved closer, his nose gently sliding across her cheek, looking at the pair of eyes so close, and could feel her slightly rapid breathing. The corners of his mouth slightly raised: "I haven't eaten yet, I don't have the energy to get up."

The Queen Mother was so angry that her face turned red. She turned her head to avoid his aggressive movements, and her voice became a little weaker: "You pinched me and it hurt. You still don't have the strength?"

Zhu Qizhen then let go, and the empress dowager hurriedly got up, gasping for breath, her chest heaving.

……

After a long while, she looked down at Zhu Qizhen who was still lying there and asked, "Have you suffered another blow? You didn't even want to eat?"

Zhu Qizhen shook his head: "That's not the case. I had a big meal in Taibai Tower by myself and I'm not hungry at all."

The Queen Mother didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She glared at him fiercely and said, "Why are you so angry when you come back? The maids and eunuchs were kneeling outside. I thought something serious had happened."

"Do you care about me?" Zhu Qizhen asked, supporting his head with one hand.

"You big head!" The Queen Mother glared, "I came to see if you were dead."

After scolding, her heart suddenly softened again, because she clearly felt that Zhu Qizhen was in trouble. Usually he was either sarcastic or quarreling, but today he seemed to be listless and depressed.

"The battle ahead is going badly?" She sat down beside him, her beautiful legs crossed.

Zhu Qizhen moved, resting his head on her legs very skillfully, and sighed: "There is no latest war report from the front. I don't have anything to do. I just went out to drink alone today and saw the family next door having fun. Hey, I suddenly miss my parents and my sister."

After hearing this, the Queen Mother's eyes softened, and then she was stunned: "You still have parents and a sister?"

"Yes." Zhu Qizhen spread his hands. "You asked this question. I don't have any parents. How did I get out?"

"Where are they?" the Queen Mother demanded.

"They are... in a small county town in the south." Zhu Qizhen slowly closed his eyes. "It's been four years. I don't know how they are doing. They must be very sad if they can't find me."

Snapped!
The Queen Mother slapped him on the chest and said, "Bring them to the capital."

Zhu Qizhen grabbed her soft hand, gently held it, and shook his head: "I can't take it. If I could take it, I would buy a G-Class first."

The Queen Mother frowned slightly, thinking that he didn't want to bring his relatives over, as that would expose his weakness.

(End of this chapter)