Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 181 Demon Queen: Are you satisfied now that you have me?

The night was as dark as ink, silently covering the entire palace. The moonlight was thin, and the stars sprinkled on the glazed tiles, reflecting a cold light, but it could not illuminate the loneliness in the deep palace. The wind seemed to slow down, gently passing over the vermilion palace walls, bringing waves of subtle and empty echoes, adding a bit of loneliness.

The Queen Mother stood quietly in front of the window, her figure lengthened by the night, looking particularly lonely. Her black hair was like a waterfall, casually scattered behind her without being combed. The black and shiny hair shone with a faint luster under the weak moonlight, which further highlighted the delicate and fair skin of hers, like a lady from an ancient painting, with skin as soft as warm jade.

Her eyes were deep and distant, looking towards an unreachable place. Her face was gloomy, and there was an indescribable sadness and loneliness between her brows. In this quiet night, the Queen Mother's mood seemed to settle along with the night, leaving behind endless loneliness and sorrow, quietly spreading in this magnificent palace.

"Empress Dowager, it's time to go to bed." Shuangxi came over.

"Shuangxi, you have to leave the palace tomorrow." The Queen Mother turned around, "Your Majesty seems to be determined this time. I can't be confined in this Kunning Palace."

Shuangxi bowed and said, "Please give your orders, Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother lowered her eyes and sighed softly, "The assassination of His Majesty has always been a shadow on him. This matter needs to be resolved. Then the knot between His Majesty and I will be untied."

She leaned close to Shuangxi's ear and whispered a few words. Shuangxi looked serious and remembered them all.

"Okay, let's go to bed." The Queen Mother walked towards the inner hall.

She gently untied the jade belt, and the long skirt automatically slipped off, leaving only her underwear, which outlined her extremely hot figure, especially her long legs, which were slender and fit, without a single flaw, making Shuangxi blush and her heart beat faster.

……

At this moment, Yonghe Palace.

Zhu Qizhen and Sun Zhenzhen slept in each other's arms, and he felt hollowed out.

"Ah~" he sighed.

This sudden sigh startled Sun Zhenzhen who was curled up in his arms. She moved gently like a lazy and charming kitten and slowly raised her head. Her unpainted face was cold and moving, with delicate and beautiful features. Under the light, her rosy lips were shining and exuding a faint fragrance, which was intoxicating.

"Your Majesty, are you worried about the Queen Mother?" Sun Zhenzhen asked.

"Did you go to pay your respects to her today? How is she?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

Sun Zhenzhen raised her dark eyes and looked at him tenderly, with a charming and tender look between her brows. She said softly, "The Queen Mother looks fine, still so beautiful and calm."

"Didn't you mention being under house arrest?" Zhu Qizhen asked again.

He gently lowered his eyelids and looked at Sun Zhenzhen, who was looking up at him, with deep affection in his eyes. At the same time, his hand gently brushed across her jade-like smooth and delicate back, and then his fingertips lightly passed through her soft hair, which was cool and smooth to the touch like silk.

"The Queen Mother didn't say a word." Sun Zhenzhen pursed her lips.

Zhu Qizhen stopped asking questions and enjoyed the tenderness of the moment. Sun Zhenzhen said, "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother must want to see you. I am having dinner there, and the dishes on the table are all your favorites."

"I don't want to see her, just go and pay your respects to her every day." Zhu Qizhen snorted.

A smile appeared on Sun Zhenzhen's delicate face: "Why are you still arguing with a child?"

She thought to herself, how come it's like a couple quarreling? Who will respond to whom first?

……

Zhihua Temple.

Shuangxi stepped down from the bumpy carriage gently, her toes tapping on the dusty stone road, with a thin veil on her face, revealing only a pair of clear and slightly melancholy eyes. She hurriedly stepped into this temple that was once glorious but now devastated.

Zhihua Temple, the family temple built by the great eunuch Wang Zhen with all his efforts, is no longer as solemn and prosperous as it once was. The temple door is mottled, the vermilion faded, and the door hinges creak due to years of disrepair.

Walking into the temple, I saw that the courtyard was overgrown with weeds, the glazed tiles on the roof of the main hall had fallen off, revealing mottled wooden beams, and traces of rain erosion were clearly visible. Although the Buddha statue was still sitting upright, it had lost its former luster, and the gold foil had peeled off, leaving only mottled paint marks.

The air was filled with a damp and moldy smell, and the occasional bird calls seemed particularly loud in this quiet and dilapidated space. Shuangxi shuttled between the ruins and came to the main hall.

A man wearing a bamboo hat was already waiting in the hall. He raised his eyes and asked, "Is it Miss Shuangxi?"

Shuangxi bowed slightly: "The Queen Mother asked me to pass on a few words to you."

The man in the bamboo hat nodded: "Miss Shuangxi, please speak."

Shuangxi was silent for a moment, then said, "It's time for Prince Qing to take the blame. Tell the Jinyiwei that Prince Qing has a group of assassins. Then, leave the capital immediately and head to the northwest to become a real military advisor."

"Yes!" the man in the bamboo hat answered without hesitation.

Shuangxi took out a package, handed it to the man in the bamboo hat and said, "This is from the Queen Mother."

The man in the bamboo hat took it, clasped his fists, bowed, and left in a hurry.

……

Chao Xiaotian was chewing a sesame cake in his hand, walking with a step that didn't recognize any relatives. Recently, his Yulong Gang has developed rapidly, and he, the gang leader, is also a well-known figure in the underworld of Beijing.

Those underworld bosses couldn't understand why the Jinyiwei, Wucheng Bingmasi, and the Ministry of Works all looked for this kid when they had work? Why? But the court did it, which made Chao Xiaotian's status rise.

"To the gang leader." A man wearing a bamboo hat stopped him.

"Are you blind? How dare you block me?" He started cursing at Xiaotian.

The man in the bamboo hat lowered his head so low that his face could not be seen clearly. He held up a package and handed it to Chao Xiaotian, saying, "Boss Chao, I will give you a fortune. Give this to the Jinyiwei and I guarantee you will achieve great success."

"What is it?" Chao Xiaotian reached out and took it.

He opened it casually and looked inside. He was numb. When he raised his head again, the man in the bamboo hat had gone far away. The man in the bamboo hat went straight out of the city. When he arrived at the city gate, someone was waiting for him with a horse. He got on the horse and galloped away.

Chao Xiaotian took the package and hurried to the Jinyiwei. Because he had been in contact with Jinyiwei a lot during this period, the guard knew him and asked, "Boss Chao, what are you doing?"

"Looking for your Boss Shi, it's a big deal." Chao Xiaotian said anxiously.

The guard took him directly to the residence of Shi Biao, the commander of the Jinyiwei. Chao Xiaotian handed the package to Shi Biao and said, "This was just given to me by a man. It contains all the evidence of the crime of the King of Qing."

Shi Biao took it and opened it. The more he read, the more solemn his expression became. He waved his hand and said, "Gather the brothers, surround the Prince of Qing's mansion immediately, don't let anyone in or out, control the Prince of Qing, and wait for my order. Also, take my order to the rear army governor's mansion, find Yang Guifang, and mobilize troops to surround the courtyard where the assassins are hiding."

After he gave the instructions, he hurried into the palace.

……

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen was discussing the autumn execution with the Minister of Justice Dong Yuchang. The commander of the Jinyiwei hurriedly asked for an audience. After paying homage, he held up several memorials and said, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Qing actually trained death squads, and he was also the man behind the previous Xiao Neiku."

"Where did you get these things?" Zhu Qizhen asked as he looked at them.

"It was sent by Chao Xiaotian. He said it was given to him by a man wearing a bamboo hat." Shi Biao said.

Zhu Qizhen paused and said, "A man wearing a bamboo hat? Quick, go and seal the palace of Prince Qing, and immediately arrest Prince Qing and his military advisor Wu Xingdao. Send troops to destroy the courtyard where the assassins are hiding."

Shi Biao took the order and left, and Dong Yuchang followed him. As the Minister of Justice, he had to prepare to try the case.

Zhu Qizhen sat on the dragon throne with a frown on his face.

King of Qing? Training assassins? Then the first two assassinations were probably related to him. How could it suddenly come out at this time? Who was the man who gave Chao Xiaotian the evidence?

Wear a hat?
He was very sensitive to this word. Could it be Wu Xingdao? Why did Wu Xingdao expose the King of Qing at this time? He received the order from the Queen Mother. He was the Queen Mother's man.

"Cao Jixiang!" Zhu Qizhen shouted.

"Your Majesty. I'm here." Cao Jixiang came over.

"Has anyone gone out of Kunning Palace in the past two days?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

Cao Jixiang answered without hesitation: "Miss Shuangxi went out for some shopping."

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

Shuangxi, it seems that she basically knows everything about the Queen Mother. It was probably because she went out to convey the Queen Mother's order that Wu Xingdao showed up and sold out the Prince of Qing.

What does the Queen Mother mean? Does it mean that the previous assassination had nothing to do with her?
It was cruel enough that she pushed the prince out directly. Zhu Qiyu was pitiful. He had always been a pawn of the empress dowager and was finally used as a waste.

……

Two hours later.

Shi Biao escorted the King of Qing to the palace, and the King of Qing knelt down hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I am innocent."

Snapped!
Zhu Qizhen threw the pile of evidence in front of him and said coldly: "You messed with your own little inner treasury, and you still dare to say it's unjust? You are so bold, raising assassins? What for? Rebellion? Were you the one who planned the previous assassinations?"

Zhu Qiyu did not seem particularly panicked when he saw those things. He defended himself: "Your Majesty, I am guilty. Those Jianghu people are indeed my people, but I did not plan the assassination. I like Jianghu, I just drank with them, and I did not do anything illegal."

"It's already this time, and you're still quibbling?" Zhu Qizhen scolded angrily.

"Your Majesty, I was a little greedy and robbed the inner treasury, but I stopped it in time." Zhu Qiyu kowtowed and said, "I admit the crime I committed. You can assassinate me, but it never happened."

Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "I am too lazy to talk to you. Leave it to the Jinyiwei, the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple to investigate."

At this moment, Cao Jixiang's voice came: "The Queen Mother has arrived~"

Zhu Qizhen was stunned. Why was she here?

The ministers, palace maids and eunuchs in the palace all knelt down, and Zhu Qizhen stood up from the imperial chair and walked to the front. Soon, the empress dowager, dressed in a dignified long dress, walked in.

The skirt is floor-length, dignified and elegant, with a plain satin ribbon tied around the waist, which is slender and shows off her graceful figure. Her long hair is tied low, with a hairpin and silver jewelry, which makes her look more noble and elegant, with a graceful temperament.

"Greetings to the Queen Mother!" Everyone bowed together.

Zhu Qizhen just bowed slightly and looked up at her. After not seeing her for more than ten days, she looked thinner, her skin was whiter than snow, and she looked a little cooler. "I heard that your majesty has captured the Prince of Qing, so I came to see him." The empress dowager's beautiful eyes fell on him.

Zhu Qizhen met her gaze, and they looked at each other. Neither of them dodged, and they were secretly competing to see who would turn his head first. He chuckled, "The Queen Mother is well-informed."

He thought to himself, wasn't her palace sealed? How did she get out?
"If I really want to come out, who can stop me?" The Queen Mother looked coldly.

"Okay, I will try the Prince of Qing together with the Queen Mother. He has assassins and evil intentions. You, Queen Mother, are aware of this, too?" Zhu Qizhen kept looking straight at her.

The Queen Mother not only refused to give in, but also took several steps closer. When she was in front of Zhu Qizhen, her beautiful eyes were cold and sad: "How did I know? How did the Prince of Qing plot something bad? Do you have any evidence?"

Zhu Qizhen's heart skipped a beat. Damn, there is really no evidence. He smelled the faint fragrance from the empress dowager and snorted, "I was just about to ask the Jinyiwei, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple to investigate and try the case, and here you are, empress dowager."

"So there is no evidence." The Queen Mother looked at Zhu Qizhen with a half-smile and said, "I'll give you a suggestion. Let the Prince of Qing go to his fiefdom immediately. As for the fiefdom, go to Yunnan. Even if this matter is settled, don't rush to object. Not long ago, the Prince of Qing helped you a lot. At that time, you played good brothers in front of the ministers and the people of the world. How long has it been? Did you kill the Prince of Qing? Or imprison him? How do you want the ministers and the people of the world to see you as... the emperor?"

Zhu Qizhen had a sneer on his face.

He knew very well that the Queen Mother's last words were about the fake emperor. He, the fake emperor, was now dealing with the Prince of Qing, telling the world that he was fake and that he was going to start dealing with the Zhu family, not even sparing his own brother.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhu Qiyu knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, please keep me. I will be of use to you."

He was hinting to the emperor that if he needed to show his brotherly love, I could cooperate with him.

"Okay, since the Queen Mother said so, I will listen to her." Zhu Qizhen said, "Prince Qing will be enfeoffed in Yunnan and will leave tomorrow. Jinyi will arrange for an escort."

Zhu Qiyu saved his life and kowtowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

For Zhu Qizhen, the living Zhu Qiyu is more useful than the dead Zhu Qiyu. With the Jinyiwei watching over him, Zhu Qiyu is just a pawn.

"Your Majesty is really obedient. This palace is very pleased." The Queen Mother smiled, "Come to my Kunning Palace for dinner tonight. This palace likes obedient children the most."

After saying this, she glanced at Zhu Qizhen with her cold eyes and strode away with a powerful aura like a queen.

Prince Qin was also taken away. Zhu Qizhen asked Shi Biao, "Did they fail to capture Wu Xingdao?"

Shi Biao nodded: "Wu Xingdao is not in the palace. I have sent people to search for him."

"Wu Xingdao has probably left the capital." Zhu Qizhen frowned. "Looking at the reaction of Prince Qing, it seems that they had a plan beforehand about what to say after being caught. Prince Qing is stupid and is still being used by others."

"Your Majesty, do you want to try the King of Qing?" Shi Biao asked, meaning to torture him.

Zhu Qizhen waved his hands and said, "Forget it. He is still useful to us! I will not announce his crime. Tomorrow I will issue an order to arrange for the Prince of Qing to be enfeoffed. You can send the Jinyiwei to keep an eye on him."

"Yes, sir." Shi Biao took the order and left.

……

Zhu Qizhen was in no mood to read the memorials. He was rubbing his eyebrows, thinking that the Queen's massage was more comfortable for him. He was really getting used to her presence. At this time, Yu Qian, the Prince's Guardian, asked for an audience.

"Old Yu, you rarely come here on your own initiative." He raised his hand, "Stand up and talk. Is there any news from the southeast?"

Yu Qian shook his head: "The newly transferred troops have already arrived in the southeast, and Zhang Lun is organizing them to practice your Majesty's mandarin duck formation. The decisive battle with the Japanese pirates has not yet arrived."

Zhu Qizhen nodded thoughtfully: "Then hurry up!"

Yu Qian bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I am here today because the Queen Mother has been confined to the palace. Your Majesty, you can no longer confine the Queen Mother. The ministers and the people of the world are watching."

Watch shit, can it still be broadcast live?
Zhu Qizhen muttered in his heart and waved his hand: "Where did I confine the Queen Mother?"

"Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty is now facing internal and external troubles. You and the Queen Mother need to get along well." Yu Qian said, "Otherwise, it will give foreign enemies an opportunity to take advantage! You are the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and the Queen Mother is the Queen Mother of the Ming Dynasty. How can there be any contradictions? It doesn't make sense in terms of emotion or reason."

There is something else behind this!

Zhu Qizhen understood and smiled: "I understand! I will go to pay my respects to the Queen Mother later."

Yu Qian breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Old Yu, are you loyal to me or to the Queen Mother?" Zhu Qizhen asked with a smile.

"I am loyal to Your Majesty, and even more loyal to the Ming Dynasty." Yu Qian bowed.

Zhu Qizhen laughed out loud: "You can see your character in the taboos, and you can see the Spring and Autumn Annals in the sky. Old Yu, it is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty to have you, Yu Qian."

When Yu Qian heard these words, he was obviously stunned for a moment, and pondered in his heart the saying "one can see his character in taboos, and see the history of the country in the sky", which touched his heart deeply.

……

Night falls.

The false emperor still came to Kunning Palace. Today, the evil queen seemed to be giving him a way out. She sacrificed King Qing and proved her innocence. The assassination had nothing to do with her.

Then he had to show that the Demon Queen was more useful than the King of Qing.

He arrived at the palace gate, and saw no maids or eunuchs. After entering the palace with ease, the palace was not bright, only some candles were lit, and the candlelight was swaying.

A fragrant breeze blew quietly from the side, and then his neck was gently surrounded by a pair of arms that were whiter than snow and as tender as lotus roots. A soft force was like a shock wave, making him feel a gentle squeeze.

In front of her was a mature, charming, and extremely delicate face, slightly upturned, with an indescribable charm. Her beautiful eyes were filled with a smile, and her red lips were slightly parted, revealing a heart-swaying royal sister's voice, soft and seductive.

"Your Majesty the False Emperor."

The false emperor looked down at the demon queen in his arms. She was wearing a gorgeous phoenix robe, with her head slightly raised. Her skin under her slender neck was as white and flawless as solidified fat, like white jade. Her phoenix eyes were extremely charming, as if they could seduce people, bewitching and seductive, completely different from her dignified and graceful appearance before. At this moment, she had a completely different style.

"The Demon Queen."

The false emperor's hands could not help but tightly embrace the queen's waist. The thin gauze dress could hardly hide the delicate and smooth skin. His eyes revealed a deep fascination and intoxication.

Of course, he was calm in his heart, and cursed inwardly, what was going on? Sooner or later, she would play him to death.

“Didn’t you like to call me Ruo Wei before?” The Demon Queen leaned forward slightly. With her tall figure, she only needed to stand on tiptoes to look the Pseudo-Emperor in the eye.

Ruo Wei?

Do you want to take the initiative today?
The false emperor smiled, exerted a little strength with his arms, looked at her gently and said: "I dare not, you are sometimes stormy and sometimes sunny, I can't bear it."

"Blame me?" The Demon Queen reached out and gently stroked his cheek. "When wasn't it you who initiated it?"

Regardless of whether it was just a casual affair or not, she enjoyed this intoxicated feeling, a feeling of unreality and madness.

The fake emperor was also fascinated by this game. His palm naturally slid down her hair to her jade back, and finally hugged her waist. His face was gloomy and serious: "Ruo Wei, with our current status, we will have no future."

The demon queen blinked slightly, as if filled with affection: "Future? Have you ever thought about our future?"

"Of course I have thought about it." The false emperor answered seriously.

At this moment, the Demon Queen didn't know whether what the Pseudo-Emperor said was true or false. She didn't care and stood on tiptoe, moving towards his lips.

Both of them were very intoxicated and lost in passion, and this time, the fake emperor's hand did not play any tricks.

After a long time, the lips opened.

The Demon Queen leaned in his arms, her face flushed. After a while of tenderness, she said softly: "With our current status, it is too extravagant to talk about the future. Let's enjoy the present."

"Enjoy the present moment?" The false emperor hugged her tightly.

"Don't let your imagination run wild." She stood on tiptoe and gave him a kiss on the cheek as if to reward him. "If there is a day when I can be free, I will give myself to you. From then on, I will be yours, and you will be satisfied."

Why are you writing me a bad check?
The fake emperor cursed in his heart, but his face showed some excitement, and he took a deep breath from her hair.

After a while of tenderness, the Demon Queen gently pushed him away, stretched out her hand to smooth her hair behind her, and her narrow eyes moved slightly: "Don't go looking for that Ning Rongrong anymore in the future."

The fake emperor pulled her into his arms again and asked with a smile, "Are you jealous?"

"Would I be jealous of a merchant girl?" The demon queen leaned in his arms, tilted her head slightly, and blinked her beautiful eyes. She reached out and stroked his cheek, as if teaching a little brother, "You are the emperor, there is no need to lower your status."

The false emperor nodded with a smile: "I know."

"Let's eat!" The demon queen walked to the dining table. "We can quarrel later, but you have to come back for dinner and let me see you."

The fake emperor looked around and asked, "Where's Shuangxi?"

The demon queen came closer to him, her beautiful eyes full of ferocity: "Don't go after Shuangxi, she is my maid."

"What are you thinking about?" The false emperor held his forehead, "Shuangxi has done her best for you, I will reward her."

The Demon Queen snorted, "No need!"

The two began to eat. The flickering candlelight on the table reminded the false emperor of the candlelight dinner in his previous life. Under the candlelight, the demon queen's cheeks were covered with a few rouge-like clouds, bright and beautiful.

"Why is it so nice today?" The Pseudo-Emperor said as he looked at the Demon Queen pouring tea for him, "I'm a little unaccustomed to it."

The Queen smiled slightly and sighed, "I'm afraid you'll attack me someday. The King of Qing has gone to be a vassal. There's no one in the court or the country who opposes you. You can show your strength now."

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

Indeed, there was no more resistance from the court and the people, and he, the emperor, completely controlled the court. However, he was always uneasy and still felt that there was an undercurrent.

……

Ps: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, I wish you all get what you want.

(End of this chapter)