Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 194 The door is locked, and the domestic violence queen is behind it!
Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Qizhen summoned the cabinet ministers to discuss the matter of the Maritime Customs. The two Maritime Customs Offices in Quanzhou and Guangzhou were opened, and foreign caravans had already arrived, including large caravans from Portugal and the Netherlands, which were introduced by Ning Rongrong.

"These merchants came here at this time because they saw our Ming Dynasty's suppression of the Japanese pirates and the strength of the Ming Dynasty's navy." Xu Youzhen snorted, "Otherwise, they would still be secretly smuggling with our people."

Yang Guifang smiled and continued, "The Ning family is now the overlord of the southeastern sea area. All the pirates who didn't give us face have been wiped out. Now that the shipping route is safe, we are opening the sea here, and Western merchants are coming here just by smelling the scent."

Ke Qian nodded in agreement: "Silk and porcelain are materials that the West lacks. They are all looking forward to this day. Who would be willing to engage in smuggling if they can trade openly with the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Qizhen listened and spread his hands: "Today we will discuss the trade rules and the tax rates for various goods. We can't mess around like before."

Because the Ming Dynasty had always banned maritime operations, the Maritime Customs Office almost followed the system left over from the Yuan Dynasty. Even so, the relevant tax regulations were not effectively enforced.

During the Yuan Dynasty, the taxes collected by the Maritime Customs were divided according to exports and imports:

Single tax: For exported local products, fine products are taxed at 10%, and coarse products are taxed at 15%. This is the tax standard for domestic export goods.

Double tax: Double tax on imported goods, 20% for fine goods and 20% for coarse goods. This tax system encourages exports while increasing the tax burden on imported goods.

By the time of the Ming Dynasty, and up to the present day, the Maritime Customs Office has been almost a formality.

"When collecting taxes, we also have to consider the size of the ship," said Zhu Qizhen.

"Your Majesty, after discussion, we will submit a memorial." said Prime Minister Shang Lu.

Zhu Qizhen nodded and continued, "Encourage those Western merchants to come to Beijing. When the time is right, I will summon them."

The cabinet ministers did not expect that the emperor attached so much importance to Western merchants. Zhu Qizhen wanted to understand the current West and introduce talents and technology.

……

Coming out of the cabinet, looking at the sunny sky, Zhu Qizhen changed into incognito clothes and left the palace. He went directly to the guild hall, which was the first time he had come back since Ning Rongrong left.

Roujia was obviously a little surprised to see him, and enthusiastically led him into the private room. Roujia's style was completely different from Ning Rongrong's. She was full of charm, wearing a tight long skirt that outlined her proud figure, her eyes were flowing, without a trace of shyness, extremely proud, as if she was deliberately showing off.

"Mr. Zhu, have some tea." She walked to Zhu Qizhen who was standing by the window with the tea in her hand, rubbing against him intentionally or unintentionally.

"Tell the chambers of commerce under you to ship their goods from the Maritime Customs this year," said Zhu Qizhen.

His eyes fell on Roujia, and he felt tired for her. The man in front of him was really magnificent. Would it be too heavy? It was heavy.

"As you command." Rou Jia smiled, "I will follow your orders, Master. Mr. Ning has said that you can do whatever you want."

Zhu Qizhen placed the teacup on the windowsill and smiled meaningfully: "Really? I can do whatever you want me to do?"

Roujia came close to him, a faint fragrance came over her, she reached out and gently stroked his chest, her eyes seductive: "Yes."

Zhu Qizhen put his hands on her shoulders, and with a sudden force, he pushed her down to squat, put his hands on her head, and said, "I am a little angry today."

Roujia blushed, and understood what he meant. She raised her mature and charming face and said, "I'll help you, Master."

A cool breeze blew in from the window. Zhu Qizhen put one hand on the windowsill, looking at the beautiful Gaoliang River outside, and clenched his hand into a fist. He took a deep breath and admired the spring scenery outside the window.

After a long time, his body trembled and he slowly loosened his fist.

Roujia stood up, covering her mouth tightly with tears, swallowed her saliva, and put on a charming smile: "Sir, I will make you some tea. Report the output of our yarn workshop and porcelain kiln this year. How much will be sent to the inner court? We will sell the rest to Western merchants. Mr. Ning wrote to me a few days ago and needs money."

"Wipe your mouth."

Zhu Qizhen stretched his body with satisfaction, walked to the tea table and sat down, saying: "We will not let you suffer any loss for the silk that enters the inner court."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhu." Roujia licked her lips and started to make tea.

Zhu Qizhen took a sip of the hot tea and said, "Tell me about your Ning family? Her past overseas experiences."

Roujia's eyes dropped and she shook her head: "I don't know anything about the Ning family's affairs, please forgive me, sir."

Zhu Qizhen was slightly stunned, then waved his hand: "Forget it, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't talk about it. You are very good at calming people down. I will come again next time."

After saying that, he stood up and left.

……

When he came out of the guild hall, he saw Chao Xiaotian at the door, seemingly waiting for him.

"Master, why are you still coming to the guild hall?" Chao Xiaotian hurried forward.

"The master has something to do." Zhu Qizhen was speechless, "You are still controlling the master?"

Chao Xiaotian quickly shook his head, looking suspicious: "Master, you are not here for that bitch Roujia, are you? Master, are you being worthy of Master's wife by doing this?"

Snapped!
Zhu Qizhen slapped him on the back of the head and glared at him: "I know my limits as a teacher. You have become successful now. Are your people keeping an eye on me? I asked you to go to Junshan Society, but you didn't get any news."

Chao Xiaotian looked very aggrieved: "Master, I now have more subordinates, all over the capital. Don't worry, if they appear again, I will find them for you."

"Stop bragging. Why are you looking for me?" Zhu Qizhen asked as they walked.

Chao Xiaotian followed behind him and said with a smile: "I bought another small courtyard. The courtyard by the Gaoliang River was given to Master and Master's Wife. Tell Master's Wife that she can live there anytime."

"Hey, so filial?" Zhu Qizhen rolled his eyes, "It seems that you are rich now."

Chao Xiaotian patted his chest and said proudly, "Of course, I am a big shot in the capital. This year, the imperial court is recruiting scholars for the art exam, and someone from our Yulong Gang has passed the exam for the engineering exam. That guy's ancestors were builders. He passed the exam this time and is said to be joining the Ministry of Engineering. We are so happy."

Zhu Qizhen was stunned. He was also happy about this and asked, "What's your name?"

Chao Xiaotian blurted out: "Zhang Xuan!"

Zhu Qizhen silently memorized this name, maybe he could use it in the future. He patted Chao Xiaotian on the shoulder and said, "You have a lot of people, you can actually do express logistics... er, escort agency, start from the same city first."

He briefly told Chao Xiaotian about the logistics and express delivery in his previous life. In this era, there is also a demand for logistics and express delivery. Chao Xiaotian listened and nodded repeatedly.

……

The setting sun fell on the garden of Kunning Palace.

The afterglow shines through the staggered branches, casting mottled shadows.

The queen stood quietly in a plain long dress, her clothes swaying gently in the breeze. The elegant color was neither too showy nor too charming. She had a beautiful figure, and her eyes were filled with a hint of sadness and tenderness. The flowers in the garden seemed to become more beautiful because of her arrival, emitting bursts of fragrance. The breeze blew by, and the petals danced lightly in the wind. Some petals quietly fell on her shoulders and hair, adding a bit of otherworldly charm.

"Are you in the mood to appreciate flowers today?" Zhu Qizhen walked over.

"I have nothing to do." The Demon Queen blinked her beautiful eyes slightly, "Do you think I am too idle?"

Ever since she handed over many matters in the harem to Concubine Xian, she had free time and read books every day. She would feel dizzy after staying in the palace for a long time.

"Aren't you still growing flowers?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

"That won't take much time." The Demon Queen looked at him with her bright eyes and smiled, "How about you teach me how to practice swordplay? I saw you dancing with a sword in the garden that time, it was so beautiful."

Zhu Qizhen was very upset: "Isn't it a bit late for you to practice swordplay at your age?"

The witch queen was so angry that she raised her fist and hit him. Her bright eyes were fierce and her long and curled eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing a bit of greedy look: "Will you teach me? I told you, I learned Taoist health preservation. If I can practice sword, the effect will be better." "Okay, I'll teach you." Zhu Qizhen was helpless.

The Demon Queen was very excited: "Let's start now. I'll go get the sword."

Zhu Qizhen quickly stopped him: "Don't use a real sword when you first start practicing. I'm worried that you might stab yourself to death. Just use a branch."

He pointed at the branches on the ground, picked up two, and handed one to the Demon Queen.

"As promised, sword training is hard work." Zhu Qizhen raised his eyebrows, "Besides, I will be strict with you."

The demon queen swore: "I am the one who can endure hardships the most."

A sly smile flashed across Zhu Qizhen's lips and he began to teach.

……

"Stand straight, and strike with your sword decisively."

"It's off, this movement is not like this."

"Why are you so stupid?"

clap clap clap...

Zhu Qizhen taught while picking up a branch and hitting her, quickly and accurately. The queen's buttocks, thighs, and arms were hit countless times, and she grimaced in pain.

"Stop, stop, stop!" She stared at him with her beautiful big eyes, "You said I was a domestic violence victim, but you...are the domestic violence victim, right? You did it on purpose, right?"

She was so angry that her face turned red.

I just got beaten and couldn't fight back.

"How can you remember it if you don't feel the pain?" Zhu Qizhen raised his eyebrows. "When I was practicing sword, I felt much more pain than you."

The Demon Queen curled her lips and said, "Did you learn your martial arts from me? How come you are so powerful?"

Zhu Qizhen pointed at himself proudly and said, "I got a book and taught myself."

"No one would believe you." The demon queen rolled her eyes.

"Take a break and continue practicing." Zhu Qizhen said, "From now on, I will practice with you for an hour every day."

The Demon Queen tightly grasped the branch and said viciously, "Practice as you like. I will beat you down sooner or later."

After a short break, she stubbornly started practicing again. How could Zhu Qizhen miss this opportunity? He would use the branch to either spank her butt or her long legs.

"Stop!" The Demon Queen finally couldn't bear it anymore.

At this time, Shuangxi came over and saw the beaten Demon Queen, so she hurried forward to help her. She looked carefully and saw red marks on the Demon Queen's arms and thighs.

"Your Majesty...you...were you too harsh?" Shuangxi mustered up the courage to ask.

"It's none of his business. I want to practice it myself." Tears glistened in the Demon Queen's eyes.

She felt very ashamed and ran back to her room, covering her face.

Zhu Qizhen stepped forward with a sly smile and glanced at Shuangxi: "Why don't you go get the ointment?"

Shuangxi was stunned and shook her head. She really couldn't understand these two people, so she stood up to get the ointment. Zhu Qizhen followed the demon queen into the room.

crunch~
He slammed the bolt. The demon queen was sipping her tea and glared at him, "Why did you lock the door?"

"I'm applying medicine for you." Zhu Qizhen spread his hands.

"I... let Shuangxi come..." The demon queen looked flustered.

"The door is locked!" Zhu Qizhen raised his eyebrows. "Besides, isn't it just a shoulder or a thigh? It's not like I haven't seen it before. You have to believe me, people with more injuries are the most likely to take medicine."

The Demon Queen pursed her lips and then nodded.

She stretched out her slender jade fingers and gently pulled the jade belt around her waist, and the long skirt slid down automatically without any resistance. She was wearing underwear underneath, her skin was whiter than snow, and her graceful figure was infinitely beautiful.

The undergarment fell to her thighs, revealing her long, fair and well-proportioned legs, which attracted Zhu Qizhen's attention. The witch queen glared at him fiercely: "Have you seen enough? Why don't you apply the medicine quickly?"

Zhu Qizhen took out the ointment, stepped forward and gently applied it, looking at the red marks, he muttered: "I was a little too heavy-handed, I'll be gentler next time."

He was very serious and gentle, gently stroking the red marks on the Demon Queen's legs. The Demon Queen trembled slightly, put her hands on his shoulders, and whispered: "Can you hurry up?"

"Although there is no wound, we can't be careless." Zhu Qizhen said seriously.

He applied the medicine carefully and gently. The Demon Queen looked down at him, her eyes becoming gentle. After a while, she finally finished applying the medicine. The Demon Queen leaned in his arms, her face flushed. "Last time, you said you wanted to stay in the courtyard for two days. When are you going?"

"I've been busy these past two days." Zhu Qizhen gently hugged her waist and said, "By the way, Chao Xiaotian said he gave the yard to us and he bought a new one himself."

The demon queen raised her beautiful face, full of joy: "Really?"

Zhu Qizhen lowered his head and kissed her red lips, saying, "Yes, and asked me to tell you, my master's wife."

The demon queen leaned on his shoulder with her eyebrows curved. She let go of him only after she heard Shuangxi's footsteps.

……

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the windows into Kunning Palace, where Zhu Qizhen and the Queen were having dinner.

"By the way, Ning Rongrong's yarn shop and porcelain kiln in Jiangnan will supply the inner court. If you don't care, talk to Concubine Xian." Zhu Qizhen said while eating, "Concubine Xian has just taken over and doesn't know the needs of the harem."

The Demon Queen lowered her beautiful eyes, ate gracefully, and said, "I've already told her. With her abilities, there won't be any problems."

Zhu Qizhen breathed a sigh of relief and continued eating.

The Demon Queen raised her head and looked at him with a playful smile: "I heard that the virtuous concubine has been looking for medicine for you? Some things should not be forced."

Zhu Qizhen was very upset and spread his hands: "I am not forcing them. They are anxious, but I am not. I am still so young."

The Demon Queen frowned slightly and snorted, "Do they really want to be the Queen? Isn't there already a Queen? What? Are you still thinking of deposing her?"

of course!
I definitely want a son of my own and pass the throne to my son. If I don't depose the empress, how can I have a new legitimate son?

Alas, the embarrassing thing now is that I can’t have children yet.

"If I were going to depose him, I would have done it long ago." Zhu Qizhen snorted, "You don't want me to have a new prince, do you?"

The demon queen picked up the teacup and took a sip elegantly: "Some things are destined by heaven, there is nothing you can do about it."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "I believe that man can conquer nature!"

Hey, they can’t give birth, can you?
(End of this chapter)