Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 223: The Imperial Seal? False Emperor: I am destined to be yours

Northwest, Dunhuang City.

Since Shaanxi and Gansu were liberalized, the number of caravans from the Central Plains to the Western Regions has increased dramatically, because the Timurid Empire in the Western Regions also liberalized trade and was eager for the Ming Dynasty's caravans to enter the Western Regions.

On this day, another caravan entered Dunhuang. This caravan came from the south of the Yangtze River, and they really climbed mountains and waded through rivers. They brought exquisite silk and porcelain, and they thought they would make a lot of money on this trip.

There were two other people who followed the caravan into the city. After they entered the city, they left the caravan. One of the middle-aged men led the way, and took the other younger man through the streets of Dunhuang and arrived in front of a palace.

The palace was heavily guarded. The middle-aged man took out a token, and the guard was obviously startled. Then he bowed respectfully and let him pass. The middle-aged man led the younger man to a hall.

Xu Bin was in the main hall. When his eyes fell on the younger man, he jumped up from his chair in surprise and stepped forward to bow: "Your Highness, Prince Qing."

Zhu Qiyu, Prince of Qin of the Ming Dynasty.

He actually came to the northwestern city of Dunhuang. When he saw Xu Bin, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand, and asked expectantly, "Where is my brother?"

"I will go and invite you right away." Xu Bin hurried into the back hall.

Zhu Qiyu brushed off the dust on his body and stood up. After a while, hurried footsteps were heard and the Zhengtong Emperor walked out from the back hall. Zhu Qiyu strode forward and knelt directly: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"Second brother, it really is you." The Zhengtong Emperor stretched out his hand and pulled him up. "We brothers finally meet."

"Royal brother, you have suffered." Zhu Qiyu had tears in his eyes.

The Zhengtong Emperor patted his shoulder affectionately, tears welling up in his eyes: "Second brother, you have suffered a lot, I know it all, that fake emperor targeted you everywhere, and even banished you to Yunnan and put you under house arrest."

"Royal brother, our Zhu family's kingdom cannot fall into the hands of outsiders." Zhu Qiyu cried sadly.

"I'm glad you're here." The Zhengtong Emperor held his hand. "Brothers, we should work together to take back the Zhu family's kingdom."

Zhu Qiyu nodded heavily: "Your Majesty will obey your orders, brother, and will do it to the death."

……

Beijing, Kunning Palace.

It was already the turn of spring and summer, and the palace maids finally took off their heavy winter robes and put on light and colorful skirts, which fluttered in the wind like the most gorgeous flowers in spring. Flowers were still in full bloom, and the palace maids shuttled among the flowers, picking flowers to decorate the palace, or playing and playing.

The Queen has seldom gone out lately and looks a little depressed. She used to get up early, but lately she has been very sleepy and doesn't go out of the palace for a walk after getting up. She just tidies up her flowers and reads books.

At dusk, she walked out of the palace and sat on the porch in front of the palace, staring blankly at the sunset. The breeze blew, and the copper bells under the palace eaves swayed gently.

The sunlight fell on her, and she looked as beautiful as a woman in a painting, with her long hair tied low, a hairpin and simple gemstone jewelry, which made her look more noble and elegant, and graceful. The luxury she inadvertently revealed, especially the mature charm, was beyond the reach of all the women in the harem.

At this time, the false emperor came out from the setting sun, his clothes fluttering, exuding an air of royal dignity and a demeanor that looked down upon the world. The demon queen's beautiful eyes fell on him, and she secretly sighed in her heart: "He is becoming more and more like an emperor."

The false emperor came to the Demon Queen and admired her with great interest. The two looked at each other, and a smile appeared on the corners of their mouths. The Demon Queen waved her hand: "Don't block me."

"You haven't been going out recently?" The fake emperor walked behind her with a smile.

The demon queen had a calm expression, a kind of intellectual beauty, and a quiet and elegant temperament. She said softly, "I don't want to move. I don't want to go anywhere."

The false emperor gently placed his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back, rubbed her cheek against his hands affectionately, and quietly looked at the setting sun.

The sun sets and night falls.

"The wind is strong, let's go back." said the fake emperor.

The demon queen slowly stood up, her long skirt falling down, revealing her graceful curves. She took the fake emperor's arm and walked into the palace, just as Shuangxi was serving the food.

"Shuangxi's cooking skills are getting better and better." The fake emperor picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

The Queen smiled slightly and drank her soup elegantly. The Pseudo-Emperor ate and casually mentioned, "By the way, Prince Qing is missing. The Imperial Guards suspect that he went to Dunhuang."

Boom!
The spoon in the Demon Queen's hand fell into the bowl. She was obviously surprised, but then quickly recovered her composure, picked up the spoon and continued to drink the soup, as if she didn't hear it.

"I'm done eating." Zhu Qizhen stood up and said, "Go see Concubine De. She's not feeling well and has been having severe morning sickness lately."

The Demon Queen raised her beautiful eyes and nodded: "Hmm~"

She watched the fake emperor leave, slowly put down the spoon, her eyes flashed with anger, "Stupid, so stupid! He thought that by recruiting King Qing, he could help him? Doesn't he know what kind of person his brother is?"

"Empress, calm down." Shuangxi came over and wiped the soup on the table.

"No, I have to write a letter to remind him to beware of King Qing. Maybe King Qing was arranged by the false emperor." The Queen Demon looked anxious.

Shuangxi reminded in a low voice: "Madam, we have been watched by the Jinyiwei recently."

The Demon Queen calmed down after hearing this and waved her hand, saying, "Then go to Fahai Zen Temple to burn incense and send a message to Junshan Society to let them do it."

……

SF Express.

Chao Xiaotian has been very busy recently because the number of caravans heading to the Western Regions has suddenly increased, and many of them have come to their escort agency for escort. With a lot of money coming in, the Yulong Gang is also growing. Now, the Qi family has come to them for escort again. A caravan is heading to the Western Regions, and the goods are all silk and porcelain. They dare not bring tea, which is banned by the court.

"Xiaotian, I do have an idea." Qi Feng, the head of the Qi family, said, "You have people and money, why don't you sell the goods yourself? You have close ties with the various departments of the court, so it will be easy for you to get a pass."

He nodded slightly to Xiaotian. In fact, he had considered it before. The escort who came back from the escort mission told him that the profits of silk and porcelain in the Western Regions would be many times higher.

"Uncle Qi, I don't quite understand this." Chao Xiaotian said.

"That's easy. I'll teach you." Qi Feng smiled and looked at his daughter Qi Shu beside him.

Qi Shu was bright and charming. She looked at Chao Xiaotian with her beautiful eyes and said, "Brother Xiaotian, I can help you."

Chao Xiaotian was overjoyed: "Really? That's great."

"Hey, girls can't be kept at home when they grow up. Hasn't my precious daughter been running to you all this time?" Qi Feng said with a smile.

Qi Shu's pretty face instantly turned red, and she glared: "Dad~what nonsense are you talking about."

Chao Xiaotian was so excited that he said, "Thanks to Miss Qi's help, otherwise I would be too busy. She helped with the recent shipments and various lists."

"I haven't seen you so diligent at home." Qi Feng said.

"Dad~" Qi Shu blushed and glared again.

Qi Feng laughed loudly: "Well, I am leaving now. Xiaotian, if you want to form a caravan to transport goods, our Qi family can help you find the source of goods."

He smiled and nodded at Xiaotian: "Okay, Uncle Qi, I'll think about it carefully."

After Qi Feng left, Chao Xiaotian leaned against Qi Shu with a smile. Qi Shu blushed and glared at him: "Idiot, hurry up and get busy, or you won't be able to finish it in the morning."

The two began to get busy, and after a while, a voice came: "Chao Xiaotian, roll over here to meet your master."

"Master?" Chao Xiaotian was overjoyed and took Qi Shu to greet Zhu Qizhen who had just entered.

Zhu Qizhen glanced at the two of them, smiling: "Xiaotian, when will you marry Miss Qi?"

Qi Shu lowered her head shyly and said, "Master, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Girl, don't worry. As long as you are sincere to Xiaotian, I will take care of you." Zhu Qizhen said, "If this boy dares to bully you, I will break his legs."

Qi Shu raised her head and snorted, "Then I can't bear to part with it."

Zhu Qizhen laughed after hearing this: "Hahaha, well said, Miss Qi is very forthright."

"Master, you guys chat. We need to sort out the list for shipment over there." Qi Shu bowed and hurried away.

Chao Xiaotian showed Zhu Qizhen his current Shunfeng Escort Agency and said proudly, "Master, when you quit, come to me and I will take care of you in your old age."

"Your family business is just a tiny thing?" Zhu Qizhen rolled his eyes. "You still need to continue to expand and strengthen it. The Western Regions are land routes, and you need to start preparing for the sea route. In the future, the sea route will be the main route."

Chao Xiaotian asked doubtfully: "Maritime Silk Road? Then don't we have to build sea vessels?"

"Of course!" Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, "To build your own fleet, you need warships."

His intention was to turn Chao Xiaotian's Shunfeng Escort Agency into the East India Company of this era, the kind that monopolized global trade. Of course, it had to be controlled by the imperial court.

"Serve the tea. The master will give you some further guidance." Zhu Qizhen said.

……

When he returned to the Qianqing Palace, it was almost dusk. Zhu Qizhen dealt with the remaining memorials and prepared to go to the Kunning Palace for dinner.

At this time, Cao Jixiang came in hurriedly with a box and reported: "Your Majesty, this was sent by Liu Dingzhi, the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, in an urgent manner from 800 miles away. Along with the urgent report, there is also a box."

Zhu Qizhen was slightly startled, thinking, "Is there any trouble in Shaanxi and Gansu? There is still a war going on in Mobei, so please don't let anything go wrong."

He took out the special key, opened the secret memorial, and quickly scanned it with a look of great joy, because Liu Dingzhi said something in the memorial that he could not believe.

Damn, the imperial seal was found!

It was a coincidence. A wealthy Li family in Xi'an, whose ancestors moved from Luoyang, had a small earthquake some time ago that collapsed their ancestral tomb.

So he had to rebuild his ancestral tomb. When he entered the tomb, he found a burial box, which actually contained the imperial seal.

The head of the Li family was very decisive and presented the imperial seal to the governor Liu Dingzhi. After questioning and the inspection by Jinyiwei Ding Xiu, Liu Dingzhi suspected that the Li family was the descendant of Li Congke, the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty.

The last record of the imperial seal was when the Later Tang emperor committed suicide by burning himself.

Shi Jingtang and the Khitan coalition attacked the Later Tang Dynasty. Facing the pressure from the coalition, Li Congke was powerless to save the situation. He knew that he would be humiliated if Luoyang fell. So, on the 26th day of the 11th month of the third year of Qingtai, Li Congke, carrying the imperial seal, climbed the Xuanwu Tower with Empress Dowager Cao, Empress Liu, and the prince Li Chongmei, and burned himself to death.

Since then, the imperial seal disappeared and never appeared again.

(End of this chapter)