Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 249 Is the emperor fake? As long as his name is Zhu Qizhen, we will support him
The snow stopped.

At dawn, the patrolling guards of the Five Cities Army were already wearing thick cotton-padded clothes, stepping on the snow, holding brooms and shovels, clearing wide roads to reveal the bluestone pavement.

It is the first month of the lunar year, and the New Year atmosphere is strong. Red lanterns are hung high on both sides of the street. On the lintels of shops, colorful silks and tassels dance in the wind. There are all kinds of New Year goods, from red spring couplets to golden blessing characters, from sweet sugar melons to tempting cakes, which are very tempting.

The hawkers' shouts were heard one after another, making the scene very lively. Some were pushing carts carrying steaming candied haws, while others were carrying baskets filled with various toys, attracting children to gather around them, laughing and talking happily.

There is an endless stream of pedestrians, some wearing gorgeous new clothes, some carrying large and small bags of New Year's goods, visiting relatives and friends. There are even more people in teahouses and restaurants. Nowadays, not only local people, but also many outsiders, even foreigners, stay here to celebrate the New Year.

Taibai Restaurant.

Both floors were full of guests, and the waiter was so busy that he had no time to rest. In a private room by the window, three or five friends were drinking. The host was the cabinet chief Xu Youzhen, who was entertaining Liu Dingzhi, the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, who had returned from the northwest, and Wang Lai, the governor of the river. Also accompanying him were Li Xian, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Li Bing, who had just entered the cabinet.

"The capital has changed a lot." Liu Dingzhi said after taking a sip of wine, "It's only been a few years since I last came back. The prosperity of the capital is far beyond my imagination. I almost don't recognize it anymore."

Xu Youzhen smiled slightly, blushing slightly, and said, "After the Lantern Festival, the capital will be expanded. His Majesty said that the capital of the Ming Dynasty will be the capital of the world in the future, so it must have the style of a world capital."

Li Xian agreed with a smile: "Now that I have money, I have the confidence to speak! It's easy for me to be the Minister of Personnel. At the end of the year, I will pay double salaries to all the ministries and provincial governments."

"This is all due to your majesty's wisdom." Li Bing raised his glass, "Let's toast to your majesty together."

They drank another glass and continued chatting. Xu Youzhen asked the waiter to serve a few more dishes. They didn't have to go to court, so they had a rare moment of free time and drank slowly.

"How is the river?" Xu Youzhen asked Wang Lai, "Even though the war has been intense in recent years, His Majesty has not shortchanged you on the river."

Wang Lai spread his hands and said, "The first two phases of the project have been completed. There is still the third phase, which will probably take another two to three years. It will take at least ten years to complete the river management."

Li Xian poured him a glass of wine and said, "Old Wang, you have done a great job. The Yellow River has been calm in recent years without any major floods. The canal is unobstructed, so that materials from the south can be smoothly transported to the capital and the border."

"The smooth flow of the Grand Canal is of vital importance," Li Bing agreed.

Xu Youzhen took a sip and said, "Your Majesty is also preparing to build... a highway. I mentioned it to you before. It's also a big project. It's estimated that it will start in the next two years. Once your river channel is almost ready, we can start construction."

Liu Dingzhi exclaimed: "Your Majesty has the people in his heart, and all the things he has done are beneficial to the people. We are blessed to have such a wise king, and we should do more practical things."

The eyes of the others fell on him. Xu Youzhen looked around and lowered his voice and said, "We are all family here, so I will ask directly, Lao Liu, you are the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, what happened to the guy in Dunhuang, why haven't you killed him yet?"

Liu Dingzhi smiled bitterly and said in a low voice: "Jinyiwei Zhenfushi Ding Xiu has thought of many ways, but Guanxi is not under our control at present, and Dunhuang is heavily guarded. Don't underestimate Guanxi, they are already a small kingdom."

"Humph, now that he has become powerful, is he going to split the Ming Dynasty?" Wang Lai snorted coldly, "Then he is the sinner of the Ming Dynasty."

Li Bing frowned. "This year, we will lead our troops to the northwest, hoping to completely resolve the problem of Dunhuang. But... I always feel uneasy. I always feel that it won't be so smooth."

Xu Youzhen nodded: "As you know, there is a Junshan Society in the capital, which secretly supports Dunhuang. Some ministers in the court are still loyal to the Zhu family, but now because of the prestige of His Majesty, they dare not mention it and keep it in their hearts."

"Bah!" Liu Dingzhi said angrily, "The issue of the real emperor and the fake one has not yet passed? Even if your Majesty is a fake, so what? As long as his name is Zhu Qizhen, I will support him."

The other four were shocked and looked at him with strange expressions.

Liu Dingzhi glanced at him speechlessly: "Why are you looking at me? Are you just bringing up the issue? We all know what's going on. Is there any need to hide it?"

"This... is still a bit more obscure." Xu Youzhen smiled, "But you are right. No matter what, in the eyes of the court officials, we are the emperor's trusted ministers. We are already tied together. If the emperor's name is Zhu Qizhen, we will support him."

The five of them raised their glasses and drank a big one. They began to discuss their plan to march into the northwest this year.

……

In a house in the west of the city.

There was also a banquet in the secret room, but everyone was wearing a mask. Wolf Mask chuckled: "How can we drink this? Do we have to take off our masks and see our identities clearly?"

Deer Mask said calmly, "It's just a formality. Let's drink together. The five of us have ulterior motives, so it's better not to know each other's identities."

"Old Deer, why did you summon us? Are you here to give us salaries?" Rabbit Mask spread his hands, "The court gave us double salaries this time."

The Bull Mask also laughed and said, "Yes, the Ming Dynasty is at its peak."

Wolf Mask sighed self-deprecatingly: "Sometimes I wonder, as long as His Majesty is called Zhu Qizhen, why should we care whether he is real or fake? The Ming Dynasty is real, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Isn't that good?"

"Good, very good!" said the Deer Mask, "But all of us have more or less received the Emperor Zhu's grace, right? His Majesty of Dunhuang has also reformed himself. If there is a chance, replacing the false emperor, wouldn't that be perfect?"

Rabbit Mask said lazily: "I feel a little sympathetic towards the fake emperor."

The Deer Mask swept his eyes over and said in a deep voice: "I also know the struggle in your hearts. Just treat it as the last time to help the Zhu family. If you fail this time, Junshan will disband."

"If we fail, I'm afraid I'll even lose my life." Rabbit Mask said with a smile. "So we have to be careful." Deer Mask said, "Just for the last time, if His Majesty Dunhuang doesn't sneak into the capital, Rat Boss won't make things difficult for us."

Tiger Mask, who had been silent the whole time, shivered, raised his glass and said, "It's so cold, let's have one drink and then go home. Although it's the New Year, the Jinyiwei won't take a day off."

The five of them drank a cup, discussed something, and then dispersed.

……

After the snow, the sun came out, but the wind was still chilly.

At the gate of Daming Trading Company, Zhu Qizhen and the Queen Demon got off the carriage. Zhu Qizhen was dressed in a snowy robe, looking as handsome as jade, and had an elegant demeanor. The Queen Demon Demon, wearing a fox fur coat, was dignified and gentle.

"Master, Master's Wife?" Chao Xiaotian came out from the door and hurried over to greet the two of them. "I was just about to go to the courtyard to wish you a happy new year."

Zhu Qizhen slapped him on the back of the head and glared, "Farewell, you are now the big boss of the capital, how dare we let you come, let us come."

He held his forehead with his hand and said, "Master, why do you say that?"

"Don't listen to his nonsense, we are just passing by and came to take a look." The Queen of Demons smiled slightly.

Chao Xiaotian warmly welcomed the two of them in. There was a charcoal fire burning in the living room, which was very warm. Now he also had many maids here, and they quickly served hot tea.

The Demon Queen took a sip, looked around and asked, "Where is Miss Qi?"

"Master's wife, he must be at home during the New Year." Chao Xiaotian said.

The Demon Queen slapped Zhu Qizhen and said, "It's time to help Xiaotian propose marriage this year. How did you do it, Master? Xiaotian is also of marriageable age."

"Yes." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, "Pick a date in the first half of the year and hold your wedding."

Chao Xiaotian was overjoyed: "Thank you, Master, Master's Wife."

The three of them were drinking tea and eating snacks while chatting about recent news. Chao Xiaotian's Daming Trading Company now has its own large fleet and branches in several places in Southeast Asia.

"Now that the shipping routes are open, you should prepare to start monopolizing global trade." Zhu Qizhen said, "With the support of the Ming court, you have your own armed forces, and you can form an alliance with local forces. In this way, you can show your strength and sell things from America and Southeast Asia to the West..."

The master and the apprentice were discussing in depth, and the Demon Queen was listening quietly on the side. She couldn't even understand some of the things. She secretly sighed in her heart that a little rascal had been trained by the Pseudo-Emperor to become a great talent today.

"Master and Madam, please stay for dinner." Chao Xiaotian said.

"Of course." Zhu Qizhen glared, "We'll treat you to good food and good wine."

The Demon Queen smiled, looked at the goods piled up in the yard and asked, "It's New Year's Day, why are you still hoarding so many goods?"

Chao Xiaotian said proudly: "These are all to be shipped to the Western Regions. Although the Silk Road is not fully accessible now, it can still reach Timur and Ottoman. There is a great demand there."

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly: "Is the demand in the Western Regions so great?"

"Yes, if it wasn't snowing, we would continue to ship goods." Chao Xiaotian said.

The Demon Queen pushed Zhu Qizhen and glared at him: "Xiao Tian's business is good, so what? Come on, help me cook. I want to eat what you cook today. You two can cook, and I will eat the ready-made food."

Zhu Qizhen patted Chao Xiaotian on the shoulder and spread his hands: "Let's go, a man should be able to go out of the kitchen and onto the battlefield."

……

dusk.

Zhu Qizhen brought the Queen back to the small courtyard by the Gaoliang River. Shuangxi was busy in the kitchen. Zhu Qizhen told her that they had already eaten outside.

"Shall we take a walk along the river?" said the Demon Queen, holding Zhu Qizhen's arm.

The two walked along the river. The snow had not melted yet, and ice was still floating on the river. A gust of cold wind blew, and the demon queen shrank into Zhu Qizhen's arms, her pretty face flushed red.

Zhu Qizhen reached out and touched her hands, blew hot air on them, and looked at her tenderly. The Queen looked at him with moist eyes: "If you can live an ordinary life like this, would you be willing?"

Don't want to!
From being a queen to a queen mother, you have no idea how ordinary people live. The daily necessities of life can drive two people in love to collapse.

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "I am willing."

(End of this chapter)