Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 280: The Gate Seizure Begins, the Queen's Choice

At this moment, Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen was half lying on the couch, with gauze wrapped around his arm. Kneeling in front of him were three imperial doctors, and the head of the envoy, Tan Yuan, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, fortunately you controlled the poison with the elixir at the moment of poisoning, otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous."

"Just tell me how I am now?" Zhu Qizhen asked coldly.

"The poison has been resolved, just rest and recuperate." said the envoy.

Zhu Qizhen raised a hint of coldness at the corner of his mouth and said in a deep voice: "No, I am not well. You announce to the public that I have fallen into a coma and my life or death is uncertain."

The envoy Tan Yuan opened his eyes wide in surprise: "Ah? Why... why?"

"Just do as I say." Zhu Qizhen continued, "And, none of you three should leave the Qianqing Palace."

The envoy of the Tan Yuan glanced at the other two people, and then bowed together: "As ordered."

Zhu Qizhen said to Cao Jixiang who was not far away: "Take the envoy of the Tan Yuan out and announce my condition to the cabinet ministers. Just say that I was poisoned and unconscious. As for how I was poisoned, don't say anything. Also, call Jinyiwei Shi Biao and Ding Xiu to come to me."

"As you wish." Cao Jixiang took Tan Yuanshi out.

Zhu Qizhen was lying there, his wound still hurting. He waved his hand: "Everyone go down, Xiyao stay."

The other two doctors and other palace maids and eunuchs went downstairs. Xiyao came to him with a cup of hot water, her eyes full of worry: "Your Majesty, does it still hurt?"

"Of course it hurts." Zhu Qizhen smiled.

Xiyao gritted her teeth, her face full of anger, and waved her fists: "Who is it, assassinating His Majesty? I will kill him with a white knife and a red knife."

Zhu Qizhen took a sip of hot water, smiled bitterly and sighed: "There are so many people in this world who want me dead."

"Why?" Xiyao wondered, "Your Majesty, although you have a bad temper, you are a good emperor."

Zhu Qizhen was very upset: "Even a good emperor has enemies."

He put down his teacup, became serious, and said, "Go down and tell all the eunuchs and maids in the Qianqing Palace that the news that I have been cured of the poison must not be spread. Otherwise, you will be beaten to death."

"Yes, I understand." Xiyao went downstairs in a hurry.

Zhu Qizhen curled his lips into a sneer.

The man he assassinated yesterday was a master he had never seen in his life. He was originally coming for him, but he attacked Chao Xiaotian first, causing him to misjudge and be careless for a moment, and get stabbed.

Then, the assassin's origin is intriguing. How could he be in Daming Trading Company? Chao Xiaotian didn't even know his identity. Who arranged him? Is he related to Chao Xiaotian? Who would come there to assassinate him? The knife was coated with poison, clearly intending to kill him.

……

Not long after, Jinyiwei Commander Shi Biao and Zhenfu Envoy Ding Xiu entered the palace. Seeing the emperor half lying down reading a book, they all breathed a sigh of relief. After paying their respects, Shi Biao asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, has the poison in your body really been cured?"

Zhu Qizhen rolled his eyes speechlessly: "What? Are you still hoping for my death?"

"No, no." Shi Biao explained quickly, "We arrested Yuan Bin, and his knife was coated with a deadly poison."

Zhu Qizhen was startled and asked, "Yuan Bin? You said that the one who assassinated me was Yuan Bin? The guard beside the fake emperor?"

"That's him!" Ding Xiu replied, "He sneaked into the Daming Trading Company not long ago and worked as a porter there. His target is you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Qizhen sat up straight and asked coldly: "You have interrogated him, right? What did he say?"

Ding Xiu frowned and replied, "After the interrogation, it was similar to what he said in the Zhou Palace last time. He assassinated Your Majesty just to avenge the false emperor. He said that the false emperor was killed by Timur's cavalry on his way to the Western Regions."

"He described it in great detail." Shi Biao continued, "I have already sent people to the Western Regions to confirm the location where it happened."

Zhu Qizhen frowned: "Is the fake emperor really dead?"

Ding Xiu did not answer directly, but continued to report: "He thought that Your Majesty was doomed, so he told the whole story of how he sneaked into the capital. He did sneak into the capital on the Qi family's fleet. However, he and three other people bribed people in the Qi family's fleet to sneak on board, so he hid in the bottom of the cabin. When they arrived in Nanyang, the other three people got off the ship, and he returned to Ming Dynasty."

"This confirms what you found out," Zhu Qizhen said.

Ding Xiu nodded and said, "After entering the capital, he has been looking for an opportunity to assassinate Your Majesty. Because no one knew him, he was very bold and even saw Your Majesty swimming in the lake. But he had no chance to get close, so he had no choice but to find King Zhou. But King Zhou did not agree to help him. By chance, he saw Your Majesty appear at the Daming Trading Company. After some inquiries, he learned that you were Chao Xiaotian's master, so he sneaked into the Daming Trading Company."

"It sounds like everything is going smoothly." Zhu Qizhen snorted, "But it's not too smooth."

Shi Biao nodded and said, "We thought the same as Your Majesty, so we tortured Yuan Bin, but he wanted to die, and we couldn't get any information out of him no matter how hard we tried."

Zhu Qizhen sneered: "Then let's see. I am unconscious now and my life is hanging by a thread. Let's see if anyone will jump out."

……

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the palace, and Concubine Xian’s voice came: “Can’t I go in too?”

Zhu Qizhen's face changed slightly, and he said to Shi Biao and Ding Xiu, "You go out and guard for me. No one can come in. Even if the queen comes, you must stop her for me."

"Yes!" Shi Biao and Ding Xiu obeyed the order in unison.

They turned around, left the hall, and came to the door. They saw Xiyao standing in front of Concubine Xian, saying in a humble manner: "Your Majesty, before His Majesty passed out, he said that no one can enter."

"How dare you!" The maid behind Concubine Xian shouted, "How dare you, a maid, stand in the way of Concubine Xian? Do you want to die?"

Xiyao didn't move at all, just blocked it.

Shi Biao and Ding Xiu looked at each other and hurried forward to bow to Concubine Xian. Shi Biao said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty did give an order that no one can enter until he wakes up."

The virtuous concubine was as cold as ice, but when she saw them, her expression relaxed a little and she asked, "How is your majesty?"

"Unconscious." Shi Biao's face was solemn. "The three imperial doctors are doing their best to treat him. Madam, it's useless for you to go. On the contrary, it will affect them."

Concubine Xian looked coldly: "How did your Majesty get poisoned?"

"Your Majesty, I can't say anything now." Shi Biao bowed, "Everything will have to wait until Your Majesty wakes up."

Concubine Xian's eyes became even colder, and then she said in a deep voice: "Okay, I will not go in, and I will also ask the other concubines in the harem not to disturb you. My two lords, His Majesty will be handed over to you."

Having said that, she turned and left.

Xiyao watched her go away and breathed a sigh of relief: "You scared me to death."

Ding Xiu smiled slightly: "Miss Xiyao, you are very brave."

"I have no choice. Otherwise, who would dare to offend Concubine Xian?" Xiyao said with a bitter face, "I am finished from now on. How can I live in the harem if I offend her?"

"Don't worry, His Majesty will remember your contribution." Shi Biao smiled slyly, "However, the person you offended is not the most terrible one. It will probably not be long before you offend a more terrible one."

Xiyao widened her eyes: "Who else?"

Shi Biao said two words: "Empress Dowager."

Xiyao was instantly numb and waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no, I have to ask for leave and hide."

"His Majesty trusts you, so he entrusts you with the important task." Shi Biao said with a smile.

"Then...isn't there still Eunuch Cao?" Xiyao pointed at Cao Jixiang and the envoy of the Negotiation Court who had returned from Fengtian Palace.

……

Cao Jixiang hurried over and said to the three people, "It's over, it's over. The Queen Mother has come down the mountain and will be here soon. She must have received the news and came to see Your Majesty."

"We have to block it though." Xiyao waved her hand.

"How can we stop her?" Cao Jixiang smiled bitterly, "She's the Queen Mother, who dares to stop her?"

Xiyao gritted her teeth and said, "I will go downstairs and block the front. Eunuch, you stay on the stairs and block the second wave. If we can't stop them, please ask Lord Shi and Lord Ding to block the door. If we still can't stop them, please ask Envoy Tan to come out and explain the situation to the Queen Mother. Even if the Queen Mother doesn't believe us, she has to believe Envoy Tan, right?"

Cao Jixiang's eyes lit up instantly: "That's feasible, let's do it."

Ding Xiu looked at Xiyao with a surprised look on his face: "Girl, you also know how to use military tactics, the first attack is strong, the second is weak, and the third is exhausted?"

"Hey, I still have to rely on you in the end. What use do I have for you!" Xiyao glared and went downstairs with a few palace maids and eunuchs.

Ding Xiu and Shi Biao smiled at each other. Cao Jixiang didn't have time to smile anymore, and took the other palace maids and eunuchs down the steps. As soon as they stood still, they saw a group of people walking hurriedly on the imperial road below, led by the Queen Mother.

Xiyao stood at the bottom of the steps, looking at the majestic queen mother walking towards her quickly, and her back tingled. She took a deep breath, blocked the way, and bowed, "Greetings to the queen mother."

The queen mother, wearing a purple dress, was noble and dignified. She glanced at Xiyao coldly and said in a voice as cold as ice: "Are you Xiyao? Who gave you the courage to stop me?"

"Empress Dowager, please calm down. His Majesty has ordered that no one can enter the Qianqing Palace." Xiyao said.

"Get out of here!" The Queen Mother raised her leg and kicked him.

Xiyao was kicked away, and the Queen Mother climbed up the stairs. Shuangxi glanced at the fallen Xiyao and followed the Queen Mother closely. Cao Jixiang, who was on the stairs, bowed to the Queen Mother and said, "Queen Mother, please calm down. His Majesty is unconscious and will not see anyone." "Cao Jixiang, why do you not allow me to see the Emperor?" The Queen Mother shook her hand violently.
She didn't even look at Cao Jixiang, she strode up to the gate of the Qianqing Palace. Shi Biao and Ding Xiu led the Jinyiwei to guard the gate.

"Greetings to the Queen Mother." Everyone bowed.

"Get out of the way!" The Queen Mother stepped forward.

Shi Biao and Ding Xiu quickly stood in front of her. Shi Biao bent his waist and said, "Before His Majesty fell into a coma, he issued an oral order not to see anyone. Your Majesty, please don't embarrass us."

"I am going to make things difficult for you, get out of here." The Queen Mother shouted coldly.

"Empress Dowager." Ding Xiu said loudly, "We are here to guard the palace under your majesty's order. Please do not force us. If you let us in, we will be guilty of deceiving the emperor."

The Queen Mother sneered: "You want to scare me? With you? Do you dare to draw your swords against me? Hahaha, if you have the guts, try drawing your swords?"

Neither Shi Biao nor Ding Xiu would dare to draw their swords against the Queen Mother.

At this time, the envoy of the Tan Court came out of the palace, knelt down in front of the Queen Mother, and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. His Majesty is at a critical moment and cannot be disturbed. Your Majesty, for His Majesty's sake, please don't go in."

When the Queen Mother saw the Minister of the Court, her expression softened and she said coldly, "Minister of the Court ...

The envoy of the Tan Yuan bowed deeply and said, "It's hard to say. We have tried our best."

The queen mother's beautiful face turned pale in an instant, and her voice trembled: "Has it come to this? How...how could it be?"

"Your Majesty, I will go in to prepare the medicine." Tan Yuanshi bowed and turned to enter the hall.

The Queen Mother was stunned for a long time, and her cold eyes swept over the two of them, saying, "You keep an eye on His Majesty. When His Majesty wakes up, I will come and punish you."

After saying that, she strode towards Kunning Palace.

……

In a house in the north of the city.

In a secret room, all the members of the Junshan Society gathered, except for the Rat Boss. The Rabbit Mask came in, glanced at everyone, and said in a surprised tone: "Fuck, I heard that the fake emperor was poisoned and his life or death is uncertain, is it true?"

The Bull Mask snorted, "It seems that you are not in the court, so you don't know this."

Rabbit Mask spread his hands and said as a matter of course: "It's obvious that I'm just a small fry in the Junshan Society. You must all be big shots in the court, right?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Tiger Mask looked at Deer Mask and asked, "Old Deer, what do you mean? Is the emperor really poisoned? If that's the case, it's indeed a good opportunity."

Deer Mask looked at Wolf Mask and asked, "Brother Wolf, what do you think?"

Wolf Mask was silent for a while, then said, "I got the news that His Majesty went to the Daming Trading Company incognito yesterday, where he encountered an assassin and was stabbed. Elder Lu, was that assassin arranged by you?"

"It's not me." Deer Mask said, "It should be arranged by His Majesty himself."

"Mr. Lu, we are all from the Junshan Society. However, it seems that you are hiding a lot of things from us." said Wolf Mask.

Deer Mask snorted coldly: "I am also following the orders of Boss Rat."

The Bull Mask said, "It's such an important matter, and Rat Boss won't show up?"

"Boss Rat needs to confirm if the False Emperor is unconscious." Deer Mask said.

Tiger Mask raised his hand: "So, you gathered us together to prepare for a mutiny?"

Deer Mask sighed and said, "Wait for the order from Rat Boss."

"Here comes the chance." Rabbit Mask spread his hands, "Why do I feel like you guys aren't happy either?"

……

Prince Ning’s Mansion, underground secret room.

The Zhengtong Emperor, Xu Bin, and Wu Xingdao were waiting anxiously. At this time, Prince Ning and Mu Bin came in hurriedly. The three of them greeted them, and Xu Bin asked anxiously, "What happened?"

"The fake emperor should not be dead yet." Prince Ning frowned. "At this moment, the three imperial doctors are all in the Qianqing Palace. The fake emperor ordered that no one is allowed to enter. The virtuous concubine was blocked outside, and later the queen mother went there, but she was also blocked outside."

Mu Bin snorted. "If it were you, I would say that we should seal off the imperial city immediately. We will escort His Majesty into the palace and control the fake emperor. Tomorrow morning, it will be you, Your Majesty, who will preside over the court."

After hearing this, Emperor Zhengtong was eager to try it out.

Wu Xingdao calmed down a lot and asked, "What's the news about the Junshan meeting?"

Mu Bin sighed speechlessly, "They are still waiting for the order from Rat Boss. I am really worried that we will miss such a great opportunity. Your Majesty, why don't you give the order to Junshan Society to launch a mutiny tonight."

"No!" Wu Xingdao interrupted him, "What if this is a trap set by the false emperor? If we rush into the palace, we will be caught in one fell swoop."

The Zhengtong Emperor was puzzled: "Isn't it certain that he was poisoned? Yuan Bin used a deadly poison, how could he still be alive?"

"Ordinarily, he should have died on the spot." Wu Xingdao spread his hands, "But he actually went back. I was afraid that if something unexpected happened, everything we planned would be ruined."

Xu Bin nodded at the side: "Yes, not only us, but also the Junshan Society was wiped out."

"It's really frustrating. When will that Rat Boss give the order?" Mu Bin sat down.

The Zhengtong Emperor smiled and said, "Duke Qian, please be patient."

……

Kunning Palace.

The Queen of Demons was wearing a light and flowing lavender dress. The delicate and smooth fabric clung to her flawless white skin and could be lifted up gently by a gentle breeze.

She has a graceful figure and exquisite curves. While sitting upright, her long and straight legs, like jade carvings, are elegantly crossed, adding a bit of indescribable charm and nobility.

But now her beautiful face was covered with frost, her beautiful eyes were drooping, and she seemed to be worried. Shuangxi came in from outside and reported in a low voice: "Madam, I can't get any information. The eunuchs and maids of the Qianqing Palace are all in the palace and are not allowed to come out."

The Demon Queen frowned slightly: "Isn't he unconscious? How can he make such a thorough arrangement? What does Cao Jixiang say?"

"Eunuch Cao only said that before His Majesty fell into a coma, he issued five consecutive decrees and made arrangements." Shuangxi said, "Now the eunuchs and maids in the Qianqing Palace are partially under the command of that Xiyao."

"Humph, he still knew how to restrain Cao Jixiang before he fell into a coma?" The Demon Queen snorted, "I don't believe he was really in a coma."

Shuangxi pursed her lips and said softly, "I saw people coming and going in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and they seemed to be really nervous. It is true that His Majesty was stabbed, and it is also true that the knife was poisoned."

The demon queen suddenly covered her chest with her hands, her throat felt hot, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, muttering to herself: "Is he really going to die? No, he won't die that easily."

Her heart seemed to be hit hard, her chest ached, her eyes were filled with tears, her face was sad, and she burst into tears.

"My queen, maybe this is a good thing. You don't have to do it yourself." Shuangxi whispered.

The Demon Queen wiped away her tears, her eyes became sharp: "I don't believe he died like this."

Shuangxi sighed softly, and then calmly replied: "Madam, the Junshan Society is still waiting for news."

"Tell them not to act rashly." The Demon Queen took a deep breath, "I will go to the Qianqing Palace again."

……

In front of the Qianqing Palace.

The chief minister of the cabinet Xu Youzhen, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel Li Xian, and other ministers including Li Bing, Ke Qian, and Zhang Lun had all come, but they didn't know what had happened to the emperor.

"Shi Biao, tell us the truth, how is His Majesty?" Xu Youzhen said, "We are all His Majesty's trusted ministers."

Shi Biao clasped his fists towards them and said, "Everyone, go back. His Majesty is still in a coma."

Zhang Lun was furious: "What did the imperial physician say? In the end... in the end..."

"The imperial physician is treating him." Shi Biao sighed helplessly, "Your Majesty issued an order before he fell into a coma, and I just followed it. His Majesty must have his own purpose for doing this."

Xu Youzhen's eyes flashed coldly, "I'm just worried that someone will take advantage of His Majesty's coma to cause trouble. So, everyone go back. Zhang Lun, you keep an eye on the Five Military Commandery. I'll go find Duke Jing, Duke Xia, and Duke Zhong, and they have to stabilize the defense of the palace."

He gave some instructions, and everyone left in a hurry. Zhang Lun left the palace and was about to get on the carriage when he was stopped by someone. He was shocked: "Ding Xiu, why are you here?"

"Come with me." Ding Xiu said in a low voice.

"Where are you going? I'm going to the Five Military Commandery." Zhang Lun said anxiously, "Lord Xu is worried that something unexpected will happen while His Majesty is unconscious."

Ding Xiu glanced at him and said, "His Majesty wants to see you."

(End of this chapter)