Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 310 The Demon Queen Becomes Cruel: Bloodstained Harem

New Year's Eve.

Just like in previous years, all the palace maids were dressed in gorgeous clothes and had exquisite makeup on. They gathered in the magnificently decorated Kunning Palace to welcome the New Year together.

The Kunning Palace was brightly lit and the candlelight flickered. In the center of the hall, a long table with dragon and phoenix carvings was displayed. The table was filled with all kinds of delicacies, including mountain and sea delicacies and folk snacks, with a fragrant aroma. The gold and silver utensils sparkled in the candlelight, adding a bit of royal style.

The emperor, wearing a dragon robe, sat side by side with the empress dowager on the main seat. Both of them had smiles on their faces and talked in low voices from time to time. On the left and right sides, the concubines sat in order of rank, some of them were smiling and talking, while others were lowering their eyebrows and looking submissive. They were dressed in luxurious palace costumes and wore pearls and jade on their heads, adding a touch of softness and elegance to this New Year's Eve dinner.

During the banquet, melodious music played and the palace maids sang and danced gracefully, adding a touch of joy to the feast.

Zhu Qizhen raised his glass to the demon queen beside him and smiled softly: "I wish you eternal youth."

The Queen was wearing a purple palace dress today. Her beautiful figure was full of curves and even the fox fur coat could not hide them.

There are many beauties in the harem, but she is still the most beautiful among them.

"How can anyone really stay young forever?" The Demon Queen smiled faintly, "I will also grow old. In a few years, I will become a yellow-faced woman."

Zhu Qizhen spread his hands and said, "Your words are really irritating. They are all younger than you and not as pretty as you."

He pointed at the concubines, and the Demon Queen also looked over them, frowning slightly: "If they can always be as harmonious as they are today, there will be no trouble in the harem."

"Did you find out anything?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

The demon queen glared at him and said, "Today is New Year's Day, why are you talking about this? Come, have a drink with me."

Zhu Qizhen raised his glass and drank with her.

At this time, the concubines from all the palaces came to toast. The queen was not there, and the first to come was Concubine Zhou. She came with the eldest son and bowed, saying, "I wish the queen mother a long life, your majesty good health, and the Ming Dynasty a prosperous future."

"Okay, okay." Zhu Qizhen raised his hand.

The Demon Queen simply smiled faintly, her eyes fell on the eldest prince, and said, "Shen'er is nine years old this year, right?"

The eldest prince bowed obediently: "After the New Year, I will be ten years old."

"I have asked you, you are doing well in your studies." The Demon Queen encouraged, "Not only should you study hard, but you should also practice martial arts diligently. In the future, you will become a wise and powerful emperor like your father."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhou was overjoyed, and immediately asked the eldest prince to kowtow to thank the Queen Mother.

Zhu Qizhen frowned slightly, looking at his adopted son, and then glanced at Concubine Zhou who was acting a lot. One of them wanted to be the queen, and the other wanted to be the crown prince?
……

Jinyiwei, imperial prison.

Shi Biao came in with a food box, his face was red, obviously he had been drinking. When he came to a cell, he ordered someone to open the door and walked in.

There was a man lying in the cell, shivering constantly. He was cold. Although he was given a quilt, it was still cold in winter. Shi Biao looked for a while and shouted outside, "Bring a brazier to Lord Yang."

It turned out that the person shivering in the bed was Yang Shan, the former Minister of Rites. When he heard Shi Biao's voice, he slowly sat up, his face grim, and snorted, "Master Shi, don't try this on me."

"Who the hell wants to come and see you?" Shi Biao snorted. "Today is New Year's Day. I'm just at home and comfortable. Isn't that good?"

Yang Shan's eyes flashed with doubt: "Then why are you here?"

At this time, the jailer brought a brazier with burning charcoal in it. Yang Shan immediately went over and stretched out his hand to warm himself by the fire because it was too cold.

Shi Biao brought the chair from the cell over and put the food box on the table. Yang Shan glanced at him and sneered, "Don't say you came here to bring me food. Shi Biao and I don't have such a relationship."

"I didn't mean to come here." Shi Biao also had a cold face. He opened the food box. There were three dishes and a pot of wine. He took them out and said, "This is a reward from His Majesty. His Majesty said that Yang Shan betrayed me, but he is a good official."

Yang Shan paused, staring blankly at the food and wine on the table.

Shi Biao took out the bowl and chopsticks, filled his cup with wine, and snorted, "What are you looking at? Eat. I'll drink three cups of wine with you. I still have to go back to celebrate the New Year. It's really unlucky that I have to come to see you during the New Year."

Yang Shan picked up the wine glass and drank it silently. Then he poured himself another glass and drank it again. He drank three glasses in a row.

"Your Majesty..." he began.

Shi Biao interrupted him and said, "Don't try to trick me. Your Majesty doesn't expect you to confess anything. Finish your drink quickly. I'm going back to report."

Yang Shan picked up the chopsticks and ate with big mouthfuls, tears in his eyes, and asked in a low voice: "The imperial examination will be held after the New Year. Has the new Minister of Rites arrived yet?"

"Li Bing is the new Minister of Rites, so you don't have to worry about this matter." Shi Biao waved his hand.

"Let him come and see me." Yang Shan said, "There are many things about the imperial examination that only I know. I have to tell him, so as not to mess it up. This imperial examination is very important to the Ming Dynasty."

Shi Biao threw down his chopsticks and laughed angrily: "You, the Junshan Society, are about to rebel against His Majesty, and now you are telling me that you are worried about the imperial examinations and the Ming Dynasty? Bullshit!"

"That's two different things." Yang Shan was furious. "Your Majesty wants to recruit a large number of talents in the arts for this imperial examination. I have prepared a plan. Please ask Li Bing to come and see me."

Shi Biao stood up suddenly and said, "Fuck you. Without your Majesty, would there be the Ming Dynasty today? I just can't stand your so-called loyalty and righteousness."

After cursing, he turned and left.

Yang Shan stopped him and said, "Check the Imperial Guards!"

Shi Biao paused, and then said: "I will tell Li Bing whether he will come to see you or not. Go and see him."

……

Late at night, Changchun Palace.

After Zhu Qizhen finished his New Year's Eve dinner, he sent the witch back to Kunning Palace and came here. The virtuous concubine, who had just finished bathing and had drunk some wine, threw herself directly into his arms in a long gauze dress, staring at him with her passionate eyes, and opened her seductive lips: "Your Majesty, I still want a child."

She already had a son and wanted another one. Was she working towards the position of queen?

Zhu Qizhen held her gently, feeling the warmth in his arms, and said softly: "I have been looking for you many times recently, but your belly is not doing well."

Xianfei bit her lips lightly, still drunk, her face flushed, the tenderness in her beautiful eyes instantly withdrew, staring at him fiercely, and said: "Before you said that for my own good, the second child should be delayed, and then... Your Majesty, you can't blame me, I was able to do it before, and I will definitely be able to do it now."

"It's fine with me, I'm just afraid you can't bear it." Zhu Qizhen raised his eyebrows.

Xian Fei rolled her eyes, and then said in a soft and charming voice: "Then let's give it a try. Tonight is the best time."

"For something like this, does it really depend on the time?" Zhu Qizhen pretended to be surprised.

The virtuous concubine glanced at him with her beautiful eyes and smiled: "I have read some books, which say that tonight is a good time. If I get pregnant, it will definitely be a smart child."

Although Zhu Qizhen didn't believe it, it was New Year's Day and people were setting off firecrackers outside, so he couldn't just sit there. Besides, he wanted to have more children and send them overseas to be vassal kings in the future.

In the second half of the night, Zhu Qizhen felt a wave of fatigue coming over him, and he could not help but hold the soft and warm body in his arms tightly, and instinctively held her slender waist. He adjusted his head to a comfortable angle, buried it deeply in her fragrant neck, and slowly closed his eyes. This subtle movement instantly made the beauty in his arms let out a soft moan, and her beautiful eyes slowly opened, like petals just blooming in the morning light.

Xianfei had just fallen asleep, and now that she was awake, she looked even more charming. There was still a shy blush on her cheeks, and her eyes revealed endless charm, tenderness like water, gently swaying in her eyes, reflecting his handsome face. A wonderful and moving smile quietly bloomed on her lips, and she opened her thin lips slightly: "Your Majesty, you don't have to go to court tomorrow, right?"

So, you won’t sleep tonight?
……

The next day.

Zhu Qizhen slept until he woke up naturally, got up lazily, and had his meal with the help of Concubine Xian. When he returned to the Qianqing Palace, it was almost noon.

Shi Biao, the commander of the Imperial Guard, had been waiting for two hours. When Zhu Qizhen saw him, he smiled and greeted him, "Shi Biao, Happy New Year! Why are you here to see me on the first day of the new year?"

"Your Majesty, I went to deliver food to Yang Shan last night and received a piece of news." Shi Biao bowed.

Zhu Qizhen was stunned for a moment and asked, "You went to deliver food to Yang Shan on New Year's Eve?"

Shi Biao smiled and nodded, and said, "I used some tricks, please forgive me, Your Majesty. I still used your name to deliver the food, saying that you gave it to him as a reward."

Zhu Qizhen immediately understood and praised: "Not bad, you are becoming more and more resourceful."

"Your Majesty, I am grateful. Yang Shan is also conflicted. When he heard that it was a reward from Your Majesty, he even shed tears while eating." Shi Biao sighed softly.

Zhu Qizhen nodded slightly: "He was a good official, what a pity."

Shi Biao did not continue the topic, but said: "When I left, he told me to check the Imperial Guards." "Imperial Guards?" A cold light flashed in Zhu Qizhen's eyes.

Shi Biao's eyes were just as sharp, and he said, "The one who is in charge of the Imperial Guards now is Marquis Wu'an, and his son Zheng Ying is also a captain of the Imperial Guards."

"These father and son..." Zhu Qizhen seemed to be thinking about something.

Shi Biao hesitated and said, "I have already sent people to keep an eye on them. Regardless of whether they are father and son, I think it is not a good idea to let them stay in the Imperial Guard any longer."

"Without evidence, I can't just fire him. I need a reason at least." Zhu Qizhen frowned, "And if I move him rashly, it will alert the enemy."

Shi Biao pondered for a moment and said, "Isn't it time to change the guards in the New Year? Then we can transfer Wu'an Hou away from the Imperial Guards, even if it means giving him a higher honorary position."

"Hmm." Zhu Qizhen sneered, "There are people from the Junshan Society around me. When I think about it now, I am quite scared."

Shi Biao was equally worried: "Your Majesty, the identities of some people in the Junshan Society have not been found out yet. If we follow Wu'an Hou for a while and don't find any clues, should we just arrest him?"

"You keep an eye on it first, and we'll make a decision after the Lantern Festival." Zhu Qizhen said, "By then, those princes will have been escorted back. I believe Junshan will definitely take action."

……

Kunning Palace at dusk.

The sky was gray again, and the cold wind was howling outside. Zhu Qizhen stood in front of the window with the Queen in his arms. She was in the palace, wearing only a thin long skirt, with her long hair falling to her waist like a waterfall, and her eyes were dim.

Zhu Qizhen wanted to ask her if she wanted to stay in the courtyard by the Gaoliang River for a few days to spend some time alone together, but since she seemed to be distracted by the Queen's case recently, he stopped talking about it.

He was not particularly eager in his heart. When he learned that the Demon Queen possessed evil magic, he was still a little scared. He was worried that he would die young like the previous emperor.

"How's the case going?" he asked, stroking her back.

The Demon Queen glanced at him sideways, lightly brushed the long hair on his shoulders, and her cold eyes flashed: "New Year, let's not talk about this, let's talk about it after the Lantern Festival."

"I always feel a little uneasy." Zhu Qizhen sighed lightly.

The Queen of Demons stretched out her hand to hook his neck, her beautiful eyes dim and slightly charming: "Do you feel uneasy when you are fooling around with Aisha?"

"Well, I was forced." Zhu Qizhen blinked, "If you treat me like that, I will surrender."

"Little thief." The Demon Queen glared.

She stood on tiptoes and took the initiative to kiss him.

After a long while, she nestled in Zhu Qizhen's arms and said softly, "Now that the queen is gone, there will definitely be ministers who will petition to establish a queen after the court opens. What do you think?"

"Then what do you think?" Zhu Qizhen asked back.

"Hmph, what's the use of thinking? Do you still listen to me?" The Queen of Demons snorted.

Zhu Qizhen hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear: "I want to make you the emperor."

The Demon Queen was slightly startled, then glared: "That is impossible, unless you reveal your identity and change the dynasty."

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

That's even more impossible, so there's no solution for both of us.

……

The Lantern Festival is here in a blink of an eye.

The streets and alleys are decorated with lights and lanterns with big red envelopes hung high.

The capital city is already the world's capital, and it shows its unique charm and spirit on the night of the Lantern Festival. The patrolling city guards, dressed in brocade clothes and holding long spears, walk briskly among the crowds to ensure the safety of the people watching the lanterns.

The streets were bustling with people and laughter. The hawking of various vendors could be heard one after another, including those selling candied haws, making dough figurines, and performing acrobatics. Each stall was surrounded by enthusiastic visitors, with children holding lanterns and innocent smiles on their faces, and adults chatting or tasting various snacks.

The Gaoliang River is even more special, with beautiful lotus lanterns drifting along the river, carrying people's good wishes and blessings, and slowly drifting away.

Inside the palace walls, lights were bright.

Zhu Qizhen and the concubines in the harem watched the lanterns and guessed lantern riddles. He remembered the masked ball held by the witch queen a few years ago, when she wore a mouse mask.

This time, the Queen was dressed modestly, with a proud and slender figure, elegant and cool. Some hair fell around her red lips, adding a sense of royal sister charm.

"Shen'er." The Demon Queen waved to the eldest prince, "You will be ten years old this year, so go out and study."

When Concubine Zhou heard this, she was horrified: "Empress Dowager, Shen'er is still young. She is not old enough to leave the palace and build a mansion."

The Demon Queen's voice suddenly turned cold: "He is not young anymore. Prince Yi's Palace has been built. He returned to his own palace and studied martial arts according to the regulations."

Zhu Qizhen was also a little confused, not knowing why the witch queen wanted the eldest son to leave the palace to study. However, he also went with the flow and said, "Okay, you can become independent sooner. Then you can leave the palace and return to your Prince Yi's Mansion tomorrow. I have prepared everything in the palace."

The eldest prince bowed respectfully and said, "I obey your order."

Although Concubine Zhou was unwilling, she had no choice but to obey since the Queen Mother and the Emperor had spoken, because she still wanted her son to enter the East Palace.

Naturally, a large number of court officials supported the crown prince's eldest son. Concubine Zhou endured it, as she felt her son still had a good chance.

……

After the Lantern Festival, the court begins.

The vast Ming Empire had extremely complicated government affairs, especially at the beginning of the year, when there were not only many urgent matters to deal with, but also many sacrificial activities.

Emperor Zhu Qizhen had to attend, as some major sacrifices required him to preside over them personally. He knew that most of these were symbolic, but he had to do it.

The grand scale of the sacrifices allowed the envoys of small countries to see the majesty of the Ming Empire and deter them. Many symbolic activities were sometimes more effective than fighting.

If people from all over the world come to congratulate you, that means you are submitting.

On this day, Zhu Qizhen finished his morning sacrifice and was quickly reviewing memorials in the afternoon. Concubine Xian came running over in a panic, reporting in a low voice: "Your Majesty, something big has happened, the Queen Mother...she..."

"What's wrong with the Queen Mother?" Zhu Qizhen stood up suddenly.

"She ordered that Concubine Zhou be beaten to death," Concubine Xian said. "Now Concubine Zhou's palace has been sealed off, and no one is allowed to enter or leave. Several palace maids and eunuchs around Concubine Zhou have all been... strangled to death."

Zhu Qizhen's face changed drastically, and he strode out of the palace and rushed to Concubine Zhou's palace. Concubine Xian hurriedly followed him and continued, "I don't know why, but the Queen Mother brought a team of imperial guards to seal Concubine Zhou's palace first, and then beat her to death. When I went there, she was already dead."

"I roughly know it." Zhu Qizhen's eyes flashed coldly, "Princess Zhou, you are a little stupid."

Concubine Xian looked puzzled and asked tentatively, "Could it be that Concubine Zhou was the murderer of the Queen? But she...she is a weak woman."

Zhu Qizhen shook his head: "You don't know, Concubine Zhou's father and brother are both generals in the army. She is the daughter of a general and knows martial arts."

"Ah?" Concubine Xian was shocked.

Zhu Qizhen arrived at Concubine Zhou's palace and waved to Concubine Xian to wait outside. He walked in and came to the palace. He smelled blood and looked up to see seven or eight corpses lying on the palace.

The queen mother sat back on the chair, her face frosty, holding a cup of tea in her hand and taking a sip. Shuangxi stood beside her, trembling slightly.

Zhu Qizhen complained in his heart that the Queen Mother had seen a lot of things before, so this kind of thing was no big deal to her. He walked over and sighed, "Is it necessary to make such a big fuss? It won't sound good if it gets out."

"Then you will punish me?" The Queen Mother raised her eyes.

Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand: "How dare I? What are you trying to do?"

The Queen Mother slowly put down her teacup and said, "Tell the public that Concubine Zhou died of a sudden illness."

After saying that, she stood up and walked out, leaving Zhu Qizhen confused.

(End of this chapter)