Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 315: False Emperor: Stab girls? Stab people's hearts?

Jinyiwei, Zhaoyu.

A beam of sunlight in the early morning fell into a cell through the window. Shang Lu yawned and got up lazily. His cell was a deluxe version of Zhaoyu, with not only a warm bed but also a brazier.

On this cold night, he had a good sleep, which was more comfortable than the sleep in his mansion. He got up, packed up, sat by the brazier and warmed himself leisurely, and called to the jailer outside: "When will the meal be served? I'm hungry."

Shi Biao, the commander of the Jinyiwei, just came in. Seeing his relaxed look, he said speechlessly, "Mr. Shang, do you really think that I, the Jinyiwei, am the Taibailou? Are you here to act like a big boss?"

Shang Lu spread his hands towards him: "How about you hit me?"

Shi Biao gritted his teeth, knowing that he couldn't torture the old man casually. After all, he was the former Prime Minister of the Cabinet, and His Majesty was grateful to him.

"Did you sleep well?" Shi Biao asked.

He ordered the jailer to open the cell door, walked in, sat down opposite Shang Lu, and handed Shang Lu a cigarette. Shang Lu took it, lit it skillfully, took a puff and said, "This is good. Your Majesty must have a lot of clever ideas to make this cigarette. I heard that it is now a best-seller around the world?"

"Well, no matter whether they are Japanese or Western men, they all like this." Shi Biao lit one himself.

Shang Lu exhaled smoke and sighed: "I really don't want to die. I want to see the future of Ming Dynasty."

"Who said I wanted to kill you?" Shi Biao raised his eyebrows.

"Haha, I know that once you enter this prison of yours, you will never get out alive." Shang Lu was very calm.

Shi Biao frowned slightly, his voice turned cold: "Have you decided not to say anything?"

Shang Lu nodded affirmatively: "Just consider it as being loyal to the late emperor, but I hope that the Ming Dynasty is in the hands of your majesty, you see, everyone is happy."

"Fuck you!" Shi Biao threw the cigarette on the ground, "You have a big family."

Shang Lu was very calm: "Your Majesty will not harm them. Haha, I am not a small character. If my family members are implicated, it will be difficult to record in history books in the future."

"Old bastard!" Shi Biao's eyes were spitting fire.

Shang Lu stretched out his hand towards him: "Don't be angry, leave your cigarettes, and go do what you need to do. You can't interrogate me."

At this moment, Shi Biao really wanted to beat the old man to the ground, but in the end he held back, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, threw it on the table, and walked away angrily.

Shang Lu smiled, took out another cigarette and lit it, then laughed and said, "We all get what we want, isn't that good?"

……

Chamber of Commerce, Guild Hall.

Ding Xiu, the Jinyiwei pacification officer, stood in a room frowning in thought. This was Roujia's boudoir before her death, and it was still filled with a faint fragrance. He searched the room carefully, but found nothing new.

All the valuables in the room were there, except that the bookshelf was in a mess. There was also a box that was opened with all the jewelry inside. But Ding Xiu felt that the murderer must have taken something from the box.

"The murderer is someone she knows?" Ding Xiu whispered to herself, "And it's a woman."

He interrogated everyone in the Chamber of Commerce and got a piece of information. Late that night, a servant went to the toilet and passed by Roujia's room. He saw the light was still on inside and there were two figures, both of whom were women from their figures.

The servants were not surprised, because Roujia often had secret talks with people at night, and would not let maids and servants get close to her. But they didn't know that this time the person was killed.

Judging from the time, the two figures the servant saw were Roujia and the other was most likely the murderer. So, it matched up. The murderer should be someone Roujia was familiar with. The two were still talking when the murderer suddenly attacked.

"Boss, we have checked." A Jinyiwei came forward to report, "Several Chamber of Commerce bosses who were close to Roujia all have alibis that day, and the three female bosses were together."

Ding Xiu frowned and said, "It is probably related to Prince Run's death. Do you remember? When we investigated Prince Run's death, there was a childhood friend who was a servant in Prince Run's mansion. It was Roujia who arranged it."

"Yes." The Jinyiwei said, "They are all from Nanyang. We also checked the servants at the time and found that they were not the murderer. And we also learned from the servants that Prince Run was afraid of cold since he was a child and liked to light a fire in his room. It was probably a fire."

Ding Xiu thought for a moment, then waved his hand: "Check those people again."

……

The harem, Changchun Palace.

The maids were carrying hot water, medicine, and going back and forth, creating a tense atmosphere. Concubine Xian stood in front of a room, looking at the door from time to time, looking anxious.

Suddenly, a loud cry of a baby came from the room. Then, a maid came out and announced the good news: "Madam, it's a boy."

The virtuous concubine heaved a sigh of relief and waved her hand: "Clean up the place, boil the medicine that needs to be boiled, and replenish Qi Qi Ge."

It turned out that Qiqige had given birth. This princess from the grassland had given birth to a son for the Ming emperor. Concubine Xian came to the room and saw Qiqige lying on the couch. She smiled and said, "Congratulations."

Qiqige's face was slightly pale, and he looked at the baby beside him tenderly, repeating, "Child, my child."

Xianfei walked closer, looked at the sleeping baby, and said with a smile: "He looks strong, much stronger than when Yang'er was born."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qi Qige raised his eyes.

"Sister, why are you so polite?" Concubine Xian smiled, "Just take care of yourself and take care of yourself. If you need anything, just ask."

Qi Qige smiled and nodded, tears welling up in his eyes: "Can you send someone to... burn a stick of incense in front of Alena's grave and tell her that I gave birth."

"Okay." Concubine Xian nodded, "I will also tell your father this news."

Tears fell from Qiqige's eyes. When she was on the grassland, she and Alena were mortal enemies, but when she came to the Ming Dynasty harem, Alena gave her great spiritual support.

Unfortunately, Alena died. The dream of meeting on the grassland was impossible to realize.

"You should have a good rest." Concubine Xian said gently.

She left the room and sent someone to tell His Majesty the good news that His Majesty had a new prince, and this prince would be very special.

……

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen was summoning a delegation from the Ottoman Empire. This time the leader of the delegation was Ahmed, the commander of the Ottoman Empire's Eastern Expedition Army.

This was a heroic young general. When Zhu Qizhen saw him, he felt that this guy might be Yang Guifang's future opponent. However, for now, he still warmly entertained the commander of the Ottoman Empire.

Currently, the Ming Empire and the Ottoman Empire are in a honeymoon period. The two great empires of the East and the West have a tacit alliance. They not only want to attack the Timurid Empire together, but also support each other in brokerage.

For the Ming Dynasty, the Western Ocean controlled by the Ottoman Empire was an extremely large market. The empire's finance should be extended into it.

Regardless of whether the two empires will turn against each other in the future and fight for hegemony, it is time to form an alliance, take what they need, and accumulate their own strength. Zhu Qizhen dare not underestimate the young emperor of the Ottoman Empire. You are also a great leader.

This guy was very cruel, even crueler than the Ming Taizu Zhu Baba. When he first ascended the throne, he killed his infant brother. In order to prove to the guards that he was not a lustful person, he chopped off the head of a beautiful slave girl in public.

The most frightening thing is that he promulgated the "Parricide Law", which allowed his descendants to legally kill all their brothers "in order to maintain the good order of the world" after ascending the throne as Sultan. When Zhu Qizhen saw this law, two words popped up in his mind: WTF!
Damn, Qin II only did it himself, and he didn't dare to issue a law to let his descendants do the same. This law seems to be able to select a capable emperor, but the actual operation is complicated.

If they encounter powerful relatives or powerful ministers, they will choose to support a cowardly and incompetent prince. Then, disaster will follow, and the royal family will only become caged birds.

Zhu Qizhen summoned Ahmed only to discuss the direction of the two empires. The Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty will clarify the following details with them.

"Your Majesty, can I enter the harem to meet my country's queen dowager?" Ahmed asked.

"Of course." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, "Cao Jixiang, you take him there."

Cao Jixiang went to the palace and took Ahmed to the harem.

……

Not long after, Jinyiwei pacification envoy Ding Xiu came to the palace.

"Your Majesty, I have found some clues about Roujia's death." Ding Xiu began to tell the story.

Zhu Qizhen frowned after hearing this and asked, "Do you suspect the murderer is a woman?"

"Yes, this woman has martial arts skills and is acquainted with Roujia." Ding Xiu said, "They are probably quite familiar with each other, so they can meet in the middle of the night."

Zhu Qizhen laughed coldly: "This is interesting, another woman, probably related to the Jianwen clan, haha, are all the descendants of their clan strong women? This time it's a stabbing woman, specializing in stabbing people's hearts?"

"Your Majesty, I am worried that the same person killed Alena and Roujia. That means that woman may be in the palace," said Ding Xiu.

Zhu Qizhen was shocked: "In the palace?"

There are so many women in the harem, and hiding in the palace would be a huge danger.

"Of course, this is just my speculation." Ding Xiu said, "I will continue to investigate, but I can't do anything about this in the palace."

Zhu Qizhen nodded slowly: "Let the eunuchs check it out."

After he explained, Ding Xiu left. He sat and thought for a long time, then picked up a pen and began to write a letter to Ning Rongrong. Roujia was dead, and he had to tell her clearly.

"Your Majesty, have a cup of hot tea." Xiyao came over with the tea.

Zhu Qizhen took a sip of the teacup without even looking up, and wrote quickly. Xiyao stood beside him and asked softly, "Your Majesty, the imperial examination is about to begin. I heard that female students can also participate this time?"

"Yes." Zhu Qizhen raised his head, "Why, you don't want to take the imperial examination again?"

Xiyao nodded affirmatively: "I think so. I have also been studying since I was young."

She stood there with a face full of longing, looking at Zhu Qizhen with bright eyes and an expectant expression. Zhu Qizhen said unhappily: "If you want to take the exam, go ahead and take it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiyao was delighted, "I will not delay serving tea."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said jokingly: "Take the exam well and don't embarrass me. After all, you came from the Palace of Heavenly Purity. If you don't do well in the exam, I won't recognize you."

Xiyao curled her lips: "Your Majesty, you underestimate me."

……

Huitong Pavilion.

Yesen lived in one of the small courtyards. After being captured, he lived here for two years. Seeing the strength of the Ming Dynasty, his ambition gradually faded.

Today, he was drinking excitedly because he heard from the palace that his daughter Qiqige had given birth to a prince. His ambition began to stir again.

He wanted to use the prince to find an opportunity to return to the grassland and dominate Mobei again. Even if he couldn't do it himself, he wanted his daughter to become the king of Mobei.

dong dong dong~
There was a knock on the door, and Yesen thought it was the neighbor next door, so he shouted, "Come in."

Now his travel is not as restricted as it was at the beginning. At least he can move freely in the capital. However, the Jinyiwei told him that he cannot leave the city.

crunch~
The door was pushed open, and a big man walked in. He knelt down directly in front of Yesen and shouted, "Great Khan!"

"Boyan?" Yesen was surprised. "Why...why is it you?"

The man who came turned out to be Boyan, his younger brother. Boyan had come to the capital of the Ming Dynasty after going through untold hardships. After the defeat in Asu City, the Ming army was only concerned with capturing the vassal kings and neglected him.

He escaped from Aso City and headed west to Istanbul City, where he stayed for two years and joined the Ottoman army. This time, he came to the capital of the Ming Dynasty with the Ottoman envoy.

The members of the delegation also lived in this Huitong Hall. After Boyan told the story, his voice choked with sobs: "Great Khan, I never thought I would see you again in this life."

"It must be the blessing of Eternal Heaven that we brothers can meet again." Yesen said happily.

He pulled Boyan up and said in a deep voice: "You came at the right time, Boyan. We have a chance to return to the grassland again."

……

It's spring, and everything is coming back to life.

Hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, their fragrance is overwhelming; on both sides of the streets, green willows sway gently in the wind, as if adding a bit of tenderness to this prosperous era.

The imperial examination is approaching, and a large number of students are gathering from all directions with dreams and hopes in their hearts. They are either riding horses, or taking boats, or walking, carrying bags and books, young and talented, in the prime of their lives.

Students can be seen everywhere in inns, teahouses, and bookstores. They gather together to discuss current affairs, or study hard to prepare for the upcoming imperial examinations. At night, when the lights are dim, countless oil lamps flicker in front of the windows.

Women were also allowed to take part in this imperial examination, which attracted a group of talented women to come to Beijing.

Zhu Qizhen was walking on the street, chewing a sesame cake in his hand, looking like a rascal. He was happy when he saw the energetic students, because they were the future of Ming Dynasty.

Suddenly, a carriage stopped in front of him and a woman jumped out of the carriage. She was tall, graceful, with picturesque features, but her manners were very cool, not like an ordinary lady from a wealthy family.

"This is the capital." The woman looked around. "As expected, there is corruption everywhere. The rich people in the capital eat the fat of the people. No wonder they are all fat and plump."

She turned around and her eyes fell on Zhu Qizhen, her eyes twinkling: "You are handsome, little brother. Excuse me, how do I get to Shuntian University?"

"I'll lead the way for you." Zhu Qizhen smiled.

"Thank you, sir." The woman was very polite.

Zhu Qizhen smiled and said, "May I ask your name, young lady?"

The woman did not shy away and smiled, "I am Liu Wanqing."

(End of this chapter)