Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 64 Yu Qian: Your Majesty is wise!
early morning.

After the court session, the King of Xiang was the first to report: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother, the princes of various places have submitted petitions to apologize and voluntarily returned land to the people. Some have even provided cattle, seeds, etc. to the people."

Zhu Qizhen snorted in his heart.

What the hell, what were you doing earlier? I killed someone, are you afraid? Everyone deserves to be punished, but now is not the time. I just killed two, I can't kill anymore.

"Uncle." Zhu Qizhen said in a deep voice, "I will notify the local government and ask them to take charge of the land withdrawal. I would like to ask you to inspect the local princes and ask them not to fool me and withdraw some land and keep some land for show. I will keep all their accounts."

"As you wish!" King Xiang bowed.

Zhu Qizhen stood up, glanced at the ministers, and said coldly: "I will solve the Zhu family's affairs. Those who should be killed will be killed, and those who should be punished will be punished! Now, it's your turn. I give you ten days. Those who have occupied the people's land must take the initiative to explain and return it. After ten days, my sword will not recognize anyone and will not show mercy!"

The hall was surprisingly chilly in early summer, and many ministers lowered their heads.

Zhu Qizhen stood on the Danbi, exuding an invisible pressure, and continued: "I have issued an edict to call on refugees to return home, exempt them from taxes and grain arrears, exempt them from corvée for two years, and pardon those who were forced to become bandits. Refugees who have been away from their hometowns for a long time and have built up their own property can register as local residents and have the right to share unowned or abandoned land."

"Your Majesty is wise." Yu Qian bowed loudly.

The other ministers followed suit and knelt down, "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhu Qizhen sighed, "I just want the people of the world to have food to eat and not to have any rebellious intentions. My dear ministers, the Ming Dynasty still relies on you."

The queen mother behind the curtain had eyes as sharp as knives. In her opinion, this child was growing up too fast.

……

After the court session, Zhu Qizhen left the palace in plain clothes.

He invited Yu Qian to have a drink at Taibai Restaurant. Although he was the emperor, he was still not used to eating alone in the palace. After a while, Yu Qian, also in casual clothes, arrived.

"Old Yu, it's your treat today," Zhu Qizhen greeted.

"Your Majesty, how much is my monthly salary?" Yu Qian shook his head. "You treat me! If you really want me to treat you, it's ok. Let's go to a tavern. This Taibailou is really expensive."

Zhu Qizhen rolled his eyes speechlessly: "Look at how stingy you are, Grand Secretary Yu of the Ming Dynasty, are you so poor? There must be a lot of people who give you gifts normally, right?"

Yu Qian waved his hands quickly: "I have never taken it once! I will just use my salary to make myself feel at ease."

As the two chatted, Zhu Qizhen ordered dishes. They didn't order any delicacies, but home-cooked dishes to go with wine. Soon, the wine and food were served, and the two drank a glass together.

Taibai Restaurant is the most popular restaurant in Beijing. Its lobby is packed and very lively.

"Have you heard? His Majesty has sentenced two princes to death, and the other princes have come forward to plead guilty and voluntarily give up their lands. Haha, next, His Majesty will probably start with the ministers and the gentry."

"We are looking forward to returning the land that was previously occupied by the Sun family."

"Part of my family's land was also taken by Duke Cheng."

"Whose family hasn't been occupied? There are many princes and ministers in the capital, don't they all want land?"

Zhu Qizhen listened with a frown on his face. The fact that these people could come to Taibai Tower for dinner meant that they had decent family backgrounds. Their land was occupied, so what about the ordinary people's land?
"Your Majesty, I offer you a toast." Yu Qian raised his glass, "You are now deeply loved by the people."

"Bullshit!" Zhu Qizhen said with a chuckle, "I know that I am still far from winning the hearts of the people. I have done a lot of stupid things in the past. I sincerely hope to do some practical things in my lifetime."

This sentence comes from the heart.

The last time he talked with Liu Dingzhi, he found that the people in this world were really suffering. They worked from sunrise to sunset. After paying taxes and grains, they might not be able to make it to the next year. In the meantime, they also had to do corvée labor.

"Oh, by the way, there is someone you can arrange for." Zhu Qizhen said, "Liu Dingzhi, the one who beats the drum for hearing reports." Yu Qian was puzzled and asked, "Your Majesty, is it okay for you to arrange for someone yourself?"

Zhu Qizhen smiled and shook his head: "I personally arranged it, he will be watched by many eyes. Liu Dingzhi is not like Xu Youzhen, who is insidious enough to protect himself. He is the material for an honest official, don't let him be defeated in the treacherous officialdom."

"Your Majesty is really thoughtful in considering things now." Yu Qian said sincerely.

Zhu Qizhen smiled and raised his glass.

……

Kunning Palace.

The Queen Mother seemed a little haggard, but still beautiful and graceful, with a haze between her brows. Her phoenix eyes were cold as she asked the Marquis of Huichang beside her: "Sun Xianzhong has occupied a lot of people's land, right?"

"Yes!" Sun Jizhong nodded. "Everyone did this a few years ago, so he took some of the credit."

The Queen Mother's beautiful eyes turned colder: "What about you?"

Sun Jizhong quickly shook his head: "I don't have any. I rely on salary and rewards, which is enough."

The Queen Mother breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty will definitely conduct a strict investigation this time. Sun Xianzhong will not be able to pass this test."

"Ah? Queen Mother, you...you can't protect it either?" Sun Jizhong was shocked.

"Can't you see? Wang Zhi, Shang Lu, and Yu Qian in the cabinet actually support your majesty." The Queen Mother snorted, "How can I protect him? Since I can't protect him, I might as well abandon him. In this way, I can continue to maintain my prestige. Your Majesty's knife kills the Zhu family first, so I can't abandon my own brother?"

Sun Jizhong felt a chill down his spine, and his voice trembled slightly: "I will obey the Empress Dowager's order."

The Queen Mother sighed softly, her voice softened: "Brother, it's a good thing you didn't get caught up in it. Let's put it this way, you go talk to Sun Xianzhong, I can guarantee his son a lifetime of wealth and honor, I hope he can understand my painstaking efforts for the sake of the Sun family."

"Yes!" Sun Jizhong nodded.

The Queen Mother waved her hand and Sun Jizhong retreated.

She supported her head with one hand, pondered for a while, then slowly walked out of the palace. The maid Shuangxi followed her, not daring to disturb her. The Queen Mother stood on the steps, looking towards the north of the desert.

"Your Majesty hasn't come here recently?" asked the Queen Mother.

"Chief Executive Jin said that His Majesty left the palace after the morning court session," Shuangxi replied.

A murderous look flashed in the Queen Mother's eyes.

For a moment, she thought about finding a way to kill the fake emperor, but she immediately rejected this idea, because if the fake emperor was dead now, then her own son would also be dead in the hearts of the people, and her son might never come back.

It is necessary to bring his son back, quietly replace this fake emperor, and reap his fruits of labor.

"Do you know why His Majesty always leaves the palace?" she asked calmly.

"That's unknown. Your Majesty never brings guards with him when he leaves the palace." Shuangxi said.

The Queen Mother's mature and charming eyes blinked slightly, as if she was thinking about something.

Brothers, it’s the end of the month, if you still have monthly tickets, please give them away, don’t waste them, hehehe.

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(End of this chapter)