Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 65 Zhu Qizhen is in a panic, the Empress Dowager executes her own brother!
Night, Huichang Marquis Mansion.

Sun Jizhong dismissed the servants and sat on a chair alone, his brows full of worry. After a while, he sighed: "It's hard to be an official, and it's even harder to be a human being."

He picked up a pot of wine and poured himself a glass. At this time, a laugh came: "Brother, what's the matter? Why did you call us here so late?"

Sun Xianzhong walked in with his 18-year-old son Sun Lian. Sun Jizhong smiled and greeted them warmly: "Come on, I just want to talk to you."

His eyes fell on Sun Lian, his eyes full of admiration: "Lian'er is becoming more and more heroic. He will definitely be more successful than your father in the future."

Sun Xianzhong looked unhappy and chuckled, "Brother, I really want to be successful, but you won't let me. For so many years, you've put me in a position of Jinyiwei commander. If you wanted to promote me, I would have entered the cabinet."

Sun Jizhong just smiled slightly and sighed:
"Some people resigned and returned to their hometowns, while others rushed to take the imperial examinations at night. Young people do not know the taste of sorrow, but only when they are old do they know how difficult it is to travel. Xianzhong, I have been ignoring you for so many years, do you hate me?"

Sun Xianzhong quickly shook his head and forced a smile: "How could that be possible?"

"Alas, you still don't understand my painstaking efforts as your elder brother." Sun Jizhong smiled bitterly, "The Sun family is a foreign relative. Since Taizu, the court has been very cautious about foreign relatives. If you are not careful, your life will be in danger. If you and I were in high positions, the Sun family would probably have ceased to exist long ago."

Sun Xianzhong disagreed: "The Queen Mother has been in power for more than ten years. She is also a member of the Sun family. How can she not be able to settle such a small matter? The Queen Mother's own brother is only a commander and deputy governor. My colleagues all laugh at me."

"Why don't you understand? It's because she is the queen mother that she has to do this." Sun Jizhong was anxious, "If not for this, would Yang Shiqi, Yang Bo, Yang Rong and others have believed in her? Would she have the prestige she has today?"

……

Sun Lian, who was standing by, poured a cup of hot tea for the two of them and said, "Dad, don't argue with uncle. Uncle is doing this for the good of our Sun family."

Sun Xianzhong was so angry that he glared at him: "Why do you always lean towards your uncle?"

"Lian'er is smarter than you." Sun Jizhong looked at Sun Lian lovingly.

Sun Xianzhong took a sip of tea and sighed, "Alright, big brother, I won't argue with you anymore. We've come this far over the years."

Sun Jizhong's face became serious and he sighed in a deep voice: "Xianzhong, the Sun family is in danger, you have to stand up and save the Sun family."

"What...what do you mean?" Sun Xianzhong immediately became alert.

"Your Majesty has sentenced two princes to death. The next step is to get you and Duke Cheng." Sun Jizhong spread his hands. "At first, I tried my best to persuade you not to do anything illegal, but you just wouldn't listen. Now, you can't get past this level."

Sun Xianzhong stood up suddenly after hearing this and said, "Does the Queen Mother want to sacrifice her own brother for the sake of justice? I am her biological brother."

Sun Jizhong shook his head and pointed at Sun Lian who was standing beside him and said, "You protect the Sun family, and the Queen Mother protects your son. You will surely be rich and prosperous in the future."

"Why me?" Sun Xianzhong was angry. "What have I gained in these years? If something goes wrong, you let me take the blame?"

Sun Jizhong's eyes suddenly turned cold: "Could it be me? If I die, can you protect the Sun family?"

"Then...the Queen Mother...why didn't she save me? I could have left the capital." Sun Xianzhong's face was filled with fear and his body was shaking.

"Your Majesty even killed his own uncle!" Sun Jizhong snorted, "Can't the Queen Mother kill a younger brother?"

Sun Xianzhong suddenly laughed out loud, his face full of grimace: "Hahaha, so that's it! I'm just a victim, hahaha, Sun family, elder brother? Sister? Hahaha, bullshit!"

Bang!

Sun Lian knelt in front of him and cried, "Dad, uncle has no choice. Everything is for the Sun family. Just agree to uncle."

Sun Xianzhong didn't expect his son to say such a thing. He couldn't believe it: "You are really my good son."

"Dad, I am your only son." Sun Lian kowtowed.

Veins bulged on Sun Xianzhong's forehead, and he felt sad, angry and desperate. He took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'll go and confess my guilt, and I will never implicate the Sun family. Brother, you have to take good care of my only son." "Of course!" Sun Jizhong nodded.

"Dad." Sun Lian knelt in front of Sun Xianzhong, tears streaming down his face.

Sun Xianzhong kicked him away and strode out.

……

The next day, morning.

Jinyiwei commander Sun Xianzhong suddenly pleaded guilty, saying that he had occupied the people's land, and that he was also the mastermind behind the granary case.

At this moment, all the ministers were stunned.

Zhu Qizhen was also confused. He looked at Sun Xianzhong who was kneeling in the hall and asked coldly, "Sun Xianzhong, what tricks are you playing on me?"

"I have come to my senses," Sun Xianzhong bowed. "The Queen Mother has been worried about the land annexation recently and has repeatedly warned the Sun family not to do such unscrupulous things. After I went back, I thought about it over and over again and couldn't sleep at night. Finally, I came to take the initiative to apologize. Queen Mother, Your Majesty, I have failed your trust. I deserve death."

Zhu Qizhen sneered in his heart.

Stealing and selling government grain is of course a capital crime, and your entire clan may be executed.

"You disappoint me so much!" The Queen Mother's cold voice came from behind the curtain, "Stealing and selling government grain is more than just a capital crime."

Sun Xianzhong turned his head and glanced at his elder brother Sun Jizhong, then bowed to the Queen Mother and said, "I ask Your Majesty to punish me."

Duke Chengguo quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Queen Mother, Your Majesty, Lord Sun took the initiative to plead guilty. He has come to his senses. Please spare his life and punish him by making him return the land and the stolen grain."

Some ministers also followed suit.

Zhu Qizhen looked cold and said nothing. He was guessing what the Queen Mother meant. At this time, the curtain was lifted and the Queen Mother came out and stood on the Danbi.

"The king's law is ruthless!" she said coldly, "According to the law, Sun Xianzhong shall be executed by beheading!"

When she finished speaking, the ministers were stunned.

Zhu Qizhen sneered. The Queen Mother was a ruthless person. Was she sacrificing her own relatives for the sake of justice? Was she continuing to establish her prestige in the court? She knew that I would never let Sun Xianzhong go, but she actually let Sun Xianzhong confess his guilt and sentenced him to death.

"Two princes have died, and my brother will be beheaded too." The Queen Mother said coldly, "The stubborn problem of land annexation must be dealt with! Your Majesty has given you ten days, what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for me and Your Majesty to raise the sword again?"

All the ministers knelt down in unison.

Wang Zhi, the chief minister of the cabinet, was so moved that he burst into tears: "The queen mother is wise and enlightened. She is a blessing to the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Qizhen rolled his eyes.

Oh my god, did you worship the wrong person? I am the wise one! However, it seems that the Queen Mother still has a high prestige in the hearts of the ministers.

After all, she helped Renzong handle government affairs, and later assisted Xuanzong. When the Zhengtong Emperor ascended the throne at the age of nine, the Empress Dowager handled most of the government affairs. She and the Three Yangs (Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu) stabilized the government at that time.

……

Ps: It’s the end of the month, and I’m begging for monthly votes. Please throw them in my face.

(End of this chapter)