The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 354 The Fifteenth Wife (4000 words)
At the end of November, Zhu Houzhao came out of seclusion and his strength made another small step forward.

It won’t be long before you’ll be able to defeat four and a half newly-entered celestial beings.

When Zhu Houzhao came out of the pass, the whole world was in an uproar.

Almost everyone was shocked by this single man's ability to dominate the world.

Whenever it is mentioned, countless people feel incredible and endlessly shocked.

The impact on the outside world goes without saying.

Internally, reforms within the Ming Dynasty were more stable and smoother.

The Ming army's conquest of cities in the Sui Dynasty also became faster.

After Zhu Houzhao quickly understood the situation from all aspects, his dissatisfaction was largely eliminated and he felt happy and proud.

He was right. To unify the world, he had to use violence, violence, and more violence.

He can do this more often in the future.

Afterwards, Zhu Houzhao became busy.

The Ming army's conquest of cities in the Sui Dynasty and the reforms in the Western Nine Route required enormous amounts of manpower and material resources.

Needless to say, it is very busy.

While busy, he also paid a little attention to the situation in the world.

Zhu Houzhao was actually quite curious about whether these remaining countries, big and small, would really work together to fight against the Ming Dynasty?

Then there was the situation on the grassland, which also made him pay some attention.

It was not beyond the court's speculation.

Once the Jin, Liao and Yuan dynasties were destroyed, the vast grassland, except for the east side controlled by the Northern Mang, quickly and completely began to fall into chaos.

There were all kinds of fighting and rivers of blood.

This is exactly what the Ming Dynasty would like to see.

Kill them. When you have killed enough, the Ming Dynasty should have destroyed Li Yang and the Southern Song Dynasty.

When the time comes, the Ming Dynasty will come and deal with these wolf cubs.

Time flies, and the seventh year of Shengwu has come to an end.

On December 25th, Zhu Houzhao held a grand court meeting as usual to summarize the achievements of the year.

It is extremely encouraging to see each gratifying achievement being publicized publicly.

At such a solemn court meeting, many officials could not help but reveal excited smiles, and many even laughed.

Zhu Houzhao was also very happy. The achievements of the Ming Dynasty that year were indeed extremely shocking.

He destroyed Genghis Khan and his five great warriors, and destroyed the three kingdoms of Jin, Liao, Mongolia and Yuan, leaving the Ming Dynasty without any rivals.

This alone can be regarded as an unprecedented victory.

Leaving aside other aspects, this year's total tax revenue has also seen another big jump.

Two hundred and twenty million taels, an increase of sixty million taels over last year.

Of the 60 million taels, about 20 million taels came from the reform results of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.

As the Ming Dynasty grew more powerful, the effects of its reforms continued to grow, becoming stronger year by year.

Of the other 40 million taels, more than 10 million taels came from West Nine Road.

This is actually a small amount, because the Western Nine Roads were once plagued by the Jin and Liao dynasties, and the Ming Dynasty exempted taxes in many places.

In addition, the reform has just begun, so the potential of Xijiu Road is promising in the future.

The last 20 million taels came from Japan.

That’s right, it comes from the tiny country of Japan.

When the results came out, the top leaders of the Ming Dynasty were all surprised.

No one expected that a small country like Japan could contribute such high taxes.

Of course, this was also because in the first year, the Ming Dynasty’s tax collection in Japan was relatively high, almost like plunder.

But the impact of war cannot be ignored.

It is conceivable that next year, the Ming Dynasty will be able to collect more taxes in Japan.

About 220 million taels, and that’s just the apparent tax revenue.

Various other sources of income, such as the Ministry of Commerce, the money and grain plundered from Japan, the silver mines in Japan, etc.

All of these represent that the Ming Dynasty has become richer.

Of course, money comes in quickly and goes out quickly.

The ever-expanding army, officials, factory guards, martial arts hall, and reforms of the Western Nine Routes conquered the Sui Kingdom.

Adding all these items together, the money and food spent every day is like water flowing.

The officials of the Ministry of Revenue and many high-ranking officials in the imperial court could not help but tremble with fear.

However, Zhu Houzhao did not feel that way. In his eyes, as long as it was not corruption and the money was used for practical purposes, then no matter how much was spent, it would be worth it and he would not blink an eye.

He wouldn't even feel sorry if he spent the imperial treasury.

Naturally, although the court spent a lot of money, it was not yet time to spend the money from the treasury.

After the court meeting, most of the results were directly publicized, which as usual caused countless discussions among people in the capital.

Over the past few years, this has become a routine and habit.

Looking at the increasing achievements made by the Ming Dynasty every year, countless Ming people feel proud and proud of it.

After the grand court meeting ended, the court could not take a holiday.

It’s because the Ming Dynasty has too many military and political affairs now.

However, these did not affect Zhu Houzhao's New Year celebrations.

His main job has always been to supervise and make decisions on certain matters.

Instead of handling various military and political affairs personally.

The palace has been decorated festively, with the atmosphere of the New Year everywhere.

This is of course also due to the fact that the lives of eunuchs and palace maids today are much better than before.

On New Year's Eve.

Most people in the palace were busy preparing for the New Year.

Zhu Houzhao thought about it, then left the palace alone and went to the medical school.

"Lingsu." Zhu Houzhao called her affectionately as he looked at his beautiful and smart sister.

"Your Majesty!" Cheng Lingsu, who was reading a book, was startled. He stood up in surprise and saluted, saying, "Why are you here at this time? Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing happened. I'm here to take you to the palace to celebrate the New Year." Zhu Houzhao said directly.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Lingsu's smile deepened, and she said with curved eyebrows, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but Lingsu will not enter the palace. She will go to celebrate the New Year with Sister He and her daughter."

"You are my sister, but you haven't spent a year with me. You should spend this year with me." Zhu Houzhao said in a rare non-domineering manner.

"But Lingsu is not your Majesty's biological sister. It would not be good for her to enter the palace with this identity." Cheng Lingsu looked directly at Zhu Houzhao with her bright eyes and said generously.

"What's wrong with this?" Zhu Houzhao was puzzled.

"People will think that Lingsu is the concubine favored by His Majesty." Cheng Lingsu's crystal clear ears flushed, but she still said generously.

"Who would think so? I'll beat him to death." Zhu Houzhao glared and said arrogantly.

Cheng Lingsu sighed inwardly, her Majesty was still like this, not enlightened.

After hesitating for only a moment, he looked into Zhu Houzhao's eyes and said decisively and directly: "Ling Su would think so."

"Ah!" Zhu Houzhao was stunned and a little confused, but his eyes seemed very clear.

"Lingsu would think so." Cheng Lingsu repeated.

"I understand." Zhu Houzhao suddenly realized and said gently, "Lingsu, you don't want to be my concubine, so you don't want to enter the palace and spend the New Year with me.

Right?

It's okay, don't worry, even if you enter the palace to spend the New Year with me, I will not let you become my concubine."

"Your Majesty~!" Cheng Lingsu's eyes just lit up, a little helpless and aggrieved. After all, she was a girl. She had said it directly enough.

But she also knew that her Majesty was not rejecting her, but he really didn't understand and misunderstood.

What else can she do?

Of course it is more direct.

She pursed her petal-like lips slightly, her cheeks slightly red, and said boldly: "It's not that Lingsu doesn't want to, but Lingsu doesn't want to enter the palace as a sister and spend the New Year with His Majesty."

"If you don't want to enter the palace as a sister, then with what identity do you want to enter the palace?" Zhu Houzhao said bluntly.

After saying this, he suddenly understood something and asked uncertainly, "Lingsu, do you want to be my wife?"

When Cheng Lingsu heard the last sentence, it was as if the clouds had parted and the sun appeared.

His Majesty has finally come to his senses!

"Your Majesty, are you willing?" Cheng Lingsu asked boldly with a red face.

"I actually..." Zhu Houzhao habitually spoke directly, but this time he stopped halfway through.

His eyes showed a thoughtful expression, he looked up and said to himself, "It seems a little inappropriate for my sister to become my wife."

As soon as these words came out, Cheng Lingsu's face turned pale.

"But it seems possible." Zhu Houzhao's next sentence followed immediately, making Cheng Lingsu seem to see hope again.

"Lingsu, you are not my biological sister. If my adopted sister becomes my wife, we will be closer, and you don't have to marry someone else.

We will be closer, for life." Zhu Houzhao said, the more he thought about it, the better it was that his sister became his wife.

He looked happy, looked at Cheng Lingsu with shining eyes, and said happily: "Lingsu, will you be my wife?
This way we can be closer and stay together forever."

"Your Majesty, is it true?" Cheng Lingsu's eyes turned red and tears flowed as she cried and laughed.

"Lingsu, why are you crying? What I said is of course true." Zhu Houzhao quickly reached out to wipe the tears from Cheng Lingsu's little face.

Cheng Lingsu threw herself into Zhu Houzhao's arms and said happily, "Lingsu is happy. I finally heard your Majesty say this."

"Lingsu, you have liked me for a long time and wanted to be my wife!" Zhu Houzhao suddenly realized and said as he hugged the lovely girl who was like a kitten in his arms.

"Your Majesty~!" Cheng Lingsu's face turned even redder, and she said with a slight frown, feeling a little embarrassed.

But there was joy between his brows.

"Hey, Lingsu, if you like me, just tell me directly.

If you don't tell me, how would I know?

If you had told me earlier, we would have been husband and wife.

If I hadn't been smart and seen it this time, I don't know how long you would have been so coy?" Zhu Houzhao said with some blame and pride.

Cheng Lingsu pouted slightly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

But she couldn't refute anything in front of her own Majesty.

He just asked, "Does your Majesty like Lingsu?"

"Of course I like her. Lingsu is so good, how could I not like her?" Zhu Houzhao said without hesitation.

Cheng Lingsu smiled, rubbed against Zhu Houzhao's arms, and did not ask any further questions.

She has always been smart and won't dwell on meaningless things.

She just wanted to know that her Majesty loved her and was willing to marry her, that would be enough.

"Lingsu, I will issue an edict right now to make you a concubine." Zhu Houzhao said.

"Your Majesty, don't be anxious. It won't be too late after the New Year." Cheng Lingsu said gently.

"Okay, then you can celebrate the New Year with me." Zhu Houzhao said again.

Cheng Lingsu shook her head and said shyly, "Your Majesty, Lingsu should marry you before entering the palace. Otherwise, how can she face her other sisters?"

"What's so difficult about this?" Zhu Houzhao wondered.

"Your Majesty, please listen to Ling Su this time, okay?
When Lingsu marries you, she will spend every year with Your Majesty." Cheng Lingsu said softly.

"Okay then." Zhu Houzhao still didn't understand, but he didn't want to force the beauty in his arms, just like he never forced her during the Chinese New Year, so he nodded.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. You are so kind to Lingsu." Cheng Lingsu said happily.

"That's right. You used to be my good sister, and you will be my good wife in the future. Of course I have to be good to you." Zhu Houzhao said with a smile.

"Ling Su only feels like she is dreaming. If she is really dreaming, she hopes she will never wake up."

Cheng Lingsu closed her eyes happily and said softly in her heart.

After talking for a while, Zhu Houzhao returned to the palace alone again.

But compared to before, he was happiest this time.

He always seemed very happy on New Year's Eve.

Of course, he was always happy whenever things were lively, so the girls didn't notice anything.

The night passed peacefully in laughter.

The eighth year of Shengwu arrived.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Houzhao issued an edict to confer the title of concubine on Cheng Lingsu.

This gave many people a "surprise", especially the concubines in the harem.

But in fact, the concubines were not too surprised.

In the eyes of many people, Cheng Lingsu, Zhu Houzhao's good sister, has a very high status.

I had already expected this in my mind.

It's just been realized at this time.

Of course, there is still some resentment.

Which woman would want her husband to have another wife?

What's more, these women are all gifted by heaven.

If their husband was not the unprecedented and unrivaled Emperor Shengwu, they would never have been able to share a husband so peacefully.

On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Cheng Lingsu entered the palace.

However, Zhu Houzhao did not enter the bridal chamber with her that night.

There's nothing he can do. He doesn't have time.

One woman for two nights every month, this is fixed.

Unless there was some military or national event, Zhu Houzhao would not break this rule.

He could only make an agreement with Cheng Lingsu that he would accompany her on the 29th and 30th nights of every month.

The bridal chamber can only wait until the 29th.

Of course Cheng Lingsu was obedient and agreed with a blushing face.

After confirming this, Zhu Houzhao suddenly became silent and frowned.

He realized that he already had fifteen wives.

Two nights per month, per wife.

The whole month is fully booked.

He no longer has any free time at night.

Although I don’t feel bored or anything like that, it’s not like I can’t hold on.

But he always felt a little inexplicably depressed.

I can't tell the reason.

And if I had another wife, wouldn’t I have no time to accompany her?
This is a very serious problem.

After thinking for a while, Zhu Houzhao, who had come up with nothing, threw it aside.

More on that later.

The short few days of the New Year passed leisurely, and the Ming court soon galloped forward at an even faster pace.

(4000 words, thank you for your support, the new book has a plan, it is no longer a fanfiction.)
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(End of this chapter)