After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 43

As the night fell, the thin moonlight shone through the mottled shadows of the trees and sprinkled on the quaint courtyard, adding a bit of mystery to the quiet night. Deep in the courtyard, in a dimly lit house, the atmosphere was tense and almost frozen.

"After saying this, an old voice suddenly sounded outside the door, praising: 'Donor, your perception is really sharp. I'm afraid there are few people in this world who can compare to you. It's really admirable...'" The voice seemed to travel through time and space, echoing in the house with a barely perceptible tremor.

As soon as the words fell, there were two "crackling" sounds, like the breaking of dead branches in winter, crisp and abrupt. At that moment, the door seemed to be torn by an invisible force, and was instantly broken by a powerful true energy, with fragments flying and dust flying. Eight lamas in bright red robes walked in slowly like ghosts. Although their steps were slow, each step was stepped on the nodes of the air, which seemed particularly heavy.

Li Qingge, dressed in plain clothes, with long hair like a waterfall, revealed a heroic spirit between her eyebrows that should not be underestimated. She stood in the middle of the room, her eyes sharp as an eagle, carefully looking at the clothes of these lamas. The bright red robes were embroidered with complicated totems, which flickered strangely under the weak light. She could feel the extraordinary power hidden in their restrained aura, and she smiled lightly and said, "Masters, you have passed through the heavy guards quietly, and your internal strength must be profound. What advice do you have for coming here tonight?"

The leading lama had drooping eyebrows and an old face, but his eyes sparkled with wisdom. He put his hands together, bowed slightly, and said in a deep and powerful voice: "I am here on the orders of the Great Emperor Manjusri to invite you to the Imperial City!" The words "Great Emperor Manjusri" came out of his mouth with an irresistible majesty.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingge sneered, her voice was like broken ice, extremely cold: "Great Emperor Manjusri, Little Emperor Samantabhadra, my aunt doesn't believe in this. If you want to live, get out now!" Her eyes were full of mockery, as if she was looking at a group of jumping clowns.

The old lama with long eyebrows was not angry, but said lightly: "Amitabha! Donor, you are too violent and must have killed many people. I advise you to go with us to see the Great Emperor Manjushri, study Buddhism, and seek liberation. Otherwise, you will fall into the Avici Hell after death, and it will be too late to regret then!" His voice was calm, but every word was like a needle, piercing people's hearts.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingge was furious, and a murderous intent flashed in her eyes: "Bah! You bald donkey, you want to die? I will grant your wish!" She flashed like a ghost and slapped the old lama with a fierce palm. The palm wind was sharp and carried the force of crushing everything in its path.

The old lama was shocked to see her deep palm power, and hurriedly broke the Buddhist beads in his hand. The Buddhist beads were the magic tools he had practiced for many years, and at this moment, they seemed to be activated, and the true energy was agitated, turning into a stream of light, bouncing towards Li Qingge, intending to block her attack.

"You don't know how to live or die!" Li Qingge turned her wrist and easily sucked the Buddhist beads into her hand. Under her palm, the Buddhist beads seemed to lose all their power and were instantly crushed. She shouted softly and slapped the lama next to her with her backhand. The lama hurriedly used his power to resist, but it was still difficult to resist. With a "snap" sound, the lama was slapped in the face, and his teeth and blood splattered out. The scene was shocking.

After Li Qingge's two moves, the old lama with long eyebrows realized that she was a rare master in a century. He was shocked and shouted hurriedly: "Be careful!" However, before he finished his words, he heard a series of "pa pa" sounds, like firecrackers exploding. The other lamas were also hit by the palms, their mouth corners were broken, their teeth fell out, and the scene was in chaos.

Seeing Li Qingge's figure flickering, the old lama with long eyebrows hurriedly waved his cassock, trying to entangle her. The cassock drew a beautiful arc in the air, but was slapped away by Li Qingge's palm. The true energy was agitated, and the cassock burst with a few "chi" sounds, turning into scraps of clothing that floated in the air like snowflakes in winter.

Then, Li Qingge kicked the old lama in the chest. The old lama flew out like a kite with a broken string and hit the wall heavily. Blood spurted out of his mouth and his face turned pale as paper in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, all eight lamas were injured. The room was in a mess, and the air was filled with the smell of blood and the aftermath of the true energy. Li Qingge sneered, and the sound was particularly harsh in the silent night sky: "With your little Taoism, you still want to subdue demons? You really overestimate your own abilities!"

The old lama with long eyebrows was a great master appointed by the emperor himself. He was very good at Buddhism and martial arts, and had never been insulted like this. He shouted angrily: "Brothers, form the formation!" As soon as he finished speaking, the eight lamas jumped up together as if they had received some kind of call, and stood in specific positions.

The long-browed old lama stood in front, two lamas stood behind, and the remaining five lamas followed suit, forming a strange formation. The eight of them put their palms together, their internal energy connected, and the internal energy was instantly infused into the body of the long-browed old lama. His face turned red, as if he was under great pressure.

The old lama with long eyebrows flipped his hands, and the palm force was extremely powerful, pressing towards Li Qingge. The palm force was like a mountain torrent, unstoppable. Li Qingge saw that the palm force was so fierce and there was no way to avoid it, so he had to resist with both palms and fight hard.

With both palms pressed together, Li Qingge felt the internal force surge like a tidal wave. Although she had integrated Jiang Yuyan's peerless cultivation, she was almost unable to resist. She was secretly shocked. These eight lamas were indeed powerful. They were undoubtedly first-class masters. However, compared with her, they were still far behind. As long as she showed off a little, they would be unable to resist. How could she generate such a strong internal force at this moment?

How could she know that these lamas were practicing Tantric joint exercises, where the eight people's internal energy was connected, promoting each other and doubling their internal strength. At this moment, they were connected in formation, with their palms pressed together, and their true energy was flowing, which was equivalent to sixty-four first-class masters attacking at the same time, with amazing power.

Fortunately, Li Qingge's internal strength was extremely strong, otherwise she would have been shattered to pieces. She gritted her teeth and held the opponent's wrist tightly with both hands like iron pliers, not letting the surging internal strength leak out at all.

The old lama with long eyebrows and others were secretly delighted when they saw that Li Qingge's palm power was getting stronger and stronger, and his internal power was endless. Although they practiced superior martial arts, they were usually busy chanting scriptures and meditating. Although their internal power was strong, their boxing and kicking skills were mediocre. Now they were fighting with palm power, which was to use their own strengths to attack the opponent's weaknesses.

The eight people joined forces, and their internal strength was equivalent to that of sixty-four people. Even though Li Qingge had been practicing martial arts since she was a child, she would still find it difficult to resist. If they continued to compete like this, Li Qingge would definitely be exhausted and die of exhaustion. So they repeatedly urged their internal strength to defeat her in one fell swoop.

However, Li Qingge gradually became aware of the eight people's intentions. She sneered in her heart. Comparing internal strength? Who is afraid of who? She inherited Jiang Yuyan's peak cultivation, and also had the skills of Yao Yue, Lian Xing, and Yan Nantian for hundreds of years. Her internal strength was so strong that it was unprecedented in history. Wanting to compete with her in internal strength was like a birthday star eating arsenic - he was too old to live!

Li Qingge's mind moved, and the true energy in his body seemed to be awakened by some mysterious power, gushing out like a river bursting its banks, colliding with the eight people. The true energy was like a mad dragon out of the sea, unstoppable, and instantly suppressed the internal strength of the eight people, making them breathless.

After about a cup of tea, the internal strength of the eight people gradually weakened, while Li Qingge surged like a raging wave, her palm power became more and more fierce, as if to swallow everything. The eight people were shocked and anxious, and could only constantly use their true energy to resist, but it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and they could not stop Li Qingge's attack at all.

After fighting till this point, the eight people knew that they had encountered a strong enemy. If they were careless tonight, they would probably be killed by this witch. Their hearts were filled with fear and despair, but they were unwilling to fail like this.

Li Qingge felt that their internal energy was getting weaker and weaker, and she sneered: "Aren't you masters high monks? How come you are so useless? Quickly use your methods to subdue demons and kill this traitor and evildoer like me!" Her voice was like ice, which made the eight people shudder.

The old lama with long eyebrows snorted, and said with his last bit of strength: "Don't be so arrogant! Buddha will not allow you, a monster, to cause chaos in the world!" Although his voice was weak, it revealed an unyielding will.

"Oh, really? Then we'll see!" Li Qingge smiled disdainfully, with a determined light flashing in her eyes, as if she had seen the dawn of victory. She continued to mobilize her true energy and had the final contest with the eight people.

At this moment, the old lama with long eyebrows suddenly felt a sharp pain in his palm, and the true energy in his body seemed to lose control, like a deflated ball, flowing out continuously and pouring into the opponent's body. He was horrified and wanted to stop it, but it was too late.

The other lamas also felt this abnormality, and they cried out in surprise, but it was of no avail. Their internal energy was like a flood that broke through a dam, flowing unstoppably towards Li Qingge, and their bodies gradually became limp and lost their fighting power.

Finally, all eight lamas fell to the ground, panting and looking ashen. They knew that they would not be able to escape today. Li Qingge stood there, watching all this coldly like a god of war, her heart filled with the joy and pride of victory.

The face of the old lama with long eyebrows turned as yellow as the withered leaves in autumn at that moment, and he exclaimed in horror: "This... is this the legendary energy-absorbing method? You have actually mastered this evil technique?" His voice was trembling with disbelief, as if he had seen the most incredible thing in the world.

Hearing this, Li Qingge's lips curled up into a brilliant smile, which was as bright and moving as a flower blooming in spring. She whispered softly, "This kind of evil skill is not something I do, so don't wrongly accuse a good person." Her voice was gentle and firm, as if it could calm people's panic.

However, the old lama with long eyebrows obviously did not believe her words. He glared at her and said in a stern voice: "Still trying to quibble! This kind of Kung Fu that can absorb people's internal energy, apart from the Kung Fu Absorbing Technique, what else can compare to it?" His tone was full of anger and unwillingness, as if he could not accept that he would be defeated by such an evil technique.

Li Qingge snorted coldly, a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes, but the corners of her mouth still had a faint smile. She said, "If you say so, then so be it!" Her voice revealed an inexplicable confidence, as if she didn't care about other people's misunderstandings and accusations.

In fact, what she practiced was not the Qi-absorbing technique, but the long-lost peerless martial arts of the Yihua Palace - the art of grafting flowers and trees. This martial art can absorb all the internal energy in the world, and its power and domineering nature even surpasses the Qi-absorbing technique. The Qi-absorbing technique requires contact with the opponent to absorb the internal energy, but the art of grafting flowers and trees can absorb the internal energy of the opponent through the air without touching him. This martial art is enough to make Li Qingge invincible in the martial arts world.

However, despite the infinite power of the flower-transferring technique, it also has its nemesis. One is the empty wood burial flower hidden in the Liuren Divine Dice, which has the same origin as the flower-transferring technique and can restrain each other; the other is the peerless poison like the Poison King Holy Water, which even the internal force cannot force out. These two nemesis made Li Qingge always vigilant while practicing the flower-transferring technique.

However, there is no Liuren magic dice in the world, so Li Qingge naturally does not have to worry about someone practicing Kongmu Zanghua to restrain her. But she is still very cautious, fearing that someone will not hesitate to drink the poison to die with her. Jiang Yuyan's previous experience made her deeply realize the dangers and cruelty of the world.

At first, Li Qingge was not sure whether the opponent's internal energy was non-toxic, so she did not dare to absorb it easily. She chose to compete with the opponent in internal energy. After a round of competition, she confirmed that the internal energy of the eight old lamas was non-toxic, so she boldly absorbed it. Her movements were light and graceful, as if she was dancing, but every move and every style contained infinite power.

The eight lamas fought hard, shouting. However, their total internal strength was not as strong as Li Qingge's, and after a fight, it was seriously damaged. They wanted to break free from the suction, but found that their hands were stuck together as if they were filled with glue. No matter how they used their internal strength, they could not break free. On the contrary, the harder they struggled, the deeper they sank, and the faster their internal strength was lost. Their faces turned pale and terrified, as if they saw the god of death waving at them.

In an instant, the internal strength that the eight lamas had cultivated for their entire lives was all sucked away by Li Qingge. Their bodies fell limply to the ground like a pile of mud. Their eyes were filled with reluctance and despair, as if they could not accept that they would end up like this.

Li Qingge gained an extremely strong Buddhist inner strength, and her spirit became even stronger, as if she had regained new vitality. She slowly walked to the eight lamas, and saw that after they lost their inner strength, they collapsed and died, their eyes wide open. She did not feel the slightest bit of guilt or pity in her heart, because she knew that these people were the running dogs of the Qing court and the murderers of her parents and relatives.

"Someone come here--" Li Qingge called out, her voice cold and firm.

"I'm here!" Two White Horse Soldiers came in response. They were agile and loyal, as if they were ready to go through fire and water for Li Qingge at any time.

Li Qingge said in a cold voice: "Cut off the heads of these bald thieves and treat them with saltpeter to prevent them from rotting. Then send them to the capital!" Her tone revealed an unquestionable majesty and coldness.

"Yes!" The two White Horse soldiers took the order and left. Their movements were swift and decisive, as if they were carrying out a sacred mission.

Li Qingge's eyes were cold, but there was a sneer on her lips. Her heart was filled with hatred and anger towards the Qing court. She knew that this war had just begun. She wanted to use the heads of these lamas to tell Qianlong that she, Li Qingge, was definitely not so easy to bully!

Qianlong opened the box and saw eight human heads piled up inside, with blood flowing from their eyes. He was terrified. His blood pressure suddenly surged and he fainted. His heart was filled with fear and anger. He couldn't believe that the eight Vajra he sent could be killed so easily by the green-faced woman.

"Your Majesty!" "Imperial Physician, call the Imperial Physician!" The Yangxin Palace was in chaos, with the maids and eunuchs shouting in panic. After the Imperial Physician arrived, after several days of acupuncture and medication, Qianlong finally woke up.

He looked up at the sky in silence, his heart full of confusion and helplessness. He really couldn't understand why he had fallen to such a state. They were just a group of peasant rebels, why was it so difficult to resist head-on, and the assassination was also cracked? Who was this green-faced woman, and why did she make things difficult for him? He was the emperor, the master of the world! Since the green-faced woman had such ability, why didn't she serve the court, but rebelled? The Qing Dynasty was rich, with gold, silver, treasures, glory and wealth. If she wanted to enjoy the food, she could just say it directly, why did she do this?
These eight lamas were known as the "Eight Vajras", and they were all top-notch masters of the time. When the eight of them joined forces, they were invincible, but they were still killed by the green-faced woman. Qianlong knew that this woman's martial arts had reached an incredible level. The Eight Vajras could sneak into Yangzhou to assassinate her, and she could also break into the Yangxin Palace to take away... ugh, take away his dragon life. Thinking of this, Qianlong couldn't help but feel chilled.

After seeing how powerful Li Qingge's methods were, Qianlong was really terrified. He remembered the story in folk history that Lu Siniang broke into the palace and assassinated his father, Yongzheng. Although it was just a legend, judging from the Green-faced Woman's martial arts, she was fully capable of turning unofficial history into official history. He was not even fifty years old yet, and he hadn't had enough of being an emperor yet. How could he die like this?
Qianlong's fear caused the morale of the Qing army to become more decadent. They were already demoralized, and coupled with their fear and awe of Li Qingge, they had no intention of fighting. Li Qingge took the opportunity to lead the peasant uprising army to sweep the south with Jiangsu and Zhejiang as their bases. She knew that food was crucial in war, so she unceremoniously robbed food and confiscated ill-gotten gains and distributed them to the affected soldiers and civilians. Such a move won the support and support of the soldiers and civilians. They were united and unstoppable wherever they went, and the Qing army was defeated and abandoned their armor.

In October, the rebels occupied the provinces of Jiangxi and Fujian, and advanced to the two lakes region. At the beginning of the following year, the two lakes region was also successfully captured, and many people surrendered. Li Qingge's reputation and influence quickly expanded, and she became a hero and goddess in the hearts of the southern people.

In April of the 23rd year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, the army was divided into two groups, one to resist the Qing army and the other to advance into Lingnan. In September, the Qing army guarding Lingnan was defeated and either surrendered or eliminated. Except for Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet, the south had basically fallen into the hands of Li Qingge, the green-faced woman. Her speed and fighting power shocked and frightened Emperor Qianlong. He could not believe that a woman could have such great power and influence.

The news of the fall of various places was like a barrage of bombardment, which overwhelmed Qianlong. He was angry at first, then shocked, unbelieving, and finally numb. He could not accept this fact, and he could not believe that his kingdom could be taken away so easily by a woman.

Li Qingge completed all this in just a year and a half. In comparison, it took Li Zicheng, the King of Rebellion, a full 17 years from raising his army to destroying the Ming Dynasty! Li Qingge's speed was simply amazing! She was able to occupy the most fertile southeastern coastal areas so quickly because of multiple reasons.

First of all, her military power was far stronger than that of the Overlord Xiang Yu. Every time she led the troops into battle, she led the troops and shocked the whole audience with her absolute military power. She killed a large number of Qing soldiers as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, which frightened the Qing army. Her military power and combat effectiveness became the most solid backing and guarantee for the uprising army.

Secondly, it was widely rumored that she was the reincarnation of a goddess. How could a mortal fight against a god? The enemy also believed in these legends. Seeing Li Qingge so brave, they were afraid of being punished by heaven, so their momentum weakened. Morale is very important in marching and fighting! The first blow is followed by the second blow, and the third blow is followed by the third blow! Li Qingge's strong first move naturally led to repeated victories. In addition, the combat capability of the White Horse Army was also very strong. They fought one against a hundred and cooperated with Li Qingge tacitly, just like the Death Legion, sweeping across the way and killing the Qing soldiers, making them terrified and frightened. Their loyalty and bravery became Li Qingge's most capable assistants and comrades-in-arms.

Finally, the people were fed up with the exploitation and oppression of the Qing Dynasty rulers. This flood starved countless people to death. Seeing that they could not survive, the people naturally hoped to overthrow everything and start over. The power of the masses is endless! He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world! Since Li Qingge led the army, she has been sharing the joys and sorrows with the soldiers, so she has won the hearts of the people! Her uprising army has won the support and support of the people, and they are united to fight against the rule and oppression of the Qing court.

Every time they occupied a place, Li Qingge strictly ordered her subordinates not to harass the people. Anyone who violated the order would be punished according to military law without mercy. Her voice was firm and powerful, as if it could penetrate people's hearts, making everyone who heard it feel an unquestionable power.

It was a spring afternoon, the sun was warm and bright, shining on the city that had just been occupied by the rebels. On both sides of the street, the people hid behind their doors in fear, secretly looking at this disciplined army through the cracks in the window lattices. Li Qingge was dressed in silver armor, looking heroic, riding on a tall horse, her eyes were as sharp as an eagle, scanning the surroundings to ensure that every soldier obeyed her orders.

At the beginning, there were always a few people who didn't believe in evil, thinking that they could take advantage of the chaos to do evil. Once, after entering the city, a soldier wanted to touch a beautiful girl. The girl was frightened and screamed to dodge. At this time, Li Qingge appeared. She saw this scene with her own eyes, and anger instantly surged in her heart. She jumped off the horse and rushed to the soldier in a few steps.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was as cold as ice, and the soldier trembled all over.

Li Qingge snatched the obscene tool from the soldier's hand, and then without hesitation, she chopped off his head and hung it on the top of the city wall for public display. Her movements were clean and neat, without any delay. This move stunned everyone. The wind on the top of the city wall seemed to have stopped at this moment.

As a result, the severe punishment made others no longer dare to have evil thoughts. They began to truly believe that this female general not only had extraordinary martial arts, but also had iron discipline and determination.

It is no accident that Li Qingge has received strong support from landlords and gentry from all over the country. Behind this, there are profound historical reasons and complex ethnic conflicts. Since the Qing Dynasty took control of the Central Plains, the Manchus have regarded themselves as superior and regarded the Han people as grass. In the eyes of those Manchus, this vast land belongs to their Qing Dynasty. They are like masters here, superior to others in every way. Walking on the street, the Han people have to bow and flatter them when they see them, as if they are born nobles.

Especially the children of the Eight Banners, who enjoyed all the privileges, as if they were the best. They were idle all day long, but lived a life of luxury. On the other hand, the Han people were discriminated against everywhere, and Han officials were also excluded by Manchu officials in the court, making it difficult for them to be promoted. This unfair treatment made the Han people increasingly dissatisfied.

The reign of Emperor Qianlong was the most corrupt and utterly corrupt period in the Qing Dynasty and even in the entire feudal era. The silver embezzled by Heshen alone was enough to cover the income of the Qing government for 15 years. At that time, officials of all ranks were greedy, and their appetites were getting bigger and bigger. In order to curry favor with them, landlords and gentry had to spend several times more money than during the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng to seek peace. As time went on, they naturally felt dissatisfied, but dared not speak out.

Now, a large-scale peasant uprising broke out, just like when Li Zicheng, the King of Rebellion, destroyed the Ming Dynasty. The landlords and gentry looked at this familiar routine and had an idea in mind. They thought that if they could use the power of the rebels to get rid of those corrupt officials, they could save a lot of money and even gain the merit of following the dragon. Although they were dissatisfied with the oppression and discrimination of the Manchu officials, they did not dare to support Li Qingge blatantly. They were afraid that if the Qing army counterattacked and the rebels were defeated, they would suffer.

So, they openly built plank roads, secretly crossed Chencang, and secretly funded those literati who failed in the exams and made them the staff and military advisors of the uprising army. Although these literati were down and out, they all had extraordinary talents and ambitions. They were eager to change this corrupt world through their own efforts. If the uprising was successful, these literati would be the founding heroes, and they would definitely repay them double after they came to power; if the uprising failed, they could also push these literati out as scapegoats and get away with it.

Li Qingge was well aware of the sophistication of these landlords and gentlemen, but she also knew that now was not the time to deal with them. She needed their support and strength to fight against the corrupt court together. So, she pretended not to know their thoughts and just silently accepted their funding and help.

Under her leadership, the rebel army marched southwards and quickly occupied various places in the south. Wherever they went, she strictly restrained the soldiers and did not allow them to harass the people. Her army became the guardian of the people.

At the end of the 23rd year of Qianlong's reign, Li Qingge brought the art of war to its extreme. She was unstoppable and successfully captured Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet and other places. At this point, the south was unified. The peasant uprising army and the Qing Dynasty each occupied half of the country, with the Qinling Mountains and the Huai River as the boundary.

When the news of the fall of Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet reached the capital, Qianlong was reviewing memorials in the imperial study. He was shocked and angry when he heard the news, and he spat out blood in anger. "In less than two years, they occupied the entire south?" His eyes were as big as walnuts, and he roared like thunder, "This is impossible! This is absolutely impossible! How could those traitors have such great power?"

The civil and military officials in the palace were also stunned when they heard this report. They looked at each other, as if they had heard a fairy tale. The Eight Banners soldiers of the Qing Dynasty had always been invincible and unstoppable. Even the powerful Ming Dynasty could not stop them, so how could they not be able to defeat that mob? However, this fact was right in front of them, and they had no choice but to believe it.

"Traitors! Traitors! I will destroy you, you damned traitors!" Qianlong was so angry that he roared repeatedly. He couldn't catch his breath and his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

"Oh no! The emperor has fainted!" "Imperial physician! Where is the imperial physician? Call the imperial physician!" The court, which had been solemn and dignified, suddenly became a mess. The civil and military officials, eunuchs and palace servants were all panicked and in a mess. Some of them were busy calling the imperial physician, some were busy helping Qianlong, and some were so scared that they stood there and dared not move.

As Qianlong fainted from anger, the entire capital was in chaos. Everyone was worried that the rebels would attack and kill all of them. When they heard that the emperor had fainted, Empress Nara and Empress Dowager Niuhulu were terrified. In this era, women obeyed their fathers at home, their husbands after marriage, and their sons after their husbands died. Their husbands and sons were their support for the rest of their lives. If the emperor really had an accident, they really couldn't imagine what their lives would be like in the future.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law hurried to the Yangxin Palace and arrived almost at the same time. When the imperial physician and palace servants heard that the empress dowager had arrived, they hurried to kneel outside the Yangxin Palace to greet her. The empress dowager held the queen's hand and anxiously asked the imperial physician: "How is the emperor? Is he okay?"

The imperial physician quickly replied: "Your Majesty just fainted due to a momentary attack of anger. I will prescribe some medicine for your Majesty to take, and he will be fine when he wakes up."

The Queen Mother and the Empress heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. "Amitabha! Amitabha! May our ancestors bless you!" The Queen Mother clasped her hands together, tightly grasped the jade Buddhist beads in her hands, and chanted the Buddha's name repeatedly in excitement.

The Queen looked around and suddenly asked, "Where is Concubine Ling? The Emperor is not feeling well, why isn't she here to serve him? Both I and the Queen Mother are here, why hasn't she arrived yet?"

The Yongshou Palace where Concubine Ling lived was just one street away from the Emperor's Yangxin Palace, so the distance was very close. The Queen's words were actually intended to deceive Concubine Ling and hint to the Queen Mother that she was not serving the Emperor wholeheartedly.

The Queen Mother frowned in displeasure after hearing this. Although she didn't like Concubine Ling, she didn't want to cause trouble for her at this time. So, she said in a deep voice: "The Ninth Princess had a high fever last night, and Concubine Ling was taking care of her, so she couldn't come here."

The queen's face changed slightly when she heard this. She didn't expect that the queen mother would speak for Concubine Ling. So she had to shut up in dismay.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, the chief eunuch Chen Jinzhong quickly explained, "The Queen Mother is right. Concubine Ling is indeed taking care of the Ninth Princess. I will go to Yongshou Palace to convey the Queen Mother's decree, telling her not to come."

The Queen Mother nodded, then took the Queen's hand and walked into the East Warm Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Qianlong was lying on the couch, unconscious. Seeing his pale face, the Queen couldn't help but shed tears. She held Qianlong's hand and called his name softly, as if hoping to wake him up.

The Queen Mother stood aside, watching all this silently. Her heart was filled with worry and anxiety. She knew that the storm of the uprising had already swept across the entire south. If she didn't find a way to quell this storm, the Qing Dynasty would be in danger.

However, she didn't know what to do. She could only pray silently, hoping that her ancestors would bless her and that Qianlong would wake up as soon as possible to lead them through this crisis.

Empress Nara, dressed in a luxurious phoenix robe, sat in the deep palace of the Forbidden City, with a calm face, but endless waves in her eyes. She and Emperor Qianlong, a couple for many years, have gone through countless days and nights together. The complaints in her heart are like autumn leaves, silent but piled up into a mountain. She knew that Qianlong's heart was always occupied by the shadow of Empress Xiaoxian, and she was just a "housekeeper" in his eyes who managed the harem. However, even so, her love for Qianlong was like a seed buried deep in the ground, and it never diminished even without the sun.

Today, the sun shines through the window lattice, sprinkling on the floor, but it can't dispel the dullness in the room. How can the queen not be sad and distressed when she sees Nara's husband, Emperor Qianlong, in such a decadent state? Her eyes are slightly red, but she tries hard not to let the tears fall. She just stands aside silently, looking at him with her eyes full of tenderness and tenacity.

The Empress Dowager, an old woman who had experienced many vicissitudes of life, was also very distressed. She gently called out: "Hongli, Hongli..." Her voice was filled with endless love and helplessness. However, Qianlong seemed not to hear her, and just kept repeating: "Traitor! Traitor, I swear to kill you, wipe out your entire family, and let you suffer the pain of slow slicing!" His voice was low and powerful, full of anger and unwillingness.

The Empress and the Empress Dowager sighed deeply. They knew that the ancestral rule that the harem could not interfere in state affairs was like an invisible yoke that bound them firmly in the deep palace. They could only stay in the palace and watch the Qing Dynasty lose half of its territory, but they were powerless. They could only silently pray to the Buddha in their hearts, praying that Qianlong would recover soon and revive the glory of the Qing Dynasty.

After a day and a night of tossing and turning, Qianlong finally woke up. He opened his eyes and saw Empress Nara at first sight. Her face was haggard, but her eyes were full of concern and worry. However, when Qianlong saw her face, he felt very annoyed. He waved his hand, signaling her to go back to the palace to deal with things, and drove all the maids and eunuchs out.

In the East Warm Pavilion, only the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianlong were left. Emperor Qianlong lay on the bed, his eyes full of grief and resentment. He clenched his fists tightly, as if he wanted to pour out all his anger. "Empress Dowager, I feel so bitter..." His voice was hoarse and low, like the howling of a wounded beast.

The Queen Mother looked at him, her heart also in a panic. She hurriedly comforted Qianlong: "Son, don't blame yourself, it's all because the rebels are too rampant. Mother believes that one day you will be able to take back everything you lost." Her voice was gentle and firm, trying to bring a little comfort to Qianlong.

However, Qianlong was still a little worried. He frowned, as if a heavy burden was weighing on his heart. "But..." He hesitated, his eyes full of confusion and helplessness.

The Queen Mother held his hand tightly and comforted him softly, "Don't say buts. I believe you can do it. Although the rebels are powerful, look at them. The time for your own death will soon come." Her tone was full of confidence and determination, as if she had seen the dawn of victory.

Qianlong asked blankly: "Are you looking for death?" He looked up at the empress dowager with a gleam of doubt in his eyes.

The empress dowager stared at him closely and said word by word, "Yes, you are seeking death! Let me ask you, who is the leader of the rebel army?" Her voice was low and powerful, as if she wanted to engrave every word into Qianlong's heart.

"The green-faced woman." Qianlong replied, with a hint of disdain and contempt in his voice.

"Is she a boy or a girl?" the Queen Mother asked.

"A woman." Qianlong replied, but he couldn't help but wonder in his heart, what kind of ability does this green-faced woman have to be able to cause such a big storm?
The Queen Mother sighed, as if she wanted to pour out all her sorrow. "This is the key. Because she is a woman, she is courting death. Throughout the dynasties, political power has been dominated by men. Even the evil Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty eventually passed the throne to her son. This vast country has always belonged to men. Women can lead troops to fight like Mulan, but they can never become emperors to rule and dominate men. The world cannot tolerate another empress." Her voice was full of emotion for history and helplessness for reality.

Qianlong murmured, "Yes, men are superior to women, this is the ethical code. Men are born to be in power. Even if the Green-Faced Woman is capable, her subordinates will definitely not accept her ascension to the throne. We just need to create some conflicts and provoke confrontation between men and women, and then we can disintegrate them from within." His eyes gradually brightened, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

The empress dowager nodded and said, "That's right. If she were a man, she would be a real threat. Unfortunately, she is a woman, and there are many people who do not obey her." Her words were full of disdain for the green-faced woman and encouragement for Qianlong.

She went on to say, "Emperor, don't you think the green-faced woman looks like someone?" There was a hint of mystery and cunning in her voice.

"Someone?" Qianlong was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly realized and slapped his thigh and shouted, "Li Zicheng! She is also a peasant who gathered together to rebel, and she learned the tricks of the bandit Li Zicheng." His voice was full of contempt for the green-faced woman and hatred for Li Zicheng.

The empress dowager nodded: "That's right. The rebels destroyed the Ming Dynasty, but became too proud of themselves and were tricked by Wu Sangui. Otherwise, how could Emperor Shunzhi seize the opportunity and rule the Central Plains?" Her voice was full of retrospection of history and emotion about reality.

“No matter how bad Li Zicheng is, at least he is a man and can make everyone obey him. The Green-Faced Woman is a woman, and heaven and earth cannot tolerate a woman being an emperor. There are many people who disobey her, and her predicament will be even greater.” The empress dowager continued, her tone full of disdain for the Green-Faced Woman and encouragement to Qianlong.

The Empress Dowager looked at Qianlong lovingly and said with a smile, "My son is wise and brave, far superior to Emperor Shunzhi. When Emperor Kangxi was alive, he also praised you for your intelligence. Mother believes that what Emperor Shunzhi can do, you can do too, and even better." Her voice was full of praise and expectations for Qianlong.

Qianlong gradually calmed down and said with a smile: "Yes. Li Zicheng could not defeat Emperor Shunzhi, and the Green-faced Woman could not defeat me. Her fate in the future will definitely be worse than the defeat of the rebels in Jiugong Mountain!" His voice was full of confidence and determination.

However, when he said this, he suddenly became depressed again: "But the rebel army has occupied the south and their morale is high. I'm afraid they will soon cross the border and attack the capital. What...what should I do..." His voice revealed a hint of panic and helplessness.

The Queen Mother looked at him, and her heart was also flustered. However, she soon calmed down, looked at Qianlong lovingly and said: "You, you are really angry and confused. I am sure that the rebels will not be able to reach here in a short time." Her voice was full of confidence and determination.

(End of this chapter)