Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 613 Success or failure hinges on this moment! Phoenix Might!

Xu Miaojin was overjoyed and quickly asked, "What is the plan?"

Tie Xuan, with a serious expression, analyzed: "Fortunately, the Imperial Concubine reacted in time and took control of the telegraph room and the surrounding forces before they could."

"Now, Wang Shoulian and other traitors are trapped like turtles in a jar, with no way to escape."

"But His Majesty is still in their hands, so we are bound to be hesitant and restrained."

“If anything happens to His Majesty, even if the traitor Wang Shoulian is torn to pieces, it will be of no use.”

"Therefore, even if we have a thousand troops, we cannot force our way into the Confucian Temple."

"Especially now, the soldiers are equipped not with swords, but with muskets."

"Even though His Majesty has a group of guards from the Tian Shu Division by his side, they will find it difficult to protect His Majesty once a battle breaks out."

"That's the hardest part."

Xu Miaojin nodded gently.

How could she not know this?

If she didn't have muskets, she could have easily led her troops in and stormed in, given her control of the outer perimeter.

Even if you use a large number of people, you can overwhelm Wang Shoulian and his men.

Zhu Yunwen also had more than twenty loyal Tian Shu Si guards by his side, which should not be difficult to hold him off for at least a short time.

By then, the outsiders had already stormed in.

But the problem now is that the other side has muskets.

With just one shot, the emperor's safety...

That's how things got tricky.

Tie Xuan said, "However, although we are hampered by firearms, we can also make use of their advantages."

Xu Miaojin said, "What's your plan? Tell me quickly."

"My plan is to exchange my life for Your Majesty's." Tie Xuan's expression was firm, as if he were facing death. "However, this plan still carries some risks, and we still need Your Highness's decision."

After he finished speaking, he explained his thoughts one by one.

Xu Miaojin listened quietly, her expression changing repeatedly.

Even after Tie Xuan finished speaking, she was still pondering.

Tie Xuan continued, "To be honest, that traitor Wang Shoulian was known for his aloofness and arrogance. I was deceived by him at that time and had many dealings with him. So I have quite a bit of understanding of this traitor's character."

"Before this rebellion, the traitor had approached me and expressed his dissatisfaction with the new policies and ideas."

"It is also said that Your Majesty's sacrifice to the sages this time may be the best opportunity to persuade Your Majesty to revive the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism and abolish the new learning."

"Everyone can submit a petition together, urging His Majesty to abolish the new schools."

"I did not respond to him, and he did not say anything more."

"It was my oversight that led me to discover this wicked man's sinister intentions."

But I didn't think about it deeply.

"Later, when the court finalized the list of personnel to participate in the sacrificial ceremony for the sage, I requested that Governor Li Chongwen not enter the Confucius Temple to participate in the ceremony, but only be responsible for guarding the front gate. Governor Li agreed."

Xu Miaojin suddenly realized.

now it's right.

The perimeter security arrangements for the sacrificial ceremony were jointly determined by Li Chongwen, the Shandong governor, and Wang Shoulian, the imperial inspector, with the participation of the Tian Shu Si (Heavenly Pivot Bureau).

It's not up to Wang Shoulian to decide alone.

However, Wang Shoulian's calculated actions, which led to the current situation, resulted in this outcome.

It's likely that Wang Shoulian didn't want to replace the guards at the front gate of the Confucian Temple with his own people, but rather that he couldn't.

It's impossible for him to decide the entire personnel list all by himself.

If that were the case, it would only arouse suspicion from Li Chongwen and the Tian Shu Division.

Tie Xuan was in charge of guarding the front gate, which obviously did not meet Wang Shoulian's expectations, but the impact was not particularly significant.

To keep his plot secret and avoid being discovered, Wang Shoulian had no choice but to accept this arrangement.

Fortunately, that's how it is.

Tie Xuan held a high official position as a councilor in Shandong.

Wang Shoulian really couldn't just send someone to seize his power.

"Your Majesty, I failed to perceive the traitor's wolfish ambitions and thus put Your Majesty in danger. This is my fault."

"Your Majesty, I can only atone for my sins by sacrificing my life to save you."

"This time, I have put myself in a life-or-death situation and survived."

"Only this method can save His Majesty from this predicament."

"Your Highness, time is of the essence. Every minute of delay increases the danger to His Majesty. Please make a decision as soon as possible."

Xu Miaojin's expression finally shifted from hesitation to determination.

Tie Xuan's method was extremely dangerous.

But it must be said, it may be the only way.

"Alright, then we'll do as you say!"

After she finished speaking, she immediately bowed to Tie Xuan and said, "Councilor Tie risked his life. If he can save His Majesty, the Ming Dynasty will surely remember his merit."

"If anything happens to you, the court will do everything in its power to take care of your wife, children, and elderly parents."

"However, I still hope to return safely."

Tie Xuan knelt down again and kowtowed, saying, "As a subject of the Ming Dynasty, it is my duty to be loyal to the country. Since Your Highness has made a decision, please arrange the necessary personnel immediately. I will go now."

After he finished speaking, he kowtowed several times.

Then he stood up, took a few steps back, turned around and strode away like a shooting star.

Xu Miaojin watched his figure disappear before Fang Zheng said, "Immediately summon the most elite guards from the Tian Shu Division who are still outside. Whether we can successfully rescue His Majesty depends on this."

……

Jinling.

The inner palace, Kunning Palace.

Gu Panjun was reading when she received the telegram from Xu Miaojin.

Despite being empress, her hobbies remained almost unchanged.

She still spends her days buried in books, just like when she was a daughter at home.

but.

Also normal.

In this era without the internet, games, or short videos, unless you're indulging in some extravagant pleasures, reading is actually the best form of entertainment.

In the era of entertainment explosion that followed, many people's favorite thing was reading!

Although he mostly reads novels or other light reading materials.

But who can say this isn't reading a book?

Gu Panjun mostly reads historical classics, biographies of famous figures, or folk tales.

For people of this era, these books were similar to online novels in later times, capable of captivating readers.

Moreover, with Gu Panjun now confined to the palace, it's unlikely she has many other forms of entertainment.

Aside from occasionally swinging on the swings in the courtyard and chatting with the palace maids, all that was left was reading.

Upon receiving the telegram, Gu Panjun was so shocked that her body trembled, the paper in her hand fell limply, and she almost fainted. "Your Majesty the Empress! Your Majesty the Empress!" Her personal maidservant quickly supported her.

"Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself. His Majesty has suffered such a terrible accident. If anything were to happen to Your Majesty..."

Gu Panjun treated the palace maids very well, so the maids didn't have many reservations about what they said.

"I'm fine!" Gu Panjun interrupted the maid before she could finish speaking.

Her expression quickly regained its composure, and a hint of authority, rarely seen on her otherwise incredibly beautiful face, appeared.

"Return the call to Sister Xu and tell her that I am aware of it. Let's split up and proceed."

"You must not spread this matter outside, not even to the palace maids and eunuchs in Kunning Palace."

A thoughtful look appeared on Gu Panjun's face, and then she instructed, "Immediately send a message to the guards outside, saying that the Empress Dowager is ill and that they should send two imperial physicians over as quickly as possible without any delay."

"If the hour is not up, both the messenger and the imperial physician shall be executed!"

By the end, her tone had become quite sharp.

The palace maid was startled and immediately went to relay the order.

"Go and fetch my phoenix robe for me to wear. I'm leaving Kunning Palace later to go to Qinzheng Hall!"

The personal maid was startled and quickly whispered, "Your Majesty, you are still being confined to Kunning Palace by His Majesty."

Although he knew that the emperor's feelings for the empress had not changed, after the empress was imprisoned, the emperor still often came to Kunning Palace, chatting and laughing with the empress, and their relationship remained the same. He even stayed overnight in Kunning Palace many times and let the empress serve him in bed. However, on the surface, the empress could not go out.

“In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken.” Gu Panjun said, “I am still the Empress.”

"With the emperor not in Jinling, who can stop me?"

"Go quickly and fetch the phoenix robe for me to wear. Don't delay any longer."

The palace maid dared not say anything more and quickly fetched the phoenix robe for the empress to wear.

Phoenix robes are paired with dragon robes, but they are different.

Because the emperor needed to attend court, he would often wear a dragon robe.

But the empress was different.

Even if the empress wasn't confined, she still spent every day in the inner palace.

They would not normally wear elaborate and extremely heavy phoenix robes.

It is only worn on extremely formal and solemn occasions, when one needs to receive foreign officials with the emperor.

Gu Panjun hasn't worn it for a long time.

As the palace maids dressed her, her expression kept changing, as if she was deep in thought.

Once the phoenix robes were put on, he returned to calm, dignified and solemn.

Just as she finished putting on her phoenix robes, two imperial physicians arrived.

Both of them were carrying medicine boxes on their backs and were out of breath from running.

But when they entered, they were stunned to see the Empress wearing the phoenix robes that she only wore for grand ceremonies, looking radiant and showing no signs of illness.

Gu Panjun waved her hand, dismissing all irrelevant people, and ordered her trusted maid to stand guard outside, preventing outsiders from approaching to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.

Only she and two imperial physicians remained in the room.

Gu Panjun looked at the two of them and said seriously, "I have summoned you here today to ask you to prescribe a remedy for a safe pregnancy."

Both imperial physicians showed delight, and one of them blurted out, "Is Her Majesty the Empress pregnant?"

"Mm!" Gu Panjun nodded.

The imperial physician hurriedly said, "Please allow me to take Her Majesty the Empress's pulse so that I can prescribe a medicine."

Unexpectedly, Gu Panjun's face turned cold, and she said, "If I tell you to open it, then open it. There's no need to take your pulse."

The imperial physician was so shocked that his mouth dropped open, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Another imperial physician, not yet understanding the deeper meaning of Gu Panjun's words, hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, every pregnancy is different, and the prescriptions needed are also different."

"In addition, everyone's constitution is different. Some medicines are suitable for one person, but not others."

"If we are not allowed to take the Empress's pulse and diagnose her, how can we prescribe medicine for her?"

Gu Panjun said calmly, "You can prescribe some of the most common medicines for nourishing and stabilizing the pregnancy. No matter who takes them, they won't cause any problems."

"Once the prescription is written out, just hand it over to the Imperial Pharmacy to get the medicine, and have them record it carefully."

"Furthermore, I am currently pregnant and need the imperial physicians to take good care of me. You live far away, and it will take a long time to summon you. It is a small matter if my health is affected, but it would be a big deal if the dragon child in my belly is harmed."

"I will immediately order someone to prepare a small courtyard next to Kunning Palace."

"From this day forward, you two will live in that small courtyard."

"So that I may summon you at any time."

The two imperial physicians looked at each other in astonishment, and then both knelt down.

Before they could say anything, Gu Panjun continued, "Furthermore, my health and the condition of the dragon prince in my womb are related to the fate of the Ming Dynasty and the stability of the country. They must be kept strictly confidential and must not be revealed to the outside world in any way."

"Once you move into the courtyard, you must not have any contact with outsiders."

"No words may be uttered, and no secret notes may be passed between them."

"I will send guards to watch over you both and take good care of your lives."

"Food, clothing, and daily necessities will all be sent over."

"But if I find out that either of you has said a single word to anyone, I will have you both torn to pieces and your entire family executed. Do you understand?"

The two imperial physicians kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Your Majesty, spare us! Your Majesty, spare us!"

In their eyes, the Empress was trying to lie about being pregnant, but the truth would eventually come out.

One day, it will be exposed.

At that time, both of them were doomed.

But if they do not follow the Empress's arrangements, they will likely be beheaded immediately.

Gu Panjun closed her eyes slightly and said, "I had no other choice but to resort to this tactic."

"When His Majesty was inspecting Shandong, he encountered a mutiny by soldiers, and his life was in danger."

"Currently, there is no one in the court to oversee the country."

"If I were pregnant, at least I could reassure the ministers in the court and give them something to look forward to."

"Otherwise, if the people's hearts are scattered, the Ming Dynasty will be in imminent danger."

"You are imperial physicians, and also subjects of the Ming Dynasty. At this critical moment, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the people of the world, I beg you."

The two imperial physicians looked up at the same time, their eyes filled with undisguised astonishment and shock.

After a moment of stunned silence, one of the imperial physicians spoke first: "Your Majesty the Empress is pregnant. I will now prescribe a formula to calm the mind and nourish the fetus, and have someone go to the medicinal cuisine department to get the medicine."

Another imperial physician echoed this sentiment.

Gu Panjun nodded and said, "After you finish writing the prescription, come with me to see the Minister of State Affairs and the Minister of Military Affairs, and have them witness this for me."

The two imperial physicians responded in unison, "We will obey Her Majesty the Empress's decree."

The two immediately fetched writing materials and wrote down the prescription.

After writing it down, Gu Panjun summoned a palace maid and said, "Give the prescriptions written by the two imperial physicians to the guards at the palace gate and have them send someone to the Imperial Pharmacy to get the medicine immediately."

The palace maid took the order and left.

Gu Panjun nodded to the two imperial physicians, then walked out of the room and stood on the steps in front of the door. She instructed her personal maid, "Summon all the maids and eunuchs in Kunning Palace."

……

(End of this chapter)