Late Ming Dynasty: So what if Emperor Chongzhen was inactive?!

Chapter 112 Zhou Kui: Hehehe, daughter, you're not favored, His Majesty is going to depose you!!!
Time seemed to drag on for Zhu Youjian. Every day he opened his eyes to countless problems awaiting his resolution, making him feel as if each day was an eternity, an inescapable torment. He longed to rip off his imperial robes, crush his winged crown, and roar, "Let whoever wants to be this damn emperor be it! I'm not serving you anymore!"

For Empress Zhou, time passed quickly. She had married into the Prince Xin's household in February of the sixth year of the Tianqi reign, and only two years had passed since then. Zhu Youjian felt the turbulent waves of the empire through the words of the memorials, while Empress Zhou remained oblivious and serene. However, in those two years, she had seen her family only a handful of times, and she couldn't help but feel a little homesick.

That day, she obtained the emperor's permission to summon her family to the palace. Normally, male relatives of the empress were not allowed to enter the inner palace, but since Zhu Youjian himself had broken the rules, it didn't matter. The emperor's father-in-law Zhou Kui, the emperor's brother-in-law Zhou Jian, and Empress Zhou's birth mother entered the palace together.

Zhu Youjian disliked this family, and to avoid conflict, he didn't intervene. Even a fool could guess why they had come in.

Zhou Jian was restless; his eyes darted around everywhere as soon as he entered the palace. Wei Zhongxian, who was leading the way, couldn't help but cough. Seeing that the simple-minded man still didn't understand, he had to remind him, "Your Excellency, there are rules for entering the palace: do not look at what is improper, do not speak what is improper, and do not listen to what is improper."

"What's wrong with me taking a look? Is there some shady business going on in this palace?!" Zhou Jian muttered unhappily.

Wei Zhongxian's expression turned ugly, and he said coldly, "Uncle Zhou, don't make things difficult for the Empress."

“Since you know my sister is the Empress, how dare you, a mere servant, speak to me like that? It’s clear you don’t know the rules, you good-for-nothing eunuch!” Zhou Jian said disdainfully.

"You beast, shut up!" Zhou Kui reached out and tugged at his son, then said, "Father-in-law, I'm sorry. I've failed to raise my son properly. I apologize for offending you."

After saying that, Zhou Kui took out a small silver ingot from his sleeve, but then hesitated and glanced at Wei Zhongxian. Seeing that the other party didn't seem to have noticed, he hid it back and replaced it with a piece of silver, which he then handed over.

Wei Zhongxian took in Zhou Kui's actions, his expression turning extremely ugly. He had accepted countless bribes throughout his life, and had never before felt that silver could be such an ugly thing. Wei Zhongxian did not accept the loose silver from Zhou Kui, but said indifferently, "No need, how could I dare accept your silver?!"

A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He simply couldn't understand how Empress Zhou, such a virtuous person, could have such a despicable father and brother. If it weren't for the Empress's generally kind attitude towards them, her subjects, and if it weren't for the Emperor's favor towards her, he would have truly been tempted to take drastic measures. Wei Zhongxian could only suppress his emotions, hoping this task could be completed as soon as possible.

"Does Your Majesty already know the true nature of this family?" Wei Zhongxian was startled.

He'd gradually come to understand that His Majesty had spared his life to use him as a tool, specifically for dirty and tiring work. Although he and Wang Chengen were both often by His Majesty's side, their roles were different. However, he didn't complain; he was quite adept at this kind of underhanded work and didn't find it troublesome.

As for getting his hands dirty or ruining his reputation, he cared even less. He was already utterly disgraced. Apart from His Majesty, who in the entire court didn't want to kill him? Even his disciples and followers wished him dead.

Empress Zhou attached great importance to this family visit. The palace was currently in a relatively impoverished state, and since she did not hold the Empress's seal, the resources she could mobilize were very limited. Nevertheless, she still ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a feast of fine wine and food. Knowing her father loved money, she also took out most of her saved allowance to bring back to her father and brothers.

However, when she welcomed her family with great joy, their behavior made her feel extremely embarrassed and sad.

"My dear daughter, before I came here, I went to the Temple of the Goddess of the North Peak to offer incense and pray for blessings. I brought back a clay doll. Put this doll under your pillow, and you will surely give birth to a prince!" After saying this, Zhou's mother stuffed a clay doll into Zhou's hand.

The yellow mud peeled off, soiling her fair and translucent fingers. Zhou Yufeng felt a little uncomfortable, but it was out of her mother's good intentions, so she could only force a smile, wrap the mud doll in a handkerchief, and put it aside.

However, Zhou's mother did not give up. She continued excitedly, "I also bought a secret remedy for having a son from the Taoist priest. You must take it on time. The priest said that if you take this remedy on the first, full, and last days of each month, it will guarantee you a son. If it doesn't work, I'll refund your money!"

Empress Zhou's face darkened further. She could only manage to say, "Mother, I can't take medicine indiscriminately in the palace. Imperial physicians will treat me." "What do imperial physicians know? They're the worst kind! If you don't bribe them, they'll try to sabotage you. Listen to me, daughter, would I ever harm you? Those imperial physicians are the most despicable; you must never take any medicine they prescribe!"

As she spoke, Zhou's mother lowered her voice and said, "I heard that the late emperor's prince was poisoned to death. You are all alone in the palace. How can you survive if you don't become more careful? Even though you are the empress, all those concubines are trying to harm you! Waaah, my poor daughter..." As she spoke, Zhou's mother's eyes reddened.

“Yes, yes, Mother is right,” Zhou Jian said indignantly. “Sister, let me tell you, this palace is not like our home. Take that eunuch who led us in just now, for example, he’s a scoundrel! You must tell the Emperor to drag that damned eunuch out and beat him to death! If we don’t get rid of him, he’ll only be a menace!”

"It seems that it was Eunuch Wei who brought you here just now!" Empress Zhou said in shock, almost crying. "You...you mustn't provoke Eunuch Wei for no reason!"

"Eunuch Wei?! Daughter, you're not talking about Wei, Wei Zhongxian, are you?" Zhou Kui's face turned ashen.

Empress Zhou took a deep breath and said, "Father, do not be afraid. I will ask Duke Wei for forgiveness later. I believe he will give me the honor. But you must never offend him in the future. He is the Grand Secretary and is highly trusted by His Majesty."

"What 'scribe'? He's just a eunuch, isn't he? Whether he's killed or tortured, it's all up to my brother-in-law to decide," Zhou Jian said disdainfully.

Upon hearing this, Empress Zhou's expression turned extremely ugly, and she could only say to Zhou Jian, "Brother, we cannot put His Majesty in a difficult position."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, do you no longer recognize your own family after you've married? You don't even think about helping your family! Speaking of which, His Majesty is too incompetent. Now that I'm the Empress, he should, by all accounts, grant our father a countship and make my brother the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Has he already forgotten about our family?"

“Yes, daughter, you mustn’t forget this,” Zhou Kui said. “Didn’t I write to you about this before? Why don’t you take it to heart? This isn’t just for my sake, it’s also for yours! Just think about it, you’re all alone in the palace, without anyone to take care of you.”

"Although I hold the title of Commander of the Southern City Garrison, I actually have no troops under my command. How can I support you? If you are bullied in the palace, we don't even have the right to speak up for you! At least grant me an earldom, so I can go to court and meet His Majesty, and truly be your protector!"

"I am doing very well in the palace, and no one is bullying me," Empress Zhou said softly.

"How come no one bullies you?" Zhou Kui's voice rose eight octaves as he shouted, "That Sun Chuanting, both his daughters are the Emperor's favorite concubines, hasn't he ever bullied you? Daughter, you have to stand up for yourself! Look at Sun Chuanting, he's been appointed Governor by the Emperor, while your father is nothing. If the Emperor continues like this, he'll probably depose you sooner or later!"

"No, His Majesty said no, His Majesty dotes on me. Lord Sun is a Jinshi, he has academic honors, he's different..." However, as Empress Zhou spoke, her eyes reddened.

She wiped away her tears, but the dust on her hands turned into a muddy stain on her face. She seemed about to break, and said in a trembling voice, "Father, Mother, Brother, let's eat first, and we'll talk after we finish eating."

"Husband, how can you speak like that!" Zhou's mother pinched Zhou Kui and said. However, Zhou Kui ignored her and looked at her son, saying with some fear, "Daughter, tell us the truth, the emperor isn't really going to depose the empress, is he?!"

"That's not true!" Empress Zhou shouted, losing control of her emotions.

"You scoundrel, how dare you speak to your father like that?!" Zhou Kui, losing face, slammed his fist on the table and roared. Empress Zhou's face turned pale, and she suddenly felt a pain in her lower abdomen, so she instinctively reached out and covered her abdomen.

(End of this chapter)