The Ming Dynasty: The Iron-Blooded Martial Emperor, Who Slaughtered the World

Chapter 139 The Painful Li Shouyi!

After Liu Jin agreed, he said to Zhu Houzhao, "Your Majesty, news has come from the Court of State Ceremonies that the Korean envoy who has come to the capital this time has requested an audience with Consort Li."

It is perfectly understandable and only natural for a Korean envoy to come to the capital wanting to meet the Korean princess who was married off to the Ming Dynasty.

But at this critical juncture, this matter seems somewhat strange.

After all, Li Shouyi's father was overthrown by Cheng Xiyan and others. Who knows what they're plotting to see Li Shouyi now?

However, after thinking about it, Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "I grant your permission. Let them see me."

"But after they meet, everything they say and do must be clearly recorded for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Liu Jin agreed and turned to deal with the matter.

There were strict rules and procedures for envoys to meet with the concubines in the imperial harem; it was not something that could be done casually.

Meanwhile, inside Jingyang Palace.

The secret letter from North Korea eventually reached Li Shouyi's hands.

Upon receiving the letter, Li Shouyi was first surprised, then overjoyed.

She had been in the Ming Dynasty for more than half a year, and this was the first time she had received a letter from Korea.

She immediately and happily tore open the envelope, reading the contents of the letter with a beaming smile.

However, the smile on her face quickly froze, replaced by deep terror.

"How could this happen? How could this happen?!"

Li Shouyi's hands, which were holding the letter, were trembling.

She never imagined that only six months after she left Korea, her father would be dethroned and placed under house arrest.

Meanwhile, her uncle, her maternal grandfather, and all her brothers had been murdered.

The entire Joseon Dynasty underwent tremendous changes. If she hadn't married into the Ming Dynasty, she probably wouldn't have been able to maintain her status as a Ming princess.

The sudden and drastic change left Li Shouyi completely bewildered. The good news was that her father, Li, was still alive, which gave her some hope, but she still didn't know what to do.

Just then, a palace maid she had brought from Korea ran over with a joyful expression.

"Your Highness, wonderful news! An envoy from Korea has arrived!"

Li Shouyi hurriedly put away the secret letter in his hand, his brows furrowed, and asked with feigned composure, "What happened?"

The Korean maidservant smiled and said, "Lord Seong Hee-yeon of Korea has led a Korean envoy to visit the Ming Dynasty. They request an audience with Her Majesty, and His Majesty has granted their request."

"Your Highness, let's quickly get ready and go to the Hall of Cultivating Nature to see Lord Cheng Xiyan!"

The Korean maidservant, unaware of what had happened, appeared quite excited.

But Li Shouyi's face turned extremely ugly, and his brows were furrowed into a tight knot.

Cheng Xiyan had just launched a coup, forcing her father to abdicate and causing the deaths of her uncle and brother.

He then dared to come to the capital of the Ming Dynasty to meet her.

What exactly is Cheng Xiyan up to?!

Li Shouyi was in a state of utter confusion and felt deeply helpless.

She was a powerless woman with only the identity of a Korean princess. What could she do against a powerful minister like Cheng Xiyan who had successfully staged a coup?

Li Shouyi bit his lip, suddenly made up his mind, and walked forward.

"No need for dressing up, let's go to the Hall of Cultivating Nature to see them now!"

The Korean maid was taken aback and quickly advised, "Your Highness, wouldn't it be disrespectful to Lord Cheng Xiyan to go to see him like this?"

respect?

Do I still need to give Cheng Xiyan respect?

Li Shouyi felt angry, aggrieved, and fearful about the future. He snapped, "Shut up! Stop talking nonsense!"

The Korean maidservant shrank back in fright and quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Li Shouyi got into the sedan chair and soon arrived at the Yangxing Hall next to the Eastern Six Palaces.

When Li Shouyi entered the Hall of Cultivating Nature, there were already quite a few people standing inside.

Among them were part of the Korean delegation led by Cheng Xiyan, several officials from the Court of State Ceremonial, and some eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

In addition, some imperial guards were also hidden inside and outside the palace, watching Cheng Xiyan and the others' every move.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Consort Li."

Upon seeing Li Shouyi enter the Yangxing Hall, Cheng Xiyan quickly led the Korean delegation to perform a deep bow to Li Shouyi.

Besides them, the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial also bowed to Li Shouyi.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Consort Li."

Even the usually aggressive Li Shouyi was momentarily stunned upon seeing this scene.

After all, she had always stayed in the inner palace. If Cheng Xiyan hadn't led the Korean delegation to visit her this time, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet so many Ming Dynasty officials.

She never expected that her title of Consort Li would be so effective.

After a slight pause, Li Shouyi quickly recovered, cleared her throat, and said calmly, "Get up, everyone."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Shouyi sat in the main seat of Yangxing Hall and looked at Cheng Xiyan, saying, "Lord Cheng, it has only been a little over half a year since the last time Joseon came to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty."

"And why this sudden visit to the Ming Dynasty?"

Li Shouyi was pretending to be ignorant; she clearly knew what had happened in North Korea, but she just wanted to test Cheng Xiyan's reaction.

Cheng Xiyan cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, I have a compelling reason for coming to the Ming Dynasty this time."

At this point, Cheng Xiyan put on a sorrowful expression and said, "The late king was seriously ill and unable to attend court."

"In order not to delay the important affairs of the Joseon state, he had no choice but to abdicate the throne to Grand Prince Jinseong."

"We have come here to request His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to formally confer upon Grand Prince Jinseong the title of the new King of Joseon."

"It was only because of the urgency of the matter that I had to act first and report later, thus violating the rules of the tributary system and angering His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

.

"This led His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to refuse to appoint Grand Prince Jinseong as the new King of Joseon."

"Consort Li, you are a concubine of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Could you please put in a good word for us before His Majesty? After all, this was the late King's wish."

In the end, Cheng Xiyan finally revealed his true intentions.

Abdication due to illness?

Abdicate and hand over the reins to a more capable person?!

Li Shouyi was furious when he heard Cheng Xiyan's words.

The secret letter he received clearly stated that it was a coup, but Cheng Xiyan made it sound like he had abdicated due to illness.

The shamelessness of Cheng Xiyan and his associates left Li Shouyi in awe.

"Relinquishing power due to illness? What illness has Father contracted? How come I didn't know?"

"Furthermore, if we're talking about abdicating the throne, why should it be given to the Grand Prince of Jincheng? Doesn't Father have any sons?"

"Li E is the Crown Prince, why not abdicate the throne to him?"

Li? ? is Li's son, and also the heir apparent who was established early on. He is nine years old this year.

Cheng Xiyan respectfully said, "Your Highness Consort Li, Li Ai is only nine years old and cannot handle state affairs."

Li Shouyi sneered, "If that's the case, why not first appoint Li E as king, and then have the Grand Prince of Jincheng act as regent?"

Li Shouyi's question hit the nail on the head, a question that Cheng Xiyan and the others had been trying to avoid.

In feudal society, regardless of the dynasty or country, members of the royal family were very wary of the transfer of lineage.

Unless there is truly no offspring, under normal circumstances, it is absolutely impossible for someone from another branch of the royal family to inherit the throne.

Cheng Xiyan's face instantly darkened, and she said in a low voice, "Consort Li, it is the late king's will whoever will inherit the throne."

"As subjects, we are neither suited to nor able to fathom the late king's profound intentions."

"We are merely following orders; please, Consort Li, do not make things difficult for your subordinates."

Making things difficult for subordinates?

Li Shouyi was filled with grief and anger, wishing he could tear Cheng Xiyan to shreds right now.

She glared at Cheng Xiyan in front of her, feeling only helplessness in the face of this situation and hatred for her own powerlessness.

Similarly, Cheng Xiyan also harbored resentment towards Li Shouyi.

If Li Shouyi hadn't married the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and become the high and mighty Consort Li, he would have had a hundred ways to kill her in Joseon!

Despite their meticulous planning, they overlooked Li Shouyi, who, being based in the Ming Dynasty, was the most unstable factor in their coup.

That's why we're meeting today.

Li Shouyi was furious, glaring at Cheng Xiyan, and said nothing more.

The officials from the Court of State Ceremonial and the eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial stood by the room, coldly watching Cheng Xiyan and the others.

The gazes of these people put immense pressure on Cheng Xiyan.

There was no point in saying more. After glancing around, he whispered to Li Shouyi, "Consort Li, you don't want the late King to be in a difficult position in Joseon, do you?"

"After all, Joseon belongs to the Yi family. Grand Prince Jinseong is your uncle, and you will always be a princess of Joseon."

"Your Highness will have to trouble yourself with the ceremony of bestowing the title upon the new king."

After leaving behind these last words, Cheng Xiyan bowed and greeted Li Shouyi before exiting the Yangxing Hall.

Li Shouyi sat alone in her seat, gripping the armrests tightly with both hands, biting her red lips, her eyes filled with tears.

She knew perfectly well that the person who staged the coup and ousted her father was right in front of her.

But there was nothing she could do; she could only watch helplessly as the murderer, along with the rest of the North Korean delegation, disappeared before her eyes.

Although she was unwilling, what could she do?

Li Shouyi looked at the Ming Dynasty officials on both sides of the room, a bitter expression on his face, and then got up and walked out of the Yangxing Hall.

Back in his Jingyang Palace, Li Shouyi was plunged into endless distress.

Just then, one of her maids noticed Li Shouyi's distress and asked, "Your Highness, you look so downcast. Is something troubling you?"

Li Shouyi glanced at her, shook his head, and lowered his head again: "I'm fine."

"oh----

The maid nodded and said, "If Your Highness has anything troubling you, you can tell His Majesty."

"There is nothing in this world that Your Majesty cannot do. As long as Your Majesty is willing, all of Her Majesty's troubles will disappear."

""

Upon hearing this, Li Shouyi's body suddenly trembled slightly.