Chapter 114

Qianlong was playing with a piece of Dong Qichang’s “Frost Descent Post” in his study. It was a precious calligraphy work with vigorous and powerful strokes, revealing an otherworldly atmosphere. Hearing footsteps, Qianlong asked softly, “Are you back?”

Li Yu quickly replied: “Yes, I have already told the Queen and the Princess the news.”

Qianlong smiled faintly, as if he had expected this result. He said, “The Queen and her daughter must be very happy, right?”

Li Yu smiled and said, “Yes, I have served the Majesty for many years, but I have never seen her so happy.”

Qianlong sighed, his eyes becoming deep and distant. He said, “In the harem, the only two women who are honored by their sons, their mothers, and their daughters are honored by their daughters, except for Wu Zetian’s mother Yang, who was posthumously honored as the Empress Dowager after her daughter became emperor.”

Li Yu was afraid that Qianlong would be unhappy, so he quickly flattered him: “The Queen is really a blessed person. After the abdication ceremony is over tomorrow, the new emperor will definitely respect her as his biological mother. But you are the emperor emeritus, extremely noble, and still the number one person in the world.”

Qianlong smiled bitterly, feeling mixed emotions. He understood that the position of the Grand Emperor was not easy to hold. There were so many emperors in history, but few of them abdicated and became the Grand Emperor, because of the embarrassment and helplessness of this position.

He, Qianlong, looked out the window with a far-reaching gaze. There seemed to be a ray of dawn on the horizon. The light gradually spread in the morning light, like a sign of hope. A gratified smile appeared on the corner of his mouth inadvertently, which was a kind of relief after experiencing vicissitudes: “As the ruler of the world, I have never been afraid of the power of ministers and relatives. Those open and secret struggles, power struggles and intrigues are just daily life in the palace for me. The only thing I worry about is that there is no suitable heir, which will ruin the foundation laid by my ancestors. Fortunately, that person, her ability to govern the country surpasses all the emperors of the previous dynasty. If I can pass the throne to her, I will be worthy of my ancestors.”

Li Yu was standing by. This old official who had accompanied Emperor Qianlong for many years had traces of time on his face, but his eyes revealed his loyalty and admiration for the emperor. He echoed: “The emperor is really wise and has a keen eye for talent. He has paved a bright road for the future of the Qing Dynasty.”

Qianlong was filled with emotion, as if he had returned to the days when he ascended the throne at a young age. At that time, he was full of vigor and vitality, but now his temples are gray. “Thinking back to the beginning, I ascended the throne at a young age, and it has been 28 years now. I had a deep relationship with Empress Fucha, and that was an unforgettable period of time. I originally thought that Yonglian and Yongcong would be able to inherit the throne and continue our love and dreams, but fate played tricks on us, and in the end, the country fell into the hands of Nara’s daughter…”

Li Yu smiled and said, “Although the Nara clan, from which the Empress was born, cannot compare to the status of the Empress Fucha clan in the Emperor’s heart, it is also a famous and prestigious family. It was extremely prominent during the reigns of Taizu and Taizong, and noble blood flows in their veins.”

“That’s true, Nara…” Qianlong’s voice had not yet fallen, but his heart suddenly tightened and his smile froze. His thoughts seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, returning to that distant history.

In a trance, he seemed to have returned to the period of history when Taizu Nurhaci persuaded Jin Taishi to surrender and fight against the Ming Dynasty together. At that time, Taizu was full of vigor and vigor, but Jin Taishi rejected Taizu’s kindness, and finally Taizu sent troops to Yehe tribe in anger. When the city was broken, Jin Taishi cursed in grief and anger: “The one who destroyed the Qing Dynasty is the Yehenara clan!” This curse spread quickly like a magic spell, making the Aisin Gioro clan panic.

So he invited a master to read his fortune. After some calculations, the master left a message before leaving: “The rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty is due to the Nara family!” This sentence was like a prophecy, and made the subsequent emperors very afraid of this curse.

After all, Taizu’s concubine was Yehenara, and her son Huang Taiji made the Qing Dynasty strong. After Huang Taiji became emperor, Yehenara was posthumously named Empress Xiaoci Gao because of her son’s status, becoming the first empress of the Qing Dynasty. This saying “the rise of the Nara clan” was verified in her. And because “the rise of the Nara clan” was fulfilled, “the fall of the Nara clan” is even more frightening.

The Nara clan has a long history and can also be called the Nalan clan, the Nara clan, and the Nalan clan. The clan is huge and has derived four major branches, which are divided by tribes, namely the Yehe Nara clan, the Ula Nara clan, the Huifa Nara clan, and the Hada Nara clan. Each branch carries the glory and sorrow of the Nara clan.

As the leader of the Yehe tribe, Jin Taishi cursed before his death, which is also known as the Yehenara curse. This curse is like a shadow, hanging over the imperial family of the Qing Dynasty.

The first wife of the late emperor, Nara, was from the Ula tribe, so she was called Ula Nara. Yehenara and Ula Nara, although from different tribes, can be collectively referred to as “Nara”. They have the same blood flowing in their veins and carry the same destiny.

Qianlong was always afraid of the saying “The rise and fall of the Nara clan”. He was well aware of the weight of this curse and the status of the Nara clan in the history of the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, when Empress Xiaoxian died, Shu Fei was the highest-born concubine in the harem and had a distinguished family background. However, because she was a member of the Yehe Nara clan and the same lineage as Jintaishi, Qianlong was worried that the curse would come true, so he followed the Empress Dowager’s wishes and made Ulanara, whose family had fallen on hard times, the Empress.

However, fate always seems to like to play tricks on people. Now, the throne will be passed to the daughter of the Nara clan, and the name of the Qing Dynasty will be replaced by the Great Yan, which is tantamount to the destruction of the country. The Qing Dynasty prospered because of the son of the Yehenara clan, and perished because of the daughter of the Ulanara clan. Although the two queens came from different tribes, they both belonged to the Nara clan. This seems to be the reincarnation of fate, and people cannot escape it.

Thinking of this, Qianlong was shocked and murmured to himself: “The curse has come true, isn’t this God’s will? Is the Qing Dynasty really going to perish at the hands of the Nara clan’s bloodline?” His eyes revealed confusion and helplessness, as if he was facing an unchangeable fate.

It seemed that everything was destined. The Qing Dynasty was destined to perish at the hands of the Nara clan. This was an unchangeable fate. Qianlong sighed deeply, as if to release all his sorrow and helplessness.

The next day, at dawn, the air in the Forbidden City seemed to be dyed golden by the morning glow. The morning court began, and the Manchu, Mongolian, and Han ministers entered the palace one after another. They wore their own court robes, looked solemn, and walked steadily. The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held court in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which was a solemn and sacred place.

The civil and military officials were waiting outside the palace early in the morning, standing or sitting, talking in low voices. As the core figure, the emperor always appeared last. When the officials were almost all present, the palace door would slowly open, and the emperor would appear to accept the worship of the officials.

However, today, the ministers felt that the atmosphere was a little unusual. There was a sense of tension and uneasiness in the air, as if something big was about to happen.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a creaking sound of a door opening was heard from outside the hall. This sound was particularly loud in the quiet morning, as if it was a signal, heralding a new beginning.

The ministers filed in and prepared to kneel down. However, when they looked up at the dragon throne, they were surprised to find that it was not Emperor Qianlong sitting on the throne, but a beautiful woman.

This woman is different from ordinary people. She wears a bright red dragon robe with twelve emblems, and the collar and cuffs are embroidered with lifelike dragon patterns, which makes her look majestic. Her face is delicate and refined, and her eyebrows and eyes reveal an extraordinary temperament. Her eyes are deep and bright, as if she can see into people’s hearts.

The ministers stared with wide eyes, stunned at the woman who suddenly appeared on the dragon throne. They were full of confusion and shock, wondering who this woman was and how dare she sit on the dragon throne and wear a dragon robe.

A Han official who was deeply influenced by Confucian etiquette was furious. He pointed at Li Qingge’s nose and shouted, “You are an unrestrained woman. You dare to act presumptuously. You cannot escape the death penalty! Come, strip off her dragon robe and immediately take her out of the Meridian Gate and behead her in public!” His voice was full of anger and majesty, as if he was going to put the woman to death.

Other ministers who did not know Li Qingge also angrily accused her of not knowing the difference between high and low, and not knowing how to live or die. They could not accept that a woman dared to appear here in a dragon robe. This was a provocation and insult to the imperial power.

Only the emperor can wear the dragon robe, and the prince doesn’t dare to wear the five-clawed golden dragon. A mere woman dares to appear here wearing a dragon robe. Isn’t this rebellion?
However, at this moment, a steady and powerful voice sounded: “Don’t be rude! This is Her Majesty the Queen of Dayan!”

Ah Gui stepped forward and shouted at the angry ministers. He was tall and majestic, like an unshakable mountain. His eyes revealed firmness and determination, as if he wanted to protect the woman from any harm.

Others in the palace may not know Li Qingge’s identity, but Agui knows it very well. He knows the origin and background of this woman very well, and also knows her strength and means. When Emperor Qianlong held the Hongmen Banquet to invite Li Qingge, the standard was very high, and all the important officials in the court attended. Although most of the officials had never seen Li Qingge, let alone her true face, Agui was fortunate enough to attend the banquet. He witnessed Li Qingge’s wisdom and martial arts with his own eyes, and knew that she was by no means a simple woman.

Ah Gui had made great military achievements. He knew very well that this woman’s beautiful face concealed a terrifying force and cruel means. If she was angered, the people present would probably have a hard time surviving. Therefore, he stood up without hesitation and spoke for Li Qingge.

“General Agui, what do you mean? This woman is actually the queen of Dayan?” The ministers were stunned by Agui’s words and looked at Li Qingge in disbelief. They couldn’t believe that the woman sitting on the dragon throne was actually the queen of Dayan.

Only He Shen secretly cursed Ah Gui, the old fox, for speaking for Li Qingge before him. Last year, he learned about Li Qingge’s life from Qianlong. During this period, Qianlong had hinted to him that Da Yan and Da Qing would merge into one, and Li Qingge would be the only master. He Shen knew that his future was closely related to Li Qingge, so he had been looking for opportunities to flatter and please her. Unexpectedly, Ah Gui got there first.

Ah Gui nodded heavily, his voice firm and powerful: “Yes, she is the queen of Da Yan. With her wisdom and force, she seized half of the Qing Dynasty with her bare hands and established a new dynasty. She is the founder of Da Yan and the future ruler of Da Qing.”

“This, this… How could she be the queen of Dayan…” The ministers looked at each other in shock. They couldn’t believe that the woman sitting on the dragon throne had such an amazing identity and background.

Who could have imagined that the peerless hero who seized half of the Qing Dynasty with his bare hands and established a new dynasty was actually such a young, beautiful and brilliant woman. This huge contrast made the officials fall into a long period of stagnation and silence.

They looked at Li Qingge as if they were looking at a legendary figure. Her existence broke their traditional understanding of imperial power and made them full of uncertainty and worry about the future situation.

It was not until Li Yu shouted in a shrill voice, “The Emperor has arrived,” that everyone came to their senses.

In this world, except for Li Qingge, the queen of Da Yan, no woman dared to wear the dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon. It was not only a symbol of power, but also a peak that women could not reach in the patriarchal society for thousands of years. Li Qingge, the woman standing at the top of power, looked particularly tall in the morning light. The golden luster on the dragon robe complemented her cold temperament, as if she was born for this dragon robe.

The relationship between the two countries, Da Yan and Da Qing, was as tense as ice and fire in winter, completely incompatible. There seemed to be an invisible smoke of gunpowder on their border, foreshadowing the endless competition between the two countries.

In the court, the ministers stood straight in their official uniforms, but their eyes revealed complex emotions. These people who grew up in an era of male superiority and female inferiority were deeply influenced by Confucian etiquette. They were disgusted by women in power. Whenever they looked at Li Qingge, their dissatisfaction and unwillingness surged like an undercurrent, but they dared not show it easily.

They wanted to stand on the high ground of traditional morality and use those clichés to severely criticize Li Qingge’s “hen crowing at dawn” behavior, saying that she violated the laws of nature and human ethics, in an attempt to maintain the fragile patriarchal order in their hearts. However, when they touched Li Qingge’s cold and majestic eyes, all words seemed to lose their power and they were speechless for a while. Those eyes seemed to be able to see through people’s hearts, leaving all hypocrisy and cowardice exposed.

At this time, Emperor Qianlong slowly walked into the court, his steps were steady, and his eyes revealed an indescribable complex emotion. He saw Li Qingge sitting on the dragon throne, and she shocked the whole court with just one look, and he couldn’t help but feel proud. This is his daughter, the continuation of his bloodline, whether it is her expression, bearing, style or majesty, she is so outstanding.

Qianlong’s memory seemed to go back to many years ago, when his father ascended the throne and also faced countless doubts and challenges. His brothers and ministers colluded and said that he had tampered with the will and that his position was not legitimate. However, his father used thundering means to suppress all the disputes and doubts and consolidate the throne. Now, when he looked at Li Qingge, he seemed to see the shadow of his father back then. That tenacity and determination made him both relieved and emotional.

Qianlong smiled and walked slowly to Li Qingge. When the ministers saw Qianlong, they all knelt down and kowtowed, not daring to be negligent. Qianlong, however, acted as if he saw nothing, only focused on looking at Li Qingge, and asked with a smile: “How does it feel to sit on this dragon throne?” There was a bit of teasing in his tone, as if he wanted to hear his daughter’s opinion on power.

Li Qingge curled her lips, and a hint of unruliness flashed in her eyes: “It’s very hard, not as comfortable as a sofa!” Her answer made Qianlong stunned, and then his face darkened. This dragon throne is what many people dream of, and you actually despise it. You really don’t know how to appreciate your blessings. However, Qianlong had to admit that Dayan’s sofa was indeed much more comfortable than the dragon throne. It was soft and elastic, and you wanted to sleep when you sat on it. This honesty and straightforwardness made Qianlong like Li Qingge even more.

Li Qingge stood up and stood to the left of the dragon throne, giving the main stage to Qianlong. Her movements were graceful and calm, as if everything was natural. Qianlong knew that this was the last time he would sit on this dragon throne. After the imperial edict came, he would leave the court and leave everything to Li Qingge. So he sat down generously and glanced at everyone present.

“My dear ministers, please stand up!” Qianlong raised his hand and said, with a hint of emotion and vicissitudes in his tone. He turned his head and glanced at Li Qingge, his eyes full of trust and expectation. He didn’t say much, and directly announced: “Today I have two happy events to share with you.” When the ministers heard this, they instantly quieted down, and their hearts were full of curiosity. What kind of happy event was it that was worthy of the emperor to mention it during the morning court to discuss state affairs? They looked at each other, but did not dare to speculate.

Qianlong looked at these ministers with different thoughts, and said slowly: “First of all, I had a daughter with the queen in my early years, the fifth child. It was said that she died young, but in fact she was abducted by criminals and wandered among the people. Fortunately, she met a kind-hearted couple who rescued and raised her, and she was able to grow up.” When he said this, his eyes softened, as if he was recalling the past.

Hearing this, all the ministers frowned. In the Qing Dynasty, the status of princesses and princes was very different. Eight out of ten princesses would marry into the royal family after they came of age to strengthen the marriage relationship between the Manchus and Mongols. But she was just a princess, even if she was born by the queen, it was not worth announcing in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, right? They were full of doubts, but they did not dare to ask easily.

Qianlong smiled and pointed at Li Qingge and said, “She is my fifth princess who has been living among the people!” As soon as these words came out, it was like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan, and the pan exploded instantly. The queen of Dayan turned out to be the fifth princess. There was such a bizarre thing in the world. The ministers looked at Li Qingge in astonishment, as if they were looking at a monster.

Before the ministers could recover from their shock, Qianlong dropped another bombshell: “The Fifth Princess is the legitimate daughter of the Empress. Although she is a girl, she is much stronger than a boy. She has the ability to conquer the world and the talent to rule the world. It is a great joy to recognize her ancestors and return to her roots. I have decided to double my joy and abdicate the throne to her.”

Instantly, all the ministers were stunned by Qianlong’s words. This decision was really shocking. There were many emperors in history who were tired of the throne and abdicated in their later years. But the people who abdicated were all princes without exception. After all, the throne of the emperor has always been passed down from son to son, not from daughter to daughter. A daughter who is married off is like spilled water, so how can the throne be passed down to a princess? In modern terms, it is extremely outrageous.

The ministers were stunned by Qianlong’s actions, as if they were hit on the back of the head with a club. They looked at each other, but did not dare to refute easily. After all, this was the emperor’s decision, and as ministers, they could only accept it.

Qianlong ignored all this, and signaled to the eunuch Li Yu beside him with his eyes. Li Yu understood, took out the pre-written imperial edict, and read aloud: “The fifth daughter of the emperor, Li Qingge, is the legitimate daughter of the Empress of the Central Palace, and is both talented in civil and military affairs, and has excellent character… The throne is passed to the fifth daughter of the emperor, I decree!” His voice echoed in the court, and every word was like a heavy hammer hitting the hearts of the ministers.

As soon as the imperial edict was read, the ministers gradually recovered from their shock and showed two completely different attitudes. One group was the Han ministers, who were at a loss as if they had just woken up from a dream. They couldn’t believe that Qianlong would pass the throne to a woman, which broke the traditional concept in their hearts for thousands of years. The other group was the Manchu and Mongolian nobles, who were all trembling as if they had lost their parents. They were all from noble families, and their interests were highly tied to the Aisin-Gioro family. Several generations had placed their hopes on the most promising prince, but now a fifth princess suddenly appeared to grab the throne, making all their hopes come to nothing.

What scares them even more is that since the time of Taizu Nurhaci, the interests of the Eight Banners nobles have been highly tied to the Aisin Gioro family. The emperor only selected women from the Eight Banners of Manchu, Mongolian and Han in the selection of concubines, which was to consolidate the common interests of the royal family and the Eight Banners nobles through generations of marriage relationships. Now that Qianlong suddenly passed the throne to Li Qingge, it would be fine if they were just facing a royal princess who was ignorant of the world, but Li Qingge was the ruler of the Great Yan Dynasty. It is impossible for one person to rule two countries at the same time. The smartest way is to cancel one of the country names, merge the two countries into one, and turn it into a huge empire. The Great Yan Dynasty was established by Li Qingge herself. Her identity as the founding ancestor is naturally much more glorious than the inheritor of the ancestral business. If she really succeeded to the throne, then the Qing Dynasty would really perish.

When they thought about the loss of their noble status, the ministers headed by the Bordered Yellow Banner all jumped out to oppose. “Your Majesty, this is absolutely not possible!” “Please take back your order. You are still in your prime. How can you easily abdicate the throne?” “Since ancient times, the throne has been passed down to males, not females. The eldest male should be the most noble. Even if the throne really needs to be passed down, it should be passed to the prince!” “Your fourth, fifth, sixth, eleventh and twelfth princes are still here. You have to pass it on to one of them!” Their words were filled with anxiety and pleading, trying to persuade Qianlong to change his mind.

However, Qianlong only glanced at them calmly, his eyes revealing an unquestionable firmness. He knew how much waves this decision would cause, but he knew his own intentions even more clearly. Li Qingge was his daughter, and he watched her grow up. He knew her abilities and wisdom very well. Passing the throne to her was a decision he made after careful consideration, and it was also his greatest trust and expectation for his daughter as a father.

In the ancient and solemn Forbidden City, compared with the old ideas of establishing the eldest son as the heir and passing the throne to males instead of females, these ideas are like thousand-year-old trees, deeply rooted in everyone’s heart. The sunlight shines through the heavy glazed tiles and sprinkles on the golden bricks of the hall, but it seems unable to illuminate the stubborn haze in the hearts of those ministers.

The ministers looked at each other in shock. They could not imagine that a woman, and the princess Li Qingge they once knew, could ascend the throne and become the emperor, standing in the supreme position, commanding the country and issuing orders. Such a scene was nothing short of a fairy tale to them, subverting all the established cognition and order.

Li Qingge seemed to have anticipated the strong opposition from the ministers. There was no ripple in her eyes, which were calm and deep, like a frozen lake in winter, with endless power hidden under the calm. She sat on the throne carved with dragons and phoenixes, and her luxurious dragon robe made her look majestic and inviolable. It was an aura that transcended gender, which made people involuntarily feel awe.

The more fiercely these men opposed, the more Li Qingge’s fighting spirit burned. A barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, which was a desire for challenge and confidence in victory. In her view, these opposing voices were just small stumbling blocks on her way to the pinnacle of power, and she vowed to crush them one by one, and make those men who once despised her kneel down three times and kowtow nine times respectfully and bow down to her.

Qianlong sat aside, and he seemed unusually calm about the scene before him. The people in the hall might not understand Li Qingge’s character, but Qianlong knew it very well. As the ruler of Great Yan, she made decisive decisions and never changed her mind. Once she made up her mind, she would not change it even if she was led by nine oxen. Her desire for reform was the same as that of the previous emperor. She hated corrupt officials to the extreme and was merciless in her actions. Her methods were so fierce that even Qianlong had to secretly admire her.

In the south, those corrupt officials and landlords who had been tyrannical and oppressive to the people were all eliminated under her iron fist. The number of people who died in her hands was so huge that even the previous emperors of the Qing Dynasty could not reach it. Therefore, anyone who dared to talk nonsense in front of her was undoubtedly seeking death, just like an old man hanging himself because he thought his life was too long.

At this moment, more than a dozen ministers from the Eight Banners aristocracy knelt in front of Qianlong, and like Tang Monk chanting sutras, they kept on talking about the decadent concept that men are superior to women and women cannot interfere in politics, trying to persuade Qianlong to withdraw his order. Some of them were even very stubborn, saying that as a princess, Li Qingge’s rebellion and establishment of a new dynasty was an act of treason, disloyalty and unfilial piety, and she should be executed immediately to serve as a warning to others.

These words, like sharp arrows, failed to penetrate the defenses in Li Qingge’s heart, but instead aroused her anger. She coldly glanced at the ministers kneeling on the ground. Their figures seemed so small and ridiculous in her eyes. Her eyes finally stopped at the minister who advocated her execution – Fahai, a descendant of the Tonggiya clan from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, and the nephew of the late Empress Xiaoyi Ren.

The prominence of the Tonggiya clan was well known throughout the Qing Dynasty, and its glory even surpassed that of the Fucha clan. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi, the Tonggiya clan was even known as “Tong Half of the Dynasty”, which shows how powerful it was. Fahai relied on his prominent family background and was arrogant and domineering on weekdays. The late emperor, grateful for the upbringing of Empress Xiaoyiren, specifically asked Emperor Qianlong to take good care of the Tonggiya clan before his death. Emperor Qianlong turned a blind eye to Fahai’s domineering behavior, but he didn’t expect that this would encourage his arrogance.

Li Qingge stared at Fahai quietly, his voice as cold as ice: “Are you the one who said you want to execute me?”

Fahai was so frightened by her eyes that he trembled, but he still held up his neck and said in a choked voice: “I said that men should be responsible for the outside world and women should be responsible for the inside world. Women should stay in the back house to take care of their husbands and children. Even if you are a princess, you cannot go against human ethics.”

“Good, very good!” Li Qingge laughed in anger, with a hint of sarcasm and contempt in her voice. She stood up suddenly, and her figure was like a flash of lightning, approaching Fahai in an instant. She raised her palm high, and with an irresistible force, she slapped Fahai’s face fiercely.

Li Qingge inherited Jiang Yuyan’s skills, and her martial arts skills have reached a level that has never been seen before or since. Although she did not use all her strength in this palm strike, it was enough to break Fahai’s bones and tremble his internal organs. Fahai’s cheeks instantly sank, the corners of his mouth cracked and deformed, and three teeth spurted out along with a large mouthful of blood, splashing on the magnificent hall, which was particularly dazzling.

Li Qingge did not give up. She sneered, flashed again, and slapped him again. In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a shrill scream like a pig being slaughtered suddenly rang out. The sound was sharp and piercing, making people shudder.

“Ahhh…” Fahai’s screams echoed in the hall, like a piece of death music, filling people with fear.

Li Qingge’s face remained cold, without the slightest fluctuation. She flicked her finger, and her finger force was as strong as an arrow, accurately hitting Fahai’s arm. “Crack!” The sound of bone fracture was clearly audible, and Fahai’s five fingers were all twisted, and the nails fell off piece by piece, and blood poured down, dripping onto the golden brick floor, making the people around him scalp numb and terrified.

Fahai dodged desperately, trying to escape from the terrifying palm wind, but found that he could not escape from Li Qingge’s control at all. She used a move of hitting the cow from behind the mountain, and her internal force was like a surging wave, hitting Fahai’s chest fiercely. Fahai’s ribs were broken instantly, and he rolled on the ground in pain, wailing.

“Your Majesty, please spare me, Your Majesty, please spare me!” Fahai’s voice was already filled with tears. He claimed to be the toughest man in Manchuria, but at this moment he was crying like a weak woman begging for mercy for her parents in a rainstorm, with no dignity at all.

Li Qingge had no expression on his face. He flicked his fingers and two arrows shot at Fahai’s leg bones again. Fahai’s pupils tore instantly and his screams almost tore his eardrums. The sound was full of despair and fear.

“You want me to die? I’ll let you taste a life worse than death first.” Li Qingge’s voice was cold and ruthless. She used her bone-breaking hand to twist and break all the tendons on Fahai’s body. For a moment, Fahai’s shrill screams echoed in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The sound was like the wailing of evil spirits in the eighteen levels of hell, which made people shudder and their hair stand on end.

The ministers who knelt down and begged Emperor Qianlong to take back his decision were so frightened by this scene that their faces turned pale like zombies and their bodies trembled like sieves. They had been in official careers for many years and had seen all kinds of scenes. They had seen too many people being killed and beaten, but it was the first time they had encountered someone as cruel as Li Qingge. The cruelty of her methods filled them with fear and awe.

Li Qingge kicked Fahai away, then chuckled, and her figure flashed like a ghost, and she returned to the throne in an instant, sitting next to Qianlong. Qianlong looked at her with approval, secretly glad that he had chosen such a powerful ally. The feeling of taking action when unhappy is really refreshing. He knew that although the Qing Dynasty was a monarchy, centralized, and the emperor was dictatorial, it was also subject to the constraints of etiquette. Especially those civil servants, who kept chattering about the slightest violation of etiquette, which was really annoying. If he was not afraid of the historians writing nonsense, Qianlong really wanted to kill all these people. It’s a pity that he didn’t have the courage of the previous emperor. In order to preserve his face and the good reputation behind him, he could only endure it. And Li Qingge’s move this time helped him vent his anger.

Li Qingge touched the gold and jade ring on her hand. The ring shone brightly in the sun, as if it was a symbol of her power. She said with a fake smile: “Those who obey me will prosper, and those who disobey me will perish. I will give you one more chance to choose. If there are still people who don’t learn from the lesson, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

As soon as these words came out, all the officials felt a chill running down their spines. They couldn’t help but secretly marvel that she was indeed the founder of the Great Yan Dynasty, and her moves were much more ruthless than most men in the world. Her aura and her majesty made everyone present feel an unprecedented sense of oppression.

Hearing Li Qingge’s murderous words, the kneeling ministers quickly stood up and retreated. They knew that the woman in front of them was no longer a princess they could manipulate at will. She was the real emperor and the master who controlled their life and death.

However, even under such pressure, there were still five ministers who were stubborn and knelt straight. One of them said with a red face: “Your Majesty, I am loyal to the Qing Dynasty, and the sun and the moon can testify to that. It is not reasonable and not good for the country to pass the throne to the princess. If such a murderous and ruthless person is allowed to inherit the throne, the Qing Dynasty will surely perish.”

The other person’s face turned livid and he gritted his teeth and said, “Your Majesty, I beg you to take back your order. If you really want to abdicate, please choose another wise master. Otherwise, I will kneel and die here today.” The remaining three people also echoed his opinion, giving examples of the disasters of female rulers interfering in politics in previous dynasties, trying to persuade Qianlong to change his mind.

These five ministers acted as if they were ready to die and were determined to make Qianlong withdraw his will to abdicate. However, they never expected that their fate had been completely rewritten at this moment.

Qianlong was furious as he watched the scene. He stood up abruptly, glared at the five ministers, and said in a deafening voice: “How dare you! I have already issued an order to pass on the throne, how can I take it back? You are forcing me like this, clearly wanting me to lose my credibility with the world.” His voice echoed in the hall, carrying an irresistible majesty and power.

The five ministers turned pale upon hearing this. They knew that their fate could not be changed. They could only kneel on the ground silently, waiting for the upcoming punishment. Li Qingge sat quietly by the side, watching all this.

The servant’s voice trembled, almost crying: “I really dare not! Please calm down, Your Majesty, I am just following your orders and dare not disobey in the slightest!” His forehead pressed against the cold ground, sweat and tears intertwined, soaking a piece of his clothes. Emperor Qianlong sat on the high dragon throne, his face stern, his eyes revealing unquestionable majesty.

Qianlong glanced coldly at the five people kneeling on the ground, his voice low and powerful: “Since you want to die, I will grant your wish. Come, take down these five traitors and beat them to death with sticks!” There was no hesitation in his tone, as if the lives of these five people were as insignificant as ants in his eyes.

After the order was given, several guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, trying to drag the five ministers away. However, at this moment, a cold and firm voice sounded, stopping their actions.

“Wait!”

Li Qingge walked out of the crowd slowly, her posture was straight and her eyes were firm, like a sharp sword out of its sheath. She stopped the guards and stared at the five ministers with a sharp gaze: “Don’t think I don’t know what you are thinking. Do you want to imitate the loyal ministers of ancient times who died for their advice and leave a name for eternity? Humph, no way! Not only will I take your lives, but I will also make someone make a drama about your obstruction of my ascension to the throne, so that the people of the world will spit on you and make you infamous for eternity.”

Although her voice was cold, it carried an unquestionable force, causing the faces of the five ministers to turn pale instantly. One of them roared in anger, “Don’t even think about it! You are a witch, you have done evil things, you have gone against the will of heaven, you are insidious and cunning, and you are as vicious as a snake or scorpion. Heaven has eyes, and will not let you be so proud!”

Upon hearing this, Li Qingge curled up the corner of her mouth into a sneer, which showed both disdain and confidence: “Then let’s wait and see.” Her heart was filled with firm belief in the future. She knew that she had to walk her own path.

Her approach was unique and completely broke the shackles of traditional etiquette. In her opinion, if she failed to govern the country properly after taking the throne, causing the people to live in hardship, she would naturally bear the infamy of history; but if she governed the country well and became a wise ruler, it would prove that those opponents were wrong and she deserved to be killed.