Chapter 330: Demon Queen: Let him go, I will be yours

When the Zhengtong Emperor heard his words, he was not panicked at all. Instead, he spread his hands with sarcasm in his eyes: “Hahaha, if you kill me, you can sit on the throne with peace of mind. Come on, kill me.”

Zhu Qizhen smiled slightly.

He was thinking whether he should kill him now. Soon, he realized that he couldn’t kill him so impulsively. Now, he had the man under his control and could kill him at any time.

It is just right to use Emperor Zhengtong to test how loyal the ministers are to the Zhu family.

“You killed me.” The Zhengtong Emperor looked him straight in the face and said, “I only hope you will release my children and those ministers. Don’t worry, they are no threat to you.”

Zhu Qizhen said coldly: “Dead people are the least dangerous.”

“Your Majesty, do you have so little confidence? Aren’t you a great leader? Aren’t you the holy ruler of the Ming Dynasty? Do you need to use killing to hide your fear?” The Zhengtong Emperor asked repeatedly.

Zhu Qizhen laughed loudly and walked up to him: “Who taught you these words and why you showed up today?”

“Yes!” The Zhengtong Emperor nodded in response to his gaze. “My mother taught me that! Do you know that when she first met me after I came back, she asked me to do her one favor once she succeeded in replacing you?”

Zhu Qizhen also looked at him directly and said, “What did she say?”

“She said not to kill you and to hand you over to her.” The orthodox emperor smiled bitterly, “After so many years, she has developed feelings for you.”

Zhu Qizhen leaned closer and asked, “Did she ask you to say that?”

The Zhengtong Emperor shook his head and said, “This is what I want to say. After I die, please let this poor woman, my mother, go.”

Zhu Qizhen stood up slowly, was silent for a while, and said: “She is not pitiful.”

The orthodox emperor lowered his head, a gleam in his eyes.

……

At this time, hurried footsteps were heard, and Shi Biao’s voice rang out from outside the door: “Your Majesty, Wu Xingdao and Xu Bin have been captured.”

The orthodox emperor, who was sitting on the cushion, was horrified.

Zhu Qizhen smiled coldly, sat down on a chair nearby, and said, “Bring him in.”

The door was pushed open, and Shi Biao led the Jinyiwei to escort Wu Xingdao and Xu Bin, who were also dressed as monks, in. When Wu Xingdao saw the Zhengtong Emperor, he was shocked: “Your Majesty… why are you…”

“Military advisor, everything has failed.” The Zhengtong Emperor spread his hands and smiled bitterly.

Zhu Qizhen was secretly shocked. Did he not tell Wu Xingdao and Xu Bin about the plan of the Zhengtong Emperor to come and see him? The two men looked terrified and confused.

Xu Bin just lowered his head and didn’t look at the orthodox emperor.

Zhu Qizhen’s eyes fell on him first and asked, “Xu Bin, it was the Queen Mother who ordered you to go to Mobei, right? I’m very curious, why did you go there without hesitation?”

“Because the Queen Mother and I grew up together.” Xu Bin raised his head and only said this.

Zhu Qizhen understood in his heart that since he had been childhood sweethearts with such a woman, Xu Bin would definitely follow her wholeheartedly. Damn, just offer yourself up to be PUA, maybe he will be moved by himself.

“Wu Xingdao, what about you?” Zhu Qizhen asked coldly, “Tell me your origins.”

“I’m just an unsuccessful scholar. There’s nothing much to say.” Wu Xingdao looked as pale as death.

Zhu Qizhen looked at the two men, was silent for a while, stood up suddenly, and said in a cold voice: “With such a big move today, how can there not be casualties? Come on, drag them out and behead them.”

The Zhengtong Emperor shouted: “If you want to kill, please kill me and let them go.”

“Haha, if you really want to let them go, you should have let them escape before coming to see me.” Zhu Qizhen’s face was gloomy. “Who taught you that? Use their lives to appease my anger first?”

The orthodox emperor was stunned.

“Take him away and behead him!” Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, “Remember to drag him outside the temple, don’t pollute this pure Buddhist place.”

“Yes!” Shi Biao accepted the order.

He led the Jinyiwei to drag Wu Xingdao and Xu Bin out. Not long after, Xu Bin’s voice came from outside: “Your Majesty, I will go first and wait for you on the road to the underworld.”

The voice stopped abruptly, and a breeze blew, bringing the smell of blood. Shi Biao came in to report: “Your Majesty, both of them have been executed.”

The orthodox emperor, who was sitting cross-legged on the futon, was trembling slightly. He pinched his thighs secretly with both hands, but he still couldn’t stop trembling. Zhu Qizhen looked at him coldly and said, “Then you just wait a little longer. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. I will send you on your way.”

Then, he ordered the Jinyiwei to seal off the Fahai Temple and close it to the public from that day onwards.

……

Qianqing Palace.

After Zhu Qizhen came back, he started to handle government affairs as if nothing had happened. The cabinet chief Xu Youzhen, as well as several trusted ministers such as Li Xian and Li Bing asked for an audience.

“Your Majesty, the Duke of Jing read out the imperial edict, saying that Your Majesty has pardoned Yu Qian, Shang Lu and the others.” Xu Youzhen asked, “Should they be released from the imperial prison?”

Zhu Qizhen put down his pen, thought for a moment, and nodded: “Release him, but the Jinyiwei must keep an eye on him secretly. Shi Biao, do you know what to do?”

“I understand.” Shi Biao nodded.

Now that the emperor has captured the so-called true emperor, this news will surely spread. The emperor wants to use the true emperor to test whether the ministers are loyal to the Zhu family or to him.

Not only Shi Biao understood, but Xu Youzhen, Li Xian, Li Bing and the others also understood. They were secretly worried that if some fool stood up and insisted on going to Fahai Temple to follow the true emperor, it would be the end, and there would definitely be a river of blood.

“Shi Biao, do it immediately.” Zhu Qizhen ordered, “Send Bulma and her son back to the palace and hand them over to Cao Jixiang.”

“Yes, sir.” Shi Biao took the order and left.

Zhu Qizhen glanced at Xu Youzhen, Li Xian, Li Bing and the others, and smiled, “It’s just right, let’s discuss the construction of the expressway. Now that the construction has started, you have to keep a close eye on it.”

“Minister of Works Wang Hao is on the front line. Your Majesty, don’t worry with him around.” Xu Youzhen smiled. “He was the one who started the road construction. He has the road map clearly in his mind. Back then, he followed his father Wang Lai to manage the river and was in charge of the materials. He has a clear mind and no one can fool him.”

Zhu Qizhen nodded: “The Ming Dynasty needs more young people like Wang Hao.”

He discussed the progress of the inspection with the cabinet and asked them to leave. Xu Youzhen, Li Xian and Li Bing walked on the imperial road, all with worried brows.

“Such a big thing happened today, but Your Majesty acted as if nothing had happened.” Xu Youzhen’s face was full of worry. “I am even more scared. I always feel that something big is going to happen.”

Li Xian nodded in agreement: “I am now worried that some idiots will lead a group of people to the Fahai Temple to show their loyalty to the emperor inside.”

“That’s it,” Li Bing said. “Just wait for the blood to flow like a river. Your Majesty will start a massacre.”

The three of them ran into the female imperial scholar Liu Wanqing, who bowed slightly to them, and the three of them stopped discussing. Xu Youzhen asked with his hands behind his back, “Where are you going?”

“Go meet His Majesty.” Liu Wanqing smiled slightly and left.

Li Bing looked at her from behind and wondered, “How can a Hanlin like her see His Majesty at any time?”

Xu Youzhen smiled and said, “You don’t know, one night when His Majesty was inspecting the six ministries, he saw that she was still working hard, and he discussed history with her for a while. He was very impressed, so he ordered that she could come to the Qianqing Palace to meet His Majesty at any time.”

“Your Majesty is young. It’s not surprising that he likes young and beautiful girls. Wasn’t it the same when we were young?” Li Xian said.

Xu Youzhen looked strange: “Your Majesty, what you like most is not young and beautiful girls.”

……

Liu Wanqing arrived at the Qianqing Palace, and after paying her respects, she stood in the hall in her pretty manner.

“Your Majesty, I have read history books recently and have gained some insights.” She smiled slightly.

Zhu Qizhen knew that this woman was not here to talk about history, and she must have something else to say. He smiled with interest and said, “Tell me about it.”

“Your Majesty must be aware of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, right?” Liu Wanqing said, “Li Shimin sat on the throne, but he was troubled about how to deal with the descendants of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. He didn’t want to kill them all, but one of his disciples told him a story. Liu An, the grandson of Liu Bang and the son of Liu Chang, the King of Huainan, failed in his rebellion. His descendants continued to plot rebellion, and the world was in turmoil. So Li Shimin executed the four sons of Li Jiancheng and the five sons of Li Yuanji.”

After hearing this, Zhu Qizhen’s eyes turned cold.

Liu Wanqing was also very bold. Her meaning was very clear: Your Majesty, you must eradicate the roots of the problem.

“For those who serve the country, seeing evil is like a farmer’s duty to remove weeds. Cut off the weeds and destroy their roots, so that they cannot grow. Then the good will believe in them.” Liu Wanqing bowed and said, “Your Majesty, farmers all know that to remove weeds, you must pull them out by the roots.”

Zhu Qizhen’s eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he was silent for a while: “You are very good, leave now.”

Liu Wanqing did not leave immediately, but knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, Wu Xingdao is my former military advisor of the White Lotus Sect. Please allow me to collect the body.” “He is the military advisor of the White Lotus Sect?” Zhu Qizhen was shocked.

“Yes!” Liu Wanqing nodded, “My master said before he died that the military advisor was there to assist the previous Saintess, and he never returned to the White Lotus Sect after that.”

So that’s it.

The previous saint of the White Lotus Sect was the Queen Mother.

“Okay, I approve.” Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Liu Wanqing stepped out.

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

The White Lotus Sect was led by Tang Sai’er and was later destroyed by Emperor Taizong. Since then, the White Lotus Sect has gone underground and planned for the Saint Sun Ruowei to enter Beijing.

After that, only the current empress dowager knew what happened, how she met the late emperor, how she protected Taizong from harm, and finally became the current empress dowager.

……

Kunning Palace.

The Queen of Demons stood in front of the window, wearing a purple dress. She had a graceful figure, skin whiter than snow, and the perfect curves in front of her body were even more breathtaking.

However, she looked anxious and nervous, and her hands were unconsciously clenched tightly. At this time, Shuangxi came in from outside and hurried to her to report: “Madam, His Majesty has returned. The Jinyiwei has closed the Fahai Zen Temple. Wu Xingdao and Xu Bin have been… beheaded.”

The demon queen’s eyes moved slightly: “Someone is going to die anyway, what about the legitimate emperor?”

“He’s still alive.” Shuangxi said, “But I don’t know what the situation is now. No one can enter Fahai Zen Temple. I guess some monks in the temple will be purged by the Jinyiwei.”

“As expected.” The Demon Queen breathed a sigh of relief. “At least he didn’t kill my son right away.”

Shuangxi pursed her red lips and continued to report: “Your Majesty, after His Majesty returned, he ordered the Jinyiwei to release Yu Qian, Shang Lu, Yang Shan and Zheng Hong. Bulma and her son also returned to the harem.”

“His target was not them.” The Demon Queen frowned. “I am worried now. I hope no so-called loyal ministers will stand up and go to Fahai Zen Temple.”

Shuangxi looked puzzled: “Your Majesty, is he still not going to let His Majesty Zhengtong go?”

“How can it be that easy?” A complex expression flashed across the eyes of the Demon Queen. “For those who serve the country, seeing evil is like a farmer weeding the grass. Cut off the roots and prevent them from growing. Then the good people will believe in it. He didn’t know this principle before, but now he must know it better than anyone else.”

Then, she rubbed her brows and sighed softly: “I can only hand myself over and see if I can delay for a while. I want to send that stupid son abroad and never come back again.”

……

Harem, small courtyard.

Bulma returned here, and everything was still so familiar. In this deep palace, she read many stories from the Central Plains, and she became more and more like a talented woman from the south of the Yangtze River.

She made the room simple and elegant, and even asked Aisha for some incense to make the room full of books more elegant. She sat at the table in front of the window, absorbed in reading a book.

“Sister-in-law.” Zhu Qizhen walked in hurriedly.

Bulma saw him, put down the book, stood up and bowed: “Your Majesty.”

“You didn’t suffer in the imperial prison, did you?” Zhu Qizhen asked.

“They treated me very well.” Bulma blinked her beautiful eyes slightly, “I heard that they captured the Legitimacy Emperor?”

Zhu Qizhen nodded affirmatively: “He is imprisoned in Fahai Temple. I will deal with him later. The military advisor who gave him the idea to murder your father has been beheaded by me.”

Bulma’s eyes sparkled with tears: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Zhu Qizhen reached out, held her in his arms, and comforted her gently.

Bulma actually took the initiative to stretch out her fair wrists, hooked them around his neck, stood on tiptoes, and kissed him. Zhu Qizhen hugged her waist tightly and responded passionately, and before they knew it, they were on the couch.

After a violent storm, night fell.

Cao Jixiang lit up the palace lanterns outside, and the soft light penetrated the window lattice and gently filled the whole room. Inside the house, a woman slowly stood up, her long, jet-black hair like a waterfall, falling smoothly behind her, adding a bit of moving charm.

Her pure and elegant face was tinged with a faint blush, and she looked shy and charming. Her eyes flickered with hidden emotions, and as her eyes moved, there seemed to be a veil-like mist lingering, adding a bit of hazy beauty.

Wearing a light gauze long skirt, not only did it fail to conceal her graceful figure, but it also showed her unique graceful charm to the fullest, just like a moving ink painting, long-lasting charm, and intoxicating.

“I will go make something for your majesty.” Bulma pursed her red lips, her voice slightly soft, “What would your majesty like to eat? Do you want the imperial kitchen to prepare it?”

Zhu Qizhen, who was lying on the couch, shook his head and said, “Let me eat your bottom.”

“Well, Your Majesty, please wait a moment.” Bulma’s beautiful eyes moved slightly, and she stood up and walked out.

Zhu Qizhen rested his head on his hands, thinking about how to deal with the Zhengtong Emperor, his children, and the princes of the Zhu family. If they were kept, they would be a disaster after his death.

If we start a massacre, how many people will die? The ministers will also oppose it.

In the room, candlelight flickered.

Not long after, Bulma came in with a bowl of noodles and said softly, “Your Majesty, you can get up and eat.”

“Come here and feed me.” Zhu Qizhen half sat up.

Bulma had no choice but to come over, sit down on the edge of the bed, pick up the bowl and start feeding him. Zhu Qizhen ate while his eyes wandered over her with a mischievous look.

“Your Majesty, just eat honestly.” Bulma glared at his dishonest hands.

She bit her lips lightly, looked at Zhu Qizhen’s mischievous eyes, and her face turned red again. Zhu Qizhen took back his hand and asked, “Have you thought about your future plans?”

Bulma blinked her gentle and soft eyes, then shook her head: “I am a weak woman, what can I do?”

She has accepted her fate and doesn’t fight for anything. She just wants to live quietly and watch her children grow up.

Zhu Qizhen put his arm around her waist, hugged her plump body into his arms, and said, “If you want to go back to Dunhuang, I can arrange it for you.”

Bulma’s long and thick eyelashes trembled slightly, her body stiffened instantly, and then she leaned weakly into his arms, her lips slightly parted, and she uttered a choked and weak cry: “You want to drive me away?”

“The harem is always a place of right and wrong. Your personality is not suitable for it.” Zhu Qizhen exerted a little strength with his arms.

Bulma pursed her lips gently, lowered her head silently, without saying a word, quietly expressing her resistance in a gentle and tenacious manner.

“If you can take your children with you, I will give you the city of Dunhuang,” said Zhu Qizhen.

There was a glimmer in her eyes, as if her son’s figure appeared in her mind, and her whole face became lively and energetic. She hesitated for a moment, glanced at him gently, and asked softly, “Really?”

“Of course, I’m serious.” Zhu Qizhen couldn’t help but touch her hair.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Bulma stared at him with excitement and joy. Her eyes were as gentle as water and were lit up, revealing endless joy and expectation. “I will not tell the child who his father is.”

Zhu Qizhen smiled and squeezed her little hand: “I know you won’t let him get involved in hatred.”

……

Coming out of the courtyard, Zhu Qizhen ran into the Demon Queen head-on.

She was wearing a gorgeous black and purple floor-length dress, the hem of which was lightly dragged, outlining every curve of her body, showing off her proud figure. Her charming eyes, which were a little lazy, blinked gently, captivating her. She gracefully supported her slender waist with one hand, and her body naturally bent into an attractive arc, exuding an irresistible charm.

“Your Majesty, please come to my palace.” She acted like a queen.

Zhu Qizhen really had no interest in facing her at the moment, and said indifferently: “I am tired, I will go to your Kunning Palace tomorrow.”

The Queen walked closer with her long legs, got in front of him, and whispered, “Your Majesty, are you really not coming with me?”

Concubine? You call yourself a concubine?

Zhu Qizhen sneered, “No!”

……

Ps: This book is indeed on the countdown, but not so fast. I am struggling with how to write it now, and it gets harder and harder as time goes by. There is only one chapter today, and it is the beginning of the month, so please support me with votes for next month.

(End of this chapter)