Chapter 338: The Queen Mother’s funeral, the fake emperor finally becomes a lonely man

clang… clang… clang…

Bells rang from time to time in all the temples in the capital because the Empress Dowager had passed away. According to the rules, upon hearing the news of the death, the temples and monasteries in the capital would ring the bells 30,000 times to “bless the Empress Dowager in the underworld.”

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen looked gloomy as he looked at the “Notes on the Funeral Rites of the Late Empress Dowager” drafted by the Ministry of Rites in conjunction with the Cabinet or the Hanlin Academy officials. At that moment, he really thought that the Empress Dowager had passed away.

“Let’s do it this way.” He closed the letter.

Cao Jixiang received the order and went to the Ministry of Rites to tell them to follow the “Notes on the Funeral Rites of the Late Empress Dowager” to conduct the funeral of the Empress Dowager. As soon as he left, Shi Biao, the commander of the Jinyiwei, came in hurriedly.

“Your Majesty, we found the ship.” Shi Biao’s face was solemn, “But we didn’t find it… Queen Mother, they changed the ship, with the cooperation of the Ming Trading Company, and they are probably heading to some port.”

Zhu Qizhen was furious: “Then block all ports and stop them.”

“As you wish.” Shi Biao accepted the order and hesitated to speak.

Zhu Qizhen cast a cold gaze on him and said, “If you have something to say, just say it!”

“Your Majesty, do you want to close down the Ming Trading Company?” Shi Biao asked, “With their capabilities, they can travel all over the world, but they don’t necessarily go out to sea from ports.”

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

He already knew that Chao Xiaotian had gone to Malacca City in Southeast Asia, and he guessed in his heart that the Demon Queen must have contacted Chao Xiaotian long ago and made a detailed plan.

“The imperial court is the largest shareholder of the Ming Dynasty Trading Company,” Zhu Qizhen said coldly. “Aren’t there quite a few Jinyiwei inside? Have they lost control?”

Shi Biao bowed again hurriedly: “I am guilty! The dividends given by Daming Trading Company every year are not less than the same. I have been sent less to the Jinyiwei in the past two years. The company is getting bigger and bigger, and it is really hard to control.”

“Stop the man first.” Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.

Shi Biao retreated and ordered the Jinyiwei at all ports to stop the Queen Mother’s ship. But he guessed in his heart that the chances were slim and the Queen Mother would definitely not sail out from the port.

……

Several days passed, and there was no news from the Empress Dowager.

Zhu Qizhen had already attended the morning court as scheduled. As a wise ruler, he would not delay government affairs. However, sitting on the dragon throne and looking at the ministers in mourning clothes, he truly felt that the evil queen had left.

“Your Majesty, the funeral will be held the day after tomorrow. The Ministry of Rites has already made all the arrangements.” Minister of Rites Li Bing reported.

Zhu Qizhen was silent for a long time, then said in a deep voice: “Yes!”

After the court session, he returned to the Qianqing Palace and held a small court meeting. The cabinet ministers, as well as people from the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commands Office, all attended to discuss the preparations for the war in the front.

“Before the army moves, the food and grass must go first.” Shi Hengbai said, “This time we are going to war with the Ottoman Empire, it will be a rich war that we have never had before. Liu Dingzhi said that his Chagatai Province can guarantee the supply of food and grass.”

Xu Youzhen nodded in agreement: “As for Timur Province, Dong Yuchang also sent a memorial after taking office as governor. They will ensure the supply of food and fodder for the army, as well as weapons.”

Zhu Qizhen nodded slowly: “We are not short of silver or food, but we must also make adequate preparations, because the Ottoman Empire is also not short of silver or food.”

“It’s a formidable opponent.” Shi Heng said, “They seem to have noticed something and are sending troops to various passes in the east.”

Zhu Qizhen pondered for a moment and said, “In a war with the Ottoman Empire, the navy will be the key! Transferring the navy from Nanyang is so far away and the noise will be too great.”

“Your Majesty, dispatch tens of thousands of elite troops to accompany the merchant ships,” Xu Youzhen suggested. “Warships and artillery can be built in the shipyards there, but people need training. Besides, new soldiers will surely have various problems. If an elite force goes there, they can be trained quickly.”

“Okay.” Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.

……

After reviewing the memorials, Zhu Qizhen came to the Kunning Palace.

Inside Kunning Palace, the solemnity and luxury of the past had been replaced by a solemnity and sadness. The air was filled with the faint smell of incense and candles and the sound of weeping.

The empress dowager’s mourning hall was decorated solemnly, with black and white curtains hanging low, and a portrait of the empress dowager in the middle. All around were various offerings, from flowers to fruits, and the flickering candlelight reflected the sad faces of everyone present. The interweaving of light and shadow seemed to make even the air heavier.

The civil and military officials and their wives in Beijing, dressed in plain clothes, knelt in front of the mourning hall, their faces were wet with tears, their eyes were empty, immersed in the grief of losing the empress dowager. The cries came one after another, some were low and sobbing, some were high and sad, echoing throughout the Kunning Palace.

The special sacrificial ceremony began at the right time, with music playing, solemn and dignified. The priests, dressed in robes and holding instruments, performed the complex and sacred ceremony step by step according to ancient etiquette. The smoke of incense lingered with every act of worship, as if it could convey people’s thoughts and wishes to the sky, so that the Queen Mother’s soul could rest in peace.

Zhu Qizhen stood aside, feeling mixed emotions.

The queen, dressed in mourning clothes, walked up to him and reported the funeral in a low voice. Zhu Qizhen frowned and said, “Do as you wish, but you must give her enough dignity.”

“I obey your command.” The queen bowed.

Zhu Qizhen returned to the Qianqing Palace and continued to work until night fell. He was going to have dinner in Kunning Palace as usual, but when he walked out of the hall, he remembered that the people in Kunning Palace were no longer there.

“Cao Jixiang, ask the imperial kitchen to serve the meal.” He said in a deep voice.

“Yes.” Cao Jixiang seemed a little flustered because the emperor had not eaten in the Qianqing Palace for a long time.

Zhu Qizhen returned to the throne and closed his eyes in deep thought.

The food in the imperial kitchen was not to his liking, so he ate a little and then left. He stayed alone in the Qianqing Palace until late at night, then he walked out of the palace and came to the Kunning Palace.

There were palace maids guarding the empress dowager’s mourning hall. When they saw him coming, they all knelt down. He waved his hand and asked them to leave. He stood alone in front of the mourning hall, in a daze.

“Where will you go? Leave Ming and go to Southeast Asia? Are you not planning to come back?”

“Humph, did you think I couldn’t find you?”

“South Asia and the West will all submit to me. I wonder where you can hide.”

……

Three days later, the Queen Mother’s funeral was held.

As the morning light broke through the sky, the capital was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. The red walls and golden tiles of the Forbidden City added a bit of heaviness and solemnity in the morning light. On the day of the empress dowager’s funeral, the whole country mourned and all the people shared the grief.

When the morning light appeared, there was silence inside and outside the palace. Only the occasional sound of bells could be heard in the distance, long and deep.

The palace gate slowly opened, and rows of guards and eunuchs dressed in black and wearing white hats, holding ceremonial weapons, entered the square in an orderly manner, their faces full of sorrow and respect. The coffin was placed on a dragon and phoenix coffin, surrounded by complex royal totems, shining with gold paint, but looking particularly quiet in the morning light. In front of the coffin, bunches of white chrysanthemums and lilies were clustered, emitting a faint fragrance.

Following the deep and powerful commands, the honor guard slowly set off. In the front were Taoist priests holding soul-guiding banners, chanting scriptures as they walked, guiding the empress dowager’s soul to heaven. Following closely behind were the royal family members and important officials of the court, all dressed in mourning clothes, with sad faces and heavy steps.

Along the way, the streets were already lined with people who came to see them off. They held incense sticks, bowed their heads in silence, and had tears in their eyes, but they tried hard not to let the tears fall, for fear of disturbing the solemnity. The children were hugged tightly by the adults. Although they did not understand the deep meaning, they also felt the unusual atmosphere and became unusually quiet.

Funeral music sounded, the melody mournful yet solemn, echoing in the streets and alleys of the capital.

As the sun sets, the coffin of the empress dowager is finally buried in the imperial mausoleum, where she will rest forever. Zhu Qizhen stands in front of the tomb, feeling sad as if the evil queen is really dead and he will never see her again.

……

Above the boundless blue waves, the horizon gradually shone with a gentle orange-red, and the sun was rising. The sea surface was like a huge mirror, calm without a single ripple, reflecting the slowly rising red sun.

A majestic ship was sailing slowly southward in this peaceful sea. The Queen of Demons stood on the deck, wearing a luxurious long dress and a peerless beauty. Her eyes passed through the waves and fixed on the seemingly endless blue.

This was her first time going out to sea, and the scene before her was both unfamiliar and shocking to her. The waves gently lapped the side of the boat, and the sea breeze gently blew through the ends of her hair, making her feel unprecedented freedom and tranquility.

“It’s so beautiful!” she exclaimed.

The sea and the sky were one color, and I couldn’t tell which was the sky and which was the sea. I just felt my mind suddenly open up, and all my worries and sorrows seemed to be blown away by the sea breeze. As the sun gradually rose, golden ripples appeared on the sea.

“Your Majesty, please go into the cabin. It’s windy outside.” Shuangxi walked over.

“I’m not that weak.” The Demon Queen smiled, “Shuangxi, don’t call me Empress from now on. The Queen Mother of the Ming Dynasty is dead. From now on, I am just Sun Ruowei, you can call me Madam.”

Shuangxi smiled slightly: “Okay, ma’am.”

All the way south, the Demon Queen was immersed in sorrow, but when she reached the sea, she gradually became cheerful. Shuangxi was worried at first, but now he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Master’s Wife.” Qi Shu came over with a letter in her hand. She handed it to the Demon Queen and said, “This is the last intelligence I received when I boarded the ship. At that time, I didn’t dare to show it to you, Master’s Wife.”

The Demon Queen took it and smiled: “Is there any news from the court?”

“Well, the imperial court has sent out obituary notices to all provinces in the Ming Dynasty. The empress dowager… has passed away.” Qi Shu had a strange look on her face.

“As expected, this was probably the Queen’s idea.” The Demon Queen was not surprised at all. She opened the intelligence report and scanned it, sighing softly, “This is good. This Queen is really dead.”

Qi Shu’s face flashed with worry: “I don’t know if it will affect Daming Trading Company.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t have any impact. I have discussed this with Xiaotian before.” The Demon Queen smiled and said, “With me here, His Majesty will be more supportive of the Ming Trading Company.”

Qi Shu nodded slowly and changed the subject: “Master’s Wife, there must be seafood in the cabin.”

……

A month passed.

The Queen came to the main gate of the Palace of Heavenly Purity and heard the Emperor’s roar from inside the palace. She frowned slightly and said, “Your Majesty is angry again. Since the death of the Queen Mother, Your Majesty’s temper has been getting worse and worse.”

Not long after, the cabinet ministers and Jinyiwei commander Shi Biao came out of the hall. Seeing the queen standing at the door, they stepped forward and bowed to her together.

“I’m sorry to trouble you.” The Queen sighed, “I will try to persuade Your Majesty more.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Xu Youzhen bowed, “It’s nothing for me to be scolded by Your Majesty, but I am worried about Your Majesty’s health.”

The Queen nodded slowly: “I understand. In a few days, I suggest that Your Majesty go out for a walk to relax. You should prepare, otherwise Your Majesty will be unable to put down government affairs again.”

“Yes.” The ministers accepted the order and turned away.

Xu Youzhen and Shi Biao walked side by side on the imperial road, both looking unhappy. Shi Biao rubbed his face vigorously and said, “The Queen Mother should have gone to sea a long time ago, probably to Southeast Asia, and she can’t be found.”

“The Queen Mother has left, and Your Majesty… has devoted himself to government affairs, and has become increasingly strict with his subordinates. Recently, many ministers have been scolded or even beaten, right?” Xu Youzhen smiled bitterly, “Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger.”

Shi Biao also smiled helplessly: “I hope Your Majesty can adjust as soon as possible.”

“It’s difficult!” Xu Youzhen frowned, “He won’t trust anyone anymore. He’s all alone.”

Shi Biao raised his head and glanced at the sky, saying, “After all, we have been with him from the beginning, and His Majesty will still remember our friendship. In the future, be more careful in what you do.”

“Your Majesty won’t start a massacre.” Xu Youzhen said, “But the days ahead will definitely not be easy.”

……

Night falls.

The Qianqing Palace was brightly lit, with candles and lanterns illuminating the entire hall. Zhu Qizhen had been reviewing memorials until late at night, and was now carefully examining the memorial handed over from Japan.

“Ning Rongrong has already sent out troops.” He looked at the memorial and whispered to himself, “The first target is the Maori clan. This daimyo has not yet risen, so it is an easy target for annexation.”

After reading it, he pondered for a long time and wrote three letters, one for Ning Rongrong, one for Bai Wuqi and one for Zhang Lun. Ning Rongrong is now the governor of Dongying in the Ming Dynasty and the top leader in public.

However, he used Bai Wuqi to contain Ning Rongrong, and Zhang Lun, with his invincible fleet, would enter the East Japan Sea at the right time to support Ning Rongrong.

“It shouldn’t be difficult to conquer Japan.” He frowned and thought, “Ning Rongrong’s analysis is correct, but after conquering it, how to control it is the real problem. Japan has never been controlled by foreign races.”

After writing the letter, she told Cao Jixiang to send it out as soon as possible. At this time, the queen came to the palace with several palace maids and bowed to Zhu Qizhen: “Your Majesty, I have made soup for you.”

“No need.” Zhu Qizhen stood up, “I still have to go to the Ministry of War.”

“It’s so late, Your Majesty…” The Queen was full of worry.

“It’s okay, you can go back.” Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and strode away.

The queen looked at his back and sighed softly. Ever since the empress dowager left, the emperor had not been to the harem for a long time and had devoted himself to government affairs.

Zhu Qizhen came to the Ministry of War. Although it was night, there was someone on duty. Because in the current Ming Dynasty, there could be news of war at any time. The person on duty today was Shi Heng, who was sitting on a chair reading a report.

“Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you.” When Shi Heng saw the emperor coming in, he quickly stood up and paid his respects.

“Stand up.” Zhu Qizhen raised his hand.

(End of this chapter)