Chapter 47 Breaking into the palace at night and revealing one's heart

Ciqing Palace, just after midnight.

Now that the summer heat is getting deeper, ice is placed in every palace so that the nobles can sleep well.

Empress Dowager Chen did not enjoy such treatment when she was in another palace. Now she enjoyed a rare cool summer night and fell asleep early.

At this time, the eunuchs and palace maids who usually served had already left.

Empress Dowager Chen stretched out her slender neck and rested peacefully on the bed.

For some reason, an uneasy look began to appear on her face, and her brows gradually furrowed, as if she had had a nightmare.

Suddenly, she felt a palpitation and Empress Dowager Chen opened her eyes.

She rang the bell at the bedside wearily, preparing to ask the palace servant to bring some water.

But after waiting for a while, the palace maid did not appear.

Instead, an unexpected person came in.

Empress Dowager Chen blurted out: "Mother, why are you here?"

Her eyes were full of vigilance as she looked at her slightly elderly mother who slowly walked in from outside.

In the past few days, the Chen family sent people to contact her many times, but she showed no mercy and rejected them all.

Now her mother actually entered Ciqing Palace! How did she get in?

Mother Chen looked at her daughter with a complicated expression.

But he did not explain the problem, but just sat down gently on the edge of the bed and said, "The Queen Mother has lost a lot of weight."

Empress Dowager Chen frowned, stepped back, and shouted outside, "Someone come!"

This voice did not call anyone.

Mother Chen held Empress Dowager Chen's hand and said with pity, "I was the one who recruited Chen Suan into the palace, so you should still give me this little face."

"Come, let me dress you. Let's go to the main hall. I have something to tell you."

Empress Dowager Chen stared at her mother in a daze.

She was not a stupid person. She understood immediately even though the shout didn't call anyone.

What do you mean Chen is giving face? It's not like there's no one else in the palace.

This is clearly a story repeating itself.

At the beginning, she was banished to the cold palace, and that was how the Chen family sold her out.

Now it is exactly the same... If she goes to the main hall, the people waiting for her will probably be Li, Li Jin, and Feng Bao.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Seeing that Mother Chen was about to dress her, she suddenly calmed down, sat up, and said seriously, "Put on the crown and clothes for me!"

Mother Chen was silent for a while before she nodded.

The two men looked at each other in silence. After a long while, they finally found their crowns and clothes and began to put them on.

The Empress Dowager would only wear her crown and robes when she received the imperial decree, visited the temple, and attended court meetings. Now that there is such a request, it is obvious that this moment is regarded as a special one.

Empress Dowager Chen allowed her mother to put on accessories for her, and she took the crown with her own hands.

The crown has a round rim, is covered with jadeite, and is decorated with nine dragons and four phoenixes, and is extremely precious.

After getting dressed, she gently adjusted the large twelve-tree flower on her crown and took the lead: "Let's go, I want to see who is here to see me in the middle of the night."

……

The main hall of Ciqing Palace.

Queen Mother Chen met the second unexpected person tonight.

It turned out to be the emperor!
After Chen's mother left, the empty hall was filled with only the emperor and the empress dowager.

Zhu Yijun took a look at the crown and clothes worn by Empress Chen, trying to guess her mentality.

But he was polite: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to your mother."

Empress Dowager Chen also stared at the emperor with a bewildered look on her face.

She thought that it was Li who was waiting for her, but she didn't expect that it was the young emperor whom she even liked a little.

After withdrawing her gaze from outside the palace, Empress Dowager Chen returned her puzzled gaze to the emperor.

Is the emperor here to lead the charge on behalf of his biological mother?
Or, is this inner court simply under the control of the emperor?
Empress Dowager Chen nodded slightly and said tentatively, "It is not proper for the Emperor to come to see me in the middle of the night. I don't know why he came."

But the emperor's answer was not what she expected.

Zhu Yijun bowed again, as if he had a myriad of emotions: "My son, I came here to question my mother!"

Empress Dowager Chen remained silent and waited for him to continue.

Zhu Yijun continued, "Mother, Gao Gong bullied the Imperial Household Department, threatened the emperor, and bullied my biological mother. Wasn't he relying on the power of the queen mother?"

"Now, Gao Gong has the final say in the court, using his position to pressure the emperor, making me miserable. I can't believe it, but it was my mother who ordered this!"

"I have been sleepless for several days, and even tossed and turned all night. Today, I couldn't help but ask Mother a question!"

"Mother! Am I your son?"

Zhu Yijun knew very well what it meant to strike first and gain first advantage.

Even if he wanted to force Empress Dowager Chen, he couldn't do it by force.

It is very important to occupy the moral high ground right from the start.

Humans are the best at brainwashing themselves.

If she is not put in a situation where she is in the wrong, her mentality will rebound strongly when she is forced - I am a white lotus, why do you all come to bully me?

At that time, if he got carried away and saw that the situation was hopeless, and he ran into a wall and died in the palace, Zhu Yijun would be covered in mud and his pants would be shit.

Once you encounter such an incident, it will be a political stain for your whole life.

All kinds of censors, unofficial histories, and conspiracies will flock to him like flies.

It can be said that if Empress Dowager Chen dies here tonight, outsiders will think that he did it regardless of whether he did it or not.

By then, not to mention that his power would be affected, even Gao Gong would have to seize this loophole and make a last-ditch effort.

Even the scholars and civil servants in the court and the public would have a big question mark about this emperor.

Under such conditions, it is not impossible to move forward, but at least the difficulty is doubled.

So, this was his only concern tonight.

He had to force Empress Dowager Chen gently and never allow her to do anything unkind.

Empress Dowager Chen, dressed in a crown and robes, approached with a calm and relaxed demeanor.

She looked the emperor up and down.

What a good son! He is indeed a good son.

Before we knew it, such a huge trend had emerged.

I thought she came for Li, but now it seems that she underestimated this holy king.

Empress Dowager Chen said expressionlessly, "The emperor is naturally my son."

"It is precisely because he is my son that I must supervise the country for the emperor and make use of old officials. The emperor is still young and I am worrying too much."

She naturally knew that the emperor came with a reliance - probably everyone inside and outside the Ciqing Palace was his people.

But if you try to find fault with her, she won't admit it.

At worst, it’s just a piece of white silk. She has been waiting in the cold palace for three years.

It can't get any worse.

But Zhu Yijun didn't want to see her acting pretentiously.

He directly exposed all the disguises and looked at Queen Mother Chen in pain and said, "I know that the two palaces are not in harmony. Mother has a reason for doing this."

"But...what is the child's fault?"

He raised his head stubbornly and looked directly into Empress Dowager Chen's eyes: "My biological mother is my mother, but my stepmother is even more of a mother."

"The dispute between the two palaces now is like the struggle between heaven and man in the child's heart!"

"I also want to be filial to my mother and let them enjoy all the honor and glory."

"Mother, if there is any possibility, please don't put my child in an unfilial position."

"My sincere heart, mother will understand!"

This statement is indeed unreasonable.

The emperor had always been filial. He would come to greet her every now and then, and whenever he got something good, he would share the profits with her.

Not to mention the fact that he often asked for advice, which made her realize that the emperor was indeed a filial and kind person.

The only time she was somewhat humble was when facing the emperor.

But... that was before. Now that the emperor has broken into Ciqing Palace at night, it would be too much of an underestimation to still pretend to be pitiful.

She looked directly at the emperor and said in a strong tone, "The emperor broke into the Ciqing Palace at night, just to show off?"

If the emperor was really so submissive, he would not have secretly controlled the inner court.

He would never break into the palace's bedroom at night, leaving her unable to call anyone around her.

Zhu Yijun shook his head and said sadly, "Mother has her own precautions, and I have my own grievances. If there was any way, I would not have broken into the palace at night."

"I know my mother is ready to label me as an unfilial person in order to destroy me."

"If Gao Gong had not threatened to help my obedient four-year-old brother ascend the throne, why would I be so flustered and rude to my mother until now?"

Empress Dowager Chen was stunned.

This caught her off guard, and she subconsciously asked, "The Prime Minister said he wants to abolish you!?"

Even she herself didn't know about this.

Seeing that he had gone astray in the rhythm, Zhu Yijun continued to strike while the iron was hot.

He raised his head and said stubbornly, "Mother, why do you have to ask when you already know the answer? Without your approval, how could Gao Gong say such a thing?"

Zhu Yijun would definitely not allow the queen mother to claim herself as a perfect victim, as only he could bear this character.

Empress Dowager Chen remained silent.

Although she and Gao Gong had some tacit understanding, their fundamental purposes were different.

I don’t have so many concerns about my country and the world.

She had no control over what Gao Gong thought. At most, the two of them just got what they wanted.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Chen finally sighed and helped her son up.

He turned his head somewhat unnaturally and explained: "I didn't mean that."

Although deposing the emperor was sensational, she didn't really care.

She doesn't care about the overall situation or the world.

However, she just wanted to settle the accounts that needed to be settled, and she was not in the mood to mess around with the rest.

Empress Dowager Chen looked outside the palace and saw silence. She continued, "Perhaps I am too late to say this. Is the Emperor planning to kill me?"

The emperor certainly couldn't have come to complain to her after doing this.

Perhaps, he just wanted to feel at ease and say a few more words to his family before taking action.

But Zhu Yijun did not accept this guess. Instead, he looked at Empress Chen in disbelief: "Mother, why do you look at me like this?"

He suddenly felt a little lost: "I have long wanted to plead my case with my mother in person, but I have been blocked outside the Ciqing Palace."

"Now, in order to see my mother, I have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."

He said softly, "I know why my mother wants to rely on Gao Gong."

"My mother is resentful that she is the queen but has no children of her own. She is also resentful that my father moved her to another palace..."

The words are not finished yet.

Empress Dowager Chen suddenly lost her composure. She turned back abruptly, stared at the emperor, and said word by word: "Who do you think did this?"

The emperor knew nothing, yet he dared to persuade her?
If all the problems in the world can be solved with words, why would the Ming Dynasty maintain so many troops?
To her surprise, Zhu Yijun nodded: "The child will know."

"Not only did I know, I also brought the culprit to my mother."

Empress Dowager Chen stopped abruptly.

She stared at the emperor blankly: "Bring...brought it?"

Zhu Yijun stepped forward and supported Empress Dowager Chen: "I will take you to see it."

Empress Dowager Chen pursed her lips and allowed the emperor to pull her to the screen.

In her mind, Li would turn around and laugh at her the next moment.

But, once again, it was unexpected - the emperor pushed down the screen and revealed a corpse!
It was Feng Bao!
The emperor said angrily, "Feng Bao has deceived the emperor and harmed the country. His crime is grave!"

"During the Jiajing period, he relied on the East Factory to do sinister things. I think the death of several of the emperor's children was related to this man!"

"During the Longqing period, he flattered me and offered me poisonous drugs, causing my father to die young!"

"Now, I have heard that this person has alienated the two palaces and caused disharmony in the harem. He deserves death!"

"My son, I will kill this beast on purpose, not only to uphold the law of the land, but also to avenge my mother!"

Some things are hard to figure out.

The best solution is to not argue.

If there are people who can be killed, kill them immediately. It will be enough to have a result on the surface.

If you still want to get to the bottom of it... then you really don't know what's good for you.

Empress Dowager Chen never took her eyes off Feng Bao.

It seemed unexpected, yet also somewhat refreshing.

She stared at Feng Bao's body in a daze.

Just when Zhu Yijun thought the matter was over and the queen mother was about to walk down the stairs.

Then I heard Empress Dowager Chen muttering, "The emperor has never been outside the palace, so he hasn't seen much. Do you know that if a commoner is bitten by a dog, will he chase the dog or go and cause trouble for the owner?"

This is not giving face. Zhu Yijun sighed.

He didn't want to know who did these dirty things in the inner palace, and there was no need to know.

This is why he had no intention of asking anything from Chen Hong.

But, at least according to his guess, it was most likely not instructed by Empress Dowager Li.

But many things are beyond human control.

Just as Empress Dowager Chen said, a dog is a dog after all, and the blame should always be paid to its owner.

What can we do? We can't tie up Queen Mother Li and use her to vent our anger.

Fortunately, he didn't have to please the queen mother - as long as his mentality was not so extreme that he really died by hitting his head in the palace, that would be enough.

Zhu Yijun said, "My mother is right."

"Everyone is guilty, but I am the one to blame."

"Feng Bao bullied his master with his slavery, so it was naturally the master's fault."

"Everything must be blamed on my Imperial Examination!"

He turned his head and looked at Empress Dowager Chen, and continued: "But, a son should not criticize his father. Since my father has passed away, this account should be settled on the head of me as his son."

"If mother wants to punish me, please let me take it on her behalf."

Queen Mother Chen sneered: "What a filial and good son..."

She was about to utter a sarcastic remark.

Suddenly, a loud and emotional shout was heard: "Mother!"

Zhu Yijun suddenly knelt down and paid his respects to his parents.

He said sincerely, "I know that mother once felt resentful. No matter how filial I am, I am not my own child."

"But please don't humiliate my sincere heart, mother!"

"Whether it's my stepmother or my biological mother, I regard them as my closest relatives and never treat them differently!"

"If you don't believe me, I am willing to cut out my heart and gallbladder and present them to you, the Queen Mother!"

Say it.

Zhu Yijun suddenly acted.

He simply ripped open his shirt, revealing his broad chest.

He then casually pulled out the blood-stained dagger that was stuck in Feng Bao's body, wrapped it with a piece of rag, held it up with both hands, and handed it to Empress Dowager Chen.

The sudden behavior made Empress Dowager Chen suddenly panic.

The emperor remained motionless, ready to die. Empress Dowager Chen was also shocked and stunned, silent.

Only Zhu Xixiao, who was outside the hall, watched the scene with bated breath.

He knew that the emperor had a blunt dagger in his hand that had been arranged in advance.

Although no one can be hurt, even if there is any bump or scratch, it will be Zhu Xixiao's fault!

Even if the emperor ordered that he could only break in when the empress dowager made a move.

But there was a time limit, and he had already made up his mind that if the Queen Mother showed any sign of not knowing what was good for her and picking up the dagger, he would rush in and pin her down.

Time seemed to freeze.

Feng Bao's blood was still dripping from the dagger.

The solemn atmosphere was brought to the extreme.

The emperor took off his shirt and exposed his chest, testing the empress dowager's bottom line.

This scene was like a performance art like the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, but it really shocked the people involved and they were at a loss what to do.

This is not simply playing the victim.

This was the emperor telling the empress dowager through practical actions.

Either compromise and give in, or go to war.

There is no second option.

No matter what Empress Dowager Chen had planned to do before, whether it was targeting the Chen family, taking revenge on Empress Dowager Li, or even wanting to taste the power, for various reasons, tonight, she had to get the Emperor's approval.

Intensifying conflicts is also one of the negotiation skills.

Zhu Yijun lowered his head, waiting for Empress Dowager Chen's decision.

This choice determined not his fate, but that of Empress Dowager Chen.

Whether she believed it or was willing to back down, he would never embarrass his mother in the future.

On the contrary, if she refused to take this step, he would have no choice but to let the queen mother become sick with worry.

At the same time, it was also squeezing Empress Dowager Chen's choices.

In this way, the only choice is between compromise and killing the child, which quietly eliminates the possibility of revenge by committing suicide.

Time passed little by little.

Queen Mother Chen took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

I have witnessed the greed and lust of the previous emperor, who was a ruthless emperor who expelled his original wife.

Now, seeing this passionate emperor who is risking his life to reconcile the two palaces, it is just a spectacle.

The emperor used practical actions to tell himself that if he wanted to support Gao Gong and disrupt the inner palace again, he might as well step over his dead body.

What a filial and good son he is, he actually forced her in this way.

How dare you?

Are you betting that you are soft-hearted and haven't gone crazy yet?
Or is it true love and pure filial piety?
Or...if she makes any move, she will be shot through by an arrow from a hundred steps away?

One son and one mother, one kneeling and one standing, the picture is almost frozen.

No one moved.

Zhu Yijun was very patient. The Empress Dowager was in a daze, and Zhu Xixiao, who was outside, was the most anxious.

at last.

Zhu Yijun heard the voice of Empress Dowager Chen.

"Your Majesty has put a lot of effort into forcing me."

Zhu Yijun raised his head and saw that Empress Dowager Chen had closed her eyes in pain.

She turned around and waved her hand, signaling the emperor to throw away the dagger.

Zhu Yijun threw it out casually and asked Zhu Xixiao to pick it up. Then he turned around and said, "My child's scheme is also for this family."

"Please don't be angry, mother. I will be filial to you in the future."

It is enough for the play to reach this point.

There's no quarrel, everyone can save their own way, and it won't interfere with the main business.

Of course, it is better for Empress Dowager Chen not to see outsiders recently. Wait until the situation stabilizes before being filial to her.

Queen Mother Chen seemed to have been drained of all her strength and asked tiredly, "Where are Chen Hong and the others?"

Zhu Yijun said without hesitation: "They all have their way to death. I have already killed them all!"

The fact that the late emperor died early due to taking too many strong and dangerous drugs should be blamed on Chen Hong.

Isn't it a good thing to kill a few eunuchs who are seeking their own death and clear all past debts?

Empress Dowager Chen became increasingly powerless.

She wanted to blame the emperor, but she also understood that such a threat to the imperial power was powerful enough to overturn the table. It would be great if she, the queen mother, could be spared, let alone a few eunuchs.

But after all, they had been master and servant for many years, and Empress Dowager Chen only felt heartbroken.

She looked sad and waved her hand: "There is no need to keep anyone to serve you. The emperor can do whatever he wants."

Zhu Yijun did not respond.

Empress Dowager Chen looked indifferent to life and death, so how could he just let her go?

He said softly, "Wait a moment, mother."

After saying that, Zhu Yijun walked out.

Empress Dowager Chen was complaining to herself and didn't say anything.

Not long after, the emperor's voice was heard: "Mother, look."

Queen Chen turned her head and saw Zhang Hong holding a one-year-old baby girl beside the emperor.

Zhu Yijun said in a gentle voice: "This is the sixth daughter of the Emperor, Zhu Yaoji, born to Concubine Wang. She is now one year and nine months old."

"After Concubine Wang passed away during childbirth, she has been raised by Concubine Qin."

"Now that my mother is in the harem and is the mother of the world, it is natural that I should hand it over to you."

Queen Mother Chen walked in slowly and looked at the baby in Zhang Hong's arms.

She reached out and fiddled with it twice.

Then he turned around and looked at the emperor.

She could no longer tell how much of this young emperor's sincerity was false and how much was real.

She even began to be secretly afraid of her son - his ability to see into people's hearts was truly inhuman.

Is this because he is afraid that she will commit suicide and affect his throne?
Or is it simply because he saw that I was alone and helpless that he wanted to find a daughter to raise for me?
She reached out and hugged Zhu Yaoji, and asked absentmindedly: "What on earth is the emperor doing here tonight?"

Zhu Yijun met her gaze and said respectfully, "Mother, there is really nothing else to do. I just want to help you resolve your worries."

"However, since I'm here, I just remembered something. There were some mistakes in the announcement of the rewards for the Zhimen tomorrow, so I have to re-draft the decree."

"Now all that's left is for mother to add her name."

Empress Dowager Chen suddenly realized: "You want to dismiss Gao Gong!?"

She certainly knew what she was doing.

It was because she supported Gao Gong that Gao Gong was able to suppress both internal and external forces.

Just a few days later, the emperor broke into Ciqing Palace at night. I'm afraid he came for this purpose.

However, Zhu Yijun shook his head: "After all, Yuanfu is a veteran minister who has served three dynasties. He is highly respected and has made great contributions. How can I dismiss him?"

His tone was deep and meaningful, "I will reward him well."

Empress Dowager Chen was surprised, but she didn't ask any further questions.

Now, she has no interest in these matters anymore.

He nodded casually: "Give me the will."

This means you agree to add the name.

Zhu Yijun stood there without moving.

After a pause, he slowly said, "Don't bother me, mother... I have sent someone to get the seal."

Empress Dowager Chen remained silent.

The two were silent for a long time.

Zhu Yijun then respectfully took his leave: "Mother, I will take my leave first."

Empress Dowager Chen just hugged Zhu Yaoji and said nothing.

After the emperor stepped out, she glanced at his back and smiled at herself.

As I was laughing, I suddenly burst into tears.

……

Zhu Yijun tilted his head and listened to the noise in the hall.

I was relieved when I heard the faint crying sounds.

It’s good to cry. It helps you vent your emotions and won’t lead to suicide easily.

As he walked out, he felt a little emotional in his heart. This should be the last time he acted so young in front of the two palaces.

Now, Zhang Juzheng has a tacit understanding with him.

Empress Dowager Li could only rely on him.

Gao Yi treated him as God.

The Japanese lecturers regarded him as a genius.

Wait until tomorrow to expel Gao Gong and reorganize the cabinet.

He is the upright emperor in the eyes of the two palaces, court officials, nobles, and eunuchs!
The Emperor, that is the Emperor!
Zhu Xixiao followed the emperor silently. Suddenly, he saw the emperor subconsciously touch his stomach, and then seemed to find nothing. He then put his hands behind his back and walked leisurely, calmly and relaxed.

Seeing this posture, he inexplicably felt that the emperor's aura seemed to change suddenly.

He doesn't look like a young emperor, but more like a person in a high position who has held power for many years!
Still wondering, he suddenly heard the emperor speaking to him: "Mr. Zhu, clean up before you leave."

Zhu Xixiao's thoughts came to an abrupt halt. He bowed and responded, then stepped back.

Zhu Yijun also instructed Zhang Hong: "Go, find two raccoons and send them to the queen mother, and let the women of the Chen family come to the palace to accompany her more."

Zhang Hong hurriedly said, "I will do it tomorrow."

As Zhu Yijun walked out, he seemed to remember something: "During this period of time, you have to personally serve my mother. She has no one to serve her, so she is easy to be bullied."

"If we don't have enough manpower, go ask Li Jin for some."

Zhang Hong understood what she meant: "I will not let the Queen Mother suffer any injustice, nor will I let anyone disturb her peace."

Zhu Yijun nodded.

As soon as Fang walked out of Ciqing Palace, he saw Jiang Keqian waiting outside with the imperial edict in his hand.

Zhu Yijun took it, glanced at it, and stamped it with the seals of the emperor and the two palaces, then handed it back to Jiang Keqian.

He ordered: "Let's go back and have some rest."

He looked up at the gradually fading white rainbow light and murmured, "Tomorrow, I will be busy."
-
It should be Sunday Sanjiang and will be on the shelves next week.

(End of this chapter)