There was nothing to say all night, and the next day, Qin Zhongtang came out of the room yawning.
Next to Wuyi Hall, there is a two-bay hut that was built no more than a few years ago. Compared with other royal buildings in Xiyuan, it looks unremarkable, very low and low-key.
These two huts were originally given to Xia Yan as a place to stay at night when he was the chief assistant last time to show his dignity as the chief assistant.
But at that time, Xia Shoufu was dismissed before he could enjoy the blessings, and no one used this residence after that.
It was not until Qin Zhongtang returned to the court that the two cabins were reused, and Qin Zhongtang occupied them as a place to stay at night.
Fang You, a member of the Zhongshu House, was waiting outside. Qin Zhongtang gave a few instructions and asked Fang You to run errands to do something.
Then Qin Zhongtang came to Wuyi Hall and handled official duties for a while. Then when he was stretching his legs in the courtyard, he met Eunuch Qin.
"The queen has sent a decree to summon you today, why don't you go to see her?" Eunuch Qin said doubtfully.
The opportunity for the queen to summon foreign ministers is very rare. If Qin Dewei does not cooperate, it will be wasted.
Qin Dewei looked worried and sighed: "There are many crises in the palace confinement, especially in such a situation now.
In particular, it is extremely rare for the empress to summon foreign ministers, so people have to be cautious. I am afraid that if I enter the Renshou Palace alone, I will be like accidentally entering the White Tiger Hall and become a piece of fish on the chopping board.
Let's do this. Lend me a reliable little eunuch and accompany me into the palace. If anything happens, there will be someone who can come out and ask for help."
Eunuch Qin complained unbearably: "You are simply more suspicious than the emperor!"
Nowadays, there are only three people who have the power to plot in Renshou Palace to harm Qin Dewei. The first is Emperor Jiajing, the second is the Queen Regent, and the third is the Qin eunuch who controls the Supervisor of Ceremonies and Dongchang.
Who among these three people has this motive? So Qin Dewei's worry about being killed is completely unnecessary!
In any case, it was impossible for Qin Dewei not to go when summoned by the queen.
At the gate of Renshou Palace, Qin Dewei met his wife's brother Xu Miaojing who came straight out, and asked: "Is there anyone reliable in the official school guarding the palace gate today?"
Xu Miaojing pulled a young man over and said, "This is Liu Shouyou, the grandson of Mr. Liu, the former governor of the three sides. If anything happens to my brother-in-law, just ask him."
Qin Dewei nodded, that's okay.
After Liu Tianhe, who was initially pushed out to grab the position of Minister of War, gave in, he sent his grandson to the Jinyi Guards and became Xu Miaojing's subordinate, so he knew everything about him.
Then Qin Zhongtang entered Renshou Palace and then came to Wanchun Palace, the queen's residence.
Queen Fang had been waiting for a long time. She drove away the people in the palace, leaving only Qin Zhongtang talking in the palace.
"Thank you Zhongtang for reminding me." Queen Fang said first.
Emperor Jiajing may have had the idea of changing the queen to celebrate the occasion. It was Qin Dewei who asked Taoist Master Tao to tell Queen Fang, and this is what Queen Fang thanked.
Of course, Empress Fang's original intention was definitely not entirely to thank her, but to bring up the topic.
Qin Dewei replied steadily: "My queen, there is no need to say thank you. I just acted with justice."
Empress Fang didn't want to listen to clichés and directly asked, "What should I do?"
Qin Dewei still had the same answer: "The empress is responsible for rescuing the emperor, and she also has the work of regent. As long as the empress begs your majesty, she can naturally change the emperor's mind temporarily. Then she can plan for the future and slowly influence the emperor."
But this was not what Queen Fang wanted to hear. She had a rare opportunity to summon foreign ministers, and she did not want to waste it. She could only test it again patiently:
"Whether I am poor or rich, sick or healthy in the future, are you willing to always support me?"
Qin Dewei always felt that this sentence was a bit familiar, as if he heard it often, so he replied without hesitation: "I am a minister of the Ming Emperor. I am only loyal to the Ming Emperor. Of course, I will always support the Ming Queen!"
This answer successfully achieved a quiet moment.
Queen Fang suddenly felt sulky in her heart. No wonder Eunuch Qin said that this person was extremely cunning and his words were not leaking at all.
She had lost confidence in Emperor Jiajing, and she was not sure that she could get along with him for a long time.
The miserable situation of Empress Dowager Zhang in her later years was so terrible, she didn't want to be like that.
She is worried that the Fang family will become the next Zhang family, and she is worried that her father and brothers will disappear from the world.
In order to survive, she wants to do something against nature, but after all, she is still a woman in a deep palace, so she wants or needs the clear support of the court bosses.
But Qin Dewei, the court boss who was closest to her and had high hopes, still refused to say what she wanted to hear.
Thinking that she had wasted an opportunity to summon foreign ministers by deceiving the emperor, Empress Fang glared at Qin Dewei fiercely.
She had an urge to take off her coat, loosen her bun, and then shout to the door, "Someone is coming!"
Finally, Empress Fang gritted her teeth and said, "Raise your head and look at me!"
According to etiquette, Qin Dewei kept his eyes lowered and could not look directly at the queen.
Hearing the Queen's words, he subconsciously raised his head and glanced, only to see tears hidden in the phoenix eyes opposite him. His heart suddenly trembled, and he lowered his gaze again.
Damn it! Why does it feel like you are showing your true feelings? Is it your own illusion?
Faced with mature politicians who were unable to make money, Empress Fang was really helpless, so she said: "You said you asked me to plead with the emperor, so I will go now."
"Then I will resign." Qin Dewei replied.
Queen Fang then instructed: "I still have something to say to you, so just wait here! Wait until I see the emperor before continuing!"
Qin Dewei frowned slightly, why did Queen Fang force him to wait here?
If you let him, a male foreign minister, wait in the queen's palace, wouldn't you be afraid of the emperor's objections?
Queen Fang doesn't care what Qin Zhongtang thinks. Since Qin Zhongtang refuses to express his position, he can only be a tool to be used!
After leaving Wanchun Palace, we came to the main hall of Renshou Palace. In the hall, there was still a huge screen placed facing the door of the hall, blocking the view from the outside.
This was also a last resort. Emperor Jiajing didn't want more people to see his paralyzed and decadent look, so he put up a screen in the palace, and those who came to see him could only perform the music through the screen.
Queen Fang was qualified to come to the other side of the screen. At this time, there were only a few designated eunuchs serving Emperor Jiajing behind the screen.
Queen Fang walked to the imperial couch, saluted, and said to the emperor, "I just talked with Qin Dewei."
Emperor Jiajing asked with interest: "What did Qin Dewei say?"
Queen Fang reported: "Then Qin Dewei presented a copy of the Double Cultivation Technique, saying that it was created by Tao Xiangu and would be useful to Your Majesty."
Emperor Jiajing heard this and said angrily: "This bastard Qin Dewei only offered a prescription? How dare you fool me like this? Is he just sending you to beg for food?"
Queen Fang's expression became shy, and she winked at it while saying coyly: "I also took a look at the technique, and know a few of them. I want to try it with Your Majesty myself and see how it works.
"
Emperor Jiajing originally selected his concubines and queens from a bunch of beautiful women purely from an aesthetic point of view.
However, Empress Fang usually had a dignified temperament and rarely took the initiative and exuded amorous feelings. Therefore, Emperor Jiajing was struck by the appearance of "a good family falling into trouble".
Could it be that Mr. Fang heard something, so he felt a sense of crisis and started to take the initiative?
"How will you know if it has any effect if you don't try it?" Emperor Jiajing couldn't resist the temptation of recovery and said again.
Queen Fang seemed to be overjoyed and raised her hand to untie her clothes. At the same time, she shouted to several eunuchs around her: "What else do you want to see with your dog eyes? Why don't you get out yet!"
Several eunuchs lowered their heads and walked outside the screen, then took a few steps away.
It was true that they couldn't see anything through the screen, but they could vaguely hear some movement. They couldn't help but wonder, could it be that these two cultivation methods really have a miraculous effect and can restore His Majesty's glory?
However, if the emperor did not summon him, they would not dare to go there without authorization. The safest option was to wait.
After an unknown amount of time, Empress Fang came out from behind the screen with a smile, her clothes a little disheveled.
Then Queen Fang said to the eunuchs: "Your Majesty is too tired and will sleep for the time being. Please don't go over and disturb him for now. We will serve him later."
After leaving the main hall again, Queen Fang's face suddenly turned cold, and her hands in her wide sleeves were trembling.
What she said just now is correct. Emperor Jiajing has really fallen asleep, but he will not wake up again. She, Queen Fang, will soon become Queen Mother Fang.
What someone said is correct. There are some things that only the Queen is qualified to do. Even if it arouses suspicion, who can do anything to her? Who is qualified to judge the Queen Mother?
There are so many palace mysteries in the past dynasties, it’s time to add one more.
While thinking about the funeral, Queen Fang quickened her steps and walked towards her bedroom. There was someone waiting for her in the bedroom.
Since you, Qin Zhongtang, are unwilling to take the initiative, I have to force you to be bound.
After a while, when others found out that the emperor had passed away and questioned themselves, they found themselves with Qin Zhongtang, then everyone would think that this was Qin Zhongtang's clear statement of support for him.
Little brother of the Qin family, I'm very sorry to drag you into trouble! But she must try her best and use all means to survive!
When you are in the court, you have no choice but to do what you want! Anyway, except for one more slander in the public history, you probably have nothing to lose!
Standing outside the main door of the palace, Queen Fang once again waved away all the palace guests, took a deep breath and opened the door.
The most difficult level has passed. Facing Qin Zhongtang will not be more difficult than facing the dead emperor, right?
Just drag Qin Zhongtang here, live in the "two-person world" for a while, and then wait for others to "discover" him.
After mustering up the courage and risking her happiness for the rest of her life, Queen Fang entered the palace!
In an instant, six eyes looked over, which made Queen Fang a little confused. Why were there two more people?
Why, besides Qin Zhongtang, are Xia Shoufu and Mr. Yan Ge also here? Is the "two-person world" just gone?
Queen Fang couldn't help but asked: "Why are you two gentlemen here?"
Xia Shoufu and Mr. Yan Ge were also confused. Didn't you call us here, the queen?
After coming to his senses, Xia Shoufu replied: "This morning Qin Dewei sent a message from Zhongshushe, saying that the empress summoned me and other ministers to come in to discuss the celebration of the Holy Shou Festival."
The Holy Shou Festival is the emperor's birthday. Given the importance Emperor Jiajing attached to various ceremonies, the two elders would never dare to show any slack on this issue, lest they be resented by the emperor.
Therefore, although they all felt that the queen's summons was quite strange, they still did not dare to take the risk of not coming, lest they be considered as neglecting the Holy Birthday Festival.
Queen Fang immediately glared at Qin Dewei again, Qin Zhongtang dared to "false the edict"!
Qin Dewei was very calm now. He was not sure what Queen Fang was up to, so he had to use the backup plan and called Xia Yan and Yan Song over.
We are all grand bachelors, so of course we all have to take the blame together if something happens.
Xia Yan and Yan Song also saw something was wrong from Queen Fang's attitude. They stared at Qin Dewei suspiciously, but they couldn't figure it out for a while.
When the two of them were about to say something, suddenly there was a burst of yelling and swearing outside.
This is very rare in the palace. It is a serious crime for palace residents to make such loud and careless noises, let alone mixed with swearing.
Not long after, they saw the eunuch Huang Jin and the royal guard Lu Bing rushing in aggressively, and the queen shouted angrily: "Fang, you"
But as soon as he started speaking, Huang Jin saw Xia Shoufu, Mr. Yan Ge, and Qin Zhongtang standing in the palace, and the three cabinet ministers were with Queen Fang.
Suddenly, cold sweat broke out from his head. Huang Jin suddenly felt a little scared. Could these people be in the same group?
He subconsciously trembled and said, "You guys, you are so brave."
Xia Shoufu and Mr. Yan Ge were confused again. What does this mean? Or has Eunuch Huang lost his mind and gone crazy? How dare he risk death and lead people to break into the queen's palace? I haven't heard that the queen will be abolished?
Then he saw Eunuch Qin walking in slowly and said calmly: "Your Majesty has gone to Dinghu. I don't want you all to be in the palace, so let's discuss the funeral arrangements."
Xia Shoufu and Mr. Yan Ge were in a trance and fell into self-torture. Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
The two of them claim to be the most astute people in the court except Qin Dewei. Why can't they understand anything today?
Qin Dewei glanced at Xia Yan and said, "Then entrust the chief minister to handle the affairs on behalf of the cabinet. I was on duty last night and was a little sleepy. I need to go home to rest."
After saying that, Qin Dewei was about to leave the palace.
Now was Empress Fang's most vulnerable moment. She couldn't help shouting at Qin Zhongtang's back: "Qin Zhongtang!"
Qin Dewei glanced back and said, "Don't worry, the days are long!" But he didn't stop. He had more important things to do now.
After entering the house, Qin Dewei walked into the courtyard next to the ancestral hall and sat on the futon opposite Tao Xiangu.
Tao Xiangu put down the Taoist scriptures and asked Qin Dewei: "How is the matter?"
Qin Dewei looked sad and sighed: "The news from Queen Fang in the palace is that the situation is not optimistic. Your Majesty is still very interested in you. Now, if you don't want you to enter the palace, there is only one way.
."
"What's a good idea?" Tao Xiangu was still in a quiet mood, "Is it possible that you want me to ascend to heaven artificially?"
Qin Dewei said a little embarrassed: "The emperor is a bit of a hysterical person, so as long as you lose your virginity, you will not enter the palace.
If it really doesn't work, I will reluctantly help you this time, and this is the only way I can help."
Tao Xiangu said calmly: "I don't care about my Yuan Yin, but you deliberately took my Yuan Yin, which can be called deceiving the emperor. Aren't you afraid of angering the emperor?"
Qin Dewei grabbed Tao Xiangu's hand and said affectionately: "For you, even if I make the emperor angry, what does it mean?"
Tao Xiangu frowned slightly and hesitated.
Qin Dewei urged again: "The situation is extremely urgent now. If we want to solve it quickly, there is no need to build the foundation for a hundred days, right?"
Tao Xiangu sighed and said: "That's all, it's fate. If I mess with you, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to be destined to the great road in this life."
(I will write an extra chapter when I have time and add the ending)
