【Under the Great Tomorrow】(52)

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-23

Author: hui329
Published: 2017/3/28 First Post Word
Count: 10726
Chapter 52 Reporting the Imperial
Decree The capital, the Eastern Depot.
The inner hall was brightly lit. Liu Jin, dressed in a python robe, examined the piles of gold and silver in the large red lacquered wooden box before him
and chuckled, "Lord Liu, why are you so generous to me?"
Liu Yu, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, dressed in plain clothes, bowed slightly and smiled, "A small gift, please accept it, Your Excellency
."
He had the box containing gold and silver brought down, and Liu Jin gestured for him to sit, saying, "I don't accept gifts
for nothing. Speak your mind."
Liu Yu said with a bitter face, "Your Excellency, my days in the Censorate are not easy. Zhang Fuhua is constantly
causing me trouble. I originally intended to protect this small area for Your Excellency..." "But recently, that old scoundrel Liu Daxia
has been gaining momentum after impeaching Ma Wensheng. You know my discord with him, and if he finds fault with me
, I fear I will lose my position."
Xiong Xiu's trip to Guangdong and Guangxi indeed angered Liu Daxia. The old man Liu, together with his fellow townsman and fellow examinee Li Dongyang,
ordered the censor He Tianqu to launch the first attack. The reason was readily available: Lord Ma was already eighty years old and still lazily
held the position of Minister of Personnel. Impeaching an old, senile, and power-hungry man like him shouldn't be wrong, right? As for Liu Benbing, he was over seventy, so
naturally he was still vigorous in his old age and couldn't be compared to him.
As was customary, when someone impeached him, Ma Wensheng would submit a memorial requesting to resign. In such cases, the emperor would usually try
to persuade him to stay with gentle words. However, Grand Secretary Li of the Inner Cabinet played a crucial role. Since Minister Ma was already considering resignation, why force him?
His request was granted. Thus, the old gentleman Ma Wensheng, who had once led the recapture of Hami, was unwittingly
sent home by another gentleman.
With five generations of veteran officials easily apprehended, Liu Daxia was now in high spirits. Liu Yu had always
disliked this old man and feared that the old fellow had developed a penchant for impeaching others and would cause him trouble again. Therefore, he prepared generous gifts and proactively requested
to be transferred to a post outside the capital.
Liu Jin remained unmoved upon hearing this, gently turning the jade ring on his hand, and said softly, "So, you want
to abandon us?"
Liu Yu stood up, bowed, and said, "Please understand my predicament, Your Excellency..."
With a light laugh, Liu Jin walked to Liu Yu's side, patted his shoulder, and said, "You're one of us, how
could we put you in a difficult position? Let those old bastards have the Censorate, let them have their fun for a few days, and see what
other tricks they can pull. As for you..." He paused slightly, then said, "It's not advisable for you to go too far from the capital. It just so happens that
Miao Kui, who is guarding Xuanfu, doesn't get along with Governor Che Ting and General Zhang Jun. Go over there and help them out, mediate between them. Xuanfu
is adjacent to the capital, so we can't afford any trouble."
Liu Yu looked troubled and hesitated, saying, "Che Ting is Xie Qian's confidant; it might not be easy to replace him."
Liu Jin laughed heartily and said, "Who wants to replace him? You go and become the governor of Xuanfu and Datong, and even let us
get involved in Datong." When
Ding
Shou, led by Bai Shaochuan, met Liu Jin, he saw Liu Dutang with a grin that stretched to his ears
.
"Your subordinate Ding Shou greets the Grand Eunuch," Ding Shou said as he entered.
Liu Jin remained silent, staring intently at a half-finished chess game on the table. "Your subordinate has come to report to the Grand Eunuch," Ding Shou said,
raising his voice.
Liu Jin sneered, "I dare not accept such a title from the Imperial Envoy."
The old eunuch's expression changed, and Ding Shou felt his legs go weak. He asked in alarm, "Why do you say this,
Your Excellency? Have I committed a transgression?"
"A transgression?" Liu Jin turned and scrutinized him, saying, "I told you to use their strength against them, but you
've made a mess of Liaodong. That's fine, I don't care about the Jurchen barbarians' fate. But if you wanted to pass through
Dengzhou, I obtained an imperial decree for all the officials in Shandong to welcome you. Where have you been? Do you
even respect me?"
"I truly didn't know Your Excellency's painstaking arrangements, and I've wasted your good intentions. Please punish me, Your Excellency." Hearing the old eunuch's
increasingly harsh voice, Ding Shou knelt down, cold sweat pouring down his back.
"Don't scold Master!" A young woman in red, dressed as Jang Geum, ran in. She had peeked in from outside and
seen the beardless old man scolding her master, who seemed frightened, so she rushed in.
"This is..." Liu Jin asked in surprise when he saw a cute little girl suddenly run in.
"A disciple I took in in Korea," Ding Shou replied.
"You've started taking on apprentices already, misleading young people," Liu Jin sneered. Looking at the
little girl with the round face, her big eyes brimming with tears, he couldn't help but feel a surge of affection. He beckoned her to
his side and said gently, "Little girl, what's your name?"
"Jang-geum," Jang-geum replied, tears finally falling uncontrollably. She sniffed,
tugged at Liu Jin's sleeve, and said in a childish voice, "Grandpa, Master left alone to accompany Jang-geum to Mount Tai to watch the sunrise.
It's okay if you scold or punish Jang-geum, don't blame Master." [attach]2890688[/attach]
The little girl's "Grandpa" touched Liu Jin's heart. The old eunuch took out
a handkerchief to wipe her tears and coaxed, "Don't cry, don't cry, little girl. Grandpa was just scaring this boy
. When did he say he was going to punish him?"
"Really?!" Ding Shou, kneeling on the ground, said with delight.
"Fake!" Liu Jin glared at him irritably, then handed the now-smiling little Jang-geum to Bai Shaochuan
, instructing, "Xiao Chuan, take this child to eat. There's no need for her to go hungry with this brat."
Bai Shaochuan smiled and agreed. Ding Shou wondered if he'd seen things; the Third Prince's brows and eyes clearly held a
vengeful gleam.
Seeing the little Jang-geum looking at them expectantly, Liu Jin waved his hand to indicate it was alright, and the little girl
followed the impossibly handsome Bai Shaochuan away with a sigh of relief.
"Stop pretending, get up." Liu Jin lightly kicked Ding Shou's bottom.
"Wasn't the boy waiting for his father's punishment?" Ding Shou stood up with a grin.
"No need for me to intervene; someone else will make things difficult for you." Liu Jin snorted coldly.
Seeing the questioning look on Ding Shou's face, Liu Jin took a sip of tea and said, "I can only tell you that mistakes are inevitable."
There's a saying: "Suffering a loss is a blessing." Figure it out yourself.
The old eunuch spoke with a hidden meaning, and Ding Shou secretly curled his lip, then said with a fawning smile, "During this mission,
I acquired many novelties, which I have brought to present to you, Your Excellency." He
then pulled a brocade box from his robes. Inside was a nearly foot-long snow-white ginseng, complete with limbs
, resembling a small child. Ding Shou said proudly, "This is a thousand-year-old snow ginseng from Changbai Mountain. It is said to be able to revive the dead
and heal the wounded. May Your Excellency enjoy eternal bliss and live as long as the heavens."
Liu Jin shook his head and sighed, "Bringing the dead back to life... if only such a thing truly existed in this world." He then
smiled faintly, "It's rare to find such
filial piety." Ding Shou lowered his head and said, "This is my duty. Also, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
Stretching, Liu Jin frowned and said, "I knew you wouldn't accept this ginseng for nothing. Speak, what is
it?"
"You flatter me, Your Excellency." Ding Shou then recounted the events that had occurred at the Penglai Inn.
Liu Jin nodded. "We already know what happened. What are your plans?"
"Hojo Hidetoshi is of great importance. We should ensure his safety and wait for the right opportunity," Ding Shou advised.
Liu Jin nodded in agreement, "It's rare to find someone with such insight. I've already ordered someone to escort that fellow to the capital, where he 'll
be held by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"Furthermore, Qi Jingtong, the Assistant Commander of Dengzhou, and Ma Hao, the Assistant Provincial Judge of Shandong, are
both promising talents. I humbly request that Your Excellency give them some guidance."
Liu Jin chuckled, "You're already cultivating your own confidants?"
Ding Shou quickly shook his head, "I just feel that these two have some talent, and it would be a real shame to bury it." "
Don't worry about Qi Jingtong. Qi Xun, the Governor-General of Shandong responsible for defending against the Japanese pirates, greatly appreciates him. The memorial reporting his achievements has already
reached the Ministry of War, and it's said that he'll be appointed as a battalion commander in the Grand Canal Transport Office."
Ding Shou said "Oh." The Grand Canal Transport Battalion Commander was not comparable to the battalion commanders in the border armies. The Grand Canal Transport Commander had 120,000
soldiers under his command, divided among twelve battalion commanders. A fully-staffed Guard Commander only had 5,600 soldiers under his jurisdiction. Qi Jingtong
had clearly been promoted.
Liu Jin continued, "What to do with Ma Hao is a problem. Shandong lost dozens of fast-
track soldiers at once. The Ministry of Justice will have to send someone to appease them. Let's observe and see what happens."
Ding Shou bowed and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch."
"Let's not talk about that. Come and take a look. How should we play this game of chess?" Liu Jin beckoned him closer.
Ding Shou came closer and couldn't help but laugh. He immediately made a few moves and checkmated his opponent. He said triumphantly, "Eunuch
, this game is... huh?"
"Thirteen-step checkmate with a sacrificed horse!?" The game in front of him was exactly the same game he had played against Wang Ting at Songhelou before leaving the capital.
Not a single move was different. How did this old eunuch know it?
"Strange, isn't it? There aren't many things in this world that can be kept from us." Liu Jin seemed to know what Ding Shou was
thinking, and said bluntly, gently patting his cheek with his cool hand. "Is there anything else you want
to tell me?"
"Your Excellency, although those two tried to win me over that day, I immediately refused. I thought it was just a trivial
matter, so I didn't report it to you. Please forgive me." Ding Shou cursed inwardly, having witnessed firsthand the omnipresence of the Eastern Depot's agents
. No wonder no one in the court or the public liked these guys; the feeling of being watched even when you're defecating or farting
was truly unpleasant.
Liu Jin stared at him for a while, then suddenly chuckled, "Silly boy, how could I not trust you?
Go back and rest; you have to report to the emperor tomorrow."
Ding Shou bowed and took his leave. Watching his retreating figure, Liu Jin's smile turned cold, his face ashen. Suddenly, Qiu Ju appeared
behind him, saying, "I told you this boy wasn't on our side. Even with your hints, he still won't reveal his
true intentions. If someone with ulterior motives finds out about his background, it might become evidence against us. Perhaps
..."
"Qiu Ju," Liu Jin suddenly interrupted him. Qiu Ju was startled. "What are your orders, sir
?" Liu Jin
didn't turn around, his tone icy, "When have I ever needed your guidance in 　　doing things 　　..."
**********
... 　　Jang-geum opened her mouth and ate the lotus seed soup, her eyes fixed intently on the dignified and beautiful Tan Shu-zhen, not blinking 　　. 　　Tan Shu-zhen noticed the unusual look in her eyes, waved her hand in front of Jang-geum's face, and asked with a smile, "Miss, 　　what are you looking at?" 　　Quickly swallowing the food in her mouth, Jang-geum said, "Auntie, you're so beautiful." 　　Hearing the little maid praise her beauty, Tan Shu-zhen could 　　n't help but chuckle, "At such a young age, how would you know anything about beauty? Besides, Miss is Master's disciple; I shouldn't be addressed like that 　　. Just call me Aunt Tan." 　　In the dim candlelight on the table, Tan Shu-zhen's smile was warm and sweet, only further stirring up Jang-geum's 　　sadness Tears streamed down her face, startling Tan Shuzhen. She quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears 　　, apologizing, "I must have said something wrong, Miss, please don't be angry. What... what should I do?" 　　Jang-geum shook her head, wiping away her own tears, and said, "I remembered my deceased mother, Aunt, 　　may I call you 'Mother'?" 　　Seeing Jang-geum's pitiful, red eyes, Tan Shuzhen couldn't bear to refuse and gently nodded 　　, then added worriedly, "Only in private, when no one is around. Master mustn't know." 　　"Yes!" Jang-geum nodded happily. 　　Tan Shuzhen affectionately ruffled Jang-geum's hair, picked up the porcelain bowl, and said, "Eat quickly." 　　Jang-geum obediently took the bowl herself, and just as she scooped up a spoonful, the door was suddenly pushed open with a "bang," 　　and Yi-qing stumbled in, panting, "Godmother, help...help me." 　　Tan Shuzhen saw that her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were just haphazardly draped over her body. Although she covered herself with her hands, a large 　　expanse of skin was still exposed, and her originally snow-white skin was now flushed with a pinkish hue. 　　As someone with experience, Tan Shuzhen naturally knew what kind of help she needed, and said to Jang-geum, "After you finish eating, 　　rest quietly, understand?"

Jang-geum stared at the two of them longingly, nodded in confusion, and watched them leave the house.
In the courtyard, Tan Shuzhen complained, "In front of the children, you're not even dressed properly, what kind of behavior is this
?"
Yiqing ignored Tan Shuzhen's words and urged, "Master is especially vigorous tonight, it's like putting out a fire
, godmother."
As she spoke, the two went to the main room, pushed open the door, and Yiqing exclaimed in surprise, "Huh, why can't I hear Yihong
's voice? That little hussy's moans just now almost lifted the roof off."
Tan Shuzhen slapped her playfully, "Young lady, don't you know how to keep your mouth shut,
saying all sorts of things." Then she went into the bedroom and couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh dear, Master, stop quickly, someone's going to die!
"
On the bed, Gao Wenxin, covered in sweat, was fast asleep, her long, loose hair sticking wetly to her cheeks,
while the naked Ding Shou was holding Yihong and thrusting incessantly. Yihong was silent, her limbs hanging limply, only
her pair of jade breasts swaying slightly with Ding Shou's thrusts, clearly she had already fainted.
Tan Shuzhen rushed forward, grabbed Ding Shou's shoulders, and tried to pull him off Yi Hong's body, but she couldn't budge him
. She hurriedly said to Yi Qing, "Why aren't you taking off your clothes and getting ready?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Qing immediately tore off her clothes, swayed her pink buttocks, climbed onto the bed, spread her legs, and swayed her waist slightly. "
Master, come to me."
Ding Shou, who was feeling bored, immediately roared and pounced. "Oh... Master... It's so big... It's piercing through
..." Yi Qing cried out, then forcefully spread her legs as wide as possible, took a deep breath, and welcomed the continuous
thrusts of the penis.
Tan Shuzhen pinched the two women hard, and they both let out a long breath and slowly recovered. Gao Wenxin said leisurely
, "Godmother, I almost died of pleasure just now."
Listening to the constant "slap slap slap" of flesh hitting flesh, Yi Hong looked at Ding Shou with dazed eyes, "
Why is Master acting like he's lost his temper today? That treasure is so thick, long, and hard, it's like it's hooked the core of my hole as soon as it comes in
."
Gao Wenxin spat and said, "That Korean woman doesn't even know how to serve a man, look how frustrated I am
."
Although Yi Hong was weak, she still teased, "Now you're not worried that Master's soul will be bewitched by that foreign woman
..."
Gao Wenxin raised her hand to hit her, but her pink fist was halfway raised and then fell down weakly. She could only say toughly, "
I'll deal with you tomorrow."
"Ah—" Yi Qing cried out in pain as Ding Shou's buttocks sped up like a motor. Yi Qing
bent her legs, trying her best to avoid the attack of the penis, but Ding Shou held her waist down. She could only weakly cry for help: "
Godmother, save me—"
"You two stop arguing and go help me." Tan Shuzhen said to the two women.
"This—" Both of them looked embarrassed. Gao Wenxin blushed and said, "Godmother, the master's
thrusting just now was too intense, and it still hurts terribly down there. I'm afraid I can't..."
Yi Hong nodded and said, "Me too, my little hole is swollen. I can only trouble you, Godmother."
Hearing these lewd words, Tan Shuzhen was also burning with desire, and her lower body became wet. However, she was
reluctant to say anything because the women all called each other mother and daughter. Now that the women were all exhausted, she quickly took off
her clothes, lay down next to Yi Qing, spread her plump thighs, and held up her round breasts, saying, "Master, spare Yi
Qing. Come to me."
Yi Qing also pleaded, "I really... can't... take it... anymore. Please... please... Master."
"Alright, I'll let you off this time." Before getting up, Ding Shou thrust rapidly dozens of times, causing Yi Qing
to lose her virginity again amidst her moans.
Withdrawing his penis, Ding Shou pounced on Tan Shuzhen's voluptuous body. "Ouch!" Tan Shuzhen cried out
in pain. Ding Shou frowned; he had rushed in too quickly, and his purplish-red penis hadn't entered her vagina, instead
bumping against her labia majora.
Tan Shuzhen reached down with her delicate hand to help straighten his penis, whispering, "Master, aim it right, come on."
Ding Shou chuckled, pressing down with his hips, and with a "whoosh," it slid in all the way.
"Ah... Master... it's too deep..." Even Tan Shuzhen, a mature woman, couldn't withstand Ding Shou's
weapon.
"Haha, your cunt is too shallow." Ding Shou thrust his spear rapidly, pumping and pounding fiercely.
"Oh... oh... wonderful..." Tan Shuzhen felt her whole body tremble, as if she couldn't breathe. She thought
to herself that the three women were already exhausted from tonight's assault, and if she couldn't satisfy Ding Shou, their bodies would likely
suffer serious damage.
Pulling herself together, she wrapped her legs tightly around Ding Shou's lower back, enduring the ache and numbness in her lower body, her plump buttocks thrusting and rotating
to meet Ding Shou's rhythm.
"Ah! Ah! Harder! Harder! Yes! Yes..." The former governor's wife suddenly became incredibly aroused, much to
the Second Master's delight. He pressed his hands against her full breasts, his large penis thrusting in and out, each stroke deep and shallow.
The crisp, loud "crackling" sounds of flesh slapping against flesh filled the air. Tan Shuzhen's lips curled into a smile as she writhed wildly, her
heavy panting and seductive moans further fueling the man's passion.
"Mmm! Mmm, it's...it's killing me, it's killing me..." Although a mature woman's body is more resilient,
Ding Shou's enormous penis, tempered by the Heavenly Essence Demon Path, was beyond the capacity of her body, unaccustomed to seductive arts. With
another surge of vaginal fluid, Tan Shuzhen stretched out her limbs and collapsed onto the bed.
Ding Shou rolled over and lay on the couch, his thick, hard penis pointing straight to the sky like a flagpole. He shouted, "Next
, hurry up, get on top."
Although they were weak and sore all over, the three women exchanged glances and still moved gracefully to surround Ding Shou. Gao
Wenxin lifted her jade legs and straddled Ding Shou's lower abdomen, inserting that hard, hot thing into her body again.
"Ah..." Gao Wenxin raised her snow-white neck, her hands caressing her firm, round breasts, her pink
buttocks slowly twisting, her body rising and falling... [attach]2890689[/attach]
The moon was setting in the west.
Inside the room, Tan Shuzhen knelt between Ding Shou's legs, her hands gently pressing his firm buttocks, her mouth wide open, sucking
and licking that harmful, huge penis. The other three women surrounded him, their fragrant tongues
lightly licking away the drops of sweat on his body.
Ding Shou, enjoying the services of the women with his eyes closed, thought to himself, "That damned freak likes to pry into people's privacy, doesn't
she? I'll have sex naked all the time from now on, let's see what you'll do when you find out! I'll disgust you to death, you penniless bastard
!"
Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he considered turning over, but then dismissed the idea. Oh well, let her see it
; he couldn't hide it from her anyway.
Inside the side room, Little Jang-geum tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Biting her index finger, she pondered: "Master's
thing is so much bigger than Uncle Wang's. Does it taste good? Why does the way Mom licks that thing seem
sweeter than the candied hawthorn that handsome Brother Bai gave me…"
Thinking of this, the little girl's mouth watered; tonight was destined to be sleepless…
******************************
"The Great Ming Dynasty, under its radiant light, illuminates all nations; the seas are calm, and China enjoys peace and prosperity. All within its borders rely
on it. We humbly submit that Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming, whose grace and power extend far and wide, whose illustrious achievements continue the legacy, has shown compassion for my plight and helped me regain my throne. His profound
kindness and virtue are unforgettable, and my reverence for Heaven and my loyalty to the Great Ming are strengthened. Therefore, I humbly beseech the Imperial Envoy, looking up to the glory of our nation, and offer this
tribute. Thus, we respectfully
submit this memorial." The Grand Eunuch Wang Yue, in a high-pitched voice, read this letter from Joseon, written in the tone of King Gojong, with dramatic intonation
. The young emperor listened, beaming with delight, almost scratching his head in exasperation.
What did it mean to have grace extending to all corners of the land? What did it mean to have power reaching the four seas? I only sent about thirty men, and they helped the king regain his throne!
The traitors were quelled with a mere proclamation! This kid has brought me honor! Now, Zhengde finds Ding Shou pleasing to the eye no matter what.
"Minister Ding has rendered great service and deserves to be rewarded," Zhengde said after a moment's thought.
"Minister Ding's strategic acumen is comparable to that of Ban Dingyuan in our Great Ming Dynasty. I hereby bestow upon you the title of Marquis of Dingyuan..."
What the heck? A mere trip to Korea and he's already a marquis? The court officials were stunned by Zhengde's words
, and then jumped out to object.
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! Titles are a vital national instrument; they cannot be abused." "
Since the founding of the Great Ming Dynasty, no one has been granted a title without military merit. Although Vice Commissioner Ding has rendered some service, granting him a marquisate is indeed excessive
."
"If even a vice commissioner is granted a marquisate, how should the chief commissioner, Wang Tingxiang, be rewarded? Your Majesty, please consider this carefully."
The overwhelming opposition irritated Zhengde, who shouted at the people below his throne, "Wang Tingxiang, what do you
say?"
"The entire expedition to the East Sea relied on Vice Commissioner Ding's leadership; I have no merit to speak of," Wang Tingxiang stepped forward and replied.
Zhengde nodded in satisfaction. "You all heard that, didn't you? If anyone can help restore a country with just a few dozen men,
I can bestow titles and rewards upon them. What else do you have to say?"
Several senior officials standing at the head of the ranks gave a wink to those behind them. Censor He Tianqu stepped forward first. "The
Governor of Liaodong, Ma Zhongxi, has impeached the eunuch Zhu Xiu, who, under the instigation of treacherous individuals, has seized control of the border market and arbitrarily set prices. I request a thorough investigation
."
Huang Zhao, the Principal of the Ministry of War, stepped forward and reported, "The Ministry of War has received a report that outside the Liaodong border wall..." " The garrisons are fighting amongst themselves, and the law
and discipline have collapsed. I request a thorough investigation into the instigator."
Sun Pan, a principal officer of the Ministry of Rites, followed closely, saying, "Your Majesty is very kind. Officials from Shandong went to Dengzhou to welcome the delegation
, but Vice-Envoy Ding feigned illness and refused to appear. However, he later showed up in Penglai. I request that he be punished for this great disrespect."
Emperor Zhengde was both amused and annoyed. "I wanted to reward someone, and you all belittled me like this!" he sneered. "My
court is truly a den of iniquity. Is there anyone else who wants to report this? Not a single memorial praises anyone."
"Yes," Li Mengyang, a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward and said, "This year, Xu Tianxi, a supervising secretary in the Ministry of Works
, was ordered to confer the title of King of Annam. Annam refused to accept a single ounce of the gold and silver presented by Annam. The Annam people were grateful for the noble character and integrity of the Celestial Empire and built the 'Gold Pavilion' to commemorate this
."
Zhengde nodded, after all, his minister had brought honor to the country in front of outsiders. However, Li Mengyang continued
, "I have heard that a certain envoy from the Haidong delegation is extremely greedy. When he returned to the capital, his carriages were numerous, and the amount of money he received
was countless. Although these were gifts from vassal states, they did not change his greed and despicable nature, and he disgraced the court. I request a thorough investigation and punishment
."
Ding Shou finally understood what Liu Jin meant by someone causing him trouble. So, he had gone out to play in the wind and snow
, and all you idle people were doing was collecting dirt on him at home. He was done with it
.
"There's no need for you gentlemen to investigate further," Ding Shou said in a deep voice. "What I said just now was all my doing. I beg Your Majesty
to punish me."
Xie Qian smiled smugly. The pawn had made its move, and now it was their turn to deliver the final blow. "Since Vice
Commissioner Ding has confessed his guilt, Your Majesty should handle this matter impartially. You cannot pardon his crimes because of his merits. As the saying goes, even a prince is subject to the
same laws as a commoner..."
Grand Secretary Xie began his habitual rambling. Li Dongyang glanced at Zhengde's increasingly grim expression and spoke up at the opportune moment
: "Although his crimes are numerous, his circumstances are pitiable, and his intentions are commendable. Let's just fine him a year's salary to offset his merits and demerits."
Xie Qian was puzzled. He hadn't even exerted any effort yet, so why was the punishment being so leniently handed down? Li Dongyang
gestured to his superiors, warning them not to push the young emperor too far, lest things get out of hand. In any case, the eunuch faction had only
done their work for nothing and gained nothing. They should stop while they were ahead.
Zhengde gritted his teeth and said, "Is there no reward for this trip to the East Sea?"
After a slight hesitation, Li Dongyang, seemingly reluctant, said, "Prime Minister Wang just said that he had no merit to receive.
It wouldn't be right to break the law. Considering his hard work on the mission, he will be promoted to Supervising Secretary. What does Your Majesty think?" The chief envoy
was only promoted by half a rank, the deputy envoy was penalized, and who cared about the fate of the other soldiers? Zhengde snorted coldly and
left.
Amidst Wang Yue's shrill shout of "Dismiss the court!", the ministers withdrew
. They would inevitably have to hold banquets and celebrations upon returning home. The scholar-officials had once again defeated the eunuch faction, and the court was 　　filled 　　with righteous indignation .
********** ... 　　The eunuchs serving nearby were terrified and fell silent. They wanted to step forward to tidy up but were afraid of incurring his wrath. Liu Jin followed 　　behind, waved for them to leave after seeing the scene, and slowly approached, bending down to pick up the memorials one by one. 　　"Don't pick them up," Zhengde said coldly, sitting there. 　　Liu Jin didn't stop, placing the memorials neatly on the imperial desk, and gently comforted him, "Your Majesty, 　　please calm down. Don't let trivial matters interfere with state affairs."

"State affairs? What state affairs do I have here?" Zhengde shoved the memorial to the ground again, angrily saying, "
Everything I want to do is criticized, even bestowing an honor upon someone causes a commotion
. What's the point of being an emperor?"
Liu Jin shook his head and smiled bitterly, then bent down to pick up the memorial again. He didn't put it back immediately, but said
, "Aren't all these sycophants annoying like this? The founding emperor even wrote a poem about it," he
pretended to think for a moment, then suddenly continued, "A few crows chattering away, spewing filth and cawing. What were the last two lines again
..."
"Let's not have fun today, or you'll all have rotten mouths tomorrow morning," Zhengde interjected with a loud laugh.
"Your Majesty has such a good memory, this servant just can't remember," Liu Jin flattered. "Even the founding emperor
was bothered by these big headscarves, so please don't get upset anymore. It's not worth hurting your health for them.
"
Zhengde pointed at Liu Jin and laughed, "Old Liu, you always make me happy."
"Isn't this my duty? Look, what did that boy Ding Shou bring back for you from Liaodong...
"
As he spoke, Liu Jin clapped his hands lightly, and several eunuchs carried out a huge iron eagle stand, on which a three-
foot-tall giant eagle looked majestic.
Zhengde's eyes widened immediately, and he stepped forward to examine it closely. "Is this a gyrfalcon?!"
"Indeed, Your Majesty, look, its feathers are pure white, it is a top-grade gyrfalcon with 'jade claws.'
Carved in Liaodong, the most beautiful ones are called gyrfalcons." Every spring, the emperors of the Liao Dynasty would release gyrfalcons near the Songhua River
to hunt swans. The first swan caught would be celebrated with a banquet, called the "First Goose Banquet." They frequently sent envoys to demand
tribute from the Jurchens, a practice known as the "Eagle Road." Hunting gyrfalcons was difficult, and the various Jurchen tribes, impatient with the hardship,
eventually saw the Wanyan tribe rise up, destroying the Liao Dynasty in ten years and the Song Dynasty in two, bringing down two powerful nations—
a bloodbath caused by a single eagle.
Zhengde, overjoyed at the jade claws, couldn't resist reaching out to touch them.
"Your Majesty, be careful," Liu Jin warned from the side.
This gyrfalcon was captured by Xibaoqi Piangu by chance and given
to Ding Shou as compensation for the trouble caused by his spendthrift son. It hadn't been tamed yet, and upon seeing someone reach out to touch it, it immediately snatched it with its beak. Fortunately, Zhengde dodged
quickly, preventing his hand from being eaten by the eagle.
Zhengde wasn't annoyed. He laughed and ordered his men to send the feathered beast to the falconry. The palace had its own people to train falcons
; it wasn't his place as emperor.
"Does Your Majesty like it?" Liu Jin asked.
"It's rare that he has such a kind intention," Zhengde nodded, then frowned and said, "This time, it's still unfair to
him."
"Your Majesty, don't worry about him. That boy is ambitious. He once said that compared to Ban Dingyuan, he would rather
be the Marquis of Champion of the Ming Dynasty."
"Oh," Zhengde became interested, "He wants to be Huo Qubing? Haha, I knew I hadn't misjudged him
. He has ambition."
Liu Jin helped Zhengde back to the throne, "What ambition? If it weren't for Emperor Wu of Han, where would Wei Qing and Huo
Qubing come from? In this world, things depend on the ruler's discerning eye for talent and trust in those he employs. If it weren't for a wise ruler like you
, how would that boy dare to say such a thing?"
Zhengde was very satisfied with Liu Jin's words, "Where is he now?"
"He's at Renshou Palace paying his respects to the Empress Dowager. Didn't the Empress Dowager ask about this boy a while ago?" Liu Jin replied.
"He's quite popular in the palace," Zhengde chuckled, then added, "He did a good job this time,
but instead of being rewarded, he was penalized with a pay cut. How should we compensate him?"
Liu Jin's eyes darted around. "Speaking of which, this lad has actually run into some trouble lately..."
************
Renshou Palace, Warm Pavilion. A three-legged gilded beast-head incense burner on a rosewood table emitted wisps of smoke. Ding Shou 　　greeted Empress Dowager Zhang
through a thin red plum blossom gauze screen. 　　Empress Dowager Zhang had just woken up, sitting lazily in front of a dressing table taller than a person, letting the palace maids serve her with her makeup. 　　"You've arrived. When did you return to the capital?" 　　Ding Shou replied with his head down, "I entered the city yesterday evening, afraid of disturbing your rest if I arrived too late, so I waited until now. I didn't expect 　　to arrive so early, disturbing Your Majesty's sweet dreams. I'm truly sorry." Ding Shou felt guilty even as he said this. It was almost 　　past 9 AM. Ever since the late Emperor passed away, the Empress Dowager had been sleeping in more and more lately. 　　Empress Dowager Zhang didn't feel she was up late at all. Even Emperor Hongzhi hadn't dared disturb her sleep back then, and now no one dared 　　say anything. She nodded to a palace maid, selected her rouge for the day, and said calmly, "Don't stand outside any longer. Come in 　　and let me see if you've lost weight on this trip to the East Sea." 　　Ding Shou grinned and walked around the screen, saying, "This humble subject is in good health. Although I traveled through a harsh and cold land 　　, I'm not seriously injured. It's just that I've been thinking of Your Majesty and the Emperor day and night, my heart is in turmoil." 　　"Smooth talker," the Empress Dowager laughed, suddenly noticing a small box he was holding. She asked 　　, "What are you holding?" 　　"This is a gift from this humble subject to Your Majesty." Opening the box, it was filled with pearls, probably a hundred or so 　　, the largest about the size of a little finger. They were all high-quality Eastern pearls with a pale golden hue. Ding Shou smiled, but his heart was 　　bleeding. Was it easy to smuggle these things from Liaodong and Korea? And now he was just sending them away like this. 　　"This is... Ouch!" The Empress Dowager turned her head sharply in surprise. The palace maid who was putting a hairpin in her hair behind her 　　accidentally poked the hairpin into her scalp. The Empress Dowager covered her hair, stood up abruptly, and said angrily, "Clumsy! What use are you 　　? Take her away!" 　　Seeing the Empress Dowager's fierce eyes, the palace maid was terrified and knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly, unable to speak 　　. Seeing that the Empress Dowager was truly angry, no one dared to say anything. 　　Ding Shou glanced at her. Although the palace maid was pale with fright, her beauty was still undeniable. He was afraid she would be 　　ruined by the court beating, so he immediately said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I have just returned to the capital. Please forgive me and 　　give me some face." 　　The Empress Dowager was also in a bad mood after waking up. This palace maid was good at poetry and literature and was usually a close confidante. After Ding 　　Shou spoke up, her anger subsided a little. 　　Seeing that the Empress Dowager's expression had softened somewhat, Ding Shou pressed on, saying, "Although it 　　was wrong of this lady to harm the Empress Dowager's body, in truth, Your Majesty is also at fault."

Empress Dowager Zhang asked in surprise, "What have I done wrong?"
"Your hair is as smooth as silk; if the hairpin hadn't been placed further in, how could it have stayed on your head?
" Ding Shou said with a grin.
"Glib-tongued, with no sense of hierarchy," the Empress Dowager spat. Ding Shou's banter
dispelled her anger, and she said to the kneeling palace maid, "Get up. Be careful in your duties from now on."
"Thank you for your grace, Empress Dowager," the palace maid kowtowed several more times, stood up, and glanced gratefully at Ding Shou
.
Ding Shou smiled in response, then heard the Empress Dowager say, "What use are all these beads to me?"
"Your Majesty can keep them for your enjoyment or as a reward. If you really have nowhere to use them, you can use them to adorn your shoes,"
Ding Shou said, remembering the pearls adorning the Empress Dowager's soft-soled sleeping shoes the last time he saw them.
"Adorn your shoes?" Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager gently lifted the hem of her skirt and looked at her palace shoes.
"Hmm—" Ding Shou's eyes widened slightly. The Empress Dowager was currently wearing a pair of bright yellow satin pointed phoenix-head
shoes. The craftsmanship was undoubtedly exquisite, but the problem was that these shoes were high-heeled. This was too damn postmodern!
Having traveled to the Ming Dynasty for so long and dealt with so many women, Ding Shou had long since scoffed at the so-called "three-inch golden lotuses." Some of the women
around him did have bound feet, but that was to make their feet more slender and small, commonly known
as "fast mounting a horse." This method of foot binding had been passed down from the Song Dynasty. For example, Tan Shuzhen unbound her feet after reaching adulthood.
At this time, the people of the Ming Dynasty had not yet become so perverse as to enjoy the sour smell of women's bound feet as a symbol of elegance, or to
consider drinking and reciting wine cups with bound feet and bound shoes as a beautiful story. It is unknown when this perverse pleasure of breaking bones and tendons
to torture women became popular, but none of the female corpses unearthed from the Ming Dynasty in later generations had bound feet. Perhaps the shaving of heads
by men also psychologically emasculated them, cultivating this kind of perverse taste. Accustomed to being servants, who knows
what they were thinking?
Ironically, the Manchus did not bind their feet. To prove this was a Ming Dynasty custom, there are records that Emperor Kangxi
strictly prohibited women from binding their feet, but ultimately lamented that the bad habit was hard to change, and the ban was abandoned. Even
the thousand-year-old tradition of "our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents" could be changed by the Qing Dynasty with a butcher's knife, yet Emperor Kangxi said he could not prohibit Han women from binding their feet
. This "Emperor of a Thousand Ages" had less enforcement power than the Republic of China era.
A woman's feet are a private part of her body, not to be seen by others in ordinary times. Don't you know that Ximen Qing's seduction of Jinlian
began with touching her feet? The high heels popular in the Ming Dynasty palace were originally intended to conceal the feet. When Empress Dowager Li saw Ding
Shou staring intently at her feet, even though she was wearing shoes and socks, she blushed and angrily said, "
What are you looking at like that? Be careful, or I'll punish you for disrespect!"
Hearing that the Empress Dowager's anger was somewhat bluffing, Ding Shou smiled and said, "This humble subject has been impolite; I will apologize immediately.
" Saying this, he went to the dressing table to adjust his makeup.
Seeing him skillfully mix the face powder with water, the Empress Dowager exclaimed in surprise, "You're so adept at this woman's affair 　　?
" "Isn't it all so I can one day serve Your Majesty?" Ding Shou replied casually. 　　He found pleasure in the bedroom far greater than drawing eyebrows. Coming from a later era, he was carefree and didn't hold any traditional notions of male superiority. Holding a beautiful woman in his arms while 　　drawing her eyebrows and lips was pure bliss; the Second Master was never ashamed of learning such things. 　　Seeing the boy finish mixing the face powder and then, without any hesitation, dip his eyebrow pencil in it, intending to draw her eyebrows 　　, the Empress Dowager, unable to bear it any longer, snatched the pencil away and scolded, "What kind of decorum is this? Get out!" 　　Seeing Ding Shou retreat with a sullen expression, the Empress Dowager, without needing any servants, 　　lightly brushed her eyebrows in front of the gleaming bronze mirror. The palace maid, who had just escaped death, was still calm when she noticed that the Empress Dowager's lips 　　unconsciously curled up 　　the moment she applied the eyebrow powder .

URL 1:https://www.sex3p.com/htmlBlog/146116.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=146116&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : 【Under the Great Tomorrow】(51)

Next Page : 【Under the Great Tomorrow】(55)

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

【Under the Great Tomorrow】(52)

comment Open a new window to view comments