【Under the Great Tomorrow】(35-36)

Author: hui329
Published: 2016/10/30
First published
Word count: 17305
Chapter Thirty-Five: Human Hearts Are Not as Soft as Water
"That's how it is. It was all the work of the White Lotus Sect demons. The suspects have all signed confessions. His Majesty's
intention is to have them executed as a warning to others." In the warm pavilion of Renshou Palace, Ding Shou bowed and reported to the Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Cishou nodded in satisfaction, leaned back in her reclining chair, and said, "I heard that you
arrested Renhe's son-in-law and son and brought them to the Northern Garrison Command. Were they also involved in this matter?"
"I think they shouldn't be. The Qi family father and son are already relatives of the emperor, sharing the fate of the country. Perhaps they were young and ignorant and
made a moment of confusion, but there is absolutely no reason for them to rebel against their own family." Ding Shou replied with his head bowed.
Empress Dowager Cishou stretched lazily, perhaps because she hadn't slept well the night before. She gently twisted her neck, as if to
call for someone to massage it. A pair of long, strong hands were already pressing on her Dazhui acupoint at the back of her neck, and a warm current
flowed in, making her feel indescribably comfortable.
She let out a soft, comfortable hum. The Empress Dowager turned her pretty face to look at Ding Shou's obedient, downcast expression, thinking to herself that this young
man was old enough to be her own son. She didn't pursue his rudeness, shifting to a more comfortable position
, and said softly, "You're quite bold. Knowing that the father and son were innocent, you still had them imprisoned
. Aren't you afraid Renhe will take it to the Grand Empress Dowager?"
Ding Shou chuckled, "These were my private words to the Empress Dowager. To the Grand Princess, I exaggerated the matter
to the heavens."
"Oh?" The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows slightly, seemingly puzzled.
"I have heard that the Grand Princess, relying on the favor of the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor, often speaks recklessly..." Ding Shou
spread his hands and placed them on the Empress Dowager's shoulder acupoints. The Empress Dowager was only in her thirties, and due to her good maintenance,
her skin was supple and youthful, making her look like she was in her prime. Ding Shou quite enjoyed the feel of her.
With a soft hum, the Empress Dowager said, "There is often discord between sisters-in-law, and even the imperial family is not immune."
She pulled out a letter from her sleeve and presented it, saying, "This is a letter from that younger sister-in-law to her sister-in-law
. I dare not presume to read it."
Unfolding the letter, the Empress Dowager saw that her once flamboyant and unrestrained relative was filled with remorse and apology
, every word flattering and ingratiating. A slight smile appeared on her lips, and she could not suppress her joy. The resentment in her heart over the years
had finally been vented.
Thinking that the case of spreading rumors would be solved in a few days, the Emperor, who was not very close to him
before, had been frequently coming to pay his respects because of the case. The Empress Dowager was finding the young man increasingly pleasing to the eye. "You did a good job on this task. What
reward do you want?"
Ding Shou respectfully stepped back and bowed, saying, "Serving the Empress Dowager and the Emperor is my duty. How dare I ask for anything
? As long as the Emperor is healthy and the Empress Dowager enjoys a long and happy life, that would be the greatest reward for me."
"You little monkey, you have a sweet tongue. Well, it is indeed a bit ostentatious to be a fourth-rank official before you have even reached adulthood. I
will keep the reward for now and discuss it later. You can keep the gold medal for yourself..."
After leaving Renshou Palace, Ding Shou felt refreshed. He had been flattered by several people and had even slept with a member of the imperial family. He couldn't help but
feel a little smug. He glanced at the palace gate and saw Liu Jin wearing a python robe, standing with his hands behind his back,
looking at him with a half-smile.
"This lad greets the Eunuch." Ding Shou respectfully went over to pay his respects. Although the old eunuch had
ignored him this time, Ding Shou's ability to navigate the palace's elite circles was due to the eunuch's earlier guidance
. Ding Shou wasn't petty or prone to showing disrespect, and certainly didn't have the right to do so now.
"I'm going to visit an old friend. Since we've run into each other, let's go together," Liu Jin said.
"This…" Ding Shou hesitated, "We await His Majesty's reply…"
"You don't need to worry about His Majesty's affairs," Liu Jin said, turning and walking away. Ding Shou had no choice but to follow.
The alleyway ran north-south, flanked by towering red walls, with only a sliver of sunlight overhead.
It was eerily quiet, a place often associated with supernatural phenomena in later generations, especially now,
with only Ding Shou and the dead, effeminate man in the empty passageway.
"Under the guidance of the Governor, I thoroughly investigated the relationship between the nobles in the palace and the outer court, blocking Weng Taibei's
path out of prison. Now that Grand Princess Renhe is involved in the seditious rumors case, she will likely have no face to plead for him..." Liu Jinxin
walked ahead, with Ding Shou following two steps behind, muttering incessantly to bolster his courage
.
"Although the seditious rumors case was a conspiracy by the White Lotus Sect, there are still many suspicious points. Zheng Wang has been flaunting his imperial status in the capital
for quite some time, so why didn't the Imperial Guards arrest him?"
"The late Emperor personally interrogated Zheng Wang, but the relevant confessions are kept in the Fujian Division of the Ministry of Justice. Why was no one present on the day of the trial to record it
?"
"Back then, Zheng Wang colluded with the eunuch Liu Shan to impersonate a member of the imperial family. Zheng Wang was the ringleader, yet he escaped death. Liu Shan, however,
merely associated with outsiders; even if convicted of spreading heresy, he would only face execution, but in the end, he was subjected to slow slicing. The reasons for this..."
Ding Shou continued rambling on, suddenly realizing that Liu Jin had stopped sometime earlier, and he was now ahead of him
. This was impolite, so he quickly turned around to apologize, "Your Excellency..."
His words trailed off as he saw Liu Jin staring at him with strange, piercing eyes. Ding Shou felt the temperature around him
plummet, as if he were being targeted by a venomous snake with a red tongue. His muscles tensed, but he wasn't sure if he could withstand
a single blow. Such a disparity in strength was unprecedented since his debut.
Liu Jin slowly approached, each step feeling like a blow to his heart. Ding Shou circulated his inner energy with all his might, but
he couldn't break free of the restraint, and he was terrified.
Walking up to him, Liu Jin coldly said, "The Emperor is the son of Emperor Hongzhi and the current Empress Dowager, and can only
be the son of these two noble ladies. No matter what you're secretly plotting, if I find out you're detrimental to the Emperor..."
With a cold snort, Liu Jin said no more and walked past him. The feeling of constraint suddenly vanished, and Ding Shou felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders.
He breathed heavily, feeling his body drenched in cold sweat, 　　and said with lingering fear, "Understood
, Your Majesty." His hand, however, unconsciously reached into his robes and tightly gripped the confession bearing Zheng Wang's blood seal.
********** ...

In the center of the courtyard stood a towering ancient pine tree, its age unknown. A thin, middle-aged eunuch
was numbly sweeping away nonexistent dust with a broom.
Liu Jin approached the eunuch without speaking, until the eunuch noticed
him only when he reached Liu Jin's feet. Instead of being annoyed, Liu Jin smiled slightly and called out loudly, "Is Eunuch Gao here?"
The eunuch nodded repeatedly, gesturing towards the inner courtyard in broken Chinese. He was mute. Liu Jin nodded
in understanding, bowed slightly to the mute eunuch, and continued walking towards the inner courtyard. Ding Shou noticed that the mute eunuch wore a plain blue round-necked robe without any floral patterns on the chest or back, indicating he had no rank. Liu Jin's 　　politeness towards him piqued Ding Shou's curiosity about the person residing in the inner courtyard
. 　　Upon entering the inner courtyard, they found the main room door locked. A coughing fit came from the side room. " 　　How have you been, Eunuch Gao?" Liu Jin called out loudly from the courtyard. 　　"Who is it?" a hoarse voice replied. An elderly eunuch with white hair, hunched over, emerged from the side room. 　　"It's Liu Jin. Why aren't you on duty with the Emperor today?" He coughed violently again as soon as he finished speaking 　　. 　　The old man has a lung problem; is it contagious? Ding Shou frowned as he looked at him, but Liu Jin walked over to the old eunuch 　　and patted his back. "You are a dignified eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Even if you don't have a house outside, why should you 　　compromise yourself by living in a side room in the palace?" 　　The old eunuch wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and shook his head. "The main rooms in the palace are not for us 　　servants to live in. I'm quite comfortable here. I have Ya Quan serving me, which is more than enough. As for this position as a court 　　attendant in the Directorate of Ceremonial, it was a post His Majesty bestowed upon me out of consideration for the old relationship with the Crown Prince." "What can one be? A person's biggest fear is not knowing their own 　　place." 　　Liu Jin smiled. "Your Excellency has keen insight and a clear understanding of the world. I am certainly no match for you 　　. This lad is Ding Shou. Bring him over so Your Excellency can assess his abilities." He then shouted at Ding Shou, "Boy, come and pay your respects to 　　Eunuch Gao Feng, the Attendant of the Directorate of Ceremonial." 　　Ding Shou stepped forward and bowed. Gao Feng squinted and scrutinized him for a while. "Is this the Emperor's favorite recently 　　?" He nodded. "Not bad, quite spirited, just like the naive young man you were when you first entered the palace." 　　Comparing himself to this transvestite, Ding Shou felt incredibly aggrieved, mentally cursing the old 　　eunuch until he coughed up his lungs. Liu Jin smiled bitterly, "You jest, old man. When I first entered the palace, I was too arrogant. If it weren't for 　　your 　　care, Eunuch Gao, my bones would probably be cold by now." 　　Shaking his head again, Gao Feng said, "You were entrusted to us by Li Guang. Because of that, if something happened to you, 　　how could we not care?" 　　Liu Jin sighed, a look of reminiscence on his face, "Yes, entrusted by Eunuch Li. 　　When Eunuch Li was at his peak, countless people in the inner court fawned over him. The day he fell from power, only you, 　　old man, still remember this entrustment." 　　Laughing, Gao Feng said, "The hearts of men are cold, the world is fickle. You've been in the palace for so many years and still can't see through it? Take 　　Zhaode Palace, for example. How glorious it was when Consort Zhen was alive! Now it's just a dilapidated courtyard. What is there left for you 　　to hold onto? 　　" Upon hearing that this was actually Zhaode Palace, the residence of Consort Wan Zhen'er of Emperor Xianzong, Ding Shou couldn't 　　help but feel deeply moved. If Emperor Xiaozong and Empress Dowager Cishou were the model of monogamy among the Ming emperors, then 　　Emperor Chenghua, the father of Emperor Hongzhi, was a typical example of Oedipus complex. After the Tumu Crisis, Emperor Jingtai ascended the throne, and although Emperor Yingzong 　　was welcomed back and honored as the Retired Emperor, he was actually imprisoned in the Eastern Garden. Furthermore, someone with ulterior motives fabricated the "Golden Knife Case," leaving him in constant danger 　　. One can imagine the plight of Emperor Xianzong, the crown prince. At that time, he was accompanied by 　　Wan Zhen'er, a palace maid who was seventeen years his senior. After Emperor Yingzong seized the throne and died, Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne, 　　and Wan Zhen'er was made a Noble Consort. From then on, she enjoyed the exclusive favor of the harem. She died in the twenty-third year of the Chenghua reign. Emperor Xianzong lamented, "Wan Consort is gone, and I will not live much longer. 　　" He died in the same year. Who could have imagined that the once glorious Zhaode Palace would be so desolate that it was 　　guarded by only two eunuchs? 　　Liu Jin remained silent for a long time before laughing, "Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch Gao. I have learned a lot. It's a pity that in this life, 　　if one can let go of everything, one must be dead." 　　******************** 　　At the execution ground in the West Market, crowds thronged, all wanting to see what the audacious White Lotus vixen who dared to storm the palace looked like. Wang 　　Xi and Zheng Wang were escorted into the execution ground, their faces calm. Zheng Wang was already reassured; even after death, he would still be a member of the royal 　　family, so what was there to worry about? Wang Xi, however, 　　shuddered at the memory of having fish scales scraped onto his penis in the dungeon that day. Now, a quick and painless death was the best he could hope for. The composure of the two men earned them a secret thumbs-up from the old and young men of the capital, who were used to seeing death row 　　inmates with no redeeming features: true men. 　　At Princess Renhe's residence, Ruxue led the released Prince Consort Qi Shimei to the princess's bedroom, gently knocking on the door 　　and saying, "Your Highness, the Prince Consort and the young master have returned." 　　A weak voice came from inside, "I know. Liang'er wasn't hurt, was he?" 　　"No, no," Qi Shimei hurriedly replied from outside, "The Northern Garrison didn't make things difficult for us. Liang'er 　　was just a little frightened and is resting in his room." 　　"That's good. You've learned your lesson this time. Just behave yourselves in the residence from now on." 　　Qi Shimei repeatedly agreed, then hesitated, "Princess, why does your voice sound off?" 　　"It's all because of you two. I had to lower myself and speak on my behalf to that imperial sister-in-law to get you two 　　troublemakers released." Renhe's voice carried a hint of panic. 　　After repeatedly apologizing, Qi Shimei said, "Thank you for your concern, Princess. I've come to see how your condition is." He then placed 　　his hand on the door, about to push it open and enter. 　　"No need," Renhe shouted angrily, startling Qi Shimei, who quickly withdrew his hand. "Ruxue, 　　take him away. Don't let him get in my way." 　　Ruxue gestured with her eyes, and Qi Shimei followed her. He noticed that the beauty's gait was different today; she kept her legs tightly closed 　　, her lotus-like steps light and graceful, her waist swaying like a willow in the breeze, elegant and slender. He couldn't help but feel lustful and reached out to touch her round buttocks 　　. 　　Ruxue slapped his hand away and said with a strange expression, "My lord, I haven't been feeling well lately, 　　please forgive me." 　　The room's furnishings remained unchanged; the phoenix zither still lay quietly on the table, the bronze mirror stood before the dressing table, and the four ebony doors...

Behind the screen, the noblewoman of the imperial family, Princess Renhe, lay naked from the waist down, posing as if about to give birth 　　. 　　She laboriously applied medicinal powder to her swollen 　　, red
lips. The moment her fingertips touched the swollen, almost bleeding skin, a sudden 　　, sharp pain made her gasp. 　　She spat out in embarrassment and annoyance, 　　" 　　You little devil..." 　　********** 　　... 　　Standing up, Liu Jin pulled a sheet of paper from his sleeve. "I have a prescription here that I'd like to consult." 　　Upon hearing there was a prescription, Mei Jinshu became interested, taking it with both hands and examining it closely 　　. The more he read, the more unpleasant his expression became. 　　"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the prescription?" Liu Jin stared at him. 　　"I'm ashamed," Mei Jinshu replied. He was a scholar with the title of Xiucai, far superior to Ding Shou, who had only achieved the Jinshi degree through plagiarism 　　. "The ingredients in this prescription are all potent. It must have been written by a renowned doctor, 　　who dared to use such medicine to treat difficult and complicated illnesses. I am ashamed of my inferiority." 　　"What if an ordinary person with a minor ailment took it?" Liu Jin pressed. 　　"Huh?" Mei Jinshu was taken aback, then said angrily, "That's quack doctors killing people. Those with strong bodies might be able to prolong their lives for a month or 　　so, but those whose vital energy is depleted will undoubtedly die within ten days." 　　Grabbing Mei Jinshu's wrist, Liu Jin said coldly, "If a person has been dead for several months, how can you tell 　　what caused their illness?" 　　Mei Jinshu said arrogantly, "As long as the body is still intact, there is no doubt about it." 　　*************** 　　Late at night, an undecorated carriage sped along a quiet, deserted street. Ding Shou and Mei Jinshu exchanged 　　a glance, then looked at Liu Jin, who was sitting in the center with his eyes closed, resting. All three of them were now wearing black hooded cloaks. Liu Jin had brought 　　the two out without saying where they were going, which made them feel uneasy. 　　Suddenly, a horse neighed loudly, the wheels came to a halt, and someone shouted, "Who dares to trespass into the Imperial City at night?" 　　Liu Wusan, acting as the driver, tossed out a waist token. The guards politely said, "So it's Liu 　　, the head eunuch of the Eastern Depot. Open the gate quickly and let him through." 　　The carriage sped past, and a guard whispered, "Boss, shouldn't we check who's inside?" 　　"The head eunuch of the Eastern Depot is driving; who else could be inside?" The gatekeeper scolded his clueless 　　subordinate with exasperation. 　　"Could it be Eunuch Liu of the Eastern Depot? Why doesn't he go through the Dong'an Gate?" 　　A flick on the forehead landed on the head of his ever-astute subordinate. "Idiot, Eunuch Liu's main job is to be the head of the Inner Palace 　　Bureau, which is located inside our Bei'an Gate." The gatekeeper had already concocted a reason for Liu Jin in his mind 　　. 　　At this moment, Liu Jin led the two men out of the carriage and through the North Gate of An, arriving at the outside of a grand hall. A eunuch jogged over and 　　bowed, saying, "Eunuch Liu, everything has been arranged. The eunuchs guarding the coffin in the Shouhuang Hall have all been transferred." 　　Liu Jin nodded and strode in. Led by the eunuch, they passed through three archways and arrived at the main hall. 　　Under the dim yellow light, a heavy coffin, taller than a person, lay in the hall. Liu Jin gestured with his eyes, and Mei Jinshu understood 　　and entered. 　　Now, Ding Shou still doesn't know whose coffin is inside the hall. Emperor Hongzhi died young without any signs of illness. 　　The construction of the Huangtai Mausoleum only began after his death. The site was Shijiatai, recommended by the Grand Eunuch Dai Yi and the Imperial Observatory. When the construction was 　　halfway done, Yang Ziqi, the principal of the Ministry of Personnel, reported that water was coming out of the well in the mausoleum, which was an ominous sign. Other officials 　　and eunuchs who were supervising the construction of the mausoleum did not acknowledge this. Finally, the Grand Eunuch Xiao Jing checked and confirmed that there was no water coming out of the well. Only then did the construction of the mausoleum continue 　　, which delayed the construction. Emperor Xiaozong, who had no mausoleum to be built, has been kept in the Shouhuang Hall ever since. 　　Watching Mei Jinshu push open the coffin and lean inside, Ding Shou felt himself caught up in another palace secret 　　. He scratched his head, seeing Liu Jin's somber face as he gazed at the starry sky, and dared not approach to say anything. Looking south, the dark 　　shadows of Wansui Mountain loomed like monsters within the imperial city. If the timing weren't so bad, he would really like to see 　　what the old locust tree where Chongzhen hanged himself looked like a hundred years later. 　　Less than half an hour later, Mei Jinshu emerged from the palace gates. Liu Jin turned around and asked in a deep voice, "How is it?" 　　Mei Jinshu wiped his hands clean and slowly replied, "The cause of illness was a cold, and the cause of death was the wrong medicine." 　　Upon hearing this, Liu Jin chuckled, "I knew it. In just eight days, from the onset of the illness to the passing of the late emperor, 　　there was only eight days. There must be something fishy about this..." 　　Standing behind Liu Jin, Ding Shou noticed that the old eunuch's right hand, hidden behind his back, was curled into a claw. He knew something was wrong; the old 　　eunuch was plotting to silence him. He quickly said, "The Imperial Medical Academy connects the inner palace and the outer court, but it's full of quack 　　doctors with empty titles. This time, it's perfect to have Jinshu help you take care of them, Your Excellency." 　　Upon hearing this, Liu Jin gave a cold laugh and moved swiftly. Ding Shou couldn't stop him in time and wondered how he could explain this to Mei Tuizhi . Unexpectedly, he saw the eunuch who had led the way fall silently to the ground. "Wu San, 　　kill all the people on duty from Bei'an Gate to Shouhuang Hall 　　tonight . Don't let them reveal their whereabouts." 　　Liu Wu San bowed and accepted the order. 　　The old eunuch's ruthlessness made Ding Shou secretly click his tongue. Pointing to the coffin in the main hall, he said softly, "Grand Eunuch 　　, what about this..." 　　"Hmph, spread the news, and we won't have to worry about the rest." 　　Chapter Thirty-Six 　　Waiting for Waves to Rise "I humbly believe that the late Emperor, who was frugal and abstinent in his daily life, was well-behaved and healthy. Even if he had caught a cold, how could he have suddenly passed away like this? 　　I have heard that the original physician's prescription was not appropriate. Even the deepest palace cannot know the truth..." The nearly eighty-year-old 　　Minister of Rites, Ma Wensheng, spoke with a sorrowful tone and earnest words. Because of his advanced age and failing hearing and eyesight, the old man 　　had intended to resign during the Hongzhi reign. However, due to Hongzhi's retention and his consideration for the long-standing relationship between the emperor and his minister, he postponed it until now. Now, hearing the rumors that the late 　　emperor's death was due to a quack doctor, he immediately submitted a memorial requesting a thorough investigation. 　　"We, your subjects, are filled with deep sorrow and resentment. Furthermore, the court has established the Imperial Medical Academy to recruit renowned physicians from across the land, bestowing upon them high office 　　and generous stipends. A separate Imperial Pharmacy has been set up within the secure inner palace, employing only the finest physicians, who are provided with daily meals and wine, precisely to prepare the Emperor's body for treatment."

Regarding the matter at hand, we, your subjects, have heard rumors that are consistent both inside and outside the court.
How can we, as subjects, bear to let this anger subside so easily? We must arrest him and send him to the judicial authorities for investigation. We must ascertain whether the drugs used in the incident were appropriate, and determine the appropriate punishment according to the law. We request Your Majesty's approval. "
Outrageous!" Upon hearing that his father had been killed by a quack doctor, the young emperor was furious. "
Investigate thoroughly! Investigate thoroughly! Order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest all the Imperial Medical Academy personnel..."
"Your Majesty, please be careful," Grand Secretary Xie stepped forward and said, "What Minister Ma said is merely hearsay from the marketplace; how can it be taken as evidence? Moreover,
prescribing medicine is a doctor's duty. If he is convicted for this, what doctor in the world would dare to prescribe medicine for patients?"
Duke Zhang Mao of Yingguo immediately turned pale upon hearing this and shouted, "The Great Ming Code has long stipulated that if a doctor causes
a patient's death, it can be determined by another doctor. If it was not intentional harm, it should be treated as manslaughter, and the doctor should be banned
from practicing medicine; if the doctor deliberately violated the prescription to obtain money, it should be treated as theft, and if it resulted in death, the doctor should be beheaded. Grand Secretary Xie, is the Great Ming Code only
for ordinary people? A quack doctor who misled the emperor should be punished for great disrespect." His voice was like a bell, and his spittle almost
sprayed Xie Qian's face.
With the old Duke stepping forward, Xie Qian was somewhat apprehensive. There was no way around it; the old man's background was too strong. His grandfather, Zhang Yu
, had followed Emperor Taizong in raising an army to quell the rebellion and died on the battlefield. His father, Zhang Fu, had pacified Annam and died at Tumu Fortress while accompanying Emperor Yingzong on a campaign. He himself had ascended to
the position of Duke at the age of nine and held military power for decades. His lineage was impeccable. Although the civil officials in the court were powerful now,
there was no reason for him to stand up to the entire group of military generals and nobles.
Li Dongyang quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "The Duke of Yingguo is absolutely right. This matter is of great importance and should be thoroughly investigated...
" He stopped Xie Qian, who was about to speak, and continued, "Scholar Xie's suggestion is to proceed with caution. Perhaps it would be better to hand it
over to the Censorate for a joint trial by multiple parties to set the record straight. What does Your Majesty think?"
As long as a result could be found, Zhengde didn't think too much about it and nodded, saying, "Let's do it that way."
Liu Jin had been observing coldly in the court. After the court session ended, he walked alone. The civil officials were ashamed to associate with him and
kept their distance. Suddenly, he heard someone calling from behind, "Eunuch Liu
, please wait." Turning around, he saw Li Dongyang. Liu Jin smiled and said, "What advice do you have for me, Grand Secretary Li?"
"I wouldn't dare, but I have a favor to ask of you, Your Excellency." Li Dongyang glanced around. "Please, let's speak in private."
The two went to a secluded spot, and Li Dongyang stroked his beard and smiled, "This time, the Censorate is trying the Imperial Medical Academy. Since Chief Justice Dai
is old and frail, it should be presided over by Lord Liu Yu. I wonder if it's possible to spare the Imperial Medical Academy members from being charged with disrespect
?"
Liu Jin smiled, "Lord Liu was recommended by Minister Ma and is a trusted figure of Grand Secretary Liu. Why
would he need to ask me for help? Besides, the unauthorized presentation of imperial medicine, as the Duke of Yingguo said, is indeed a crime of disrespect. How can we easily exonerate them?
"
Like a cunning old fox, Li Dongyang chuckled, "After the Weng Taibei incident, who can't see that
Liu Yu is already in Your Excellency's inner circle? Furthermore, my advice to Your Excellency not to convict them of the ten heinous crimes is also for Your Excellency's sake
."
"Oh?" Liu Jin raised a white eyebrow. "I would like to hear the details."
"The Imperial Medical Academy's medicine supply is inextricably linked to the inner court. Zhang Yu, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, was in charge of its affairs. When the late Emperor
was unwell, it was he who summoned the physician by imperial decree," Li Dongyang chuckled. "I've heard that Zhang Yu is from Shaanxi.
Eunuch Liu has always been tireless in promoting his fellow townsmen. I wonder whose help this Eunuch Zhang has gained to his current position
..."
Upon hearing Zhang Yu's name, Liu Jin's expression changed, but returned to normal after Li Dongyang finished speaking. "So
what? If the Emperor's health is harmed, even our own parents should be arrested or killed!"
Li Dongyang clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Your loyalty and dedication to the country are admirable, but I wonder if you've ever heard this saying, Eunuch?
"
Liu Jin raised his chin slightly, gesturing for him to speak. Li Dongyang said softly, "A thief's bite goes deep into the bone."
"A thief's bite goes deep into the bone, indeed. Grand Secretary Li, you sent the criminal to the Censorate instead of the Embroidered Uniform Guard,
is this what you're worried about?" Liu Jin said with a dark face.
"Under the command of the Three Woods, nothing is unacceptable. I've heard of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's methods," Li Dongyang said smugly
.
"Think about it, among the Imperial Medical Academy staff and the concurrently managing the Ministry of Justice, who else has such influence?
By the way, I've heard that Imperial Physician Liu Wentai has a close relationship with Xie and Li. Could it be him?" Liu Jin glanced sideways at Li
Dongyang.
Li Dongyang's expression changed drastically. Liu Jin 　　chuckled and said, "
You probably haven't witnessed the methods of the Eastern Depot yet, Grand Secretary Li. While I can't do whatever I want with the Censorate, I can still offer some favors to certain individuals." After a moment's thought, Li Dongyang stroked his long beard and said, "Please speak frankly, Grand Secretary. Although I am old and 　　frail, there are still some things I can do in my humble way." 　　"Haha..." Liu Jin patted Li Dongyang's shoulder boldly and said, "Prime Minister Li, do you know 　　what I like most about you? You're open to discussion on everything, unlike those two—one rigid and conservative, the other all talk and no 　　action." 　　Li Dongyang smiled wryly, "I am flattered by Grand Secretary Liu's kindness." 　　Liu Jin's expression hardened, and he said, "First, don't mention the matter of confiscating the imperial estates and transferring them to the Ministry of Revenue again. The Emperor's purse 　　is not a place for a subject to covet." 　　Li Dongyang nodded. 　　"Secondly, immediately halt the dismissal of your fellow townsman, the Minister of War, from the position of Imperial Attendant 　　. How can the imperial grace be so easily discarded?" 　　Frowning, Li Dongyang nodded and said, "I will discuss with Dongshan whether to postpone this matter." 　　"Thirdly, the withdrawal of the eunuchs stationed in various regions is hereby cancelled." " 　　Eunuch Liu, these three points are all from the late emperor's will. This is very difficult for me to handle." Li Dongyang finally 　　couldn't help but speak up. 　　Liu Jin's face was full of mockery. "Prime Minister Li, don't you three Grand Secretaries understand what this so-called will is all about 　　...?" 　　****************************** 　　"Bang!" The prison door of the Censorate opened and then quickly closed. An 　　old man with a gray beard in the cell had just been blinded by the sunlight and then longed to find that rare ray of sunlight. 　　With a series of clanking sounds, a fifty-year-old man in prison clothes entered 　　the cell. "Brother Liu, are you done with your court hearing?" the old man asked anxiously. 　　Liu Wentai, the former judge of the Imperial Medical Academy, nodded and walked to a pile of straw in the corner, where he lay down casually 　　.

The old man stamped his feet anxiously, "What did you say? Tell me quickly!"
"Tell me the truth," Liu Wentai said, lying on the weeds.
"You said I prescribed medicine for the late Emperor without examining him?" The old man turned ashen-faced.
Liu Wentai impatiently turned to the inner wall and grunted in response.
"It's over, it's over! I never imagined that in all my decades of medical practice, the only life I've lost was
the Emperor's! My entire family is gone!" The former imperial physician, Gao Tinghe, wept bitterly.
Just as he was crying, he heard Liu Wentai chuckle. "What are you laughing at? You were the one who told me about the Emperor's
illness and persuaded me to prescribe such potent medicine. You killed me, sob sob..." Gao Tinghe cried.
"I told you that, but if you weren't thinking of curing the Emperor's health without a proper diagnosis and
leaving a good name as a divine physician before him, would you have broken the rules of diagnosis and prescribed medicine without taking his pulse?" Liu Wentai sat up
and turned to say.
"You, you, I, I... My poor daughter!" After stammering a few words, Gao Tinghe had nothing to say and
continued to wail.
The old man cried so pitifully that Liu Wentai felt sorry for him and went over to gently persuade him, "Alright, Brother Gao, there's no
need to wallow in self-pity. We're not necessarily going to die."
"Such a serious crime, what else can I do but die?" Gao Tinghe sobbed.
"We failed in this gamble for wealth and power because of bad luck, but if we didn't have some connections, why would I let
you take such a risk?" Liu Wentai seemed quite confident.
"What do you intend to do?" Gao Tinghe's hope was rekindled.
"I won't lie to you now. I have connections with two Grand Secretaries in the court, and I also have influence in the palace. Even
before the Empress Dowager, I can speak with authority."
"That's you. I have no one to protect me. The crime of disrespect alone is unforgivable!"
Gao Tinghe continued to sob.
"We've known each other for decades. How could I let you bear the blame alone? Word has already been sent out that we've been convicted
of bribing an eunuch." Liu Wentai whispered.
"An eunuch? Who?"
"Zhang Yu. He accepted bribes from me to bring us into the palace to treat the Emperor. Who else could it be but him
?"
"Wait a minute, didn't you say you were…?" Gao Tinghe thought for a moment.
"Brother Gao, if you want to live, do as I say. Some things are best kept to yourself." Liu Wentai
said coldly.
Seeing Liu Wentai's sinister and ruthless expression, Gao Tinghe nodded repeatedly.
**********
...

"Liu Wentai served under both the Chenghua and Hongzhi emperors. Considering his hard work, I intend to spare his life and have him exiled to the border,"
Xie Qian said, seeing Zhu Houzhao's increasingly manic state.
"What?!" Zhengde was initially shocked and angry, then burst into laughter, tears welling in his eyes.
The three Grand Secretaries exchanged bewildered glances. They had all been the young emperor's teachers and knew Zhu Houzhao's temperament well.
Even when he slammed his fist on the table and glared, his actions were more bark than bite. They had assumed that after letting him vent his anger
, he would ultimately comply with their wishes. They hadn't expected the young emperor to be like this.
Zhengde, having finished laughing, leaned weakly against the dragon throne. "My dear ministers," he said, "our late father always addressed me as 'Master
.'"
"The late emperor was benevolent and magnanimous; we are deeply grateful and humbled," the old men said in unison.
Holding up the memorial, Zhengde said mockingly, "Now that Father Emperor has been harmed by a quack doctor, you don't even think of revenge, but instead try to
exonerate the murderer."
The three exchanged glances, and Xie Qian said with a stiff upper lip, "The late Emperor treated us kindly, and we would never repay him even if we died a hundred times, but if we let personal
feelings interfere with the law, that would not have been what the late Emperor wanted.
" "I don't want you to let personal feelings interfere. Let's discuss how to punish those who have connections with officials outside the capital." Zhengde suddenly raised his voice
.
At this moment, Wang Yue, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, hurried over, "The Empress Dowager has a message for Your Majesty."
"Speak." Zhengde didn't even lift his eyelids.
"The Imperial Medical Academy judges that Liu Wentai has previously contributed to the administration of medicine, so he can be spared the death penalty." Wang Yue lowered his head and said.
His cold eyes swept over the crowd, and Zhengde chuckled, "You've come just in time. Good, Liu Wentai is spared
the death penalty, but what about the others? Liu Jin, what do you say we do with Zhang Yu?"
"Change the execution to slow slicing, and let the palace servants witness the execution. This is the consequence of those who have connections with officials outside the capital." Liu Jin said through gritted teeth.
Zhengde nodded, leaning on the table and softly asked, "My dear ministers, where is Gao Tinghe?"
He glanced at Liu Jin, and Liu Jian gritted his teeth, saying, "Executed in the West Market, his female relatives sent to the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau)."
A
tall execution rack stood in the square, and Zhang Yu, the head of the Sishijian (Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs), one of the twenty-four departments, was hung on it
, ready for execution. The onlookers were no longer the curious citizens of the capital, but thousands of palace servants.
Liu Jin looked at the rack, his expression complex. He heard a cold laugh beside him, "Eunuch Liu is
so impartial even to his own fellow townsmen, truly a model for us all." Turning his head, he saw Wang Yue, the head of the Silijian (Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs), standing to the side with Fan Heng, Xu Zhi, and a group of
high-ranking officials, their faces filled with disdain.
Without answering him, Liu Jin approached the rack. Zhang Yu, his face ashen, pleaded, "Eunuch Liu, save me!"
"What exactly happened to the late Emperor?"
"I really don't know! Liu Wentai and Gao Tinghe became acquainted through the compilation of the 'Compendium of Materia Medica' on imperial orders. However,
when repairing the imperial medicine, I embezzled some silver with Qiu Jue, the Right Councilor of the Court of State Affairs, which was discovered by the Hongzhi Emperor. This displeased the late Emperor
, so Liu Wentai came to me and said that I would use the opportunity of a nobleman's illness to supply medicine in order to consolidate my favor. I inexplicably listened to him
." Zhang Yu cried out, blaming the heavens for his injustice.
"You..." Liu Jin was exasperated. "I put you in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy and the Imperial Medical
Academy out of consideration for our shared hometown, but you only cared about a little money... You don't even deserve to be called a Shaanxi native!" He turned and left, hearing Zhang Yu's scream behind him 　　.
Looking at the palace servants around him, some terrified, some angry, some disdainful, and some even feeling sorry for their own kind , 　　Liu Jin tightened his scarlet cloak and
slowly uttered a few words: Liu—Wen—Tai!
********** ... 　　These postal runners toiled day and night, earning only two cents of silver a day. Though it sounded meager, it 　　was enough to feed an eight-person family, a truly secure civil servant job. Later, Emperor Chongzhen, after executing Wei Zhongxian, 　　was misled by the Donglin Party into abolishing the Eastern Depot and local tax supervisors. When the national treasury was depleted, he realized he needed to send people out to 　　collect taxes again, but the Donglin leaders rebuked him for competing with the people for profit. Helpless, unable to increase revenue, he could only cut costs, 　　so he simply dismissed the postal runners. Thus, a postal runner surnamed Li lost his job. In a fit of anger, he started his own business, and several years later, he 　　drove his former boss to suicide, completing a Ming Dynasty version of a rags-to-riches story. 　　The old courier downed another cup of wine with a "slurp," muttering curses at the awful weather, fearing a heavy snowfall was imminent. Suddenly, he heard 　　someone enter. Looking up, he saw two escorts, travel-worn, carrying whistles and shackles 　　. One of them shouted, "Quickly arrange a room for us to rest." 　　"Sure thing, I'll arrange one for you right away," the old courier replied briskly, standing up quickly. 　　The other one was dissatisfied. "Are you blind? Arrange two rooms, one for the two of us brothers, and one for this gentleman. 　　" 　　The old postman looked at Liu Wentai, dressed in prison clothes, behind the two men in astonishment. "Is this a convict?" 　　"Just arrange it as I told you to. Why are you so nosy?" He then put on a smiling face. "Master Liu, the weather is not 　　good. Let's rest here for a while and continue our journey after this snowstorm passes. What do you think?" 　　Liu Wentai nodded and casually said, "Gentlemen, we haven't even left Zhili yet. It's not good to be so conspicuous. 　　" 　　"Look at what you're saying. Minister Min instructed us to take good care of them along the way. If anyone talks too much, we two brothers will squeeze their egg yolks 　　out to go with our drinks." After saying that, the escort glared fiercely at the old postman. 　　The postman was old and shrewd. He was not without discernment. He immediately pretended not to see anything, arranged the rooms, and invited the men to settle in 　　and rest. 　　A biting wind howled, rattling the windowpanes. Liu Wentai stood up, looking out 　　the window with a troubled expression. "Noon is almost here..." 　　A prison cart slowly made its way to the execution ground in the West Market. Gao Tinghe, his hair disheveled, had stopped crying, 　　muttering something incoherently. When they arrived at the execution ground, after his identity was verified, the executioner in red lifted his hair 　　, exposing his neck. Suddenly, he raised his head and loudly recited: "Let me offer you wine, my lord, for human relationships are as fickle as waves 　　. Even old friends with white hair still draw their swords, while the wealthy and powerful laugh at each other..." 　　The blade flashed, and heads fell... 　　Liu Wentai looked at the sky and sighed, "Brother Gao, I'm sorry." He turned around, and behind him, at a table, 　　sat someone who had appeared out of nowhere. 　　Startled at first, but upon recognizing Liu Wentai, he smiled and said, "What brings you here, sir?" He proactively 　　poured the man a cup of tea. The man looked at the teacup without answering, a cold glint in his eyes. 　　Two fast horses galloped up and stopped at the post station. Bai Shaochuan frowned, "There's a smell of blood. 　　" 　　Ding Shou and he immediately dismounted. Upon entering the post station, they saw the old postman lying on the ground. Ding Shou bent down to check 　　his breath; there was no sign of life, only the body was still warm. Bai Shaochuan came out of the room and shook his head, "Liu 　　Wentai and the escorts are both dead." 　　Slowly straightening up, Ding Shou said, "They were both killed instantly by a single blow that shattered their internal organs 　　. The perpetrator was a master." 　　"Now that there are no survivors in this case, who else could know anything about it?" The two exchanged a glance and 　　said in unison, "The Jiaofangsi (a type of entertainment institution)." The 　　Jiaofangsi 　　, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, was established in the Tang Dynasty. Also known as Jiaofang, it was the court's ritual and music institution. Under the emperor, 　　it was responsible for the left and right Shaowu dances, each managed by one person from the left and right Siyue. The Jiaofangsi provided all the music and dance for major court ceremonies. Its 　　jurisdiction included both courtesans and musicians, both considered lowly. Even former officials and noble families, once they entered the Jiaofangsi, were destined to be 　　prostitutes for generations. After the Jingnan Rebellion, many families of former officials of the Jianwen Emperor were demoted to the Jiaofangsi. 　　Until the Song and Yuan dynasties, the courtesans under the Jiaofangsi's jurisdiction still had the duty of serving officials at banquets. However, when Emperor Xuanzong launched a 　　campaign against prostitution, prohibiting officials from patronizing prostitutes, these courtesans began to operate privately and open to the public. Officials, with 　　nowhere else to vent their desires, found ways to circumvent the policy. Besides keeping courtesans for themselves, another 　　profession emerged: brothels for male prostitutes began to flourish. 　　As dusk settled and the music of the various brothels of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) filled the air, it was time for welcoming and seeing off guests. 　　In one courtyard, a man dressed in a black shirt and wearing a green turban addressed a woman in her forties, saying, " 　　What's wrong, Granny Tan? She still won't give in?" 　　The woman, though past her prime, was beautiful with a touch of makeup and dressed in coarse cloth. She smiled 　　apologetically and said, "Chief Zang, please forgive me. This girl has a fiery temper. If we push her too hard, something bad might happen." "Don't give me that crap, 　　" the man snapped. "I've seen plenty of chaste men. You know the rules here 　　, you'll be late for your business tonight ." 　　The woman trembled with fright and nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, Zang, it won't delay your business." 　　Just then, someone called from the front yard, "Zang, an old man up ahead has asked you to sing, and the madam wants you to hurry up. 　　" 　　"I know," the man spat, cursing under his breath, "All he does is rush me. I, Zang Xian, am 　　a renowned actor on the stage, and I'm stuck in a brothel suffering this kind of misery." He grumbled as he walked towards the front yard. 　　After the man had gone far away, the woman sighed, picked up some wine and dishes, pushed open a door, and went inside. 　　Inside, a young woman was weeping with her face covered by her hands, her body bent over the table. Hearing the door open, she jumped up in fright, her 　　ample breasts trembling slightly. When she saw that it was another woman who had entered, she touched her high breasts and let out a long sigh 　　.

"Miss Gao, please have some food first, don't neglect your health," the woman advised.
The woman snorted coldly and turned her head away. With
a sigh, the woman placed the tray on the table and sat down beside the woman. "Miss Gao, now that you've entered the brothel
, you must accept your fate. Your stubbornness will only bring you suffering in the end."
The woman slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "I, Gao Wenxin, come from a scholarly family; my father was a renowned imperial physician
. How can I, like you, willingly debase myself and allow myself to be humiliated?"
"Willing yourself to debase yourself…" Upon hearing this, the woman's face turned sorrowful, and two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.
Gao Wenxin couldn't bear to see this either. "This one, oh... sister, I wasn't talking about you, don't be sad
." She picked up her wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. "Wenxin didn't mean it, I'll punish myself with a cup."
Realizing her lapse in decorum, the woman quickly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, shook her head, and forced a smile. "You
're right. As the wife of the Governor of Datong, it's truly despicable to be engaged in such a disreputable business."
Ah, Gao Wenxin was so shocked that her mouth gaped open. A governor of a region would at least be a Vice Censor-in-Chief or
even a Censor-in-Chief, a high-ranking official of at least the fourth rank. Her father, whom she was so proud of, was only an eighth-rank imperial physician in the Imperial Hospital.
The shock was too great, and Miss Gao couldn't quite process it.
"My late husband was convicted, and my daughter and I were banished to the brothel. When they raided our home, I held off the officials, allowing my daughter to escape
. Since arriving in this brothel, I've tried to starve myself and
even attempted suicide, but they always have a thousand ways to make my life a living hell. After several failed attempts to kill myself, I resigned myself to my fate..." Tears welled up again, impossible to wipe away
. The woman simply stopped wiping. "Now, my only wish is to see my daughter again before I die.
"
Gao Wenxin empathized, tears streaming down her face like broken beads. "I'd rather die..."
The woman wept. "These people won't let you die innocent, Miss Gao. Just accept your fate and stop
daydreaming..."
Gao Wenxin was about to speak again when she felt a surge of heat, as if a hundred ants were gnawing at her heart. Her mind went blank
. "What did you put in the wine?"
"It was for your own good, Miss Gao. In this place, it's better for a girl to be confused the first time." The woman
said with a look of shame.
With a loud bang, the door burst open. Zang Xian, his face contorted with grief, pointed at Gao Wenxin. "Gentlemen, he 's right
here!"
Ding Shou, who had been holding his pulse, released his grip, causing Zang Xian to gasp and clutch his wrist, jumping up and down. Bai Shaochuan strode
in, his eyes sweeping over the two men before settling on Gao Wenxin. "Are you Gao Wenxin?"
Gao Wenxin's breathing was labored, his face flushed, but he remained silent.
Bai Shaochuan sensed something was wrong and was about to approach for a closer look when suddenly the windowpane shattered. A dark figure leaped in, raising his hand and sending
three silver streaks flying towards Bai Shaochuan.
To attempt to use hidden weapons in front of the Tang Clan was like showing off one's axe before an expert. Bai Shaochuan opened and closed his folding fan, the silver streaks vanishing instantly
. The man in black pressed his hand to his waist, and a soft sword shot out, aimed directly at Gao Wenxin.
Now, Gao Wenxin's body was limp; he had no strength to dodge. The woman screamed, and Ding Shou flicked his toe,
sending a brocade stool hurtling towards the man in black.
The man in black maintained his sword stance, attempting to cleave the stool in two with a palm strike. However, Ding Shou's kick was exceptionally powerful; the stool
's force surpassed his palm strike. As the two collided, a searing pain shot through his palm, accompanied by a muffled
groan, and his sword strike faltered.
Ding Shou casually pulled Gao Wenxin behind him, and Bai Shaochuan, with a powerful thrust of his shoe, silently pierced
the man in black's Huantiao acupoint, causing him to collapse.
With a kick, Bai Shaochuan sent the longsword flying and grabbed the man in black by the collar. "Speak, who sent you?"
The man in black sneered, then convulsed, black blood flowing from his mouth and nose. Bai Shaochuan was shocked. He pried open
the man's mouth to examine him closely and discovered that the man had hidden a deadly poison in his molars. He had bitten open the medicine packet earlier, and the poison had killed him
. Disappointed, Bai Shaochuan released the body. "A suicide soldier."
He turned around, no longer hearing the usual teasing behind him. He saw Ding Shou embracing the tall Gao Wenxin. The woman's
clothes were disheveled, her two long, slender legs were unnaturally intertwined, and her hands shamelessly clung to Ding Shou, moaning
, "I...I want..."
Ding Shou took her pulse and looked at Bai Shaochuan. "This person is not right."
Bai Shaochuan looked coldly at the woman. The woman was terrified and knelt down, saying, "She took
the aphrodisiac wine from the brothel."
"Antidote." The Third Head was too lazy to waste words.
"No, as long as there's sexual intercourse..." Looking at Gao Wenxin, who seemed infatuated, she worriedly added
, "Gentlemen, please hurry and save Miss Gao. This drug is potent; if left untreated, it might ruin her mind."
Bai Shaochuan glanced at Ding Shou, then gave a knowing look towards the embroidered couch. Ding Shou chuckled awkwardly, "That's
not a good idea, is it? Perhaps Brother Bai could reluctantly do it once?"
With a light snort, Bai Shaochuan walked out of the room and said to the woman who followed him out, "You stay and watch over
her." He then slammed the door shut.
"This..." The woman, due to her advanced age, had long since stopped entertaining clients and now worked as a persuader.
She had never done anything like this in the boudoir, not even as a former official's wife, let alone since entering this brothel.
"What are you all standing there for? Come here and undress her!" Ding Shou shouted.
The woman responded and came over to help Gao Wenxin undress. In truth, Gao Wenxin's clothes were already disheveled
, her bright red undergarment exposed. After removing her long skirt, her lotus-colored silk underpants were soaked with water
, and a dark shadow was visible beneath the thin fabric.
As the clothes were removed piece by piece, Ding Shou gazed at the exquisite body before him, like a sculpture of jade: her slender, sexy
collarbones, full, firm breasts, long, straight thighs, and plump, round buttocks—her entire body exuded
an alluring charm. His manhood swelled uncontrollably, and he quickly removed his own clothes.
"Ah!" The woman, having removed Gao Wenxin's clothes, turned around and gasped upon seeing the hard, erect member.
Ding Shou, unfazed, smugly pressed his member down with his finger, then released it
. The rebounding member slapped back against his lower abdomen with a "smack," trembling slightly, making the woman dizzy
.
Lying on the embroidered couch, Gao Wenxin kneaded her snow-white breasts with one hand, while the other hand reached down to her lower body. Her
rosy jade gate was now glistening with moisture, and as her fingers probed inside, an alluring moan escaped from her nostrils.
Ding Shou approached, moved her fingers aside, and pressed his massive member against the alluring indentation. With a slight thrust of his hips,
he swallowed her fleshy glans as if being sucked into a whirlpool, almost without effort. Gao Wenxin sat up abruptly, tightly wrapping her arms
around his neck, and thrusting her lower body upwards on her own. Ding Shou only felt the head of his penis encounter resistance before
breaking through with the force of her embrace. Gao Wenxin let out a long, comfortable moan, feeling no pain even from the loss of her virginity. Instead,
Ding Shou's brow furrowed slightly as he was pushed against the final barrier of her virginity.
Gao Wenxin had just felt an unbearable itch in her clitoris, an emptiness that made her want to stuff everything inside.
Now, feeling a hot, thick, and long member instantly fill that emptiness, the intense satisfaction stimulated her to arch her
back and twist her hips, letting out satisfied cries.
As she indulged in her ecstasy, Ding Shou, held tightly in her arms, found it difficult to move. He simply pulled her close
, flipped her over, and placed her on top of him, enjoying the pleasure of her thrusting. Her lower body would occasionally jerk upwards, causing her body to
tremble and groan loudly.
Seeing her so frenzied, the woman felt guilty and remorseful. Fearing she would fall off the bed, she knelt on the couch and supported Gao
Wenxin's shoulders. Gao Wenxin, now full in the lower body, felt her hands empty and uncomfortable, so she instinctively pulled the woman into her arms
, burying her face in her chest.
This stirred the woman's heartstrings. This girl was probably about the same age as her own daughter. The woman's maternal
instincts were aroused. She unbuttoned her clothes, revealing the full breasts of a mature woman. Gao Wenxin parted her lips slightly and took the
grape-like nipple into her mouth.
The woman let out a soft moan, her brows furrowing slightly, perhaps from being bitten too hard. Then
, her face softened with tenderness as she gently stroked Gao Wenxin's hair and pulled her into her arms. This scene of maternal love, if not for the lingering moans
of pleasure, would have been a beautiful picture of human affection.
Ding Shou, enjoying the tight embrace of the virgin's jade pot with his eyes closed, his hands caressing her smooth, slender legs
, suddenly felt the woman's movements slow. Opening his eyes, he saw this scene. He chuckled and reached his dark
hand towards the woman's plump, round buttocks.
Sensing the approaching enemy, the woman, unwilling to relinquish the beauty before her, dared not resist the demonic hand's wandering. Ding Shou ,
feeling the mature woman's fuller figure through her cloth skirt—different from that of a young girl—was still not satisfied. With a forceful pull, his skirt tore,
revealing her snowy buttocks and jade thighs.
Just as he was about to go deeper, Ding Shou suddenly felt his penis tighten as if it were being constricted by a bag. The walls of
her vagina writhed, and Gao Wenxin, who had been buried in the woman's arms, let out a soft cry. A surge of heat flowed from her flower core, and she collapsed weakly
against Ding Shou's chest. Tiny beads of sweat covered her delicate skin, and an alluring flush rose on her shoulders and chest.
Ding Shou was not about to let go of the pleasure of her virginity. He flipped her over, pinning her body beneath him, lifting her legs and placing them between his shoulders. He pressed his wet, juice-covered penis against her entrance and thrust in again with force, 　　pumping rapidly like
a storm . 　　A woman's orgasm differs from a man's; as long as stimulation continues, she can reach the peak repeatedly. Under Ding Shou's vigorous thrusting 　　, Gao Wenxin's snow-white buttocks were suspended in the air, with nowhere to hide, being sent to the climax time and time again. "Slap slap..." The fleshy balls slapped 　　against her buttocks, producing crisp sounds, accompanied by "plop plop..." friction sounds. Gao Wenxin's body 　　convulsed, and her ten toes, hanging on Ding Shou's shoulders, suddenly spread open and straightened, another surge of heat gushing out... 　　"Ah...ah...don't stop...harder..." Her head shook repeatedly, her hair disheveled, and lewd moans 　　escaped from the mouth of this former lady of high society. 　　"I can't...it's swollen...I can't take it...wooo..." Her lower body was relentlessly ravaged, initially pleasurable, 　　then unconsciously moaning, and finally, due to excessive ejaculation and the stagnation of her vagina being blocked by his penis, the suffocating feeling 　　finally brought Miss Gao to tears, her pink fists pounding the man on top of her. 　　Ding Shou continued to revel in the pleasure of being enveloped by her flower, like a baby suckling, amidst the relentless thrusting. He only responded to the cries 　　and moans with soft murmurs, his excitement high. However, two voluptuous mounds pressed against him from behind. The woman leaned against his shoulder and gently kissed it 　　: "If we continue, I'm afraid it will hurt her body. Shall I serve you, sir?" 　　Seeing the beauty beneath him, exhausted from the onslaught, Ding Shou worried that if he went too far, he wouldn't be able to get anything out of her. He reached back and pulled 　　the full body behind him closer, then withdrew. As his massive member withdrew, her vaginal fluids gushed out like a burst dam 　　, soaking the embroidered bed and the inside of her thighs. The immense release of pleasure caused the beauty on the bed 　　to let out another satisfied moan. 　　Lifting the woman's chin, Ding Shou examined her closely. Though fine lines clung to her eyes, her beauty was undeniable. Rarely 　　, she possessed a mature charm beyond her years, with full, fair skin and a voluptuous figure. He pressed her head down, and the woman, 　　understanding, knelt down, ignoring the lustful fluids covering his penis, and began to swallow it whole. 　　He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of her tongue on his penis. Her oral skills weren't particularly refined; occasionally, her teeth would scrape against 　　the ridges of his penis. Impatient, Ding Shou pulled the woman to the round table, gently rubbing his purplish-red penis against her thick labia. 　　He clearly felt her body tense. With a soft laugh, he thrust in. "Ugh—" The 　　sudden influx of his massive member caused her body to jerk forward. She quickly grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself 　　. 　　Ding Shou hadn't expected the woman's vagina to be so tight, like a young girl's, with her two fleshy lips sucking on the base of his penis. 　　The pleasure was no less than that brought by Yi Qing and the other man. It was clearly a fertile field that had been neglected for a long time, and today, the Second Master would 　　give it a good plowing, like an old ox pushing a cart. 　　Having made up his mind, he grabbed her soft waist and thrust hard, his huge penis penetrating to the very root, filling 　　every crevice within her vagina. 　　The hard, hot penis made the woman's long-dormant body both sore and weak. "Master, I haven't done this in so long, 　　please be gentle." 　　With her soft cry, he thrust again with force, casually slapping her plump buttocks. "Don't worry, 　　Master will take care of you." 　　A loud "smack" echoed, and the woman's cry of pain sent ripples through her buttocks. Ding Shou, feeling a surge of pleasure from the tight grip inside her, 　　slapped her again. The 　　sucking flesh made the Second Master tremble with pleasure. The "smack, smack, smack" sounds continued, her snow-white buttocks covered in palm prints from the ripples of flesh, quickly turning 　　bright red. 　　The woman initially cried out in pain, but realizing her cries only fueled Ding Shou's frenzy, she endured the pain.

Clenching her teeth, the veins on the backs of her hands, gripping the edge of the table,
bulged as she endured the heavy blows from behind. The alternating pain in her buttocks and the tingling sensation in her vagina caused her to shudder violently, collapsing onto the table and panting heavily. Ding Shou lay on her jade-like back
, his penis slowly grinding against her clitoris, his palm pressing against her round buttocks, nibbling on her earlobe, and softly said, "You suffered just now
, I'm sorry."
Having not been spoken to so gently for a long time, the woman was somewhat dazed. Then she felt a warm current flowing through her buttocks and palms;
the swelling and pain had gradually disappeared, replaced by a tingling sensation in her clitoris. "Master, I want..."
he teased, inhaling her fragrance. "What do you want?"
"I want you to fuck me hard, Master." Partly due to uncontrollable lust, and partly because she was a woman who had been through the rough and tumble of the world,
the woman was quite uninhibited.
Straightening up, he gently lifted her upper body, grasping her breasts, which appeared even larger due to her bent-over posture. Ding Shou thrust his hips
, intensifying his movements.
"Ah...ah..." The long-awaited pleasure in her chest, mixed with the hot, full thrusts inside her, pushed the woman's
long-dormant body towards climax. "I...I can't take it anymore...I'm coming..."
The penis inside her suddenly swelled, and a gush of hot semen shot out from the depths of her flower core. The woman's body shuddered violently, and
another wave of heat surged out. "So...so comfortable..."
He reached out and stroked her neck, lightly teasing her earlobe with his fingers. "What's your name?" Ding Shou asked casually
.
"This servant..." Still immersed in pleasure, the woman only wanted to sleep, and answered groggily:
"This servant is Tan Shuzhen."
But the words she heard next jolted her awake.
"Do you have a daughter named Zhou Yujie?"
**************************************
The heavy snow finally began to fall at night, fluttering and swirling, making the capital city much colder. Inside the Eastern Depot,
Liu Jin, wearing a light fur coat, turned his hands to warm himself by the stove, while Ding Shou stood not far in front of him with his hands at his sides.
"Gao Tinghe's daughter doesn't know much either, only that her father and Liu Wentai are close friends. Gao Tinghe once said that
Liu Wentai had a powerful figure in the palace who recommended him, and that the prescription was made at Liu Wentai's instigation..." Ding Shou
reported.
Liu Jin snorted lightly, "Zhang Yu is hardly a big shot."
Ding Shou hesitated, and Liu Jin glanced at him, "What is it? Speak."
"I've investigated Liu Wentai's background. This man was originally a fourth-rank Right Vice Minister of the Court of State Affairs. Because he administered medicine to Emperor Xianzong
, which harmed the emperor's health, he was demoted to the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. He also framed the former Minister of Personnel, Wang Shu, causing him to be unjustly demoted to Imperial Physician.
Later, because he administered medicine to the current Empress Dowager, he gained the emperor's favor and was reinstated as head of the Imperial Medical Academy, and became the chief editor of the 'Compendium of Materia Medica'. This time, he has harmed
Emperor Hongzhi's health. Such a person, who has shortened the lives of two emperors, deserves to be executed by dismemberment. Yet, everyone in and out of the court is trying to exonerate him
. If he hadn't been silenced on the way, he might have met a terrible end..." Ding Shou said indignantly.
"You think he deserves to die a hundred times over?" Liu Jin chuckled.
Ding Shou nodded.
"But even the Emperor can't just deal with him arbitrarily?"
Ding Shou remained silent. Liu Jin stood up, opened the door, and a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes blew in, making Ding Shou
shiver, but also making him feel much more alert.
"The imperial court is even more dangerous than the martial world. Liu Wentai has a huge net behind him; pulling one thread affects the whole situation. Originally, I wanted to
unravel the mystery, but someone cut the thread instead. Hmph..." Liu Jin shook his head and smiled. "One Liu Wentai
protected the imperial estate, the imperial messengers, and the garrison commanders in various places. If you think about it carefully, this round is a draw." "
So what's the next step?" Ding Shou asked.
"Wait." Liu Jin stretched out his hand, and snowflakes fell into his palm, instantly melting into water.
Ding Shou was puzzled: "Wait?"
"Dai Songya is dead." Liu Jin's hand gesture remained unchanged.
It took Ding Shou a while to realize that Liu Jin was talking about Dai Shan. He was puzzled. Dai Shan, the Left Censor-in-Chief, had always been old,
weak, and sickly and unable to handle affairs. It would be strange if he were still alive. Why bring him up for no reason?
"Liu Jian is seventy-two, Ma Wensheng of the Ministry of Personnel is nearly eighty, Liu Daxia of the Ministry of War, Zeng Jian of the Ministry of Works, and Min
Gui of the Ministry of Justice are all over seventy, Han Wen of the Ministry of Revenue is sixty-four, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian are younger, but they are also close to sixty.
The court is full of old fogies, sticking to the old ways. How can they know the young emperor's ambition and drive? Humph, Emperor Hongzhi placed
high hopes on the current emperor. Back then, there were nineteen tutors in the Eastern Palace, all of whom were important officials and famous scholars. The current emperor
cherishes the old friendship and has a teacher-student relationship with these teachers, but these people have repeatedly relied on their age and seniority..."
"So now we can only wait, wait until the teacher-student relationship fades, wait until the emperor can no longer tolerate it, wait
for an opportunity to turn the world upside down..." With a flick of his hand, Liu Jin poured out snow water.
Ding Shou murmured, "How much longer will we have to wait..."
"Not long," Liu Jin said, turning his back and looking at the Ming Dynasty night
sky with a faint smile. "Auspicious snow promises a bumper harvest. The Hongzhi era has passed, and the Zhengde era is coming..."
Ding Shou followed Liu Jin and looked out, as if he had transformed into a snowflake, overlooking the mountains and rivers. The northern land was already
covered in silver.
Crossing the vast grasslands and seas, to the distant Grand Duchy of Moscow, far from the Ming Dynasty, Princess Sofia fulfilled her wish
by placing her son, Vasily Ivanovich, on the throne. Watching the double-headed eagle banner rise,
Princess Sofia seemed to see the glorious revival of the thousand-year-old Byzantine Empire…
Across the azure waves, Almeida, the first Governor-General of India of the Kingdom of Portugal, led twenty warships and
fifteen hundred soldiers eastward along Zheng He's westward route. In his arms was a copy of *
The Travels of Marco Polo*, published in Lisbon three years prior. The preface stated: "All my desire to go east
stemmed from my desire to go to China." Sailing towards the distant Indian Ocean, he was stirred by a yearning for that unknown world called China
—to seek out the Khitan…

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/146110.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=146110&aspx=1

Previous Page : 【Under the Great Tomorrow】(31-33)

Next Page : 【Under the Great Tomorrow】(37-39)

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

【Under the Great Tomorrow】(35-36)

comment Open a new window to view comments