Daming: Dad, you are really not good at governing the country

As the lights came on, the imperial palace seemed to be quietly shrouded in a veil of tranquility.

The atmosphere should have been peaceful and tranquil, but instead there was a sense of depression and uneasiness.

Just like the frightening calm before the storm, it makes people feel that something is quietly surging in the dark.

The candlelight in the hall flickered, and the light and shadows danced eerily on the carved walls like ghosts, as if they were also worried about the heavy topic that was about to unfold in the hall.

Queen Ma sat quietly on the couch, her slightly furrowed brows full of fatigue.

She sighed softly, and the sigh sounded faintly.

Just like a withered yellow leaf, it floats down on the lake with a sense of loneliness and helplessness.

It echoed slowly in this empty and slightly cold hall, creating ripples.

It seemed to have touched the invisible sorrow in the air, weighing heavily on Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.

It seemed as if the rock-like determination in his heart was being crushed bit by bit.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat down next to Empress Ma, holding her hand, his eyes full of concern and tenderness.

He said with a hint of urgency: "Sister, please be at ease about the imperial doctors in the Imperial Hospital.

I have already instructed you to do everything in your power to cure your illness."

Queen Ma shook her head slightly, a faint yet bitter smile appearing on the corner of her mouth.

She slowly said, "Chongba, it's clearly written in the medical records.

I have this health problem because I overworked in my early years.

Now the root of the disease has penetrated deep into the internal organs. Although the Imperial Hospital has used up many precious medicinal materials, it can only temporarily stabilize the condition and delay the disease for a while."

Empress Ma's voice was as calm as water, but beneath that calmness lay a broad-mindedness as deep as the ocean, as well as a slight attachment to the harem and Zhu Yuanzhang.

Just like the lingering love, it lingers in the words, making people feel sad.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

It was like taking a bite of a green plum, and the sourness instantly spread throughout the body.

His face was full of distress, and his expression was like an autumn leaf hit by frost, full of haggardness and reluctance.

At the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes turned slightly red, just like the peach blossoms in spring, stained with a faint crimson color.

He held Queen Ma's hand tightly, as if he was afraid that he would lose something if he let go.

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a firm tone: "Sister, our Ming Dynasty is rich.

We will find you all the rare treasures and precious medicinal materials in the world as long as they are available, and we will definitely make you get better.

Even if I have to travel thousands of miles to find all the famous doctors in the world, I will never give up."

Zhu Yuanzhang's words were powerful, like the sound of a war drum, and every word revealed his unquestionable determination.

That determination seemed to be able to break through the palace walls and reach the heaven and earth.

Queen Ma raised her eyes, her eyes filled with emotion.

Then she gently patted Zhu Yuanzhang's hand, with an open-minded attitude that saw through life and death.

She is like a fairy who is detached from the mundane world, yet is still bound by it and feels reluctant to leave and is attached to Zhu Yuanzhang.

It's like a vine entwined around a tree, inseparable.

Empress Ma said softly, "Chongba, life and death are determined by fate. I know it clearly in my heart. I'm afraid this disease is difficult to recover from.

I also came here to talk to you about the affairs of the harem. The court is now busy with so many important matters, and the harem cannot be without someone to take charge.

Look at Concubine Guo Hui, Concubine Cheng Mu, Concubine Ning, Concubine Yong, Concubine Wang and others. You conferred titles on them as early as the third year of Hongwu.

Each of the five has his or her own strengths, just like the flowers in spring, each showing its own beauty.

Now that the New Year is approaching, the envoys from the sixty-two countries of the Southeastern Yi will soon arrive.

What if I am not feeling well and cannot attend those important banquets?

You might as well choose one of them to temporarily take over the role of queen, so as to stabilize the situation in the harem."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed again when he heard this. The sigh was like the sound of the bell in the ancient temple, dull and distant. He was silent for a moment, and his mind flashed through the appearances of several concubines and their daily behaviors like a revolving lantern.

Let’s talk about Concubine Guo Hui. She is smart and clever, and is quite capable in handling palace affairs.

When she first entered the palace, she was ostracized by other concubines because of her family background, and she suffered a lot of grievances during those days.

Concubine Guo Hui often could only shed tears in secret in the dead of night.

But she was strong-willed by nature, just like a clam shell containing a pearl, burying all her grievances and pains deep in her heart.

Relying on her cleverness, Concubine Guo Hui learned the palace rules bit by bit and figured out how to handle complicated affairs.

Today, when Concubine Guo Hui learned that Empress Ma and Zhu Yuanzhang had discussed the matter of temporarily taking over the responsibilities of the Empress in the palace, a fire of hope naturally ignited in her heart.

She had dressed up carefully and was wearing an elegant moon-white long dress with delicate floral patterns embroidered with silver thread on the hem.

When she walks, she is half-displayed, which is very beautiful. Her head is adorned with only a few simple yet luxurious pearls and jade.

It makes Concubine Guo Huifei's face more beautiful and her eyes more lively.

She just rolled her eyes and moved lightly.

She took a step forward and bowed down.

Her figure is as light as a willow in the wind, and her voice is clear yet carries a hint of imperceptible urgency, just like the intermittent chirping of an oriole in the woods.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the Queen was ill, and I was very worried.

There are many complicated matters in the harem and the responsibilities are heavy.

Just like a spider web with thousands of threads, a single move can affect the entire web.

But I thought that if I could get this opportunity, I would do my best.

I have experienced a lot in the palace over the years.

She knows what the sisters are thinking and understands the difficulties faced by the palace maids.

I am willing to use my past experience to care for every sister and palace maid with my heart.

Let this harem be like a garden under the warm spring sun, with blooming flowers and a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

I am willing to use all the ingenuity I have accumulated over the years to handle all matters, and I will definitely live up to your Majesty's expectations."

After saying this, Concubine Guo Hui raised her eyes slightly, her eyes revealing confidence and expectation.

Those eyes seemed like the twinkling stars in the night sky, telling of her past difficulties and her determination to fight to the death at the moment, and they seemed to be shining brightly at this moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Concubine Guo Hui and nodded slightly. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Concubine Yong Guifei cough lightly.

Concubine Yong was efficient in her work and strict with her subordinates.

She is able to set rules very well, but they can easily make people feel that they are too strict.

Since Concubine Yong grew up in a family of military generals, the elders in her family were strict in military management.

Influenced by everything around her, she felt that rules were everything and that no carelessness was allowed.

Just like the carving knife in the hands of a sculptor, every cut is precise and accurate, without any deviation.

When she first entered the palace, Concubine Yong saw that the palace servants were lazy and idle, so she made drastic changes.

Although the order in the harem was completely renewed, it also brought her a lot of complaints.

The complaints are like mosquitoes in the dark, buzzing and disturbing.

Concubine Yong knew what everyone thought of her, but she felt that she had done nothing wrong, it was just that her approach might not be appropriate.

Just like a persistent road guard, he sticks to the right path he believes in and is unwilling to change easily.

At this moment, when Concubine Yong realized Concubine Guo Hui's intention, she became angry and gritted her teeth secretly.

The anger was like a volcano about to erupt, surging in her heart. She was determined not to let Concubine Guo Hui succeed in her plan.

(End of this chapter)