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

Queen Ma took the bowl of soup handed to her by the palace maid Chunlan.

This soup bowl is not simple. It is made of fine white porcelain used by the emperor, and it is warm and delicate.

Under the candlelight, it has a soft luster, and you can tell at a glance that it is of great value.

Queen Ma drank two sips of soup with difficulty, breathing slightly.

Then Empress Ma slowly spoke, “I have heard that some palace maids in the previous dynasty went through many hardships in the palace and became disillusioned with this world.

After leaving the palace, they chose to become monks.

In the nunnery, accompanied by the green lamps and ancient Buddhas, she recites scriptures and worships Buddha every day, thus spending the rest of her life.

For example, there were several nunneries around Beiping Prefecture, which housed many palace maids who had left the palace.

Ugh!
Some palace maids were left alone after leaving the palace, had no skills to make a living, and did not have much savings.

Eventually they end up living on the streets or even becoming beggars.

Suffering from poverty and illness, they endured the hard years.

There were also a very small number of palace maids who, due to livelihood or other reasons, had no choice but to fall into brothels and make a living by selling their smiles.

However, this kind of situation is still rare after all, and most of them are helpless actions of the palace maids when they are desperate."

At this point, Queen Ma paused slightly, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

“When I pass away in the future, given the current situation in the harem, I’m afraid it will be difficult for these girls to continue staying in the palace.

It would be better to find a good place for them while I am still alive, so that our relationship as master and servant will not be in vain."

Empress Ma knew very well that in the Ming Dynasty court, the fate of the palace maids was often beyond their control.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the palace system has been gradually improved.

Once the palace maids enter the palace, they will be assigned to different institutions and each will have their own duties.

The six bureaus, namely the Shanggong Bureau, the Shangyi Bureau, the Shangfu Bureau, and the Shangshi Bureau, are in charge of the daily affairs, promotions, rewards and punishments of the palace maids.

But once you get old and lose your looks, or if you accidentally make a mistake.

What awaits them may be the tragic end of being expelled from the palace.

At this time, Zhu Gang nodded slightly, with a hint of worry on his face.

He said in a serious tone: "Mother, you have profound thoughts, and I understand.

But I am really worried. What will happen if there is no one to serve you, mother?

I hope your mother will consider this carefully again."

Zhu Gang grew up with Empress Ma and knew well the kindness and difficulties of his mother.

Although he respected Empress Ma's decision, he still had some concerns in his heart.

Queen Ma shook her head slightly, with a hint of determination in her eyes.

"No need to think about it anymore, this is what your mother wants, just obey.

I have seen too many intrigues and deceptions in the palace in my life, and I really don't want these girls to make the same mistakes again.

Nowadays, in the harem, concubines use endless means to compete for favor, and the position of queen is coveted by everyone.

These girls are innocent and kind, how can they be a match for those people? "

Zhu Gang was somewhat helpless and could only nod again and said, "Your Highness, I will obey your mother's order."

At the same time, he secretly swore in his heart that he must take good care of these palace maids and never let his mother down.

Chunlan, who was listening, had already burst into tears.

She knelt on the ground with a plop, tears filling her eyes, and cried, "Your Majesty has accumulated virtue and done good deeds throughout your life, and with the full support of the imperial physicians in the palace, you will surely be able to turn danger into safety and live a long life.

I am not going anywhere, I am willing to stay in Kunning Palace and serve you forever!"

Queen Ma smiled slightly and waved her hand, but a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.

“Life and death are determined by fate. Who can escape birth, aging, sickness and death?
In my life, I have fought in battles, suffered hardships, and also enjoyed happiness.

The only regret is that I could not grow old with His Majesty. Chunlan, you are the smartest among the maids around me and are good at observing people's words and expressions.

But now in the harem, the struggle for the queen is undercurrent.

If you stay, I'm afraid something bad might happen.

Although the Third Brother has many wives and concubines, it may be difficult for him to give you a legitimate status, but he can still keep you safe. "

As Queen Ma spoke, a trace of kindness flashed in her eyes, as if she was looking at her own daughter.

At this time, Queen Ma was deeply concerned about the palace maids.

She only wanted to provide these people with a stable future while she was still able to make the decision.

Even though she was extremely reluctant, Empress Ma had no choice but to harden her heart.

Zhu Gang nodded immediately upon seeing this, and said with a firm look, "Please be at ease, mother. I will let Chunlan live comfortably in the palace just like I did with Shuxiu.

Even if I travel across the ocean to seek refuge overseas in the future, I will definitely take Chunlan with me and will never leave her alone in Ming Dynasty."

Just then, a fierce quarrel suddenly broke out outside the bedroom.

Judging from the sound, it seemed like someone was trying to break in by force.

The noisy shouting and the guards' scolding were intertwined, and as time went on, the sounds became closer and closer.

Queen Ma's face turned pale in an instant. She held her forehead with her hand, a look of pain on her face.

At this time, Empress Ma was worried that this incident would affect Zhu Gang, and she was also afraid that her illness would be aggravated by this stimulation, thus dragging down her son.

Zhu Gang's expression suddenly changed, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

He turned around and shouted outside the palace: "Send the imperial physician immediately!

Stop those people outside, and kill anyone who dares to trespass!"

Zhu Gang's heart was now burning with rage. He was worried about Empress Ma's illness and was extremely angry at this reckless intruder into the palace. He wished he could punish him severely immediately.

At the same time, he unconsciously clenched his fists, ready to deal with any emergencies that might arise at any time.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty court, anyone who trespassed into the harem was committing a serious crime.

At this time, the guards, holding spears, surrounded the bedroom as if they were facing a great enemy.

The quarrel outside became more intense, accompanied by the sound of tables and chairs overturned, as if a storm was about to come.

As the Queen's main residence, Kunning Palace has always been heavily guarded.

How dare someone be so presumptuous today? How audacious!

Not long after, Dai Sigong rushed in with hurried steps and a panicked look.

He was wearing the official uniform of the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Although it was a little messy, it was still dignified.

As the medical institution of the Ming Dynasty court, the Imperial Medical Service gathered famous doctors from all over the world, and Dai Sigong was the best among them.

He came from a medical family and had been well-read in medical books since childhood.

He had superb medical skills and was highly respected by the court.

Dai Sigong was fully aware of the importance of Empress Ma to His Majesty and to the Ming Dynasty. At this moment, he was both nervous and self-blaming, hating himself for not being able to cure Empress Ma's illness immediately and restore her health.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

Then Dai Sigong stretched out his slightly trembling hand and gently placed it on Empress Ma's wrist.

His eyes were focused and solemn, staring at his fingers.

It was as if he was trying to find the mystery of life from Queen Ma's pulse.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment. The whole room was so quiet that only the faint sound of breathing and Dai Sigong's steady heartbeat could be heard.

Outside the bedroom of Kunning Palace, the standoff between the guards and the intruders continued, and the atmosphere was so tense that it was suffocating.

After a moment, Dai Sigong frowned even more tightly, the muscles on his face twitched slightly, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. (End of this chapter)