Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 303: False Emperor: You are the undercover agent beside me!

Ming Trading Company.

Ding Xiu was eating noodles at a street stall opposite. He was wearing casual clothes. With one chopstick, he picked up half a bowl of noodles. The noodles tasted so delicious in the first bite.

The diners around him smacked their lips as they watched him eat, wondering if the noodles were really that delicious. Ding Xiu had no scruples and finished the noodles in a few bites, holding the bowl and gulping down the soup.

In this cold winter, after drinking a bowl of hot soup, the whole person is warm. He wiped his mouth, looked up and saw Chao Xiaotian coming over, he called the waiter: "Waiter, two more bowls."

"Brother Ding, I've eaten." Chao Xiaotian said hurriedly as he sat down.

"Uh, you misunderstood. This is for me to eat." Ding Xiu said embarrassedly.

Chao Xiaotian burst out laughing and asked, "How long have you been hungry?"

Ding Xiu looked unshaven and a little haggard, but his eyes were still sharp. He frowned and said, "I went to spy on someone last night, so I didn't sleep or eat."

"Do you have to do it yourself?" Chao Xiaotian exclaimed.

At this time, the waiter brought up two bowls of steaming hot noodles. Ding Xiu picked up the chopsticks and started eating, saying, "There's been no progress on the Junshan Society matter I told you about before. The higher-ups are pressing us."

After listening to Xiaotian, he looked around, then leaned in closer and lowered his voice and said, "Brother Ding, I asked you to come here today because I have news about this. One of my former subordinates from the Yulong Gang saw a man wearing a bull mask some time ago."

Ding Xiu stopped immediately, eyes widened: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I just found out about this." Chao Xiaotian spread his hands. "I was drinking with them yesterday, and he mentioned that he was delivering goods on Dingfu Street that day, and he saw a horse-drawn carriage passing by. A strong wind blew through, and the curtains were lifted. Inside sat a man wearing a cow mask, which scared him."

A cold light flashed in Ding Xiu's eyes: "Dingfu Street?"

He was familiar with this place, as many dukes and high-ranking officials lived on this street. For example, the residence of the Marquis of Huichang was on this street. This showed that the identity of the Bull Mask was extremely extraordinary.

"Where did that man go?" he asked.

"He didn't notice it, but he was at the end of Dingfu Street at the time." Chao Xiaotian seemed to be thinking about something. "As far as I remember, there were only a few households at the end of the street, right?"

Ding Xiu took out a bunch of copper coins, threw them on the table, and said, "I'll go check it out right away, Xiaotian, you go do your thing."

Chao Xiaotian watched him hurried away. There was still a bowl of noodles on the table untouched. He sighed, shook his head, picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

……

Ding Xiu rushed to Dingfu Street and happened to see the carriage of Marquis Huichang. He stopped it and got on the carriage. When Marquis Huichang's Sun Lian saw him, he was a little scared: "Mr. Ding, didn't you come here last night?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Ding Xiu said coldly, "Let the carriage go to the end of the street."

Sun Lian dared not offend him, so he ordered the driver to turn the carriage around and go to the end of the street. Dingfu Street was very long, and the carriage drove slowly. The interior of the carriage was very luxurious, and there was a charcoal stove burning.

Ding Xiu stretched out his hand to warm the fire and asked Sun Lian, "Do you know which households are at the end of the street?"

"I don't know." Sun Lian said, "Dingfu Street is full of wealthy nobles, and they are also divided into different classes. The one who lives at the end of the street should be an upstart who came to Beijing to serve as an official."

Ding Xiu knew which households were at the end of the street. He chuckled, "They are indeed new nobles. There is Lord Yang Shan, the Minister of Rites; there is Wang Hao, the Vice Minister of Works. This guy is not qualified, but he is the son of Wang Lai, the Governor of the River Channel. The mansion was awarded by His Majesty; there is also Gao Gu, the Minister of Works; and Chen Xun, the Minister of Revenue."

"Your Excellency is worthy of being a member of the Imperial Guards. You know everything." Sun Lian smiled and clasped his fists.

Ding Xiu looked at him with a half-smile and asked, "Among these people, which one do you think is the bull mask of Junshan Society?"

Sun Lian's smile froze instantly, knowing that this person would be in trouble if he ran into him. Ding Xiu raised his eyebrows and added, "Think about it carefully. We have accurate information that the cow masks are in the stores at the end of the street."

At this time, the carriage had reached the end of the street. Ding Xiu asked the driver to park the carriage on the side of the street, where he could see the gates of several houses at the end of the street.

"You've been with them for so long. Even though they're wearing masks, you should be able to recognize their figures, right?" Ding Xiuling said, "I've narrowed down the scope for you. You have to recognize them for me."

Sun Lian looked helpless, frowning, "Sir, I'll do my best, but I can't just point fingers randomly, right? They are all high-ranking officials of the court. This is not the right time, they have all gone to court."

He lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked up, just in time to see a man coming out. The man was wearing court robes. After walking out of the gate, he strode towards a carriage parked on the side of the street.

"Could it be him?" Surprise flashed in his eyes, "Sir, don't tell me, look at the back, it looks like him."

Ding Xiu also looked up and was shocked: "Minister of Rites Yang Shan? How is this possible!"

……

Qianqing Palace.

After the small court meeting, Zhu Qizhen summoned a person alone, the governor of the river Wang Lai who had just returned from Henan. He was dusty, with a dark face, rough skin from years of wind and rain, and wrinkles on his forehead and eyes. Although his hair was a little messy, it could not hide his still bright eyes.

He was dressed simply, his official uniform was covered with dust from the journey, but this did not diminish his dignity and bearing as the governor of the river. On the contrary, this unadorned authenticity made him seem more down-to-earth. His hands, although covered with thick calluses from labor, tightly grasped a memorial.

"Stand up and talk." Zhu Qizhen raised his hand and sighed softly, "I have left you outside for so many years. You have worked really hard."

Wang Lai held up the memorial and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, I am not tired, I am happy with it. Your Majesty, the third phase of the river control project has been completed ahead of schedule."

Zhu Qizhen personally walked up to him, took the memorial, and without reading it, patted his shoulder and said, "I know that although I am in the capital, I am always paying attention to the river."

Wang Lai bowed respectfully and said, "The success of river management is all due to your Majesty's support. The river has been costing a lot of money in recent years, and the court officials have complaints. If it weren't for your Majesty's support, I would have given up long ago."

"Hahaha, they haven't had any objections in the past two years." Zhu Qizhen spread his hands, "The court has money!"

Wang Lai couldn't help but laugh and sighed: "I am so lucky. As a river minister, I have the support of your majesty and finally succeeded."

"I just exhausted your body." Zhu Qizhen said sincerely, "Wang Lai, you should stay in the capital from now on. I will let the imperial physician take good care of you."

Wang Lai waved his hand and said, "Your Majesty, I can take care of my body, but I still have to go out. I have been wandering on the river all my life. I can't sleep well without hearing the sound of the waves."

Zhu Qizhen was very upset and said, "It's time for your son to get married, right? Just listen to me and take a rest for a while. I will send you to inspect the river again, okay?"

"I obey your order." Wang Lai bowed.

Zhu Qizhen raised his hand and said, "Your son Wang Hao has the same temper as you. Seeing that you have almost finished the river channel, he has already submitted a memorial to me, asking me to start building a highway."

"I know. That was your idea, Your Majesty." Wang Lai's eyes were full of anticipation. "Wang Hao has been exploring the route for the past few years. He has almost finished it and is just waiting to start construction."

Zhu Qizhen nodded and said, "You can stay in Beijing for a while to check it out. I have decided to start construction next year."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Wang Lai said excitedly. ...

After Wang Lai left, Zhu Qizhen rubbed his hands and began to review memorials.

Xiyao came over with hot tea and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's cold. Have a cup of ginger tea to get rid of the cold."

"You're back? How are you doing in school? When can you play a song for me?" Zhu Qizhen asked with a smile after taking the tea.

Xiyao waved her fist and said confidently: "I am gifted, but I am not yet at my best. Wait a little longer, and I will play for Your Majesty. I will definitely be better than those court musicians."

Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand: "You are really confident, don't get humiliated when the time comes?"

"Slap in the face? What slap in the face?" Xiyao was a little nervous. "Will there be punishment for playing badly in the palace?"

Zhu Qizhen had a speechless expression: "There is no punishment. Don't embarrass yourself when the time comes. At least you are still someone close to me. If you embarrass yourself, I will be embarrassed too."

"Your Majesty, just put your heart in your pelvis." Xiyao said confidently.

Zhu Qizhen rolled his eyes.

You, a girl, can learn these dirty words very quickly.

"Your Majesty, Lord Ding of the Embroidered Uniform Guard requests to see you." Cao Jixiang came in to report.

"Announce." Zhu Qizhen waved his hand.

Soon, Ding Xiu came to the palace, paid his respects, looked around and said, "Your Majesty, I have a confidential matter to report."

"All of you go down." Zhu Qizhen said.

Cao Jixiang, Xiyao, the eunuchs and the palace maids all went down, and Xiyao walked last, closing the palace gate. However, she stayed at the door for a moment and heard the conversation inside.

"Your Majesty, we have a clue about the ox mask of Junshan Society." Ding Xiu reported, "It should be the Minister of Rites Yang Shan."

Zhu Qizhen was obviously shocked: "Yang Shan? That big mouth, how could it be him?"

Xiyao heard this, she did not dare to stay any longer, for fear of attracting Cao Jixiang's attention. After a while, Ding Xiucai came out of the hall and left in a hurry.

When Xiyao entered the hall again with tea, she saw that the emperor looked normal, and a hint of hesitation flashed across her eyes.

……

Winter days are short, and by the afternoon the sky becomes grey.

Zhu Qizhen finished reviewing the memorials early and strolled to the harem courtyard. He came to take a bath with Alena, because Alena also built a large bath behind her room.

Mature and charming women all have the hobby of taking baths, just like the witch queen. No, Alena is much bolder and more coquettish than the witch queen.

Half an hour later.

Zhu Qizhen leaned comfortably on the edge of the bathtub with his eyes closed, his whole body curled up in the bathtub, surrounded by mist.

"Don't you guys take baths on the grassland?" He opened his eyes and looked at Alena beside him.

Alena gently raised her delicate hand, elegantly scooped up a handful of warm water, and gently sprinkled it on her body. The crystal clear water drops slowly slid down her flawless white skin, as if the morning dew dripped from the petals. In the misty water, her skin added a charming luster, as warm as the finest white jade. Her eyebrows inadvertently revealed a lazy and charming expression. She leaned lazily on the edge of the bathtub, and raised her eyebrows slightly at Zhu Qizhen with a bit of provocation and boldness.

Zhu Qizhen slowly approached and gently embraced her slender waist. When their skin touched lightly, it was as if a tingling electric current instantly ran through his whole body, making him involuntarily snuggle up to her, resting his head gently on her shoulder, intoxicated by the fresh and elegant fragrance of her hair. He couldn't help but lower his head and gently kissed her shoulder: "Alas, what a pity, you are not the Demon Queen, and you still can't cure me."

"Your Majesty, you can fall in love with another woman."

Alena was not disappointed. When Zhu Qizhen's arm gently wrapped around her waist, she seemed to be gently swept by a subtle electric current. Her body trembled slightly involuntarily, and the corners of her mouth tightened slightly unconsciously, and then she uttered a mosquito-like response. Her eyes became hazy and blurred at this moment, as if they were gently covered by a layer of soft halo.

"It's not so easy to be moved when you reach middle age." Zhu Qizhen sighed.

Alena seemed to be enduring something. She bit her lips lightly, with a hint of anger on her charming face: "Who can I blame? Your Majesty has many women around him. Is there no one who makes your Majesty fall in love with him?"

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

It's strange, why am I not tempted? It's all about sex.

……

Jingwen and Xiyao passed by the other courtyard and saw Cao Jixiang standing at the door. They knew that the emperor must be inside. Jingwen frowned slightly: "That enchantress Alena has bewitched your majesty."

Xiyao looked up, her eyes flashed with sharpness, and she smiled coldly: "A woman like that cannot fascinate Your Majesty, but do you know why Your Majesty often goes to see her?"

"Isn't it she who seduced me?" Jingwen snorted.

Xiyao shook her head, her eyes were unfathomable: "It's not seduction, it's because Your Majesty needs her, but, Your Majesty doesn't need her the most."

Jingwen looked puzzled: "Xiyao, what are you saying? I don't understand."

"Not understanding is a blessing." Xiyao took Jingwen's hand and said, "Let's go to your palace. I'll accompany you today. I'll be leaving the palace for a few days to go to school in a few days."

Jing Wen pursed her red lips and said, "Come to think of it, I envy you for being able to leave the palace freely. None of us concubines have such treatment as you."

The two of them walked slowly along the path, and unexpectedly, they ran into the Queen Mother. Everyone bowed and saluted, and the Queen Mother raised her hand towards Jingwen, but her eyes lingered on Xiyao.

"Where is His Majesty?" the Queen Mother asked Xiyao.

Xiyao bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty should be in the other courtyard."

The Queen Mother's eyes instantly turned cold, and she walked away. Xiyao looked at her swaying back and sighed in her heart: "It seems that the evil magic passed down by Yao Guangxiao is indeed very useful. It delays aging, which makes me a little envious. If you can't control the emperor, why don't you let me do it?"

Jingwen held Xiyao's hand while she was in a daze, and asked, "You have blocked the Queen Mother before. Did she make things difficult for you afterwards? If so, how about I ask His Majesty to let you come to my palace?"

Xiyao smiled and shook her head.

Jingwen, you are still too naive. How can you, an ordinary concubine, protect me?

(End of this chapter)