After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 71

Li Qingge was wearing a simple and elegant dress, with a jade hairpin in her hair. She had a pretty face and her eyes were full of intelligence and cunning. She thought to herself, "Little Swallow, you have finally fallen into my hands this time. However, I am only teaching you a lesson so that you won't be so arrogant in the future."

Xiaoyanzi lay on the ground, her face as pale as paper. After being beaten with thirty boards, she was exhausted. She rolled her eyes and fainted on the ground. Seeing this, Yongqi rushed forward and hugged her. He was so distressed that tears welled up in his eyes, but he tried hard not to let them fall. He whispered Xiaoyanzi's name, as if he wanted to pour all his tenderness on her.

Qianlong stood aside, watching this scene, and felt a little bit reluctant in his heart. But he knew that as the king of a country, he could not easily show his emotions. He frowned and said sternly: "This time I am just giving you a small lesson. Kunning Palace is the residence of the queen, and it is as important as my Yangxin Palace. No one is allowed to come in without the queen's permission. Do you understand?"

Mingyue and Caixia nodded in agreement, and they were also afraid. They knew that Xiaoyanzi was lucky to be able to save her life this time. They secretly vowed that when Xiaoyanzi woke up, they would persuade her and stop her from causing trouble.

Qianlong looked at Xiaoyanzi's pitiful appearance, and his heart softened again. He asked Yongqi to take Xiaoyanzi back and take good care of her, and sent Li Yu to the Imperial Hospital to invite the skilled doctor Hu. Doctor Hu came hurriedly, and after a thorough examination, he prescribed some medicine, gave a few instructions, and then left in a hurry.

After dealing with Xiaoyanzi's matter, Qianlong's thoughts drifted to Wei again. He thought of Wei's gentle and lovely appearance, and couldn't help but feel pity in his heart. He knew that if Wei hadn't been there to interfere, how could Xiaoyanzi have provoked the queen and even angered the Queen of Dayan? He was about to summon Wei to ask for clarification, but suddenly he remembered something else.

He smiled and looked at the queen, then turned and went to the Yanxi Palace. In the Yanxi Palace, Wei was lying on the bed, her face was pale, but her eyes were shining with determination. Although she had been demoted not long ago, she was already pregnant with the dragon seed. This news made her both surprised and scared, she knew that this child would be her only hope.

As soon as Qianlong entered the Yanxi Palace, he saw Wei lying on the bed. He hurried over, held Wei's hand, and asked with concern: "Wei, how do you feel? Is the child okay?"

Wei smiled slightly and said softly, "I am fine, and the child is fine. But I would like to ask the emperor to agree to one of my requests."

Qianlong nodded quickly and said, "Just tell me. As long as I can do it, I will definitely agree to it."

Wei pondered for a moment and said, "I would like to ask Your Majesty not to make my pregnancy public for the time being. The pregnancy is not stable yet, and it would not be a good idea to announce it now."

Qianlong listened to her words and thought it made sense, so he agreed to her request and vowed to restore her status after the child was born. Wei was grateful to Qianlong for what he said. She knew that this child would be her only chance to turn things around.

However, Wei did not want the queen to be so proud of herself. So when Xiaoyanzi came to visit her, she deliberately said something, on the one hand, she wanted to use Qianlong's guilt towards Xiaoyanzi to win some favor for herself; on the other hand, it was because she herself did not know whether the baby in her belly was a boy or a girl. If she gave birth to a princess, all her previous efforts would be in vain.

Xiaoyanzi sat beside Wei's bed, looking at her pale face and bulging belly, and felt a pang of pain in her heart. She knew that Wei had been through a very hard time these years, like a frightened bird, afraid that the queen would harm her again. She held Wei's hand and said softly, "Sister Wei, don't worry, I will definitely help you take good care of the child."

Wei smiled slightly, tears glistening in her eyes. She knew that although Xiaoyanzi was a little reckless, she was kind-hearted. She looked at Xiaoyanzi gratefully and said, "Thank you, Xiaoyanzi. I feel relieved with your words."

At this time, the sunlight outside the window shone through the window lattice onto the ground, forming a patch of light and shadow. Xiaoyanzi looked at the light and shadow and thought to herself: "I must find a way to protect Sister Wei and this child, and never let them get hurt again."

In the following days, Xiaoyanzi seemed to have become a different person. She was no longer as active and troublesome as before. She began to learn to restrain her temper and became more calm and sensible. She knew that she could no longer cause trouble for Qianlong and Wei.

Qianlong also saw the changes in Xiaoyanzi, and he was relieved. He knew that this little girl had finally grown up and became sensible. He began to pamper Xiaoyanzi even more, and often summoned her to talk, play chess, and appreciate flowers. Xiaoyanzi was also happy, and she felt as if she had returned to that carefree time.

However, the struggle in the harem never stopped. Although the Queen and Rong Mama temporarily restrained their edge, the resentment in their hearts did not dissipate. They had been secretly observing the movements of Xiaoyanzi and Wei, looking for an opportunity to take action again.

Wei also knew that she couldn't keep her pregnancy a secret for too long, so she began to secretly plan how to protect herself and her child. She knew that only by giving birth to the child safely could she truly turn things around.

Thus, a harem struggle centered on Xiaoyanzi, Wei and the Queen quietly kicked off again. In this struggle, everyone was fighting for their own interests. And Xiaoyanzi gradually grew into a real princess in this struggle. She learned how to protect herself and the people around her, and also learned how to gain a foothold in the harem.

Feng Yi Jiu Tian: The Qing Palace is in turmoil again

In the spring of the Forbidden City, the sun shines on the magnificent palace, but it seems that it cannot reach the depths of people's hearts. Wei sat in front of the window of the Yanxi Palace, holding a handkerchief embroidered with lotus flowers, with complex emotions flashing in her eyes. She knew that if she wanted to regain her foothold in the harem and restore her status as a concubine, it would be far from enough to rely on her own strength. So she turned her attention to the straightforward and daring Xiaoyanzi.

Xiaoyanzi, the girl who always looked stubborn and unyielding, seemed to bring a breath of fresh air to the dull harem. Wei secretly thought that if she could take advantage of Xiaoyanzi's dissatisfaction with the queen, the two of them could join forces and perhaps they could really deal with the queen who had always been oppressing her. Her plan was thorough and cautious, and every step was considered just right. She would put it into action as soon as Xiaoyanzi recovered.

However, man proposes, God disposes. Wei never expected that Xiaoyanzi would act so unconventionally. On a moonlit night, Xiaoyanzi actually rushed directly to Kunning Palace to settle accounts with the queen. At that moment, Wei's heart was in her throat. She was worried about Xiaoyanzi's safety and afraid that her plan would fail.

What's more, Li Qingge happened to be chatting and drinking tea with the Queen in Kunning Palace that night. Li Qingge, the majestic and favored daughter of the Emperor, her appearance undoubtedly made the conflict more complicated. As soon as Xiaoyanzi entered the palace, she confronted the Queen and Li Qingge. For a time, the atmosphere in Kunning Palace was tense to the extreme.

Emperor Qianlong was always extra tolerant of Xiaoyanzi because of Xia Yuhe. However, he was the king of a country after all. When it came to state affairs, he would not let go easily, even if it was his own mother. Moreover, Qianlong was already afraid of Li Qingge's cruelty and Dayan's strong soldiers. Therefore, when this conflict came to Qianlong, even if he had some bias in his heart, he had to be ruthless and punish severely.

That night, Qianlong's face was terribly gloomy. He looked at Xiaoyanzi kneeling in front of him, and his heart was filled with helplessness and anger. Although Li Qingge looked majestic on the surface, her face also became gloomy after Qianlong left. The queen was even more worried. She knew that although she was right this time, she had to temporarily give in under Li Qingge's power.

Upon seeing this, Madam Rong quickly brought a bowl of mulberry and red date tea and comforted the queen softly, "Don't worry, your queen. The fifth princess is here and no one dares to offend you easily." Upon hearing this, Li Qingge curled her lips into a sneer. She picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then said, "With me here, you don't have to be afraid even if the king of heaven comes." Although her voice was soft, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

The queen drank a few sips of tea and calmed down a little. She looked at Li Qingge and sighed, "Fortunately, you are here, so I can avenge my previous shame." Li Qingge sneered in her heart when she heard this. She knew that although the queen was polite to her on the surface, she was always afraid of her power in her heart. However, she didn't care about these, she only cared about her own interests and goals.

Speaking of Princess Huanzhu's Xiaoyanzi, Li Qingge felt that she was a troublemaker. However, she knew that she would find a way to stop her from bullying the queen. Just as she was about to continue discussing countermeasures with the queen, Su Xiaomei hurriedly ran in and reported: "Your Majesty has found the person you are looking for!"

Li Qingge was overjoyed when she heard this. She stood up suddenly and asked for details. After Xiaomei confirmed that it was correct, she said that the person had been taken to the posthouse. The queen curiously asked who they were looking for, and Li Qingge told her about the murder of her adoptive parents and vowed to take revenge. The queen was surprised and angry after hearing this, and expressed her support for her revenge.

Li Qingge was anxious to know where the murderers were. When she heard that they were in the post house, she immediately said goodbye to the queen and left. On the way to the post house, she couldn't wait to ask Xiaomei about the identities of the thieves. Xiaomei told her: "This man is called Li Debao, the son of Li Shiyao, the Minister of Revenue."

Li Qingge sneered after hearing this: "So it's this guy, no surprise!" She knew that corrupt officials were rampant in the Qianlong Dynasty, and Li Shiyao's greed was second only to Heshen and Yu Sance. Yu Sance had already been executed, and now it was Li Shiyao and his son's turn.

As the night deepened, the lights in the Forbidden City went out one by one, and only a faint light was still on in the direction of the post house. Li Qingge led a group of people to the post house in a hurry, and saw several guards guarding the door of a room. She pushed the door open and walked in, only to see a ragged, haggard man tied to a chair. It was Li Debao.

When Li Debao saw Li Qingge, a trace of fear flashed in his eyes. He knew that he was in big trouble this time and it would be difficult to get out of it. Li Qingge walked up to him, looked at him coldly, and asked, "Are you Li Debao?" Li Debao nodded tremblingly and said weakly, "Yes...it's me..."

Li Qingge heard this, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in her eyes. She grabbed Li Debao by the collar and said in a cold tone: "Do you know your crime? You caused my adoptive parents to be destroyed. I will avenge them today!" As she spoke, she slapped the table, making the tea set on the table ping-pong.

Li Debao was frightened out of his wits. He said tremblingly, "I... I didn't know they were your adoptive parents... I was just... just following orders..." As he spoke, he burst into tears.

Li Qingge looked at his cowardly appearance and felt disgusted. She let go of his hand, threw Li Debao to the ground, and said coldly: "Whether you acted on orders or did it on purpose, you will not escape death today!" Then she turned and walked out of the room, and said to the guards outside: "Take him to the execution ground and behead him at noon tomorrow!"

The guards took the order and left, and Li Debao was dragged out of the room. Li Qingge stood at the door of the inn, looking at the Forbidden City in the night, with an indescribable grief and anger in her heart. She knew that although she had avenged her adoptive parents, the storm was far from over.

Although the Queen had Li Qingge's support for the time being, she was still worried. She knew that Xiaoyanzi was a troublemaker and would cause bigger trouble sooner or later. Although Li Qingge was allied with her on the surface, her mind was hard to predict.

In this turbulent situation in the harem, everyone is fighting for their own interests. How will the grievances and hatreds between Xiaoyanzi, Wei, the Queen, Li Qingge... play out? How will this turmoil in the Qing Palace end?
……

Since that night, Xiaoyanzi has been lying in bed recovering from her injuries. Although her body has gradually recovered, the trauma in her heart is difficult to heal. She knows that she was impulsive this time, not only did she fail to help Wei, but she also caused trouble for her.

When Wei came to visit her, she lowered her head in guilt. But Wei smiled and comforted her: "Don't worry, Xiaoyanzi. Although you were a little impulsive this time, I admire your courage. We will definitely succeed if we join forces to deal with the queen."

After hearing this, Xiaoyanzi felt a warm current in her heart. She knew that Wei was really kind to her, and she must work hard for Wei. So, she began to secretly plan how to deal with the queen and how to make her plan more thorough.

As for Li Qingge, although she was in alliance with the Queen on the surface, she was always thinking about how to weaken the Queen's power. She knew that the Queen was a ruthless woman, and if she was not eliminated as soon as possible, she would sooner or later pose a threat to her.

So, she began to secretly investigate the Queen's crimes and collect evidence against her. At the same time, she also maintained close contact with Xiaoyanzi, and the two joined forces to deal with the Queen. In this harem struggle, they gradually became each other's strongest backing.

However, the struggle in the harem is far from as simple as they imagined. The queen is also secretly planning how to deal with them. A more intense storm is coming, and how will this storm change their fate? How will this Qing Palace storm end?

……

The shadow behind Heshen

Some people say that the formation of Heshen, the corrupt official, was actually caused by Li Shiyao. This has to start from the beginning, and it has to be traced back to the glorious moment when Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, sat on the throne. Zhu Yuanzhang, an emperor who rose from the grassroots, hated corrupt officials to the bone. After he sat on the throne, the first fire he set was on those corrupt officials. He set the lowest salary in history for them, fearing that they would become wild and their hands would stretch out if they had too much money. The officials at that time were really living a tight life. They couldn't even afford a good cup of tea, let alone any luxury.

As time went by, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains and took over the system of the Ming Dynasty. Although they did not hate corrupt officials as much as Zhu Yuanzhang, the salaries of officials were not ridiculously high. As a result, people tend to be lazy when the money is low, and officials are no exception. They dared not directly contradict the emperor and say "Your salary is too low, I can't do it", but they were reluctant to throw away the black gauze hat, after all, it was a symbol of identity and status. Therefore, except for a few honest officials who could live in poverty, most officials quietly joined the team of "sideline jobs". They opened shops, or lent money and collected interest, or secretly colluded with businessmen, in short, they tried every means to make money. As a result, corrupt officials gradually increased, like spring leeks, which grew again after being cut.

When Emperor Kangxi first ascended the throne, the atmosphere of corruption was already quite serious. Sitting on the dragon throne, looking at the officials below with greasy faces, how could he not know in his heart? But he was a smart emperor and knew that he couldn't cut it off in one fell swoop, and had to take it slowly. So, he first turned a blind eye and pretended not to see it. In his later years, although he realized that the problem had become so serious that it couldn't be more serious, in order to maintain his image as a wise monarch, he still didn't take ruthless action. He just came up with a trick of "reducing the sentence by returning the stolen money", which means: it doesn't matter if you are corrupt, as long as you hand over the money, you can get a lighter punishment and don't have to lose your head. In this way, officials became more unscrupulous. Anyway, there is a cure for corruption, so why not do it?

When Emperor Qianlong took over, he followed his grandfather Kangxi in everything, but he did not do this. He was a tempered emperor who could not tolerate any injustice. He said, "This world belongs to me. You dare to steal my money and still want to reduce your sentence? No way!" So he resolutely abolished this policy. Not only did he require corrupt officials to return the stolen money, but he also confiscated their property, exiled them, and even beheaded them. This move scared the officials so much that they restrained themselves a lot.

But not long after, Emperor Qianlong himself felt that he had gone too far. Under the severe crackdown, officials were so scared that they dared not take office, and no one cared about state affairs. Moreover, he loved to enjoy himself. He went on tours to the south and celebrated the empress dowager's birthday. The scenes had to be luxurious. Where would the money come from? The treasury was almost empty. So, he came up with a new trick called the "silver for negotiating crimes" system. This is actually an upgraded version of returning stolen goods and reducing sentences. As long as you are willing to pay to atone for your sins, as long as it is not a serious crime like rebellion, it can basically be settled. However, this ransom is not a small amount, and it will cost tens of thousands of taels of silver at any time. In this way, officials saw hope again and began to save money to atone for their sins.

In the 33rd year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, there was a governor in Guangxi named Li Qingge. She was a woman, but she was also very brave. She went to Emperor Qianlong and cried poor, saying that she had been an official for 15 years and had paid 400,000 taels of silver as redemption money, but now she was so poor that she could not even afford to eat. She was dressed simply and looked haggard, as if she was really poor. When Emperor Qianlong heard this, he seemed to sympathize with her on the surface and even comforted her. But in his heart, he was wondering: As a governor, you only make more than 10,000 taels of silver a year, including the money for maintaining integrity, and at most 180,000 in 15 years. Where did you get 400,000 to pay the fine? This was obviously wrong.

Emperor Qianlong was not stupid. He understood the trick after a little thought. Li Qingge must have been short of money, so she took advantage of the common people. She was an honest official on the surface, but a corrupt official behind the scenes. She used the "crime silver" system as a cover to embezzle and accept bribes. Emperor Qianlong was so angry, but he still held back. He knew that he couldn't touch her at this time, otherwise it would affect the whole body.

But Emperor Qianlong was not a pushover. He secretly began to investigate Li Qingge's background. This investigation was incredible. It turned out that there was a big backer behind Li Qingge, that is, Li Shiyao. This Li Shiyao was an old fox. He was well versed in this. He was corrupt and took bribes on a large scale and had a huge fortune. He and Li Qingge were relatives. The two of them colluded with each other and took bribes together. When Emperor Qianlong saw this, he knew that things were not simple.

So he decided to send someone to investigate Li Shiyao. After much selection, he finally chose Heshen. At that time, Heshen was still an upright official, not doing any crooked things, and he was very capable. Emperor Qianlong thought he was a reliable person, so he gave him the task.

After receiving the task, He Shen began to investigate Li Shiyao's corruption. He investigated openly and secretly along the way and collected a lot of evidence. Finally, he finally found out Li Shiyao's details. It turned out that he not only embezzled and accepted bribes, but also abused his power and oppressed the people! He Shen kept all this in mind and prepared to report to Emperor Qianlong after returning to Beijing.

After returning to the capital, Heshen immediately reported the results of the investigation to Emperor Qianlong. Emperor Qianlong was furious and said, "This Li Shiyao is really too much! He embezzled so much money that he deserves to be beheaded ten times!" So Emperor Qianlong ordered the confiscation of Li Shiyao's property and exiled him to the frontier. As for Li Qingge? Emperor Qianlong gave her a break because she was a woman and a first-time offender, and only demoted her to a commoner and let her return home.

After this incident, Emperor Qianlong also realized the drawbacks of the "silver for negotiating crimes" system. He began to reflect on whether his policies were too lenient. So he decided to strengthen the supervision and management of officials and increase their salaries so that they could serve the country with peace of mind. In this way, the trend of corruption was gradually curbed.

What about Heshen? After this incident, he also saw the darkness and corruption of the officialdom. He began to understand why so many people chose to embezzle and accept bribes. It turned out that it was all forced by the system! However, Heshen did not become depressed because of this, but instead strengthened his beliefs. He decided to be an honest official and a good official who pleads for the people. So he began to work harder to contribute his strength to the country and the people.

As for Li Shiyao? During his days of exile in the frontier, he also deeply reflected on his mistakes. He regretted why he had taken that road of no return. If time could go back, he would definitely choose to be an honest official and an upright person. Unfortunately, time cannot go back, and he can only silently bear the consequences of his mistakes.

What about Li Qingge? She returned to her hometown and started a new life. She used her savings to open a school to teach children to read and write. She hopes to use her power to influence more people to understand the importance of being a human being and morality. She believes that only in this way can she truly change this society and make the world a better and fairer place.

The Shadow of Corruption
When Emperor Qianlong heard about Li Shiyao's corruption, he did not kill him to serve as a warning to others. Instead, he simply imprisoned him for a while, then released him and even allowed him to continue to serve as an official. This news was like a spring breeze blowing over a frozen lake, causing an uproar in the court. Heshen stood aside and watched all this with his own eyes. He was so surprised that he could not believe his eyes. He widened his eyes and opened his mouth slightly, as if he could swallow an egg. He thought to himself that this guy had embezzled so much silver, the amount was enough to shake the national treasury, and he could still be forgiven by the emperor. It was incredible.

Heshen felt mixed emotions, and he shook his head, trying to sort out his thoughts. Later, he found out that Li Shiyao had secretly given Qianlong several million taels of silver to build the Empress Dowager's Wanshou Temple and the Old Summer Palace. The silver was like running water, quietly nourishing the royal gardens and also allowing Li Shiyao's sins to be forgiven. Heshen suddenly realized that as long as he was willing to spend money to curry favor with his superiors, he could get away with corruption and even get promoted and make a fortune. The mystery shocked and moved him.

He looked at Li Shiyao's triumphant back, and an indescribable complex emotion surged in his heart. He knew that his integrity and honesty were out of place in such an environment where corruption was rampant. However, Li Shiyao's experience made him begin to doubt whether his persistence was worth it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if to absorb the foul air into his heart and merge it with himself.

From then on, Heshen let go and began to embezzle money on a large scale. He no longer adhered to those cumbersome rules of integrity, but instead set his sights on the wealth that was within his reach. An unprecedented ambition and desire surged in his heart, and he wanted to become one of the most corrupt officials during the Qianlong period and even the entire feudal era.

All of this was seen by Li Qingge who was standing nearby. She sneered, her laughter full of disdain and anger. She said: "The father is corrupt, the son is cruel, and they treat human life as worthless. This really proves the old saying that if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked." Although her voice was low, it was full of power, as if it could penetrate people's hearts. She swore: "When I unify the north, I will definitely eradicate all these corrupt officials. Whoever dares to oppress the people, I will make him die without a burial place!" Her eyes flashed with a determined light, as if she had already seen the arrival of that day.

Li Qingge is a woman, but she has the same ambition as a man. She is wearing a tight-fitting outfit, with a long sword hanging from her waist, and looks heroic. Her face is delicate, but her eyebrows reveal a heroic spirit that people dare not underestimate. She stands there like a tall pine tree, standing firm no matter how the wind and rain ravage it.

At this time, Su Xiaomei, who had returned to the inn, had tied up Li Debao like a zongzi. Li Debao was the son of Li Shiyao, and he was a tyrant and did all kinds of evil. He looked about 25 or 26 years old, and he looked quite elegant. He didn't look like a wicked person at all, but a bit like a scholar. But as the saying goes, you can't judge a person by his appearance, and you can't measure the sea by a bucket. This guy is cruel and has no sympathy for the common people. He usually hides in the Eight Great Hutongs, flirting with those courtesans and living a very extravagant life.

Unexpectedly, he was caught this time. When he was caught, he was still very arrogant, saying that the emperor's grace was great and no one dared to touch him. He widened his eyes, with a look of disdain and arrogance. However, Su Xiaomei laughed when she heard it: "I am the confidant minister of the Queen of Dayan, what is your little grace?" After that, she took him back.

Li Debao was used to being domineering and had never encountered any setbacks. This time, he met the Queen's people. When he heard that Li Qingge's methods were extremely cruel, he was scared to death. He lowered his head and didn't even dare to look at Li Qingge, as if he was afraid that his eyes would anger Her Majesty the Queen. His body trembled slightly, like a skinned rabbit, waiting for fate to slaughter him.

Li Qingge walked up to him slowly, patted his clothes gently and said, "The material is very smooth, it's obviously the best brocade. Now that the south has belonged to Dayan, it's hard to find such good silk in the capital. Emperor Qianlong's dragon robes are still old old goods, but you can wear newly woven brocade clothes in Hangzhou. If this wasn't bought with the money your father embezzled, where did it come from?" Her voice was soft, but it carried an unquestionable power.

Li Debao's face changed when he heard this, and he hurriedly explained that although his father was not an honest official, he would not dare to oppress the people. He raised his head and tried to impress Li Qingge with his pleading eyes. However, Li Qingge just looked at him coldly, as if she had seen through his thoughts.

"Whether your father dares to oppress the people, I know my limits. But you, Li Debao, you have committed many evil deeds and bullied men and women. Now that you have fallen into my hands today, don't even think about escaping." Li Qingge's voice was cold and firm, like a sharp sword, piercing Li Debao's heart.

When Li Debao heard this, he knew that he would not be able to escape today, and he was so scared that he sat on the ground. He looked at Li Qingge's cold and ruthless eyes, and an unprecedented fear surged in his heart. He knew that Her Majesty the Queen would never let him go. He closed his eyes and waited for the judgment of fate.

Li Qingge stood there, looking at the once tyrannical young man, and an indescribable sense of pleasure welled up in her heart. She knew that today's action was just the beginning, and in the future she would have to eradicate more corrupt officials to make the world a better place. Her eyes flashed with a determined light, as if she had already seen the arrival of that day.

The Empress's Wrath

Li Qingge smiled slightly, with a hint of coldness in her smile, like a plum blossom blooming in winter, and said softly: "Although your father is Qianlong's minister, he is not under my jurisdiction. I naturally have no right to interfere in his corruption and abuse of power." Her voice was clear but carried an authority that could not be ignored, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

As the subject changed, her voice suddenly became stern, like a sharp blade in the cold wind, piercing people's hearts: "But you hurt my parents, I must settle this account, I swear to settle accounts with you once and for all!" There was a hint of ruthlessness in her eyes, that was the determination to show no mercy to the enemy.

Li Debao was so frightened that he almost fainted when he heard this. His originally fat body was now limp as mud, and he said in a trembling voice: "How could I possibly harm your Majesty's parents? Your Majesty, I really don't understand." His eyes were full of fear and confusion, as if he really knew nothing about this matter.

Li Qingge rebuked sternly: "Don't you understand? Or are you pretending to be confused? Five years ago, you galloped on your horse on the streets of the capital, injuring many innocent people. Later, the horse was frightened and accidentally hit my parents' vegetable stall. Not only did you not apologize, you turned around and accused them of doing it on purpose. Then you ordered your evil servants to harm them and let them die unjustly!" Her voice was full of anger and grief, as if the scene of that day had reappeared in front of her.

Li Debao wanted to defend himself, but seeing the evidence tightly grasped in Li Qingge's hand and the hateful eyes, he knew that he could not argue. His face was as pale as paper, and he kept kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, please spare my life! I really didn't know that those two old people were your Majesty's parents. If I knew, I would never dare to die!" His voice was filled with tears, despair and fear.

Li Qingge was furious. She stood up, walked to Li Debao and looked at him coldly: "Just because they are not my relatives, you can kill them at will? You are a wolf who ignores the law and is inhumane. You are not worthy of being a human being at all!" Her voice was like ice, making Li Debao feel cold to the bone.

She then summoned Yang Tianxiong, her voice firm and powerful: "You go tell Qianlong that I want to borrow the Ministry of Punishment to make this evil villain suffer all 72 tortures, and finally take his head to commemorate the souls of my parents." There was a firm light in her eyes, as if she had seen the dawn of victory.

"Yes, sir!" Yang Tianxiong replied. He knew Li Qingge's determination and will very well, and also understood the severity of this struggle.

When Qianlong heard that Li Qingge wanted to borrow the Ministry of Punishment, although he didn't know her specific intention, he was also happy to facilitate this matter. After all, he also wanted to make friends with Da Yan, and Li Qingge was the queen of Da Yan, so her request naturally could not be easily rejected. What's more, he also wanted to take this opportunity to see Li Qingge's means and determination.

It was said in the Biography of Chun Yuan Musk that "the methods of the maids in the Ministry of Punishment are more powerful than those of the officials in the Ministry of Punishment." This is absolutely true. The punishments in the Ministry of Punishment are extremely cruel, just like hell. In comparison, the acupuncture skills of Rong Mama are like fireflies competing with the bright moon, insignificant. When the maids in the Ministry of Punishment heard that it was the order of the Queen of Dayan, they were all excited. They all took out their best skills and prepared to teach Li Debao an unforgettable lesson.

Some maids used bamboo sticks to pierce Li Debao's fingers and toes. The bamboo sticks were like sharp arrows, piercing his skin and reaching his bone marrow. Li Debao screamed in pain, but he was powerless to resist. Some maids burned his body with red-hot iron blocks. The iron blocks were like fireballs, leaving deep marks on his skin. Under repeated torture, Li Debao's body was roasted over and over like a pancake.

Then came water immersion, burning, and whipping with hot oil... Various tortures were used in turn, making Li Debao feel extremely painful. The wailing sounds in the Ministry of Punishment were deafening. The maids seemed tireless and kept changing the methods of punishment, making Li Debao experience all the sufferings in the world.

Finally, in despair and pain, Li Debao was killed by the torture of "sticking an official". Multiple layers of mulberry paper were pasted on his face, and each layer was accompanied by the nanny's curse and slapping sound. As the layers of paper increased, his breathing became more and more difficult, and finally he ended his sinful life in darkness.

After learning of Li Debao's death, Li Qingge said calmly: "Keep his head safe. I will use it to commemorate my parents." Her voice was no longer filled with anger and grief, but with calmness and determination. She knew that although she had won the fight, the price she paid was heavy.

Yang Tianxiong answered yes. He knew Li Qingge's deep affection and filial piety for her parents. He also understood what this struggle meant to Li Qingge. Therefore, he strengthened his determination and belief to always stay by Li Qingge's side, supporting her and protecting her.

Li Qingge ordered again: "Please choose an auspicious day for me to move the grave. I want to take my parents' remains back to the south for burial." Her voice revealed a trace of fatigue and longing. She knew that only by returning her parents' remains to their hometown could they truly rest in peace.

"Yes, sir. I have already calculated an auspicious date and the beginning of next month would be the most suitable." Yang Tianxiong replied. He had made all preparations for Li Qingge.

"Okay, my plan will be completed soon. Once the tombs are moved, I will leave the capital and return to Dayan." Li Qingge silently calculated the date of her return. She found that she could return to her hometown just in time for the New Year. This made her feel a little relieved and expectant.

Su Xiaomei and Yang Tianxiong were also delighted when they heard the news. Although the capital was extremely prosperous, it was still inferior to Jinling in Da Yan. Moreover, the hierarchy here was strict, and kneeling and even killing were common, which made them feel unbearable. They had long been accustomed to the equality and freedom advocated by Li Qingge, so how could they feel at ease staying in this capital full of hierarchy?

Therefore, when they heard the news that Li Qingge was going to return to Da Yan, their hearts were filled with joy and expectation. They knew that only by returning to the embrace of Da Yan could they truly feel freedom and equality. And Li Qingge, as their queen and leader, would also lead them to a better future.