Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 97: Revocation of title and demoted to assistant!
Renshou Palace.

Empress Dowager Wu was very confused when she received the letter from Runqiu from Jushuang, the maid in charge of Renshou Palace.

"Strange, why would Princess Ciqing think of writing a letter to me?"

Ju Shuang reminded her, "Madam, I heard that Earl Rui'an and Earl Chongshan were arrested and imprisoned by the Western Factory."

Empress Dowager Wu suddenly realized: "Could it be that Princess Ciqing wants me to come forward and plead for her two brothers in front of the emperor?"

"If that's the case, then I'm afraid I'll disappoint the Ciqing Palace."

Queen Mother Wu opened the envelope, took out the letter, and began to read.

But soon, Empress Dowager Wu frowned and felt a little confused again.

"That's not right, Ju Shuang. The letter from Ciqing Palace didn't mention Earl Rui'an and Earl Chongshan at all."

"It's just that the emperor hasn't turned over the name card of his concubines in the harem for nearly half a month."

"She hopes that I can persuade the emperor to favor the harem more for the sake of the heir."

"Ju Shuang, tell me, what does Ciqing Palace mean by this?"

Ju Shuang didn't know what Queen Mother Wang was thinking: "Your Majesty, I don't know."

"It seems that Ciqing Palace is really just concerned about Your Majesty?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Empress Dowager Wu put away the letter and shook her head.

"But what Ciqing Palace said makes sense. The heir to the throne is the most important thing in the harem. The emperor is busy with government affairs and neglects the harem. I should remind the emperor."

Empress Dowager Wu handed the letter to Ju Shuang and said, "Burn it. Don't leave any trace behind."

"Then call Fu Dahai to accompany me to the Qianqing Palace."

"Yes, ma'am."

Empress Dowager Wu changed her clothes and waited for Ju Shuang to burn the letter before she went to the Qianqing Palace.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youtang was eating snacks and reading a book when suddenly a young eunuch came to report.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager Wu requests an audience."

Queen Mother Wu?

What is she here for?
Zhu Youtang put down the book in his hand and said, "Please invite the Queen Mother in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, Empress Dowager Wu walked into the eastern warm room of the Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Youtang stood up to greet her.

"His Majesty……"

"Mother, please sit down."

Zhu Youtang stepped forward, held Empress Dowager Wu's hand, and helped her sit on the couch.

"It's so cold, how come my mother has time to come to my palace?"

"Is there enough charcoal in Renshou Palace? If not, I can ask Xixinsi to send some more red charcoal."

Empress Dowager Wu smiled and said, "There is enough charcoal in Renshou Palace. I still feel a little stuffy after burning it."

"I am just a little worried about you. You have been busy with the political affairs of the previous dynasty, and have neglected the concubines in the harem."

"The most important thing for the harem is to have children and an heir for your majesty."

"But I heard that Your Majesty hasn't favored the harem for nearly half a month. How can you expand the royal family?"

"I am still looking forward to having grandchildren and enjoying the happiness of family life."

Zhu Youtang looked at Empress Dowager Wu and frowned: "Mother, who told you this?"

"Haha, do I need someone to tell me this?"

"Wouldn't it be clear if we read the Record of Cheng'en in the Jingshifang?"

Zhu Youtang lowered his eyes and nodded: "Mother is right, I have been neglecting the harem recently."

"Tonight, I will summon someone to sleep with me."

"Okay, that's settled."

Queen Mother Wang looked towards the entrance of the East Warm Pavilion: "Fu Dahai."

"Yes, I greet your Majesty and the Empress Dowager."

Fu Dahai came in with a tray with a name tag on it, knelt in front of Zhu Youtang and presented the tray.

"Your Majesty, please turn over the cards."

Zhu Youtang stretched out his hand and scanned the five cards, and finally turned over the card with Kangpin's name on it.

When Empress Dowager Wu saw this, she smiled slightly and was very satisfied.

"Then I won't bother you any more. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. No matter how busy you are, you must take care of yourself."

Having achieved her goal, Empress Dowager Wu stood up and said goodbye.

"Go slowly, mother. When I am free, I will go to Renshou Palace to pay my respects to you."

After Zhu Youtang escorted Empress Dowager Wu out of the Qianqing Palace, he looked at the snowy scene in the capital, lost in thought.

……

As soon as the hour of You arrived, the Jingshifang sent Zhang Wan'er to the Qianqing Palace on time.

Today, Zhang Wan'er was obviously dressed up carefully.

Not only is her makeup exquisite, but she also has a faint plum scent on her body.

Zhang Wan'er was pleasantly surprised, even though she had received advance news from Ciqing Palace that Zhu Youtang would summon her to sleep with him.

But when she really returned to the Qianqing Palace, Zhang Wan'er was still overjoyed.

"I have seen your majesty."

Zhang Wan'er came before Zhu Youtang and bowed respectfully.

"Get up and sit down."

Zhu Youtang was eating his midnight snack and glanced at Zhang Wan'er indifferently.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhang Wan'er stood up, sat in front of Zhu Youtang, and served him food attentively.

"Your Majesty has looked thinner in the past few days." "No matter how busy your government affairs are, Your Majesty should take care of your health."

Zhu Youtang noticed the jade bracelet on Zhang Wan'er's wrist, but didn't say anything. He just nodded and said, "I know. I've been too busy these days."

"What have you been doing these days?"

"I am preparing a winter solstice gift for your majesty. I cannot tell you yet. I want to give you a surprise."

"Haha, okay. I'll be waiting for your surprise then."

Zhu Youtang and Zhang Wan'er chatted while eating.

After finishing his meal and rinsing his mouth, Zhu Youtang sat on the couch and picked up the unfinished memorial at hand.

Zhang Wan'er held a cup of hot tea in her hand and placed it carefully next to Zhu Youtang, then sat on the couch and knelt beside Zhu Youtang.

"Your Majesty has been working so hard, can I give you a massage?"

"Alright."

Zhang Wan'er stretched out her hand and gently and carefully massaged the acupuncture points on the back of Zhu Youtang's head, as if mentioning it unintentionally.

"Your Majesty, I was bored yesterday, so I flipped through the Romance of the Three Kingdoms to relieve my boredom. I came across a sentence that I thought even made sense."

"Oh? Which sentence?" Zhu Youtang asked casually.

"When Emperor Wu of Wei conquered Xiapi City, he executed Lü Bu, but he intended to persuade Chen Gong to return."

"But Chen Gong would rather die than surrender, so Emperor Wu of Wei asked Chen Gong: If you are like this, what about your mother and wife?"

"Chen Gong replied: I have heard that those who govern the world with filial piety do not harm people's relatives; those who govern the world with benevolence do not cut off people's sacrifices."

"I think this sentence makes a lot of sense. Emperors in ancient times ruled the world with filial piety..."

Zhu Youtang turned his head and looked at Zhang Wan'er. Zhang Wan'er was startled when she met Zhu Youtang's cold eyes.

Before she could react, a loud slap hit Zhang Wan'er in the face.

Zhang Wan'er suddenly felt a burning pain on her face. She covered her face and opened her mouth in pain and shock, but did not dare to cry out in pain.

She quickly stood up and walked down from the couch, kneeling in front of Zhu Youtang in fear: "I shouldn't have discussed state affairs. I was confused and made a mistake. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youtang withdrew his hand and stared at Zhang Wan'er expressionlessly: "Who told you to say that?"

Zhang Wan'er panicked: "No one, I just saw this sentence occasionally..."

"Is it Queen Mother Wang?"

Zhu Youtang raised his voice, and Zhang Wan'er was so frightened that she dared not say a word. All the palace maids in the east warm room also knelt down.

"Okay, Queen Mother Wang couldn't see me, so she asked my concubines to persuade me. This is really a good plan."

"Fu Dahai!"

"The slave is here."

Fu Dahai, who was guarding outside the Qianqing Palace, heard Zhu Youtang's roar, and hurriedly trotted to Zhu Youtang and knelt down.

"Strip Kangpin of her title, demote her to concubine, and confine her to Xianfu Palace!"

"Without my order, no one is allowed to visit Zhang!"

Fu Dahai looked up in horror, and seeing Zhu Youtang's angry face, he quickly accepted the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

When Zhang Wan'er heard Zhu Youtang's order, she was immediately frightened.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! I was just confused for a moment. I know I was wrong. I beg Your Majesty not to revoke my title!"

Zhang Wan'er kowtowed to Zhu Youtang repeatedly, and Zhu Youtang waved his hands irritably: "Drag her out."

"promise."

Fu Dahai gave a look, and several palace maids came forward and dragged Zhang Wan'er out of the east warm pavilion.

"I beg your Majesty to forgive me. I know I was wrong. I beg your Majesty not to..."

After Zhang Wan'er was dragged out of the East Warm Pavilion, the East Warm Pavilion returned to its previous tranquility.

Fu Dahai asked carefully again: "Your Majesty, do you want to change a concubine to sleep with you?"

Zhu Youtang was very angry now, so he nodded.

Fu Dahai immediately took the order and left. When he entered the East Warm Pavilion again, he had a silver plate in his hand for turning over the cards.

But at this time, there were only four name tags on the silver plate, and the one with Kangpin's name was missing.

Fu Dahai presented the silver plate to Zhu Youtang. Zhu Youtang stretched out his hand and flicked through the name tags, finally turning over the one with Chen Jieyu's name on it.

"promise."

Fu Dahai took the order and quickly asked the eunuchs from the Jingshifang to carry the sedan chair and rush to Jingren Palace.

As soon as he entered Jingren Palace, Fu Dahai hurried towards Yuqing Tower.

"Chen Jieyu, hurry up, pack your things and go to the Qianqing Palace to sleep with me!"

Fu Dahai ran very fast and was sweating profusely in the cold winter.

Chen Yuanyuan was just about to take off her makeup and go to bed when she suddenly received the order to sleep with him. She was still confused.

After she realized what was happening, Chen Yuanyuan was surprised and delighted: "Eunuch Fu, what's going on?"

"Hasn't His Majesty summoned Concubine Kang to sleep with him today? Why is she suddenly..."

"Oh, my lady, please don't mention Concubine Kang's name again!"

Fu Dahai was extremely anxious: "I don't know what happened just now, but Zhang Ying made His Majesty so angry that His Majesty stripped her of her title, demoted her to Ying, and imprisoned her in Xianfu Palace."

"His Majesty is waiting in the Palace of Heavenly Purity now. My lady, please stop asking so many questions and get moving."

"what?"

When Chen Yuanyuan heard that Zhang Wan'er was stripped of her title and demoted to a concubine, she was happy at first, but then felt a little panicked.

Zhu Youtang was furious at the moment, and suddenly summoned her to sleep with him. If she did something wrong, wouldn't she be easily vented on by Zhu Youtang?
Chen Yuanyuan was worried, but she could not disobey the emperor's order, so she had to agree.

"Okay, please wait for a moment, Eunuch Fu. I'll be there as soon as I'm ready."

"Then I will be waiting outside the palace. When you are ready, just give me your order."

Eunuch Fu said this and left Yuqing Tower.

(End of this chapter)