The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 2 The Frosty Sword's Harsh Energizing Force

A babbling brook meanders around the house, its water crystal clear, and the weeping willows in the courtyard are as green as jade.

Bloodshed raged in the capital, but the small courtyard where Li Qi's family lived seemed to be isolated from the world.

If it weren't for the people from Jiangpu County government barging in for no reason, it would be a peaceful place.

In the Li family's farmhouse, Zhao Cheng, the magistrate of Jiangpu County, directed a group of Jiangpu County yamen runners to rampage through the courtyard and houses, turning the place upside down.

Li Qi stood with his hands clasped under the eaves of the thatched hut, not uttering a word, but his eyes were slightly narrowed, a cold glint in them.

No sooner had they been exiled here than the Jiangpu County government came to cause trouble, disregarding the fact that there was a princess living here.

There must be a bigger scheme behind this!
The sound of his youngest son, Li Mao, crying came from inside the room. He was still young and was quite frightened by the vicious clerks. Li Qi's eyes grew even colder.

Zhao Cheng stood in the courtyard and shouted loudly to all the yamen runners, "Search this place thoroughly and see if there are any hidden letters between Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong!"

Li Qi looked him up and down, then suddenly said, "Lord Zhao has been frequently visiting my humble abode recently. He must have received a powerful decree from some noble person."

However, I have a word of advice: there's an old saying, "A person whose evil deeds are so numerous that they'll end up serving in the capital." This serves as a warning to future officials in counties bordering the capital to be cautious. Your Excellency's arrogance today will likely lead to future regrets!

Zhao Cheng stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at Li Qi, his smile growing even wider, and said, "Young Master Li, how have you been?"

Li Xiaogongye here is a blatant satire and mockery.

Li Qi narrowed his eyes slightly and said coldly, "How have you been? I didn't expect we were old acquaintances. May I ask who you are?"

"Important people really do have bad memories."

Zhao Cheng laughed triumphantly, "I never imagined that our reunion would be under such circumstances."

Back then, your father relied on his power to manipulate the world. I, a scholar who passed the imperial examination, was stuck in the position of county magistrate for ten years. I served the government but was humiliated by you. Did you ever think that you would end up in my hands? Did Li Shanchang ever think that his descendants would suffer like this?

Truly, those who follow the righteous path receive abundant help, while those who stray from it receive little; Heaven rewards those with a sincere heart.

Li Qi understood. So Zhao Cheng had come seeking revenge. No wonder he acted so recklessly, even knowing there was a princess here.

However, their family was exiled directly to the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) for investigation, bypassing the Jiangpu County government. How could Zhao Cheng be so well-informed and happen to be here?
Moreover, those Imperial Guards outside the door just blatantly let them in?

Was it really just a coincidence that their family was exiled to Jiangpu?

Li Qi's gaze was deep, and one after another, confusion and questions popped into his mind.

Even with his political intrigue talent of 86, he couldn't untangle this complex web of issues.

Because the Han State government had held the position of leader of the Huaixi faction for 23 years, it had countless enemies both outside and within the faction!

Only when the house was in complete disarray and ruin did Zhao Cheng stop the Jiangpu County yamen runners. He laughed arrogantly and said, "Young Master Li, I advise you to hand over the evidence of Li Shanchang's crimes as soon as possible, otherwise I will come every day and find it even if I have to dig three feet into the ground!"

This is a blatant threat, making it clear that Li Qi will never have a peaceful life again.

If someone were even slightly weak, they might die of depression from living in such constant fear.

Li Qi's lips curled into a mocking smile. Although he couldn't guess who was behind it, killing a pawn wouldn't be difficult. Let the dying man be arrogant for a while.

Zhao Cheng swaggered away, while the Imperial Guards outside remained expressionless, as if they hadn't witnessed the scene.

Princess Lin'an looked at the mess in the courtyard, her eyes red with anger. "Outrageous! How dare a mere county magistrate be so arrogant in front of me!"

Princess Lin'an was furious. Born into the imperial family and favored by the emperor, she used to associate with only imperial relatives. A county magistrate was not even qualified to see her. She never expected to be insulted by the county magistrate today.

Li Qi coldly said, "A dragon stranded in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp, and a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs. Even Zhou Bo, the Marquis of Jiang in the Han Dynasty, lamented the noble status of prison guards, let alone you, my husband."

The magistrate of Jiangpu County has a grudge against my Han State government, but I suspect that someone is behind him.

and.

Didn’t you notice?
The Imperial Guards watching over us turned a blind eye to the vandalism at the Jiangpu County government office. Furthermore, it was the Imperial Guard Commander Mao Xiang who instigated the major case in the first place, so there must have been high-ranking members of the Imperial Guard involved.

Upon hearing the words "Imperial Guards," Princess Lin'an trembled, a deep fear flashing in her eyes—those ruthless killers.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the emperor's personal army; who can command them?"

Princess Lin'an's mind was already filled with the image of a certain person, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

Li Qi said: "During the Tang Dynasty, Li Xian, the crown prince of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, was exiled to Bazhou. Later, he was forced to commit suicide by the cruel official Qiu Shenji, but everyone knew that it was Wu Zetian who forced him to his death."

What was Li Xian thinking when he committed suicide?

If the Imperial Guards really come and say something ambiguous, what will you do, my lady?

Princess Lin'an's hand holding the teacup trembled. Li Qi said in a deep voice, "Naturally, if the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die; if the father commands the son to die, the son has no choice but to die. As subjects and sons, loyalty and filial piety should be the first priority. How dare we directly disobey our ruler and father!"

Princess Lin'an exclaimed in shock, "My father loves me the most, how could he order my death? Husband, didn't you say that my father is a man of deep affection and loyalty?"

Li Qi stopped smiling, pressed down on Princess Lin'an's shoulders, pulled her trembling body into his arms, and solemnly said, "My lady, remember what you said today. No matter what hints others may give later, you must believe that your loving father will never order our deaths."

Some people want us dead, but we'll stubbornly live on. As long as we live, there's always a chance to turn things around.

Princess Lin'an immediately understood the meaning behind Li Qi's words. She snapped out of her fear and exclaimed in shock, "Husband, do you mean that someone will use Father's will to put us to death? Who would be so bold? Besides, we have already suffered a great calamity and pose no threat to anyone. What need is there for this?"

Li Qi said, "It's nothing more than beating a dog when it's down and taking revenge. These are all sins committed by my father."

My father has the talent of Xiao He, but not his character. He is narrow-minded, jealous of the virtuous and capable, and has made too many enemies. There are countless people like Zhao Cheng.

If the Li family truly fades into obscurity, perhaps at most someone like the magistrate of Jiangpu County will come to intimidate us.

However, if the Emperor softens his attitude towards the Li family, even greater threats will come, and they may even be eliminated completely.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard was the emperor's personal guard, its members all had their own agendas. Mao Xiang was dead, but there must still be people in the Embroidered Uniform Guard who harbored hostility towards us.

The road ahead for the Li family is fraught with thorns; this is no exaggeration. It's impossible for them not to suffer a crushing defeat.

Li Qi was naturally burdened by a heavy historical baggage and had a natural political stance. Even before he entered politics, he already had a group of political enemies, and his allies all died in the Hu Weiyong case.

Princess Lin'an felt as if mountains were pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe. "How could such a calamity befall us? I only want Fang'er and Mao'er to grow up safely and peacefully, and for them to marry gentle and virtuous wives and have two lovely and clever children."

Li Qi remained silent. Princess Lin'an was born in the deep palace and raised by women, so it was inevitable that she would be naive.

Politics is a matter of life and death. Today, the Korean government has lost and thus suffered this misfortune. In the past, when the Korean government was victorious, its opponents also suffered ruin and death. Once you embark on this path, you must keep winning.

Li Qi, who possesses a system and has transmigrated to this place, will be the victor, and the Li family will always be the victor in the future.

Until the end of time!

……

After the execution of over seventy members of the family of Li Shanchang, a nobleman of the state of Han, accomplices were killed almost every day. This included not only the families of nobles and marquises, but also the families of lower-ranking officials who were dependent on these twenty-two noble families.

More than 30,000 people were killed, and countless women were forced into prostitution. It is no exaggeration to say that in the capital, one in every fifteen people, or even one in every ten, was implicated in the major case and either killed, exiled, or forced into prostitution.

In the capital, a climate of fear and unease prevailed. Everyone was on edge, terrified that the Imperial Guards would suddenly break down their doors, leaving them with nothing but ruin and death.

In order to protect their families, they naturally resorted to all sorts of methods, like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.

This was a major case involving the execution of 30,000 people and the exile or conscription of 50,000 others. It sounds bloody, but in reality, for the Embroidered Uniform Guard and all the investigators, it was a feast.

Because only those dukes, marquises, and high-ranking officials were closely watched by the emperor, who wanted to ensure that no one or their entire family would be exterminated through household registration.

Whether the others are guilty, and how guilty they are, can be decided in a single sentence.

Some people have offended many people in the past, so the Embroidered Uniform Guard will naturally take this opportunity to fabricate some charges against them and send their whole family to the afterlife, since the emperor will never even look at them.

Some people, who usually have good connections, can bleed heavily and bribe officials to reduce their punishment significantly. Officials have two mouths, and money can move mountains.

After all, "what is confiscated by the government goes into the national treasury and the emperor's private treasury, and what ends up in one's own hands is truly one's own"—who can not understand this principle?

Some, knowing that the destruction of their families was inevitable, took advantage of the fact that the imperial decree to confiscate their property had not yet been issued, and adopted their eldest sons into other people's names to circumvent the law.

As such.

Strife and collusion among lower-level officials occurred constantly, but most of it went unnoticed, as the attention of various factions in the capital was focused on the big shots.

Cutting off one's tail to survive is a basic tactic of large clans, not to mention severing ties with others for personal gain, and even resorting to backstabbing as a form of counter-evidence. As long as the clan can survive, they are willing to pay any price.

Abandoning the completely defeated Korean government was not something anyone would hesitate about.

Furthermore, the Korean government already had many political enemies secretly stirring things up, and those who hoped to take advantage of the situation to gain wealth and power were as numerous as carp crossing a river.

……

Five days have passed since Li Qi transmigrated here, and a maid from the capital city is calling to see him.

"Of the entire Li family, only you, my husband, and our two sons remain. The rest have all been punished and executed. Who sent this maid?"

With the Imperial Guards stationed outside, the maid naturally couldn't see Li Qi, who was imprisoned there. Only after giving the Imperial Guards with the only silver she had on her was she given a chance to speak outside the door.

Only then did Li Qi realize that it was actually Zijuan, his sister's dowry maid. The couple immediately sensed something was wrong when she appeared here.

Zijuan knelt outside the door, her face covered in dirt and grime, no longer the dignified woman she once was. Li Qi's family was inside, a dilapidated wooden door that seemed to separate two worlds.

"Zijuan, why are you here? Did Third Sister send a message?"

Zijuan sobbed, “Young Master, the day after the incident at the Duke’s Mansion, the Third Miss was divorced. She was unwilling to be sent to the brothel and hanged herself that night. Before she died, she released my indenture. After I buried her, I had no money to bury her, so I could only come here to report her death.”

Princess Lin'an nearly fainted: "My third sister is already married. The Marquis of Jingning's mansion wouldn't be so weak as to be unable to protect a woman, how could this be..."

According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, a woman was to obey her husband after marriage. Once married, she belonged to her husband's family, and even if her family was confiscated or her clan was exterminated, she would not be implicated. However, if she was divorced, she had to return home and either die or be sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run brothel) to become a prostitute and be classified as a lowly person.

Like the untouchables in India's caste system, those of low caste were forbidden from marrying commoners, taking the imperial examinations, or engaging in legitimate occupations, and were condemned to perpetual misery.

After the former officials of the Jianwen Emperor were reduced to commoners by the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, they were not allowed to regain their status as good citizens until the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. That was three hundred years, during which the dynasty had already fallen!

Li Qi felt an excruciating pain surge through his body. His body trembled slightly as he said sharply, "Someone must have told me that as long as I sever ties with the Li family, I can avoid being implicated. How laughable! I swear I will not rest until I avenge this!"

Princess Lin'an felt a chill run through her body. Only now did she understand what her husband meant by "wind and frost"!
When a person loses power, things can come to this!
Li Qi then stared at Zijuan, "Zijuan, now that you're here, I won't say those things that told you to leave."

Now that I am imprisoned by His Majesty and cannot leave this place, I can only give you some money and ask you to bury my third sister for me.

If I ever escape this calamity, I will surely reward you handsomely. Would you be willing?

When the wind and frost come fiercely, even if you just take shelter under the eaves, your clothes will still get wet with raindrops.

Burying Miss Li at this time would easily lead to being seen as an accomplice of the Li family, and one could easily be implicated.

When Miss Li released the indenture, she probably didn't expect that Zijuan would be so loyal and come to Jiangpu to report the death.

Zijuan kowtowed heavily, blood even seeping from her forehead, and she choked out, "Don't worry, young master!"
The Third Miss treated me very kindly, releasing me from my indenture and sparing me from being implicated. I cannot fail to repay this great kindness. Even if it costs me my life, I will ensure the Third Miss is properly buried. Heaven bears witness. If I break this vow, may I die without a proper burial.

The righteous are often the lowly butchers; the woman kneeling on the ground was slender, yet seemed to bear the weight of the heavens.

After Zijuan left, the atmosphere in the Li family of four became somewhat somber.

Li Mao was still young when he was already in tears; his aunt, who loved him the most, had also died.

Li Fang trembled with fear and cried, "Father, Mother, will we die too? I don't want to die."

"do not Cry!"

Li Qi reprimanded, "Even if you are the son of a nobleman or duke and fall on hard times, you should still have backbone. What kind of decorum is this, crying and wailing? From today onwards, copy Wen Tianxiang's 'Ode to Righteousness' ten times for me!"

Li Fang and Li Mao were of ordinary talent and status. They had fallen from their noble positions and were exiled from the capital. They had not yet adapted to the stark contrast between their former and current circumstances.

The events of the past few days, coupled with the news brought by Zijuan, have been like a violent storm, with no shelter whatsoever. It feels as if the entire building is collapsing, and I am filled with constant anxiety.

I could no longer hold back my emotions.

Li Qi raised his sleeve to drink tea, indicating that Li Fang and Li Mao were not capable of being of great use.

If the Li family is handed over to them in the future, his mission to ensure the family's survival for five hundred years will be cut short by the second generation.

Moreover, according to the system's assessment, the number of direct descendants of the Li family is 0.

Li Fang and Li Mao were children born before Li Qi's time travel, so they weren't considered Li Qi's children. Even if Li Qi wanted to use the Earth-rank item [Half-Saint's Appearance] on them to improve their aptitude, they wouldn't be qualified.

He needs a true, talented heir to inherit the position of the second generation head of the family!

Li Qi's gaze fell on Princess Lin'an; he absolutely had to have another child with her.

only……

Li Shanchang has not been dead for long. In theory, Li Qi is still in mourning. According to the requirements of filial piety, he should not have sexual relations during the twenty-seven months of mourning!
Hopefully, Princess Lin'an is already pregnant; otherwise, waiting another two years is too rushed!
(End of this chapter)