Chapter 71
Li Qingge was wearing an elegant plain dress with a simple hosta in her hair. Her face was delicate and her eyes revealed a hint of intelligence and cunning. She thought to herself: "Little Yanzi, little Yanzi, you have fallen into my hands this time. However, I am just giving you some color to show you, so that you will not be so arrogant in the future."
Little Yanzi was lying on the ground, her face as pale as paper. After playing thirty boards, she was exhausted. She rolled her eyes and passed out directly on the ground. Upon seeing this, Yong Qi rushed forward and hugged her. She was so distressed that tears welled up in her eyes, but she resisted falling down. He whispered the little swallow's name, as if he wanted to pour all his tenderness into her.
Qianlong stood aside and looked at this scene, feeling a little unbearable. But he knew that as the king of a country, he could not show his emotions easily. With a straight face, he said sternly: "I'm just giving you a small lesson this time. Kunning Palace is the Queen's residence, and it is as important as my Heart Cultivation Palace. No one is allowed to come in without the Queen's permission. You guys Do you understand?"
Mingyue and Caixia quickly nodded in agreement, feeling scared in their hearts. They knew that Xiao Yanzi was lucky to be able to save his life this time. They secretly swore that when Xiao Yanzi wakes up, they must persuade her and stop letting her cause trouble.
Qianlong looked at Xiao Yanzi's pitiful look, and his heart softened again. He asked Yong Qi to take Xiao Yanzi back and take good care of her, and sent Li Yu to Tai Hospital to invite Dr. Hu, who was highly skilled in medicine. Doctor Hu hurried over. After an examination, he prescribed some medicine, gave a few instructions, and left in a hurry.
After dealing with Xiao Yanzi's matter, Qianlong's thoughts drifted to the Wei family again. He thought of Wei's gentle and pleasant appearance, and couldn't help feeling pity in his heart. He knew that if the Wei family hadn't been there to stir things up, how could Xiao Yanzi have provoked the Queen or even angered Queen Dayan? He was about to summon Mr. Wei to ask for clarification, but suddenly he remembered something.
He looked at the queen with a smile, then turned around and went to Yanxi Palace. In the Yanxi Palace, Mrs. Wei was lying on the bed. Her face was pale, but her eyes were shining with determination. Although she was demoted not long ago, she was already pregnant with a dragon. The news surprised and scared her. She knew that this child would be her only hope.
As soon as Qianlong stepped into Yanxi Palace, he saw Mrs. Wei lying on the bed. He hurriedly walked over, held Wei's hand, and asked with concern: "Mrs. Wei, how do you feel? My child. Are you okay?"
Ms. Wei smiled slightly and said softly: "I am fine, and the child is fine. I just want to ask the emperor to agree to my request."
Qianlong nodded quickly and said, "Just tell me, as long as I can do it, I will definitely promise you."
Ms. Wei pondered for a moment and said, "I would like to ask the emperor not to make my concubine pregnant for the time being." Make things public . The fetal condition is still unstable, and it would not be good to announce it now."
After hearing what she said, Qianlong agreed to her request and vowed that he would restore her after the child was born. status. After hearing Qianlong's words, Wei felt grateful in her heart. She knew that this child would be her only chance to turn around.
However, the Wei family did not want the queen to be complacent there alone. Therefore, when Xiao Yanzi came to visit her, she deliberately said something. On the one hand, she wanted to use Qianlong's guilt for Xiao Yanzi to gain some favor for herself; on the other hand, it was also because she herself did not know what was going on. The person inside is a boy or a girl. If there is another princess, all her previous efforts will be in vain.
Xiao Yanzi sat beside Wei's bed, looking at her pale face and protruding belly, feeling sad in her heart. She knew that Wei's life had been really hard these years, and she was like a frightened bird, fearing that the queen would kill her again. She held Wei's hand and said softly: "Sister Wei, don't worry, I will definitely help you take care of this child."
Wei smiled slightly, tears shining in her eyes. She knew that although Xiao Yanzi was usually a little reckless, her heart was kind. She looked at Little Yanzi gratefully and said, "Thank you, Little Yanzi. With your words, I feel relieved."
At this time, the sunlight outside the window shone on the ground through the window lattice, forming a patch of Mottled light and shadow. Xiao Yanzi looked at the light and shadow, and thought to himself: "I must find a way to protect Sister Wei and this child, and I will not let them suffer any more harm."
In the following days, Xiao Yanzi seemed to She seemed to be a different person, she no longer jumped up and down and caused trouble like before. She began to learn to restrain her temper and became more calm and sensible. She knew that she could no longer cause trouble to Qianlong and the Wei family.
Qianlong also saw the changes in Xiao Yanzi, and he felt relieved. He knew that this little girl had finally grown up and become sensible. He began to dote on Xiao Yanzi even more, and often summoned her to talk, play chess, and enjoy flowers. Xiao Yanzi also enjoyed it. She felt as if she had returned to that carefree time.
However, the struggle in the harem never stopped. Although the Queen and Aunt Rong temporarily tempered their anger, the resentment in their hearts did not dissipate. They had been secretly observing the movements of Xiao Yanzi and Wei, looking for opportunities to take action again.
Wei also knew that she couldn't hide her pregnancy for too long, so she began to secretly plan how to protect herself and her child. She knew that only by letting her child be born safely could she truly turn over.
Thus, a harem struggle surrounding Xiaoyanzi, Wei and the Queen quietly began again. In this struggle, everyone is fighting for their own interests. And Xiao Yanzi also 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 Jiutian: The Storm of the Qing Palace Resurfaces
On a spring day in the Forbidden City, the sun shines dappledly on the splendid palace, but it seems that it cannot shine into the depths of people's hearts. Mrs. Wei was sitting in front of the window of Yanxi Palace, holding a handkerchief embroidered with lotus flowers in her hand, her eyes flashing with complicated emotions. She knew very well that if she wanted to regain a foothold in the harem and restore her status as a concubine, it would not be enough on her own. So, she set her sights on Xiao Yanzi, who was straightforward and daring.
Little Yanzi, that woman who always looked stubborn and unyielding, her appearance seemed to bring a breath of fresh air to this dull harem. Wei secretly thought that if she could take advantage of Xiao Yanzi's dissatisfaction with the queen, and the two of them join forces, they might really be able to deal with the queen who has been weighing on her. Her plan was thorough and cautious, and every step was considered just right. She could only put it into action after Xiao Yanzi recovered.
However, it is not as good as God. Wei Shi never expected that that girl Xiao Yanzi would act so unreasonably. On a bright moonlit night with few stars, Xiao Yanzi rushed directly to Kunning Palace to settle accounts with the queen. At that moment, Mrs. Wei's heart was in her throat. She was worried about Xiao Yanzi's safety, and she was also afraid that her plan would be ruined.
What was even more coincidental was that Li Qingge happened to be enjoying tea and chatting leisurely with the Queen in Kunning Palace that night. The appearance of Li Qingge, the majestic and favored daughter of the emperor, undoubtedly made this conflict more complicated. As soon as Xiao Yanzi entered the door, he had a tit-for-tat confrontation with the Queen and Li Qingge. For a moment, the tension in Kunning Palace was tense and the atmosphere was extremely tense.
Emperor Qianlong was always extra tolerant to Xiao Yanzi because of Xia Yuhe. However, he is the king of a country after all. When it comes to national affairs, even if it is his own mother, he will not let it go easily. What's more, Qianlong is now afraid of Li Qingge's ruthlessness and Dayan's strong soldiers. Therefore, when this conflict came to Qianlong, even if he had a bias in his heart, he had to be ruthless and punish him severely.
That night, Qianlong's face was terrifyingly gloomy. He looked at Xiao Yanzi kneeling in front of him, and his heart was filled with helplessness and anger. Although Li Qingge looked majestic, her face became gloomy after Qianlong left. The queen looked even more worried. She knew that although she was being reasonable this time, she had to temporarily tolerate it under Li Qingge's power.
Seeing this, Aunt Rong quickly brought a bowl of mulberry and red date tea, and softly comforted the Queen: "Don't worry, Madam, there are five princesses here, no one dares to offend you easily." Hearing this, Li Qingge's lips curled up. With a sneer, she picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and then said: "As long as I am here, you don't have to be afraid if the King of Heaven comes." Although her voice was soft, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.
The queen took a few sips of tea and felt a little calmer. She looked at Li Qingge and sighed: "Fortunately, with you here, I can avenge my shame." Hearing this, Li Qingge sneered in his heart. She knew that although the queen was polite to her on the surface, she was always wary of her power in her heart. However, she doesn't care about these, she only cares about her own interests and goals.
Speaking of Huanzhugege Little Swallow, Li Qingge thinks she is a troublemaker. However, she knew it well and knew that she would find a way to prevent her from bullying the queen again. Just when she was about to continue discussing countermeasures with the queen, Su Xiaomei hurried in and reported: "The person your majesty is looking for has been found!"
When Li Qingge heard this, he was extremely happy. 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 post house. The queen curiously asked who they were looking for, and Li Qingge told her about the murder of his 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. As soon as he heard that they were in the post house, he immediately said goodbye to the queen and left. On the way to the post house, she couldn't wait to ask Xiaomei the identities of the thieves. Xiaomei told her: "This man's name is Li Debao, and he is the son of Li Shiyao, the Minister of Household Affairs."
After hearing this, Li Qingge sneered: "It turns out to be this kid, not surprising!" She knew that corrupt officials were rampant in the Qianlong court. , Li Shiyao's greed is second only to He Shen and Yu Sance. Yu Sance had already submitted to the law, and now it was Li Shiyao and his son's turn.
As the night grew darker, the lights in the Forbidden City were extinguished one by one, except for the faint light in the direction of the posthouse. Li Qingge hurried to the post house with a group of people, and saw several guards guarding the door of a room. She opened the door and walked in, only to see a man in ragged clothes and a haggard face tied to a chair. It was Li Debao.
Li Debao saw a flash of panic in his eyes when he saw Li Qingge. He knew that he was in big trouble this time and it might be difficult to get out. Li Qingge walked up to him, looked at him coldly, and asked: "Are you Li Debao?" Li Debao nodded tremblingly, and said in a weak voice: "Yes...it's me..."
Li Qingge Hearing this, a trace of killing intent flashed in his eyes. She suddenly grabbed Li Debao's collar and said in a cold tone: "Do you know your guilt? You caused the destruction of my adoptive parents' family. I will avenge them today!" As she said that, she slapped the table with her palm, shaking it. The tea set on the table clattered.
Li Debao was so frightened that he trembled and said: "I...I didn't know they were your adoptive parents...I just...just followed orders..." As he said that, he started to cry. , tears flowed freely.
Looking at his useless look, Li Qingge felt disgusted in his heart. She let go of her hand, threw Li Debao to the ground, and then said coldly: "Whether you acted under orders or did it on purpose, you will not escape death today!" As she said that, she turned and walked out of the room, facing the guards guarding outside. Said: "Take him to the execution ground and behead him at noon tomorrow!"
The guards followed the order and Li Debao was dragged out of the room. Li Qingge stood at the door of the post house, looking at the Forbidden City in the night, feeling an indescribable sadness and indignation in his heart. She knew that although she had avenged her adoptive parents, the storm was far from over.
On the Queen's side, although she had temporary support from Li Qingge, her heart was full of worries. She knew that that girl Xiao Yanzi was a troublemaker and would cause bigger troubles sooner or later. Although Li Qingge appears to be in alliance with herself, her thoughts are elusive.
In this changing situation in the harem, everyone is fighting for their own interests. Xiao Yanzi, Wei, the Queen, Li Qingge... how will the grievances and hatreds between them be interpreted? How will this Qing palace turmoil end?
......
Since that night, Xiao Yanzi has been lying in bed recovering from his injuries. Although her body gradually recovered, the trauma in her heart was difficult to heal. She knew that she was impulsive this time and not only failed to help Wei, but also caused her trouble.
When Mrs. Wei came to visit her, she lowered her head in guilt. But Wei smiled and comforted her: "Don't worry, little Yanzi. Although you were a little impulsive this time, I admire your courage. If we work together to deal with the Queen, we will definitely succeed."
小After hearing this, Yan Zi felt a warm current in his heart. She knew that the Wei family treated her sincerely, and she must work hard for the Wei family. 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 is seemingly in alliance with the Queen, she has been thinking about how to weaken the Queen's power. She knew that the Queen was a cruel and ruthless woman, and if she was not removed as soon as possible, she would sooner or later pose a threat to herself.
So, she began to secretly investigate the queen's crimes and collect evidence about her. At the same time, she also maintained close contact with Xiao Yanzi, and the two teamed up to deal with the queen. In this harem struggle, they gradually became each other's strongest support.
However, the struggle in the harem is far from 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 destiny? How will the ending of this Qing palace turmoil be interpreted?
...
The shadow behind He Shen
Some people say that the shadow of Li Shiyao was behind the formation of He Shen, the corrupt official. We have to start from the beginning, going back to the glorious moment when Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, sat on the dragon throne. Zhu Yuanzhang, an emperor who rose from the grassroots, hated corrupt officials deeply. After he sat on the dragon throne, his first fire was directed at those officials who were corrupt and violated the law. He set the lowest salary in history for them, fearing that if they had too much money, they would become wild-minded and stretch their hands. At that time, the officials were living so tightly that they could not afford even 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 did, the salaries of officials were indeed not outrageously high. As a result, when there is little money, people tend to be lazy, and officials are no exception. They neither dared to directly contradict the emperor and said, "Your salary is too low, I can't do it," but they were also reluctant to lose the black gauze hat. After all, it was a symbol of identity and status. Therefore, except for a few honest officials who can live in poverty and live happily, most officials have quietly joined the ranks of "side jobs". They either open shops, lend money and collect interest, or secretly collude with businessmen. In short, they try every means to make money. As a result, the number of corrupt officials gradually increased, like leeks in spring, one crop grows after another.
When Emperor Kangxi first ascended the throne, corruption was already quite serious. He sat on the dragon chair and looked at the officials below, all of them with shiny faces. Could he be confused? But he was a smart emperor and knew that he couldn't do it all at once and had to take his time. So, he first turned a blind eye and pretended not to see it. In his later years, although he realized that this problem could not be more serious, he still did not take any cruel measures in order to maintain his image as a sage monarch. He just used the trick of "returning the stolen goods will reduce the sentence", which means: it doesn't matter if you are greedy, as long as you hand over the money, you can get a lighter punishment without losing your head. In this way, officials will become even more unscrupulous. After all, greed can be saved, so why not do it?
When Emperor Qianlong took over, he learned from his grandfather Kangxi in everything, but on this point, he quit. He is an emperor with a temper, and he can't get rid of the dirt in his eyes. He said: "This world belongs to me. How dare you steal my money and still want to reduce your sentence? There is no way!" So he resolutely abolished this policy. Not only did he want corrupt officials to return their stolen goods, but they also had their homes confiscated and exiled. , or even beheading, a three-pronged approach, very cruel. This move scared the officials so much that they all restrained themselves a lot.
Not long after, Qianlong himself felt that he had gone too far. Under the severe crackdown, officials were too frightened to take office, and no one took care of state affairs. And he himself loves to enjoy himself. Touring the South, celebrating the Queen Mother’s birthday, the scenes must be so luxurious, where does the money come from? The treasury is almost empty. So, he came up with a new trick called the "criminal silver" system. This is actually an upgraded version of returning stolen property and reducing the sentence. As long as you are willing to pay for atonement, as long as it is not a serious crime like rebellion, you can basically get rid of it. However, this ransom is not a small amount, it can easily cost tens of thousands of taels of silver. In this way, officials saw hope again and began to save money to atone for their sins.
In the thirty-third year of Qianlong's reign, there was a governor in Guangxi named Li Qingge. She was a woman, but she was also bold. She went to Qianlong to complain about her poverty, saying that she had been an official for fifteen years and had already paid 400,000 taels of silver as atonement, and now she was too poor to open the pot. She was plainly dressed, looked haggard, and looked like she was really poor. When Qianlong heard this, he seemed to sympathize with her and comforted her a few words. But I kept muttering in my heart: As a governor, plus the money for raising money, you only get more than 10,000 taels of silver a year, and you only get 180,000 taels for fifteen years. Where do you get the 400,000 to pay the fine? This is obviously wrong.
Master Qianlong was not stupid. He understood the trick after just a little thought. Li Qingge must have had enough money, so he took advantage of the common people. She appears to be an honest official, but secretly she is a corrupt official. She used the "criminal silver" system as a cover to engage in massive corruption and bribery. Lord Qianlong was so angry, but he still held back his anger. He knew that he couldn't touch her at this time. If he moved, her whole body would be affected.
However, Emperor Qianlong was not a vegetarian either. He secretly began to investigate Li Qingge's background. This investigation was remarkable. It turned out that Li Qingge had a big backer behind him, namely Li Shiyao. This Li Shiyao is an old fox. He knows this well. He has committed corruption and bribery and made a fortune. He and Li Qingge were related, and the two worked together to commit corruption and bribery. As soon as Lord Qianlong saw this posture, he knew that things were not simple.
So he decided to send someone to check out this Li Shiyao. After choosing and choosing, Heshen was finally selected. At that time, Heshen was still an upright official. He did not engage in crooked ways and was very capable. Emperor Qianlong thought he was a reliable person, so he gave him this task.
After receiving the task, He Shen began to investigate Li Shiyao's corruption. He conducted overt and covert investigations along the way and collected a lot of evidence. Finally, the details of Li Shiyao were found out. It turns out that he not only took 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, He Shen immediately reported the investigation results to Emperor Qianlong. When Emperor Qianlong heard this, he was furious and said: "This Li Shiyao has gone too far! He has stolen so much money that even if he beheaded ten times, it would not be an exaggeration!" So Emperor Qianlong ordered that Li Shiyao's property be confiscated and he was exiled to the border. As for Li Qingge? Emperor Qianlong thought that she was a woman and it was her first offender, so he spared her a lot and demoted her to a commoner and allowed her to return to her hometown.
After this turmoil, Emperor Qianlong also realized the shortcomings of the "criminal silver" system. He began to reflect on whether his policies were too loose. 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 slowly curbed.
And what about Heshen? After this incident, he also saw clearly the darkness and corruption in officialdom. He began to understand why so many people chose to take bribes. It turns out it’s all forced by the system! However, He Shen did not become depressed because of this, but instead strengthened his belief. He decided to be an upright official and a good official who asked for orders for the people. So he began to work harder to contribute to the country and people.
As for Li Shiyao? He also deeply reflected on his mistakes during his exile on the frontier. He regretted why he took that road of no return in the first place. If he could turn back time, he would definitely choose to be an upright official and an upright person. It's a pity that time can't be turned back and he can only suffer the consequences of his mistakes silently.
And what about Li Qingge? She also started a new life after returning to her hometown. She used her savings to open a school to teach children how to read and write. She hopes to use her power to influence more people and let them understand the importance of being a human being and morality. She believes that only in this way can we truly change society and make the world a better and more just place.
The Shadow of Corruption
Emperor Qianlong heard about Li Shiyao's corruption. Instead of killing him as a warning to others, he just lightly imprisoned him for a while, and then again He was released and even allowed to continue serving as an official. This news was like a spring breeze blowing across the frozen lake, causing an uproar in the court. He Shen stood aside and watched all this with his own eyes. He was so surprised that he couldn't believe his eyes. His eyes widened and the corners of his mouth opened slightly, as if he could swallow an egg. I thought that this guy had stolen so much money, the amount was enough to shake the national treasury, and yet he could still be forgiven by the emperor. It was really incredible.
He Shen had mixed feelings in his heart. He shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts. Later, when I inquired about it, I learned that Li Shiyao had secretly sent several million taels of silver to Qianlong to build the Queen Mother's Wanshou Temple and the Old Summer Palace. The silver was like running water, quietly nourishing the royal garden, and also allowed Li Shiyao's sins to be forgiven. He Shen suddenly realized that as long as he was willing to spend money to please his boss, he could get away with no matter how much corruption he committed, and he could even get promoted and make a fortune. The mystery of this shocked and excited him.
Looking at Li Shiyao's triumphant back, he felt an indescribable complex emotion well up in his heart. He knew that his long-standing integrity was out of place in such an environment where corruption was rife. 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 he wanted to suck this turbid air into his heart and integrate it with himself.
From then on, Heshen also let go of his hands and began to engage in massive corruption. He no longer sticks to those cumbersome incorruptible dogmas, but sets his sights on the wealth that is readily available. An unprecedented ambition and desire surged in his heart. He wanted to become one of the top corrupt officials during the Qianlong period and even the entire feudal era.
And all this was seen by Li Qingge, who was standing aside. She sneered, her laughter filled with disdain and anger. She said: "I am corrupt, my son is cruel, and I regard human life as nothing. This really echoes the old saying, if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam is 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 eradicate all these corrupt officials. Whoever dares to oppress the people, I will let him die without a place to die!" Her eyes flashed with determination, as if she had already seen That day has come.
Li Qingge is a woman, but she has ambitions that are not inferior to those of a man. She was wearing a tight-fitting outfit, with a long sword hanging on her waist, and she looked heroic. She has a delicate face, but there is a heroic spirit between her eyebrows that makes people dare not underestimate her. She stood there like a tall pine tree, no matter how the wind and rain destroyed it, it still stood tall.
At this time, Su Xiaomei, who returned to the post house, had already brought Li Debao with him tied up like making rice dumplings. This Li Debao is the son of Li Shiyao. He is domineering and does all kinds of evil. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, quite elegant, and didn't look like a man who did evil at all, but rather a bit bookish. But as the saying goes, people cannot be judged by their appearance, and sea water cannot be measured. This guy is ruthless and has no sympathy for the common people. He usually hides in the Bada alleys, teasing and having fun with the courtesans, and lives an extremely extravagant life.
Unexpectedly, he was caught red-handed this time. When he was caught, he was still very arrogant, saying that no one dared to touch him despite the great favor of the emperor. His eyes widened with disdain and arrogance on his face. However, Su Xiaomei laughed when she heard this: "I am Queen Dayan's confidant, what does your imperial favor mean?" After saying that, she escorted him back.
Li Debao is used to being domineering and domineering, and has never encountered any setbacks. The people who met the queen this time were frightened to death when they heard that Li Qingge's methods were extremely ruthless. He lowered his head, not even daring to look at Li Qingge, as if he was afraid that his eyes would anger Her Majesty the Queen. His body was trembling slightly, like a skinned rabbit, waiting for his fate.
Li Qingge walked up to him slowly, patted his clothes gently and said, "This material is quite slippery. It looks like fine brocade at first glance. Now the south has returned to Great Yan, and the capital city It's hard to find such good silk here Emperor Qianlong's dragon robes are still old goods, but you can wear brocade clothes newly woven in Hangzhou, so where did you get them if you didn't buy them with your embezzled money? , but with an undoubted power.
Li Debao's expression changed when he heard this, and he hurriedly argued that although his father was not an upright official, he did not dare to bully 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 he had read through his mind.
"I have my own discretion as to whether your father dares to bully the people. But you, Li Debao, have done many evil things and bullied men and women. If you fall into my hands today, there is no way you can escape." Li Qingge's voice was cold and firm. It was 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, so he collapsed on the ground in fear. He looked at Li Qingge's cold and ruthless eyes, and felt an unprecedented fear in his heart. He knew that Her Majesty the Queen would never let him go. He closed his eyes and waited for fate to decide.
As for Li Qingge, he stood there, looking at the once domineering young man, and felt an indescribable joy in his heart. She knows that today's action is just the beginning. In the future, she will eradicate more corrupt officials and make the world a better place. Her eyes shone with determination, as if she had seen that day coming.
The Wrath of the Empress
Li Qingge smiled slightly, with a bit of coldness in the smile, like the plum blossoms blooming in winter, and said softly: "Although your father is a minister of Qianlong, he does not It is under my jurisdiction, and I naturally have no right to interfere with his corruption and violation of the law." Her voice was clear but had a majesty that could not be ignored, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.
As soon as the conversation 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, and I swear to settle it with you completely!" There was a fierce look in her eyes, which was a determination to show no mercy to the enemy.
When Li Debao heard this, he was so frightened that he almost fainted. His already fat body was as limp as mud at this moment, and he said in a trembling voice: "How could I harm your Majesty's parents? I really don't understand what your Majesty said." His eyes were full of fear and confusion, as if Really don't know anything about this.
Li Qingge scolded sternly: "Don't understand? Or are you just pretending to be confused? Five years ago, you ran wildly on the streets of Beijing and injured many innocent people. Later, the horse was frightened and hit my parents by mistake. vegetable stall. Instead of apologizing, you went back and falsely accused them of doing it deliberately, and then ordered the evil servants to harm them and make them die unjustly!" Her voice was full of anger and grief, as if the scene of that day was reappearing. In front of you.
Li Debao wanted to defend himself, but when he saw the evidence that Li Qing was holding tightly and his eyes full of hatred, he knew that he had no way to defend himself. His face was as pale as paper, and he kept kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, please spare your life! I really don't know that those two old people are your Majesty's parents. If I knew, I wouldn't dare to die!" There was a cry in his voice. , full of despair and fear.
Li Qingge was furious. She stood up, walked to Li Debao, and looked at him coldly: "Can you kill me at will if you are not my relative? You are simply a jackal who ignores the law and is inhumane. Unworthy of being a human being!" Her voice was like ice, making Li Debao feel chilled to the bone.
She immediately summoned Yang Tianxiong with a firm and powerful voice: "Go and tell Qianlong that I will use the Shenxing Division to let this evil thief experience seventy-two tortures, and finally take his head to pay homage to the souls of my parents." She His eyes shone with determination, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.
"Yes!" Yang Tianxiong replied. He knew Li Qingge's determination and will, and also understood the seriousness of this struggle.
Qianlong heard that Li Qingge wanted to use the Shenxing Division. Although he didn't know her specific intention, he was happy to facilitate the matter. After all, he also intended to be on good terms with Dayan, and as Li Qingge was Dayan's queen, she naturally could not refuse her request easily. What's more, he also wanted to take this opportunity to see Li Qingge's methods and determination.
It is said in "The Legend of Chunyuan Musk": "The methods of the Grandma of the Criminal Division are more powerful than those of the Langguan of the Criminal Department." This is not true at all. The punishments imposed by the Shenxing Division were extremely cruel, almost like hell. In comparison, Grandma Rong's acupuncture skills are like fireflies competing against the bright moon, insignificant. The nuns of the Shenxing Department were all excited when they heard the order from Queen Dayan. They all used their special skills to teach Li Debao an unforgettable lesson.
Some nuns used bamboo sticks to pierce Li Debao's fingers and toes. The bamboo sticks were like sharp arrows, penetrating his skin and flesh and reaching the bone marrow. Li Debao screamed in pain, but was unable to resist. Some of the nuns used red-hot iron to burn his body. The iron was like a fireball, leaving deep marks on his skin. Under repeated torture, Li Debao's body was being tossed and burned like a pancake.
This was followed by immersion in water, burning, whipping with spicy oil...all kinds of torture took turns, making Li Debao miserable. The wails and wails in the Shenxing Department were heard one after another, deafening. Those nuns seemed to be tireless, constantly changing the punishment methods, allowing Li Debao to taste all the suffering in the world.
In the end, in despair and pain, Li Debao was killed by the torture of "sticking to the official". His face was covered with multiple layers of mulberry paper, each layer accompanied by Mammy's incantations and slapping sounds. As the layers of paper increased, his breathing became more and more difficult, and he finally ended his sinful life in darkness.
After learning about Li Debao's death, Li Qingge said calmly: "Keep his head properly. I will use it to pay homage to my parents." Her voice lost the previous anger and grief. , replaced by a kind of calmness and determination. She knew that although the battle was won, the price paid was heavy.
Yang Tianxiong answered yes, he was well aware of Li Qingge's deep affection and filial piety towards his parents. He also understood what this fight meant to Li Qingge. Therefore, he strengthened his determination and belief to always be by Li Qingge's side, to support her and protect her.
Li Qingge then ordered: "Choose an auspicious day for me to move the grave. I want to take my parents' remains back to the south for burial." There was a hint of exhaustion and longing in her voice. She knew that only by returning their parents' remains to their hometown could they truly rest in peace.
"Yes, I have already calculated the auspicious date, and the beginning of next month will be the most suitable." Yang Tianxiong replied, and he had made all preparations for Li Qingge.
"Okay, my plan is about to be completed. Once the tomb relocation is completed, I will immediately leave the capital and return to Dayan." Li Qingge silently calculated the return date in her heart, and she found that she could return to her hometown in time for the New Year. . This gave her a sense of relief and expectation.
Su Xiaomei and Yang Tianxiong also looked happy after hearing the news. Although the capital city is extremely prosperous, it is still not as good as Jinling in Dayan. What's more, the hierarchical hierarchy here is very strict, and people are often forced to kneel down, bow, and even kill, which makes them feel unbearable. They have long been accustomed to the equality and freedom advocated by Li Qingge, so how can they safely stay in this capital city full of distinctions between superiority and inferiority?
Therefore, when they heard the news that Li Qingge was returning to Dayan, their hearts were filled with joy and expectation. They know that only by returning to Dayan's embrace can they truly feel freedom and equality. And Li Qingge, as their queen and leader, will also lead them to a better future.