The Ugly Empress vol 1, Chapter 40: Issuance of the Death Penalty

The Ugly Empress《丑娘娘 》Chou Niang Niang
The Ugly Empress vol 1, Chapter 40: Issuance of the Death Penalty

Zhao Lu and Feng Ming didn't get along alone for nearly half a year. During this meeting, Zhao Lu couldn't think about anything anymore. He repeatedly asked to meet Feng Ming several times.

Feng Ming finally couldn't lift his fingers and laid on Zhao Lu's leg.

It's still raining outside, but the rain is much smaller. It seemed that it will stop soon.

Listening to the rain outside, Feng Ming suddenly said with a smile, “I feel comfortable even in this situation."

Zhao Lu has some feelings about what he said. If the other party is not Emperor Feng, maybe they won't have to get along with the other person in this ambiguous mode.

After receiving the memorial of the Shui river irrigation in the city, the imperial court official Lu Shi immediately organized the construction of water conservancy, and sent people along the Shui river to find Emperor Feng.

Feng Ming was trapped in the Shui River for two days. The people of imperial court official Lu Shi arrived and welcomed him back to the palace.

Zhao Lu sneaked out, of course, he can't go back with them. Seeing Feng Ming is OK, he drove his horse back to the capital. Rui Xue in the mansion is like a widow, and she's not old and has no experience. These days, she's almost crying with worries. When he saw the master coming back, she almost cries with joy.

A few days after Zhao Lu's return, Feng Ming's Royal driver was also welcomed back to the palace. Although Rui Xue didn't say it, he could see that the two had made up secretly.

Feng Ming came back a little feverish. Zhao Lu also sent Rui Xue to see him, but Emperor Feng didn't remember what he said at the beginning, and he had a chat with Rui Xue. In short, Rui Xue felt that although Emperor Feng was slightly ill, he was refreshed and looked much more energetic.

This time, it scared the imperial court official Lu Shi and he personally scolded the river bank defenses which looked like tofu dregs.

Feng Ming is also grateful for his loyalty. He asked imperial court official Lu Shi to take charge of this matter and thoroughly investigated the Xue state plot in the Shui River.

Rui Xue can't say that she is worried. Although the person who digs the river doesn't know the future, if he wanted to check afterwards, he will soon find the cause of the over flooding after all, the river has traces, and they can't be wiped away in a day or two. In this way, he can't find the Xue state machinations in this?

As expected, it didn't take Rui Xue a few days to find out something about the imperial court official Lu Shi, and reported Emperor Feng in the imperial court session.

This time, the imperial court official made a great uproar. Some people suggested that an army should be sent to attack Xue state and Xue Jun Liang. If they didn't investigate, wouldn't they lose the prestige of the Feng state?

However, some people also think that Xue Jun Liang, who has done so, is not afraid of being discovered, so he is prepared. If he sends troops in such a rash way, he will surely fall victim to the enemy's treacherous plan, instead of losing the army to the general.

Feng Ming asked imperial court official Lu Shi again.

The imperial court official Lu Shi said: “This imperial court official also thought it's not appropriate to rush at this time. Let's not say that Xue * * is strong and strong, and he is the only one. If the luck is still in the Xue state, doesn't he let others grasp the handle? Everything is not going to end up in a good situation. "

Everyone hissed at this point, and the eldest princess was favored by the former Emperor when she was alive. Now when she is a concubine in the Xue state, it is actually a royal hostage. What she does here will be restricted, and some of them will get in the way if they ask her for help. However, Emperor never has a clear meaning in this matter, and the imperial court officials dare not express their intention rashly.

It's just that Feng Ming doesn't say anything. People who are familiar with him also know that Feng Ming wanted to kill Xue Jun Liang. This cruel emperor is always a man who doesn't offend for nothing. Doesn't want to be a prisoner. If he gets revenge, he will be accompanied to the end.

Zhao Lu's official seal was gone. He used his own small seal for the time being. Anyway, the people of the Feng state have been used to the monopoly of Marquis Zhao Lu. Although this year has improved a little, even if Lord Marquis uses his small seal, no one dares to say anything.

Feng Ming thought that he lost it when he was saving himself. He specially asked the workers to build another one. He didn't blame Marquis Zhao Lu.

The official seal belonging Zhao Lu, which nobody knew, has fallen into the hands of Xue Jun Liang.

On that day, Xue Jun Liang didn't deny or blame Xue Hou Yang for his words. He just asked Xue Hou Yang to go back to the government to have a rest first, and the matter of accepting a concubine had to be discussed in a long way.

However, Xue Jun Liang did have a lot of doubts about this incident. He also appreciated Teng Shang, and even exaggerated that if he could get the resourceful text of the imperial court official and Teng Yun, the brave and hard-working general, he would like to trade a city for it and give Teng Shang fiefdom.

But he didn't expect that his brother had a real affection for a man.

Xue Jun Liang has been aware of this for a long time, but he still doesn't believe that even though Teng Shang is different and has a beautiful life, he is still a man, and he is independent, and Xue Jun Liang doesn’t know how he allows intimacy with Xue Hou Yang. How can such a person who is not smooth be hell bent of this and permit this sorta thing?

Xue Jun Liang didn’t want to understand, but he can be sure that he can't let his younger brother like such a person in public and private. If Teng Shang is sincere to wait for something else, he can't let his younger brother be used a piece of infatuation as a chess piece by others. In this way, the things in Xu Hou Yang's side wife are not true.

The draft is not a matter of two days a day. It will take half a month for the refined women to drive into the imperial capital and pass through several gates in a row. Furthermore, so many people have to choose the person in charge. The emperor also has to choose himself or herself. It's not a matter of meeting the other person at once. It's also a matter of primary election. The refined women who has put up the brand can go straight out of the imperial capital and go home. The refined women whose the brand was not pulled up will have to go on the next round.

In addition, a monarch should not only choose his concubines, but also the wife and mothers for the princes and nobles. He should not only look at the color, but also look at the family. This is also a physical work.

Xue Jun Liang is busy with political affairs all day. He doesn't want to choose more. He watches 20 of them in a day. After seeing them, he doesn't want to see more. The matter of choosing a concubine will grow only more tedious.

This day, Xue Jun Liang just saw 20 young ladies and put up signs to let them return home. He wanted to go to the Yunfeng palace to see the empress, but Jiang Yu didn't know the current affairs there.

Jiang Yu looked at Emperor Xue and saw that his face was not good. He could only say, “His majesty, the guards returned, someone was shouting the words of rebellion at the entrance of the palace."

Xue Jun Liang didn't take it seriously at all. “Then pull him out and kill him."

“But... This old slave heard that the rebel was shouting about the empress, so... So I came to his Majesty in private. And this old slave thought, how can so many people in the Nine Gates will allow the thieves get to the gate of the palace? It's really not in the right place. "

Xue Jun Liang smiled, “You are just getting it?"

Jiang Yu said with a smile, “His majestic enlightenment is good, as well as the education of the empress."

Although Xue Jun Liang knew that this is Jiang Yu's flattery, but let alone, it's very useful. Xue Jun Liang thought in his heart, when it came to the empress, he will not be in a bad mood. Does he really have feelings for this resourceful empress?

If empress can keep the discipline and break off with Emperor Feng, he can really treat the other person sincerely and let the empress give birth to children for himself.

Jiang Yu looked at Emperor Xue “With a smirk on his face" and coughed hard. “Emperor, the thief has caught him. Do you want to see him?"

Xue Jun Liang just came back to his senses, coughed and hid the embarrassment he had just imagined. He said: “Then hurry up and Zhen will see what kind of person he is. He can get to the gate of the palace."

Soon the man was taken up, and was caught by three men, He Zhong, He Ren and He Yi, who were wearing the clothes of the guards, pushing and shoving the robbers who were tied up in various ways.

The thief was a white faced scholar. He was tied tightly, and he had a bunch of cloth in his mouth, as if he would not be allowed to talk. However, the thief's face was as usual, not like a prisoner at all.

After they were taken over by Teng Yun, the three of the He's family brothers did not want to be officials. At last, they only asked for the position in the Imperial Guards army and were willing to protect the empress (Teng Yun).

The Xue state's administrator cherished the talent, but he doesn't want to refuse. Naturally, he doesn't want to refute their meaning, so the three of the He's really accepted working in the Xue state under the name of the empress.

Xue Jun Liang looked at this and said: “What are you three going to be doing? Don't let people say that Zhen's Imperial Guards army abused the weak. "

The three laughed, but when they thought of greeting after laughing, they fell down on their knees and kowtowed. They made a big action and a simple expression. Xue Jun Liang had no idea what was it that they were laughing about, so he didn't pursue anything.

But the thief didn't mean to kneel. He Zhong kicked him on the knee, and the thief just groaned and knelt on the ground. It seemed that he was a white-faced scholar and had no power to bind a chicken.

“Why did you stop him?" said Xue Jun Liang

He Ren said: “You don't know, this boy can make one enchanted as soon as he opened his mouth. Just now we almost let him go!"

“Oh? What happened? It's Zhen who doesn't believe in empty accusation. Untie him.”

Xue Jun Liang naturally doesn't believe this strange and disorderly saying. The he’s brothers loosened knot ties and took the rags out of the thief mouths. The thief kneaded his knees and stood up. He still didn't even look at Emperor Xue.

“Outrageous, not kneeling!" cried Jiang Yu

The scholar sneered, “I'm not from the Xue state. Why should I kneel?"

Xue Jun Liang was not angry, or is he pleased by that, but he just lingered on his finger and said with a smile, “What's your nationality? What are you doing in the Xue state?"

The scholar's tone was not respectful, then said: “I was from the Teng state, and later transferred to the Feng state, then the Shui river irrigation walls cracked, so I had to go out of the Feng state, to the Xue state."

“Oh..."

Xue Jun Liang, though not moving, was shocked by what he said. He waved to hold back.

Jiang Yu was afraid of this being a thief's trick. This person wanted to assassinate Emperor Xue when nobody was around, so he would rather die than leave. Xue Jun Liang signaled that nothing will happen if they leave, leaving behind a still unknown one. Therefore, the three He brothers people who escorted him were left, and the rest of them push out the garden to wait for him.

When everyone backed out, Xue Jun Liang said, “You are a smart man. Zhen has heard what you mean... But Zhen has two questions, the Shui river irrigation walls, why did you come to the Xue state? What do you mean by coming to the Xue state?"

The scholar said: “Though the Shui river irrigation walls is not the work of a man of character, it shows that the people who bungled up the irrigation walls have some strategies and courage. Unfortunately, I know that although he has a strong general, he has no contribution from the imperial court official. If not, how can he miss the great opportunity?"

Xue Jun Liang said nothing, and the scholar said: “I came to the Xue state just to show my ambition. As just said, I used to be from the Teng state, but the emperor of the Teng state was fatuous and incompetent. He hired stupid people. The emperor usurped power and usurped power for many times. Anyone would be cold hearted after that. I have been to the Feng again State, however, I was only appointed as a county magistrate and master. He dared to say that it was the loss of his emperor was his waste of talent so. "

“You dare to talk, you are so arrogant."

“I have the capability."

“Then tell me more." said Xue Jun Liang, “What are you shouting at the gate?"

The scholar said with a smile, “What I'm shouting is that the empress's life is in danger!"

“Absolutely disgraceful!"

Xue Jun Liang slapped the handrail, got up, and shouted, “Who gives you the courage to curse the mother of the imperial court?"

The scholar was not afraid either, and said: “It's not a question of courage, it's a fact. The death penalty has been issued, and the time limit is coming. Don't be afraid to think about things first."

Xue Jun Liang was told by him that and he was speechless for the first time. At this time, Jiang Yu came in a hurry and said, “His majesty, the empress, is here to see you."

Xue Jun Liang took a look at the scholar, turned to Jiang Yu and said, “You tell empress to wait for Zhen in the front hall, and then Zhen will come."

Jiang Yu's face was ugly and said: “His majesty... The empress said that she would like to meet the imperial court official, who called himself Jiang Zi Ya." [1] Jiang Zi Ya was a mythical sage like Einstein level at political manipulation and an advisor to King wen of Zhou around 110 BC and he is said to be the author of the Six Secret Strategic Teachings... which is one of the ancient era military strategy and plans book

Xue Jun Liang heard that. He was sure that Teng Yun heard the news, and there's nothing to hide. Speaking of Teng Yun's sharp teeth, maybe he can give the arrogant thief a show of strength.

Teng Yun was surrounded when he came over. Xue Jun Liang asked Jiang Yu to set up a seat, but before Jiang Yu can move, the three he brothers moved the chair, just like they saw an elder brother's expression

Xue Jun Liang waited for Teng Yun to take his seat before he said to the scholar, “Go ahead."

The scholar also didn't avoid it. He took a straight look at Teng Yun and said, “I have a reason for everything which can be explained in the next sentence. It's not empty talk."

He paused and said: “Emperor Feng must have found out something after the Shui river's irrigation of the city collapsed. He pointed at the Xue state and would surely find a reason to send his troops here. The soldiers coming here could not be justified. However, the river course mess is not a sufficient reason. It can be said that you were framed by others. If they want to send troops, the best reason is the empress. "

“It's me?" said Teng Yun with a smile

“The Xue state empress bears the princess title of the Feng state and has a lot to do with it. It's inevitable that the Feng state will make a rash decision sending of troops will hinder its efforts. However, if empress is killed, the Feng state's posture will be totally different. Isn't that the best reason to send troops to fight?"

Xue Jun Liang took a look at Teng Yun. After all, what the scholar said was that Emperor Feng wanted to kill him. That was his brother, the brother from the same mother.

But Teng Yun's face didn't change. He just sighed in his heart. As expected, any country is the same. No matter whether it's blood, flesh or not, it can be calculated at will. Even if Xue Jun Liang is a special existence, he has been treating Xue Hou Yang the same for so many years.

Xue Jun Liang said: “What do you mean by all this, it he just an alarmism? What is his name... name of this Jiang Zi Ya? "

The scholar knew that Emperor Xue was saying this to agitate himself. If other emperors heard his words they would have killed him in disorder, Xue Jun Liang was quite calm.

The scholar thought that Emperor Xue had passed his own test, and then bowed down respectfully, then said: “This common person just said bad things, but also hoped that emperor could see what happened later and forgive this common person's recklessness This common person has a plan to ease the life of the empress, but the future is still very dangerous.”

Xue Jun Liang saw that he was respectful, and his face softened a little. He said, “Tell me."

The scholar said: “This hot polloi is, surnamed Shen, named Yi, and was originally from the Teng state. After two years as an official in the Teng state, he knew that the political situation of the Teng state could not last for long. Now Emperor Feng wanted to use the empress as a pawn to send troops. Emperor Xue might as well borrow the Teng state provocation to protect the safety of the empress."

Teng Yun, though resourceful, could not understand Shen Yi’s meanings.

Shen Yi continued, “Emperor Teng suffered from years of civil strife. Not long ago, because of his Lady Wang’s favor, the Emperor gave birth to the idea of abandoning the elder council. Since ancient times, the abandonment of the elder council was bound to lead to chaos. As expected, although the son of Lady Wang was intelligent, he was cowardly, and the eldest son Teng Xin started his army duties half a month ago."

Listen, Teng Yun suddenly felt his whole body cool. His eldest brother, Teng Xin, has always been a loyal and honest man. When the emperor troops rebelled against him, he sent soldiers to suppress them many times. But he didn't expect that Teng Xin would also rebel.

Teng Yun knew that he may be forced to hurry up his plans. The empress's life is beautiful and charming. Although he is not young, there are still many ways to attract people. He was very popular in the early years. Now Teng Qian Yi married the Xue state, and no one can compete with her anymore. The Emperor Feng secretly murdered the Teng state empress and coveted to make his son the crown prince.

Shen Yi said: “If his majesty doesn't prevent sending troops to Emperor Teng at this time to help him calm down the rebellion, then Emperor Teng will be grateful and afraid that there will be another army in his land. At this time, his majesty revealed to Emperor Teng that he can help him settle the country, as long as Emperor Teng is willing to pay tribute and return to bow the Emperor... How dare the Emperor Feng dares take over the Teng state in a short time? "

Xue Jun Liang listened to him easily and hesitated a little. After all, it's not easy to be make vassal states obedient. Some of the people who are obedient are sincere. Besides, it's a country's obedience, that’s even more dangerous.

Shen Yi said: “It's not a long time for his majesty to think about it. The Teng state has also planned the imperial court session. When they get the news that Emperor Feng wanted to send troops, they will be very happy to see the Xue state and the Feng state meet in battle. There will be no reason not to push forward the momentum. This is the opportunity to push forward the momentum expressively... If his majesty doesn't act immediately, Emperor Teng will send someone to assassinate the empress!"

Teng Yun glanced at the lake in the distance, but he didn't know what he felt. He was framed by Teng Qian Yi before, and he was already in a bad mood. Now he heard that his imperial family wanted to kill him. Although they didn't know that she/he was Teng Yun, would he not have any grievances? It had become a knot, which made him sick.

Teng Yun is from the Teng state. Of course, he knew how much weight his imperial family has. Over the years, he has spared no effort to be loyal. If Emperor Teng is willing to send troops to help, they will not be trapped in the city.

Emperor Teng is afraid, timid, and has great achievements in appointing relatives. Teng Yun really can't think of what he can do to compare with Xue Jun Liang, but he can't live through this anxiety all the time.

Xue Jun Liang listened to Shen Yi's words, which made sense. He was granted the official post and asked to be the crown prince the imperial tutor. So he stayed in the palace.

Shen Yi thanked him, but before he left, Xue Hou Yang came and said, “There are a large numbers of refugees at the Teng state border."

"Refugees?" said Xue Jun Liang

Shen Yi interjected: “Teng Xin sent troops, and the common people could not bear the disturbance, so they swarmed into the Xue state to take refuge. His majesty could open and close the door at this time, and would not resist thousands of people."

Xue Hou Yang frowned: “How can the door be opened easily? In case there are spies among the refugees, is it not to raise the tiger in one owns mountain?"

Xue Jun Liang thought it made sense. He thought so too. He opened the door to the Teng state. Isn't that inviting others to fight him?

Teng Yun frowned too. If he didn't let the refugees in, he couldn't bear it. But if he let the refugees in, it would be unreasonable to stand in the angle of the Xue state.

He thought for a long time, and finally couldn't help saying: “His majesty, if you don't let refugees into the borders, refugees pile up at the border, and they will threaten the guards. It's better to put the refugees into the border, gather them together and set up a porridge factory, and then send troops to guard them. No will be making mistakes of suddenly lost his ways."

Xue Jun Liang knew that he was kind-hearted, which was also an opportunity for the Teng state to thank him, so he nodded and said: “But this matter, you will have to handle it yourself, if the task is given to other people, Zhen will not be at ease."

Xue Hou Yang knelt down and was about to leave when Xue Jun Liang suddenly stopped him and said, “Take Teng Shang with you."

Xue Hou Yang stared at Emperor Xue in shock with wide eyes. He could not help but feel grateful. He knelt down once more, and then left. He packed up and was ready to start.

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                            ~ The Ugly Empress ~

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