The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 390 Bad Fate
In the early morning at six o'clock, a few clear bells rang, and Li Yanliang slowly woke up from his deep sleep, looking a little dazed. He turned his head to stare at the carved panels on the headboard of the bed in a daze. Those meticulously crafted patterns exuded supreme nobility and grandeur.

The thick velvet bed curtains stretched from the top of the bed to the edge of the bed. Beside the bed was a nanmu bedside table, on which lay quietly a gold-bronze oil lamp and several hardcover books.

The room is filled with a rich scent of rouge, intertwined with the faint fragrance of flowers by the window, creating a peaceful and warm atmosphere. Through the gaps between the curtains, you can vaguely glimpse the faint morning light outside.

The floor of the room is covered with precious Persian carpets embroidered with traditional Persian patterns. They are soft and luxurious, highlighting the owner's identity and status.

After looking around, his eyes returned to the bed. A head of black hair was spread on his right arm and pillow, and a plump and soft body was tightly pressed against his side, making him feel extremely full and satisfied.

Her left hand gently pushed aside her hair, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face. Her eyes were slightly closed, her long eyelashes dancing like butterfly wings, and her rouge red lips were painted with a faint smile.

This is the woman he once fell in love with!

Half a month ago, they met unexpectedly on the streets of Daxing, which immediately broke the emotional shackles that had been shackled for him for many years.

In the trading post on the outskirts of Isfahan, the Afghan rebels surrounded it tightly. For several months, the two men lived together day and night, sharing life and death.

A young boy named Mu Ai and a young girl named Huai Chun, although they were in a dangerous environment, they developed an irresistible affection for each other.

However, the disparity in their status, different life backgrounds, and the damn political factors ultimately prevented the two from getting close to each other, let alone falling in love.

After the battle of Isfahan ended, Nahid Mirza, a princess of the Safavid dynasty of Persia, traveled to Hanzhou under the arrangement of her father and married into the royal family of Qi in order to seek an alliance between Qi and Po in exchange for Qi's full military assistance.

He was transferred to India and joined the Mozhou garrison, where he fought a life-and-death battle with the local natives and almost died on the battlefield.

Although they were separated, his mind was still filled with the image of Princess Nashide. After failing to get what he wanted and losing his beloved, he was desperate for a time and fought bravely on the battlefield, not afraid of life and death, perhaps with the idea of ​​venting his feelings or dying for love.

After returning to his homeland, he learned the identity of his mother and rose to prominence. He was transferred into the Royal Guard system and even met the emperor. However, this still could not make him let go of his obsession, and he continued to silently pay attention to the news of Princess Nashide.

However, his mother's unexpected death dealt him a heavy blow and slightly diverted his emotional attention.

Later, with the help of the royal family and the Song family, he married Cao Xi, the Princess of Wen'an County of the Prince of Lu's Mansion. At one point, he was ready to lock this evil relationship deep in his heart and never open it again.

However, in December of the third year of Yonglong (1732), the news that King Min was accidentally assassinated by an Annan spy reached Yinzhou. After hearing the news, Li Yanliang remained silent for a long time, and the softness in his heart was touched again.

My former sweetheart has become a widow!

But we are separated by an ocean and have different identities. What can I do but bury the concern deeper in my heart.

Just when he thought that they would never meet again, he never expected that they would meet unexpectedly on the bustling streets of Daxing.

That day, for some unknown reason, he did not return home immediately, but followed Princess Nashide to the villa of Prince Daxingmin's Palace, where they expressed their longing for each other and shared their sufferings over the years.

Years of pent-up emotions and countless days and nights of longing made the two quickly lose their minds. They disregarded the constraints of morality and etiquette and merged not only their love and longing, but also their bodies into each other.

More than ten days ago, when Princess Nashide heard that he was going to the Military Privy Council in Chang'an to report for his appointment, she immediately followed him back to Chang'an and asked him to come to Xiushan Lake Manor for a private meeting when appropriate.

Li Yanliang had thought about the huge troubles he might face with this ill-fated relationship. The downfall of their reputation was secondary. It might even anger the royal family and put them in an irretrievable situation.

You know, King Min died in Annan, but was later identified by the royal family and the cabinet government as a hero of the empire, a person who sacrificed his life for the country, and was given the highest honors.

And he, as an imperial lieutenant officer, slept with someone else's widow.

If this matter were to be exposed, even if the emperor was willing to protect him because of their old friendship, he would still be criticized to death by the people.

But he was so deeply in love that he couldn't help himself and threw himself into it without any hesitation.

What will happen in the future?

"What are you thinking about?" Princess Nashide had already woken up, and was looking at him with a pair of deep green eyes, her eyes full of affection and a sweet smile. Just a glance at him was enough to make his heart intoxicated.

"...I'm not thinking about anything." Li Yanliang reached out and gently stroked her hair.

"You are worried about us..." Princess Nashide squeezed towards him, hugged him tightly with both hands, bit her lower lip gently with her pearly teeth, with a bit of charm on her face.

"..." Feeling the hot body temperature of Princess Nashide, Li Yanliang couldn't help but take a deep breath and forced down the rage in his heart, but his left hand uncontrollably reached under the thin quilt.

"Hmm..." Princess Nashide sighed softly and murmured, "This is the happiness bestowed upon us by the true God. We should enjoy it to the fullest and possess it without having to think about the vain future and worldly punishment. For you, I am willing to endure any consequence, even exile or even death!"

"Naxide, you should leave the royal family." Li Yanliang felt his breathing become heavy again, as if there was a fire in his body. "My Great Qi Empire allows women to divorce and remarry, and we will not prohibit widows from remarrying. As long as you leave the royal family and take off the title of Princess Min, you will be a free person."

"Then...will you marry me?" Princess Nashide kept kissing Li Yanliang.

"I..." Li Yanliang was still a little clear-headed at this time, and suddenly thought of his wife and children, and an embarrassment appeared on his face.

"I want you to be my husband, my only one." Princess Nashide climbed onto Li Yanliang, looking at him seductively, and whispered while biting his ear.

"I may not be able to be...your husband..." Li Yanliang's mouth was sealed, and then the most primitive desire began to dominate his brain and his subsequent...behavior.

"She is a...good wife after all."

When he was about to fall, the figure of his wife Cao Xi appeared in Li Yanliang's mind. Her cold and quiet eyes seemed to be looking at him inadvertently.
-
At eight o'clock, the sky was already bright, and three carriages drove into an elegant courtyard not far from Prince Min's manor and stopped at the gate of the courtyard. More than a dozen servants and maids quickly got off the carriages, and then stood respectfully by the roadside, waiting for their master's orders.

"Are you sure?" Dong Peirong asked solemnly.

"Madam, it is confirmed." A man who looked like a butler bowed and replied, "Yesterday, Xiao Kong was waiting here and saw with his own eyes... the master went in and did not come out until late at night."

After saying this, the butler lowered his head even more, with an extremely conflicted expression on his face.

"I thought the master was so busy with his official duties while touring the area that he forgot to eat and sleep and could not go home." Dong Peirong sneered twice, "I never thought that he would hide his mistress in this golden house and never want to leave!"

Upon hearing this, the servants and maids all lowered their heads and remained silent.

"Now that we're here, let's go in and take a look." Dong Peirong walked towards the gate of the villa, climbed the steps, and kicked the door hard.

"Bang!" The door just shook but was not kicked open. Instead, it shocked Dong Peirong and made her take two steps back and almost fall at the door.

"Deyi, break the door open for me!" she shouted angrily at a young man behind her.

"Aunt..." Dong Deyi wanted to persuade her again.

"No need to say more!" Dong Peirong glared at him fiercely, "My Dong family cannot stand such an insult! ... Break the door open for me!"

Dong Deyi's face froze and he could only wave his hands helplessly, calling on a few strong servants to slam the door hard with their bodies.

There are countless villas in Xiushan Lake Manor, and the people who live there are either rich or noble. The public security situation is naturally very good. There are police patrols from time to time, and the scoundrels or thieves would never dare to come here and act wildly.

Therefore, the gates of many villas and manors are not very strong. After being hit by several strong men, the gate of this villa was quickly knocked open.

Dong Peirong led his men directly into the courtyard and walked quickly towards the main house.

Hearing the noise coming from the yard, a maid just walked out of the house. Before she could ask, she was pushed aside and her mouth was sealed by several maids who rushed in.

"Who dares to trespass..." Zheng Shiliang, the cabinet advisor and minister of industry and commerce, was standing under the eaves in a single coat, speaking sternly. He was about to yell at the intruders, but when he saw Dong Peirong, the leader, he immediately showed a look of astonishment, "Madam..., you... why are you here?"

"I came to see how stunningly beautiful your hidden beauty is!" Dong Peirong said sinisterly, "I came so early, am I disturbing our Minister's sweet dream?"

"Madam..." Zheng Shiliang looked embarrassed and said hesitantly: "Madam, why do you have to do this?"

Zheng Shiliang was originally the governor-general of Handong Province. Before the death of Emperor Taiping, he was entrusted with an important task and was transferred to the position of Right Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and concurrently the prefect of Chang'an. In the sixth year of Yonglong (1735), he was promoted to the position of Cabinet Counselor and Minister of Industry and Commerce.

After the Chinese New Year, the Prime Minister Han Qingshan resigned from his post and other positions on the grounds of old age and frailty, preparing to return to his hometown to spend his remaining years. As a result, the Imperial Court and the Senate, under the order of Emperor Yonglong, began to prepare to nominate a new Prime Minister.

Zheng Shiliang is one of the most popular candidates. It is reported that His Majesty the Emperor seems to favor him and he is likely to reach the pinnacle of the highest power in the empire, which can be said to be a moment of great glory.

However, this potential Prime Minister has a fatal weakness, which is "henpecked", that is, he is afraid of his wife, just like Fang Xuanling, a famous minister in the early Tang Dynasty, and Qi Jiguang, a famous general in the early Ming Dynasty.

Why?

There is no other reason, because this promising political star did not have a good family background when he was young, he was a "phoenix man". After graduating from Chang'an Imperial University and entering the officialdom, he married Dong Peirong, the great-great-granddaughter of Dong Fengshan, the former imperial veteran, Duke Changning.

With the help of the Dong family, Zheng Shiliang not only achieved financial freedom, but also had extensive political connections. In less than twenty years, he was promoted to the position of Governor-General of Handong Province and became a prominent frontier official.

However, his wife Dong relied on her family background and became extremely strong in the house after she married him, which made him unable to stand up straight and he developed the disease of "fear of wife".

Even though later countless officials and common people trembled in fear and were extremely respectful before his great power, and even though he was about to become the Prime Minister of the Empire, second only to the emperor and above everyone else, he still did not change his cowardly attitude under the long-term "tyranny" of his wife.

Some people say that promotion, wealth and a dead wife are the ultimate pursuits of men. But it is a pity that Dong has always been in good health, eats well, and is jealous, and is determined to enjoy Zheng Shiliang's "favor" alone.

Therefore, under extreme repression, Zheng Shiliang could only take a different approach and achieve the second level of pursuit, that is, to keep the red flag flying at home and at least one colorful flag flying outside.

A few years ago, he took a fancy to a female actor from the State of Qin. She was gentle, well-educated, and pretty, and he immediately had the idea of ​​keeping her in his golden house.

After some operations, Zheng Shiliang secretly purchased an ordinary villa in Xiushan Lake, Weiyang District, without Dong's knowledge. He hid the woman there and would come from time to time to enjoy the temporary tenderness. He lived an extremely free and happy life.

He did this without anyone noticing, not even his most trusted attendant. Moreover, every time he came to Xiushan Lake, he would go to great lengths, not only would he disguise himself slightly, but he would also change several carriages in Chang'an city before he could sneak into this villa.

A few years passed, and thanks to his carefulness, there had never been any deviation. He even had a child with this woman, which made him cherish everything here even more.

However, he never expected that his wife got the news from somewhere and came to his door with people so early in the morning!

"Oh, this must be my sister whom I have never met!"

Dong Peirong saw a beautiful woman holding a two or three-year-old child, standing timidly at the foot of the house. When she saw her looking at her, she turned pale with fright and knelt down immediately.

"What are you doing?" Dong Peirong took a step forward, walked in front of the woman, and looked at her with a half-smile, "In my Great Qi, kneeling and bowing is not a custom. Don't torture me! ... Tsk tsk, look at this child, her eyes and eyebrows are exactly the same as our Minister of State! Come, let me hug you."

"Sir..." The woman's tears kept flowing down. She hugged her child tightly and looked at Zheng Shiliang for help.

"Madam..." Zheng Shiliang walked over with his head held high, trying to stop the other party from "bullying" the poor mother and son.

"Zheng Shiliang!" Dong Peirong shouted coldly, "Even though you are the cabinet's advisor and the cabinet minister, don't think I can't do what Madam Qi (Qi Jiguang's wife) did, beating her husband and concubine! ... Are you worthy of me for what you did this time?"

"Come here, take the child and send him back to the mansion. As for this little bitch, slap her in the face and teach her how to be a good wife and not be so lowly as to be someone else's mistress!"

"Madam..." Zheng Shiliang stood in front of the woman with difficulty, and said with shame and anger: "Madam, you need to give me... some dignity!"

"Give you some respect?... Have you ever thought about giving me some respect?!" Dong Peirong glared at him fiercely, "Get out of the way! Otherwise, don't blame me for killing you too!"

For a moment, the whole house was filled with the sound of slapping, women crying, children screaming, and waves of hysterical roars.

After a moment, Zheng Shiliang walked out of the house with a gloomy face, ready to take the carriage outside the yard to leave this place of trouble.

Perhaps, by leaving, my furious wife would lose the target to vent her anger, and she would calm down and not make things too difficult for her loved one.

Although my wife is domineering and jealous, she is not a cruel woman after all, and I don't think she would do anything bloody.

"Master, what happened?"

However, he didn't expect that there were more than ten "idlers" gathered outside the yard to watch the fun. When they saw Zheng Shiliang coming out, they hurriedly bowed and greeted him, and also asked with concern what major incidents had occurred in the house and whether he needed "help".

Zheng Shiliang turned his head, got on a carriage without saying a word, and told the coachman to drive away quickly.

"Bitter!"

I'm afraid someone is plotting against me!
(End of this chapter)