The Stories of Mine in the Ming Dynasty of China in 1368

Li Qing pondered briefly and then immediately said, "Your Majesty, this is not some celestial technique. As I mentioned before, at the very beginning of the invention of music, its core purpose was for treating illnesses. However, King Wen of Zhou and King Wu of Zhou successively added strings to the five - stringed qin, turning it into a seven - stringed qin. As a result, its curative effect was greatly reduced, and it was gradually abandoned by people. Eventually, it became an instrument merely for enjoying music."

After a pause, he continued, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, even a seven - stringed qin, apart from cultivating one's sentiment, can soothe the mood. Listening to a piece of music when one is agitated can, to a certain extent, relieve depressive feelings. This in itself is also a form of treatment, isn't it? If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can send someone to investigate!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slowly and then asked, "Can you demonstrate your celestial technique?"

Li Qing shook his head helplessly.

"Can't?"

"No, there is no such thing." Li Qing said with a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, where are there any immortals in this world?"

Zhu Yuanzhang slightly frowned. "You're not being honest. It is rumored that your master, Zhang Lata, was born in the 8th year of Chunyou in the Southern Song Dynasty. Up to now, it has been 134 years. If he's not an immortal, how could he live so long?"

"It's false." Li Qing said.

"False?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked disbelieving. "It has been passed down for decades. How could it be false?"

Li Qing forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, you know very well that common people love to exaggerate and spread rumors. A sesame seed can be spread as big as a watermelon. However, my master is indeed quite old. He is seventy - three years old this year. He is both a martial arts master and a pharmacist, so he has a relatively strong body. When he was young, he didn't pay much attention to his appearance, and thus got this nickname. Your Majesty, think about it. A person who is tanned all over and has a scruffy beard might be mistaken for being fifty years old even when he is only twenty."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and laughed. "So that's how it is."

Seeing this, Li Qing secretly let out a sigh of relief. Although his master was not very reliable, he couldn't be the same. After ten years of getting along and with the kindness of imparting knowledge, how could he do something ungrateful?

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "So, no one can achieve immortality?"

Li Qing cupped his fists and said, "Long live Your Majesty!"

"Haha..." Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily. "You're a fellow who can flatter without being annoying... I've said that there will be a generous reward for curing the empress's illness. Seeing that you're an educated person, I'll give you a high - ranking official position at that time!"

Wasn't it supposed to be conferring a title of nobility?

Li Qing was speechless. It wasn't that he was greedy for wealth and power. He hadn't thought about those things in the first place. But Zhu Yuanzhang changed his words so quickly that Li Qing felt that not a single word of Zhu Yuanzhang's could be trusted. Then he quickly let it go. Zhu Yuanzhang could kill those who had been given the Iron Coupon for Exemption from Death. Believing his words was worse than believing that a pig could climb a tree.

Zhu Biao asked, "I heard from Father that the sound of your qin could be heard outside the Fengtian Hall. What's the principle behind this?"

Li Qing's expression remained unchanged. "It's just a technique, nothing sophisticated. If Your Highness is interested, I, your humble subject, will hold nothing back."

Zhu Biao glanced at the memorials on the imperial desk, shook his head with a bitter smile. Where did he have the time? Ever since the abolition of the prime - minister system, his father had never been idle, and he himself was also kept busy. He feared that he would have no chance to engage in such leisurely pursuits in the future.

"Just now, after playing that piece, I could see that you were quite exhausted, sir. Go and rest over there!" Zhu Biao said with a gentle smile. "Lunch will still take a while. If you're hungry, have some of the pastries on the table to tide you over."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Li Qing walked to a seat nearby and sat down. He was really starving. He picked up a pastry from the fruit plate and took a bite. It was crispy and delicious.

'Crunch, crunch...'

The rustling sound kept going, like a mouse stealing food. The father - son pair looked up and stared at him. Li Qing smiled awkwardly and tried to make less noise.

Before long, two plates of pastries were all eaten by Li Qing.

"Ah~"

Li Qing touched his belly and couldn't help but sigh: The food in the palace is really delicious!

Zhu Yuanzhang and his son were busy with official business and had no time to pay attention to him. So he took this opportunity to secretly restore his true qi.

By lunchtime, the consumed true qi was finally fully restored.

For lunch, this time Li Qing wasn't made to eat leftovers. The three of them had a meal together. The food wasn't overly sumptuous, just a few more dishes than yesterday, but the taste was excellent.

Li Qing didn't have the mentality of awe towards the emperor. He ate the dishes and drank the soup as he pleased, without any restraint.

Having filled his stomach, there was no need for him to stay any longer. Li Qing stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, your humble subject will take his leave first."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked in surprise, "Aren't you going to play the qin this afternoon?"

"Once a day is enough." Li Qing nodded. "However, the medicinal soup still needs to be taken three times a day."

Just then, a little eunuch reported softly, "Your Majesty, Liu Qiang, the Hundred - household of the Brocade Guards, requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Li Qing whispered, "Then... your humble subject will go back first."

"Not so fast." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile. "The eunuch's duty room has a strong smell. Why rush back?"

Li Qing was speechless. He thought to himself: If you know that, why did you make me sleep in the eunuch's room?

What he didn't know was that in the palace, apart from the emperor, princes, and imperial grandchildren, there was no place for other men to live. Although the Imperial Medical Office was in the imperial city, it wasn't in the palace. Even eunuchs only lived in the palace when they were on duty. Since Zhu Yuanzhang didn't let him leave, Li Qing couldn't avoid suspicion even if he wanted to.Liu Qiang, the Hundred - household of the Brocade Guards, entered. Seeing Li Qing was there, dining with the emperor and the crown prince, he was greatly shocked. But he quickly adjusted his emotions and stepped forward:

"Your humble servant pays homage to Your Majesty, long live the emperor! And to Your Highness the Crown Prince, long live the crown prince!"

"Rise." Zhu Yuanzhang put down his chopsticks and bowls. "Is there something important?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Liu Qiang glanced at Li Qing. "I indeed have something important to report."

As if not noticing, Zhu Yuanzhang directly said, "Speak!"

Liu Qiang hesitated slightly and then said, "This morning, it was found that Wang Hai and Sun Chenglin, censors of the Censorate, and Li Wenlu, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, had colluded with Hu Weiyong. Now, these people and their family members have been escorted to the prison. Please make a decision, Your Majesty."

As he spoke, he handed over a list. The little eunuch quickly stepped forward to take it and presented it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang opened it, glanced at it, and then said, "Keep them in custody for now. Don't convict them yet."

"Yes." Liu Qiang cupped his hands. "Your humble servant takes his leave."

Li Qing was secretly alarmed. Hu Weiyong had been dead for over two years, and the prime - minister system had been abolished. Why was the investigation still going on?

"What are you thinking?" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked.

Li Qing was startled. He said seriously, "Your humble subject was thinking about the treatment plan for Her Highness the Empress."

He became secretly vigilant. His intuition told him that Zhu Yuanzhang had some purpose in letting a commoner like him listen to such matters. But for a moment, he couldn't figure it out, so he had to find an excuse to prevaricate.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled. "Didn't you want to stroll around the capital? I'll take you around."

"Ah? This..." Li Qing forced a smile. "Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs every day. What virtue and ability do I have..."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, there's nothing much to do today."

Hearing this, Zhu Biao immediately objected. How could you call this big pile of memorials nothing?

"Father..."

"In the future, you'll be in charge of the country. What's wrong with reviewing some memorials?"

"..." Zhu Biao had no choice but to say, "Father is right. Your son obeys."

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang show a satisfied smile. He walked towards the outside of the hall. Li Qing secretly groaned, cupped his hands towards Zhu Biao, and reluctantly followed.

...

The imperial carriage set off from the palace. When passing by the imperial city, they saw the Brocade Guards handling a case from afar.

I don't know what crimes these officials had committed. They all wore cangues on their heads and iron chains around their feet, moving forward with ashen faces. Li Qing secretly sighed: It's really difficult to be an official in the Hongwu era!

"If they didn't violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty, how could they end up like this?" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

Li Qing nodded in agreement. After a pause, he asked out of curiosity, "Your Majesty, if a criminal official escapes, is it easy to capture them?"

"Escape?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him curiously. "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. Where could they escape to? Besides, escaping would implicate their families. Even if it comes to the punishment of exterminating the nine clans, very few people can get away. Even if they really manage to escape, the probability of survival is pitifully small."

"Why... why is that?" Li Qing looked like a curious child.

Zhu Yuanzhang gave him a sidelong glance. "What, do you want to escape?"

"No, no, no." Li Qing quickly shook his head and forced a smile. "Your humble subject still wants to cure Her Highness the Empress and enjoy wealth and honor."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, and suddenly said: "Do you want to join the Brocade Guards?"

"Not really..."

"Think again." Zhu Yuanzhang's smile gradually faded.

"...Yes." Li Qing felt extremely frustrated. He really had no choice but to give in to this unpredictable person. In just two days, the offer had changed three times, from conferring a title of nobility to a high - ranking official, and now to the Brocade Guards. Not only was the rank getting lower, but he wasn't even given a chance to refuse. Is there any justice? Well... it seems he himself is the justice.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with a smile. "In that case, from today on, you are my personal bodyguard!"

Not even a hundred - household. You're really something. Forget it. Anyway, I won't stay here for long. With the life - saving token given by Empress Ma, it won't be difficult to escape. I can just change my appearance in the future... Li Qing secretly made plans.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace!"