novelden Chapter 369 If she doesn't come, I'll kill 100 beauties every day.
Chapter 369 If she doesn't come, I'll kill 100 beauties every day.
Chapter 369: If she doesn't come, I'll kill 100 beauties every day.
Bianliang City, the Imperial Palace of Kaifeng Prefecture.
Majestic and magnificent, with interconnected palaces and soaring eaves reaching into the clouds.
The vermilion pillars stand tall like ancient pines, supporting a royal skyline.
The palace walls are towering, like a crimson dragon coiled around, encircling the inside and outside, separating this sacred place from the mortal world.
The palaces stretch endlessly, with flying eaves and brackets, and glazed golden tiles that shine in the sun, exuding an aura of supreme power.
Emperor Taizu of Liang, Zhu Wen, was enjoying himself with a group of beautiful women in this prosperous place.
Zhu Wen declared himself emperor in the first year of the Kaiping era, established his capital in Kaifeng, and named his state "Da Liang".
This marked the end of the 289-year rule of the Tang Dynasty and the beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
He initially possessed great talent and ambition, expanding territory and becoming a powerful figure in all directions.
He established schools, promoted agriculture, and reduced taxes, thus laying the foundation for the Later Liang dynasty.
However, the Battle of Luzhou was a disastrous defeat with heavy casualties, which greatly damaged its reputation.
From then on, he became disheartened, his spirits faded, and he gradually abandoned his former ambitions and aspirations.
Instead, they indulged in sensual pleasures and debauchery.
He resided in the Daliang Imperial Palace, holding banquets every day and reveling every night, indulging in pleasure with his concubines, maids, and daughters-in-law, and neglecting state affairs.
Anyone who offered advice was rebuked, or even demoted or killed.
He rejected loyal and virtuous officials, causing capable people to dare not speak out, resulting in a chaotic and corrupt atmosphere in the court and the collapse of discipline.
He was fond of women and collected beauties from all walks of life, regardless of their social status, as long as they were beautiful, they could enter the palace.
The palace was extravagantly luxurious, with chests overflowing with pearls and jade, and warehouses overflowing with brocade.
Meanwhile, the common people suffered greatly, burdened by heavy taxes and struggling to make a living.
The heroic spirit of yesteryear has vanished completely;
Their despicable behavior today is outrageous.
Alas!
Although Zhu Wen once dominated the political scene, he failed to maintain his integrity in his later years and ultimately became a laughingstock throughout history.
Later generations commented:
"The end of a hero is nothing more than this."
With the crescent moon hanging in the sky, Zhu Wen was indulging in pleasure, yet he felt an emptiness in his heart.
"Although I enjoy the wealth of the world, I have not found true happiness."
He muttered to himself, his gaze falling on a painting on the table.
That was a painting he had spent a fortune to find, titled "A Beauty's Dance That Captivates the City," depicting Qiu Ziyue's dance during a sword and zither competition.
Zhu Wen thought sadly:
In the Battle of Luzhou, tens of thousands of soldiers of the Later Liang army were wiped out, and corpses littered the area outside Luzhou city.
Blood flowed freely as the Hedong army seized supplies, weapons, and food, freeing Luzhou from a siege that had lasted nearly a year.
Thinking of this, he suddenly threw the wine glass, which smashed against a pillar.
"boom"
He breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"If I want to vent this anger, I will first cut off the powerful person beside me."
"I vow to seize the beauty Ziyue and possess her for myself. This will surely extinguish the arrogance of the Yazi and restore my Great Liang."
"Guards, relay my command: search the land for beauties and issue notices."
"Summon Qiu Ziyue to see me. If she does not come, I will kill 100 beauties every day."
"Yes".
The guard obeyed and left.
And in the Valley of Passion.
Qiu Ziyue was seriously injured due to her continuous travel. Fortunately, she received careful care from her two husbands and her condition has improved, but she has not yet fully recovered.
That night, the moon cast its shimmering shadows, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers.
Qiu Ziyue's health improved, and she wanted to thank her two husbands.
She wore a light pink silk dress and shared a delicious meal with Qi Yuxuan and Li Cunxu.
Deep in the valley lies a secluded pavilion, surrounded by babbling brooks and lush bamboo groves.
The three sat around a stone table, which was laden with delicate side dishes:
Steamed sea bass, osmanthus cake, candied fruit platter, and a pot of mellow rice wine.
This was made by Qiu Ziyue herself.
"It is a rare pleasure to have such a refined mood today, and to be able to spend this leisure time with the two of you is truly one of the greatest joys in life."
Qiu Ziyue smiled and raised her glass.
"Come on, let's drink to this wonderful encounter!"
Qi Yuxuan nodded in agreement, his gaze gentle as water.
"My wife is so kind."
Li Cunxu took a small sip of wine, a faint smile playing on his lips:
Indeed, nothing in the world brings as much peace of mind as this moment.
After lunch, Qiu Ziyue suggested practicing swordsmanship in the open space in the valley.
She drew the sword from her waist; its silver blade gleamed, sharp yet elegant.
She danced gracefully, her sword flashing like a butterfly flitting among flowers.
Qi Yuxuan exclaimed in admiration:
"Your swordsmanship is exquisite; you truly are worthy of being my wife!"
Then, he also drew his sword to face him, and the two exchanged blows, their swords flashing and their movements intertwining to create a beautiful scene.
Li Cunxu also stood aside watching with great interest, occasionally offering a few comments, which added a touch of fun to the whole scene.
As the sun set, the three returned to the pavilion to rest for a while.
Qiu Ziyue took out the jade flute she always carried with her and played a melodious tune called "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate".
The sound of the flute was melodious and lingering, as if telling endless stories of love and longing.
After the music ended, Li Cunxu clapped his hands in praise:
"The princess's flute playing is so beautiful that it captivates the heart. How could such a wonderful occasion be complete without poetry to enhance the experience?"
Let me compose a poem to express my current state of mind.
He paused for a moment, then recited aloud:
"Like a Dream: Once We Feasted in the Deep Cave of Peach Blossom Spring"
Once, a banquet was held in the deep cave of Peach Blossom Spring, where a song of dancing phoenixes and singing lu
I still remember the moment I parted from her, when I saw her off with tears streaming down my face.
Like a dream, like a dream, the waning moon, fallen flowers, and heavy smoke.
After hearing this, Qiu Ziyue said:
"What a beautiful poem! Cunxu is so talented, yet it feels somewhat melancholic."
Qi Yuxuan was also filled with emotion:
"Brother Cunxu is indeed a man of exceptional literary talent, a true genius!"
Li Cunxu smiled and said, "Talent and beauty go hand in hand, and fine wine and kindred spirits are the most beautiful things in the world."
As night deepened, the three enjoyed their drinks and conversation, finding great pleasure in the moment.
Suddenly, willow catkins came running lightly over, calling out urgently:
"Sister! Someone has delivered a letter."
She handed the letter to Qiu Ziyue, who unfolded it and read it.
This was a letter from the people, filled with sorrow between the lines:
To Princess Consort Qiu Ziyue:
We, the common people, all know that the Princess Consort of Jin is virtuous and talented, kind-hearted and chivalrous. Now, I have an urgent matter to report:
To satisfy his debauched desires, Zhu Wen ordered the search for beauties throughout the land to bring into the palace, causing countless families to be torn apart and widespread sorrow.
However, Zhu Wen came up with an even more wicked plan, claiming that the slaughter could only stop if a girl came to exchange for her.
Otherwise, execute one hundred beauties every day as a warning to others.
The people are suffering terribly, their misery is unbearable. We beg you, young lady, to save us from this dire situation!
The letter was covered with the names of ordinary people, and some illiterate people had pressed their bloody fingerprints on it.
If the young lady steps forward, her great kindness and virtue will be remembered for generations to come!
After reading the letter, Qiu Ziyue handed it to Qi Yuxuan and Li Cunxu.
Her heart ached as if it were being torn apart, and tears streamed down her face.
He sighed deeply and said:
"Yuxuan, Cunxu, that old bastard Zhu Wen has gone mad! His cruelty is outrageous!"
After reading the letter, Qi Yuxuan slammed his fist on the table and stood up:
"That Zhu Wen, that lecherous old man, has even set his sights on my wife. It's outrageous! I will not let this go."
Li Cunxu was even more furious:
“That old bastard wants to destroy the country. I, Li Yazi, will definitely send troops to destroy him. He even dares to covet my woman.”
Qiu Ziyue saw that her two husbands were so angry:
"Yu Xuan, Cun Xu, the lives of hundreds of people are hanging by a thread every day."
"Dare to provoke me? Even if I'm shattered to pieces, I'll tear him to pieces!"
To be continued in the next chapter!