Chapter 50 3. Harem murder

On June 1, 195 BC, Liu Bang died of illness in Changle Palace at the age of sixty-two years. After that, Liu Ying, who was only seventeen years old, ascended the throne and was known as Emperor Hui of Han in history.Lu Zhi was revered as the Empress Dowager. Empress Lu was revered as the Empress Dowager.She lives in Changle Palace, and Emperor Liu Ying lives in Weiyang Palace. If there is something to do, she has to go to Changle Palace to meet the Empress Dowager.Ministers also went to Changle Palace to report on the government affairs of the court. At this time, the power of the Han court was actually in the hands of Empress Lu alone.

After mastering the power, Empress Lu vowed to remove all the thorns in the harem's eyes.They are all coquettish vixens, and all are shameless "little threes".Among them, the one that cannot be let go is, of course, the Qi family.She is the best "little third", once drove Liu Bang out of his mind, and almost caused Empress Lu to lose everything. Empress Lu hated Qi, hated her long black hair, hated her figure, hated her eyes, hated her pink arms and jade wrists, hated her talent show, hated her every frown and smile in front of Liu Bang.This kind of hatred has been suppressed and long-lasting, and now it can finally explode unscrupulously.

Empress Lu imprisoned Qi's family and ordered Qi's flowing black hair to be cut off.The bald Qi family in a brown prison uniform was imprisoned in Yongxiang of Changle Palace.In the damp and dark cell, Qi had no companions.When Liu Bang was alive, she was loved and favored, but she also forged a lot of hatred.At that time, she was the object of jealousy of the concubines, but now, she is the tool of ridicule by the concubines.Although they were all imprisoned here by Empress Lu, it was obvious that the Qi family was in a more difficult situation than anyone else.She suffers physically, and her mind is more empty and lonely.

The concubines and maids who were imprisoned in Yongxiang had to do hard labor.Qi's hard labor was pounding rice.Limit one bucket per day.No work, no food.Qi has never done heavy work since she was a child. Her pair of tender hands and slender fingers have always been used to pluck the strings of the zither.Now, these hands have to pick up the heavy pestle and pound the rice one by one, going round and round, day after day, every day, so tired that they are dizzy. At this time, the Qi family can be said to be in great pain, and there is almost no hope for her future.The only thing she cares about is her son Liu Ruyi.This concern is not only missing, but more worrying.She thought that Empress Lu would not let Liu Ruyi go.

During the days of hard labor, Qi wrote and sang a song, which fully expressed her longing for her son.The lyrics are as follows: The son is the king, the mother is the captive, all day long in the dusk, and always with death.Three thousand miles away, who should tell you. Qi's voice is still beautiful, but there is endless sadness in the softness.The original song is poignant and sad.Turning around in Yongxiang, it finally flew into Queen Lu's ear.Empress Lu couldn't help having a cold war, Liu Ruyi, how could I forget him?This kid is a future trouble and must be eliminated.So Empress Lu immediately sent someone to Handan to summon King Zhao Ruyi to return to Beijing.

When the envoy arrived in Handan, Zhou Chang, the prime minister of King Zhao, said that King Zhao was sick and could not leave Handan.The envoy ran three times in a row, but was blocked back.Is King Zhao really sick?No.Because Zhou Chang knew very well that once King Zhao returned to Beijing, he would be murdered by Empress Lu.Moreover, Zhao Wang's mother Qi will also be executed together.But the envoys came again and again, and they couldn't be driven away.Zhou Chang simply made it clear: the Empress Dowager hates the Qi family. As we all know, the purpose of recalling King Zhao back to the capital is to kill both his mother and son, and the minister dare not obey the order.

The envoy had no choice but to go back and report to Empress Lu.Empress Lu was very angry, and the consequences were serious.But she had nothing to do with Zhou Chang.When Liu Bang wanted to depose the prince Liu Ying, Zhou Chang also said that "the minister dare not obey the edict". As a result, Liu Bang also had nothing to do with him.This Zhou Chang is so good, without him, Liu Ying would not be the emperor, and Empress Lu would not be the empress dowager.Maybe she is the one who is pounding rice now, not Qi's.Speaking of it, Zhou Chang can be regarded as Empress Lu's benefactor.This benefactor is very difficult and cannot be killed or captured.what to do?Empress Lu came up with a way to divert the tiger away from the mountain.Zhou Chang was transferred to Chang'an to work.In this way, Zhao Wangruyi has no shield.

Zhou Chang didn't dare to disobey the imperial edict this time.No matter how good you are, you are just a courtier, you can't say "I dare not obey the imperial edict" about everything, it's normal to transfer work, the court needs you, there is no reason to resist the imperial edict. When Zhou Chang arrived in Chang'an, he first found Liu Ying and asked him to protect Zhao Wang Ruyi.Liu Ying's character is a bit cowardly, but her heart is very kind. He felt very guilty for not letting Qi Ji escape from the murderous hands of his mother. Now, he is determined to keep Liu Ruyi well.However, Liu Ying overestimated his ability, and his emperor was really in name only.

At this time, Empress Lu sent someone to Handan again.This time, without obstruction, the envoy brought Liu Ruyi back easily.Liu Ying went to the dam to greet her in person, and took Liu Ruyi to Weiyang Palace where she lived.Since that day, Liu Ying and Liu Ruyi have been inseparable, eating at the same table and sleeping together.Talking together at night, getting up early and going out to exercise, the relationship is very good.Empress Lu wanted to make a move, but couldn't get a chance. It's been like this for two months, safe and sound.Liu Ying also relaxed her vigilance.On this day, Liu Ying got up early to go hunting and asked Liu Ruyi to go with her.Ruyi was young and was very sleepy, she stayed on the bed and refused to get up, so Liu Ying had to leave him in the bedroom and left alone.Who knows, this farewell is actually a farewell.Liu Ying was hunting outside, so Empress Lu sent someone to beat Liu Ruyi as prey in Weiyang Palace.

The Weiyang Palace was already full of Empress Lu's eyeliner. As soon as the opportunity appeared, Empress Lu immediately sent soldiers to infiltrate Liu Ying's bedroom, and killed Liu Ruyi, who was only in her teens, with a bull. Regarding this bloody case, it is recorded in "Historical Records: The Chronicle of the Empress Dowager Lu" that "the Empress Dowager heard that she lived alone and made people drink it with poison".Strangling to death with cloth strips is the saying in the unofficial history "Xijing Miscellaneous Notes".According to common sense, the statement in "Xijing Miscellaneous Notes" is more credible.Because Liu Ruyi was only a teenager at the time, how could the samurai let a teenager drink alcohol?

When Liu Ying came back from hunting and learned that Ruyi was dead, she cried loudly, and his fear of the queen deepened.He concluded that this was a murder manipulated by his mother.But he didn't expect that a more cruel murder was yet to come, and he would witness a truly tragic scene with his own eyes. Once Zhao Wang Ruyi dies, Qi Ji's death will not be far away.At this time, Qi Ji, all thoughts are lost, she is like an insect in the hand of Empress Lu, just a pinch by Empress Lu, and she will disappear instantly.However, Empress Lu didn't want her to die happily, she wanted her to taste the most unbearable four words in the world - life is worse than death!Although they are all women. Empress Lu began to torture Qi Ji desperately.Every torture is a vent of hatred. Qi Ji's hair has been shaved long ago, her eyes are still beautiful, and her voice is still beautiful.All of these made Liu Bang obsessed and unable to extricate himself, and naturally they were also the fiery hatred in Empress Lu's heart. Empress Lu sent someone to pour Qi Ji a glass of wine, not poisonous wine, but dumb wine.Qi Ji drank it and scratched her throat desperately. She tried her best but couldn't make a sound. Next, the eyes.Qi Ji's eyes looking forward to the waves have captured Liu Bang's soul countless times.The people sent by Empress Lu clamped Qi Ji's eyes with two crescent-shaped pliers, and with a force, the entire eyeball was pinched out, and the eyeballs were connected with silky tendons, and fell bloody on the delicate and shiny eyes. On a silver platter. I don't know if Empress Lu would feel a chill run down her spine after seeing these eyeballs. Maybe not, Qi Ji's bright eyes will quickly dim and dry up after leaving her body, like a candle being extinguished. At this time, Qi Ji was blind and dumb.But she can still hear voices.Even this, Empress Lu did not allow it, she ordered that Qi Ji be deafened with incense candles.There is no record in the history books when Qi Ji heard the news of her son Liu Ruyi's death. If she heard it just before Xun Deaf, then the last sentence she heard in this world was the sad news of her son's death. Did Empress Lu do this at that time?No way of knowing. In short, Qi Ji at this time is suffering from both mental and physical torture. Liu Bang, who loved her, is dead, and her son Liu Ruyi is also dead. If it is a heavy burden, if you drink a glass of poisoned wine, getting a knife in the neck is a relief.However, at this moment, even death is an extravagant hope for her.Empress Lu's catharsis is not over yet, she still hates Qi Ji's limbs, they once danced in front of Liu Bang, every move is so frivolous and coquettish, endless temptation.Naturally, Empress Lu would not let it go, and she ordered again to cut off Qi Ji's legs and legs. Qi Ji at this time can hardly be called a "person" anymore.Blind, dumb and deaf, she has no limbs, no hair, only a short twisted body, which looks strange.Where should such a thing be kept?Throw it in the toilet!Empress Lu said in disgust. The toilets at that time were connected to the pigsty.Qi Ji was locked in the toilet, which was equivalent to being locked with a pig.The pig at that time was called "彘".Therefore, Empress Lu gave a Qi Ji a new identity-"human pig". A few days later, Empress Lu issued her last order to fight the "little three" fiercely, and sent someone to invite Liu Ying to come and watch the "human pig".When Liu Ying arrived at the scene, she glanced at the slowly crawling monster on the ground, was so frightened that she burst into tears on the spot, and passed out several times.When he returned to Weiyang Palace, he became ill and was bedridden for a year, unable to deal with government affairs.After her body recovered, Liu Ying ignored government affairs and indulged in wine and sex all day long.He believes that Empress Lu's cruel behavior is not something that humans can do. As Empress Lu's son, he really has no face to rule the world.