Clamping stick, headband, horse-blocking stick, nail nail... Li Qing's scalp couldn't help but feel numb after listening to Liu Qiang's introduction.
How cruel!
He picked up a brush full of iron nails and asked, "Is this...?"
"Sir, you have good eyesight." Liu Qiang said with a smile, "Brushing is a unique torture method of our Jinyi Guards. Boiling hot water is poured on the prisoner's body, and then an iron brush studded with iron nails is used while it is hot to scrub the scalded area vigorously. Until the bones are exposed..."
"Okay, I understand." Li Qing interrupted quickly, "Can the prisoner withstand such torture?"
"Of course I can't bear it." Liu Qiang said proudly, "So so far, there is no mouth that our Jin Yiwei cannot pry open."
Li Qing was speechless. Under such torture, Iron Man could not bear it. He had no other choice but to confess. Doing so would lead to countless unjust cases.
Fortunately, the Jin Yiwei at this stage only targets officials and does not interfere with civilian affairs, otherwise the harm will be even greater.
…
More than an hour later, Li Qing had a deeper understanding of Jinyiwei, including the basic information about the other nine thousand households, Tongzhi, Qianshi, and Zhenfushi within Jinyiwei.
It was approaching noon, and Li Qing's belly started to growl, "Liu Baihu, go call your acquaintances and have a casual meal."
Sophistication in worldly affairs is always indispensable. If he wants to sit down safely in thousands of households, he is indispensable to gather people's hearts.
Otherwise, all of his subordinates will be obedient, and he will become an empty frame.
Having fallen into a 'whirlpool', we can only survive according to the rules of this era.
He has no lofty ambitions, nor is he a saint. He just wants to live well in this world where kingship is paramount.
Of course, if possible, he still wants to do something good, but if not, he will not hesitate to choose to live with the light.
Liu Qiang smiled and nodded. This time, his promotion to Deputy Qianhu was entirely due to Li Qing. If he had relied on himself, he might not be able to get the position of Deputy Qianhu for another ten years.
…
A quarter of an hour later, Li Qing and his group of more than ten people left the Zhenfu Division.
"Liu Qiang, which is the most famous restaurant nearby?"
"It has to be Zuixian Restaurant. It's one of the best restaurants in the entire capital." Liu Qiang rubbed his hands and said, "But the food there is not cheap. People like us can't stop eating for more than ten taels per meal."
"Lead the way!" Li Qing held five hundred taels in his arms, which was not empty at all.
"My lord is generous."
Liu Qiang chuckled and said to the brothers behind him, "Master Qianhu is treating me to a treat, you are in for a treat."
"Thank you, Master Qianhu."
Everyone's face was full of joy. Their monthly salary was only two taels, and with the occasional fishing, it was only about three taels, and they couldn't afford it.
Li Qing took in all their expressions, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Sure enough, the money ability can be used in any era.
Zuixian Restaurant is located next to the Imperial City, and it only takes half an hour to walk there. The restaurant covers a large area, is gorgeously decorated, and is divided into upper and lower floors.
Downstairs is a place for eating, and upstairs is a place for listening to music. In addition, there are separate private rooms. Most of the guests in the restaurant are nobles and wealthy gentry.
As soon as Li Qing sat down, the waiter came up to him with a smile and gave him a cup of tea first, and then served tea to Liu Qiang and others.
"Master, this is our recipe." The waiter smiled attentively. He is obviously a man who has seen the world, he is flattering and not afraid.
Li Qing took the menu, flipped through it, and then put it down, "Here are some of the signature dishes. Money is not an issue. We brothers have to be well fed."
"Okay." The waiter nodded and bowed, "Master, wait a moment, I'll let the chef do it now."
When the Jinyiwei saw that their Qianhu family was so wealthy, they felt close to each other, especially since their Jinyiwei group currently only had more than a hundred people. In addition, Liu Baihu was promoted to deputy Qianhu, which immediately opened up the seats for ten hundred families. , it can be said to be a great opportunity.
Jin Yiwei is in charge of the first level. If they want to be promoted to a hundred households, they must look at Li Qing, so they naturally dare not neglect him in the slightest.
Li Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasure as he listened to their flattery. He finally understood why the ancients were so keen on power.
The restaurant is very efficient. The food was served in less than two quarters of an hour, and the waiter delivered two small jars of wine in time.
"This is our signature mung bean wine. Not only does it taste great, it can also relieve the heat. It's your first time here, so I'd like to try it. If you like it, you'll come here more often. That's my wish."
The waiter skillfully revealed the free gift and gave Li Qing enough face.
"I'm determined."
Li Qing nodded and said to everyone, "You have to be on duty in the afternoon. If you get drunk and get into trouble, we won't serve you again after drinking these two jars. Let's all eat more food."
"My lord is right." Everyone nodded in agreement.
Liu Qiang opened the wine seal, poured him a glass first, and then poured it for himself, "I respect you, your lord."
"I respect you, Lord Qianhu."
Li Qing smiled and raised his glass, drank it all in one gulp, said a few words, and invited everyone to eat.
Roasted goose, braised squab, beggar duck, sweet and sour fish... there were more than thirty dishes in total. Li Qing ate with great pleasure, and a group of Jin Yiwei were also full of mouths.
After eating and drinking, Li Qing saw that everyone was still cleaning up, so he was not in a hurry to leave. Looking around, he saw that everyone was either rich or noble, and said curiously:
"Liu Qiang, who runs this restaurant?"
Liu Qiang shook his head slightly, "I don't know this subordinate, but it is rumored that the backer behind this restaurant is from the royal family."
"No wonder..." Li Qing glanced at the second floor and coughed lightly, "Is upstairs really just a place for listening to music?
Hey... I'm just curious about your look. "
Liu Qiang touched his nose and said, "Come back to my lord, listen to music during the day, when dusk comes...hehehehe..."
Li Qing understood in his heart that visiting the brothels in this era was not against the law. As the saying goes, when one goes to the countryside, do as the Romans do... "Ahem, is it expensive?"
"This... my subordinates don't know either." Liu Qiang said sarcastically, "But it's definitely not much cheaper. This is a first-class brothel, and the subordinates are all third-rate..."
After a pause, he forced his respect and said, "There are real beauties in the pheasant nest, and they are the same in Wuyou Cave."
"Well, I'll just ask." Li Qing also expressed his position hypocritically.
Seeing that everyone had eaten and drank enough, Li Qing raised his voice and said, "The waiter pays the bill."
The waiter ran over and said with a flattering smile, "Master, the total is fifteen taels and five hundred cents. If you add zeros, it's fifteen taels."
Li Qing paid the money and led a group of people out of the restaurant. He looked back at the three gilt characters "Zui Xian Lou" and secretly said, "Is it opened by the royal family, is it Lao Zhu or the prince?"
He immediately shook his head, one of them was the emperor and the other was the prince, so how could this be the case.
It shouldn't be those princes and grandsons. They are too young and don't have this ability. The adult princes have all been entrusted and they probably don't dare to reach out to the capital again.
Who is the one?
Forget it, no matter who he is, if others can get it, I can get it too, and it’s not a waste of money.
Returning to the Zhenfu Division, Li Qing watched the training routine of the new Jinyiwei for a while, then walked around the yamen before returning to the palace.
The eunuch's duty room was empty. At this point, they were all working. Those who served people, those who cleaned toilets, and those who cleaned toilets, each performed their duties.
Through getting along with each other these days, Li Qing also got to know these eunuchs a little bit. Speaking of them, they were also poor people. They chose to become eunuchs in the palace because they could no longer survive.
Of course, they are also considered lucky. The worst are those who castrate themselves and enter the palace but are not chosen.
Compared with the famous eunuchs Liu Jin, Wei Zhongxian and others in the history of the Ming Dynasty, the eunuchs at this time were still quite responsible and were just domestic slaves of the royal family.
Li Qing lay on the bed and looked at the roof. These few days were more profound than his ten years in the mountains. He had to be careful at all times. Although his material conditions had improved, he still preferred a quiet and leisurely life in the mountains.
He suddenly missed his master.
I don’t know where the old man is now or how he is doing... Li Qing sighed quietly and took out the book written by Master Zhang Sloppy from his bag to kill the boring time.
…
Early the next morning, Li Qing came to Qianqing Palace as usual.
When the prince and grandson saw him, he was like a god of plague, and he quickly disappeared. Queen Ma was leaning on the bed, squinting her eyes and listening to the music, her face relaxed and slightly comfortable.
After the song was played, Li Qing had very little energy left.
He heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Empress, please let me tell you your pulse."
Queen Ma nodded gently and rolled up her sleeves, "Are we going to enter the next stage of treatment?"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Li Qing nodded, "Put your fingers on Queen Ma's wrist and feel her pulse attentively."
"Li Qing, there are no outsiders at the moment, can you tell me the truth?"
Li Qing was silent for a moment, "What do you want to hear?"
"How long can I live?"
