Xuanyuan Hancheng is working in the big tent. Today is the third day after he left Jiabao, and his thoughts are flooding...
Three days ago, he said goodbye to his reluctant family treasure, and followed his father to sacrifice to the sky. This was the first sacrifice in Yuntai's six years, and the most important one this year. In order to ensure good weather and peace for the country this year, the emperor must take a bath and fast for three days, pray for blessings in person, and lead the civil and military officials to pray to heaven together.
Xuanyuan Hancheng maintained daily correspondence with Jiabao. This was the first time he had been away from Jiabao for so long since Jiabao came to him. Looking at the letter from the family treasure sent by the dark guard, Xuanyuan Hancheng raised the corner of his mouth slightly.
In the letter, Lin Jiabao described his daily life in detail. In the morning, I went to the Empress to greet you. After lunch, I would take a nap for a while. Then I would study with Master Qiu, and then practice writing and painting by myself. In the letter, Jiabao honestly told Xuanyuan Hancheng that he missed him, saying that when Xuanyuan Hancheng came back, it was just before the Lantern Festival. Jiabao coquettishly said in the letter that he wanted to go to the imperial restaurant to make dim sum, and asked Xuanyuan Hancheng to agree. Jiabao also said that he wanted to make Lantern Festival by himself, and asked Xuanyuan Hancheng what stuffing he liked, etc. Although it's all daily chores, Xuanyuan Hancheng doesn't get tired of reading it over and over again...
Xuanyuan Hancheng wrote back to Jiabao with a pen, and wrote his thoughts for Jiabao in the letter. It's not impossible to tell Gudian that it is not impossible to go to the imperial house to make dim sum, but you must have Yuan Qing accompany him and bring guards, and can only stay in the imperial house for an hour at most, and persuade Gubao not to tire himself. As for the stuffing for Lantern Festival, Xuanyuan Hancheng said that he likes everything Gubao likes. And let Gubao obediently wait for him to come back, and in two days, he can go back and reunite with him.
After writing, give the letter to the dark guard, let him send it back as soon as possible, and ask the dark guard, "Is there any progress on Zheng Rong's side?"
"There has been no new progress when the subordinates set off." The dark guard replied.
"Go back and tell Zheng Rong to ask him to give you the answer you want as soon as possible." If it's been a long time, King Li will definitely notice.
"promise."
A few days ago, the Dark Guard came to report and seized two nails that came to connect with the previous prince's palace. One of them committed suicide by taking the poison, and the other was captured alive when he was about to take the poison. However, this man was King Li's dead soldier, and he never let go. Xuanyuan Hancheng was a little disappointed that he could not get the exact evidence of the collusion between King Li and the Crown Princess.
Xuanyuan Hancheng got up and walked out of the tent, and came to the big tent of his father, Emperor Xuanyuan Zhaoshen. After I told my father about King Li, the emperor Xuanyuanzhao listened deeply and said, "I will send spies from Licheng to find out about King Li again."
After that, Xuanyuan Zhaoshen discussed with the prince about the sacrifice to the heaven tomorrow. Xuanyuan Zhaoshen was very satisfied with this son, and this time Xuanyuan Hancheng offered to let other princes come to the ceremony. Xuanyuan Hancheng said that the younger brothers were all grown up, and they could all be involved in the events of the Xuanyuan Dynasty. He also hoped that in the future, his younger brothers could become the help of the Xuanyuan Empire and realize the prosperity of the Xuanyuan Empire together with him.
In the early years, Xuanyuan Zhaoshen and the other princes did not have brotherhood in the struggle for the throne, and some were just wary of each other, conspiracy and calculations. Brothers and friends are still very happy that the prince can get along well with other princes.
At this moment, the voice of the eunuch's communication came from outside the tent. It was Zhao Yong, the chief servant of the imperial family, who came in with a guard behind him. The guard lowered his head and carefully held the tray.
Zhao Yong first went up to greet the emperor and the crown prince, and the guards behind him also saluted. Zhao Yong brought the soup to the table. "Your Majesty, please have a late night snack. I have prepared wild mushroom soup for you tonight."
When the guard saw that His Royal Highness was also in the emperor's tent, his eyes jumped. He hurriedly bowed his head and stepped back, Xuanyuan Hancheng glanced at him. Feeling that this guard looked familiar, I stopped him and asked, "What's your name?"
The guard obviously did not expect His Royal Highness to question him, and panicked for a while.
Seeing his delay in returning to His Royal Highness, Zhao Yong quickly replied to His Highness: "Reporting to His Highness, this is the imperial guard Wu Zhijie, who was transferred from the Imperial Army because he came out to worship the heaven this time. He had been in Xuanwumen before. It's a job." He naturally knew the details of the guards in front of the emperor. There are many princes on this trip, and in order to protect the princes' Zhou Quan, some are specially drawn from the Imperial Army.
"Wu Zhijie?! How old are you this year, you look very young." Xuanyuan Hancheng recalled this person's message in his heart.
"Go back to His Royal Highness, the servant is twenty-three this year." Wu Zhijie didn't dare to look at His Royal Highness, he was very guilty, and he just wanted to leave quickly.
Xuanyuan Hancheng finally remembered who Wu Zhijie was. Looking at Wu Zhijie's erratic eyes, Xuanyuan Hancheng's heart was full of alarm bells.
Xuanyuan Hancheng suddenly picked up the steaming soup on the table and handed it to Wu Zhijie. "Drink it."
Seeing the soup in front of him, Wu Zhijie took a step back and knelt down. "Minions... Minions... don't dare..."
Xuanyuan Hancheng knew from the look of him that there was something wrong with the soup, and looked at him with a half-smiling smile, "The one who appreciates you, drink it!"
Wu Zhijie knelt on the ground, sweating nervously on his face. "Minion... Minion... Damn..."
Xuanyuan Zhaoshen knew that there was something wrong with the soup when the prince forced Wu Zhijie to drink the soup. He told Zhao Yong to find Imperial Physician Chen over there. Imperial Physician Chen was the imperial physician who followed along on the trip, and ordered Wu Zhijie to be quietly guarded.
"How did you find out, Cheng'er?" Xuanyuan Zhaoshen didn't find anything wrong with Wu Zhijie from beginning to end.
"Erchen learned by chance that this Wu Zhijie was born in Xue Gui's outer chamber. I asked him casually, but I didn't expect him to be so panicked." The report is Xue Gui's illegitimate son. At that time, Wu Zhijie had served in the forbidden army for many years, and he had never participated in the affairs of the Xue family by his own efforts. Xuanyuan Hancheng did not deal with him, but only demoted him to the army. I don't want Wu Zhijie to have such a change in this world...
It turned out that Xue Gui's son-in-law was gone, and he remembered that he still had a more promising outer son. Wu Zhijie's mother was an honest official in the brothel, and was placed outside by the young Xue Guixu. Of course, the Xue family couldn't accept the child of a prostitute, especially Xue Gui's eldest son. Without avoiding unnecessary trouble, Xue Gui kept it a secret.
Wu Zhijie himself is also a good candidate. After his mother passed away, he joined the forbidden army by his own efforts. This time, Xue Gui thought of Wu Zhijie, who was the best candidate. For this reason, he promised Wu Zhijie that he would return to Xue's house as long as he succeeded. And recorded him in the name of the Zhao family as the son-in-law. In this life, Wu Zhijie did not resist the temptation of the son-in-law of the Xue family and agreed.
Imperial Physician Chen came in to inspect the soup, "Report to the emperor and His Royal Highness, there is a colorless and odorless sweating medicine in this soup. If you drink all this soup, you will probably fall asleep for three days and three nights...
Xuanyuan Zhaoshen immediately instructed Zhao Yong: "Go and see, is this supper still sent elsewhere? Go and stop it..."
"No." Zhao Yong ran out quickly, sweating all over his body. He checked the soup with a silver needle, but he didn't find any problems. This Wu Zhijie is really hateful, no wonder he keeps pestering him and makes him want to show his face in front of the emperor. It turns out that he has bad intentions.
Zhao Yong ran out for a while and came back out of breath. "Emperor Qi, His Highness the Crown Prince and the other four princes have all delivered supper over there. Except for the second prince who has not drank yet, the other three princes have already drank the soup and are now in a coma."
Xuanyuan Zhao asked Imperial Doctor Chen deeply, "Is there an antidote for this Mongolian sweat medicine?"
Chen Taiyi replied: "Back to the emperor, this Mongolian sweat medicine should be obtained from the rivers and lakes. Please allow the minister to go back and check how many medicinal materials are used in this Mongolian sweat medicine, and then make the preparation."
Xuanyuan Zhao nodded deeply, "Hurry up..."
"No." The imperial physician stepped back.
At this time, only Xuanyuan Zhaoshen and Xuanyuan Hancheng were left in the tent, Xuanyuan Hancheng and the father looked at each other, "The father is afraid that this is the action of the king and the Xue family together, it is better for us to plan..."
In the early morning of the second day, a cloud of green smoke appeared from the camp where we were stationed.
Chen Shi, civil and military officials came to the sacrifice site early to wait. I haven't seen the emperor for a long time, not even His Royal Highness and other princes.
The official was also muttering in his heart, it's almost time for the hour to pass...
Xue Gui was happy in his heart, he had already received the signal from his son. Last night's actions were foolproof, and this time he had to fight his old life to decide to do such a big thing.
Xue Gui looked at the officials standing in front of him, and was secretly proud that he would stand at the forefront in the future...
Xue Gui's position is in the middle, not as front as Xue Rong's. Xue Gui looked at his elder brother Xue Rong, who was at the front of the line. He was envious and jealous of his elder brother Xue Rong, who was the leader of the Xue family. As for Xue Gui, outsiders would say that this is Lord Xue Rong's younger brother.
The reason why Xue Gui cooperated with King Li was that he could surpass his brother one day. In the future, when the Xue family is mentioned, he will be the first to think of Xue Gui. So this time he wanted to do something big...
"His Royal Highness King Li is here..." King Li Xuanyuan Zhaohong walked slowly under the escort of a group of guards.
"His Royal Highness..." The courtiers looked at His Royal Highness Li in surprise. This King Li should visit the city again. The vassal king is not allowed to enter the capital without a decree. Now His Royal Highness is...
Some old officials felt bad when they saw His Royal Highness King Li coming, but not seeing His Royal Highness and Crown Prince.
"The emperor and the prince are in trouble. This time, the king will preside over the sacrifice to heaven." King Li said loudly, looking at the ministers who were talking about it below.
Prime Minister Xie Changqing asked King Li, "Sacrificing to heaven is a major event, the emperor will not be absent for no reason, and King Li may have the emperor's hand-decree."
Xie Changqing was the head of the civil service. He had already gone through two dynasties when he was only sixty years old, so he refused to believe what King Li said. After the prime minister finished speaking, the ministers below agreed.
"The emperor is already ill and confused, so he can't issue a hand decree. The auspicious time to sacrifice to the sky is coming, so don't delay the auspicious time." King Li ignored Xie Changqing's words and insisted on supporting the ceremony of sacrifice to the sky.
"In addition to the emperor's presiding, only the prince can preside over the sacrifice to the sky. I am afraid that you do not have this qualification." Xie Changqing still refused to forgive.
"This king is also the direct son of the first emperor, why can't he make sacrifices to the sky. Don't talk nonsense, the sacrifice can begin." King Li said arrogantly. Emperor Xuanyuan Zhaoshen and Crown Prince Xuanyuan Hancheng were both fascinated. Of course it is justifiable for him to come to sacrifice to the sky, he waited for a day too long. As early as when the previous emperor was alive, he had brought him to sacrifice to heaven, and he had sworn in his heart that he would also stand in this position of his father in the future. And what does Xuanyuan Zhaoshen have? At that time, the late emperor clearly wanted him to inherit the throne.
The more Xuanyuan Zhaohong thought about it, the more unwilling he became. Today, he had to sacrifice to heaven. This is also the reason why he rushed to the altar instead of checking the comatose prince and others first.
When his sacrifice to heaven is over, he will clean them up. If it weren't for the direct poisoning, he would be found out. He really wanted to poison them once and for all. But don't worry, he still wants to enjoy the fun of torturing them, and after forcing Xuanyuan Zhaoshen to issue the edict of abdication, after he justly ascended the throne, some methods will kill them.
Xuanyuan Zhaohong knew the crown prince Xuanyuan Hancheng, and he and the crown princess joined forces to kill his son. According to Xuanyuan Hancheng's personality, he knew his fate. Thinking about the destroyed barbarians, Xuanyuan Zhaohong had to strike first, but he did not expect to succeed so smoothly... God is really helping him!
King Li raised his eyebrows when he saw that the ministers did not cooperate, and the guards went up to surround the ministers.
"King Li, you are going to rebel!" Xie Changqing yelled loudly.
Xue Rong watched all of this, frowned, and said nothing. King Li was too reckless this time...
At this time, Xue Gui ran forward, "I'm waiting to invite His Royal Highness King Li to preside over the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven." Xue Gui looked at Xue Rong who was silent on the side and said, "Brother, why don't you support His Royal Highness King Li with me..."
Xue Rong looked at his excited brother and sighed in his heart. This is the end of the matter, and there is no other way. Their Xue family can only go to the dark one way.
King Li watched with satisfaction as the ministers of the Xue family and the Xue family surrendered, and they were about to board the sacrificial altar at the beginning.
At this moment, an angry shout came from a distance: "King Li, how dare you!"