Daming Palace, Xianju Palace Bedroom.
Concubine Yinde and Princess Gaoyang, mother and daughter, stood side by side, leaning on the railing and looking at each other, silently.
Dark clouds were rolling in the sky, and the wind was blowing hard, as if a storm was coming. Not far behind her, several palace maids frowned worriedly and wanted to urge them to enter the palace to escape the wind and rain, but they did not dare to disturb them.
"Boom...Rumble!!"
A rolling spring thunder finally exploded. The world was in panic, and the Imperial City of the Tang Dynasty seemed to be trembling.
"The power of God is unpredictable." Princess Gaoyang raised her head and squinted her eyes slightly, murmuring, "Mom, do you think Mu Bai will escape unscathed this time?"
"You should believe him." Concubine Yin De looked at the billowing black clouds above her head expressionlessly, but couldn't help but put her hands together, closed her eyes lightly and said "Amitabha".
"Mom, I don't know what I'm feeling and I'm very panicked." Princess Gao Yang took a deep breath. Although she tried to stay calm, she still couldn't hide the sadness and fear in her heart. In the past few years, Princess Gaoyang has experienced many storms and twists and turns. Although she is young, her ambition is beyond ordinary people's maturity and stability. Standing next to her mother, she looks like a younger version of Concubine Yin De. In addition to being extremely similar in appearance and temperament, there is also a hint of Yin De Fei's dignity and elegance, as well as a forbearing and silent demeanor.
But she is still young after all. Right now, she felt that the danger she and Qin Mubai faced this time was like the rumbling power of heaven that was about to descend when a storm was about to hit, and it was beyond human power to resist.
"Ling'er, what are you afraid of?"
"I don't know... I'm a little confused. Although Mu Bai told me that he has already planned it, I always have a strong ominous feeling in my heart. Facing Tianwei, no one can resist. This time, many people will definitely die. ,many people."
"Are you afraid of death?"
"I'm not afraid! I haven't been afraid of death since I jumped off the Maqiao River a few years ago."
"Then what are you afraid of?"
"Mom, what I'm afraid of is... helplessness and the unknown. I feel that the most painful thing in the world is neither separation in life nor farewell in death, but watching the person I love deeply turn and leave me. He was drifting away, and there was nothing I could do.”
Concubine Yin De was startled for a moment, then stretched out a hand to caress the wind-blown hair on Princess Gaoyang's forehead, smiled softly, and said: "Ling'er, I would rather see your carefree, innocent and brilliant look, even if It’s okay to just be a crazy girl without any heart.”
Princess Gao Yang bit her lip, nodded speciously, looked into the distance, and said, "Mom, last night I went to see Li Chunfeng and asked him to predict good or bad luck for Mu Bai. What do you think he said?"
"Do you believe it?"
"I don't know. I just asked casually, and he just said it casually. He also asked me not to believe it." Princess Gao Yang said, "But the more this kind of person is, the more trustworthy he is, right? The kind of person who makes all the lies Li Chunfeng is definitely not the most liar."
"Okay, just tell Li Chunfeng what he said?"
"He said... Mu Bai is a strange person with a very special destiny, and he will go to extremes. In the future, he will either be rich and noble, with a family full of children, and be famous in history and live a long life; or, he will be infamous and die young, without leaving an inch of his body in the blue water. And he also said Recently, there have been strange changes in the constellations, and a demon star has appeared on the side of the emperor star. The emperor is in trouble, and this demon star is Mu Bai. "
"What?" Concubine Yin De was surprised, "The demon star confuses the emperor star. Doesn't this mean that... the court is in chaos because of Qin Mubai?"
Princess Gao Yang pursed her lips tightly and nodded, saying: "How can the demon star shake the emperor star? Therefore, unless this demon star surrenders to the emperor star, it can become the emperor star's help, and from then on transform into Tianshu Palace Assistant, Dawang Emperor Star. However, the fate of the Tang Dynasty changed because of this, and nothing could be predicted. In this turmoil, Mu Bai would either be shattered into pieces and live forever; or he would fly into the sky and shine in the star palace. There is no escape from the bloody disaster unless..."
"Unless what?" Concubine Yin De asked, frowning slightly.
"Unless there is someone who is the most loved, the most pure, the most sincere, the most affectionate and the most holy, who can protect him from disasters and resolve disasters." After Princess Gaoyang said this, she turned to look at her mother and said word by word, "Mother, Can I?"
"Boom!!!"
There was a crack of thunder, dark clouds rolled, thunderbolts fell, and heavy rain poured down.
In the Wude Hongwen Hall, Changsun Wuji sat alone on the big chair of the central minister, looking at the empty seat next to him that should belong to Fang Xuanling, with a solemn expression as sharp as a knife.
There are a bunch of memorials on the table, all of which are important matters that come to the emperor for approval. They are not things that he, the prime minister, can approve with his blue pen.
In the first book, Fang Yizhi, the eldest son of Fang, sent a complaint to the Yushitai, accusing his younger brother Fang Yiai of colluding with the King of Han Dynasty Li Yuanchang to frame the consort Qin Mubai. Yushitai joined forces with Zongzheng Temple, Dali Temple, and more than ten officials from six ministries from three provinces to impeach Han King Li Yuanchang, expose right and wrong, and seek to protect Qin Mubai.
In the second book, King Li Yuanchang of Han Dynasty cast a memorial that shook the world. He impeached King Li Tai of Wei for entangled with his party members and secretly plotting evil. When the emperor was seriously ill, he gathered people to conspire in an attempt to force the East Palace to seek imperial power and usurp the throne. There are also several whistleblowers who have participated in the private meetings of King Wei, as well as some conclusive evidence such as the sword and armor guards witnessed in King Wei's palace.
"The emperor just fell ill, and these two beasts couldn't hold themselves together, and they started biting each other. They are not kind!" Changsun Wuji punched the table in anger, and the tea cup jumped up and overflowed with water. Come.
In fact, Changsun Wuji's heart is like a bright mirror. Fang Xuanling suddenly fell ill, and Fang's eldest son killed his relatives and sued his brother Fang Yiai. If it wasn't for the sake of protecting the whole family because of the solid evidence, why would he do this? According to this analysis, the first complaint is ninety percent true. In this way, Qin Mubai must have been framed by Han Wang Li Yuanchang. Thinking back to the "earth-shattering" thing Qin Mubai did recently, such a vicious strategy and such powerful hands and eyes, Li Yuanchang alone would definitely not be able to do it. Needless to say, there must be an accomplice from the Prince of the East Palace, or at least some help.
On the other hand, Li Yuanchang jumped over the wall and falsely accused Li Tai of treason. Judging from this handwriting and intention, there is also the Prince of the East Palace hidden behind it. Because if the king of Han is defeated, the prince will die. Li Yuanchang blamed Qin Mubai for his private report, but unexpectedly made the matter worse and endangered the East Palace. So the two of them had no choice but to sink everything, trying to take advantage of the emperor's serious illness and lose control of the court, overthrow the king of Wei in one fell swoop, secure the East Palace, and seize the power to draw amulets for themselves.
"You are so naive and stupid Li Yuanchang, aren't you trying to drag the prince into a moth?" Changsun Wuji looked at the memorial in his hand and smiled bitterly.
There was a bit of anger and a bit of sad wry smile. After all, Prince Li Chengqian is also his nephew. Like Li Tai, they were both born to his biological sister.
"Come here, please invite Chu Suiliang." After pondering for a long time, Changsun Wuji put down the memorial and said.
The emperor and Fang Xuanling fell ill at the same time, and they slept in the same room. No one could be seen inside or outside. Even Wei Wang Li Tai could only stand outside the door. Only Chu Suiliang, the emperor's personal attendant, could come in and out as he pleased.
Li Tai watched Chu Suiliang being asked to leave by someone from the Hongwen Hall. He was full of suspicion and anxiety. He wanted to come forward and inquire about the emperor's condition, but he did not dare to make any mistakes, so he had to watch him leave.
At this moment, the civil and military officials waiting in the east and west halls were either shouting or whispering, discussing the king of Han, Mubai of Qin, and who would supervise the country's directors.
When the emperor suddenly fell ill, the court lost its backbone. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that King Wei and Donggong are already fighting. At this time, everyone hoped that the emperor would come out and say something to calm the trouble. As long as it is clear who will supervise the country, it is a disguised sentence of death for the other party.
But now, the sky is gloomy and the rain is pouring, and all the civil and military officials have been waiting in the east and west court halls for more than an hour. Not to mention the emperor, not even the prime minister, the prince, the king of Wei, and the relatives of the Li family have shown up. A group of sixteen generals and court officials from three provinces and six ministries were left behind, speculating endlessly.
"The emperor's condition is unknown, but it seems that today's meeting may not be held..." Everyone said suspiciously.
In this way, many major events can only be pushed back. I don’t know how far the King of Wei and the Crown Prince will fight, and who will die. Once the outcome is shared, among the civil and military officials in the Eastern and Western Imperial Courts today, there is no telling whether some will prosper or others will decline.
All the officials in the court were uneasy.
On the contrary, Qin Mubai had nothing to worry about in Baiqi's camp. You are already in prison, so what else can you worry about? Everything is just waiting for the verdict.
When Chu Suiliang came to the Hongwen Hall, Changsun Wuji showed him the memorial and said: "Chu Suiliang, you are the only one waiting in front of His Majesty's bed at the moment. I, Changsun Wuji, never dare to make any decision on such a big matter." Now that you have read the memorial, please go back. If your Majesty is awake, you will report this matter; if your Majesty is not awake, you will wait until your Majesty wakes up before reporting it. In short, this matter is left to your Majesty. "
After hearing this, Chu Suiliang cupped his hands, smiled slightly, but his smile was a bit mysterious, and said softly: "Your Majesty once woke up for a moment and left a verbal message, saying, 'Let Changsun Wuji assist the prince in charge of the country and take part in state affairs. '."
"Ah!!!" Changsun Wuji was shocked. He looked at Chu Suiliang in stunned silence. Cold sweat broke out on his back. He took a breath and said, "Then... which prince is supervising the country?"
"Your Majesty didn't say anything." Chu Suiliang still smiled, shook his head and said, "In short, no matter which prince you choose, your Majesty will appoint your uncle to assist you. The country cannot be without a king for a day, and the overall situation is of paramount importance. Since your Majesty has issued the decree, please Uncle Guo will follow the original instructions."
"Yes, I obey the order..." Changsun Wuji raised his hand and gave a salute, and Chu Suiliang drifted away.
Looking at Chu Suiliang's back, Changsun Wuji's body trembled slightly, his eyes showed a lot of panic, and there was also a hint of surprise that was hard to detect!
"Your Majesty, you are forcing me to express my stance!... Okay, okay, if you want me to die, I have to die, not to mention, it's just a statement! - Come, come!" Changsun Wuji rarely said Losing his grace, he shouted loudly in the Hongwen Hall, "Ring the morning bell of Tai Chi Palace, and all officials will be promoted to court!"
"Dong-dong!"
Amidst the pouring rain, thunder and lightning, the morning bell in the Bell and Drum Tower of Taiji Palace in the Imperial City of the Tang Dynasty rang loudly!
The East Palace was shocked. Prince Li Chengqian and King of Han Li Yuanchang looked at each other, with hesitation and surprise in their eyes at the same time. They said in unison: "This is the bell of the court! Could it be that the emperor has recovered?"
"No! I went to see Chu Suiliang this morning. He said that the emperor and Fang Xuanling are still awake." Li Yuanchang frowned and said solemnly, "I persuaded him both softly and hard for a long time, and he finally agreed to secretly help the prince. At this time, The morning bell of Taiji Palace rang and hundreds of officials went to court. Could it be that the emperor sent an edict from his sick bed, ordering you to supervise the country's directors? "
"Then... what if the Fourth Brother is asked to supervise the country?" Li Chengqian's face turned a little gray and his lips trembled slightly.
Li Yuanchang gritted his teeth and became worried: "If the fourth son succeeds, it means that his impeachment complaint against me has been filed, and I will be finished immediately! Therefore, you will be finished too! Therefore, this round of dynasty will be either good or bad. , we must prepare for the best and the worst!”
"Okay, okay..." Li Chengqian took a breath, and nodded in panic and helplessness, "I'll go to court, and you step up your planning. If something changes, you just..."
"Don't worry, I've already made preparations! The East Palace is only a wall away from the Tai Chi Palace! If the situation at the meeting is unfavorable... I'll take care of everything!"
The loud sound of the bell reached the Xianju Palace. Princess Gaoyang's whole body trembled slightly, and she suddenly stood up: "Going to court? Could it be that my father has recovered?"
"It's unknown." Concubine Yin De remained calm and said, "Now, no one is allowed to visit him in his palace. Only Chu Suiliang and a few other confidential people know about his condition. Even the King of Wei cannot see him. arrive."
"No matter what, all the officials have gone to court... and decided to hold a meeting to decide the matter of Mu Bai!" Princess Gaoyang was so anxious that she ran to the Buddha image where Concubine Yin De usually knelt before, clasped her hands together and said continuously, "Buddha, Buddha, you Save Mu Bai! As long as he is safe and sound, I would like to turn into a stone bridge and be exposed to the wind and the sun for five hundred years; or I can turn into grass, a spider, or dew, and listen to three thousand years of sutras in front of the Buddha! If there is a disaster that cannot be resolved, please let me bear it for him! I have sworn that if Ling'er does not die, Mu Bai will die! Please Buddha, never let Ling'er die before Mu Bai!"
Concubine Yin De turned her head and stared at her daughter who spoke so eloquently, she smiled sadly, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and said softly: "Silly child..."
Thunders rolled, thunderbolts flashed, and rain poured down.
Qin Mubai looked at the gloomy rain curtain through the window, listened to the distant and majestic morning bell of the imperial city, frowned slightly, and said to himself: "It's time to go to court... Today, we will see the difference. Who will die, who will perish. , who will rise and who will fall...it depends on God's will!"
"Puff puff puff" The sound of a series of neat footsteps trampling on the rainwater came from far to near. Qin Mubai looked sideways and saw a group of hundreds of Eredivisie soldiers running up to his hut. The leader was his eldest brother Qin Tong.
"Let's go, Mu Bai." Qin Tong, who was dripping with rain, opened the door with an expressionless face.
"Where to go?" Qin Mubai put on a cloak and said.
"I don't know either." After Qin Tong said these five words, he stretched out his wet hands, placed them in front of Qin Mubai's eyes, and said, "I may fly to the sky, or I may fall into hell forever. Brother, I will be with you. . The old Qin family will rise and fall as you wish."
Qin Mubai stretched out his hand to hold it with Qin Tong, raised the corner of his mouth, and smiled slightly: "Good people don't live long, and harm will last for thousands of years. A great master once said that I am a monster who brings disaster to the country and the people and does not do good things. I can even count the fortunes of heaven." It’s definitely not that easy to die if you reverse it.”
"That's good!" Qin Tong grinned, holding Qin Mubai's hand until his bones cracked, and almost shouted, "Yesterday, I ordered dozens of fine mahogany coffins. If anything happens to you today, , dozens of my relatives and relatives from the old Qin family will be buried with you! - You are a monster who has changed your destiny. If you are not domineering, who will be domineering? What a fart. But he banged the table yesterday and told me that I should use the Qin family’s dozens of blood to help you with your domineering arrogance!”