"Thank you." Han Ruzi said to the palace maid that he had no other extravagant hopes for the time being, but only hoped that someone could talk and create a more friendly environment within ten steps to make life in the palace a little more comfortable.
"No need... If you really want to thank me, don't always ask for help, you're scaring everyone."
Meng E's tone was stern, not only to the emperor, but also to other eunuchs or palace maids. Among a group of submissive people, she was like an ignorant woman from the countryside who came in by mistake, but she became the emperor's personal maid. Shared room, no replacement.
She must be the Queen Mother's confidant, Han Ruzi guessed, and there is no disgust in her heart, but she feels much more at ease, "So I talk to everyone, so that I won't cause trouble for someone alone, right? And? Always keep silent and I'll... go crazy."
"Many people in the palace don't like to talk, and I haven't seen anyone go crazy."
"Then they must be talking in private, like we are now."
Meng E refused to talk any more.
Han Ruzi closed his eyes and fell asleep peacefully, dreaming of his mother.
The next few days were uneventful. Apart from performing rituals and fasting, Han Ruzi still tried to talk to the people around him without making much progress. The new emperor is about to officially ascend to the throne. Even if this is only a recognized puppet emperor, he cannot be neglected in serving, and the attitude of the eunuchs and palace maids is becoming more and more respectful.
On March 18, the first year of Gongcheng—as usual, the emperor’s era name is still used for the rest of the year—Han Ruzi officially ascended the throne. He was the most concerned person on this day, but he still couldn’t get rid of it. The feeling that everything has nothing to do with it.
He wore the crown left by the great ancestor and the dragon robe specially made for him. He walked from the bedroom to the Taimiao, and then from the Taimiao to the Tongxuan Hall. During this period, he stayed three times and changed his clothes three times. The road was full of people. Kneeling, they shouted long live, and then each returned to each of you, believing that the world will be peaceful from now on.
Han Ruzi couldn't see the eyes that really cared about him. The civil and military officials in the court were not much different from the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace. They were very respectful, but no one really wanted to come within ten steps of the emperor.
He tried his best not to think about anything, and acted as an obedient puppet. Even if he saw the unconvinced gaze of the King of the East Sea among the group of noble servants, he was indifferent.
The ministers worshipped the new emperor in batches according to the level of titles and official positions. When the ceremonial officer loudly called a group of generals to the palace, Han Ruzi had an urge to cry out for help. He did not know these generals, but in the story , military generals are always more loyal and honest than civil servants.
The impulse flashed, and Han Ruzi was still sitting on the uncomfortable dragon chair like a puppet. The generals were no different from the civil servants. They didn't even wear real armor. In the same way, no one looked up at the new emperor.
The enthronement ceremony was long and uninteresting. It didn't end until noon. The new emperor was transferred to the Qinzheng Hall, where he would be the first emperor to discuss the country with a few privy ministers. Han Ruzi did not report any expectations, because There are still many eunuchs around him, and he has no communication with the ministers, and because the empress dowager is sitting in the warm pavilion next to him, everything is up to her.
It has been nearly 20 days since he entered the palace, and he still has not seen the true face of the "mother".
Contrary to his expectations, and also to everyone's expectations, the first government discussion in front of the emperor should have been peaceful, but it turned out to be the first "current situation" for the new emperor.
Han Ruzi's grandfather Emperor Wu became suspicious and suspicious in his later years, even distrusting his close relatives. He deposed two princes in ten years, and only elected Emperor Huan as the crown prince a year before his death. If you live a few more months, you may abolish the prince for the third time.
In any case, the ordinary prince jumped to become the new prince, and it was too late to receive adequate governance training. Therefore, before his death, Emperor Wu appointed five ministers to take care of his life to assist the inexperienced new emperor. Han Xing, the governor of Ma Da, Shen Mingzhi, the censor of the right patrol, Cui Hong, the chief of the Southern Army, and Feng Ju, the minister of personnel.
During Emperor Huan's short three-year reign, many major changes occurred, and the five ministers rose and fell, but they were not eliminated.
After Han Ruzi ascended the throne, a little change took place in the Hall of Qinzheng. Five important ministers became six. The new entrant was Shangguanxu, the elder brother of the Empress Dowager. He replaced Cui Hong as the chief Sima of the Southern Army. identity participation. At the same time, the Dongnuan Pavilion, which was originally intended for ministers to rest, has been transformed into a place where the Queen Mother listens to politics. It is said that she is listening to politics. All memorials must be sent to the Queen Mother for review.
This is the first day of the new emperor's official ascension to the throne, and he has to deal with a lot of things: to build a mausoleum for the emperor who died early, to agree on posthumous titles, and to select the available new year titles from the Tao Te Ching. In order to grant amnesty to the world, issue the imperial decree for the selection and appointment of talents, and the appointment and removal of a large number of officials need to be officially confirmed, many things must be completed as soon as possible.
But these things have nothing to do with Han Ruzi, he just came over to make a symbolic appearance, surrounded by a group of eunuchs, and before he even had time to memorize the appearance of the five important ministers, Jing Yao, the central supervisor, announced for him: "Your Majesty is tired. , I want to go back to the palace to rest, all the ministers work hard, and the big and small matters are decided by the queen mother."
Han Ruzi left the soft chair that was not yet warm, and was escorted by Yang Feng and a group of eunuchs from Qinzheng Palace, and walked towards the deep inner palace. Even faster.
The group had just walked through two portals, and when they turned back, they could still see the eaves of the Tongxuan Hall. Suddenly, there were rapid footsteps behind them. The eunuch Jing Yao ran out of breath and said something that surprised everyone, "Please, Your Majesty. Back to the Qinzheng Palace, there is something... something needs to be dealt with by Your Majesty."
Han Ruzi was unprepared for this, stood there at a loss, and couldn't help but look at Yang Feng beside him, and soon found that almost everyone was staring at Yang Feng, as if such a scene was arranged by him in advance. Especially Jing Yao, his eyes were so aggressive that he was about to declare the crime directly.
Yang Feng looked calm, which deepened everyone's suspicion. He asked, "Is this the Queen Mother's decree?"
"Of course." Jing Yao said stunned.
Yang Feng stretched out his hand, "Please show Duke Jing."
Jing Yao was even more surprised, "You, you..."
"Jinggong forgive me, the rules are like this." Yang Feng said.
Jing Yao blushed, stomped his feet, turned around and was about to return to the Qinzheng Palace, another eunuch came running out of breath, Zuo Ji held a piece of paper in both hands and handed it directly to Yang Feng, "The Queen Mother Yi is here."
Yang Feng took it with both hands, opened it and read it again, nodded and said, "Yes, please get up and return to the Qinzheng Palace."
Han Ruzi's "driving" is his legs. He can walk a lot for a long time. His legs are slightly sore and numb. So far, he hasn't even eaten a bite of rice, but he is still a little excited. He walked along the same road to Qinzheng. Dian, seeing Donghai King's doubtful gaze in the squire team, secretly felt amused.
Zuo Ji wiped the sweat on his forehead and said in a casual tone: "It's still the Queen Mother who understands Duke Yang. The Queen Mother said that Duke Yang is strict and doesn't follow the nameless decree. That's true, hehe."
Jing Yao glanced at Yang Feng, and the hatred in his heart deepened.
The hall of Qinzheng was silent. The five important ministers stood scattered, for fear of being misunderstood as negotiating something. All of them looked awkward. All the scribes in the hall disappeared. There were two eunuchs standing in front of the Queen Mother Tingzheng Pavilion. The look of the enemy.
Next to the wall and the pillar stood a man, clearly dressed as a eunuch, about forty years old, with an unattractive appearance, but with an inappropriate anger on his face, holding an open brocade box in his arms, one leg in front and one leg in front of him. In the back, as if to be slapped to death.
This kind of scene is too weird. Han Ruzi thought about all kinds of possibilities on the way back, but he didn't expect it to be like this.
Yang Feng was also stunned.
The five important ministers all have the privileges granted by Emperor Wu. There is no need to kneel and worship in the Hall of Qinzheng. Only Shangguan Xu is an exception. The five looked at each other and had to kneel one after another. As a result, Yang Feng and others also knelt down, leaving only the emperor and the eunuch who was about to hit the pillar.
The thirteen-year-old young emperor suddenly became one of the tallest people in the room, and he was at a loss. The etiquette taught to him by the officials of the Ministry of Rites was useless at this time. He had to stand there and wait for others to speak.
Yang Feng straightened up and said, "Liu Jie, how can you be presumptuous in the Qinzheng Hall and not kneel down?"
The eunuch named Liu Jie knelt down on one leg, still holding the brocade box with both hands, with a posture of resigned to death, and loudly said: "Your Majesty, please accept the seal!"
Han Ruzi cast a look at Yang Feng for help. He had a little impression of Liu Jie. This eunuch was present every time he performed the ceremony. He was one of the emperor's many attendants. He never spoke or was introduced. Han Ruzi always I don't know what this person's job is.
Yang Feng's eyes swept halfway around, and finally fell on Prime Minister Yin Wuxian, "Master Yin, what is going on?"
Yin Wuhao smiled bitterly and coughed a few times, as if he was speechless. The eunuch Liu Jie grabbed, "You don't need to ask the prime minister, Mr. Yang, this is all done by me, Liu." In Liu Jie's eyes Full of rebukes, "Liu, as the middle palm seal, only manages the treasure seal for the emperor alone. Even if the Jade Emperor descends to earth, don't ask me to hand it over. Liu is going to offend the queen mother and the adults today. Not for Wa Quan, if there is no emperor's order, Liu would rather be killed in this palace of diligence and dye the seal with blood!"
No one dared to answer, but Han Ruzi's heart was hot. It turned out that the emperor was not just a puppet that no one cared about, and some people were willing to die to protect the emperor's dignity.
But he still didn't speak. Out of an instinct, he knew that the current situation was very delicate and dangerous, and if he said a word casually, he might kill this loyal and righteous Liu Jie.
Among the people, Jingyao was the most embarrassed. As the supervisor of the Central Division, he was the direct supervisor of Liu Jie, the official seal of the Zhong Zhang Xi. As a result, such a big thing happened in front of the Queen Mother, but he had nothing to do," Liu Jie said. , Your Majesty has arrived, and you still haven't handed over the treasure seal? Today is the day when His Majesty ascends the throne, you are so foolish, but the crime of genocide!"
"The people who have been punished have no family and no family. Liu's life is a treasure seal, and death is not a pity." Liu Jie looked at the emperor, nodded slightly, and lowered his tone, "Please, Your Majesty, accept the seal, in the world, you are the only one who can Take the Precious Seal from my hand."
"Please... Your Majesty... receive the seal." Prime Minister Yin Wuxian was the leader of the officials, so he had to say the last sentence, how vague his voice was.
Han Ruzi still didn't move, first glanced at the direction of the Queen Mother Tingzhengge, and then looked at Yang Feng beside him.
Yang Feng bent down and gently supported the emperor's left elbow, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please accept the seal." Yang Feng's eyes had some meaning, and on this occasion, some words could not be said even if killed.
Han Ruzi took a step, Yang Feng stayed where he was, knelt down again, and did not follow.