No one expected anything to happen at this time.
A group of concubines knelt in pieces in the main hall, each holding a silk cloth and wiping the corners of their eyes that did not shed many tears, but the cries were extremely sincere, one after another. The four princes knelt at the front, and the queen had already entered the inner room, standing beside the emperor, and sobbed.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." The Queen sobbed, looking at the Emperor from time to time.
The emperor's eyes were only open with a gap, his breathing was very heavy, and he was already at the end of the shot. Hearing the queen's sobbing, the emperor said softly, "Go, let Jin'er come in..."
"Your Majesty, the most important thing right now is the position of the Crown Prince..." The Empress couldn't care less and cried, "A country cannot live without a ruler for a day, Your Majesty..."
"Does the queen want to decide for me..." The emperor was very weak, and when he said this, his breath became confused, "I have something to say to Xiaoer..."
"Yes..." The Queen had no choice but to turn around and go out.
Eunuch Mu followed behind him, stood outside the inner door and said loudly, "Prince Xuan Jiu has an audience."
Cen Lixuan stood up, still wearing a red wedding dress, and walked in behind Eunuch Mu.
When the emperor saw Cen Lixuan, his eyes opened slightly, and there was a hint of joy on his face: "Cen'er..."
"Father."
"I don't have much time, I can't watch Xiao'er get married, it's a pity..."
"Father..."
Cen Lixuan stood on the edge of the couch, the emperor's hand stretched out towards him from the quilt, trembling slightly in the air. Cen Lixuan used both hands knowingly, covered the cold hand, and even sat on the edge of the couch and looked at the emperor carefully.
"I have been for the country and the people all my life, but when I am dying... but only you are by my side..." The emperor looked at him, his turbid eyes filled with tears, "The eldest died in vain, the second killed his brother, and the third even He is a virtuous person, but he is too eager for quick success..."
"In the end, it's you, who suits my heart the most..." After he said this, he coughed violently. Unlike before, he coughed so much that his whole body trembled, and his voice was hoarse and terrifying, as if he might die at any time. Cen Lixuan hurriedly stretched out his hand and tried to give him a smooth breath, but the emperor struggled and shook his head. After he stopped coughing, he said tremblingly: "It's okay, I can still say a few words..."
"Father, don't say more, Xiao'er understands." Cen Lixuan blinked, and tears immediately fell from the corners of her eyes.
However, the emperor still wanted to continue: "Yu'er, if you are my own son, I don't have to worry so much about who should I appoint as the reserve."
"What did you say?" Cen Lixuan froze all over, his pupils narrowed suddenly, and asked in a deep voice.
Perhaps this sentence shocked him so much that he couldn't maintain the image of being weak in front of the emperor, and his face was full of surprise.
The emperor coughed again and said, "I wish you were my child..."
"What are you talking about, royal father?" Cen Lixuan asked anxiously, "I am not the child of royal father, whose child am I, royal father, what do you say..."
He was so emotional that even because the emperor spoke too slowly, he had to push his broken body.
Eunuch Mu's eyes and hands were quick, and he immediately stepped forward to stop Cen Lixuan and said, "Ninth princes are absolutely impossible, the emperor is very weak now..."
His hand grabbed Cen Lixuan's arm tightly, and shook his head gently.
Cen Lixuan's emotions were almost out of control, but he managed to endure it and withdrew the hand that was about to shake the emperor.
The emperor continued: "I know... if you knew about this, you would definitely... cough cough... you would definitely be sad..."
"But no matter what your background is, I see you as... My good son, Daxuan's good prince..."
"No matter who succeeds, I will...will...protect you."
- Protect him comprehensively, and protect him comprehensively.
Xue Ziqin also wanted to protect him comprehensively, and the emperor also wanted to protect him comprehensively... But they all knew clearly that if he could not become the ruler of the country, he would be like a piece of fish on a plate and be slaughtered by others.
He had deliberated and planned for so long. After learning that the emperor was poisoned, he sent letters every day to greet him. When the emperor was willing to see him, he would often accompany him in the Anshang Hall. He did not hesitate to convince Xue Ziqin to lead the Xue family army to support him, and he also worked hard. To marry Qin Shu, just to clear up the rumors that he is masculine, get Qin Mu's support, and complete this perfect plan of killing two birds with one stone.
The Queen's lineage is no longer something to be afraid of, and now there is only Cen Lijin left - without the support of the Xue family, Cen Lijin is just a bird with broken wings, not an opponent at all.
But the emperor's words made his calculations come to nothing. No matter how much he calculates, it is useless, no matter how well he does, he cannot be made the heir by the emperor when he is dying, because he is not surnamed Cen at all.
"Muzhi, pass on the original child."
"Yes."
"Father..." When Cen Lixuan raised her head again, her face was already full of tears. Not because the emperor is about to die, but for himself.
But the emperor didn't know what he was thinking at this time, but when the young son was feeling sorry for himself, he reached out to him distressedly, trying to wipe the tears from his face for him. It's a pity that he is almost running out of fuel, and he can't even do such a small movement.
Cen Lixuan lowered his body towards him so that he could touch that little face.
"Don't be sad, you have to live and die..."
Before the two could say a few more words, Yuanzhi had already walked in.
"emperor!"
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Yuanzhi would have had a hard time believing that the person lying on the couch was the emperor who used to sit on the dragon chair in high spirits. Now his eyes are dull, the wrinkles on his face seem to have increased several times overnight, and his face is bloodless. Yuanzhi knelt down beside the couch and called again, "Your Majesty..."
"Yuanzhi, listen up..." The emperor looked at the top of the bed, the bright yellow silk and satin, and said vaguely: "Dethrone Cen Lijiang from the position of Prince Cen Lijiang and demote him to... a commoner..."
"Your Majesty, why is this?" Yuanzhi asked in confusion.
Wei Lin arrested someone to testify against Cen Lijiang, but he didn't publicize it, so Yuanzhi didn't know about it. Originally Yuanzhi got close to the Xue family, but since Xue Changfeng's death, Xue Ziqin has not had much contact with him. After all, Xue Ziqin was a military general, and Zhou Xiao and other advisers were not around, so they didn't know how to communicate with civil servants.
Hearing the emperor's remarks at this moment, Yuanzhi was full of doubts. But the emperor didn't intend to explain anything to him, and then said: "...The prince is a noble person, worthy of a great responsibility... Established as the heir..."
"What?" Yuan Zhi didn't hear clearly.
But Cen Lizhen heard clearly. If at this time, let the emperor establish the heir, then what he wants to do is to make a nameless teacher and make trouble.
… The emperor must not be allowed to speak.
He thought about it, and suddenly fell on the emperor and cried: "Father! Father!"
Cen Lixuan pressed on the emperor so suddenly, the emperor breathed tight in his chest, and immediately coughed loudly.
In the main hall, Cen Lijiang has been anxiously waiting for the people inside to come out. When Eunuch Mu came out and called Yuanzhi to enter, he knew that the father emperor was going to appoint the prince. And it is very likely that his affairs were arranged together. Taking advantage of Yuanzhi's entry into the hall, Cen Lijiang immediately gave a wink to the confidant eunuch beside him.
The confidant nodded knowingly, and hurried out of the An Shang Palace while no one was paying attention.
Just now, Imperial Physician Li arranged for someone to brew the decoction and sent it over immediately. Even if it can't be cured, at least you have to work hard, and it's good to continue for a while.
Gu Ji's dining room was also prepared, and before a cup of tea, the soup was delivered.
After the little eunuch who delivered the decoction anxiously walked into the inner hall, Cen Lijiang's confidant also returned and nodded lightly to him.
The emperor's cough had not stopped, and the little eunuch hurriedly brought in the soup. Yuanzhi stepped aside a little, Eunuch Mu walked to the side and helped the emperor up, and the little eunuch hurriedly fed the emperor spoon by spoon.
The emperor only drank two sips, and he couldn't hold it any longer, and kept falling backwards. Eunuch Mu carefully put the emperor back on the couch, and took care of him again.
Cen Lixuan was still crying, and kept muttering: "Father, father..."
The emperor's breathing became louder and louder, as if there was no more air coming in than out. He was still struggling, wanting to repeat the words that he had not heard clearly just now: "Li... Li..."
That was just a moment, he finally only said the word "standing", and then closed his eyes.
The hand that was still moving before fell down instantly and hit the couch heavily, without any movement.
"Father!!!"
"emperor!!!"
The three people in the inner hall exclaimed at the same time, and everyone outside heard it, and the crying became louder, and there was a burst of crying inside and outside the hall for a while.
Cen Lixuan looked at the person on the couch who had lost his breath, and complex emotions were surging in his heart.
Dazed and empty, even a little overwhelmed. Ever since he can remember, he has endured this unbearable life alone, and it was not until these few months that he really got closer to the emperor. Although most of the time his concerns were fake, he knew that the emperor's feelings for him were real.
If this is the love of parents, he has to admit that he is a little addicted to it.
If he was not the emperor's son, but he was born of Concubine Jin, then the answer would be obvious. This also explains why, obviously he was the emperor's favorite young son when he was born, but he was later placed in the palace and no one cared about it.
He has done so much, and now he is told that he has no capital to compete with others.
Do not!
At this point, it is impossible for him to give up the throne! He has the chance to win, how can he allow others to ascend to the throne!
…
The emperor died, and the whole country mourned for three days.
In the hall, before the emperor's spiritual throne, the concubines and concubines bowed their heads and wept, but the civil servants and generals looked nervous. There were a large number of people, standing out from the hall to the long staircase outside, all of them were people. At the last moment, the emperor did not leave any intention of establishing a reserve. The throne is in the balance, only waiting for the three-day mourning period to pass, and the matter of who will inherit the throne of the several princes will be made clear.
Yuanzhi had doubts in his heart, and the emperor left in a hurry. After taking the decoction, he left before he could say a word. He didn't mention the words of dethroning the second prince, I'm afraid it's not the right time to mention it now.
A kind of concubine headed by the queen, she was dressed in plain clothes and her eyes were red from crying. There is still a lack of Concubine Jin here. The emperor never pardoned Concubine Jin’s sins when he was alive. Now that the emperor is dead, the empress will not let Concubine Jin go out of the Lianshuang Palace—if it wasn’t for the throne, she even thought about it. It is proposed that Xue Jin be buried with the late emperor.
Today was the last day, Wei Yuanting was standing among the courtiers, and Wei Lin was standing behind him. Wei Lin watched his father mysteriously glance at the front queen. He followed his gaze and saw that the queen had her face half-covered, her eyes were red, and she blinked at Wei Yuanting almost imperceptibly.
Wei Yuanting exhaled exaggeratedly, then stood up from the queue of courtiers, choked and said, "The first emperor has passed away, and the country cannot live without a ruler for a day. I also ask the queen to preside over and decide on the successor."
Yuanzhi stood up and said, "Before the late emperor passed away, there seemed to be someone established in his heart." As he said, he turned to look at Eunuch Mu, then the queen, and continued, "I don't know if the late emperor had any. Leave a legacy?"
The queen shook her head: "The last person the late emperor saw was the ninth prince he had always loved. This palace has never heard the late emperor mention the last edict."
Eunuch Mu bowed his waist and said the same: "The slaves follow the emperor every day, and I have never heard the emperor mention this."
Seeing this situation, Ren Gui immediately echoed: "Wei ministers think that the second prince is of noble character and is the eldest son. Since there is no edict, he should succeed him."
Cen Lijin stood up and said, "But before the death of the first emperor, it was clearly stated that he would depose Cen Lijiang as the prince, right, Yuan Right Prime Minister?" After he finished speaking, he looked at Yuanzhi and smiled.
When this statement came out, everyone was shocked. One is that he is surprised that Cen Lijiang was deposed, and the other is that Cen Lijian has always been a dispensable person in the palace, but now he is talking about such a big thing lightly, with a proud expression that seems to have changed people.
Cen Lixuan glanced at everyone arrogantly, the matter has already been put on the table, there is no need to pretend: "Former Right Prime Minister?"
Only then did Yuanzhi recover from his surprise: "It's true, the late emperor did say it."