In the Buddhist hall on the west side of the Baifu Hall, a bunch of incense sticks are inserted into the furnace to burn quietly, and cigarettes are drawn around the room.
The Queen Mother Qi was dressed in plain clothes, her eyes were closed, she knelt on the futon motionless, with one hand on her chest, the other hand slowly moved a string of agate rosary, and recited the scriptures in her mouth.
She has gone through two dynasties of emperors and is now in her sixtieth year. At first glance, she is a dignified old woman with a well-kept and kind face. Only a few vertical lines between her eyebrows and a slightly drooping mouth show the majesty that she has been in a high position all year round.
Qi Mu waited for a long time with an ugly face, and his heart was already impatient, but he didn't dare to speak rashly, disturbing the Queen Mother's chanting, so he had to retreat to the main hall and drink cup after cup of tea.
After three cups of tea, the maid helped the Queen Mother Qi out of the Buddhist hall and returned to the main hall.
"His Royal Highness!" Qi Mu hurriedly got up, went up to meet him, and wanted to tell what happened outside the Taiji Hall.
"Okay, I've heard everything." Empress Qi glanced at him coldly, took a sip of the tea handed by the maid, and put it down without moving.
The movement was so big just now, and someone had already come over to tell her everything, and it was hard to know.
"Your Highness, tell me, how can there be any reason to show blood at the funeral? Where did he come from, how dare he act like this?" Although Qi Mu's tone was full of dissatisfaction and reproach, his heart was filled with dissatisfaction and reproach. He was shocked and frightened by Xiao Kezhi's arrogant and disregarding manners.
"I told you earlier that it is better to help the prince up first than to pick someone who is completely unfamiliar, but you have to listen to what others say." Speaking of what happened not long ago, the Queen Mother Qi couldn't help sneering coldly.
When Xiao Lian was seriously ill, she and Qi Mu discussed who to succeed him.
She advocated helping the prince Xiao Yu first. Once he knew the bottom line, even if he temporarily gained power, he would still be afraid of the Qi family. Second, Xiao Yu has no children yet, so he will first be forced to adopt a clan son. In the future, whether he will stay as an emperor or abolish it, he will still listen to her. But Qi Mu listened to the advice of one of his staff, and insisted on letting the King of Qin enter the capital in order to avoid future troubles.
"It's the minister who doesn't know people well and is short-sighted." When he mentioned this, he regretted it. It wasn't until yesterday that he found out that the aide had already been bribed by Xiao Kezhi's people in private, and the suggestion at that time was also premeditated.
"Forget it, it's useless not to talk about it. In the city of Liulang, even if you and I chose the prince at that time, he would always have another way to come to Chang'an." Empress Dowager Qi sighed, feeling a little pity, "It's also a pity. I underestimated him. With today's release, his throne is stable. As for how to deal with the prince, let him be, don't interfere. After suffering for so many years, he finally returned to Chang'an, so he must be more comfortable. ."
Qi Mu knew that he was wrong and did not dare to make any more assertions.
…
That night, after Xiao Yu returned to the Wanchun Palace, he ordered Zhao Yanzhou to write a letter in his name to persuade the courtier who spoke for him today to submit a letter to support the King of Qin. It was just between the words that he had to name the overall situation and did not want to cause disputes between the DPRK and China. The reason for this is to show that he, the prince, has taken care of the overall situation and is helpless.
In this way, he can not only protect himself first, but also temporarily appease the ministers who follow him, so as not to lose people's hearts.
Later, he personally wrote a memorial, saying that although he is a prince, he has no talent and no virtue, and it is difficult to take up a great responsibility, and Uncle Wang is the most suitable candidate for being brave and brave and having the style of the ancestors.
By the time a few letters were sent to the Shenlong Temple, it was already midnight.
…
In the early morning of the second day, the ceremony of the new emperor's enthronement was finally held as scheduled on the east side of the Taiji Hall.
This time, the officials and the clan no longer had any objections, and the entire ceremony was completed smoothly under the leadership of the officials.
Immediately afterwards, everyone rushed back to the west side of the Taiji Hall to continue the funeral ceremony of the emperor.
It was not until Xiao Lian's body was put into the coffin, and everyone changed into different mourning clothes according to their kinship, that the whole day's ceremony was completely over.
All the dust settled, Xiao Yu's always tight string loosened a little, and his weak body finally couldn't hold on. As soon as he returned to Wanchun Hall, the whole person fainted.
Chu Ning was already very tired. Seeing this, he had to order someone to help him into the inner room. While ordering someone to ask for the imperial doctor's order, he personally took off his robe for him and made him lie down on the bed.
While waiting for the imperial doctor's order, she summoned Zhao Yanzhou to the door of the main hall, and asked Xiao Yu's response in a low voice, and learned that he personally ordered someone to send himself and his courtiers' persuasion to the Shenlong Palace, which was relieved. He took a breath and returned to the hall to wait.
Although she hated Xiao Yu, she never wanted him to die because he was involved in the battle for the throne and lost to King Qin. After all, she is the Crown Princess and the daughter of a criminal minister. She has no strong family to back her up, and Xiao Yu's safety is all on her own.
After a while, the maid reported outside the hall: "Your Highness, the imperial doctor's order is here."
Chu Ning heard that Cui He was going to greet him, but the maid outside hesitated for a moment, and continued: "The saint—the saint is here too."
She was stunned for a moment, and then she realized that the "saint" now refers to the new emperor Xiao Kezhi who had just ascended the throne.
At this time, he came to Wanchun Palace, why exactly
Chu Ning's heart was slightly tight, looking at the figure who was striding through the open door, he didn't dare to hesitate.
"I didn't know that His Majesty was here, but my niece has not been far away to greet him. His Royal Highness was tired for days and was in a coma, so he couldn't go out to greet him. I hope Your Majesty forgives you."
She lowered her cheeks, and under the high bun, a snow-white back of her neck was just exposed, and a layer of soft light appeared under the reflection of the splendid sunset.
Xiao Kezhi stopped two steps in front of her, and his sharp eyes flashed slightly as he swept across the neck.
"Get up."
He took another step closer, leaned down slowly, held her elbows and lifted her up.
There was no emotional turbulence in the deep and rough voice, so Chu Ning couldn't guess what he was thinking at all, only the broad and hot palm on his arm through the clothes reminded her of the back garden pavilion. in that scene.
She couldn't help but startled, she raised her eyes boldly to look at his eyes, and the arm that was firmly held in his palm also tried to wrestle slightly.
This time, he didn't hold on to it anymore, he just let go of the situation, looked away, and said, "I heard that the prince is ill, so I came to see him specially."
After all, without waiting for her to respond, he walked right in front of her and headed towards the main hall.
In the inner room, the Imperial Physician ordered the pulse of Xiao Yu, who was unconscious, and asked a maid who was guarding the situation. Xiao Kezhi didn't go in either, he just sat on the couch outside and waited quietly, his stern face was expressionless.
The other maids who had stayed in the hall were sent out by him with a wave of hands. The two bodyguards standing at the door like majestic statues made them not dare to approach, so they could only wait from a distance.
Chu Ning glanced at Xiao Yu who was lying on the bed not far away, and after confirming that he was still in a coma, he reached out and took the teapot on the case, and poured a cup of hot tea for Xiao Kezhi himself.
"Please have tea, Your Majesty."
She held the teacup in front of him with both hands, and quietly raised her eyes to observe his reaction.
Just as he reached out to take the teacup, her fingertips moved slightly, not knowing whether it was intentional or unintentional, and just brushed lightly on his tiger's mouth.
The brief moment of touch didn't make him react at all. He always looked down at the steaming teacup, his face stern.
Chu Ning watched him carefully, and when he saw this, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, so he wanted to withdraw his tempting hand.
However, before his fingertips left the wall of the cup, he suddenly grabbed one of her wrists and pulled her slightly closer.
She leaned forward uncontrollably, stopped just a few inches in front of him, and met his gaze.
The teacup filled with hot tea happened to lie between the two of them, and strands of moist mist rose up, quietly soaking her white face and red lips.
Xiao Kezhi's eyes fell on her increasingly soft lips, his complexion remained the same, only his Adam's apple rolled slightly.
The deep eyes made Chu Ning tremble, and her cheeks were slowly dyed with a layer of crimson.
"When serving tea, be more attentive. I haven't connected yet, and you will draw your hands. What if you break it?"
He slowly moved the teacup away from the two of them, but he still didn't let go of the palm on her wrist.
Chu Ning bit her lower lip, her red and swollen eyes from crying in the daytime became more delicate and moving.
"It's my niece's fault, please forgive me."
Xiao Kezhi glanced at her, didn't say anything, just slowly let go of his hand and took a sip from the teacup.
Chu Ning stood up straight and was about to step back when he heard footsteps coming from the inner room, from far to near.
She hurriedly took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, turned around, and saw the imperial doctor's order coming out of the inner room.
"How is the prince?" Xiao Kezhi put down the teacup and asked casually.
"His Royal Highness is not in serious trouble. It is because of overwork and depression recently that he fell asleep. After waking up, you can cultivate well."
"Trouble" is reasonable, and the word "depressed" is intriguing.
After the imperial doctor's order said it, he presented the recipe that he had just prepared.
Xiao Kezhi sat still, but Chu Ning reached out and took it, thanking him and ordering someone to reward him with silver.
"Forget it, since it's okay, I'll go back."
He said, got up from the couch and walked out.
Chu Ning followed behind and bowed and saluted, still wondering why he came, when he saw him suddenly stop and regain his senses, an unidentified smile appeared on his always stern face.
"When the prince wakes up, remember to tell him that I have seen him, and I want him to take care of his illness, so don't worry too much, the prince is the country's foundation, I have not married yet, and I have no children under my knees. In the future, the position of the East Palace will still be his. of."
Chu Ning was shocked and couldn't help but look up, only to see that he had turned and stepped out of the main hall, only a tall and broad back under the setting sun.