The rain outside was pattering and noisy.
Cao Tai asked: "General Guo, if you have anything else to say, please tell me now and I will go home and tell the Queen."
Guo Shao had a bad feeling when he heard this. Perhaps the tone was just like the unfunny joke he told in the morning. He suddenly felt that the eunuch spoke very strangely, as if it might be the last time he spoke to Fu Jinzhan.
Just then, a series of faint thunder was heard outside, which distracted Guo Shao a little.
He thought for a moment and said: "Several years ago in Li Shouzhen's mansion in Hezhong, the last impression left in my mind was a person's back. If I have any wishes this time, I hope to see her again."
Cao Tai frowned and pondered for a moment: What does this mean? But I will convey your message. After he finished speaking, he clasped his fists and said, "I can't stay for long. If you have nothing else to say, I'll take my leave."
Guo Shao then sent Cao Tai to the door but did not go out himself.
Guo Shao felt that he had walked into a dead end. He had guessed what was going to happen before it happened, but he could not think of a way out. If he left Tokyo, if the emperor died too early and something changed, the political and military power would be separated, and the commander would be separated from the army. He and Fu Shi would not be able to take care of each other, and it would be dangerous; if he brought back the so-called elixir and the emperor was still conscious, the elixir would not work, and he did not know what would happen.
And the Taoist priest in hemp clothes, is he still in Huashan now? Guo Shao thinks it is unlikely. The last time he found the Taoist priest in hemp clothes, he asked not to reveal his name. It can be seen that the Taoist priest had expected from the beginning that there would be trouble in saving the rich and powerful with the elixir. If there is trouble, he will move to another place quickly.
Gao Huaide suddenly received an imperial edict from the emperor at home. The eunuch told him that everything was fine, but he had not seen the ministers for many days, so he summoned the civil and military officials of the court to meet. But was everything really fine as the eunuch said
He hasn't seen the emperor for more than half a month. What's the situation of suddenly summoning him? Besides, Gao Huaide has never been summoned by the current emperor. He always met the emperor in public with many people.
The story of the Hongmen Banquet was so deeply rooted in people's minds that people in later generations imitated it more than once, with things like raising a cup as a signal to launch an ambush. Gao Huaide was in a state of anxiety and was overwhelmed.
Someone come here. Gao Huaide called out.
A servant came in hurriedly and asked: "Alang, what do you want me to do?"
Gao Huaide hesitated, thinking: If I send someone to ask Guo Shao now, will he be fooled and confess
He swallowed his words temporarily and changed the topic: Prepare the carriage, I am going to see the emperor.
No matter what, if the emperor summons me, I must go no matter how hard it takes.
Gao Huaide was a little hesitant about whether to ask about this matter before going. Many things came to his mind at once: Zhao Kuangyin made a suggestion in Huainan, saying that he was negligent in managing the army and could not lead troops, and then he was transferred from the Iron Cavalry Army to the Imperial Guards. Guo Shao went to Hebei to bring Madam Gao back and sent her to the mansion. His nephew Dong Zunxun had already joined Guo Shao and did not hesitate to write a letter to transfer him from the Longjie Army to the left wing of the Hujie Army. Zhao Kuangyin's family lost two lives, and he believed that it was Guo Shao's doing.
Gao Huaide felt that he could not get away from it. If he said that he had never conspired with Guo Shao, no one would believe him. But the fact was that although he and Guo Shao were on the same page in public affairs, they had never participated in any conspiracy.
Ah Lang, it's ready, the servant replied.
Gao Huaide stood up, feeling his steps were heavy, and said: "Let's wait for a moment, I'll be back soon."
He wanted to be separated from his wife and children.
Zhao Pu bowed and said: I will wait for my lord to return in the mansion.
Kuang Yin now spoke very gently, not at all like the loud and cheerful voice he had in the army. He stepped forward to help Zhao Pu up, glanced at the rain outside, and said in a deep voice: Now is really the right time.
Zhao Pu said: I have already prepared everything. It is too late to turn back now. Please make the decision, my lord.
Kuang Yin paced two steps: I know. But I always feel that it is too hasty. If I act now, I will lose a person in a critical place.
Zhao Pu said: Wang Jie'en has been abandoned and is useless. He came to tell me that Wang Zhong had discovered him and was afraid that he wanted us to help him escape. In this way, even if something happens in the future, Wang Jie'en will not be able to send the news out, and he will definitely be watched by the people in the palace first. There is no point in keeping him.
I heard that the emperor has been unable to stand up and has been bedridden for a long time. If we don't make a decision now, we may miss the opportunity. If we delay, it will play into the hands of others, and we may not even have the opportunity to act in the future.
Kuang Yin sighed: Having come to this point, we have no choice but to do these things because we are forced to do so.
At this moment, the eunuch Cao Tai had taken a detour from the East Market and returned to the Palace.
On the corridor of the pavilion on the side of Jinxiang Palace, Fu was sitting by the railing, looking a little lonely. She could have been surrounded by people, but now there was only one palace lady, Mu Shanggong, by her side.
Fu's eyes were lost, looking at the water dripping from the eaves, and she unconsciously reached out to catch it, letting the accumulated water sliding down from the tiles flow into Yubai's palm. Seeing this, Mu Shanggong carefully reminded: The weather has been cold these days, and the water outside is all raw water, but the queen ignored her, so she shut up.
At this time, Fu saw an official holding an umbrella and a robe walking quickly on the road not far away. Without looking at his face, Fu recognized that it was Cao Tai just by looking at his movements. She was the queen, but now the person she was most familiar with was such an old eunuch.
It was a kind of sadness. Fu came to her senses when she saw Cao Tai and retracted her hand. She raised her head slightly and saw countless double-eaved roofs in the misty rain, extending layer by layer to the palaces, houses, walls and gates; it was like being in a ravine and seeing only mountains, with no way of seeing where the exit was.
The scene in front of her was indeed grand and magnificent, but Fu was so familiar with it that she knew what every blade of grass and tree around her looked like even with her eyes closed. She had only lived in this prison-like palace for a few years, but she felt like she had been imprisoned here for the rest of her life. It was better before, as she could go to the area in front of the palace in the name of meeting an official, but now she was ordered not to go past the Wansui Hall and could only stay in the harem, so the only people she saw were eunuchs and palace ladies, and almost no one else.
I will take my leave first. Mu Shanggong knelt down at the right time.
Fu ignored her and let her go.
After a while, Cao Tai came up, bowed and said: "I pay my respects to the Queen."
Fu didn't say anything.
Cao Tai continued: "I have met Shao Ge'er and conveyed all the words of the queen. Shao Ge'er has something for me to tell you. He said that his last impression of Hezhong Mansion a few years ago was the back of the queen, and now his wish is to see you again."
Fu's expression changed slightly.
Cao Tai neither noticed nor heard the Queen's voice, so he continued: I felt that Shao Ge'er sounded a little sad, maybe because he couldn't cope with it when he heard that he was asked to leave Beijing.
There are some things that no one, including Cao Tai, knows about. For example, when Li Shouzhen's mansion was in chaos, only three people knew what happened at that time: Fu Shi, Guo Shao, and the surviving maid Yu Lian who had been seen in Longjinfang before.
Fu couldn't help but have a lot of random thoughts for a moment.
The crazy and terrifying chaotic soldiers seemed to be back in front of her again, and she was very scared. Last time she encountered Taizu Guo Wei, if she saw that scene again this time, she would die.
There is definitely no way to escape a second time. If the chaotic soldiers enter the inner palace, everyone, including Cao Tai, will probably flee. Fu felt that she would die alone and could only commit suicide to avoid humiliation. Last time she didn't want to die because she knew early on that the main general attacking Hezhong was Guo Wei, and she had hope in her heart and had an idea early on.
Fu suddenly felt a little cold from the wind. The torment and fear of Huainan's near-death experience came back to her mind. If only Shao Ge'er was here.
She suddenly felt very selfish. She couldn't deceive her true wish at this moment: she wanted Shao Ge'er to die with her.
Why did she think that? This was not her usual attitude towards others. Fu Shi generally did not want to owe others anything, and would always give corresponding benefits to anyone who worked for her.
He was actually loyal and had done a lot for her. But now she didn't want Shao Ge'er to live alone. Instead, she wanted him to die with her. And when she thought that if she failed in the palace, Shao Ge'er would not be able to escape, so he would naturally have to accompany her sooner or later. At this time, Fu Shi felt happy.
She finally stopped thinking and asked: The generals of the Iron Cavalry Army, their garrisons have not changed.
Cao Tai said: "No, the two Princes of Wei in the Privy Council may be taboo now. The emperor did not speak, so they did not redeploy the imperial guards for half a month." He carefully took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and said, "I drew a picture."
Fu frowned: Why keep this thing? I can't even remember how many people I killed. Why do I need to keep evidence
Cao Tai nodded quickly and said: Yes, yes.
Fu said: Two years ago, the government issued an order to reorganize the various armies of the Palace Front Department. Many people participated, but the Iron Cavalry Army was mainly led by Zhao Kuangyin. He used to have some personal soldiers, and gradually inserted them into the lower-level military officers of the Iron Cavalry Army. How can it be found after so long
Cao Tai said helplessly: There are no files for the generals below the commander. And this was done during a period of frequent reorganization and transfer. It is really hard to start at the moment. Unless you ask someone to go to the Palace Front Office to look through the old files, you can guess one by one. Or
Never mind, it's too late now, Fu said.
After she finished speaking, she waved her hand and said casually: It's time for the ministers to see the emperor. Send an unfamiliar eunuch to take a look in the front and then come to see me if there is anything.
Yes. Cao Tai hurriedly withdrew quietly.
Fu sat alone for a long time before she saw Mu Shanggong and several palace maids coming over. Mu Shanggong said: "Your Majesty, it's cold outside, you can't stay here too long."