In the midsummer of the northwest, the weather changes suddenly. In one day, there was a violent storm, and the low tent set up on the grass was almost blown up into the sky. The whole world seemed to be caught in the ravages of wind and rain.
Zhong Li crouched down and crawled into the central army tent. He took off his bamboo hat, revealing his gray beard that was messed up by the wind. His raincoat was also dripping with water.
Deep inside the tent, Li Chuyun was sitting on a stool, concentrating on the paper in his hand, with one hand holding the paper tightly to prevent it from being blown by the wind. He looked up and said nothing.
Zhong Li had taken off his straw raincoat, walked to Li Chuyun's side, found a wooden stool to sit on, leaned forward and glanced at the paper in front of Li Chuyun.
Mr. Zhong is here, Li Chuyun greeted him without even looking up.
"Here we go." Zhong Li simply responded. Amid the roaring wind and rain, the tent seemed to be swaying.
After a while, Zhong Li spoke again: Did something happen in Tokyo
Oh, Li Chuyun was immediately attracted and looked at Zhong Li with a strange look. Why did Mr. Zhong say this
Zhong Li said: Isn’t that what Mr. Li thinks? Mr. Li has read this letter over and over again many times.
The two of them looked at each other in surprise.
Wei Renpu took the rolled up memorial and placed it under a candle to warm it. When the lacquer on it softened a little, he took out the seal and stamped it carefully. He handed it to the soldier standing in front of him and said: When the rainstorm stops for a while, I will send it to Tokyo by express horse.
Get the order
It was also raining heavily in the capital of Daxu, Dongjing Daliang. The rain on the double eaves of the palace flowed down like a waterfall, and the brick floor was filled with water. The whole imperial city seemed to be soaked in water.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed across the dark sky, shocking the whole world.
Guo Shao immediately raised his head, and he had the illusion that the magnificent Wansui Hall built on the high platform was trembling.
Your servant pays respect to His Majesty. The eunuch Cao Tai's shrill voice came from behind the curtain.
Guo Shao turned his head and saw a thin and respectful figure bending over outside the translucent floor-length curtain. He slowly said: It is raining so hard that we should cancel the meetings in the Council Hall and the morning court.
I obey your order. Cao Tai said.
By the way, Guo Shaodao, send the imperial carriage to fetch Madam Lu to accompany me and let her dress up.
Cao Tai hurriedly said: I obey your order.
He didn't say anything extra, and then backed away carefully. Guo Shao watched the figure disappear, then he took out his handkerchief and pressed it hard against his mouth, coughing a few times in silence, and took off the handkerchief, only to see a bright red bloodstain on it.
Guo Shao immediately grasped the handkerchief tightly in his palm, sat on the couch for a long time, then placed the handkerchief on the candle on the lampstand and dropped it into the copper basin below.
He wanted to stand up from the couch, but suddenly he felt more strongly that the strength in his body seemed to be drained away, and his body was limp and powerless. He was also panicking, and the discomfort was not pain, but it was as if there were ten thousand ants biting his heart. He couldn't feel at ease.
He stood up slowly, feeling his legs trembling slightly in his robe. It had been raining heavily in the past two days, and the weather had changed. His health seemed to be deteriorating rapidly, and it was obviously worse than the previous few days.
Guo Shao slowly walked to a large antique silk map in the middle with the map of the Great Xu Empire written on it, and looked up at it motionlessly for a long time, his mind almost blank.
Half an hour later, a woman's voice came from outside: I pay my respects to Your Majesty.
Guo Shao said: Come here, everyone else please leave.
Here. Several people's voices came in.
After a while, Guo Shao felt someone supporting him, and immediately heard a choked call: Your Majesty. He turned his head and saw Madam Lu with scarlet rouge on her lips, dressed very gorgeously, but tears were falling down her face.
However, Guo Shao looked at her expressionlessly, turned around and sat down on the chair and said: "Take my pulse again." He added in a low voice, "I coughed up blood this morning."
Madam Lu bit her red lips, the powder on her face was smudged by tears. She quickly wiped her eyes, held her breath and placed her fingers on Guo Shao's wrist.
She took both hands and carefully observed Guo Shao's pupils and mouth. Madam Lu tried to control the trembling of her voice: Your Majesty's pulse is very strong, but very chaotic. I am not very knowledgeable and don't know what the disease is. Why not find other famous doctors to consult together
No. Guo Shao said decisively, his expression solemn, "I have seen Madam Lu's medical skills with my own eyes. If even you can't diagnose the disease, I don't believe how good other imperial doctors are."
Madam Lu said: Your Majesty, your health is the most important.
Guo Shao said in a deep voice: The country is also very important.
Madam Lu stared at Guo Shao, not knowing how to answer.
Guo Shao said calmly: I am not ready yet. If it is spread that I have a serious illness, many things will be out of control.
Madam Lu said: "But if we continue like this, we won't be able to keep it a secret for long. Even if Your Majesty doesn't see anyone else, there will still be people who will pay attention and speculate. You are the Son of Heaven, the ruler of a country."
Wait a little longer. Guo Shao closed his eyes. Fortunately, he was not confused at all. At least he had to let Li Chuyun come back first and hand over the military power.
The 50,000 elite troops were in Li Chuyun's hands, far outside the country, which made Guo Shao very nervous at this moment.
Madam Lu's voice continued: I will prescribe some recuperation prescriptions for Your Majesty.
Guo Shao said nothing and sat upright in the chair.
Suddenly, there was a flash outside the palace, and then there were two loud noises. Lu Lan's shoulders trembled and she lost her voice in fear. When she looked at Guo Shao, his tall body was still sitting firmly on the chair, unmoved, and very calm.
Guo Shao never spoke again. He opened and closed his eyes from time to time, as if he was in a trance. The palace was very dull. Only the sound of heavy rain and the whistling wind could be heard, and the world was filled with a tumultuous swaying.
Cao Tai went to Jinxiang Hall to pass on the imperial edict, and immediately hurried to Xuanyou Gate after finishing his business. He held a large umbrella, and his boots and the hem of his robe were soaked by the accumulated water and rain as he walked quickly.
There were thunder and lightning, and the tall and ingenious eaves of the magnificent palace looked terrifying in the wind and rain, mysterious and hideous.
He rushed through the rain and arrived at the Zide Hall. He walked in quickly, and the rain on his body immediately left a string of water stains on the floor. In front of a palace gate, several women in purple robes and buns stood there. Cao Tai walked straight in. The women looked at him, and some wanted to stop him, but one of them shook her head slightly and let Cao Tai in.
Everyone around Jinzhan knew this eunuch. He came to see the queen almost every day, and everyone knew that he was the queen's confidant.
A graceful figure appeared in front of a window, with Jinzhan's profile facing the door. She sat in a dignified posture, gently put down the teacup in her hand, raised her hand and waved it gently, and the palace ladies around her immediately bowed and retreated.
Cao Tai stepped forward, bent down and whispered almost close to Jinzhan's ear: Your Majesty canceled the morning court this morning and has not been to Jinxiang Palace for several days. I heard that no one except Madam Lu came close to you. After hearing your Majesty's golden words this morning, you seemed to be in low spirits.
Jinzhan said nothing, but her eyelashes were trembling.
Cao Tai whispered again: Your Majesty, your Majesty may be ill.
Jinzhan grabbed the hem of her shirt tightly with both hands, pulling so hard that her knuckles turned white, as if she was going to tear the fabric of the clothes, but she said: I understand.
“Yes,” Cao Tai said hurriedly.
Cao Tai stepped back a few steps, bent over and stood beside her, observing Jinzhan's expression and movements. He was also thinking: The emperor only allowed Lady Lu to come closer because she was a doctor and had excellent medical skills; otherwise, Lu Lan would certainly not be as good as our lady.
"Your Majesty, why don't you go and see the emperor," Cao Tai whispered.
Jinzhan shook her head and said: "If the official wants to tell me, he will tell me. He didn't even tell you, so he has his reasons."
Cao Tai thought for a moment and said:
At this moment, a woman at the palace gate said: "Queen, please forgive me, but the people who came are from Wansui Palace, and I want to convey the emperor's order to invite the Queen to Wansui Palace to meet the emperor."
Jinzhan glanced at Cao Tai. Cao Tai said hurriedly: "I will prepare the carriage immediately."
Soon, Jinzhan boarded the yellow-covered chariot in the rain. The rain was heavy, soaking the curtains that covered the window. Water droplets penetrated the silk curtains and splashed inside, hitting the skin of Jinzhan's face and neck. She only felt the rain was cold.
She felt very uneasy and had a vague sense of foreboding.
People who eat grains will always get sick sometimes, and everyone will occasionally catch some minor illnesses, which is not surprising. Even Guo Shao had caught a cold more than once, but he had no need to hide it. This time he concealed it very carefully, which made Jinzhan think that it might not be a minor illness.
Her heart was hanging in the air at this moment, like the wind and rain outside the car, she was very worried. At the same time, she had to be extra careful because the royal family was not that simple. In addition to emotions, there were also various important relationships. In history, brothers and even fathers and sons killed each other more than once or twice.
But after all these storms, Jinzhan, although her heart was broken, still managed to keep her composure. She was not an ordinary woman who would panic immediately when something happened.
The Wansui Hall is located on the central axis of the palace, magnificent and conspicuous. The chariot has approached, and with a light snap, the sound of an umbrella was heard from outside, and the eunuch's voice said: "Your Majesty, please move." After that, the curtain was lifted.
Two women bent over to help her down, and immediately put up umbrellas over her head so that she couldn't even see the sky. Jinzhan, wearing rainproof leather boots, walked up the stone steps.
Jinzhan's heart was in turmoil at this moment. She wanted to know what happened quickly, but she was also very scared and didn't want to confirm the bad prediction.
Walking along the stone steps on the rammed earth base of the Wansui Hall in the heavy rain, Jinzhan said nothing, but she felt as if she had walked a long way. ..