The lightning made the entire palace flicker, as if the weather was uncertain, but when looking back, the heavy rain had not stopped for a moment.
Fu Jinzhan walked into the Wansui Palace, dismissed the attendants, and went in alone to see the emperor. When she opened the curtain and walked in, she saw Guo Shao sitting on the couch in front of her, looking very strange. When there was another thunder and lightning, with the extremely bright light, Fu Jinzhan could see that Guo Shao was really pale and looked extremely worried.
Your Majesty Jinzhan bent her knees slightly.
Guo Shao coughed, patted the couch with his hand, and said nothing. Jinzhan understood, and walked up to him with a heavy heart and sat down beside him, observing Guo Shao carefully and guessing his physical condition.
There was not a trace of smile on the emperor's pale face. The silent scene and the huge palace were very depressing.
Jinzhan's heart was in turmoil, but she said nothing. Looking at Guo Shao's expression, she didn't even know what Guo Shao was thinking at the moment. She was even a little scared, because Guo Shao was like the previous emperor Chai Rong, an emperor, a son of heaven.
She had experienced that the emperor who owned the whole world and was the supreme being on earth was very terrible before his death. People at this time could easily lose their minds, and suspicion and violence would turn a person into another completely crazy person. However, they had enormous power that was difficult to disobey, and the degree of their horror was unimaginable.
At this moment, Guo Shao suddenly said: Li Chuyun must die first.
Ah! The sudden sound startled Jinzhan and she looked at him blankly.
Guo Shao said in a deep voice: As long as Li Chuyun is not around, Jinzhan will be able to control the situation.
Jinzhan was confused after hearing this and blurted out: Your Majesty is in the prime of life, don't think of the worst.
Guo Shao shook his head and said: I know my own situation best. At this point, as long as I can leave all this to Jinzhan, I will be able to let it go, at least I won't have any regrets.
"What's the regret?" Jinzhan asked.
Guo Shao said without hesitation: My dear sister treated me well in the past, but I didn't have the time to repay her, and I never let her go for many years. Now it's different. I will give the entire kingdom to Jinzhan, and I can rest assured.
When Jinzhan heard this, she was stunned, as if she was struck by lightning outside the palace.
She really didn't expect that as a founding emperor, at this time, he would think about this. It's not that she doesn't believe in Guo Shao's character, but it's natural that a superior who can accomplish great things will not be emotional. Otherwise, it's difficult to achieve great things. Guo Shao obviously accomplished great things, but after he had everything, at this moment, he still thought about this.
Jinzhan did not cry loudly, but she felt that her whole body was out of control and tears were falling without her realizing it.
She suddenly felt a warm and rough finger on her cheek, and then she came back to her senses. She saw Guo Shao's eyes, which were still bright. He said in a deep voice: Now is not the time to cry. If you cry your eyes red, you will be exposed. The longer I keep my illness a secret, the more time I have to make plans.
Jinzhan opened her mouth, but couldn't make a sound. She felt something in her chest shattered, and her emotions were about to get out of control. She wanted to say that this was not the kind of reward she wanted, but suddenly she thought: Guo Shao's lifelong achievement was the Great Xu Dynasty. If the Xu Dynasty collapsed, he would probably die in peace.
She thought to herself: Now is not the time to cry. Even if thousands of arrows pierce my heart, I have to endure it. Even if I am torn to pieces and no one recognizes me, I have to protect Shaoguo's life's hard work first.
Jinzhan's teeth were clattering as she wiped her tears with her sleeve and said in a trembling voice: "Although Li Chuyun is leading troops outside, he still has to obey your majesty's orders at this time."
Guo Shao was surprisingly calm. He said in a steady voice: Li Chuyun's opportunity is not now, his chance will be after I am gone.
Jinzhan thought about it, looked into Guo Shao's eyes and nodded slightly.
As soon as Guo Shao ascended the throne, he began to plan the reform of military power. This was very foresighted. With the current power structure, it was not easy for anyone to directly rebel; what's more, Guo Shao had insurmountable prestige and the support of the soldiers.
However, Imperial Concubine Li Yuan'er is Li Chuyun's biological daughter, and Li Yuan'er also has a prince whose grandfather is the highest-ranking general of the imperial guards in Daxu. If the court is leaderless, anything can happen.
Guo Shao said: The Duke of Founding followed me in my campaigns and we were inseparable. Now that I am leaving, I also want to have someone close to accompany me.
After hearing this, Jinzhan looked at him in bewilderment.
Guo Shao covered his mouth and coughed twice, then said: I first let the Privy Council tell the news from the northeast to the northwest front, and then transferred Li Chuyun back to the court halfway, so there would be a reasonable reason, not so abrupt. Once Li Chuyun comes back, hand over the military power, and a lot of unnecessary bloodshed can be avoided when doing things.
Jinzhan endured everything and asked: Is it true that the Liao Kingdom is active in the Northeast
Really. Guo Shao said, I did not make up a lie to deceive Li Chuyun. It's just that the Liao army increased its troops in the northeast mostly to guard against Daxu, and they dare not easily enter the pass unless Daxu is in great turmoil.
When Jinzhan heard this, she felt even heavier in her heart. The threat from the foreign enemy Liao Kingdom could not be ignored. Her thin shoulders were trembling slightly. Looking at Guo Shao, he seemed like a towering tree. If this tree fell, Jinzhan would feel like she was watching the sky fall.
At this moment, Guo Shao reached into his arms, took out a folded silk bag and handed it to Jinzhan.
Jinzhan took it and looked at him: What is this
Guo Shao said: "This is the will, just in case it is not ready by then. If that day comes, there is a decree written by me personally, letting the son of my second sister, Hong'er Fu, inherit the throne, and Jinzhan be the regent."
Fu Jinzhan held it in his hands, his hands were shaking: Your Majesty, is it really that serious
Guo Shao said nothing.
Jinzhan asked again: What is the disease? Can you tell me
Guo Shao shook his head and said: I don't know, Madam Lu can't diagnose it either. But with the medical skills of this world, the internal organs are bleeding, I'm afraid even the gods can't do anything.
Jinzhan hesitated to speak, and said impulsively: The Fu family is also a famous and prestigious family, a family of military generals.
Guo Shao said: The Fu family is not in the court. As long as the regent Jinzhan is unwilling, the Fu family will have no chance to interfere. If Jinzhan is willing, then it is what I leave for you. It is up to you.
Jinzhan stared at Guo Shao intently: Brother Shao, isn't it the most important thing to pass on the country to your descendants
Guo Shao shook his head and said nothing.
After a long time, Guo Shao said again: "While I am still able to move, I will summon the civil and military officials to the Council Hall tomorrow. Ask Cao Tai to pass on the order in front of me to authorize Jinzhan to preside over the military and political affairs of the court in the West Hall."
Jinzhan was speechless.
That night she stayed in the Wansui Palace to serve Guo Shao's food and daily life. After going to bed, she couldn't fall asleep. She was also worried that the weather would be bad tomorrow, which would cause the ministers to speculate. She wanted to sleep, but the more she wanted to sleep, the more she couldn't sleep.
The next day, Guo Shao got up at dawn. He sat in front of the bronze mirror and asked Jinzhan to comb his hair. Jinzhan found that his hair was falling out badly, which made her feel even more uncomfortable. She felt like she was in a dream.
Guo Shao stretched out his hand to smooth the collar of his lining, dressed neatly, and examined his appearance in the bronze mirror. Perhaps, he was not as serious as he was now when he ascended the throne and had his wedding night.
Jinzhan put the yellow turban on him, and saw Guo Shao tilting his head to look at a large map embroidered on the wall. Her nose suddenly felt sore and she almost cried again. She felt a salty warm current flowing from her throat to her stomach.
Although Guo Shao tried his best, the palace servants should have been able to sense his physical exhaustion when he was getting in and out of the sedan chair. No matter how he pretended to be in poor health, his whole demeanor was completely different.
When they arrived at the Council Hall, Guo Shao and Jin Zhan walked up to the two chairs placed side by side at the top, one in front of the other, with a calm and composed manner.
Your Majesty, the ministers pay their respects to the Queen Mother and the ministers pay their respects according to etiquette.
Guo Shao said in person: Stand up.
After all the civil and military officials stood up and took their seats, Cao Tai stepped forward and read out the imperial edict, saying that state affairs were tiring and that the emperor had great trust in the Queen West. From today on, the Queen was invited to return to the West Palace to help review memorials and preside over state policies and other matters.
After Cao Tai finished reading, Guo Shao maintained his voice and said at a certain speed: "If you have any objections, please speak up." Then he stared and looked around.
No one in the Council Hall said anything. People looked at Fan Zhi slightly, and even Fan Zhi didn't want to speak. So Wang Pu clasped his fists and said, "Your Highness, I obey your order." The ministers said one after another, "Your Highness, I obey your order."
Guo Shao immediately stood up and walked away. A chaotic shout came from behind: Farewell, Your Majesty!
After Guo Shao left the Council Hall, he immediately took out a handkerchief and covered his mouth with it and coughed twice. Cao Tai caught up with him and said, "It has rained heavily recently, and the emperor has caught a cold. If you talk nonsense and spread rumors in the palace, the maid in Wanfu Palace will end up like this."
The palace servants who followed him were so frightened that they lowered their heads and dared not say a word.
Cao Tai's expression changed immediately. He bowed beside Guo Shao and said: Your Majesty's health is the most important. Don't let him get wet in the rain again.
"Hum," Guo Shao made a sound.
He did not go back immediately, but first came to the secret room in the east hall of Jinxiang Palace, a small room where he kept files and things. The walls of the whole room were covered with maps and notes, and there were many files on the desk and bookshelf, as well as the booklet where he recorded his thoughts and strategies.
Guo Shao grabbed the notebook with his own scribbled handwriting, turned around and saw Cao Tai standing behind him. He wanted Cao Tai to burn it because it contained some of his own ideas and had not been framed by Dayi, so it was obviously not convenient to make it public.
But he put it aside again, thinking: Keep it for future generations to read when they govern the country, maybe it will be of some use, so that they won't be blinded by high-sounding theories.
Guo Shao sat down on the chair, looking at the slightly messy things in the room, and a myriad of complex feelings came to his mind. People are really insignificant, even emperors who have achieved great achievements are so weak in the face of birth, aging, illness and death... ..