Luo Yanhuan had a complicated expression, with sadness in his self-mockery. I finally understood that this was a trap from the beginning. The government had long wanted to kill me.
At the beginning, there were so many people implicated in the conspiracy, but Zhou Duan was the only one who was not involved. The disaster started in Xuzhou, why did no one touch Zhou Duan? Zhou Duan is a member of the Zhou Xian clan of Madam Zhou and is good friends with you, Zuo Gong, but these relationships cannot protect him. The only reason is that the government kept him as a pawn
Even when Huang Binglian and others investigated Zhou Duan later, they could not see how serious his case was. Didn't that guy have a chance to find Zuo Gong and ask for mercy from Madam Zhou
At this time, the emperor took out the letter and asked me to put the blame on Zhou Duan, and hinted that if I didn't admit it and tell the truth, Brother Li Chuyun would be suspected of being unfaithful. At that time, I also thought that if Brother Li was unfaithful, then the cause of his death would be full of mystery; this matter would become more and more complicated and cause a lot of trouble for the emperor.
So I decided to follow the emperor's wishes and attribute the letter to Zhou Duan. Anyway, the letter itself is real, it doesn't matter who it is written to. This will also allow Brother Li to rest in peace after his death.
Luo Yanhuan couldn't help but smile bitterly when he said this. But it was just a coincidence that Zhou Duan had been fine for such a long time. As soon as I admitted my involvement with him in front of all the civil and military officials, Zhou Duan immediately became a traitor. You really plotted against Lao Luo.
Zuo You said helplessly: Lord Luo, your mind is finally clearer today.
Luo Yanhuan said: If the government does this, it can hide it from everyone in the world
Zuo You thought for a while and said meaningfully: Not everyone believes that Luo Gong was in collusion with Zhou Duan, but almost everyone believes that Luo Gong's death was not unjust.
Luo Yanhuan was speechless when he heard this.
Zuo You stood up, clasped his fists, and said in a somewhat sad tone: Mr. Luo, goodbye.
Luo Yanhuan did not respond. He sat there as if he was stuck, and his whole body seemed to be out of his control. A deep sense of powerlessness and helplessness surged in his heart.
That evening, officials at the Dadu Mansion reported that the commander of the Hedong Army, Yang Ye, had left without saying goodbye. He left with his entourage, including carriages, horses, ceremonial guards, luggage, and clothes, in a hurry.
Soon Yang Ye's entourage was taken away by the eunuchs in the palace and the people from the Privy Council. The Privy Council dispatched three groups of fast horses to the pass to detain Yang Ye, but it seemed too late.
A few days later, the eunuch Yang Shiliang hurriedly walked into the Xu'en Hall, into the room filled with white steam, and said in a deep voice beside the bald Guo Shao: Your Majesty, Luo Yanhuan committed suicide out of fear of punishment.
After hearing this, Guo Shao's mouth twitched and he asked in a low voice: How did he die
Yang Shiliang thought for a while and said: He used a sharp piece of wood to get stuck in the cracks between the bricks, pointed it at his heart, and fell on the sharp tip to stab himself to death. The imperial physician said that Luo Yanhuan died quickly and did not suffer much.
The heart is not in the chest, but on the right side, Guo Shao said solemnly.
Yang Shiliang didn't know how to answer, so he just said: Yes.
Guo Shao closed his eyes and did not speak for a long time. After a long time, he spoke again: Tell the Queen to bury him with honors as a Duke. Do not investigate all the crimes of the Duke of the Guardian and make his eldest son an Earl.
"I obey your order," said Yang Shiliang.
Guo Shao turned over slightly and faced the wall. Yang Shiliang bowed and said, "I'll take my leave."
A large group of eunuchs and palace maids were carrying a large sedan chair covered with curtains to the front of the Zide Hall, but there was no one on the sedan chair. This was the ceremonial procession of the Queen, waiting to take her to the Jinxiang Hall to take up her duties.
The concubines came to Zide Hall, looked at the sedan chair, and walked up the steps of Zide Hall silently. The Queen had to receive the respect of the concubines in the harem hall first, and then go to the front court.
The women all had different expressions, but most of them said very little. Those of lower status did not dare to chatter in front of the imperial concubines, and those of higher status were in a very bad mood. After the emperor was poisoned, few people except the queen could see the emperor. It was said that only Concubine Yulian could see him.
The emperor had just gotten better, but he fainted again in the palace, and it was unknown whether he was well or not. Not only were people outside panicking, but people in the palace were also very uneasy. Several high-ranking concubines were worried.
Zhou Xian has no parents or brothers, and the Zhou family is declining. Zhou Duan is involved in the crime of treason. Zhou Xian knows that except for his appearance, he has no other value in the imperial city of Tokyo. But now Guo Shao is bedridden, what's the use of being a beauty? Instead, he will be envied. Therefore, Zhou Xian will not speak if he can, and he doesn't want to attract other people's attention.
Especially in front of Fu Jinzhan, if anything went wrong, Zhou Duan’s affairs would make Zhou Xian’s life very difficult in the palace.
After the empress, the highest position was that of Concubine Li. Concubine Li was also cautious, and recently became more respectful and modest than before. However, Concubine Li gave birth to a prince, and although Li Chuyun died, the Li family was still a duke; in fact, she was still the most prominent and noble woman in the palace except for the Fu sisters.
Concubine Li Yueji was the worst off. It was said that her father had rebelled and was captured, and was being escorted back to the capital. From the anxiety on her face, one could guess her state of mind and the private discussions in the palace. Li Yueji was the biggest joke in the palace.
The only purpose of becoming Xianfei was to win over the leader of the Pingxia Dangxiang in marriage. Now, the land of Pingxia has been taken over by Daxu. The leader Li Yiyin was captured after several rebellions. It is difficult for him to survive after being offered as a chief. When the court killed Li Xianfei's father, why did Li Xianfei stay
Almost no one felt sorry for Concubine Li Xian, because when she first entered the palace, she behaved erratically and had a bad temper, which offended many people. Now she is in trouble, and everyone is talking about who will take the high position of one of the four wives.
Zhou Xian was actually not very enthusiastic about worldly fame. After the fall of Southern Tang, she had thought about becoming a nun. But when she heard people privately discussing that she might replace Consort Li Xian, she became a little interested. Zhou Xian had always looked down on her cousin and long-time friend Chen Jiali, but in the end, she was not as good as Chen Jiali. This made Zhou Xian a little difficult to accept: although she was in the palace, she did not have the title of imperial concubine.
Lady Huarui's chances were slightly worse than Zhou Xian's. It wasn't until Zhou Duan's big case happened that things became a little hazy.
However, these private rivalries faded due to the emperor's illness. What everyone was most worried about was the future situation in the palace.
When they entered the hall, they saw Fu Jinzhan sitting upright on the imperial couch. She was wearing a purple official robe and a fu hat, looking like someone who was about to take charge of the affairs of the world.
Jinzhan put on men's clothes and was no longer wearing any jewels or precious stones, but she still had an inexplicable air of nobility, perhaps because the dark clothes set off her pampered fair skin and the grace revealed in her posture.
I, your concubine, and I pay our respects to the Queen. All the women in the palace kneel down in greeting.
At this moment, Guo Hong, who was beside Fu Jinzhan, ran down, grabbed Guo Zhang, who was beside Li Yuaner, took out a jade bowl, and said: "My emperor, look at this."
Fu Jinzhan glanced at him and said: Stand up.
Thank you, Queen. Everyone shouted, and looked at the two boys quietly. The two princes had a good relationship. They would occasionally quarrel, but they had no other playmates in the palace, so most of the time they were so close that they could wear the same pants.
Guo Zhangdao: What do you do
Guo Hong gestured and said: Put some rice in the bowl, and we need to find a basket and a wooden stick and rope. When the birds come to eat, we will pull away the wooden stick, hehe
Big brother, second brother, I want to go too. A little girl with braids came over. She was Yulian's adopted daughter and had a vulgar name: Guo Jinsuo.
Guo Zhang said: Our father is ill, and our mother and aunts are very worried, so we'd better not make them angry.
After hearing this, Fu Ermei said: "Hong'er, look at how sensible Zhang'er is, and then look at how mischievous you are."
After hearing this, Guo Hong stuck out his tongue at his mother. He was not afraid at all. But when he saw Fu Jinzhan looking at him, he suddenly became much more obedient.
Fu Jinzhan said: The Left Assistant Minister has returned to the capital, the three of you should go to Wenhua Palace to learn to read together.
Guo Hong curled his lips and muttered: Didn't we agree to learn horse riding and archery from Coach Zhou
Fu Jinzhan said: "You need to learn both civil and military skills. I have been learning horse riding and archery in Beiyuan for a while, and now I need to catch up on my literacy. When your father recovers, I will ask you about your homework."
Fu Ermei also said: Listen to what the eldest aunt said, Jinsuo also wants to go with you and learn to read, so the three of you can go together.
After hearing this, Yu Lian looked up at her second sister, who responded with a kind and gentle smile.
Jinzhan said without further ado, "Come here, send the prince and princess to Wenhua Palace."
Several eunuchs and palace maids came over and tried to persuade them to leave. After a lot of persuasion, Guo Hong was dragged out by the hand, mumbling and unwillingly.
After the children left, the concubines and ladies-in-waiting of the various palaces began to report on the expenditures and other matters. Fu Jinzhan listened patiently, only saying a few words occasionally.
Then she stood up from the throne and said, "I have other things to do, please feel free to do as you please."
The people below immediately bowed and said: "Farewell, Madam."
Jinzhan left the Zide Hall with a large crowd of people following her, and with the help of the palace maids, she stepped onto the sedan chair that had been prepared long ago. The eunuch in front of her shouted, "Madam, please get up!"
A large group of people slowly walked south along the Central Axis Avenue. The people closest to the sedan chair, apart from the eunuch Cao Tai holding a whisk, were a dozen women in robes and buns, all wearing neat long robes with lapels.
The curtain fluttered gently in the breeze, and from time to time, Fu Jinzhan could be seen leaning on it, with his hands clenched into fists to support his head, his eyes closed, as if he was asleep.
But when she closed her eyes, the people around her were still doing their own things in an orderly manner, not daring to be careless. Everyone knew that she was not asleep, but just closed her eyes to rest, and no one knew what she was thinking about.
Inside and outside the palace, many rumors were spread privately, such as Yang Ye was going to rebel, etc. People were uneasy, but they could only do their duty, because no one could see through the fog of the world. Perhaps the Queen could.