Three days later, the weather in Beijing became colder and colder, and every house lit charcoal fires.

On that day, Han Ming went to the Prince's Mansion to inquire about the details. Unexpectedly, Kuang Hua had been in the palace for a long time and had not returned, and Cheng Rui also entered the palace with Kuang Hua.

Unable to find Kuang Hua, Han Ming went to find Wen Cheng, and heard from him that His Majesty was in poor health today, and the Imperial Doctor was already doing his best to diagnose and treat it, but it didn't work, and it was estimated that it wouldn't be long before His Majesty the Emperor would ride away.

On that day, the minister who was the supervisor also went to the imperial tomb to check the situation, and it is expected that it will not be long before it can be used.

Han Ming was discussing with Ye Hao about the future of winter while baking a charcoal fire at home, when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

The person who came was a chamberlain in the palace, and Han Ming had never seen it.

As soon as the attendant entered the door, he said respectfully to Han Ming: "Commander Han, Your Highness said that there is something important to discuss with the commander, let the commander enter the palace to meet him." ”

"Did Your Highness say anything about it?" Han Ming asked.

"Your Highness didn't say it, but seeing His Highness's appearance, he was quite anxious, so let him quickly report to the commander. ”

Han Ming nodded, "Well, I know, I'll go." ”

After speaking, he turned his head, gave an explanation to Ye Die's father and daughter, and hurried to the palace with his attendants.

On the way to the palace, Han Ming saw that the streets were full of soldiers coming and going. Looking at this outfit, it is obviously not a forbidden army, nor a city defense battalion, and besides, the commander of himself is here, and he knows the movement of the city defense battalion best.

In addition to the city defense battalion and the forbidden army, only the Gyeonggi battalion can quickly move troops in the capital. Something big must have happened, otherwise the Gyeonggi camp would not have entered Beijing at will.

Thinking of this, Han Ming sped up.

In a short time, they arrived at the foot of the imperial city. There was an old eunuch waiting at the gate of the palace, this eunuch Han Ming recognized, it was the Gonggong Cao who issued an edict to suppress the bandits last time.

When the old eunuch saw Han Ming coming, he walked over and said in a soft tone: "The commander is here, go with the old minister, His Highness is still waiting for the commander." ”

The old eunuch led Han Ming towards the palace, Han Ming followed behind, watching that although the old eunuch was shaky, he walked very fast, and Han Ming could barely catch up with him by taking big strides.

"Gonggong Cao, I don't know what happened in the palace, so urgent?" Han Ming took the opportunity to talk to him.

"I don't know. When the commander sees His Highness, he will naturally know. “

Han Ming knew that the old eunuch must have understood what was going on, but he didn't say anything. He is not reluctant, and he will naturally know when he meets Kuang Hua.

After following the old eunuch for a while, he came to the Qinzheng Palace.

The old eunuch stopped, turned around and said to Han Ming, "Commander, it's here." His Royal Highness is inside, and the old minister will not go in. ”

"Well, thank you father-in-law. After speaking, Han Ming stepped into the Qinzheng Palace.

As soon as I entered the main hall, there were already a few people seated in the hall. Han Ming fixed his eyes and saw that sitting in the front was an old general with white hair and beard, not angry and arrogant, he was sitting in the first position on the left hand, and the seat opposite was empty, and then there was Sikong Liang Qian, the last time he prevented himself from receiving the reward, the people behind him couldn't recognize it clearly.

Prince Kuanghua sat on the top, his eyes slightly closed, his hand on his forehead, looking very tired.

As soon as Kuang Hua saw Han Ming coming in, he said, "Commander Han is here, let's sit down first, and when everyone is ready, let's start again." ”

Han Ming bowed, and then sat on the last one on the right hand, he can still distinguish this dignity and inferiority, all the people sitting here are first-class members of the imperial court, and he is only a seventh-rank lord, he is not qualified to sit here at all, and now he can sit, I am afraid that it is because he is the commander of the city defense battalion.

In the palace, the ministers whispered to each other, and judging by their appearance, they probably had guessed what was going on.

Han Ming sat next to a military general in armor, looking at the middle-aged man in military uniform next to him, this middle-aged man looked very powerful, his arms were powerful, his cheeks were sharp and angular, he sat down like a mountain, he was in a hurry to go out, he was wearing his usual civilian clothes, compared with him, the gap was too big.

Fortunately, in today's scene, no one cares about him, the commander of the small city defense battalion.

Han Ming looked at the middle-aged man next to him and asked him in a low voice, "Under Han Ming, the current commander of the city defense battalion, I don't know what this general is called?"

The middle-aged man glanced at Han Ming and replied in a deep voice, "Gyeonggi Camp Liang Shi." ”

There are no superfluous polite words, just like a military man, he speaks competently and decisively. In terms of position, the two may be in the same position, but the titles are different, this Liang Shi is at least two or three titles higher than Han Ming. Han Ming saw that Liang Shi had nothing to say, so he closed his mouth and began to close his eyes and recuperate.

After a while, a stumbling figure appeared outside the main hall. As soon as Kuang Hua saw someone coming, he immediately stepped down to greet him, and everyone in the hall also stood up.

The person who came was the prime minister of Zhongchu, Wen Dao.

As soon as Wen Dao entered the hall, Kuang Hua stepped forward and helped him.

"The minister is late, and I hope His Highness will forgive his sins. Wen Dao saluted.

Kuang Hua helped him and said softly: "What did Wen Xiang say, Wen Xiang is not in good health, if it weren't for the importance of this time, I wouldn't have asked Wen Xiang to come in such a hurry." ”

Helping Wen Dao to sit in the first seat on the left hand, Kuang Hua turned around and said with a solemn face.

"You may be seated. The next thing I want to talk about is related to the safety of the country and the importance of the country's society, and I hope you will be cautious. ”

When they heard this, their faces became heavy.

Kuang Hua continued: "A few days ago, my father was seriously ill and couldn't get out of bed. Last night, my father fell ill, and the doctor said that my father was afraid that he would not be able to survive this morning. ”

When the ministers sitting in His Highness heard this, some of them were surprised, and some of them were very plain, probably having already guessed this matter.

"I urgently summoned you to come this morning, so that you can discuss how to arrange the rest of the matter after the death of my father. You are all the pillars of the country, and there is still a lot of work for you in this regard. ”

After hearing this, Wen Dao was the first to speak: "Your Highness is serious, sharing worries for the country, this is the obligation of being a courtier, we should do our best, please rest assured." ”

Everyone opened their mouths and said, "We should do our best, please rest assured, Your Highness." ”

Kuang Hua nodded, and was about to continue speaking, when a little eunuch hurriedly ran from outside the hall.

"Temple...... Your Highness, Your Majesty woke up and said that you want to see Your Highness. ”

When Kuang Hua heard this, he hurriedly walked outside the hall, walked to the door of the hall, and thought about one more thing, so he turned around and said to Han Ming and Liang Shi: "Commander Han, Commander Liang, you come with me." ”

Han Ming and Liang Shi hurriedly stood up and followed Kuang Hua to the outside of the hall, leaving only the ministers in the hall to whisper to each other.

Wen Dao saw Kuang Hua walk out, so he stood up and began to preside over the affairs of the main hall, he pressed his hands and said: "Colleagues, now is the time when the empire needs us the most, we need to discuss the agenda of affairs after His Majesty's death, and make sure that everything passes smoothly." ”

As soon as everyone heard Wen Xiang speak, they all closed their mouths and listened carefully to Wen Dao's speech.

Kuang Hua, Han Ming and Liang Shi walked towards the emperor's bedroom together.

On the way, Kuang Hua said to Liang Shi as he walked: "Commander Liang, now is an eventful time, and the city defense battalion may not have enough manpower to guard the capital. In addition, additional personnel were dispatched to patrol the Gyeonggi area, and all agencies around Gyeonggi were notified to strengthen their defense to prevent people from taking advantage of the opportunity to pick quarrels and provoke trouble. ”

After hearing this, Liang Shi replied respectfully: "Obey." He hurriedly left and went to complete the task assigned by Kuang Hua.

After Kuang Hua saw Liang Shi leaving, he was about to assign a task to Han Ming. Unexpectedly, they had already arrived at the door of the health hall while walking.

Health Hall - the emperor's dormitory.

As soon as he arrived at the Health Palace, Kuang Hua did not continue to give Han Ming the task, but hurriedly stepped into the hall.

The health hall was surrounded by busy eunuchs and palace maids, and as soon as Han Ming entered the hall with Kuang Hua, he saw several imperial doctors standing beside him. Han Ming followed Kuang Hua and continued to walk inside, and finally met the legendary emperor.

In this case, Han Ming was not qualified to meet the emperor, but he followed behind Kuang Hua, the old emperor was about to die, everyone was afraid at the moment, and there was no chance for Han Ming at all. Kuang Hua was anxious again, and he didn't care about these etiquette.

Han Ming looked at the emperor lying on the bed, the emperor did not feel as noble as the legend said at the moment, at a glance, he was just a terminally ill old man hovering on the edge of life and death.

At the emperor's bedside, Kuang Yue was lying there, probably crying just now, her eyes were slightly red, and she was still sobbing softly. Although this emperor doesn't pay much attention to the government, he does love this daughter very much, probably because Kuang Yue is more like her mother.

When the emperor saw Kuang Hua arrive, he opened his eyes and said weakly: "You are here, see... If you come, I will be relieved. ”

"Father. Kuang Hua saw the old emperor's weak appearance, and burst into tears.

"You, take care of your sister. Then, the old emperor waved his hand and motioned for Kuang Hua to come over.

Kuang Hua immediately walked over and knelt beside the bed.

The old emperor looked at him and said in a weak tone: "Promise me... Don't marry your sister to someone she doesn't like, don't make her a victim of politics. To let her drive... Happy, cough ..... Ahem....."

"Father, slow down. Kuang Hua said worriedly.

"Did you hear that?" said the old emperor, looking at him.

Kuang Hua knelt beside the bed and nodded vigorously.

"Father, the son knows that the son knows that the son will take good care of the royal sister, and will not let the royal sister marry someone she doesn't like, let alone let the imperial sister participate in politics. ”

"Hmm. Hearing Kuang Hua's answer, the emperor answered, staring at the front with his eyes, and did not speak in a muffled voice.

Kuang Hua knelt quietly beside him, Kuang Yue looked at his father by the bedside, and tears couldn't stop flowing out. Unexpectedly, her father was dying, and summoned her royal brother back, still thinking about her future arrangements.

Han Ming looked at Kuang Yue crying sadly, there were tears on the little face of the pear blossom with rain, and suddenly felt a little distressed, she was so lively before, I am afraid that the death of her father will be a big blow to her.

"Don't be sad, I'm just going to be with your mother. At this, the old emperor began to laugh.

Han Ming looked at it sincerely, and that smile was very pure, like an old man getting some kind of expectant look. Han Ming suddenly felt at this moment that death might be a relief for him.

As soon as he finished thinking about it, he heard everyone start kneeling down and whimpering, and Kuang Yue was crying loudly.

Outside the door, the eunuchs waiting for the herald got the news and began to scatter, singing gongs and chanting as they went.

"Twenty-three years of Zhaode, winter. The emperor collapsed, and the pillar of heaven fell. ”