Noon is approaching, the autumn wind is bleak, rolling up some yellow leaves on the ground. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

The death row inmates had been escorted to the execution ground, and the three men in prison uniforms did not look so sloppy.

It stands to reason that the royal family, even if they commit a capital crime, should have a white silk or a cup of poisoned wine but died, and it is really strange to behead them in front of the whole world.

Unless it is full of beheadings, why make a fuss about killing the royal family's own relatives?

However, Emperor Taichang didn't care about his face, so he judged according to the law of the country and did not leave a fig leaf for the royal family.

Seeing that the three death row prisoners were quite impatient, the prison officer bowed down and asked, "King Rongjun, can you behead?" ”

Liu Tong looked at the sun: "It's not time yet, do it according to the rules." ”

The warden could only nod.

Seeing that the hour was getting closer and closer, there was still no movement of the prisoners.

The calmer it was, the more apprehensive the prison officer became.

On the other hand, Liu Tong looked calm and composed.

The prison officer paid attention to Liu Tong's movements, and suddenly heard him mutter: "This is going to die, and it is a pity that the prisoners will not come and fall, and even the wife and concubine, and the children's family will not come to see you on this last journey." Look, what do you get from all these years of hard work? ”

The warden hurriedly withdrew his ears and did not dare to listen again.

"It's noon, execution!"

The supervisor gave the order to behead, and the executioner raised the chopping knife, but the "keeping people under the knife" that the three of them were looking forward to did not appear.

In a single breath, three human heads fell. The face of one of the human heads was faintly visible, and there were still traces of tears.

As for who cried, it didn't matter.

Liu Tong got up, looked at the onlookers, and saw the figure of the former princess crying silently, and after meeting his gaze, he hurriedly wiped away his tears and avoided his attention.

Soon after, someone came to collect the corpses of the former King Shenjun, but the corpses of the former King Qi and King Li waited for a long time before they came to collect them.

At that time, Liu Tong had already returned to the palace.

The people guarding the execution ground came to report that the body of the former King Qi was taken away by his maternal uncle's family. The body of the former king of rites was taken away by his son-in-law.

Emperor Taichang waved his hand, signaling that he knew, but after the people left, he sighed.

Liu Tong was puzzled and asked, "Why is the imperial brother sighing?" ”

Emperor Taichang said: "I just think that the will of heaven makes people." Although King Qi and his wife are only affectionate, they are also respectful to each other, and when it comes to collecting corpses, our second sister-in-law, who has always respected the rules, forgot her Xue family's "Xue's Boudoir Training" in the back of her mind, and even refused to collect her husband's body. On the contrary, it was the king of Li, who has always been at odds with his wife, spoiled his concubine and killed his wife, and even spoke ill of his son-in-law several times, but he didn't expect that in the end, it was his son who had never hurt or favored him who collected his body. Isn't that ironic, you say? ”

Liu Tong was silent for a moment, nodded and said, "Brother Huang is right. ”

Emperor Taichang said: "Speaking of which, King Li's son-in-law is also fifteen or sixteen this year, right?" When I was in Guozijian before, how was my learning? ”

Liu Tong thought for a while and said: "This courtier brother hasn't paid attention to it, this nephew was closely guarded by Princess Li in the past, and he rarely appeared in front of his uncle. ”

"Well, the concubine of King Li's Mansion controls the backyard, and it is normal for the third sister-in-law to watch it closely. It's not easy to protect him as he grows up. ”

Emperor Taichang thought for a while and said, "This is a filial child, I have taken the time to ask people, if he has some ability, I will find a way out for him." ”

Liu Tong was surprised: "The imperial brother is not afraid of him because of his father's ......"

"A child, what do you know." Emperor Taichang said: "The sin is not as good as the children, he is my nephew." Unless he has malicious intentions towards me, why is it difficult to give him a hand? ”

Liu Tong sincerely respected Emperor Taichang in his heart.

"Okay, King Shenjun is dead, these royal family affairs can always be put aside." Emperor Taichang said: "Next, it's time to shift your mind to governing the country." ”

Liu Tong's head should be, but he still has a doubt in his heart.

"What's wrong?" Emperor Taichang saw that he was hesitant and couldn't help asking.

Liu Tong said: "The younger brother just remembered that the former King Shenjun had emphasized several times that he had a will...... I don't know if that will exists. If it really exists, it is always a hidden danger to keep it. ”

Emperor Taichang smiled and said, "There is such a will. ”

Liu Tong was suddenly surprised and said, "How did the imperial brother know?" ”

"After I came out of the prison of the Criminal Department, I asked He Dan to ask. Although He Dan was the personal attendant of the first emperor, he was not always by the side of the first emperor, and he couldn't think of some things. Later, I looked for clues, but I found a breakthrough - He Dan said that Concubine Jing had met the first emperor in private. ”

Liu Tong frowned and said, "Father left a testament to Concubine Jing?" ”

Emperor Taichang nodded: "The first emperor guarded against me, and he was afraid that after I ascended the throne, it would be unfavorable to King Shenjun and others, so this is a will for Concubine Jing to take it out at the right time and save his life." ”

Liu Tong was puzzled: "Father can give such a clear decree to the imperial brother, why should he hand it over to Concubine Jing?" ”

"The emperor invented the decree to me, and the whole world will know it, and King Shenjun and others are more likely to take risks by relying on this will, and the emperor certainly does not want to see such a counter-effect. But leaving it to Concubine Jing just in case is a kind of protection. Even if King Shenjun rebels, he will eventually save his life because of this will. ”

Emperor Taichang said slowly: "As for why Concubine Jing...... It's very simple, because King Zhu is not in good health, he has long been unable to participate in the battle for the throne. And he and I are more or less at odds. ”

Emperor Taichang said: "Compared with the other concubines in the harem, Concubine Jing's identity and status are the most neutral and suitable. She is a smart person, and when she got this decree, she clearly knew that if she asked King Zhu to support the former King Shenjun rebellion, if it failed, King Shenjun would be able to save his life, and King Zhu would not even be able to save his life. This can be regarded as a warning given to her by the first emperor, and it can also divide King Shenjun and King Zhu. ”

Liu Tong suddenly realized, but he was puzzled: "Since this will does exist, why didn't Concubine Jing take it out?" ”

"I also thought, Concubine Jing is not such a person who obeys the arrangement of the first emperor. The things she did in her early years, such as the Lu family in Yanzhou, you also know. She may not be involved in the battle for the throne, but she won't mind stumbling on me. After all, she has such an incompatible relationship with her mother. ”

Concubine Jing, the mother of the king, and the queen mother, the mother of Emperor Taichang, were in the harem back then, living in the same palace, Concubine Jing was the main throne, and the queen mother was just a little concubine who condescended to the side hall.

But who would have thought that Concubine Jing had just been pregnant with King Zhu on her front foot, and the queen mother was also pregnant on her hind foot.

Concubine Jing has hated the Queen Mother for many years, not to mention that now, Concubine Jing's son is half-crippled, but the Queen Mother has given birth to a good son who has ascended the throne.

It's no wonder that Concubine Jing didn't see the opportunity to embarrass the Empress Dowager and Emperor Taichang.

But why didn't she make any moves?

Emperor Taichang took a sip of tea and said slowly: "It's not that Concubine Jing doesn't want to make trouble, it's that she can't make trouble." On the day I ascended the throne, this will was found by Princess Zhu and burned by King Zhu. (To be continued.) )