The war at the border subsided, and the court seemed to be calm, but under this calm, there were clear and turbulent waves, and it seemed that a violent storm was brewing......

More than half a month later, the news came that the emperor's dragon body was not safe. After a few more days, even the court meeting was temporarily suspended. All political affairs are handled by several cabinet ministers. The crown prince is the logical acting of the court. All the imperial physicians in the Imperial Physician's Office were left in the palace to treat the emperor. Looking at this posture, the emperor didn't get better for a day, and these imperial doctors couldn't leave the palace for a day.

What the emperor's condition is has also become the focus of attention of many courtiers. is even more flexible, and has begun to make small moves secretly, and began to think that if the emperor is ill, it is time to write a letter to ask for the throne......

There was also a depression in the palace.

These days, the concubines come to greet each other every day, and some are eager to serve the emperor. They were all stopped by Queen Gu one by one. Empress Gu put down a palace affair and insisted on taking care of the emperor's body in person. It is definitely not an exaggeration to say that he took care of it personally. Even if the medicine is boiled, Queen Gu will taste it herself, and then serve the emperor to drink it.

When people are sick, they are inevitably more fragile than usual, and they are more easily moved than usual. Empress Gu was waiting for him without leaving half a step, and even if the emperor was hard-hearted, he was moved by Queen Gu's actions. Being suspicious and jealous is about to toss up the relationship between husband and wife, and there is a trend of recovery.

On this day, Queen Gu brought hot medicine as usual, took a sip of it herself, and after a while, she felt that there was nothing unusual, so she carefully fed the emperor to drink the medicine.

The emperor looked at Queen Gu with a haggard face, and suddenly sighed: "Empress." I've worked hard for you these days. ”

Empress Gu paused, and a flash of water flashed in her eyes: "The emperor said this." It's really out of the way with the concubines. To put it mildly, you are a genius. The safety of the world is at stake. To put it mildly, you are my husband. I serve you, that's my duty as a wife. ”

Although these two sentences are a little numb, they are unspeakably pleasing to the ears of the emperor who can't afford to hear them. The title of the queen has also been changed: "Wei Niang, you also have to take care of your body." If I get better, but you fall ill again, there will be no backbone in this palace. ”

Empress Gu smiled and said, "As long as the emperor's dragon body recovers, let me live for ten years." I'm willing too. ”

How else to say that you don't wear a thousand sycophants? When the emperor heard this, his face suddenly softened a lot, and he was about to say something, when a eunuch's voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Majesty, the noble concubine has come to greet you." ”

The emperor's face was pale, and he ordered casually: "I have received her wishes, but I am lying on the bed and have no strength to speak." Let her go back first! ”

The eunuch hurriedly answered. I sighed secretly in my heart. The Sacred Heart is unpredictable, and it is true. Concubine Zheng was so favored back then, even the queen didn't take it seriously. But in just one year, Zheng Guifei has been declining. It's not easy to see the emperor.

Concubine Zheng Guifei, who was waiting outside, heard such news, and the disappointment in her heart went without saying. insisted on not showing it in front of a group of eunuchs and palace maids. He turned around and walked away as if nothing had happened. After returning to the dormitory, he angrily smashed a set of favorite teacups.

That same evening. The three princes entered the palace to visit the emperor's illness, and lived in Concubine Zheng's bedroom. What did the mother and son discuss in private? Outsiders naturally don't know anything.

After Empress Gu knew about this, she smiled meaningfully. The order was quietly sent to the prince.

……

The emperor fell ill on the dragon couch, and the crown prince acted as the government every day, busy dealing with a group of ministers, busy learning to deal with various political affairs, and was really busy. However, even so, he still insisted on visiting the emperor every day.

After entering the palace on this day, the prince greeted the emperor respectfully as usual. The emperor was weak in his illness, but his thoughts were still clear, and he pointed out to the prince: "...... As the Son of Heaven, the most important thing is the way of employing people. So many trivial matters in the court have to be taken care of by the courtiers. It's impossible to ask about everything. However, this must not lead to blindness. Therefore, the important twists and turns must be personally seen by Zhu Piao......"

The prince listened respectfully, and by the way, he raised some questions in his heart, and the emperor was no longer as silent as before, but tried his best to guide the prince in how to deal with it.

Among the subtle changes, the prince's feelings were naturally the most profound, and his heart swelled with bitter joy. However, he was careful not to show this joy on his face, but to show a look of wanting to say something.

Seeing this, the emperor asked, "Do you have anything you haven't said yet?" ”

The crown prince hesitated for a moment, as if he was about to say something, but he changed his mind again, and denied with a smile: "It's nothing, my father is in poor health, and it is important to recuperate in peace." There is no need to worry about the affairs of the court, and the retainers will definitely do their best to deal with the matter. ”

The emperor was too familiar with the prince's temperament, and at a glance, he knew that he must have something to worry about. Immediately asked, "What happened?" ”

Seeing that the prince couldn't hide it, he had to whisper: "Erchen didn't want to disturb his father's recuperation with these little things. It's just that the rumors in Beijing have been circulating too much recently, and there are even some big rebellious words...... "After a pause, the conversation changed: "Erchen has ordered someone to investigate this matter thoroughly, and he will definitely find out who is behind the trouble as soon as possible." Don't worry! ”

When I asked again, I refused to say more.

The emperor didn't react in any particular way at the time, but after the prince left, he immediately secretly ordered someone to investigate the matter.

……

That night, in the study of the Prince's Mansion.

"Didn't you see it, after I said a few words at that time, my father's face immediately changed." The crown prince whispered to Gu Xinian excitedly: "I heard that not long after I left, my father summoned someone to ask him. This game has been set up for so long, and it has finally been waiting for this day. ”

It's been three or four months since the day of the layout. The prince thought he was very patient, but he was also impetuous.

Gu Xinian was much calmer than the crown prince, and said in a low voice: "Since the emperor has made a move, within two days, he will probably summon you to the palace again and ask carefully." You're going to play it when the time comes, don't show it. ”

The prince said without thinking: "Don't worry! I was ready for it. As long as my father opened his mouth to ask, I bit down first and didn't say anything. Wait until the end to cry a few words. I promise not to make my father suspicious. ”

Biting down and not saying anything first, it is to show the benevolence of the crown prince and his brother and the filial piety of the emperor's body. In this way, the emperor's suspicions can also be relieved on the maximum Cheng dù.

Gu Xinian nodded and said, "Everything is arranged." Let's wait patiently! If there is no accident, the three princes will definitely anger the emperor this time. ”

If the emperor was angry and let the three princes leave the capital, it would be better.

The crown prince and Gu Xinian exchanged a knowing look, and discussed in a low voice.

……

Within two days, the guards in charge of the matter presented the results of the investigation to the emperor.

After reading it, the emperor's face turned black with anger. didn't care that he was still sick, so he immediately got out of bed and paced back and forth, sneering a few times: "Okay, that's great!" I really gave birth to a good son! ”

The henchmen, eunuchs, and guards who stayed on the side did not dare to say anything, and lowered their heads together. The emperor's mood is obviously very bad, and interjecting at this time is undoubtedly self-defeating.

After a while, the emperor's mood finally calmed down, and he gave a faint order: "Pass on my message, and order the prince to enter the palace immediately to meet him." ”

Less than two hours after the word was handed down, the prince entered the palace.

The emperor summoned the prince alone for questioning, but no one knew what he said. Only the eunuch standing outside faintly heard the sound of the prince choking inside. Although I was curious, I didn't dare to lean over and listen carefully. The emperor is really angry today, and if he moves forward at this time, it will be the old birthday star who eats arsenic and thinks it will take too long.

In the house, the crown prince knelt beside the emperor's bed, his face full of tears: "Father, the emperor is not filial piety, and he shouldn't have mentioned these things in front of you, which made you angry." ”

Although the emperor was angry, he had not yet lost his mind and became angry: "These things were done by your third emperor brother, and you are also deeply burdened, what do you have to do with it?" ”

The prince's heart was secretly refreshed, but there was still a guilty and self-reproachful expression on his face: "It's the incompetence of the sons." Although he became the crown prince, he was mediocre. It is inevitable that the third emperor brother will be dissatisfied with me......"

The emperor snorted coldly: "Whether the talent is mediocre or not, it's not him who has the final say." I think you are kind-hearted and have the demeanor of a prince. I used to look away, thinking he was better than you. Now it seems that he is simply a disloyal, unfilial and bold thing, and it is ridiculous that such a person also wants to covet the throne! ”

That's a great scolding! Keep scolding!

The crown prince did not intercede for the third prince again. It's too much, it's too much, and it makes people feel hypocritical. Therefore, he maintained a distressed look and listened to the emperor angrily scolding the three princes. But he secretly sneered in his heart, Zhao Zhang, Zhao Zhang, I see how long you can be proud!

……

The next day, the third prince was summoned to the palace.

The emperor sat expressionlessly on the dragon couch, his eyes cold. Even in the midst of illness, the bearing and coercion are still overwhelming.

The third prince sighed in his heart, and faintly had a bad premonition. Sure enough, before he could say goodbye, the emperor's anger swept over: "I really gave birth to a good son!" ”

The body of the third prince was completely automatic and spontaneous, and he immediately knelt down and pleaded guilty: "Please let my father calm his anger!" ”

"Anger?" The emperor sneered: "How can you let me calm my anger?" If I come to ask you personally, if you dare to have half a word of falsehood today, I will immediately let you lead Concubine Zheng to Fandi. From now on, I will never be allowed to return to Beijing! (To be continued......)