It's already spring: the month, and the weather is hotter than the next. Although at 10 o'clock in the night, the temperature dropped slightly. But everyone was still wearing thin jackets. I don't feel cold either.

The doors and windows of the house had to be opened, and when you looked out from the inside, the sky was full of brilliant stars, set like jewels.

The long star shines on Kyushu, and although it is far above the sky, it seems to be close at hand.

The three major ministers of the Zhengde Dynasty's cabinet, Yang Tinghe, Mao Ji and Jiang Mian, sat precariously and quietly looked at the inner room, as if waiting for something.

As soon as Guo Xunwang, Marquis of Wuding, walked to the door, he was overwhelmed by this solemn atmosphere.

He stood in the doorway, coughing softly. Said: "Minister Guo Xun asks to see Your Majesty." ”

Hearing Guo Xun's voice, the three major ministers of the Zhengde Dynasty raised their eyes and glanced outside at the same time, and then retracted their gazes.

"Come in, your majesty can't see people, Guo Hou is only afraid that he will have to run for nothing." Sun Dan's voice came from inside, and the voice was neither sad nor joyful. It's as calm as a clear water.

Guo Xun traveled a long way to enter the palace, and his breath was undecided. He walked in and sat down in a chair, feeling very hot. The vest was also wet and uncomfortable.

The room was very large, and a few candles swayed in the night wind, making it look very empty and a little dark. There was no one else in the room except for the three major ministers, and even the great eunuch Bi Yun, who was stationed here, was nowhere to be seen.

The three prime ministers are all neatly dressed and have majestic expressions. When it came to that, Sun Dan was standing in the middle of the room dressed in cloth, looking leisurely and standing out.

It is not surprising that Sun Dan appeared on such an occasion, Guo Xun is a think tank invited by the emperor to handle household affairs for him, which is already an open secret of the Zhengde Dynasty. Of course. This is also known only to a few people. Today, the emperor does not see any foreign ministers. No one knows whether he is alive or dead, Sun Dan is by the side of the Son of Heaven, and only this person knows best what the Son of Heaven says and does.

Therefore. Even though Sun Dan's identity is very different from Guo Xun's, Guo Xun still nodded at him politely: "How is Your Majesty's body, is there any will?" ”

Sun Dan: "Your Majesty is fine, Guo Hou don't worry." At that time, there will naturally be a holy decree for all the elders and adults. ”

When the words fell, Mao Ji roared in a low voice: "Sun Dan." What power do you have to stop us from seeing Your Majesty? He was an old man in his fifties, with a gray beard, but he still had a fiery temper, and his huge head shook as he spoke.

Sun Dan smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty is not in good health and needs to recuperate." He doesn't see the minister, what can we do? Sun Dan is just a cloth cloth, so naturally he doesn't dare to block Mao's way. However, if it really disturbs His Majesty. Are you and I in our hearts and forbearance? ”

Mao Jiteng stood up: "Your Majesty has not been to the court for a few months, and the major affairs of the court have been ignored, how can it go on like this?" No matter what today, Mao has to see His Majesty, who dares to stop me. "Finished speaking. I'm going to go to the back room. Sun Dan opened his arms. "Mao Xiang, please respect yourself."

"Get out of the way!" Mao Ji roared like a lion: "Sun Dan, I warn you, national affairs are not child's play. What kind of identity do you dare to stand in our way? You traitor! ”

Sun Dan's expression remained unchanged. Still with his arms wide open.

Yang Tinghe, who had not spoken, suddenly sighed: "Mao Xiang, do you still want to see Your Majesty?" Your Majesty doesn't want to see you and me, so naturally he has a reason, so why should we, who are human ministers, make it difficult for the saints? The Son of Heaven has his own considerations. This is a king of steel. After many years, don't you still understand? ”

Mao Ge had no choice but to stop and called softly: "Yang Fu."

"Since you call me Fu, I have to say some things." Yang Tinghe's face was sad: "Mao Xiang, don't you still understand?" Your Majesty didn't see you and me for what? You and I shouldn't have been here in the first place. Instead of wasting time here, think more about what to do in the future. He stretched out his thin fingers to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes, and his heart was more and more sure of Mao Ji's previous inference.

In the afternoon, Mao Ji rushed to him, saying that Zhengde probably didn't succeed when he got the news, and asked him and Jiang Mian to go to the leopard room to ask about Zhengde's future.

Mao Ji's thoughts, Yang Tinghe naturally understood. Mao and Qingzhou have an inexplicable relationship. After Zhengde's death, the throne was in vain, and it was understandable that he was eager.

Mao Ji's voice became louder: "What will I do in the future?" What else can I do? It is said that the Son of Heaven has been in a coma for a day and a night, and it is estimated that he will not be able to invite him. A few of us are ministers. should also think about the country and the society, and have to stay by His Majesty's side. When the saint wakes up, there are some things that still need to be asked clearly. He sneered and looked at Sun Dan: "It gives the villain a chance." ”

Sun Dan naturally knew what Mao Ji was thinking. He is a teacher in Pingqiuli, and it is estimated that he also got the news of Zhengde's death, so he ran over to ask for the edict. The succession to the throne is related to the lives of many people, and Old Man Mao naturally refuses to relax.

The most important thing Sun Dan should do is to remain silent. He was mixed in with the courtiers. The identity is embarrassing, and it is difficult to say anything, so he only looked at Yang Tinghe: "Yang Xiang, Your Majesty is a generation of Ming Jun, he can naturally think of what you think, and he can think of what you can't think of." It's okay to be a courtier and wait at home, and it doesn't matter if you come here to make trouble and disturb Your Majesty, but there is a suspicion of coercing the king, but this is not the duty of being a courtier. ”

"Coercion? It's ridiculous. Who coerced whom, you villain! Mao Ji clenched his fists, and his face turned red from excitement.

When Yang Tinghe heard Sun Dan's words, his heart was relieved. He had also had a conversation with Sun Dan before. As the cabinet assistant of the Zhengde Dynasty, he should first consider how to stabilize the situation in the court. Let the transition between the old and new dynasties go smoothly without causing major turmoil. Therefore, he once asked Sun Dan to do the ideological work of being the emperor, so that the major events of the succession to the throne could be decided earlier. Now listen to Sun Dan's meaning. It was as if the emperor had already made a will. In this way, Yang Ting and a heart hanging in mid-air landed.

He glanced at Sun Dan gratefully, wanting to reaffirm this, but saw Sun Dan with a trace of sadness in his eyes.

It seems that the emperor will never get up again. Yang Tinghe sighed, and his eyes turned red. He stood up: "Let's go, let's go back to the Xiyuan cabinet and wait, and then there will naturally be a holy decree." Ay. Today is not in vain. ”

"Oh, I'm leaving." The auxiliary minister Jiang Mian who came with him was an old man in his seventies. If you don't have enough energy, you'll be tired for a long time. No matter how noisy it is in the house. He closed his eyes and pretended to sleep when he heard Yang's mouth. Bad words. He opened his eyes. Reveal the cabinet and the confused god cooks! "Okay, I can't stand it, so I'd better go back to bed early."

Mao Ji was so angry that he almost laughed out loud: "Jiang Xiang! ”

Yang Tinghe snorted suddenly, and his expression became majestic: "Mao Xiang, let's go!" He walked towards the door, Jiang Mian was already sitting impatiently here, and when he got this opportunity, he naturally walked fast, or went back to the duty room earlier and stared at him for a while.

How could Mao Ji be willing to give up, he stretched out his hand and pushed at Sun Dan: "Get out of the way, get out of the way!" ”

Seeing that he was about to make trouble, Sun Dan suddenly glanced at Guo Xun, "Guo Hou, Your Majesty has a message for you." ”

Guo Xun was taken aback, and hurriedly stepped forward to block in front of Mao Jihe, "Minister Guo Xun listens to the holy scrape." ”

Sun Dan: "Guo Hou, Your Majesty said that you should go to the back garden to listen to the instructions." Still, you see, I can't leave here. Guo Xun nodded and said to Mao Ji: "Mao Xiang, you better go back to the duty room first, anyway, Xiyuan is not a few steps away from here, what are you anxious about?" ”

Mao Ji knew that Pingqiu was doing Guo Xun's work during this time, and this guy didn't know what he thought, so he had no attitude at all. However, before the big thing is decided. But it's not easy to offend.

He thought for a moment and walked towards the door angrily: "Yuanfu, Jiang Xiang, wait for me." ”

When the three ministers left the house, Guo Xun, who had just watched the excitement and was stunned and interesting, grinned silently, and immediately restrained his smile, and said politely to Sun indifferently: "Mr. Sun, does Your Majesty have any words to come down, and when did you come down?" ”

Sun Dan raised his hand and made a gesture of please: "Say it in the back garden, this is also what Your Majesty meant." ”

There was still not a single eunuch in the back garden, and when they walked here, Guo Xun and Sun Dan's steps were lighter.

There was a small pond in the garden, and on the bank there was a large green maran.

The starlight came down from the sky, and the ground was white, and the courtyard was hazy, except for the faint light from the side of the house.

Guo Xun didn't know why the emperor chose to preach in such a place, and he couldn't help but feel strange in his heart. can wait for Sun Dan's words to be spoken. He immediately froze there.

"Actually, Your Majesty's words came down the day before yesterday. He instructed Sun Dan to say these words to you only when he was dying. ”

Guo Xun's tears immediately covered his eyes. The throat choked: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty he"

Sun Dan nodded solemnly: "Only a few or three people know about this matter, that is, it is a matter of the past two days." ”

Guo Xun looked up at the sky, only to feel a chill on his body: "What does Your Majesty have to say to Lao Guo?" ”

Sun Dan's voice became louder: "Command, Guo Xun listens." ”

Guo Xun hurriedly knelt down: "Minister Guo Xun bows to Saint Ann." ”

"Saint Gong'an, Guo Hou get up, Your Majesty said. Let you stand and be obedient. Sun Dan picked up Guo Xun, pointed to the bush of horse orchids beside him, and said, "Your Majesty said that this piece of horse orchids was transplanted to the palace when he and Guo Hou were plugged into the horses. The husband is the relationship between water and soil, and it has not blossomed for so many years, Your Majesty said. If he is gone. Please also ask Guo Hou to move this piece of Malan to your mansion. Take good care of him. His Majesty also said. Fighting on the grassland with Guo Xun was a great joy in life, and I really hope to do it again. ”

"Your Majesty!" Guo Xun cried and screamed, knelt down with a thud, and lay on the ground sobbing.

Sun Dan looked at Guo Xun, who was so sad that he couldn't help himself. sighed: "Guo Hou should get up, Your Majesty said that you will not be allowed to kneel." When I was in the army, everyone met and gave up everything, and there was not so much attention in the military. Although everyone is a monarch and a minister, they scoop food in a horse spoon, which can be regarded as a robe. ”

"Yes, Guo Xun will get up, and someone will move this bush of Ma Lanhua back to the house. At all costs. Gotta get it open for me in June. ”

When Guo Xun stopped his sadness, Sun Dan sighed again: "Guo Hou, Sun Dan has a sentence that I don't know whether to say or not." ”

Guo Xun wiped his face. Said politely: "Mr. Sun, please speak." ”

Sun Dan thought for a while and said: "I heard that Guo Hou inherited the marquis when he was sixteen sharp, and later joined the army in Xuanda, fought against the grassland people for more than ten years, and fought hard from a Taiping marquis. Now the official residence is the second grade. In charge of the security of the nine gates of the capital. can be said to be a first-class brain minister in His Majesty's mind, and Sun Dan admires Hou Ye from the bottom of his heart. It's just that Sun Dan wants to ask, if Guo Hou hadn't been able to get His Majesty's trust at the beginning, would he have come to this point. How did Guo Hou get His Majesty's trust in the first place? ”

When Guo Xun heard this, he was shocked: "Your Majesty treats me with kindness, Guo Xun is naturally honest and hard, and he doesn't dare to slack off." ”

"Well said." Sun Dan looked at Guo Xun quietly: "In addition to the four words of solid work. Actually, the day before yesterday, His Majesty made another comment when he talked about you. ”

Guo Xun held his breath: "Please also ask." ”

Sun Dan: "Your Majesty said that the biggest advantage of Guo Xun is that he obeys orders, but when he has an order, he will carry it out to the letter, and he will not think about other messy things, or even pure people." ”

"Your Majesty!" Guo Xun remembered Zhengde's kindness to him in the past, his heart was sour, and tears came down again.

"Well, my majesty's dictation has been delivered." Sun Dan handed over a handkerchief: "Guo Hou, I heard that there have been many visitors to your house these days!" ”

Guo Xun took the handkerchief and was about to wipe his tears, when he heard it. The right hand froze in mid-air.

Sun Dan said softly: "Actually, this matter can't be hidden from Your Majesty, Guo Hou is now also a pillar of the court, in the future, even if the court situation is turbulent, no matter who it is, you have to rely on Guo Hou to stabilize the chaotic times." Some people are very careful, but they have nothing to do with you and me. Sun, when the time comes, you will go to the imperial examination, what are your plans for Guo Hou? ”

Guo Xun glanced at Sun Dan deeply, and only after a long time did he arch his hand: "Thank you." He could have come to this day, he was a shrewd person, how could he not understand the meaning of Sun Dan's words, after Sun Dan's reminder, his heart suddenly opened up.

Sun Dan also stopped talking, and slowly walked towards the shadows of the flowers and trees with his hands behind his back.

After making trouble in the middle of the night, Guo Xun had no intention of sleeping. He didn't go back to his home, but went straight to the yamen set up in the city in Beijing.

When I returned to the study, there was a caring official who reported: "Lord Hou, there were several groups of guests who came to visit just now, and now they are still waiting in the lobby?" "This person was originally a distant relative of Guo Xun, who had been a housekeeper in Guo Mansion for many years, and now he was released to be an official in the Yamen, and he was Guo Xun's right-hand man.

"Oh, where is the immortal?" Guo Xun's expression changed slightly, and he snorted: "It's really a tree that wants to be quiet and the wind doesn't stop!" ”

The little official smiled: "Just in the evening, Lu Bing from the Gong King's Mansion came to beg. I heard that Hou Ye did not return to Jianwan, the teacher who was running around in the evening, and Pingqiuli came to visit, and I heard that Hou Ye had entered the palace, so he stayed here and did not leave, saying that he had to wait until you came back. ”

Guo Xun sneered loudly, and couldn't help but curse: "What's the matter, why don't you run to Lao Guo here to find trouble, and blast them out for me." ”

The little official was a little embarrassed and whispered: "Master Hou, it's not appropriate to do this, otherwise, I'll go back to them and say Master Hou, you come back with a message." Said to be on duty in the palace. I won't be back to the yamen for the next two days. ”

"Well, that's fine." Guo Xun touched his head and muttered: "Now that the capital is going to make a fuss, what should I do, what should I do?" ”

The little official shouted worriedly: "Master Hou." ”

"I don't know what to do, just cold dressing." Guo Xun laughed: "Sun Dan said it well." No matter who is in charge in the future, Lao Guo and I will always need to maintain the situation, why should I join in this fun. He ***, some people are bent on pulling me to the gambling table, but I am already in a stable winning situation, why should I gamble? Lao Tzu just doesn't go crazy with them. By the way, don't offend Shi Changqing and them too much, this matter will not be in the end, and I don't know the result. ”

"Yes."

"And" waited for the little official to stand still. Guo Xun groaned and said, "It's going to change in the next two days, you prepare a horse for me first, and I will go to the cabinet to guard it immediately." In addition, I will order that the two military camps in Fengtai and Xishan will cancel their vacations, and once they receive my order, they will immediately enter the city to close the nine gates, and the whole city will be under martial law. ”

"Yes. The clerk realized the seriousness of the problem. The vest was full of chills. I didn't dare to ask more. The subordinates carried the pen like flying, wrote down the orders on the paper, and after Guo Xun signed and drew the charge, he carefully put them into his arms.

"Sun Dan said it well, Guo Xun almost missed a big thing." When Guo Xun thought of the consequences, he didn't feel cold in his heart, but he was secretly happy.

When the little official prepared the horse, he didn't delay, and ran to the duty room of the Xiyuan cabinet in one go, and as he expected, the three major cabinet ministers were still there. The man in armor walked out.

Sun Dan was startled, and turned his head to look, but it was Emperor Zhengde, who had been in a coma for two days.

Sun Dan was frightened, and hurriedly gave up his hand: "General, why are you up, still wearing like this?" I'm going to call someone. ”

Zhengde's face was flushed, and his forehead was slightly sweaty. He waved his hand and smiled: "Don't alarm those eunuchs, this is probably the last time Lian is awake, so let me talk to you quietly." ”

Sun Dan's heart was sour, and he shouted in a low voice: "Your Majesty." ”

"Let's call it the General. Even if he died, he had to wear a military uniform and hold a steel knife in his hand. He put his hand on the handle of the Yanling knife: "Talk and laugh about the two monarchs and ministers, a confidant in life and death, Sun Dan." Do you think I'm very calm? ”

"Your Majesty is calm."

Zhengde sat on the rockery by the pond, and pointed to the Ma Lanhua beside him: "Since I transplanted these flowers from the grassland. I haven't seen them open, hehe, when I was on the grassland, my eyes were all blue, and from a distance, it seemed as if the sky and the earth had melted into one place. It's beautiful! ”

As he spoke, Zhengde looked up at the sky. His eyes were shining, and he muttered in his mouth: "Plug the scenery, the grassland outside the mouth, Lian can't go back, Sun Dan, Lian knows that they are waiting for the edict!" ”

"Your Majesty," Sun Dan's tears finally fell.

Zhengde smiled silently: "Write quickly, you, Mr. Sun, have always been calm and calm." Why are you so childlike now? Although we do not have the status of kings and ministers, we do have the reality of kings and ministers. It is a matter of national society and cannot be delayed any longer. Lian already felt that his body was about to stand up. Life is passing by fast, and perhaps, the next moment there will be nothing. ”

"Yes, the minister will write it." Sun Dan hurriedly ran back to the fine house, got a pen and paper, and returned to the edge of the pond:

"Your Majesty. How should I write a minister? ”

"I wrote a joint biography located in Zhu Hou, the eldest son of King Xing. Look at the words and weigh the words. You read, write in pairs. ”

"Yes." Sun Qi hurriedly spread the yellow gun on the rockery in front of Zhengde, and put the pen in his hand.

Ganyan Zhengde's hand was terrifyingly hot.

Zhengde lifted the pen, "Say it." ”

Sun Dan: "The emperor has always ruled the world. It is not impossible not to respect the heavens and the ancestors. Respect for the heavens and the ancestors of the truth of the soft and far-reaching, recuperation of the common people, a total of the four seas for the benefit, the heart of the day for the heart, to protect the state in the future, to rule in the chaos, night and night, sleep, for the long-term national plan, close to it

Zhengde's handwriting has to be too good, and at this moment, it is back to the light, and the writing is fast, and it looks even more sloppy.

"Since the beginning of the Imperial Pole, although I dare not claim to be able to change customs and give people enough home, I have been the master of several generations of Ming Sheng, and I want to make Haiyu level and the people happy. Be cautious and cautious, stay up all night, and never slack off. Decades of hard work. It is like a day, and this is "toil." Can you sum it up in two words? The previous emperors may be immortal. Historical theories generally think that the color of wine is also caused by scholars, and all scholars are good for ridicule, although the king of pure and pure beauty must also pick up flaws. Lianjin is the previous emperor's dissection of the words. The cover is caused by the complexity of the world and the exhaustion. Zhuge Liangyun: "Do your best, and then die" is the only one who can be so heard. If the emperor's shoulders are very heavy, there is nothing to do

，

Zhengde let out a sigh: "The praise is too much." It's too much, it's serious outside, and Lian is just a ridiculous king. ”

Sun Dan's tears fell: "Your Majesty deserves the word Shengming." ”

"It's too much, it's too much." Zhengde sighed: "However, Mr. Sun is really a good writer," Go on." ”

Sun Dan didn't dare to delay any longer, and hurriedly said: "The eldest son of King Xing, the grandson of Xianzong, the son of Xiaozong, and the younger brother of Lianzhi, the order should be established." Jilian ascended the throne. That is, the emperor's throne, that is, obeying the public opinion system, holding the service for 27 days. The release proclamation is known at home and abroad, and the salty envoy knows about it.

March 4, 16th year of Zhengde, son. ”

Zhengde put down his pen: "Good article, good article." For a long time, Lian has only read Mr. Sun's words and poems, and before he died, he finally saw Mr. Sun's serious words. ”