In July of the forty-first year of Zhongmiao, a long era ended, and the emperor of Dachu died that night after suffering from many years of illness, with a life span of fifty-eight years, and reigned for forty-one years, and was called Emperor Wu. The thirty-three-year-old crown prince succeeded to the throne in front of his bed, kneeling in front of him the five ministers appointed by the first emperor to take care of his life, and a dozen chamberlains prostrate on either side.

A month later, Emperor Wu was buried in the mausoleum, and the new emperor officially ascended the throne, and like the ancestors, he selected a word from the Tao Te Ching, and named it "Xianghe".

As is customary, the new era name is not officially introduced until the first month of the following year, and the remaining months of the year still belong to the old emperor, who has already been buried in the earth, but the new emperor can't wait to set things right, cancel a large number of decrees, release hordes of prisoners, denounce the well-known traitors, and promote the bony ministers who have been wronged......

Of course, the Great Chu was founded on filial piety, and in every public will of the new emperor, he had to praise Emperor Wu's merits with a series of beautiful and symmetrical words, and then point out a little flaw and regret, and correct it with sincere fear.

During the reign of Emperor Wu, Da Chu entered a prosperous era, no one can deny this, but this prosperous era lasted too long, like an extremely luxurious banquet, and the participants had to do whatever they wanted, but there were always times when they were tired and tired, and in the face of more wine and beauties, they couldn't raise their interest, and they just wanted to fall asleep on their own beds.

The new emperor didn't have time to sleep, he had been holding back for too long, and he wanted to clean up the mess as soon as possible.

It's a pity that heaven did not fulfill people's wishes, and after giving Da Chu an emperor who reigned for forty-one years and an unprecedented prosperity, it also slackened off and neglected to take care of the successor to the throne.

In September of the third year of Xianghe, the new emperor, who was only 36 years old, died, and was nicknamed Emperor Huan, leaving orphans and widows and a new court created by grass - it is not an exaggeration to say that it was a mess.

Fortunately, Emperor Huan has a prince who has the destiny of heaven, and no one can fight for it, and the ministers appointed by Emperor Wu are still there, which is enough to maintain the dynasty.

The little emperor was fifteen years old, since he was a child, he was loved by his grandfather Emperor Wu and his father Emperor Huan, and was personally taught and taught by the most well-known scholar in the world.

But God has not yet woken up from slackness, only five months later, at the end of February of the first year of success, the spring breeze suddenly rose, the snow did not melt, the little emperor suddenly contracted a serious illness, three days later at night, followed the first emperor and left, leaving no heirs.

In less than four years, three emperors died one after another.

It was nearly midnight, less than half an hour before the death of the little emperor, Yang Feng, the servant of Zhongchang, staggered out of the emperor's dormitory, running alone in the deep alley, his heart was pounding, a layer of fine sweat oozed from his body, and he gasped for breath, as if he had just escaped death.

Yang Feng's destination is the Empress Dowager's dormitory, the news of his death has already come out, so he is not going to deliver the letter, but to have another plan, he has already regretted that he set off too late, but he must be loyal at the last moment in front of the emperor he brought up.

Yang Feng is one of the very few people who can run around the palace at will, and soon arrived at the queen mother's bedroom, several eunuchs guarding the door watched him run into the palace, no one came forward to stop him, but there were more than ten eunuchs in the courtyard, they were not so easy to talk, and when they saw Yang Feng, they immediately hugged him, raised his arms, and pushed outward.

Yang Feng shouted: "Queen Mother! Be faced with imminent disaster! The catastrophe is coming......"

A eunuch ripped off the purse around his waist and stuffed it all into Yang Feng's mouth.

Yang Feng was outnumbered, and he was about to be taken out of the queen mother's bedroom, and a person walked out of the east wing, "Stop." He said, the voice was not very loud, but it was very effective, and the eunuchs who were doing it stopped and slowly put Yang Feng down.

Yang Feng spit out what was in his mouth, pushed away the people around him, and strode towards the east wing despite the muscle aches, his heart full of contempt and fighting spirit.

The speaker under the corridor was a young eunuch, just over twenty years old, wearing a small green coat and hat common in the palace, very slim and fitted, obviously carefully tailored, with a trace of sadness on his face, even more calm and handsome.

This person's name is Zuo Ji, a small waiter in the Queen Mother's bedroom, Yang Feng doesn't want to guess at will, but he really hopes to pull out a few strands of beard from Zuo Ji's body.

Yang Feng stared at Zuo Ji's chin and said bluntly: "I have something important, and I must meet the Queen Mother immediately." ”

Zuo Ji smiled and said, "Please, we have been waiting for Yang Gong for a long time." ”

Yang Feng took a deep breath and a smile appeared on his face, "Oh? It turned out that I was late. ”

In Yang Feng's eyes, Zuo Ji is a well-informed mongrel, embarrassing all the eunuchs, and also an embroidered pillow, except for being contemptible, there is not much threat for the time being, and his real enemy is in the east wing.

Zuo Ji suddenly took two steps forward, grabbed Yang Feng's arm, and asked quietly, "You have always been by Your Majesty's side, what did he say to you?" ”

Yang Feng glanced at him a few times, "Your Majesty has long been unconscious...... What do you think Your Majesty will say? ”

Zuo Ji let go of his hand, smiled, and immediately felt that something was wrong, and showed a sad face, "I thought...... His Majesty will mention the Queen Mother. ”

Yang Feng shook off Zuo Ji, the matter was prioritized, and he didn't want to raise any doubts now.

Jing Yao, the supervisor of the Central Division, stood in the room and greeted Yang Feng.

Jing Yao is the highest-ranking eunuch in the palace, a few years older than Yang Feng, and has served three emperors successively, and is about to usher in a fourth. In the past ten years, Yang Feng has served the imperial grandson wholeheartedly, watching his master become the crown prince and emperor step by step, and holding the master's hand at the last moment, feeling the temperature and power disappear together.

"Yang Changshi, you shouldn't have come here." Jing Yao was short and chubby, with a kind face, if he wasn't wearing the costume of a eunuch, he looked like a kind old woman.

"It's a very bad thing, I can't control so many rules, I'm here to save everyone's lives." Yang Bong refused to salute his superiors.

Jing Yao's smile was like a lion that had just swallowed a sheep yawning, vicious, but very sincere, "Trespassing into the Queen Mother's dormitory without a call, Yang Gong, this is a capital crime." ”

Zuo Ji stood at the door and sighed silently, his position was very secure, and he could not compete for power like a vicious dog.

Yang Feng looked left and right, "Where is the Queen Mother?" ”

Jing Yao showed Qi Rong, "Your Majesty is unfortunately feasting, and the Queen Mother is overwhelmed with grief...... Yang Gong, shouldn't you stay with Your Majesty at this time? ”

Yang Feng ignored Jingyao and turned to face Zuo Ji, knowing that this person was the only bridge between himself and the Empress Dowager, "Which prince did the Empress Dowager decide to choose to succeed him?" ”

As soon as Yang Feng's words fell, the kindness on Jing Yao's face was swept away, and he jumped in front of Yang Feng in one step, and said sharply: "Bold minion, is this kind of thing also something you can say?" ”

Yang Feng turned sideways, still facing Zuo Ji, "The Queen Mother is in danger, the court is in turmoil, Zuo Gong, as the Queen Mother's attendant, shoulders the heavy responsibility of the world, would you like to listen to a word of advice?" ”

Zuo Ji looked a little surprised, as if he didn't expect that he would be taken so seriously, and said uncertainly: "At this time...... The Queen Mother should indeed listen to a few words of advice. ”

Jing Yao stepped aside, his resentful gaze shooting to the floor and bounced towards Yang Feng.

Yang Feng slowly took a breath, if trespassing into the Empress Dowager's palace was a capital crime, every word he was going to say next was enough to provoke the disaster of extermination, "The emperor still has two younger brothers, who were sent out of the palace three years ago, but someone went to welcome them into the palace?" ”

Jing Yao interjected: "I thought it was some kind of great 'anti-ear advice', but it turned out that it was just like that, I had already made arrangements to pick up the two princes early tomorrow morning." ”

"It's too late until tomorrow!" Yang Feng raised his voice, "The ministers of the DPRK and China will take the lead and elect a new emperor from among the two princes, and what is left for the queen mother is just a false name." As for the three of us, we will all become traitors hated by everyone, and it is not enough to thank the world if we don't kill them. ”

Jing Yao snorted, "Your Majesty's banquet has been less than half an hour, and it is impossible for the ministers of the DPRK and Central China to make a move so quickly. ”

Indeed, the Emperor had been ill for only three days, and even the most skilled imperial physician could not have expected the disease to develop so rapidly.

Yang Feng lowered his voice and said to Zuo Ji: "Does the Queen Mother believe in everyone around her? ”

Zuo Ji's face changed slightly, "What does Yang Gong mean?" ”

"Eunuchs can't be trusted." Yang Feng himself is a eunuch, but he still has to say this, "We are vines, we are born to be attached to a big tree, and if a big tree falls, we have to find another one, and I believe that someone has already passed the news to the ministers outside the palace." ”

Jing Yao shook his head, "Impossible, no one has the guts to do this, and the palace guards are strict......"

Zuo Ji was not so calm, he had never experienced such a big thing, "I, I'm going to see the Queen Mother." ”

Zuo Ji left in a hurry, Jing Yao's amiable face was full of anger, and he roared in a low voice: "Your big tree has fallen, and it is too late to change a big tree at this time." ”

Yang Feng looked at Jing Yao coldly, "You should thank me." ”

"Thank you? Just because you said a useless nonsense? The ministers of the DPRK and China are scattered, and they will never dare to establish a new monarch without permission. You are deliberately alarmist, nothing more than trying to gain the trust of the Queen Mother. ”

"The ministers of the DPRK and China are not always scattered, especially when dealing with people like us. Jing Gong, you should read a little history book somewhat. ”

Jing Yao's dough-like white face turned red in an instant, and after a while, he said, "Yang Gong must have read a lot of books, can you predict how he died?" ”

The two eunuchs glared at each other like swordsmen preparing for a duel.

Zuo Ji soon returned, and with him came the imperial concubine Shangguan, whose appearance immediately dissolved the tension in the living room.

Shangguan Imperial Concubine is the queen mother's own sister, can represent the queen mother herself, she sat on the chair without saying a word, there are no maids by her side, after accepting the three eunuchs to kneel, she thought for a while, took out the paper from her sleeve, and said: "The queen mother has drawn up an edict, you immediately go to welcome the two princes into the palace." ”

Jing Yao wanted to say something, but the words came to his mouth and swallowed back.

Emperor Shangguan thought for a while and continued to assign tasks, "Duke Jing, you have to go to meet the King of the East China Sea, Duke Yang-"

Yang Feng immediately stood up, "I am willing to stay in the palace and run for the Queen Mother, and I still have some words to say to the Queen Mother." ”

Shangguan Imperial Concubine shook her head, "Don't rush other things first, there is Lao Yang Gong to greet another prince." ”

Yang Feng was stunned, he had just won a battle, and in the blink of an eye, he turned from victory to defeat. At present, the situation is delicate, and staying by the Queen Mother's side is the best choice, but this position only belongs to Zuo Ji, and the second choice is to meet the King of the East China Sea, but it is another prince who is assigned to him - the prince who has not even had a king title so far.

Yang Feng had no choice but to respectfully accept the order.

The two eunuchs began to compete, Yang Feng ran towards the gate of the dormitory, and Jing Yao beckoned his men in the courtyard. Two quarters of an hour later, Yang Feng gathered his entourage and met Jing Yao and his gang at the Dongqing Gate of the Imperial Palace.

Jing Yao walked to Yang Feng's side and said in a low voice: "Congratulations to Yang Gong, welcome your son as emperor, this credit is not small." ”

When he said the word "ruzi", Jing Yao accentuated his tone, because this was the nickname of another prince.

"You should really read a little more history books." Yang Feng said coldly, as long as he didn't die, he refused to admit that the defeat was decided, and no matter what was assigned to him, he had to make good use of it.

(The new book is getting started, with a chapter released every day between 8-9 a.m. this month, and a small break in early April.) ）