On August 11, the seventh year of the Apocalypse (1627 AD), Wei Zhongxian went out of the palace to worship his ancestors.

Zhang Yan seized the opportunity, and while informing Zhu Youzhen to enter the palace, he immediately rushed to the Qianqing Palace.

The little eunuch stopped Zhang Yan: "Queen Mother, the emperor is resting, and it is inconvenient to see guests." ”

"Fart, what kind of guest is this palace? The main palace is the emperor's wife, the queen of the main palace. Zhang Yan pushed the little eunuch away.

The little eunuch stumbled and almost fell in front of the palace gate, but he reacted very quickly, stood up, and opened his arms to stop Zhang Yan: "Niangniang, the emperor is resting, he hasn't rested for several days." ”

"The emperor's health is not safe, and he needs to be taken care of by the palace." Zhang Yan was mighty, and her voice was like a lion's roar.

The little eunuch cried with a sad face: "Niangniang, you really can't go in." The mother is going in, and the minion's head is gone. ”

Zhang Yan was angry: "Are you afraid of Wei Eunuch, aren't you afraid of this palace?" Even Wei Biao knows that there are still ancestors, so doesn't this palace want to be human? She pulled out the short sword she carried with her: "This is the Imperial Phoenix Sword, which can be slashed first and then played." ”

The little eunuch stepped aside: "Then Niangniang hurry up, and the slave can cover up." ”

"Get out, this palace is visiting the emperor, what are you talking about? If you don't roll, this skill will kill your dog first. Zhang Yan raised the phoenix sword, saw that the little eunuch had escaped, and kicked again, although he didn't kick it, his anger was much smoother.

The little eunuch trotted, probably reporting to Wei Zhongxian.

Zhang Yan straightened her clothes and slowly walked into the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youzhen received Zhang Yan's notice and immediately rushed to the Qianqing Palace. The little eunuch of the Qianqing Palace was scolded by Zhang Yan, and there was no one to stop him all the way, and he came directly to Zhu Youxiao's dormitory.

Zhu Youxiao lay quietly on the bed, not seeing the sun for more than half a year, his face was terrifyingly white, and his eyeballs were also deeply sunken in his eye sockets.

"Brother Zhu Youzhen see the imperial brother." Zhu Youzhen knelt in front of Zhu Youxiao's bed, and his heart was not good. It has only been less than a year, and Zhu Youxiao is about to run out of oil, and as long as the breeze blows, it may be completely extinguished at any time.

Although Zhu Youxiao is not his own brother, he is wrong with himself and loves him very much, even if he repeatedly does things that violate the ancestral system, he also comes from his own nonsense and never scolds him.

Zhu Youzhen didn't dare to shed tears, for fear that his tears would affect Zhu Youxiao's sadness.

"Come, my brother should be Yao Shun." Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up for a moment, and it was less than two seconds.

Zhu Youzhen was shocked: "The younger brother is a capital crime." What does 陛xià say? The minister should die. "What Yao Shun means, anyone with a discerning eye knows. Zhu Youzhen didn't know if Zhu Youxiao was testing himself, he just kowtowed vigorously to apologize.

"What ten thousand deaths? My brother should live well. Zhu Youxiao was already weak, his voice was getting lower and lower, and he felt extremely tired just after saying two words, and he had already closed his eyes to recuperate.

"The royal brother is in his prime, and he should work for the country." Zhu Youzhen lay on the ground, not daring to move.

Zhu Youxiao had already let out a slight snoring sound, obviously asleep. Zhu Youzhen didn't know what to do, get up, the emperor didn't agree; If you don't get up, you can't stand it when you kneel on your knees.

"Fifth brother, get up!" Empress Zhang Yan fluttered out from behind the screen.

"The younger brother knocks to see the imperial sister-in-law." Zhu Youzhen saluted Zhang Yan again, and then got up, "The younger brother doesn't know that the imperial sister-in-law is here." ”

"Fifth brother, the matter is urgent, and I don't care about etiquette. After listening to the emperor's words just now, why didn't the fifth brother agree? Seeing Zhu Youzhen, Zhang Yan was rarely without joy, and there was still a resentment on her face.

"Imperial sister-in-law, imperial brother, he ......" Zhu Youzhen gestured to Zhu Youxiao with his eyes.

"The fifth brother doesn't know anything, your imperial brother is ...... Days are numbered. Zhang Yan's eyes suddenly turned red, she lowered her head, avoiding Zhu Youzhen's gaze, "Your imperial brother already knows the condition of his body, and the fifth brother must not refuse." Now I don't know how many people are staring at the emperor. If the fifth brother can't take on the heavy responsibility of the society, the Ming Dynasty may fall into a catastrophe and never recover......"

Only then did Zhu Youzhen be convinced that Zhu Youxiao's words just now were true, and it turned out that he was the emperor in this situation.

"Sister-in-law, what am I going to do now?" Zhu Youxiao has no heirs, and Zhang Yan has nothing to do, so it is natural for him to become the emperor. But he has no supporters in the DPRK and China, and he has no influence group of his own. And Wei Zhongxian, whether in the inner court or the outer court, is in power, this emperor is afraid that it will not be easy to be.

"Fifth brother, first, you must protect yourself, don't believe his words; Second, stay in Beijing and inquire about information at any time. ”

At this time, Zhu Youxiao woke up leisurely, he opened his eyes, and found that Zhu Youzhen was still there, and Zhang Yan also came out from behind the screen. He suddenly remembered something, "After the fifth brother inherits the unification, I still have two things to explain, otherwise I will not be able to turn a blind eye." ”

Zhu Youzhen knelt down in front of Zhu Youxiao's bed: "The courtiers listen to the teachings of the imperial brother. ”

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Zhang Yan, "The middle palace is virtuous, knows how to do things, knows etiquette, and my brother must treat the queen well." ”

"Yes, Brother Huang, Brother Chen must treat his sister-in-law well." No matter Zhang Yan's love for him in the past, or his support and help now, Zhu Youzhen will definitely treat Zhang Yan well.

He glanced at Zhang Yan, Zhang Yan was lowering her head because of shyness, and her face was not wavering, but she suddenly flew over and disappeared.

Zhu Youxiao pointed at Zhang Yan and barely squeezed out a smile, although this smile looked a little terrifying because of the deformation of the muscles on his face, it could still be seen that he really loved Zhang Yan.

Zhu Youxiao finally lowered his weak arm and breathed for a while, "Although Zhongxian has been suspicious of his foreign ministers, he has always been loyal, and my brother must also treat Zhongxian well." ”

Be kind to the Loyal and Virtuous? This eunuch has made the court miserable, and even his own net worth and life are threatened. Once he ascends the throne, the first thing to be eliminated is this gelding, how can he be reused?

Zhu Youzhen was still slandering in his abdomen, and a red embroidered shoe reached out next to him and kicked Zhu Youzhen's ass lightly.

No need to ask, these embroidered shoes must be Zhang Yan's. Zhu Youzhen secretly squinted his eyes, and sure enough, he saw Zhang Yan signaling to him with his eyes.

He suddenly woke up and quickly kowtowed: "The younger brother listens to the teachings of the imperial brother, is loyal to the royal family, and is very familiar with the government and politics, and the younger brother will definitely reuse him." ”

Only then did Zhu Youxiao close his eyes with satisfaction, tilt his head, and fall asleep again.

"Fifth brother, let's go back first! There's me here. The fifth brother is outside, and he must prepare early, the emperor may ...... at any time" Zhu Youxiao is already dying, and now he has fallen into a deep coma, Zhang Yan no longer avoids suspicion, she stepped forward and held Zhu Youzhen's big hand: "The people are peaceful, the country is stable, and the royal family will live forever. ”

Zhu Youzhen saluted Zhang Yan again, and then silently withdrew from Zhu Youxiao's dormitory.

In the outer hall, Zhu Youzhen met the eunuch Wang Chengen. "Cheng'en, why are you here?"

"Back to Your Highness, it was the queen mother who transferred the minions. Not only the minions, but even Xu Yingyuan, Cao Huachun, Fang Zhenghua, and Zhang Yixian also entered the palace. said that he wanted to take care of the emperor. ”

It turned out to be Zhang Yan! She used the power of the queen to install the people of the palace in the Qianqing Palace to prepare for her future accession to the throne. "The mother has a heart. Cheng En, and Ying Yuan and they talked, everything should be more careful. Do you know the Queen's intentions? ”

"Back to His Highness, the servants understand, and Ying Yuan and they also understand. We will do our best to respond to His Highness in the palace. "Wang Chengen, they don't have any foundation in the palace, and they can't actually do anything. Now I can only get close to the little eunuchs in the palace and listen to some information.

That night, Zhu Youxiao woke up again, saw only Zhang Yan in front of the bed, and asked in surprise, "What about the fifth brother?" ”

"The fifth brother has already gone back. After all, this is the inner palace, and the fifth brother came to see the emperor, and it has been a long time, and it is inconvenient. Zhang Yan sat at the head of Zhu Youxiao's bed and gently tidied Zhu Youxiao's messy hair.

"Inconvenience? Brother to brother. Doesn't the queen understand what I mean? Zhu Youxiao stretched out his thin fingers and stroked Zhang Yan's tender hand that was taking care of his hair.

In front of Zhu Youxiao, Zhang Yan has always been unwavering, for fear that her every move will affect Zhu Youxiao's feelings. Now listening to Zhu Youxiao's words, his face can't help but turn red. But she didn't want to ask anything more.

"Queen, this day, I have been in a coma many times, and it is not a thing. Tomorrow I will summon the cabinet, and I will make it clear to them, so that they will not cause trouble for the fifth brother to ascend to the throne in the future. Zhu Youxiao was panting, and his voice was like a gossamer, which could break at any time.

"The concubine will arrange it tomorrow. Majesty should rest more and stop talking. Zhang Yan had already arranged the last strand of Zhu Youxiao's hair, and leaned against Zhu Youxiao's bedside.

Zhu Youxiao slowly closed his eyes. It's not how obedient he is, it's his body that already makes it impossible for him to bear the pressure of the air when he speaks.

On 12 August, Zhu Youxiao summoned the cabinet.

Zhang Yan and Wei Zhongxian are there. At such an important moment, both sides refused to budge, and the result was stayed.

"Wait for the ministers to see Your Majesty! Long live Maha Bla, Hooray! The cabinet, under the leadership of the first assistant Huang Liji, unanimously knelt down in front of Zhu Youxiao's bed. Zhang Yan had already reminded her in advance, so they were not loud, for fear of shocking Zhu Youxiao.

Zhu Youxiao barely opened his eyes, and saw that it was Huang Liji, Shi Fenglai, Zhang Ruitu, Li Guopu, and Lai Zongdao, and then he remembered that he had said about summoning the cabinet last night.

He had a thousand words to confess to the cabinet, but his poor health no longer allowed him to speak at length: "I summoned King Xin yesterday, and I was very happy, and I felt ......a little peaceful," he tilted his head and fell asleep again.

Zhang Yan waited for a while, but didn't see Zhu Youxiao wake up, so she had to avoid suspicion and stepped forward to speak: "Elder pavilion, do you understand what the emperor means?" ”

"The ministers obey the emperor's instructions!" Huang Liji had long calculated that the emperor was a great deal, and Zhu Youzhen, the king of letters, was the best candidate to inherit the unification. King Xin succeeded to the throne, and the county kings everywhere had no reason to come to Beijing. If King Shin could not inherit the throne and instead chose a person from among the clan kings, there was a risk of strife and the country in danger of falling into civil strife. Now when the emperor talks about summoning King Xin, he doesn't talk about passing on the throne, but Huang Liji automatically equates the two.

Zhang Ruitu and Li Guopu also kowtowed, which can be regarded as agreeing with Huang Liji's statement.

And Shi Fenglai and Lai Zongdao glanced at Wei Zhongxian, and found that Wei Zhongxian was silent, so they bowed their heads and kowtowed.

Zhang Yan saw this qiē in her eyes. Seeing that the cabinet had already understood and agreed with the emperor's meaning, Zhang Yan said again: "Cabinet elders, since you understand the emperor's intentions, then kneel down!" The emperor needs to rest. ”