Hangzhou City, inside the Imperial Palace.

It has been more than half a month since the emperor returned to the city. However, he always said that he was sick and refused to go to the court, but he just ordered Wan Hansheng to be Liu Zongyan's replacement, and as the prime minister, he was the prime minister of the affairs of the central government, and he had the power of life and death for officials below the fifth rank without asking for instructions. This decision immediately aroused the dissatisfaction of many officials in the DPRK and China. All of a sudden, all kinds of voices spread all over the government and the opposition, and all kinds of voices questioned this "unqualified" bad old man for taking on this important task.

However, the emperor turned a deaf ear, and after delegating power, he let Wan Hansheng handle the matter himself. After Wan Hansheng decisively exiled several senior ministers, he finally suppressed his voice.

The rest of the ministers dared to be angry and did not dare to speak, at first they thought that the emperor was returning from the expedition to Song Shicheng in vain, so they did not want to go to the court to meet people, and when the emperor came to the court, he naturally knew what Wan Hansheng had done, and he would naturally be cleaned up when the time came. This time, however, they were disappointed. waited again and again, but the emperor did not have the slightest intention of going to court.

Later, it wasn't until one of the surviving Du Yu Marquis in the imperial expedition team told the truth that they realized that the emperor was not pretending to be sick, but really sick, and the illness was not light. A group of old ministers bribed the chamberlains of the harem, and learned from them that the emperor was now bedridden and in danger. At this moment, they are in a hurry, the emperor is seriously ill, the crown prince has not been established, and the power in the court has fallen into the hands of Wan Hansheng. Isn't there another turmoil in the days of the first emperor?

In this way, the imperial court was divided into three factions, one was the prime minister's faction headed by Wan Hansheng, the other was the neutral faction, and a group of people decided to win over Yang Fan, who had returned to Bianjing, and use him to fight against Wan Hansheng. Because, now the power has fallen into the hands of Wan Hansheng, but the military power is respected by Yang Fan.

The expedition to Emperor Song Shicheng did not make any contributions, but it made Yang Fan. The Great Song Dynasty lost its troops, but Yang Fan monopolized the miraculous feats, and Yue Shaoan was defeated in the hands of Yang Fan, which caused Yang Fan's prestige in the army to soar to the extreme. Although those who know the inside story understand that Yang Fan is a fluke. With Yue Shao'an only bringing 2,000 people, using an army of 50,000 to surround and kill him seemed to be invincible. But the soldiers are not tired of deceit, and victory is victory. No matter how much others excuse Yue Shao'an, they can't change this fact.

Just when the government and the opposition were in turmoil, and someone proposed to let Yang Fan lead troops into Hangzhou City to contain Wan Hansheng, another edict came out of the palace. As soon as this edict was given, it was like a boulder falling into the water of a lake, and a stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the bureaucrats who had gradually formed the system once again became a pot of porridge and stirred up nonsense.

The content of the edict is actually very simple, that is, the emperor's son, who is not yet one year old, will be appointed as the crown prince. The emperor is now in his prime, only in his thirties, and not yet forty years old. What does it mean to be crowned a prince at this time, and to be a child under the age of one? Although no one asserts it, but speculates about the situation, many people already think that the emperor is about to die, and this is to seek a way out for their own country.

For a while, people were panicked, because not long ago, the Jin soldiers went south again, Yang Fan was defending against the enemy in Bianjing City, and the two sides were deadlocked. For example, the sixteen states of Yanyun, which have been lost for more than two hundred years, were originally dedicated by Emperor Shi Jingjiao to his Khitan godfather, who was more than ten years younger than him, and was controlled by the Khitan. It was finally taken back by Yue Shao'an, but at this moment, it fell into the hands of the Jin people.

The Great Song Dynasty once again lost the danger of relying on defense, originally after Yue Shao'an's northern expedition, the border between the Great Song Dynasty and the Jin State has reached the generation of Tangshan-Fengning-Zhangjiakou-Jining-Hohhot, but at this moment it was pushed by the Jin people for more than 200 miles, and even one of the armies has approached Bianjing, and once again evolved into the appearance of the first emperor during his reign.

This is not due to the fact that the courtiers are not frightened and the hearts of the people are panicked. Of course, when they thought of the threat from the north, they also had some comfort, because Yang Fan had already arrived in Bianjing and was holding back the soldiers and horses of the Jin State there. Looking at that posture, it seems that this battle is quite successful, and the Jin people can't go any further.

And the threat of Song Shicheng in the south did not have a capable general to defend it at this moment. Now the courtiers of the Great Song Dynasty want to catch Yue Shao'an and are afraid of catching him. Because, as long as Yue Shao'an did not return to Song Shicheng for a day, and the imperial court did not have any news of him, then Song Shicheng would not dare to rashly send troops. Otherwise, no one is sure what will happen.

In the harem, the emperor's bedroom.

Wan Hansheng appeared here without being announced. The emperor sat on the bed, his face was unusually ugly, pale and weak, his waist was slightly arched, a few pillows were placed beside him, his body was wrapped in a thick quilt, and under his pajamas, his skin seemed to have lost his vitality, and the whole person was much thinner.

He wasn't sick for a day or two. From the time he was trapped on the mountain by Yue Shao'an, his body felt a little uncomfortable, and then after more than ten days of wind and rain, when he fell ill, the whole mountain was bare, and herbs could be found there. Later, even the few trees that were there were nearly eaten away by his soldiers.

Fortunately, after being trapped for more than ten days, the pathfinder paid nearly 100 lives and finally found a way out from the other side, so that he picked up a life.

However, life though picked up. But the disease has been out of the way for too long, and it is difficult to be cured.

Wan Hansheng looked at him like this, and couldn't help but sigh lightly, not knowing what to say. Just stood still and waited for him to ask.

Although the emperor's body was weak and abnormal, his whole person was surprisingly calm. looked at Wan Hansheng and showed a very ordinary smile, but no matter how you look at it, this smile feels that it contains a little bitterness.

"How's the Jinren going?" The Emperor asked slowly.

Wan Hansheng raised his eyelids and glanced at him, and said, "I am in a stalemate with Yang Fan outside Bianjing City, in my opinion, I am afraid that I will not retreat for a while." ”

The emperor's seriousness flashed a different color, revealing a slightly sarcastic look, and said, "I underestimated him." Unexpectedly, an inconspicuous little person has now become the key to success or failure. As he spoke, a self-deprecating smile appeared on the Emperor's lips.

"Wrong!" Wan Hansheng still said unceremoniously: "Actually, all this is caused by you. It was you who cultivated him, you thought that Liu Bonan and Yue Shao'an's military merits were too high, and they had the skills of the dragon, which would pose a threat to you, so you took off your arms alive, and this made him. In fact, Yue Shaoan and Liu Bonan are not ambitious people......"

"When did I need you to teach me a lesson?" The emperor raised his head suddenly, his expression was extremely excited, and he coughed a few times repeatedly, Wan Hansheng's words undoubtedly pierced his heart, which is why he was so excited. It's just that although his words are tough, it seems that there is no mistake in what he has done, but his eyes betray him. In those sickly eyes, there was clearly a trace of regret. When the situation calmed down a little, he said, "No ambition? How do you know that they have no ambition, a person may not have ambition at first, but when he reaches a certain height, his ambition will definitely be exposed. Do you think it's easy to sit in this world, even if I am always vigilant, I may not recover. Liu Bonan's father and son controlled the military and political power, and Liu Bonan saw that I had no children, so he actually let me make a prince, and if I couldn't make a plan, I had another plan. Look to bring the prince back to fight against me. His heart can be punished, and his heart can be punished...... Shouldn't I kill him? That Yue Shao'an, in vain of his trust, actually made a rebellious move...... Ahem......" he coughed again......

Wan Hansheng looked at the emperor, shook his head slowly, and said, "Suspicion is a disease. Although as an emperor, it is understandable to be suspicious, but you are also too sensitive. In my opinion, Liu Bonan has no bad intentions, and persuading you to make the crown prince is nothing more than to make you right, and he will not let the prince ...... when he fights gold."

"That's enough—" the Emperor said almost in a roar, "I don't want to hear the name Liu Bonan again." I am suspicious, if I am already suspicious, why would I give you power? ”

Wan Hansheng chuckled lightly and said, "I am a rootless person, you already know it. I am already destined to have no heirs, and naturally I will not take away your great treasure, even if I let me control all this country in my hands, at my age, when your son grows up, I should die. It's not like it's going to come back when the time comes. At worst, it's just this level, what are you afraid of? ”

The emperor's eyes were staring at Wan Hansheng tightly, and Wan Hansheng did not back down, but looked at him. Said slowly: "Besides, the struggle for the rights of my own heart, this is also what you know......"

In the end, the emperor took the lead in looking away and said in a low voice: "I didn't expect him to dare to secretly communicate with the golden people." At present, the national strength can no longer withstand the rebellion of a general who supports the army and respects himself. What can you do? ”

Wan Hansheng thought about it, shook his head slowly, and said, "I can't help it, Yang Fan has already become big, even if your body is okay at this moment, it will be difficult to control him." What's more, if you asked me to be the prime minister, the DPRK and China have already complained a lot, even if it is suppressed temporarily. It is impossible to get everyone to return to their hearts, and it is really difficult to judge how to act...... There is only one way to do this......"

"Oh?" The emperor's eyes lit up, and he said, "You say." ”

"That is to let Yue Shaoan contain him, the government and the opposition, now the only one who can contain him is Yue Shaoan."

"Ridiculous!" The emperor's face changed, and he said: "Yue Shao'an's crime of rebellion has been convicted, how can he be used again." Besides, he may have a deep hatred for me now, and it's good that he doesn't come to the well. How can you still count on him...... What's more, his whereabouts are unknown now......"

"Not long ago, someone reported that his traces were found in the city, but he was extremely vigilant, and the person sent to follow him has not heard from him so far, and it is likely that something happened to him. Moreover, Yue Shao'an is deeply rooted in Hangzhou City, and there must still be many of his henchmen, and it is really difficult to find out his whereabouts......"

"He's coming?" The emperor's brows suddenly condensed, and he said in a deep voice: "He suddenly appeared here, what do you want to do......