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After Li Longji was seriously ill and could not handle the affairs of the court, he entrusted Li Ying with the supervision of state affairs.

Because of the delicate situation, Li Jue, who was entrusted with state affairs again, did not dare to be the shopkeeper like last time, and did not make up his own mind about anything, but let the prime ministers of the political affairs hall make a final decision, and then echo his own opinions. This time, he was very active, as long as he handled all the court affairs, he would give an idea first, and then ask the opinions of the prime ministers of the political affairs hall, or bring it to the court for discussion.

Everyone saw Li Jue's changes, many people were shocked in their hearts, and even some ministers were impressed.

Li Jue has been the crown prince for many years, and because of his status as the crown prince, he naturally has a certain influence in the court, because the emperor Li Longji is seriously ill and is likely to die, and some ministers naturally regard Li Jue as the future emperor.

In the age of monarchs, this is a natural phenomenon. No matter who becomes the emperor, even if he is mediocre and provokes the ministers of the court and the central government, most of the ministers still regard him as the emperor, and they are extremely respectful and dare not dismiss the emperor's will. These people could not be called close confidants of the emperor, and they may even be very distant, but the influence of the idea of the supremacy of imperial power made them still willing to let the emperor drive away.

Li Jue, who can take over the throne immediately depending on the situation, has also won the respect of the ministers more than some time ago, especially in the past few days, Li Jue has shown diligence in political affairs, and many ministers have changed their attitudes towards him.

Li Jue also showed extreme filial piety, and after dealing with politics every day, he went to Li Longji's side to accompany and serve, and he did everything he did for Li Longji's body scrubbing. When these things were spread outside, they were praised by many ministers.

In the face of Li Jue's actions, Li Xuan didn't have much to deal with. After all, he is only a prince, and he is not qualified to handle court affairs on behalf of the emperor, and without the emperor's summons, he cannot easily enter the palace to meet him. For a while, the level of the fight between the two brothers became very obvious.

However, Li Longji did not like Li Jue to accompany and serve by his side. During his serious illness. Most of the time was served by Yang Yuhuan, and the princes, including Li Jue, were not often summoned, including Li Jue, who was the crown prince.

However, as the crown prince, Li Ying had enough reasons to enter the palace to visit Li Longji on the sickbed and accompany him for a long time.

Li Longji's specific illness is not known to most people, and only a few high-ranking ministers have entered the palace to visit Li Longji. These ministers include Guo Ziyi, Wei Jiansu, Fang Xuan, Yan Zhenqing, Gao Shi, Yang Xi, Li Mi, etc.

The ministers who saw Li Longji's appearance were all in a heavy mood, and they knew that Li Longji's time was running out.

After Li Longji's death, no one can predict what will happen to the world. Because of the fight between Li Ying and Li Ling. It made the ministers more worried. I'm afraid that after Li Longji's death. A very big battle arose between the DPRK and China.

Fortunately, after the weather completely warmed up, Li Longji's body was a little better, and his complexion was a little better, which made the ministers feel a little relieved.

But Yang Xi, who is completely aware of Li Longji's physical condition. But he knew that this emperor who was already old and twilight would definitely not be able to survive the upcoming midsummer.

Li Longji, who had recovered a little, once again considered the issue of the crown prince, but he seemed to have lost any passion and didn't want to toss anything anymore. One day, Li Longji temporarily summoned Li Lan, and after a secret conversation with Li Lan, Li Lan left with a depressed face.

"Brother Duff, Your Majesty should give up the idea of changing the crown prince!" When receiving the report of the eyeliner in the palace, Yang Xi was discussing something with Gao Shi. After hearing the secret report, he immediately said to Gao Shi, "I believe that in a few days, the crown prince will be able to ascend the throne smoothly!"

During this time, Yang Xi had already told Gao Shi about his relationship with Li Ying and what Li Ying promised him. Gao Shi was already mentally prepared, and he probably estimated something. So after hearing Yang Xi say this, I didn't feel too surprised. It's just that he didn't know what Yang Xi was going to do next, so he could only ask vaguely: "Ziliang, after the crown prince ascends the throne, how will we arrange it?" ”

"I'll talk to you in detail in a few days!" Yang Xi did not immediately tell Gao Shi his decision, and said vaguely: "The next few months, or a year or two, will be very critical for us!" Brother Duff, you have won my trust, and you are also very talented, I believe that you will definitely be in the political hall in the future. I hope you will always work hard and don't let me down!"

"Please rest assured, Ziliang will not let you down!" Gao Shi immediately made a statement. However, he also knew that there were not many days to get along with Yang Xi casually and informally. If Yang Xi really took over the Tang Dynasty from Li Jue as he had planned, then he and Yang Xi would have a relationship between ministers and kings from now on, and they would no longer be able to talk and get along so casually.

However, Gao Shi also knew that he and Yang Xi were now grasshoppers on the same rope, and he could only follow Yang Xi down, otherwise no matter what he did, the end would not be good. He also believes in Yang Xi's ability, and the future Tang Dynasty will definitely be Yang Xi's.

Yang Xi also told Yan Zhenqing about this, and after saying this, Yan Zhenqing was frightened. This old scholar could never have imagined that Yang Xi's life experience would be like this, and he had such an unbelievable secret discussion with Li Jue. He didn't say on the spot that he would definitely support Yang Xi, this kind of thing was already a bit beyond his psychological capacity, and he needed time to think about it.

Yang Xi had already roughly touched Yan Zhenqing's temperament, and he didn't care too much, he thought that Yan Zhenqing would achieve his goal if he didn't object to him at a critical time.

A strong person like Yan Zhenqing does not object to what he does, which means that he acquiesces in and supports his behavior, and that is enough.

Yang Xi paid attention to the changes in Li Longji's condition at any time, and was secretly making his own arrangements.

In addition to continuing to find ways to install their own people in the forbidden army, transfer some people who are obviously loyal to Li Ling or Li Jue. He also ordered all the detachments of the special task force to assemble in Chang'an to stand by.

But it's all done in secret-

Soon the height of summer came.

The midsummer of Tianbao's 20th year was particularly hot and rainless, which made people feel very uncomfortable.

Li Longji's condition worsened again due to the extreme heat.

On the morning of the fifth day of the first month of June, Yang Xi went to the Yamen of the Ministry of Martial Arts to do business, and prepared to go to Xingqing Palace to visit Li Longji with Guo Ziyi after the incident.

But just when he arrived at the official office of the military department, a eunuch hurried over and asked him to go to Xingqing Palace immediately.

Yang Xi was shocked, and immediately understood what was going on, and followed the eunuch without stopping.

When he hurriedly stepped into the Datong Hall with the comers, he felt that the atmosphere was abnormal.

The palace people were busy coming and going with nervous faces, and several imperial doctors were treating Li Longji. But nothing came out.

Yang Yuhuan sat on the edge of Li Longji's hospital bed with tears in his eyes, grabbed Li Longji's hand tightly, and kept wiping the foreign objects on his face and the corners of his mouth for him. Looking at Li Longji's appearance, he is already angry. Last night, Yang Xi received a secret report from an informant in the palace, saying that Li Longji was in good condition, and he couldn't figure out how Li Longji could become like this after a night.

Soon, Guo Ziyi, Wei Jiansu, Fang Xuan, Yan Zhenqing, Li Mi, Gao Shi, Li Guangbi, Li Lin, Li Lin, the secretary of the Constitutional Department, and Zhang Hao, the squire of the Chinese book, were successively summoned to the palace. In addition to these high-ranking officials, the crown prince Li Jue, the Yongwang Li Xuan, and Li Longji's other sons were all summoned to the Xingqing Palace. By the afternoon, more officials had been summoned. The black pressure in Xingqing Palace is full of people.

However, only a few of these ministers were qualified to enter the Datong Hall where Li Longji was lying. Those who are not of enough official rank can only stand outside. Many people had to endure the poisonous sun of the sun, and after a long time, some people could not support it and were sunburned to the ground.

But those who are sunburned. In the end, he was only carried to a cool place by the palace guards for a while, and after waking up, he still stayed outside the hall and stood outside.

Today is destined to be a very special day, in the afternoon, the sky is overcast, and a heavy thunderstorm falls from the sky in an instant.

The heavy rain brought coolness to the whole heaven and earth, but it also made those ministers who stood in the open air suffer. Many people who did not have the opportunity to go to the court or in the corridor to take shelter from the rain have become soup chickens, and they have been drenched in torrential rain after being exposed to the sun, which is really bitter and unspeakable.

But they can only stand and have to endure hunger in their stomachs.

Soon it was nightfall. There was silence in the palace, hundreds of officials stood without making a sound, and no one dared to talk to each other.

The lights in the Datong Hall were bright, and many people stood quietly beside Li Longji's sickbed.

Gao Lishi, who was amnestied, stood beside Li Longji with tears in his eyes. Always at your disposal.

A few years of exile had changed his appearance, he was very haggard, and he looked much older than his actual age.

He didn't expect that he would be pardoned and return to Beijing, and he only stayed by Li Longji's side for less than a month, and things would become like this.

He knew perfectly well that it would not be too long before Li Longji's death, either today or tomorrow, and the old emperor would not be able to endure it for long. He wanted to cry so much that he could show his grief, but he didn't dare to cry in this situation.

However, what made him happy was that Li Longji finally woke up in the morning after being in a coma for two whole days.

The first thing Li Longji ordered after he came to his senses was to order Guo Ziyi, Wei Jiansu, Yang Xi, and the crown prince Li Ying and others to be summoned into the palace, and there were important things to order. And while waiting, he said some words to Yang Yuhuan, who had been by his side.

As for what he said, no one knew, not even Gao Lishi, and when the two talked in private, he also avoided it.

But soon, Li Longji fell into a coma again.

However, after the third watch, Li Longji opened his eyes again, and he seemed to be very clear, and he ordered Fang Xuan, Yang Xi, Zhang Hao, and Li Yu to come to him. The four of them immediately stepped forward and knelt beside Li Longji. The other ministers also knelt down in front of Li Longji's sickbed.

Li Longji said in a flat voice to several ministers kneeling beside him: His deadline is over, he is going to see the ancestors of the Tang Dynasty, and the throne will be given to the crown prince Li Jue, and he will order Fang Xuan, Yang Xi, Zhang Hao, and Li Yu to assist the government and help the crown prince Li Jue to deal with the government affairs.

He also has other arrangements for the appointment of the rest of the ministers.

After Li Longji said these words, he took out the edict he had drawn up a few days ago from the side of the couch with a trembling crooked hand, handed it to Fang Xuan, who was kneeling closest to him, and then closed his eyes and passed away suddenly......