Jingshi, the Forbidden City, inside the Palace of Nourishing the Heart.

Although it was the Spring Festival, the Forbidden City was lifeless, and there was no happy holiday atmosphere. Zhengde Tianzi is a person who likes to be lively and playful, and he once thought of setting off fireworks in the Forbidden City, if he hadn't been stopped by the ministers, maybe this huge palace complex would have disappeared into the sea of fire because of this. The hustle and bustle of the festival in previous years is in stark contrast to the tranquility of today.

At present, the Son of Heaven is seriously ill, not only is it not appropriate for any celebration, but every palace maid and eunuch who passes by here is extremely careful to light her steps, for fear of making a little noise and causing death. It was getting late, and in the Qianqing Palace, the lights were flickering and the candles were dim, and there was a heart-rending cough from time to time.

In the past, the majestic and healthy son of Zhengde is now a withered complexion, his lips are like white paper, and his eyes are blank. After a burst of coughing, the thick phlegm that spit out is always bloodshot. Liu Wu'er lay beside him, meekly wiped the traces from the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, and then replaced it with a new handkerchief, waiting there.

A eunuch came over with the medicine and said carefully: "Long live Grandpa, it's time to take the medicine." ”

Looking at the medicine bowl, Zhengde couldn't help frowning, and only after a long time did he say weakly: "Why is there more medicine today than yesterday?" Didn't I say it, this medicine is useless, I don't drink it. I want to meet those Tibetan holy monks, Shaolin Arhats, they all have the best elixir, as long as they eat it, my body will be fine. ”

The eunuch took two steps back, but still held the medicine bowl high, "This is the new prescription of the imperial doctor, as long as you drink it, the dragon body will definitely recover, please Long Live Grandpa take Jiangshan Sheji as your mind, use it quickly." ”

"You ......" Zhengde seemed to want to say something, but a violent cough blocked out all his words. Even if he was angry, it became a luxury, seeing Zhengde's flushed face, Liu Wu'er took the medicine bowl and glanced at the eunuch, and the little eunuch had to turn around and slip out.

Liu Wu'er put the medicine bowl on the table, clapped his hands, and an old eunuch appeared from the corner like a shadow, Liu Wu'er gestured with his hand, "The slave who has no eyesight, long live the anger, don't let him appear again." ”

"The slave understands." The old eunuch disappeared into the darkness in a matter of steps, as if he had never existed. Liu Wu'er gently patted Zhengde's heart again, and said comfortingly:

"Husband doesn't have to be angry with such a lowly slave, it's not worth it. When your body and bones are well, let's set up the rules in the palace well, how many slaves and maids like this are cleaned up, and it is important to recuperate first. ”

After Zhengde coughed for a while, he gasped and reluctantly said, "Wu'er, it's still ...... You're still the best for me. But the rules in this palace, I'm afraid it won't be my turn to set up. I have been away from the capital for too long this time in the southern expedition, and I have lived in the leopard house before. In the palace, there are too few caring people. Out of this Qianqing Palace, I am afraid that I will never be able to find a henchman of my own. ”

"Husband, what are you talking about? These slaves and maids are your subordinates, and you want them to live and die. It's just a temporary loss of discipline, no rules, wait a few days, your body will be better, and then teach them slowly, I'm not afraid that I won't be able to teach. Didn't even the queen be driven away by you? There are only a few slaves and maids, what else can't be cured? ”

Zhengde's body is no longer suitable for living in the leopard room, and he was sent to the palace as soon as he returned to Beijing. Queen Xia has long hated these fiery vixens who fight with her husband on weekdays, and she can't wait to get rid of them quickly. Naturally, they were not allowed to get close to the Son of Heaven by half a step, and even thought about simply taking advantage of the emperor's serious illness to deal with these women first.

But such a plan was defeated in the face of Zhengde's almost crazy opposition, the Son of Heaven is the Son of Heaven, even in a serious illness, Queen Xia is still powerless to resist. The queen hid her face and wept bitterly, and then recited scriptures and prayed for the Son of Heaven in her palace, and never showed up again. Everyone knows in their hearts that at this point, the last bit of husband and wife love has been exhausted, and the queen has completely lost her heart to the emperor.

Liu Wu'er, Wang Mantang and other folk women were able to enter the palace to serve, but they didn't know the rules very well, and they were used to it casually in the leopard room, and because they violated the taboo, they were killed by the Empress Dowager Zhang. The other women were frightened, most of them said that they were sick and did not dare to enter the palace, and now they dare to serve in the palace, but Liu Wu'er, Wang Mantang, and Ma are just three people.

The small Qianqing Palace is a world of its own, and others dare not come here to arrest people. Zhang Yong, Gu Dayong and other cronies and eunuchs also mobilized the forces that could be used in their hands and added layers of guards to the Qianqing Palace. Most of the masters in the entire palace are in the invisible corner of the Qianqing Palace, silently guarding the supreme leader of the empire.

Zhengde sighed, "I can drive away the Xia clan and dispose of a slave who doesn't open his eyes, but what's the use of this?" What about the holy monks of Wusizang and the arhats of Shaolin? I said a long time ago that I wanted them to come to see me, but why can't I see anyone? Wu'er, tell me, where are they? ”

After Liu Liangnu was silent for a moment, a smile appeared on her face, "Long live, those eminent monks and arhats are all chanting and praying for you outside, don't worry, when you are in good health, the concubine will take you to see them, okay?" ”

"Wu'er, you're also deceiving me, aren't you? Those holy monks and arhats are probably no longer in Beijing, right? At the beginning, Yang Ting and them objected to me interacting with these monks, but at that time, I could still see things, and they didn't dare to be too presumptuous. Now that I am in this body, those high-ranking monks and Arhats, I'm afraid they have all been driven out of the capital division, right? ”

"Long live seeing thousands of miles, the concubine does not dare to hide it. But as long as you are in good health, those holy monks and arhats will be able to recruit them back, just let them spend more time on the road. ”

"Idiot! All stupid! Zhengde pounded the side of the bed with his hand, and coughed violently again, and only said after a while: "Wusizang is thousands of miles away, the mountains are high and the roads are dangerous, and the imperial court has always been out of reach there." Even if a first- or second-rate official is set up, no one is willing to go, but it is just a fictitious official title, and then it is left to fend for itself. Compared with fetters, there are many inferiors. The people there believe in Buddhism, I have become a good Tibetan monk, and the two help each other. Today, all the Tibetan monks are gone, and this place is afraid that it will fall to the side of the Mongolian Tatars in the future. Yang Tinghe, Yang Tinghe! ”

His chest rose and fell violently, and a mouthful of bloody arrows spurted out. Liu Wu'er hurriedly wiped off the blood for him, and took a few pills over. After Zhengde took the medicine, he shook his head and said:

"It's useless. I'm afraid I'm going to see my father, since I ascended the throne, I have attacked the Tartar Clan in the north and the Dingning Domain in the south, and the smoke and dust in the United States have almost been wiped out by me. There are no regrets even if you die, the only thing you are sorry for is you. I haven't given you a title so far, so what will you do when I die? Aifei, you will come with me, okay? ”