Wei Zhongxian heard that he had a lot of complaints about the regent, and suddenly felt unhappy, and said hesitantly: "Establishing a heart for heaven and earth, establishing a life for the people, continuing to learn for the saints, and opening peace for all generations is what everyone wants to do." There will always be a leader and a rule-maker in everything, like Wang Mang in the Han Dynasty, he can be a regent, and our family's moral self-confidence is not due to Wang Mang, but can't do it? With that, he closed his eyes as if he was a little sad, and leaned back in his chair.

Cui Chengxiu saw that Wei Zhongxian was a little annoyed, and hurriedly defended: "Daddy misunderstood, the child's meaning is to seek a long-term strategy, and it must be justified, so as not to provoke the courtiers' discussions, and it is difficult to block the mouth of the world." ”

"Why bother around the bush like this? Tell me about it and listen to it at 9,000 years old! Ke Yinyue was afraid that she would stiffen for a while, so she hurriedly urged her. Cui Chengxiu said: "Mrs. Zu is a thousand years old, the child is not against his father being the regent, but he is afraid that his father will be too attached to the name of the regent and will suffer from it." ”

"What do you mean by that?" Ke Yinyue asked in a coquettish voice.

"Then it depends on whether Daddy is seeking fame or profit?"

Wei Zhongxian opened his eyes slightly, leaned forward to the case, and asked, "How do you say asking for a name?" What do you say about profit? ”

"If you want to be famous, what regent can Daddy fight for, although many courtiers oppose it, but it is not a big deal, but Daddy has been respected as nine thousand years old, and the world is full of ancestral shrines, and the regent of which dynasty can have the power and prestige to this point? What do you care about? If you want to make a profit......" Cui Chengxiu paused deliberately, checked the faces of Wei Zhongxian and the others, and then said: "The child thinks that as long as the father supports the little emperor, Empress Zhang will inevitably hang the curtain, the queen mother will hang the curtain, Yu Youji, the palace is in the inner court, near the water, and it is easy to arrange her, don't say anything about the regent at that time, it is simply an emperor without a name!" And what kind of regent is like? ”

Wei Zhongxian's face softened, but he said worriedly: "It's just that little Zhang Yan has always been hostile to our family, and she hates our family for dismissing her father, I'm afraid it's hard to convince." Ke Yinyue also scolded: "That little hoof humiliated the old lady back then, if it wasn't for the emperor's kindness, the old lady would have been kicked out of the palace a long time ago." She and we have always been like fire and water, I'm afraid we can't borrow any strength! ”

Cui Chengxiu said with a smile: "Daddy, Mrs. Ancestor is too worried. The so-called time and time, when the emperor was Kangtai, she was the queen and had the emperor's love, so she naturally had the strength to compete with her father and compete with each other. If the dragon controls Bintian, and she has nothing to do under her knees, who else can she rely on? Could she really put herself and her family's wealth at risk? ”

Wei Zhongxian felt justified and couldn't help nodding. Ke Yinyue seemed to open suddenly, and said with a smile: "After listening to Chengxiu's words, I remembered a drama." ”

Wei Zhongxian said disapprerovingly: "You women know how to listen to the play and touch the cards, how did this matter get involved in what kind of drama?" ”

"There's such a play!" Ke Yinyue was unaware of Wei Zhongxian's disdain, and she didn't care. Cui Chengxiu asked diligently: "Which one?" ”

"Tanuki for the prince."

"Tanuki for the prince?" Everyone couldn't help but be stunned.

"Yes!"

"What is a prince and what is a tanuki?" Wei Zhongxian hadn't yet comprehended, and Wu Chunfu, Li Kuilong, Ni Wenhuan, Huo Weihua, Zhou Yingqiu and others who were observing the words and expressions on the side applauded: "This plan is wonderful!" Ke Yinyue felt more and more fluttering, and said happily: "You can teach Zhang Yan to pretend to be pregnant, and then secretly carry the son born to your nephew Wei Liangqing into the palace, and fill it as a dragon seed, wouldn't it be headless to be glorious and rich!" ”

Wei Zhongxian laughed loudly, patted Hakka's fat white hands, and praised: "Watching the play shows that the way is coming, but it's not just playing for fun." Give it a try! Everyone praised together: "Mrs. Ancestor Chitose has seen superman, what a good plan to kill two birds with one stone!" ”

Cui Chengxiu was not shocked, knowing that this plan was not safe, success would be better and better, and there was no way to add it, but if it failed, it was bound to be a catastrophe. Why do you have to take such a risk, instead of being steady? I still have a big family! The more he thought about it, the more frightened he felt, and suddenly cold sweat leached all over his body, wet his middle coat, and sat patiently and silently. "Chengxiu, what do you think?" Wei Zhongxian saw that he was not praised by everyone, and knew that he must have doubts.

Cui Chengxiu said with a smile: "What Mrs. Zu said is certainly wonderful, but the child dares to think that there are two difficulties that cannot be avoided. ”

"What's the difficulty?" Wei Zhongxian's eyebrows furrowed, and Ke Yinyue glanced at him.

"The descendants of the surname Zhu, Empress Zhang may be easy to accept; The nine-thousand-year-old nephew, Queen Zhang may not be willing to support, the so-called tanuki for the prince, in fact, is a change of dynasty, Queen Zhang, as the mother of the country, may be difficult to participate in it, is the first difficulty. The second difficulty is that the vassal king surnamed Zhu is all over the world, how rich is the enemy country, if he does not act secretly, leaks the rumors, the world is turbulent, rumors are everywhere, the vassal kings are bound to rebel against the king of Qin, and the capital is just a small place, how to resist? If this is the case, not only will the big thing not be successful, but my generation is in danger! Not to mention what glory and wealth? ”

There was silence in Yangyuan Zhai. Cui Chengxiu looked at Tian Ji again, Tian Ji left his seat, walked to the center of the room, and first gave a salute to Wei Zhongxian and Ke Yinyue before saying, "The little one thinks that what Second Brother Cui said is very true." Nine thousand years old and Mrs. Ancestor thousand years old power for a while, a very popular minister, glory and wealth are not easy to come by, and it should be regretted. ”

Wei Zhongxian listened, was silent for a long time, and sighed: "It is often said that the smaller the business, the more afraid of losing the capital. It seems that the deal is big, and it's the same. Chengxiu, Tian Ji, if people keep thinking about leaving a way out, they will lose their sharpness. You are all used to being rich, and you can't afford to lose it. ”

Cui Chengxiu knew that Wei Zhongxian was already suspicious, and he was not in a hurry to justify, so he only chose the words of gratitude and said: "The child's wealth today is given by his father, and he dare not forget!" What the child said was not a retreat, he only cared about his life, he was really afraid that his father would be careless and end up in a bleak evening. A few lines of tears. Wei Zhongxian heard him say more and more ugly, only to curse him with his heart, his face sank like water, and he was extremely displeased.

Tian Ergeng got up and shouted, "Second brother, don't be sensational!" Where can it be so sinister? If you don't obey, you will teach Jinyi Wei to arrest you, and the prisons in Dongchang are all empty! Cui Chengxiu thought that he intended to threaten, and sneered: "If you are loyal to your father, you will also be imprisoned, the world is so big, I really don't know how many more prisons will be built!" ”

"Shut up!" Wei Zhongxian slapped the table with his left hand and shouted majestically: "When has it been, you are still arguing like this!" Our family's affairs are nine points urgent. ”

Everyone bowed their heads and said nothing, and the room fell silent again, and the sound of the water flowing in the pool in front of the Xuan could almost be heard. Ni Wenhuan, who didn't say a word, said tentatively: "If the nine-thousand-year-old is determined to exchange the tanuki for the prince's strategy, you might as well secretly raise a few palace people, teach them to get pregnant, and then choose a child with the right day, and tell the queen, since it is the widow of the first emperor, it may be possible to pass the test in confusion." ”

Wei Zhongxian approving: "This is much stricter. Current affairs are urgent, or do things separately. Madame Bongsheng is responsible for selecting the palace people, Yongzhen...... No, let's show up and test Xiao Zhang Yan. This matter is the most important, and if she is willing to cooperate, it will be much easier. ”

Ke Yinyue said: "I have arranged for Xiao Dezi to monitor Zhang Yan. ”

"Is that Chen Derun next to you? It's kind of clever! It's just that he has delicate skin and flesh, are you really willing to let him run before and after? Wei Zhongxian was satisfied, and looked at Ke Yinyue's full of fat, and actually laughed a little obscenely.

As soon as Zhang Yan stepped into Kunning Palace, a young eunuch hurriedly came over and knelt down: "Slave Chen Derun greets Niangniang." Zhang Yan saw that his eyebrows were clear, his speech was gentle, and his hands and feet were clean and neat, so she suddenly had a good impression and ordered him to get up, and asked, "Where are you from?" ”

"If you go back to Niangniang, the slave maid will serve Mrs. Zu for a thousand years old, and she will be promoted to the head of Kunning Palace." Chen Derun replied respectfully. Zhang Yan was shocked, looked Chen Derun up and down again, and said, "I don't have the intention of changing people. ”

"Mrs. Zu Chitose saw that Niangniang was working hard and worried day and night, and she was afraid that there would be not enough people in the palace, so she recommended slaves and maids to serve Niangniang."

Zhang Yan said coldly: "It's here to spy on me!" ”

Chen Derun was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and said, "The slave and the maid don't dare, the slave and the maid don't dare!" ”

Zhang Yan said almost word for word: "It's good to know!" Since you have come to my Kunning Palace, you must understand the rules, and if you eat inside and outside, you must know what the end will be! ”

Chen Derun responded in a panic: "Yes, yes!" The slave is loyal to the Lord Long Live and the Queen Mother. "He is a wonderful person who knows Fengyue very well, he spends the moon every day in the Xian'an Palace of Keyinyue, he is used to the beautiful days, and enjoys the warmth of women, he thought that the method of coaxing women is no different, but he did not expect that he was poured cold water on his face as soon as he arrived at Kunning Palace, and he was at a loss for a while, his face was pale, cold sweat flowed, and his witty words and elegant manners were difficult to make out.

Zhang Yan was also quite jealous of Wei Zhongxian and Ke Yinyue, and when she saw that he was scared, she stopped scolding, changed her face and said, "You retreat!" Be faithful, and I will value you. Chen Derun said that in the middle of the period, Ai Ai retreated.

Zhang Yan sat on the dragon and phoenix chair inlaid with red sandalwood and gold, closed her eyes, and seemed to see Wei Zhongxian and Ke Yinyue hiding in the corner of the palace, sneering, watching her every move, and her aggressive spirit couldn't help but make Zhang Yan feel boundless fear. After closing his eyes and recuperating for a while, he felt that his body was so tired that he couldn't support it, and his bones were dismantled, so sour and soft that he was like a cicada that had just molted its shell, crouching on the phoenix couch, his heart was chaotic, his forehead was aching faintly, and he couldn't calm down for a moment, and he didn't feel sleepy at all. The emperor is difficult to get up, the edict is not through the inside and outside, Wei Zhongxian is in power, once the strong plot is wrong, most of the vassal kings are far away from the Beijing Division, it is difficult to come to King Qin in time, he is a weak woman, and he has no power to restrain the chicken, how is it good? Deciding on the successor early, of course, can eliminate the evil thoughts of the traitorous party and reassure the people of the world, but the traitorous party is powerful, and I am afraid that it will not be able to ascend the throne, but it will already be in a different place. Zhang Yan had a splitting headache, she didn't dare to think about it anymore, she closed her eyes tightly, and just had a little drowsiness, Li Yixiao quietly walked in, and whispered: "Master Cui, the secretary of the military department, asks to see you." ”

"Xuan!" Zhang Yan turned over and sat up, and ordered the Xiangfei curtain to be lowered.

Cui Chengxiu walked into the hall with a smile on her face, put down the tooth blue package in her hand, and gave a great gift to the monarch and ministers through the Xiangfei curtain. I heard that the imperial city has been sealed and foreign ministers are not allowed to enter, how did you come to Kunning Palace? ”

Cui Chengxiu didn't think about it, and said with a smile: "I heard that Niangniang has been anxious these days, and Wechen has come to share Niangniang's worries for a thousand years." ”

Zhang Yan said unhappily: "I am the mother of the world, why do I need a second-grade minister to share my worries?" As the head of the military department, you should always think about serving the country and the people and serving the court, why don't you think about military affairs in the outer court, but rush to the palace? ”

Cui Chengxiu's face was hot, and he defended: "The inner court is the home of the Son of Heaven, and the so-called family affairs of the Son of Heaven are state affairs. If the things discussed by Weichen are related to the society, there is no difference between the inner court and the outer court, like temples and rivers and lakes. ”

Zhang Yan secretly sighed in his heart, but he was clever and difficult to refute, and asked lightly: "What are you talking about about the major matter related to social affairs?" ”

Cui Chengxiu held the tooth-blue package and said: "I heard that Niangniang likes to read "Historical Records", and Weichen happens to have a Song version of "Historical Records" at home, please appreciate it." ”

"If it's such a big thing, it doesn't have to be. I'm afraid that there are no less than seven or eight copies of the Song version of the "Historical Records", as well as the manuscripts of the volumes of the Six Dynasties and the Tang Dynasty, will there be any rare books for me to read? ”

Cui Chengxiu sneered: "That's natural, Weichen will bring it back." I heard that Niangniang has read "Historical Records" many times, and especially likes "The Biography of Zhao Gao", I don't know if there is such a thing? ”

Zhang Yan was shocked in her heart, and said secretly: This is my question and answer with the emperor, there were not many people next to me at that time, how could it be known by the foreign ministers, so what privacy is there in the Kunning Palace? couldn't help but be annoyed: "When did you, the secretary of the military department, change to the Zhengqing of Dali Temple, and actually went to the palace to investigate the case and ask questions?" ”

Weichen was frightened, but said casually. Dare to ask Niangniang if she likes "The Legend of Chun Shen Jun"? ”

"The Legend of Chun Shen Jun?"

"The story of Li Yuan and his daughter, what do you think?"

When the picture appeared, Zhang Yan suddenly realized and asked: "Cui Shangshu must also want to know how I read "The Biography of Lü Buwei", right?" Cui Chengxiu listened to the queen's sarcasm, and said with a smile: "Weichen is just thinking about the future wealth of the mother." ”

"As a minister of the imperial court, the emperor has given you a python clothes and jade belt, which is extremely glorious, don't you think about the Ming Dynasty and not be afraid of losing the emperor's grace for many years?" Zhang Yan's tone couldn't help but rise.

Cui Chengxiu snorted: "The emperor's dragon body is uncertain, the position of the prince has been empty for a long time, and the mother has nothing to do with her knees, once the emperor is in the sky, who will the mother rely on?" ”

"On whom? I rely on the heavens and ancestors, and rely on the courtiers and Li Min, as long as the Ming Dynasty does not change its face, which new monarch dares not to be courteous to the surviving people of the emperor? Zhang Yan is awe-inspiring.

Cui Chengxiu sighed and said: "Niangniang is dedicated to the country, and Weichen is very impressed!" It's just that if the new monarch is not personally selected by the mother, the courtesy to the mother will be very different. Please also think twice! ”

Zhang Yan was originally extremely sad, but after listening to Cui Chengxiu's words, she realized that the court no longer paid attention to the emperor's illness, but was waiting to see who would inherit the throne. She thought about it,

He asked slowly, "I've been thinking about Banzai lately, and I don't have time to think about anything else. Which do you think is the right one to inherit the throne? ”

Cui Chengxiu admired: "Niangniang's love for the emperor is as deep as the sea, and she is sincere, she is really a lifelong teacher for us to be a courtier." The matter of the prince, Weichen thought that Niangniang could choose a young prince, regard it as his own, and raise him personally, family affection is like mother and son, love is bound to come from the bottom of his heart, and Niangniang's position as the queen mother is naturally as stable as Mount Tai. ”

"Young newcomer, yellow-mouthed child, ignorant and ignorant, how to govern the world?" Zhang Yan seemed to be a little moved.

Cui Chengxiu was secretly happy in her heart, and said: "Wouldn't it be perfect for the mother to hang the curtain and choose a minister to be the regent?" ”

Zhang Yan's thought flashed, remembering Zhang Juzheng of the previous dynasty, when the Wanli Emperor was young, Zhang Juzheng was the first assistant of the cabinet to specialize in the authority of the world, the emperor as nothing, often ear to the face, reprimanded, for a while the imperial power was swept away, the world only knew that there was Zhang Juzheng, but did not know that there was Wanli Emperor, the minister regent was inevitably autocratic, and it was not the blessing of the imperial court. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, and it seemed that her breathing was difficult. In an instant, Zhang Yan's face changed red and white, but fortunately, Cui Chengxiu didn't see it through the Xiangfei curtain. Zhang Yan softened her tone as much as possible, and asked quietly: "According to the opinion of the Qing family, who can be the regent?" ”

Cui Chengxiu was secretly happy in his heart, deliberately pondered for a moment, and replied: "The Manchu Dynasty is civil and military, and it is appropriate to be the regent of Wei Shanggong." ”

"......" Zhang Yan looked at Cui Chengxiu and was noncommittal. Cui Chengxiu continued to persuade: "Wei Shanggong is highly virtuous, and the regent is really out of reach of others. Today, within the four seas, all over the construction of the ancestral hall, unprecedented, it is enough to see the heart, since you can hang your clothes and the world is governed. As an internal supervisor, Wei Shanggong has convenient access to the palace, and can discuss state affairs with Niangniang at any time, and Niangniang's thoughts and desires can be met immediately. ”

Zhang Yan was indignant and sneered: "Wei Companion has all been arranged, so he ordered you to come to know me?" ”

The mother laughed, how dare you be a courtier. Wei Shanggong was afraid that Niangniang would be wronged in the future. ”

Zhang Yan said sharply: "It's harmless to me, so that's it." If there is a bad intention, there are other intentions, I will definitely not agree. Just want to live for a while, how to be worthy of the ancestors under the spring! ”

Cui Chengxiu was secretly surprised when she saw her voice, and she couldn't imagine that a weak woman would have such knowledge, so she hurriedly persuaded: "Now that the Ming Dynasty is hanging in the hands of Niangniang alone, I hope that Niangniang will make a decision immediately and make a decree as soon as possible to determine the hearts of all the people." "I got up and said goodbye, and my words were very sincere.

Zhang Yan saw that the sky had darkened, so she passed the dinner and had just finished eating. Suddenly, Chen Derun flashed in from outside the hall, and said angrily: "Bold minion, if you don't tell you, is there any rule?" ”

Chen Derun was not afraid, walked closer, smiled secretly, and said in a low voice urgently: "King Xin's thousand years old slave maid came to bow to the queen!" ”

"King Shin?" Zhang Yan's eyes widened and she looked at Chen Derun in surprise.

Chen Derun replied: "The slave is not Chen Derun, it is Xu Yingyuan, the eunuch in charge of the Xinwang Mansion. ”

"How did you get in?" Zhang Yan was so shocked that her face was pale, and then she saw that the person in front of her was slightly taller than Chen Derun, agile, and faintly had the heroic spirit of a chivalrous man.

"Only in this way will it be easier for slaves and maids to do things." Xu Yingyuan listened to the movements around him with his ears, and said in a low voice: "The prince learned that the dragon body is not safe, and now that Wei Zhongxian has blocked the imperial city, the prince is afraid that he will be unfavorable to Niangniang, so he specially ordered the slave maid to visit the movement in the palace and ask Ming Niangniang what is his will?" ”

Zhang Yan sighed and said: "At present, the emperor's illness is getting heavier, according to the bloodline, King Xin should inherit the unification, but Wei Zhongxian is ready to move, and wants to set up another young master, the situation is critical, it is best to think of letting King Xin enter the palace and see the emperor, so that when the emperor is sober, he will draft the edict of succession." ”

"The prince entered the palace alone, once the news leaked, wouldn't he be caught in the net?"

"The situation is urgent, and it is difficult to take it easy, so it has to be like this. If you look forward and backward, Wei Zhongxian will take advantage of it. Today, the emperor is more sober than in the past, so I will go to the Qianqing Palace and seek an opportunity to persuade the emperor. At the latest, tomorrow will be the time of the shift, and the king of Xin will be sent to the palace to meet the emperor in the west hall of the Qianqing Palace. ”

Xu Yingyuan wanted to ask again, there was a faint sound of chaotic footsteps outside the hall, and he hurriedly jumped out of the back door, hurriedly passed the Jiaotai Hall and the Huangji Palace, turned to the east, and saw that the Donghua Gate was in sight, and suddenly someone shouted behind him: "Xiao Chenzi, Xiao Chenzi!" Are you going to leave the palace? Xu Yingyuan ignored it, lowered his head and walked quickly, but the person behind him caught up, grabbed his shoulder, and scolded: "Why did you go to serve Niangniang, ignore the old acquaintance?" ”

Xu Yingyuan was shocked, remembering that he was still dressed as Chen Derun, so he hurriedly raised his hand and shook the hand on his arm, took out a piece of loose silver that he had exchanged, and sent it away, and said with a smile: "Niang Niang sent urgently, I don't dare to stay, and I will make amends to my brother when I come back!" ”

"Come back soon, the door closes at half an hour early tonight." The man shouted.

Xu Yingyuan replied, while speeding up the pace, checked the waist card, passed through the Donghua Gate, out of the imperial city, there was already a mule cart coming, Xu Yingyuan hurriedly got on, the coachman whipped up, and galloped to the palace of the king.