The eunuch hurriedly ran back, and after a while, the eunuch Wang Chaofu, the leader of the Xuanwu Sect, hurriedly came and presented the entry and exit records, Wang Tiqian hurriedly looked through it, and said in shock: "What? There is a little virtue! "It's like seeing a living ghost.

Xu Yingyuan returned to King Xin's mansion, and when it was close to Shen, King Xin was looking at Concubine Tian in the study, and when he heard that the imperial brother was seriously ill, he wanted to enter the palace overnight. But when he heard that the imperial city was heavily guarded and it was difficult to enter and exit, he was helpless for a while, and he was very anxious, wandering back and forth in his room without stopping. Princess Tian dissuaded: "Since ancient times, gentlemen have not erected dangerous walls, not to mention the prince's golden body, once there is a change, there is no way to advance or retreat, how is it good?" ”

"The most important thing to enter the palace is the access control, as long as you arrive safely in the inner court, it is easy to cover up at night, but it is safer." King Shin comforted him.

Concubine Tian looked at Xu Yingyuan's appearance and said worriedly: "I'm afraid that it will be easy to get in and difficult to get out." ”

King Xin hurriedly asked, "How easy?" ”

Princess Tian said with a smile: "But I have to wronged the prince, and I will inevitably lose the dignity of the prince." ”

"Hurry up with power, as long as you see your brother, why don't you suffer some grievances!" King Xin's eyes were blazing, looking at the sun slanting in the west outside the window, and asked urgently.

Xu Yingyuan shook his head and said, "What the princess said, the slave maid understood." The slave's disguise technique is to dress the prince as a man and a woman, and it is not difficult, but the difficult thing is that the prince's voice cannot be changed, for fear of being met and recognized by those old friends in the palace! ”

Concubine Tian smiled: "Why do you have to ask the prince to speak? A drunk person is afraid that his words will not be complete, and others will not care about anything! Everyone was stunned, and then they cheered together.

When night falls, the street is still noisy, and the people who enjoy the shade by the ancient trees talk about the past and the present, barnyard history novels, ghosts and elves, which are fascinating. Restaurants, tea shops, gambling houses, and Goolan are brilliantly lit, and people are boiling, drinking tea and wine, guessing the boxing order, and laughing at the red sleeves...... The prosperity and majesty of the imperial city during the day gradually moved to the gentle and rich countryside with beautiful scenery.

The waning moon hangs high, and the night is as cool as water. A tall horse pulled a canopy carriage galloped on the street, and Chen Derun sat in the airtight carriage, and the groom who drove the carriage was Xu Yingyuan, who was hurrying to the palace. After entering the imperial city, I turned north, and the carriage stopped outside the Donghua Gate. Xu Yingyuan jumped out of the car, lifted the curtain slightly, took out a bottle of wine from his arms, first handed it to Chen Derun and took a sip, and then spilled the soju in the bottle on his body a few times, first hid the bottle in his arms, stretched out his hand and helped Chen Derun out of the car, and someone at the door had already drunk and asked, "Who is it?" ”

Xu Yingyuan replied: "It's Gonggong Chen who is back." ”

The eunuch, the leader of the gate, brought a few people over and said, "It's Xiao Chenzi!" It's time to go back to the palace, and if it's too late, your kid will have to sleep outside the palace and be punished. Hey! Isn't this Lao Xu? What are you here to do? ”

Only then did Xu Yingyuan recognize that this person was Gao Yongfu, the cousin of Gao Yongshou of the dead Qianqing Palace, and said with a smile on his face: "Who am I?" It turned out that Gonggong Gao was on duty, Gonggong Chen was ordered to leave the palace, and he was meeting his brother by chance, so he drank a few more glasses, and he was so drunk that he couldn't wake up, and his brother had to send him back. ”

"Huh! You kid is also snobbish, Xiao Chenzi just served Shang Niangniang and invited him to drink, when will you invite a few of our brothers? Gao Yongfu scolded in his mouth.

Xu Yingyuan said with a smile: "Where did Gonggong Gao say that the younger brother just wants to invite the brothers on weekdays, but he is afraid that he will not be able to appreciate his face?" Another day, the brothers will have their leisure, and the younger brother will be the proprietor and have a good drink! Is it good to go to Willow Springs? After that, he took out twenty taels of broken silver from his body and handed it to Gao Yongfu, "Some broken silver, you should ask the brothers for tea money, please help send Gonggong Chen back, don't let the queen know." ”

"For the sake of the silver, Lao Xu can rest assured to turn back! Let's send the brothers to send Xiao Chenzi to Kunning Palace. Gao Yongfu said, holding the silver.

Xu Yingyuan pleaded: "Don't send Gonggong Chen to the accommodation on duty, or send him to the duty room of the former Qianqing Palace to wake up first!" lest the queen know the punishment and miss his future. ”

"Okay!" Gao Yongfu checked the official tooth card for eunuchs, waved Chen Derun away, and Xu Yingyuan kept looking at them away.

In the Xibian Hall of the Qianqing Palace, the Emperor of the Apocalypse sat on the dragon bed, his illness seemed to have eased a little, and his spirit was better than in the past, so he ordered the eunuchs and palace maids to retreat, leaving only the queen Zhang Yan to serve beside him, he looked at Zhang Yan carefully, and saw that her appearance had decreased a lot, and her whole body was full of exhaustion, and he couldn't help but provoke the soft intestines in his heart, and said apologetically: "These days have suffered you, I am really uneasy, you have to take good care of your own family, don't despise your body." ”

Zhang Yan burst into tears, looked at the weak figure of the Apocalypse, and choked up: "The concubine Lao Emperor is bothered. I couldn't help but have a sour nose, and tears quietly flowed.

Tianqi grabbed her hand into his palm, and said warmly: "I really can't bear you, I want you to be so thin when you entered the palace." The palace candle is feverish, and the newcomer is like a flower, how happy! It's just that there are three palaces and six courtyards, there are many beauties, I don't want to hurt one person, it's hard to be attentive, and I snubbed you. Now that I am dying, I am afraid that I will die soon, you are young, and I have made you so miserable! Apocalypse's eyes also glistened with tears.

Zhang Yan gently put her head on Tianqi's hand, and said with a guilty face: "I only hate the concubines and concubines, I can't serve the emperor more, and I didn't give the emperor a dragon seed, which caused the position of the prince to be empty for a long time, and the emperor has no heirs behind him, so I really have the emperor's grace and the ancestors!" ”

Apocalypse smiled, "You don't have to blame yourself, I don't blame you." Just now, Wei said that the two concubines in the harem are more than a month pregnant, and I am not heirless. If you have Lin'er, in the future, you will have to take care of it, bother to raise it for me, and when you grow up a little, you can hang the curtain and be accompanied by Wei as the regent. I can be worthy of my ancestors and ancestors, and I will smile at Jiuquan. ”

Zhang Yan was shocked, raised her head and asked urgently: "The second concubine is pregnant, and the concubine has never heard of it, why is there such news suddenly today?" ”

"It was played by Wei Companion himself."

Zhang Yan was so anxious that she settled down before she said: "The emperor was sick in May, and although he had pampered a few concubines at that time, there was no record of pregnancy on the living notes of the respectful room. A few days later, the emperor gradually took more drugs and no longer did things for men and women, how could there be a concubine who was pregnant for more than a month? This matter is categorically fake, there must be someone behind it, the emperor must not fall for the tanuki to change the prince's plan, so that the Ming Dynasty will change its surname! ”

Apocalypse looked disappointed, and said wistfully: "This statement is reasonable, and it makes my heart suddenly feel relieved. Fang Cai only cared about joy, his mind was dizzy, and he was blinded into the dark. It's just a matter of hanging the curtain regent, and I have already passed on the message to Wei Companion, how is it good? He was anxious and ashamed, coughed a few times, and his face was blue.

Zhang Yan hurriedly rubbed his back lightly and enlightened: "It is not difficult for the emperor to change it, you might as well draft another edict." In the humble opinion of the concubines, the most important thing should be to appoint who is the prince, so as not to wait and see from the government and the opposition, and there will inevitably be people who have extraordinarily thoughts, covet great treasures, and provoke chaos. In the royal family, only the bloodline of King Xin is the closest, protect me from the Ming Dynasty, and summon King Xin into the palace as soon as possible! ”

Tianqi nodded, but his face was sad, as if he was unwilling, and hesitated: "It is reasonable to pass on the fifth brother, I am worried that Wei Banban will not be willing to assist him, but will harm his life." Just now you said that the imperial city has been blocked, how can the fifth brother enter the palace? ”

"The concubine thought that it was best for the fifth brother to enter the palace, and the emperor could entrust him in person. If you can't enter the palace, the emperor might as well draft an edict, and the concubines can try to send the edict to the palace of the king. ”

Tianqi sighed weakly and said: "Spread my oracle, and order the king to enter the palace to meet him." ”

Zhang Yan glanced at the self-striking bell of the tall Western priests, clasped her hands together and prayed silently: "If God bless me with the Ming Dynasty, the king of faith should also arrive." ”

Just set the watch, shouting the night of the palace lady holding the palace lamp and the golden bell, in front of the Qianqing Palace Gate line, singing "the world is peaceful", to the Rijing Gate, Yuehua Gate walked, the bell and the song tune correspondingly harmonious, the aftermath of the lingering, endless. Zhang Yan looked back at the wide palace gate, and suddenly saw Chen Derun flash in, there was no one behind him, she was uneasy in her heart, and was about to ask, but Chen Derun hurriedly bowed down and cried in a low voice: "Brother Huang, my brother has come to see you!" After that, he leaned down on the side of the dragon bed and couldn't stop crying. Apocalypse was amazed by the person's attire and asked, "Are you the fifth brother, why do you look like this?" ”

King Xin said sadly: "The Forbidden City is said to be heavily guarded, even outside the imperial city. If not, how can you see the royal brother? The two brothers wept opposite each other, and there was a great sense of separation between man and god, heaven and earth. Zhang Yan hurriedly persuaded: "Your Majesty, since the king is here, it is better to quickly deliver the bloody brocade edict to him, and then summon the ministers on duty into the palace to draft the edict, so as not to change for a long time!" ”

Tianqi nodded, stood sideways, took King Xin's hand, handed the blood book brocade edict to him and said, "The fifth brother and I are in the same breath, and the blood is consistent. I have been on my knees for a long time, and when the fifth brother inherits the unification, the fifth brother can be a saint like Yao Shun! ”

King Xin held the bloody edict on the yellow dragon satin high above his head, hurriedly knelt under the bed, and excused himself: "Brother Huang's words, the courtier's brother will not be redeemed for his death." At that time, it was rumored that the government and the opposition wanted to murder the emperor's brother and support his ministers. Taizu wrote the "Emperor Ming Zu Xun" and instructed: 'All ancient princes and princes, those who peep into the great throne in vain, will all bring about their own destruction. 'Remember the younger brother, and dare not forget at any time. Taizu also said: 'Whoever has lived in the country since ancient times, and is more happy than the Son of Heaven, how can he see it? The crown clothes, the palace, the carriage and the horse, and the guard of honor are inferior to the Son of Heaven, and the self-service is rich, and the government affairs are also simple. If you can abide by the courtesy of the vassal and do not do anything wrong, you will be happy. 'The younger brother just wants to be a happy and happy king of faith, accompanied by the emperor's elder brother, and does not want to be an emperor, taking all opportunities, sleeping late and getting up early, worrying about the world, worrying about the hard work of the people! ”

Apocalypse patted the king of faith on the head, wept and said, "How could I listen to slander and divide flesh and blood, did I believe it back then?" Now I don't want to give up the throne, and I can't, I don't have much time, and I can't give up on you. ”

"The younger brother lost the emperor's father at a young age, and it is all thanks to the royal brother's upbringing, it is better to let the younger brother die on behalf of the imperial brother!" King Xin touched the ground with his head, and tears rained down.

Tianqi bowed his head and said, "I know that the fifth brother is loyal, and I am relieved. ”

Seeing King Xin's hesitant expression, Zhang Yan hurriedly said: "The emperor has no other intentions, if he blindly resigns, do you want to give up the inheritance of your ancestors to others with foreign surnames?" ”

King Xin's expression was solemn, and he wiped his tears and said, "Brother Dare!" "I hurriedly put away the blood book brocade edict and hid it closely.

Apocalypse gasped for a while and said with a smile: "Do you remember back then, I just became the emperor, you thought it was fun, ask me if I can do it too, I joked to let you for a few years, but it turned out to be a proverb!" Now that you're going to be the emperor, there's something you need to do for me. ”

"Brother obeys."

"Since ancient times, if the eldest brother is a father, and the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, the queen understands the righteousness, is quiet and solemn, and strongly persuades me to pass on the throne to you. In the future, the fifth brother should be kind to the middle palace, be good at giving birth to others, and make up for the regrets of being negative for me. After explaining, she sighed, Zhang Yan had already cried into tears.

The first assistant Huang Liji and the second assistant Shi Fenglai were on duty in the cabinet duty room outside the Qianqing Gate since Tianqi was seriously ill, and they have not left half a step for more than a month, they can't leave the Forbidden City, and other cabinet ministers can't enter. Hearing the emperor's edict, he hurried to come, and saw that there were only three people in the Xibian Palace, the emperor, the queen and the king of letters, and he was stunned, and he knelt down to ask for peace. Tianqi raised his hand to signal the two of them to flatten up, coughed a few times and said, "Zhongwu, Fenglai, I want to pass on to King Xin, you draft an edict!" ”

Huang Liji's gray beard shook a few times, his face looked even older, he straightened the black gauze hat on his head, dusted off a first-grade crane tonic suit, kowtowed and said: "The emperor's holy body failed to cure medicine, but he was worried about the foundation of his ancestors, and he cared about all the people in the world, and Weichen was inexplicably grateful." The matter of the draft edict, can you announce it to the celebrant supervisor? ”

"I want to draft the edict, and then call Wei Banban and others to read it."

Huang Liji replied: "Since Yongle Ye, the draft edict must have the participation of the ministers, the records of the ministers, and the ministers stamping the imperial treasure, which has been the example of my Ming Dynasty. At present, the ministers don't know that the Shangbao Prison has been closed and cannot use the treasure, how to draft the edict? Shi Fenglai also said: "If it is not that the ministers do not obey the edict, it is really not an example." ”

"I have made up my mind, no need to say more!" The heavens were overpowered, gasping for air. Zhang Yan secretly scolded the cabinet ministers for being old and faint, only knowing that Mingzhe was protecting himself, regardless of the general situation, and also urged: "The matter is urgent, you can stamp the emperor's idle seal on the edict, and then the emperor will draw a charge to pass on the throne with a secret edict." ”

"This is also an ancestral precedent, hurry up!" Apocalypse's breathing became more rapid, and he looked tired. The two ministers glanced at each other, hurriedly prepared their pen and ink, and listened to the instructions quietly. Tianqi looked at the two old ministers kneeling on the ground, and then looked at the queen Zhang Yan, and couldn't help shedding tears, pearls rolling, but he was a little angry. Zhang Yan took out a silk scarf and wanted to wipe it, Tianqi shook his head and said, "I have had enough joy in my life, why not shed a few tears?" I am not dissatisfied in my heart, I have tasted everything, and I have enjoyed what I should enjoy. Grandpa Tai always lamented that being an emperor was tiring, but I didn't realize it, it seems that I am not a good emperor. Apocalypse smiled self-deprecatingly, and his words changed sharply, as if he was pitiful: "Now I am tired of playing, and I want to hand over this burden to King Xin." Fifth brother, it's hard for you! I didn't leave you anything, you work harder, my Ming Dynasty was laid by Emperor Gaozu from birth to death, you have to guard for me, don't teach me to be sorry for my ancestors and ancestors. The factory ministers are loyal and virtuous, the supervisors are dry, and the middle five and Fenglai are all pillars of the country, and they are all of great use. Apocalypse said so many words in a row that he fell on the bed in exhaustion, gasping for breath. Zhang Yan hurriedly came over and gently patted his back and heart.

Huang Liji took the edict prepared by Shi Fenglai, cleared his throat slightly, glanced around in a dodge manner, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, the ministers have prepared the edict, please ask the emperor to read it!" ”

"No need! Just read it and listen to it! Apocalypse closed his eyes tightly.

"Fengtian carrier, the emperor edict said: ...... If the common sense of life and death is common, people will not be able to avoid it, but in succession, the people of the clan and society will depend on it, and they will all be obedient, what a pity for me! The fifth brother of the emperor believed that the king was clever and thoughtful, benevolent and filial piety, and he was taught by the ancestors, and the elder brother and the text of the last brother were ordered to Shaolun Xu, that is, the emperor's throne. Cultivate morality, be pro-virtuous, be diligent in government, be compassionate to the people's livelihood, strictly cultivate border preparations, and do not be too damaged. The civil and military ministers inside and outside the country cooperated to assist, abide by the rules, and protect the emperor's map, because of the proclamation at home and abroad. ”

"Good, good! Let's use the treasure! You must assist the prince with all your heart. Apocalypse shifted his head.

In the Xian'an Palace, a large curtain was enclosed with red light yarn embroidered with flowers and birds, Wei Zhongxian and Ke Yinyue were lying on the big bed in the curtain, and they were about to fall asleep dimly, and they shouted from outside the door with the eunuch Wang Chaozhong: "Nine thousand years old, the chief manager Wang sent someone to report something urgent!" The two of them were startled, and their hugging hands quickly separated, Wei Zhongxian got up in his clothes and shouted, "Order him to come in!" ”

A white little eunuch bowed in tremblingly, Rao knew that there was a big curtain separating him, and he didn't dare to look at it, he lowered his head and lowered his eyes, and said softly: "Chief Wang sent a small message to the nine thousand years old and Mrs. Fengsheng, and there was a cry from the Xibian Hall of the Qianqing Palace. ”

Wei Zhongxian asked urgently: "But the emperor is a guest?" ”

"No, the emperor is also crying."

"Who is in the palace?"

"The emperor, the empress, and the ministers on duty seem to have heard the voice of the king of letters."

"What did you say?"

"The gate of the palace is guarded by people sent by the queen, and the little ones can't get close, so they only vaguely listen to a few fragments."

"When did the king enter the palace? Why didn't you report it early? Wei Zhongxian was furious.

"Little ones don't know."

"Then how did King Shin enter the palace? The four gates are guarded by brocade guards and eunuchs, could it be that they flew in? ”

Ke Yinyue sneered: "Ask him what to do?" What can he know about a little fireman, the most despicable man? Let's go to Qianqing Palace! ”

Wei Zhongxian said sharply: "Go back and tell Wang Tiqian, keep an eye on King Xin for our family, and see how he can get out of the palace?" ”

Outside the Qianqing Palace, Wang Tiqian had already received a letter and rushed over, and Wang Chaozong, the steward of the Qianqing Palace, who was wearing a big red straight body and wearing a golden flat silk, hurriedly came over and said: "Long live the Lord told anyone not to enter unless they are summoned, the palace gate is guarded by several queens' close attendants, and the small ones dare not trespass, and they don't know the movement inside." Wang Tiqian was silent, listening to the palace crying and laughing, intermittently, unable to see clearly, his heart was very anxious, and he kept walking back and forth under the corridor of the palace. As soon as he saw that Wei Zhongxian and Ke Yinyue had arrived, he hurriedly greeted him and said, "The emperor and the ministers are still inside." ”

"What about the Queen?" Wei Zhongxian asked in a vicious voice.

Wang Tiqian said: "I just went back to Kunning Palace with Chen Derun, and the little one just caught up at that time, and the front and rear feet only looked at the back." ”

Wei Zhongxian was puzzled, and asked in disbelief: "Xiao Dezi actually entered the Xibian Palace?" ”

Wang Chaozong nodded hurriedly and said: "When I came, I went in with the queen, and the little one wanted to go in to serve, but he was stopped outside the hall, and he didn't get too close. I only heard a cry in the hall not long after, what is the fifth brother shouting? Words don't really sound true. The work was not large, and the old Huang Liji and Shi Feng were sent in. There was less time for a cup of hot tea, and the queen mother took Chen Derun out and walked to Kunning back to the palace. ”

A smile flashed on Wei Zhongxian's face, and he said, "Since Xiao Dezi is here, he must know the details, so talk to him quickly!" Wang Chaoyong hurriedly took someone to look for it, and after a while, he came back and reported: "Chen Derun is not on duty in Kunning Palace." The little one saw that the dormitory was already dark, and he didn't dare to approach for fear of alarming the queen. asked a few eunuchs and palace maids, and they all said that Chen Derun was not on duty tonight. ”

Wei Zhongxian was furious, looked at Ke Yinyue and said, "You are very good!" If you don't come back to tell you something, what's the use of asking him to go to Kunning Palace? I'm afraid that I have already climbed another high branch and switched to the queen, eating inside and out, right? Ke Yinyue's heart tightened, and then said: "No, he doesn't dare!" ”

"Then quickly find this thing that doesn't grow up for us!" Wei Zhongxian let out a low roar, and the dynasty hurriedly led people to look for it again.

Ke Yinyue also secretly hated Chen Derun's incompetence, just because he was the person he recommended, taking care of decency, he guessed to himself: "It can't be that Xiao Dezi just saw something that shouldn't be seen, and was poisoned, right?" ”

Wei Zhongxian glared at her and scolded hatefully: "I can't do such a little thing, I should have died a long time ago, what is the pity?" Remembering the report of the little fireman, he asked, "Has the king ever entered the palace?" ”

Wang Tiqian hurriedly replied: "The four doors have not been found. ”

"Then report that the palace doesn't live and even call the fifth brother, isn't the king of letters?" Wei Zhongxian looked at Wang Tiqian coldly.

Wang Tiqian knew that he was dissatisfied with the situation in the palace and speculated: "Maybe the Lord Banzai wants to pass the throne to King Xin, right?" King Shin was not in the palace, nor did he enter the palace. After a while, when Huang Liji and Shi Feng came out of the hall, they would naturally understand if they asked. ”

Wei Zhongxian said irritably: "I'm afraid that time is running out, and it will take a lot of trouble to teach the big fish to get off the hook!" ”

"Nine thousand years old thinks that King Shin has really entered the palace? Needless to say, the Forbidden City, even the inside and outside of the Imperial City are as tight as iron barrels, how can he enter? Wang Tiqian was very puzzled in his heart, and Ke Yinyue was also puzzled, but Wei Zhongxian was calm and silent. The waning moon is rising, the night dew is cool, and the long street of Yongxiang is pitch black. The three of them thought hard and waited, and Wang Chaoyong ran quickly from the back of the hall, panting and whispering, "I have found, found Xiao Dezi." ”

"Where are the people?" Wei Zhongxian's eyes lit up.

"In the stone cave of Duixiu Mountain in the palace back garden."

"How could it be there? Teach him to come to me! ”