Two days later, the seventh prince and the eighth prince came back with their ministers.

The dragon body of Emperor Xuanhe has been buried in the imperial mausoleum.

The six princes were recuperating on the couch and failed to show up.

Empress Pei, who was dressed in plain clothes, greeted her in person, and said softly to the seventh prince and the eighth prince: "The prince's health has not healed, and he can't go to the imperial mausoleum in person. ”

How dare the seventh prince and the eighth prince be, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed in front of his mother-in-law: "The son is fortunate not to be dishonored." ”

Empress Pei personally helped up the seven princes and eight princes, and said to the courtiers who were sending the funeral: "You have worked hard all the way. The prince wants to see you. Then you will go with the palace. ”

There are more than 30 courtiers who went to the imperial tomb for funeral, all of whom are important ministers of the fourth rank or above in the court.

At this time, all the ministers showed a touched look at the same time, and they all surrendered.

The funeral of Emperor Xuanhe is over, and next, it is time for the new emperor to ascend the throne and change the dynasty. It's just that the crown prince can't stay yet, and he can't support the enthronement ceremony for a whole day. What to do?

In the past few days, all the ministers have been thinking about this issue. Now that the prince wants to see them, I think it has something to do with this important matter.

……

All the ministers entered the prince's dormitory together.

The six princes were helped to sit on the bed, their faces handsome and pale, almost bloodless. A pair of dark eyes, but calm and composed.

All the ministers knelt down together and bowed to the full: "The ministers have seen His Royal Highness the Prince." ”

"The ministers are exempt from courtesy." The six princes are not full of energy, and the volume is not high. Zhang Kou first appeased and praised the loyalty of the ministers.

These clichés are just listened to by the ministers. The touching and thanksgiving on the face are just pretending.

The sixth prince has been the crown prince for two years, and he often deals with the ministers, so he naturally knows very well that it is a fool's dream to want to win over the courtiers with just a few fluttering words.

It is by no means easy to control the ministers and completely take charge of the government. Without three years and five years, it simply can't be done.

The sixth prince quickly changed his words and sighed softly: "Lone is the crown prince of his father's throne, and now his father has been buried, but Lone cannot hold an enthronement ceremony because of his weak health." I wonder if the ministers have any good ideas? ”

The Duke of Weiguo and the Duke of Jingguo have suffered a lot of idle anger from Queen Pei these days, and at this time, they are like sawing gourds, and they are silent.

The generals were headed by the Duke of Weiguo and the Duke of Jingguo, and if they did not say anything, the rest of the people did not say anything.

The Marquis of Yong'an died tragically, and the Marquis of Jinning was imprisoned in the prison. There is only one Pingxi Hou left, and he has the weight to open his mouth to speak. His son Zhu Qijue became a concubine, and now he has a heavy responsibility and is deeply trusted and reused by the crown prince.

Pingxi Hou took a step forward and was the first to open his mouth to speak: "The last general is a rough man who wields knives and guns, his mind is straightforward, and he will say whatever he thinks." If there is anything that is not fully said, please forgive His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. ”

"A kingdom cannot be without a king for a day. The first emperor has been buried in the imperial mausoleum, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should be enthroned as the new emperor. You can ascend the throne first, and then talk about it. As for the enthronement ceremony and the sacrifice to the Taimiao, it can be carried out only after His Highness's body has recovered. ”

A look of satisfaction flashed in the eyes of the six princes.

That's what he had in mind. However, you can't open your mouth to say such things.

A few days ago, he hinted a few words in front of Zhu Qijue. Zhu Qijue's mind was also meticulous, and after pondering for two days, he quietly sent a letter to his father, Pingxihou.

Therefore, Pingxi Hou was the first to open his mouth today and propose to hold a ceremony after ascending the throne first.

The six princes were full of promise in their hearts, but there was a hesitant and ashamed look on their faces: "There has never been a precedent in the past dynasties for ascending the throne first and then holding a ceremony, and I am really ashamed to set this precedent alone." ”

The Duke of Wei Guo and the Duke of Jingguo sighed at the same time in his heart.

It's so obvious that the ministers are fools, can't you see it?

Having said that, unless they have the intention of supporting other princes to sit on the dragon chair, they can only do this.

The six princes did not look at the Duke of Weiguo and the Duke of Jingguo, but looked at Zhou Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites: "Taifu Zhou is the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and the ceremonies for the enthronement of the Son of Heaven are all in charge of the Taifu." I wonder if Taifu thinks this is feasible? ”

Zhou Shangshu was the most loyal supporter of the Six Princes, and when he heard this, he said in a deep voice: "The old minister thinks this matter is feasible. Things can't be set in stone, and rules can be set according to the situation. His Royal Highness could not support the enthronement ceremony, and the old minister proposed that the enthronement ceremony be postponed to next year. ”

Liang Shangshu of the household department echoed without thinking: "The minister seconded the proposal." ”

The official secretary also quickly stated: "The minister also seconded the proposal." ”

The ministers seconded one after another, and the generals could no longer be silent.

Wei Guogong finally opened his mouth and made a final decision: "The old minister also agrees." ”

The sixth prince breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and said softly: "Since all the ministers have seconded the proposal, this matter is decided. For specific matters, the Ministry of Rites will make a charter! ”

Zhou Shangshu respectfully accepted the order.

Let's not say that Zhou Shangshu is the crown prince and concubine, just by virtue of his identity as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, it is natural to take this errand.

Whether the Duke of Patriotic Yasukuni is unhappy or not, no one knows. The two old foxes of officialdom both readily agreed.

……

After discussing this matter, Wei Guogong opened his mouth and asked: "His Royal Highness the Great Prince, His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince, and others are all in the prison, I don't know what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will do?" ”

Jingguo Gong then took over the conversation: "The Marquis of Jinning, who is far away, has also been locked up in the palace prison. According to the law of the court, if a courtier commits a serious crime, he should be convicted by the criminal department. I don't know when His Royal Highness ordered the transfer of Zhenyuan Hou Jin Ninghou to the Criminal Department? ”

fratricide, the death of the eldest prince and the fourth prince is not a pity, and the courtiers will not talk much about how to deal with them.

However, the matter of Zhenyuan waiting for the Marquis of Jin Ning was the focus of attention of the ministers. This is closely related to the ministers.

If a precedent is set and the imperial power is above the laws of the court, wouldn't it be a matter of killing the courtiers if they want to kill them?

This time, even Pingxi Hou will not stand on the side of the six princes. His gaze fell on the face of the six princes tightly, to see how the six princes responded.

The sixth prince had obviously already thought about this matter, and said slowly: "Duke Wei Guo Jin Guogong, what are you worried about, Gu knows very well. You are afraid that you will ignore the law, ignore the law, and kill the Marquis of Jinning, who is far away. I am afraid that a precedent will be set, and the courtiers will become fish on the chopping board in the future. ”

The Duke of Wei and the Duke of Jingguo arched their hands together: "The old minister doesn't dare." ”

Already thinking so, what would you not dare?

The corners of the sixth prince's mouth showed a hint of sarcasm, and he said lightly: "Lone will not kill innocents indiscriminately, so you can rest assured." The matter is serious, and Lone must personally interrogate them and convict them. ”

As he spoke, he sighed again: "It's a pity that the lonely and sick body is weak, and I can't stay or enter the prison." Now, I have wronged them for a while, and I will stay in the prison for the time being. Wait for Lone's body to heal, and then personally interrogate Jinning Hou Zhenyuan! ”

Ministers: "......"