The early dynasty in Kyoto has been stopped for a long time, the ministers are panicked, and the palace gate is closed, but there are eunuchs and palace people who pass words back and forth, and as for the courtiers' painstaking efforts, most of them cannot be passed on to the emperor.

The prime ministers on the left and right have always crushed each other, but at this moment, they had to stop the senseless private disputes, and jointly started to play to the emperor, asking to enter the palace to discuss the saint.

Wu Hanchi also had to make some connections, so he was able to manage to exchange news with the people who had bought him well in the palace at the side gate of the palace.

Behind him stood Xiong Ding, the secretary of the military department. Coincidentally, the prime ministers of the left and right are not to say that they are-for-tat on weekdays, but they have to meet halfway and take a detour, and the subordinates in the two camps are even more taboo against each other, and if they have a little intimacy, they will inevitably be deducted by someone with a heart.

But this time, both parties coincidentally chose the same palace gate to do things, and when Xiong Ding saw Wu Hanchi, he didn't even have a hint of avoidance, but bowed to him generously and said, "Wu Xiang." ”

Xiong Ding is recognized as He Wenmao's person, the two have a friendship of half a division, if it wasn't for He Wenmao pulling Xiong Ding, he may not be able to be the secretary of the military department, but now this errand is no longer a good fragrance, Xiong Ding is busy and anxious, Wu Hanchi saw that his face was very bad, his eyes were blue and black, and his eyes were very dull.

Wu Hanchi didn't care about ridicule at this time, after all, they were worried about one thing.

Wu Hanchi nodded implicitly, both of them had to wait at the palace gate, staring at each other with big eyes, looking embarrassed, Wu Hanchi asked, "Why did Shangshu come today?" But is there a difference in the military situation in southern Xinjiang? ”

Xiong is relatively straight, he doesn't like to play Tai Chi and do twists, and said: "I'm afraid that you and I are worried about the same thing, the military situation in southern Xinjiang is still stable, Feng Xiwen is fierce and vicious, but the march and battle are incomparable." Just ......"

He said: "No matter how fierce the soldier is, he needs rice and flour to be able to show his bravery, Wu Xiangke has heard of it?" The poisonous rain raged all over the Great Zhou, and the people had no choice, so it was the right thing to find a way to avoid the poisonous rain all day long and survive. Winter seedlings should have emerged in the rich area of the south of the Yangtze River, but under the poisonous rain, even the willows on the riverside have died cleanly, and the visible ones in the first half of next year will be harvested. This is still the case in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and other regions are only afraid that the shortage of rice and grain will be even more serious at that time. And the New Year is approaching, regardless of the people and officials, they have to buy noodles, rice, vegetables and meat, all kinds of small points to celebrate the New Year, this is a big consumption, this year to eat, next year but not again. Second, the ghosts have been going on in various places for more than a month, and the agricultural work in the serious areas has long been stopped, and the state capitals have begged each other for food, but they can't ask for it, and they have all asked the imperial court to get up. Besides, since His Majesty ordered the Tenji to take out the medicine to restrain the ghosts, and it was distributed to various places, although it did have a restraining effect, it could not be cured in the end. ”

Xiong Ding said and clapped his hands together, with a sad face: "Don't talk about the rest of the things, just the New Year's event that is close at hand." How many wealthy families rely on annual rent collection to support their expenses, but where do the tenants below them pay the rent? If they can't pay it, they will inevitably be beaten, that is, they will sell the wives and daughters of the tenants, and those masters will force them to pay enough things. How else are they going to spend this year? Kyoto is closed down, and there is a reason not to send it in if you pay rent, but what about outside, especially in places where there are many large families who eat and rent? Ghosts are difficult to cure, so where can they be dragged like this? Under the poisonous rain, how many granaries have been destroyed, I am afraid that even a year with enough food to eat...... No, I'm afraid I won't be able to live! ”

Wu Hanchi didn't know what he said, but generally speaking, he was not worried about the secretary of the military department, and said: "So, General Feng has already asked the adults for food?" ”

The military department Shangshu said: "Ahem, it's just that General Feng wants to return the grain, and the military rations in the northern Xinjiang also need to be replenished as usual." I should have only worried about the supply of the army, but after chatting with He Xiang in the past few days, I feel more and more that the situation is becoming more and more urgent. It didn't take long for the palace to be stored, and the Praetorian Guards in the city had lost half of their previous ghost walks, and the prison was full of ghosts, and there was no shortage of people crying near the big prison for a day. ”

The head of the military department said and began to hesitate again: "Have you asked someone to ask the rice store in Kyoto?" Those shops have already stocked up on rice and grain and don't want to sell it anymore, and two days ago, someone set fire to steal rice. ”

Where can Wu Hanchi take care of this experience, he has always cared about the family's use, and he doesn't dare to ask him to take care of it, the head of the family, the important minister of the court, what does it look like to take care of those trivial housework at home? The Wu family is not as good as some families, because Wu Hanchi himself wants to take the lead, he is still diligent and thrifty, and the Wu family has no luxury. Wu Hanchi suddenly remembered that he went to the eldest son's room yesterday and saw that he was eating on the table, and wanted to eat a little by the way. ”

The daughter-in-law hurriedly came up and said: "The boss has eaten, this is just our meal, I have been sick recently, I think it is oil, so I eat two bowls of this wash and wash." ”

Wu Hanchi didn't take this matter to heart, just said a word, and when he thought about it, he couldn't help but sink his face, his son and daughter-in-law have always been sensible, especially this daughter-in-law is more polite than her son, where can she eat by herself and put on those several dishes?

Thinking that the rice was not enough, he and the prime minister's wife were still the fine food they had before, but they saved it!

Xiong Ding saw his face and knew the answer, so he said: "Prime Minister He thought about this, and he said that he would enter the palace today, so he went in." I came with him, and was stopped...... That's it, I'm stupid, and going in will only add to Your Majesty's troubles. ”

Wu Hanchi said: "What Shangshu said is exact, and I also came to see Your Majesty today because of this, the poisonous rain is raging, and if the imperial court does not provide disaster relief, there will be chaos in various places." ”

Xiong Ding sighed and shook his head, since the closure of the city, His Majesty seems to have cut off contact with the outside world, as if as long as the city is sealed, all dangers and turmoil can be kept out.

He thought of something in his heart, paused, looked at Wu Hanchi and said, "Speaking of which, Wu Xiangke has ever heard another statement?" ”

Wu Hanchi motioned for himself to listen, but Xiong Ding didn't dare to, looked at the palace people, pulled him two steps, and said in a low voice: "The minister heard about it...... Your Majesty is dying. ”

Wu Hanchi's face changed, and he immediately reprimanded: "Where does this start?!" ”

-------

He Wenmao is old, and he doesn't seek to walk fast on weekdays, but only to be stable, and he can't take care of these at this time, so he walks in a hurry, but calls the palace people around him who lead the way to help him in a panic.

He Wenmao pinched the sachet tied around his waist with one hand, and asked as he walked, "Why is it so good to tie such a thing to the old man?" ”

He Wenmao was blocked at the door, and he was not allowed to step into the palace if he was not tied up.

The palace man immediately said: "It is used to resist the disease of ghosts, and the spices in the sachet are burning the same everywhere in the palace now, don't be surprised." ”

This time he didn't go to the imperial study, but led him straight to the Emperor's Title Palace, the doors of the palace were closed, and the strong smell of smoke soaked into people's mouths and noses, He Wenmao couldn't help frowning, and asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, what's going on?" ”

The people in the palace didn't dare to speak, and the henchman and eunuch beside Zhou Guanzhao didn't know where to get closer, and replied: "Your Majesty has been to the cold palace since a few days ago, and when he came back, it was as if he was caught in a nightmare, and he became more and more sick. ”

What he said was very strange, Zhou Guanzhao was stunned when he went to the cold palace once, could it be that the concubines in the cold palace in the past were shocked by the current saint? Zhou Guanzhao has no grievances with them, how can he be scorned.

Besides, Zhou Guanzhao himself has no face on his face, the harem is almost deserted, what is she running to the cold palace if she has nothing to do?

He Wenmao pressed these questions for the time being, only nodded yes, and asked, "How is Your Majesty today?" ”

The chief eunuch shook his head and said: "Your Majesty is afraid that it will be bad if you see someone with illness, and it will not be good if you affect the adult, so after the adult goes in, you can talk back outside the screen, and you don't need to go inside------ originally meant that the adult is outside the palace, and Your Majesty is thinking that the adult is old." ”

He Wenmao hurriedly thanked the grace, followed the great eunuch into the hall, it was really strong in the smell of medicine, smoked dizzy, heavy gauze curtains blocked all the places that could be seen, a screen in front of him, embroidered with the usual scenery, but looked closely, but there was no common style of mountains and water, He Wenmao couldn't help but look at it twice, and found that the scenery above was not like the north, the south was not south, the sky and the earth were purple, and the sun like a round of eyeballs hung crumblingly in the sky.

He didn't look at it for a few moments, but he heard a little movement inside, so he bowed his head and saluted: "Your Majesty." ”

Zhou Guanzhao didn't respond to him for a long time, and He Wenmao had to call again: "Your Majesty? ”

The big eunuch received his eyes, hurriedly entered, and only then did he slowly answer, and the big eunuch came out and whispered to He Wenmao: "Your Majesty's spirit is not good, and I don't plan to see people today, but the illness is getting worse and worse, and I am afraid that I will not get better, so I let the adults in." ”

When He Wenmao heard this, he felt more and more that the situation was serious, and he couldn't help frowning.

Zhou Guanzhao's figure was full of shadows inside, his voice was very tired, and he said, "What is the matter with Wen Aiqing?" ”

"Your Majesty," He Wenmao said, "What can the Heavenly Supervisor find out about the poisonous rain?" The poisonous rain destroys the fields and kills people, and if you don't act, the consequences are unimaginable! ”

Zhou Guanzhao lazily answered, and only said half-loudly: "This matter can be decided by Aiqing......

He Wenmao knew that this was the case, in the previous correspondence with him, Zhou Guanzhao had such an attitude, this woman who has always held on to power and was extremely resolute, not only did not have the meaning of burden at this juncture, but showed the intention of delegating power, whoever put the matter forward, handed over the matter to whom, and over time, except for those who were really bent on worrying about the country and completely ignoring themselves, the rest of the courtiers hesitated.

Many officials took advantage of the absence of the court and tried their best to escape from Kyoto with their families.