In the past three or five days, the imperial doctors have continuously entered the Yuzao Palace to diagnose the emperor's pulse, Mrs. Qi urgently asked the emperor about his condition, the imperial doctors all shook their heads and sighed, Mrs. Qi chased outside the hall to ask about the situation in detail, Qin Taiyi had to whisper to Mrs. Qi that the emperor only had a maximum of one month of dragon life, Mrs. Qi was shocked, almost fell to the ground, ran in like the wind and cried in front of Liu Bang's couch, Ren Ruyi and Jing Tian couldn't help Mrs. Qi who couldn't cry. Mrs. Qi grabbed Ruyi in her arms, hugged her stunned son tightly, and cried to the dazed Liu Bang, "Your Majesty, what should Ruyi do?" What should I do? What should he do? ”

While crying, someone outside the hall reported that Lu Hou came over, and Mrs. Qi not only cried, but greeted her on the spot with Ruyi. Empress Lu hurriedly entered the hall and went straight to Liu Bang's couch and called softly a few times, 'Your Majesty', Liu Bang only opened his eyes in a daze, and clearly recognized her as Empress Lu in his eyes, as if his whole body was weak, and he closed his eyes again as if he was in a hurry to fall asleep. Mrs. Qi's cry annoyed Empress Lu, and she scolded Mrs. Qi unceremoniously, "Get out!" Mrs. Qi very respectfully withdrew from the hall with wishful thinking, and just happened to meet Zhao Zi'er and Shi Yinhua who came to see the emperor anxiously, seeing that Mrs. Qi's eyes were red and swollen, and she had time to ask the reason in the future, Mrs. Qi had already passed with Ruyi. Zhao Zier and Shi Yinhua went to the palace together, and saw Empress Lu guarding in front of the bed, first gave her a vegetarian salute, and hurriedly came to the bed to greet the emperor. Zhao Zi'er asked Emperor Lu how his condition was, Lu Hou sighed, and only said, 'I'm afraid that time is running out', Zhao Zi'er was shocked, and tears stopped in an instant, but it was not as noisy as Mrs. Qi. Shi Yinhua only held Liu Bang's hand with both hands, and said softly, "Your Majesty, wake up, I'm Yinhua." Empress Lu only focused on contemplating who could save the emperor's life, and seemed to have no time to cry. took care of Liu Bang in Yuzao Palace for half a day, Zhao Zier and Shi Yinhua went back separately, and Empress Lu personally boiled the medicine and fed Liu Bang to drink, as if the two of them had returned to Weishi at this time, but Liu Bang may not remember what Empress Lu did in a drowsy state. After serving Liu Bang to rest, Empress Lu returned to Changxin Palace.

Until the end of the time, Empress Lu returned to the palace exhausted, still unable to sleep, before the emperor died and died, but today when he saw him not far from death, Empress Lu was sad again, and said that although the two of them have been in love for more than 20 years, their feelings have gradually thinned, but they are inseparable from each other. When Empress Lu thought that she was critically ill that day, Liu Bang was also so anxious without eating or drinking, and at this moment she was copying Liu Bang's situation when she was anxious about her that day. Thinking of this, Empress Lu's eyes lit up, and he immediately ordered someone to post a list outside the palace to recruit Bian Que who was rejuvenating. Within three days, Zhan Shi of Changxin Palace brought a famous doctor from the rivers and lakes, calling himself Sai Bian Que. Without saying a word, Empress Lu immediately took him to the Yuzao Palace to diagnose Liu Bang's pulse, but when it came, Liu Bang woke up slightly, but he just described it as withered, and seemed to be four or five years old all of a sudden. Seeing that Lu Hou was coming, Liu Bang weakly beckoned Lu Hou to come and sit. Empress Lu couldn't hide her sadness in her joy, but she was afraid that the emperor would return to the light, so she introduced Sai Bian Que to Liu Bang, "This person calls himself Sai Bian Que, has been practicing medicine for 30 years, and has treated countless people. Your Majesty, let me try. Liu Bang looked at this person carefully, he was in his fifties, skinny, wearing a gray robe and a green hat, but he looked like an elder, and he didn't think it was Lang Zhong at all. Liu Bang didn't like it very much when he saw him dressed, and asked lightly, "Can I cure my disease?" Sai Bian Que waved his hand, "Cao Chen will diagnose His Majesty's pulse first, is it feasible?" Liu Bang didn't say anything, but stretched out his arm and asked him to check his pulse. Sai Bian Que closed his eyes and checked the emperor's pulse, and his heart was suddenly shocked, but he seemed to have concerns, frowned, and after a long time of checking the pulse, he got up and said firmly, "Your Majesty's illness can be treated, but you have to rest for a hundred days, and you can't be angry." Liu Bang's face was already clouded, and he was very displeased, so he knew that Sai Bian Que's words were just to save his life, and he could feel his physical illness. Liu Bang quietly untied his chest clothes and asked Sai Bian Que to see, Sai Bian Que was dumbfounded, two arrow wounds not far from the emperor's chest were next to each other, and the wounds had already suppurated and expanded. Liu Bang smiled and asked, "Can it still be cured?" Sai Bian Que's eyes flowed, his head was blank, and there was only one thought: save his life first. Sai Bian Que had to continue to lie and said, "Yes, it can be cured." "Get out of here!" Liu Bang was suddenly furious, pointed at Sai Bian Que and scolded, "The body is mine, I know that time is short, why lie to me?" Isn't it the destiny of heaven that I use cloth clothes and carry a three-foot sword to take the world? My life is to heaven, although what is the use of Bian Que? Sai Bian Que was so frightened that he was speechless, and suddenly fell to his knees, trembling. Liu Bang shook his hand, ignored Sai Bian Que's words, and only asked the people on both sides to reward Sai Bian Que with fifty gold, and then told him to go out of the palace.

Seeing that Liu Bang refused to be treated, Empress Lu was worried, sat in front of the couch without saying a word, knowing how to advise, and he didn't listen. Liu Bang continued to lie down, his face was bloodless, and he only stared at the top of the hall fixedly, and the hall was silent for a while. Empress Lu told himself that the emperor's time was running out, and if Liu Ying ascended the throne in the future, he didn't know who could assist him, and he didn't know how Liu Bang would arrange his posthumous affairs, so he asked Liu Bang, "Can I ask you if you will arrange it in the future?" Liu Bang ignored Empress Lu and said, "I'll wait for you to ask." "A hundred years after Your Majesty, Xiao Xiangguo is dead, who can replace him?" Liu Bang didn't seem surprised, as if he knew that Empress Lu asked him this, so he relieved and arranged, "Cao Shenke." "After Cao Shen dies, who can replace him?" "Wang Lingke, but this person is less, Chen Ping can help him, but Chen Ping has more than enough wisdom, more conspiracies, and cannot be alone. Zhou Bo is thick and young, and in the future, the person who will be the Liu family will also be able to be made a captain. Empress Lu said deeply, and then asked second, Liu Bang closed his eyes and said lightly, "After that, it is not for you to know." Empress Lu was stunned, so he didn't ask, and ordered the palace people to serve the emperor well, and Empress Lu said goodbye to Liu Bang and returned to Changxin Palace.

Seeing the emperor wake up today, Empress Lu was both happy and worried, happy that the emperor woke up; The worry is that the emperor is likely to wake up this time and quickly depose the crown prince. Thinking of this, Empress Lu was in a cold sweat for no reason, frowning in the hall for a long time, and suddenly her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly ordered Dai Qing to leave the palace and go to the Houfu to tell Lu Shizhi so and so.

Two days later, Liu Bang's health was slightly better, it was the birthday of the prince Liu You, Liu Bang felt that his time was running out and he couldn't care about his sons, so he took advantage of his health to hold a birthday banquet for Liu You in the palace, and said that the minister's banquet was a good time for a good family to get together for a meal. Lu Hou was overjoyed when he heard it.

In the evening, the banquet went smoothly, only singing and dancing, for fear of disturbing the emperor's body. Although it was a wedding banquet, everyone in the palace did not dare to eat and drink recklessly, because they knew that the emperor's time was short, and they did not know whether they could survive the end of the month. Everyone seemed to be restrained, only Liu You on Zhao Zier's lap innocently grabbed something to eat, and didn't care about the adults at all. Mrs. Qi served Liu Bang and persuaded him not to drink, Liu Bang laughed, saying that he only drank one sip, Mrs. Qi was stubborn but had to rely on him, and Liu Bang no longer drank the second lord. Because of the joyful atmosphere, Liu Bang felt more and more heavy about his death soon after. Seeing this, Zhao Zi'er let Liu You stagger to Liu Bang, Liu You's little hand touched Liu Bang's loving heart, Liu Bang took Liu You's little hand and showed a fatherly stabbing smile, hugged him into his arms and kissed him, so sometimes he touched the scene, and told himself that he must deal with the deposed prince quickly recently. Empress Lu, who was sitting on Liu Bang's right seat, looked at Dai Qing, and Dai Qing went straight out of the hall after he understood. Oh, but the crown prince Liu Ying came in from outside the palace, followed by four elders with gray hair and beards. The four elders followed behind Liu Ying, and when they came to the emperor, they respectfully bowed. Liu Bang beckoned Liu Ying to sit down quickly, and said to Liu Ying with a smile, "I heard that you were trained by four elders in the East Palace, but these four are not?" ”

Liu Ying respectfully replied, "Exactly." ”

"Who are they? How can he teach the prince. ”

Liu Ying got up and introduced the four elders to Liu Bang one by one, "Back to my father, these four are Cui Guang, Duke of Xia Huang, Wu Shi of Qili, Tang Bing, Duke of Dongyuan, and Mr. Zhou Shu of Luli. They were doctors of the Qin Dynasty, and at the end of the Qin Dynasty, they lived in seclusion in Shangshan, and they worked hard to ask the four elders to go out of the mountain to assist, so that the Han Dynasty could last for thousands of generations. Today is my brother's birthday, and I have no intention of being late. Father's forgiveness. ”

Liu Bang was taken aback, handed Liu You to Zhao Zi'er, stared at the four elders in front of him with round eyes, looked like they were in their eighties, dressed strangely, and were willing to follow the prince's back, which reminded him that when he first took the world, he heard that the four elders of the Qin Dynasty were very virtuous and talented, and Liu Bang ordered people to look for them in every possible way, but there was no trace of these four people, and he would not continue to look for them in the future, and gradually put aside the matter of finding the four elders. Liu Bang was shocked, thinking that Liu Ying was fortunate to have his mother Lu Hou's assistance, Xiao He, Gao Qi, Wang Ling, and Shusun Tongding must be the prince's party, and now they have added Shangshan Sihao, who is like thunder but can't find it, Liu Bang feels that a powerful force behind the prince is persecuting him, and the prince's power has burned the plains, and it is difficult to shake it. Liu Bang stared at Lu Hou suddenly, as if he saw that her heart was full of powerful power, and her calm eyes didn't seem to have fear, and she just dealt with it calmly. Liu Bang knew that he underestimated Empress Lu's ability, and he also felt that it was no longer feasible to depose the prince, so he couldn't help but sigh again and again. Liu Bang asked, "Are you all as the prince said?" ”

The four Hao of Shangshan are all called '喏'.

Liu Bang was shocked, stepped forward and asked again, "I have been looking for you for many years, but you have avoided you, but today you are willing to follow my son, why?" ”

Shang Shan Sihao arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty is good at scolding, and our righteousness is not humiliated, so I am afraid of death." I heard that the prince is benevolent and filial, respectful and loving, and the world is willing to die for the prince, so the ministers are uninvited. The prince really treats the ministers with courtesy and kindness, and the ministers talk to the prince every day about the past and the present, which is not interesting. The ministers feel that the prince will be a virtuous lord in the future, and the world is very fortunate. ”

Liu Bang was silent, and Empress Lu glanced at the emperor, and her heart was overjoyed; Mrs. Qi was anxious. Liu Bang pondered for a long time, and felt that he would lose Mrs. Qi and her son Liu Ruyi in this life, but the prince had already achieved his wings and could not be shaken. Liu Bang has been planning in his womb for a long time, but he has to find a way out for Qi Ji's mother and son no matter what. Liu Bang forcibly suppressed his frustration and said to Shang Shan Sihao, "What you said is reasonable. I hope you will assist Liu Ying well in the future, and the Han Dynasty will be handed over to him and will not be shaken again. After saying this, everyone present looked at the emperor together, and Empress Lu and Liu Ying were even more surprised and surprised, but they didn't dare to show their smugness.

The banquet was over, and the crowd dispersed. The lonely Liu Bang and the teary-eyed Mrs. Qi did not leave the table for a long time. Liu Bang knew that Mrs. Qi hated him and resented him at this time, but he couldn't comfort him, because he didn't fulfill his promise, so he just closed his eyes and leaned on the couch without saying a word. Mrs. Qi stopped crying, was in a daze for a long time, and only opened one sentence for a long time, "I won every game, and in the end I lost; They lost every game, and in the end Lu Hou won. Every time I give me hope, every time it is brutally destroyed in front of me. Mrs. Qi and her entourage burst into tears, "I, my life is short." ”

Liu Bang sighed, helpless about this, and said to Mrs. Qi, "I want to make it easy, Shangshan Sihao assists it, the prince's wings have been completed, and it is difficult to shake it." Empress Lu, it's really your master. Mrs. Qi cried. Liu Bang said, "I will find a way out for you, and Empress Lu can't move you." Mrs. Qi lay on Liu Bang's lap and cried, Liu Bang endured his sadness, patted Mrs. Qi and said, "Madam, dance another dance for me, and I will accompany you to play Chu Ge." Mrs. Qi couldn't stop crying, and halfway through the dance, she couldn't bear the pain, and she jumped and cried. Liu Bang also sang in a sad mood, "The bird flies high, and it is a thousand miles in one fell swoop." The feather diaphragm has been completed, and it is across the four seas. Across the world, when there is nothing to do! Although there is a payment, Shang An will give it! "The singing is sad and the dancing is poignant.

Back at Yuzao Palace, Liu Bang couldn't sleep all night, struggling to find a way out for Mrs. Qi and his beloved son Ruyi, because he knew that after his death, Empress Lu would not forgive Mrs. Qi's mother and son. The next day, the prince presented a prayer to the emperor to Liu Bang, Liu Bang read it, although he was moved, but also angry, because he knew the prince's words, this prayer may have been read by the prince and written by others. For this reason, Liu Bang was a little angry, but he was still moved. There are also eunuchs who brought the ministers' recitals to Liu Bang, and the recitals praised the prince's virtue, recruited Shangshan Sihao as an assistant, and praised Shangshan Sihao for not losing his benevolence and willingness to go out of the mountain for the world. Therefore, Liu Bang became more aware of the unshakability of the crown prince's wings. Liu Bang's eyes flashed, and he told himself that the prince was kind and could ensure the safety of Qi Ji's mother and son, so he wrote the words that had been prepared in his heart into the "Edict of the Prince", which was quickly handed over to the prince by the widow. Liu Ying opened his eyes and saw it, it was: I suffered from troubled times, when Qin was out of school, I was happy, and it was useless to study. Since the practice of Zuo, the time has been written in the book, so that people can know the author's intentions, and recall what he did in the past, but it is not much. Yao Shun does not treat the Son of Heaven and the Son with others, this is not for the sake of the world, but the Son is not neutral. People have good cattle and horses, but what about the world? Wu Yier is the son of Yuanzi, and he has long been determined. The ministers called you four hao, what I can't do, but for you, for you to do big things. Now you will be your heir. I don't learn books in my life, but I know how to read and ask words. Therefore, it is not a big job, but it is enough to excuse itself. Looking at your book now, it is still inferior to me. You can study diligently. Every time you are sparse, you should write your own book, and don't make people also. You see Xiao, Cao, Zhang, Chen Zhugong, I am the same people, and those who have been with you for many years, all worship, and speak to your brothers. I have to be sick and sleepy, and I am tired of mothers and children with wishful thinking, and the rest of the children are self-sufficient, and I mourn that this child is still young.

Liu Ying suddenly understood that the old father's intention was to let him protect Qi Ji's mother and son, Liu Ying was afraid that his father would be worried, so he personally ran to the Yuzao Palace, and was passing by Jing Tian, who was waiting for the emperor to drink the medicine, Liu Ying stopped for a while, intending to speak, and Jing Tian passed like a wind. Liu Ying didn't dare to delay for a moment and went straight into the hall, Liu Bang had already fallen asleep, Liu Ying covered the quilt for him, held his father's hand, and silently prayed that he would get better soon. Liu Bang woke up and smiled when he saw that it was the prince. Liu Ying knelt on the edge of the couch and said to Liu Bang firmly, "The father's intentions, the son understands, the son is here, the mother and the Ruyi brother are there." Liu Bang forced a smile and said, "You are finally as benevolent and filial as others say, I didn't choose the wrong person." Liu Bang wanted to get up, Liu Ying hurriedly put on the mat, Liu Bang held Liu Ying's hand and said, "Child, don't blame me for snubbing you." Liu Ying shook her head, but she felt a little sad. Liu Bang said meaningfully about his feelings, "Many obstacles in the world have been cleared, but it is difficult to defend the country and govern the country." Perhaps your brothers are lucky that they don't have more to do than you do in the future. 80,000 miles of rivers and mountains are under your control, be a good emperor, and don't let the events of the end of Qin repeat themselves. In case of indecision, he discussed with Xiao He, Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Zhou Bo and others. Liu Ying nodded in agreement. Liu Bang attached his hand to Liu Ying's shoulder, and solemnly instructed, "After I die, your mother will not spare Qi Ji's mother and son, you should pay more attention." On the same day, I will order Ruyi to return to Zhao, and I will tell Zhou Chang that only with your edict can the king of Zhao come to Beijing, and the rest of the people will not need to pay attention to the summons. Mrs. Qi also entered Zhao as she wished. If I die, I shall not summon their mothers and sons to Beijing to pay their respects to me. If there is no major event in the future, you don't have to summon King Zhao to Beijing, lest he be killed. Liu Ying agreed. Liu Bang smiled as if he had unloaded his burden, and only hoped that he had not chosen the wrong person. Liu Ying said goodbye to Liu Bang and returned to the East Palace, and Liu Bang specially instructed again, "Study more and listen to opinions." Liu Ying said 'um' and went back to the East Palace.