The emperor died, the whole country mourned, the eldest prince suddenly disappeared, knowing that the throne was Hongyi, but the national mourning was in front, and the more unruly, so the national mourning was held by the three princes. The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty wore linen and filial piety, but the emperor's favorite henchman Fang Youxin did not appear, and the court remarks were everywhere for a while. As a result, when the army arrived at the imperial tomb, he found that Fang Youxin had already knelt in front of the imperial tomb and waited for many days, tremblingly kowtowed to the coffin three times, and respectfully held out a scroll of holy decrees.

Originally, he wanted to scold Fang Youxin's hypocritical minister, but when he saw the third prince taking the lead in kneeling, he also knelt on the ground. Others may not have seen the holy decree, but the third prince naturally knows what Fang Youxin is holding in his hands, and no matter what the holy decree is written, it is the supreme representative at this moment. However, Fang Youxin did not read it on the spot, but just put the holy decree on the coffin and asked the third prince to complete the final ceremony until the coffin was sealed.

Fang Youxin asked to leave the three princes and Hongyi in the imperial mausoleum, no one knew what the three of them said in the mausoleum of the first emperor, only that Hongyi came out with a pair of red eyes, and he already held the holy decree brought by Fang Youxin in his hand.

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live."

The three princes who came out behind Hongyi took the lead in kneeling and kowtowing, and Fang Youxin also shouted, and at this moment, all the speculations outside the mausoleum were relieved. Regardless of whether they are sincere or not, the first emperor is gone, and the person standing in front of him is their new emperor. The previous two princes couldn't hide their excitement on their faces, and their voices were high-pitched and excited, while those big princes who were not imprisoned had their own agendas. Some are glad that they are not the center of power, anyway, as long as they work hard to show loyalty and meritorious service in the future, the new emperor should be able to reactivate it in a few years.

Li Ge didn't go with the team in his old age, but when he heard that the new emperor had returned to the dynasty, he immediately knew in his heart.

"Si Nian, help me take down the "Begonia Ribbon Picture" on the wall." Li Ge Lao pointed to the scroll on the opposite wall. The blooming begonia flowers and peonies are enchanting and gorgeous, the flowers are clustered around a mountain stone, two birds perch on it, the coloring lines of the flowers and birds are very good, the picture appears graceful and elegant, full of wealth and peace.

Li Sinian had just come to report the news of the new emperor's return to the dynasty with his grandfather, and when he saw that Li Ge was calm, he seemed to be confident. sighed in his heart, as he expected, the first emperor had already prepared, and Li Ge Lao must have guessed the ending, so he was so calm.

"There's a hidden pocket at the back of the painting, and you can take out the contents of it." Li Ge Lao said softly.

Li Sinian took off the scroll, and was curious that this scroll was a little heavier than other paintings, when he heard Li Gelao's reminder, he found that the back of the scroll was actually interlined with a cloth and could vaguely see the traces of protrusion behind the back. He placed the scroll on the table, carefully found the pocket, and found what was hidden inside. At first touch, it didn't feel like paper, soft, more like fine silk, he pulled it out and looked at it, and immediately widened his eyes and was surprised.

Looking at the piece of woven gold silk in his hand, it is obviously a fabric from the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau, only for the holy decree, and the back is engraved with seven colors of auspicious clouds and cranes.

Li Sinian cautiously held his hands in his hands, his gaze slanted, and there was a sense of majesty and solemnity in his hope, "Grandfather, what is this?" "The materials used in the Decree are very exquisite, and in addition to the fact that they must be the designated fabrics, the patterns on the back are also divided into categories. Below the fifth rank are a single white silk written purpose, and above the fifth rank there are three-color, five-color and seven-colored, and the richer the color, the higher the official rank of the official receiving the gift. And the holy decree in Li Sinian's hand is a seven-color jacquard brocade, at least a first-class official can receive the decree, it seems that it is definitely not for Li Gelao.

"It's okay for you to take a look, just burn it after you're done." Li Ge Lao's calm tone made Li Sinian even more surprised.

This is a holy decree!

If there is one, it is not allowed to set up a banquet and serve it respectfully, Li Ge Lao said lightly, as if it was just his casual practice just now.

When Li Sinian opened the holy decree and saw the familiar handwriting, the expression on his face froze completely. He has seen this handwriting many times, and there are a lot of them everywhere in the Li family, vigorous and powerful, graceful, mellow and elegant. Seeing the content on it again, as well as the vermilion seal at the end, Li Sinian's whole person became messy. The handwriting is beautiful, simple and clear, and it is clearly the edict of the new emperor of the prince.

He raised his head and looked at the owner of this handwriting inexplicably, not knowing why Elder Li Ge would let him see such an important thing. If the edict of the Li family is true, then what is the one in Fang Youxin's hand, but why is Li Ge Lao holding an edict in his hand that is completely different from Fang Youxin.

As if seeing through Li Sinian's thoughts, Li Ge Lao seemed to spit out a secret that had been hidden for many years, and sighed faintly: "You read it right, this is the edict I drafted for the first emperor back then. His gaze changed from sharp to distant and deep, and his thoughts were also stretched, as if he had traveled back in time, back to when he was still standing on the Golden Luan Palace.

He stood in the imperial study, prepared the edict for the first emperor stroke by stroke, and was about to hand it to the first emperor for a look, but he shook his head.

"Aiqing, you can keep this for me first." The first emperor's face looked solemn and calm, looking at Li Ge's stunned expression, "If I can do it for a hundred years, I will naturally let you take it out." ”

"The saint is the son of heaven, and naturally live for a thousand years." He trembled and fell to his knees.

The first emperor chuckled, "Do you believe this sentence too?" By the way, I almost forgot, you're older than me, maybe you'll go first. Seeing that Li Ge Lao's expression was a little unnatural, the first emperor immediately laughed, "That's okay, anyway, if there is such a day, I will naturally go to your mansion to get it back." After a hearty laugh, his voice sank again, "If a letter is in front of you, you will burn it." ”

At this time, Li Ge Lao realized that he was not the only one holding the holy decree, and the one in Fang Youxin's hand was very likely to be the opposite of him. Just like Hongwen and Hongyi, in the end, only one person can ascend to the throne, looking at the king who is full of sorrow, Li Ge Lao's heart is also very heavy.

Later, with Li Sijin and Li Sinian's high school, Li Ge Lao decisively told the old man, and the first emperor was not reluctant, allowed him to play and let him out of the palace.

"The first emperor is afraid that he knew about today, so he will hand over the holy decree to the two of them for safekeeping." In fact, as early as when he wrote this edict, the first emperor should have known in his heart that what Fang Youxin had in his hand was more likely to be announced to the world.

Li Sinian didn't dare to blaspheme, so he had to hand it over to Li Ge Lao to burn it personally, looking at the holy decree that gradually turned into ashes in the flames, he suddenly felt a sense of kinship. If Hongfumi knew that his chances of ascending to the throne would be reduced to ashes, would he rush over and kill them? It's a pity that this opportunity will never come, and now he can't even say what his life will be.

"Grandfather, since the first emperor had expected it, why didn't he want to establish a prince, but he had to use this way." Li Sinian actually wanted to say that if the first emperor had established the prince earlier, probably he would not have fallen to the current point.

Elder Li Ge chuckled, "Did you already guess that there was an edict?" Seeing Li Sinian nodding, Li Ge Lao showed a pleased smile, in contrast, although Li Sijin is his eldest grandson, his ideas and methods are not as sophisticated as Li Sinian's step-grandson. Then why do you think I didn't take out the holy decree early, but I had to wait for the letter to be handed over and burn it quietly. ”

Li Sinian pondered for a while, and said cautiously: "Did the first emperor say that these two holy decrees must be taken out after he dies." Seeing that Li Ge's eyes were shining, Li Sinian secretly sighed that he had guessed correctly, so he speculated even more boldly. If the emperor and that person did not force the palace, the first emperor would have lived a long life, maybe it was his grandfather who took out the holy decree to announce it to the world. ”

Elder Li Ge nodded seriously, reaffirming Li Sinian's words, "Go on, it's just the two of us here, but it's okay to say it." ”

If the first emperor dies without a problem, the two princes will love each other, and then how will they decide who will inherit the throne. Li Sinian felt that it was impossible for Fang Youxin to take out the holy decree immediately based on the news of the death of the first emperor, if Li Ge Lao also knew that Fang Youxin was holding the edict, then Fang Youxin had no reason not to know that Li Ge Lao was the same as him.

Li Sinian closed his eyes and tried to recall everything that had happened recently, from the news that Hongwen intended to rebel in the Great Prince's Mansion, to when Hongwen entered the palace to ask the first emperor for peace, he was besieged in the palace, and then the same poison as the poison in the first emperor's body was found in the eldest prince. At the same time, a large number of officers and soldiers were running around in Beijing, and no one knew who was instigating, and almost all the families of ministers above the third rank could not escape. As soon as the news of Hongwen's rebellion against the palace came out, several people led by the Great Prince's Party were then trapped at home, and then it was rumored that the first emperor had died.

All this came urgently, no one was allowed to breathe and think about it, just when the palace and the palace were nervously preparing for the national funeral, Hongwen, who was out of the deep palace, suddenly lost his figure, and there was a news in northern Sichuan that Doro was about to move, Hongwen immediately sent Xu Ziang to lead the troops out, and he stayed in the palace to deal with his father's death.

During the state funeral, everything was as calm as water, until the coffin was sealed, and only then did a letter come out to pass the decree and Hongyi succeeded to the throne.

Why didn't Fang Youxin return early or late, he had to return to Beijing at this time, and after he came back, he didn't go directly to Beijing, but knelt down in the imperial mausoleum. There must have been something that happened in it to make him take out the holy decree, is it because Hongwen forced the palace?

However, Doro's army seems to be very strange, and the time is too mysterious, as if it also depends on the situation. Could it be ...... Li Sinian was secretly taken aback in his heart, squinted at Li Ge Lao, saw that his expression was not moving, and hesitated whether to speak.

"Forget it, if you can't think of it, forget it, you will rot in your stomach today, and no one can say anything." Li Ge Lao watched the last spark go out, poured the cup of tea in his hand, and turned the last bit of fire into water.

"Yes, grandfather." Li Sinian nodded in agreement.

This world is already magnificent, and all doubts and speculations will be buried in the imperial tomb with the coffin of the first emperor.