Yanxiang glanced at Xiang Ye with a complicated gaze, looking at Xiang Ye's panicked appearance, he couldn't help but snort coldly in his heart: I still want to deal with the senior brother, dreaming.

Chu Tiankuo's eyes lit up and darkened again. He knew that Xiangye's courtiers would not give up. Judging from Fang Cai's attitude that his father has been silent, his father is clearly weak-hearted. He understood his father's helplessness, and sighed in his heart.

Everyone thinks that as an emperor, he has the supreme right, and all the people respect him, and all the officials worship him. Yes, the emperor held the absolute power of life and death, from the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty to the common people, and when they saw him, they were all shocked by his authority, and they all prostrated on the ground one by one, just to pray for the emperor's mercy.

However, it is not that whoever is disrespectful to the emperor can kill him quickly. In that case, it will have a bad reputation for being brutal and unkind.

As an emperor, he has the helplessness of the emperor.

In ancient times, there was a small seven-rank official named Yu Yuren, who wrote to the emperor and criticized the emperor for contracting the four diseases of wine, wealth, and qi. The book is "Wine-colored Wealth and Qi Four Disciplines". The whole recital was full of laughter and scolding. One of them says that the emperor asked for bribes from eunuchs and was greedy for money.

The emperor feels very wronged, the whole world is mine, the whole world, is it not the king's land, is it necessary to ask for bribes from others?! Is it necessary to ask the eunuch for a bribe, and if the eunuch has money and raids his house, won't all his property belong to me?

He also said that the emperor was addicted to alcohol, lustful, and upright, and asked the emperor to abstain from desire.

The emperor was very angry, and it stands to reason that everyone sweated for the life and death of this petty official. In that era of feudal monarchy, someone dared to break ground on Tai Sui's head.

On the contrary, the emperor was angry, and not only did not put this person to death, but also defended himself in front of his close ministers, like an innocent child who was wronged and complained to adults. In the end, he just persuaded the person who wrote the book to resign and go into hiding.

The emperor has complete power of life and death, so he is disrespectful to the emperor, and it is not a trivial matter to kill a seven-grade sesame official? In fact, for the sake of fame, the emperor did not hesitate to respect the Ninety-Five, and was able to justify himself in front of his courtiers, restrain himself, forgive the scholar, and did not abuse his power, for the sake of the overall situation, and also to be a good emperor.

In the era when the world is no longer in the king's land, some people dare to challenge the supreme power, which is nothing more than worrying about the country and the people. If you deprive the officials of the right to advise, where can you hear the voice of the people's livelihood?

How could Chu Tiankuo not understand his father's helplessness? Seeing that the queen and the prime minister were holding on to the matter, there was a great tendency to be unreasonable. His father, even if he had a tough attitude, suppressed them, and let him go, he couldn't get rid of the entanglement between the queen and Xiangye.

This is like a stain in life, which is held by the queen and the princess, and she talks about it from time to time. It is more like a time bomb, buried in the body, and there is a danger of detonating at any time.

If his father favored him this time, the consequences would be immeasurable. A thousand miles of embankment collapsed in an anthill. If someone makes a fuss about this matter in the future, I am afraid that it will make his father sit on pins and needles.

Chu Tiankuo thought about this, and his brows furrowed. It is a fact that he went to rob Lu Hao's prisoner car. This fact made him unable to deny it, and he followed him like a shadow. If you have done it, you have done it, and it cannot be erased, and in the yamen of Dali Temple, he also admitted it.

This is almost universally known. Now, it's impossible to hide it. Moreover, he has always been above board, and he does not like to hide it. In the face of the aggressive posture of the queen and Xiangye, he almost wanted to stand up and confess the matter and face it alone.

However, when he saw Yanxiang's familiar face, which was slightly immature, he retreated. His mind remembered what Smoke had told him that day. 'Senior brother, I don't want you to die. What will I do if you are beheaded? Take me away for my sake. If you seek death with all your heart, I will not live alone. His heart suffocated and hesitated.

His gaze looked at his father, and he hesitated even more. Perhaps, his father would have a better solution. If he had come forward so recklessly and confessed that he had done those things, would not he have upset his father's plans?

He thought that since his father had issued a decree to pardon him from prison, the matter had already been done, and the only way to remedy it was to find a way to remedy it.

At this time, Chu Tiankuo's thoughts flew and he was in a dilemma. In the past 20 years, he has rarely struggled like this.

The emperor reprimanded Xiangye's words, and as soon as he said it, he felt that it was inappropriate. His words shocked Xiangye and the courtiers. However, this move only suppressed their speech, but could not suppress their hearts.

Seeing that they dared to be angry and did not dare to speak on their faces, it is not difficult to guess that they are slanderous in their hearts. This move is not a perfect solution, he can suppress it for a while, but he can't suppress it for a lifetime.

So, as soon as his voice fell, he didn't speak again.

There was silence for a moment, and everyone had their own thoughts.

Seeing that the courtiers were no longer silent, the queen had to go out herself. She was not afraid, and asked in a firm tone: "Your Majesty, the edict has been issued, so naturally there is no reason to take it back." The concubine wanted to ask the emperor what to do with Chu Tiankuo's violation of the law? ”

This queen, why is she so annoying? The emperor was stunned, his face was full of forbearance, and he finally didn't have a seizure.

After the queen said this, her eyes deliberately glanced at Song Liang, and her eyes revealed murderous intent.

Song Liang immediately weakened his legs, and immediately knelt down, he was terrified in his heart, and said in a trembling voice: "The queen spares her life!" The emperor is gracious! The minister didn't know that Chu Tiankuo was the crown prince, if he knew his identity, he would not dare to behead him! ”

Song Liang, as a prison officer, should have been the protagonist, but he stood on this execution ground like an outsider. Now, when he was glared at by the queen, he immediately tacitly understood that the queen wanted him to cooperate.

However, he was completely confused about what was happening. Just now, what the emperor said to the people, he didn't remember a word. only knew that Chu Tiankuo was the crown prince, and he almost cut down the prince, just because of this, his heart has been uneasy and his soul is not guarded.

Song Liang is a corrupt official, he has the ability to observe words and feelings, and to flatter him, so he naturally has it, with three swords on both sides, not to mention a honey-bellied sword. Despite his inner turmoil, his mind remained strong. It seems to be an ordinary sentence, but it is a hidden mystery. Openly and secretly accused the emperor of bending the law for personal gain.

What is this guy babbling about? Yanxiang They all widened their eyes in surprise and stared at that Song Liang. Why did this prison officer talk like this? Isn't this forcing Chu Tiankuo to a dead end? They were keenly aware that something was wrong, and this man must be in the queen's group.

On the surface, this person would be mistaken, thinking that what the queen said about Chu Tiankuo's violation of the law was referring to the illegal invasion of the palace. As a prison officer, it is understandable for him to deal with Chu Tiankuo.

In fact, Chu Tiankuo confirmed that he was the crown prince, and the matter of breaking into the palace has already turned the page. Song Liang had to mention it again, and he also emphasized the identity of Prince Chu Tiankuo, which was obviously deliberate. The purpose couldn't be more obvious. He was hinting to everyone that because Chu Tiankuo was the crown prince, he would not be held accountable if he committed a crime.

An unintentional sentence actually contains evil intentions.

How could the emperor not hear something unusual? He couldn't suppress his anger and trembled when he changed his body, and looked at Song Liang with gloomy eyes. This dog officer, being an official is coming to an end! Of course, he just scolded angrily in his heart, and his face remained silent.

He forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and said to Song Liang: "Those who don't know are not guilty." Song Qing's family will keep their eyes open in the future. If you do too much injustice, you will kill yourself, whether it is the prince or the common people, if you break the law, I will punish you severely. ”

These words were taken by the emperor to warn Song Liang. Why didn't he notice Song Liang before? That sentence of polishing his eyes is not only the emperor's self-deprecation, but also a warning to Song Liang to let him know the current affairs. It is not difficult for a discerning person to see that Song Liang obeys the queen's orders. The latter sentence implies that he will deal with Song Liang.

Song Liang was a thief, and when he heard this, he hurriedly defended himself: "Your Majesty, the matter of being loyal to the emperor is the matter of the minister's loyalty to the emperor, and the world can learn from it." ”

There are really three hundred taels of silver here. The Emperor smiled coldly and ignored it. Song Liang was willing to kneel, so let him kneel. The emperor did not open his mouth to call him up.

Hahaha! The queen laughed madly on her back, and her laughter was full of arrogance and mockery.

King Yong'an and Xia Wenxuan both chuckled in their hearts, a little puzzled by the queen's behavior, but helpless.

Smoke is full of disdain and panic. It turned out that she thought that Xiangye was sinister and cunning enough, and when she saw the queen today, she knew what it was. She knew that such a signature smile of the queen would definitely lead to staggering remarks later. She couldn't help but panic.

She couldn't figure out what was going on with the emperor? can't even control his wife, how can he govern the world? She only hates that she is not the emperor, if she were the emperor, she would definitely step forward and slap the crazy woman of the queen twice! Look at how she still stirs up trouble and how rampant!

Sure enough, the queen lived up to expectations, and under the burning eyes of everyone, she said matter-of-factly: "The emperor is right!" The Son of Heaven is guilty of the same crime as the common people. Although Chu Tiankuo is the crown prince, I am afraid that it will be difficult to write off the things he committed. Today, in front of everyone, the concubines hope that the emperor will deal with it fairly. ”

Seeing that the emperor's face darkened layer by layer, Xiangye, as well as those courtiers, no one dared to add fuel to the fire.

No one expected that King Yong'an would stand up at this time, and he said solemnly: "Everyone listens to me, and I can testify that my father is definitely not a favoritist. On the same day, in Meihua Mountain, the father and the emperor issued an oral order to pardon the emperor's brother, which was true. However, his father also said in person, 'I ordered Dali Temple Qing Duan Zisheng to thoroughly investigate the case and return them to a clean slate.' If there is a crime, it will not be tolerated. ’”

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the people present suddenly froze.

Such a divine turn of events simply caught everyone off guard. Smoke, Xia Wenxuan, they all thought that King Yong'an was on Chu Tiankuo's side. Who would have thought that he would say such a thing.

These words are extremely beneficial to the queen, if the queen wants to kill people and lacks weapons, King Yong'an's words are a sharp blade, which is straight into the other party's heart, and the other party is defenseless.

In the first year of Xingde, Hong Gaode proclaimed himself emperor, established the Great Western Kingdom, and set the capital of Fengcheng. In the early days of the establishment of the regime, the surrounding countries were eyeing the Great Western Kingdom and provoked wars for no reason. Before the expedition, Xu Guifei, the mother of Xigong, was 8 months pregnant. The emperor proposed an edict, if the prince was born, he would be named Hong Chengye, and the prince would be established, and if he was born a princess, he would be crowned Princess Changyu.

After Emperor Hong left the palace, Queen Xia made a plan to let Xu Guifei slip the fetus, who knows, the sky did not fulfill her wish, and the fetus in Xu Guifei's womb was born, and it actually survived.

"Your Majesty has already doted on Concubine Xu, and now, she has given birth to a prince again, and I see that our master and queen throne will not be able to be kept."

"Isn't it? Listening to the palace maid in the West Palace, the prince was born white and fat, very cute, his face resembled His Majesty, there was a righteousness between his eyebrows, and he must be a good emperor when he grows up. ”

This is the little palace maid in the queen's palace whispering in private.

Even if they don't talk about it, the Empress Xia knows that if she doesn't try to get rid of the prince, I'm afraid that life won't be better in the future.

She immediately summoned her elder brother Xiangye and Chu Xiang, the head of the imperial guard, to discuss countermeasures. They plotted to burn down the West Palace, which was carried out by General Chu.

At the critical moment, General Chu gave up the idea of harming the prince and exchanged his own son for the prince's exit from the palace.

Xu Guifei cried and cried, turned her heart sideways, picked up the hairpin, and used the tip of the hairpin to tattoo the word "heaven" on the prince's left shoulder. The stab is in the child's body, the pain is in the mother's heart, and after the stabbing is finished, Xu Guifei's painful liver and intestines are broken. She trembled and hung a jade pendant on the crown prince, which was given by the emperor himself, and there is only one in the world today.

Concubine Xu Guifei kowtowed to Chu Xiang, and said with tears in her eyes, "General Chu, please accept my three bows, your great kindness and great virtue, this palace will repay it in the next life." ”

"Niangniang, you can't help it, please get up ...... quickly" As he spoke, he heard footsteps outside, General Chu picked up the prince and hurriedly fled through the side door.

Xu Guifei fainted.

The person who came was the imperial doctor Feng Nanyang. Legend has it that this person was originally a man in the rivers and lakes, and his nickname was the fortune teller. He can pinch and calculate, not only has excellent medical skills, but also has extraordinary martial arts. He took away General Chu's son, performed light skills, shuttled freely in the palace, easily got rid of the pursuit of the palace guards, and left the city safely.

After Xia, he ordered people to burn down the West Palace, and Xu Guifei and a cadre were buried in the fire. During the inventory of the body, it was found that the body of a baby was missing. Plus General Chu Xiang's whereabouts are unknown. Empress Xia and Xiangye concluded that the prince was most likely taken away by Chu Xiang. So, Empress Xia secretly sent people to hunt down and kill General Chu Xiang.

In the fourth year of Xingde, the emperor returned triumphantly.

Xia Hou was shrewd and capable, and kept this matter a secret. Emperor Hong didn't believe that Xu Guifei really died in an accident. He often dreamed of the crown prince, and he has been sending people to investigate the matter secretly, but he has not been able to find out the truth, Chu Xiang disappeared, and Feng Nanyang also disappeared.

In the fifth year of Xingde, the queen gave birth to a son, and Emperor Hong named him Hong Cheng'an. The queen thought to herself, the emperor obviously did not have high hopes for this son. Empress Xia thought to herself, even if the emperor delayed issuing an edict and appointing a new crown prince, Emperor Rihong would die, and the throne would be her son's sooner or later. However, she still had some concerns, twenty-four years ago, she sent someone to hunt down and kill Chu Xiang, Chu Xiang was seriously injured and died, but the prince did not know who rescued him.

For more than 20 years, there has been no news of the prince. If the crown prince is still alive, then he will be the biggest threat to Hong Chengan's succession to the throne. Besides, once this matter is revealed, she and Xiangye will definitely be in trouble.

Emperor Hong Gaode reigned for 24 years, he worked hard, knew people well, the country was strong, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Emperor Hong grew old and missed his lost prince more and more, and finally fell ill.

Knowing that Emperor Hong was ill, Feng Nanyang sneaked into the palace to see the emperor.