In the Prime Minister's Mansion, Huo Zheng looked at the edict in his hand, which was the edict he and Gao Zhong conspired to re-write.

Huo Zheng came to Zhangtai Palace alone, took out the heirloom jade seal from the box with trembling hands, calmed down his excitement, and finally carefully stamped the big seal.

Huo Zheng looked at the eight big characters on the seal on the edict of succession, "Ordered by the sky, both longevity and eternal prosperity", and this pseudo-edict has become a real edict at this moment.

Huo Zheng carefully checked the edict, and when he saw that there was no problem, he carefully put it into the wooden box, sealed it with beeswax, put it in the small gold cabinet dedicated to the royal family, and locked it, which was considered to be done.

Huo Zheng sighed in his heart! I can finally sleep soundly, it was night, Huo Zheng returned to the mansion and slept very deeply under the service of the concubine.

In the early morning of the next day, Prime Minister Huo Cheng entered the palace in good spirits and sent someone to summon the national teacher Zhang Daoling.

Half an hour later, Zhang Daoling, under the leadership of the temple people, Shi Shiran came to the side hall of the outer palace to meet the prime minister.

Huo Zheng looked up when he saw him coming: "The national teacher, please sit down, the old man will not go around the bend, now that the Emperor Daxing Dragon Emperor has returned to the sky, do you have the kind of secret method that can ensure that His Majesty's holy body is not corrupted or damaged, and now the court is still discussing the time of the first emperor's burial, I am worried that the weather will get hotter after the beginning of spring, and the holy body of the Daxing Emperor will be damaged, I am afraid that it is not very good." ”

Zhang Daoling frowned when he heard this, and said: "Lord Xiangguo, you can rest assured about this, Poor Dao knows that a kind of elixir made from cold Xuancao growing on the snow field, and one pill can ensure that the Holy Body of the First Emperor will not rot or deteriorate for half a year." ”

Huo Zheng was overjoyed when he heard this, but his face was silent, and he said in a sad tone: "Okay! Good! In order to avoid the contamination of the Holy Body of the First Emperor, then bother the National Master to refine it as soon as possible, and you can just list the treasures you need and send them to the Prime Minister's Mansion for reimbursement. ”

Zhang Daoling did not doubt him, so he took the errand.

In the afternoon, after Huo Zheng finished handling government affairs, he secretly summoned Zhao Shu, one of the four auxiliary ministers, and when he saw Zhao Shu enter the palace, he took out an edict and handed it to Zhao Shu, watching him say nothing.

After Zhao Shu took the edict and read it, he looked sad and angry, and angrily reprimanded Huo Zheng: "Huo Xiangguo, what are you doing here?" Have you forgotten what the first emperor did to you back then? Do you really want to be a traitor to the country? Both inside and outside the government and the opposition know that the first emperor belonged to An Guojun during his lifetime, and this edict will never be the meaning of the first emperor. Unexpectedly, you actually want to change the new monarch? Do you know that this is a rebellion, a great sin to destroy the three tribes, and if you act like this, you are not afraid of the accusations of thousands of people? You... You ......"

When Huo Zheng heard this, he impatiently interrupted Zhao Shu and said: "Of course the prime minister knows that this is a great sin, the original appearance of the matter has been done, and the original appearance of the edict has also been rewritten, you can see clearly, it is your own nephew Gongzi Sheng, don't you understand?" You are a smart person, and your appearance gives you a day to think about it carefully, and when you understand that your appearance is coming to you. ”

Huo Zhao's two families already have an in-law relationship, Huo Zheng knows Zhao Shu's personality very well, as soon as he looks at Zhao Shu's virtue, he knows that he and the right prime minister Wang Yi are the same kind of people, they are the kind of moral gentlemen who don't know how to change, so he simply put him under house arrest in the palace, and then threw his sleeves and left.

Zhao Shu looked at the copy of the edict in his hand, stunned on the spot, as if he remembered the first half of his life in the past few decades by the side of the first emperor, in a trance, he sighed, and suddenly there was a smile on the corner of his mouth, and he had long since lost the sad and indignant look he had just now.

Zhao Shu held the edict and walked around the hall several times, and only after a while did he mutter, as if he was talking to the air:

"Sister, have you seen it? This is Sheng'er's edict of succession, I did it, I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it, Sheng'er should have this blessing, he is about to become the new master of this country, hahaha...... It's not in vain my careful planning for more than ten years, God help me, hahaha......"

Zhao Shu let out a strange laugh, and said to himself: "After playing a moral gentleman for so many years, I almost forgot who I am, and sometimes I really feel that I am a loyal minister, even the first emperor didn't think what I was, right?" I really made me a lonely minister, hahaha...... Sister, if you have a spirit in heaven, you can rest in peace...... Hahaha......"

Zhao Shu repeated a word like a nervous one: "Great things can be done, big things can be done... Hahaha......"

In the early morning of the next day, Huo Zheng came to Zhao Shu's main hall on time.

Seeing him sitting on the spot, Huo Zheng wanted to step forward and persuade: "Lord Zhao, how are you thinking about it?" ”

Zhao Shu's face was solemn, and he held the edict tightly and was silent for a long time before he said: "Lord Xiangguo, I promise you to support the new monarch with you, even if I don't agree to you, I guess you will not let me go easily, I don't want to follow in the footsteps of the Yang brothers, now the country cannot be without a monarch for a day, and the throne cannot be empty for a long time, since I can't stop you from abolishing An Guojun, then I can only choose to be loyal to Sheji, ashamed of Your Majesty's kindness, I will fully cooperate with you to welcome the new monarch......"

When Huo Zheng heard this, he sneered secretly in his heart, your old Zhao has carried the chaste archway for so many years, and he is finally willing to put down his body.

Before Huo Zheng could think deeply, Zhao Shu continued: "Lord Xiangguo, before I help you do things, I have one condition. ”

When Huo Zheng heard this, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and his heart moved, but he didn't expect that his old Zhao also knew how to exchange interests? pretended to be generous and said: "Okay, only you can help the old man to achieve great things, don't say one condition, I will meet you for ten conditions." ”

Zhao Shu said: "After Yingli Xinjun ascends the throne, Zhao will resign from all his positions and return to his hometown to farm, and he will no longer ask about the affairs of the court from now on." ”

Huo Zheng's face changed slightly when he heard this, and he scolded sharply: "Lord Zhao, what do you mean by this? ”

Zhao Shu showed a mocking look on his face, and said: "That's what you think, I, Zhao, am ashamed to be in the company of villains such as Er, and I am ashamed to entrust the first emperor for helping you, and I am sorry for the Jiangshan Sheji of the Great Jin Dynasty if I don't help you, since I decided to help you do this, then I, Zhao, am also faceless and high above the temple, I hope that Huo Xiang, you can sincerely assist the new monarch in rectifying the dynasty in the future, and correct the world, and the first emperor can also be blind when he has a spirit in the sky." ”

When Huo Zheng heard this, his heart instantly became solemn, his old Zhao is still the old Zhao in the past, he is worthy of being a well-known true gentleman, compared to him, what he did is really worthy of the trust of the first emperor.

Huo Zheng thought about it in his heart, it's okay, Lao Zhao wants to resign, then let him go, anyway, after the new monarch comes to power, he is Gongzi Sheng's maternal uncle, Gongzi Sheng will inevitably be close to him, Zhao Shu is an upright official, there are many ministers in the court who support him, the rise of Zhao Shu in the new dynasty in the future is inevitable, and it is not good that he will be a potential opponent in the future.

Thinking of this, Huo Zheng bowed his head slightly and said: "Okay, the old man promises you, as long as you can help me succeed, if you want to go or stay, please do your own thing." ”

After dealing with Zhao Shu, Huo Zheng suddenly felt enlightened, and immediately summoned Gao Zhong to convene an internal meeting of the three to discuss the next strategy.

After Gao Zhong arrived, when he saw Huo Zheng and Zhao Shu present, he knew that Zhao Shu had been persuaded by Huo Zheng to join their "Re-establishment of the New King" alliance.

After seeing Gao Zhong arrive and take his seat, Huo Zheng said: "We are now people on the same boat, before An Lehou arrives in the capital, we have to help Xinjun remove some obstacles on the road to heaven, I thought for a long time last night, I want to use the matter of the former prince to completely eradicate An Guojun's party, what do you think?" ”

Gao Zhong raised his eyebrows and said: "Lord Xiangguo, do you want to use the old affairs of His Royal Highness the former Crown Prince to involve An Guojun and his party again?" But more than three years have passed since the Taiji Palace incident, and the dust has already settled, and now we are bringing up the old matter again, is it a bit far-fetched to bring down An Guojun? ”

Huo Zheng said: "Gao Chong, you don't know, we were all witnesses of the Taiji Palace Incident back then, and later the first emperor ordered me to supervise the former prince's rebellion case, and when Tingwei tried the main culprit, there was evidence that the disciples under the son of An Guojun Xiu were indeed involved, but there was only a confession at that time, and there was no conclusive evidence. ”

"Later, the first emperor hinted that Tingwei should not climb on Gongzi Xiu anymore, and the prime minister immediately understood, after the crown prince was deposed, the first emperor wanted to pass on the throne to An Guojun Gongzi Xiu, and now that we want to bring down Gongzi Xiu, he may have participated in the affairs of the former prince, isn't this just what I am waiting for?"

Gao Zhong said suddenly: "I see, I think this matter is feasible, Lord Xiangguo, you can just leave this matter to the lower government, and when the time comes, Yang Lin, Yang Yan, and Gongzi Xiu will not be able to run away." ”

Shaofu Zhao Shu listened to it and objected: "Don't worry about it first, before that, we must release some signals to the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, and we will recall some of the ministers who were implicated in the affairs of the former prince in the name of the first emperor to enter the court, and restore their officials to test the reaction of the government and the opposition." ”

Gao Zhong arched his hand and said: "Lord Shaofu, in my opinion, these people are implicated in the matter of the former prince, but they can use it to win them over." ”

Huo Zheng said: "It is reasonable, this is not enough, we have to express our feelings of affection for the former prince in the next holy decree in the name of the first emperor, so as to recall the family of the rebel prince exiled to Yunzhong County to Qingyang and settle down." ”

Gao nodded yes and said: "Lord Xiangguo, be far-sighted, so that the government and the opposition can understand the current trend of public opinion, and when the time comes, we will take down An Guojun's party by taking advantage of the matter of the former prince, which is reasonable." ”

Gao Zhong reminded again: "Enxiang, An Guojun's father-in-law Yang Yanke holds the power of the border army, before moving the Yang family, we had better find a reason to transfer this person back to the capital, and we will give him the position of a lieutenant in the name of His Majesty, and come to a bright promotion and secret surrender." ”

Huo Zheng sneered and said: "It is reasonable, just handle it as such, and the prime minister will go to draft the edict......"

Looking for the sun, in Qingyang Palace, the new head of the inner court, Yang Liu, and Yang Gonggong personally went to a side hall of the inner palace with the imperial wine.

In the side hall, it is the former emperor who has been with him for more than 30 years, the former head of the inner court, Lu Liang, Lu Liang has been under house arrest here for more than a month, after a series of changes in the inner palace, the first emperor is still in secret, he has been keenly aware that something big has happened.

When Lu Liang saw Yang Liu coming, and saw that he was dressed as the head of the inner court, he knew that this righteous son had climbed to the high branch with his cleverness, and the sparrow had turned into a phoenix.

Yang Liu saw that his father-in-law Lu Liang had been the head of the inner court for many years, and he still looked indifferent, and secretly admired it, he put down the imperial wine, stepped forward and saluted: "My son has seen my father-in-law." ”

Lu Liang snorted, glanced at the imperial wine sent by Yang Liu, he had already guessed his fate in his heart, some important ministers of the outer court wanted to keep it secret and take the opportunity to be a demon, then they, the people in the inner court who knew the truth about the first emperor, would not be able to live.

Lu Liang asked, "Liu'er, presumably this imperial wine was sent by Lord Xiangguo?" ”

Yang Liu saw that this old leader, who often carried himself, was about to come to the end of his life, he showed sadness, knelt down and said goodbye: "Father-in-law, I can't honor you in the future, Huo Xiangguo said, for the sake of your father-in-law, you have served the emperor for so many years, and after the emperor is buried, I will give you the burial of the emperor's mausoleum." ”

Lu Liang saw Yang Liu's sad look on his face, and he was relieved that he had no children and no daughters, so he finally didn't hurt this kid in vain.

Lu Liang sighed and said: "Liu'er, you get up, say goodbye today, you and my father and son, it is goodbye, fortunately, your kid is also clever, climbed the high branch of the prime minister, and finally left a life." ”

When Yang Liu heard this, he cried: "Father-in-law, children are not filial......"

Lu Liang stepped forward to help Yang Liu, and said in a trembling voice: "Liu'er, you have to live well, if you think of me well, in the future, on the Qingming Festival, you will burn some paper money for your father, and your father will be blind." ”

"Father-in-law......"

Lu Liang stepped forward and bowed three times in the direction of the death of the emperor of Changle Palace, then raised his wine glass and said sadly: "First emperor, the old slave will come down to follow you......

After that, Lu Liang drank the imperial wine, and after a while, the former head of the inner court returned to the west.