Princess Changxiang saw that Taihao turned around and wanted to leave, so she hurriedly shouted: "Taihao City Lord, please stay!" ”

Taihao stopped, turned around, and asked, "Your Royal Highness, what else is going on?" ”

Princess Changxiang shouted softly outside the door, "Peony, come in." ”

Then, a palace maid walked slowly into the room, her eyebrows lowered and her demeanor was delicate. The palace maid saluted Princess Changxiang: "Slave maid peony see Her Royal Highness the princess." ”

Princess Changxiang nodded slightly: "No courtesy." Then, she turned to Tai Hao, her expression was slightly meaningful, "Taihao City Lord, this palace maid, do you know each other?" ”

Tai Hao stared at the palace maid, carefully examining her face, memories of the past echoing in his mind. After a long time, he finally remembered that this palace maid was the personal maid who was by the side of Concubine Maoru back then. He remembered that she had led him to Maoru's palace, the Yuxiang Palace.

"She is the palace maid next to the concubine." Tai Hao said slowly, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

Peony lowered her eyebrows and lowered her eyes, and her voice trembled slightly: "The slave maid had the honor of serving the noble concubine Niangniang in the palace, and once led Lord Taihao to Yuxiang Hall to meet Niangniang. ”

Princess Changxiang looked deep in thought and slowly spoke: "Peony, you tell the true cause of the death of the noble concubine Niangniang to the Taihao City Lord." ”

"Yes, Your Highness Princess." Peony responded respectfully, a trace of grief flashed in her eyes, "After the concubine was beaten into the cold palace, life became bleak and lonely. She was depressed and depressed all day. Later, Niangniang gave birth to a dragon seed, but the child died before birth. Niangniang was deeply affected by this, became in a trance, and no longer regained her former charm and vitality. She often stares out the window in the palace, as if looking for everything that has been lost. The melancholy day after day made her face haggard. Eventually, Niangniang fell ill and her condition deteriorated day by day. Despite the best efforts of the doctors, they could not save the mother's life. Two years ago, Niangniang finally passed away. Before dying, she muttered to herself in her dreams, as if telling an unknown story. ”

After hearing what happened to Mao Ru before his death, Taihao seemed to have been hit by an invisible hammer, and the whole person instantly fell into a deep sense of powerlessness. His heart was torn apart by a cold wind, cold and painful. Remorse grew wildly in his heart, and he couldn't help but think back to his past with Mao Ru, and those vows and laughter had now turned into a sharp knife, stabbing him in the chest.

Princess Changxiang's tone was slightly cold, and a hint of sharpness flashed in her eyes: "Taihao City Lord, you can be so ruthless to your concubine, and you still have to be loyal to him." Don't you think that such an emperor is not worth your sincerity? ”

Tai Hao's heart trembled, he was silent for a moment, and his eyes flashed with complicated emotions: "Your Royal Highness Princess, I will remember today's conversation with you." But as the emperor's courtier, I can't go against the holy will. As for future actions, allow me to go back and think about it. ”

Princess Changxiang nodded lightly, with a hint of worry in her eyes: "Okay, Taihao City Lord, this palace expects you to figure it all out." ”

Taihao left the Maodu Inn, burdened with heavy worries. The words of the palace maid Peony were like a sharp knife, lingering in his mind. However, the stronger emotion in my heart is the deep nostalgia and endless distress of Mao Ru.

His steps were heavy, as if he were carrying a thousand pounds of weight. Every step was filled with endless thoughts, and he repeatedly recalled the bits and pieces he spent with Mao Ru. That weak but resilient woman, who had been a bright spot in his life, now left him with endless pain and remorse.

Taihao's heart was full of contradictions and struggles. He hated his powerlessness and inability to change Mao Ru's fate. That deep sense of powerlessness made his heart twist like a knife. He missed Mao Ru's smile, the starlight in her eyes, and the warmth and tranquility that once belonged to them.

And now, that beauty is a thing of the past. Taihao's heart is full of bitterness, and he can only let that nostalgia and distress become an eternal pain in his heart. He endured this pain in silence, looking forward to the day when he would find release and relief.

Taihao returned to the mansion and spent a long night full of thoughts. Before the dawn of dawn filled the land, he got up early and prepared to go to the palace to participate in the morning pilgrimage.

As soon as the hour arrived, the civil and military officials were neatly arranged on both sides according to their ranks, solemn and solemn. Tai Hao observed carefully and found that many forbidden troops had indeed been sent around the palace, and the atmosphere was more tense than usual. Every minister enters the palace through strict checks to ensure that they are not carrying any prohibited items.

In the main hall of Qiankun Palace, the civil and military officials waited for a long time, but the emperor was still missing. The ministers began to talk to each other and whispered about the recent developments in the DPRK and China. Taihao did not join the discussion, but stood quietly aside.

Imperial Doctor Ling Yi noticed Taihao's silence, walked up to him and asked in a low voice, "Taihao City Lord, I heard that you went to see Princess Changxiang yesterday?" ”

Tai Hao was a little surprised: "Lord Ling Yi, where did this start?" ”

Ling Yi smiled and said, "As a senior historian, how can this official not know the movements of officials in the city. ”

Tai Hao said in a deep voice: "I did go outside the city to drink yesterday, but I didn't meet Princess Changxiang. Lord Ling Yi, please don't believe the rumors. ”

Ling Yi sneered, "Does the Taihao City Lord want me to hide the content of the conversation between you?" ”

Tai Hao is neither humble nor arrogant: "If Lord Ling Yi can say the content, he might as well speak up." ”

At this time, a voice "The emperor has arrived!" "Resounding through the hall. All the officials immediately lined up in place. Ling Yi also returned to his place. The officials knelt on the ground and shouted: "Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!" ”

Emperor Xuancheng didn't let them get up, Taihao looked up and looked ahead, only to see four guards carrying the dragon chariot, and the emperor was sitting on the dragon chariot, half-lying down, looking extremely weak. They also supported the emperor and sat on the dragon chair.

Xuan Cheng dragged a heavy voice at this time, and said to the civil and military officials: "Zhong Aiqing is flat." ”

He waved his hand to his father-in-law beside him, who held the holy decree in his hand and slowly unfolded it: "I am here today to thank you for the loyalty and dedication of your courtiers, and even more for the protection and love of this great river and mountain. At today's court meeting, I have important matters to announce. The crown prince Xuanxin, intelligent and benevolent, has the qualities of a king, and I decided to pass on the throne to him. However, the crown prince is young and needs the regents to jointly take charge of the country. Mao Jing, Ran Zhang, Nanzhu, Xiaobiao, Pei Fei, Yonghua, Du Tong, Taihao eight Aiqing. I will be entrusted with the important task of assisting the new emperor and ruling the world together. However, I am well aware that the way to govern the country needs to be based on benevolence and virtue, supplemented by the rule of law. I decided to severely punish Princess Changxiang for causing trouble and plotting against her. Although I love her, the stability of the country's society can not be abolished because of personal feelings. The sin of Princess Changxiang is unforgivable. During my reign, although there were many shortcomings, I always tried my best to seek the well-being of the common people in the world. Now, I am dying, but my last wish is that the Eastern Empire will be forever and that the people will live and work in peace and contentment. May all Aiqing be loyal to your duties and create a prosperous era of the Eastern Empire! ”

After listening to the holy decree, Taihao felt a heavy sense of responsibility in his heart. He didn't know why the emperor chose to be one of the eight regents, but this appointment was undoubtedly a high trust and trust in him. However, he had only been the City Lord of Thousand Winds City for three days, and he was still in the exploration stage of the operation and government affairs of the imperial court, and he suddenly wanted to enter the palace to assist the throne, and he felt that he was not capable enough to do it.

After thinking for a moment, Taihao decided to ask the emperor for his resignation. He was just about to open his mouth to play, but Lord Ran Zhang took the lead.

Ran Zhang walked out of the queue and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the old minister is ninety-two years old this year, his body is getting weaker and weaker, and he is no longer able to serve the imperial court. I hope that Your Majesty will allow the old minister to return to his hometown and enjoy his old age in peace. ”

Emperor Xuancheng stared at Ran Zhang with a stern gaze, and said in a deep voice: "Are you going to resist the decree and disobey it!" ”

Ran Zhang hurriedly responded: "The old minister doesn't dare!" ”

As soon as these words came out, Taihao did not dare to ask the emperor for his resignation again. He knew very well that at this critical moment, any disobedience to the emperor's orders would be a great crime of disrespect.

Soon, the rituals of the early dynasty came to an end. With the reverberation of the last bell, the civil and military officials withdrew from the splendid Qiankun Palace. However, the eight important ministers who had been appointed as regents were recalled to the Zichen Palace.

In the Zichen Palace, the atmosphere is solemn and solemn. General Nanzhu took the lead in breaking the silence and saluted the emperor: "Your Majesty, for the matter of Princess Changxiang, you need to send a capable minister to deal with it. ”

Emperor Xuancheng sat on the dragon chair, his eyes deep and majestic. He looked around at the ministers in the palace, and finally fell on Tai Hao: "Tai Hao, you immediately go to arrest Princess Changxiang and execute him on the spot." ”

Tai Hao was shocked in his heart, he knew that this matter was very important and involved a wide range of things. In the court, there must be some officials who colluded with Princess Changxiang, and the emperor's move undoubtedly made himself the target of public criticism. In desperation, he could only bow down and respond: "Weichen commands!" ”

Emperor Xuancheng continued: "I hope that the eight of you Aiqing will work together to help Xin'er ascend the throne and stabilize the country of our Eastern Empire. ”

The eight regents promised in unison: "The ministers obey the order!" ”

Subsequently, the nurse gently hugged the childish prince Xuanxin to the palace, and the delicate appearance seemed to be the first flower. The eight regents saluted His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in unison, and their figures looked particularly solemn in the morning light.

In the solemn Zichen Palace, the footsteps of the eight ministers were like ripples echoing in the long river of history, and they ended their deliberations with the emperor and stepped out of the golden palace on the long jade steps. General Nanzhu, a minister known for his iron will and resourcefulness, always had an elusive smile on his face, as if he was hiding endless schemes and strategies. As soon as he left the palace gate, he immediately went to the camp and mobilized an elite team of five hundred people. This team was given a solemn task, that is, to follow Taihao and go all out to search for and capture Princess Changxiang.

At the same time, Princess Changxiang had already gotten the news in advance. The emperor's order, the ruthless order, was like a frost sword in winter, piercing her heart. She understands that she has become a wanted criminal in the imperial court, and life and death hang by a thread. Under the protection of her loyal retinue, she quietly escaped from the palace and disappeared into the vast sea of people.

Tai Hao led five hundred elite soldiers and galloped through the bustling streets, and their goal was clear: the Cat Capital Inn. Yesterday he and Princess Changxiang met here, and they carefully searched every corner and room, but Princess Changxiang seemed to disappear into the air, leaving not even a trace.

In desperation, Taihao had to lead the team to the place where the emperor was buried, but still did not find any trace of Princess Changxiang.