At the end of the early dynasty, Zhong Xianlong returned to the imperial study with the support of his personal eunuch.

As soon as he retreated, the old eunuch put the small charcoal stove at the right temperature beside the emperor, and also intimately draped a brocade quilt for the emperor.

In recent years, Zhong Xianlong's body has become weaker and weaker. So much so that it will be cold all over the body in summer, and it will never be able to do without carbon fire in winter.

The imperial doctor said that there was a mistake in the practice, and the meridians in the body were damaged, and he could only rely on great supplements to fill the deficit, but he could only treat the symptoms but not the root cause.

Unless there is a peerless master who is proficient in medical science and has deep internal strength to help, he may be able to cure this meridian injury, but the master who helps to treat it will definitely be greatly injured.

There are few suitable shots in the world, and there is no one who is willing to save people.

This matter is not a secret for a long time, but Zhong Xianlong insisted on holding up in front of the ministers, and in just one morning, he was frozen to the point that his hands and feet were stiff, and now he is more comfortable with the fire.

The old eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead and said to the stubborn emperor: "Your Majesty, listen to the old slave, next time you go to the court to light a stove, your body and bones will not be able to stand it." ”

Zhong Xianlong took a sip of hot tea and eased up a little, but shook his head and said, "Talking about this every day, you are tired of hearing it if you are not annoyed." I can't show weakness in front of them, this court official is a pack of wolves, they all know that I am already a sick tiger, but they don't know how serious my illness is.

"As long as they don't know, I can still suppress them, otherwise the world will be chaotic, cough cough ......"

A violent cough interrupted his words, and the old eunuch hurriedly patted him on the back and fed him the pills made by the imperial doctor, and Zhong Xianlong slowed down for a long time before recovering.

"Your Majesty, forgive the old slave for his courage, in that case, why not abdicate early. The emperors of all dynasties abdicated in advance and went to the Xuanxuan Temple to recuperate in order to live forever. If Your Majesty's illness can be cured with the help of the Lord. ”

Xuanxuan Guan Guan is extremely martial arts, and he is the emperor's own uncle, so he is the most suitable person to help him treat his illness. As for the abdication, now that the crown prince has reached adulthood, and he has been loved by his ministers all these years, there will be no problem in ascending the throne immediately in the eyes of the old eunuch.

It's just the best of both worlds, but Zhong Xianlong has always been unwilling.

Zhong Xianlong trusted this old eunuch very much, and did not shy away from saying: "Prince? He still can't sit in the dragon chair. You all think that he is supported by the officials, but do you know how this support came about? ”

Zhong Xianlong said in a tone of hatred that iron is not steel: "He first married the daughter of the secretary of the military department, and relied on the relationship of Zhou Wang's old puppet to win over a group of generals. Then he put the son of the official department into the East Palace, promised the future position of the secretary, and relied on the authority of the ministry to collect the hearts of a bunch of officials. ”

The old eunuch said strangely: "Your Majesty often says that governing the country is governing officials, and if you manage hundreds of officials well, you can be a good emperor." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has grasped the civil and military officials, don't these means make him even more like a qualified king? ”

Zhong Xianlong sneered: "You old dog, you have followed me for so many years, and you really haven't grown at all." Haven't you found out yet, the prince relies on a sharp word to win people's hearts. The lure can certainly make the hundred officials support it temporarily, but what about after he succeeds to the throne?

"Zhou Wang's daughter's daughter is spicy and jealous, letting her be the master of the harem will only make the harem restless, Zhou Wang's husband will become the head of the country at that time, and he will also be the secretary of the military department, so he can naturally monopolize the military power, can my son take back this military power at that time?

"The father of the secretary of the ministry resigned from the son, this is a taboo in officialdom, even the position of the secretary can be hereditary, what else to talk about? After the crown prince ascends the throne, can he go back on his word and take back the official position of the secretary of the ministry?

"He has been the prince for so many years, and there are few talents who sincerely follow him, but he only knows how to win the support of hundreds of officials by lure. If this continues, it will only be a matter of cutting meat and feeding the wolves, and he will never be able to feed their appetites, and sooner or later he will become a puppet. ”

The old lady listened and couldn't help but say, "If Your Majesty thinks that the crown prince can't inherit the throne, what about the other princes?" ”

Zhong Xianlong gave birth to nine sons, and the youngest one has also gone to school, and each prince can be regarded as a dragon and phoenix among people, each with his own strengths.

Zhong Xianlong thought of his sons, couldn't help but reach out and rub his eyebrows, and sighed: "These children of mine, the boss is short-sighted, scheming, and timid, I made him the prince, I only hope that he can grow up, but it has been disappointing in the past few years."

"The second child has a great talent, but he is obsessed with martial arts, and he is bent on making meritorious contributions, and he is not a king of success, so let him succeed to the throne, I am afraid that he will immediately drive to the outside of the fortress.

"The third child seems to be quiet, but in fact, he is arrogant, no one looks down on him, and he has a ruthless personality, so that he can govern the country and rebel ten times more.

"The fourth child is like me, suffering from a chronic illness and even having difficulty walking, how can he work hard to govern the country?

"The fifth child is the most filial, but he is too honest, and being too honest as an emperor will only be at the mercy of others, which is never a good thing. However, he is humble and studious, and if he is in a few years, he may be able to make progress, but now it is far from enough.

"As for the sixth...... Don't mention this rebel. The remaining few are too young, and they can't sit on the dragon chair steadily. ”

The old eunuch listened carefully to the emperor's comments and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the old slave can be regarded as having heard it, in fact, the one you like most in your heart is the Sixth Highness." ”

When the emperor heard this, he slapped the table angrily, causing himself to cough again. The old eunuch was so frightened that he quickly closed his mouth, and patted his back again to feed the hot tea.

Finally let the emperor calm down, and the old eunuch hurriedly pleaded guilty: "The old slave is too talkative, Your Majesty is not to blame, don't be angry with your body." ”

The emperor waved his hand and said, "You're right, I was originally most optimistic about this rebel. He was born smart, but he never showed off his cleverness, and he had a unique view of the general trend of the world, and sometimes even I was ashamed of myself.

"And this kid's means of buying people's hearts are a hundred times stronger than the prince's, after being demoted to the Xuanxuan view, don't look at the hundred officials are applauding, but I received several copies of his intercession.

"After seeing the hearts of the people for a long time, Bandang knows the loyal ministers, and these people are promoted to be his ministers. However, he didn't understand my hard work, how could he dare to scold me for being mediocre in front of hundreds of civil and military officials? ”

Speaking of this, Zhong Xianlong's tone gritted his teeth again.

"Don't I want to give relief? There are rebellions all over the south of the Yangtze River, and the food sent by the disaster relief will not reach the hands of the victims at all, but will only be snatched away by the rebels, and then become their capital to buy people's hearts.

"This rebel son scolded me for those untouchables, and even the civil and military officials scolded me bloody. If he ascends the throne, what will the officials who have been scolded by him think, being the emperor is to govern the officials, and if he can't manage these people, how will this court continue to operate? It was he himself who ruined his hopes of ascending to the throne. ”

Seeing that the emperor was getting more and more excited, the old eunuch hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, the old slave knows, His Royal Highness the Sixth cannot succeed to the throne, the old slave knows, please take care of the dragon body." ”

Zhong Xianlong panted and drank the remaining tea in the cup, and then said to the old eunuch: "I know that the prince wants the life of this rebel, so this time, I want you to go to Xuanxuan in person." ”

When the old eunuch heard this, he hurriedly said, "The old slave is gone, who will take care of your majesty?" ”

The emperor said seriously: "Xuanxuguan is only two days away, and five or six days are enough to come and go, and I can't die in this time."

"You have been practicing martial arts in Xuanxu Guan for many years, and I want you to find out what that rebel did there. The fifty boards are also up to you, I want this rebel to learn a lesson, but I want him to survive, and then admit his mistake to me personally. ”

The old eunuch saw that the emperor had made up his mind, so he had no choice but to accept the order.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the old slave will definitely let His Royal Highness the Sixth Understand Your Majesty's hard work."

The emperor nodded, waved his hand, and said, "Go, go early and return early." ”

The old eunuch withdrew from the imperial study, the emperor tightened the brocade quilt on his body, he was the only one left in the huge palace, and the cough echoed, looking extremely lonely.