On the third day of the eighth month of the third year of the Great Tomorrow, Shi Kefa led a delegation from Nanjing City to Beijing City.

Originally, Shi Kefa's plan was to go all the way north to bypass Xuzhou, avoid the defense where Qin Erbao was located, go straight to Tianjin Wei, and then go northwest into Shuntianfu, and finally like Beijing City.

But the mission did not bypass Xuzhou Mansion after all.

More than 300 miles north of Nanjing, Pi County.

With a creak, the carriage stopped suddenly, and Shi Kefa, who was sorting out the documents in the carriage, didn't pay attention, and his body almost fell.

"What's going on?" Shi Kefa frowned, lifted the curtain and leaned out.

"My lord, there is a well-armored cavalry blocking the way in front," Sun Kewang followed Shi Kefa's side and rode his horse back to report.

"Cavalry?" Shi Kefa was suspicious at first, and then said that his face changed greatly: "It's Qin Erbao's Liaodong Army!" ”

Before he could finish speaking, he saw a fast horse galloping in front of the team.

"Appeal !!"

The horses neighed, their hooves soared into the air, and a gust of wind was raised.

directly made Shi Kefa's frame faintly retreat.

"Master Shi," the cavalry first saluted with both hands and fists: "On the order of my family's commander-in-chief, come to greet and escort you to Beijing City, please come with us!" ”

"This place is Pi County," Shi Kefa wanted to maintain the dignity of the Nanjing City Mission, and subconsciously refused: "Our mission to Beijing, our own planned route, in the letter to Beijing City has also been clearly stated, please also tell Qin Zongbing, thank you for your kindness."

"So-and-so is acting on orders, please don't embarrass me," the cavalryman looked at Shi Kefa and did not back down.

"Bold!"

Poof!

Sun Kewang pulled out the long sword at his waist by half an inch.

The cavalry squinted at Sun Kewang and said disdainfully: "Are you sure you want to use the sword?" ”

As the cavalry spoke, the entire honor guard of the mission was faintly surrounded by the elite black-armored cavalry of the brigade.

It seems that as long as Sun Kewang dares to completely pull out the long sword on his waist, the Liaodong military horse is not afraid to fight with him.

"Sun Kewang, stop!" Holding the door curtain tightly, Shi Kefa stopped Sun Kewang's movements, and then arched his hand towards the cavalry: "This military master, please lead the way!" ”

If you can't bear it, you will make a big plan.

Shi Kefa still has big things to do.

This little thing can't be done!

Lowering the curtain, Shi Kefa sat back in the sedan chair, but he was in no mood to sort out the paperwork.

This way, I'm afraid I will be escorted all the way to the capital.

"Qi Guogong, what are you going to do?" Shi Kefa slowly closed his eyes.

When the Nanjing city delegation was escorted north to Beijing, the city of Beijing was already boiling, or the people and scholars had begun to look forward to it.

After all, this is the first official meeting between Nanjing City and Beijing City since the 425 Palace Change.

The people of Beijing have always liked to watch the excitement.

And it's the scene of this contest between political giants.

Everyone knows that any details of this meeting will be the focus of discussion for decades to come.

"The Nanjing mission led by Shi Kefa is about to arrive in Beijing!"

As soon as the news reached Beijing, it immediately detonated the gossip fire of the people in Beijing.

"I heard that the purpose of the Nanjing delegation to Beijing was to welcome the emperor back to Nanjing" The people who had been discussing this matter for a long time were in the restaurant and tea shop, and the man in a fancy dress shook the folding fan and drank a sip of the chilled lotus seed soup in front of him.

"Absolutely impossible!" The companion on the side knocked on the table and sneered: "With Qi Guogong's thunderous means, I dare to pack a ticket, as long as Shi Kefa dares to mention this matter, the entire mission will be wiped out in Beijing City, and it will be the worst of all, and there will be no way back!" The Duke of Qi has come to this point, and he will definitely not release the emperor back, this is his core means of coercing the Son of Heaven to order the princes!"

"However, the conditions of Nanjing City, I heard that they are very attractive, as long as you promise to return to the emperor, you can talk about anything," the man in Chinese clothes sighed: "I heard that Shi Kefa is determined to go to Beijing if he is not successful."

"The emperor is crazy, even if the city of Nanjing welcomes the emperor back, we think, it is useless," the companion added: "Is there any soldiers in the city of Nanjing?" Anyone? Do you have qualifications? All of them combined, can Qi Guogong fight alone? ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone fell silent.

Yes, the majesty of the Duke of Qi is unrivaled in the world.

Even if he was the emperor, with the Mandate of Heaven, it was only a tie, and he was imprisoned in the inner palace by someone who suddenly changed the palace.

Others, how to fight?

"Moreover, there is one more thing," the man in Chinese clothes took another sip of chilled lotus seeds, and said a little mysteriously: "Lord Xin has recently begun to show his head and come to the front of the stage, what does this mean?" Did you know? ”

"What? The emperor is still here, what does he want to do? As soon as these words came out, everyone around them began to shout.

This can't blame the people in the capital for this reaction, after all, if you Nanjing City supports King Xin as the Son of Heaven because the emperor was imprisoned, then where is the etiquette? Where is the legal system? Where did you get your Mandate of Heaven?

It's not in accordance with the law!

More important

If King Xin is proclaimed emperor in Nanjing, won't the status of Beijing become more and more embarrassing?

"I don't agree!"

"Whether the emperor returns to Nanjing City or not, I don't care! But he dared to set up a new emperor in Nanjing, that was the real rebellion! is to turn the Ming Dynasty upside down! ”

"When he arrives in Beijing, I'll go to where his mission is. Let him know where the people's hearts are, where the people's will is! ”

At this moment, the imperial city not far away is located.

Taiye Pond was heavily blocked by Yu Linwei early in the morning.

Today is the day when the emperor boarded the treasure ship.

After all, the queen's orders are now the highest orders in the palace.

The emperor, who is crazy every day, has already lost his majesty in the hearts of everyone in the inner palace.

After all, no matter how he treats the emperor, he will not have any reaction.

The emperor was casually carried to the treasure ship and placed on the deck where the sun could be breached, and several eunuchs hid aside and played pai gow.

There was a breeze on the treasure ship, and the emperor lying there squinted slightly, as if he had fallen asleep.

These days, the emperor no longer runs around or speaks madly.

Most of the time, I just lay there quietly, not knowing what I was thinking.

No matter how people put it, he will not have any words or reactions.

Da da da.

A short time later, there was a sound of footsteps on the deck.

stopped not far behind the emperor.

"Who's on duty today?" The queen's voice was cold and angry.

At this time, there was no one around the emperor to serve - these people in the inner palace, who were accustomed to seeing the wind and steering the rudder, actually bullied the emperor?

"Back to the queen's words," Mama replied respectfully: "It's Gonggong Li"

"Kill the cane and throw it into Taiye Lake to feed the fish!" The red lips opened lightly, and the queen's pretty face was full of evil anger.

The queen's words silenced the female eunuchs of the palace.

I haven't seen her for a long time, and Zhang Yan's body has begun to have a trace of unusual power.

That kind of majesty is exactly the same as the feeling that the emperor had at the beginning.

At the same time, a cadre of eunuchs and palace maids stepped forward and carried the emperor back to the daylight.

"In a few days, someone will come to Beijing in Nanjing," the empress turned her head and swept her warning gaze over everyone: "Don't let people think that the emperor is crazy and his dignity is gone!" At that time, the world will be full of people, and this palace will be sad, and you will also be sad! ”

"Slaves obey!"

After that, the queen moved the lotus step lightly, walked to the emperor's side, and her own eunuch moved the chair over, put it aside, and then silently retreated.

For a time, the empress and the emperor were empty within more than ten steps.

"Your Majesty," the queen looked at the rippling blue lake and said softly, "Nanjing City is coming." ”

"Hehehehe."

The emperor's mouth was slurred, and he didn't know what he was saying.

I don't know if he heard the meaning of the queen's words.

"But it's useless, Wang Qi won't let you go, he needs the name of the emperor to do something for him," Zhang Yan's shoulders were shaking slightly, as if trying to suppress his pain, and only after a while did he re-speak: "Your Majesty, I hope you can understand the concubine's approach."

"Oooo

Zhu Youxiao was still muttering, and a meaningless sound came out of his mouth.

And Zhang Yan is still talking to herself.

"If Nanjing City decides to make a desperate bet, once King Xin ascends the throne, then where will the son of the concubine, the flesh and blood of the emperor, and the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Ci'an, be placed?" The queen shook her head, her face had become firm and resolute: "The concubine must not allow this kind of thing to happen!" ”

As soon as Zhang Yan's words fell, Zhu Youxiao, who had been sitting there in a mad way, closed his mouth for a moment, as if he understood the queen's words, and his eyes became clear in an instant.

"Your Majesty?" After realizing it, Zhang Yan turned her head to look at her husband, and her tone became a little suspicious.

"Haha. Hahaha," Zhu Youxiao opened his mouth and laughed.

In the bewildered expressions of everyone,

The emperor's laughter became louder and louder, and his body trembled.

There was a bang, and all the chairs behind him were knocked to the ground.

Zhang Yan stood up and looked at her husband, with surprise and horror in her beautiful eyes.

"Alas" laughed for a long time, Zhu Youxiao slowly stopped, sighed deeply, and finally kept silent.

"Your Majesty?" Zhang Yan tried to call out.

I saw that Zhu Youxiao had closed his eyes and snored slightly, as if he had fallen asleep.

Pressing the fear in her heart, Zhang Yan took a deep breath: "Someone! ”

"The slave is here!"

Several eunuchs and grandmothers immediately stepped forward.

"Carry the emperor back to the palace"

Since his illness, the Emperor of the Apocalypse has been placed in the East Pavilion, which is easier to monitor, which is also closer to the Empress's residence, and Zhang Yan can come over to take care of it at any time.

Watching a group of slaves and maids carry the emperor back to the bed, Zhang Yan carefully observed her husband.

That pretty face also turned from miserable white to slowly regained its ruddyness.

Maybe it's because I'm too careful?

Zhang Yan felt that her husband should be really crazy.

"You all go down, no one is allowed to come in without the permission of this palace!" The queen spoke, dismissed the group, and wanted to be alone with her husband for a while.

"Yes."

With a creak, the door to the East Pavilion was shut.

Sitting back on the couch, Zhang Yan looked at her husband.

After a while, he slowly stretched out his hand and put it on the emperor's hand, and then gently turned it over with his palm facing up.

The Queen's fingers move slightly,

Skimming the hook.

Draw two words in Zhu Youxiao's palm: Your Majesty.

Staring at the emperor's eyes, Zhang Yan was afraid of missing a detail.

She also wants to know if her husband is really pretending to be crazy?

However, Zhu Youxiao did not react at all after all.

He didn't move his fingers, he didn't blink, and he couldn't speak.

It was as if I was really sleeping.

Call.

Zhang Yan exhaled lightly, as if a stone in her heart had finally landed.

Her husband is crazy, and she has to think about her son after all.

So, there are some things that I can only be sorry for my husband,

"Your Majesty, don't worry," Zhang Yan held Zhu Youxiao's hand with her backhand: "The concubines will raise Ci'an well, and one day, they will regain the world. In this world, after all, it is the Ming Dynasty! It's the Zhu family! ”

As the queen spoke, she suddenly heard a creaking sound.

The door to the East Pavilion was opened from the outside.

"This palace said that no one is allowed to come in without my permission!"

Zhang Yan stood up and looked at the gate of the side hall.

"Niangniang, where the duty lies, please forgive me!" I saw that Xiao Guizi had already walked to the door and stepped into the hall with one foot.

"You minion." The queen was furious.

Ignoring the queen's angry scolding, Xiao Guizi walked directly to Zhu Youxiao's couch, looked down at the emperor's face, looked at it quietly for a while, and didn't notice anything abnormal, before getting up and looking at Zhang Yan: "Niangniang, it is taboo to trap the slave maid in Kunning Palace and move His Majesty to the treasure ship without authorization!" ”

"This palace is the emperor's wife, do you want to do anything and you want a slave to intervene?" Zhang Yan forcibly suppressed her anger, and a pair of jade hands tightly grasped Luo's skirt.

"Those mothers-in-law and eunuchs and palace maids who participated in this matter today will be kicked out of the palace tomorrow." Xiao Guizi didn't pay attention to Empress Zhang anymore, but just said the result of the matter.

"You dare!" Zhang Yan couldn't bear it anymore: "This palace wants to see Wang Tiqian!" ”

"No!" Zhang Yan shook her head: "This palace wants to see Wang Qi, call Wang Qi to this palace!! ”

Looking at the queen quietly, Xiao Guizi frowned and said, "I can bring the words, as for whether the chief lord comes or not, the slave and maid can't take care of it."

After that, Xiao Guizi glanced at the Son of Heaven again before turning around and leaving.

"By the way," standing by the door, Xiao Guizi instructed: "The chief lord said that the emperor needs to recuperate, and please leave as soon as possible." ”

With that, he turned and left.

The queen stood there silently, silent for a long time.

With his eyes closed, his chest heaving slightly, and his body shaking slightly, as if he was suppressing something.

Finally, tears overflowed from the closed eyes, leaving two tear stains on the queen's gorgeous cheeks.

He crouched slowly, burying his face deep in his knees, and it was a silent cry.

Suddenly, a huge sense of grief and helplessness permeated the entire East Pavilion.

The emperor's family is the most supreme authority, and it is also the most desperate.

On the jade couch, the Emperor of the Apocalypse, who had been asleep, also opened his eyes at some point, and overflowing tears swirled in his eyes, but no matter what, they didn't come out. (End of chapter)