"Why don't you say something directly, what's the reason for being so secretive?"

Lu Jingchen greeted him a few words and said with a smile: "Brother Han is a straightforward person, even so, I won't beat around the bush." The latest on that one......"

He pointed to the sky above the tiled roof and said in a low voice, "Brother Han, do you have any definite news?" ”

The person he was talking about was naturally the emperor. Han Kerang did not answer. Lu Jingchen said: "It's not just us, think about it, Brother Han, you are also turned away, and you can't see the face of the saint." Pei Er's sword that day was powerful, you should also know. Brother Han, aren't you worried about the future at all? ”

"What do you mean?"

Lu Jingchen's eyes flickered slightly: "Do you need me to say more?" Back then, I was the one who advocated the Beiyuan incident, and you were the one who talked about it. The saint is here, and we can all be fine. Once the saint goes, if Pei Er is asked to borrow the power of the princess to take the throne, others can continue as before, but you and I can't escape. The blood feud has been cast, how can it fade away? In the future, you have to look up to the person and see his mind. I don't believe it, you never thought about it. ”

Han Kerang was obviously the center of his words, and his face couldn't help but change slightly.

"The saint never woke up that day after vomiting blood and falling into a coma by the pool, and was completely at the mercy of the princess. In addition, after receiving the news, the princess sent a secret order with an expedited order of 800 miles, and transferred Xue Mian and Yu Wenzhi, who arrived only next month, to enter Beijing in a hurry and arrive in advance. What did she want? Since the saint lost two sons in a row, she assisted the government, and as far as the eye can see, the whole dynasty is full of newcomers such as Lantai. Once a son of heaven and a courtier, we old things naturally want to be virtuous. For today's plan, if you want to protect yourself, there is only one way. ”

Han Kerang looked.

Lu Jingchen attached to his ear and whispered a few words.

Han Kerang's face changed on the spot: "You are so bold! How is this different from rebellion? The saint will have his arrangement. I do what the saints will, that is, good and bad are in heaven! If you say one more thing, don't blame me for not remembering the old love! ”

He turned, flicked his sleeves and was about to leave.

Lu Jingchen's face also changed in an instant, and he looked at him coldly: "Han Kerang, since I invited you here, do you think you can still get away?" ”

"How dare you—"

Han Kerang was furious, and was about to draw his knife when a dark crossbow suddenly flew out of the window. The blackened crossbow hit him in the back on the spot.

The crossbow headset has been quenched. Unsuspected, Han Kerang fell to the ground, struggled for a moment, and then did not move.

Lu Jinghu entered, searched out his token from Han Kerang's body, and handed it to Lu Jingchen. Lu Jingchen took it and quickly disappeared outside the porch.

The bell leaked at the second quarter of the fifth watch, and the ministers in the courtyard got up one after another, lined up into the palace, and came to the Xuanzheng Palace.

The temple was brightly lit. At the height of the deep hall, behind the emperor's empty seat, the fans and the golden tent were lined up, and the ministers were in place according to their positions. After waiting with bated breath for a while, I saw a deacon of the Purple Cloud Palace walk out from behind the Golden Tent, standing in front of the side of the empty seat as he had done in the previous two days, and preached to the ministers in a monotonous and gentle tone: "There is no discussion today. The ministers retreated and went their own way. ”

The courtiers in the palace were silent, and no one refused to leave. When the deacon saw this, he raised his voice and repeated what he had said, but no one listened. Then, the chatter began to ring. At first, the crowd was only talking in low voices with the people standing next to them, but slowly, someone's words rang out. Worries, doubts, dissatisfactions, all kinds of emotions spread on the faces of everyone in the temple.

The imperial historian Zheng Song stopped the deacon palace supervisor and asked the saint how the dragon body was today, and asked why the princess did not show up. The deacon's face was embarrassed. Because he was the commander of the Imperial Historical Observatory, the official residence was three grades, and he was old and virtuous, he bowed and returned the salute, saying that it was conveyed according to the will of the saint, and then left in a hurry, leaving Zheng Song frowning.

The minister's long-pent-up emotions were like a pot of water on a fire, completely boiling. The crowd was talking louder and louder. No one noticed that Lu Jingchen was dressed in armor and quietly walked into the main hall, pressing the hilt of his sword slightly with his hand and standing on the side of the palace door.

Then, Zhang Zhe suddenly came out of the ranks, and said excitedly to the surroundings: "Colleagues, listen to me!" As courtiers, we should share our worries for the king. Now that Your Majesty is in danger and unable to take her own initiative, if we still dare not speak out for self-preservation, how can we deal with this official robe and fish talisman given by Your Majesty? ”

"What do you mean by that?" Ask questions around.

"After the palace changed the year before last and Prince Huihuai was unfortunately killed, His Majesty's dragon body became more and more restless. The princess relied on her favor, took advantage of His Majesty's illness and inability to take care of herself, deceived her superiors and subordinates to exclude dissidents, and colluded with foreign ministers to secretly raise power. All kinds of so-called His Majesty's intentions are just the words of her own family! A few days ago, the remains of Empress Zhaode were seen, and His Majesty and Empress Plaice were deeply affectionate, and the degree of grief can be imagined. We are anxious to see Your Majesty's face, but out of the concern that Your Majesty should have, but what did the princess do? Pei Er was outside the Ziyun Palace that day, and I was not allowed to stay, I just asked, how he treated me, everyone can see it, arrogant, no one in his eyes! If they didn't have a ghost in their hearts, why did they act like this? ”

With his heart-wrenching recount, the noisy hall fell silent.

Prior to this, there had been speculation in the court about whether the saint wanted to make the princess the crown princess, but due to the emperor's long-term prestige and the pressure of the war, no one dared to discuss this matter publicly. It was only in recent months that the ministers breathed a sigh of relief as the good news came, and gradually refocused on the matter.

But no one expected that Zhang Zhe would so openly criticize the princess and the concubine at this moment, which is a gesture of public opposition. After a brief silence, a heated quarrel broke out in the hall. One side agreed with Zhang Zhe, and those who stood up were all ministers with a handful of beards and gray hair with some seniority. The other party argued on the basis of reason, saying that the princess's auxiliary government was out of the emperor's intentions, and all along, the princess governed the country in a way and handled things fairly, which is obvious to all, and reprimanded Zhang Zhe for his evil words to confuse the public, and had no intentions. Most of these princesses are young and strong officials.

There are also some people who keep their mouths shut, just retreat to the sidelines and watch silently, and do not dare to participate.

"I dare to judge like this, I have my own evidence!" When the two sides were fighting for red ears and red spittle, Zhang Zhe shouted loudly again.

"Your Majesty has long been blind and cannot see!"

The hall suddenly turned silent again, and everyone's eyes showed a look of surprise.

A imperial physician bent all the way in, wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, and whispered to the surroundings: "Zhang Shizhong's words are true. As early as when Crown Prince Huihuai was killed, His Majesty suffered from an eye disease, which has not healed to this day. In the past few days, because of the incident with Empress Zhaode, His Majesty has been unconscious......"

"Let me ask, Your Majesty can't see, how can you control the center? The princess deliberately concealed this matter and did not allow us to get close to Your Majesty, can't it be proved that Your Majesty has already been deceived and controlled by the princess and Pei Er. We are the ministers of the Holy Dynasty, the ministers of His Majesty, not the ministers of the princess, and not the ministers of Pei Xiaoyuan! Has Your Majesty ever issued an edict to the world and named the princess as regent? Never! Has His Majesty ever issued an edict to the world, saying that Pei Gu and the Divine Tiger Army were not guilty back then? Never! In this case, why should the princes of the Manchu Dynasty be subject to these two people, and take their false words as a guideline, and only make promises, instead of saving His Majesty from danger? ”

In the uproar of the minister, Zhang Zhe blushed and made a generous statement.

The temple fell silent again. After a while, one of them asked, "If this is true, what should we do with the ministers?" ”

Zhang Zhe's expression turned solemn, and he looked towards a figure wearing a purple robe and gold belt, and said respectfully: "Prime Minister Wang is here." In terms of high morality, there is no one in the Manchu Dynasty who can compare with Lao Zai. In this matter, you might as well listen to him. ”

The crowd looked. Wang Zhang, who had always closed his eyes and stood quietly, slowly opened his eyes and said, "Since you are a minister, you should do your best." With the trust of the ministers, I will say a few words. Since the saints were restricted, I have been anxious day and night, and today, it is a matter of the foundation and safety of the holy pilgrimage, so I have to speak out. Once a country, what is great? ”

"Back to the old prime minister, he is based on the national system." Zhang Zhe responded.

Wang Zhang nodded: "Since the Crown Prince Huihuai went, the Holy Dynasty has lacked a national body and has a restless foundation, which has given some people with ill intentions an opportunity to take advantage of. For the sake of today's plan, when a prince is immediately elected, I will go to the Purple Cloud Palace to rescue Your Majesty, and return my holy dynasty to a clear and clear sky, then all the ghosts and spirits will naturally dissipate, and there will be no possibility of making waves. ”

His voice fell, and the whole hall was silent. After a while, another person tentatively asked, "In the opinion of the king, who should the prince appoint?" ”

"Since ancient times, legislators have been regarded as officials, and non-legislators have been regarded as officials. In the same way, the establishment of the prince is out of the world, not the establishment of the world. There is a person in my heart, he has been brilliant since he was a child, he is well versed in world affairs, and he has been taught by many great Confucians, and he is very favored by Emperor Ming. If he is the crown prince, why worry that the Holy Dynasty is unstable today and will not be stable in the future? ”

"Please make it clear." The people around said one after another.

"This person is the great-grandson of the current Empress Dowager and the grandson of Emperor Ming. When he came out of Chang'an, he was only sixteen years old, and now he is heroic, I think he is the crown prince, which is very suitable. ”

"Li Yan?" A counselor named Zhao Jin lost control for a moment and exclaimed.

"How can Your Majesty allow him to come back and inherit the throne? Ridiculous! ”

He was also the one who supported the quarrel between the princess and Zhang Zhe, and as he asked in surprise, there was another discussion in the hall, and many people nodded their heads with disapproving expressions.

Wang Zhang closed his eyes slightly, as if everything that happened in front of him had never entered his ears and eyes. Zhang Zhe, who was standing near him, turned his head and looked in the direction of the palace gate.

With the noise of heavy footsteps and the collision of extremely powerful armor and swords, two columns of heavily armed forbidden soldiers suddenly appeared outside the temple gate, murderous. Lu Jingchen, who had just stopped behind the hundred officials, pressed the handle of the knife with his hand, stared at Zhao and walked up step by step: "Doctor Zhao, what did you just say?" I didn't hear clearly, you say it again! ”

Zhao Jin was shocked. When he hesitated, he was dragged back by another person behind him who was usually good friends with him, and the man smiled with a smile on his face: "He just talked nonsense, and we will naturally look forward to the prime minister of the king." ”

Zhao Jin lowered his head and stopped talking, Lu Jingchen stopped, squinted his eyes and swept over the area of the hall that had just spoken and argued with him, and said coldly: "Han Kerang has been ambushed, and the inside and outside of the palace are all in my hands." If anyone still disagrees with Prime Minister Wang, stand up and talk about it in detail! ”

If there are still people who don't understand what is going on, at this moment, they all understand it.

"If you agree, you will leave your name on the chapter, and go to the Ziyun Palace with Wang Zai to petition Your Majesty and welcome the return of the emperor's grandson!"

One person carried a gold flat plate to the hall, with a book of music in the plate, and the pen and ink, and the ink and ink were complete, and they came to the ministers one by one.

Even if the minister is unwilling in his heart, the forbidden army will go to the palace, and under the sword, who will dare to resist. or shaking his hands, or frightened, or helpless, he took the pen one by one, left his name on the unfolded movement, and left his handprint. Unexpectedly, when the plate was delivered to one person, he only heard a "clang", but it was violently overturned and fell to the ground, and the ink was sprinkled and dyed, and it was a mess all over.

Everyone was surprised to see that it was Zheng Song, the imperial historian who had kept the deacon palace supervisor to inquire about the current situation of the saint and the princess.

Lu Jingchen immediately walked over and said coldly: "What is Yushitai doing?" Are you not convinced? ”

Zheng Song's face was full of contempt, he didn't look at him, pushed him away, walked quickly in front of Wang Zhang, pointed and scolded.

"Wang Zhang, old thief! I also said that you are virtuous and reasonable, and you are the retainer of the country, it turns out that you are also full of evil intentions, and today your true form is revealed! You old thief, how dare you do this? Your Majesty's life and death are unknown, you don't want to protect it, but you actually intend to raise troops to force the palace? Don't forget! The last Liu Ceye who did the same thing as you, his bones are still rotten in the land of sin, and no one will restrain him! ”

His voice was like a bell, and the corners of the hall buzzed. Wang Zhang looked at him with a gloomy face.

"Those who are kings, in addition to the inheritance of blood, either by merit or by virtue. Then Li Yan removed the identity of the grandson of Emperor Ming, what merit does he have, and what virtue does he have, and he deserves to be so praised by you? For his own selfishness, he colluded with Yuwen Shouren to rebel, tear the soil and seal himself, and lure the wolf into the house. Not long ago, I am afraid that the rebellion in Zhenguolou was also done by you, in order to stir up momentum, you did not hesitate to kill innocent women and children! ”

"Banggi is thousands of miles, the people of the United States stop, and the territory is all over the world. Such a person with no virtue and no merit, where did he come from to dare to claim to be orthodox? I only see that the pursuit of profit is unjust, incorruptible and shameless! ”

This rebuke was deafening, and the hall was silent.

Zhang Zhe sneered and retorted.

"Zheng Yushi, you think you have Tianxian in your mouth, I only ask you, if the imperial grandson is not qualified, is the princess qualified? Even if our courtiers are forced to speak out today due to obscenity, outside of Chang'an, all over the world, those festival envoys and uncles, they are willing to surrender to the heroine and let go of the great opportunity to make trouble? If the princess had done what she wanted, would she not have given them the truth? The world will be bloody again! You are talking about right and wrong, and you are openly slandering the emperor's grandson here, could it be that you have won the favor of the princess and Pei Xiaoyuan? I think you are the one who harbors evil intentions, regardless of the boiling of Kyushu, and wants to be a sinner who tends to be inflammatory! ”

With a thud, a mouthful of thick phlegm flew away and spit on his face.

Zheng Song's eyes widened angrily: "The princess's auxiliary government is a trust of His Majesty, and she has no choice but to do it." As for Pei Erlangjun, not to mention his father's loyalty and courage, it is himself, and he is also powerful, and his achievements are full of bamboo! If the two of them really want to disrupt the country and seek to take the throne on their own, I, Zheng Song, will be the first to oppose it! Even if you punish my nine clans, I won't change my words! Now that I am a third-grade official and are reused by His Majesty, how can I allow you to reverse black and white here, and there is no distinction between right and wrong? If you want to play tricks and deceive the world, then step on my corpse first! ”

He is from the Zheng family in Xingyang, and has been an official for many years, and is the head of the imperial history platform, these words are loud and awe-inspiring, even if Zhang Zhe is clever and tongue-inspiring, he is also shocked by him, his face is red, he wipes the dirt on his face, and he can't speak for a while.

"Zheng Yushi is reasonable! Li Yan's name is clearly listed in the imperial court rebellion book, how can we welcome him as the prince? ”

Zhao Jin and others were all infected by Zheng Song, and under the anger, they rushed one after another to block Zheng Song.

Wang Zhang raised his eyelids and looked at Lu Jingchen coldly.

Lu Jingchen ordered someone to take Zheng Song out. The forbidden army went up, forcibly pressed Zhao Jin and others to the ground, and then pushed Zheng Song out.

Lu Jingchen pulled out his waist knife and snorted coldly: "Zheng Yushi, if you want to be the princess's minister, I will fulfill you." He raised the blade of the snow and stabbed it in the chest.

Seeing that the hall was about to stage a bloody scene, the courtiers turned their faces and closed their eyes, not daring to look more. Suddenly, at this time, there was a rush of running outside the hall, and Jiang Zhao rushed in and shouted: "General! Oh no! Your Majesty is not in the Purple Cloud Palace! The princess and Pei Xiaoyuan are also nowhere to be seen! ”

Lu Jingchen's face changed greatly, and he couldn't care about Zheng Song for a while, so he turned around and grabbed Jiang Zhao's collar: "What did you say?" ”

"The lowly party was ordered to surround the Purple Cloud Palace, and found that the defense was empty, and there was no one! Your Majesty is not in the palace! The princess and Pei Xiaoyuan are also gone! Jiang Zhao slipped to his knees in panic and shouted again.

There was a commotion in the main hall. Zhao Jin and the others took the opportunity to get out and rushed up to drag Zheng Song back.

The holy dynasty worships martial arts, and what scholars pursue is to go out to be a general, and to enter the court can be a prime minister. Fang Cai was just forced by obscenity, and when he saw this at this moment, he snatched the weapons of the forbidden army nearby, and actually beat them up.

Wang Zhang stood still, his eyelids kept jumping, and he had lost his calm demeanor.

In the midst of the chaos around him, he suddenly seemed to be pricked by a sharp needle, raised his eyes, and fixed his eyes on the side in front of him, which was quietly hanging on the colorful embroidered gold tent behind the emperor's empty seat.

This golden tent has been hanging on weekdays. If the emperor goes to court, someone will open it, and the emperor will appear through the door behind the golden horde.

He stared at it involuntarily, step by step, climbed the Dan steps, came to the golden tent, raised his slightly trembling hand, and slowly, lifted the edge of the tent.

A thin figure appeared behind the Golden Horde. The man sat high on the golden chariot, dressed in a dragon robe, with his shoulders slightly shrugged, like a tiger standing on a dragon plate. He lowered his forehead slightly, closed his eyes, and looked calm, as if everything that was happening under the Dan Ladder at this moment seemed to have nothing to do with him, and he was meditating.

"Your Majesty!"

At the foot of the Dan Steps, the first minister to see the scene behind the Golden Horde Gate screamed, and then subconsciously knelt on the ground.

After a sound, everyone turned their eyes.

Suddenly, the hall fell silent.

Zhao Zhongfang, the old palace eunuch standing behind the chariot, walked up and opened the golden tent.

The emperor lifted his head with one hand and raised his head straight, as if he woke up, and slowly opened his eyes.

Dawn broke outside the temple.

In the bright light of the morning light that suddenly brightened into the main hall and the huge candles, those eyes, the eagle's gaze, suddenly radiated a terrifying light.

The Emperor lifted up his eyes and swept gloomily across the great hall beneath him, and all the ministers and generals who were all loyal to him or betrayed him.

"I remembered that I hadn't been here for a long time. Come and see, the last few old guys left in front of me are doing now. ”

The emperor's voice was flat, resounding in the dead silence of the hall, but it did not disperse for a long time.

"Your Majesty!" Zheng Song pounced and knelt under the Dan steps. The Emperor looked at him and nodded slightly. Yushi burst into tears, suddenly wailed, and kowtowed in ecstasy.

Wang Zhang's eyes were straight, his steps kept retreating, he kept retreating, his boots stepped on the edge of the steps, and he didn't notice it, and he lost his footing, and the person rolled down from the steps.

The emperor is majestic and majestic. When the blind man who was on the verge of death appeared behind the golden tent of the main hall at this moment, what a great deterrent.

Zhao Jin and the others followed Zheng Song and knelt down one after another, shouting long live. The forbidden soldiers who broke into the hall were all Lu Jingchen's cronies, and at this moment they either discarded their weapons and knelt still, or ran away with Lu Jingchen in their arms. The dozen or so officials who had agreed to follow Wang Zhang's difficulties were now pale, and their legs were shaking like chaff.

Another chaotic group of tracks came from far and near, and Han Kerang arrived with a large group of Yulin athletes, surrounding Lu Jingchen in the middle.