In the side hall of the Dexin Palace, Emperor Ming continued his anger.

"It's such a coincidence that these things happened. A glimmer of light flashed in the emperor's eyes, "Who is the prince, Yang Aiqing has been above the court for many years, so he should be very clear." ”

Yang Zhao arched his hand and replied truthfully, "The prince has both virtue and virtue, and as a courtier, he assists His Majesty in governing the country well." As a son of man, filial piety to His Majesty, as a father, it is naturally very good to treat the grandchildren with love. ”

"But why, why?!" the emperor did not take the hand of the concubine, but slapped it on the table, anger making his voice hoarse and gasping for breath.

Although the concubine Niangniang was taken aback by the emperor's actions, her body began to float up and down involuntarily, and the beautiful lines were extremely graceful under the light emitted by the night pearl, but it was a pity that no one appreciated it.

The concubine hurriedly covered her chest and patted it gently, finally calming down, but found that the emperor began to gasp, and the concubine Niangniang hurriedly stepped forward to support the emperor and let him sit down.

"Your Majesty, the dragon body is important, relative to your body, these are trivial things, as long as you are fine, then Da Ming will be fine. ”

Yang Zhao and his sister glanced at each other, he found from his sister's eyes that the emperor was fine, slowly exhaled, and waited for the emperor to calm down before Yang Zhao persuaded.

The emperor no longer sat on the chair, but was helped up by the concubine, and with the help of Gao Lishi, he came to the bed and sat on the pillow, and the emperor also sighed slightly, his body is really not good, and he is old.

"I think back then, I also used to be freshly dressed and angry, young and frivolous, and I often went out with the army. Accompanied by the emperor's side, he often stayed up all night fighting with enemy troops. ”

"But I'm old, not young, and in the blink of an eye, between my temples, I've long been covered with gray hair. ”

Yang Zhao said softly: "Your Majesty is also strong now. ”

The emperor sat there and waved his hand gently, "My body knows that my body was poisoned and murdered when I was a child, so I survived by the imperial doctor in time, but the root of this disease is considered to have fallen, a few years ago, the Taoist of Longhu Mountain continued my life, I knew that it was acting against the sky, but I still let the Taoist continue." That's why there is the Ming Emperor who is here to talk to you today. ”

"Your Majesty... ”

Yang Zhao wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the emperor, "Although I am old, I am not dead yet, these people are thinking about rebellion, and they want the position under my buttocks, it's still early." ”

The emperor said, a little emotional, and an abnormal flush appeared on his face. The emperor glanced at Gao Lishi, who immediately understood and shouted outside: "Li Heke outside?"

"Minister Li He, here. ”

The Emperor heard a familiar voice outside, and said, "Come in, don't stand at the door." ”

As soon as the words fell, the door of the study was pushed open from the outside, and a sergeant in armor walked in, and the sergeant walked to the bed and knelt on one knee, "Minister Li He, knock on Your Majesty." ”

The emperor waved his hand lightly, "You kid, there are too many rules. ”

Lu Zhong looked at this Li He, he knew who this was, the commander of the Imperial Forest Army, in charge of the safety and security of all places in the imperial city, only obeying the orders of Emperor Ming, and also had an identity, he was of the same clan as the emperor, but Lu Zhong had not investigated it after many investigations

Out of which royal bloodline.

Yang Zhao is no stranger to Li He, a commander of the Imperial Forest Army, Yang Zhao has also seen it many times, but this person is very difficult to contact, except for when defending the imperial city, he just stays in his mansion given by the emperor on weekdays, and never goes out. Except for the emperor, he doesn't give anyone face.

"Yang Zhao, Lu Zhong, Li He, I summoned you here today, just for what just happened, the Queen Mother fell asleep, and I don't want to make a big fuss. ”

"As for the rest of the matter, you will investigate it, find out one by one, and no one can let it go, whether he is the prince or the prince, as long as he is involved in this matter, he will arrest me. ”

Yang Zhao frowned slightly and persuaded: "Your Majesty, if this is the case, it will cause turmoil in the court, which is not good for the Ming Dynasty." ”

The emperor waved his sleeves, "Just go and investigate, don't care about the rest, first throw those three rebels into the edict prison, I can't see it and don't worry about it, as for the Southern Chu Mission, it is a place to focus on the investigation, but there must be no conflict, you understand." ”

Lu Zhong and the three of them said in unison: "Yes, Your Majesty." ”

Seeing the three of them receiving the order, the emperor completed a similar task, and his spirit was a little sluggish, "Go down, I'm tired." ”

The three of them had to walk out of the study at the same time and leave this place of right and wrong.

Standing at the door, Yang Zhao first smiled at Li He and said, "Commander Li, what do you think about this matter?" ”

Li He shook his head, turned his head, and looked at Lu Zhong, "Lord Lu, this commander doesn't understand the matter of investigation, so what you say to do, you can do it later." ”

Lu Zhong smiled and said, "What about Lord Yang?"

Although Yang Zhao was reluctant in his heart, he couldn't help it, who let in this matter, one with the most troops, and the other with the most intelligence in the Ming Dynasty, if he didn't listen, he had to listen.

Even so, Yang Zhao's expression was still the same, he had no choice but to pinch his nose and nodded.

Seeing this, Lu Zhong said: "Since this is the case, Lu is not welcome. ”

Lu Zhong said to Yang Zhao: "Please also ask Lord Yang to go to the front, use your majesty to explain to the hundred officials, and then let them go home, and order this matter not to be spread outside." ”

Yang Zhao nodded, although he was unwilling to obey Lu Zhong's command, but for the sake of His Majesty, he still listened to him.

Yang Zhao put his hands behind him, snorted coldly, and left.

Lu Zhong didn't care about Yang Zhao's behavior, but turned around and said to Li He: "Commander Li, please also order the following soldiers to go to the residence of the palace maid of Cining Palace once, and see if there are any clues first, I will invite the three princes to the edict prison first." ”

Li He was burly and had a cold face, and he didn't seem to be good at words, otherwise he would not have elected Lu Zhong as the leader of the three.

Li He took off a token from his waist, handed it to Lu Zhong, and said: "Don't worry, Lord Lu, but I still can't leave here, so please ask Lord Lu to take the token, you can command some royal forest troops, and it will not be a problem to go to the palace maid's residence."

Li He said, one hand on the long sword at his waist, and the silver-white armor on his body had a murderous aura under the illumination of the light.

When Lu Zhong saw Li He like this, he also knew that Li He was unwilling to participate

It's deeper here, but with the token, Li He doesn't have to go.

"Since this is the case, I will say that these brocade guards will stay, and if Commander Li has news at that time, he can send them to Meridian Lane to deliver the news. ”

Li He nodded, it was considered a matter of deed. Lu Zhong took the token and slowly walked outside.

Not long after Lu Zhong and the three left, there was an old man who did not leave with the hundred officials, but slowly walked towards the side hall of the Dexin Palace, and he came with the emperor's order.

After showing the token in his sleeve, the old man pushed open the door of the Dexin Hall and walked slowly into the study.

"Minister Liu Qian, see Your Majesty, the noble concubine. ”

The emperor, who was lying on the bed, opened his tired eyes, and after seeing that it was Liu Qian, he helped the concubine Niangniang and forcibly did it.

"Liu Qian, it doesn't have to be like this, get up. ”

After Liu Qian heard the emperor's words, he slowly got up, raised his head, and saw the paleness on the emperor's face, Liu Qian's heart was shocked, the emperor was a sign that he was dying.

"Your Majesty, you are in good health, do you want the old minister to do it for you. ”

"No need. Before Liu Qian finished speaking, the emperor waved his hand with difficulty and pointed to the chair in front of him, "Come, Liu Qian, get closer to me." ”

Gao Lishi had already carried a chair and waited aside, and when he heard the emperor's words, he hurriedly sent the chair to Liu Shangshu's side, and said with a smile: "Lord Liu, please,"

Liu Qian put the chair under him with one hand and said, "Thank you Grandpa Gao." ”

Gao Lishi smiled, and stepped aside, closing his eyes and not listening to the conversation between the emperor and Liu Qian. The emperor gently pushed away the concubine Niangniang, and said softly: "Yu Niang, you go outside and wait first, and see what words come out from the queen mother's side, I want to talk to Liu Aiqing." ”

The concubine carefully folded the quilt for the emperor, answered gently, first said goodbye to the emperor, greeted Liu Qian, and then walked out of the study, Gao Lishi and the emperor glanced at each other, the latter made a look, Gao Lishi nodded, and then waved his sleeves, in the study, all the open windows were closed, Gao Lishi saluted the emperor, and then turned his back to the two people in the room.

Liu Qian watched Gao Lishi's movements, and he knew that what His Majesty wanted to talk about with him should be a big matter.

"Lao Liu, who do you think is behind the poisoning of the Queen Mother and the assassination of me?"

Liu Qian is a household secretary, and he is also confused about what happened today, the four princes, three were arrested, not to mention the others, the delicate balance between the princes must have been broken, and the days when Chang'an City finally calmed down seemed to be happy in the end.

The government and the opposition are eyeing each other, and all forces are watching and watching, watching the emperor's next move.

"Your Majesty, the old minister can't guess. ”

The emperor sighed slightly, looked at the stove in front of him, his eyes were a little sloppy, "Alas, I also know that with a token of the prince's mansion, I can't just say that the prince wants to poison the queen mother and assassinate me, but just now all the civil and military officials are there, and I can't do nothing, and I have to give an explanation to the officials, so I had to arrest the prince and temporarily detain him in the imperial prison." ”

When Liu Qian heard the edict, he frowned slightly, "Your Majesty, the three princes are kneeling outside the Dexin Palace, and arresting the prince now is tantamount to showing that Your Majesty believes that this matter was done by the prince, and this move."