The hundred officials who were saved from a disaster because of their timely exit from the Wanshou Palace only reacted at this time.

Lu Guogong was the first to realize that something was wrong, and shouted: "Help!"

Dozens of forbidden soldiers rushed into the burning ruins regardless of the danger and tried to rescue Zhu Liye, but the fire was too big to be extinguished, and when the waterwheel in the imperial city came, the fire had been on fire for nearly half an hour. After another half an hour, the fire was finally extinguished, and when it exploded, the place where Zhu Liye was was turned into a charred black, and I don't know if it was the traces of the burning corpse or other residues.

"Your Majesty is dead!"

Everyone is aware of the problem. You must know that for more than 20 years, His Majesty has no heirs, and he has never established a prince, and the matter of establishing a prince is a taboo topic in the court, and all officials have the illusion that His Majesty will never die for thousands of generations, but what happened in Wanshou Palace made everyone fall into a panic.

The ministers were in a mess and gathered around Lu Guogong, "Elder Zhangge, how is this good?"

They all have no opinions in their hearts, but they all understand that the kingdom cannot be without a king for a day. Among the people present, although Xue Huai is the head of the military, if you talk about the position of the DPRK and the central government, he is still the head of the hundred officials.

The Ming Dynasty implements the feudal system, if the emperor has no heirs, it is necessary to find an heir from among the vassal kings according to the relationship between relatives and relatives, the most qualified and the first successor is the nephew of the queen mother, and also the cousin of His Majesty Zhu Ligong, the king of Shu, but he is far away in Shu, even if he is fast, it will take more than half a month, and the other person is Zhu Houde, the king of Long, who is in Yanmen, from Yanmen to the capital, but three days.

When the emperor died, Lu Guogong's first thought was how to support the new emperor to ascend the throne. Zhu Houde is only in his twenties, and he is the prince of wine and meat, and he has no great ambitions, if Lu Guogong can support it at the first time, it will be an excellent opportunity for his Zhang family to soar, but this matter must be carried out in top secret, and secretly send someone to welcome King Long back to Beijing. Therefore, on the grounds of His Majesty's new mourning and grief, he howled twice in his mouth, made a sad gesture, fainted, and secretly instructed the housekeeper to send the elite of the clan to Yanmen to pick up people.

Zhao Lanjiang saw that there was chaos at the scene, but the way of heaven fell, and now the capital is like a lit powder keg, which may explode at any time. After the accident, he quickly returned to the mansion and smiled at Yang Xiao, "You don't have to clean up, you take Tianci out of the city first." ”

Yang Xiaoxiao didn't know what was going on, "What's wrong?"

Zhao Lanjiang said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty has died, you don't need to ask too much, and you don't have to worry about the rest, I will let General Li Bi lead someone to protect you from the capital and return to Yinyang." ”

Yang Xiaoxiao used to be a spy in Western Chu, and knew what the death of Emperor Ming meant to this empire, "What about you?"

Zhao Lanjiang showed a resolute look in his eyes and said, "I stay, there must be a decision about the matter here." You go out of the city first, and when the matter is over, I will go after you. ”

Yang Xiaoxiao knew that her husband had made a decision, and she didn't persuade her, so she took Zhao Tianci out and brought some gold and silver.

Now that the news of His Majesty's death has not yet been spread, and the capital has not been blocked, it is an opportunity for Yang Xiaoxiao's mother and son.

After they left, Zhao Lanjiang returned to the study, took out the golden knife, and began to wipe it slowly.

"The Heavenly Dao is coming?" Zhao Yanjiang said, "Then let him have no return." ”

......

Mandarin Palace.

"Lu Guogong is awake!"

The hundred officials were still waiting at the door, and when they heard the news, they came to the door one after another, wanting to see Lu Guogong and come up with a charter, especially the cabinet scholars, taking advantage of this time, they were also analyzing the trend of the imperial throne, they needed Lu Guogong to give a statement, however, Lu Guogong wanted to see Xue Huai, the king of Dingbei.

Xue Huai had been waiting outside the Wuying Hall for a long time, and when he heard Lu Guogong's invitation, he informed the other party that Xue Wang Ye was also overly sad and had difficulty moving, and in desperation, Zhang Shihe avoided the hundred officials and came to Xue Huai's office.

Xue Huai was making tea, and when he saw Lu Guogong coming, he made a cup of tea and said to Lu Guogong, "Elder Zhangge, come and have a cup of tea." ”

Lu Guo said fairly, "It's all burning eyebrows, and the prince still has the heart to drink tea?"

Xue Huai sighed, "Your Majesty has suffered a misfortune, and the cabinet is indeed going to be busy, but, according to the rules, it is inconvenient for our military to meddle in the government at this time, and Lord Shoufu came to me, I'm afraid it's a little inappropriate." By the way, did the murderer get caught?"

Lu Guo said fairly, "The demon girl of the Bright Sect has not escaped, and has been controlled by the forbidden army. ”

"That's good, this matter must be strictly investigated!"

If the matter of supporting the new emperor is not recognized by the military, there will be endless troubles, so after thinking twice, Lu Guogong decided to bring Xue Huai in together. Seeing Xue Huai talking about him left and right, Lu Guogong talked about the funeral for a while, and talked about the security of the capital for a while, he was anxious in his heart, and said straight to the point, "The ministers want to come up with a charter, I don't know if the prince has any opinions?"

Xue Huai squinted and looked at Lu Guogong, "What does Guogong mean?"

"Isn't this to discuss with the prince?" Lu Guo said fairly, "The prince has a transcendent status in the army, and I want to agree with the prince." ”

Xue Huai smiled, "I have no opinion." ”

Lu Guogong said that it was just right, so he put the two princes of Shu and Longwang out, "Your Majesty's heirs are withering, and the Queen Mother has been for many years, among the many princes, only the King of Shu and the King of Long are close branches of the royal family." If the new emperor is established, I am afraid that he will have to choose from these two. ”

Xue Huai asked, "Which one does Elder Ge think is appropriate?"

Lu Guo said, "The king of Shu is old, and far away in Shu, although he is highly respected, but if he is welcomed into the city, I am afraid that it will be January, and I am afraid that during this time, there will be chaos in the capital." I thought that King Long was young and vigorous, and he was the queen mother's favorite nephew......"

Xue Huai coughed dryly, "Pavilion."

I always think that King Long is easier to control, right?"

Lu Guogong's face changed greatly, and he even shook his head and said, "Why did the prince say this, it is also for the sake of the foundation of Daming and the future of Daming." ”

Xue Huai said, "Since you have decided, why are you still asking me what to do?"

Seeing that Xue Huai still refused to express his position, Lu Guogong was a little anxious, and said, "Now the three major battalions, the four Tianjin and eight guards and the border garrison army all listen to the prince, and they are also throwing bricks and jade, and listening to the prince's decision." ”

Xue Huai stood up, picked up the teacup, and paced in the office, refusing to express his position. Back and forth, Lu Guogong was upset, but he didn't dare to say it, finally, Xue Huai stopped, drank the tea, and showed an inexplicable smile, "Actually, there is another choice." ”

Lu Guogong asked, "Who?"

Xue Huai saw that his cup of tea was still in front of the table, so he stretched out his finger and dipped it in the tea, and wrote three words on the table.

"King of the Hidden Sun?" Lu Guogong exclaimed, "What, how is it possible?"

Xue Huai said, "Your Majesty once asked in the Wanshou Palace today, Your Majesty and the King of Yinyang, are they like or not?

Hearing this, Lu Guogong was taken aback, thinking of his performance at the banquet in the morning, and said, "What does the prince mean is that the King of Yinyang is the prince of His Majesty's outing?"

Xue Huai shook his head, "No, King Yinyang is the son of the former emperor and His Majesty's own nephew, Zhu Houyi." Guogong is still younger, if he had entered the court as an official earlier and had seen the first emperor, he would naturally have his own judgment. ”

"But wasn't he stabbed to death by Yuwen Tianlu more than twenty years ago?"

"Have you heard of the Zhao orphans?"

Of course, Lu Guogong had heard it, so when Xue Huai said this, his heart had already begun to waver. If he inherits the throne according to the royal family's blood and kinship, no one is more qualified than the King of Yinyang, but now the question is, how can he prove that he is the crown prince of the previous dynasty, just by virtue of his similar appearance? And Yuwen Tianlu, who knows the truth, has long been condemned as a traitor, and he cannot come out to testify. After thinking about it, if Zhao Lanjiang was really allowed to inherit the throne, he would inevitably overturn the case for the incident more than 20 years ago, and the courtiers of the Tiantong Dynasty were basically raised by Zhu Liye himself, and he was no exception.

"How?"

Xue Huai said, "He naturally has a way." ”

......

When he heard the news that Yang Xiaoxiao's mother and son were out of the city, Zhao Lanjiang put away the golden knife and stood up.

The matter of Shujian Mountain is not over yet.

And tonight will be the hardest night in the world.

His wife has left the city, he has nothing to worry about in the capital, and he decided to help Xiao Jinyan to end all this.

Just as he was about to go out, he suddenly heard the sound of cars and horses outside the door.

The people who had been arranged to monitor left the courtyard one after another, and were replaced by the Red Cavalry and the Forbidden Army in the palace. Originally, His Majesty personally followed the eunuch Gao Yuan to die in the explosion, and it was the eunuch Zhang Buquan who came to deliver the decree, and was ordered by the cabinet and military ministers to welcome Zhao to enter the palace.

Zhao Lanjiang pushed the door out.

Everyone fell to their knees.

"Knock on Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

Zhao Lanjiang was frightened by this scene and exclaimed, "What does this mean?"

Zhang Gong said fairly, "The slave came to welcome His Majesty into the palace." ”

Zhao Lanjiang said, "Mistaken, right?"

"The slave is also acting on orders, if Your Majesty has any doubts, you can discuss it with Zhang Ge Lao and Xue Wang Ye after entering the palace. ”

Zhao Lanjiang remembered what Xue Huai had said to him in the morning, and thought of a possibility, so he decided to go and find out, "Lead the way." ”

When he came to the Taiji Palace, the civil and military officials had already lined up, and when they saw Zhao Lanjiang, they did not kneel, and there were many discussions in the hall, and they were still the prince with a different surname in the morning, how could they not have been able to turn around and become the new emperor?

"Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I'm not Your Majesty, you're mistaken." ”

Xue Huai got up and said, "This is the King of Yinyang, and Zhu Houyi, the prince of Emperor Longtai back then, God bless me and protect my Ming dynasty for the eternity." ”

Emperor Longtai?

The prince of the former dynasty?

The ministers had mixed feelings in their hearts, if this was the case, the officialdom of the capital was afraid that it would be a big shock. When Zhu Liye ascended the throne and washed the officialdom of the previous dynasty in blood, now that the son of Emperor Longtai has returned, there will inevitably be a bloody storm. The new courtiers who have recently become good are still okay, but the officials who slandered the first emperor in order to curry favor with Zhu Liye did not end well.

A courtier said: "Elder Zhang Ge, Lord Xue, the world knows that the prince of Emperor Longtai has been dead for many years, and now a person suddenly appears, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the world, I don't know if there is evidence?"

Xue Huai said to Zhao Lanjiang, "Your Majesty, that secret decree of Yuwen Tianlu back then can be in your hands?"

Zhao Lanjiang was a little stunned at this time, and when he heard this, he took out the secret decree from his arms, which was the letter that Xiao Jinyan gave him, as well as those documents in Yuwen Tianlu Mansion. A eunuch took this over, and after circulating a few people, it returned to Zhao Lanjiang's hands.

Lu Guogong took the lead and said, "Colleagues, the secret decree, and Yuwen Tianlu's letter is here, could it be that you are still dissatisfied?"

Those courtiers who were worried about being liquidated decided to fight to the death, saying, "Documents can be forged, and now that the royal blood is withering, I am afraid that someone will deliberately do it, so as to disturb my Daming Jiangshan Society." ”

Xue Huai opened his mouth and asked, "Where is the Yuxi Dao Chief?"

Someone replied, "I am imprisoned in a prison." ”

"Invite him to come. ”

Not long after, Yuxi Road

When the chief came to the main hall, Xue Huai asked, "Dao Chief, where is the formation hub?"

Yuxi Dao said, "In the arms of the poor road." ”

Xue Huai said, "Go to the prison rooftop!"

The officials didn't know why, but they still came to the prison roof.

In the middle of the stage, it is where the Amazing God Array is controlled. In the past, no one was allowed to approach except the chief of Yuxi Road and the people who supervised the roof. Xue Huai came to Zhao Lanjiang, "In order to prove your identity, please go to the prison rooftop." ”

Yuxi led the way in front of the head, and Zhao Lanjiang followed on the two-zhang high prison platform.

He guessed Xue Huai's purpose.

The Amazing Array, this big array guarding the capital, can only be activated by the royal bloodline, and he wants to use Zhao Lanjiang's blood to prove whether he has a royal identity. During this period of time, Zhao Lanjiang was also uncertain, although there were various speculations or clues, but he also had doubts about his identity, and this shocking array was the best opportunity to verify his identity.

Zhao Lanjiang was not interested in any throne.

But he is very concerned about his identity.

The son of Orion, the son of the first emperor, the two identities are very different, and today, they are about to be revealed.

On the rooftop, there is a disc engraved with strange symbols, which look like some kind of spell, or totem, which makes people's hearts ripple.

This is the Amazing Array.

Known as the number one formation in the world, only the royal bloodline can be activated, and the peerless formation that is enough to fight against Shujian Mountain is right in front of him. It is simple and heavy, there is no carved dragon and phoenix, and it is integrated with the surroundings, and it has experienced five hundred years of time, and there have not been too many changes.

Yuxi took him in front of the disc and took out a cone-shaped jade from his sleeve, which looked like a key and inserted it into the disc, which was the center of the Shocking Array.

Zhao Lanjiang held the formation pivot in his hand, which was slightly heavy, but in his hand, there was a thick feeling. He stroked the Formation Pivot, thinking to himself that his life history was about to be revealed at this moment, thinking of this, he used a slight force, and the Array Pivot stabbed into the palm of his hand, and the blood flowed down the cone, dripping on the disc.

One drop, two drops......

Everyone held their breath and looked up at the changes in the roof.

......

After placing Li Chuntie, Xiao Jinyan came to the noon gate.

The crowd had long since dispersed, and the lanterns and floats on the street were trampled on, and it was a mess. Looking at the Wanshou Palace again, it has been razed to the ground, and not only that, but the entire wall of the palace has been blown open. The loud noise I heard just now was the explosion of Wanshou Palace, Xiao Jinyan thought.

The guards of the palace have long been replaced, and they are cleaning up the corpses in front of the noon gate and the Wanshou Palace.

What happened?

Xiao Jinyan tried to take a few steps forward, but was stopped by the guards, "Ahead is the forbidden place of the palace, anyone who gets close to it will be punished for rebellion, and it will be killed!"

Xiao Jinyan stopped moving forward, wandering around the square, among the surrounding ruins, he noticed someone, Xiao Jinyan leaned over, saw a person crazy, and said to him, "Die, die!" It was the madman who ran after the prisoner car during the day!

Xiao Jinyan stepped forward, and the madman said, "Don't come here, are you a human or a ghost?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "Nature is human. ”

The madman plucked up his courage and reached out to touch Xiao Jinyan, "My father said that people have temperature, but ghosts have no body temperature, it seems that you are human." ”

"What do you mean when you say they're all dead?"

The madman pointed to the Wanshou Palace and said, "Bang, the emperor is dead." ”

Xiao Jinyan didn't know what was going on, and when he heard this, he exclaimed, "The emperor is dead?"

The madman nodded with great conviction, "Dead, this is just the beginning, more people will die in the evening." ”

Xiao Jinyan asked, "How do you know?"

"I can see, I can see everything!" said the madman, "I can see everything," he tried to pile a door panel on his body, "hide it, I don't want to die." ”

Xiao Jinyan felt that this person was a little crazy, and he was about to leave, when the madman suddenly said, "When the stars return, the day when the heavens come." ”

Hearing this, Xiao Jinyan was shocked, he had heard this sentence more than once, but it was the first time that it came out of the mouth of a madman, he came to the madman and asked, "Who told you this?"

The madman said, "If no one tells me, I know." He pointed to the south, "Death begins in the south, and wherever the Heavenly Dao passes, corpses are all over the field, and there is not a single grass." He grabbed Xiao Jinyan's hand and trembled, "I still see it, I still see ......."

"See what?"

"You're going to die a terrible death when you're glowing......"

"What do you mean?"

The madman said, "I, the king of the yellow clothes, hit the money!"

Xiao Jinyan said, "I have a lot of money." But why should I trust you?"

The madman pointed to the depths of the palace and said, "Half an hour later, there will be a father-in-law, with four big men, sneaking into the celebrant and taking the jade seal, the seal and the seals of all parties out of the palace. ”

The madman spoke madly, but many of his words were profound, and so many things had happened today, and many could no longer be understood by common sense, and he asked, "What else do you see?"

"My previous life!" the madman said with white eyes and a frenzied mouth, "I saw my past life, my previous life was a painter, I had a Danqing Villa, I had a name, called Danqingsheng! I also saw that a white cloth, a cloth that covered the sky and the moon, included all the undead in the world,......"

The madman began to tremble, then convulsed, he pointed to nothingness, and trembled, "I didn't mean to, don't kill me!"

A mouthful of blood spurted out of his mouth.