Chapter 57 Ending (Part 2) The Last Will and Testament.
"I think the Prime Minister has become senile and confused." Zhou Xian looked at the old man in front of her coldly, her fingers tightly clasped around the heater. "How can a woman like me replace him?"
Chen Yi snorted and laughed: "Princess...or rather, Eleventh Prince, you know best whether you are a woman or not."
Zhou Xian's expression darkened upon hearing this. He lowered his voice and gritted his teeth, saying, "You did it on purpose!"
"How can you say it was intentional?" Chen Yi raised his beard, his eyes narrowed. "This old minister invited Your Highness to a play, and it just so happened that the most famous actor in the troupe was dressed as a woman. This old minister simply instructed his family to inform Your Highness. I had no other intention."
Yes, it was just a play. No matter what Zhou Xian thought, it was just a play, a rumor based on hearsay. If he showed any particular concern, it would arouse others' suspicion.
Zhou Xian gritted his teeth secretly and forced a smile: "Thank you for your kindness, Prime Minister."
Chen Yi quickly said in a pretentious tone, "I don't deserve it."
Old fox...
Zhou Xian frantically looked away, his gaze fixed on the incense burner and porcelain, his back soaked with sweat. Did Sixth Brother and the others know about this? What about Zhang Jinwei? Would Zhang Jinwei be worried if he didn't return home on time?
"Princess, what are you doing standing here?" Chen Yi personally pulled a stool over. Even at over eighty, his hands and feet were surprisingly nimble, and he wasn't worried about a sprained back. "Please sit down for a while. Your Majesty has had his last moments, but I'm afraid he won't survive the night."
"Hmph." Zhou Xian sneered, "What if you survive? Chen Yi, what you did tonight is a definite act of treason!"
"Don't worry, Princess." Chen Yi smiled and bowed, "Your Majesty will definitely not survive this night."
Zhou Xian was alarmed: "What are you going to do? How dare you kill the king!"
The word "regicide" seemed to touch Chen Yi's heart. The old man opened his eyes, his pupils yellow and old. He put away his smile and said calmly, "This old minister has no such intention. Princess, you are slandering me."
"I don't know what method you used to seal off the Forbidden City. Perhaps you bribed the three major camps and the Imperial Guard..." Zhou Xian looked at him coldly, "But what about my sixth brother, as well as Minister Mei and other ministers? Can you buy off the hearts of the entire court?"
"How naive!" Chen Yi flung his sleeves, puffing his beard and glaring, "It's just a matter of who wins and who loses! I'm 90% sure. Once I get the will, I can support the new emperor to the throne. Everything tonight is paving the way for tomorrow. How many troops do you think those people can muster—"
"Prime Minister!" A Jinyiwei pushed the door open and walked in.
"What's wrong?" Chen Yi looked at the Jinyiwei kneeling on the ground with displeasure.
The Jinyiwei said, "Brothers outside reported that Prince Rui has summoned part of the Shenjiying Battalion to Xihuamen!"
"Sixth brother!" Zhou Shan couldn't help but shout out.
He knew that Sixth Brother would not sit still and wait for death!
"Ha, they reacted promptly," Chen Yi sneered. "I've mobilized all the muskets in the Divine Machine Battalion. Do they think they're going to attack the Forbidden City with that junk? Do they dare?"
"Also, there's more..." the Jinyiwei stammered.
"explain!"
"The Jinyiwei's Northern Pacification Division and the four guards of the East Factory have also surrendered to Prince Rui. I also heard that..." The Jinyiwei was sweating profusely as he spoke.
Chen Yi looked down at him condescendingly.
"It's said that Minister of War Jiang Chong also accompanied Prince Rui to Xihua Gate. Mei Ziqian and two other elders used the excuse of 'urgent matters' to produce military orders and urgently dispatch nine major border armies to the capital!"
…
"Lord Jiang is very understanding and righteous. We are very grateful." Zhou Heng pretended to kneel down.
How could Jiang Chong accept the prince's kneeling? He quickly helped Zhou Heng up and sighed deeply, "Your Highness said that he only wanted to purge the imperial court, and no matter whose name was on the edict, he would accept it... I trust Your Highness, and I don't want to see the Chen Party run rampant, and I don't want to see the court in turmoil because of this..."
A thick layer of snow had fallen on the ground. The soldiers of the Shenji Camp stood silently in front of the gates of the Forbidden City, holding their bird guns, but these troops were far from enough.
Half of the generals in the three camps were bribed by Chen Yi and refused to send troops. Zhou Heng lowered his head and gently stroked the military token in his hand. Suddenly, he remembered what Zhang Jinwei had said not long ago -
"If they insist on not sending troops, Your Highness, you must be ruthless and choose the most stubborn one and chop off his head. Then things will be easier."
That's the reason.
But Zhou Heng has been practicing for many years, and he still holds some naive kindness and righteousness in his heart, so he has frequently fallen into passive situations in recent years.
However, all those who have accomplished great things in ancient and modern times have been decisive in killing and ruthless.
"Mu Guang."
Zhou Heng said.
"Pass on my orders. The military token is in my hand. The three camps must obey my orders. If anyone disobeys..."
"Kill without mercy!"
Mu Guang was stunned for a moment, then said, "As you command!" He turned around and rode his horse into the vast snow and wind.
Zhou Heng stood in the heavy snow, and the Forbidden City in front of him was like a huge beast, devouring the desires of countless people over the past hundred years.
He was very worried about Zhou Xian.
It's strange to say, Zhang Jinwei looks gentle and polite, but he is actually a man of iron fist. If he is not his brother-in-law, he might be a troublesome character. He looks like a gentleman, but he is a man who can become a powerful official in his heart.
At this time, Zhang Jinwei was taking care of Chen Yi's family.
Zhou Heng couldn't imagine how much silver he could extort from the huge Chen Mansion and its many people. After all, the court and people of Daning were poor, and the only people who were not poor, or who were extremely wealthy, were princes, high-ranking officials, and merchants.
Zhou Heng wants to change all this.
...last will.
He also wanted the will.
…
Ding ding ding——
The tribute clock from the West ticked a few more times. It was already the second watch in the night. Everything was silent except for the occasional cough coming from the inner room.
The coughing sound became intermittent and gradually became weaker. The palace maids and eunuchs walked in and out trembling with fear, holding bowls of hot water and medicine.
During this period, the concubines sent people to ask about Emperor Yongchang's situation. Chen Yi was annoyed and sent them all away. Even the empress did not know the situation in the Qianqing Palace.
Zhou Xian remained tense throughout the entire period.
Suddenly, the coughing became more intense. A eunuch hurried out, his legs weakening as he knelt on the ground and said, "Your Excellency the Prime Minister... Your Majesty wishes to see Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Chen Yi just waved his hand.
When Zhou Xian entered the inner room, she saw King Xuan standing indifferently by the side, Liu Renfu kneeling on the ground, and Emperor Yongchang lying on the bed.
"Xian'er..." Emperor Yongchang was still able to speak, but his voice was hoarse.
Zhou Xian walked to the bed.
The old man held his hand, which was so cold that Zhou Shan almost thought the old man was dead.
"I once... gave you a name..."
Zhou Xian lowered his eyes and said nothing.
"Called Jing... Zhou Jing... Just like your brothers... Both are beautiful jades... What a pity, what a pity, you have suffered for so long, always-"
"What a pity?"
Zhou Xian said coldly.
"There's nothing to regret. The only pity is that my mother had a bad fate. She met a tyrant like you, wasting her wonderful life."
Emperor Yongchang lay in bed in shock.
King Xuan and Liu Renfu also looked up at Zhou Shan.
Zhou Xian was oblivious to these glances. He just kept saying to himself, "You're not worthy of my mother."
The old man started coughing violently, tears and snot streaming down his face, and he almost died.
"Your Highness! You, you are so unfilial!" Liu Renfu burst into tears upon seeing this, squirming and throwing himself towards the old man on the bed, "Your Highness has always felt guilty towards you and your mother! How could you..."
Something is wrong!
Zhou Xian shouted, "Liu Renfu, what are you doing?!"
After saying this, he dropped the heater in his hand and flew forward, but was caught by King Xuan around the waist.
"Let me go!" Zhou Shan struggled. She had been a "woman" for too many years, had taken too many medicines, and her education was mainly focused on music, chess, calligraphy and painting. How could she be a match for King Xuan?
So he watched helplessly as Liu Renfu pulled over the quilt and tried to suffocate Emperor Yongchang!
"If you cooperate obediently, I will spare your life and your husband's life in the future!" King Xuan threatened coldly. As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly shook all over, slowly slid down, and collapsed to the ground.
The window was opened at some point.
A man in black stood behind Zhou Shan.
Zhou Xian recognized him.
Those eyes were as clear as ever, but also carried an indescribable sadness, as if they felt sad for the people in front of them fighting for power.
It’s Monk Yu.
"Ah Heng asked me to come," Monk Yu whispered, "I'm here to take the princess home."
Unfortunately, before Zhou Xian could feel the surprise, something strange happened—
Blood was splattered everywhere.
Liu Renfu's fat body rolled on the ground with all his strength, but still unwillingly turned into a pool of meat paste.
The Jinyiwei outside heard the commotion and rushed into the room, surrounding the bedroom tightly. Chen Yi also strolled in from outside. He looked at the thin figure in front of the bed and smiled, "You finally can't hold your breath, Eunuch Wang."
Zhou Xian opened her eyes wide.
The man removed his mask, still looking gaunt, but much older than Zhou Xian remembered. Three years had passed since their separation in Yan'an Prefecture, and Wang Xiang remained Emperor Yongchang's confidant. Even at the final moment, Wang Xiang carried the scroll of the will.
"Oh no, there are too many people here. I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to escape." Monk Yu said behind Zhou Shan.
Zhou Xian shook his head and whispered, "I can't leave."
"Eunuch Wang, the will is with you." Chen Yi looked at Wang Xiang leisurely.
Wang Xiang smiled and said, "Yes, it's on my body."
"Alas, the death of Liu Renfu is not such a pity. He was just a good-for-nothing who accompanied His Majesty for most of his life and betrayed him without a second thought." Chen Yi sighed. "But Eunuch Wang is different. His Majesty has never trusted many people in his life. He has manipulated everyone at his will. Only Eunuch Wang does His Majesty truly trust him."
Wang Xiang remained calm and said, "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, are so kind."
The two of them came and went, looking quite relaxed.
They are all old foxes. Even if they have been chasing each other for several days, they can still pretend to be discussing philosophy over tea. Unfortunately, there is blood everywhere, and the Jinyiwei's encirclement is airtight and full of murderous intent.
The first person to move.
It was King Xuan.
The not-so-smart King Xuan woke up at some point. He crawled quickly to the dragon bed, crying and snotting, "Father! Father... Please tell me, is the person you have in mind a good one?"
Emperor Yongchang moved his lips a few times, but no sound came out.
"Speak!" King Xuan was almost crazy.
Emperor Yongchang could no longer speak.
He is dead.
Died in a conspiracy.
Having played the game of emperors his entire life, I wonder what he would think of this situation. But even if he did have any feelings, they would be forgotten in the afterlife.
No one cried.
Or rather, no one cried for the death of Emperor Yongchang.
King Xuan must have gone mad. He stared at Wang Xiang intently, as if he wanted to dig a hole in the eunuch's body. In that hole was hidden the imperial edict. If he got the imperial edict, he could become emperor...
Emperor…Emperor…
"kill!"
Chen Yi shouted coldly.
"Don't let any of them go!"
Wang Xiang smiled faintly: "Let's see who dares. The will is here with us. If you surrender now, perhaps the new emperor can spare your lives!"
The Jinyiwei gritted their teeth, drew their goose-feather swords, flew forward, and aimed directly at Wang Xiang's head.
Wang Xiang did not move.
He pulled out a bright yellow silk scroll from his chest, held it high, and said with a smile, "Chen Yi, this is the will. If you still have the strength, why don't you come and get it yourself?"
"Last will? Last will! Last will!" King Xuan completely lost his mind after hearing these two words. He stumbled and knocked aside a strong Jinyiwei, trying to snatch the last will from Wang Xiang's hand.
"Stop him!" Chen Yi looked sinister.
In just this moment, Wang Xiang suddenly jumped up, and the will in his hand flew out of his hand and flew straight towards Zhou Shan!
Zhou Xian didn't have time to think about it. He quickly took the will and turned to Monk Yu and said, "Let's go!"
Monk Yu acted decisively, picked up Zhou Xian and broke out through the window.
Blood, snow... everything turned into illusory afterimages. Zhou Xian's heart was about to jump out of his throat. He subconsciously turned around, but saw nothing.
Will...
Is the will real?
Can he still...trust Wang Xiang?
The sound of bird guns could be heard in the distance, soldiers were shouting, and flames shot up into the sky, making the snow seem to be burning.
He saw his brother and Zhang Jinwei.
…
Emperor Yongchang betrayed everyone until his death.
The will was blank.
Fortunately, all the necessary seals were there, but there was not a single word missing.
This old man was extremely conceited. When the time came, he still did not believe that his son could inherit his throne. Even though he was not a good emperor, he manipulated everyone, including the new emperor Zhou Heng.
But that’s all in the past.
At dawn, the coup vanished into the morning glow before it could escalate into something more serious. The common people knew only that a conflict had occurred the previous night, the emperor had died, the Chen family had fallen, and history had entered a new phase.
"Let's go home." Zhang Jinwei held Zhou Shan's hand.
Zhou Xian glanced at the majestic Forbidden City again and said softly, "Hmm."
The rays of light are brilliant and the snow is crystal clear.
The red sun is rising slowly.
(End of text)
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