After waiting for quite a while, horses finally came running over.
Zheng He, who had stayed behind at Broken Gold Beach, arrived with a snow-white little fox.
Zheng He jumped off his horse, picked up the little fox, and boarded the boat.
Li Lao Er snatched the little fox away.
The collar is gone!
He breathed a long sigh of relief, then turned to look at Xindu, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Seeing that he didn't speak, the little fox became a little anxious and tugged hard at his clothes.
Li Lao Er lowered his head, and the little fox spat the jade pendant from its mouth into his palm.
Using the light, Li Lao Er examined it closely and asked in surprise, "Is this the Crown Prince's jade pendant?"
The little fox nodded, then jumped out of his arms, flicked its big tail, and swooshed off onto the boat.
The crowd couldn't help but gasp in surprise, and Old Lady Li even reached out her hand to beckon.
"San Tiao, come back right now!"
Unfortunately, the little fox glanced at the crowd, then turned and ran into the night.
Old Mrs. Li wanted someone to chase after them, but Li Lao Er stopped them.
"No need to chase after them, San Tiao went back to the palace to find the Crown Prince."
Grandma Li was anxious. "Looking for the Crown Prince? What about Fu Niu'er? She'll be heartbroken if she doesn't see San Tiao."
Li Lao Er hesitated for a moment, then comforted her, "Mother, don't worry. Perhaps Fu Niu'er instructed you on three things. The Crown Prince is a good man. If Fu Niu'er wants to get those three things back, it shouldn't be too difficult."
Grandma Li had no choice; she couldn't put everyone's safety aside for the sake of a little fox at a time like this.
The large ship slowly left the dock, like a silent behemoth, gradually disappearing into the night.
After traveling only about twenty miles by water, the large ship arrived at Xindu Wharf.
Jiayi and Liu Yang had been waiting for a long time with more than 300 men.
The two large ships met at one point and sailed away one after the other.
Everyone unconsciously stepped out of the cabin, gazing at the distant silhouette of Xindu.
Once he leaves, no one knows when he will return, and no one knows what he will experience.
But people thrive when they move, while trees die when they are moved.
Every parting is for a better future!
In the palace, Chief Eunuch Yi returned after drinking plum juice and asked the guards and the eunuchs on night duty. He heard that His Highness the Crown Prince had come to visit and had just left.
Steward Yi praised softly, "His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and filial, truly a model for all sons in the world."
The eunuch and the guards both nodded.
If the emperor were to pass away one day, the throne would belong to the crown prince.
A benevolent and filial emperor is not only a blessing for the entire world, but also a blessing for his servants...
Nothing happened that night. Just as dawn was breaking, Steward Yi quietly opened the door and entered the bedroom.
Today is the grand court assembly, and the Emperor must make an appearance no matter what.
Moreover, the displaced people outside the city gates caused quite a commotion last night, and I expect the court officials will have to submit a memorial to the emperor.
However, the bedchamber was completely quiet.
Chief Eunuch Yi tried calling out twice, but the Emperor still did not respond.
He gestured to the two eunuchs behind him to wait, then went over and lifted the gauze curtain of the dragon bed...
"Ah! Someone come quick! The Emperor is not breathing!"
A shout completely cleaved Chen Xi from the palace, also revealing the arrival of a new world for Tianwu!
Soon, the entire Imperial Study was sealed off.
The Crown Prince rushed over and brought all the imperial physicians who had stayed overnight into the room.
The imperial physicians took turns examining his pulse, and in the end, all of them were deathly pale.
Needless to say, the Emperor is dead beyond dead!
But the cause of death... they weren't sure.
It could be said that the emperor died of old age, or it could be said that the emperor's life force was directly exhausted due to the recurrence of residual poison, which caused his already weak body, which was weakened by indulging in cold food and getting an upset stomach.
The former group has no responsibility, but they are difficult to convince the public.
The latter group has some responsibility, but everyone will understand.
Finally, the imperial physicians all knelt down and begged the crown prince to make a decision.
The crown prince cried until his eyes were red, holding the emperor's hand, extremely reluctant to part with him.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Father was well aware of his own health, otherwise he wouldn't have been in such a hurry to let me take over the reins of the government. I just didn't expect that his health had deteriorated so badly that he passed away from a minor illness. I don't blame you all; I know you did your best."
All the imperial physicians were relieved and kowtowed earnestly.
Soon, the news reached the court as well, and all the civil and military officials who had come to attend the grand court assembly rushed over and knelt outside.
Only the six high-ranking officials entered the room. The crown prince had changed into mourning clothes, his eyes red and swollen, but he insisted on staying inside.
The six key ministers barely slept last night, having been mentally prepared for this.
Now that the Emperor's death has been confirmed, they immediately knelt down.
The Minister of Personnel led the way, saying, "Your Majesty, please accept our condolences. The late Emperor has passed away, and the empire cannot be without a ruler. We urge Your Majesty to ascend the throne and take charge of the realm."
The rest of the crowd then shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Hearing this, the courtiers outside also shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Liu Zhiheng knelt in the crowd like a puppet, kowtowing when others kowtowed and shouting slogans when others shouted slogans.
His mind was filled with shock!
Last night, the Li family suddenly decided to retreat south. Could it be that it wasn't just because something happened to the Northern Expeditionary Army?
Could it be that they knew in advance that the Emperor was going to die, and this was the best time to do so?
Or was the Emperor's death orchestrated by the Li family?
The last one might have startled him so much that he clenched his teeth, afraid he might accidentally scream...
Soon, the death knell tolled, and the entire capital and the entire Tianwu region erupted in chaos.
Just like when the empress passed away, every household hung white banners, and all the court officials and noblewomen prepared to go to the palace to mourn.
The Crown Prince was persuaded by the old ministers for a long time before he finally agreed to go back to Xilong Pavilion to change into his dragon robe, but he still had to wear a white mourning robe over it.
Eunuch Feng and the others wanted to serve him, but the Crown Prince left them outside the door.
With no one else around, the Crown Prince slowly shed the sorrow on his face. When he saw the snow-white figure lying on the table, the corners of his mouth turned up in a fierce smile.
The little fox was exhausted; it had run for dozens of miles, and its paws were filthy.
Suddenly being held in someone's arms, it looked up, chirped twice, and then fell asleep again.
The prince took a damp cloth and gently wiped its paws.
In the quiet room, there was a soft sigh.
"Thank you, little thing, for keeping me from being all alone!"
The white marble square where the empress knelt last time was once again packed with people.
The court officials were inwardly distressed, but dared not show it in the slightest.
Having barely escaped with his life at the Empress's funeral, he's likely to meet his end here.
Officials from the Ministry of Personnel were taking roll call, but they couldn't find Li Lao Er or Li Jia An no matter how many times they called.
So he found Liu Zhiheng.
"Lord Liu, why hasn't Lord Li arrived yet? Should we send someone to inform him? Absent from the Emperor's funeral is a serious offense!"
Liu Zhiheng quickly waved his hand, "I just came back from the fields yesterday and haven't seen Uncle Li yet. You should send someone to check on him!"
The officials had no choice but to report it to their superiors and hope they would make a decision.
At this moment, the Third Princess arrived, her eyes red.
"Father, Father!"
Even with all the conflicts and grievances, they are still blood relatives.
The Crown Prince came out when he heard the commotion, took the Third Princess into the house, and comforted her in a low voice.
Today's update is here!
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