Chapter 3482 Extra Gu Zhong 7
The emperor's health could not hold out for long, and he became critically ill before all his children arrived.
He knew he had reached his limit, so he called Gu Zhong over to question him, "You and I have been together for thirty years. You are the one who has been with me the longest, except for the Queen."
Gu Zhong's eyes also filled with tears. "Your Majesty, I will follow you. Even in the underworld, let me serve you."
The emperor shook his head. "In the Great Jin Dynasty, we do not practice things like burying people alive with the dead. Don't do anything stupid."
"I am willing," Gu Zhong cried beside the bed, "but I am worried about Your Majesty."
General Ashina, who was standing below like many other ministers, was also filled with grief. He quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee beside Gu Zhong, took the emperor's hand and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to follow you in death. In the afterlife, I will lead your troops to fight."
The emperor had a lot to say, but their grief made it difficult for him to find the words. He paused and decided to comfort them, especially Ashina. "The Jin Dynasty still needs you. You will be guarding the territory for the crown prince in the future. How can you follow me?"
He then said to Gu Zhong, "There's no need to act like a child. If you really miss me, just offer a remote sacrifice anywhere."
The emperor paused and said, "After I leave, if you still want to stay in the palace, then you can stay here and live in honor. If you don't want to stay, just live outside. I will ask the queen to let you go."
This was already a great favor for a eunuch. With the emperor's words, Gu Zhong could live the rest of his life in peace.
Gu Zhong lowered his head, tears falling drop by drop, his nose was so blocked that he couldn't say a word. At this moment, he really wanted to follow the emperor.
After arranging Gu Zhong, the emperor's gaze fell on his children behind him. He waved to Mingda and Changyu.
The two men stepped forward immediately.
The emperor placed his hand on Mingda's and said to her, "You are a smart child. You have always been considerate of others. I have nothing to tell you..."
The emperor sighed and said he had no further instructions, but he couldn't help but remind her, "You must take good care of yourself and take care of your health. Your husband is also good to you. I know you are blessed. If you get bored in the capital in the future, let your husband take you out for a walk, but don't go too far. Your mother is in the palace, you must visit her more often..."
The emperor choked up a little when he said this, "You must take good care of your mother."
Mingda nodded with red eyes, "Okay, don't worry, Aye, I will visit the palace often."
The queen, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, turned her head and wiped away her tears.
The emperor then looked at Changyu and said, "Changyu, you should listen more to your husband, live frugally, and read more books..."
Although Changyu didn't like reading, he still nodded with red eyes.
He has many children, but not many of them can be instructed by him one by one, not to mention that several of them have not yet arrived in the capital.
But those who were closer have all returned.
Prince Gong was also kneeling down, crying bitterly.
His father's departure was the biggest blow to him, a blow on every level.
Of course the emperor also knew this. There was a big difference between his father being the emperor and his brother being the emperor, not to mention that the third brother had fought with the prince so fiercely in the past.
Over the years, the two brothers have been friendly and respectful to each other on the surface, but no one knows a son better than his father. The emperor knows that the prince dislikes the third brother from the bottom of his heart and even holds a grudge against what happened in those years.
So he waved to Prince Gong and the Crown Prince with worry, put the two brothers' hands together, and warned Prince Gong: "After Aye leaves, you must listen to your eldest brother and manage your own territory well. Don't be arrogant or extravagant..."
He paused and continued, "Read more. I think Xiang'er is very similar to you. He is a good student. You should teach him more and let him read and revise books as you do. If he can become famous in the literary world, it will bring honor to my Li family."
Back then, the Li family had worked hard to squeeze into the ranks of the Longxi aristocratic families. Those aristocratic families often made fun of them in private, thinking that they were not a true aristocratic family.
The emperor seemed to have found a bright future for Prince Gong. He held the two brothers' hands tightly and said, "You must study more... cough cough cough..."
Zhou Man and Xiao Yuanzheng hurried forward, felt his pulse, and gave him two injections to calm him down.
The emperor then instructed the prince, "Take good care of your brothers and sisters. Being an emperor means you must endure what ordinary people cannot endure, and be lenient with what ordinary people cannot be lenient with."
The ministers standing below, the princes and princesses kneeling below, and the crown prince himself all thought that the emperor was referring to Prince Gong.
No matter what the prince thought, he nodded in front of the emperor.
The emperor was very satisfied, so he looked at the ministers and began to assign assignments, encouraging everyone to assist the prince and manage the Jin Dynasty well. He especially mentioned the names of several important ministers, including Duke Zhao and Lord Tang. After they all agreed, he looked at Zhou Man and others, who he was more satisfied with.
Zhou Man, Bai Shan, Yang Heshu and Tang He were all ministers that he had painstakingly trained for the crown prince. Duke Zhao and his men were already old, and the world ultimately belonged to the young, so he mentioned all the ones he could to show how much he valued them, so that they could assist the crown prince more wholeheartedly in the future.
After explaining all this, the emperor began to pant a little. He finally let go of his two sons' hands, waved at them and said, "You all may leave. Prince, please stay. I have something to say to you."
The queen thought for a moment and then also retreated. Only Gu Zhong stayed with his head lowered as per convention.
The two attendants who were writing furiously in the corner paused, and seeing that the emperor did not expel them, they also squatted in the corner in a low-key manner, thinking of listening to a secret and recording a piece of history. As a result, their pens were dipped in ink when Gu Zhong walked over and whispered to them to leave.
Attendant: ...
This was an unwritten rule, but they did not completely leave the hall. Instead, they sat down at the door outside the bedroom and listened attentively. However, the father and son spoke in a low voice, so they could not hear clearly.
Then we can only write that the emperor and the prince passed on the secrets face to face.
Gu Zhong quietly returned to the imperial court and heard the emperor say, "...Although Yang Heshu comes from an aristocratic family, he will not be controlled by them. He can be used."
"Bai Shan has a rift with his family and wasn't raised in an aristocratic household. He and Zhou Man both have a fondness for those from humble backgrounds, are open-minded, and possess exceptional talent. You should utilize them," the emperor instructed. "Listen to the opinions of the court officials. While some of their advice may be unpleasant, as long as it benefits the country and the people, be patient. If you feel truly bored, go for a ride in the Western Inner Courtyard to cool off."
He said: "A ruler must endure things that ordinary people cannot endure."
The prince then understood that the emperor's words were not just directed at the third son.
He lowered his eyes and agreed, promising to be a good king.
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