Chapter 186
Yangzhou.
Prince Yong's Mansion.
Qu Dubian already had the answer to Xi Zixing's question in his mind.
Concubine Yun was his original cause and effect in this life. He had long promised that he would avenge her and her original body.
Unlike Lanpin's frame-up, this was the only hatred that he was not qualified to forgive.
Qu Dubian did not alert the enemy at the beginning, but submitted a memorial requesting to return to Beijing to visit his father.
If a prince who came to receive his fiefdom wanted to return to Beijing, he needed the emperor's permission.
However, three memorials were submitted in succession, but all fell on deaf ears.
-
Concubine Yi kept her word.
She never let the Fourth Prince carry a sachet with anything added to it again.
Because it's not needed anymore.
Emperor Chongzhao had gotten a little better under the treatment of Imperial Physician Yang since he vomited blood last time, but he couldn't bear to stay in bed all the time. He forced himself to deal with a batch of memorials and then went out for a walk.
He thought he was fine, but when the cool autumn breeze blew, he never got out of bed again.
The stroke that Yang Taiyi had been on guard against for a long time finally happened to Emperor Chongzhao. A stroke, also known as apoplexy, causes the patient to have unclear speech and a confused consciousness. In severe cases, the patient may suffer from hemiplegia.
Emperor Chongzhao lay in bed, regretting why he did not listen to Imperial Physician Yang, but he had a vague feeling in his heart that he might not have much time left.
He finished drinking the medicine under the care of Eunuch Yu.
Because his mouth was out of control, some of the medicine flowed down the corners of his mouth. Emperor Chongzhao hated this feeling to the extreme.
After taking the medicine, he grabbed the Fourth Prince's hand, "Yong, Yong Wang... Xiao... Qi..."
The Fourth Prince pretended not to hear and put Emperor Chong Zhao's hand back under the quilt, "Father, please get some rest. I will write to Xiao Qi from time to time."
Emperor Chongzhao: “No, no…”
Under the effect of the medicine, he slowly fell asleep.
Eunuch Yu hesitated and asked, "Your Highness, Crown Prince, does His Majesty want His Highness Prince Yong to come back?"
The fourth prince glanced at him and asked, "Is there?"
Eunuch Yu was startled and lowered his head: "Perhaps I misunderstood."
The Fourth Prince: "Father's words are not clear, Eunuch Yu, please do not make random guesses."
Eunuch Yu: “Yes.”
-
The fourth prince returned to the East Warm Pavilion.
There was another pile of memorials on the desk.
He rummaged through it and, as expected, found another memorial from Yangzhou.
He will discount the report and pretend that nothing happened.
Thus, two more days passed.
Emperor Chongzhao's condition became worse and worse.
The Ministry of Rites had already prepared the coffin in accordance with the rules. Prince Ming, Grand Tutor Fang and three other Grand Secretaries as well as all the civil and military officials in the court were also ready to welcome the new emperor to the throne.
Prince Yong's Mansion.
Yi Twelve said: "Nowadays, the Fourth Prince basically takes a quick look at all memorials first. Your Highness's memorial requesting to return to the capital should have been withheld by the Fourth Prince."
What Qu Dubian had guessed in his mind almost came true.
Fourth brother must have known some truth, otherwise he would never have withheld his memorial.
Did he choose to stand with Concubine Yi?
Xu Jin said coldly: "Why go in such a roundabout way? Just go to the capital directly, destroy the imperial city, kill that woman, and avenge Yueqing! Xiaoqi, if you care about the brotherhood, let grandpa be the villain."
"They are mother and son, so they naturally stand together. If the Fourth Prince knew about this, how could he not help her?"
Qu Dubian frowned and stroked his grandfather's chest.
"Grandpa, don't get excited. I will avenge my mother."
Xu Jin shook his head and said firmly: "No, even if I die, I will go with you this time!"
In his old eyes, there was a dim, stubborn flame that had not been extinguished for more than ten years.
Qu Watanabe was speechless for a moment, "Okay."
He said, "Send a letter to the northern border, recruit troops, and go to the capital to defend the king!"
Xi Zixing: "Leave it to me."
-
Prince Yong led his troops back to the capital in the name of rescuing the emperor.
When the capital received this news, Prince Yong was only thirty miles away from the capital.
The court was in an uproar.
"What does Your Highness Prince Yong mean?"
"Go to the king and save the emperor? Where can I go to the king and save the emperor?"
"Yes, and the prince cannot return to the capital without the emperor's decree."
The top.
On both sides of the empty dragon throne were ministers and Prince Ming.
Prince Ming said: "During the period of succession of the throne, the prince cannot return to the capital without the permission of Your Majesty. This is an iron rule, not to mention that he came here with troops."
Lin Zongping was an absolute supporter of the throne's legitimacy. He frowned and said, "Prince Yong's move may cause trouble."
What he said was still tactful. It was because Prince Yong came at this time that they would not directly accuse him of usurping the throne.
Fang Taifu: "Prince Yong has pacified the northern border, he is not a troublemaker, why don't you send someone to ask clearly? And ask Prince Yong why he is here."
Fu'an Palace.
Concubine Yi also heard the news.
Leng Yue said: "Prince Yong should not know about this. Did Your Highness reveal it? You never stopped him from dating Prince Ning. They have a very good relationship."
Concubine Yi: "No. If he sends a message to Yangzhou, I will definitely know."
Xiao Si did not tell the secret, but Prince Yong might know it. She seemed to have thought of something but did not say much.
Concubine Yi: "I will go to the Purple Palace later."
Leng Yue said: "There are secret guards in the Purple Palace to protect the emperor. Their rules should be the same as ours."
Without the emperor's order, the secret guards are dead. They will only abide by the last rule of the Shadow Law and forbid anyone who is not allowed to approach the emperor.
However, Emperor Chongzhao could no longer speak.
You can’t enter the Purple Palace, but you can control it from the outside.
Concubine Yi: "You should go too."
Leng Yue was silent for a few seconds, then said, "What if, we fail..."
Concubine Yi said calmly: "From the moment you set foot on this road, you should be prepared for failure."
-
Capital city.
Five miles outside the South City Gate.
Xia Fuyang rode his horse beside Qu Du and said with dissatisfaction, "You even let Ye Lianyang come here. Do you look down on me?"
Qu Watanabe: "...You are a general in charge of the Northern Frontier. If you come here, people who don't know will think we are rebelling."
Xia Fuyang: "I don't care. I knocked Ye Lianyang unconscious. He should just stay in Northern Xinjiang."
Xi Zixing looked at the two of them chatting intermittently and sighed in his heart.
Less than a year after leaving, he came back. Did the person next to him know that this time he might not be able to leave again?
The capital city ahead was getting closer and closer.
The gray city walls are majestic and solemn.
Xu Jin stared.
He might be thinking that the real culprit behind the scenes had finally surfaced and that he could avenge his daughter's death.
Qu Watanabe was also watching.
He was thinking about what Master Fang said to him when he was fourteen.
Before the Xiang River flood, Master Fang told him: […sometimes you may seem to be outside the situation, but in fact you are already in it. You cannot escape it. It is your character and your fate.]
Every step he took since then seemed to confirm this statement.
He left the city, thinking that was the end.
But he didn't know that from the moment he took on the karma of his original body, he was destined to come back again.
Three thousand soldiers came to the city.
Soldiers stood in rows at the city gate in the west of Beijing.
The general guarding the city stood on the city wall and shouted, "Your Highness Prince Yong!"
He looked at the three thousand soldiers behind Qu Dubian, and then glanced at Xu Jin, his expression very solemn, "May I ask why His Royal Highness Prince Yong came here without the Emperor's order?"
Qu Dubian raised his head and said, "I came to Beijing this time just to kill one person and clear the court of evildoers."
The general defending the city said: "Your Majesty, what treacherous people are around you?"
Qu Dubian said slowly: "Empress Yi is a descendant of the royal family of the previous dynasty, and Tang Yisu is also a subordinate of Concubine Yi. She has done many evil things. Today, I will go to the capital to purge the emperor. If anyone dares to stop me, I will kill him!"
The general guarding the city's pupils shrank, "What? Concubine Yi is from the previous dynasty?"
The soldiers around were discussing, "If Concubine Yi is from the previous dynasty, then isn't His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also from the previous dynasty?"
“Is this true or false?”
Xia Fuyang: "How can it be false? The evidence is solid. If you don't believe it, we will wait here for the ministers to come and check it out."
The general guarding the city said: "General Xia, you are the general guarding the north. You are not serving at the border. It is a serious crime to come to the capital without orders!"
Xia Fuyang: "If serving the king is considered a serious crime, then you guys can decide!"
The general defending the city suddenly took a step back and raised his hand.
"Open the gates!"
Xu Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.
The city gate opened, and the general guarding the city came down and stood beside Qu Dubian, whispering: "I am the eldest prince's confidant. Before your highness goes to Lingbei, please tell us that if the seventh prince has anything to do, we must obey."
Qu Watanabe: "Opening the city gate privately is a crime punishable by death."
The general guarding the city said, "We have succeeded in killing the traitors, so we have made a contribution." He extended his hand and said, "I believe you."
Qu Watanabe: "I won't let your letter go in vain. Let's go."
He led his troops into the city.
The city and the streets were empty; the only sound they could hear was the marching of soldiers behind them.
The people had already gone into hiding.
The news of their arrival in Beijing spread quickly.
The officials who were smart did not even go to the yamen after the court session, but hid in the mansion gate early and pretended to be dead.
Although the three regents and Prince Ming were relatively calm during the court session, but -
Oh my God, who is leading the troops into the capital?
That is the former sword-wielding Marquis Xu Jin, who guarded the border of the northern frontier, the current General Zhenbei Xia Fuyang, and His Royal Highness Prince Yong, who had made great military achievements and was the first to be crowned king.
The words they said in front of the West City Gate about the "survivors of the previous dynasty" also spread, involving the previous dynasty. The current prince was actually related to the previous dynasty?
With such a complicated relationship, who among these petty officials would dare to get involved? If they are not careful, their entire clan will be exterminated.
It’s better to hide.
Xia family.
Xia Hong stood in the small courtyard of his home with a worried look on his face.
On the stone table behind him lay a sword.
When Wang came over, she saw it at a glance and asked, "Why, do you still want to kill your son?"
Xia Hong snorted and said, "He shouted the slogan of serving the king, but who knows what he is doing here with Prince Yong! Leaving his post without permission is a crime in the first place."
Wang: "Prince Yong is not a reckless person."
Xia Hong: "I only obey your majesty's order to protect the imperial city."
After saying this, he picked up his sword and limped out. Wang's eyebrows were raised, "Xia Hong, if you dare to go out today, you will never come home!"
Xia Hong said without hesitation, "It is my responsibility to quell the chaos in the Imperial City. Even if it means a war between father and son, I will not hesitate."
Then he stared at the steps in front of him, twisted his ankle hard, and fell to the ground with an exaggerated thump.
“Ouch—!”
Wang hurried forward: "Husband!"
She ran over quickly, helped Xia Hong up, and exclaimed, "This leg is also lame."
Wang waved her hands left and right, calling the stunned servants over, "Hurry up, someone come, help me carry the Marquis in."
"Ohhh here it comes ma'am."
Wang lifted Xia Hong up, and the latter winked at her.
Wang: “…”
Xia Hong: "Let me go. Even if my legs are broken, I will ask that rebellious son what he is doing!!"
While shouting, thinking.
He could definitely trust the Yongwang kid, and the story about the remnants of the previous dynasty was probably true. In that case, why did he go there to get in the way? He wasn't sick, and if he had to fight with his own son, he would have been defeated long ago. Fighting would be so embarrassing.
To put it another way, even if it turns out that they are not the remnants of the previous dynasty and there is a misunderstanding, he can still preserve the roots of the Xia family by acting out this scene.
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