The first snow in the capital lasted for a day and a night.
There was a thick layer of snow on the roads and roofs.
The entire capital city was dyed white.
Early in the morning, the government began to organize people to clean the streets.
Dozens of fast riders came from outside the city.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards were about to step forward to intercept them.
In the capital city, at the feet of the emperor, how can people be allowed to ride horses freely on the streets?
Do you think this is a rural area?
As a result, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had just taken two steps forward when they saw the badge in the fast rider's hand and immediately retreated.
The steed galloped past them, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards broke out in a cold sweat.
"Who are they? Look how scared you are."
"The Emperor's Token, are you not afraid?"
"It's actually the Emperor's token?"
Others were shocked.
After so many years, the Emperor's Token appears again.
Something big must have happened.
Judging from the direction of the galloping horse, it was obviously heading towards the palace.
…
Early morning.
Just when the process was halfway through, a eunuch came quietly to Chang En and whispered the news.
After listening to this, Chang En hesitated for a moment, then came to Emperor Wende and spoke quietly.
Emperor Wende's expression changed slightly.
For a time, morning court became extremely hateful in the eyes of Emperor Wende.
Hey, why are you talking so much?
And there's that guy who never stops talking about things that happened many years ago.
They are all trivial and old matters.
"Alright! If there's nothing urgent, then let's withdraw!"
After saying this, Emperor Wende stood up and left amid the surprise of his courtiers.
The court officials were dumbfounded. What was His Majesty angry about?
Who offended His Majesty?
Who was speaking just now?
For a time, the officials who were disliked by Emperor Wende for talking too much became the target of public criticism.
The officials are innocent.
He had never been despised before, but this time he was despised by Emperor Wende. Who could he turn to for justice?
Amidst the ministers' arguments, an eunuch approached the Minister of the Imperial Household and said, "Sir, Your Majesty requests that you come to Xingqing Palace immediately."
The Minister of the Imperial Household asked, "Did Your Majesty say anything?"
"His Majesty only said that the Lord Housekeeper should go there immediately."
"I understand, I'll be right there."
…
Emperor Wende hurried back to Xingqing Palace.
Liu Zhao had been waiting for a long time.
"Your Majesty, your son, greets you! Your Majesty has lost some weight!"
"Get up quickly!"
Emperor Wende was very excited, "Where are the people?"
Liu Zhao said, "The person is in the side hall."
"Bring him here. I want to see where this traitor who calls himself the Prince of Qing comes from."
"Your son obeys your order!"
Liu Zhao personally went to the side hall to pick up the person.
A man with his hands tied behind his back and his head covered was brought in by Liu Zhao.
He took off the black scarf covering his head, threw the man to the ground, and said, "Father, this man is the traitor who calls himself Prince Qing!"
"really?"
"It is absolutely true. I dare not deceive you, Father."
Emperor Wende squatted down and looked at the man.
"What is your relationship with Prince Qing?"
The man's mouth was blocked and he couldn't speak at all. When he heard Liu Zhao calling him "father", he understood instantly.
This is the imperial palace.
He stared at Emperor Wende with vicious eyes.
Emperor Wende laughed heartily, "A prisoner, this is all he has left."
After saying this, Emperor Wende stood up and patted Liu Zhao on the shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work in capturing him amidst the vast army."
"It's not hard for me to share your father's worries. It's just that the expenses are very high, and I still need your help."
The previous sentence is full of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, without any compromise.
The last sentence clearly reveals his rogue nature.
He just came back and he's asking for money.
Emperor Wende didn't know whether to laugh or be angry.
He was too lazy to pay attention to Liu Zhao and ordered Chang En, "Go and urge the Lord Housekeeper to come. Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
Liu Zhao looked aggrieved and said, "I have no money to eat."
Emperor Wende snorted, "You'll have to eat, so shut up."
…
Urged by the eunuchs, the Shaofu Household Manager hurried to Xingqing Palace.
"Your Majesty, the housekeeper has arrived."
"Send him in quickly."
The Shaofu household steward was invited into the main hall.
"Your humble servant..."
"No need to be so polite. There is a person here. Please help me identify him."
Emperor Wende had no recollection of Emperor Zhongzong's favorite seventeenth prince, who was posthumously named Prince Qing, and there were no portraits of him in the palace. Almost all the old men of that era were dead.
The most suitable person Emperor Wende could think of was the Shaofu Household Director.
As the brother of Emperor Zhongzong, the Minister of the Imperial Household must have met Prince Qing.
The Shaofu Household Officer looked at the tightly bound man on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, this is..."
"This man was captured by Liu Zhao from among the rebels. He calls himself the Prince of Qing. Please help me identify him."
The Shaofu family commander was startled. He looked down at the bound man and asked, "What's your name?"
"Wuwuwu..." The man's mouth was blocked and he couldn't speak.
Liu Zhao took the cork out of the man's mouth and said, "Speak properly, otherwise..."
"Don't be anxious. Tell me, what's your name?" The Shaofu Household Order asked while observing the other person's appearance and expression.
The man sneered and said nothing.
Bang!
Liu Zhao immediately flew up and kicked the other person, then stepped on his face and crushed him hard, "Speak! Did I ask your name, mute?"
The man gnashed his teeth, glanced at Liu Zhao with hatred, and then said reluctantly, "Liu Ling."
The Shaofu's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked, "Which spirit?"
"Ling 'magic medicine'. Does Lord Jialing have any impression of it?" Liu Ling laughed heartily, full of sarcasm.
The Imperial Household Officer hurried to Emperor Wende's side and whispered, "Your Majesty, this person is very likely the posthumous son of Prince Qing."
"How can the ancestors be sure that he is the real posthumous son of Prince Qing and not a fake one?"
"Your Majesty, the name Liu Ling has a history. Ling was the name Emperor Zhongzong personally chose for Prince Qing's posthumous son. This is known only to a select few."
Emperor Wende frowned, "Are you sure, ancestor?"
The Minister of the Imperial Household continued, "From the look of his face, I see he bears some resemblance to Prince Qing back then. Why don't you ask a few more questions?"
"Ask as much as you want, ancestor. If he doesn't answer honestly, Liu Zhao will take care of him."
The Shaofu Household Officer bowed and accepted the order, came to Liu Ling and asked him about his date of birth, his mother's surname, etc.
Everything Liu Ling explained matched up perfectly.
Finally, Liu Ling took out a jade pendant, which completely confirmed his identity.
He is the posthumous son of Prince Qing.
Emperor Wende looked at the jade pendant, sneered, and threw it to Chang En for safekeeping.
"Liu Ling, why are you rebelling?"
Pooh!
Liu Ling gritted his teeth, "The throne originally belonged to our lineage of Prince Qing. I'm simply taking back what was stolen. Liu Jian, Liu Huang, you and your son have come to power illegitimately. I will make your crimes known to the world."
"Hahaha……"
Emperor Wende laughed out loud.
He pointed at Liu Ling, "Absurd! Stupid! The throne has never been given to whoever it originally belonged to. Since ancient times, whoever has the ability has been the emperor. Your father, Prince Qing, was incompetent and missed the throne. That was his fate, he deserved it."
"Shut up, shut up! It was clearly Liu Jian who killed my father. The throne clearly belongs to my father."
Emperor Wende scoffed, "Ridiculous! Who told you the throne belonged to your father? Your father was the youngest son of Emperor Zhongzong. Even if the throne was passed down one by one, it would never be your father's turn to be emperor. That's nothing but nonsense made up by traitors."
"You're talking nonsense! I have a decree of succession, written personally by Emperor Zhongzong, passing the throne to my father. Later, when my father unfortunately passed away, Emperor Zhongzong passed the throne to me. He even gave me a name himself. The throne clearly belongs to my father, and it belongs to me too. The real traitor is clearly you. Liu Huang, you are the traitor!"
Liu Ling roared angrily.
I'm not willing to accept this!
They, the lineage of Prince Qing, had missed the throne. In the blink of an eye, forty or fifty years had passed.
After three generations of planning, they finally had the capital to start a rebellion.
But he was caught by Liu Zhao.
I won't accept it no matter what!
Emperor Wende laughed heartily, full of sarcasm, "Grandfather, tell this fool where he went wrong."
The Minister of the Imperial Household received the order and said, "In his later years, Emperor Zhongzong was plagued by illness and could no longer write. All documents were written by eunuchs. Therefore, it is impossible for Emperor Zhongzong to have personally written the edict of succession. Regardless of whether the edict in your hand is genuine, its origin is highly questionable."
"You lied to me!" Liu Ling shouted angrily.
The Minister of the Imperial Household said calmly, "I am the younger brother of Emperor Zhongzong, and I am familiar with his later years. As for your father, he was the youngest son of Emperor Zhongzong and died at the age of fifteen. There were seven or eight other princes who lived before him."
"Emperor Zhongzong would never pass the throne to your father, no matter what. That would be a recipe for disaster. The decree of succession in your hand was originally intended to provoke the late emperor and stir up trouble, not to truly pass the throne to Prince Qing, let alone you."
"You're talking nonsense! I don't believe it. I will never believe you."
"Whether you believe it or not, I have no reason to deceive you."
"Ah...you all lied to me. The throne belongs to my father, and it belongs to me too. What's wrong with me taking back the throne that originally belonged to our lineage of Prince Qing?"
Liu Ling looked like a madman with a ferocious expression.
Liu Zhao stepped hard on his back with one foot, making him unable to move.
"Father, this man still refuses to repent. It would be better to kill him."
Emperor Wende waved his hand, signaling Liu Zhao not to worry.
He squatted down and stared at Liu Ling. "Dare to rebel against me, I will kill all nine generations of your clan. Your trusted subordinates, your family, your teachers, your wife and children... I will not let any of them go. I will let you see with your own eyes how they died. I will place their heads in front of you one by one, so that you will know this is the end of rebellion."
"Ahhh... Liu Huang, you will not have a good death. You are the real traitor. You don't even have the real imperial seal. What right do you have to be the emperor?"
"Hahaha……"
Emperor Wende laughed heartily. "What is the Imperial Seal? Didn't your teacher teach you that? If I say it's real, it's real. If I say it's fake, the real can become fake. Authenticity is never important. This is the divine right of the emperor! Idiot! Take it away and keep it under strict guard!"
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