Chapter 100
As soon as Wu Youyuan arrived with his ambush troops, the Western Xia army was immediately defeated. In other words, Xixia had lost its fighting spirit the moment Gu Fuzhou fell. The goal was achieved and Xixia withdrew its troops immediately. Dayu's cavalry pursued them relentlessly, and they were bloodthirsty. They captured the main general alive and slaughtered all the surrendered soldiers.
After one night, a river of blood appeared in the valley. At the same time, Shi Pei hung his flag on the wall of Yongliang city. At this point, Yongliang, the northwestern fortress, finally returned to Dayu.
In the final battle, Dayu recaptured Yongliang City and drove the severely damaged Western Xia to the north of the border, killing tens of thousands of enemies at the cost of only three thousand cavalry. This was a great victory, but there was no sign of joy at the victory in the Northwest Army Camp.
In the howling cold wind, white banners were hanging, paper money was floating, and the firelight illuminated everyone's pale and sad face. Wu Youyuan knelt in front of Gu Fuzhou's coffin for a whole day and night without eating a single bite of food or drinking a single drop of water. He tightly grasped the sword at his waist, his eyes were bloodshot, and in addition to self-blame, grief and anger, there was more murderous intent. If Shi Pei had not stopped him, he would have wanted to chase to the capital of Western Xia, destroy the country, and use the head of the Western Xia emperor to commemorate the general's soul.
From this moment on, this will be what he wants all his life.
Shen Huaishi changed out of his armor and walked into the tent in tight clothes. He looked at Gu Fuzhou's spirit tablet, his Adam's apple rolled, and he forced himself to light three incense sticks. Shi Pei handed him an urgent report and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you, Brother Shen."
The heavy snow blocked the road back to Beijing, and the fastest cavalry in the army was not faster than Shen Huaishi. It would be half a month before Shen Huaishi returned to the capital with the battle report and the news of Gu Fuzhou's death.
The latest report on the Northwest on the Dragon Case in the Qinzheng Hall also mentioned things that happened half a month ago. The memorial said that the defense of Yongliang City was strong, the enemy troops held their ground and refused to come out, and the Northwestern Army had been unable to capture the city for a long time; and the grain route from Guangyang to Yongliang was blocked by heavy snow, the food and grass were in short supply, and the army's morale was gradually disrupted.
The dragon throne next to the dragon table was moved away and replaced by a throne. Xiao Songzi walked into the hall with tea and saw Lin Qingyu sitting there, supporting his forehead with his hand. His thick, feather-like eyelashes cast a green shadow on his eyelids.
Xiao Songzi thought Lin Qingyu was asleep, so he walked very lightly. After the emperor's "sudden illness", he has been recuperating in his palace and has not been to the Qinzheng Palace since then. Now Lin Qingyu has become half the master of the Qinzheng Palace. Under the order of the emperor, he reviewed memorials, received princes and ministers, and discussed state affairs here. He was not the chief minister, but he was better than the chief minister.
Lin Qingyu was so brazen and reckless, holding the emperor hostage to control the princes. It is not an exaggeration to call him "Lin the Thief". But when they saw the Imperial Guards filling the palace and the omnipresent Iron Cavalry Battalions, everyone was angry but dared not speak out. Since the censors could not see the emperor, they could only ask to see the empress dowager. The Queen Mother said, "I am old now, and I am often unable to handle government affairs from behind the curtain. It is a good thing that Doctor Lin can share my worries."
"But Lord Lin is only an imperial physician after all. It is unheard of that an imperial physician can sit in the court and govern the country and give orders to the ministers. It is truly a shame for Dayu!"
"You have reminded me," the Queen Mother said calmly, "In your opinion, what kind of official position should I give him?"
“…”
Since Cui Lian retired and returned to his hometown, the position of prime minister has been vacant. Some people say that it won’t be long before Lin Qingyu will no longer be Doctor Lin, and all civil and military officials will call him “Prime Minister Lin”.
Things always have to proceed step by step. It is really an exaggeration for someone to go from an imperial physician to a prime minister. The court still has to save some face. Finally, the Queen Mother gave Lin Qingyu a third-rank position as the Minister of Taichang Temple.
When Xiao Songzi gently placed the teacup on the table, Lin Qingyu opened his eyes. Xiao Songzi thought that he had woken up Lin Qingyu, and he knelt down and confessed: "I deserve to die for disturbing Master Lin's sleep."
Lin Qingyu said: "It has nothing to do with you. I have always been a light sleeper. Get up."
Lin Qingyu had nightmares for days and was inevitably in a bad mood. In order to avoid having nightmares, he has not slept for three nights and only takes a short nap during the day. After a few days, Lin Qingyu lost a lot of weight, and the thinness on his face became more and more obvious. He drank the tea brought by Xiao Songzi and asked, "Is there any news from the northwest?"
This was the third time Lin Qingyu asked this question in one day. Xiao Songzi shook his head and said, "Lord Lin, the memorial from the northwest has just arrived, it shouldn't be that fast."
Lin Qingyu said softly: "But, he used to write me a letter every two or three days."
"Didn't you say that the Northwest is at a critical juncture? General Gu must be too busy."
No matter how busy I am, I must reply to his letters.
A eunuch came in and reported: "Master Lin, the emperor wants you to come over."
Lin Qingyu said calmly: "I know."
After the coup in the Qinzheng Palace, Xiao Jie was placed under house arrest in his bedroom. At the beginning, Xiao Jie was restless and had to see him every day. After seeing him, he just asked about Xi Rong's situation and begged him to let Xi Rong go. Later, he gave Xiao Jie some medicine, and Xiao Jie calmed down for a while.
To be fair, he treated Xiao Jie well. Not only did he not take his life, he also kept him well-fed and well-dressed in the palace. In addition to having no freedom, Xiao Jie was still the emperor who ignored the affairs of state.
When he arrived at the emperor's bedroom, Lin Qingyu saw Xiao Jie standing in front of the table with disheveled hair and a pen in his hand, as if he had just finished writing something.
Lin Qingyu said: "Your Majesty."
"You're here." Xiao Jie's eyes were empty. "Take this, my abdication edict."
Two eunuchs carried a chair, Lin Qingyu sat down and asked, "What does the emperor mean?"
Xiao Jie said numbly: "Isn't this what you want?"
Lin Qingyu straightened his clothes and said, "If I wanted this, why would I have waited until now?"
"I beg you to take it away!" Xiao Jie suddenly became hysterical, "I don't want to be the emperor at all, why are you forcing it on me?"
If he had not become the emperor, he would definitely still be in the palace with Arong, and his biggest worry every day would be what to eat next. If he had not become the emperor, they would not have to worry about the affairs of the northwest, and things would not have come to this point today.
It was Lin Qingyu who pushed him into this position. It was all Lin Qingyu's fault.
Lin Qingyu chuckled: "I stuffed it into your hand? Have I ever forced you to do it from the beginning to the end?"
Xiao Jie's lips trembled: "You found me and said..."
Lin Qingyu interrupted: "I am looking for Xi Rong, and it is Xi Rong who conspired with me. May I ask your Majesty, have I ever talked to you about the competition for the throne?"
Xiao Jie was shocked and raised his head in a daze.
"You were not pushed to the throne by me, but by your Ah Rong." Lin Qingyu said cruelly, "What you have today is all your own fault. If one of you had said 'no' to me that day, you would not have been able to sit on the throne."
Xiao Jie opened his eyes, not knowing how much he took his words to heart: "That's not the case. If it weren't for you, Arong and I would be fine."
Lin Qingyu was too lazy to waste time on him anymore. "Since the emperor has decided to abdicate," he glanced at Xiao Songzi, who stepped forward to collect the imperial edict, "then I will accept it. However, let me make it clear in advance that whether you are the emperor or not, you cannot save Xi Rong."
Tears rolled down Xiao Jie's eyes: "Let me see him, let me accompany him..."
Lin Qingyu sneered, and the answer he gave was self-evident.
"You want to kill him, but you can't even agree to this request?"
"No." Lin Qingyu said coldly, "My husband and I are far apart from each other, what right do you have?"
After Xiao Jie asked to abdicate, he was imprisoned in Jinyang Garden by Lin Qingyu and was never allowed to leave. At this point, the only descendant of the late emperor was Prince Huai Xiao Li. Several old princes who were far away in their fiefdoms frequently submitted memorials, saying that they wanted to go to the capital to pay their respects and wish the Empress Dowager a happy New Year. Everyone knows exactly what his intention is.
At this time, the unfathomable national teacher brought out the theory of celestial phenomena: the nine stars of the Tail Constellation, with the legitimate son in the right position, can return to his original body and unify the country.
Dayu had always advocated the idea of establishing an heir, and many old ministers valued the purity of bloodline. After hearing what the national teacher meant, the prince of Huai's amnesia might be cured after ascending the throne, the voices of opposition were reduced by half. The most important thing is that their opposition is completely useless. The people in the army are Lin Qingyu's people, and most of the people in the previous dynasty are Empress Dowager Wen's people. Unless the one sitting on the throne is her own son, Empress Dowager Wen can depose one and then another.
Under the current circumstances, it is a blessing in disguise that Jiangshan can still bear the surname Xiao.
On the day Xiao Li ascended the throne, Lin Qingyu personally put the crown on him. The seventeen-year-old boy obediently let him do whatever he wanted, his delicate eyebrows and eyes hidden behind the jade tassel. The crown was heavy, and Xiao Li kept trying to take it off, but Lin Qingyu stopped him: "Don't move."
Xiao Li put down his hand obediently.
"Let's go."
At this coronation ceremony, Lin Qingyu finally didn't have to kneel. He held Xiao Li's hand, walked past the officials, stepped up the long steps, walked towards the Purple Palace step by step, and walked towards the pinnacle of power step by step.
He stood on the Mingtang, looking down at all the living beings, watching the civil and military officials, princes and ministers bowing their heads and kowtowing, shouting "Long live our emperor". Beside him, the emperor in a black dragon robe sat on the dragon throne with a dull and expressionless look. Only when she accidentally meets his gaze will she break into a charming smile.
After Xiao Li ascended the throne, he moved from Ci'an Palace to Xingqing Palace. The boy, who was only three or four years old, left his mother and fell asleep in the palace with Nanny Xiujiao serving him.
After Lin Qingyu finished the coronation ceremony, there were still a lot of things waiting for him to deal with in the Qinzheng Hall. Late at night, the Qinzheng Hall was brightly lit. Midnight passed, and the memorials on the desk were still piled up. Lin Qingyu was thinking of prescribing a refreshing decoction for himself when he felt sleepy. Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him: "How come Doctor Lin fell asleep here?"
Lin Qingyu was suddenly stunned, turned around slowly, and met a pair of bright eyes. There was a smile in those eyes, and there was an obvious layer of bags under the eyes.
——Is it a dream?
Under the palace lanterns, the young man had a handsome face and prominent features, like the gentle breeze and bright moon. Compared to their meeting three years ago, he looked more elegant and restrained. He had neat short hair and wore a loose short-sleeved shirt with strange symbols printed on it. He wore black trousers with no hem to cover his legs, which made his legs look extremely straight and long.
This was the second time he met the boy.
The young man walked towards him, leaned on the dragon table, looked down at him with a smile: "Long time no see, Qingyu."
Lin Qingyu opened his lips: "... Jiang Xing?"
Jiang Xing raised the corner of his mouth: "You really knew my name a long time ago."
His heart felt like it was being strangled, and Lin Qingyu refused to think about the cause of the sudden severe pain. He lowered his head as if to avoid looking at the boy, and murmured in panic: "Why...why did I dream about you."
Jiang Xing held his cheek and said with a smile: "Of course it's because you missed me, baby."
Lin Qingyu raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Xing, staring at him motionlessly. There was no redness around his eyes, and he didn't feel any soreness in his eyes. Lin Qingyu didn't even notice when a line of tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes onto Jiang Xing's hand.
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