277, The throne changes
277, The throne changes
The sun set in the west and it was completely dark.
After dark, it was no longer suitable to travel, and they could not go to the post station to rest, so Zhao Lang had to take his men to stop on the outskirts of a forest to rest and reorganize.
After they left the city in the morning, everyone split up into four groups and headed in the four directions of east, south, west and north. The purpose of their trip was not only to find the emperor who had left the city, but also to find the Hu soldiers wandering outside the city.
Maybe they chose the wrong direction. Along the way, they did not encounter the emperor escaping from the city. They only encountered a few scattered Hu soldiers, who were all killed by their people.
Then, in some villages they passed by, all the villagers were massacred by Hu Bing. The whole village was littered with corpses. Those beasts even spared the elderly, pregnant women and children. The deaths of those villagers were so tragic that it was simply horrible to watch.
They had encountered many such things during their years in Beijun, but this was the first time they had encountered such a thing in Kyoto Prefecture.
They had brought a lot of dry food with them. Li Qun took some dry food and water and gave it to their master. "Master, please have something to eat."
"Well, you guys should go and have a rest too." Zhao Lang took a look and took it.
"Yes." Li Qun responded and found a place nearby to sit down and rest and eat.
Zhao Lang sat here alone. He opened the water bag, tilted his head back to drink a sip of water, then put the dry food to his mouth and started eating.
While eating the dried meat in his mouth, he thought of Lord Lu who had promised to come to see him later.
He never doubted what Lu Mingfei had promised him. Since Lu Mingfei promised to come to him, he would definitely come to him.
But he also knew that after so many years away from Beijun, not many people would still remember him, the Prince of Dingwang Mansion. This time, he had to bring people back to Beijun in advance to reclaim the Prince's status and power, so that when Lord Lu came to find him, he would suffer less hardship.
Therefore, they must rush back to Beijun as soon as possible!
However, before returning to Beijun, he had to take people to a place.
***
"Bang, bang, bang—"
At the same time in Kyoto Prefecture, the sound of funeral bells came from the direction of the imperial city. The clanging sound was heard by everyone in the city.
At this moment, Lu Mingfei, who was at home, also heard the bell. He stood up from his chair, looked towards the imperial city, and murmured, "The emperor has passed away?"
"I'm afraid this world is really going to be in chaos!" His dream was probably coming true.
Even though they had predicted the emperor's fate last night, the sound of the death knell told them all that the dust had settled on the emperor.
However, with the emperor dead, who among the princes would become emperor? This was a question. The eldest prince or the second prince? He thought the second prince had a greater chance of becoming emperor, right?
However, this matter is also uncertain. Because according to his understanding, those who usually make the most noise usually cannot become emperor. On the contrary, those princes who usually keep silent have a greater chance of becoming emperor.
How does the saying go? The dog that doesn't bark is the dog that bites.
"Sir, this is the death knell. The emperor is dead. What should we do now?" Guard Ma walked to the study window and asked Sir Lu who was standing inside.
When their master left, he and several other brothers stayed behind to protect this person, who might be their future Crown Prince's consort.
Lu Mingfei sighed and walked out of the study, "I'm going to change my clothes and go into the palace." The big boss died, and it would be inappropriate for him, an employee, not to say hello.
Although he was already thinking about how to get out and quit this job.
But before he escaped, he was still Lu Xiuzhuan of the Hanlin Academy, an official appointed by the court. Now that the emperor has passed away, all the officials in the capital must go to the emperor's wake.
When his carriage reached the entrance of the alley, he met Zhang Lingxuan's carriage.
When their carriages met halfway, he called Zhang Lingxuan to get on his carriage, and the two talked about their trip to the palace.
"I'm afraid the situation in the palace is not peaceful right now. If you encounter any dangerous situation, it is important to save your life." This is what Lu Mingfei said to Zhang Lingxuan. Nothing is more important than staying alive.
"Yeah, I know. I haven't lived enough." Zhang Lingxuan said, looking at his friend who reminded him.
The two people looked at each other, and everything was said without words.
Lu Mingfei brought up the topic they hadn't finished discussing last time and said to Zhang Lingxuan, "If you want to serve as an official in another province, if you have the opportunity, you should leave as soon as possible. With the current situation at the court, I'm afraid there won't be peace in the next few years."
"Well, I'll discuss it with my family when I get back." Zhang Lingxuan actually already had the idea of leaving Kyoto Prefecture. This idea had been constantly emerging in his mind since the first day.
This time, something like this happened in Kyoto Prefecture. The emperor passed away, and the new emperor was still unknown. Just as Lu Mingfei said, with the current situation in the court, I'm afraid there will be no peace in the court for the next few years.
These children from humble backgrounds, with no power or influence behind them, could be doomed if they weren't careful. Zhang Lingxuan didn't want to gamble with his future, his life, or the lives of his family and clansmen.
He looked at his friend who suddenly said such words to him and asked, "What about you? Do you have any plans on your side?"
"Well, I have some other plans, but I can't tell you for the time being." Rebellion is a big deal, and the fewer people who know about it, the better. Lu Mingfei doesn't plan to tell his friends around him for the time being.
However, he made a request to Zhang Lingxuan: "If one day you receive a letter from me, I hope you can put down everything you are doing and come to see me immediately, okay?"
"Of course." Although he hesitated for a moment, Zhang Lingxuan didn't ask the reason and agreed.
Lu Mingfei extended his hand, "It's a deal."
"It's a deal." Zhang Lingxuan also stretched out his hand and shook hands with Lu Mingfei.
Although he didn't know what his friend was planning to do, Zhang Lingxuan knew that Lu Mingfei wouldn't cheat them. He trusted Lu Mingfei more than he trusted his family.
On the way back, the two people talked a lot.
Their carriage encountered soldiers blocking the road halfway. Only after they identified themselves were they allowed to move forward.
Although Zhang Lingxuan was a little worried that something might happen during their trip, with Lu Mingfei by his side, his worries and fears were not as great as his trust in Lu Mingfei at this moment.
When their carriage entered Dongcheng District, they met many officials' carriages and sedan chairs, all heading in the same direction.
However, when they arrived at the palace gate, everyone was stopped outside the palace, and the people inside did not let them in immediately.
Here they also met Fu Lianxin, who looked haggard.
Because Fu Lianxin had helped him twice before, they now had a good relationship with Fu Lianxin. Seeing Fu Lianxin standing there alone with a pale face, Lu Mingfei and Zhang Lingxuan came over and asked with concern, "Brother Fu, are you okay?"
"Thank you for your concern. I'm fine." Fu Lianxin shook his head and looked at Lu Mingfei and Zhang Lingxuan. "You're here too."
"Well, we left home when we heard the death knell." Lu Mingfei looked around and didn't see Old Master Fu there, so he moved closer and asked Fu Lianxin in a low voice, "Where is Old Master Fu?"
Fu Lianxin shook his head and said, "Last night, His Majesty sent someone to the mansion to announce that my grandfather had entered the palace, but he hasn't returned yet."
His grandfather had been away from home for a day and a night and had not yet returned. Now that the emperor was dead, he had a very bad feeling in his heart.
More and more officials gathered at the city gate, and all the royal family members and meritorious nobles came.
What they didn't know was that a struggle for imperial power was also going on in the palace at that time.
In the end, the third prince's men took control of the entire palace and sat on the throne.
After his people took control of the entire palace, the third prince ordered people to open the palace gates and let the people outside into the palace to meet him.
So when all the officials entered the Golden Palace and saw that the person sitting on the dragon throne was the Third Prince, who was not outstanding among his brothers, many of them were stunned, thinking they had seen it wrong.
At this moment, the old eunuch in the palace took out an imperial edict and read it to everyone: "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, decrees that my third son, Zhao Yu, is exceptionally intelligent, skilled in both civil and military affairs... He is hereby appointed Crown Prince and will inherit the throne upon my death. This is my decree!"
"The crown prince has always been appointed by the eldest son. Even if the eldest prince is not appointed as the crown prince, the second prince will be appointed as the crown prince. How can it be your turn as the third prince to be the crown prince!" The speaker was the second prince's grandfather, Prime Minister Wan, the biological father of Concubine Wan.
The officials below were also whispering, and many of them had objections to the third prince ascending the throne.
At this time, Lu Mingfei and Zhang Lingxuan, who were standing behind the crowd, heard the discussions of the people around them. They just looked at each other, exchanged glances, and kept silent about any topics related to the prince and the throne.
[Isn't this courting death? Whoever is capable should be the emperor. Why are you saying this now? What were you doing before?] Lu Mingfei complained in his heart. These officials really are not afraid of death. They dare to say in front of the new emperor that the new emperor is unworthy of the position.
The new emperor heard the questioning of Prime Minister Wan and the discussion of many officials below. He sneered and said, "Prime Minister Wan, your words are very good. Why is it that I am sitting here and not my eldest or second brother?"
"Then I will tell you right here: the Second Prince killed his brother and his father, and he is the murderer who murdered our father!"
"Prime Minister Wan, what are your intentions in aiding and abetting the tyrant?"
"Come here, capture Prime Minister Wan for me!"
"yes!"
At the emperor's command, the imperial guards came forward and arrested Prime Minister Wan.
Prime Minister Wan, who had been captured by the Imperial Guards, was still shouting, "I refuse to accept this! You are plotting to usurp the throne, and your virtue is unworthy of the position!"
However, he had just finished shouting when his jaw was dislocated and he was dragged out by the guards.
Watching Prime Minister Wan being dragged away by the Imperial Guards, the new emperor, who was sitting on the throne, asked, "Are there any of you who still refuse to obey? Stand up before me."
At this time, there was silence in the hall, and no one dared to speak. Author's words: Thank you Bole 9492239 (9492239) for your support, mua! To know more exciting content, please leave me a message on Liancheng Reading
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