Opening
But only for a moment.
Guests gradually walked into the spacious palace. She glanced at them sideways, and found that most of them were dressed like officials.
After they sat down, they looked calm and taciturn, only bowing and greeting a few elders.
There were also a dozen or so female relatives sitting at the end, most of them were women, and I didn't know what their identities were. My aunt was not seen, which was good, because there was bound to be a turbulent situation in the hall today.
Can worry less.
Gui Yao felt that she had something to say.
She frowned and lip-synced to Ren Beixi for a long time. Seeing that he was teasing her intentionally or unintentionally, she had no choice but to throw away the fruit on the table and eat it.
"Can I get out of this palace alive?"
She said casually.
Ren Beixi chuckled and shook his head when he heard this.
The man was clearly in a good mood. Seeing her gasp for air, he reached out and pinched her face. His voice was slightly hoarse, "Who told us, Yaoyao, to go to see His Majesty without our husband?"
"Don't change the subject, I'm serious!" Gui Yao felt aggrieved.
"Okay, my husband, speak seriously."
Ren Beixi touched her head.
So Gui Yao reluctantly heard a plot to assassinate the emperor.
The banquet will start in half an hour.
The emperor will attend the banquet with the empress, and announce why the banquet is held today. Then he will invite General Ren, whose honeymoon leave has ended, to be rewarded with a super high-ranking official.
"How old?"
Guiyao leaned over and asked.
"Curious?" Ren Beixi's expression remained calm, his dark eyes brimming with determination. "I'm no longer surprised after I found out."
Gui Yao slapped away his hand that was pinching her face.
It was clearly written in his eyes: What's the matter? It's exciting to suddenly tell her that she is going to be beheaded!
"The Regent."
"Is it big?"
"big."
Gui Yao suddenly raised an eyebrow and looked at him. There was no hope for the future in her eyes. There were only three words in her round almond-shaped eyes: How to do it!
part1: Some people are dissatisfied.
Ren Beixi said in a calm voice, "The old faction respects the Li and Ren families, but they also don't want to see them completely submit to the new emperor. If that happens, the prime minister and guest officials will come to resist."
"Whether their attitudes are quick or slow, they all serve as evidence."
"What if no one in the court dares to speak out?" Guiyao nibbled on the plum, finding it delicious.
"They dare not remain silent." Ren Beixi took out a handkerchief from somewhere, wiped the plums until they were shiny, and then handed it to Guiyao's lips. His slender hand fell and tapped the table lightly, "Do you still remember the green mountains inland of Wuhua City?"
Guiyao nodded.
How could I dare to forget, not only Lu Qingshan, but also the secret passage, the low cliff, even the granary, and the sound of rats gnawing, so many things have not been resolved.
She exchanged a glance with Ren Beixi and silently swallowed the last two words: Northern Barbarian.
"Lu Qingshan arrived in Beijing yesterday and immediately went to Prime Minister Qiu's residence. He has not left since." Ren Beixi's eyes were silent as he said frankly, "Your Majesty is in danger. This is an open conspiracy, but the problem is that the person who brought this news out happened to be Lu Qingshan."
"Lu Qingshan is on the side of His Majesty on the surface, and he also has the master-disciple relationship with the Imperial Master." Gui Yao said.
Their eyes met. The guests at the foot of the stairs had all taken their seats, sitting quietly, with the sound of drums and music all around them.
Her face suddenly brightened: "How boring! Is it that I'm the only one in the entire capital who knows that I have a good relationship with your Majesty?"
Ren Beixi did not comment.
Seeing that Guiyao had finished eating the plums on her table, he took the plate from his own table over to her.
Gui Yao: "This is not good."
Keep chewing and chewing.
"In the early days of the previous emperor's reign, the northern barbarians frequently invaded. In the twenty-seventh year of Yongchang, General Ren Dingshan died in battle at Zhulutai in the northern border. Now, in the second year of Chengwen, the country is so vast, yet heroes are so few and far between."
Gui Yao glanced back at the already packed hall below the stage, and asked Ren Beixi with a straight face, "Since you've already tested his strength, why do you still want to assassinate him? You must be thrown into prison and tortured. I, the wife of a guilty minister, will cry every day."
What I say is sometimes false. Although I won't cry, I am still a little worried.
So Ren Beixi couldn't bear to look at her affectionate eyes, so he reached out to the grapes on the table beside him, wiped them dry and handed them to Guiyao.
"Don't worry, just ask Madam to come to the prison every day."
Guiyao: "What?"
Ren Beixi: "My husband wants to see you."
Gui Yao swallowed a grape and nodded. A sly look flashed beneath her long eyelashes. When she raised her eyes again, only a trace of worry remained: "What if...it doesn't work out?"
Ren Beixi answered all her concerns seriously, and finally, he turned slightly to the side.
"Yaoyao, His Majesty and the Queen are about to arrive."
The light and graceful drum music suddenly changed its style when the bells and drums struck, becoming solemn and majestic, making everyone in the hall sit up straight. When the eunuch shouted, "The emperor has arrived!" everyone knelt to greet him.
"Long live His Majesty!"
I heard another cry of "The Queen is here!"
"Live long, long, long, long, long Queen—"
Sure enough, they were arranged in an orderly manner. Guiyao only knelt on the ground with her skirt hem, her head lowered and she remained silent, showing perfect courtesy.
She vaguely felt someone's gaze resting on her, and she swallowed her breath helplessly. She only thought about kneeling again when she formally met with the Emperor and Empress.
The emperor said in a deep voice: "Stand up."
...What a familiar voice. Gui Yao was held by Ren Beixi's hand and helped to stand up. She lowered her eyes and only sat back in her seat seriously after hearing the eunuch's "Sit down".
She secretly glanced at the palms where her fingers were intertwined with Ren Beixi's, leaned over and asked in a low voice.
"Can you wait until I finish my meal before coming up?"
The man nodded slightly.
Very good, now the food is served.
The emperor really began to introduce in a serious manner that today's solar term was calculated by the national teacher and it was indeed auspicious. I intend to set June 29th of each year as a festival for the people to celebrate. He used this as an announcement, but the atmosphere in the hall was quite calm.
He changed the subject: "By the way, today's banquet is also to congratulate General Ren on his return to Beijing."
Ren Beixi looked straight ahead.
"General Ren has dedicated his life to the country and the people, and his contributions will be remembered for ages. I have long wanted to make him..."
"Give generous rewards."
Gui Yao was only separated from the stage by a hollow screen. She observed with her peripheral vision that the ministers below the stage seemed to be holding their breath and keeping silent. When she looked down closer, she could see that the young official at the front even had sweat dripping from his forehead.
She narrowed her eyes.
The old man in the front clasped his hands and said, "Young General Ren is a role model for our officials. Your Majesty is wise and wise!"
A faint heat came to my ears.
"Prime Minister Qiu."
"Your Majesty is wise!" The audience bowed in unison again.
Gui Yao was close by and seemed to hear the emperor's light mockery. Then he said, "Listen carefully, my friends."
"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims:
I have heard that rewarding meritorious service is a key principle of the emperor. I advise you, General Ren, to attack the north. You are loyal, brave, and composed. When the northern barbarians invaded the border, you personally wore armor and showed your heroic spirit. Moreover, you are the son of a general who was a founding hero. Your family has made great contributions to the country. I now specially promote you to the position of Regent. I am honored!
The emperor smiled and said, "The Prince Regent is like a brother to me. I would like to celebrate this banquet today. If there is no objection, let us begin."
Gui Yao ate another grape, her face calm and her heart steady, as if she was oblivious to what was happening outside the table. However, she suddenly realized that Mr. Qiu in the audience showed no extra emotion when he heard her words. She saw him stand up and kneel in the hall, and his old body bowed slightly.
"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened, and we will obey your orders!" He is worthy of being the head of the court officials, and his command is followed by hundreds of people.
Someone made a mistake.
But Gui Yao thought, isn't this situation also a test result? It's just that the play will be much more difficult to perform. However, no matter how difficult it is, it will not be difficult for Ren Beixi.
It can't get any worse than it is now.
"I don't want to accept it."
Gui Yao suddenly raised her eyes and saw a familiar face walking in from outside the palace gate. She was wearing a red dress and a feather fan. It was the same dress that Jiu Zhong wore when they first met in Chaochun Tower. She was bright and charming. When her peach blossom eyes met his, she saw a trace of distress flash across his expression.
What's wrong?
Guiyao blinked and continued to act like a mushroom on the stage.
Ren Beixi handed the almond milk jelly brought by the maid beside him to Gui Yao and said lightly: "Aren't you going to look up?"
She shook her head vigorously.
The man reluctantly turned his gaze back to Jiuchong in the hall.
Jiuchong held the fan in one hand and put it behind his back: "I refuse to obey."
The officials below the stage took the opportunity to whisper to each other. Some said that they had not seen the Imperial Master attend the banquet for a long time, while others said that the Imperial Master had taken off his mask, and that things were about to change. Some even said, "Why do I remember that the Imperial Master was not so handsome?"
Guiyao pinched her ears.
I mentally gave a thumbs up to the system that responded immediately.
At times like this, it would be fun to be able to read minds.
She took the handkerchief handed to her by Ren Beixi and wiped her mouth, then suddenly looked at him.
Guiyao nodded seriously.
"I'm full."
part2: Assassination.
I only heard the emperor ask in a deep voice.
"What is the Imperial Master's opinion?"
The next second, Ren Beixi, who was sitting upright on the right, suddenly drew his sword. He propped his slender knuckles on the edge of the dragon throne and used his backhand to strangle the emperor's neck.
For a moment, the audience exclaimed in surprise: "Your Majesty! There is an assassin! Protect your Majesty!!"
The ministers were horrified, but then they collapsed to the ground helplessly. An Chao's most skilled general could kill the entire palace with just one sword. They knew that General Ren would be powerless to fight back if he entered the banquet with a sword.
The emperor sighed heavily.
"General Ren, I know ordinary rewards cannot match your achievements, but why do you have to offend me like this?"
Ren Beixi pressed the emperor's shoulder with his left hand, pressing with his knuckles to convey the message, and with his right sword he picked up the imperial edict left by the eunuch in an instant and held it in his hand.
"Your Majesty is truly ill and confused."
The man's fury seemed to roar from the bottom of his throat: "Today's actions are mostly absurd. No one in the court dares to speak out. Isn't it all thanks to Your Majesty!"
Guiyao winked at Kunou who was walking towards her.
Jiuchong fanned himself, pointing the fan forward calmly, and a gust of wind blew across his eyebrows.
"What a show, aren't you ready to watch it?"
“Ignorance is not a crime.”
Jiuchong snorted softly, then used his fan to push Guiyao to the front of the stage. He used the silk from his red dress to strangle Guiyao's wrist and said lightly, "General Ren, you want to show off your strength for your father, but don't forget that your newlywed wife is still in the palace. It would be easy for anyone to hurt her."
"If General Baoqi saw his son committing such a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his clan, it would snow again in the capital." Jiuchong held Guiyao with one hand.
He suddenly tilted his head and lifted her thin chin with one hand.
Guiyao was puzzled.
"Sister Gui finally raised her head."
The emperor squinted his eyes and smiled at her while reciting his lines, and almost put his neck on the knife.
Ren Beixi shouted at him in a deep voice not to move, and pressed his shoulders hard with his hands. His eyes passed through his ear, from the people below the stage, to Gui Yao's stunned gaze.
Everyone was present and the show finally began on stage.
Ren Beixi's sword was steady and sharp, and his figure, much taller than the emperor, was a threat to everyone in the hall. The man had a pair of dark eyes, and his voice was deep: "If it is to seek justice for my father, then what is wrong with me?"
The emperor raised his eyes with forbearance, and twirled the jade ring in his hand anxiously: "Yes, if you have the guts, kill me and restore peace and prosperity to the An Dynasty."
"I don't know what kind of auspicious day today is. I only know that on June 29th, there was heavy snow in the capital, which was a national mourning!" Gui Yao knelt straight on the ground, her slender back looking fragile and stubborn.
"I heard that General Ren secretly led his troops to attack Wuhua City a few days ago, and he almost set it on fire."
"I refuse to accept this."
The nine-fold fan was pressed against her lips.
"Your Majesty cannot recognize this disloyal person."
The palace gates were sealed.
The drums and music stopped beating like a heartbeat, and no one knew when it would stop. The ministers below the stage knelt on the ground. Only the leader, Elder Qiu, stood upright and shouted in a resounding voice: "Ren Beixi, are you trying to force the emperor to abdicate?"
"Today is the anniversary of my father's death. Everyone in An Dynasty knows this. The Ren family has been loyal for generations and should not suffer this humiliation." Ren Beixi became even more powerful.
"You're just trying to force the emperor to abdicate!" Old Qiu was shaking with anger, his palms trembling as he scolded, "Do you know how absurd this move is? How much more will the country and its people be burdened with?"
Guiyao really wants to look back.
He raised his head and signaled Ren Beixi with his eyes, and Ren Beixi signaled Jiuchong with his eyes.
Jiuchong used her fan to cover herself. At the same time, Guiyao spoke calmly, "My dear... I know I can't leave this huge palace today. If there is an afterlife, you and I will definitely be a pair of immortal lovers, not a pair of star-crossed mandarin ducks."
"Don't be so rude!" Jiuchong pushed again, and Guiyao took advantage of the momentum to fall to the side. She bit her lip and turned over, so that she could see the ministers below the stage.
Guiyao stared at Jiuchong.
The lines you made up are disgusting.
Ren Beixi frowned, "I have never let go of your hand, but today, I have no choice but to hold the sword tightly in my hand to save my life. Madam, please don't blame me."
Gui Yao's ears turned red and she couldn't help but stare at the emperor. The emperor could hardly suppress his smile and kept saying in his heart that they were a perfect match and they were worthy of being his good brother and sister-in-law.
Guiyao shook her head.
"Husband, things have come to this point, how can we break the deadlock..."
The sealed palace door suddenly opened. Was it the Imperial Guards? Or... No, that's not right! The men in black were wearing the scabbards of the Ren Family Army's swords around their waists.
The leader entered with his sword drawn in his left hand, his long ponytail swaying slightly behind him as he shouted, "The Ren family has been loyal for generations! General Ren will live forever!"
“Ridiculous… Ridiculous!!”
The young eunuch closest to the door tried to crawl away, but the Ren family soldiers at the end of the team put their swords to his throat.
The palace door slammed shut again.
This time, swords and spears were drawn. The women in the audience dared not move, and the civil officials remained silent while the military officers stood up with red eyes. Elder Qiu was helped up by the officials beside him and shouted, "Your Majesty! I have never heard General Ren intend to rebel! General Ren, it is not easy for the capital to welcome such a monarch now. You must not do this. For the sake of the country and the people, think twice!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Qiu fell to his knees.
Seeing this, the two men behind him also knelt down. Then, perhaps because they saw that General Ren's sword loosened half an inch, all the officials spoke up one after another.
"General Ren, I am a jade-bearing maiden, and have been blessed by the Ren family since childhood. Now the capital can no longer be subjected to war! General, you know best that war harms innocent people and destroys the fate of the nation!"
"Please think twice, General!"
"General, please think twice!"
Ren Beixi lowered his eyes and looked at Jiuchong for half a second, his black eyes deep, and he moved his sword half an inch closer.
"Thirty thousand troops have already set up camp outside the capital."
Far away.
"We have already opened the palace gate!"
Can't get out.
Jiuchong slowly walked down the steps, from the dragon painted on the carpet to the phoenix, and finally turned around and walked in front of the Ren family army, looking back and smiling at Mr. Qiu.
"But it seems that he is not the one who is in charge of the Northern Expedition in the palace."
"Unfaithful person."
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