Before the imperial bed, Zhu Youjian was in a daze, listening to the noise outside.
Wei Zhongxian stood guard by the side as if he were mourning a death.
He even yelled at the civil officials.
"You damned bunch, wasn't it enough that you harmed the late emperor? Now you're plotting against the current emperor?"
Although Wei Zhongxian was by no means a loyal minister, he was well aware that all his wealth and honor came from the emperor himself.
If anything happens to Zhu Youjian, he won't even be able to see the moon tonight.
You can go directly to the underworld to report.
Those who could enter the palace at this time were naturally all important officials in the court.
Upon hearing Wei Zhongxian's words, regardless of their true feelings, they outwardly appeared furious.
"You eunuch, how dare you slander me!"
“We all grew up reading the classics, how could we do something like murdering the emperor?”
"That's right! Where are the Imperial Guards? Seize this eunuch right now!"
Several ministers turned around and glared angrily at Luo Yangxing.
Luo Yangxing was caught in a dilemma.
He was also by Zhu Youjian's side that day and heard Gao Qingyun talk about the future history.
Therefore, he also knew that Zhu Youjian kept Wei Zhongxian around mostly to use the quick blade that Wei Zhongxian had used to kill people.
If Wei Zhongxian were to be removed at this time, it would be against the emperor's wishes.
"But with His Majesty like this, he probably won't live for more than a few days."
"It doesn't seem worth it for me to provoke civil officials for the sake of the emperor!"
Historically, Luo Yangxing first joined Li Zicheng after Zhu Youjian's death, and later joined Dorgon on the side of the Jurchens.
They basically have no morals.
His current thinking reveals his true nature.
Just as Luo Yangxing was hesitating, Wang Chengen strode in.
He knelt before Zhu Youjian's dragon bed and whispered:
"Your Majesty, it seems that Master Gao doesn't have any good ideas either."
"He suggested taking you to the hospital, but... that hospital is probably hundreds of years away."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian finally regained some of his senses.
He wanted to sigh, but he started coughing violently halfway through his sigh.
Wei Zhongxian, Luo Yangxing, and other civil officials, who were a few steps away, suddenly rushed over.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling better?"
Zhu Youjian's gaze swept over these people, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
After being enlightened by Gao Qingyun, he realized that most of these civil officials in front of him were not very trustworthy.
Moreover, even without Gao Qingyun, his brother's illness only worsened after he accidentally fell into the water.
He passed away when he was only in his early twenties.
"This matter is definitely not simple!"
Zhu Youjian asked softly:
"What did the imperial physician say?"
At this point, no one dared to speak.
Zhu Youjian instantly understood that his situation was probably not optimistic.
A murderous intent arose in his heart.
"Who attacked me this time? Wei Zhongxian?"
"It couldn't be him. He wouldn't dare to do that, at least not now."
"Is he a civil official, or a member of the Donglin Party?"
Zhu Youjian stretched out his hand and pointed at Luo Yangxing.
"Where is that little eunuch who took me to the Imperial Garden back then?"
Luo Yangxing knelt down and kowtowed, saying:
"Your Majesty, not long after you were rescued, that eunuch committed suicide out of fear of punishment."
Zhu Youjian subconsciously sneered, but then coughed.
"Uh, cough cough, it seems this was all arranged beforehand."
"That's enough, you may all leave."
Zhu Youjian knew that even if he continued to investigate, he probably wouldn't find anything, so he simply told everyone to leave.
Lai Zongdao, the head of the civil officials, suddenly hesitated and stopped in his tracks.
"Your Majesty, I request that the foundation of the nation be established."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Zhongxian quickly spoke up as well.
"Well, the one who plotted against His Majesty has come forward on his own!"
"It seems you came to Zongdao because you're the mastermind behind it all!"
Lai Zongdao's phrase "establish the foundation of the state" was actually meant to urge Zhu Youjian to quickly establish a crown prince.
The subtext is that Zhu Youjian probably wouldn't live much longer.
If you don't want to cause chaos in the Ming Dynasty after your death, you should hurry up and find a successor.
Although you have no son, our Ming Dynasty is not short of people with the surname Zhu.
Saying such things certainly sounds like the mastermind behind it all.
Zhu Youjian immediately lost his temper.
"Okay, come to Zongdao, cough cough cough."
He had barely finished speaking when Zhu Youjian, in a fit of anger, began to cough violently again.
But he quickly suppressed it.
"Guards, throw Lai Zongdao into prison!"
Lai Zongdao sighed, said nothing, and let the Imperial Guards rush over and take him away.
The other ministers, however, secretly sneered.
After leaving the palace, they gathered together and began to discuss it in hushed tones.
"Heh, that Lai Zongdao is such a fool. At a time like this, he's still thinking about being a loyal minister?"
“This matter originally had nothing to do with him. If he had kept quiet, he could have supported the new emperor after Zhu Youjian died and become a veteran of three reigns.”
"It's a pity he can't control his mouth; he's sure to die before Zhu Youjian!"
These ministers were all members of the Donglin Party.
They were the ones who orchestrated Zhu Youjian's fall into the water.
"But it's all good. With Grand Secretary Lai Zongdao imprisoned, the Emperor is still in bed."
"For now, we're the ones who call the shots in this Ming Dynasty!"
Some people's eyes lit up.
"Let's quickly draft an imperial edict to summon the Prince of Fu's heir to the capital, following the example of Emperor Shizong, and let him inherit the throne!"
The so-called Emperor Shizong is naturally the Jiajing Emperor.
He inherited the throne of Emperor Wuzong of Ming as a prince.
And coincidentally, the death of Emperor Wuzong of Ming was also related to falling into the water.
The news of the emperor falling into the water spread throughout the capital in an instant, and then to all corners of the country.
Shanhaiguan.
"Hmm? The new emperor has suddenly fallen seriously ill?"
"Heh, these civil officials are really something..."
"Forget it, whoever becomes emperor, they'll all have to rely on us to resist the Jurchens, and they'll always benefit from it."
Outside the pass.
"If the young emperor of the Ming Dynasty dies, the Ming court will be shaken, and no one will care about us anymore."
"This is a good time to enter the pass. Our Later Jin has been short of food for the past few years. It's a good opportunity to rob them hard."
southeast.
Many scholars celebrated their newfound official position.
"After the young emperor ascended the throne, he didn't kill Wei Zhongxian directly. No wonder he was betrayed by this eunuch!"
"That's right, Wei Zhongxian must have done this!"
"The Ming Dynasty can only be supported by our Donglin Party."
"By the way, I heard that a new courtesan has recently emerged on the Qinhuai River. Let's hurry over and take a look before the emperor dies and the national mourning begins."
"That's right, that's right, this is a serious matter! How can we scholars write masterpieces and educate the people if we don't frequent brothels?"
Luoyang, the Prince of Fu's Mansion.
"Haha, I knew long ago that the throne of the Ming Dynasty would fall into my hands."
"Regardless of what those civil officials say, I must return to the capital in person!"
"Men, prepare the carriage, and bring all my guards with you."
"Let's go to the capital and inherit the throne!"
The world instantly descended into chaos.
Some are happy, some are sad.
However, Gao Qingyun was completely unaware of this.
"No, what about the students I promised?"
"Can you still send the person to me?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com