Zhaoshu. Chronicle of Emperor Gaozong.
Emperor Gaozong, also known as Emperor Shenzhen Dasheng Daguangxiao (also known as Emperor Taizu's father), was the only son of Emperor Taizu. In the twelfth month of the 33rd year of the Mingxi reign, Emperor Gaozong died while still alive. Emperor Taizu wept bitterly, his love for his son moving heaven and earth. Heaven returned Emperor Gaozong to life.
Emperor Taizu loved him especially. Emperor Gaozong was intelligent, respectful and studious, and was truly a man of natural talent.
When he was three years old, he proclaimed himself emperor, and Emperor Taizu praised him.
At the age of four, he was in charge of government affairs and commanded all officials.
When he was five years old, Emperor Taizu passed away...
The treacherous Ying Cheng conspired with the cabinet and in three days he jumped from the fourth rank to the first rank and held an official position in the cabinet.
He abused his power to seize the throne and deceived the emperor. Emperor Gaozong was young and was deeply afraid of him.
Unable to sleep at night, on the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month of the same year, flatterers threatened the young emperor in the court.
Gaozong was so frightened that he threw his crown to the ground, ran out of the Xuanzheng Hall, and cried to the Empress Dowager.
When the Taimu heard this, she was furious and issued an imperial decree, but everyone around her was silent and afraid of her.
The Taimu was shocked and took the young emperor to cry in front of the spirit of Emperor Taizu, and all the officials bowed down.
That night, a riot broke out in the capital.
Ying Cheng's legs were trampled into mud by the panicked officials and both legs were broken. After being carried back to the mansion, the doctor told him that he would have to live on crutches for the rest of his life.
Ying Cheng was naturally filled with hatred, but he also knew that today the Empress Dowager had only dismissed him from his official position and wanted to imprison him.
It seemed that he had no intention of taking his life, but Ying Cheng did not dare to gamble.
The few charges in the Empress Dowager's edict were, at best, punishable by imprisonment.
If it is serious, it means that nine generations of the family will be punished.
Ying Cheng endured the pain, called his wives, and said to them, "You can leave the capital today. I have ordered the carriage to be prepared."
Ying Cheng's wife said nothing, looking angry.
She is a noble lady from a prominent family and grew up in the capital. How could she leave so easily?
Moreover, these days all the noble ladies were fawning over her, making her feel ecstatic.
Ying Cheng looked at her deeply. As he was about to die, he figured out many things.
Now that he has become a disabled person and has been demoted by the Empress Dowager herself, the aristocratic families will no longer give him any help.
Whether he can survive depends on the little emperor's intention.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sneer. He didn't expect that the little emperor's kindness, which he had always despised, would become his only hope of survival.
"Madam, if you don't leave tonight, you will become a prisoner with me." The news in the capital had not yet spread. When Ying Cheng's wife saw him being carried back, she thought he was beaten by the little emperor again.
He is just a little kid, and it's no big deal if he gets beaten a few times, but he can stand at the pinnacle of power.
With this in mind, she was reluctant to give up the wealth and splendor of the capital, but who knew Ying Cheng would say such words.
She wanted to ask what happened, but Ying Cheng closed his eyes and ignored her.
The feeling of having bones crushed was not pleasant. After arranging everything, Ying Cheng felt relieved and fell asleep despite the pain.
"Kill—kill—" The sounds of fighting and weapons clashing were like ping-pong.
Ying Cheng dragged his broken leg and rolled under the bed. Did the palace send secret guards to silence him?
Such a sentence flashed through his mind subconsciously, but he denied it the next moment.
Now he is like a salted fish on the chopping board. The Queen Mother has made a vicious plan to make it impossible for him to turn over.
The palace will no longer bother with a useless person like him.
Where is that sound coming from? Why does it sound so close?
In the dark night, Ying Cheng put his broken leg back in place. It was such a simple action that he almost fainted when he tried to do it now.
"Baifu--" He hid under the bed and called the housekeeper of the mansion carefully.
This is his confidant, who always guards outside his house.
There was no response at all. The night was as dark as a big mouth, ready to swallow up those in the darkness at any time.
Ying Cheng felt a chill in his heart.
He swallowed and dared not speak anymore. He just curled up under the bed, waiting for dawn.
The firelight approached and the chaotic footsteps stopped in front of the door.
He heard these people speaking in a jumbled voice, as if they hadn't spoken in a long time, their voices terribly hoarse: "Is this the place?"
"Where's the old bastard?"
"Burn him!"
The tone of voice was as cold as that of a wild beast, like a thorn in the flesh, causing Ying Cheng to even slow down his breathing.
Who on earth broke into his mansion without permission? Where are the guards in the capital? Did they just sit there and do nothing?
These people are all important officials in the court, why is there no sound at all!
Boundless fear spread in his heart, and he actually realized that today's abnormality must be related to the little emperor.
"Ah!" A painful scream pierced the darkness. Ying Cheng recognized it as the voice of the housekeeper in the mansion.
Those people with strange intonations were mumbling something: "Where is that bastard? If you don't tell me, I'll roast you and eat you."
"Ah, don't eat me, the master is here!" The manager of Ying Mansion screamed in response with his legs shaking and his lips trembling.
"You're a liar." As soon as he finished speaking, someone hit him with a hoe.
Suddenly, blood splattered and brain matter spilled everywhere.
A living person just lost his breath, and the next moment, the door was kicked open.
The limp body of the confidant was thrown to the ground by them. Ying Cheng heard their sinister voices: "We found you."
The vague and sticky words sounded like someone who hadn't spoken in hundreds of years.
Before he could think, he was pulled out from under the bed.
The two bandaged legs were shaking around, drawing a little blood on the white gauze.
Ying Cheng was sweating profusely from the pain, gasping for air. He instinctively said, "Good man, I have a little money at home. Let me go and I'll give it all to you. I won't pursue your whereabouts. You made such a loud noise, and there are important officials around here. The soldiers will come to arrest you soon."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com