At this time, there was chaos in the Qianqing Palace. Emperor Wanli fainted again, making all the slaves tremble.
He was afraid that he would accidentally cause death to himself.
Bi Xinchen, the judge of Taiyuan Hospital, was giving Wanli acupuncture personally. Fortunately, Wanli finally woke up soon after.
Concubine Zheng on the side pulled Bi Xinchen aside and asked softly: "Judge Bi, how is your majesty's condition?"
Bi Xingchen gently wiped the sweat on his forehead and said: "I dare not deceive the imperial concubine. Your Majesty was suffering from severe heart failure. Although it was under control before, your Majesty has been repeatedly stimulated in recent months. , his condition has obviously worsened, and he has fainted many times.”
Seeing Bi Xinchen's hesitant look, Concubine Zheng knew something was wrong, so she said, "If you have anything to say, it doesn't matter what Bi Yuan said. I will definitely keep you safe!"
Bi Xingchen stabilized his mind and said: "Your Majesty's heart failure is no longer treatable by medicine. If we can guarantee that His Majesty will not be irritated, it may be delayed for half a year. If you continue to be irritated like this, Weichen cannot guarantee it." Your Majesty will be able to wake up again next time he faints."
After listening to the imperial doctor's words, Concubine Zheng was stunned on the spot.
It was as if her whole body had suddenly become much older. She had been in the palace for 38 years, and Wanli had pampered her for 38 years.
If Wanli really leaves her one day, then her good days will come to an end.
However, Concubine Zheng has been in the harem for decades and has seen big scenes. The imperial doctor did not issue a "critical illness notice" to Wanli once or twice.
After adjusting her emotions, she said to Bi Xinchen: "Thank you for your hard work, Judge Bi. Your Majesty's condition needs to be kept secret. Don't tell anyone else about it!"
Then he gave Cui Wensheng a look, and soon Cui Wensheng handed 100 taels of gold into Bi Xinchen's hands.
After Bi Xinchen thanked him, he went down to prepare the medicine.
The most important thing right now is to make yourself a queen. As long as you can successfully become the queen, even if Wanli is gone one day, you will have a guarantee in the harem.
Concubine Zheng asked: "What exactly is the 'Queen's Treasure' and why does it appear in the Inspectorate?"
Cui Wensheng said: "Eunuch Chang personally supervised the melting of the treasure seal, and Shang Baojian absolutely did not dare to keep it privately. The servant thought that someone must have bribed Shang Baojian's people and secretly copied the mold. This gold seal must be someone with ulterior motives. Forgery, used to slander the empress."
Cui Wensheng's words made Concubine Zheng fall into deep thought. Now that the Queen is gone, there is still someone who can make trouble in the inner court. She is really careless.
So he asked again: "How is the prince's situation?"
Cui Wensheng said: "Since the death of Queen Wang, the prince has been in fear. It is said that he was seriously ill."
"Don't worry, Madam, our people have been keeping an eye on the prince. He is currently kneeling in front of the Qianqing Palace, waiting to visit His Majesty!"
Hearing that the prince was still at the gate of Qianqing Palace, Concubine Zheng became furious and said, "Don't these damn slaves know that your majesty doesn't want to see the prince?"
"Your Majesty cannot be stimulated at this moment. What is the prince's intention?"
"Could it be that I want to make His Majesty angry to death and ascend the throne early?"
"Tell those slaves that the prince is not allowed to enter Qianqing Palace again unless summoned by His Majesty. Anyone who violates this rule will be killed with a stick."
After Cui Wensheng received the instructions from Concubine Zheng, he came directly to the gate of Qianqing Palace.
He said in his sinister voice: "The Imperial Concubine has an edict. Your Majesty is ill and cannot be stimulated. His Highness the Crown Prince is not allowed to enter without an edict. Anyone who violates this will be punished with a stick."
Then he said to the two young eunuchs at the door: "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you quickly help the prince and take him back to Ciqing Palace."
After hearing Cui Wensheng's words, the two young eunuchs also looked helpless.
If it were in the past, they would naturally look down upon this "grandma doesn't care, aunt doesn't love" the prince, especially Concubine Zheng who is about to be promoted to empress.
But now His Majesty's health is really hard to say. If one day he can't catch his breath, the prince in front of him will be the emperor.
Naturally, they dare not offend both sides!
I had no choice but to walk to the prince, carefully lift up the prince who was kneeling on the ground, and said politely: "Your Majesty, please go back to Ciqing Palace to rest first. Once your Majesty summons you, we will inform the prince as soon as possible."
Soon Prince Zhu Changluo left Qianqing Palace with the support of his eunuch Li Jinzhong.
The last time Li Jinzhong accompanied Zhu Changluo to Qianqing Palace, he was almost killed by Concubine Zheng on an excuse.
Although he had a narrow escape from death, his act of protecting the Lord loyally and bravely was recognized by Zhu Changluo.
Coupled with his prudent work, he gradually gained Zhu Changluo's trust.
At present, Li Jinzhong is responsible for serving Zhu Changluo's favorite Li Xuanshi, and his status in Ciqing Palace is second only to the eunuch Wang An.
And because he had a wide range of friends in the palace, he was not as eye-catching as Wang An, and he often did some shady things for Zhu Changluo.
This is why Zhu Changluo takes him with him.
At this moment, the two of them were already some distance away from Qianqing Palace. Zhu Changluo also changed his previous submissive look, and his eyes became sharp.
He puffed up his chest and said softly: "Have the two craftsmen outside the palace taken care of them?"
Li Jinzhong said: "Prince, please don't worry, we have already sent them on their way!"
Although Zhu Changluo is the prince, he has been living in fear since he was born.
He was disgusted by his father, bullied by Concubine Zheng, and even looked down upon by the slaves below.
But Queen Wang told him before she died: If she still wants to inherit the throne, she must not let Concubine Zheng become the queen.
Originally, he had always thought that his mother-in-law was a virtuous queen who had nothing to do with the world, but the resentful look in Queen Wang's eyes before she died clearly told him that her "separation from the world" was more out of a forced helplessness. She never stopped resenting Concubine Zheng.
So they made a mold using Queen Wang's "Queen's Treasure", and then made a "Queen's Treasure" outside the palace in advance.
Things turned out just as his mother had predicted. His father impatiently made this golden seal for Concubine Zheng in advance.
Then it appeared at the door of the Inspectorate at the most critical moment.
The death of Queen Wang left him with no last resort.
It also greatly stimulated him. Today, Zhu Changluo is no longer the obedient prince he was before.
At this moment, he knew that he was the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty. If he wanted to wear the crown, he must bear its weight!
He is no longer a lamb to the slaughter.
This time he came to Qianqing Palace simply to inquire about his father's condition.
He knew that with Concubine Zheng here, it would be absolutely impossible for him to enter Qianqing Palace.
No imperial doctor would reveal his father's condition to himself, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, but none of this mattered.
Because the attitude of the two young eunuchs at the gate of Qianqing Palace towards him had told him that his father's condition was not optimistic.
If their father's condition was not serious, they would never have been so polite to him despite Concubine Zheng's strict orders.
These slaves are all snobbish, and their disdainful looks are all too familiar to me.
Then he added: "Have you found out how many rats there are in Ciqing Palace?"
Li Jinzhong said: "There are two people who know about it so far, the palace maid Qian'er beside His Highness and the eunuch Zhang Chu of the Dianshan Bureau."
Zhu Changluo took a breath of cold air. This Qian'er has been serving him for three or four years. She is a palace maid that he usually uses very easily. Zhang Chu is also responsible for his own diet. If Concubine Zheng wants to get rid of her, she can directly change her diet. Hands and feet are the most convenient.
Then he said: "Keep an eye on them secretly first, don't alert them yet!"
At this time, Wanli had gradually recovered his energy after being treated by the imperial physician.
His health is deteriorating, his palpitations and chest tightness are getting more and more serious, and he is prone to fainting when he gets excited, which makes him feel that his end is not far away.
Although this was not the first time that he had been on the verge of death, he was really not sure whether he could survive this time.
At present, what he can't let go of the most is naturally the issue of Concubine Zheng's marriage.
Chang Yun knelt on the ground and said: "Your Majesty, this slave is incompetent. A major review has been conducted on Shang Baojian, and several stewards have been beaten to death, but no clues have been found. However, I can guarantee that the one from the Supervisory Office The 'Queen's Treasure' is definitely not the one made under the supervision of Shang Bao, and is most likely a forgery."
Wanli just said calmly: "Get up, it seems that someone wants to prevent me from becoming a queen."
"What day is it today?"
Chang Yun said: "Today is the tenth day of March!"
Now that the hundred-day taboo of Queen Wang has passed, Wanli can naturally issue an edict to canonize the queen.
Originally, Wanli asked the prince to come forward to quell the officials' criticism of Concubine Zheng, just to prepare for the subsequent title of empress.
But now this sudden appearance of the "Queen's Treasure" has become the reason for opposition by civil servants.
Although this reason is very far-fetched, because it was not found in Shangbaojian, and it cannot be proven to have any connection with Concubine Zheng.
It doesn't even prove that this "Queen's Treasure" is real.
But these are not important. The civil servants are actually not interested in the truth behind it. They only need a reason to oppose the establishment of a queen.
Although Wanli decreed that the ceremonial supervisor and eunuch should convene with the three bureaus to hear the case, the case must be concluded within ten days.
But the Ministry of Punishment, Dali Temple and the Supervisory Office are now on the same page, and the word is "procrastination".
As long as the case remains unresolved, they will have reason to oppose Wanli's making Concubine Zheng his queen.
In the end, the case could not be closed.
However, Wanli couldn't wait any longer, and he directly asked the cabinet to draft an edict for the conferment of Concubine Wan Gui.
However, Fang Congzhe and others requested Wanli to postpone the canonization on the grounds that the "Queen's Treasure Case" had not yet been clarified.
So Wanli gave the cabinet another ten days, and ordered all the eunuchs to start making the queen's various dresses and utensils again, and start preparations for the canonization.
Then people began to tidy up Kunning Palace to prepare for Concubine Zheng's arrival.
Ten days passed quickly, and the cabinet still had not concluded the case, and was unwilling to draft an edict to canonize Concubine Zheng.
So Wanli decided not to argue with the cabinet.
Although according to the standard procedure, Wanli should first issue an edict to the cabinet and the Ministry of Rites, requesting the drafting of an imperial edict for the canonization of the queen.
After the Ministry of Rites drafts the edict, it is submitted to the cabinet for review. This process is called "drafting."
Then the cabinet will submit the contents of the "vote plan" to the Supervisor of Ceremonies and Wanli for review.
If the Supervisor of Ceremonies or Wan Li are dissatisfied, they can modify it directly. This process is called "changing the vote", or they can return it to the cabinet and let the cabinet "change the vote" on its own.
In principle, it is first "approved" by the Director of Ceremonies, and then signed by the emperor.
However, at this time, both the eunuch's office and the eunuch's handprint were vacant, so the step of "approving the red" was effectively eliminated, and it was signed directly by the emperor.
The imperial edict signed by the emperor was then sent back to the cabinet. After the cabinet confirmed it, it was handed over to the Yushitai for signing. Finally, it was stamped with a seal, and the edict was publicly promulgated and handed over to specific departments for execution.
Of course, this is just a standard procedure. In fact, there is no "vote draft" from the cabinet, and the emperor can directly issue the decree.
Out of respect for the cabinet, the emperor rarely issued direct edicts.
Because the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty were of one mind, it would be difficult to implement the emperor's decree without the consent of the cabinet.
But now, in order to express his determination to become a queen, Wanli directly issued a decree to canonize Concubine Zheng as queen.
"The imperial concubine Zheng is respectful and dignified, has outstanding talents, and has a virtuous character. She has won my heart. Now, in accordance with the orders of heaven and earth, I appoint Concubine Zheng as the queen to show her virtuous and virtuous virtues and to show the example of the harem."
As my wife, the queen must abide by the ways of women and behave well in the harem.
I hereby canonize the imperial concubine Zheng as the queen, give her a gold book and gold treasures, and enjoy the dignity of the queen. From now on, Zheng will be the queen and inherit the throne. "
Fortunately, Wanli took the risk. Anyway, all the queen's gold books, dresses, and phoenix crowns were made by internal supervision, and the cabinet had no control over them.
He directly ordered the supervisors to re-make these.
In addition, in order to show that Concubine Zheng was a legitimate queen, after simply adjusting the items in Kunning Palace, Concubine Zheng actually moved directly from her Yikun Palace into Kunning Palace to prove her position as the middle palace!
This series of actions by Wanli is tantamount to a showdown with the civil service group. The subtext is: I want to make Concubine Zheng the queen. Regardless of whether your cabinet agrees or not, I will make her queen!
But as expected, Wanli's decree to canonize Concubine Zheng as empress was canceled by the Ministry of Rites.
This is also a rather strange setting of Ming Dynasty.
Although the power of the cabinet is great, even the chief minister of the cabinet does not have the right to return the emperor's imperial edict.
But there is this right in the work of the six departments.
What Wanli is doing now is a bit like cooking rice.
Although the Six Ministries did not agree with his imperial decree, Concubine Zheng, the empress, was unable to hold a formal canonization ceremony.
But Concubine Zheng will soon have everything a queen should have.
Now it is equivalent to Concubine Zheng as a queen who is not recognized by the outer court, but her rights as a queen in the inner court have not been damaged at all, and she has begun to rule the Sixth Palace.
On this matter, the cabinet and Wanli refused to give in to each other, and the relationship was already very tense.
At this time, Li Xianzhong had also returned to the capital, not because of the "controversy" between Wanli and the cabinet, but because Haziya was about to give birth.
Of course, Wanli's worsening condition was also an important reason.
The birth of the child gave him a good excuse.
According to original history, Wanli followed Empress Wang only three months after her death. Naturally, there was no time to make Concubine Zheng his queen.
He only left an edict to make Concubine Zheng the queen and to be buried with him a hundred years later.
However, due to the opposition of the ministers, this wish could not be achieved.
Unexpectedly, Wanli has been holding on for 4 months after the death of Queen Wang, but Concubine Zheng still has not become his queen.
According to the news from Cui Wensheng, Wanli is dying and may pass away at any time.
This means that his biggest backer will soon fall, but Li Xianzhong has nothing to do about it.
Zhu Changluo's clumsy methods were concealed from Chang Yun and the Criminal Department, but not from the Intelligence Department.
If you want others not to know, then you have to do nothing but yourself?
The evidence that "Nine Thousand Years Old" Li Jinzhong murdered people and silenced him has long been submitted to him.
But he had no intention of intervening in this matter, for a simple reason: his backer had always been Wanli, not Concubine Zheng.
Even if Concubine Zheng becomes the queen, it will not do her any good.
Just imagine, what can a queen mother who offends the emperor do?
As long as this "turmoil at the establishment of the Queen" does not end, even if Wanli dies, the Ming Dynasty's harem will not be stable.
At least their attention will be on the harem in a short period of time, so no one will take advantage of Liaodong.
He has been prepared for the worst. Once there are signs of replacing him in the DPRK, Jianzhou and Mongolia will immediately invade the hinterland of Liaodong in the Ming Dynasty.
In this way, the court has to rely on the soldiers and horses in his hands, at least for a short time, he will not be touched again.
Of course, this is just a bad idea. The best thing is to prevent the court from thinking about replacing him. This dangerous idea must be nipped in the cradle.
Therefore, the Intelligence Department has made full preparations in the past few months.
Now, from Fang Congzhe, the chief assistant of the cabinet, to Xiong Tingbi, the minister of the Ministry of War, and the chief officers of the six departments, spies from the Intelligence Department have been placed around many Donglin bosses.
As long as they dare to take advantage of Li Xianzhong, Li Xianzhong will preemptively cause them "accidental death"!
Of course, this is only the worst-case scenario. Judging from the current situation, it will not reach this point.
After all, according to historical trends, after Wanli's death, Mingguangzong Zhu Changluo died within one month.
The "Red Pill Case" and the "Relocation Case" shocked the world. It was impossible for the Ming Dynasty to resolve the turmoil in the harem and the court within a year and a half.
Even if there were some unscrupulous person who wanted to wear small shoes for him, he would send him underground in advance to accompany Emperor Wanli.
However, the tree wants to be quiet but the wind is not stopping. Although Li Xianzhong does not want to participate in this "rebellion turmoil" at the moment, trouble will soon find him.
Now, on the issue of concubine Zheng Guifei's title, Wanli and the civil servant group refused to give in to each other, which has formed a deadlock.
Then we need to use other forces to break the balance.
When Li Xianzhong succeeded Ning Yuanbo, all the nobles and powerful forces came forward to support Wanli.
At this time, Zheng Yangxing naturally thought of these brothers in the honorable circle.
Soon he set up a banquet in Tianshan's human world and entertained a group of dignitaries in the capital, including himself, Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Cheng, and Zhang Zhiji, the son of the British Duke.
However, everyone was in a dilemma at this time. When they supported Li Xianzhong, their opponent was only the Donglin Party.
But now if you support Concubine Zheng to be crowned queen, you will not only offend the entire Ming Dynasty's civil servant group, but also offend the future emperor of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Changluo.
Although Wanli's condition is tightly sealed, these people still know a little bit about the inside story. Once His Majesty passes away, your Zheng family will be nothing.
At this time, to support Concubine Zheng to be crowned queen, it would be like having water in your head, and you probably need boiling water.
Zhang Zhiji said that he could not be his father's boss, but Zhu Chunchen said that this was His Majesty's family matter and they, the ministers, should not interfere.
In short, no one agreed to take action after a lot of push-back.
Li Xianzhong didn't say that he wouldn't take action, but when people started to contribute to this kind of thing, he said that he was helpless on his own!
Zheng Yangxing had no choice but to tell Concubine Zheng the news.
Concubine Zheng was furious after hearing this.
Now Wanli's health is getting worse day by day, and those civil servants are playing rogue tricks with him, delaying time indefinitely.
But time is not good for me.
As long as the civil servants and Zhu Changluo drag on, the new emperor will ascend the throne sooner or later.
But if she drags on, if Emperor Wanli dies, the civil servants will definitely not acknowledge her as the queen.
Cui Wensheng said at this time: "Empress, I think the biggest obstacle to this matter is not the civil officials, but the one from Ciqing Palace?"
Seeing Cui Wensheng wipe her neck, Concubine Zheng was still a little hesitant.
It wasn't that she didn't dare to assassinate the prince, she had already done it once many years ago.
It's just that this Cui Wensheng messed up the matter last time. The previous "Strike Case" almost killed him. It was Wanli who personally came forward to barely appease the minister and didn't involve himself.
Concubine Zheng said: "Are you not sure at all?"
"This kind of thing is no joke, don't do it like last time!"
Cui Wensheng said: "Don't worry, Queen, our people have been lurking in Ciqing Palace for a long time, and they are absolutely safe. Moreover, their families are all in the hands of slaves. Even if they are captured accidentally, they will not dare to involve us."
Prince Zhu Changluo's sleep was not good, and he had the habit of eating midnight snacks to relieve his shock after waking up.
Soon the palace maid Qianer who was in charge of serving the prince brought a bowl of Yuanxiao.
Zhu Changluo was interrupted by Li Jinzhong just as he was about to eat.
When Zhu Changluo saw Li Jinzhong come in, he sent Qian'er away.
Li Jinzhong said in a low voice: "Your Highness, someone from Kunning Palace has contacted Zhang Chu today, and I suspect that there is something wrong with this bowl of Yuanxiao."
Zhu Changluo recalled that Qian'er's eyes were somewhat panicked just now.
Soon the palace maid Qian'er and the eunuch Zhang Chu of the Dianshan Bureau were arrested, but both of them insisted that they knew nothing.
Even though they were severely punished, the two still refused to confess.
Just when Li Jinzhong was thinking about how to get the two slaves to speak, he found that they had been poisoned and died.
It was obvious that these two people had taken the poison in advance. If the matter was completed, they would definitely be silenced when they went to receive the antidote.
If things go wrong like this, then there will be no evidence.
Just as Li Jin Zhongfeichang regretfully reported to the prince, Zhu Changluo said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, even if there are only two corpses and this bowl of poisonous Yuanxiao, it is enough for us!"
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(End of chapter)
