Queen Ma squeezed Lao Zhu's hand as hard as she could and closed her eyes.
There were loud cries inside and outside the house.
Lao Zhu was shaking all over. It was extremely sad, but he couldn't vent it and his body couldn't bear it.
Zhu Bai felt some sympathy for Lao Zhu. Although Lao Zhugui is the most respected person in the Ninth Five-Year Plan, he has three major tragedies in life: losing his father when he was young, losing his spouse in middle age, and losing his son in old age.
He now has two. If Zhu Biao dies early, he will have all three.
Lao Zhu ordered the country to mourn for one month, and the world was in mourning. The vassal kings are not allowed to move, and they can just kowtow and pay homage to Queen Ma in place.
The feudal princes each wrote a memorial and sent people to deliver it quickly.
Writers from the Ministry of Rites read the poem one by one in front of Queen Ma's tomb.
These eulogies are so sincere and can make people cry when they read them.
Even Zhu Fan took out his literary talents that he had not used for a long time and wrote a good article.
It can be seen that the feudal princes still have some true feelings for Queen Ma.
As Empress Ma's foster sister, Guo Huifei had always had a good relationship with her, but she was so sad that she couldn't manage daily affairs at all.
So on the surface it was Concubine Guo Hui who was in charge of the harem, but in fact it was Concubine Li Shu who was organizing these things.
Concubine Li Shu took care of Queen Ma's funeral affairs in a graceful manner, and the harem was also in order.
Now that Queen Ma is gone, she is the oldest and highest-ranking concubine in the palace.
She took charge, and no one had any objections.
Lao Zhu sat alone beside the bed where Queen Ma slept in Kunning Palace, with the door closed, ignoring anyone, and not eating or drinking.
At Liu Bowen's suggestion, Zhu Biao dressed in mourning clothes and placed a small chair next to Old Zhu Long's chair to go to court instead of Old Zhu.
At this moment, Zhu Bai had no interest in caring about Liu Bowen's intentions.
He was so worried that Lao Zhu would be too sad and call it quits early.
According to Zhu Biao's current ability, he simply cannot govern alone.
When the world is in chaos, he will have no good fruits to eat.
After all, he doesn't have enough troops at his side now, so he still has to rely on Lao Zhu for protection.
Zhu Bai and Concubine Hu Shun called to Lao Zhu in a low voice at the door: "Master, don't be too sad. Take care of yourself."
There was no sound inside.
Zhu Bai added: "Sir, even if you don't care about us, you still have to eat something for the sake of my eldest brother. The Ming Dynasty can't live without you, and the people can't live without you. If you do this, my mother and queen will be unhappy in heaven." "
The door finally opened a crack, Zhu Bai hurriedly went in and supported Lao Zhu.
Concubine Hu Shun put the porridge in her hand on the table and stood aside without making a sound.
In just a few days, Lao Zhu's hair turned half gray.
Concubine Hu Shun looked sad and quietly turned her head and wiped the corners of her eyes.
Lao Zhu raised his dull eyes and looked at Zhu Bai: "Lao Twelve. Your mother is gone."
Zhu Bai felt uncomfortable and stepped forward to hug Lao Zhu.
Lao Zhu nestled in Zhu Bai's arms, crying like a child: "How come our relatives all left before us one by one. They are so cruel, leaving me alone in this world."
Zhu Bai patted him gently: "Master, don't you still have me, your eldest brother, and dozens of children. We are all your relatives."
Concubine Hu Shun lowered her head and wiped her tears.
She has been deliberately reducing her presence in the harem. I shouldn't have come at this time.
But she wasn't hard-hearted. Seeing such an arrogant, domineering and decisive man become like this, how could she not bear to leave him alone.
No matter what purpose Lao Zhu had for trapping her in the palace in the first place, he was still her husband.
The sun is shining brightly outside.
This world, no matter who is taken away, will run indifferently and calmly according to its original rhythm.
-----
At night, Lao Zhu lay alone in Qianqing Palace, feeling extremely cold when sleeping alone.
Even though there was a thick cotton mattress underneath and two or three layers of brocade quilts covering the top, I still felt cold.
In the past, when Queen Ma was here, he would not necessarily spend the night at Queen Ma's place. He would always go to various concubines to have fun, because he knew that no matter how he misbehaved, Queen Ma would be waiting for him in Kunning Palace.
Now that Queen Ma is gone, he doesn't want to go to any of the concubines, just like a child without its mother who doesn't dare to leave home easily.
Someone knocked lightly on the door.
Lao Zhu said: "Who."
Concubine Li Shu's voice came from outside: "The emperor is my concubine, and I am here to accompany the emperor."
Lao Zhu immediately sat up: "Come in."
Concubine Li Shu, her hair disheveled and plainly dressed, walked in elegantly, sat on the edge of the bed, and said softly: "I am a little scared to be alone at night. Your Majesty, can you sleep with me?"
Lao Zhu lay down and said, "You are such a troublesome woman."
Concubine Li Shu lay down next to him and hugged him.
Lao Zhu's tears burst out of his eyes for no apparent reason, and his body was no longer cold.
He closed his eyes and fell into sleep.
When he woke up in the morning, he found that Concubine Li Shu was not there, so he asked the palace servant, "Where is Concubine Li Shu?"
The palace servant said: "After the emperor fell asleep, the empress left. She said she was afraid of disturbing your sleep."
Lao Zhu said with an empty heart: "What is this woman running around for? Didn't she say that she is afraid of being alone? According to our decree, let her sleep here starting from tonight."
Mu Ying was so sad that she coughed up blood when her adoptive mother, Queen Ma, died of illness, but she could not come back to attend the funeral.
Because Lao Zhu said that all the vassal kings and generals were not allowed to move, and they were not allowed to come back for the funeral.
Lao Zhu originally wanted Zhu Bai to become a vassal, but he postponed it.
He really needs a relative by his side who knows both coldness and warmth.
Zhu Biao was too busy to accompany him all the time.
All the decision-making burden suddenly fell on Zhu Biao's shoulders, and he was both excited and anxious.
After all, every decision is related to the Ming Dynasty, the country, and the well-being of the people.
He urgently needs someone who is disinterested and wise enough to serve as his adviser.
But if you look at those around you, you will see that they are either stupid and loyal and not bright-minded, or they are too cunning and have too many small thoughts.
Only Liu Bowen has always been loyal and honest.
So he transferred Liu Bowen out of the main hall and gave him a seventh-grade official position as a supervisory censor.
Although he is only a seventh-rank official, he has the right to go to court to discuss matters.
In fact, for more than a year, Lao Zhu had been asking people from the pro-military captain to stare at Liu Bowen to see if he was begging for a response and wanted to interfere with Zhu Biao again like before.
As a result, Liu Bowen really looked like an old master. Apart from going to the main hall to attend classes, he would go home to sleep and read.
Even when Wu Bozong came to visit him, he avoided seeing him.
Not to mention discussing government affairs with anyone.
Liu Bowen put on his seventh-grade official uniform again and stood in the hall, which made other officials sigh.
An Ran felt very unhappy: I finally managed to survive as the first brother Yan Guan, but you, a man who is about to die, come here to steal my job by pretending to be a corpse? ! !
Liu Bowen seemed to know his situation and didn't say a word the whole morning.
Everyone thought he might be asleep.
After the court was over, Zhu Biao called him to the imperial study: "Master, what do you think of what was reported today?"
Liu Bowen said: "Your Highness handled the matter very well, and the ministers have no objections."
Zhu Biao pursed his lips.
Liu Bowen hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, it's time to take back the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department."
Zhu Biao, it’s time for you to take action against Zhu Bai.
Lao Zhu has handed over power to you, what are you waiting for?
