Except for Shi Hongzhao, who had already left the palace, the three people in Nuan Pavilion who were selected by the imperial edict went to the Long Live Hall to meet the saint.
As night fell, palace lanterns were lit everywhere in the empty inner court, but the road under Guo Wei's feet was still very dim. However, he has become familiar with this road in the past few months. Every red wall, every inch of steps, halls and corridors near and far... everything here is no longer unfamiliar to him.
The inner court was very cold after nightfall, but Guo Wei's heart was very hot. As he walked forward, he observed the shadows of the surrounding buildings in the night - large and small pavilions, palaces, palaces and pavilions, as well as the many guards, eunuchs and maids among them, all of which were just for the sake of the people in the Long Live Palace. That one owns. Now, this unique power is being shaken.
Power can bring everything to people, but it cannot bring eternal life. Starting from Zulong, how many official saints have spent endless manpower and property in the vain hope of immortality, but even one can escape the mortal body and truly enjoy power forever?
However, Guo Wei couldn't help but feel sad in his heart when he thought that the official business had not even been completed for a full year and it had reached this point now.
The four of them walked all the way to the steps of Long Live Hall in silence. Yang Bin suddenly stopped and turned to Guo Wei and Su Fengji. "In these troubled times, I am a minister of the Han family and we must work together to help each other."
Yang Bin's sudden appearance surprised the two of them, but when they came to their senses, Yang Bin had already turned around and climbed up the steps.
Guo Wei glanced at Su Fengji calmly, but saw that Su Fengji seemed not to have heard anything, and just looked at the three strong regular script characters of "Long Live Hall" on the plaque of the main hall.
When the eunuch on duty outside the palace door saw the four people coming up, he moved the door very slightly without making the slightest sound.
The three of them did not rush in, but stood silently in front of the hall waiting for the announcement inside.
It didn't take long for an echo to come from the palace, but it was not the Liu Zhiyuan that Guo Wei was familiar with, but a voice that sounded very young and vaguely erratic: "Let Yang Bing and others come in."
When Guo Wei heard this, his heart moved: King Zhou was also among them.
On the left are Yang Bin and Guo Wei, and on the right is Su Fengji. The three of them entered the palace gate one after another.
The Long Live Hall is not big, not as big as the halls outside the palace where ministers are summoned, but it is not too small either. There is a large couch deep in the hall, separated from the outside by a bead curtain. Sitting pillars have been set up for several people in front of the bead curtain. A three-legged incense burner is placed between the four large pillars on both sides. At this moment, misty smoke is emitting from it.
After the three people entered the palace and bowed, the voice they heard outside the palace came out from behind the bead curtain: "Your Majesty, please excuse me."
It is indeed the King of Zhou! Guo Wei heard this clearly and boldly looked behind the bead curtain, vaguely seeing a person standing beside the couch behind the bead curtain. The situation on the couch was even more blurry and unclear.
The three of them sat down as instructed and remained silent for a while.
Fortunately, the silence did not last long, and Liu Chengyou from behind the curtain spoke again: "Didn't Taiwei Shi come with all of you?"
Yang Bing replied: "Shi Hongzhao, on His Majesty's order, is in charge of supervising the imperial army in the Guards Department. I have sent someone to invite him."
There was no response from inside the curtain, and after another period of silence, the beaded curtain was gently opened, revealing Liu Chengyou's figure.
After Liu Chengyou came out, he stood aside with his hands down, and then the voice that made Guo Wei nostalgic finally came from behind the curtain: "I have a weak breath, and I can't say much anymore. I feel that my time is running out, and now I have summoned you... and what I have done is the same." Posthumous matters."
Liu Zhiyuan's tone was long and soft, no longer as steady and enterprising as before, which made Guo Wei feel very strange. He even had a strange feeling: Liu Zhiyuan was no longer here, and the sounds in his ears did not come from the palace, but seemed to be coming from a distant place.
As soon as the words behind the curtain fell, Su Fengji knelt down first, and Guo Wei also knelt down along with Yang Bin: "I respectfully listen to the holy will."
"You are all former ministers of Hedong. We have known each other for a long time, and the friendship between monarch and minister is beyond words. The previous dynasty was held hostage by the Khitans, and Privy Yang and others suggested that Yu Jian's title should be ascended to disappoint people. Unexpectedly, things are unpredictable, but..."
Before Liu Zhiyuan finished speaking, a violent dry cough came from behind the curtain. Liu Chengyou quickly pushed open the curtain and turned around to serve.
At this time, Guo Wei noticed that half of Yang Bin's buttocks in front of him had leaned forward and away from the pier. Then Guo Wei looked slightly sideways at Su Fengji, and saw that Su Fengji was still sitting peacefully, but there was a sad look on his face, and suddenly he seemed to be feeling Catching Guo Wei's gaze, he suddenly turned around and stared at him. Guo Wei was caught off guard and met Su Fengji's gaze. The two looked at each other, then quickly lowered their heads in unison.
The coughing behind the curtain continued for a while before it stopped. Liu Zhiyuan's voice came out again, but it was not to the people outside the curtain.
"My son, please keep in mind that this dynasty was founded in a primitive way and is still in its infancy. After the great success, all matters in the court must be listened to by several ministers before they can be implemented."
This was considered a complete entrustment of the funeral affairs. Yang Bin immediately exclaimed: "I am so virtuous and capable, but I can be trusted by your majesty!"
Su Fengji choked up and said, not knowing whether it was true or not: "I have devoted my whole life to share your worries for Your Majesty, and I hope that Your Majesty will take care of the holy body."
"You are waiting here, I feel very at ease." After a while, Liu Zhiyuan's voice was already very labored: "The rest of the words are in the hands of King Zhou."
When he came out again, Liu Chengyou's face was filled with sadness.
Liu Chengyou took out a silk book that had been written for a long time from his sleeve and read slowly: "The laws of heaven are constant, and it is hard to violate human principles. I have a poor moral character. It has been less than a year since I won the country. The king of Wei has left early, and Weizhou and Guan The West has rebelled one after another, and is almost unable to save itself... People say that you never die in your fifties. Now I should have no regrets and no more self-inflicted wounds, but there are still many things to think about... There are three concerns, one is Guanxi The territory is difficult to control, and if the border commanders stay for a long time, they will become rebellious, so the court should start a strategy as soon as possible; secondly, although the Khitan has gone north, it is difficult to give up its barbarian ambitions. Only by regaining the land of Youyan abandoned by the previous dynasty can it be saved. No worries; the third is that the southern countries are in chaos. If the four directions are stable, they should mobilize their troops to attack and advance, and then in order to achieve the great cause of the Han family... The king of Zhou is still young, so he chose four people, Yang Bin, Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao, and Guo Wei, to assist him."
Perhaps Liu Chengyou was too young, and his voice was far less majestic than Liu Zhiyuan's. It was even a bit slender, which did not go well with such a thick language. However, Liu Chengyou started to sob intermittently after reading a few words, which changed the atmosphere in the hall even more. Very sad.
After reading it, Liu Chengyou bowed respectfully to the three people sitting here: "For this plan, I hope you will continue to uphold it."
The three of them quickly stood up and bowed their hands towards Liu Chengyou in return. Su Fengji took the lead and said, "I have been deeply favored by the emperor, and this is what I should do."
"As soon as the imperial edict is in the hands of the queen, I have exhausted all my strength. What happens to my family in the future is up to you." A faint breath came from behind the curtain for the last time, "The King of Zhou is weak, and all his funeral affairs... are entrusted to your descendants. ”
