The cold night was long, and the entire Lin'an Palace was shrouded in desolation and darkness. The Kunning Palace was brightly lit, with blazing braziers, making it warm and comfortable.
Queen Yang Guizhi was sitting on a chair, her face was haggard and her face was as heavy as water. And her two nephews, Yang Gu and Yang Shi, were surrounding her, whispering to their aunt.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call her the Queen Mother now. Because Song Dynasty is about to launch a new talker.
"Aunt, the situation is forcing a gentleman not to build a dangerous wall. Aunt, please don't insist. My nephew, please!"
Yang Gu bowed his head and begged.
"You are speaking lightly. The prince was appointed by the late emperor. How dare he change his position?"
Yang Guizhi said coldly and couldn't help but yawned.
A man in his sixties was woken up in the middle of the night. He was exhausted and felt very angry.
As for Zhao Kuo's death, she had already been mentally prepared and was not very sad.
"Aunt, on the day the prince was appointed, my aunt and Zhao Hong had a big quarrel and broke up. If Zhao Hong ascends the throne, the Yang family will inevitably be suppressed. Are you really willing to see all this?"
"Auntie, don't forget, Zhao Hong divorced the Wu family. He wanted to promote the Imperial City Secretary, but auntie rejected him! Can he not hold a grudge?"
Yang Gu and Yang Shi stood by to persuade him.
Since the death of their father Yang Cishan in the twelfth year of Jiading, the Yang family has been in decline. The two brothers have relied on Shi Miyuan and become the mouthpieces between Yang Guizhi and Shi Miyuan to convey news.
Especially this time, Shi Miyuan promised to make the two of them county kings after the incident was completed. Under the glory, wealth, and generous reward, the two of them were naturally willing to work together.
"In the Song Dynasty, we governed the country with filial piety. Even if Zhao Hong became the emperor, I would also be the queen mother. What can he do to me? Does he dare to kill his mother and torture her, making the world laugh at her?"
The disdain in Yang Guizhi's voice can also be seen in his eyes.
The Song Dynasty governed the country with filial piety, and the dynasty was filled with scholar-bureaucrats. What could Zhao Hong do to himself?
If he insists on going his own way and going against himself, it's unless he doesn't want to be the emperor anymore.
"Auntie, Zhao Hong spreads rumors about my aunt outside, and because Wu blames her for promoting the Imperial City Secretary, he hates my aunt even more. He dares to even divorce Wu, will he take his aunt seriously? ?”
Yang Gu fanned the flames and was secretly worried.
It's almost dawn, but my aunt still hasn't expressed her opinion, which makes me really anxious.
"Aunt, when Zhao Hong ascends the throne, he will definitely deal with Shi Miyuan. To deal with Shi Miyuan, he will have to sideline aunt. In this way, the rift between aunt and Zhao Hong will become deeper, and Zhao Hong will also suppress the Yang family to prevent his relatives from interfering in politics. Aunt Don’t you think about the Yang family?”
Yang Gu said slowly, and his words hit Yang Guizhi's weakness.
Yang Guizhi was silent for a moment, glanced at his two nephews, and then spoke.
"Abolish the crown prince and establish a new emperor. Have you ever thought about it? Once things fail, it will be a heinous crime and will implicate the nine clans."
These two prodigal sons are extravagant and lively, and neither of them makes anyone worry.
In the middle of the night, they worked tirelessly and spent their time on their own. Two little old men over fifty years old were not afraid that their bodies would not be able to hold on.
"Auntie, now the palace has been completely sealed. The Forbidden Army is surrounded like an iron barrel, and Zhao Hong is still in the dark. The court is controlled by Shi Xiang, and the Forbidden Army is controlled by Xia Zhen. As long as Auntie nods, everything is under control. !”
Seeing that his aunt was already moved, Yang Shi whispered to reassure Yang Guizhi.
"Auntie, wasn't it easy to execute the imperial edict and kill Han Kanzhou back then? Zhao Hong was just a prince and had no power. Isn't he better than Han Kan..."
Yang Gu's words pointed directly to the past, but Yang Guizhi interrupted sharply.
"Shut up! What nonsense!"
Yang Guizhi stood up, his face ashen.
Those old things are also forbidden secrets, they are all her privacy, how can they be brought up so easily.
"My nephew is rebellious, my aunt forgives me."
Yang Gu quickly apologized to Yang Guizhi and continued to speak.
"Auntie, establish a new king. Prime Minister Shi has already made up his mind. The arrow is on the string and he has to shoot. The soldiers and civilians inside and outside the palace have all returned to their hearts. If you still don't agree, disaster will happen. When the time comes, Shi Miyuan will be angry, and the Yang family will , I’m afraid no one can survive!”
"Aunt, if Zhao Guicheng ascends the throne, he will be grateful to his aunt for supporting him. The Yang family is full of wealth. If Zhao Hong ascends the throne, with his resentment towards his aunt, will my aunt and the Yang family live a good life?"
After Yang Shi finished speaking, he knelt down with Yang Gu and begged.
"Auntie, please, please save Yang's family!"
"Auntie, please! Please help the Yang family just once!"
The Yang brothers begged, and Queen Yang frowned slightly, walked to the window, and looked at the night sky outside in trance.
Occasionally there are fireworks shining in the sky, brilliant and gorgeous.
The twelfth lunar month is about to enter, and the people of Lin'an are already eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the New Year.
Through the thick night cover, it seems that the East Palace where Zhao Hong is located can be seen. It was silent there, and I didn't know what Zhao Hong was doing.
Zhao Hong, the crown prince of the Song Dynasty, is unpredictable and even a little scary compared to Emperor Qin, Han Wu, Emperor Tang and Song Zu. He has done so many things, he won't sit still and wait for death, right?
Yang Guizhi's heart trembled inexplicably.
Yang Guizhi composed himself and remained silent for a while, then turned his head, sat down on the chair again, and sighed.
"The ministers won't object, right?"
"Auntie, don't worry. With the Prime Minister and the Imperial Guard here, as well as the late emperor's edict, the virtuous and virtuous Wei Weng will not be able to make trouble."
"The late emperor's edict?"
Yang Gu's answer made Yang Guizhi sneer and look at the air in front of him in trance.
What nonsense is the late emperor's edict? It must be a false edict.
"Auntie, don't think about it! It's almost dawn, and the ministers are about to enter the palace!"
Seeing Yang Guizhi's move, Yang Gu quickly stepped forward and cautiously persuaded her.
With her aunt's usual strength and desire for control, I believe she will make a choice that is more beneficial to herself.
"Auntie, for the sake of the future of the Yang family, don't hesitate!"
My nephew Yang Shi knelt down and kowtowed, also pleading hard.
At this time, we can no longer hesitate.
"Zhao Guicheng, where is he now?"
Sure enough, Yang Guizhi turned around and finally spoke, although her voice was a little jerky.
Her fate cannot be pinned on others.
To be more precise, she couldn't leave her fate to Zhao Hong, a person with ulterior motives.
"Auntie, Zhao Guicheng is outside, I'll call him in right away!"
With a smile on his face, Yang Gu climbed up shakily and ran out.
"Get up too, and stop pretending. You're over fifty, can your knees hold up?"
Yang Guizhi glanced at Yang Shi who was kneeling on the ground and said softly.
"Thank you, aunt!"
Yang Shi chuckled, rubbed his knees and got up.
Zhao Yun walked in step by step, bowed respectfully, knelt in front of Queen Yang's chair, lowered his head to the ground, and said in a trembling voice:
"I pay my respects to the Queen!"
Yang Guizhi looked at Zhao Guicheng for a moment, until Zhao Guicheng was startled and doubtful, then he sighed, lowered his body, and patted Zhao Guicheng's back gently.
"Zhao Guicheng, from now on, you are my son."
Can this Zhao Guicheng shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Song Dynasty?
Compared with Zhao Hong's calmness, competence, talent, etc., this Zhao Guicheng is much inferior and does not seem to have achieved anything.
Shi Miyuan supported Zhao Guicheng's ascension to the throne, and the political power of the Song Dynasty was controlled by Shi Miyuan again, and it became even stronger. I don’t know, is this a blessing or a curse?
"My son, I pay my respects to the empress!"
Zhao Guicheng kowtowed again, his voice trembling slightly.
With Empress Yang's nod and Shi Miyuan strategizing, it seems that he belongs to the official position of the Song Dynasty.
"Get up. Go to Funing Hall, Prime Minister Shi has his own arrangements."
Yang Guizhi nodded lightly, Zhao Guicheng stood up, respectfully excused himself and left.
"You two should also take a nap for a while. Wait until dawn to go to court, but you will be busy."
There was indescribable loneliness in Yang Guizhi's voice.
The arrow is on the string and must be fired. For herself and the Yang family, does she have a choice?
"Don't block me, let me in!"
Yang Yi's voice came from outside, and Yang Guizhi couldn't help but frown.
"Cuizhu, let her in!"
As soon as Yang Guizhi finished speaking, Yang Yi had already rushed in.
"Auntie, eldest brother, second brother, what are you doing? The official family is prosperous, are you planning to usurp the throne?"
Yang Yi's face turned red, and his eyes were full of anger.
At midnight, people were coming and going in Kunning Palace, which had already alarmed her. Zhao Guicheng, Yang Gu, Yang Shi, Zheng Qingzhi and others came to gather one after another. She and the palace people made some insinuations and understood eighty-nine points in an instant.
The powerful prime minister Shi Miyuan and his aunt, the current queen Yang Guizhi, actually wanted to join forces to depose Zhao Hong and push the big-headed heir of King Yi, Zhao Guicheng, to the throne!
Zhao Hong is already the prince of the current dynasty. He is not a big treacherous person or a small evil person. What her aunt and Shi Miyuan did was so heartbreaking that she was terrified.
If this is the case, how will she look when she meets Zhao Hong again?
"Yang Yi, what are you talking about? No matter how big or small, go back and have a rest!"
Yang Gu put on a serious face and scolded his ignorant cousin.
"Yang Yi, it's about the glory and wealth of the Yang family, so stop messing around. Go back."
Yang Shi advised in a warm voice. What I said in my heart was the truth.
"Auntie, why are you doing this? Are you worthy of the officials of Dahang? Don't you feel despicable and shameless when you do this?"
The persuasion of the two cousins only made Yang Yi even more angry.
He was actually confident and justified in committing such a treasonous act of conspiracy.
Is there such shamelessness in the world?
"Yi'er, there's nothing despicable or shameful. There's just interests and trade-offs. Auntie has no choice. Go back and have a good rest."
Yang Guizhi looked at her niece with rare meaning and without getting angry.
"You will regret doing this! I will go find Zhao Hong now and tell him the conspiracy behind this!"
Yang Yi turned around and left, but Yang Gu and Yang Shi quickly grabbed her.
"Yang Yi, don't act nonsense! Otherwise, our Yang family will suffer!"
"If you go out now, you will die and the Yang family will be implicated. Just be patient and the matter will be over soon!"
The two brothers Yang Shi and Yang Gu tried hard to persuade them with dark faces.
It's about the prosperity and wealth of the Yang family, and we can't let Yang Yi mess with it.
"There are people from Shi Miyuan both inside and outside the palace, how can you get out? Don't worry, it's just that he deposed his crown prince and can't become the emperor of the Song Dynasty. He is still a prince and a nobleman, and he will enjoy endless glory and wealth in his life."
Yang Guizhi shook his head, his eyes lonely.
What are the good things about being an emperor? Being alone and lonely, but being controlled by those scholar-bureaucrats who control the government, will lead to endless loneliness and loneliness in one's life.
"What should I do?"
Yang Guizhi and others left. Yang Yi looked at the imperial guards who were eyeing him inside and outside the palace, and burst into tears anxiously.
"Yang Yi, it's useless even if you go out. There are forbidden troops everywhere in the palace, and the Crown Prince's East Palace is no exception. Even if the Crown Prince knows these things, what can he do? Will he risk his life?"
Seeing Yang Yi's painful look, Cuizhu, Yang Guizhi's personal maid, whispered advice from the side.
"Then what should I do? What should the prince do?"
Yang Yi wiped away her tears and asked helplessly.
Zhao Hong had no idea, how should he deal with the outcome of being deposed?
"Auspicious people have their own destiny, and the prince may turn bad luck into good luck. Besides, the prince cannot be the emperor, but he is still a prince. He will live a lifetime of glory and wealth, and have no worries about food and clothing. It's no big deal."
Cuizhu smiled slightly, her expression very calm.
"You, you have big breasts and no brains, but you have a good skin for nothing."
Yang Yi refuted Cuizhu's words angrily, making the latter blush.
"Once the prince is deposed, with Shi Miyuan's cruelty, he will definitely kill them all. Is there any way for the prince to survive?"
Yang Yi looked at the dark night sky outside the palace and tears fell again.
Prince Zhao Hong has had many bumps and bruises along the way, so why is he so ill-fated?
Why does her last name be Yang? Do you and Zhao Hong still have a future?
