King Ying knelt on the ground skillfully and obediently: "My father is wise and powerful, and his vision is thousands of miles ahead. His knowledge is a thousand times better than that of my son. You must have your reasons for doing this. How can I dare to harbor resentment? As for this? Brother-in-law, he is first of all a minister of the country, and secondly, he is the uncle of my son-in-law!"
The Emperor looked at him intently for a few seconds, not knowing whether he believed him or not. Then he turned to look at the group of sons in front of him who were all submissive, with low eyebrows, but fearful of him like snakes and scorpions. He suddenly felt bored. Tasteless.
Why are you so timid and timid, without the courage of a man from the Tian family?
In their eyes, could it be that his father was an inhumane tyrant who could kill even his own son without hesitation?
The King of Yan was killed by the King of Chu, the King of Chu was killed for forcing the palace to rebel, King Wu and King Xin were killed for disobeying their father, which of them was caused by him suddenly killing people for no reason? ?
This time, he personally took action to weaken the power of the kings. He knew that the kings were unhappy, but in the final analysis, he did this for the sake of stability and for them.
Since you are destined to fail to inherit the throne, and if you hold power tightly in your hands, then this power is no longer a life-saving medicine, but a life-saving talisman!
What he is doing now is not only to pave the way for Ding'an, but also to eliminate troubles for them. Why can't anyone among these children understand?
Looking at the food on the table in front of him, the emperor felt that the food was tasteless. He waved his hands indifferently and dismissed them: "That's it, everyone, please leave."
The kings looked at each other in shock, not daring to say anything. They carefully looked at the emperor's expression, hesitating whether they should obey the order and stand up, or leave the table to plead guilty.
There were also people who secretly took a look at the emperor's little cotton-padded jacket, Princess Chengning.
When it comes to being considerate and considerate, who can be better than her?
But they were disappointed.
Even Princess Cheng Ning looked confused and slightly confused at the moment.
——Are you really confused and confused?
Not really.
But sometimes it is not a good thing for people to be too smart and able to understand their thoughts too well.
As a granddaughter and a caring little cotton-padded jacket that the emperor always loves, Princess Chengning can be astute when it comes to the emperor's family affairs, but she cannot remain as sharp as ever when it comes to national affairs.
This is dangerous.
She must not understand.
This palace banquet began with the emperor's whim and ended with the emperor's dismay.
Princess Chengning saluted the Emperor together with the other kings, and then exited the hall respectfully. She crossed the threshold and was about to turn around. glance.
The emperor was still sitting on the cold and gorgeous throne, maintaining the same posture as when they left. Probably because the throne was too wide and tall, it made him look a little lonely and lonely. Deserted.
However, Princess Chengning could not feel sympathy or pity in her heart.
Because this kind of emotion has always been a gift from the superior to the inferior. What qualifications does she have to sympathize with the emperor who can easily deprive her of her life and dignity at any time by legal or illegal means!
Her natural acuity and acquired experience allowed her to be vaguely aware of the emperor's loss and the source of his loneliness. But when the situation has developed to this extent, can it only be blamed on the kings?
They dare not guess, nor can they guess the emperor's thoughts, but when faced with the dilemma of death if they make a wrong step, they can only shrink back, be timid, and change places, fearing that the emperor himself will not be better. Good idea!
Of course Princess Chengning could not analyze all this to the emperor.
Let’s not say whether the emperor can listen to it. Even if he really understands this truth, will he change it?
Won't!
Power is always the supreme taboo in the emperor's heart. For it, the emperor can kill anyone, just like even if the time is rewinded, the emperor will still kill King Xin and King Wu!
So, why should she sympathize with the emperor?
Just ask for benevolence and get benevolence.
…
The rain in late spring was especially cool. The emperor wore a large robe and walked alone in the long and quiet corridor. The spring breeze blew his robe and brushed his face.
He walked all the way to Jingchun Hall.
When the young concubine saw the emperor, her flower-like face instantly bloomed with a beautiful smile, and then she greeted him eagerly and gently.
Although the emperor is old, he is not old in wealth.
The emperor's palm brushed the young and lively face without any emotion, but there was no flutter in his heart.
He thought, this spring is really a bit cold.
…
Courtiers who were born in Beiguan began to join the capital, which also meant that Princess Zhenguo's path to becoming a prince had laid a solid foundation.
Maybe nothing can be seen in these ten months now, but in a few months, if Princess Zhenguo returns to Beijing, there will never be a story like Prince Xiaoyi being attacked and killed. !
Because with the help of the emperor, Princess Zhenguo has extended her tentacles to the imperial capital!
Are the kings willing?
Of course I'm not willing to give in.
Seeing their niece's position becoming more and more stable, how could they be willing to do so?
But if you don’t give in, what can you do?
Liu Che made steady steps, based in Beiguan, developing people's livelihood, increasing population, and enriching the people. Faced with several attacks by the Rong and Di, he insisted on remaining defensive, but at the same time, he did not stop. Preparations for troop training and food storage...
In the past two years, it was not that there were no turmoils in the DPRK, but they were controlled lightly by the emperor. It was not that Liu Che never encountered suppression, but he took them lightly and dealt with them lightly. passed.
He has the army; he has the hearts of the people; he has the money and goods; he also has the supporters in the court and the eyes and ears among the Sixteen Guards.
At this point, how could he lose?
The kings and the conservative old ministers all just looked on with cold eyes at his rise to power. At the very least, they did not show any hesitation on the surface.
Because they can afford to wait.
In the past two years, the emperor's health has become worse and worse, and the imperial hospital's precautions have become more and more strict. In particular, several experienced imperial doctors almost live and eat in Weiyang Palace.
There is no one who lives ten thousand years, the emperor...
He is going to die!
…
In a dark room in a certain prince's palace, the lights were dim, and Chang Shi was whispering with his staff.
"The spy in the palace got some medicine residue..."
Someone else said: "Perhaps in a few days, the emperor will summon the princess back to Beijing."
"Princess Zhenguo has grown up. I'm afraid it won't be that easy to eradicate her..."
"Beiguan is heavily guarded, and the emperor has the crown prince and Princess Chengning in charge. It would be safer to take action on the road..."
The conspiracy hidden in the dark is like a spider web in the dark night, flickering for a moment and quickly disappearing.
In Weiyang Palace.
The emperor lay on the soft couch, his lips slightly opened, breathing hard.
He felt as if a huge mountain was weighing on his heart, weighing more than 10,000 kilograms. He had almost forgotten the feeling of breathing freely.
"What are the kings doing?"
he asked his ministers.
The ministers said respectfully, "All the princes are here to pray for you."
The emperor suddenly laughed and burst out into a violent cough: "Are you hoping that I will die soon?!"
The ministers nearby remained silent.
The emperor's laughter and coughing stopped at this moment, and only the heavy breathing continued.
After a while, he said in a lonely tone: "Everyone is looking forward to my death."
The close ministers dared not speak even more.
At this moment, Duke Dingguo's low-pitched reply came from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is here. She also brought an alchemist, saying that she might be able to cure your illness..."
The emperor lay on the collapse, panting silently for a long time, and then he let out a short laugh: "The imperial doctors are helpless, how can the alchemist cure my illness? The princess has always been wise, but now she is so ill. Have you sought medical treatment?"
Duke Dingguo said nothing.
There was a strange silence in the palace for a long time, and the emperor finally said tiredly: "Let them come in."
The Crown Princess is over forty years old. Because she lost her husband, she always dresses simply, but her demeanor is graceful and elegant, which makes people look up to her and respect her.
Behind her followed a young man in Taoist robes and a bamboo hat, with an undistinguished face.
Before the Emperor's bed could be reached, he was stopped by the attendants: "Is there any reason not to reveal one's true face before the Emperor arrives?"
But I heard the alchemist reply: "I am here to cure the emperor's illness. What does it matter whether I show my face or not?"
The attendants were speechless, but the emperor chuckled again at this moment.
One emperor and one courtier, there is really no exception at any time.
If it were in the past, the attendants would have directly ordered the alchemist to be escorted out, but today, they would inevitably shrink back.
Because they have served the emperor for a long time and know the emperor's situation best, they also know their own fate best.
This alchemist was brought by the Crown Princess. Since the Emperor has never spoken out, why should they stand up and offend the Crown Princess? This noble person is most likely the mother of the first empress of this dynasty?
When the emperor thought of this, he couldn't help but feel ridiculed. If it were in the past, he would have ordered these slaves to be dragged out and killed with sticks, but at this moment, he felt that it was so boring.
Can killing these duplicitous slaves change the situation?
Not really.
So he waved his hand, indicating that they did not need to stop the alchemist, and asked in his own voice: "Can you cure my illness and extend my life?"
The alchemist said: "I can't do anything about your physical pain, but I can find ways to relieve the sorrow in your heart."
The emperor frowned slightly and stared at him with a gloomy expression: "I don't know what kind of good medicine it is to cure my heart disease?"
But I saw that the alchemist was not in a hurry, lifted up the hem of his clothes, knelt on the ground, raised his hands and untied the bamboo hat he was wearing: "This good medicine is none other than me, the young man in front of you."
Chapter 101
The emperor looked sideways and saw a young and bright face.
