In fact, Zhu Houzhao's illness never recovered.
He seemed to have improved slightly before, so he embarked on the road back to the capital. As a result, he rushed all the way to the capital. After a tiring journey, he suddenly relapsed after arriving at the palace.
In the end, he had a seizure at the ceremony and fell into a coma in public.
His condition also deteriorated extremely.
In the palace, Zhu Houzhao woke up leisurely.
Blinking twice, he saw his surroundings clearly.
Next to him, his mother was wiping away her tears, the imperial doctor was holding a medicine bowl in his hand, and Zhang Yong and the eunuch of the ceremonial department were standing on both sides, looking anxious.
The emperor and his courtiers, especially the eunuchs who relied on the emperor's favor, really didn't want anything to happen to Zhu Houzhao.
Outside the door of the room, a crowd of courtiers were crowded, and anxious faces appeared in the small door frame.
Knowing that the emperor finally woke up, the ministers waiting outside the room felt a lot more relieved, but soon the imperial doctor said that Zhu Houzhao was just a flashback, and suddenly their hearts were lifted again.
"I can't do it." Zhu Houzhao opened his mouth and said in a low voice.
"After my death, Chen Guogong and the ministers in the cabinet will jointly assist in the administration. All ministers should work hard..."
As he spoke, he coughed twice more and spit out blood on the quilt, which was particularly conspicuous.
"Your Majesty, after your funeral, who should be in charge of this position?" Yang Tinghe asked while choking.
As soon as these words came out, there was silence all around.
The next emperor! This is related to the future of the officials in the government, so everyone is naturally very concerned about it, especially now that the imperial edict has not yet been issued, you can go to the prince's house and sell your son well.
If you have offended someone before, you must make amends quickly.
Suddenly, all the ministers pricked up their ears.
Time seems to have become very long, and the wind seems a little noisy.
After a long time, a hoarse voice finally came from the dragon bed, with only two short words:
"Xing...King..."
The last word seemed to have exhausted all the strength. The ministers only heard a heavy exhalation, and then the eunuch's high-pitched voice came from the palace, with a cry in it:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Regardless of thinking about the throne, a howling sound suddenly sounded outside the palace.
…
After crying, it was time to deal with the funeral affairs, the most important of which was naturally the succession to the throne.
In fact, even if Zhu Houzhao didn't say anything, the throne should have fallen to Prince Xing.
Xiaozong only had one son, so according to his bloodline, he could only trace his lineage back to Xianzong.
The eldest son died in infancy, the second son Xiaozong, and the third son was the father of the contemporary King Xing, King Xingxian who had just passed away.
Although the Xingwang Zhu Houcong was only thirteen years old at this time, logically speaking, if you want the stability of the dynasty, the best choice is definitely not him but an older vassal king. However, at this time, the Ming Dynasty was still in its peak, and it was obviously orthodox. is even more important.
Not to mention anything else, what matters is that whoever comes out of the mother's womb first is destined to be the one who is appointed by heaven and has the divine power of kingship. If the king is elected, it will naturally follow the destiny of heaven. Otherwise, even if it is decreed by the emperor, No problem, but it lacks the legitimacy of an emperor.
So a few days later, the posthumous edict was officially promulgated. The edict ordered the king Zhu Houxun to ascend the throne, and Chen Guogong Yan Yuan and the ministers of the cabinet jointly assisted in the administration.
King Xing also set out from Huguang and came to the capital.
…
Two months later, Beijing, Donghua Gate.
Yang Tinghe looked at the officials in front of him angrily:
"What did you say? Say it again?"
The little official had never seen this scene before, and he said in a trembling voice:
"Elder Pavilion, Chen Guogong led the nobles and some officials to greet His Highness Prince Xing at Daming Gate... It is said that they also prepared a second form of persuasion to enter."
As soon as these words came out, Yang Tinghe felt furious, and the officials behind him started talking like a pot.
Welcoming King Xing at Donghua Gate, Ju Wenhua Palace, and then enthroned him as a prince. This was what they had agreed upon, but of course, Yan Yuan was not notified.
Officially speaking, this is a matter for the Ministry of Rites. What does it have to do with the nobles? Privately speaking, Zhengde has died, and the thirteen-year-old little emperor is much easier to handle than him. Just as these years have passed, the civil service group has gradually begun to recover, and he is ready to regain everything he has lost.
It's so pitiful that in recent years, he has not lived up to his name as the chief assistant. Not only has the Ministry of War lost military power, but he still has to discuss major matters with Yan Yuan. How can he be the chief assistant!
The new emperor's accession to the throne is an opportunity.
But at this time, Chen Guogong himself led a group of people to "start anew", which showed that Yan Yuan did not intend to surrender.
Welcoming King Xing at Daming Gate, we must go to Fengtian Hall afterwards. This is to enter the capital with the courtesy of the emperor!
The other party has made it clear that he wants to go against him!
"What on earth does Chen Guogong mean? This is to harmonize with the Ministry of Rites and to oppose the cabinet!"
"How brave, do they want to split the Ming Dynasty!"
"Chen Guogong is a warrior after all, and Prince Xing entered through the Daming Gate... Haha, it's a joke."
"Colleagues, don't worry. Prince Xing has been deeply influenced by my Confucianism since he was a child. He will never accept this disrespectful behavior! There is no way he will punish Chen Guogong severely in the future!"
Behind him, there were discussions among the officials.
Yang Tinghe's mood gradually calmed down.
He had heard that the young prince was very smart, and the vassal princes were also people who knew the books and were courteous. They were closer to the civil servants than the nobles who wielded swords and guns.
Not to mention that entering through the Daming Gate is not in line with etiquette. Even if Prince Xing is destined to become the emperor, he is still just a prince after all!
Moreover, in the end, he would still have to rely on their civil servants to manage the government. Otherwise, would he rely on those reckless men?
His Highness King Xing will definitely make the right decision.
Yang Tinghe sneered inwardly.
Chen Guogong, do you want to fight with me? Let me show you today that although our civil service group has declined in recent years, it is not a failure!
At this time, the huge team escorting King Xing to the throne finally arrived outside Beijing.
The young King Xing lifted up the curtains of his carriage and looked up at the huge city of Beijing. From a distance, the gray capital looked like a lying giant beast, extremely majestic.
He will soon become the master of this place. Zhu Houcong thought excitedly.
"Your Highness, it's time to enter the city."
The officials greeted by the Ministry of Rites came to him and saluted respectfully.
"Your Highness, please enter through the Donghua Gate and temporarily reside in the Wenhua Hall!"
After the words fell, Zhu Houcong was obviously stunned for a moment:
"Isn't this the route into the city from the East Palace?"
The official of the Ministry of Rites did not reply after hearing this, but saluted again. The meaning was very clear: he wanted you to inherit the throne with the courtesy of the East Palace.
"Click."
With a crisp sound, Zhu Houcong picked up the celadon teacup in the car and threw it on the face of the official of the Ministry of Rites.
At this time, King Xiaoxing's face was full of anger, no, that was anger!
Because of his anger, his hands were clenched tightly and trembling slightly.
"What does it mean!"
"Gu is the heir to the throne by order. It is not the crown prince who ascends the throne. Emperor Daxing is Gu's cousin, not his father!"
"I want to go through the Daming Gate and enter the Fengtian Palace!"
The official of the Ministry of Rites obviously did not expect that Zhu Houcong would react like this. He raised his head in surprise, and then seemed to have thought of something, and strengthened his tone with a little urgency:
"Your Highness, please go to Donghua Gate. The enthronement ceremony has been prepared and is waiting for Your Highness."
This is to seduce him with the throne.
Zhu Houcong sneered and made no move. If he didn't speak, the team would naturally not dare to take action.
The scene became deadlocked.
At this moment, a fast horse galloped over, with a middle-aged man in his forties sitting on it.
"Your Majesty, Duke Lan Hong of Liang Kingdom, comes to pay homage to His Highness Prince Xing!"
Involuntarily, all the eyes of the audience were focused on him. Zhu Houcong's eyes were full of confusion, while the eyes of the official of the Ministry of Rites were filled with anger. He had already thought of what would happen next.
Lan Hong didn't care about this. He saluted and then said loudly:
"I am here to invite Your Highness to enter the city."
Zhu Houcong realized something was wrong and asked:
"Where do you get in?"
"Enter through Daming Gate, enter Fengtian Palace, and ascend to the throne of emperor!"
(End of chapter)
