In early autumn, the sky is high, the clouds are clear, and the sky is clear blue. There was a huge scene in front of Duke Wei's palace. Emperor Lu Boyi stood solemnly. It was obviously Emperor Liu who came to visit Duke Wei Murong Yanzhao.
"If you were fine a few days ago, why is your illness so serious?" Emperor Liu sat on the side of the bed, looking at Murong Yanzhao who was struggling to get up from his illness, with a very serious tone.
Today, Murong Yanzhao is only fifty-four years old. However, his appearance is haggard and skinny. Judging from his appearance, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is already seventy or eighty years old.
With his wrinkled face, pale color, and thin cheeks, Murong Yanzhao's charm of the past has completely disappeared. Now, he is just an old man on the verge of death. No one would be able to believe that the famous Duke Wei would look so weak now.
This is already the third time in the past two years that Liu Chengyou has visited Murong Yanzhao in person. This shows how much he is honored and favored. When facing Emperor Liu, he was able to greet Emperor Liu with the support of his family the first two times, but now he is helpless.
"I am now just like a dead tree with its stumps, and it is irreversible!" Murong Yanzhao could see clearly. The arrival of the emperor also restored some of his vitality. His voice was as old as his appearance, and he said: "I have been on the bed for many years. , suffering and torture, this time, I feel that my end is coming, and I can no longer be loyal to Your Majesty and serve the court. I also ask Your Majesty to forgive me..."
As he spoke, the sick look on Murong Yanzhao's face became more intense, and even his cough seemed weak. Seeing this, Liu Chengyou hurriedly said: "If you are sick, treat it. Why say such unlucky words!"
Most of the time, Emperor Liu was in the habit of being hypocritical. However, in a few moments, when facing a few people, he still expressed his sincerity. The concern for Murong Yanzhao obviously belongs to the latter.
Feeling Emperor Liu's "affection", Murong Yanzhao showed a pale smile again and said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid I really won't be able to survive this time! Everyone is destined to die, there is nothing to be afraid of! I originally wanted to dictate Posthumous memorial, I bid farewell to Your Majesty. Fortunately, Your Majesty has deigned to come here..."
"Okay, please don't say any more, I just want to be healthy!" For some reason, seeing Murong Yanzhao like this, his eyes were a little hot and his tone was slightly choked.
"If you don't tell me, I'm afraid I won't have another chance." Murong Yanzhao said, with a trace of reminiscence in his eyes: "In the first half of my life, although I was a little famous, I was limited to the countryside and did nothing. Thirty-six years have passed since I was honored to be conscripted by His Majesty. In this life, I feel most fortunate and the most unforgettable thing is that I was drafted into the living room by Your Majesty.
Although I am a rough and brave man, I dare not call him a good general. However, I am trusted by your Majesty and do not treat him as a minister. I have repeatedly entrusted him with important tasks. I am sincere and frightened, and shed tears of gratitude.
In the past twenty years, although I have made few achievements, I have been awarded the honor of being a meritorious minister of Qianyou. I feel very deeply about it, but I also feel that His Majesty treats ministers too seriously, and I feel ashamed that I cannot deserve it..."
The more Murong Yanzhao spoke, the more excited he became, but the pronunciation became more and more difficult. Liu Chengyou directly held his hand and said solemnly: "How can I not know your thoughts? No need to say more, I understand!"
Seeing this, Murong Yanzhao smiled and finally said: "Your Majesty, I must ask for simplicity in my funeral affairs. My descendants can be used according to their talents. Don't give me too much preferential treatment just because of my small merits... .”
Because of Murong Yanzhao's health, the emperor and his ministers did not talk for too long or talk too much, and Emperor Liu soon left.
When he walked out of the ward, Liu Chengyou felt very heavy and even subconsciously rubbed his eyes. Murong Yanzhao also had many sons, but most of them were born after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Except for the eldest son Murong Deye, who was an adult and had reached the rank of governor of Bozhou, the others seemed young.
At this time, the one who serves the soup and medicine at home is the second son Murong Defeng, who is only eighteen years old now and can make the final decision. Before leaving, Liu Chengyou patted Murong Defeng on the shoulder and said softly: "Good luck taking care of your father!"
"Yes!" Murong Defeng's tone was also choked with sobs. Of course he knew that his father was not going to die soon, because Murong Yanzhao had already arranged his funeral arrangements.
When leaving Duke Wei's mansion, Emperor Liu, who rarely showed emotion or anger, also rarely showed sentimentality. Seeing that the emperor was in a bad mood, the people accompanying him became even more cautious.
It is always sad when old ministers wither away and old friends pass away. For Liu Chengyou, the last time his emotions were so unbearable was when Duke Pu of Yan State passed away.
However, Emperor Liu had more respect for Wang Pu. This was not the case with Murong Yanzhao. He was a general who followed Emperor Liu from Hedong. Putting aside his outstanding contributions, his close relationship and feelings were unparalleled.
When Anding Hou Zhang Yanwei committed suicide two years ago, Emperor Liu was still a little bit sad, especially Murong Yanzhao. Although Emperor Liu has always acted coldly and seemed indifferent to emotions, this is also true.
Murong Yanzhao has been ill for several years since he resigned from the Ministry of War, with good and bad times, and even critical illness several times. But this time, Emperor Liu knew that he really couldn't survive it, and he would witness another hero, The death of a generation of heroes.
Returning to the palace city, Emperor Liu's mood became more and more heavy, and his sadness was difficult to express. Returning to the Long Live Hall, the waiter brought a basin of water: "Official, please clean your hands!"
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou was not interested and said casually: "My hands are not dirty!"
The chamberlain replied: "When an official visits a patient, he should purify himself of any bad luck..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Liu became furious. He overturned the basin of water with one hand, stared at the servant, and ordered directly to Yan Tuo: "Pull him down and give him twenty sticks!"
This time, the servant was so frightened that he didn't even know where the emperor's anger came from, so he quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy. Yan Tuo on the side saw him, and very ably commanded people to take him out and give orders to the imperial staff. His expression was tense, but he was happy in his heart. The servants around the emperor were also competitive. The person who was punished had been too active in front of Emperor Liu in the past two years. How could he not be jealous of Yantuo.
Liu Chengyou sat behind the imperial case and was no longer interested in reading the memorials on the case. Yantuo led others to put away the overturned water basin and clean up the spilled water. He had to be careful with his movements and cautious with his posture. There was a loud banging on the boards outside and screams. It's enough to be a warning.
Of course, everyone in the palace was also surprised. After all, Emperor Liu had not been so irritable and angry for a long time.
Until Queen Dafu arrived, she could understand the scene in the Long Live Hall at a glance. Remaining dignified, he sat down with him. Seeing Emperor Liu's distressed expression, Dafu reached out to rub him gently and asked, "Is Duke Wei's condition serious?"
"Yeah!" Emperor Liu couldn't possibly vent his anger on the queen, so he didn't resist her move and responded, "I'm afraid I won't be able to survive for long!"
"Alas!" Hearing this, Dafu couldn't help but sigh and said, "Tomorrow, I will go to Yanxia Temple to pray for Duke Wei!"
"How can we ask for the natural principles of life, old age, sickness and death?" Liu Chengyou said, but he raised his eyes and looked at the big talisman. After all, this was her intention. After thinking about it, she said again: "You have a intention!"
"I only hope the official family, don't be too sentimental!" Dafu comforted him.
After thinking for a while, Liu Chengyou asked: "Liu Yang's marriage is to the Murong family's young lady. What do you think?"
Da Fu naturally had no objections to this and agreed: "The officials can make the decision!"
In fact, as he grew older, the prince's marriage also affected the hearts of both the government and the public, both inside and outside the palace, and Da Fu mentioned it several times. After all, Qin Gong Liu Xu has been married for two years, and Bai's belly has also swelled. In a few months, Emperor Liu's eldest grandson will be born...
In fact, it was difficult to choose the crown princess. Emperor Liu had previously intended to marry the Murong family, but he had some trivial concerns. Now, if Murong Yanzhao dies of illness, then there will be less obstacles from the emperor to accept Murong's daughter. After all, 70% of the prominence of Murong's sect is due to Murong Yanzhao's influence.
Murong Yanzhao's condition deteriorated faster than Emperor Liu imagined. He didn't last a few days and died suddenly that night. Obviously, a personal visit from the emperor is an honor, but it is also prone to "backlash". If the life is not strong enough, it will be killed...
Because he was mentally prepared, Emperor Liu became much calmer after Murong Yanzhao's death, and felt extremely sad about what happened after his death.
Three days after he abolished the imperial court, he gave posthumous gifts to Zhongshu Ling and the Prince of Linzi County, and personally wrote a Shinto inscription for him. This was the first time that he did not find anyone to write for him, and he did not mind that his mediocrity in literary talent was exposed.
With the death of Murong Yanzhao, coupled with the death of Baoguo Duke Wang Jing in the winter of the second year of Kaibao, the twenty-four heroes of Qianyou also began to wither.
