Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 517 Old Ginger
The nearest Xuanfu City is indeed very lively.

In the past few days, the high officials who were rarely seen frequently appeared at the gate of the city, and they were blocked for most of the day.

However, there are also advantages. It is said that when the Supreme Emperor returns, he will stay in the General Military Mansion.

Many merchants were moved upon hearing the news, and brought large quantities of goods to Xuanfu City, ranging from all kinds of cloth and silk clothing to jewelry and gold wares.

It made Xuanfu City more than a little prosperous.

Today, the gate of the city was sealed again, but it seemed that it was not as big as last time.

However, there are also many high officials who are waiting for them early.

The sun was high and the north wind was howling. Seeing that the weather was getting colder, it might not be long before the Xuan Mansion would begin to snow.

After rubbing his stiff hands, Li Xian turned his head and asked, "Master Du, Uncle Ren and Marquis Ren, when will they arrive?"

After the memorial ceremony for the civil castle, both Yu Qian and Yang Hong left one after another.

The two of them came here for this matter. Now that the ceremony is over, Yu Qian returned to Datong to continue to "investigate" his case. As for Yang Hong, he set off to return to the capital.

On the other hand, Du Ning, Li Xian, Zhu Jian and others were either members of the mission, or they came for the purpose of meeting the recovery, so they stayed in Xuanfu as a matter of course.

Speaking of which, these days, the elders can be regarded as grey-haired.

After the ceremony was over, the Supreme Emperor really said that he must follow through, and he never took a step out of the General Military Mansion, and the officials went to ask An to see him, but they all disappeared.

This made Tao Jin and Geng Jiuchou, who wanted to send this ancestor away quickly, very depressed.

After waiting and looking forward to it, I finally waited for the news from the imperial court, and sent Hu Shangshu and Ningyuan Hou Renli to greet him again, and then I was relieved.

After all, the Supreme Emperor hadn't returned to the capital yet, and the Xuan Mansion still belonged to the border town. It was enough for the Supreme Emperor to give the Supreme Emperor enough face for a minister of the Seven Ministers like Hu Wei who labored and trekked here in person.

It's not possible, let the emperor go there himself...

Du Ning also looked a little anxious, looked up at the sky, and said: "It's about this time, wait a little longer."

Before the words were finished, a group of chariots and horses slowly appeared in the distance, and the ceremonial plaques and flags were raised high, all showing the identity of the visitor.

Not long after, the team stopped slowly in front of the city gate.

Du Ning and the others breathed a sigh of relief, and rushed forward to meet them.

"I have met Uncle Da Zong and Marquis Ren!"

Hu Wei is a civil servant, so he naturally rode in a carriage. As for Ren Li, he is a military general, and it was not unexpected that he came here on horseback. come!

This surprised a group of elders present, who couldn't help remembering that Yang Hong was also wearing armor and wielding a sword during the civil memorial ceremony.

Could it be that it is fashionable to wear armor in the capital recently?

But Ren Li had an indifferent face and didn't speak, and they didn't want to ask too many questions. On the contrary, Mr. Hu, although the journey was tiring, he still kept a kind smile, and politely returned the salute, saying.

"The matter is urgent, and the old man will not greet you anymore. After escorting the Supreme Emperor back to the capital, I will conspire to get drunk again."

With that said, Hu Yan asked with a serious expression on his face.

"Lord Du, where is the Supreme Emperor now? Lead the old man over."

So, Du Ning nodded, and led his people to get out of the way, Hu Wei boarded the carriage again, and a group of people rushed to the General Military Mansion.

Today's General Army Mansion is still guarded by Jin Yiwei, but it is naturally quite different from the original Wei Mansion. Under the communication between Tao Jin and Geng Jiuchou, Shu Liang did not know what was good and what was wrong, and restored what was originally negotiated. Guard arrangement.

Of course, in name, Shu Gonggong came here to be in charge of the overlord's guard, so naturally it was impossible for him to leave.

During the period when the Supreme Emperor Du was out of the house, although the arrangement of guards had returned to normal, Eunuch Shu was guarding the gate every day.

He did not stop the people who came in and out, and the officials who greeted them, but every time they were watched by Mr. Shu into the General Military Mansion, everyone always felt a little shivering in the back.

Today was no exception, Shu Liang didn't go to the gate of the city to greet him, but he didn't dare to neglect such an important minister as Hu Wei, and stood outside the General Military Mansion to greet him early.

Under the eyes of everyone, Mr. Hu looked very arrogant, nodded slightly to Shu Liang, and ordered people to pass the message.

Shu Liang didn't show anything special. After all, apart from being crazy, he was also a measured person. He had a steelyard in his heart and knew who should not be offended.

In order to avoid "misunderstanding", Shu Liang did not step into the inner courtyard, and the communication matters were all handled by the guards of the mission.

A group of people waited outside the General Military Mansion, especially Du Ning and the others, whose faces were still very nervous, for fear that the Supreme Emperor would show any temper, even if Hu Wei and the others didn't give face, they really had nothing to do.

Fortunately, this time the Supreme Emperor did not hide from him.

Not long after, Yuan Bin came out from the inner courtyard and said.

"Uncle Dazong, Marquis Ren, Zongbing Tao, and Eunuch Shu, the Supreme Emperor has summoned you!"

The elders looked at each other, a little surprised. It is normal to summon Hu Wei and Ren Li, but what is the purpose of calling in with Tao Jin and Shu Liang?
The people present were all people who had been in the officialdom for a long time, and they could roughly guess what the Supreme Emperor was thinking just from such a few details.

So, everyone looked at Shu Liang together.

But what was surprising was that the admiral of the East Factory didn't have any special reaction. He still had a smirk on his face that hadn't changed for thousands of years.

Hu Wei, Ren Li, Tao Jin, and Shu Liang followed Yuan Bin into the inner courtyard, and came outside the Supreme Emperor's room, where Ha Ming was waiting outside the door.

After reaching the door, Yuan Bin asked everyone to wait, and then Ha Ming went in to report.

For such complicated "etiquette", neither Hu Wei, Ren Li, nor Tao Jin and Shu Liang have the slightest impatience.

Since they are here to invite people, it is natural for them to put on airs.

Ha Ming came out to summon again, and finally all the people really saw the Supreme Emperor.

He was still dressed in a plain robe, but his expression was exhausted and haggard. He sat behind the desk, straightened his body, and watched them bow down.

"The minister waits to kowtow to the Supreme Emperor!"

Relatively speaking, Tao Jin and Shu Liang were relatively calm. After all, after experiencing such a fierce confrontation scene, they would think it was a small scene when they met each other.

However, Hu Wei and Ren Li were much more excited.

Although Ren Li was wearing a military uniform, he still knelt neatly and said.

"Your Majesty, the late arrival of the minister has caused His Majesty to suffer. Since the civil war, the minister has been thinking day and night, but His Majesty's safety. Now seeing His Majesty return safely is really a blessing for the country and the people."

After all, Lord Ren Hou kowtowed three times on the ground, feeling pain just listening to it.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Qizhen was also a little surprised.

To be honest, the relationship between him and Ren Li is not close. Although Ren Li followed Dingxi Marquis Jiang Gui to defeat Adai Khan, he was very happy and awarded the title of Uncle Ning Yuan, but that is more Looking at Jiang Gui's face.

After all, for Zhu Qizhen at that time, he had a better choice. No matter if it was from a noble family, whether it was someone with background, military exploits, or qualifications, he could choose whatever he wanted.

Even if Ren Li had outstanding military exploits, he was not particularly outstanding.

As for later, Ren Li was dispatched to various places to counter the rebellion, and he spent very little time in the capital, let alone Jane in the Sacred Heart.

Therefore, Ren Li's performance now not only surprised Zhu Qizhen, but also caused waves of emotion.

Sure enough, in the imperial court, there are still those who are loyal to the emperor!

"Ren Qing doesn't need to be like this. Although I am deeply trapped in the north, I am finally in the court. There is no need to mention all the past, and please get up."

For the first time, Zhu Qizhen's tone became gentler.

Therefore, Ren Li kowtowed again, got up and stood with his sword, saying.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I am here entrusted by the Holy Mother, and I will protect Your Majesty comprehensively, so that Xiaoxiao's generation will not show any more aggressive power."

Saying this, he glanced at Shu Liang beside him.

This time, Zhu Qizhen nodded again and again, and said: "Okay, okay, okay, when I see the Holy Mother in the future, I will definitely honor Ren Qing."

For a while, the monarch and his ministers got along well, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

However, in this atmosphere, there was a burst of sobbing that was trying to suppress.

Everyone followed the prestige, but saw that the one who made the voice was none other than Mr. Hu Wei, who prostrated himself on the ground after entering the gate, but kept his head bowed in silence.

As if sensing everyone's gaze, the great uncle raised his head slightly, and everyone saw clearly that tears were already streaming down his old face.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Qizhen looked a little hesitant, and subconsciously stretched out his hand.

"Mr. Hu..."

Compared with Ren Li, the relationship between Zhu Qizhen and Hu Wei is obviously closer and their friendship is deeper.

As the only surviving minister among the five auxiliary ministers left by the former emperor, Hu Wei is like an elder to Zhu Qizhen.

It is not an exaggeration to say that I watched him grow up.

Therefore, seeing Hu Wei like this, Zhu Qizhen even felt a little restless, and didn't know what to do for a while.

Fortunately, Hu Yan didn't need him to do anything. The old man wiped his eyes with his sleeves and tried hard to stop his tears, but he still spoke intermittently with a bit of sobbing.

"Don't worry, the Supreme Emperor, the old minister is fine, but after a year, the old minister was able to see Tianyan again, thinking of the old emperor's earnest entrustment to the old minister when he was dying, he couldn't help but feel mixed feelings. .”

Speaking of the first emperor, Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but feel ashamed, and said.

"Sir, please hurry up. To this day, I know that I was wrong. At the beginning, I should not have insisted on going my own way and insisted on going north. In the end... I failed the expectations of the late emperor..."

The atmosphere was a little gloomy for a while, and at this moment, Hu Yan finally stopped sobbing, raised his hand tremblingly, like a gentle elder, waved his hand gently, and said.

"It's all over, it's good that you come back, it's good that you come back..."

As he was talking, Hu Min propped himself on the ground, staggered up with difficulty, took out a few letters from his sleeve, and said.

"Emperor Taishang, the veteran came here and brought the Holy Mother, Queen Duanjing, and the emperor's family letter. The Holy Mother and Queen Duanjing are very happy to hear that the Supreme Emperor has arrived at the Xuanfu. They must ask where the car is driving several times a day. , they all look forward to your return to Beijing for a reunion as soon as possible!"

Hearing these words, Zhu Qizhen's complexion was filled with longing and anticipation, but at the same time, he gradually recovered his composure.

Immediately, Yuan Bin handed several letters in Hu Wei's hand to Zhu Qizhen's case.

Looking at the several letters with different signatures in front of him, Zhu Qizhen hesitated for a moment, took the lead in opening the letter from Queen Mother Sun, and began to read it seriously.

A moment later, Zhu Qizhen put down the letter, but his eyes fell on Ren Li. A moment later, Fang asked meaningfully.

"Ren Qing, there is a lack of a person in charge of the guards by my side. I don't know, if you, a marquis, are overqualified?"

The letter written by Empress Dowager Sun is very ordinary, and there are many gossips and family matters in it. On the contrary, it didn't mention much about the serious matter of urging him to return to Beijing. Return to Beijing for reunion.

However, these seemingly nagging gossips are basically the affairs of the inner court, and the only thing related to the outer court is related to Ren Li.

In her letter, Empress Dowager Sun mentioned that Uncle Huichang was deprived of his title. At the same time, she seemingly casually mentioned that at that time, only Ren Li argued with reason, which made her feel very comforted.

Just this sentence is enough for Zhu Qizhen!
Sure enough, when Ren Li heard the words, he immediately performed a military salute, and said with a firm expression.

"It is my honor to share the worries of His Majesty, and I am willing to listen to His Majesty's orders at any time."

Zhu Qizhen was determined, nodded, and said.

"Okay, since that's the case, from now on, all the guard duties around me will be entrusted to Marquis Ren. Shu Gonggong, you don't have to worry about it anymore!"

What he said was very confident, Zhu Qizhen even looked forward to it, Shu Liang looked distraught, or in other words, he refused arrogantly.

But, neither.

Shu Liang's face was very calm, said.

"Since the Supreme Emperor has an order, the internal ministers will naturally obey the order. Starting tomorrow, the internal ministers will withdraw all their hands and hand over the responsibility of the outer guard to the Marquis."

A punch hit the cotton, which made Zhu Qizhen feel a little uncomfortable.

However, at this moment, he couldn't continue to say anything.

So, the second letter was quickly opened.

This one belongs to Queen Qian!

Compared with Empress Dowager Sun's plainness, Empress Qian's letter was long, with deep care and longing in every line.

Reading this letter slowly, a rare gentle smile appeared on Zhu Qizhen's face.

At the same time, almost at the same time as he was pinching him to finish reading the letter, Hu Yan waved his hand, and the attendant behind him brought up two boxes, opened the lid, and inside were thick winter clothes, shoes and boots, with fine stitches, one by one, It seems that they all condense the painstaking efforts of the master.

Hu Wei said: "Emperor Taishang, this is Empress Duanjing. I entrusted the old minister to bring you winter clothes. Your Majesty said that it is bitterly cold outside the Great Wall, and the weather in Xuanfu is also very cold. Please take care of yourself. She is in the palace city. Day and night, I look forward to seeing you again."

Looking at these clothes and hats, Zhu Qizhen's eyes faintly glowed with water.

He carefully folded the letter, put it back into the envelope, thought for a while, and put it directly on his heart, then, with a trace of contradiction on his face, he hesitated and asked in a low voice.

"Sir, the queen... how is she?"

Logically speaking, Hu Wei is a minister of the foreign court, and Empress Qian is a concubine of the inner palace. This question is not appropriate.

However, neither Zhu Qizhen nor Hu Wei felt that something was wrong.

Again, to Zhu Qizhen, Hu Wei is like an elder.

Hu Wei's expression was a bit complicated, he opened his mouth, then stopped talking, and after repeating this, the old man opened his mouth and said.

"Why should the Supreme Emperor ask this question?"

As he said that, Hu Mei set his eyes on the box of clothes, sighed, and said.

"The stitches and stitches are all congealed by the mother's painstaking efforts. The emperor knows more about how much affection and righteousness there is in it than the old minister."

"You ask the old minister, how is the empress..."

"The old minister has only one sentence, and it's still the same sentence. My lady, she has been begging in the palace day and night, looking forward to seeing you again soon."

"Your Majesty, go back with the old minister..."

(End of this chapter)