Chapter 126
In the next seven years, Yuan Ke joined hands with his father Xiao Yi to rectify the administration of officials and develop production in Jingzhou and Xiangzhou, winning the support of the people.

In order to deceive others, just like in Shouyang, Yuan Ke also used the name of repairing Buddhist temples to attract young people and formed a team of monks and soldiers with thousands of people.

In a flash of time, it came to the eighth year of Taiqing.

This year, Emperor Xiao Yan was 90 years old.

Yuan Ke was practicing his sword in the back garden when he heard a guard coming to report that the edict from Jiankang had arrived.He hurriedly packed up, put on formal clothes, and went out to greet him, but this imperial edict spanning more than half of the Liang Kingdom was only a short line:

"Hurry back to Beijing."

Although he was puzzled, Yuan Ke still had a polite chat with the envoy for a while, and gave him double benefits in accordance with the usual practice.

"How is the grandfather?" Yuan Ke asked with concern.

"The emperor's body is still strong!" The envoy said obediently, "It's just... only occasionally, he will be excited, and it takes several hours to calm down."

The first half of the envoy's sentence was a serious exchange of greetings, while the second half of his sentence was the return of the twelve taels of gold.

After bidding farewell to the envoys, Yuan Ke hurriedly called Wang Wei to discuss matters.His main question is whether this trip to Jiankang will be good or bad.

Wang Wei sighed and said, "Your Majesty... I'm afraid it's about to die."

"What?" Yuan Ke was surprised, "But the envoy said that the emperor is often in high spirits, doesn't he look like the end is approaching?"

"This is called returning to the light." Wang Wei showed a regretful expression on his face, "The emperor is also a 90-year-old man. This time he asked the king to go back. Most likely it is to arrange the affairs of the funeral, so the king must go back."

"Will I not be able to come back after I go?" Yuan Ke asked, "Xiao Gang is the prince, if he wants to take this opportunity to eliminate hidden dangers, this is the best opportunity."

"No, no!" Wang Wei smiled and waved his hands, "Although Xiao Gang is the prince, he also knows that he is not convinced, so he will only threaten and lure the king, but will not eradicate the king. In addition, I heard that Xiao Zhengde, King of Linhe, has long had a different intention, and is fighting secretly with Xiao Gangming, at this moment, Xiao Gang hopes that His Majesty can help him get rid of Xiao Zhengde, so Your Majesty will just wait for his promotion!"

With Wang Wei's reassurance, Yuan Ke set off for Jiankang with peace of mind.

When he arrived in Jiankang, Xiao Yan, who was 90 years old, was bedridden and unable to move.He looked at Yuan Ke who came in, his eyes lit up suddenly, Nu Nuzui signaled the people waiting beside him to back down, and called Yuan Ke to his side.

"Do you know what I regret most in my life?" Xiao Yan asked.

"This..." Yuan Ke thought for a while, and asked tentatively, "Does the emperor regret not using troops against Xianbei to regain his homeland?"

"No..." Xiao Yan said with difficulty, "Whether it is the Yuan clan, or the current Gao clan and Yuwen clan, we can't swallow it all at once, and this tripartite confrontation is estimated to last for a long time. One of the things I regret the most in my life is that I established the crown prince too early..."

Yuan Ke was startled by his words, broke into a cold sweat, and hastily called softly: "Grandfather, the prince is outside the palace, please don't say such things!"

Xiao Yan shook his head, with a smug smile on his face: "He was timid and didn't dare to eavesdrop outside the door. Since Tong'er died young, I appointed Gang'er, the most virtuous of their brothers, as the crown prince. But at that time , I have a bad relationship with your father, if I could see you sooner, I would definitely make you the grandson of the emperor..."

The sons are still there, how could it be possible to skip them and establish the grandson of the emperor?Perhaps Xiao Yan was a little delirious, but his heart-to-heart words still moved Yuan Ke very much.He held Xiao Yan's hand tightly, and said sincerely: "Grandfather, grandson doesn't want to be a great-grandson. I only hope that grandfather can be healthy and healthy, long live long live!"

"Throughout the ages, which emperor didn't want to live forever, but who can do it?" Xiao Yan said leisurely, "I don't believe in this kind of thing. Now that my time has come, I just want to enter reincarnation early and achieve a positive result."

"Grandfather is not afraid of life and death, so I think he has already grasped the essence of Buddhism." Yuan Ke said with a smile.

Xiao Yan ignored his white lies, but said straightforwardly: "I came to you this time to tell you that your talent is ten times that of Xiao Gang. But he is the prince, so what can I do? So, I entrust your useless uncle to you, and I hope you can help him well."

"This..." Yuan Ke hesitated, "After all, I am a junior, the prince may not accept this arrangement, right?"

"You promise me first." Xiao Yan was very stubborn.

Yuan Ke nodded reluctantly, not knowing whether the matter he agreed would bring him good luck or disaster.

Xiao Yan was very happy, and called Xiao Gang in on the spot, held their hands together, and then died suddenly.

Before he died, the wise half-witted and half-foolish emperor finally regained his sobriety and wanted to settle his affairs properly.But it was a bit late to wake up at this time, maybe he was not wrong about Yuan Ke, but he was wrong about Xiao Gang and Xiao Zhengde.

Not long after Xiao Yan's death, Xiao Gang ordered someone to forcibly invite Yuan Ke to the palace as a guest by taking advantage of the relationship between his uncle and nephew.

Yuan Ke was not stupid, so he naturally knew that his actions were malicious, but although the soldiers were smiling, their hands were already on the handles of their waists, so what could he do?
So, he had no choice but to enter the palace obediently under the "support" of the soldiers.

The main hall at night was empty, only Xiao Gang was sitting on the highest place wearing a crown on his head.

Yuan Ke swallowed, and walked forward nervously.The dark wind blew past the ears, and the curtains on both sides shook back and forth, vaguely revealing the soldiers hiding behind.

This is a Hongmen Banquet!

"My minister sees Your Majesty!" Yuan Ke bowed respectfully.

"You and I are uncles and nephews, there is no need to be like this!" Xiao Gang said with a smile, "Hurry up!"

Yuan Ke knew that if he took a wrong step, his life would be lost on the spot, so he hurriedly stood up obediently, but he still lowered his eyebrows and did not look up at Longyan at all.

His obedient appearance also gave Xiao Gang the illusion that he was essentially just a child who had never seen the world, and he let go of his guard, so he asked intentionally or unintentionally: "I have worked hard on you during this time, What reward do you want, just speak up!"

"My Majesty," Yuan Ke said frankly, "I have been away from Xiangzhou for a while, and I heard that my father is not in good health recently. I want to take care of them, and I hope His Majesty will help you."

"Oh?" Xiao Gang said hypocritically, "But, the late emperor wanted you to stay here to assist me, don't you want to?"

(End of this chapter)

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