Hundreds of households in Liaodong, covering the light with one hand

On the third day of August in the third year of the Ming Dynasty, Shi Kefa led an envoy from Nanjing to Beijing.

Shi Kefa's original plan was to go all the way north around Xuzhou after leaving Nanjing City, avoid the resistance of Qin Erbao, go straight to Tianjin Wei, then go northwest to Shuntian Prefecture, and finally reach Beijing City.

But the mission did not bypass Xuzhou Prefecture after all.

More than three hundred miles north of Nanjing is Pi County.

With a creak, the carriage stopped suddenly. Shi Kefa, who was sorting out documents in the carriage, didn't pay attention and almost fell down.

"What's going on?" Shi Kefa frowned, opened the curtain and leaned out.

"Sir, there is a group of well-armored cavalry blocking the way ahead," Sun Kewang followed Shi Kefa and reported back on horseback.

"Cavalry?" Shi Kefa was suspicious at first, and then his expression changed drastically: "It's Qin Erbao's Liaodong Army!"

Before he finished speaking, he saw a fast horse galloping in front of the team.

"Uh-huh!!!"

The war horses neighed, their hooves soared into the air, and a strong wind blew up.

It directly caused Shi Kefa's frame to recede faintly.

"Master Shi," the cavalryman on the horse first raised his fists and saluted: "Under the orders of my commander-in-chief, we are here to greet you and escort you to Beijing City. Please come with us!"

"This is Pi County," Shi Kefa subconsciously refused, wanting to maintain his dignity as a delegation from Nanjing City: "Our mission to Beijing has its own planned route, which was clearly stated in the letter to Beijing City. Please also tell General Qin, thank you very much for your kindness."

"I am acting under orders, please don't make things difficult for me," the cavalryman looked at Shi Kefa without giving in.

"Be bold!"

A loud sound!

Sun Kewang drew half an inch of the long sword from his waist.

The cavalryman narrowed his eyes at Sun Kewang and said disdainfully: "Are you sure you want to use swords?"

As the cavalryman spoke, the entire envoy's honor guard was faintly surrounded by a brigade of elite black-armored cavalry.

It seemed that as long as Sun Kewang dared to pull out the long sword from his waist, the Liaodong army and horses were not afraid of fighting with him.

"Sun Kewang, stop!" Holding the car door curtain tightly, Shi Kefa shouted to stop Sun Kewang's movements, and then raised his hand to the cavalryman: "Commander, please lead the way!"

A small leak will sink a great ship.

Shi Kefa still has big things to do.

This is such a small thing, you can't do it!

After lowering the curtain, Shi Kefa sat back on the sedan chair, but was no longer in the mood to sort out the documents.

I'm afraid I'll have to be escorted all the way to the capital.

"Qi Guogong, what on earth are you going to do?" Shi Kefa slowly closed his eyes.

When the Nanjing delegation was escorted north to Beijing, the city of Beijing was already boiling, or in other words, the people and scholars had begun to look forward to it.

After all, this is the first official meeting between Nanjing City and Beijing City since the April 25 Palace Change.

People in Beijing always like to watch the excitement.

And it is a scene of competition between political giants.

Everyone knows that any details of this meeting between the two parties will become the focus of discussion for decades to come.

"The Nanjing mission led by Shi Kefa is about to arrive in Beijing!"

This news had just reached Beijing, and it immediately sparked gossip among the people in Beijing.

"I heard that the purpose of the Nanjing mission to Beijing this time is to welcome the emperor back to Nanjing city." In restaurants and tea shops, people had been discussing this matter for a long time. A man in Chinese clothes shook his folding fan and took a sip of the ice cold drink in front of him. lotus seed soup.

"Absolutely impossible!" The companion on the side knocked on the table and sneered: "With Qi Guogong's thunderous methods, I can guarantee that as long as Shi Kefa dares to mention this matter, the entire mission will be wiped out in Beijing. The worst is , I can’t go back! The Duke of Qi has come to this point and will never let the emperor back. This is his core method to coerce the emperor and order the princes!"

"However, I heard that the conditions of Nanjing City are very attractive. As long as you agree to release the emperor, we can discuss anything," the man in the rich uniform said with a click of his tongue: "I heard that Shi Kefa was determined to become a benevolent person if he didn't succeed. Go to Beijing"

"The emperor is crazy. Even if Nanjing City welcomes the emperor back, we think it will be useless." The companion added: "Does Nanjing City have soldiers? Is there anyone? Are they qualified? All of them combined can defeat Qi Guogong alone. Of?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone fell silent.

Yes, the power of the Duke of Qi is unmatched by anyone in the world.

Even the emperor, relying on his destiny, only managed a draw, and was imprisoned in the inner palace due to sudden changes in the palace.

How to fight the others?

"And, there is one more thing." The man in the attire took another sip of iced lotus seeds and said with a hint of mystery: "Prince Xin has recently begun to show his face and come to the stage. What does this mean? Do you know?"

"What? The emperor is still here, what does he want to do?" As soon as these words came out, everyone around him started shouting.

This cannot be blamed on the reaction of the people in the capital. After all, if you in Nanjing support King Xin as emperor because the emperor is imprisoned, then where is the etiquette? Where is the legal system? Where did you get the mandate from heaven?

It is inconsistent with the legal system!

more important

If King Xin proclaims himself emperor in Nanjing City, wouldn’t the status of Beijing City become even more embarrassing?

"I don't agree!"

"Whether the emperor returns to Nanjing City, I don't care! But if he dares to establish a new emperor in Nanjing City, that is the real rebellion! It is the reversal of the Ming Dynasty!"

"When Shi Kefa arrives in Beijing, we will go to where his mission is and let him know where the people's hearts and minds are!"

At this moment, the imperial city is not far away.

Taiye Pond was heavily blocked by Yulin Guards early in the morning.

Today is the day when the emperor will board the treasure ship.

After all, the Queen's orders are now the highest orders in the palace.

The emperor who goes crazy every day has already lost his majesty in the hearts of everyone in the inner palace.

After all, no matter how you treat the emperor, he will not have any reaction.

He casually carried the emperor to the treasure ship and placed him on the deck where he could get sunlight. Several eunuchs hid aside and played Pai Gow.

There was a breeze blowing on the treasure ship, and the emperor lying there squinted his eyes slightly, as if he had fallen asleep.

These days, the emperor no longer runs around or makes crazy remarks.

Most of the time, I lay there quietly, not knowing what I was thinking.

No matter how people place it, he will not have any words or reactions.

Da da da.

Not long after, there was a sound of footsteps on the deck.

It stopped not far behind the emperor.

"Who is on duty today?" The queen's voice was cold and angry.

At this time, there was no one around the emperor to wait on him - these people in the inner palace were accustomed to acting according to the circumstances, but they actually bullied the emperor?

"In reply to the Queen," Mammy replied respectfully: "They are Eunuch Li and his team."

"Kill with a stick and throw it into Taiye Lake to feed the fish!" The red lips parted slightly, and the queen's pretty face was full of evil spirits.

The queen's words silenced all the maids and eunuchs.

After not seeing each other for a long time, Zhang Yan began to have an unusual power.

That kind of power was exactly the same as the feeling the emperor had back then.

At the same time, a group of eunuchs and maids came forward and carried the emperor to the sun again.

"In a few days, people will come to Nanjing." The queen turned her head and swept her warning eyes over everyone: "Don't let people think that the emperor is crazy and has lost his dignity! By that time, everyone in the world will say, this If the palace is not having a good time, you will also have a hard time!" "I obey my command!"

After saying this, the queen moved lightly and walked to the emperor's side. The eunuch moved the chair over, put it aside, and then silently retreated.

For a time, there was no one within ten steps of the queen and the emperor.

"Your Majesty," the queen looked at the rippling blue lake and said softly, "Someone is coming to Nanjing City."

"Hehehehe."

The emperor's mouth was vague and he didn't know what he was talking about.

I don't know if he heard the meaning of the queen's words.

"But it's useless. Wang Qi will not let you go. He needs the title of emperor to do something for him." Zhang Yan's shoulders were shaking slightly, as if she was trying to suppress her pain. After a while, she finally He spoke again: "Your Majesty, I hope you can understand what I am doing."

"Oooo."

Zhu Youxiao was still mumbling, making meaningless sounds.

But Zhang Yan was still talking to herself.

"If the city of Nanjing decides to go all-in, once King Xin ascends the throne, where will the concubine's son, the emperor's flesh and blood, the Ming Dynasty Crown Prince Zhu Cian, be placed?" The queen shook her head, her face becoming firm and decisive. : "I, my concubine, will never allow this to happen!"

As soon as Zhang Yan finished speaking, Zhu Youxiao, who had been sitting there like crazy, closed his mouth for an instant, as if he understood the queen's words, and his eyes suddenly became clear.

"Your Majesty?" As if after realizing it, Zhang Yan turned to look at her husband, her tone becoming a little surprised.

"Haha. Hahaha," Zhu Youxiao opened his mouth and laughed.

Amid everyone’s surprised and uncertain expressions,

The emperor's laughter became louder and louder, and his body began to tremble.

With a bang, the chairs behind him were knocked to the ground.

Zhang Yan stood up and looked at her husband, with surprise and fear in her beautiful eyes.

"Alas" After laughing for a long time, Zhu Youxiao slowly stopped, sighed deeply, and finally remained silent.

"Your Majesty?" Zhang Yan tried to call.

I saw that Zhu Youxiao had closed his eyes and snored slightly, as if he had fallen asleep.

Pressing down the fear in her heart, Zhang Yan took a deep breath: "Here comes someone!"

"The slave is here!"

Several eunuchs and nuns came forward immediately.

"Carry the emperor back to the palace"

Since falling ill, Emperor Tianqi has been placed in the East Pavilion where it is easier to monitor. It is also closer to the Queen's residence and Zhang Yan can come and take care of him at any time.

Watching the slaves carrying the emperor back to the bed, Zhang Yan observed her husband carefully.

That pretty face slowly turned from pale to rosy.

Maybe I am too worried?

Zhang Yan felt that her husband must be really crazy.

"You all go down, no one is allowed to come in without my permission!" the queen said, dismissing everyone, wanting to be alone with her husband for a while.

"As commanded."

With a creak, the door to the East Pavilion was closed.

Sitting back on the couch, Zhang Yan looked at her husband.

After a while, he slowly stretched out his hand, covering the emperor's hand, and then gently turned it over, palm facing up.

The queen moved her fingers slightly,

Squeeze the hook.

Draw two words on Zhu Youxiao's palm: Your Majesty.

With her eyes fixed on the emperor's eyes, Zhang Yan was afraid of missing a detail.

She also wants to know whether her husband is really pretending to be crazy?

However, Zhu Youxiao did not react at all.

He neither moved his fingers nor blinked his eyes, nor could he speak.

It seemed like he was really sleeping.

call.

Zhang Yan let out a breath, as if a stone in her heart had finally fallen to the ground.

Her husband is crazy and she has to think about her son after all.

Therefore, there are some things that I can only feel sorry for my husband.

"Your Majesty, don't worry," Zhang Yan held Zhu Youxiao's hand with her backhand: "I will raise Ci'an well, and one day I will regain the world. This world belongs to the Ming Dynasty after all! From the Zhu family!”

While the queen was talking, she suddenly heard a crunching sound.

The door to the East Pavilion was opened from the outside.

"I said that no one is allowed to come in without my permission!"

Zhang Yan stood up and looked towards the side hall door.

"Your Majesty, this is my duty, please forgive me!" Xiao Guizi was seen walking to the door and stepping into the hall with one foot.

"You slave." The queen was furious.

Ignoring the queen's scolding, Xiao Guizi walked directly to Zhu Youxiao's couch, lowered her head and looked at the emperor's face. After looking at the emperor's face quietly for a while, she didn't notice anything unusual. Then she stood up and looked at Zhang Yan: "Empress, will you?" The servant is trapped in Kunning Palace and moved His Majesty to the treasure ship without authorization, which is a taboo!"

"I am the emperor's wife. Do you, a slave, need to interfere with what I want to do?" Zhang Yan suppressed her anger and held her skirt tightly in her jade hands.

"The mothers-in-law and eunuchs and maids involved in this matter today will be kicked out of the palace tomorrow." Xiao Guizi ignored Queen Zhang and just told the outcome of the matter.

"How dare you!" Zhang Yan couldn't bear it anymore: "I want to see Wang Tiqian!"

"No!" Zhang Yan shook her head: "I want to see Wang Qi, so call Wang Qi to me!!!"

Looking at the Queen quietly, Xiao Guizi frowned and said, "I can bring you the message. As for whether the Chief Master comes or not, that servant can't control it."

After saying this, Xiao Guizi glanced at the emperor again before turning and leaving.

"By the way," Xiao Guizi said while standing by the door: "The Chief Sir said that the Emperor needs to rest, and please leave as soon as possible."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

The queen stood there quietly, saying nothing for a long time.

With his eyes closed, his chest was rising and falling slightly, and his body was shaking slightly, as if he was suppressing something.

Finally, tears overflowed from her closed eyes, leaving two traces of tears on the Queen's gorgeous cheeks.

He slowly crouched down and buried his face deeply into his knees, crying silently.

In an instant, a huge sense of grief and helplessness filled the entire East Pavilion.

The imperial family is the most powerful and the most despairing.

On the jade couch, Emperor Tianqi, who was already asleep, opened his eyes at some point. Tears overflowed in his eyes, but no matter what, they did not flow out. (End of chapter)