Bachelor

Chapter 184

On the second night, in the lobby of Leopard House Abode.

It was already March in Yangchun, and the weather was getting hotter every day. Although the temperature dropped slightly at night, everyone was still wearing thin jackets and didn't feel cold.

The doors and windows of the monastery must be opened, and one can see from the inside that the sky is full of brilliant stars, inlaid like precious stones.

The long star shines on Kyushu, although it is far above the sky, it seems to be close at hand.

Yang Tinghe, Mao Ji, and Jiang Mian, the three major cabinet ministers of the Zhengde Dynasty, sat upright, watching the inner room quietly, as if waiting for something.

As soon as Wu Dinghou Guo Xun walked to the door, he was overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere.

He stood at the door, coughed lightly, and said, "Chen Guo Xun begs to see His Majesty."

Hearing Guo Xun's voice, the three cabinet ministers of the Zhengde Dynasty raised their eyes and looked outside at the same time, and then retracted their eyes.

"Come in when you're here. Your Majesty can't see anyone. I'm afraid Guohou will make a futile trip." Sun Dan's voice came from inside, neither sad nor happy, as calm as a stream of clear water.

Guo Xun drove a long way to enter the palace, he was still panting.He walked in and sat down on the chair, only to feel that his whole body was very hot, and his vest was also wet and uncomfortable.

The room is very spacious, with a few candles flickering in the night wind, it looks very spacious and a bit dark.Except for the three major cabinet ministers, there was no one else in the house, and even the chief eunuch Bi Yun who was resident here also disappeared.

The three prime ministers were all neatly dressed, with dignified expressions, but it was Sun Dan who stood in the middle of the room in a commoner suit, with a relaxed expression, which stood out very much. .

It was not surprising that Sun Dan appeared on such an occasion with Guo Xun. It was already an open secret of the Zhengde Dynasty that Sun Dan was a think tank invited by the emperor to handle housework for him. Of course, this matter was only known to a few people.Now, the emperor does not see any foreign ministers, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead. Sun Dan is by the side of the emperor, and only this person knows the emperor's words and deeds best.

Therefore, even though the identities of Sun Dan and Guo Xun were very different, Guo Xun still nodded to him politely: "How is your majesty's health? Is there any order?"

Sun Dan: "Your Majesty is fine, don't worry Guo Hou, there will naturally be an imperial decree for all elders and adults at that time."

As soon as the words fell, Mao Ji roared angrily in a low voice: "Sun Dan, what right do you, a commoner, have to stop us from seeing His Majesty?" He was an old man in his fifties, with gray hair and beard, but still He has a violent temper, and his huge head can't help shaking when he speaks.

Sun Dan smiled wryly: "Your Majesty is not in good health and needs rest. What can we do if he doesn't see his foreign ministers? Sun Dan is just a commoner, so naturally he dare not stand in the way of Mao Xiang. However, if His Majesty is really disturbed, you and I With heart and forbearance?"

Mao Jiteng stood up: "Your Majesty has not been in court for several months, and he has ignored all important affairs of the court. How can this go on? No matter what, Mao must see His Majesty today. Who dares to stop me." Go to the back room.

Sun Dan stretched his arms, "Mao, please respect yourself."

"Let's go!" Mao Ji roared like a lion: "Sun Dan, I warn you, national affairs are not a trifling matter. What kind of status do you have, how dare you block us. You treacherous villain!"

Sun Dan's expression remained the same, his arms still wide open.

Yang Tinghe, who had been silent all this time, suddenly sighed: "Mr. Mao, do you still want to see His Majesty? His Majesty doesn't want to see you and me. Naturally, there is his reason. We who are ministers, why should we make things difficult for the Holy Majesty? Son of Heaven With his own considerations, this is a king with strong steel and indomitable will, after so many years, don't you still understand?"

Mao Ji had no choice but to stop, and called softly: "Yang Shoufu..."

"Since you called me Chief Assistant, I have to say something." Yang Tinghe said with a sad face, "Mr. Mao, don't you still understand? What is your Majesty's reason for not seeing you? You shouldn't have come here. Instead of wasting time here, you should think more about what to do in the future." He stretched out his thin fingers to wipe the teardrops from the corners of his eyes, and he was more and more sure of Mao Ji's previous deduction.

In the afternoon, Mao Ji hurried to him, saying that after hearing the news that Zhengde might not succeed, he asked him and Jiang Mian to go to the Leopard Room to ask about Zhengde's funeral.

Yang Tinghe naturally understood Mao Ji's thoughts.Mao had an inexplicable relationship with Qingzhou. After the death of Zhengde, the throne was in vain. It is understandable that he was eager.

Mao Ji's voice became louder: "What should we do in the future? What else can we do? It is said that the emperor has been in a coma for a day and a night, and he probably won't be able to invite him. As cabinet ministers, we should also think about the country and the country. By His Majesty's side, when the Holy Majesty wakes up, some things should be clarified." He looked at Sun Dan with a sneer and said, "This is an opportunity for the villain."

Sun Dan naturally knew what Mao Ji was thinking, he was Ping Qiuli's teacher, and probably got the news that Zhengde was dying, so he ran over to ask for a will.Succession to the throne is related to the wealth and lives of many people, so old man Mao naturally refused to relax.

The most important thing Sun Dan should do at this moment is to keep silent. He is mixed among the cabinet ministers, and his status is awkward, so he can't say anything. He just looked at Yang Tinghe: "Yang Xiang, Your Majesty is a generation of Mingjun. You think of him naturally. He can think of things that you can't think of, and he has thought of them too. As a minister, you can just wait at home, and if you come here to make trouble, it doesn't matter if you disturb His Majesty, and you may be suspected of intimidating the king, but this is not the duty of a minister."

"Coercion? It's ridiculous, who is coercing whom, you villain!" Mao Ji clenched his fists, his face flushed with excitement.

Yang Tinghe felt relieved when he heard Sun Dan's words.He also had a conversation with Sun Dan before. As the chief assistant of the cabinet of the Zhengde Dynasty, the first thing he should consider is how to stabilize the situation in the court and make the transition between the old and new dynasties smooth without causing major turmoil.Therefore, he once asked Sun Dan to do the ideological work of being the emperor, so that he could decide on the succession of the throne earlier.Now listening to Sun Dan's meaning, it seems that the emperor has already made a will, so Yang Tinghe's heart that was hanging in the air fell to the ground.

He glanced at Sun Dan gratefully, wanting to reaffirm this point, but saw a trace of sadness in Sun Dan's eyes.

It seemed that the emperor would never get up again, Yang Tinghe sighed, his eyes were red.He stood up and said, "Let's go, we'll just go back to the Xiyuan cabinet to be on duty, and there will naturally be an imperial decree. Hey, today's visit is not in vain."

"Oh, I'm leaving." The assistant minister Jiang Mian who came with him was an old man in his seventies.No matter how noisy the room was, he would just doze off with his eyes closed, and when he heard Yang Tinghe's words, he opened his eyes with a confused look on his face: "Okay, old man, I can't stand it any longer, so I'd better go back to sleep sooner." serious."

Mao Ji was so angry that he almost laughed out loud: "President Jiang!"

Yang Tinghe snorted suddenly, his expression became dignified: "Mao Xiang, let's go!" and walked towards the door. Jiang Mian had been impatient sitting here for a long time. Given this opportunity, naturally he walked quickly, or returned to the value room earlier. Stare at ease for a while.

Mao Ji was willing to give up, stretched out his hand and pushed Sun Dan: "Get out of the way, out of the way!"

Seeing that there was going to be a lot of trouble, Sun Dan suddenly glanced at Guo Xun, "Guo Hou, Your Majesty has an order for you."

Guo Xun was startled, and hurried forward to stand in front of Mao Jihe, "Minister Guo Xun listened to the hadith."

Sun Dan: "Marquis Guo, Your Majesty told you to go to the back garden to listen to the order. But, you see, I can't leave here."

Guo Xun nodded and said to Mao Ji: "Mr. Mao, you should go back to the value room first. Anyway, Xiyuan is only a few steps away from here. What are you in a hurry for?"

Mao Ji knew that Ping Qiuli was doing Guo Xun's work during this period, and this guy didn't know what he was thinking, and he had no attitude at all.However, before the big event is decided, it is not easy to offend.

He thought for a while, then walked out the door angrily: "Yuanfu, Prime Minister Jiang, wait for me."

When the three cabinet ministers left the abode, Guo Xun, who had been watching the fun just now, grinned silently, then restrained his smile, and politely said to Sun Danmo: "Mr. When did it come down?"

Sun Dan raised his hand and made a gesture of invitation: "Let's talk about it in the back garden, this is what His Majesty meant."

There was still no eunuch in sight in the back garden. When they got here, Guo Xun and Sun Dan's footsteps were light.

There is a small pond in the garden, and a large piece of green Malan grows on the bank.

The starlight came down from the sky, and the ground was completely white, and the courtyard was hazy, only the light from the Vihara shone indistinctly.

Guo Xun didn't know why the emperor chose such a place to make his announcement, and he felt strange in his heart.But as soon as Sun Dan said the words, he immediately stood there in a daze.

"Actually, His Majesty's word of mouth came from the day before yesterday. He told Sun Dan that he can only say these words to you when he is dying."

Guo Xun's tears immediately covered his eyes, and his throat choked up: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Sun Dan nodded solemnly: "Only two or three people know about this matter, and it's just a matter of a day or two."

Guo Xun looked up at the sky, only to feel chills all over his body: "What does Your Majesty want to say to Old Guo?"

Sun Dan's voice became louder: "Shangyu, Guo Xun listens to the decree."

Guo Xun hurriedly knelt down: "Minister Guo Xun bows to Sheng'an."

"Sheng Gong'an, Guohou, get up, your majesty said, let you stand and be obedient." Sun Dan helped Guo Xun, then pointed to the clump of Malan flowers beside him, and said, "Your Majesty said, this piece of Malan flowers was originally He transplanted it to the palace when he and Guohou were plugged together. Probably due to the relationship between water and soil, it has not bloomed for so many years. Your Majesty said, if he leaves, please ask Guohou to move this piece of Malan to your mansion to replace him. Take good care of them. Your Majesty also said that fighting with Guo Xun on the grassland was a great joy in life, and I really hope to do it again."

"Your Majesty!" Guo Xun cried out, knelt down with a plop, and lay on the ground sobbing.

Sun Dan looked at Guo Xun, who was so sad that he couldn't help himself, and sighed: "You should get up, Marquis Guo. His Majesty said that you will not be allowed to kneel. When you were in the army, everyone met and bowed their hands. There are not so many particulars in it. Although everyone is a monarch and minister, but they scoop food in a ladle, it can be regarded as robes."

"Yes, Guo Xun will get up now, and someone will move this clump of Malan flowers back to the mansion. No matter what, let it bloom for me in June."

When Guo Xun stopped his grief, Sun Dan sighed again: "Guohou, Sun Dan has a sentence that I don't know if I should say it or not."

Guo Xun wiped his face and said politely: "Mr. Sun, please tell me."

Sun Dan thought for a while, and said: "I heard that Marquis Guo inherited the marquis when he was 16 years old, and later he joined the army in Xuanda and fought against the grassland people for more than ten years. The official residence is the second rank, in charge of the security of the nine gates of the capital. It can be said that he is the first-class humerus minister in the eyes of His Majesty. Sun Dan admires Lord Hou from the bottom of his heart. However, Sun Dan wants to ask, if Guo Hou did not If you can gain His Majesty's trust, can you get to this point? How did Guo Hou gain His Majesty's trust in the first place?"

When Guo Xun heard this, he was startled: "Your Majesty treats me favorably, Guo Xun is naturally sincere and does not dare to slack off."

"Well said." Sun Dan looked at Guo Xun quietly: "In addition to the four words of being sincere and doing things, in fact, His Majesty also said another comment when talking about you the day before yesterday."

Guo Xun held his breath: "I still ask for advice."

Sun Dan: "Your Majesty said that the greatest advantage of Guo Xun is that he obeys orders, but when there are orders, he executes them without compromise, and he doesn't think about other messy things, even pure people."

"Your Majesty!" Guo Xun thought of Zhengde's kindness to him in the past, and his heart was sour, and tears came down again.

"Okay, I've finished passing on His Majesty's oral instructions." Sun Dan handed over a handkerchief: "Guo Hou, I heard that there are many visitors to your house these days!"

Guo Xun took the handkerchief and was about to wipe his tears when he heard this, his right hand froze in the air.

Sun Dan said softly: "Actually, this matter can't be hidden from your Majesty. Guo Hou is now a pillar in the court. In the future, even if the court situation is in turmoil, no matter who it is, you have to rely on Guo Hou to control the chaos." The times have stabilized. There are some people who are very concerned about things, but they have nothing to do with you and me. Sun Dan will go to the imperial examination when the time comes, so what are your plans, Marquis Guo?"

Guo Xun took a deep look at Sun Dan, and after a long time he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you." He could have made it to this day, and he is a shrewd person. How could he not understand the meaning of Sun Dan's words? After Sun Dan reminded him, his heart suddenly brightened. stand up.

Sun Dan also stopped talking, and walked slowly towards Huamu's shadow with his hands behind his back.

After making trouble in the middle of the night, Guo Xun had no mood to sleep, and he didn't go back to the house, so he went straight to the yamen set up by the Beijing camp in the city.

As soon as he returned to the study, a caring little official came to report: "My Lord, there were several groups of guests who came to visit just now, and now they are still waiting in the lobby?" This person was originally a distant relative of Guo Xun. He has been a housekeeper for many years, and now he is released as an official in the Yamen. He is one of Guo Xun's right-hand men.

"Oh, which kind of god is it?" Guo Xun's expression changed slightly, and he snorted: "It really is that the tree wants to be quiet and the wind is not stopping!"

The little official smiled and said: "In the evening, Lu Bing from Xingwang's mansion came. He heard that Lord Hou was not there, so he went back. Later, Master Qingshi, the head teacher of Taichang Temple, visited Ping Qiuli, and heard that Lord Hou had gone to the palace. , just stay here and don’t leave, saying that I have to wait until you come back.”

Guo Xun sneered loudly, and couldn't help swearing: "What's the matter, why are you coming to Lao Guo to find trouble, and throw them out of me."

The little official was a little embarrassed, and whispered: "Master Hou, it's not appropriate to do this. Otherwise, I will go back to them and say that Master Hou, you came back with a message, saying that you will be on duty in the palace, and you will not return in two days." Yamen is gone."

"Well, that's fine." Guo Xun rubbed his forehead and murmured: "Now the capital is going to be a riot, what should I do, what should I do?"

The little official called out worriedly: "Master Hou."

"I don't know what to do, so I just eat cold salad." Guo Xun laughed loudly: "Sun Dan said well, no matter who is in charge in the future, I will always need Lao Guo to maintain the situation. Why should I join in this fun? He Grandma, some people just want to drag me to the gambling table, but I am already in a winning situation, why should I gamble? I just don’t accompany them crazy. By the way, don’t offend Shi Changqing and them too much , This matter is not until the end, and the result is unknown."

"Yes."

"And..." When the little official stood still, Guo Xun pondered for a moment, and said: "Just in a few days... the weather will change, you prepare my horse first, and I will go to the cabinet to guard the room immediately. Also, I have issued an order from my general that the Fengtai and Xishan military camps cancel their vacations, and once I get my order, they will immediately enter the city to close the nine gates, and the whole city will be under martial law."

"Yes." The little official realized the seriousness of the problem, and his vest was full of chills.He didn't dare to ask too much, and his subordinates moved their pens like flying, and wrote down the orders on the paper. After Guo Xun signed and marked, he carefully put it in his arms.

"Sun Dan is right, Guo Xun almost missed a big deal." When Guo Xun thought of the consequences, he felt chills in his heart, and secretly rejoiced.

When the little official got his horse ready, he didn't delay and ran to the guard room of the Xiyuan cabinet. As expected, the three major cabinet ministers were still guarding there.

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After sending Guo Xun away, Sun Dan was about to go back to the house, but saw the flowers and trees swaying next to him, and a man in armor came out.

Sun Dan was startled, and turned his head to look, but it was Emperor Zhengde who had been in a coma for two days.

Sun Dan was startled, and hurriedly cupped his hands: "General, why are you up and still dressed like this? I'll call someone right now."

Zhengde's face was flushed, and his forehead was slightly sweaty.He waved his hand and said with a smile: "Don't disturb those eunuchs, this is probably the last time I wake up, so let me talk to you quietly."

Sun Dan's heart felt sore, and he called out in a low voice, "Your Majesty."

"Let's call it General. Even if I die, I still have to wear a military uniform and hold a steel knife." He put his hand on the handle of the Yanling knife: "Talking and laughing, two monarchs and ministers, a confidant in life and death, Sun Dan, Do you think I am calm at the moment?"

"Your Majesty is calm."

Sitting on the rockery by the pond, Zhengde pointed to the Malan flowers beside him: "Since I transplanted these flowers from the grassland, I have never seen them bloom. Hehe, when I was on the grassland, there were everywhere Blue, from a distance, it seems that the sky and the earth have melted into one place, so beautiful!"

As he was speaking, Zhengde looked up at the sky, his eyes sparkling, and he murmured: "Cross the scenery, the grassland outside the mouth, I can't go back... Sun Dan, I know they are waiting... Draft an edict !"

"Your Majesty..." Sun Dan finally burst into tears.

Zhengde smiled silently: "Hurry up and write, you Mr. Sun, you have always been calm and calm, why are you acting so childish now? Although we do not have the status of monarchs and ministers, we have the real status of monarchs and ministers. Guan Jiangshan Sheji, there is no longer any delay. I already feel that my body is about to fail, and my life is passing by so fast, maybe I will not know anything in the next moment."

"Yes, I will write it now." Sun Dan hurried back to the abode, took a pen and paper and returned to the pond: "Your Majesty, what should I write?"

"Let's write the biography of Zhu Houcong, the eldest son of King Xing. You can read it carefully, and I will write it."

"Yes." Sun Dan hurriedly spread Huang Tuo on the rockery in front of Zhengde, and put the pen in his hand.

It felt like Zhengde's hand was terribly hot.

Zhengde raised his pen, "Speak."

Sun Dan: "In the past when emperors ruled the world, it was not the case that respecting the ancestors of heaven and ancestors was the first task. Respecting the ancestors of heaven and ancestors is true, gentle, far-reaching and capable, resting and nourishing the common people, sharing the interests of the world for profit, and the heart of the world as the heart, to protect the country in the future Dangerous, leading to rule before chaos, working hard all night, sleepless nights, it is a long-term national plan, and the common people are close..."

The writing of Zhengde's characters had to be too good, but at this moment, the writing is so fast that it looks even more scribbled.

"...Since Yuji, although I dare not pretend to be able to change customs and customs, family and people are satisfied, and imitate the lord of several generations of saints, but I want to make the sea peaceful and the people happy. , not less slack. Decades of hard work, like a day, how can this be summed up by the word "hard work"? The previous emperors may not live forever, and historical theories generally think that it was caused by wine and sex, and all scholars are fond of ridicule Criticism, although a pure and beautiful king must also pick out flaws. I confess this for the previous emperors, because the world is busy and exhausted. Zhuge Liang said: "Dedicate yourself to death and die." Zhuge Liang is the only one who can hear this. If the emperor's shoulders are heavy, there is no excuse..."

Zhengde let out a sigh of relief: "The praise is too much, too much, people are serious outside, I am just an absurd king."

Sun Dan burst into tears: "Your Majesty deserves the word "sage."

"It's too much, too much." Zhengde sighed: "However, Mr. Sun really wrote a good article... let's continue."

Sun Dan didn't dare to delay any longer, and hurriedly read: "The eldest son of King Xing, the grandson of Xianzong, the son of Xiaozong, and my younger brother, the order should be established. After I ascend the throne, that is, the emperor's throne, that is, follow the public system, and obey On the 27th, Shi Fu announced to China and foreign countries, and the salty envoys heard about it.

On March 16th, [-]th year of Zhengde, son. "

Zhengde put down his pen: "Good article, good article. All this time, I have only read Mr. Sun's novels and poems. Before I die, I can finally see Mr. Sun's serious writing... use the seal."

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PS: A new week has begun, and readers and friends are requested to recommend votes for support, and see if they can be listed on the classification recommendation list.If it can be listed on the list, the size is equivalent to a recommendation, ha ha.

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(End of this chapter)