Three thousand miles in exile

In the second year of Xuanhua, Emperor Wen of Chu, severe drought and famine covered several counties in the Central Plains. Even so, the imperial capital was still a scene of singing and dancing, peace and prosperity, especially in the palace.

This day Emperor Wen accompanied the queen to the garden, accompanied by three princesses, the oldest eldest princess was eight years old, the second princess was four years old, and the third princess was only one year old.

In recent years, the Emperor Wen's harem failed to give birth to a prince. The most anxious person was the Zhou family. Just a few days ago, Zhou Chan sent two Zhou's daughters into the palace.

The empress was two years older than Emperor Wen, but she was younger than Emperor Wen, just like the elegant Huilan in the garden.

Emperor Wen took the princesses on a dragon boat tour in the middle of the lake. The laughter spread far to the water pavilion on the shore. The queen sat in the water pavilion drinking tea, smiling and looking into the distance from time to time, looking very happy and content.

"Your Majesty really likes children, and he loves the princesses very much." The Queen's nanny, Nanny Zhou, expressed her feelings.

The queen still had a smile on her face, but a trace of pain flashed in her eyes.

Nanny Zhou signaled the palace people to retreat outside the water pavilion, and she stepped forward to persuade in a gentle voice: "Queen, it's time for the new daughter of the Zhou family who joined a few days ago to arrange her bed."

"Nurse." The queen's perfect smile almost collapsed, and there was hatred in her eyes. "Have you ever seen five or six blood relatives serving one husband together?"

Nanny Zhou looked miserable.

"I am 29 years old, so I may not be able to give birth to a prince in the future. Just because I gave birth to two princesses, the family... the family will abuse me like this?" The queen tried hard not to let the tears fall from her eyes.

"Mommy, I don't like what they want!"

Nanny Zhou sighed softly.

The queen said angrily: "Send the concubine in the harem to avoid the son soup, and I am not allowed to conceive a dragon fetus before the prince is born!"

Nanny Zhou wanted to persuade her again, but seeing that the queen had already hated her to the bone, she swallowed back what she wanted to say.

On that day, the decoction called tonic was actually Bizi decoction, which was delivered to the concubines in the palace in the name of Emperor Wen, and the emperor rewarded them, and these concubines naturally drank it happily.

The former dynasty fought, and the harem also had secrets.

The prince with the blood of the Zhou family that the Zhou family was looking forward to had not yet been born, and no one expected that the accident would come so quickly.

In October, the imperial capital, which had been hot for a midsummer, finally turned cold. Emperor Wen invited the children of the aristocratic family to play polo in the palace.

The polo field in the imperial palace was unprecedentedly lively. The direct descendants of the families in the capital in their teens and twenties all came, and there were cheers and shouts inside and outside the field.

"Your Majesty is mighty!!"

Emperor Wen won another game, and he clenched his fists in high spirits. "How about you, do you still dare to come?"

Playing with the emperor is also learned. If you can't show your true skills, you can't make the emperor feel uncomfortable. Everything is about making the emperor happy.

Many aristocratic families are vying to be in the same group as the emperor.

When Eunuch He saw that Emperor Wen was sweating profusely, he asked. "Your Majesty, would you like to come down and rest for a while?"

Emperor Wen Zhengxing was not willing to pause. "The three of you are in my group."

The three aristocratic sons who were named immediately expressed their gratitude happily.

A new round of the game started off the court.

Among the former emperor's princes, the second prince was good at martial arts, the third prince was early wise, and the fourth prince was good at literature, but the eldest prince was neither good at literature nor martial arts.

But the power game, now that the second prince is under house arrest, the third prince died suddenly, and the fourth prince died suddenly, on the contrary, it is the most mediocre eldest prince who wins the Ninth Five-Year Plan.

In the past two years since he ascended the throne, except for the early morning court on time, Emperor Wen ignored all other government affairs and left them to the prime minister. Everyone in the world thought that the prime minister was persecuting Emperor Wen, but in fact, Emperor Wen himself was not willing to take care of it.

Emperor Wen was fun, cockfighting, dog fighting, cricket fighting, cuju polo hunting.

Whether it is cuju polo or hunting, there are certain dangers. As the saying goes, there is no way to not get your shoes wet when you often walk by the river.

There was a sudden exclamation in the polo field.

Emperor Wen fell off his horse!

No one could see clearly why Emperor Wen suddenly fell off his horse, and a family member who rushed over from behind couldn't catch up, and the horse's hoof stepped heavily on Emperor Wen!

The family member who rode the horse was surnamed Fang, and he was the eldest grandson of Fang Shouting!

Everyone swarmed up and surrounded Emperor Wen, shouting for the imperial doctor, calling for someone, and making a mess of everything.

As Wei Wei, Xu Muyuan got the news first.

"what!!"

The guards at the palace gate looked flustered. "The imperial physician has already gone, and His Majesty passed away on the spot, and he is still unconscious."

After all, Xu Muyuan is a veteran who has been on the battlefield and quickly calmed down. "You explain everything clearly!"

When Xu Muyuan learned that the horse that trampled on Emperor Wen was the horse of Fang's eldest grandson, his expression changed drastically.

"Immediately send someone to quietly send Fang's eldest grandson to the Imperial Guard camp in the suburbs of Beijing!" The first thing Xu Muyuan thought of was to sell Fang Shouting, and not let Fang's eldest grandson fall into Zhou's hands.

This matter is serious, no matter what the severity of Emperor Wen is, it is a serious crime that will pay for his life.

"Also! Send troops to control the inside and outside of the palace gates, especially His Majesty's bedroom, and don't allow insignificant people in, not even concubines!"

After arranging these things, Xu Muyuan rushed to Emperor Wen's bedroom.

At this time, the palace was in chaos, and Emperor Wen's mouth and nose were covered with blood foam, which could not stop bleeding, which obviously hurt the viscera, and the injury was very serious.

Xu Mu had seen many kinds of injuries during the many years of his expedition, and now he saw Emperor Wen's condition and his heart sank.

"Excuse me for the judge to speak." Xu Muyuan pulled the judge of the Supreme Hospital to a corner and asked him in a low voice. "Is His Majesty still alive?"

Judge Lin of Tai Hospital wiped sweat with shaking hands, and trembled as he spoke. "Your Majesty touched His Majesty's stomach, the inside... the inside is broken..."

Xu Muyuan gasped.

"It's just... it's just a matter of a few days." Lin Yuan judged with a panicked expression.

Xu Muyuan grabbed Lin Yuanping's hand. "Do you know who rode the horse that stepped on His Majesty? It's the eldest grandson of Da Sima!"

The judge looked at Xu Muyuan in shock.

Xu Muyuan said solemnly: "I have already quietly sent the man out of the palace. Da Sima is just such a son and grandson, who is regarded as a treasure on weekdays. Da Sima will not back down on this matter. His Majesty will inevitably establish a new emperor. His Majesty has emperors outside. You have heard about the eldest son, right?"

At this time, the judge's heart was filled with huge waves.

"If things come to pass, Da Sima will not forget you." Xu Muyuan said coldly.

If the Lin court judge still didn't understand Xu Muyuan's intentions, he would have lived in vain for the past 70 years. He wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve, and bowed his hands respectfully. "Wei Wei please show me."

Xu Muyuan felt a little relieved. "Tell those imperial physicians to shut up and not spread the news of His Majesty's injury. Afterwards, I will tell you how to explain to the officials."

Because Xu Muyuan was in control of the palace guards, the whole palace was surrounded by the guards into an iron barrel, and no one could enter or leave, even Zhou's people could not go out to report the news.

Half an hour later, Fang Shouting and Zhao Hengfu rushed to the palace with serious expressions.

The two gathered outside the bedroom with Xu Muyuan, and Fang Shouting gave Xu Muyuan a big gift without saying a word. "Xu Weiwei's great kindness, I can't repay you."

Xu Muyuan hurriedly supported Fang Shouting. "Da Sima's words are serious, the important matter is important, and Da Sima and the emperor have to come up with a decision as soon as possible."

Even if his grandson trampled the emperor to death on horseback, even if it wasn't intentional, Fang Shouting lost all confidence at this moment, and he bowed his hands to Zhao Hengfu. "Please ask the emperor to make up his mind."

Zhao Hengfu's eyes were red, the matter has come to this point, no matter whether it is to investigate the responsibility of the eldest grandson of the Fang family, or investigate the accompanying guards, it will not be able to save Emperor Wen's life.

What matters is the eldest son of the emperor who is raised outside the palace!

Looking up to the sky and sighing, Zhao Hengfu held back his grief and said forcefully: "Write down the imperial edict to welcome the eldest son of the emperor into the palace!"

"Exactly." Xu Muyuan nodded.

At this time Fang Shouting closed his eyes as if he had made a decision. "It's not safe enough. The old man brought [-] elite soldiers into Beijing to control the situation. After the matter is completed, the old man will be dismissed and returned to the field, and the chief minister will be replaced by Xu Weiwei."

Xu Muyuan and Zhao Hengfu were shocked at the same time. "Why is this, Da Sima?"

Fang Shouting said painfully: "My grandson killed His Majesty by mistake, I will let the old man bear the crime, otherwise I will have no face to meet the late emperor in a hundred years."

Zhao Hengfu let out a long sigh.

Now that it has been agreed, Fang Shouting will go out of the palace to dispatch troops, Xu Muyuan will send people to the emperor's mansion to pick up the eldest son of the emperor, and Zhao Hengfu and Xu Muyuan will meet Emperor Wen together.

Just as the two were about to enter the door, they happened to collide with Lin Yuanjuan.

"If you have something to say, hurry up, Your Majesty is afraid it will die!" Lin Yuan judge's voice trembled.

Zhao Hengfu was shocked and immediately rushed into the bedroom. "His Majesty!"

Emperor Wen on the dragon bed opened his empty eyes, his chest heaved violently like a bellows, and he exhausted his whole body's strength every time. The person who was still alive in the early morning has now reached the end of his life.

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Hengfu cried while holding Emperor Wen's hand. "The old minister has already sent someone to pick up the eldest son of the emperor, you have to hold on!"

Emperor Wen couldn't hear any sound, and blood gushed out of his wide-open mouth.

Xu Muyuan held back his tears, turned around and rushed out of the bedroom. "Come and follow me!"

A team of guards followed immediately.

Xu Muyuan came to the Imperial Study Room and broke in. The eunuch in charge of Yuxi was taken aback. The eunuch belonged to the Zhou family. Xu Muyuan looked at him like he was looking at a dead person.

"Drag it out and clean it up!"

The imperial guards dragged the eunuch out of the imperial study, and soon there was no sound.

Xu Muyuan opened the brocade box and confirmed that it was the Chuanguo jade seal, and he strode out with the jade seal in his hand.

At this time, a guard came to report. "Weiwei! The queen is bringing the palace people to make trouble in the harem, and I can't stop it."

There was determination in Xu Muyuan's eyes. "Kill all the troublemakers in the palace, and the empress and harem concubines are confined in the room and cannot go out!"

At the same time, Zhou Chan also received the news of the change of the imperial palace's forbidden army, and why the aristocratic son who entered the palace to play polo has not left the palace yet?It was almost dark.

The more Zhou Chan thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong, he immediately changed into an official uniform and wanted to enter the palace, at this moment there was noise outside the mansion, Zhou Chan rushed out of the mansion, only to see that the guards were all heading towards the palace.

"Come and prepare the horse! The old man is going to enter the palace!" Zhou Chan panicked, something must have happened in the palace!

Xu Muyuan returned to Emperor Wen's bedroom with the Chuanguo Yuxi, and Zhao Hengfu knelt down before it collapsed for a long time.

Seeing this, Xu Muyuan said anxiously: "Master Emperor! Now is not the time to grieve, hurry up and write the imperial edict!"

Zhao Hengfu stood up staggeringly, Xu Muyuan stepped forward to take a look, he left for a while, the situation of Emperor Wen was even worse, and he was already a bit dead.

"Judgment! No matter what method is used, let His Majesty persist until tomorrow!" Xu Muyuan shouted.

The Lin court judge led the imperial physicians to rush forward, administering acupuncture and injecting medicine.

"First write down the imperial edict." Xu Muyuan held Zhao Hengfu back.

Zhao Hengfu nodded. "The old man has lost his composure." He didn't dare to be distracted anymore, the imperial guards sent a blank imperial edict, and Zhao Hengfu picked up his pen.

"Minister of State Supervision must be specified." Xu Muyuan hurriedly reminded him, fearing that he would forget.

At this moment, Zhao Jizhang rushed to the bedroom with the eldest son of the emperor. Zhao Hengfu was writing about who would be the minister of state supervision, so he paused.

"Father!" The eldest son of the emperor rushed to Longta and hugged Emperor Wen and cried loudly.

Xu Shi, the father and son's heart-to-heart relationship, was moved by Emperor Wen.

"Your Majesty has woken up!" the Lin court judge shouted.

Zhao Hengfu immediately dropped his pen and rushed to Emperor Wen.

Emperor Wen opened his mouth full of blood. He wanted to say something but couldn't.

Zhao Hengfu knelt heavily. "Your Majesty, please rest assured that the old minister will support the eldest prince to ascend the throne even if he puts his life on the line."

Emperor Wen closed his eyes.

"Let Your Majesty confirm the edict while His Majesty is awake!" Xu Muyuan jumped anxiously.

But the imperial edict for succession has not yet been drawn up!

Zhao Jizhang stepped forward and picked up the brush to continue writing. When he saw the four characters of the Minister of Supervision, Zhao Jizhang was heartbroken, and he quickly wrote a line of words with his brush like a dragon.

Zhao Hengfu, the emperor's teacher, was appointed as Da Situ, and he supervised the country together with Da Sima, the prime minister.

Zhao Jizhang didn't want Zhou Chan to co-supervise the country, but he understood that the more important thing at this time was to successfully let the eldest son of the emperor succeed to the throne, rather than falling out with Zhou at this juncture.

Zhao Jizhang put down his pen, and Xu Muyuan immediately handed over the jade seal of the state, and stamped the seal of the jade seal at the end of the imperial edict.

Xu Muyuan felt relieved, but Zhao Jizhang still frowned. "not enough!"

Zhao Jizhang picked up the edict and knelt down before Emperor Wen collapsed.

"Your Majesty, I have offended you." Zhao Jizhang picked up Emperor Wen's hand, dipped it in blood from the basin, and then stamped his handprint on the imperial edict.

Zhao Jizhang rolled up the imperial edict and hid it close to his body.

At this time, Emperor Wen was already angry.

Zhao Hengfu knelt before the collapse and helped the eldest son of the emperor to bid farewell to Emperor Wen. This situation is very sad. Emperor Wen is only 27 years old this year.

As night fell, Zhou Chan led civil and military officials to make a fuss outside the palace gate, and some guards got instructions from Shangfeng and finally revealed what happened in the palace.

Hearing that Emperor Wen was seriously injured when he fell from his horse, Zhou Chan only felt that the five thunders struck him and he fell on his back.

"Prime Minister!"

It took Zhou Chan a while to recover.

At this moment, the closed palace door opened, and Xu Muyuan stood there in military uniform. "The ministers are arranged in court order, and enter the palace with me to see His Majesty for the last time."

The disciples of the Zhou family among the ministers got angry and wanted to rush in to question Xu Muyuan, but were immediately stopped by the guards.

"Who dares to cause trouble!" Xu Muyuan said coldly.

The imperial guards drew their swords one after another, and those who were frightened for a while shrank back.

Zhou Chan walked in the front with the support of his son. Anyone could see that the prime minister at this moment had lost his former arrogance. He only had one thought in his mind, he couldn't live without Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wen couldn't just leave like this!

He didn't dare to imagine what would happen to the Zhou family if the second prince of the late emperor was allowed to ascend the throne.

Officials above the third rank can enter the palace, while officials below the fourth rank can only kneel outside the palace.

Emperor Wen no longer vomited blood, and seemed to be asleep silently, but his pale face made it clear at a glance that the young man lying on the bed was powerless.

"Your Majesty!!" The ministers wailed bitterly.

Zhou Chan rushed to the front of the collapse in three steps and two steps at a time. As soon as he grabbed Emperor Wen's hand, it was colder than ice.

"No, Your Majesty, you can't just leave like this." Zhou Chan's mind went blank, and he muttered to himself.

"Prime Minister, I'm about to read the imperial edict, please take a step back." Zhao Hengfu stood beside Longta.

Hearing the imperial edict, all the ministers stopped crying for a while.

Emperor Wen has no son, who will the throne be passed on to?Unexpectedly, the imperial edict was said to be passed on to Wu Tianrui, the eldest son of the emperor, and the ministers looked at each other in blank dismay.

At this moment, Zhao Jizhang came in with a little boy in his arms and said loudly: "This is the eldest son of the emperor raised by His Majesty in the Imperial Master's Mansion. He was born to Concubine Cao when His Majesty was supervising the army in Northern Xinjiang."

The ministers talked a lot.

Xu Muyuan took a step forward. "Prime Minister, you were also present when the eldest son of the emperor was born. Is it true?"

At this moment, Zhou Chan was startled and angry. He saw that the little boy was [-]% similar to Emperor Wen, and he understood it in his heart.

When did Emperor Wen take the eldest son of the emperor to Beijing, he didn't even know?Could it be that the disappearance of Cao Meiren and the eldest son of the emperor was a trick set up by Emperor Wen?

However, Zhou Chan quickly lost his anger, because he clearly understood that it was more beneficial to admit the emperor's eldest son to inherit the throne than to let the former emperor's prince succeed.

Zhou Chan is also one of the supervisors in the imperial edict, no matter what the considerations are, Zhou Chan has no choice.

"true."

Xu Muyuan looked away. "Everyone wait outside, let His Majesty get together with his wife and children at the last moment."

Soon the imperial guards brought the queen and three princesses over, and Cao Meiren, the biological mother of the emperor's eldest son, bid farewell to Emperor Wen with the child in their arms, crying heartbroken.

In the early hours of the morning, the death knell sounded in the palace, shaking the imperial capital for a while.

In the late autumn of the second year of Xuanhua, Emperor Wen died suddenly.

The eldest son of the emperor, who was only six years old, succeeded the emperor, and was supervised by the prime minister, the chief situ, and the chief Sima until the young emperor came of age.

The news of the national funeral was sent to the counties and state capitals in eight hundred miles.

When Liu Zhan got the news, he thought he heard it wrong. This short-lived and incompetent emperor buried himself because of a polo match, which is pitiful and sad.

Speechless for a long time, Liu Zhan couldn't tell what it was like, and could only sigh in the end.

The author has something to say: Emperor Wen died suddenly, the young emperor succeeded to the throne, the new dungeon opened, and the Zhou family should come to an end