Xu Huai knelt in front of the dragon bed in a daze, looking at Emperor Jianji's thin body motionless under the brocade quilt, looking at Emperor Jianji's thin arms that were stretched down, and looking at Emperor Jianji's thin and sunken body.
With pale cheeks and tightly closed eye sockets, listening to Princess Yingyun and Concubine Zheng crying...
"Xu Hou, His Majesty passed away. At this precarious time, like a huge pillar supporting the sky collapsing, we are all grieved. But just like this, we need to hold back the grief in our hearts and deal with your Majesty's death.
Only by doing this can we live up to His Majesty's trust..." Zhou He walked to Xu Huai, stretched out his hand to hold his arm, and wanted to pull him up to talk.
Zhou He was in charge of the Prime Minister's affairs as a minister under his family, and as a minister under Zhongshu's family, Ping Zhangshi. His rank in the court was before the prince, and he was in the same rank as the prince.
Theoretically, even if it is clear that Huai Wang Zhao Guan ascended the throne, before he officially ascended the throne, Zhou He should take the lead in presiding over the posthumous affairs of Emperor Jian Ji, and even lead the officials to persuade the new emperor to ascend the throne.
Under normal circumstances, where might there be opportunities for foreign generals to intervene or talk too much?
However, a secret edict completely disrupted the order that Zhou He and others were familiar with.
At present, all ministers in the DPRK and the Central Government are aware of the existence of the secret edict.
Especially after the secret edict was transmitted to Chushan, even if Emperor Jianji regained consciousness, he did not leave a single word - this also means that the secret edict held by Xu Huai was Emperor Jianji's last will.
During the Battle of Ruying, Zhou He, Gao Chunnian and others tried every means to delay and obstruct, but nothing failed to interrupt Emperor Jianji's determination to lead the expedition himself.
That time also made Zhou He, Gao Chunnian and others clearly see how loyal the three imperial camps of Deng Gui, Liu Yan and Zhang Xin, who were directly under the imperial envoy structure, were to Emperor Jianji.
With this understanding, they naturally also knew that Emperor Jianji had recently died and the generals were in grief and anger. As long as the news of the secret edict was made public, the Manchu Dynasty and the Huai Palace would not be able to fight against the secret edict at such a special moment.
Life.
Therefore, whether Zhou He is willing to admit it or not, Xu Huai, who holds the secret edict, has actually replaced him in the position of leading the ministers - it can even be said that Xu Huai is the real minister who cares about life.
At least until the new emperor ascends the throne, no one can directly confront Xu Huai who holds the secret edict.
Although Zhou He was more eager in his heart to know what the secret decree was, he could only ask Xu Huai to stand up and discuss the posthumous matters of Emperor Jian's succession at this time.
Xu Huai stood up in front of the dragon bed, looked at Emperor Jianji's lifeless and thin face, and listened to Princess Yingyun and Concubine Zheng crying - he originally thought that Emperor Jianji could hold on for a few more days no matter how bad he was.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jianji died at the moment of his audience.
Faced with Zhou He's urging and the anxious look in Huai Wang Zhao Guan's eyes, Xu Huai's mind was a little confused. After thinking for a while, he looked at the people in the inner hall and said slowly:
"Your Majesty's death should first be known to the ministers waiting in the main hall - how to deal with your Majesty's affairs after his death. Xu Huai also thought that it would be best for all ministers to discuss it together. Prime Minister Zhou, King Huai, Prime Minister, Princess Yingyun, Wu Wei
Prince Zheng, Lord Zheng, what do you think?"
Zhou He hesitated before speaking, glanced at Hu Kai and Zhao Yi, Prince of Wuwei County, and finally looked at Zhao Yi, Prince of Huaihe.
The corners of Huai Wang Zhao Guan's mouth twitched slightly, and his face looked ugly.
He could still hear the key point of Xu Huai's words, which was to ask Concubine Zheng and Princess Yingyun to walk out of the inner hall together and discuss with the ministers the affairs of Emperor Jian's successor.
The signal conveyed to the ministers was that the dragon chair did not belong to Zhao Guan, Prince of Huai, at this time.
Otherwise, Xu Huai could find any reason or excuse to let Concubine Zheng, who gave birth to the prince, stay in the inner palace, and prevent her from meeting the ministers, or even prevent Concubine Zheng from meeting Zheng Cong.
Obviously, Xu Huai had no intention of following his heart at this time.
Although Zhao Guan had expected this, when he actually saw this scene happening, he still couldn't help but feel an evil fire rising in his heart.
After a while, Zhao Guan suppressed the anger in his heart, and even resisted asking what the secret edict was. He just said with a calm face: "Xu Hou is young and old, and what he said is true. What happened after the death of the emperor brother.
We will decide after discussing with the ministers..."
…………
…………
The inner and outer halls of Funing Palace were only separated by two screens. Emperor Jianji passed away. The ministers waiting in the outer hall had long heard the news, but no one from the inner hall came out to announce the incident, so they could only wait patiently.
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Zheng Cong was in a restless mood.
Zhao Fan rushed to Wuyang, but did not even see Xu Huai's face; after he rushed to Jianye, he tried every means to ask for an audience with Hu Kai, Zhu Hang, Wang Fan and others, but he was also turned away.
When there was no better choice, Hu Kai and Zhu Hang still preferred Prince Huai in their hearts. Although Hu Kai and Zhu Hang were extremely restrained in keeping a distance from Prince Huai's Mansion during this turbulent time, they could not completely eliminate it.
People around them had already seen into their thoughts and secretly made friends with the people in Prince Huai's Mansion.
All these clues, gathered through the Chuzhou Anbu Yu Jianye's eyes, gave Zheng Cong a very bad premonition.
At this time, Emperor Jianji passed away, but Zheng Cong was not qualified to enter the inner hall - he knew very well that Xu Huaizhen was going to discuss many matters with Zhou He, Huai Wang Zhao Guan, Hu Kai and others and go to the main hall to announce,
The Zheng family has no room for resistance other than accepting it.
At least there is no room for resistance now.
Listening to the rustling footsteps, I watched Xu Huai and Zhou He, Huai Wang Zhao Guan, Hu Kai, Wuwei County Prince Zhao Yi, and Qiao Jien come out from behind the screen that blocked the inner hall, and they were fighting bloody battles on the battlefield.
Zheng Cong, who could frown, couldn't help but feel colder and quieter in his heart.
It wasn't until he saw Princess Yingyun supporting his sister Zheng Guifei and walking out from behind with the young prince that Zheng Cong's heart skipped a beat, as if he suddenly came to his senses.
Zheng Cong knew that if the overall situation had been decided, his sister Zheng Guifei would have no chance to bring the prince out to meet with the ministers at this time - not to mention Huai Wang Zhao Guan's gloomy face also showed that everything was as Zhao Fan expected:
Xu Huai, who was holding the secret edict, came to Jianye in such a hurry because he was waiting for a price; Xu Huai had not announced the secret edict to Zhou He, Huai Wang Zhao Guan and others!
As long as the secret edict has not been made public at this time, and as long as the secret edict is still in Xu Huai's hands, no matter what was written before, it cannot be modified.
Zheng Cong tried his best to cast a friendly look at Xu Huai, hoping that Xu Huai would understand that the Zheng family had the greatest goodwill toward Chu Shan.
Xu Huai, however, stood with his arms folded, looking at the pointed toes of his official boots, not responding to Zheng Cong's eyes, nor looking at the face of Huai Wang Zhao Guan.
"Your Majesty, you are dead!"
Walking to the outer hall, Zhou He saw that Xu Huai did not rush to stand in the middle, and even lowered his head and said nothing. He and Hu Kai discussed quietly for a while. Finally, he stood up and announced with a choked voice that Emperor Jianji had just arrived.
collapsed.
Although this moment had been expected, the hall fell into silence for a while, and a sad atmosphere filled the air.
The ministers who can stand in the main hall of Funing Palace have experienced many twists and turns, and their minds are also hard and cold.
However, since the fall of Bianliang, under such difficult circumstances, Emperor Jianji led his ministers to overcome all difficulties and stabilize the situation bit by bit, which was basically witnessed by all the ministers in the main hall.
Of course, the ministers are also worried about the unrest that will follow.
When Zhou He announced that the funeral of Emperor Jianji would be discussed by all ministers together, everyone became active again, exchanging glances or whispering, and looking towards Xu Huai intentionally or unintentionally.
Funing Palace is a dormitory hall, and the outer hall is not very spacious.
Concubine Zheng and the prince, Princess Yingyun, King Zhao Guan of Huai, Chief Zhou He, Privy Councilor Hu Kai, and Prince Zhao Yi of Wuwei County all sat at the table. Of course Xu Huai also sat at the table. In addition, Wang Fan, as Xu Huai's father-in-law, had a seat at the table.
Others, including Gao Chunnian, Gu Fan, Zheng Cong, and Qiao Jien, could only stand in the main hall to discuss the arrangements for the funeral. For this matter, they had to send someone to summon Zhu Hang and other ministers with official duties into the palace.
Come.
When a monarch dies, the funeral has its own regulations, including hanging, funeral rites and entering the mausoleum. Emperor Jianji has to carry out a small burial today. In fact, there is not much room for discussion. Usually, the Ministry of Rites and the Qintian Supervisor draft the regulations.
After the formation, it will be decided by the succeeding emperor and the ministers.
However, at this time, everyone also very cleverly avoided the sensitive topic of "successor emperor", and determined the persons and departments responsible for the small coffin, the big coffin, and the discussion of hanging, etc., and decided that all the matters related to the final funeral would be handled by Zheng Guifei.
, Princess Yingyun, King Zhao Guan of Huai, Prince Wuwei, Zhou He, Hu Kai, and Xu Huai made the final decision.
Although there were many people who were eager to try it, in the end they did not take the initiative to ask about the secret edict——
Everyone knew in their hearts that if Xu Huai issued a secret edict at this time, the final decision would be whether Prince Yin or Prince Huai would ascend the throne, and no one could change the established situation.
Huai Wang Zhao Guan, Zheng Cong and others have no chance of winning, especially Xu Huai just arrived in Jianye late yesterday night. No one has a chance to contact Xu Huai. They have no idea which side Xu Huai is leaning towards at this time. Who among them dares to
Are you forcing Xu Huai to express his stance at this time?
King Huai, Zhao Guan, Zheng Cong, and Xu Huai are not in a hurry. If any of the ministers dares to act rashly, won't they be afraid of disaster?
"I am young and careless, and I am embarrassed to hold such a big responsibility." After the ministers discussed many details, Xu Huaicai handed over to Wang Fan and said, "I have to ask my father-in-law to discuss your Majesty's funeral with the ministers, His Royal Highness Prince Huai, and Concubine Zheng on my behalf.
For the best..."
When Emperor Jianji passed away, the prince and ministers had to attend the funeral. Especially the ministers who led the funeral had to stay in the palace and were not allowed to leave at will. At this time, Xu Huai pushed his father-in-law Wang Fan out to take part in the funeral in his place.
Everyone was a little surprised when the decision was made and the funeral was held, but it made sense after thinking about it carefully.
"It's okay for the prince to stay in the palace on your behalf," Hu Kai said. "You must have been very tired after traveling for several days to build Ye. Jingshenghou Mansion has not been occupied for a long time, so it is not appropriate to move in in a hurry. I have already ordered the mansion to
I will free up a courtyard for you to stay temporarily..."
"There is no need to bother the Prime Minister. Zhufengtang has a warehouse at the mouth of the Longzangpu River. It occupies a large area. It is very convenient to go to the city and the palace if you need anything. I'd better stay in the warehouse." Xu Huai refused.
Hu Kai guessed that Chushan might use this opportunity to fight for some favorable conditions, but he believed that Xu Huai would not go too far and would not let down the trust of Emperor Jianji. When the wind and rain were turbulent and people were in panic, Hu Kai felt more confident in his heart.
He hoped that the matter of the throne could be settled as soon as possible to reassure the army and the people, so he wanted to invite Xu Huai to stay in his house and persuade him to accept it as soon as possible, but he did not want to be rejected outright by Xu Huai.
Hu Kai looked at Xu Huai with some surprise and resisted asking questions at this time...
