"Prince," Emperor Long'an was the first to call the prince by name: "After my death, the funeral does not need to be too extravagant."
The prince's eyes flashed with water, and he choked with sobs: "My father has a long life, and he will definitely be able to turn misfortune into good luck, and live a long life."
Emperor Long'an twitched his lips: "For so many years since the founding of the Qi Dynasty, the longest lifespan of anyone is only over fifty years old. I have lived past sixty, and I am content."
"There is no such thing as a hundred years, the emperor is also a human being, and there will always be a moment when he closes his eyes. I have been sitting on the dragon throne for forty years, and I ask myself whether I am worthy of my ancestors and worthy of the common people. I have chosen the best prince for Daqi, so I will close my eyes immediately.
, I can straighten my back and go underground to meet my ancestors."
He coughed a few times and then said: "Prince, after I am buried, you will ascend the throne. Manage the country well and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. I can feel at ease underground."
The prince couldn't kneel down and burst into tears.
Emperor Long'an looked at King Qin again: "King Qin, come here."
King Qin's eyes were red and he knelt beside the dragon bed: "Father, my son and I are here."
The King of Qin, who was in his forties, had long lost his former heroic appearance, had some white hair on his head, and his back was stooped, as if his muscles had been cramped, and he looked much older.
Emperor Long'an sighed: "I know all the things you have done, and I won't talk about you anymore. In the past few years, I have been cold to you. Do you resent me in your heart?"
King Qin kowtowed three times and cried, "It's because the sons and ministers are unfilial and always make the father angry. The father should punish the sons and ministers."
Emperor Long'an's eyes were complicated, but his voice was relatively calm: "After I leave, you guys don't have to observe filial piety in the capital. You can go and join the feudal clan on your own."
The King of Qin was shocked, and even the King of Zhao and Han were shocked. They all knelt down and said, "Father! Filial piety is the most important thing in Daqi. It is natural for us to observe filial piety for our father for three years. How could our brothers just walk away!"
"Yes, we want to stay in the capital."
The King of Han was most heart-wrenching and said directly to the prince: "If second brother can't trust me, I will live in the imperial mausoleum and observe mourning for my father for three years."
This refers directly to the fact that the prince is afraid of all the princes and wants to drive them out of the capital as soon as possible.
Before the prince opened his mouth, Emperor Long'an had already darkened his face and shouted angrily: "Asshole! I'm not dead yet, how dare you not listen to what I say?"
"It's my idea to ask you to become a vassal as soon as possible and it has nothing to do with the prince."
"I will summon Prince Fu, General Yuan, and several pavilion elders to enter the palace later and make a final decree. When I pass away and be buried, you will leave the capital immediately."
The kings of Qin, Zhao, and Han were depressed and aggrieved.
Emperor Long'an was afraid that the succession of imperial power would be unstable, so he wanted to expel them from the capital early and let the prince take complete control of the court.
Any partiality is all fake. This heart is clearly biased towards the prince.
However, Emperor Long'an had already made up his mind and would not change it no matter how many of his sons cried and begged.
Emperor Long'an looked at the angry eyes of his sons beside the bed and sighed tiredly to himself. Emperor Long'an knew very well the temperament and virtue of his sons.
The King of Qin failed in his bid for the crown prince and was filled with resentment. In the past few years, he had swallowed his anger and secretly made some plans. The King of Han had the help of the Cao family and Prince Fu, which was a major obstacle to the smooth succession of the prince.
There is also King Zhao, who looks silent and does not laugh, and is not a fuel-efficient lamp.
With him around, the brothers could barely maintain their friendship and respect. As soon as he closed his eyes, there would be chaos.
He asked the King of Qin, Zhao, and King Han to join the vassalship earlier, not only for the smooth succession of the prince, but also to preserve his sons. In terms of city government and means, they are actually far behind the prince. They will join the vassalship honestly and keep their heads down.
There is still peace and wealth in this life. Otherwise, there will be a river of blood!
However, none of his sons understood his father's heart. They all blamed him in their hearts!
Emperor Long'an sighed silently and closed his eyes.
…
No matter how unwilling the kings of Qin, Zhao, and Han were, no one could stop what Emperor Longan was determined to do.
The next day, the three senior ministers of the six departments and Prince Fu were summoned into the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Emperor Long'an made a will in front of his close ministers. This will was sealed. When Emperor Long'an passed away, he would
It was read out in public by Prince Fu.
Prince Fu, who was also in his fifties, knelt beside the dragon bed and cried uncontrollably, his beard covered with tears and runny nose.
Emperor Long'an was really good to his direct brother. In the past few decades, Prince Fu has been in charge of the clan mansion, holding real power, and is very prosperous both inside and outside the court.
"After I leave, you will fulfill your filial piety on my behalf and often go to the palace to accompany my mother." Emperor Long'an coughed up blood again, his face was as white as paper, and he spoke intermittently.
Prince Fu's face was full of tears.
Emperor Long'an calmed down his disordered breathing, and whispered after a while: "The King of Han has a shrewd face, but in fact his talents are mediocre and he cannot be a prince. I like the youngest son best, but I have never thought of handing over the country to him."
"I know that Concubine Cao and the King of Han have been trying their best to win over you. I also know that after the King of Han failed to win the heir apparent, you and the King of Han, mother and son, became quite alienated."
"You are right to do this. Nothing is more important than the country and the country. I chose King Yan to be the prince because King Yan is the best and most suitable one. After I leave, you will assist the new emperor. The prince will not treat you poorly.
.”
Prince Fu cried bitterly and agreed.
After making these arrangements, Emperor Long'an ordered Concubine Cao and Concubine Tian Shu to be summoned.
Concubine Cao Guifei and Concubine Tian Shu cried so hard beside the dragon bed that they could not stand upright.
Emperor Long'an slowly asked: "On the day of my death, which of you will be willing to be buried?"
What?
Burial?
Concubine Cao Guifei and Concubine Tian Shu suddenly stopped crying, and their eyes flashed with fear.
Not to mention Concubine Tian Shu, even Concubine Cao would never want to be buried. It would be great to live well. Maybe they can be like Empress Dowager Cao and still live well in their eighties.
Of course they don’t want to be buried!
But facing Emperor Long An, who looked pale and was breathing rapidly, as if he would close his eyes in the next moment, they didn't dare to open their mouths at all.
Concubine Tian Shu lowered her head in panic.
Concubine Cao also subconsciously avoided Emperor Long'an's gaze.
Emperor Long'an didn't know whether he was disappointed or not, but he looked calm: "That's fine. If you don't want to be buried, just live a good life and don't need to stay in the palace. You can go to the feudal land with King Zhao and King Han to retire."
Seeing that she had escaped death, Concubine Tian Shu was elated and kowtowed repeatedly to thank her.
Concubine Cao was more knowledgeable than Concubine Tian Shu, and her heart suddenly sank.
Emperor Long'an was retreating in order to advance, so he kicked them out of the capital together to clear the harem for the East Palace! The Tian family was weak, but the Cao family was strong and deeply rooted, and Empress Dowager Cao was still there to support it. There might not be a day when they could make a comeback in the future...
She went to join the vassal state with the King of Han, and the power in the palace that she had worked hard for many years would soon be uprooted.
Emperor Long'an was really "well-intentioned"!
Concubine Cao was so filled with hatred that her heart bled, and she and Concubine Tian Shu kowtowed together: "I obey the decree."
