Although it is true that Zhu Changhao and Zhu Youxiao are blood relatives, he thinks that the relationship and affection between them have not yet reached such a deep level.
Therefore, he didn't take the emperor's words to heart and just replied with a few polite words.
Seeing him like this, Zhu Youxiao also smiled and passed by.
Then he said:
"My assassination must have been the result of some officials in the DPRK who were dissatisfied with me."
"There must be some outsiders in this palace, otherwise they wouldn't know my whereabouts so accurately."
"Although I have ordered a high degree of confidentiality, the sudden martial law in the capital today will probably not be kept secret for long."
"They, I'm afraid, wish that I would die now."
"In that case, I would like to play a cat-and-mouse game with them."
Seeing that the emperor seemed to be talking to himself, Zhu Changhao was very sensible and did not say anything. What the emperor wanted to do or what he wanted to do was not something he could interfere with.
"Prince Rui, I'm afraid I need you to step on the stage this time and cooperate with me to sing this scene well."
Hearing that he was mentioned, Zhu Changhao immediately expressed his loyalty and said:
"I don't know what your Majesty's plan is. Since I will be of use to you, I will definitely not shirk and will do my best."
Zhu Changhao is a rare "elderly leftover man". He was in his thirties before he could go to the feudal clan. Looking at history, there are probably not many of them.
Although the emperor was poisoned, he was obviously fine. He would probably recover if he took good care of himself for a few days.
He also hoped that the emperor would seal him a good place and leave Beijing as soon as possible to join the feudal clan.
Zhu Youxiao also knew what King Rui wanted in his heart, and couldn't help but smile:
"Okay, with these words, I feel relieved."
"After everything is done, I will grant King Rui a prosperous place and live the rest of my life in peace and wealth."
Seeing the emperor opening Chrysostom, King Rui was also quite excited and quickly knelt down and shouted:
"I thank your Majesty for your grace."
At Zhu Youxiao's signal, Cao Bianjiao, who had been standing by him, immediately helped him up.
Then he said:
"I will tell all the officials in the meeting that I was assassinated, my body was poisoned, and my life is in danger, and then I will announce that the six chief officials of the cabinet have entered the palace."
"At that time, I will formally appoint you as the supervisor of the country in front of them and govern the country on my behalf."
King Rui, who had just sat down, heard that the emperor wanted to order him to supervise the country and govern the country. He could not sit still, and the joy he had just felt was gone.
He quickly stood up and said:
"I am scared and hope that your majesty can take back the sacred order. I am a stupid person and cannot afford the position of supervising the country. Moreover, this is not in line with the etiquette and laws set by Emperor Gao."
"Don't be nervous. Although you are officially appointed to supervise the country, it is just a show of force. You will not really be allowed to participate in state affairs."
"As for the so-called etiquette, what's the difference?"
"King Guang has already entered the vassal state and is thousands of miles away from the capital. It is simply too late."
"Prince Rui is Huang Kao's biological brother and also my biological uncle. Now that I am dying and you step in to supervise the country, none of the officials can say anything."
That being said, Zhu Changhao is not a person who cannot recognize himself.
I wholeheartedly worship the Buddha, and just want a fiefdom to be established as soon as possible, so that I can live my whole life in peace and ease.
He doesn't know anything about the affairs of the court, and he can't play with it.
He still wanted to refuse, but Zhu Youxiao's words made him hold back his words.
"Prince Rui just said that he would never shirk and would do his best."
At this time, King Rui only regretted that he had expressed his loyalty too early, but it was a pity that there was no regret in this world.
At this time, even if he didn't want to do anything, he could only break his teeth and swallow the bitter fruit he had sown.
I hope the fire won't burn me to death by then, but it will be more of a loss than a gain.
"I dare not disobey Your Majesty. Since Your Majesty's holy will has been decided, I will play this role well and cooperate with Your Majesty."
Seeing that he finally agreed, Zhu Youxiao was also ready to give him a reassurance, only to hear him say:
"Don't worry, Prince Rui. You are my blood relative. As long as you abide by your duties, I will definitely protect you."
"The reason why I made this decision was because I was forced to do so."
"What I have done since I came to the throne is that I don't know how many courtiers and officials, how many gentry and powerful people have been looking forward to it day and night, burning incense and praying, hoping that I can leave with the imperial examination as soon as possible."
"They are doing it secretly, and I am doing it openly. No matter what I do, I must always be on guard against them coming out to cause trouble, doing bad things, or even uniting to openly oppose me."
"It is said that it is easy to hide from an open gun, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow."
"As long as I'm still alive, they won't show up, they will lurk in the dark, and they will shoot cold arrows from time to time, just like today."
"My plan to lure snakes out of their holes is to make them relax their vigilance and expose their flaws. Then we will catch them all in one fell swoop, once and for all."
Although Zhu Changhao was a vassal king who did not care about state affairs, he was not good at it either.
But he lived to be more than thirty years old, and he was not a fool. He naturally understood some of the intrigues and conflicts of interest between the emperor and the civil servants.
But he didn't expect that the emperor would be so bold and wanted to hide the truth and achieve the effect of luring the snake out of its hole.
It's just that this time, I have suffered a lot. Your Majesty will not deceive you, right?
"Your Majesty is wise, and I will definitely cooperate wholeheartedly."
After the two discussed it, Zhu Youxiao called Wang Chaofu, drafted an edict, and asked Wei Zhongxian to summon three bachelors of the cabinet, as well as six ministers and some other more important officials.
It was already approaching midnight, the entire palace was already covered in white, and the temperature was even colder.
However, the three bachelors and other officials in Wenyuan Pavilion did not feel this biting chill.
Although they were under house arrest here, the eunuchs in the palace did not dare to freeze these highly respected ministers.
But even so, they still looked out the window from time to time, and sometimes opened the palace door.
Seeing that the guards in armor and holding swords were still guarding where they were, they could only sigh angrily and return angrily.
"What happened? We are even locked up here, unable to leave even an inch."
Among the three, Wang Zai Jin is the youngest, and he also has the shortest temper, so he complains from time to time to express his strong dissatisfaction.
While he was pacing back and forth, Wei Zhongxian, wrapped tightly in a thick cotton coat, finally arrived.
"Several of you, Your Majesty has summoned you, please come with our family."
Wei Zhongxian's words made Wang Xiangqian and Xu Guangqi, who were sitting quietly on the sidelines, unable to remain calm. They immediately put on their cotton clothes and followed Wei Zhongxian towards Qianqing Palace.
At the same time, the ministers of the six ministries, as well as officials from the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Sixth Section, also headed towards the Qianqing Palace under the guidance of the eunuch and the Jin Yiwei.