In early autumn, the sky is high and the clouds are clear, and the sky is blue. There is a huge scene in front of the Duke of Wei's palace. The emperor stands solemnly with his official ceremony. It is obviously Emperor Liu who is coming to visit the Duke of Wei, Murong Yanzhao.
"If you were fine a few days ago, why is your illness so serious?" Emperor Liu sat beside the bed, looking at Murong Yanzhao who was struggling to get up from his illness, with a very serious tone.
Today, Murong Yanzhao is only fifty-four years old. However, his appearance is haggard and skinny. Judging from his appearance, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is already seventy or eighty years old.
With his wrinkled face, pale color, and thin cheeks, Murong Yanzhao’s charm of the past has completely disappeared. Now, he is just an old man on the verge of death. No one can believe that the famous Duke Wei is now He had such a weak appearance.
This is the third time in the past two years that Liu Chengyou has come to visit Murong Yanzhao in person. The depth of honor and favor can be seen. As for Emperor Liu, he was able to pay homage to Emperor Liu with the support of his family the first two times, but now, he It's a matter of being helpless.
"I am now like a dead tree with its stumps, and it is hard to recover from its decline!" Murong Yanzhao could see clearly. The arrival of the emperor also restored some of his vitality. His voice was as old as his appearance, and he said: "I have been bedridden for many years. , suffering and torture, this time, I feel that my time is coming, and I can no longer be loyal to Your Majesty and serve the court. I also ask Your Majesty to forgive me..."
As he said that, the sick look on Murong Yanzhao's face became a little more serious, and even his cough seemed weak. Seeing this, Liu Chengyou hurriedly said: "Treat me if you are sick, why say such unlucky words!"
Most of the time, Emperor Liu was in the habit of being hypocritical, but in a few moments, facing a few people, he still expressed his sincerity. His concern for Murong Yanzhao obviously belonged to the latter.
Feeling Emperor Liu's "affection", Murong Yanzhao showed a pale smile again and said: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid I really won't be able to survive this time! Everyone is destined to die, there is nothing to be afraid of! I originally wanted to dictate Posthumous memorial, I bid farewell to Your Majesty. Fortunately, Your Majesty has deigned to come here..."
"Okay, please don't say any more, I just want to be healthy!" For some reason, seeing Murong Yanzhao like this, his eyes were a little hot and his tone was slightly choked.
"If you don't tell me, I'm afraid I won't have another chance." Murong Yanzhao said, with a trace of reminiscence in his eyes: "In the first half of my life, although I was a little famous, I was limited to the countryside and did nothing. Thirty-six years have passed since I was honored to be conscripted by His Majesty. In this life, I feel most fortunate and what I dare not forget the most is that I was drafted into the living room by Your Majesty.
Although I am a rough and brave man, I dare not call him a good general. However, I have gained the trust of your Majesty. He does not treat me as a humble minister. He has repeatedly entrusted me with important tasks. I am sincere and frightened, and I shed tears of gratitude.
In the past twenty years, although I have made few achievements, I have been awarded the honor of Qianyou Meritorious Minister. I am deeply moved, but I also feel that Your Majesty treats ministers too seriously, and I feel ashamed that I cannot deserve it..."
The more Murong Yanzhao spoke, the more excited he became, but it became more and more difficult to pronounce and pronounce the words. Liu Chengyou directly held his hand and solemnly said: "How can I not know your thoughts? No need to say more, I understand!"
Seeing this, Murong Yanzhao smiled and finally said: "Your Majesty, I must ask for a brief account of my funeral affairs. My descendants can be used according to their talents. Don't give me too much preferential treatment just because of my small merits... .”
Because of Murong Yanzhao's health, the emperor and his ministers did not talk for too long or talk too much, and Emperor Liu soon left.
When he walked out of the ward, Liu Chengyou felt very heavy and even rubbed his eyes subconsciously. Murong Yanzhao also had many sons, but most of them were born after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Except for the eldest son Murong Deye, who had grown up and had become the governor of Bozhou, Others look young.
At this time, the person serving the soup and medicine at home was the second son, Murong Defeng, who was able to make the final decision. He was only eighteen years old now. Before leaving, Liu Chengyou patted Murong Defeng on the shoulder and said softly: "Have a good time taking care of your father!"
"Yes!" Murong Defeng's tone was also choked with sobs. Of course he knew that his father was not going to die soon, because Murong Yanzhao had already arranged his funeral arrangements.
When leaving Duke Wei's mansion, Emperor Liu, who seldom showed emotion or anger, rarely showed sentimentality. Seeing that the emperor was in a bad mood, those who attended him became even more cautious.
It is always sad when old ministers wither and old friends pass away. For Liu Chengyou, the last time such emotions were unbearable was when Duke Pu of Yan State passed away.
However, Emperor Liu respected Wang Pu more. Murong Yanzhao did not. He was a general who followed Emperor Liu from Hedong. Not to mention his outstanding achievements and contributions, as far as the close relationship with him was concerned, Emotions are beyond compare to human beings.
When Anding Hou Zhang Yanwei committed suicide two years ago, Emperor Liu felt a little sad, especially Murong Yanzhao. Although Emperor Liu had always acted coldly and seemed indifferent to emotion, this was also true.
Murong Yanzhao has been ill for several years since he resigned from the Ministry of War, with good and bad times, and even critical illness several times. But this time, Emperor Liu knew that he really couldn't survive it, and he would witness another hero. The passing of a generation of heroes.
Returning to the palace, Emperor Liu's mood became more and more heavy, and his sadness was difficult to express. When he returned to the Long Live Palace, the servant who served him brought a basin of water: "Guardian, please clean your hands!"
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou was not interested and said casually: "My hands are not dirty!"
The chamberlain replied: "When an official visits a patient, he should purify himself of any bad luck..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Liu became furious. He overturned the basin of water with one hand, stared at the servant, and ordered directly to Yantuo: "Pull him down and give him twenty sticks!"
At this time, the servant was so frightened that he didn't even know where the emperor's anger came from, so he hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy. Yan Tuo on the side saw him, and very ably commanded the people to take him out and ordered the imperial staff. His expression was very tense. Although he was tight, he was happy in his heart. The servants around the emperor were also competitive. The person who was punished had been too active in front of Emperor Liu in the past two years. How could he not be jealous of Yan Tuo.
Liu Chengyou was sitting behind the imperial case, and he was no longer interested in reading the memorials on the case. Yantuo led others to put away the overturned basin and clean up the spilled water. He should be very careful in his movements and in many forms. No matter how cautious you are, the crackling of boards outside and the screams are enough to warn people.
Of course, everyone in the palace was also surprised. After all, Emperor Liu had not been so irritable and angry for a long time.
Until Queen Da Fu arrived, she could clearly understand the scene in the Long Live Hall at a glance. She remained dignified and sat down with him. Seeing Emperor Liu's distressed performance, Da Fu reached out to rub him gently and asked: " Is Wei Gong's condition serious?"
"Yeah!" Emperor Liu couldn't possibly vent his anger on the queen, so he didn't resist her move and responded, "I'm afraid I won't be able to survive for long!"
"Alas!" Hearing this, Da Fu could not help but sigh and said, "Tomorrow, I will go to Yanxia Temple to pray for Duke Wei!"
"How can we seek the natural principles of birth, old age, illness and death?" Liu Chengyou said, but he raised his eyes and looked at the big talisman. After all, this was her intention. After thinking about it, she said again: "You have a intention!"
"Just hope for the official family, don't be too sentimental!" Dafu comforted him.
After thinking for a while, Liu Chengyou asked: "Liu Yang's marriage will be with the Murong family's young lady. What do you think?"
Dafu naturally had no objections to this and agreed: "The officials can make the decision!"
In fact, as he got older, the prince's marriage also affected the hearts of both the court and the public, both inside and outside the palace. Dafu had mentioned it several times. After all, it had been two years since Qin Gong Liu Xu had been married, and Bai's belly was also swollen. Well, in a few months, Emperor Liu’s eldest grandson will be born...
In fact, it is difficult to choose the candidate for the crown princess. Emperor Liu had previously intended to marry the Murong family, but he had such a trivial concern. Now, if Murong Yanzhao dies of illness, then it will be difficult to appoint the Murong family daughter. There was less obstruction from the emperor. After all, 70% of the prominence of Murong Yisect was due to the influence of Murong Yanzhao.
Murong Yanzhao's condition deteriorated faster than Emperor Liu imagined. He didn't survive for a few days at all. He died suddenly that night. Obviously, a personal visit from the emperor was both an honor and easy to suffer "backlash", and his life was not strong enough. , will be killed...
Because he was mentally prepared, Emperor Liu became much calmer after Murong Yanzhao's death, and he was extremely saddened by what happened after his death.
Three days after he abolished the imperial court, he posthumously presented Zhongshu Ling to the Prince of Linzi County, and personally wrote a Shinto inscription for him. This was the first time that he had not found anyone to write for him, and he did not mind that his mediocrity in literary talent was exposed.
With the death of Murong Yanzhao, coupled with the death of Baoguo Duke Wang Jing in the winter of the second year of Kaibao, the twenty-four heroes of Qianyou also began to wither.