In the morning, an imperial edict was issued, revoking all Wei Zhongxian's positions, depriving him of all rewards, demoting him to a white body, and sending him to Fengyang's ancestral land for resettlement.
This order was unremarkable, but it was what everyone had been waiting for, and the last boot finally landed.
During the recent period, there has been no movement from the original Nine Thousand Years, as if it no longer exists, but everyone knows that the final reckoning will eventually come.
During this period of time, Duke Wei lived in seclusion and no one saw him.
Dongchang and Jinyiwei surrounded his mansion.
For twelve hours, he was closely monitored, and Luo Yangxing was reported to every move he made every day.
After the envoy arrived at Wei Zhongxian's residence to announce the decree, Wei Zhongxian suddenly seemed to have aged a lot.
After receiving the imperial edict, he tremblingly kowtowed several times in the direction of Emperor Tianqi's mausoleum.
Immediately, he arranged for his subordinates to leave the capital immediately.
Chongzhen has been busy dealing with Yuan Chonghuan's affairs in the Qianqing Palace these days. The conditions he proposed involve all aspects, and it is not an easy task to implement them.
Early that morning, Wang Chengen came in and reported: "Wei Yi has been on the road for three days and the team has left Cangzhou."
Chongzhen frowned and asked: "Team, how many people did he bring with him?"
"There are 1,231 armed guards, 750 maids and slaves, 350 carriages, thousands of large boxes, and I don't know how much property they brought."
Bang! A sound.
Chongzhen angrily threw a blue and white porcelain tureen to the ground.
"At this point, he is still pretending to me."
Wang Chenen was silent. He knew in his heart that the reason why Wei Zhongxian left with so much property was to tell the emperor that he really wanted to be a rich man and never come back. He hoped that the emperor would rest assured and let him live.
Unfortunately, it was self-defeating and angered the emperor again, which gave him an excuse.
"When the emperor brother was dying, he held my hand and asked me to treat him preferentially. I saw that the emperor brother had always tolerated him for his sake. Now he is still so arrogant and domineering. It can be seen that he is seeking his own destruction."
Wang Chengen shut up. It is not good to say anything at this time. Tens of words are worse than silence.
"Wang Banban sent an order to the royal guards to capture him and bring him to the capital to hand him over to the Three Laws Division for trial."
"Yes, I will prepare the decree right now."
A young eunuch pricked up his ears and listened carefully to the conversation in the Nuan Pavilion, then quietly disappeared.
"Dad, it's absolutely true. Your Majesty has asked Wang Cheng'en, the Chief Superintendent of Ceremonies, to write an imperial edict to arrest Duke Wei."
Li Yongzhen let out a long sigh. He knew in his heart that the emperor was not ready to let go of Wei Gong. It would be a day earlier or a day later for the eunuchs after Wei Gong was finished.
"You leave the palace immediately and tell Duke Wei the news, and never come back again. Take these banknotes and take your family to find a remote place to live." Li Yongzhen said sadly.
The little eunuch cried loudly, "Godfather, my son, please take you with me."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Take me with you. Neither of us can leave. After all, I am also one of the eunuchs Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, and I will fight to the death. Our family is here and we are not going anywhere."
The little eunuch left crying.
At this time, Wei Zhongxian had never appeared in the carriage since he left the capital. Only people brought food and bedpans in and out.
The guards outside didn't dare to ask any more questions.
After passing Cangzhou that day, we arrived at Botou.
Wei Zhongxian showed up at the market and had a meal and drink with his entourage at the largest restaurant. Many people were watching to see this 9900-year-old man who was so powerful at the time.
Wei Zhongxian said nothing, with a sullen face, and scattered a lot of copper coins to the children in the market. At that time, countless little beggars started to grab them.
That night, we came to Fucheng County and stayed overnight in an inn owned by the Youke Jian family in Nanguan, Fucheng.
When it got dark, a young eunuch rushed into the inn.
Urgent request to see Duke Wei.
A quarter of an hour later, he rode off again.
Don't know what they talked about.
In a room on the second floor, Wei Zhongxian and Li Chaoqin went to bed respectively.
Suddenly I heard someone singing.
In this deserted hotel, with dark clouds covering the moonlight, a bitingly cold night, and amidst the rustling wind, a scholar named Bai began to sing under the window of the room where Wei Zhongxian lived.
The song she sang was called "Guizhi'er".
The song is divided into five sections, sung from the first watch to the fifth watch:
One update, worry arises
Listening to the first update, the drum is beating, and my heart is upset.
I remember how extravagant the night banquet was back then.
The lambs are brought in, the wine is poured, and the music and singing are noisy.
Nowadays, the lonely shop has no choice but to drink village mash.
I'm also afraid that wine will weaken me and my sorrow will be heavy. How can I get rid of my sorrow?
Second update, desolate
At the second watch, worries turn around, and dreams are hard to come by.
I remember when I slept on my gums and my brocade quilt was thick.
Now the reeds are the curtain, the earth is the pit, and the cold wind blows into the house.
The cold moon shines through the walls, and the eaves are light and the night is full of sorrow.
My pillow was full of desolation, so I got up and walked around the house again.
Third update, wandering
In the middle of the night, the drums were beating and the gongs were sounded three times.
The dream came true, but I was shocked and groaned endlessly.
Think about it back then, when the power was rising, who was disrespectful?
Jiuqing is called the junior, and the prime minister is called the private office.
Now that the momentum has passed, it will decline and fall like floating grass.
Fourth update, hopeless
On the city tower, four drums are beaten, and the stars move.
After thinking about it, that day, the python jade looked up to the sky.
Today we bid farewell to the Dragon Tower, the Feng Pavilion, and the Qi Qi Gu Pavilion.
The sound of chickens is heard in the thatched shop, the shadow of the moon is reflected in the smoke on the grass bridge.
It's true that the eyes are bounded by long distances. One glance and one turn are far away.
Five o'clock, desolate
There is a lot of hustle and bustle, people are urging people to get up, and it is the fifth watch of the weather.
It's winter, the wind is biting, and frost is blowing on my clothes.
What's more, people are diligent and warm to each other.
Han Yueying was accompanying him, and the one who shouted was the horse's neighing voice.
…
Early the next morning, the imperial cavalry came in large numbers and surrounded the inn.
The cavalrymen unsheathed their bows and swords, loaded their muskets, and were ready for a fight with the guards.
But the scene was empty and the ground was in a mess.
The massive entourage had long since escaped. Countless carts were abandoned on the roadside, all boxes were empty, and all the belongings had been looted by the scattered guards, slaves, and local people.
I saw the window on the second floor open, and the nine thousand-year-old looked tiredly at these densely packed guards. Everyone was also looking at the man who once controlled the fate of the empire.
Duke Wei tremblingly raised a torch and threw it to the ground outside the window in front of everyone. In an instant, flames shot up into the sky.
The inn and the surrounding ground were already covered with kerosene.
While everyone was astonished, the entire wooden building was burned into a torch and could no longer be saved.
Countless people watching the excitement also stared at this scene blankly.
A generation of eunuchs ended in such a tragic ending.
In the Qianqing Palace, angry curses were heard again, and a tea bowl was smashed again.
Wei Wei is continuing to demonstrate against me and evade my punishment.
This scoundrel burned himself until no bones were left. Even if he wanted to whip his body, he wouldn't give you a chance.
"I decree that the Hakka family be arrested immediately and brought to justice." An angry king in the Qianqing Palace roared.
