Zhu Youxiao is seventeen years old this year, but it does not mean that his mind is only seventeen years old. He has been a puppet emperor since he was five years old. He has no freedom, no maternal love, only crisis and surveillance, in the oppressive and dark palace.
, created his suspicious character, and also had an extremely strong sense of insecurity. Zhu Youxiao did not trust anyone from the bottom of his heart, or his trust in anyone was not absolute. For example, the eunuch Wei Zhongxian who had followed him for more than ten years was like this.
, such as his own brother-in-law and good brother Liu Ziguang.
But he is the emperor after all, and the emperor needs help. Although the situation of the Ming Dynasty has been better in the past two years, it still has serious internal and external troubles. The only provinces that the court can control are Zhili, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, and Fujian.
, there are still many provinces under the control of the governor with real power, who are obedient and secretive to the imperial court. Although they are nominally ministers of the Ming Dynasty, they are actually not much better than the separatist vassal towns in the late Tang Dynasty. There are still large areas of northern land under the occupation of the Manchus.
Below that, there is still a wider area of land occupied by the Xixia people. As for Tubo, which was still under the orders of the imperial court, it has long been an independent country. These rebellious ministers, traitors, and barbarians all need loyal ministers to surrender.
At this juncture, Zhu Youxiao didn't want any more trouble to happen. From the bottom of his heart, he didn't want to believe the content engraved on this stone tablet. However, the three words "seize the world" were really too dazzling, and no emperor could take it easy.
Looking at it, although Zhu Youxiao is a scientific boy, he fears ghosts and gods and attaches great importance to the providence of God. Especially when this stone tablet was dug out from under his own imperial mausoleum construction site, he has to believe that it is a gift from God.
A warning to myself.
There was silence in the Qianqing Palace. Zhu Youxiao stared blankly at the stone tablet. Wei Zhongxian knelt on the ground and trembled and did not dare to speak. The little eunuch outside was even more silent and did not dare to breathe out. After a while, Zhu Youxiao took a deep breath.
In one breath, he said: "Xiao Weizi, you are very loyal, I am very pleased."
Wei Zhongxian raised his head, with tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
"Okay, don't let more people know about this. Find someone to smash the stone tablet and throw it away. In the future, the East Factory will add another task, which is to monitor the South Factory. Do you understand?" Zhu Youxiao stared at Wei Zhongxian.
said the eyes.
Wei Zhongxian hurriedly knelt on the ground again: "This servant accepts the order to express his gratitude. I will definitely live up to the emperor's trust."
The atmosphere in the Qianqing Palace returned to its former harmony. Zhu Youxiao also asked the young eunuchs to get two bottles of Coke for Wei Zhongxian to drink. It was calm for a while, and the young eunuchs breathed a sigh of relief, and then they stepped forward to report: "
Also, the Vice-Censor of the Capital, Lin Ruhai, has been waiting outside the Meridian Gate for a long time."
"This Lin Ruhai is very dedicated. He thinks about joining people all day long. Let him come in." Zhu Youxiao said.
Not long after, Lin Ruhai arrived at the Qianqing Palace under the guidance of the small yellow gate. It seemed that he had been waiting outside for a long time. His chest and back were soaked with sweat, and his face was also covered with sweat.
"Lin Ruhai, who do you want to consult again?" Zhu Youxiao asked with great interest. After he consulted Liu Ziguang last time, the emperor read his files and had a good feeling about this upright official and minister. Censor?
, it’s just this kind of stupid young man who catches wind and shadows, and a well-rounded person can’t do this job.
"Your Majesty, I would like to inform you that I am going to join Wuhou Liu Ziguang. This person has a secret possession of the Dragon and Tiger Sword and is creating rumors in the public with the intention of treason." Lin Ruhai said loudly.
"Oh? Bring the fold over." Zhu Youxiao said.
Lin Ruhai's excerpt clearly states that now there is a nursery rhyme circulating in the market: "Golden sword, dragon and tiger sword, if the two meet, the world will change." It is also rumored that a prophecy was unearthed from the construction site of the imperial mausoleum: The dragon and tiger sword will conquer the world.
All of this reveals Liu Ziguang's disloyal heart. From ancient times to the present, whenever someone looks into the world, they always create some so-called miracles to confuse the people of the world and pave the way for him to usurp the throne in a certain dynasty. He carves stone tablets.
There were endless tricks such as making up nursery rhymes and hiding silk with writing in the belly of fish. From this, it can be inferred that Liu Ziguang was planning a rebellion and seizing the Zhu family's power.
Zhu Youxiao smiled after reading the book. Just now, he had some grudges, but now Lin Ruhai's book dispelled his doubts. It turns out that people have been doing this kind of trick since ancient times, just forging miracles. He didn't want to believe it in the first place.
Liu Ziguang will seize his own country. Now after reading Lin Ruhai and Liu Ziguang's intention to rebel, I am even more convinced of Liu Ziguang's loyalty, because no matter from any aspect, he does not have the conditions to rebel now. To rebel now is to seek death.
.
"Xiao Weizi, take a look at it. It seems that the stone tablet is really a forgery." Zhu Youxian said to Wei Zhongxian. Wei Zhongxian quickly stepped forward and took the folded book with both hands and read it at a glance, and then his face was filled with a happy smile.
: "This is good, this is the best, that's what I said. Marquis Zhenwu is the pillar of the country and a close relative of the emperor. How could he rebel?"
"Haha, you are the most loyal. In such a situation, you dare to risk your life and speak out for Marquis Zhenwu. I will ask Marquis Zhenwu to thank you later." Zhu Youxiao laughed heartily, and the knot in his heart was finally solved.
Lin Ruhai was confused. Am I referring to Liu Ziguang or praising Liu Ziguang? Why did handing over such a sensational piece of information actually make the emperor trust Liu Ziguang more?
This is the effect of fighting fire with fire. Lin Ruhai unknowingly did something to help Liu Ziguang. He is a public official and has no worries about taking action. He will not pretend to be a good person like Wei Zhongxian and stab him in the back. I heard nursery rhymes on the street today.
After that, he became alert and went home to write an excerpt to prepare for participation. While he was writing, a fellow censor who was supervising the imperial mausoleum came to report that a stone tablet with a prophecy was unearthed. So Lin Ruhai paid more attention to this issue and did not wait until tomorrow.
After the court meeting, he went directly to the palace to meet the saint and report this important discovery.
The most depressing person now is Wei Zhongxian. A good move was actually messed up by Lin Ruhai, a fool. He adopted the tactics of boiling a frog in warm water to slowly destroy Liu Ziguang's image in Zhu Youxiao's heart. This stone tablet is an important step.
Of course, he didn't expect that such a simple move could bring down Liu Ziguang. As long as he caused a grudge in the emperor's heart, his merits would be complete. In addition, he had to say a few good words to Liu Ziguang from a fair standpoint to show that he was not a villain who was adding insult to injury.
people.
Lin Ruhai jumped out and made a fuss, and the good situation was ruined. The effect of the stone monument was of course useless. The nursery rhyme for a walk in the market outside even had no effect and was canceled. It's sad. This was Mr. Sima's plan for several nights.
Ah, it actually came to nothing, and Mr. Sima was so angry that he vomited blood even if he knew it.
The most uncomfortable thing is that his heart is bleeding with depression and he has to pretend to be happy on his face. Fortunately, Wei Zhongxian has been working in the palace since he was a child, and he has learned the skill of being different from what he looks like, and no one can see it. Wearing his beardless young eunuch face.
Zhu Youxiao smiled and said to Lin Ruhai: "Lin Qing, you have done a good job. Just leave the book here. You can retire."
"But... Your Majesty... Marquis Zhenwu is indeed suspected of treason. We must make preparations in advance, just in case." Lin Ruhai was talking when he suddenly heard the young eunuch outside shouting: "Bring the minister of bodyguard Liu Ziguang to an audience." It turned out to be the person involved. Coming.
Liu Ziguang supervised the envoys leading the guards and ministers walking in front of the palace. They entered the palace just to go to work, and there was no need to report. At this moment, they had already arrived outside the gate of Qianqing Palace with the Dragon and Tiger Sword.
Zhu Youxiao said: "You've come just in time, announce it quickly."
Liu Ziguang walked into the Qianqing Palace with the Dragon and Tiger Sword in his arms. When Lin Ruhai saw him coming in with the weapon, he jumped up in shock and protected Zhu Youxiao and shouted: "Liu Ziguang, you brought the sword to see me, do you want to rebel?" Can’t make it?”
Liu Ziguang asked curiously: "I am an imperial guard, so it is natural for me to carry a sword. Not only do I carry a sword, I also carry two firecrackers. Would you like to see it, Yushi Lin?"
Lin Ruhai then remembered that one of Liu Ziguang's positions was the head of the Ouchi guards, and it was reasonable to carry weapons. However, he was still worried and pointed at Liu Ziguang and said: "Could it be that the Dragon Tiger Sword you captured from Beijing is in your hand?" , you captured the sword of the enemy chief but did not present it to the emperor, is this the way a minister should behave? I want to help you!"
Liu Ziguang said: "I came to the palace to talk about this dragon and tiger sword. This sword must not be presented to the emperor, and only I can own it."
As soon as this statement came out, even Zhu Youxiao found it strange. Lin Ruhai was so angry that his beard stood up. He pointed at Liu Ziguang and yelled: "You are bold! Presumptuous!" Wei Zhongxian smiled darkly and said nothing, quietly observing the situation. development.
Liu Ziguang talked eloquently: "This sword is a very dangerous thing, and its several owners have suffered a bad death. The first owner Nurhachi was as strong as an ox, and he could still go into battle to kill the enemy when he was over sixty years old, but he had to Shortly after the sword, he became physically weak and died from an arrow. His son Huang Taiji took over the throne and also used the dragon-tiger sword as a side weapon. Later, he was seriously injured in the southern invasion and retreated, and was murdered by Dorgon halfway. Then this The owner of the sword became Prince Rui Dorgon
, Dorgon, you all know that after I captured him alive, this guy committed suicide by touching a pillar. However, the sword followed Obai back to Beijing. Obai hid the Dragon-Tiger Sword secretly, and it wasn't even half a year before it was taken away by Xiao Kangxi did it, and then the sword returned to the hands of Nurhachi's descendants. Kangxi used this sword to suppress the uprising of the heroes in the capital. You also know the outcome. I sprayed iron sand on my face. I'm afraid my face is still wrapped in gauze. Do you think you can offer such an unlucky sword to the emperor? Isn’t that a conspiracy to harm the emperor? Lin Yushi, I would like to ask you, is this the way you behave as a courtier?"
Lin Ruhai didn't know so many allusions. He was speechless after being robbed. Zhu Youxiao listened with great interest. He asked: "Then why Liu Aiqing can you keep this dragon-tiger sword?"