This night passed in silent sadness. On the second night, Hongli came to Cining Palace as usual in the name of paying his respects. Ling Ruo had already summoned Zhou Minghua in advance and ordered him to write down the painting that can alleviate drug addiction.
For a painful attack, order someone to take the medicine and boil it, and then let him drink it when Hongli comes.
Although the medicine slightly alleviated the pain, the pain on the second day was actually a bit stronger than the first. If Si Xi hadn't seen something wrong with Hong Li gritting his teeth and stretched out his arm into his hand, Hong Li would have been hurt.
Li Zhen may have broken his teeth, but even so, his gums were bleeding from the bite.
On the third day, the fourth day... the situation became more and more serious day by day. Zhou Minghua also used silver needles to prick acupuncture points, hoping to relieve Hongli's pain, but the effect was minimal. In addition to forcibly quitting this medicine with perseverance,
There's no other way around it.
Later, after surviving, Hongli didn't even have the strength to stand up, so he was often carried back to the Yangxin Hall, and had to go to the morning court before dawn the next day. Ling Ruo felt distressed and once advised him to rest for a few days.
, but Hongli always insisted.
At court that day, Hongli kept Hong Zhou behind. After all the officials had retreated, Hong Zhou asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, I see that you have been in poor spirits these past few days. Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing." Hongli said casually, "Lao Wu, how many years have you and I been brothers?"
Hong Zhou was startled and then said: "Since the day my brother was born, I have been brothers with the emperor for more than thirty years."
"More than thirty years..." Hong Li showed a look of reminiscence, and then smiled and said: "It's so fast. I still remember you running around behind me, and Hong Sheng. If he is still alive, now
I don’t know what it’s like.” After a pause, he added: “You are the only one who can go all the way with me till now.”
Hong Zhou said sensitively: "Your Majesty, what happened?"
Hongli waved his hand and said: "Lao Wu, who do you think among my sons can inherit the throne?"
Hong Zhou was startled and quickly lowered his head and said: "My brother, I dare not speak nonsense." This matter is related to the foundation of the country. Even though he is the younger brother of the current emperor, he does not dare to speak nonsense.
Hongli endured his physical exhaustion and said: "I tell you to say what you say. There are no outsiders here. If there is anything you are afraid of, just say it quickly."
Seeing Hongli's resolute attitude, Hong Zhou could only say: "Among all the elder brothers, the third elder brother is the oldest, but he is extreme in behavior and lacks filial piety, so he is not suitable to succeed. The fourth elder brother is gentle and kind-hearted, and has good character."
, but because he has not yet taken any post in the court, my younger brother cannot tell whether he is capable.
Come on, as for the sixth elder brother, the seventh elder brother, the ninth elder brother, the tenth elder brother, and the eleventh elder brother, they are even younger, and it is really difficult for me to speak; apart from that, only the twelfth elder brother is left...
..." He glanced at Hongli and hesitated. In response, Hongli only said: "It doesn't matter if you say it."
"Yes." Hong Zhou carefully considered his words and said, "The twelfth elder brother is the emperor's eldest son. According to the eldest son's rites, the emperor's twelfth elder brother should be the most suitable candidate for the prince, but the twelfth elder brother
My brother is not yet one year old, so it is too early to propose the crown prince. Therefore, in my opinion, the emperor is in the prime of the Spring and Autumn period, and he can wait until the princes are older before naming him a prince."
Hongli said in a low voice: "I'm afraid I don't have that time."
Hong Zhou did not hear what Hong Li said clearly and said, "What did you say, Your Majesty?"
Hongli came back to his senses, shook his head and said: "It's nothing. You are right. It's too early to discuss these things now. Let's talk about everything... until then."
Hong Zhou always felt that Hong Li was acting a little strange today, so he asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, is there something wrong with you?"
Hongli smiled and said, "What can happen to me?" After a pause, he said, "By the way, how is the investigation going with Hongsheng?"
"There have been several reports from Shengjing, but they have been of little use. It seems that Hong Sheng has hidden himself very well. If we cannot gain his trust, it will be difficult to find out any useful information."
After saying that, he said: "Your Majesty, why don't I go to Shengjing in person?"
Hong Li thought for a moment, shook his head and said: "It's useless, Hong Sheng knows that you are close to me, and you are involved in the affairs of Hangzhou Mansion. It's too late to avoid you, so how can I let you make excuses, and...
The capital cannot leave you now." If he really dies and his children are young, Yunli and Hongzhou will definitely have to assist him in order to determine the overall situation.
Hong Zhou did not think carefully about the meaning of Hong Li's last words. He thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps we can repeat the same trick and make Hong Zhao think that there is a gap between my brother and the emperor, so as to gain his trust."
Regarding his words, Hongli still shook his head, "Although many years have passed since Hongxi's incident, Hongsheng may not have forgotten it. Once the plan fails, it will put you in danger. I can't let you take this risk."
"But..." before Hong Zhou could continue, Hong Li already said: "Hong Shan, I will find another way. You just need to stay in the capital."
"My brother obeys the order." When Hong Zhou had no choice but to agree, a palace official came in holding a box and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, there is a book delivered to you!"
Xiaowu took the box from his hand and placed it on the imperial desk. Sixi took out a bunch of keys from close to his body and picked one to unlock the box. This box was a secret box, used by ministers who had the emperor's trust.
To present the hidden treasures for use,
Except for a key in the hands of each of the courtiers, only the key that Hongli entrusted to Sixi for safekeeping can open these boxes, ensuring that no one can see these boxes except the person who wrote them and the emperor. This is
A secret report.
There were a total of four memorials in it. After reading them one by one, Hongli's face became extremely ugly. He threw the memorials in his hand heavily on the ground and said sternly: "What on earth does this Hongsheng want to do? He has it all over the country."
His shadow!"
Hong Zhou stared at the folds on the ground, but did not dare to reach out to pick them up. Unless there was the emperor's permission, it would be a capital crime to read the secret folds. Hongli walked back and forth several times with his hands behind his back, barely suppressing his anger, and said: "Look
Look at these excerpts, Tianjin Prefecture, Jilin Prefecture, Anqing Prefecture, Fuzhou Prefecture, there are his shadows everywhere, and this is just what I know, what I don't know... Hmm, I don't know how many others there are."
Hong Zhou was also shocked after seeing the contents on the secret sheets. There were at least 20 officials mentioned in the four secret sheets who were related to Hong Sheng, and, as Hongli said, there should be more
Many officials were involved.
He was silent for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, Hongsheng has secretly recruited so many officials, and his plot must be quite big. I am worried that he... will be the second Hongxi." Seeing that Hongli was silent, he added: "Hongsheng is
The son of an uncle. At that time, the uncle was the eldest son of the emperor's grandfather and had always coveted the position of prince. However, his qualifications were mediocre and the emperor's grandfather never thought of passing the throne to him. Later, he was so powerful that he was so stupid that he actually
Please kill the second uncle, which made the emperor's grandfather furious, imprisoned him for committing crimes, and finally passed the throne to Emperor Ama. After the uncle died in the Zongren Mansion, the emperor thought of brotherhood and granted Hongshan the title of Shengjing.
General, such a reward should be said to be a sign of the emperor's great kindness, but the people's hearts are not enough. Perhaps like his father, he has never given up the throne, so he took risks and colluded with officials in order to commit treason."