Eunuch Ma held a high stack of memorials and quietly entered the main hall.
The ice and snow outside the palace are biting and cold, and several charcoal basins are burning outside the palace, which is as warm as the spring moon. Going from the outside of the palace to the outside of the palace is like two heavens.
Emperor Yongming's huge and plump body was squeezed into the dragon chair, with an impatient look on his face: "Where do you get so many memorials?"
Eunuch Ma carefully placed the memorial in the imperial cabinet, and then responded respectfully: "Your Majesty, these memorials are not sent by counties near the capital."
Heavy snow closed the official road in July and August, and it was only in those two months that it was barely possible to travel. Memorials were delivered one after another like flying. It was immediately known that more memorials would be delivered to Emperor Yongming in the east.
Emperor Yongming had a gloomy face, picked up a memorial, glanced at it, and his face became a little darker. He read another one, and became even more restless. He opened another one...
Not knowing what he saw, Emperor Yongming's face became increasingly ugly, and he suddenly stretched out his leg to push.
With a popping sound, the remaining memorials flew to the ground.
The servants waiting outside the palace knelt down tremblingly. Eunuch Ma and Eunuch Jiang were no exception. Their faces were as pale as earth, and they knelt down in front of Emperor Yongming to apologize.
Emperor Yongming was full of anger, and it was not uncommon for him to take it out on those around him. From time to time, one of the waiters in the Fuyou Palace would be killed with a stick. In those two years, almost all the waiters who ran errands had died.
Eunuch Ma and Eunuch Jiang are still standing.
Eunuch Ma relied on understanding the holy will to share the emperor's worries, while Eunuch Jiang did not please the emperor and did many dirty things.
At this time, Emperor Yongming was furious and neither of them dared to say a word.
"Those useless bastards!" Emperor Yongming scolded angrily: "It's snowing from the sky, which is obviously not a good sign, but they are all crying and begging me to reduce taxes and open warehouses for disaster relief. Otherwise, they are all asking for my flesh to be cut off and put in my hands."
Blood!"
In those months, all the officials in the capital sent memorials to ask the emperor to provide relief, but Emperor Yongming kept them all in silence. Mingyue sent memorials to the counties and counties east of the capital, and Emperor Yongming even tried to pretend not to see them.
The key is no, the imperial court has no money at all and is unable to provide disaster relief.
The Foreign Affairs Office does have a lot of money and food, but these are the private property of the emperor. Last year, because of the war, some of them were used, and Emperor Yongming was heartbroken.
The bandits who rebelled must be exterminated, so they reluctantly tolerated using the money of the Foreign Affairs Office. What big deal is it if some people are frozen to death by snow?
Emperor Yongming cursed angrily, a little out of his anger, and walked back to the dragon chair out of breath.
Eunuch Jiang, who was kneeling on the ground, spoke boldly: "The emperor is calming down. I will ask the musicians and dancers to come over and play a song and dance for the emperor to relieve his boredom."
That would be in line with Emperor Yongming’s wishes.
Emperor Yongming's expression softened and he nodded slightly.
Soon, the musicians filed in and played melodious music. Several enchanting dancers danced gracefully in the music. The leading dancer, with charming eyes like silk, twisted her slender waist and faded away.
Clothes.
Emperor Yongming's eyes were almost shining.
Eunuch Ma quietly brought a cup of tea. In the tea, there were three pills of medicine to promote happiness.
Emperor Yongming was as lustful as his life, and he had sex with every girl every month. Starting from the time when he choked the prince a few years ago, he asked to take medicine every month. At first, half a pill was enough, and if Ming had already asked for three pills.
Emperor Yongming drank the tea in one gulp and felt hot all over. He took off his dragon robe and pulled the dancing girl to the dragon chair.
I won’t go into detail about Hong Yue’s debauched and ugly behavior.
…
East Palace.
The prince had a heart attack during the Laba Festival last year and had to stay in bed to recuperate. It was almost a month before he was finally helped to the east couch.
Su Huan and Murong Yan came to take care of the disease every month.
There is a significant difference in the attitude of the two concubines of the prince. Su Huan often reads to the prince and feeds him medicine. As for Murong Yan, if she stands by the bed for a while, holding a cup of tea at most, she will be sent away. .
Murong Yan felt extremely aggrieved. Although she didn't like the prince, it was really embarrassing to be ignored and ignored as the prince's concubine.
Mingyue, it was rare for the prince to take the initiative to open his mouth and shut her up: "Murong, how thick is the snow outside?"
Murong Yan suddenly became energetic and went to answer: "Go back to the east of the palace. The snow in the east palace is about a foot thick. It's all frozen now."
There were servants sweeping the snow in the East Palace, and there was such a thick layer of snow. I wonder if it was already covered in ice and snow outside the palace! I don’t know how many people froze to death and starved to death.
The prince's eyes dimmed for a moment and he let out a long sigh.
Su Huan softly comforted the prince: "It's a natural disaster, no one can blame it. My cousin is very ill, and taking good care of himself is the first priority. The emperor has the final say on disaster relief."
The son does not say anything about his father's fault.
How could Emperor Yongming care about the people's joys and sorrows? He would think that his ministers were adding trouble to the memorial. It would be better for him to hide in a tall and warm palace and enjoy the entertainment.
The prince smiled bitterly and sighed again.
"Report to the east of the palace," Eunuch Lu said respectfully: "The prince is here."
There are six princes of the vassal. Among the princes mentioned by Mr. Lu is Xu Jing.
A smile flashed in the prince's eyes: "Let him come in."
Su Huan and Murong Yan retreated together.
A moment later, Xu Jing stepped into the dormitory, frowning, and without any politeness, he stated the purpose of his visit straightforwardly: "Cousin, people freeze to death and starve to death every month in the capital. Is the situation outside the capital even worse? People Without a way to survive, the only remaining option is rebellion."
"Don't go east like that again! Please ask the emperor to provide disaster relief in the early moon!"
The prince felt heavy and said in a low voice: "During the New Year months, all the official memorials were piled up, but my father ignored them all."
Xu Jing: "..."
With Xu Jing's temper, it was really not easy for him to endure Dong's urge to scold the foolish emperor angrily.
The prince looked at Xu Jing, who looked unhappy, and sighed again: "He will go see his father in the bright moon and beg him to provide relief."
Anger surged in his chest, Xu Jing couldn't bear it anymore, gritted his teeth and whispered: "The emperor will only enjoy himself, and will not affect the life and death of the people at all? Water can carry a boat or capsize it, such a simple truth, even children know. Why is the emperor here? Turn a blind eye? When banditry breaks out everywhere, the country's destruction will be just around the corner."
The prince remained silent.
Xu Jing exhaled forcefully: "Cousin, I can't make any mistake. He was impulsive just now and it was a bit unpleasant to shut up."
The prince whispered: "None of what I said is true. He doesn't care about me. He is not the prince, nor the son of my father, nor the father and son of the emperor. I can say those things, but he cannot."
"He is the only one who can persuade my father now. I will go with him."
Xu Jing's anger subsided slightly. He looked at the frail prince and his face was as red as paper. He was worried and distressed: "It's very cold outside. It's such a long journey from the East Palace to Fuyou Hall. I can't bear it."
The prince's body was weak, but his will was extremely strong. He said calmly: "If you can't bear it, you have to go. Whether he is the prince of the Jin Dynasty, he will have to shoulder his responsibilities if he lives for a month."
