Han Yong, who had been promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Emperor's Jiafu Palace, but actually worked for a high-ranking official who was connected to Qingqingyuan, was overjoyed when he saw the emperor was so angry that he vomited blood and fainted.
When the imperial doctor rushed over and diagnosed the emperor's pulse, he found that although the emperor was extremely angry and physically damaged, he had received acupuncture from Li Huigu earlier and had taken several decoctions prescribed by Huigu, so the situation was not too bad.
The imperial doctors also followed the prescriptions prescribed by Huigu preserved by Empress Mao, and bathed Cao Rui's head and feet every day for external application. After a few days, Cao Rui's condition improved slightly, but it was worse than the previous condition just after Huigu's acupuncture. , then it’s the difference between cloud and mud again.
On this day, the emperor dreamed of his deceased emperor Cao Yin in his dream. When he woke up, he felt very unwell. Seeing that the time had come, Han Yong said to the emperor:
"Your Majesty, there was a farmer in Shouchun, and his wife said that she was a descendant of the gods. According to folk rumors, this farmer's wife had been told by the gods that she was destined to be an ascended daughter, to guard the emperor's house, and to shoulder the responsibility of deposing evil and bringing good fortune. As for the people in Shouchun who had major or minor illnesses, as long as they drank the peasant woman's sacred water or used this sacred water to cleanse external sores, many of them were cured. Now His Majesty is ill, and all the ministers and people inside and outside the court have been cured. I hope that His Majesty’s dragon body will recover soon. In recent years, this peasant woman may appear in this world, maybe, maybe..."
When Han Yong said this, he carefully observed Cao Rui's reaction and paused deliberately. Cao Rui didn't have any big reaction at the moment. When he saw Han Yong suddenly hesitating, he frowned slightly and asked:
"I don't know what, just say it if you have something to say!"
Han Yong hurriedly kowtowed and apologized, and continued:
"Perhaps, this peasant woman is really the goddess sent by heaven to protect your majesty. I don't know... What I mean, my Majesty, why don't you summon her now to test whether her miraculous medical skills are effective? .....If it really has miraculous effects, then His Majesty’s dragon body will be better than before, wouldn’t it be a great blessing for the world?”
After hearing Han Yong's words, Cao Rui was silent for a long time, lost in thought, and did not speak.
And Han Yong was thinking in his heart that the Shouchun peasant woman was a talent trained for many years by the master who was connected with Qingqingyuan. Not only was she really proficient in medical skills, but she also received many miraculous medicines from her master. Even though she came to the palace today, She shouldn't be able to join forces. And once this peasant woman gets His Majesty's new appointment, it will be much easier to implement the master's next plan.
Fortunately, His Majesty has been impetuous and in poor health over the years, and has lost the shrewdness and calmness he had a few years ago. Otherwise, although this plan is brilliant, it may not be effective.
A few days later, the Shouchun peasant woman was summoned to Luoyang by the emperor. Not only that, the emperor also issued a special edict to praise the peasant woman's medical skills, and also set up a medical clinic for the peasant woman in the harem. Officials from the Imperial Medical Office Seeing that this little-known peasant woman was so favored by the emperor, she was naturally jealous and frightened, and felt bad in her heart.
Of course, this matter will not be hidden from the Queen Mother Guo.
After Queen Guo heard about this incident, she was extremely worried. As the emperor, Cao Rui rashly appointed a peasant woman who started out as a witchcraft to serve as the palace physician. Not only would she attract criticism from the world, but she would also hand over the royal family's fortune and life to others. How can this matter make her feel at ease?
When Queen Guo thought of this, she felt frightened. She immediately summoned her maid Qingluan and a group of internal servants and headed towards Jiafu Hall.
After Cao Rui saw Queen Guo, he still treated him as the "mother queen" with the same respectful attitude he had shown every day for more than ten years.
"Your Majesty, the Aijia heard that your Majesty recently asked a peasant woman to use witchcraft to cure the illnesses of people in the palace, which caused panic among the officials in the Imperial Medical Office. The Aijia felt uncomfortable after hearing this..."
Queen Guo hadn't finished her sentence yet. What she didn't expect was that the emperor, her "son", who had been respectful to her for many years, would actually turn towards her, the queen, after sending all the maids in the palace away. He roared hysterically:
"That's enough! You killed my queen mother, my children, Yin'er, and Shu'er. Isn't that enough? Are you going to kill me again!?"
Looking at the emperor with red eyes, pale face and bulging veins on his forehead, Queen Guo, who had always been calm, calm, courageous and knowledgeable, couldn't help but shudder.
Faced with the power of the emperor, she did not dare to speak for a moment.
In this way, the "mother and son" were speechless for a while. After a long silence, Queen Guo recalled the time she had spent with Cao Rui for more than ten years. Queen Guo, who felt pain in her heart, cried to the emperor:
"Your Majesty, do you really think that Queen Wen Zhao was killed by the Ai family... Do you really not remember the care and love the Ai family has given you for more than ten years..."
After venting his rant, Cao Rui felt a little clearer for the time being.
Of course, he has not forgotten how the woman in front of him has treated him over the years. In the past ten years, Queen Guo, who has no children, has indeed treated herself as her own son. If Queen Guo had treated her suspicious father so much, If he slanders you even more, maybe he won't sit on this throne.
Everything gradually became clear in his heart, but as soon as he closed his eyes, he felt a pain in his heart when he thought of his dead mother and several children.
The pain that had been accumulated over the years and kept fermenting made the emperor's heart more paranoid and mean than he had been in his youth.
This paranoia and meanness now resembled that of his father, Emperor Wen Cao Pi.
At this moment, the emperor's red eyes were filled with tears, but he did not stop attacking Queen Guo:
"Stop being hypocritical. Do you think I don't know? Everything you do is just to consolidate your own position. If you are really for me, how can you kill several of my princes? You are You want me to let an infant child be a puppet emperor a hundred years later, while you yourself can be a domineering Empress Dowager Lu!"
After hearing these words, the pain in Queen Guo's heart could not be increased. At this moment, she only regretted that the rain in Xuchang Palace was not strong enough, otherwise she would be like the queen of Chu who died in the river waiting for the king, but she would still be able to survive. A good reputation.
After the "mother and son" were silent again for a long time, the bloodless Queen Guo just weakly bowed to Cao Rui and left gently.
Cao Rui, who had always turned his back to Queen Guo, had already burst into tears at this moment. When he heard the carved pear wood palace door creaking, he immediately turned around. When he wanted to open his mouth to shout something, it was already too late. Already.
Less than half an hour after Queen Guo left, the chamberlain spread the news that Bian Lan, the Marquis of Kaiyang, asked to see him. Cao Rui was exhausted both physically and mentally and did not want to see anyone, but he thought that Bian Lan had been feeling unwell recently, so there must be a reason why he came today. Cao Rui With this thought in his mind, Rui called for Bian Lan.
After the monarch and his ministers met, they found that each other looked very sluggish and had a lot of gray hair on their temples. The only difference was that Bian Lan was middle-aged, while the emperor was only in his thirties. That's all.
In addition, Bian Lan's mouth was as dry as a crack and she looked even more depressed.
"Zifang, long time no see, you have aged a lot..."
Hearing this, Bian Lan felt a sadness come from nowhere in his heart. He said to Cao Rui with tears in his eyes:
"Your Majesty, I am worried about state affairs, but I have no good laws, so I am old..."
Cao Rui sighed:
"Although the two parties are not at peace now, they are still relatively stable. Why should Zifang be so worried?"
A few years ago, Bian Lan encountered a dilemma, and as an emperor, he paid attention to the palace, so
He had been admonished several times. So today, when Cao Rui saw Bian Lan's gray hair on his temples, he naturally thought that Bian Lan was worried about the border military.
Cao Rui suddenly remembered something again and immediately said:
"Zifang, the female medical officer in the palace, is the goddess of Shouchun. Her formula of divine water is very effective when taken internally and externally. Many people in the palace have used her divine water and they have cured their illnesses. I look at yours, Zifang. I'm sick, I've been a little uneasy recently, and the medicinal wine is taking too long to take effect, so why don't you try that divine water too."
Bian Lan bowed to the ground again:
"Your Majesty, what I am worried about is not the matter between the two parties, but your Majesty's belief in witchcraft!"
When Cao Rui heard this, his expression suddenly changed. He had just argued with Queen Guo about this matter, and in the blink of an eye, even Bian Lan, whom he trusted, said the same thing.
Bian Lan didn't seem to notice the emperor's anger, and he continued:
"It is natural to treat diseases with medicine. How can your Majesty believe in witchcraft?"
When Cao Rui heard this, his expression changed again. At this moment, the anger he had just suppressed rose again:
"If Zifang is just here to talk about this, then you'd better go back, I'm tired!"
After hearing this, Bian Lan wanted to say something else, but the emperor had already thrown away his sleeves.
A few days later, the fifty-one-year-old Queen Mother Guo passed away in Yong'an Palace. Her personal maid Qingluan also hanged herself after conveying the Queen Mother's last wishes, and chose to follow Queen Mother Guo.
Soon after, Bian Lan, Marquis of Kaiyang, became seriously ill and passed away in his own house.
On March 11, according to Queen Guo's will, the emperor buried her on the west side of Emperor Wen's Shouyang Mausoleum.
In addition, the emperor also performed filial piety for Queen Guo and gave her the posthumous title of Queen Wende based on her merits and demerits in her life.
Not only that, Emperor Cao Rui once again granted the title of Guanjin Qianhuhou to Guo Biao, a relative of the Empress Dowager Guo, and Guo Xiang to the title of Prince Consort Duwei. He also posthumously conferred the titles of Queen Guo’s parents as Guanjin Jinghou and Tang Yangjun, and his late brother Guo Fu. He became the Marquis of Dai in Liang Li Ting, Guo Du became the Marquis of Jing in Wucheng Ting, and Guo became the new Marquis of Changting Ding. They all worshiped him with the ceremony of Tailao.
As for the Bian family, Bian Lan's son Bian Long also received comfort and rewards from the emperor.
In the Su family teahouse, some people in the market were talking in low voices.
"I heard that Empress Zhen was killed by Empress Dowager Guo. She stuffed chaff into her mouth and covered her face with her hair before she died. Therefore, your Majesty has avenged her biological mother this time!"
Another voice whispered:
"I heard that Your Majesty not only personally wrote a memorial for the Queen Mother, but also personally delivered it to the funeral mausoleum. You know, after Your Majesty ascended the throne, you didn't even go to deliver Emperor Wen's coffin!"
"Also, I heard that Kaiyang Marquis Bian Lan was sentenced to death by His Majesty because he opposed the use of the divine water!"
"But I heard that Marquis Kaiyang died of illness at his residence..."
"Hey, who knows about these secrets of the royal family..."
————
In Jiafu Hall, the emperor dug out the ode that Bian Lan had written for Emperor Wen, who was still the crown prince of Wei:
It is clear that the prince is both wise and intelligent. He is knowledgeable and has a strong memory, and his sage thoughts are unparalleled. He is like a tiger and a dragon. He has eight handsome men at his side, and there is no flattery or evil around him. When he is rich, he does not forget to give, and he is respectful and courteous. He studies the books carefully and keeps them. Thinking about similarities and differences, making plans and making suggestions, suddenly enlightened. The whole world stretches its neck to sing the praises of virtue. It has been heard in ancient times and seen in the present. It is unfathomable and unfathomable. It has been created for thousands of years, and this is the end of the wind.
[Note 1: See it in Volume 16 of "Yiwen Leiju"]
After Cao Rui finished reading, he opened Bian Lan's "Motto" again:
Buildings with multiple steps will surely ruin your true nature. A house full of gold and treasure will disturb your spirit. Thick tastes will bring disaster, and gorgeous colors will endanger your body. Seeking heights will lead to fall, and seeking richness will make you poorer. Close emotions and block desires, which is treasured by the old family. Zhou The inscription of the temple, Zhongni, obey it. Be careful with your words, and do not offend others. Be calm and obedient, and be in harmony with the light. There is no need to be in the desert, and no one will hear it. There is no need to be in the dark, and you are alone like a group. If you are not a blessing, do not join. Harm your neighbors, stay true to your nature, and never mess with the moral order. If you are always facing the deep, you will always be pure.
[Note 2: See it in Volume 23 of "Yi Wen Lei Ju". 】
Cao Rui couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart: His cousin understood the principle of "calmly obeying the times and being harmonious with the world" in the article. But his cousin is a very outspoken person. Everyone knows that strength is easy to break. But it is still difficult to be dedicated and gentle.
"Cousin, if you weren't so straightforward, maybe I would listen to you..."
Under the eaves of the palace, iron horses jingled; the palace was empty, but there was no echo from anyone at this moment.
