Just after noon, dark clouds rolled in the sky and rolled over the city like a mountain, and huge raindrops fell from the sky. In a moment, the raindrops connected into a vast white rain curtain, and it looked like the Milky Way was pouring backwards. In an instant, it converged into a stream on the ground and flowed meanderingly.
In the Tai Chi Palace, teams of guards remained motionless in the rain, holding the handles of their swords tightly with their palms, looking around with sharp eyes.
Countless palace people came in and out of Wude Palace, looking panicked.
The royal family's children were once again invited to stand under the rain corridor outside the palace. The princes and princes of the clan looked at the tall and majestic Hall of Wude through the rain, feeling panic in their hearts.
One by one, important ministers were picked up from their homes by people sent by the "Hundred Cavalry Division" and escorted into the palace...
The wind and rain are like darkness.
…
In the dormitory, the Crown Prince, King Jin, Li Xiaogong, Concubine Yang, Concubine Wei and other higher-ranking concubines were standing beside them. They watched with trembling fear as a group of imperial doctors were sweating profusely and busy in front of the imperial couch.
Concubine Yang and Concubine Wei stood on tiptoe, looking up at the couch. On the couch, His Majesty Li Er had his eyes closed tightly, his face was like gold paper, and his majestic body had long been exhausted and wasted away. This made His Majesty faint again.
The concubines, whom they had never seen before, were in tears and heartbroken, but they did not dare to cry loudly here due to their status, so they could only endure it...
The white-haired imperial doctor came over from the side of the imperial couch, bowed in front of the prince and saluted, and said tremblingly: "I am incompetent. I just sit back and watch your majesty become seriously ill. Today, there is still no medicine and no cure. I deserve to be punished."
die."
His expression was respectful and his tone was sincere, but in fact there was not much sadness. He had been used to seeing life and death throughout his life as a doctor. Regardless of whether he was a trafficker or a footman or an emperor or a general, all were equal in the face of illness. Beauties died, and heroes buried their bones. This natural cycle, Gai
Nothing can be changed.
Although the few close relatives in front of me had already been mentally prepared for this, when they suddenly heard the bad news, they couldn't help but feel shocked and unbelievable.
Concubine Yang and Concubine Wei burst into tears on the spot and were about to rush to the imperial couch.
Li Xiaogong waved to Wang De, who was standing respectfully at the side: "Take the two nobles to rest first. Don't disturb Your Majesty before it's time to cry."
"Here."
Wang De quickly took a few chamberlains to help the two concubines to a side room to rest. While His Majesty was dying, there were more important matters.
Li Zhi burst into tears. He stepped forward and grabbed the arm of the Imperial Medical Officer. He cried and shouted: "Father, the emperor is really destined to be the emperor, and God is free to care about him. He should be free from all diseases and have a long life! How can medicine and stone be ineffective? Why?
I ask the old imperial doctor to work hard and cure my father..."
The white-haired Imperial Medical Officer allowed His Highness the King of Jin to wipe his nose and tears on his sleeves. His eyes were full of pity and even surprise: There have been so many emperors throughout the ages, and they are all said to be the sons of God, but in the end no one is.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust? As a son, it is natural for him to feel uncomfortable when his father passes away, but to say such words is either foolish or he means something...
Since the end of the Sui Dynasty, the world has been in turmoil and political regimes have changed. It has only been stable for more than ten years. The old imperial doctor has spent his life in the core of various regimes. How can he not know the truth after being well-informed?
Therefore, he just bowed his head to the ground with a face of shame and did not reply to King Jin's words.
Li Zhi was about to say more when he suddenly saw the imperial doctors gathered around the couch retreating to both sides. They all knelt down and paused on the ground, crying sadly...
Another old imperial doctor walked over quickly, knelt on the ground, and cried sadly: "Your Majesty... you are going to die!"
boom!
A thunder exploded suddenly outside the window, and lightning like tree branches flashed across the window, illuminating the faces of everyone in the hall who were stunned and pale.
"Father!"
"His Majesty……"
The sound of crying resounded in the palace. Li Chengqian and Li Zhi rushed to the imperial couch like crazy. The wails were earth-shattering. Li Xiaogong and others also shed tears and knelt down in front of the couch.
On the bed, His Majesty Li Er slept with his eyes closed, no longer breathing.
His Majesty the Emperor, a young man, led the army in the troubled times of the late Sui Dynasty to conquer the east and west. He was invincible and conquered most of the country. Then he succeeded in the battle of Xuanwu Gate and seized the throne. Since Zhenguan, he has been diligent and caring for the people, working hard and sleeping day and night.
The broken rivers and mountains were managed to make them prosperous and prosperous, and everything was prosperous. However, at this moment, they could not withstand the attack of the disease. After the unparalleled achievements of destroying Goguryeo, they suddenly passed away.
The wind and rain outside the window were violent, and it seemed that God also sensed the deep unwillingness of this peerless hero, and then turned into wind, rain, thunder and lightning, shocking China.
Cries came from Wude Hall. Although the details were unknown outside, how could they not understand what happened?
The clan members and ministers of cultural relics all knelt down one after another, calling for Your Majesty, their cries shaking the heavens and the earth.
Only the teams of guards still stood erect like javelins in the torrential rain, motionless as a mountain, letting the tears pouring from the corners of their eyes mix with the rain, gritting their teeth, pursed their lips, and tightly holding the horizontal knife at their waists.
, stand firm and stand the last guard for the king, and go straight to the underworld to fight against all the ghosts!
Several princes in the dormitory cried loudly and were inconsolable, and the two concubines had already fainted from crying. Li Xiaogong was the first to wipe away his tears and got up from the ground, and asked the chamberlain to greet the ministers of cultural relics, princes, and county officials outside the palace.
King, please come in with the rest of the clan.
When everyone entered, everyone fell to the ground and cried loudly, shouting to heaven and grabbing the earth, wishing they could follow the king under the nine springs...
Fang Jun knelt in the crowd, and for a moment he was saddened by the atmosphere. Thinking of His Majesty Li Er's favor, trust and indulgence in the past, he lamented the death of a peerless emperor. He felt so sad and couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his face.
After a long while, Li Xiaogong and Li Yuanjia personally stepped forward to help several princes who were almost fainting from crying. They invited the prince, King Wei and King Jin into the side hall, and then invited King Xu, King Peng, King Zheng and King Huo.
Wang and others were invited to come in, and finally Li Ji, Xiao Yu, Cen Wenwen, Fang Jun, Li Daozong, Liu Jie, Ma Zhou and other civil and military ministers...
In the side hall, the princes who had just fainted from crying have recovered, but some young princes, princesses and many concubines have rushed to the dormitory. The cries are still earth-shattering and gloomy, so the atmosphere here is still miserable.
It's tragic, but everyone knows that Your Majesty has done a great job. It's not the time to feel sad now, there are more important things.
The continuation of the throne, the inheritance of the fire, and the country are at stake. This is a major event that must be ranked before the death of the king.
Living people are always more important than dead people...
Li Xiaogong looked at King Li Yuanjia of Han, and the two looked at each other. The latter coughed slightly and said: "Your Majesty has done a great job, the whole world is sad, and all the people are in peace. Zongzheng Temple is responsible for the funeral etiquette, and all the central government offices will cooperate... But in
Before that, the succession of the throne and the continuation of the country should be confirmed. After His Majesty's funeral, he will choose a day to ascend the throne in order to bring peace to the world. You can discuss this."
He is Zong Zhengqing, commonly known as Da Zongzheng. He is responsible for all affairs of the royal family. In theory, the inheritance of the throne is also within his responsibilities. Of course, the candidate for the throne has nothing to do with him. He is only responsible for all matters concerning the new emperor's enthronement...
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Jun did not hesitate and said directly: "The prince is the crown prince of the country. Now that your majesty is doing great things, the funeral affairs will naturally be presided over by the prince. When your majesty is sent to Zhaoling for burial, he will ascend the throne and announce it."
World, what is there to discuss?"
Li Chengqian looked at Fang Jun and breathed a sigh of relief. This minister of humerus always stepped forward at the most critical moments to face the pressure for him.
Jin Wang Li Zhi lowered his red and swollen eyes and said nothing.
Xiao Yu frowned and retorted: "Your Majesty, all matters should be based on the imperial edict. How can you do it without permission?"
Fang Jun asked curiously: "Where is the edict?"
Xiao Yu refused to give in: "We are all important ministers of the empire. We don't need to say those sophistry. Your Majesty's attempts to abolish the reserve are known to the world. Why should the Duke of Yue pretend to be confused? Your Majesty is wise and powerful. Since
If you have the heart to store things easily, you will definitely prevent unexpected events, so there must be a legacy edict left."
Fang Jun sneered and said: "Can you still talk to yourself like this? The most shameless person in the world is Song Guogong. He has been talking for a long time, please show me the imperial edict, and we will naturally act in accordance with it."
Xiao Yu said quietly: "How can we guess what your Majesty does, so we don't know where the edict is placed... but the palace is so big, just look for it."
The rest of the people were speechless. This was a lie. If Taiji Palace cannot be found, should we search the entire Chang'an until we find it?
Ma Zhou, who had always stayed out of the fight for the throne, couldn't stand it and said: "The prince of Hejian County is here, Qing Zong is also there, and the prime minister is also there... If there is a posthumous edict, these few people can't take it.
It means that no matter what is stated in the edict, we will naturally act in accordance with His Majesty's will, but if it cannot be done, then the prince should naturally be enthroned in a legitimate and legitimate manner, there is no dispute."
Of course he understands the intention of King Jin and his family to drag it on, but even now, he still has illusions about the throne in his heart. If he is so selfish, where will the country, the country, and the people of the world be placed?
Li Chengqian couldn't let Fang Jun always take the lead. As a prince, he couldn't charge into battle but he had to take responsibility, so he looked at Li Ji: "What did the British Duke say?"
Everyone looked at Li Ji.
The leader of both the military and political parties has an extraordinary position and has the power to make the final decision.
Li Ji paused for a moment before speaking slowly: "Whether there is a posthumous edict or not is of great importance. The prince should temporarily preside over His Majesty's funeral. During the period, he will search for suspicious places in the palace. After the funeral, if there is a posthumous edict, he will be responsible for it."
If the imperial edict is carried out and confirmed, the crown prince will ascend to the throne."
Li Chengqian couldn't hide his disappointment, while Li Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the throne was not decided for the time being, there would be a chance...
Fang Jun looked at Li Ji and shook his head slightly, full of disappointment.
This "Military God"-level figure who led the Tang Dynasty's military after Li Jing also held the position of head of the Prime Minister and Fu. He could be said to be inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, no one else's power and status can be compared with him.
But there is a serious lack of responsibility.
How could he not know that if he didn't decide the throne today, there might be a battle for the throne tomorrow, which would bring disaster to the whole world?
In the end, he didn't want to bet on who would win or lose, and he didn't want to be tainted by the cause and effect. He just wanted to watch the fire from the other side and be alone.