When Zhang Yanling was having a flood of thoughts, at the door of the bedroom, Dai Yi, the personal attendant beside Zhu Youtang, came out.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with him?" Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, stepped forward and asked in a deep voice.
Dai Yi wiped away his tears and said: "Master Chief Assistant, don't ask any more. The Emperor has decreed that the cabinet ministers, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, will come to see you!"
Liu Jian and the other three men straightened their clothes and followed Dai Yi into the dormitory.
The dormitory was filled with a strong smell of medicine. Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian hurriedly walked through the tent and arrived in front of the dragon collapse.
They thought they saw the emperor lying on the dragon bed, but what they saw was the emperor sitting on the bed with his clothes neatly dressed. Although his face was pale, his face was calm. Queen Zhang stood on one side, holding her hand
Zhu Youtang's shoulders and back supported her husband's body. Empress Zhang's face was stained with tears, and she cried silently.
Beside the collapsed dragon, Prince Zhu Houzhao knelt down and cried, wiping away his tears.
"Your Majesty, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian, please bow to my emperor, long live the emperor." Liu Jian and the other two knelt down before the dragon collapsed and shouted tremblingly.
Emperor Hongzhi opened his mouth, but no words came out. Empress Zhang quickly dipped a wet towel in water and wiped it on Zhu Youtang's mouth and tongue, so that Zhu Youtang could barely speak. Because his mouth and throat were extremely hot.
, if it is not moistened with clean water, it will be impossible to open the mouth at all.
"No courtesy..." Zhu Youtang's voice seemed to be squeezed out of his throat, which was in sharp contrast to his usually loud voice. There was no life in that voice.
"I thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty... why are you so ill?" Liu Jian shouted with tears streaming down his face. Li Dongyang and Xie Qian also covered their faces and wept, their grief unbearable.
Zhu Youtang waved his hands, closed his eyes and gathered enough strength, and said intermittently: "It's all determined by fate... That's... needless to say. Three of you, I am about to pass away, and I specially invite three of you to come... to arrange the funeral arrangements.
"You three, please listen to what I have to say...I'm afraid I won't be able to finish what I have to say."
The three bachelors burst into tears and nodded while sobbing.
Zhu Youtang sighed softly and said: "Since I took the throne, I have been eating and sleeping for seventeen years without any slack... In the past seventeen years, although I have not made much... credit, I have done so.
I'm trying my best. But I know that my ability is limited, so I can only do this. I just hope... that Quanxia can have the appearance to meet the former emperors."
Li Dongyang said loudly: "Your Majesty is the Holy King of the Ming Dynasty. He is benevolent and forgiving, and works hard to achieve great results. In the hands of the Emperor, our Ming Dynasty has become a rejuvenated era. The emperors and emperors will be relieved to know that. Even if we look at the past and the present, the Emperor is also
Not inferior to any emperor. If God opens his eyes and time passes, in another twenty or thirty years, our Ming Dynasty will be the greatest prosperous age in history."
Liu Jiandao: "What Li Dongyang said is absolutely true. Your Majesty, please don't lose heart. Your Majesty has always been kind and kind, so you shouldn't have such a catastrophe. I am going to gather all the famous doctors in the capital to treat the Emperor. Your Majesty, please never lose heart..."
"Listen..." Zhu Youtang gasped and waved his hands: "Listen... don't interrupt, I don't have much strength anymore. You are loyal, and I understand in my heart. I know that my time has come. Can you think that I am a
Good Emperor...I am satisfied. If you think that I have lived up to the Ming Dynasty, I am satisfied."
Liu Jian and the others did not dare to interrupt and nodded repeatedly.
Zhu Youtang continued: "Life and death are determined by fate, and everything is determined. I have done my best for the Ming Dynasty, and the country of the Ming Dynasty has not failed in my hands. I can be relieved. Oh, if God can give me more
It will be better in a few days, even just a few years, so that the prince can grow up."
Liu Jian and others knew that this was the emperor's announcement of his future affairs.
Zhu Youtang took a breath and said in a deep voice: "Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, and Xie Qian listen to the decree. Today I am passing the throne to the crown prince Zhu Houzhao. After my funeral, the crown prince will inherit the throne. You and other three are people I trust."
From now on, the three of you will assist the prince in managing the affairs of the state according to his orders. You must not disobey or slack off."
Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and the other three hurriedly knelt down and shouted long live, shouting with tears that they obeyed the decree.
When Zhu Youtang saw the three of them kneeling to obey the order, a smile appeared on his face and he said softly: "The three of you are loyal and good ministers. I can only entrust the prince to you. Although the prince is smart, he is young and loves to enjoy himself.
, you must help him grow up well, so that he can take on great responsibilities, shoulder the important responsibilities of the Ming Dynasty, and be a good emperor. In that way, I can die in peace."
Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and others kowtowed and led the order, feeling endless grief.
Zhu Youtang turned around and asked Dai Yi, "Who else is there outside?"
Dai Yi said: "The British Duke Ding, the Duke of Shouning, the Marquis Jianchang and several other marquises are also here."
Zhu Youtang pondered for a moment and coughed. Empress Zhang quickly wiped his mouth and tongue with water. Zhu Youtang then said: "Two Dukes Xuan... come in. Also... let Marquis Jianchang come in too.
."
Dai Yi nodded and left. Soon, British Duke Zhang Mao, Ding Duke Xu Guangzuo and Jianchang Marquis Zhang Yanling bowed in. The two Dukes burst into tears, and Zhang Yanling also looked sad, following the two Dukes.
Kneel down and kowtow.
"Your Majesty, how could this happen? I wish I could sacrifice my life for you. It hurts me so much." Zhang Mao shouted loudly.
Zhu Youtang waved his hands and said: "Two princes, my deadline is approaching, so I won't say more. There are only two of you in the capital... I can only say something to the two princes. Please listen carefully."
"Your Majesty!" the three kneeling men shouted while wiping away tears.
"I have sent a decree to the prince, and ordered the three gentlemen in the cabinet to assist the prince in governing the government. I am a family of good generals and loyal generals. I know that you will be loyal and protect our Ming Dynasty. I... have nothing else to say.
You guys, I have only one sentence to tell you... I hope you will treat the prince as loyally as you do to me, can you do it?"
"Your Majesty, the old ministers and others should keep this in mind. They should be loyal to the Crown Prince and assist him in his great responsibilities. They should do their best and never dare to go against the Emperor's wishes." Xu Guangzuo and Zhang Mao cried out sadly.
"Very good, then I can rest assured. With the three great scholars from the Duke's family and the cabinet assisting the prince, my Ming Dynasty will not make any big mistakes." Zhu Youtang sighed and said.
"I will do my best and do my best." Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and the two princes knelt down and shouted.
Zhu Youtang nodded and his eyes fell on Zhang Yanling. He said softly: "Yanling!"
Zhang Yanling hurriedly said: "Wei Chen is here!"
Zhu Youtang looked at Zhang Yanling with a complicated expression, his lips moved, and after a while he said: "You are very good. I tell you one thing. You must do it."
Zhang Yanling said: "Your Majesty, please give me your orders. I will definitely do it."
Zhu Youtang said: "After I pass away, you must take good care of...the Queen. Now that I am gone, you must take good care of your second sister in my place. Visit her more often, talk to her to relieve her boredom, and protect her from harm."
She really loves you brothers, especially you. I pity her when I am here, but after I am gone, eh...!"
Empress Zhang burst into tears and cried sadly.
Zhang Yanling cried and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will do my best."
Zhu Youtang nodded slowly, his body softened, and he leaned against Queen Zhang. Queen Zhang cried loudly: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Zhu Youtang said softly: "Where is Houzhao? Where is Houzhao?"
Empress Zhang said hurriedly: "Zhao'er, come here quickly, your father is calling you."
Zhu Houzhao hurriedly stood up and stepped forward, shouting: "Father, father, the emperor is here. Father, you don't want to die, you don't want to die."
Zhu Youtang looked at Zhu Houzhao and tried to raise his hand to grab Zhu Houzhao's hand. He smiled and said: "Huzhao, my father is going to die."
Zhu Houzhao shouted: "Father, you cannot die. If you die, what will happen to the emperor and your mother? My father is so blessed that he will not die."
Zhu Youtang sighed: "Everyone is mortal, and my father doesn't want to die. Hou Zhao, don't be afraid. Even if your father dies, they will help you well. Remember, be a good person."
Emperor, govern our Ming Dynasty well and don’t let my father down."
Zhu Houzhao cried: "Father, the emperor cannot be the emperor. The emperor does not understand these things. Father, you cannot die."
Zhu Youtang said softly: "If you don't understand, they will teach you. Just ask them carefully and listen to their opinions. My father only tells you to work diligently, appoint talented people, and don't indulge in pleasure."
Do you remember it?"
Zhu Houzhao cried to himself. Zhu Youtang shouted: "I asked you if you remember?"
Zhu Youtang smiled and said: "I'm relieved then. Don't cry, you are about to become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, so you can't cry."
Zhu Houzhao wiped his tears, and the tears kept rolling.
"Your Majesty, please take a rest." Empress Zhang said softly when she saw that Zhu Youtang was breathing rapidly and his body was getting heavier. She could no longer hold him up.
Zhu Youtang turned to look at her and smiled: "Queen, the only thing I can't bear to part with is you."
Empress Zhang cried and said: "Your Majesty, I can't bear to leave you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Youtang sighed and said: "You and I have been husband and wife for seventeen years. I have fulfilled my duty as a husband and I feel no loss to you. There is only one thing... I... Hey, I am ashamed. Am I right?
Stay with me. Can you forgive me?"
Empress Zhang looked at Zhu Youtang with tears in her eyes. She knew what her husband was talking about. She hugged Zhu Youtang and said softly: "Your Majesty, is there anything else that cannot be forgiven between you and me? I am concubine in this life.
Being able to stay with the emperor for seventeen years is already a blessing that I have been blessed with for ten lifetimes. It’s a pity that the fate is too short. In the next life, I will still marry the emperor.”
Zhu Youtang chuckled and said: "Okay, okay, I will marry you in the next life, and we will grow old together... together!"
Zhu Youtang laughed, but his laughter suddenly stopped, his head sank, and he fell into the arms of Queen Zhang. Queen Zhang shouted in horror, and the servant next to her stepped forward to help and check. Zhang Yanling rushed forward to hold Zhu Youtang's arms.
His body, his breath and pulse were all gone.
"The Emperor...has gone!" Zhang Yanling said blankly.
After a moment of silence, cries broke out in the room, shaking the Qianqing Palace.
Soon, the news about Emperor Bintian spread throughout the palace and the capital on this dark and cold night. Soon it also spread throughout the Ming Dynasty.