In just two days, Ji Xiu had taken care of everything inside and outside the Lingshan Palace - everything was going smoothly, whether it was replacing the defense or dealing with the forbidden troops, he just did his thing, and the ministers watched in their eyes.
From beginning to end, no one commented or interfered.
Rather than saying that they dare not intervene, it is better to say that the situation dictates that everyone has seen it clearly and no one will do anything meaningless.
Even so, the ministers hardly slept a wink in the past two days.
The emperor is dead——
But the emperor's death was not the end, but rather meant a new beginning.
Next, there are too many things for them to weigh, discuss, and decide.
And for the past two days, they had been gathering in one place to discuss matters, but they had not waited for King Yan to summon him... not even once.
To be precise, they have never seen King Yan again since that day.
Ordinarily, isn't this the time to gather power vigorously and resolutely and issue orders on everything?
Are you busy with other things and unable to get away for the time being?
But the fact is that I paid homage to the emperor's mausoleum on the first day, and went to the mausoleum temple to offer incense on the second day. Other than that, I never left the palace at all, and my daily life could be described as leisurely.
And the more this happened, the more uneasy many ministers felt.
Why haven't you said anything yet?
On the third day, this uneasiness suddenly reached its highest point——
The Duke of Zhenguo is here!
With fifty thousand troops and horses!
After hearing the news, some ministers couldn't help but panic.
The situation has been decided, why did you lead troops to surround you?
Isn't that the case?
Although the incident happened suddenly and they did need time to think about it carefully, they were not ignorant people, nor did they have to accept the hard words rather than the soft ones, right?
So... let’s give it to the soft-tongued person first?
How can you tell them to let go of the handover when you come so hard? Who is not a face-saving person?
Why bother?
King Yan's handling of this matter was really out of level, and I don't know who gave the idea!
All the ministers were panicked and helpless.
However, the expected storm did not come, and the Duke of Zhen entered the palace with only a few confidants, and did not even come to see them at all.
After waiting for a long time, I inquired and said that I was here to pick up my granddaughter!
"..."
All the ministers stared at each other.
The granddaughter of Duke Zhen is in the palace. They already knew about this yesterday. It is said that as early as last winter, this girl Xu had sneaked into the capital alone. King Yan came here secretly and persuaded Ji Xiu to cooperate with others...
Most of these are the arrangements and plans of this little girl.
As for Zhen Guogong's army being fifty miles away, they already knew it as early as the day of the accident——
If you think about it with your brain, you will know that no matter how risky the King of Yan is, he will never be able to break into the Lingshan Palace alone. He must have backup. The Yan army, which is pretending to be defeated and divided, is thousands of miles away.
There are many obstacles along the way, and it is impossible to get over it in a short time——
Under this circumstance, the most likely candidate is the Xu family army stationed in Linyuan.
As for why Xu Jiajun was approaching Lingshan all the way, they didn't get any information - is there any need to ask?
Posthouses in various places are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War!
Moreover, the incident happened suddenly. Except for the posthouse responsible for the communication, there was a lag in the news from other places. No, yesterday there was an official from the county who rushed 800 miles to deliver a message, saying that there was something strange in the Xu family army.
If you want to seize the opportunity to cause chaos, you must take precautions in advance...
Be prepared early...
It's really too early...
The emperor's body was already cold when he arrived.
"Mr. Xiege, what do you think King Yan's intention is right now?" An official sighed: "Even if we put aside other matters, we still have to deal with the funeral affairs. How can we keep delaying here?"
Jie Shoufu, who had always frowned, stood up from his chair after hearing this.
"I'm going to see King Yan——"
After hearing this, all the officials looked at each other with different moods.
At this moment, an internal prison guard suddenly walked in quickly.
The eunuch saluted and said: "...His Royal Highness King Yan has just sent someone to convey the message to all your lords. He and General Xu will take the first step, and the rest of the matters will only need to be discussed and decided by your lords."
"...?"
People are gone?
The ministers suddenly felt that they were caught off guard.
You haven't even gotten it yet, and you've already started to act as a hands-off shopkeeper?
And...what's the point of leaving all the remaining matters to them to discuss and decide?
Which of these so-called "things" refer to? Or should we say...all of them?
Do you mean you don't want to care about anything?
The ministers who never expected to wait for such a result all had mixed emotions.
The other party's statement can be said to have given them enough respect and dignity——
But what happens after this?
Before that, they even thought about the possibility that King Yan might obstruct the affairs of Emperor Daxing after his death... If that were the case, there would inevitably be another dispute.
But at the moment, the other party obviously has no intention of intervening in this matter, at least on the surface.
After a while of discussion, everyone turned to look at the chief minister, waiting for him to make up his mind.
"Helping Ling return to Beijing——" Jie Shoufu said seriously.
…
At this time, King Yan and Duke Zhen had already left the Lingshan Palace.
A group of several hundred people went ahead, followed by the army.
It's early after the rain, and the mountains are greener.
Xu Mingyi rode behind his grandfather and King Yan, and he seemed to be able to smell the fresh breath of green grass breaking through the ground in his nose.
Wu Chao walked side by side with her, and when he saw her happy face, his features became relaxed unconsciously.
After leaving Lingshan Mountain, Duke Zhen Guo sat high on his horse and looked at the official road with a wide view. He laughed heartily and said loudly: "Go home!"
Hearing this voice, Xu Mingyi smiled and subconsciously turned to look at Wu Chao, only to see him looking at her.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
On the way back to Beijing, they were not in a hurry.
I never rush on the road at night. I rest when I need to, stay overnight when I need to, and go to restaurants when I need to.
After all, it is an area close to the capital, which is generally relatively safe compared to other places.
Of course, there was an army of fifty thousand behind them, and no one dared to cause trouble wherever they passed.
When they arrived in front of the city gate, the official guarding the city opened the city gate in person to greet him - King Yan saw this and had some concerns in his heart.
Xu Mingyi also raised his eyes to look at the wide open city gate and the officials and soldiers on both sides who were silently saluting.
They walked slowly along the way. The news about the imperial mausoleum in Lingshan must have spread to the capital.
But when Emperor Qing Ming left the capital, there were careful deployments everywhere in the capital, and most of the defenders within the capital were not disciplined people.
These people opened the city gate so happily at this time to welcome them. It is impossible for them to be aware of the current situation and make good decisions——
Presumably, on their way back to the capital, they had been sent to the capital with the instructions of the prince and cabinet officials.
Under the morning light of early spring, a group of black-armored cavalry led the way, and the military flag embroidered with a large "Yan" character fluttered in the morning wind through the city gate.
Hundreds of people walked slowly through Chang'an Street.
The streets were deserted, and most of the shops were closed, but there were still many people hiding in the half-dark corners and alleyways, quietly casting uneasy glances.
King Yan came to Beijing...
General Xu is back too!
It seems that the rumors of the emperor's death must be true!
At this time, they don't know what kind of changes they will face next. The emperor is gone, but the prince is still there. Will there be troubles amid the fight? Will there still be war?
And these are destined to be answered with time and what we see later.
King Yan insisted on taking a detour and sent the people outside Qingyunfang.
"The house is in a mess, so I won't invite the prince to come and have a rest today." The Duke of Zhen immediately smiled and handed over his hand.
King Yan nodded and said with a smile: "I'll come back to you some other time to ask for tea with the general."
After saying this, he raised his hand and saluted, then turned the horse's head.
Wu Chao also bowed to the Duke of Zhen and said goodbye, and then said to Xu Mingyi: "I will go back with the prince first——"
King Yan, who was listening quietly, frowned slightly.
What does "first" mean to go back with him?
Why do you say it as if you have to go through the motions with him and then turn around and come back?
Does this kid know where his own door is?
Xu Mingyi smiled with him and said, "Go back. When the house is tidied up, I will invite you and the prince to sit down."
King Yan raised his eyebrows - Do you understand, the girl is busy, this means refusing to come uninvited, is she disliked?
Wu Chao didn't feel that he was being disliked at first, but when he turned around, he felt that someone was gloating about his misfortune.
The young man couldn't help but feel doubtful.
Is this your biological father?
King Yan was in a good mood, so he took his disliked son away from here. He said with a smile: "Let's go home and take a look at you!"
Like Zhen Guogong's Mansion, a seal was posted outside the gate of Prince Yan's Mansion in Beijing.
He Feng stepped forward and tore off the seal, then raised his knife to cut off the door lock three or two times.
Accompanied by a long "squeak--" sound, the vermilion door of the palace was slowly pushed open.
Wu Chao followed King Yan and walked in step by step.
As the young man walked, he looked at the surrounding scenery in the mansion.
As for impression memory, he certainly doesn't have it.
He had never been here before.
No, he has been here before - he left here nineteen years ago.
The father and son walked through the front yard, passed through the long corridor that still had traces of time, and finally stopped in front of a courtyard.
The courtyard door was not locked, it was originally closed, or it was wide open at this time due to house searches. There was a whole winter of fallen leaves accumulated in the courtyard, and after one rain after another, it gave off a decaying moisture.
spirit.
"This is where your mother lived during her lifetime. I originally asked people to keep the furnishings in it..." When he came to the hall and looked at the empty rooms, King Yan said.
"If father still wants to keep it, he can restore it to its original state afterwards."
King Yan nodded subconsciously.
Even if something is confiscated, you can still get it back.
He clearly remembers how to place the bottles and cabinets here.
He turned around and faced outside the hall, stretched out his hand and pointed somewhere. When he was about to say something, his face suddenly froze.
This kid...
What did you call him just now?
King Yan was stunned for a while, and suddenly his face was filled with a smile. He looked at the young man beside him, a little confused, but he responded firmly: "Hey!"
When he answered, the corners of his lined eyes were smiling and red.
Looking at such a pair of old and happy eyes, Wu Chao, who had just changed his words, felt a little uncomfortable. He looked in the direction of his finger, coughed lightly, and asked, "What did father want to say just now?"
King Yan turned back, looked at a corner of the courtyard, and said with a smile: "That plum tree was planted by your mother back then. Look, how good it grows..."
Wu Chao then looked over.
The father and son looked side by side at the same place. The plum tree was swaying its new leaves in the wind, and there were dense green grass growing under the tree, quiet and peaceful.
…
As soon as Xu Mingyi got off his horse and returned home with his grandfather, he led people straight to Xu Yun's residence.
The stone table in the courtyard is still there.
The soldier obeyed the order, moved the stone table away, and lifted up the green bricks covered with a layer of fallen leaves.
The entrance to the secret passage was opened, and a ray of sunlight poured in along the entrance. There was a rustling sound in the secret passage, but it quickly became silent.
It wasn't until Yun Liu personally descended the secret passage that everyone inside put down their guard and threw down the weapons they had used for self-defense with a "clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang clang, and then the sounds of joy and excitement rang out."
Soon, familiar and unfamiliar faces emerged from the secret passage and appeared in Xu Mingyi's sight.
Why do you say strange...
After hiding in the secret passage for more than half a year, a person will undergo some changes, especially his skin color.
But at this time, those faces all had expressions of ecstasy.
From the old servant, to the mother-in-law, to the little servant girl——
"General!"
"The general is back!"
"The girl is finally back!"
"My maid knows that the girl will come back safely!"
"..."
Xu Mingyi looked at them with a smile, and then his eyes fell on the entrance of the secret passage - why didn't Uncle Yun come out?
Until more and more people came out and the speed gradually slowed down, Yun Bo was still nowhere to be seen.
Xu Mingyi was a little uneasy.
After all, Uncle Yun is old and has some old ailments. Although some commonly used pills are prepared in the secret passage, they are not foolproof...
"Why haven't you seen Uncle Yun?" she asked Ah Li.
When Ah Li was about to answer, she saw a gray figure who was being helped up at the entrance of the secret passage and moved a little slowly.
Xu Mingyi's eyes heated up and he immediately shouted: "Uncle Yun!"
"Hey! The old slave is here!" Uncle Yun raised his head, responded with a smile, and hurriedly came forward to salute.
He had been listening to the noise outside for a long time, and he felt anxious in his heart, but who made him the person in charge? When he went in, he should be the last one in, and when he came out, he should be the last one out.
Xu Mingyi felt relieved and had a smile on his face.
Everyone is here.
Not one is missing.
A courtyard full of servants all saluted.
No one asked what happened. The general and the girl brought people back together. Do you need to ask about anything else?
As I said a long time ago, there is no battle that a general cannot win!
Oh, it seems to be a rebellion - but rebellion is also a war, it's all the same, the same!
The courtyard was noisy and full of joy.
As soon as Ah Li saluted, she pulled Xu Mingyi to sit down on the stone bench and rubbed her shoulders: "Girl, you must have worked hard these days, I will rub it for you!"
Seeing this, the other maids also hurriedly gathered around.
"The maid is beating the girl's legs!"
One girl took out a handkerchief and said, "Oh, this stone bench is so dirty. Why don't you give me a wipe? Girl, get up quickly..."
Ah Li thought to herself that she was careless, and frowned at the girl again - how could this little hooves still imitate her speech?
Xu Mingyi was stunned.
Is this rolled up?
The mother-in-law and servants are not willing to lag behind others - even though they have stayed in the secret passage for more than half a year, who is not a diligent person at heart?
An old servant snatched a broom and swept it wildly, which seemed like retaliatory labor.
Looking at the broom that seemed to be about to die in the next moment, Xu Mingyi trembled for it, thinking that many of them would be broken in the house today.
Uncle Yun also started to make arrangements and said, "I have to give the old man and the girl a good night tonight." The people in charge of the kitchen immediately stood up and walked out, quickly rolling up their sleeves as they went.
Uncle Yun said again, "The lantern is broken and needs to be replaced with a new one." Then there were people moving ladders and going out to buy. Several people rushed to the front and ran very fast. Uncle Yun shouted from behind: "Come back, come back, get the money."
Yeah! Just run!"
Xu Mingyi, who was surrounded by a group of girls, couldn't help laughing.
