The square of the Daqing Palace was filled with angry ministers. They all came to complain to the emperor and demanded severe punishment for Yan Xin, the commander of the Plum Blossom Guards. This was a serious riot. Many ministers suffered a huge impact on their homes, or their property was robbed, or
His wife and daughter were insulted, and the ministers could not accept this tragic experience. They came to ask for an explanation one after another. They would not give up unless Yan Xin Lingchi was executed and the rebellious soldiers were not severely punished.
At this time, a low bell sounded from the palace, "dong-dong-"
The ministers were stunned. This was the Jingyang Bell that was ringing. The Jingyang Bell would only be rung when the emperor ascended the throne, abdicated or died. What was going on?
At this moment, the ministers could no longer care about their own grief. They were talking about it and a sense of ominousness enveloped their hearts.
An old eunuch slowly walked up to the steps and shouted with great grief: "Ministers, misfortune has struck, His Majesty the Emperor has passed away!"
This news was like a bolt from the blue. Everyone was shocked. Qin Hui knelt down and cried, "Your Majesty——"
"His Majesty!"
The ministers held their hands on the ground and cried loudly. The old eunuch said again: "The Queen Mother invites Qin Xiangguo, Xu Xiangguo, Zhang Xiangguo and Zhu Xiangguo to go to the inner palace to discuss matters. Other ministers please wait here!"
Qin Hui, Xu Xiantu, Zhang Jun and Zhu Shengfei all got up and went to the inner palace, while other ministers sat in groups on the steps to discuss. At this time, more and more officials came to the palace, and Yang Yizhong also came crying.
He also received news of the emperor's death.
The guards blocked the way and prevented Yang Yizhong from entering the inner palace. While they were arguing, the leader of the guards, Su Chun, hurried over.
He was immediately surrounded by Yang Yizhong and the ministers, "General Su, what's going on? Why did the emperor suddenly die?"
Su Chun said sadly: "The emperor encountered an assassin and a poisonous arrow entered his body. He collapsed when the imperial doctor arrived."
The ministers were in an uproar. It was so shocking that the emperor was assassinated. Yang Yizhong asked anxiously: "Who is the assassin? Can he be caught?"
Su Chun shook his head, "Your Majesty encountered an assassin when he was avoiding civil strife in the back mountain. The assassin happened to come in from the back mountain. Unfortunately, the assassin escaped, but he left clues. I have made a preliminary judgment on who did it."
"who is it?"
"It should be Xiangjia. There is a word "xiang" on the arrow shaft and a line of small characters."
"What small print?" everyone asked.
Su Chun was a little embarrassed to say it, and after a while she said: "The hatred for killing my father is irreconcilable!"
The ministers looked at each other and looked at Yang Yizhong. Yang Yizhong sighed and said: "It is possible that Xiang Desheng was killed by the emperor last night, and his nephew Xiang Kui also died, but his two sons are missing.
Xiang Jun may be in Wang Jian's army, but Xiang Wen's whereabouts are unknown, and the Xiang family also had several close confidants who are missing."
"Could it be that the emperor was assassinated by Xiang Wen?" the ministers asked in shock.
Yang Yizhong sighed: "Based on the time, it's completely in time. Although Xiang Wen doesn't know martial arts, if he brings his close friends to die and meets the emperor by chance in the back mountain, this is heaven. It's fate that this calamity will happen.
.”
Yang Yizhong almost said that it was God's will and hurriedly changed his words, but it was still inappropriate. How could he say that the emperor's destiny should be like this?
But at this time, everyone was so confused that no one could bother to refute Yang Yizhong's slip of the tongue.
Su Chun shook his head and said: "Yang Dutong, it's not a coincidence. It was Li Jian who sent the letter back and forth and was noticed by the assassin. Li Jian also admitted that he felt someone was following him, but it did not arouse his vigilance."
"God's will! God's will! The cycle of cause and effect, retribution, so happy! So happy!" someone shouted.
Everyone turned around and glared, and saw that it was Taichang Shaoqing Zhong Zixuan, dancing and dancing in a state of madness.
Yang Yizhong was furious and put his hand on the hilt of the sword. He heard someone whispering next to him: "A dozen plum blossom thieves broke into his house, his father was killed, and his wife was insulted and then hanged herself. How pitiful!"
Yang Yi felt sad in his heart and loosened the hilt of his sword. The officials ordered the Plum Blossom Guards to attack the powerful. It was indeed an oversight. The officials had a certain responsibility for so many tragedies.
At this time, an eunuch hurriedly came out and said to Yang Yizhong: "Yang Dutong, the Queen Mother has called, where is General Yan?"
Yang Yizhong shook his head, "General Yan doesn't seem to be here!"
"Who said I didn't come!"
Yan Xin suddenly appeared next to him, and the ministers immediately became angry and rushed over together, "Beat him to death! Beat him to death!"
Yan Xin was unprepared and was grabbed by the ministers and beaten violently. Taichang Shaoqing Zhong Zixuan threw Yan Xin down and bit off his ear. Yan Xin screamed in pain and tried to draw his sword but could not. Then he
The other ear was bitten off.
Su Chun was about to rush forward, but was stopped by Yang Yizhong, who said calmly: "The emperor died indirectly at his hands. If he doesn't die, the law of heaven cannot tolerate it!"
Su Chun also stopped the guards, and Yang Yizhong said to him: "He must have brought his own soldiers. They must be stopped. If the news spreads, the Plum Blossom Guards will also rebel!"
Su Chun was shocked, "There are no guards in front of me, what should I do?"
At this time, Yan Xin's screams suddenly disappeared. Zhong Zixuan pulled out the dagger from his leather boots and stabbed it in his chest.
Yang Yizhong said to the old eunuch: "Please tell the Queen Mother that I am afraid that the Plum Blossom Guards will rebel, and I must stop them!"
The old eunuch pulled Yang Yizhong aside and asked in a low voice: "The Queen Mother would like to know if Zhao Bocong is still there?"
Yang Yizhong shook his head, "The emperor ordered him to be executed, and he was the first to bear the brunt. Several of his sons were also killed."
The old eunuch could only nod his head and said: "Yang Dutong, go quickly! It seems that the Queen Mother also wants Yang Dutong to maintain order in the city!"
Yang Yizhong turned around and ran away. At this time, the ministers all got up. Yan Xin was covered in blood, his face was beyond recognition, his eyes were poked out, his ears, nose and lips were bitten off, and his throat was bitten off. But the most fatal thing was that
Instead, a dagger was inserted into his chest, directly piercing his heart, and he died.
Yan Xin never dreamed that he would die in this way.
Su Chun quickly ordered the soldiers to carry away Yan Xin's body, and hundreds of ministers let out a sigh of relief.
In the side hall of Ziwei Hall, Empress Dowager Wei and the four prime ministers discussed the succession to the throne, but they encountered a big problem. The emperor had no children. Zhao Bocong, the only one who could inherit the throne, also died in the chaos, and his sons were also alive and dead.
The five people could only make a compromise plan. The Queen Mother would first listen to the affairs behind the curtain, and then she would find a suitable heir to the throne and support her to ascend the throne immediately.
In fact, they all knew that the former crown prince Zhao Chen had two sons in Jingzhao, who were the legitimate grandsons of the emperor, but no one dared to mention this matter.
While they were discussing, a eunuch hurried in and reported, "The Queen Mother and several of your husbands have just received news that the Plum Blossom Guards are rebelling!"
Queen Mother Wei was shocked and asked urgently: "Can anyone stop me?"
"I heard that Yang Du's army and the Meihua Guards were fighting fiercely in the West Lake area. The situation is unknown!"
Queen Mother Wei was really worried, "Why don't you feel at ease with everything? It's endless!"
Zhang Jun comforted the Queen Mother and said: "Don't worry, Queen Mother, the Plum Blossom Guards are a ragtag group of people and are vulnerable to a single blow. I believe General Yang will wipe them all out!"
Queen Mother Wei nodded, "My husbands, please go and rest first! The Ai family is also tired. We will discuss the specific arrangements for the government tomorrow."
Several prime ministers left, but Queen Mother Wei did not leave. She came to the emperor's study room and sat down on the throne. Her ambitions began to swell. Why did she want to find an heir to the throne? Couldn't she be enthroned as the empress?
