The main children and grandchildren of the Eunuch Party are all here, and everyone is thinking about the candidate for the new emperor who is about to ascend the throne.
According to reliable information, Empress Zhang sent the news to King Xin Zhu Youjian through some unknown channel that the emperor was seriously ill and might not be able to recover again. However, King Xin somehow received no response and even complained that he was ill.
Wei Zhongxian has been waiting by the emperor's side. He understands the emperor's thoughts. He remembers that the most spoken words from the emperor's mouth these days are - you and I should be like Yao and Shun.
After hearing this, Wei Zhongxian was so frightened that he sat down on the ground because he knew that the emperor had decided to pass the throne to his younger brother, King Xin Zhu Youjian.
...
"What should I do? Tell me, what should I do?"
All the children and grandchildren looked at me and I looked at you, but no one dared to speak first.
Wei Zhongxian was unhappy, his face darkened, and he said: "You were all anxious when I asked for money for my position. Why are you now asked to think of a way and stop talking? Li Yongzhen, what do you have in mind?"
Mr. Wei asked Li Yongzhen to speak by name, and Li Yongzhen had to speak. He smiled bitterly and said: "Master Wei, if you don't want to do the same thing, you might as well give King Xin to..."
Cui Chengxiu on the side was shocked and said: "Could it be that you want to..."
Li Yongzhen rolled his eyes: "I mean house arrest. After this limelight, it should be fine~"
Wang Tigan interjected: "It's easy to say. Now all the gates of Prince Xin's Mansion are guarded by the British Duke. This British Duke has been hereditary since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty and is highly respected. We go there rashly. Don't we know that we are going to be exposed?"
Wei Zhongxian said helplessly: "You have been talking for a long time, but there is still no good solution?"
All the children and grandchildren also shook their heads simply.
"Well, since it doesn't work, then think of other ways... Do you think Zhu Youjian is easy to control?"
None of the children and grandchildren answered.
Wei Zhongxian continued: "In my opinion, he is younger than his brother, but he is better at literacy and reading than his brother, so he may not be easy to control."
Wei Zhongxian's analysis was not wrong, but his analysis alone could not influence the judgment of his descendants.
Cui Chengxiu said: "Master Wei is right, but there is a key point. After all, King Xin is younger than the emperor, and if he ascends to the throne, he will be isolated and helpless in the palace. At this time, Master Wei should use both soft and hard tactics.
It’s the easiest to control, well, it’s like Cao Cao holding the emperor hostage to make him disloyal.”
Wei Zhongxian nodded. In fact, he didn't understand what "holding the emperor's power to command disobedience" meant, but he knew that what Cui Chengxiu said must be reasonable.
"I'm afraid this is not appropriate. After all, King Xin is King Xin, and his surname is Zhu. When he grows up, he may not be able to use the emperor's command to disobey his ministers. I'm afraid there will be no chance~" Tian Ergen shook his head and said, "This Cui Shangshu should understand.
Bar?"
Cui Chengxiu was stunned for a moment, thought carefully with his chin, and felt that Tian Ergeng was right. After all, King Xin was a member of the Zhu family. After all, it was difficult to control the family when they grew up.
Cui Chengxiu rolled his eyes: "Yes, doesn't Wei Liangqing have a son? He was just born, well, Wei Liangqing is not a relative of Mr. Wei... The emperor has no heirs, so let's exchange a civet cat for the prince.
, what do you think?"
As soon as Cui Chengxiu came up with this plan, everyone present was stunned, even Wei Zhongxian was stunned several times.
Cui Chengxiu continued: "Let's assume that the emperor's concubine gave birth to a son, and then do this...and then draft an imperial edict. Well, let's move the time forward a little and use Master Wei to assist. This way we will have the best of both worlds.
What?"
When Wei Zhongxian heard this, he clapped his hands and said happily: "Good plan, good plan~ It's so good, then it's settled. You guys can discuss it and get it done~~"
...
The next day, Wei Zhongxian ordered someone to bring a message to Queen Zhang, saying that the emperor has a son, and you are trying hard to make King Xin the emperor, but I'm afraid it won't come true, so you should just be your empress dowager.
Empress Zhang was also a fiery person. She knew that this was Wei Zhongxian's fault, so she righteously dismissed Wei Zhongxian's warning.
Empress Zhang was not stupid, she knew that if Wei Zhongxian succeeded, she would be miserable in the future, so she immediately found the British Duke to discuss countermeasures.
The British Duke suggested: "If I say something that shouldn't be said, I'm afraid the emperor really can't survive it. If Wei Zhongxian gives up, he must do it in front of him and let the emperor ascend to the throne of King Xin."
Empress Zhang nodded and said: "Then I will go to the emperor immediately, and let the emperor tell them face to face no matter what. As for King Xin, I will ask the Duke."
"Easy to say, easy to say~" the British duke nodded.
...
In Prince Xin's palace, Zhu Youjian has been waiting for a long, long time. It's not that he doesn't want to move, it's not that he doesn't want to go to the palace now to find his brother and ask him to pass the throne to him, but he is waiting, waiting anxiously.
"This Ma Xiaoquan, whether the advice he gave me is right or wrong, I can't wait any longer~" Zhu Youjian stamped his feet.
At this moment, a servant outside the door sent a message saying that the British Lord wanted to see him.
Zhu Youjian's eyes narrowed, and his thoughts finally came, and he quickly said: "Please~"
After a while, the British Duke came to King Xin. After the two exchanged a few polite words, the British Duke said directly: "If it is convenient, Your Majesty, please come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor now."
Zhu Youjian wanted the British prince to say this in his heart, but he said bitterly: "I don't dare, I'm afraid that seeing my royal brother will make me sad~" After that, Zhu Youjian started to cry.
The British Duke was also very sad. Although he didn't know King Xin, the emperor's only younger brother usually lived in seclusion, never caused trouble, and never participated in affairs. He was a rare good prince.
"My lord, it's too late. If you don't go, it'll be too late~ Come on, come on, don't change your clothes, just let me go."
Zhu Youjian reluctantly acted like a little girl being dragged out by a British father. On the surface, he was very reluctant, but in fact, he was already happy in his heart.
...
Zhu Youjian did not go to the palace immediately, but stayed at the British Duke's house for a few days. With the British Duke's protection, Zhu Youjian was very relaxed, and the stone hanging in his heart was almost half off, but he did not become the emperor.
Before, he was still worried.
On August 11, the emperor suddenly issued an order to summon his younger brother Xin Wang. Zhu Youjian knew that his opportunity had finally come.
Entering the palace and standing in front of Zhu Youjian, Zhu Youjian knelt down and cried, holding his head in his arms without saying a word.
Zhu Youxiao couldn't say too much at this time. He looked at his brother, stretched out his hand and waved it gently. Zhu Youjian stepped forward, held his brother's hand, and continued to cry bitterly.
"Brother Huang, don't cry, Brother Huang is here~" Zhu Youxiao said weakly.
"No, my dear brother, long live my dear brother, nothing will happen~"
"No, I know my condition. What I want to tell you is... I am Yao and you are Shun..."
Zhu Youjian was startled, and hurriedly knelt in front of the dragon bed, kowtowing continuously, and while kowtowing, he said: "My crime deserves to be punished by death, my crime deserves to be punished by death..."
Zhu Youxiao shook his head gently: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I'm not going to die soon. You can take my place. Remember, the palace must not be messed up. The loyal and virtuous can be appointed. There is also Ma Xiaoquan and Ma Aiqing. That's about it. Just call her back."
He is a loyal minister."
Zhu Youjian just kowtowed and did not dare to answer even a word.
After a while, he said: "Brother Emperor, Eunuch Wei has worked hard in serving you and deserves a big reward~"
Wei Zhongxian sneered in his heart and said with a false pretense: "Serving the emperor is the responsibility of this old slave, don't you dare~"
Zhu Youjian cursed Wei Zhongxian as a chicken thief in his heart, but was speechless. In this way, they left after performing a painful scene in front of the dying Emperor Tianqi.
After returning to the palace, Zhu Youjian immediately summoned his confidants to discuss the next plan.
Some people suggested that Ma Xiaoquan should be recalled secretly. As long as he comes back, everything will be easy to talk about.
Zhu Youjian was very dissatisfied. How could Ma Xiaoquan come back and say everything would be easy? This is all your fallacy, fallacy.
Zhu Youjian didn't believe it, but the emperor's brother also told him to recall Ma Xiaoquan after he became emperor. He didn't believe it, so he didn't believe it. Ma Xiaoquan, just stay in Gansu forever.
...
Gansu Town, inside Ma Xiaoquan's mansion.
Ma Xiaoquan rubbed his eyes and murmured: "Why do I keep feeling like my eyelids are twitching in the past few days? Is something bad going to happen?"
Beiming Shuangxue sat next to Ma Xiaoshen, eating the fruit in his hand and saying, "You haven't rested, have you?"
Ma Xiaoquan rolled his eyes and said, "Who can I blame if I don't get a good rest? Really..."
Beiming Shuangxue pouted, threw away the fruit in her hand, turned over and sat on Ma Xiaoquan, threatening: "Do you believe I will do it to you now?"
"Uh~~" Ma Xiaoquan stared at Beiming Shuangxue with wide eyes, pursed his lips angrily, and motioned to the servants on the side to watch. The latter was stunned for a moment, and then realized that what he had done was a little private, and she blushed with embarrassment.
His face jumped down and he said angrily: "If you say such words again in the future, I won't take care of you~ Huh~~"
After saying that, Beiming Shuangxue turned around and left. A female servant next to her also held back her laughter and followed quickly.
Ma Xiaoquan rubbed his temples, looked at the servant beside him, and said angrily: "Do you want to laugh too?"
The male servant bit his lip and nodded hard.
"Okay, just laugh if you want~"
Even though he said the words, the servant still didn't dare to laugh. He forced himself to nod his head, and finally managed to hold it back.
Ma Xiaoquan hummed and asked, "What's the news from the capital?"
The servant said: "The emperor is seriously ill and I'm afraid he won't be able to survive for long~"
Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "Has the new emperor been chosen?"