Summary of the previous chapter: Ma Xiaoquan was rescued from the prison by Ma Tong. The two quickly returned to the Qianqing Palace. At the entrance of the Qianqing Palace, the officials were confronting the eunuchs who were blocking the door...
I have to say that Fang Congzhe’s words worked.
The originally turbulent scene became quiet because of his words. Everyone looked at me and I looked at you, and arrangements for the memorial work began.
There is strength in numbers, and...the Taichang Emperor Zhu Changluo Manggong has only been on the throne for a month. Some of the memorial decorations placed in the Qianqing Palace when his father Zhu Yijun, Emperor Wanli, passed away, are all gone. Before I could take it down, I used it again.
Ma Xiaoquan originally had no status to enter such a "high-end" memorial service, but...as Mrs. Ma's only "grandson" in Beijing, Mrs. Ma can use her character to order Mrs. Her identity requires Ma Xiaoquan to stay and "serve" her.
Supporting Mrs. Ma, Ma Xiaoquan whispered: "I wonder what it's like when the emperor dies. Oh, so that's how it is..."
At this time, preparations for the memorial service were in place, and Fang Congzhe became the host of the memorial service without hesitation.
Since the Crown Prince Zhu Youxiao was not present, the memorial service was held relatively simply and the procedures were accordingly much shorter, so the time was much shorter than when Emperor Wanli died.
About an hour later, the memorial service came to an end. During this period, Ma Xiaoquan secretly made a statistics.
From the beginning to the present, the ministers cried a total of 9 times, knelt down 18 times, hugged each other and cried 20 times... 5 people fainted from crying, and 12 people cried to their death... A series of data proves , crying is actually a very tiring physical job. Of course, there are still "masters" who have good physical strength and can cry, for example... Yang Lian from the Military Department.
Ma Xiaoquan actually admired Yang Lian quite a lot. Judging from the evaluation given to him by history, he was more praised than criticized. And when Yang Lian was killed by Wei Jinzhong and Wei Zhongxian, his heroic spirit of preferring death to surrender made Ma Xiaoquan deeply admired.
But... these things have not happened yet, and Wei Jinzhong has not yet become Wei Zhongxian. Everything has just begun...
Ma Xiaoquan shook his head, looked at Yang Lian who was still crying bitterly, walked up and helped Yang Lian up.
"Mr. Yang, please forgive me. Your Majesty has spirit in heaven and will definitely protect my Ming Dynasty."
Yang Lian looked at Ma Xiaoquan blankly. He didn't know Ma Xiaoquan, but Ma Xiaoquan took the initiative to help him up and comfort him. Moreover, the words "You will definitely bless me Ming Dynasty" directly spoke to Yang Lian's heart. In an instant, , Yang Lian had a slight appreciation for the short-haired young man in front of her.
"Who are you......"
"Oh... Mr. Yang, this is our grandson, Ma Xiaoquan." Mrs. Ma stepped forward and said.
"Ma Xiaoquan?" Yang Lian thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "So you are the Ma Xiaoquan. Well, it seems that you don't match the rumors?"
Ma Xiaoquan bowed slightly: "There are always some rumors out there, but I, Ma Xiaoquan, am indeed a bit of a bastard."
Yang Lian wanted to smile and express his appreciation for Ma Xiaoquan's frankness, but at the moment he was still in charge of the Qing Palace. It would be troublesome if he was betrayed by the Zhejiang Party, or even by smaller parties such as the relatively weak Qi Party.
"Oh" Yang Lian nodded expressionlessly and said, "Okay, no more words, thank you, Ma Xiaoquan."
Ma Xiaoquan nodded, and before leaving, he faintly said something softly to Yang Lian, which was only heard by Yang Lian.
Yang Lian looked at Ma Xiaoquan's back in surprise, feeling a sense of warmth and gratitude in her heart.
...
A moment later, the mourning ceremony ended. Next, the most important thing was to find the emperor's eldest son and support him in his succession.
Before his death, Zhu Changluo planned the emperor's eldest son Zhu Youxiao to be the next emperor's successor. It can be said that as long as Zhu Youxiao does not die, even if he is stupid, he will have to be supported to become the emperor.
But...Zhu Youxiao was not here during the memorial service just now.
In desperation, the officials had no choice but to look around.
Ma Xiaoquan quietly walked up to Liu Yijing, the cabinet scholar, and gave Liu Yijing an idea while grumbling, and then withdrew in a hurry.
Liu Yijing knew Ma Xiaoquan because his new concubine, Xiao Cuihua, was said to have had a "number of legs" with Ma Xiaoquan... Of course, Liu Yijing no longer cared much about whether there was a number of legs or not.
Shi Xiao Cuihua suddenly died in Yuelai Inn, and it was said that she had an affair with a man who looked like Ma Xiaoquan, but she was actually beaten to death by Liu Yijing's son... When Liu Yijing found out,
Although he was very angry, he thought that the bitch Xiao Cuihua was also dead, so Liu Yijing stopped pursuing it.
Liu Yijing calmed down, stepped forward and shouted loudly: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was not here during the memorial service just now. This is already inconsistent with the authority. Now we want to see the Crown Prince, why are we not allowed to see him? Where is the Crown Prince? Say
!”
The eunuch Wang An, who was in charge of the ceremony, came forward and said: "The prince is with Li Xuanshi now."
When Liu Yijing heard this, he shouted loudly: "What a good servant Li Xuan, he actually hid the emperor?" As he said this, he was about to storm the Qing palace's cabinet.
Wang An grabbed Liu Yijing and said, "Master Liu, wait a minute, let me go and take a look first."
...
In the cabinet of Qianqing Palace, Shi Xuan was looking proudly at Zhu Youxiao sitting opposite him.
The position of empress that I had planned for a long time could not be achieved because Zhu Changluo, a short-lived ghost, died. Now Zhu Youxiao is in my hands. If I make good use of it, there is still hope for becoming the empress dowager.
Thinking about it, Li Xuanshi couldn't help but laugh.
At this time, Wang An asked to see him outside the door.
Li Xuanshi knew that Wang An was here to spy on the ministers, so he wouldn't even let Wang An in.
Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Wang Anyi took advantage of Li Xuanshi not paying attention, rushed into the cabinet with his eyes closed, and pulled Zhu Youxiao out.
After losing the bargaining chip in his hand, Li Xuan became anxious and rushed towards Wang An and Zhu Youxiao like a shrew, hugging Wang An's legs tightly.
While hugging his legs, Li Xuanshi did not forget to use the unique "pinch, pinch, bite" technique unique to women, but... Wang An was a eunuch, and there was nothing underneath. Li Xuanshi struggled for a long time. Although Wang An felt uncomfortable, but
But unlike normal men, they are unable to resist after someone grabs their balls.
Attendant Li Xuan saw that the situation was not right and quickly asked Wei Jinzhong and Wei Zhongxian to help.
Wei Jinzhong rushed toward Wang An aggressively, but before he could get close, someone hit him on the head with a stone.
Looking up, he saw a young man with short hair standing on the palace wall.