Wei Zhongxian summoned the important ministers from the six cabinet departments, and Ma Xianglin was naturally not idle either.
At the same time, as the emperor's most trusted general, he knocked on the door of the British government.
The gatekeeper carefully hid behind the door to confirm his identity. When he learned that it was the commander of the Royal Forest Army who had arrived, he quickly woke up the housekeeper.
The housekeeper did not dare to neglect and immediately came to greet him wearing a coat.
After confirming the token in Ma Xianglin's hand, he personally led a group of them to the place where Zhang Weixian lived.
Zhang Weixian seemed to have expected Ma Xianglin's late-night visit and was not surprised.
During the day, he suddenly received an order to mobilize troops to control the nine gates and put a curfew in advance. He knew that something big was going on in the palace.
What puzzled him was, what happened to cause such turmoil?
"I wonder what the important matter is for Your Majesty to summon you so urgently late at night."
Faced with Zhang Weixian's question, Ma Xianglin did not hide it from him and said directly:
"Old Duke, Your Majesty was assassinated. The assassin's poisonous arrow hit His Majesty in the back."
His plain words were like a thunderbolt from the blue to Zhang Weixian's ears.
He immediately asked:
"How is your Majesty?"
"Don't worry, my lord, Your Majesty is safe for the time being. Li Changwen is already at your Majesty's side."
After hearing this answer, Zhang Weixian's hanging heart finally fell.
Not having to worry about life is the greatest blessing among misfortunes.
"Your Majesty summoned the old Duke to the palace. It is indeed important, and it is extremely important. No matter what the old Duke hears or sees, he must be calm."
"His Majesty also said that the old prince must firmly control the troops of the four major battalions and carry out the previous orders."
"If Your Majesty has an order to issue, I will personally come and tell the old Duke. You can just turn a deaf ear to the rest."
Although the four battalions of the Yulin Army are the emperor's personal bodyguards.
But as an emperor, Zhu Youxiao had to deal with many things every day. It was naturally impossible for Zhu Youxiao to handle matters that were not very important to the army personally.
The British Duke Zhang Weixian is the best candidate to lead these hundreds of thousands of elites in terms of his status, qualifications, acumen, and especially his loyalty.
What's more, Zhang Weixian has made great achievements. Whether it was when Zhu Youxiao ascended the throne or successfully formed this army, Zhang Weixian's role and influence were the first to bear the brunt.
Zhang Weixian naturally knows this, so he has always been conscientious in his work.
Although the emperor entrusted him with great power, he did not become inflated by it, but became more cautious.
Everything was done in strict accordance with the military regulations and disciplines established at the time, as well as the emperor's instructions and wishes.
He also knew that as long as the news of the emperor's assassination was announced, the entire Ming Dynasty would be shaken.
Therefore, he also kept Ma Xianglin's instructions in mind.
After feeling confident, he quickly put on enough clothes and followed Ma Xianglin into the palace alone.
Along the way, Ma Xianglin also followed the emperor's instructions and told Zhang Weixian in detail about the plan to lure the snake out of the cave that was about to be implemented.
Zhang Weixian admired this young emperor from the bottom of his heart.
He is also a veteran of the Four Dynasties, and his title of British Duke was conferred in the 26th year of Wanli.
Therefore, he saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears the battles and various entanglements between Emperor Wanli and the civil servants, including Emperor Wanli's surrender.
Therefore, in less than three years after taking the throne, the current emperor used various astonishing, severe and effective means to completely suppress the civil servant group that had controlled the government for decades.
This is also the reason why he stands so firmly on the emperor's side.
Otherwise, at his age, he would not have participated in this deep-seated court dispute.
Now that he heard what Ma Xianglin said about the plan to lure the snake out of its hole, he was even more shocked. I am afraid that the court officials will have to undergo another round of changes soon.
When the two of them arrived at the Qianqing Palace, the ministers from the six cabinet departments had been waiting for a long time.
Naturally, they were not as trusted as Zhang Weixian. Even Wang Zaijin, who was known as the leader of the royalists, looked confused and had no idea what was going on.
After everyone arrived, Zhu Youxiao also knew that it was time to start filming the scene he was directing.
After retreating from the rest, Zhu Youxiao was left with only Cao Bianjiao, Yang Huan, Wei Zhongxian, and Zhu Changhao.
As the chief eunuch of the palm, Wang Chaofu personally led these ministers to Nuange to meet the emperor.
But this time, Zhu Youxiao did not use a screen to block his face, but leaned on the bed, looking at them with a pale face and a slightly weak and tired look.
Zhu Youxiao's appearance was naturally seen by all the ministers, and they were all shocked.
And Zhang Weixian, who knew everything, naturally acted in full cooperation with the emperor, showing an expression and shock similar to theirs.
Just when Wang Zaijin was about to ask a question, Zhu Youxiao just waved his hand to signal him to be silent.
Later, Wang Chaofu also received the signal, and the emperor's personal eunuch also told them the fact that the emperor was assassinated today and was poisoned.
Then it was naturally impossible to tell them the truth about the emperor's current physical condition and the toxicity of curare.
Instead, they exaggerated a bit, saying that after Li Changwen's detailed diagnosis, the poison had been determined to be a rare and deadly poison in the world.
Had it not been for timely treatment, the current situation would have been even more serious.
The emperor is naturally not out of danger yet. Li Changwen has not prepared an antidote yet, so he can only use drugs to control the poison from spreading too fast in the body.
If we want to use a sentence from later generations to summarize it, the patient may be dead before he is out of the dangerous period.
As for Wang Chaofu's words, the ministers present were all convinced.
Because the emperor is still alive and conscious, in front of the emperor and them, the important officials of the court, even if he is the top eunuch in the inner palace, he will never have the courage to lie.
And they never imagined that all this was just Zhu Youxiao's strategy, and it was all planned by the emperor.
Xu Guangqi, the second assistant to the cabinet, was in tears at this time. His Majesty was very kind to him, and he was a wise king who cared about the common people. Could it be that God really wants to go against the Ming Dynasty?
At this time, he only regretted that he had not studied medical skills when he was young, otherwise he would not be unable to do anything now.
"Since Li Changwen can't detoxify and cure His Majesty, why doesn't Your Majesty summon all the imperial doctors to come here? Maybe they can find a way."
Facing Xu Guangqi's suggestion, Zhu Youxiao still remained calm, and then said weakly:
"No need, I still understand Li Changwen's medical skills. If he can't do it, it will be impossible for others."
"Unexpectedly, I have only been on the throne for more than two years before I have to go see the emperor. I am really unwilling to do so."