Zhao Si felt that the first month of Yuanfu's third year was the coldest since he could remember it.
The dark clouds in the sky are like masses of lead, weighing heavily on people and making them panic. Biting cold air fills the sky and the earth, almost freezing everything in the world.
This cold and cold day even makes people look forward to snow. Because the snowflakes flying all over the sky make people feel more alive. The white covered with silver is a hundred times stronger than this leaden gray.
But now, the entire city of Kaifeng is shrouded in this gloom and coldness. Zhao Si, standing outside Funing Palace, is also wrapped in it.
Seen from here, the inner city looks like an ancient forest shrouded in mist.
Silent, mysterious, and erratic, there is a certain momentum that has been condensed by the supreme power of the royal family for hundreds of years, and finally condensed into a shape that seems to be there or not. Like those lead blocks in the sky, it suppresses people's thoughts.
Zhao Si watched silently and took a few long breaths. As soon as the hot air came out, it quickly condensed into white water vapor, like a cloud pillar, spitting out from his mouth.
It seems that the imperial city has not yet awakened from its slumber. The joy of the soldiers and civilians of Kaifeng City celebrating the New Year outside is completely cut off from the outside.
Outside is Kaifeng on earth, inside is the imperial city in heaven.
At this time, the imperial city was gloomy, silent, weak, and seemed to be terminally ill.
This is a city for one person, so its status will change depending on that person's situation.
Seeing a figure shaking in the distance, Zhao Si looked over and saw that it was Wu Qiu who was bringing his ninth brother Zhao Ji, eleventh brother Zhao Ji, and fourteenth brother Zhao Si to visit the emperor.
"I've met the King of the Supervisory State." Zhao Bai was blind in his eyes but not in his heart. Hearing the gentle reminder from the servant supporting him, he quickly stepped forward and bowed.
Although Zhao Si was his younger brother, he had already issued a decree to the world and was appointed as the crown prince and crown prince, and also performed the duties of supervising the country.
The status of king and minister has been decided, and he has no advantage, so he has already given up and recognized the reality.
"Hello, Ninth Brother!" Zhao Si replied calmly.
Zhao Ji struggled a little, then stepped forward and bowed: "I have seen the King of the Supervisor."
"Hello, Brother Eleven."
Zhao Si looked around, but was unwilling to bend down and admit defeat.
Zhao Si was too lazy to pay attention to him and went inside, "Brother Ninth, Brother Eleven...Brother Fourteen, please come with me."
On the first day of the third year of Yuanfu, the official received congratulations from all the civil and military officials in the Zichen Hall. His face was pale, he was sweating profusely, and he gritted his teeth and persisted in the whole process.
After finishing, Guan Jia was too weak to move. He could only point at Zhao Si, and in front of all the civil and military officials, he tried his best to say: "Thirteenth brother, succeed to the throne."
Then everyone carefully carried him to the nearest Funing Palace, and soon he fell into a coma.
Zhao Si stayed in Funing Palace day and night, waiting on the left and right, tasting medicine and feeding soup, without taking off his clothes. Government affairs were handled in the side hall of Funing Palace.
Today is the ninth day of the first lunar month. In the morning, Guan Jia woke up once, his eyes were shining, but he couldn't say a word. He held Zhao Si's hand tightly with a faint smile on his lips.
The imperial doctors whispered that the official might have returned to his former glory. Zhao Si then called for three brothers to meet him again while the imperial brother was still awake.
When you walk into Funing Palace, you are greeted by a strong medicinal smell. This medicinal smell lingers in every corner of the palace, hinting at a palpitating ominousness to everyone who enters.
The palace was very quiet, as empty as if it had been abandoned for many years. Zhao Si walked like a night cat. Under his influence, Zhao Ji, Zhao Ji, and Zhao Si all held their breath and concentrated, and followed softly forward.
.
When I walked into the hall, I saw that there was only one bed in the wide space, and there was a person lying on the bed.
Ten feet away from the bed, Zhao Ji stopped. He stood up on tiptoes, leaned forward slightly, and stretched his neck, as if an invisible hand was lifting his head up.
It seems that in Zhao Ji's eyes, the official, his brother, is not lying on the bed, but lying in the coffin.
He wanted to see clearly the situation ahead, but he was afraid that the officials would suddenly jump out of the coffin.
When Zhao Bai heard the sound of footsteps, he couldn't help but was startled and stopped. Zhao Si also stopped.
Zhao Si walked around the weird-looking Zhao Ji, the bewildered Zhao Ji, and the indifferent Zhao Si, and walked a few steps to the bed.
The official on the bed had sunken eye sockets and tightly closed eyes. His face was an iron-grey color and his lips were blue and white.
Zhao Si knelt down, held his brother's left hand tightly with both hands, and called softly: "Brother Six, they are all here."
As if he heard the call, Guan Jia slowly opened his eyes and stared blankly for a while, then turned his head slightly and saw Zhao Si.
There was light in Guan Jia's eyes, a light of joy. This light made his face that was full of lifelessness feel more alive.
His lips were trembling, and he had thousands of words to say, but not a single sound came out.
His hands were cold and dry, just like the weather. They no longer had the warmth they once had, and were as skinny as freeze-dried chicken feet.
Zhao Si held him tightly, trying to transfer the warmth from his body. But Guan Jia's hand, like his body, was like ten thousand years of ice. After holding it for a long time, not a trace of heat was drawn out.
Looking at this face that was as thin as a skeleton, Zhao Si couldn't help but think of the emperor's brother's smile and voice, as if it was yesterday. Tears surged out as if the floodgates had been opened.
When the official saw Zhao Si's face bursting into tears, a sympathetic smile appeared on his lips, which seemed to be relieved, helpless, and even a little encouraging.
All kinds of emotions are difficult to describe.
Zhao Ji stood far away, wanting to get closer to hear if the official was whispering anything to his thirteenth brother, but he found it boring.
I want to just throw away and leave this depressing place, but I feel heartless.
He stood there, hesitating and restless.
Zhao Bai frowned and pushed the chamberlain who was guiding him, asking him to lead him to the official's bed.
"Brother Six, Lao Jiu is here to see you." Zhao Bao knelt down, groped for Guan Jia's right hand, and called softly.
The official turned his head and nodded with a smile. Zhao Si also raised his head with tears in his eyes and nodded to him.
At this time, Zhao Ji finally came forward, squatted down, and held Guan Jia's right hand together with Zhao Ji, and also called out softly.
"Brother Six, I came to see you on November 11."
The official looked pleased and nodded.
The unruly Zhao Si just walked a few steps forward and stood behind Zhao Ji. He did not squat down, but looked coldly at the official on the bed, as if he were an outsider.
The official's lips trembled slightly and trembled with difficulty.
Zhao Si quickly put his ear close to him and listened attentively.
"Brother, please rest assured, we are all brothers, and I will definitely treat them well..." Zhao Si shed tears and swallowed.
Zhao Bai was also saddened by this. He cried first, and then stopped crying. He suppressed his sadness and only shed more tears.
Zhao Ji didn't know what he thought of, and he couldn't help but shed tears. Only Zhao Si stood there feeling embarrassed.
After a while, the official fell into sleep again.
Several people looked at him, knowing clearly that the emperor's brother would never wake up again. Or maybe, he would never wake up again.
When saying goodbye, Zhao Bai took Zhao Si's hand and comforted him: "Brother Thirteen, you should also take care of yourself."
Zhao Ji stood nearby, hesitated for a while, and said dryly: "Brother Thirteen, don't be too tired."
Looking at the retreating figures of the three people, Zhao seemed silent.
The cold wind was biting, and the expected heavy snow piled up in the gloomy dark clouds. I struggled desperately to get out, but to no avail.
I don't know how long it took, but Liang Shicheng quietly approached.
"Your Highness, the ninth brother left the palace and went back to the palace. The fourteenth brother left the palace but went out of the city, saying he was going to Jinmingchi to enjoy the snow. The eleventh brother has not left the palace yet and went to the Qingshou Palace."
Zhao Si's face was as silent as a thousand-foot deep pool.
"What else is going on?"
"There were several civil servants at Donghua Gate who wanted to summon the Queen Mother and wanted to enter the Qingshou Palace, but they were stopped by Marquis Yang Duyu."
"Well, you continue to stare. I will continue to guard my brother."
"As commanded."
At dusk, Zhao Si walked slowly outside Funing Palace.
The official family never woke up. Empress Dowager Zhu and Empress Liu came to see her once, cried for a while, and were persuaded to go back by Zhao Si.
"Your Highness," Liang Shicheng and Gao Shi rushed over in a hurry.
"What's up?"
"Your Highness, Yu Gaopin sent an urgent report. General Yao Xiong and Yao met Gao Qiu quietly at Yicheng Tower."
Zhao Si suddenly turned his head to look at the two of them, and the pressure in his eyes made them tremble involuntarily.
"The rules of the world lead to success as a teacher!"
"I'm here!"
"Three squadrons are straight, enter the interior and serve as ministers... The strong wind knows the strong grass, and the rough waves know the honest ministers! You have guarded the eighteen palaces of this imperial city for me."
"As you command!"
"I want to inform everyone that this is a critical moment. Even if you sleep, you must keep one eye open for me." This chapter has been completed!
