It was almost noon, and just as everyone in the front hall was waiting anxiously, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded at the entrance to the back hall. Immediately, the eunuch's unique high-pitched voice of Gao Hesheng suddenly rang out.
, all the eyes of the crowd turned to the screen in the back hall, and they immediately saw Gaozong walking out first with a gloomy face, while Ming Chongyan, who was as pale as paper, slowly walked among the crowd.
Among the accompanying eunuchs.
"I and your ministers (sons and ministers, etc.) bow to Your Majesty (Father)!"
When Emperor Gaozong arrived, everyone did not dare to neglect him. They all stood up and paid homage to him.
"Pingsheng, everything is fine."
Gaozong's complexion was extremely poor, and he was obviously a little distracted. He lowered his head and slowly walked up to the front hall without looking at the ministers. After waving and saying something casually, he sat down heavily on the dragon bed.
.
"I thank the Lord for your kindness. Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
Emperor Gaozong could do whatever he wanted, but the ministers did not dare to slack off. Even though they were full of thoughts, they still had to follow the rules and thank them.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling better?"
Empress Wu first exchanged a quick look with Ming Chongyan, who had walked to the end of the group of ministers and stood there, then stretched out her hand and helped Gaozong into his seat with the utmost gentleness, and then asked politely.
"It's okay, I won't die for a while."
Gaozong shook his head with a bitter look on his face, and let out a long sigh. His endless sadness was clearly revealed in this sigh. Gaozong's body had always been weak, and he had been like this since he was a child. However, this did not prevent him from treating Taizong as his father-in-law.
For this reason, Gaozong secretly wanted to work hard since he succeeded to the throne. However, when he was in good health, when Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang were in power, it was almost not Gaozong's turn to make the final decision in matters big or small.
After finally breaking down Changsun Wuji, he just wanted to cheer up, but his body collapsed again. He had to pretend to be a queen to take care of the court affairs, which caused countless troubles in the court. In the past year, it was not easy for him to get healthy.
He had just worked hard to get back the imperial power, but his body was failing in the blink of an eye. How could Gao Zongqing be embarrassed by the misery of having great ambitions but not being able to realize them?
"Your Majesty, if you are not in good health, you should rest more. Don't get tired. If you have any questions, please tell me." Empress Wu obviously understood the bitterness in Gaozong's sigh, but she did not point it out.
He comforted me with great gentleness.
"Well, Mei Niang knows me best."
Facing Empress Wu's affectionate expression, Gaozong's face gradually softened. He reached out and patted Empress Wu's arm, nodded and sighed.
"Your Majesty, I can take away some of your worries, this life is enough."
Empress Wu looked at Gaozong affectionately with her eyes, as if expressing her loyalty, and speaking as if she was speaking the truth.
"I can trust what Mei Niang said. If Mei Niang hadn't supported me all these years, I wouldn't have known how I would have dealt with myself." Gaozong was obviously moved by Wu Mei Niang's words, with tears flashing faintly in his eyes, and his voice was choked with sobs.
He nodded heavily, then turned around and looked around the people in the hall, and said with a fake cough: "Dear dear sirs, since I came to the throne, every time I want to cheer up, I am plagued by illness, and I have the will but no strength. Fortunately, Mei Niang has worked hard to take care of me.
, in order to protect the peace of the country, I really dare not or forget it. Now that my old illness has suddenly occurred, I am no longer able to govern the government. It is not my wish to seize the throne. I want to be inferior to Mei Niang. What do you think?"
"..."
As soon as Gaozong said such shocking words, everyone in the palace was turned to stone. Everyone was dumbfounded. No one knew why Gaozong emphasized such lies. Not only the princes and courtiers were all stupid, but also the generals. Empress Wu, who was gently supporting Gaozong, was also completely stunned. For a moment, the whole palace was filled with a strange silence.
"No, this is absolutely impossible!"
In the dead silence, Hao Chujun was seen walking out and objecting loudly.
"Why did Prime Minister Hao say this? Every time I rely on Mei Niang to govern, it is indispensable. Moreover, Mei Niang is deeply in line with me in all matters big and small. If Mei Niang is in charge, the world will be peaceful. What's wrong?" Gaozong said with a face. He looked at Hao Chujun in surprise and asked in confusion.
"Your Majesty, I have heard from the Book of Rites that: 'The emperor regulates the yang way, and the queen regulates the yin virtues.' The emperor and his queen are like the sun and the moon, the yang and the yin, each has its own master and guard. Your Majesty wants to violate this law now. , I am afraid that if you are above, you will be relegated to heaven, and if you are below, you will be blamed by others. In the past, Emperor Wen of Wei issued an order that the queen was not allowed to come to the court after his death. How can your majesty now want to declare himself to be the empress of heaven? The two saints in the world are Gaozu and Taizong. Your Majesty’s world is not your Majesty’s. Your Majesty is strictly guarding the ancestral temple and passing it on to his descendants. He must not interfere with the country and people, and have personal interests in the descendants. I sincerely ask your Majesty to think twice!” Hao Chujun’s face was stern, and he did not leave any impression on Gaozong. He refuted it without any emotion, citing scriptures and not giving in!
"Your Majesty, what Xiang Hao said is true. Please think twice!"
"Your Majesty, I sincerely do not want to disrupt the government. Please forgive me for not agreeing with this!"
"Your Majesty, the country is the country of the Li family. How can a queen be the emperor? The veterans dare not respond to such a chaotic order!"
…
As soon as Hao Chujun finished speaking, Yan Liben was the first to jump out and echo loudly. Immediately, Pei Xingjian, Le Yanwei and others also came out to oppose, and their words became more and more fierce. The prince didn't even move - the prince rolled his eyes and guessed Gaozong's intention of deliberately saying such shocking words. He was secretly happy in his heart, but his face was full of worry. As for Li Xian? , just as he was about to get out of the queue, Li Xian, who was standing next to him, grabbed his robe from behind. He had to stop and looked sideways at Li Xian with doubts.
Alas, the old man has really good intentions. He just wants to help the prince occupy the commanding heights of public opinion. It's a pity that you still underestimate the ruthlessness of the old thief. If you act like this, the prince will not last long. That's amazing! When it comes to political IQ, Li Xian is definitely second to none among the people in the palace, and only Empress Wu can rival him. How could he not understand what kind of play Gaozong was singing, let alone You can guess how Empress Wu will deal with this situation, but knowing is knowing. Under such circumstances, it is impossible for Li Xian to come forward and find out the key to the matter. Of course, Li Xian has not yet decided whether to Taking action to save the prince and remaining silent became Li Xian's only feasible option.
"Your Majesty, you must not say this. I will not dare to obey your orders unless I die. If you insist, I will die to make my determination clear."
Empress Wu was a shrewd person, and her political IQ was no worse than that of Li Xian. She also saw what Gaozong meant. She felt a twinge in her heart, but she didn't dare to show it, so she could only pretend. With a look of sincerity and fear, he knelt on the ground and persuaded with choked words.
"Mei Niang, you..., hurry up, get up quickly, I, I, oh, can't you just assume that I was wrong? I am also thinking about the country." Looking at Empress Wu's frightened face, Gaozong's heart immediately
After a while of being unbearable, Gaozong still acted according to the role he was supposed to perform.
"Your Majesty, Hong'er is both virtuous and capable, and is qualified to manage politics. Since Your Majesty's Dragon Body has violated the law, it would be the same for the Crown Prince to do it for you." Empress Wu felt her heart hurt like a knife, but she still kept her words.
He said what Gaozong meant.
"I already know the wishes of the princes. Now the queen is optimistic about Hong'er's abilities. I also think that this is the case. I wonder if the princes are willing to assist the prince in governing the country?" Gaozong put on such a big show just to force him to do so.
Empress Wu expressed her stance. After hearing this, Empress Wu spoke up. She took advantage of the slope and got off the donkey, turned around and forced the ministers to express their stance.
"I am willing to assist the prince to build up his meritorious deeds!"
Yan Li himself was the prince's absolute confidant, so naturally he would not oppose Gaozong's wishes, and was the first to stand up and express his stance resolutely.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will assist the prince with all my heart to protect the safety of the country."
Pei Xingjian and others can become top ministers, so they are not stupid people. At this time, how can they not see Gaozong's true intentions? For them, assisting the prince to become an emperor is their duty.
There was no resistance at all, and with Yan Liben's statement in front of him, everyone was happy to agree with the previous one.
"Father, I am very frightened and ask my father to take back his orders. I should do my best to share my father's worries!"
Everyone expressed their views with passionate words, but the prince could no longer sit still. No matter what, he had to express his gratitude quickly. Otherwise, how could he show his pure filial piety? Not only would he have to express his gratitude, but he would also
You have to shed tears in pain to be considered loyal.
"Idiot, don't be like this. I am sick and disabled and unable to govern myself, but I have put a huge burden on your shoulders. It's not my fault. Isn't it my fault that Hong'er doesn't want to help me share some of my burden?" Gaozong's face was filled with love.
Dixu raised his hand and asked kindly.
"Father, don't worry. No matter how difficult it is, the child will do his best for his father, and he will definitely live up to his great trust." At this point in the play, the heat was almost over, and the prince was naturally happy to take over Gaozong's words.
Head, a big show of loyalty.
"Well, with Hong'er's words, I feel relieved." Gaozong nodded with a pleased look on his face, and then turned his eyes to the Li Xian brothers who were standing beside the hall, and visibly pondered for a moment,
Then he spoke: "Xian'er, Xian'er, are you two willing to help Hong'er manage the government affairs?"
"Father, don't worry. The children and others will do their best to help the prince brother, and we will not dare to neglect him in the slightest."
Now that things have happened, no matter what Li Xian brothers think in their hearts, they must show their attitude. Under these unanimous responses, they really have the spirit to die generously.
"Well, this way, I can feel at ease. I'm not feeling well, so I won't wait any longer. I'm sorry."
Seeing that the important matter had been settled, Gaozong couldn't help but relax, and sleepiness inevitably surged up uncontrollably. He really didn't want to talk to everyone anymore, so he stood up, waved and said,
Then he turned to the back hall on his own, his back was thin and stooped, it was really unbearable to see...