At this time, the voice of the guard outside the palace came: "Your Majesty, Master Zhang wants to see you!"
The emperor suppressed the smile on his face, waved his hand for Nightingale to retreat, then sat upright and said loudly: "Come in!"
The door was gently pushed open, letting in the sunlight.
An old man who was energetic but had gray hair and could hardly hide his old age walked in.
The sun shone on the old man's body. This straight-backed old guy seemed to be hunched over for a while.
Thirty years ago, Zhang Wenshan was so magnificent and elegant that he was now a bad old man.
The emperor looked at Zhang Wenshan, who took a step to take a breath, and couldn't help but think of Zhang Wenshan's handsome face like a crown jade thirty years ago when he won three yuan in a row and was awarded the imperial title.
I still remember that at the Qionglin Banquet, Zhang Wenshan, the champion in a red robe, looked drunk and recited poems with ease. And Zhang Wenshan looked like a young man who wanted to recreate the splendid times of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Now, looking at the slanting sunlight at the door, the old man looked downcast and could not hide his old age.
The emperor was immersed in the past, and the softest string in his heart was gently plucked.
Suddenly, those eyes that had been cold and stern for decades were filled with lightness.
"I, Zhang Wenshan, have met your Majesty. Long live our emperor!" Zhang Wenshan walked to the front and back of the palace with staggering steps. He took a few breaths, then bent down with difficulty and saluted the emperor.
The emperor bowed slightly and almost couldn't help but stand up due to the touch of emotion in his heart.
Holding the table with both hands, he slowly sat down. He raised his head, closed his eyes, and said slowly: "No need to be polite, Wenshan!"
Zhang Wenshan straightened up and coughed like an old man. Then he took out a notebook from his arms with trembling hands.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has begun preparations for next year's Spring Festival Ceremony Hall. I would like to ask Your Majesty. Is there anything else you would like to give me?"
The emperor nodded, then thought for a moment, and said slowly: "Tell Hong Aiqing to ensure the smooth progress of the hall and the safety of the new king."
After the emperor slowly leaned back on the chair, he opened his eyes and looked around. He frowned and said, "Hong Aiqing seems to have not been in court for a long time. What's wrong? Is she sick?"
Hearing this, Zhang Wenshan glanced at His Majesty in disbelief. His eyes were full of doubts.
"Preach the blessing!" The emperor was a little annoyed. He frowned and said, "Send the decree to Hong Quan and ask him to come to court as soon as possible. If he is sick, ask the imperial doctor to see him. A dignified second-rank official has not been here for several months.
What will it be like when I go to court!"
On the side, after hearing this, Li Dequan hurriedly bent down, his face almost watering with pain.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Hong, he..." Li Dequan was sweating, but he didn't know what to say.
At this time, Zhang Wenshan, who was hunchbacked in the audience, sighed when he saw the emperor like this, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Mr. Hong retired and returned to his hometown as early as last year!"
"What?" The emperor asked loudly, somewhat deaf.
Zhang Wenshan replied loudly: "Master Hong has returned to his hometown of Zhoushan and retired to his hometown!"
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then nodded numbly: "Oh, I forgot!"
On the side, Li Dequan saw the two old men looking so cute, and his eyes were a little red with emotion.
"Your Majesty, if nothing happens, I will leave now!" Zhang Wenshan cupped his hands and said loudly.
The humming sound echoed in the imperial study room, which was indeed very loud.
The emperor was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said: "Oh, go ahead. By the way, tell Fatty Hong to come to court as soon as possible. Hong Quan has retired, has he too?"
Zhang Wenshan staggered and nodded with a wry smile.
When he walked out of the door, Zhang Wenshan took out his handkerchief, stuffed it in his mouth, and coughed lightly.
When I hid the handkerchief, I saw a flash of scarlet that was shocking.
Zhang Wenshan shook his head, bent over, staggered, and left slowly.
That day, the sunset filled the imperial city with splendid splendor.
The next day, a notice was posted in the Imperial City.
And, in the form of an imperial edict, it was announced to the world.
Hong Quan, the former minister of the Ministry of Punishment, was a loyal and patriotic example of an official. He was clean and honest and made great contributions to the Zhou Dynasty. Because of these achievements, he was pictured in Lingyan Pavilion. His posthumous title was Wenzheng, and he was granted the title of Duke of the town. His descendants were protected and passed down to generations.
On the second day, Prince Wu Zheng came to power and ruled the world.
After hearing the news, Lu Heng, who was sunbathing in the Chengdu government office, was suddenly shocked.
After his expression suddenly changed, he walked around the yard a few times with his hands behind his back, and made an immediate decision.
Back to Tokyo!
At the same time, Wu Ningyuan returned to Tokyo.
After briefly sorting out their things, Lu Heng and his group returned overnight and left Chengdu. They headed for Luoyang, Henan, and Tokyo, thousands of miles away.
Three days later, another imperial edict traveled 600 miles and was delivered to the hands of veterans and important ministers across the country.
In the sixth year of Qingyuan of the Great Zhou Dynasty, October 20th.
Important officials from all over the Zhou Dynasty began to return to Tokyo one after another.
The reason for such urgency and tension is only because of one thing:
The emperor is dead!
Along the way, we drove faster and faster, and as we got closer to the north, the temperature became colder and colder.
However, the warriors galloping on their horses still ignored the freezing weather. They puffed out white air and spurred the horses that sat down. They galloped along, raising a cloud of smoke and dust.
After entering Jiangsu, Lu Heng left Liu Qingqing and his daughters in Tokyo City, as well as fifty Yanyun Guards.
Then, we set off again without stopping, heading to Tokyo.
When this group of people set foot on the official road to Tokyo, it was already the third day of November.
A heavy snow fell on the vast land of Henan.
Heavy snow covered the official road, and the fields on one side were covered with snow.
In the weather where dripping water turned to ice, the horse trampled on the snow, puffed out white air, and kept moving forward without slowing down.
The rumble of horse hooves was heard, and a carriage stood out in this snow-white world.
In the carriage, Wu Ningyuan sat there with a solemn eyebrow, a little distracted.
Lu Heng lifted the car curtain and took a look, called Agui to his side and asked him if he could go faster.
Agui nodded and rode away.
The speed of the galloping convoy increased again.
Wait until the sun sets in the west and the snowy field turns red.
An orderly soldier carrying a red flag suddenly appeared in the distance, and flew towards the inn at an extremely fast speed.
Agui saw this person first and waved his hand to the Yanyun Guards who were waiting for him, telling them to relax.
Within a few breaths, the messenger rushed in front of him.
After turning over and dismounting, the messenger panted heavily and asked Agui: "May I ask, are these the guards of Lord Lu, the Imperial Master?"
Agui nodded and gave the kettle to the orderer, but was pushed away by the orderer.
The messenger swallowed his saliva and said hurriedly: "Please take me to see Mr. Lu!"
Seeing that the matter was urgent, Agui didn't delay any longer and led the messenger directly into the inn.
After running all the way, the messenger finally saw Lu Heng and Huainan Wang Wu Ningyuan in the hall.
The messenger knelt down on one knee, took out a bamboo tube from his arms, and raised it above his head: "Master Lu, Your Majesty, urgent message from Tokyo!"
Wu Ningyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly stood up, rushed over, took the bamboo tube, opened it in twos and twos, and pulled out the urgent items inside.
After just one glance, Wu Ningyuan's face suddenly turned pale, his lips pursed, and two lines of tears rolled down his face.
Lu Heng took the urgent letter and after taking a look at it, his heart suddenly sank to the bottom.
His body was shaking violently, and he slowly sat down holding on to the table.
The silk in his hand also fell to the ground in confusion.
There is a line of words written on the silk: In the sixth year of Qingyuan of the Great Zhou Dynasty, on the second day of the eleventh month, at ten o'clock at night, Zhang Wenshan died.