The Child Emperor

Han Chouren had quietly left the city, and a piece of news dragged him back.

The emperor woke up, but instead of returning to normal, he became demented and only said the word Cui Teng.

Han Chou didn't believe it at first, until the news came one after another, and he decided to take the risk to return to the city. As for the period of absence, he claimed to the outside world that he was ill and just got better.

Empress Dowager Ci Ning's decree had been at home for a whole day, but Han Chou did not dare to enter the palace immediately. He sent someone into the palace to report his illness again, saying that as long as he could get up, he would go to see the empress dowager early in the morning.

Next, he sent people to contact more sources, almost all of them conclusively claiming that the emperor was indeed confused.

What finally reassured Han Chou was the visit of Prime Minister Shen Mingzhi.

Shen Mingzhi, who was resting in bed early last night, took the initiative to come to the door after dark today. Han Chou understood that this was because the wind had changed again.

The two secretly talked in the middle of the night. When Shen Mingzhi was leaving, Han Chou sent him outside the gate, opened the curtain of the sedan chair in person, and asked the prime minister to get on the sedan chair, humbly and flattering, showing that the two were as good as ever, and the relationship was further improved.

Early the next morning, the prime minister and Zong Zhengqing came to Guanghua Pavilion one after the other. After waiting too long, the Empress Dowager Cining also arrived.

Even though the news was semi-public, the Empress Dowager Cining still did not mention the emperor's condition, and summoned the two ministers just to prevent the situation, The two adults once recommended three candidates for the prince, saying that they were going back. Do a detailed investigation, can there be results now?

Shen Mingzhi upholds his neutrality and rarely speaks about the matter of the establishment of the crown prince. Han Chou stepped forward and replied with a nasal tone, as if the disease had not subsided, The minister has carefully checked, and among the three, the king of Linzi was temporarily appointed as the crown prince, and he was later arrested. Cancellation, it is said that his mother seems to have complaints about this, and after drinking, she said, 'How can the important affairs of the imperial court be such a child's play?'

Empress Dowager Cining nodded, the minister would not like the quasi-empress dowager who harbored resentment, and she did not like it even more.

The second King of Huainan, the age and character are all suitable, but he is weak and sick. It is said that since the winter, the King of Huainan has called the imperial doctor twice. The imperial doctor said that it is like this every winter. eradicate.

Empress Dowager Cining shook her head.

The third is the king. The previous king was unfortunately martyred in Jincheng, leaving behind a number of descendants. The eldest son died early, so it was passed down to the grandson, and he was still in the capital shortly after he was sealed. He is four years old this year, in good health, and has just started school. Meng, sir, praise him highly.

Is Han Zongzheng recommending the king?

Han Chou hurriedly bowed and said, Everything is up to the Queen Mother to decide.

Empress Dowager Ci Ning sighed, If it's my opinion, as long as His Majesty is still there, no prince should be elected, and now there are four concubines who are pregnant at the same time, and there will always be princes born in the future, let alone establish a prince. .

What the Queen Mother said is very true, and the minister also thought that there was no need to be anxious. The so-called establishment of the reserve is the next policy and the last resort.

But I can't just think about myself, but also for the clan, the imperial court, and the great Chu. It's really a last resort... Empress Dowager Cining choked up.

Han Chou knelt down and kowtowed, and Prime Minister Shen Mingzhi also stood up and stood with his hands down, the atmosphere was momentarily solemn.

The Empress Dowager Ci Ning took a deep breath, regained her calm, and asked, How about Daiwang's family? Is it Mrs Deng?

Shen Mingzhi sat down, Han Chou got up, and replied: Deng's is the concubine of the previous king's continued marriage. The current king's mother's surname is Zhang, and the surname is the surname of the country's junior. There is only one aunt left, and she will marry him far away.

The new emperor's uncle is always the weaker the better, the Empress Dowager Ci Ning thought for a while, Anyway, the Deng family always replaces the king and the empress dowager, there is already a concubine in the palace, and then appointing her nephew as the heir, seems to be wrong. All right.

Han Chou said: The so-called establishment of a reserve is only just in case. If your majesty recovers, or if your concubine has a son, everything will be peaceful. If that happens... it seems that none of your majesty's concubines should stay in the palace. It is to inherit the orthodoxy of the Han family, and to establish a new king on behalf of the country.

This arrangement is most beneficial to Empress Dowager Cining, but she did not express her joy. After thinking for a moment, she asked, Does Yu Li agree?

This is a secret matter. The Queen Mother has not made a decision, and the minister dare not ask the Ministry of Rites.

Okay. Empress Dowager Cining still refused to make a decision, but she seemed satisfied.

Han Chou resigned, and Shen Mingzhi stayed and said some things before retiring.

In the palace, the Empress Dowager Cining stayed in Guanghua Pavilion, withdrew all the servants, and stayed alone for a while. The Empress Dowager Shangguan once ruled here and formed the Guanghua Group of Tigers. Many people talk about the color change.

Sitting on the soft couch, Empress Dowager Cining could not find the feeling of ordering the ministers. Instead, she felt tired and nervous. Looking around, she could not find a few trustworthy people. She suddenly understood why Empress Dowager Shangguan used torture officials, while her own son And why did you keep people like the King of the East Sea and Cui Teng by your side?

The heavier the power in his hands, the more lies surround him, and the more credible people appear to be cherished.

Empress Dowager Cining sighed and had to admit that she couldn't imitate another empress dowager after all.

She got up and walked out of Guanghua Pavilion and returned to Cishun Palace surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids. All her hopes were here.

The five master guards were still helping the emperor to clear his inner breath, but reminded the queen mother through the imperial doctor that they could only restore her majesty's body and could do nothing to her mind.

While the five were resting, Empress Dowager Ci Ning sent them back and left them alone. Everyone understood a mother's mood and quietly stepped back. At the same time, they all breathed a sigh of relief. If the queen mother could accept the emperor's status quo, their suffering would soon be over.

The Empress Dowager Ci Ning sat beside the bed, stared at the emperor for a while, and said, Han Chou recommended Dai Wang, who has said a lot of good things.

The emperor's scattered eyes were focused, and he smiled at his mother. He was still weak when he spoke, but he never meant to be confused, Is it related to the Deng family?

Empress Dowager Cining shook her head, Han Chou wants to exclude the Deng family.

This is good news. Han Ruzi really didn't want Deng's participation in this kind of thing. What he cared about was not Concubine Shu Deng Yun, but Deng Cui, who was far away in the Western Regions.

What should I do next? Your Majesty can't keep pretending to be confused. It will be difficult to gather together when people's hearts are scattered.

What did Shen Mingzhi say?

In these few summons, he rarely spoke, but only introduced Han Chou to me.

We'll have to wait another day or two. Since we want to clean up the Chaogang, we can't come one by one. It's better to uproot them.

And those who passed on the news to Han Chou, I really don't understand, have our mother and son treated anyone badly? So much so that the palace doesn't even have any secrets.

We haven't treated anyone badly, it's just that some people are more willing to pay for them.

Empress Dowager Cining was exhausted, but for the sake of her son, she had to persevere, I have a solution, Han Chou recommends acting as king, but there may be some problems with etiquette, I will summon Yuan Jiuding, Minister of Rites, tomorrow, and he seems to be dissatisfied with Han Chou. , is likely to oppose this recommendation, and the two can't argue, the prime minister should come forward.

Han Ruzi was silent for a while, Feng Ju, the minister of personnel, was also summoned. I hope that Shen Mingzhi was only deceived by Han Chou. It is not a good thing to change the prime minister so quickly.

But Han Ruzi couldn't leave a prime minister who opposed him. Han Chou was definitely involved in the assassination. Whether Shen Mingzhi participated and how deeply he participated is still a question. After sobering up, Han Ruzi decided to pretend to be confused.

Empress Dowager Cining returned to her room, and was about to call the female officials in to draw up a decree, calling four ministers, Shen Mingzhi, Han Chou, Yuan Jiuding, and Feng Ju, to enter the palace tomorrow to discuss matters.

When Empress Dowager Cining was still serving the Empress Dowager Shangguan in Cishun Palace, Rong Huamin was very respectful to her. Every time they met, no matter whether there were others around, they would behave like a servant. After Empress Dowager Cining took power, she treated him with respect. Quite relied on, as a trusted confidant around him.

Rong Huamin entered the house, kowtowed and greeted him, respectfully as always.

What's the matter here? If it wasn't for the emperor's special instructions, Empress Dowager Cining asked Rong Huamin to help collect information, but now she can only hide the truth from him.

Rong Huamin, however, consciously served the Queen Mother, without any special instructions, I heard something, and I think the Queen Mother should know.

Um.

According to the Queen Mother's instructions, I sent five eunuchs to guard the Wang family. They all said that the Wang family is grateful to the Queen Mother, and they should be careful. These days, they are afraid of being pointed out by outsiders.

Empress Dowager Cining nodded. She was very concerned about her family's reputation and didn't want to see her relatives proud of being rich.

There is one thing, I heard that the Wang family is going to marry a minister in the DPRK.

The Empress Dowager Cining was immediately vigilant, Why haven't I heard of such a big thing? Which minister?

I heard that it is Yuan Jiuding from the Ministry of Rites. When he escorted the Wang family to Beijing, he made a private marriage and has not yet hired, so he did not tell the queen mother.

Yuan Jiuding? Mrs. Ci Ning showed an angry look, Hey, is the Yuan family going to marry the daughter of the Wang family, or do they want to marry their daughter?

It has not been finalized yet. It is said that it is a nephew of Yuan Jiuding who is going to marry the uncle's daughter, Enrong.

The original names of the Wang family were rather tacky, and they repeated it on the way to Beijing. Empress Dowager Cining frowned, Enrong is only ten years old, right?

The Yuan family wants to get married first, and then get married in a few years.

The more empress dowager Cining thought, the angrier she became, Your Majesty asked Yuan Jiuding to go to the East China Sea to find out the facts, not to make him a relative thing?

Perhaps Lord Yuan is also kind, although Miss Enrong is young...

Shut up. Empress Dowager Cining shouted, Are you taking a benefit or what, and say good things for the Yuan family?

Rong Huamin hurriedly knelt down, The Queen Mother forgives her sins.

Empress Dowager Ci Ning waved her hand and pushed Rong Huamin back. She was even more angry. Not only Yuan Jiuding but also Rong Huamin was angry. The person who leaked the news outside the palace was by her side.

As soon as it was mentioned in the morning that there would be a dispute over the etiquette of the crown prince, Rong Huamin came to file a lawsuit against Yuan Jiuding, which can only prove one thing, that Rong Huamin was instructed by Han Chou.

If it wasn't for the emperor's reminder, the Empress Dowager Cining would have been fooled and kicked Yuan Jiuding aside.

But this still does not prove that Shen Mingzhi was involved. Empress Dowager Cining did not want to trouble the emperor any more. After thinking about it for a while, she called in the female official, wrote a decree, and called the prime minister Shen Mingzhi and the minister of officials Feng Ju to enter the palace immediately.

She wants to find out the truth on her own.