"Your Majesty," Jiang Luo's close eunuch knelt heavily in front of Jiang Luo. His expression was ashen and his eyes were painful, like a loyal servant who could follow the Lord through fire and water at any time. Even if everyone in the world betrayed Jiang Luo, he would Still won't leave.
Jiang Luo sat on the ground, the hall was empty, and all the courtiers who had shown their loyalty in front of him all day did not show up. This eunuch was the only one left besides him in this place where countless people knelt down and saluted.
He remembered that the little eunuch was called Xiao Kouzi, because the name was exactly the same as the dog he had raised before, so he paid more attention to him, and even asked him to come and serve him.
"How many years have you been with me?"
"Your Majesty, this servant has been serving you by your side for four years."
Jiang Luo chuckled inexplicably, when will he pay attention to a eunuch? Now, there is only one eunuch who can stay by his side, which is ridiculous and sad.
Footsteps came, it was the sound of women's uterine boots stepping on the jade floor, the sound came from far to near, and finally stopped in front of the temple gate.
Xie Wanyu was wearing a blood-red palace attire and a flying phoenix hairpin on her head. She was as gorgeous as on the day of her wedding. She stood at the gate of the hall, the golden sunlight shone on her body, and her long shadow was reflected in the hall, as quiet as a statue.
"Xie Wanyu?" Jiang Luo stood up from the ground, "What are you doing here, this is not a place for a woman like you."
"Now this place, besides me, a woman who is willing to take a look, who else will come?" Xie Wanyu sneered, and turned to look at the sunset in the sky, "Look at this sun, does it look like the great cause of your Jiang family dynasty? coming?"
"shut up!"
Xie Wanyu sneered: "Do you think that you are still the emperor who promises everything, and that the world and the harem all obey your orders?! Don't think about it. When you imprison the emperor and prince, you should think about today."
"Throughout the ages, how many princes overthrew princes and became emperors themselves, they can last forever, why can't I."
"Because they are benevolent kings and care about all people, even though they are not filial or fraternal, there are still people who appreciate them and praise them," Xie Wanyu pointed at Jiang Luo, his eyes full of sarcasm, "but what else do you have besides filial piety and fraternity?" ?"
"If you have the ability, why don't you go out and listen to the voices of people scolding you?!"
"Shut up! Shut up!"
"Ha," Xie Wanyu stroked his rouged cheeks, looking at Jiang Luo with hatred in his eyes, "Jiang Luo, a person like you should live and live a long life after being abused by others. alive."
"Boom!" The gate of Daye Palace was knocked open by Rong's army, and soldiers poured in from all directions. Standing on the high platform, Xie Wanyu half-closed his eyes to see the Rong family army approaching from far and near, and finally surrounded the most noble and luxurious palace in the harem.
She supported the carved white marble pillars, and the blood-red palace dress was like a blooming fire in the setting sun.
"Ban Hua..." Xie Wanyu looked at the woman walking side by side with Rong Xia. She was dressed in beautiful clothes, and the other was wearing silver armor, which still had blood stains on it. She was standing on a high altar, and the other party was riding a horse under the gate of the palace, but she didn't have the feeling of surpassing the other party, and even under the aura of the other party, she was like a clown with heavy makeup.
"Miss Xie." Ban Hua bowed his hands to her as a peer salute, "I haven't seen you for a long time, are you okay?"
Xie Wanyu chuckled lightly: "It's all good, you're finally here."
Banhua looked at Xie Wanyu like this with pity in his expression, and could no longer speak.
"Go away," Jiang Luo ran out of the palace. He pushed Xie Wanyu away, looked at the densely packed rebels below, and cursed angrily, "Rong Xia, you bandit, brought the rebels to the palace, the ancestors of the Jiang family Liezong, and God is watching you."
Rong Xia let Jiang Luo yell and didn't speak.
But Rong Xia's silence angered Jiang Luo. He lay on the fence, cursing more and more harshly, and it became more and more ugly. His curses echoed throughout the harem.
Boom boom boom.
There was an urgent sound of gongs and drums.
"The Supreme Emperor is critically ill!"
"The emperor sent someone to poison the emperor, and send it to the imperial physician!"
Banhua's expression changed subtly when he heard the word "Taishanghuang". Rong Xia noticed her expression, turned her head and said to her subordinates: "Come here, arrest the tyrant, I will go to meet the Supreme Emperor."
"yes!"
The people of the Rong family army rushed to the hall and tied up Jiang Luo without any effort.
"Be honest," Jiang Luo still wanted to struggle, but was slapped severely by a big man, and the golden crown on his head was slapped off, and he fell down the jade steps. After rolling a long way, Just stopped.
In the setting sun, only a little bit of golden light can be seen vaguely from this golden crown, and nothing else can be seen.
After Jiang Luo moved into Dayue Palace, Emperor Yunqing was moved to Shouning Palace, but the Empress Dowager still lived in the previous palace without moving.
Banhua rode to the gate of Shouning Palace, turned over and got off the horse. Only then did she realize that the name of Shouning Palace had been changed to Shoukang Palace. She didn't care about such trivial matters, so she rushed in directly.
After entering the door, Ban Hua found that the palace was very deserted. The flower garden outside the palace was full of untended weeds, and the yellow and dry ground was crowded with a few unnamed flowers, which looked extremely messy.
She glanced around and saw a few court ladies and eunuchs kneeling in the corner, and asked, "Where is Your Majesty?"
An eunuch in blue pointed to the corner on the right with trembling fingers, and Banhua walked towards the place he pointed to. As soon as he entered the door, he was a little dizzy from the sour and musty smell inside.
In the room, two court ladies and eunuchs were kneeling in front of the bed and crying. They didn't notice Ban Hua when he came in, but Emperor Yun Qing who was lying on the bed found him.
Ban Hua walked to Emperor Yunqing's bedside, and looked at the old and thin old man on the bed, feeling a little dazed. Emperor Yunqing, who was once aloof, turned into this appearance?
Emperor Yunqing's lips were blue and black, his eye sockets were black, and there was blood oozing from his ears and nose, which was obviously in a state of severe poisoning.
"Your Majesty," Ban Hua saluted Emperor Yunqing.
Emperor Yunqing stretched out a trembling hand from under the quilt. This hand was dry and black, like a dead wood that had lost its vitality. After people saw it, it was easy to think of the ghost stories they heard when they were young.
Banhua sighed softly in her heart, and took his hand.
This hand is extremely rough, no one can imagine that this should be a pampered person.
"You're back," Emperor Yunqing gasped for a long time, and finally said a complete sentence, "Little girl, after I die, don't let other women be buried with me. I have a queen and it's enough."
"Your Majesty..." Ban Hua felt a little uncomfortable in his throat, "The imperial doctor will be here soon, and you will be fine."
Emperor Yunqing shook his head, spitting out a big ball of blood, "Huahua, this is my retribution."
The corners of Ban Hua's lips moved, but he didn't speak.
"Zhen, I'm sorry for you," Emperor Yun Qing suddenly opened his eyes wide, "I'm sorry..."
His enlarged eyes suddenly lost their luster and became dim.
Slap.
A tear fell on the back of Emperor Yunqing's hand. Ban Hua put his hand back on the bed, walked back and knelt down facing the bed, and then kowtowed three times.
"Princess," Wang De walked out from behind the tent, bent down and helped her up from the ground. Banhua wiped the mist from the corners of his eyes, took a deep breath and said to Wang De, "Toll the death knell."
Wang De took a step back, respectfully said: "Yes."
Ban Hua lowered his head and saw Wang De's hand missing three fingers.
Boom boom boom.
The death knell sounded, and the queen who was kneeling in front of the statue stood up hastily: "Where did the death knell come from?"
"Your Majesty, it's...it's Kangning and Kangshou Palace."
The queen's eyes darkened, and she almost fainted to the ground. She held the hand of the maid beside her and said hoarsely, "Shouning Palace?!"
"Your Majesty," the eminent nanny beside the empress crawled in, "Your Majesty... sent someone to poison the Supreme Emperor, and the Supreme Emperor died."
The queen only felt a gust of cold air go straight to her throat, she opened her mouth wide for a long time before recovering, "Where is King Ning?"
"The rebel army came in, and His Majesty was captured by the rebel army."
Hearing these words, the queen couldn't bear it any longer, and spat out a mouthful of blood.
The prince who has been imprisoned in the East Palace has long been tortured out of shape. He is wearing a worn-out robe, and his hair is tied behind his back with a cloth rope. He is sitting on the edge of the bed like a puppet without a soul. When the death knell rang, he just He turned his head in a daze, trying to figure out which direction the sound was coming from.
After Jiang Luo ascended the throne, he surrounded the entire Eastern Palace, almost all the eunuchs and maids withdrew, and the food and drink sent to the Eastern Palace every day was pitifully small. He didn't want the prince's life, but he didn't treat the prince as a human being.
When there is not even enough drinking water, there is no need to mention bathing and laundry. During this year, the people in the East Palace lived a life of darkness. The daughter of the prince was starving and thin. Later, the queen took her in and kept her. her life.
Sitting in the empty room, the prince suddenly covered his face and began to cry.
He knew that his father had passed away, and his incompetent and cowardly son was unable to protect him, nor his wife and daughter.
"Huahua," Rong Xia stood outside the Shoukang Palace and didn't go in. Seeing Banhua come out from inside, she stepped forward to hold her hand, "You look a little unhappy."
"I'm fine," Ban Hua shook his head, then looked at Rong Xia, "Is Wang De yours?"
"yes."
"No wonder..."
No wonder in her dream, Wang De would call Jiang Luo the King of Violence in the dungeon together with the new emperor. At first, she thought that Jiang Luo had done something to offend Wang De, but now it seems that Wang De has long been Rong Xia's person .
How many years has Wang De been serving Emperor Yunqing?
eight years? Ten years or more?
I remember that when she was very young, Wang De served by Emperor Yun Qing's side. What kind of means did Rong Xia use to make a chief eunuch work for him?
"He was favored by my father," Rong Xia forced a smile, "and then he was favored by me."
Banhua didn't ask what kind of favor it was, she wasn't too interested in it. In life, there are too many grievances and grievances, some of which are more exciting than the stories in the storybook. If she wants to pursue an answer, it will be too tiring.
"My lord, the people in all the palaces have been brought under control. What should we do now?" Rong Xia's staff found Rong Xia. Their eyes were full of excitement. They seemed to see Rong Xia ascend the throne and become an emperor. Gong, the glorious day.
"Follow me to the East Palace and invite the crown prince to ascend the throne."
The staff members looked at Rong Xia in surprise, how could they surrender the land they fought so hard for? They were full of unwillingness in their hearts, but they didn't dare to question Rong Xia's decision, so they could only reluctantly follow Rong Xia to the gate of the East Palace.
At this time, outside the gate of the East Palace, there were not only the guards of the Rong family army, but also the official of the imperial court specially invited by Rong Xia. Of course it was not the court under Jiang Luo's rule, but the officials appointed by Emperor Yunqing during his reign.
When these officials saw Rong Xia appearing, they stepped back and saluted him. There were a few people who looked at each other angrily, Rong Xia ignored them, and said directly: "The tyrant has been controlled by my subordinates, my lords, come in with me, and invite Your Highness the Crown Prince to ascend the throne."
The courtiers didn't care what Rong Xia was thinking, anyway, they did what Rong Xia said, and when they could not talk nonsense, they never said a word.
When everyone walked into the East Palace, they realized that something was wrong inside. Where are the flowers and plants? What about the servants who serve?
What is that black and yellow thing drying outside, a quilt?
The yard is full of dead leaves, and the windows and doors are full of dust. How long has it been since it was cleaned? People who have been to the Eastern Palace feel a little sour in their hearts. The Eastern Palace was spotless and exquisite back then. It is not like it is now...
The main door of the main hall of the East Palace was wide open, and the prince and princess were sitting in the hall. The room was very dark, and the people outside the door could not even see their expressions clearly.
"My minister welcomes His Highness the Crown Prince to the throne."
As dusk approached, Rong Xia stood at the bottom of the steps, her posture so respectful that she couldn't fault it.
The Crown Princess looked a little excited. Although there were no candles in the hall and others couldn't see the expression on her face clearly, she still couldn't help looking at the Prince expectantly.
As long as His Highness takes the throne, she will be the Queen, the most honorable woman in the world.
However, whether she was excited or looking forward to it, the prince didn't respond. He looked at the people outside the hall expressionlessly, and suddenly said: "My talents are limited, and I can't take on the great responsibility of the world. Marquis Cheng An, please go back."
"The crown prince is the eldest son of His Majesty, and it is only natural that his destiny should go smoothly. How can we belittle ourselves?" Rong Xia once again made a big gift, "My humble servant welcomes Your Highness to the throne."
"Follow the fate..." The crown prince suddenly smiled, "The fate predestined my Jiang family's dynasty to perish, so why should I force it?"
"Your Highness!" Crown Princess Shi Shi looked at the Prince in astonishment, unable to believe that he refused to be enthroned as emperor.
Rong Xia squinted at the dark room, and suddenly said, "Why don't you light the lamp?"
"Hui, Hui Hou, we don't have candles in the East Palace, so we can't light the lamp at night." A sallow and emaciated eunuch knelt in front of Rong Xia, his shoulders still trembling uncontrollably.
"You don't even give you candles, is Jiang Luo still human?" Ban Hua couldn't help but cursed, and turned to ask someone to hold a lamp for Donggong.
Soon the lanterns in all corridors of the East Palace were hung up, and the main hall was as bright as day.
After everyone saw the current appearance of the prince and princess, they couldn't help but gasped. How did they become so thin? And the clothes on them, how cruel is Emperor Fengning's heart to poison his biological father and abuse his brothers and sisters-in-law?
Even though many ministers present were neutral factions who neither supported the prince nor King Ning, they couldn't help but feel trembling seeing the prince like this.
The prince stood up and walked out of the house, but stopped after walking out the door. He hadn't bathed for more than half a year, and he didn't want these courtiers to know that he was actually more embarrassed than he saw.
"I don't think I have the ability to govern the world. When my father was alive, he often praised Cheng Anhou's talent." The prince's eyes fell on Rong Xia, "Cheng Anhou has a kind heart, outstanding ability, and the ability to govern the world. Gu Meng yesterday When a fairy came on the cloud, he called himself the envoy of Qingluan, and said that Marquis Cheng An was the one who was destined to save the people in the world. The envoy of the gods has an order, so how dare he disobey it."
"So please ask Marquis Cheng An to ascend the throne for the sake of the people of the world."
The prince didn't understand people's power before, but now he understands it, but the world is about to change hands.
"Please become the Marquis of An to ascend the throne!"
All the soldiers guarding the East Palace shouted loudly, and knelt down on one knee in the direction of Rong Xia.
"Since the envoy has an edict, please Cheng Anhou don't disobey God's order, and obey the destiny to ascend the throne." A third-rank official stood up.
Ban Hua looked at this person. This person was Liu Banshan, Shaoqing of Dali Temple.
"Please become the Marquis of An to ascend the throne."
This time it was Yao Peiji and Zhou Bingan who stood up.
"Please become the Marquis of An to ascend the throne."
There were more people who stood up, some Ban Hua knew, and some Ban Hua didn't know.
"The name of the world is Jiang, how can a humble official do such a rebellious thing, you must..." Rong Xia refused repeatedly, as if she had no peeping feelings towards the throne.
However, even if he didn't want to be the emperor, the others would not allow him to refuse. Someone brought a luxurious dragon robe, they stripped off Rong Xia's armor, and put the dragon robe on Rong Xia.
"Your Majesty, I will pay my respects to you. Long live Your Majesty."
"Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!"
The courtiers knelt down one by one. Among these people, there were those who were willing and those who did not dare to resist, and most of them were fools, following the crowd, and obeying whoever had the right.
"My lord..." The crown prince lifted up the worn hem of his clothes and slowly knelt down, "My lord pays homage to your majesty, your majesty... long live, long live, long... long live."
How could he be willing to hand over the great cause to Rong Xia, but now the people of the world no longer believe in the Jiang family dynasty, even the courtiers have surrendered to Rong Xia, if he really follows Rong Xia's words and ascends the throne as emperor, maybe Before long, he will fall ill and die, and all the people around him will be buried with him.
Because of Jiang Luo's tossing for nearly a year, he who was already indecisive had already lost his blood and courage. Now he only hopes that Rong Xia can look on his cousin's face so that he can spend the rest of his life in peace.
The Crown Princess looked at the Crown Prince kneeling outside the door and shook her head madly. Her man was the Crown Prince, and even the Crown Prince who didn't have to kneel in front of His Majesty, how could he kneel in front of a courtier, how could he?
how come? !
In the end, Rong Xia was forced by the courtiers to put on a dragon robe, and was carried to the Palace of Qinzheng by them.
Ban Hua didn't follow. She stood in front of the gate of the East Palace, looked at the prince who was still kneeling on the ground, stepped forward and squatted in front of the prince, "Cousin Prince, get up."
"Huahua?" There were too many people just now, and the prince didn't notice Banhua at all. Now he saw that Banhua was wearing silver armor with dried blood on his boots, so he smiled wryly, "Why are you here?"
"I'll wait until you stand up before leaving."
The prince stared at her blankly, and asked for a while, "Father really...was the second younger brother poisoned to death?"
Banhua thought of Wang De, Rong Xia, and the few words of Emperor Yunqing before he died, and nodded slowly: "Jiang Luo asked the palace servants to prepare the □□."
"It's all my fault, it's all my fault." He staggered up from the ground, laughing like he was crying, "If it wasn't for my wife's kindness and indecision, how could I have come to where I am today, if... if... ..."
He suddenly stopped complaining, and just raised his head and laughed so hard that tears flowed down his face.
Banhua blessed the prince: "Cousin Prince, please take care of your health, I will take my leave first."
Walking out of the East Palace, she looked in the direction of the Qinzheng Palace and walked slowly forward. The night wind blowing on her face softened the bloody smell of the palace. She had never found such a quiet moment in the palace.
In the Hall of Qinzheng, Rong Xia was surrounded by people kneeling down, calling out to the emperor. Everyone was excited, and everyone was cheering for the victory. His eyes swept across the hall, but he couldn't find Ban Hua.
Where is Huahua?
He suddenly stood up from the dragon chair, his eyes swept across the happy faces, but he still couldn't find the person he was looking for.
"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Zhao Zhong noticed that Rong Xia had walked down the jade steps, and reached out to stop him.
Rong Xia ignored him, he pushed Zhao Zhong's hand away, and walked out of the hall under the astonished eyes of all the officials.
"His Majesty?!"
"His Majesty?!"
The courtiers followed, crowding densely at the gate of the hall.
Under the steps outside the Hall of Qinzheng, there is a large empty space. During important gatherings, this place will be full of honorable courtiers. Especially during the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor, the whole hall was full of people kneeling inside and outside, so that people could truly see the glory of the imperial power.
At this time, there were no other officials in the open space except the soldiers brought by Rong Xia. But the courtiers saw that there was a figure walking towards them in the distance, and he was not walking fast, as if this place that was awe-inspiring to countless people did not make him feel scared or uncomfortable.
The man got closer and closer, and under the night, the courtiers could only see him wearing a silver armor, but they couldn't see his face clearly.
Just when they were guessing who this person was, who actually walked outside the Hall of Qinzheng so boldly, they saw Rong Xia standing on the jade steps suddenly moved, and he ran down the jade steps without the slightest hesitation. Didn't even look back at them courtiers.
"Who is that?" Yao Peiji turned to look at Du Jiu.
Du Jiu bowed his head respectfully and remained silent.
Yao Peiji couldn't help but clicked his tongue when he saw his attitude of being beaten to death and not opening his mouth. As expected of Rong Xia's subordinates, his mouth was really tight. He didn't get annoyed if he didn't get an answer, he turned his head and continued to look at the person whom Rong Xia could greet in person.
This is Rong Xia's most trusted person?
Or some capable person who governs the country?
Ban Hua stood under the jade steps, looked up and saw Rong Xia running towards her, she tilted her head, looked up to the sky, there was a full moon hanging in the sky, so beautiful that people couldn't help but smile.
She laughed out loud and stepped up the jade steps.
She walked very slowly, Rong Xia walked very fast, before she took a few steps, Rong Xia had already come to her.
"Why are you running?" Ban Hua looked at Rong Xia with a smile, and seeing him panting, couldn't help laughing more obviously, "Look back at those courtiers, they thought you were crazy."
"It doesn't matter if they think I'm crazy, I'm afraid I'll lose you," Rong Xia tightly grasped Ban Hua's hand.
His palms were a little cold, but sweaty.
What is he afraid of, that he is sweating?
Banhua bent his hand and hooked his fingers: "Let's go."
Rong Xia smiled: "Let's go up together."
"Okay." Banhua smiled and rolled his eyes.
"That's..." Zhou Bingan had a subtle expression when he saw Rong Xia holding hands with General Yinjia and walking towards the Palace of Qinzheng. Until the two got closer and closer, when he saw the face of the person beside Rong Xia clearly, he whispered in surprise, "Is that Princess Fuller?!"
What Rong Xia wanted to find just now was Princess Fuller?