The General Is As Urgent As Law

No one expected that an accident would happen at this time.

A group of concubines knelt together in the main hall, each wiping the corners of their eyes that hadn't shed many tears with silk scarves, and the crying was extremely sincere, one after another.The four princes knelt at the front, and the queen had already entered the inner room, guarding the emperor's side, and weeping softly.

"Your majesty... Your majesty..." The queen wept, looking at the emperor from time to time.

The emperor's eyes were only opened a slit, and he was breathing very heavily, already at the end of his strength.Hearing the empress's sobs, the emperor said softly: "Go, let Xuan'er come in..."

"Your majesty, the most important thing right now is the position of the crown prince..." The empress didn't care so much, and cried, "A country cannot be without a king for a day, your majesty..."

"Does the empress want to make decisions for me..." The emperor was so weak that when he said this, his breathing became chaotic, "I have something to say to Xuan'er..."

"Yes..." The queen had no choice but to turn around and go out.

Eunuch Mu followed behind him, stood outside the inner room door and said loudly: "Prince Xuan Jiu sees you."

Cen Lixuan stood up, still wearing a bright red wedding dress, and walked in behind Eunuch Mu.

When the emperor saw Cen Liyan, he opened his eyes a little bit, and there was a hint of joy on his face: "Yu'er..."

"Father."

"I don't have much time, it's a pity that I can't watch Xuan'er get married..."

"Father..."

Cen Lixuan stood on the edge of the couch, the emperor's hand stretched out towards him from under the quilt, trembling slightly in the air.Cen Lixuan knowingly used both hands to cover the cold hand, and sat on the edge of the couch to watch the emperor carefully.

"I have served the country and the people all my life, and when I am dying... only you are by my side..." The emperor looked at him, tears filled his cloudy eyes, "The boss died in vain, the second murdered his brother, the boss Although San is a virtuous person, he is too eager for quick success..."

"It's you after all, it's what I like the most..." After he finished speaking, he coughed violently.Unlike before, he coughed so hard that his whole body trembled, his voice was hoarse and terrifying, as if he might die at any moment.Cen Lixuan hurriedly stretched out his hand to give him Shun Shun Qi, but the Emperor struggled and shook his head, and when he stopped coughing, he said tremblingly: "It's okay, I can say a few words..."

"Father, don't say any more, Xuan'er understands." Cen Liyan blinked, and tears fell from the corners of his eyes.

But the emperor still wanted to go on: "Yu'er, if you were my own son, I wouldn't have to worry so much about...who should be appointed as the heir."

"What did you say?" Cen Liyan froze all over, his pupils shrank suddenly, and asked in a deep voice.

Probably this sentence shocked him so much that he couldn't maintain his weak image in front of the emperor, and his face was full of surprise.

The emperor coughed twice again and said, "How I wish you were my child..."

"Father, what are you talking about?" Cen Lixuan asked anxiously, "I am not Father's child, whose child am I, Father, tell me..."

He was so emotional that he even wanted to push his broken body because the emperor spoke too slowly.

Eunuch Mu had sharp eyes and quick hands, and immediately stepped forward to stop Cen Lizhen and said: "Ninth Prince must not, the Emperor is very weak now..."

He held Cen Lixuan's arm tightly with his hand, and shook his head gently.

Cen Lixuan's emotions were almost out of control, but he managed to endure it, and withdrew the hand that was about to shake the emperor.

The emperor continued: "I know... If you know about this, you will... ahem... you will be sad..."

"But no matter what your background is, I regard you as... my good son, Daxuan's good prince..."

"No matter who succeeds, I will... will... protect you."

——Protect him comprehensively, and protect him comprehensively.

Xue Ziqin also wanted to protect him well, and the emperor also wanted to protect him well...but they all knew that if he, Cen Lixuan, could not become the lord of the country, he would be slaughtered like a fish on board.

He has planned for such a long time. After learning that the emperor was poisoned for a long time, he wrote letters to greet him every day. When the emperor was willing to see him, he often accompanied him in the palace of An. For this reason, he did not hesitate to persuade Xue Ziqin to lead the Xue family army to support him, and he also worked hard. He married Qin Shu without hesitation, just to clear up the rumors that he was a manly woman, get Qin Mu's support, and complete this perfect plan to kill two birds with one stone.

The Queen's lineage is no longer something to be feared, and now only Cen Lijin is left -- without the support of the Xue family, Cen Lijin is just a bird with broken wings, not an opponent at all.

But the emperor's words made all his calculations come to nothing.No matter how good he is, no matter how well he does, it is impossible for him to be made heir by the emperor when he is dying, because his surname is not Cen at all.

"Muzhi, pass on the originality."

"Yes."

"Father..." When Cen Lixuan raised his head again, his face was already full of tears.Not sad because the emperor is about to die, but for himself.

But the emperor didn't know what he was thinking at this moment, he only thought that the young boy was feeling sorry for himself, but stretched out his hand to him distressedly, wanting to wipe away the tears on his face.It's a pity that he is almost exhausted, and he can't even do such a small movement.

Cen Lixuan lowered his body towards him so that he could touch that little face.

"Don't be sad, life and death are fate..."

Before the two had time to say a few more words, Yuan Zhi had already walked in.

"emperor!"

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would be really hard for Yuan Zhi to believe that the person lying on the couch was the emperor who used to sit on the dragon chair energetically.Now his eyes are dull, the wrinkles on his face seem to have increased several times overnight, and his face is pale.Yuan Zhi went to the side of the couch and knelt down, and called again: "Your Majesty..."

"Yuan Zhi, listen up..." The emperor looked at the bright yellow silk on the top of the bed, and said vaguely, "Depose Cen Lijiang as Prince, and demote him to... a commoner..."

"Your Majesty, why is this?" Yuan Zhi asked puzzled.

Wei Lin arrested someone to testify about the first Cen Lijiang, but he didn't make a big announcement, so Yuan Zhi didn't know about it.Originally, Yuan Zhi was close to Xue's family, but after Xue Changfeng's death, Xue Ziqin didn't have much contact with him.After all, Xue Ziqin is a military general, and counselors like Zhou Xiao are not around, so he doesn't know how to communicate with civil servants at all.

Hearing the emperor's remarks at this moment, Yuan Zhi was full of doubts.But the emperor didn't intend to explain anything to him, and then said: "...the prince's character is precious, and he is worthy of great responsibility...to be the crown prince..."

"What?" Yuan Zhi didn't hear clearly.

But Cen Lixuan heard clearly.If the emperor is allowed to appoint a prince at this time, then what he wants to do is to learn from the unknown and commit chaos.

... The emperor must not be allowed to speak out.

He thought about it, and suddenly fell on the emperor and cried loudly: "Father! Father!"

Cen Lixuan pressed on the emperor so abruptly that the emperor held his breath in his chest and immediately coughed loudly.

In the main hall, Cen Lijiang had been anxiously waiting for the people inside to come out. When Eunuch Mu came out to call Yuan Zhi to enter, he knew that his father was going to appoint a crown prince.And it is very possible that it was arranged along with his affairs.Taking advantage of Yuan Zhi's time to enter the palace, Cen Lijiang immediately winked at the eunuch who was close to him.

The confidant nodded knowingly, and hurried out of Anshang Hall while no one was paying attention.

Just now, Imperial Physician Li arranged for someone to make a decoction and bring it over immediately.Even if it can't be cured, at least you have to work hard, and it's good if you can last for a while.

Gu Ji's dining room was also prepared, and the soup and medicine were brought over within a short time.

After the little eunuch who delivered the decoction entered the inner hall anxiously, Cen Lijiang's confidant also came back and nodded slightly to him.

Before the emperor coughed, the little eunuch hastily brought in the soup.Yuan Zhi stepped aside a little bit, Eunuch Mu went to the side and helped the emperor up, and the little eunuch quickly fed the emperor one spoonful after another.

The emperor only took two sips before he couldn't hold on any longer and kept falling backwards.Eunuch Mu carefully put the emperor back on the couch, and let him go.

Cen Lixuan was still crying, and kept murmuring: "Father, Father..."

The emperor panted louder and louder, as if he had only breathed out but not breathed in.He was still struggling, trying to repeat what he hadn't heard clearly just now: "Li... Li..."

It was just that moment, he finally only said the word "Li", and then closed his eyes.

The hand that had been moving before fell down in an instant, hitting the couch heavily, and stopped moving.

"Father!!!"

"emperor!!!"

The three people in the inner hall exclaimed at the same time, and the people outside heard it, and the crying became louder, and there was a lot of crying inside and outside the hall for a while.

Cen Lixuan looked at the person on the couch who was already breathless, with complicated emotions surging in his heart.

Dazed and empty, even a little overwhelmed.Ever since he could remember, he had endured this unbearable life alone, and it wasn't until these few months that he got really close to the emperor.Although most of the time his concern is fake, but he knows that the emperor's feelings for him are real.

If this is the love of parents, he has to admit that he is somewhat intoxicated by it.

If he is not the emperor's son, but he is born of Concubine Jin, then the answer is obvious.This also explains why, obviously he was the emperor's favorite young son when he was born, but later he was placed in the palace and no one cared about him.

He has done so much, but now he is told that he has no capital to compete with others.

Do not!

Things have come to this, he can't give up to seize the throne!He has the chance to win, how can he allow others to ascend to the throne!

……

When the emperor passed away, Xuanguo and the whole country mourned for three days.

In the main hall, in front of the emperor's coffin, the concubines bowed their heads and wept, but the civil servants and generals looked nervous.There were a lot of people, and the long stairway from the inside of the hall to the outside was full of people.At the last moment, the emperor did not leave any intention of establishing a reserve.The throne is still pending, and it is only waiting for the three-day mourning period to pass, and the princes who will succeed to the throne will be clarified.

Yuan Zhi was puzzled, the emperor left in a hurry, and left before he could say a word after taking the decoction.He didn't mention the words of deposing the second prince, he was afraid that it was not the right time to mention it now.

One kind of concubine is headed by the queen, she is dressed in plain clothes, and her eyes are red from crying.Concubine Jin is still the only one missing here. The emperor never pardoned Concubine Jin's crimes when he was alive, and now that the emperor is dead, the Empress would not let Concubine Jin leave Lianshuang Palace—if it wasn't for the urgent matter of the throne, she would even I want to propose that Xue Jin be buried with the late emperor.

Today was the last day, Wei Yuanting stood among the courtiers, and Wei Lin stood behind him.Wei Lin watched his father mysteriously glance at the queen in the front row. He followed his gaze and saw the queen half-covered her face, with red eyes, blinking at Wei Yuanting almost imperceptibly.

Wei Yuanting gasped exaggeratedly, then stood up from the queue of courtiers, choked up and said: "The former emperor has passed away, the country cannot be without a king for a day, and the queen is invited to preside over it and decide the successor."

Yuan Zhi then stood up and said, "Before the late emperor passed away, he seemed to have established someone in his heart." He said, turned to look at Eunuch Mu, then at the queen, and continued, "I don't know if the late emperor Leave a will?"

The empress shook her head: "The last person the late emperor saw was his beloved Ninth Prince. I have never heard the late emperor mention the will."

Eunuch Mu bowed his waist and said the same way: "This servant follows the emperor every day, and I have never heard the emperor mention this matter."

Seeing this situation, Ren Gui immediately echoed, "I think that the second prince has a noble character and is the eldest son. Since there is no legacy, he should succeed him."

Cen Lixuan stood up and said: "But before the emperor passed away, he had clearly stated that he would depose Cen Lijiang as prince, right, Yuan Youxiang?" After he finished speaking, he looked at Yuan Zhi and smiled slightly.

As soon as this remark came out, everyone was shocked.One is that he was surprised by the fact that Cen Lijiang was deposed, and the other is that Cen Lizhen has always been a dispensable person in the palace, but now he said such an important matter in an understatement, and his expression was so proud, it was completely like a different person. people.

Cen Lixuan glanced at everyone arrogantly, the matter had already been put on the table, there was no need to pretend anymore: "Yuan Youxiang?"

Only then did Yuan Zhi recover from her astonishment: "It's true, the former emperor did say it."