female concubine

On the first day of the first month of the second year of Jinghe, the emperor who was lying on the couch passed out before he had eaten, and the cabinet of Funing Hall passed out. The physicians and imperial physicians who stayed in the hall worked hard for three days before pulling the emperor back from the underworld.

"What happened to the official family?"

Several physicians knelt down and said tremblingly: "I am afraid that the officials are incompetent..."

Xiao Youqing took a long breath, waved his hands and said: "The fate is hard to break, and I can't blame anyone. You have worked hard these few days, let's go down."

"Yes."

After entering, Xiao Youqing dismissed all the officials and attendants who were waiting in the cabinet, walked to the emperor's bed by himself and sat down slowly, "Lie down well."

The emperor who woke up couldn't eat anything, even the water was dipped in cotton cloth and fed bit by bit from between his lifeless lips. The emperor wriggled his lips, "Mother..."

Xiao Youqing raised his hand and wanted to put the emperor's hand into the quilt, but he held it tightly in turn. The emperor struggled with the last of his strength, staring at his mother with bloodshot eyes, "I beg mother... be merciful, Sheng Er is your only direct grandson, and he is also... the blood of the late emperor."

Xiao Youqing heard the word "Xiandi" very clearly, and immediately frowned and withdrew his hand, "You finally said it, your kindness and kindness in the eyes of outsiders is not a sharp sword in our throats for us? "

The emperor lowered his hands, and suddenly laughed tremblingly, "Isn't this what I should have? Looking back on the 30 years of trembling, what did I do wrong?"

The emperor was sincere and filial with a pure heart when he was young, Xiao Youqing felt a little distressed and helpless.

"Mother..." the emperor shed blood-like tears, "Do you feel that your son is miserable all the time like adults?"

"I never felt that way, but you..."

"In the heart of a son, the mother will always be the mother." The emperor stared at Xiao Youqing motionless, his eyes filled with sourness and chills, "So...in the mother's heart, in his heart, I really...really belong to him Son?"

"I don't understand, he likes his mother so much, but for me, he would rather pamper an adopted daughter from the clan. I don't want to believe Uncle Jiang's words, but he treats me...I have to question it. ..”

Xiao Youqing sat and turned her back to Shangshen and said, "You know, this family is like a Southern opera, a Zaju, everyone has two faces, one is dominated by desire, and the other is your true heart. , when your desires gradually increase, you will lose your true heart, but the drama," immediately got up and took a step forward, lowered his hands and closed his eyes and said: "The curtain will eventually come to an end."

On the third day of the first lunar month of the second year of Jinghe, the Zhiguan handed over the card, and the rooster sang and rang the bell and drum tower to change the time, and sang loudly: "The sun is about to fall, the fish key is under, and the dragon's cloth...Xu time is right!"

——Boom, boom, boom——With the beating of the time-changing drum, the servants walked out from the cabinet of Funing Palace, "The emperor is dead!"

In the early years of Jinghe, Emperor Jinghe died of illness in the Palace of Funing. The veteran who received the news in the middle of the night froze like a thunderbolt, "It's over." The top of his head was as dark as a cloud, and he lost his center of gravity and collapsed to the ground after speaking.

After Xiao Yunze and Huo Qing received the news, they dispatched horses and two armies to guard the city under strict martial law. The relatives of the clan and important court officials knelt down in the palace and cried loudly. ..The empress dowager is respected as the empress dowager, the empress dowager should be honored as the empress dowager, the empress is the empress dowager, the crown prince Sheng succeeds in front of the coffin, the funeral system changes from day to month, and the mountain tomb should be thrifty. There is no prohibition on marriages in temples, and officials from various prefectures do not have to go to Beijing, they should do their best, the heir is still in Youchong, and the power of military and state affairs will be punished by the empress dowager..."

Xiao Youqing walked out of the cabinet with his heir in his arms, and stood in the curtain of the hall. The servants on the left and right rolled up the curtain, and Zhao Ping stepped forward and called, "Kneel!"

"I invite His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to ascend the throne."

The next day, it was announced that the emperor had passed away, and the Taichang Temple and Zongzheng Temple and other officials arranged the emperor's funeral ceremony, and canceled the Shangyuan Lantern Festival as a matter of celebration.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Crown Prince Wei Sheng ascended the throne in the Daqing Palace and was changed to Yuan Xuanhua. Envoys, all of them who entered the interior of the province were known as the capital supervisor of the mountain mausoleum, and Si Tianjian chose the auspicious day to select the site of the mausoleum.

In February of the first year of Xuanhua, Cao Peiru, a Hanlin scholar, was ordered to write a posthumous posthumous essay, and the ministers drafted posthumous titles and temple names to discuss with all officials at the court meeting.

Among them, the temple name of Ningzong was vetoed by all the ministers, so they were selected among the four temple names of Xingzong, Chengzong, Renzong, and Xiaozong. Finally, all the civil servants unanimously selected the beautiful posthumous posthumous title of Renzong, and the prime minister presented it to the Empress Dowager for approval.

Thinking of the temple name of Emperor Qianyuan, Xiao Youqing, he slapped the black and white words on the table again, and immediately curled it into a ball and said angrily: "What is the human heart made of?"

The servant bowed his head and replied: "The first emperor continued the law of the Xianzong to benefit the people, abolished the shortcomings of the military system, let the soldiers disarm and return to the fields, and cleared the unjust prisons of the Ministry of Punishment. However, the common people can't see the secret struggle in the high hall mirror, the courtiers... It will only weigh the benefits given by the king. Wu Zong personally conquered and unified the remaining separatist forces of Taizong Dynasty, and then regained Youyun. He offended civil servants because of his reform and respect for Wu, and finally only got a word of Wu, so Xianzong did."

Xiao Youqing supported the table and let out a long breath, "Xue Jin."

"The little guy is here."

"Secretly find out all the things behind the agitation of the temple name and the courtiers who participated in the posthumous determination of Xianzong."

"Yes."

In March of the first year of Xuanhua, the chancellor She Taiwei led civil and military officials and clans to ask for posthumous posthumous titles in the southern suburbs, and then to the Emperor Daxing to read before the spirit, "Fuwei Daxing Emperor Dehe Tiandi... I would like to send Shangshu Zuopushe, Wang Wenfu, the servant of the door, enshrined the respected king and the emperor as Emperor Derenwen, the god of filial piety, and the temple is called Renzong, and the heaven and man are in harmony, alas."

In September of the first year of Xuanhua, the imperial mausoleum was completed. Cao Peiru, a Hanlin scholar, was ordered to write the name of the mausoleum, which was called Yongkang Mausoleum.

In October of the first year of Xuanhua, Emperor Renzong was buried in Yongkang Mausoleum, and enshrined as the Lord of God in the Taimiao.

In the second year of Xuanhua, the Empress Dowager system was established, and the law of Xianzong was extended. The Ministry of Households allocated funds to the Manufacturing Department to continue to develop firearms, increase the emphasis on technical officers, and strengthen the military. One system, and wantonly promoted female officials and civil and military officials who were released and recalled during the Xianzong period, and then within a year, all the officials who compiled the national history of the Secretary Ministry were replaced with female officials, and Liu Miaoyi, a member of the Privy Council, presided over the revision of the "Records of Xianzong" "

In the spring of the third year of Xuanhua, the imperial examinations, which had been suspended after the death of two emperors, were opened. In this one civil examination alone, there were more than a thousand female officials with the top five ranks. He was awarded the title of Captain Yunqi.

At the beginning of the fourth year of Xuanhua, except Fang Zhiyan, Minister of the Ministry of War, who retired from office due to old age, the rest of the civil servants, including some veterans, were either dismissed or sent out. In just four years, thousands of people were dismissed. And the involvement is very extensive, and many of them have harmed the whole family.

The punishment hall was reopened, and a group of imperial guards rushed into Yushitai with knives in their hands.

The ministers knelt on the ground in a panic, "I am wronged, how dare the ministers slander the martial arts of the Emperor Xianzong, he is the imperial censor Zhongcheng, he is the nephew of the former prince Shao Zhanshi, he was instigated and instigated by him, and I hope the emperor The empress dowager knows."

The activity officer said coldly: "Take them away together!"

The Empress Dowager issued an edict that correctors were punished lightly, and officials from all walks of life in the court reported their colleagues one after another in order to protect themselves.

The Imperial Army suppressed a sixty-year-old minister, "The name of the Xianzong Temple was approved by Renzong back then. The Empress Dowager is denying Renzong by doing this. Is it true that in the Empress Dowager's heart, husbands are husbands, but sons are not sons?"

Xiao Youqing sat on the top chair and scolded: "How can a son come without a husband!" Then he said coldly and shamelessly: "Could it be that only Renzong is the king in the hearts of all the ministers?"

"The whole world will be destroyed in the hands of women, Xianzong is indeed not worthy of being a king!"

Xiao Youqing clasped his hands, suppressing his anger, "You were born in a noble family, and you have been an official for generations. There are countless people in your family who have been favored, but since the Xianzong, you have come here."

"The Empress Dowager."

"He will be handed over to Dali Temple for treason, and his close relatives will be exiled. He will be dismissed within five servings and will not be used again. His clan children will be banned from the imperial examination forever in the Wei and Song Dynasties."

"You...the ancestors of the Wei Song Dynasty, let's see, this dynasty actually wants poisonous women like Lu Wu!" The official was stripped of his scarlet robe, and stared at Xiao You viciously, "Poisonous woman, no matter how hard you cover it up It will never cover up the fault of Emperor Xianzong's attempt to seek power and usurp the throne. He favored the concubine and led to chaos in the harem, which will be recorded in the annals of history..."

The imperial guards kicked him upside down and pulled out a waist knife to put it on his neck, "Rebellious ministers and thieves dare to slander the Empress Dowager..."

"Don't hurt him," Xiao Youqing suddenly changed his mind, "Keep his life, but only leave him alone, and let Dali Temple continue as usual for the crimes of the clan."

Xiao Xiaoqing got up and walked to the old man, "I want you to see how I changed the court structure, I want you to see how I changed the world, and I want you to see how the people of later generations praised Emperor Xianzong .”

"You..." The old man opened his crazy eyes, "You poisonous woman who murdered your parents and children, you don't want to die!"

"take away."

In the autumn of the same year, on the birthday of Emperor Xianzong, the Empress Dowager ordered the Secretary of the Imperial City to arrest a group of ministers and imprison them. They found out what had been discussed at the temple of Emperor Xianzong, and beheaded them all in the city for the crime of slandering Emperor Xianzong.

Since then, it has been restructured again in the Xuanhua Dynasty since the Qianyuan reorganization.

——Winter of the fifth year of Xuanhua——

The six-year-old little emperor sat quietly on the throne, and beside him sat a graceful and luxurious old lady, looking through the bead curtain, since the reign of Xuanhua, after fighting openly and secretly and suppressing by power, the female officials who have been promoted Gradually increasing, the voice of opposition will decrease accordingly.

"The Anton Governor's Mansion is here to play. There has been a severe drought in the north. It has not rained for three consecutive months. The crops have withered and the food has not been harvested. Please set up an altar to pray for rain and open a storehouse to relieve the disaster."

"Accurate." Then Xiao Youqing said again: "It is a big matter if it is related to people's livelihood. The household department first allocates funds for disaster relief and resettles the people properly. Begging for rain will be handed over to the department to handle it. In addition, the disaster-free land will be taxed for three years."

"Your Majesty is wise, the Empress Dowager is wise."

The cold winter wind howled in the inner court, and the green roof tiles were covered with a thick layer of snow. The shoulders of the emperor carried the young emperor, and the empress dowager's shoulders were behind.

In the courtyard of the palace, a century-old plum tree poked out its branches. This year’s red plums are still blooming very coquettishly. The few branches protruding out have old creases, and the broken branches have regenerated many branches. Xiao Youqing Immediately he raised his hand, and the servants stopped.

The emperor turned his head and stared into his grandmother's dazed eyes, "What did grandma remember?" Seeing that people just stared blankly, the emperor waved to the servants and walked down from the shoulder to Xiao Youqing's side.

【"Xiaoxuanchuang, just dressing up, my sister is the one who is jealous of Qunfang."】

Seeing his grandmother's eyes were red, the emperor called softly, "Grandmother."

Xiao Youqing regained his composure immediately, and stroked the emperor's little head sideways, "Can the officials go back by themselves first?"

The little emperor immediately raised his head, "It seems that there are plum trees like this in the courtyard of the inner court, but isn't grandma's favorite begonia?" Seeing that the grandmother didn't reply, the little emperor cupped his hands, "Then grandson will go back first, the wind outside the house is strong, Grandma must remember to come back early."

"it is good."

After the little emperor left, Xiao Youqing turned back in a shoulder car, and took a carriage from Chenhui Gate to the palace and along the Wuzhang River to Zhaoqingfang.

The gate of the hidden mansion is always open, and the servants and palace servants who sweep the yard inside have been replaced by a group of young and careful people. The new governor welcomes everyone out and leads everyone to kneel down and say, "Welcome the Empress Dowager."

"You all go away, I want to be alone quietly."

"Yes."

Xiao Youqing retreated to the left and right and walked into the east courtyard alone. There were no longer horses in the stables, and the muddy ground where horses used to run was covered with withered grass and covered with a thick layer of snow.

On the other side of the wall is the Prime Minister's Mansion. The small courtyard separated by a wall has changed its appearance after decades. The dead persimmon tree has also been cut down by the owner for firewood, and a new pavilion has been built in the courtyard. The vegetable field has been turned into a garden, but the east courtyard of the Prince Chu's Mansion has not changed at all, only desolation remains.

——jingling——

As soon as I closed my eyes, there was the jingle of the horse's chest bell, and the north wind blew across the wall towards people, blowing a little bit of chill into people's hearts.

Half a quarter of an hour later, there was only a shallow footprint left in the snow, and there was still some wetness on the stone steps that had not been dried. There were not a single painting or calligraphy left in the study of the palace, all of which were rewarded to the prince by Xianzong during his lifetime. In the end, they were all taken into the imperial tomb by Renzong.

Xiao Youqing pushed open the door and stepped into the bedroom. The furnishings of the outer and inner rooms have not been touched for more than 30 years, but the hanging bead curtains have faded from their original color and become old and old.

Xiao Youqing lowered his hand and slid across the chair lightly, and immediately pushed it down, exhaling tremblingly: "Why are you so cruel, that you don't even want to enter the dream?"

——Da, da, da—the bead curtain swayed, Xiao Youqing turned around and entered, after Xianzong left, she never dared to step into Chu Palace again. Compared with the palace where she could not escape, the memories here are more painful .

Xiao Youqing stared at an old sandalwood table motionless in the cylindrical curtain of the inner room, and then lowered his head to look at the copper stove that was not filled with charcoal and was covered with hands.

【"My sister's writing skills are superior to mine, it's just my sister's heart...not here."

"Where is the stove I gave my sister, is it useless for my sister?"】

"That embroidered beige was actually given to you on purpose by me. Who is the one who set up the situation, and who is willing to step into the situation and be manipulated by others?" Xiao Youqing sat down slowly holding the stove, "You said the emperor's order?" Short, ask me why I pushed you up, yes, why did I push you up, in fact, you and I both understand, it’s like opening a bow without an arrow back.”

"Empress Dowager!" Several servants stopped in the outer room after finding Xiao Youqing and called out.

"What's the matter?" Xiao Youqing sat up holding the hand stove.

"The empress dowager is critically ill, please return the empress dowager to the palace."

As soon as Xiao Youqing stood up, he was shocked by the news, and immediately put away the copper furnace and drove back to the forbidden area.