Lord Prime Minister

The copper hammer hit the engraved bronze clock face, and the deep sound spread around from the high tower in the center of the palace.This is the death knell used to announce the death of the monarch in the past dynasties. The sound is thick and steady, and it can be heard as far as the service desk a few miles away in the suburbs. Now it is even more distant in the middle of the night.

The little eunuch who was ringing the bell knocked nine times without haste, held his breath, and put the copper hammer back. His hand trembled, and the hammer hit the plate, making a loud noise.

"Don't blame the former emperor, don't blame the former emperor." After clasping his hands together and muttering a few words, the little eunuch turned around and went out, and went back to report.

Huangfu Mingxuan sat on the chair, his body leaned forward slightly, his legs collapsed tightly, his right hand grasped the armrest, his palm was full of sweat, and he counted the death knells coming from a distance.When the ninth strike was struck, a golden light appeared in his eyes, and he stood up excitedly.He just took two steps and stopped, pacing back and forth.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The time has come!" The door opened, and a strong man walked in, with rustling sounds as the bronze armor on his body rubbed against each other.He clenched his fists with both hands, and his expression was equally excited.

Huangfu Mingxuan looked back at him, and forced himself to settle down in ecstasy. "What's going on in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"

"Back to His Majesty, the gate is closed tightly. Inside are only Eunuch Li who has been following the emperor and a few imperial doctors. Outside there is Deputy General Long guarding him. There are less than five hundred troops, so there is nothing to be afraid of." , just a pair of big eyes with red copper bells makes people feel terrified.

"What about them?" Huangfu Mingxuan calmed down and asked again.

The strong man knew that His Royal Highness was asking about the other princes, so he reported the news of the surveillance one by one: "The second prince will close his house after returning, and the fifth prince has already returned to the mansion. So far, no army other than us has been found."

"Okay!" After hitting his palm with a fist, Huangfu Mingxuan blushed a little, and raised his hand. "Walk!"

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, hundreds of guards guarded the hall. It was still very windy at dusk, but at this time there was no wind at all, and it was eerily quiet.Hundreds of people gathered together, and it became a little hotter.

Long Xiu stood at the front, the tip of his silver spear gleaming coldly in the moonlight, each standing upright with each spear, forming the first barrier.

The rustling sound came from far to near, and the sound of neat footsteps was amplified in the quiet environment, passing through the long bluestone road in front of the hall, and stopped at the bottom of the steps.Soldiers on both sides held torches, forming a fire dragon that stretched beyond the wall.

"The emperor's will, no one can enter or leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation within twelve hours, and anyone who violates it will be punished!" Long Xiu's face remained unchanged, and he spoke loudly to a group of men who suddenly broke in.

"This king only met Emperor Father two hours ago. How could you suddenly say nothing in such a short time? I think it's because of your intentions to close the Hall of Mental Cultivation and trap Father Emperor in it." Huangfu Ming Xuan stepped out from the crowd, dressed in a bright yellow and white dress with trimming, his face was full of joy, he pointed at Long Xiu and spoke righteously.

"The emperor ordered me to be the general of hussars, to guard the safety of the palace from the time the death knell rang, especially the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and no one was allowed to enter or leave." Long Xiu was unmoved, and repeated it again.

"Haha. And you said you didn't have any intentions? There is no imperial decree, no witnesses, and the emperor is trapped in the palace. Is it because you say what you say?"

Huangfu Mingxuan raised his head and smiled, and twisted the facts on Long Xiu, but seeing that the other party didn't accept this at all, and even the guards didn't waver at all, he asked the officials around him in a low voice: "Have you looked elsewhere? No jade seal?"

"I've read it several times. The emperor is suspicious. He has always carried the jade seal with him. He must be in the Hall of Mental Cultivation now." The right minister Cai Chong, who was wearing a black official robe, replied in a low voice, and glanced warily at Long Xiu on the steps.

As early as a few days ago, the emperor was seriously ill, and they began to import troops into the palace, all for today.As long as you get the jade seal and assist the eldest prince to ascend to the throne, now without the support of Concubine Lan, the eldest prince is alone, and the only one you can rely on is yourself. Wouldn't it be great to coerce the emperor to command the princes?

Cai Chong smiled in his eyes, full of greed, and quickly lowered his eyes to block it, pretending to be a loyal minister of the eldest prince.

"Are you going to give in or not? Right now, royal father is seriously ill, for the sake of royal father's safety, don't blame me for rushing in!" Without waiting for Long Xiu to reply, he waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him rushed up.

"All the guards obey the order, and those who disobey the emperor's order will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes!" All the guards yelled in unison, pulled out their knives from their waists, lowered their bodies, and vowed to stand in front of the door.

Long Xiu grabbed the long spear beside him and pulled it out violently. The red tassels shook, and following the cold metallic luster of the spear head, he picked out a spear flower and knocked back the two people who were rushing forward one step.The palm of his hand slid to the end of the gun barrel, he turned around and drew a half arc, and slapped fiercely at the soldiers on the other side who were trying to charge in, pushing them back with great force.For a while, no one could go any further, and Long Xiu blocked them a few steps away.

"Give it to me! This king doesn't believe that so many people can't beat him alone! Give it to me!" Huangfu Mingxuan saw that everyone was caught by Long Xiu, and he was so angry that he ordered everyone to attack together, vowing to take him down.

More soldiers poured in from beyond the walls to join the fight.Long Xiu's two fists were hard to beat with four hands, and soon a fish that slipped through the net broke through the encirclement, and was stopped by many guards behind him, blood was spilled on the spot.

The fight in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation soon spread to other parts of the palace, and a small group of dead soldiers also gathered in the Kunning Palace, kneeling in unison in the courtyard.

A black-clothed dead soldier stood under the tree. The dark aura blended with the environment. If it weren't for the white light flashing from the dangling blade, he would not have been able to detect it at all. "Second Highness, the last reptile has also been dealt with."

Huangfu Renhao glanced across the corpse at the foot of the dead man, nodded, turned to the queen and said, "Queen, it's time to go."

"Have you notified all civil and military officials?" The queen on the carved pear flower chair picked up the teacup on the table and asked unhurriedly.

"I sent someone half an hour ago, and I should know about it by now." The second prince replied with cupped hands.

The queen slowly put down a sip of untouched tea in her hand, stood up, and looked in the direction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. "Set off."

When the empress and her party arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the First Prince and the guards were in a scuffle, but the gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation was still closed, and no one could enter smoothly.Hundreds of guards were killed or injured, less than half remained, and the First Prince's faction suffered heavy losses.

The eldest prince, Huangfu Mingxuan, was standing in the corner, surrounded by several officials, including many high-ranking ministers.

Looks like it's all here.

The queen thought secretly, and walked forward with her long robe dragging. The dead bodies and blood all over the ground in front of her didn't make her expression timid.

"The emperor passed away, the eldest prince committed a rebellion, brought troops into the palace, tried to force the palace in vain, and didn't know how to repent. Today, the palace will clean up the door for the emperor!"