There is a fake demigod in the East Palace

Three days later, the queen announced her abdication and was taken to Yongle Temple to await trial.

The edict of the Queen's abdication knocked down the first domino. In the following day, royal family scandals such as the disappearance of the national teacher, the surrender of Princess Anyang, and the rebellion of Prince Rui were continuously revealed.

A month later, the prince announced his succession to the throne.

Before the crown prince ascended the throne, the task force conducted an in-depth investigation on the queen and her followers, and the iceberg hidden under the sea gradually revealed its true colors.

More and more members of the royal family were arrested and imprisoned, a large number of clan members were liquidated, and some dignitaries received rumors that they transferred their assets early to prepare to flee, but they were arrested before they got on the plane.

Rong Zheng's succession to the throne under such panic circumstances naturally aroused many speculations.Some people think that Rong Zheng has inherited his father's ideals and is determined to solve the long-standing ills of the royal family.Some people also think that the purge against the royal family is just a conspiracy of the East Palace, and everything is the result of the failure of the imperial party's political struggle.

The imperial family is facing a major change unseen in a century, but no matter how bloody the struggle is, the Li Palace outside the city is always as quiet as the eye of a typhoon.

Rong Zheng is already the emperor in essence, but he has not held the enthronement ceremony for a long time. Even so, he can enter the Yaoqing Palace in advance.But the new emperor is very serious about this matter. During this period of time, he has been living in the Li Palace on the grounds that he does not conform to the ancestral system.

Yan Tian's work did not decrease as he was in Li Palace, on the contrary, it became more and more busy.That day, he had just stepped into the Hall of Fengying, and the general secretary rushed towards him as if he had seen a savior.

General Secretary is an institution for the construction and repair of the imperial palace, and this General Secretary Mr. Zhao is the head of this department.When there is no construction project, he is responsible for the maintenance of various palaces in his daily life.

"Master Yan, take a look." Before Master Zhao came to Yan Tian, ​​the voice had already passed over: "Is this notice true?"

Yan Tian glanced at the folder in Mr. Zhao's hand, and responded, "Yes."

Mr. Zhao still had a little luck in his heart, and asked again: "Do you really want to dig in again?"

Yan Tian answered one word concisely: "Dig."

Mr. Zhao finally gave up hope, showing an expression of greater grief than heartbreak.

The thing Mr. Zhao said he wanted to dig was the questioning platform in the palace.Yesterday evening, he received a notice from the Department of Internal Affairs. Early this morning, all the operating machines were on site and ready.

But Mr. Zhao still didn't give up. He knew that Yan Tian would definitely come today, so he waited here early, just to ask Yan Tian to give him a certain word.

"But this platform was just built last month, why do you have to dig it up again?" Mr. Zhao looked back at the workers who were pulling the fence, and seeing that no one noticed him, he lowered his voice and asked Yan Tian: "Does Your Majesty have any more?" What are you dissatisfied with?"

Regarding this matter, Yan Tian couldn't go into details with Mr. Zhao, so he could only say: "I told you before, it's really not your problem."

A few months ago, the Asking Heart Platform was dug open for unknown reasons, and Mr. Zhao was in charge of the restoration and reconstruction work.

Mr. Zhao is somewhat idealistic and full of craftsman spirit. He searched for traditional materials and based on ancient craftsmanship, and finally restored the asking heart table.

After the questioning platform was rebuilt, the new emperor took a look at it in person, and not long after, news came from above that His Majesty ordered it to be toppled.

With this result, Mr. Zhao is like a thunderbolt. He is notoriously strict on craftsmanship, and there has been no rework during his tenure.

So he made up his mind to continue to study hard and improve, and even personally led the team to demolish and build several times.But no matter how hard he tried, the new emperor was not satisfied.

Mr. Zhao has been tortured until he lost his temper completely. He took Yan Tian's arm and refused to let him go: "It's not a problem if this continues, Mr. Yan, please show me a clear way."

He can understand that the new emperor is going to do some infrastructure construction, but why does His Majesty keep having trouble with this questioning platform.A platform is repeated over and over again, built and dismantled, dismantled and rebuilt, time-consuming and laborious.

"Master Zhao, don't ask." Yan Tian patted Master Zhao on the shoulder and said, "Let's start digging."

Yan Tian personally supervised the demolition and construction of the Asking Center.Mr. Zhao didn't know the reason why Rong Zheng repeated so much, but Yan Tian knew it well.

On the day of the Yuzhengsi's trial, Rong Zheng walked out of the questioning platform under the eyes of everyone.After the prince was rescued, Yan Tian continued to organize the search and rescue to try to find Ye Zhaoling, but no matter how much they dug the ground, they found nothing.

Everyone present could prove that Rong Zheng was the only one who came out of the questioning desk that day, but for some unknown reason, Rong Zheng insisted that Ye Zhaoling was with him at that time.

After that day, Rong Zheng raised the security level of the Asking Heart Desk. Not only did he install monitoring without dead ends in Fengying Hall, but he also arranged special service personnel to patrol around the clock. If there was any disturbance, he could bypass the higher-level department and report directly to him.

When the new emperor took office, too many people were eager to perform meritorious service in front of him.During this period of time, there were those who fished in troubled waters, those who flattered, and those who sycophant.Seeing that His Majesty attaches so much importance to this platform, people put all their energy into making a fuss about this matter, and all kinds of true and false news related to the Questioning Heart Platform came one after another.

Most of the outrageously false clues were blocked when they arrived at Yan Tian, ​​but some visions that were difficult to distinguish between true and false and supported by evidence could only be verified by digging open the platform.

Fortunately, Rong Zheng paid for all the expenses surrounding the questioning platform, and every participant received a considerable amount of remuneration, so even if everyone couldn't understand it, it was hard for them to say anything.

Master Zhao had already gained experience in digging the questioning platform, and a team of people dug to a depth of more than ten meters without spending much time.

When the project was coming to an end, Rong Zheng came.

There was a heavy rain in the evening, and Rong Zheng braved the rain to rush here. As usual, he didn't approach the questioning platform, and stopped as soon as he entered Fengying Hall.

"How is it?" Rong Zheng asked, he had just returned to Li Palace after work, he was still wearing a neat formal suit, surrounded by a large group of staff.

In the past, Rong Zheng had a character of not showing emotions or anger, but after becoming the emperor, his whole person became much calmer.He has not shown any obvious personal emotions for a long time. He works diligently every day, fulfills the duties of the emperor, and is as calm as a frozen lake under the strong cold air.

Yan Tian walked in front of Rong Zheng and shook his head, the result this time was the same as every time before, there was nothing under the questioning platform.

"Didn't the report say that someone saw an unknown figure on the questioning platform?" Rong Zheng glanced at the earthworks piled up high, and asked, "I also heard the sound of someone knocking on stones underneath?"

"Your Majesty..." Yan Tian didn't know how to explain, the result this time was generally within his expectations.Yan Tian had long believed in his heart that Ye Zhaoling could not survive, but Rong Zheng was still unwilling to give up.

"Understood." Rong Zheng waved his hand without further entanglement, and said, "Fill it in."

After speaking, he turned around and walked out with a large group of people, coming and going like a gust of wind.

Rong Zheng did not raise any objections this time, and accepted the result very smoothly. This may be a good start for him.

But Yan Tian's worries go far beyond that.

Everything that happened that day in Fengying Hall, with the disappearance of the national teacher and Rong Jiuge, was completely sealed in a confidential file.As for Zhong Yu, he also completely disappeared from the public eye following his "disappearance".

However, Jingnanhou said that he hadn't appeared in public for nearly a year, which aroused public suspicion.Combined with various conspiracy theories, various speculations have emerged among the people, and some radicals even protested online, demanding that the royal family give an explanation.

The matter of Ye Zhaoling cannot just be so vague. Whether Jingnan Hou is alive or dead, Rong Zheng will come forward to give the public an answer sooner or later.

***

The matter that Yan Tian was worried about soon ushered in a turning point.

After entering autumn, Yan Tian started to travel around frequently.That day, as soon as he returned to his accommodation after work, he received a call from Le Zhi.

Le Zhi became anxious, and the speed of her speech became very fast. She crackled a lot on the other end of the phone, and it took Yan Tian a lot of effort to understand.

Le Zhi said that Rong Zheng had earlier arranged for an expedition team to Dazhou Mountain, and there had been new progress recently.They found that the cave where the hanging coffin was placed in the Zizhu Peak had a strange cave, which not only had all the modern household equipment, but also showed signs of people living in it.

Although incredible, the evidence left in the cave shows that this place is related to Jingnan Hou.

After receiving the news, Rong Zheng went up to Purple Bamboo Peak in person before the person in charge of the expedition team reported the situation.The road was slippery in rainy days and it was difficult to walk at night. He fell on the way up the mountain and nearly rolled down the mountain.

When Yan Tian heard that His Majesty was injured, he quickly asked, "How is the injury?"

Le Zhidao: "There is no serious problem, the disposal has been completed, but he stayed in that cave all night and did not come out... The deeper the dew is, the temperature in the mountain is low, and His Majesty was injured. Lord Yan, you Come back and have a look."

Fortunately, Rong Zheng has a sense of proportion, when Yan Tian rushed back overnight, he had already gone down the mountain and returned to the palace.It's just that as soon as he came back, he locked himself in the study, closed the door to thank the guests, and saw no one.

Yan Tian paced back and forth outside the door a few times, and was about to find a way to knock on the door to get in, when he heard Rong Zheng's voice from inside.

"Is Yan Tian back?" Rong Zheng asked across the road.

Yan Tian hurriedly approached the door and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Rong Zheng's voice came from the door: "Come in."

When Yan Tian entered, Rong Zheng was sitting at the desk reading a book.A gown with a collar and narrow sleeves was loosely draped over his body, and gauze was stuck to his forehead, but there was nothing unusual about his face.

There is a jacaranda flower in the vase on the desk. Looking at the rough shape, it doesn't look like it was handed by a court florist.

"Your Majesty, I have carefully read the report on Dazhou Mountain." Yan Tian worried that Rong Zheng would not have much time left for him, so he said hastily: "The report says that the traces of activities in the cave were all a few years ago. , and no one has been in it for a long time, so my conclusion is biased towards..."

"I know, he didn't come back." Rong Zheng looked up at Yan Tian, ​​interrupted him, and said calmly, "I called you here for another matter."

After speaking, he pushed a bright yellow satin-covered booklet on the table in front of Yan Tian, ​​Yan Tian opened the letter suspiciously, and couldn't help being stunned.

In the booklet is an obituary written by Rong Zheng.

Let Rong Zheng write the obituary by himself, without having to think about who it is about.

Yan Tian hadn't recovered from his surprise when he heard Rong Zheng say slowly: "There will be a press conference tomorrow, and I will officially announce the news."

Rong Zheng didn't notice the unpredictable expression on Yan Tian's face, followed his own train of thought, and continued to explain: "I'll make some preparations and leave for the palace soon."

The ink in the inkstone had dried up, and Rong Zheng's scrapped notebooks were piled up like a mountain, it took Yan Tian a long time to look away.

Tomorrow he will announce to the public the news of the death of Marquis Jingnan.

Yan Tian couldn't bear to let Rong Zheng announce the death of that person himself, so he said, "Your Majesty, you might as well leave this matter to me."

Rong Zheng threw the used pen on the table into the brush washer, stood up and said, "It's okay, just arrange it as I said."

Afterwards, the two discussed some details about tomorrow's press conference. Seeing that it was getting late, Rong Zheng asked Yan Tianxia to go home from work.

Yan Tian was worried and wanted to stay, but was rejected by Rong Zheng.

After Yan Tian left, Rong Zheng's eyes naturally fell on the jacaranda branch. It's not the flowering period now, and the jacaranda flowers on Dazhou Mountain are sparsely blooming.

Rong Zheng didn't disturb the attendants, and left the Yingbo Terrace with the flowers alone.

Go straight along the lakeside and you will reach Fengyingdian.Rong Zheng remembered that there was a lot of snow during the Spring Festival that year. On the morning of the first day of the new year, a rare rime scene appeared in the palace, and the whole palace was dressed in plain clothes overnight.

He regretted that he didn't take Ye Zhaoling around to have a look around at that time, but got up early and took a step ahead.

It was late at night, there were no palace people on the road, and Fengying Hall would arrive soon.The special agent on duty didn't expect Rong Zheng to come at this time, so he stood up and saluted in a panic: "Your Majesty!"

"Thanks for your hard work." Rong Zheng walked slowly into the hall, and said to everyone: "You guys go to rest first."

"Your Majesty..." The outside world is not peaceful recently, and the special agents are a little worried about keeping Rong Zheng here.

Rong Zheng saw their worry and said, "It's okay, let me stay alone for a while."

The secret service quickly dispersed, and Rong Zheng was the only one left in the empty hall. He walked up the steps, came to the edge of the questioning platform and sat down.

Since Ye Zhaoling left, he hasn't been near the Wenxintai for a long time.

Rong Zheng brushed the dust off the table with his sleeve, gently put down the jacaranda branch in his hand, and said, "I went to Dazhou Mountain yesterday, and they told me that there are people living on it." He paused for a long time before continuing : "It's not funny what you said, I actually thought it was you who came back."

Rong Zheng didn't say any more about the latter part. If it is said that Ye Zhaoling was trying his best to hold on every day when he left, then the failure of his hopes on Zizhu Peak would be the last straw that overwhelmed him.

Recently, Rong Zheng has often been thinking about how many times a person can endure despair in a lifetime.

"Ye Zhaoling, I'm really angry with you this time." He looked up at the tall algae well, and seemed to smile slightly: "Since you left without saying goodbye, I won't look for you again."

"I will forget you, fall in love with someone else again, and enjoy the world from now on, with children and grandchildren..."

"Just as if I've never met you."

……

When Rong Zheng left, the special agents didn't know, they waited in the lounge all the time, not daring to enter without authorization.

So no one saw that after Rong Zheng left, there was a sudden light in the center of the Wenxin platform, and calm returned quickly.

Where the light disappears, there is an endless void, only a fire is burning in the deepest part.

This group of flames changes strange colors and burns on its own. The fire is like an indestructible barrier, separating two unconnected worlds.

A sneer came from the strange firelight, this laughter suppressed the intense pain, it sounded like he was dying, but it couldn't hide his gloating.

"You heard me, people are going to forget you."

After a long time, just when Rong Jiuge thought that he was the only one left at the bottom of the questioning table, and that annoying boy had been burnt to death by the Brahma fire, he finally heard another voice.

"Old ghost, take care of yourself."

The author says:

Let the new emperor live in widowhood for a chapter.