Xu Shi.
It's late at night and everything is silent.
The lights are bright in Hall of Diligent Governance.
Emperor Tianshun was sleepy-eyed, yawned, and took the soothing tea handed to him by the chamberlain.
Pacification Office Commander Lu Wei knelt on the ground and reported the changes in the court, "Your Majesty, Mr. Tangge intends to hand over power, and most of the officials from the six departments are under his command."
"A small number of officials claim to be of high rank and are determined not to be in the same league as the chamberlains. Among them, Xu Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry and Zhong Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs are the most opposed. Should they be eradicated?"
Since the palace coup, Eastern Depot's power has expanded rapidly, and Western Depot Pacification Office has declined day by day. After finally waiting for His Majesty's dispatch, Lu Wei needs to take credit for his head.
Eastern Depot is good at burying dragon robes, and we Western Depot can engrave Imperial Jade Seal!
"It doesn't matter, let them do it."
Emperor Tianshun The heart is like a mirror, and different voices must exist in the court, not only to seize power through Nine Attendants, but also to prevent eunuchs from taking over the power of regency.
"What is Xie Aiqing doing these days?"
"Back to Your Majesty, Commander Xie is recuperating at home."
Lu Wei knew that this was not what His Majesty wanted to hear, so he continued, "Pacification Office secret agents were monitoring day and night. Commander Xie never left home, and he did not see anyone in the court or Eastern Depot."
"Only Zeng Cifu came to congratulate him. They are both Jiajing Prefecture people. Most of their conversations were about missing their homeland. There is nothing wrong with that. It's just that Commander Xie..."
Emperor Tianshun asked, "What did Xie Aiqing say?"
Lu Wei said, "Commander Xie's ancestor was granted the title of Pingjin Bo. Later, he was demoted to a commoner due to dynastic disputes. He repeatedly lamented that he could not restore the glory of his ancestors!"
"Hahaha."
Emperor Tianshun smiled happily when he heard this and said, "A mere earl is nothing. Go and tell Xie Aiqing to sort things out. Capital Garrison went north to patrol the border. When he comes back, I will make him a marquis!"
Lu Wei was shocked, His Majesty was going to take action against King Who Pacifies the North.
Since the imperial army gradually assembled artillery and bombs, Northern Xinjiang has become much more docile. They often write letters to express their loyalty and are no longer as arrogant as before.
The reason why it was a border patrol, not a northern expedition, was because legally the northern border still belonged to Daqing.
Eunuch Jing, who was waiting at the side, reminded him in a low voice, "Your Majesty, our family heard that the Governor once had a close relationship with Commander Xie."
Emperor Tianshun frowned slightly, looked at Lu Wei and asked, "Is there such a thing?"
"Reporting to your majesty, that is an old thing from the time of the late emperor."
Lu Wei secretly scolded the old eunuch for having bad intentions, and explained, "Commander Xie once followed Director Zhou's horse in the rivers and lakes. In order to prevent Eastern Depot from getting involved in the military power, the late emperor transferred Commander Xie to guard Southern Frontier."
"The two of them have never met again. If Commander Xie hadn't destroyed the Southern Barbarians, I'm afraid that Southern Frontier would have led the army until he retired."
"That's it."
Emperor Tianshun said confidently, "A little kindness is nothing. I can give you more. Is there anyone in this world who doesn't want to be an official or hold power?"
Eunuch Jing said respectfully, "This servant is not as broad-minded as your Majesty. I only want to guard against Director Zhou. After all, Eastern Depot is too big to lose."
Emperor Tianshun nodded in approval and said, "You are right."
After taking back the power of the six departments from Tang Mingyuan, the next goal is to deal with Eastern Depot. Zhou Yi has been the governor for too long, and it is time to make room for young people to have opportunities.
The outer court and the inner court were cleaned up, and then troops were sent to inspect northern Xinjiang.
Emperor Tianshun plans accurately step by step, claiming that after everything is completed, he will become the emperor alongside Grand Ancestor.
Lu Wei asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, do you still want to send a message to Commander Xie?"
"Let's give it some time."
Emperor Tianshun acted cautiously and did not want to cause trouble at a critical moment. He asked again, "When will Concubine Shu give birth?"
Eunuch Sun replied, "Imperial Physician Liu took my pulse today and said it will be in the next three or five days. I can't tell the exact time."
Emperor Tianshun nodded slightly. This heir was very important to him. Without the prince, the country was unstable and he did not dare to seize the power of Tang and Zhou people easily.
"Palace of Earthly Tranquility, I'm going to see Concubine Shu."
"Your Majesty, a new batch of beauties have been sent to the Yi Chun Palace."
Eunuch Sun said, "The imperial dining room has also prepared Essence Nourishing Soup. Count Angong's new recipe today, with a few rare medicinal herbs added, is extremely effective."
Since the death of Eunuch Yu, the job of purchasing beauties has fallen into the hands of Eunuch Sun.
Speaking of the cause of Eunuch Yu's death, it is rumored that Eunuch Yu was angry after hearing that Eunuch Wu was awarded the title of Marquis. Eunuch Yu accidentally fell into a well and drowned after eating too much wine.
"Well..."
Emperor Tianshun Hearing the word beauty, he couldn't help but think about it. He thought Palace of Earthly Tranquility don't be in a hurry and go and pamper the beauty first.
Eat the marrow and know the taste, and people's desires are endless.
Originally, Emperor Tianshun was not addicted to beauty, but was more diligent in reading and government affairs. After playing and singing every night, once he stopped, he felt extremely empty.
"Then go to the Yi Chun Palace first!"
Zishi.
Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Side hall.
The pot-bellied woman suddenly suffered from abdominal pain, and Wen Po, who was always on call, stepped forward to check.
"Hurry and report to the Queen, she is going to give birth!"
Noble Consort Shu, who was sleeping soundly, heard the news and came over quickly. When he saw the woman who was bleeding a lot, he asked with concern, "Is the emperor okay?"
Po Wen knelt down and said, "The amniotic water has broken and I am about to give birth. Everything is fine with the prince."
"That's good."
Noble Consort Shu called the personal maid Lǜyù, gave a few instructions in a low voice, turned around and left the side hall.
Lǜyù scolded all the palace maids and servants, leaving only Po Wen: "Empress, the empress ordered that for the sake of the stability of the country, Crown Prince can only have one empress."
Wen Po understood clearly and said, "A woman's birth is a life of death, and accidents are normal. It's just that your Majesty..."
Lǜyù said, "This woman is a mess. Your Majesty will ignore her after she favors her. You don't need to worry."
Po Wen bowed and said, "As ordered."
The woman lying on the bed heard the conversation between the two and was so scared that she was sweating profusely. She wanted to struggle to get up and escape, but she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.
Shocked and pained, his vision went dark and he fainted.
When Po Wen saw this, she said, "This bastard servant is really out of luck. She just happened to have her belly broken to give birth to a child."
As he took out the scissors, there was a sound of knives cutting flesh, and the bloody scene scared Lǜyù to retching, and he took a few steps back, not daring to see it with his own eyes.
Just at this time.
A strange gust of wind blew open the window and extinguished the lights in the side hall.
"Ah!"
Wenpo was so frightened that she screamed and threw the scissors behind her, fearing to hurt the prince who had just taken them out.
soon.
The maid on duty outside the palace closed the window and relit the candle. Under the light, the woman's body was cold, with a newborn baby lying between her legs.
Po Wen glanced at the baby's umbilical cord, which had already been cut, and felt suspicious. She was clearly about to cut it just now.
Fortunately, the skin is wrinkled and it is indeed a newborn baby.
Lǜyù asked, "Is it Crown Prince or the princess?"
Po Wen stepped forward to take a closer look and congratulated. "Crown Prince, it's Crown Prince."
Then the baby was washed in a jade basin, wiped clean and wrapped in a bright yellow blanket. Lǜyù held it carefully and congratulated Noble Consort Shu.
As for the woman who was lying on the bed with her eyes open, the servants would clean her up without leaving even a trace of blood.
main hall.
Noble Consort Shu took the baby and couldn't help but look happy.
"Look at this little face, he looks exactly like His Majesty. He will definitely inherit the throne in the future!"
"Your Majesty, I have something to report."
Lǜyù talked about the strange wind that blew out the lights, and then said, "This slave clearly saw that the umbilical cord was not broken before the lights were put out, but when the candles were lit again, it was broken by itself."
"There is such a thing!"
Noble Consort Shu stared at the baby for a long time. It was indeed not similar to Emperor Tianshun. However, once it was found that someone had secretly replaced the prince, she would also have to die.
"Lǜyù, please come closer, I have something to tell you."
"Mother, please tell me."
Lǜyù has been serving Noble Consort Shu personally for several years, so he had no doubt that he was there, but as soon as he got closer, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.
Noble Consort Shu held the baby in his left hand, and inserted the poisonous dagger into Lǜyù's belly with his right hand.
"I just want to be Empress and Empress Dowager. As for who Crown Prince is, I don't care!"