bookcurios Chapter 145 Yuan Xiang wants to rebel and usurp the throne
Chapter 145 Yuan Xiang wants to rebel and usurp the throne
Wen Chengyu has been ill for more than a day or two, and the court officials have been worried as they have not seen His Majesty for many days.
But the prime minister was in the palace all the time, and the only remaining person who knew the truth, Lu Zhao, was hiding and not showing up. In the end, they could only turn their attention to the empress dowager who was living a leisurely life in the harem.
The ladies of honor formed a group and planned to go to the palace to pay their respects, but they all received the reply that the Empress Dowager was not feeling well.
Soon, a rumor spread in Beijing:
Your Majesty has not attended court for many days, not because you are sick, but because you have been poisoned. The storm is coming, and the world will change.
The news shocked everyone inside and outside.
Although the rumor only said that His Majesty could not attend court because he was poisoned, the last sentence was the main reason why all the officials were terrified.
"The world will change" means a change of dynasty. It is self-evident which dynasty and which era it will change.
There were people in charge of testing the emperor's meals for poison, and his daily food would also undergo layers of inspection. If under such circumstances, the emperor could still be poisoned without knowing it, it would most likely be someone closest to him.
Only if someone close to him took action would the emperor be so defenseless.
Thinking about it more carefully, the Queen Mother has always been in good health. How could she suddenly fall ill at this critical moment and not be able to see anyone?
If you say there is nothing hidden here, I'm afraid no one would believe it.
This speculation really makes people feel cold.
The emperor was in a coma and the empress dowager was confined to the harem.
Yuan Xiang's intention to rebel and usurp the throne has become obvious.
Some officials even rolled up their bedding, moved small stools, and moved their official business outside the palace gate.
Eunuch Shun was also helpless. No matter how the adults tried to persuade him, he just stayed there and refused to leave, insisting on waiting for definite news.
"Everyone, please go back first. We will inform you when we have any news." Eunuch Shun advised earnestly, "It's so hot. If you get sick here, we can't afford it even if we lose ten heads."
But still no one was willing to leave. They all made it clear in private that they would not leave until they met Yuan Bo himself and got accurate information.
"We have no intention of making things difficult for you, sir, but it's not a good idea to keep worrying about it. So, please give us a definite answer. What exactly is happening with the emperor?" The Minister of Revenue took the lead.
Eunuch Shun could only bring up his previous explanation and replied, "Your Majesty is fine now, but he is still weak. He is being cared for by the imperial doctors. He will wake up in a few days. Then the right and wrong will be clear. Please go home and wait for a few more days."
The officials looked at each other.
Eunuch Shun has watched Your Majesty grow up. He has always been humble to others, not flattering his superiors or looking down on his subordinates, nor is he greedy for money or power. All the ministers can trust his character.
It's just a matter of waiting a few more days, they can still afford to endure this time.
But it is impossible for them to go home.
They simply stayed at the palace gate and had no intention of leaving.
Eunuch Shun could only invite them all to the foot of the palace wall to cool off, and asked his eunuchs to serve them carefully.
The eunuchs were guarding closely, so it was impossible for the court officials to go inside.
Thus, a strange scene was formed.
The court officials sat in a row against the palace wall with a desk in front of them. The young eunuchs beside them held small fans and fanned the adults. From time to time, they also served them some snacks, fruits, and fine tea.
Those days were more comfortable than when I was at home.
That is, only when it rains, they are willing to go home and come back after the rain stops.
The young eunuchs did not dare to complain openly, but they all lit incense and candles and offered sacrifices to the Dragon King in secret.
Soon after, reports of sudden outbreaks of strange diseases were submitted from all over the country.
Eunuch Shun did not dare to be careless and sent all the memorials to the service hall.
Yuan Qing also received the message from Mu Xiaoxiao at the same time.
In many places, people began to suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, and occasionally from insanity.
At first, because the disease was not serious and the number of cases was small, many people did not take it seriously.
Unexpectedly, the matter became more and more serious as time went by, and by the time local officials realized something was wrong, the situation had already become unmanageable.
This strange disease is more serious in the south, and now it is showing a tendency to spread to the north. If it is not controlled in time, it will definitely cause panic if it continues like this.
Mu Xiaoxiao traveled around to investigate the condition, hoping to find a way to cure the strange disease before any news came from the capital.
Gong Chan had been staying in Beijing to help with the investigation. When she saw Yuan Qing open the door, she descended from the treetop and walked sideways into the house.
"Today, people from six prefectures came to Beijing. From their accents, I heard that they sounded like people from Ningzhou, Pingjin Prefecture, Beicheng, Yanzhou, Jiangzhou, and Yuzhou."
In other words, basically the entire South is within the range of the incident.
If this is true, then this matter is quite a big deal.
The messenger came from the Dali Temple and panted when he saw Yuan Qing: "Master Gong, Master Jiang... Ahem, I asked you to go for a while, saying that there is something important to tell you. I also need to inform others, so I won't say much. Goodbye!"
Yuan Qing nodded, "I'll go right away."
All the officials of the Dali Temple gathered in the meeting room. Jiang Qisheng sat alone on the side, and at the top sat the Dali Temple Minister, who rarely showed up.