"Sir, the guards in the palace have ordered you to enter the palace immediately."
Outside the study, the old butler's voice was filled with fatigue and fear. The old man, who had been working in the Emissary Residence for more than ten years, clearly sensed that something was amiss that night.
The door of the study opened, and Li Changshou slowly walked out.
The paper effigy was dressed in a dark red wide robe. His pale long hair was tied up in a crane crown. He was still hale and hearty. He was as calm and energetic as when he first moved in many years ago.
Li Changshou took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to the old butler.
"After I go to the palace tonight, lock the door and tell the guards in the residence not to go out casually. If anyone comes to ask you, tell them that I have gone to the palace.
When everything is settled tomorrow, open this letter. There is a way to open the cabinet in my study. You can distribute the money inside with the people in the residence.
It can be considered fate between us. "
The old butler's hand trembled as he held the letter. "Sir, you … There are many rumors in the city now. A few days ago, they said that the King was seriously ill. Don't let anything happen to you!"
"It's not that anything happened. It's just that it's time to leave." Li Changshou raised his hand and patted the old butler's shoulder. "Don't think too much."
After saying that, a wisp of smoke appeared under Li Changshou's feet. He slowly lifted himself up by five feet and turned around. He appeared in the front yard where there was no one and walked towards the door unhurriedly.
The butler opened his mouth, but he only lowered his head and knelt down at the back of Li Changshou's paper effigy. He sighed softly in the night, as if he was grateful for his care over the years.
When Li Changshou left the residence, a large group of armored soldiers swarmed forward and surrounded the residence. A middle-aged general cupped his fists and lowered his head.
He shouted, "Sir, the Grand Chancellor invites you to enter the palace immediately. I have already prepared a carriage for you."
"It's not an ox carriage?" Li Changshou frowned and said in an old-fashioned tone, "I don't know if my old arms and legs can withstand the jolts."
The general awkwardly smiled and said in a low voice, "The situation is urgent, so please accommodate me. If I make you uncomfortable, then I will chop off the head of the driver!"
The two guards who were pulling the carriage over could not help but shiver.
"Not really, not really."
Li Changshou waved his hand and strode up the carriage, causing the group of soldiers to stare blankly.
If this happened in Li Changshou's hometown on the Blue Planet, the group of young people next to him would probably praise him in unison.
[F * ck, this old man, aiyoyo, f * ck …]
In the mortal world of the South Continent, one could only say, "This old man is really tough."
The shaft of the carriage rumbled as Li Changshou sat in the carriage, swaying back and forth as it sped all the way to the palace.
At the same time, outside the mansions of the ministers around the Grand Palace, ox carts and horse carriages rushed to the palace under the protection of guards.
A few days ago, Chaoge City was in a state of panic.
The Old Wang's body was deteriorating. At that moment, he was almost at the end of his rope. The three princes were waiting in the palace, and the Grand Chancellor was temporarily in charge of the court.
At that moment, the Grand Chancellor had gathered the ministers late at night for one thing.
The King could no longer hold on.
Li Changshou knew that Di Yi had died four hours ago. The azure dragon formed by the destiny of the Human Emperor had appeared in the sky above Chaoge City. Then, it dissipated on its own.
At that moment, he used the Qi Gazing technique to observe Chaoge City. He could see that the sky above Chaoge City was filled with clouds. A purple-red cloud kept surging.
That was the destiny of the Human Emperor that had yet to be gathered. It meant that the position of the Human Emperor was still pending.
Although Zi Shou was an heir, something must have happened in the palace. Otherwise, it would not have been delayed for four hours.
Mortals, the throne, greed, selfishness …
That night was really suitable for Senior Brother Yu Ding to comprehend the Dao.
Not long after …
"Lord Emissary, we've arrived."
"Yes," Li Changshou replied. He lifted the curtain and was helped down from the carriage by the guards.
Around him, carriages and horses were parked in a mess. The old officials were helped down one after another and quickly rushed to the King's bedroom.
The hurried footsteps were like rain sweeping through banana leaves, or like a defeated army surging.
Li Changshou was mixed in the group of old officials. People kept coming over to say something, but he stopped them with a gesture.
Soon, the ministers arrived in front of the palace.
There were already more than a hundred officials and generals gathered there, but very few people were qualified to enter.
"Lord Emissary!"
An old minister shouted. The ministers in front of him tried their best to make way. Li Changshou walked forward quickly and frowned as he entered the palace door.
A strong medicinal smell assaulted his nostrils.
The palace was a little dark, as if it was deliberately highlighting the oppressive atmosphere.
As he walked forward, more than ten civil and military ministers gathered in front of the bed in the middle of the hall. Li Changshou looked over and saw that they were all people who were famous on the God roll and had been secretly recorded in his notebook.
Bi Gan was young and strong. He had the Heart of Seven Orifices and was in charge of the punishment of the Shang Dynasty.
Du Yuanxian, the minister of the Imperial Astronomer, studied the astronomical phenomena and knew the changes in the solar terms. He set the month of farming in the Shang Dynasty every year.
Uncle Mei, the minister of the Imperial Astronomer, advised the Lord how to be angry with the King.
Shang Rong, the minister of external affairs, was originally in charge of internal affairs and was in charge of internal and external affairs with the Grand Chancellor. However, due to the taboo of the Shang King, it was only a nominal position.
There was also Wen Zhong, the young master of the prince, who assisted the prince …
Wait.
Li Changshou secretly calculated and realized that Huang Feihu, who was qualified to enter, was not in the hall.
In front of the ministers were the three princes kneeling beside the bed. They lowered their heads and did not say anything.
Zi Shou was the eldest son of the legitimate wife. He knelt at the front. The two middle-aged scholars behind him were his elder brother and second brother, Wei Ziqi and Wei Zhongyan.
Li Changshou's footsteps attracted many gazes. Wei Ziqi and Wei Zhongyan looked at him kindly.
Only Zi Shou knelt in front of the bed and did not move at all.
The white-haired Grand Chancellor quickly walked over and whispered, "Emissary, you're finally here. The King has already ascended to immortality. Please write down the history and pass it down to future generations."
Li Changshou coughed weakly and took out a beautiful cloth from his sleeve.
"I'm done."
"Write!" The Grand Chancellor glared at Li Changshou. The old ministers frowned and looked over.
Li Changshou said in a low voice, "It's foolproof. There's no harm in being prepared."
The Grand Chancellor opened the cloth and leaned against the lampstand at the side. He read it carefully and nodded slowly.
"In that case, I'll go and announce to the ministers that the King has ascended to immortality. Please don't forget to greet him."
After saying that, the Grand Chancellor held the cloth and ordered the palace servants to open the palace door. He shouted loudly with a unique emphasis,
"King! Bang! "
The ministers outside the hall quietened down. Zi Shou, who was at the side of the bed, choked and shouted,
"Father!"
Wei Ziqi and Wei Zhongyan shouted in unison. Bi Gan lowered his head and cried. The ministers bowed and sobbed. The cries of women could be heard from the corner of the hall.
The cries spread from the King's bedroom. Not long after, the palace was filled with sobbing sounds.
This was etiquette. He had to be respected. If he did not cry, he would be punished.
Two hours later, the crying stopped.
The Grand Chancellor shouted loudly and ordered the female priest to pray and chant sutras. This process would last for a day and a night.
Then, the Grand Chancellor said,
"The three princes and ministers, please move to the King's Hall.
The Shang Dynasty cannot be without a king for a day. The King's final decree is in my hands. Everyone has witnessed it with their own eyes.
Everything shall be decided by this decree! "
Li Changshou could not help but snicker in his heart.
Di Yi had breathed his last four hours before he came here. The decree was issued three hours before he came here.
At that time, Di Yi seemed to be dying. In fact, it was just some Dharma spells.
The rule set by the Celestial Court was that the emperor could not be touched. When Di Yi breathed his last, the destiny of the Human Emperor had already collapsed. He was just a corpse.
This trick seemed shallow, but it was quite useful.
The three princes stood up and lowered their heads to retreat. They walked out of the hall without saying a word. The old ministers followed behind.
Wen Zhong took the opportunity to go to Li Changshou's side. He wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he only sighed softly and did not say anything.
Soon, the officials who were crying just now retreated like the tide. Only a few female priests were left in the hall. They began to jump around, looking quite lonely.
The emperor of a generation had a generation of ministers. The tea cooled when the person left.
An hour later, in the King's Hall.
In front of the empty throne, the Grand Chancellor slowly spread out the cloth in his hand. The short recitation began to drift back and forth in the hall.
The three princes below stood in a triangular formation. Zi Shou stood in front and lowered his head to listen.
Wei Ziqi and Wei Zhongyan stood at the back. The two of them looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.
The Grand Chancellor said,
"In my life, although I have fought against foreign countries, expanded the territory of the country, captured a million enemies, and raised the might of my ancestors, I have not done anything.
Now, the Shang Dynasty is facing internal problems and external troubles.
I think that Zi Shou is still young and too sharp. If the throne is passed to him, I'm afraid that he will not be able to advance and the country will collapse.
Zi Qi is the eldest son. He is diligent in his studies and humble in treating others. He can be entrusted to the throne. "
The Grand Chancellor paused and looked down at the three princes below.
It was so quiet in the hall that one could hear a pin drop. An indescribable pressure made many officials and generals hold their breaths.
The Grand Chancellor said in a low voice, "Prince Zi Shou, do you have any objections?"
Zi Shou remained silent. However, he straightened his back and closed his eyes.
Wei Ziqi frowned slightly. Wei Zhongyan let out a long sigh and said slowly, "I didn't expect Father to change his mind at the last moment.
Brother Ziqi is indeed more stable than me and Zi Shou. He has the demeanor of a king. "
At this moment, a burly general stepped out from the formation of generals and said in a loud voice,
"May I ask, Grand Chancellor! When did the King make this decree? Why haven't I heard of it? "
Another general said, "Was this decree really written by the King? Before today, the King had been praising Prince Zi Shou. Why did he suddenly change the candidate for the heir? "
"General Lu Xiong!"
A minister reprimanded angrily, "Are you teaching the King how to do things?!"
The general named Lu Xiong cursed, "I'm loyal to the King. The sun and moon can prove it! However, this matter is really strange. We have to investigate it clearly! "
"General Lu Xiong." The Grand Chancellor sighed and said, "Previously, when the King was on his deathbed, he ordered us to open the secret box beside his pillow and take out this decree.
Five of the six ministers have seen this matter. The two Uncles have also seen it with their own eyes. "
The leader of the ministers, Bi Gan, nodded slowly. Xu Yu, who did not have a specific position beside the ministers, also nodded slowly.
Most of the generals frowned in confusion, but half of the ministers smiled faintly.
Li Changshou watched quietly from the side. He actually wanted to know how Zi Shou would ascend to the throne and if he would reveal his cruel side tonight.
He was looking forward to it.
"Third Brother."
Wei Ziqi called out and sighed. "Don't be sad about this matter. The three of us will share the throne."
Zi Shou did not say anything. He stood there quietly, but his back view had an indescribable dignity.
This was not the pressure produced by the cultivation of the Dao Realm, but pure dignity.
It was like a mountain, the sky, and the waves of the four seas!
"Third Brother." Wei Zhongyan took half a step forward and said seriously, "Don't embarrass me in front of the officials. I know that you don't want to give up the throne, but this is Father's decree …"
"Have you had enough?"
Zi Shou muttered softly, puzzling Wei Zhongyan.
Just as Wei Zhongyan was about to continue speaking, Zi Shou said calmly, "The officials retreat. Those who do not retreat will be killed."
"Well …"
"Prince, how are you going to give orders?"
"We are the officials appointed by the late King. Why can't we be here?"
Clang!
Clang! Clang!
In the formation of the generals, a large number of generals actually pulled out short swords from their leg armor. They held their swords and pressed towards the officials beside them. They were filled with killing intent.
The officials hurriedly retreated. Zi Shou continued, "Everyone who was in front of my father's bed previously, stay."
Wei Ziqi raised his arms and shouted,
"Wait! Are you going to rebel!?! "
The generals did not answer. They only chased the officials away and left the hall with them, closing the door tightly.
Clang!
Wei Ziqi's face turned red as he turned around and glared at Zi Shou.
"Zi Shou! Don't tell me you don't even respect Father's decree?! "
At that moment, Zi Shou had already turned around. He stared at his brother coldly, causing the latter to subconsciously take half a step back. His exquisite robe was wrinkled.
"You and I know very well if that is Father's decree.
I have always respected you as an elder brother, but you actually used Father's corpse to plot against me!
Do you really think I don't know the special technique of that outsider? "
The Grand Chancellor hurriedly said, "Third Prince …"
"Shut up!"
Zi Shou turned his head and glared angrily. Lightning happened to flash outside the hall. The Grand Chancellor was so frightened that he raised his hand to cover his chest and almost fainted.
At that moment, the sound of armor rubbing could be heard from outside the hall. It seemed that a large number of armored soldiers had swarmed over.
Wei Ziqi immediately became more confident. He raised his head and puffed out his chest.
"Third Brother, don't be arrogant. You can scare me and the ministers! You can't make decisions in Chaoge City tonight! "
"Really?"
The corners of Zi Shou's mouth twitched. He walked to the throne on the platform and turned around on the steps. He sat in the middle of the steps and looked pitiful.
"Brother … Brother, you don't seem to have noticed one thing all these years.
When I was young, you and your in-laws used all kinds of methods to deal with me. Poisoning, assassination, accidents, nothing was spared. When was my life ever in danger? "
Wei Ziqi's expression turned gloomy. He said coldly, "I don't know about this."
Zi Shou tilted his body back and placed his elbows on the steps. There was a hint of mockery in his eyes.
He said slowly,
"For tonight, you spent three years secretly subduing the commander of the city guards and the twelve generals of the palace guards. For that, you made a fool of yourself and made bigger promises.
If you become the king tonight, you will have more than ten countries.
Brother, have you ever thought about the drawbacks of the Shang Nation? "
Wei Ziqi said calmly, "The drawbacks of the Shang Nation are in me."
"I once thought that, but I won't anymore.
The drawback of the Shang Nation is that you, me, and Father are all standing on this iceberg. However, we want to melt the iceberg into living water. The first to fall is you and me. "
Zi Shou raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I once thought that I was the only one who could see the illness of our Shang Nation.
It was only when I talked to the emissary that I realized that I was not the smartest prince of all the generations.
Everyone can see these illnesses. There must be many people who want to reform, but in the end, they only bleed.
Why?
There were 800 vassals in the Shang Dynasty. However, the Shang Dynasty was the biggest vassal. When the Shang Dynasty was old and weak, there would always be ambitious people who stood up.
The real drawback of the Shang Dynasty was …
King is not enough. "
Rumble —
Lightning flashed outside the hall, followed by heavy rain.
Accompanied by thunder, a murderous shout suddenly sounded from the direction of the palace gate.
Wei Ziqi's expression changed. He quickly took more than ten steps towards the palace gate, but he immediately stopped and turned to glare at Zi Shou on the steps.
"Third Brother, what did you do!?!"
"Clean up the rebels."
Zi Shou replied calmly. He shook his head slightly and said calmly, "You only know how to scheme and want to stall the flying tiger. However, you don't know that the flying tiger has already made preparations. He has secretly built a tunnel from the city gate to the palace gate.
Half of the personal guards and generals you recruited are my people. "
Wei Ziqi's eyes widened as he cursed, "You, you! You schemed against me! "
"I originally didn't want to fight internally, but Brother, you've gone too far."
Zi Shou said, "Young Master, take Father's decree and let the Grand Chancellor take a look."
"Okay!"
Wen Zhong agreed in a loud voice. He quickly walked forward and placed a cloth scroll in the Grand Chancellor's hand. He raised his hand and gently patted the back of the Grand Chancellor's hand.
The Grand Chancellor's breathing was a little chaotic. He opened the cloth shakily and tried his best to read.
"I … I know that I don't have much time left. If I return, I will let Zi Shou be the king. All of you will do your best to assist me and protect the mountains and rivers of the Shang Dynasty.
Bury me beside my ancestor. I can't have a funeral. "
Wei Zhongyan whispered, "That's all?"
"That's all …"
The Grand Chancellor lowered his head and looked at the few words on the cloth. "Indeed, that's all. Moreover, it was personally written by the King."
Wei Zhongyan's face turned pale.
At that moment, the killing shouts outside the hall had already stopped. The palace door opened a crack and a figure rushed in. He was dressed in golden armor and his entire body was drenched in rain. His face was mighty and his aura was long.
It was Huang Feihu, Huang Rollie's son!
Huang Feihu knelt on one knee and reported with his sword in his arms, "Your Majesty! The rebels have been wiped out! "
Wei Ziqi said in a low voice, "No, impossible! I have 100,000 armored soldiers! "
Zi Shou said, "Feihu, how many enemies are there tonight?"
Huang Feihu said firmly, "However, thousands of stragglers are gathered at the palace gate. It's easy for them to cooperate with the personal guard army."
"No, you lied to me!"
Wei Ziqi's face was pale. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Someone! Someone! "
It was quiet outside the palace gate, as if even the breathing of the officials had been hidden.
The bell rang, but Wei Ziqi collapsed to the ground weakly.
Zi Shou did not say anything else. He turned around and looked up at the throne at the end of the stairs. He lifted the hem of his robe and walked up.
His steps were steady and his gaze was firm.
From today onwards, I will carry the glory of the Shang Dynasty and the foundation of my ancestors.
The drawbacks of the Shang Dynasty and the danger of raising a tiger will be reformed by me.
The 800 dukes who did not submit were destroyed one by one.
Those who did not pay tribute would be wiped out by lightning.
I don't believe in fate! "
In front of the throne, Zi Shou suddenly turned around. The palace door opened, and the officials and generals lowered their heads and walked in quickly. The dozens of ministers who were originally left in the hall were silent.
Not long after, Bi Gan was at the head of the officials, and Huang Feihu was in front of the generals.
Zi Shou raised his hands and slowly sat on the throne.
Above Chaoge City, golden light bloomed in the purple-red aura. Then, a golden dragon soared into the sky and quickly absorbed the destiny of the Shang Dynasty. It roared silently at the Heavenly Palace.
"I am the Mandate of Heaven!"
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