Qitai Year 33
In the Imperial Study of Xuan De Palace, candles were lit. A middle-aged man wearing a bright yellow dragon robe was seriously drawing on the table. On the paper was a youth wearing palace attendant robes. His body was thin and his face was delicate and pretty. The youth stood beside an exquisitely drawn pavilion with a faint smile on his face.
"Yuan Fu, come take a look. Does zhen look like him?" Xuanyuan Hancheng asked the head of the palace attendants, Yuan Fu. Yuan Fu had been the head of the palace attendants for over thirty years and was several years older than the Emperor. His hair was white and his face was covered in deep wrinkles. Yuan Fu sighed in his heart and replied: "Emperor, this servant looks like Lin Guiren when he was young."
"Does it look like him?" Xuanyuan Hancheng asked in a low voice. In reality, the youth's appearance was already a bit fuzzy in his memory. What he remembered most was that the youth had a pair of large watery eyes and a pair of small dimples. When he smiled, he was especially cute. When he thought of the youth's last smile that was dyed in blood and the scene of that night thirty years ago, whenever he thought of it, his heart would still hurt.
Yuan Fu knew that the Emperor was thinking of Lin Guiren again. Today was the Emperor's birthday. Originally, the Emperor's birthday was to be celebrated with a banquet for the officials of the imperial harem. But in these thirty years, the Emperor's birthday had always been a taboo in the palace. What happened at the Emperor's birthday banquet thirty years ago had always been a taboo for the palace attendants who knew about it.
Thirty years ago, Xuanyuan Hancheng held a banquet to celebrate his twenty-fifth birthday. It was hosted by Shu Fei, who he had always doted on. Shu Fei was the daughter of a fifth-ranked Zhizhou and was bestowed to him, who was still the Crown Prince at the time, to be his concubine. Xu Xueying was a woman with a beautiful appearance and a gentle personality. She was deeply doted on by Xuanyuan Hancheng. If it wasn't for the fact that Shu Fei had been childless for many years, Xuanyuan Hancheng would have made her Guifei a long time ago.
Xuanyuan Hancheng's Empress Xue Zaiyu was the di daughter of the Empress Dowager's Xue Clan's maternal side branch. Her marriage was bestowed upon her by Imperial Grandfather before his death. The successor of the Xue Clan was the younger sister of the Minister of Personnel at that time. Xuanyuan Hancheng's father, Akinori Zhaoshen, was the third son of the late Emperor. He was the son of the first wife of Empress Dowager Wang Empress. When Empress Dowager Empress gave birth to a difficult labor, she died of blood loss. After that, the late Emperor appointed the Xue Clan, who had always been favored by the Emperor, as his successor. The Xue Clan even gave birth to the Tenth Prince, Akihiro Zhaohong, for the late emperor at an advanced age. Akihiro Zhaohong was the late emperor's son, only one year older than Xuanyuan Hancheng.
The late Emperor was greedy for power and favored the youngest son of the Xue Clan. He refused to appoint a crown prince, causing the struggle between the princes to be very fierce. In the end, the late Emperor's eldest prince joined forces with the Fifth Prince to force the abdication and kill the Second Prince. In the end, they were suppressed by the Third Prince, Xuanyuan Hancheng's father.
The late Emperor was shocked and angry, and fell ill. He had no choice but to pass the throne to Akinori Zhaoshen. Although the youngest son of the Xue Clan was also the son of the first wife, the Tenth Prince, Akihiro Zhaohong, was only fifteen years old at that time. Even if he wanted the throne, he was powerless.
As a result, the Xue Clan begged the late Emperor to confer Akihiro Zhaohong the title of Prince Li and grant him a fief rich in resources. He also bestowed the daughter of the Xue Clan's side branch to the Emperor's grandson, Xuanyuan Hancheng. The Xue family's influence in the court continued to expand over the years. They secretly helped Prince Li with small tricks. It wasn't until the Empress Dowager passed away that the Xue family restrained themselves. Xuanyuan Hancheng had always wanted to get rid of the Xue family, but the Xue family's influence in the court was already very complicated. He couldn't get rid of them in one strike.
As a result, compared to the respectful Empress, the gentle and beautiful Imperial Concubine Shu occupied an important position in his heart.
He never would have thought that this was the song and dance arranged by Imperial Concubine Shu. After the performance, the lead dancer came forward to receive her reward. A white light flashed from the dancer's sleeve, and a sharp sword flashing with blue light pierced towards him. The sword was obviously smeared with poison. The guards at the side hurriedly protected the Emperor. At the same time, several other dancers flashed out from the dance group and began to fight with the guards. For a moment, the screams of the imperial concubines and the shouts of the guards resounded through the palace. The lead dancer was no longer as weak and charming as before. Her martial arts skills were very high. Every move was fatal, and her attacks were vicious. Her target was Xuanyuan Hancheng, and the sharp sword was about to stab him. At this moment, a person suddenly jumped in front of Xuanyuan Hancheng's chest, blocking the poisonous sword for Xuanyuan Hancheng.
At this critical moment, the commander of the imperial guards, Ling Chengfeng, rushed over with a large number of guards. The imperial guards had a large number of people, and the assassins were gradually at a disadvantage. After the guards worked together to kill the assassins, they arrived at Xuanyuan Hancheng's side and covered him in a safe position. In just a moment, the assassins were under control. Although most of the assassins who were caught immediately committed suicide, there were still a few who were captured alive.
At this time, Xuanyuan Hancheng finally saw that the person in his arms was already covered in blood. It was a person he did not expect — — Lin Guiren, Lin Anzhu.
Lin Guiren was a twin. When Xuanyuan Hancheng was still the Crown Prince, he was drunk once. By chance, he saw Lin Guiren wearing a palace attendant's uniform. For some reason, his heart was moved, and he took advantage of the alcohol to force himself on Lin Guiren. Later, Imperial Mother bestowed Lin Anzhu to him to be an attendant. In the beginning, he liked Lin Anzhu for a while. Of course, among all the beautiful concubines, especially the gentle and lovely Xu Xueying, Lin Anzhu was not special.
When he came back from the frontier, he learned that Lin Anzhu fell into the water and miscarried, and that it would be difficult for her to conceive again. He, who had few children, was very disappointed in Lin Anzhu who accidentally lost a child. Gradually, he became cold to him. Lin Anzhu's personality was quiet and obedient, and he did not know how to ask for favor. In addition, losing a child was a big blow to him. He was always sad and blamed himself, and his personality became more and more unlovable. This kind of unfavored attendant slowly faded out of Xuanyuan Hancheng's sight. Until he ascended the throne, he was only given a small title of Guiren.
The person in his arms was thinner than he remembered. Because of the sudden loss of blood, he was cold. His body could not help but tremble in his arms, and his wound was already black. Xuanyuan Hancheng's heart became flustered at this moment. He anxiously watched as blood slowly seeped out of his face. "Quickly! Quickly call for the imperial physician. "He caressed his face that was stained with blood. No matter how hard he tried, he could not wipe it all away.
"Don't be afraid, the imperial physician will be here soon. Don't be afraid … … "Rather than saying that he was comforting the person in his arms, it was more like he was comforting himself. Xuanyuan Hancheng had never been so panicked before. He felt like something important in his heart was slowly slipping away. Lin Anzhu slightly opened his bloody mouth to say something, but he could not make a sound. He forced out a faint smile, as if telling him not to worry. His eyes were full of attachment, and with his face covered in blood, it was a shocking sight.
Lin Anzhu looked deeply at Xuanyuan Hancheng before slowly closing his eyes.
"No … … No … …" Xuanyuan Hancheng lost control and shouted.
"Emperor, the imperial physician is here." The guard commander brought several imperial physicians from the Imperial Physician's Hospital to report.
"Quickly … … Quickly take a look at Guiren Lin." Xuanyuan Hancheng said.
The Imperial Physician's Hospital saw the emperor's nervous appearance and stepped forward to take a look. The person in the emperor's arms was already dead.
"Emperor, Guiren Lin was poisoned and has … … passed away. Emperor, please restrain your grief."
Xuanyuan Hancheng held Lin Anzhu and looked straight at him without speaking. At this time, the concubines who had recovered their senses came forward and expressed their concern. Empress asked, "Emperor, Emperor, are you alright?"
Shu Fei came forward and saw that Xuanyuan Hancheng's expression was not right. She carefully said with a mournful expression, "Emperor, are you hurt? Chenqie was so worried. It's all thanks to Guiren Lin, otherwise … … I'm afraid … … "
Xuanyuan Hancheng looked at the concubines around him. They all had a frightened expression as if they had just survived a disaster. Empress was still as dignified and calm as always. Shu Fei, Xu Xueying, was already weeping like a pear blossom in the rain. Concubine Song and Concubine Yu were protecting their daughters, who were his only two children, so they did not come forward. He looked at the person in his arms again. Guiren Lin's seat was not close to the front. In such a dangerous situation, he did not know what kind of courage made him risk his life to block the sword for him.
The commander of the Imperial Guards, Ling Chengfeng, came forward. "Emperor, we captured a total of four people alive." The imperial guards on the side held down the assassins whose jaws had been dislocated.
"Take them away and interrogate them personally. You must find out the mastermind. From today onwards, seal the city gates and immediately send people to search for suspicious people in the palace. Have the capital's military chief send soldiers to search the city. "He already had a guess about the mastermind behind the assassins. It must be related to his imperial uncle, Prince Li. But how did these assassins sneak into the palace and assassinate him on his birthday? There must be a mole and must be found immediately.
"Yuan Fu, take Guiren Lin away and give him a proper burial. Guiren Lin died to save zhen. He will be posthumously conferred the title of Lin Guijun." Xuanyuan Hancheng forced himself to calm down. He knew that Lin Anzhu had always loved him. Xuanyuan Hancheng was very sad about his death and really regretted being cold to him before. He vowed to avenge him.
The results of the interrogation were out. These assassins were all jianghu killers. Someone paid them a lot of money to assassinate in the palace. These people did not see the mastermind, but they all confessed that Concubine Shu's head palace maid, Bi Zhu, arranged for them to enter the palace for the emperor's birthday banquet. The spearhead was pointed at Concubine Shu. After Bi Zhu was taken away, she confessed that Concubine Shu had bribed jianghu people outside the palace to assassinate her. When Xu Xueying found out, she cried out that she was innocent and that someone had framed her.
"Reporting to the emperor. Just now, the palace guards found that there was smoke coming out of the Kunning Palace. It seems like someone is sending a signal outside the palace." Yuan Fu heard the news from the guards and quickly reported to the emperor.
"Someone come, set up the Kunning Palace." He also did not believe that it was Xu Xueying who wanted to harm him. If it was the Empress, then everything made sense.
The Kunning Palace was the Empress' palace. It was very dignified. At this time, the Kunning Palace seemed to know that the emperor was coming. The palace was already brightly lit.
"Emperor, you came." Empress Xue Caiyu was sitting in the main hall. Her voice was cold.
"The signal is for Imperial Uncle Li. They must have secretly come to the capital from the vassal state. Why? Why? Xue Caiyu, although you are the daughter of the Xue family, we have never treated you unfairly. Since you became our Crown Princess, even if we didn't love you, we still respected you and gave you the dignity you deserved. After ascending the throne, we also gave you the title of Empress. Even if we have to clean up the Xue family in the future, as long as you know your place, we will not touch your position as Empress. Why did you betray us? "
"Dignity? What dignity? You only favor that slut Xu Xueying. I, a dignified legitimate daughter of an aristocratic family, have to sit on the same level as the daughter of a small official. This is my dignity." Empress had already lost her usual calmness. She did not care about her image and screamed.
Xuanyuan Hancheng looked at Empress' crazy appearance. "Shut up, you poisonous woman. You are the one with evil intentions and you still want to implicate others. Concubine Shu is much more gentle and virtuous than you. I knew that Bi Zhu was one of your people. Speak, did you have her frame Concubine Shu? "
"Bi Zhu was arranged by me to be by that slut's side a long time ago. She is a capable person. Hehe! "Empress's following words made Xuanyuan Hancheng's heart anxious.
"Do you know why you only have two weak and sickly daughters now? Your Concubine Shu loves to make nourishing soup for you to curry favor. Every time, I had Bi Zhu put in a lot of good medicine that is harmful to children. This was something that Prince Li found for you with great difficulty. That is why you have so few children these years. Even if you have children by chance, they are born weak and sickly. "
Xuanyuan Hancheng's anger was unstoppable. So it was all because of this poisonous woman. He always thought that it was because he had killed too many in his early years and that he had killed too many people that he had few children.
Empress ignored his murderous gaze and continued, "Of course, your beloved concubine also did something among these children who died young. Do you really think that she is that kind? These years, she regarded Bi Zhu as her confidant and secretly had her do a lot of things. Those concubines who had miscarriages were all done by her. Otherwise, how much ability do you think she, the daughter of a small official, has? If it wasn't for me secretly helping her, she wouldn't have left any traces. "Empress said proudly.
"No, this isn't true." Xuanyuan Hancheng didn't believe that Xu Xueying would do anything. Xu Xueying never had children. She even said that she would treat his children as her own. He even thought of giving Concubine Li's son to her to raise. Unfortunately, that child's body was weak and after a cold, he didn't survive and died.
"If you don't believe me, you can investigate it yourself, hehe. Xuanyuan Hancheng, you think that you are a good emperor who is both wise and brave. Haha, aren't you still being played by us two women? "
"You are already married to zhen, yet you still help Imperial Uncle Li. What good have you done all these years? If this assassination succeeds, do you know what will happen to you, Empress? "
"When I was young, I accompanied the Empress Dowager in the palace. I met Prince Li a long time ago. I … … I adore him. I am willing to do anything for him. When I married you and became the Crown Princess, I knew that you wouldn't let me give birth to a child with the blood of the Xue family. And I don't want to give birth to your child, hehe. I am willing to be Prince Li's chess piece and do things for him. For him, I don't care about anything. "
"Zhen will cripple you!" When Xuanyuan Hancheng heard that Empress had an affair with his Imperial Uncle, he was furious.
"Who knows which of the concubines in the palace isn't doing it for fame and power? Which one of them is sincere to you?" Empress sneered at Xuanyuan Hancheng. Then she shook her head, "I'm afraid there is one who is sincere to you. Lin Guiren, that fool. Unfortunately, he is already dead, completely dead." When Xuanyuan Hancheng heard Empress mention Lin Anzhu and thought of his death, his heart became sad.
"His child was also made by your gentle and virtuous Consort Shu niangniang. She was pushed into an ice cold pool on a cold day and can no longer have a child. This Xu Xueying is really ruthless. He didn't even let off a Shun'er." It had to be known that a Shun'er was very likely to give birth to twins. Lin Guiren wasn't favored, so he wasn't much of a threat to Consort Shu.
"You treat such a woman who is as gentle as water on the surface, but is actually ruthless and merciless. You really have eyes but can't see." Empress seemed to want to vent all the resentment she had accumulated over the years as she shouted at Xuanyuan Hancheng.
"Zhen will cripple you, Prince Li, and the Xue family. Zhen won't let any of you go. " Xuanyuan Hancheng was beaten black and blue by Empress' words, but the dignity of the Emperor didn't allow this woman to laugh at him.
"Too late, too late. Prince Li saw my signal and knew that there was a change in the plan. He must have already escaped from the capital. Nothing will happen. Hahahaha, Prince Li will definitely succeed! " After Empress finished speaking, she fiercely slammed into a nearby pillar. Blood immediately poured out and she slowly fell down the pillar.
Yuan Fu went up to check and felt Empress' breathing. "Emperor, Empress, she ….. is dead."
Xuanyuan Hancheng returned to the Imperial Study. He had experienced too many things today and his temples were throbbing. If what Empress said was true, then he had been played like a fool in the harem all these years. "Yuan Fu, have Zheng Rong come see zhen." Zheng Rong was the head of his Shadow Guard. Normally, he was used to gather information in the homes of courtiers and carry out secret missions. He was one of his trusted subordinates.
"Greetings to the Emperor." Zheng Rong soon entered the Imperial Study.
"Have Bi Zhu come out alone and investigate this for me. Zhen wants to know everything clearly. Start investigating when zhen was still the Crown Prince. "Xuanyuan Hancheng gave the order.
After Prince Li received the signal, he knew that the plan didn't succeed. He led his troops out of the West Gate and fled back to his vassal state. In the same year, he started a rebellion. Prince Li quickly took down several cities around his vassal state and declared himself king. Because his vassal state was rich in resources and had a strong army, it was easy to defend and hard to attack. Xuanyuan Hancheng fought against him for several years before finally eliminating him. When he personally cut off Prince Li's head, Akihiro Zhaohong's head, Xuanyuan Hancheng silently said in his heart, "I've avenged you." His expression didn't have the joy of victory.
The Shadow Guard learned a lot of evidence from Bi Zhu that Imperial Concubine Shu had plotted to kill the imperial heir. After investigating, it was all true. In addition to Imperial Concubine Shu, the other concubines also found a lot of things. The concubines framed each other endlessly. When the evidence was placed in front of Xuanyuan Hancheng, Xuanyuan Hancheng laughed at himself. None of them were clean. Even if they hadn't plotted to kill the imperial heir, they would often vent their anger on the palace maids and eunuchs. Their hands had taken many lives. Xuanyuan Hancheng didn't care about Xu Xueying's defense. He was extremely disappointed in her and sent her to the Cold Palace.
The only one who was clean was Lin Guiren. He hadn't harmed anyone. Because he wasn't favored, he was treated harshly by the servants. Thinking about how Lin Anzhu had lived such a life in the palace, Xuanyuan Hancheng couldn't restrain his anger.
Xuanyuan Hancheng tried hard to recall the bits and pieces of his time with him, but he couldn't remember many details. It turned out that he hadn't paid much attention to him. In the following years, Xuanyuan Hancheng madly and persistently collected everything about him.
Xuanyuan Hancheng went to the small side palace where he had lived. Looking at the furnishings in his palace, he learned about his preferences from the palace maids who had served him. He knew that he had a gentle personality and didn't have a temper with the servants. Looking at the pile of copybooks that he had copied, Xuanyuan Hancheng's eyes reddened. Xuanyuan Hancheng once casually wrote a few words to teach him. Lin Guiren didn't know many words, but he was full of admiration for him. Xuanyuan Hancheng enjoyed it very much. He also remembered that he casually said that he wanted Lin Anzhu to copy well and that he would check his homework in the future. But after that, Xuanyuan Hancheng forgot about it and never mentioned it again.
When he saw the thick stacks of Xuan paper full of words, because the quality of the Xuan paper was not very good, some of it had already melted and slid down like inky tears. Thinking about how Lin Anzhu was alone in the cold and cheerless palace, quietly writing and waiting for him to come, Xuanyuan Hancheng's heart ached.
Xuanyuan Hancheng even went to the small village where he was born. It was a small mountain village not far from Pei County. It was called the Lin Family Village, and it was where he was born.
Lin Anzhu's real name was Lin Jiabao, and he was a Shun 'er. There were five siblings in his family, and he was the fourth in his family. Lin Jiabao's parents didn't treat him badly because he was a Shun 'er. Instead, they named him Jia Bao, which meant that he was the family's treasure, and they loved him even more. Although his family was poor, his parents loved him dearly, and his siblings loved him dearly. Lin Jiabao had a happy childhood. He was obedient and capable at home. At a young age, he began to help his parents with household chores and take care of his younger siblings. This also created his innocent, obedient, and gentle personality. Jia Bao, such a treasure had always been by his side, but he had neglected him and missed him.
In the fourth year of Yuntai, Lin Jiabao entered the palace at the age of twelve as a palace attendant. After entering the palace, he was renamed Lin Anzhu and arranged to take care of the flowers and plants in the imperial garden. When he was fifteen, he was forced to do so, and his mother made him a small attendant. He had always been quiet and obedient. After he ascended the throne, he was given the title of a noble person and lived in a remote and cold palace. He was unknown until he died from bleeding from his seven orifices while blocking a poisonous sword for him. Lin Jiabao was only twenty years old when he died, and he spent his short life in the palace.
"Your Majesty, it's already midnight. You should rest. You still have morning court tomorrow." The Yuan Fu interrupted Xuanyuan Hancheng's reminiscing and reminded him.
Xuanyuan Hancheng felt a wave of disgust when he thought of the court meeting tomorrow. It was to discuss the matter of the crown prince. Xuanyuan Hancheng's body had been treated by the imperial physicians in his early years, and the poison in his body had been cleaned out. Later, after the selection, several more princes were born.
After Xuanyuan Hancheng abolished the Empress, he never set up another Empress. These princes either had average talent or were ambitious. As they grew older, they began to form cliques in the court and had the momentum to fight for the throne.
Xuanyuan Hancheng looked at the portrait on the table again and thought that if his precious children were still alive, they should be very old. He didn't know if they would be a mischievous boy or a pair of obedient and cute twins like him.
Before Xuanyuan Hancheng fell asleep, he kept fantasizing about the beautiful scene with his precious children and slowly fell asleep. Cat Pouncing
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