Chapter 136: Eight Guiding Ministers

The Capital, Cheng Country Duke Mansion.

"Brother Zheng, are you sure the Emperor had an accident?"

Jing Guoliang asked nervously.

Involving the Emperor's safety, this is a big matter that can pierce the sky.

Imperial power replacement has never lacked blood and rain.

Especially since Emperor Tianyuan has no sons and has not established a successor.

Once the news spreads, those in the imperial clan with a bit of ambition will not be able to help but have thoughts.

What's more, Great Dayu is still at war with the Northern Barbarians; in this juncture, spreading the news of the Emperor's death is too damaging to morale.

Not only does it affect the war on the front line, but neighbors around might also take advantage of the fire.

Internal and external troubles, a little carelessness will lead to big trouble.

"Brother Jing, how would I dare to spread rumors about such things."

"Yesterday afternoon, the Emperor suddenly fell into a coma, and Zuo Guang'en ordered the palace to be sealed."

"The Empress Dowager was worried about an accident, so she sent someone to pass the news last night, asking me to come find you to discuss countermeasures."

Marquis Wuyang Zheng Ruitao said affirmatively.

Although he is a relative of the Emperor, he doesn't have the guts to spread rumors about the Emperor's safety.

If the person who passed the news wasn't his own sister's confidant, he wouldn't believe that Emperor Tianyuan's body would fail so quickly.

"This matter is extraordinary; I think the Emperor has his own destiny and should be able to survive this disaster."

"Wait and see for a day, and by this time tomorrow, we will take the group of officials to enter the palace to see the Emperor."

Jing Guoliang said slowly.

The Emperor's life and death will directly relate to their next decisions.

Standing from the perspective of the nobles, it is natural to hope that Emperor Tianyuan can survive.

Even if he really can't hold on, at least he must leave a will in front of the group of officials.

Lacking this, no matter who is supported to the top, there will be people who are unconvinced.

Great Dayu can't afford to toss; once internal chaos breaks out, the result will be disastrous.

The 'support merit' that others covet has no meaning to Jing Guoliang, who has reached the peak of his official career.

"Entering the palace to see the Emperor, Brother Jing, you aren't joking, are you?"

"In case Zuo Guang'en has thoughts, wouldn't we be throwing ourselves into the net!"

Zheng Ruitao opposed immediately.

This kind of operation is too risky; it is completely pinning hope on the other party's integrity.

In case the Emperor really passes away, and the parties haven't talked through the successor issue, people will die.

"Rest assured, Brother Zheng, the eunuchs are not as powerful as you think."

"There are not all his people in the palace; besides eunuchs and palace maids, there are a large number of guards."

"These people hang the name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but they are not necessarily the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"The personnel appointments of the palace guards are all selected by the Emperor himself, and no one can intervene."

"What's more, there is the Capital Camp outside; Zuo Guang'en doesn't dare to mess around."

"Even if he wants to support a new ruler, he must at least unite with one party to control the situation."

"With the reputation of the Eunuch Party, do you think those civil officials in the court dare to unite with Zuo Guang'en?"

Li Yuan on the side added.

The confidence of the noble group is that there are people inside the palace and soldiers outside the palace.

Even if the eunuchs want to make trouble, they have to consider how to control the scene.

Relying on the Factory and Guard in their hands, it is impossible to control the situation in the capital after seizing power.

Unless they can merge with the civil official group, use the righteousness to suppress the nobles, and let them not dare to overturn the table easily.

Undoubtedly, this is impossible.

The civil official forces in the court were torn apart by Emperor Tianyuan.

These political factions fight internally every few days and cannot unify their positions at all.

Choosing to cooperate with any faction will be wildly resisted by other factions.

In this background, even if the eunuchs want to support a new ruler, they must first solve the legal problem.

Pang Mansion.

"Grand Secretary, Imperial Physician Yuwen has sent a secret letter to you."

Receiving this news, Pang Hengsheng's face changed drastically.

By chance, he grasped Yuwen Feng's lifeline.

Since then, there has been a dark piece in the Imperial Hospital.

Considering the particularity of the Imperial Hospital, the two sides have not been in contact for ten years.

He climbed to the high position of Chief Grand Secretary.

Originally thought this dark piece would never be used, never expected that the other party would take the initiative to contact him so soon.

After opening the letter and translating it into the corresponding secret language, it was 'Emergency summons for all imperial physicians to enter the palace'.

Undoubtedly, this is a typical case of a sick person seeking medical advice.

If it were really for medical treatment, selecting one or two doctors with great medical skills would be enough.

Gathering everyone together, a group of imperial physicians gathered together, but they couldn't come up with a prescription.

Even if they could barely unify their opinions, it would be a steady prescription.

Whether it can cure the disease is unknown, but it can remove their own responsibility.

"Send someone to check if the palace is under martial law!"

Pang Hengsheng said after thinking about it.

Something that requires such a big move must be an accident with the body of a big person in the palace.

The number of masters in the palace is limited, and those who deserve this treatment are the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager.

Never heard of the Empress or Empress Dowager having hidden illnesses, so the person with the problem is likely the Emperor with poor health.

Thinking of the terrifying consequences of Emperor Tianyuan's death, the worry on his brow could never be waved away.

Late at night, in the palace.

Perhaps it was the prayers of everyone that Emperor Tianyuan, who had been in a coma for a day and a half, suddenly opened his eyes.

Everyone gathered at the bedside cheered up.

It was not in vain that they ran to serve the illness; the Emperor finally woke up.

"Pass the decree, summon the Cabinet ministers, the Left and Right Governors, and the Prince of Fu to enter the palace to see me!"

As soon as the Emperor opened his mouth, it made the hearts of a group of concubines cool by half.

According to the rules, ministers are not allowed to enter the palace late at night.

Summoning everyone over at this time clearly means explaining the aftermath.

Empress Dowager Zheng was the first to be unable to hold back her tears, followed by the Empress and a group of concubines.

The eunuchs and palace maids nearby didn't fall behind, each crying more sadly than the other.

The most magical thing is that while everyone was crying, they also endured not making a sound.

Seeing this scene, Emperor Tianyuan's heart became more and more irritable.

"Stop crying, I'm not dead yet!"

Being mourned while still alive, no one's mood would be good.

It's just that his current body doesn't allow him to be furious.

It is really too tired.

If it weren't for things that hadn't been done, he really wanted to have a good sleep.

"Your Majesty, this is soup; please have some!"

Zuo Guang'en cleverly served a bowl of soup.

Last night, he had secretly summoned the core backbone of the Eunuch Party to discuss it.

With their existing strength, it is simply not enough to forcibly support a new ruler.

The probability of success is too low; everyone has a family and a business, so they can't go all out to take a risk.

Without support from his own people, even if Zuo Guang'en had thoughts, he couldn't do anything.

The action of persuading the Empress was completed halfway, but unfortunately, she was also unwilling to take risks.

Standing from the Empress's perspective, anyway, she has no son, and it doesn't matter who the throne falls to.

As long as the new ruler wants a bit of face, he must treat her, the late Emperor's widow, generously.

After tossing around, Zuo Guang'en, who couldn't handle all parties, could only pin his life-saving plan on Emperor Tianyuan.

As the person closest to him, he knew Emperor Tianyuan's thoughts very well at this time.

For the sake of the country, there is no condition for establishing a young ruler at this time, and passing the throne to his brother, the Prince of Fu, is the best choice at the moment.

Since it cannot be stopped, then find a way to join.

The first thing to do is to get the position of a Guiding Minister.

With this title, even if the new ruler liquidates, he cannot easily move him.

Even if he wants to kill him, he must consider the reaction of other Guiding Ministers.

"Hmm!"

Forcibly supporting his body, he accepted Zuo Guang'en's feeding.

Deep in his heart, Emperor Tianyuan's thoughts at this time were also very complicated.

Can his own brother shoulder the heavy responsibility of the country?

He thought about this question countless times, but still didn't find an answer.

Given the current situation, regardless of whether the Prince of Fu can shoulder the heavy responsibility of the country, he can only let the Prince of Fu succeed.

Changing to other clan members, breaking the inherent succession order, simply cannot obtain the support of the group of officials.

What's more, among the clan children, there are not many he can look up to.

Instead of letting those guys come up, it's better to be cheap to his own brother.

It's all time's fault; if there were a few more years, he would have cleared the external troubles, and it would be another situation.

Time passed minute by minute, Emperor Tianyuan's mental state became worse and worse, and the soup fed to his mouth spilled out.

"Your Majesty, we are here!"

Hearing this familiar voice, Emperor Tianyuan smiled slightly; he finally held on until this time.

If he left first without leaving a will.

Even if the Prince of Fu could succeed, it would be difficult to convince all parties.

"It's good that you are all here!"

"Draft the decree: After I leave, the Prince of Fu will inherit the throne."

"You seven plus Zuo Guang'en, the eight of you will jointly serve as Guiding Ministers to assist the Prince of Fu in handling government affairs."

"After I leave, the aftermath should be simplified."

"Palace maids and concubines are allowed to go home and remarry."

"If they choose to stay in the palace, the virtuous brother should treat them well."

"Virtuous brother, listen well: government affairs in the court should ask for the opinions of the virtuous ministers in the Cabinet."

"Involving military affairs, take the Left and Right Governors as the backbone."

"To deter all officials, take Zuo Guang'en as the sharp blade."

"Remember, the Emperor cannot have a knife in his heart, and cannot have no knife in his hand."

"Mother, the child is unfilial...... have to leave first......"

A belly of words, not yet finished, Emperor Tianyuan fell down.

The imperial front was instantly filled with crying, and the Prince of Fu, who had just been established as the new Emperor, had a buzzing head.

He thought his brother would pass the throne to him, never expected that he would leave him eight Guiding Ministers.

Care is indeed taken care of, but he, this tender new Emperor, is no match for this group of old foxes.

A little carelessness, and he will be emptied by these people.

The depression deep in his heart was all covered up by the crying.

Zuo Guang'en on the side endured the grief and shouted:

"The Emperor has passed away!"

As if rehearsed, the whole palace was filled with crying for a time.

In a flash, eunuchs brought mourning clothes that had been prepared long ago and distributed them to everyone.

"Your Highness, the late Emperor died young; you should shoulder the heavy responsibility!"

Pang Hengsheng stepped forward to remind.

From the Chief Grand Secretary to the Guiding Minister, he had no joy in his heart, and endless worry gathered between his brows.

Eight Guiding Ministers, it is the familiar power balance again.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 137 =====