Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 164 Entrusting the Orphan!

The end of February in the fourth year of the Zhiping era.

Dusk is falling and the setting sun is blood-red.

Jiang Mansion, Study.

Jiang Zhao opened the letter and read it carefully.

[Respectfully presented to Your Excellency Zichuan:]
A shocking change has occurred in Bianjing!

Since the sacrificial ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple in July, His Majesty has been frequently afflicted with a stroke, resulting in a crooked mouth and slurred speech. This has continued every month since.

In November, the emperor's health deteriorated, and he suffered a severe stroke, which caused him to catch a cold. He had not been able to attend court for two months.

The court and the public were thrown into turmoil, and officials were filled with fear!
It is said that the emperor is already delirious and barely breathing.

We report on all matters concerning the capital day and night.

Please take good care of yourself!

Wang Shao bows respectfully!

A secret letter, about a hundred words long.

It mainly describes the political situation in the imperial court, so as to provide Jiang Zhao with reference.

After reading it, he placed the letter on a corner of the wooden table.

This secret letter is just one of dozens of secret letters that Jiang Zhao received.

Since the emperor suffered a stroke during the ancestral temple sacrifice, he has been receiving secret letters from his cronies and former officials concerning matters of the court.

Whether it was Wang Shao, Gu Tingye, or Han Jiayan, or former officials of Xihe, or members of Han's faction, or even former disciples of the Grand Tutor who had submitted to him, an average of one letter would arrive every three to five days.

Without exception, all of the dozens of secret letters were reports on the political situation at court.

At the age of twenty-nine, with the achievements of conquering new territories, he secretly plotted the struggle for the throne, deceiving everyone.

Although not in the imperial court, he constantly influences it.

He is a former official of Xihe, a protégé of Wang, and a member of Han's faction—all three combined in one person.

This can be described as an inevitable trend!

Even if Qi were to return to his hometown in decline, Jiang Zhao would not be allowed to keep a low profile in the slightest.

Wherever he is, attention follows!

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Zhao shook his head.

The old emperor is showing signs of approaching the end of his life!

At fifty-eight, he suffered a stroke, and was plagued by cold and wind; even the King of Heaven couldn't save him.

"The sky is going to change!"

Jiang Zhao got up, paced around, and looked out into the distance.

Fortunately, he will soon be "coming out of retirement".

The term "Qi Shuai" refers to the period starting from the day Jiang Zhi passed away.

My grandfather passed away on the seventh day of the third lunar month, so he only needs to mourn until the seventh day of the third lunar month.

Now, there are less than ten days left until the seventh day of the third lunar month.

Soon!

Bianjing (Kaifeng)

Fragrant dust falls, and catkins dance in the lonely courtyard.

Despite being a vital area surrounding the capital with a permanent population of nearly two million, it has an inexplicable sense of desolation.

And solemnity!
The patrol soldiers, who were usually quite scattered, were now unusually numerous, with one soldier every ten steps.

A patrol post was set up every 300 paces, with soldiers stationed there to maintain order. The post consisted of five men per post.

Nowadays, there are at least thirty to fifty people per bed.

The solemnity they exuded commanded respect and commanded respect.

Living in the capital, the people are naturally very sensitive to changes in the atmosphere. If they notice any problems, they will try to stay home as much as possible.

The place where nearly two million people live becomes increasingly deserted.

The study in the Han residence.

The candlelight flickered, and the wick swayed gently.

Grand Chancellor Han Zhang held a vermilion brush, annotating memorials and occasionally pressing his brow.

Since the emperor suffered from both a stroke and a cold, the cabinet's power has been significantly expanded.

Even some controversial memorials have begun to be discussed and dealt with by the cabinet.

As the head of all officials, Han Zhang was the biggest beneficiary of the extension of cabinet power.

In terms of power, he had already reached the level of a "powerful minister".

"My lord!"

The call was rather soft and melodious, yet it did not sound like a woman's.

Eunuch!

Is the Imperial Palace summoning me late at night?
Han Zhang was startled, looked up, put down his pen, and strode out.

A dozen or so steps away, a man holding a whisk, wearing specially made purple clothes, with no beard, was none other than the eunuch.

Following them were about five or six eunuchs, each holding a torch, their faces solemn. "What's going on?" Han Zhang, realizing the possible situation, quickly asked.

"My lord!"

The eunuch in purple robes looked anxious and quickly explained, "His Majesty is coughing up blood and has summoned the Grand Chancellor to the palace for a talk."

"To enter the palace for a talk?"

Han Zhang's expression changed slightly, and his heart sank: "Did you only summon me, or..."

"The Duke of England, along with several other cabinet ministers, have all been summoned," the purple-robed eunuch replied.

They were all summoned!

Han Zhang understood and nodded silently.

This day is about to change!

Funing Hall.

The gilded candlelight burned brightly and slowly.

The Imperial Guards were stationed one every five steps and one every ten steps, carrying long spears, with standard-issue swords at their waists, and wearing gleaming armor.

This is a top-tier elite force!
"vomit!"

On the sandalwood dragon bed, Zhao Zhen stretched out, his hair disheveled, his back hunched and heaving, gagging incessantly.

Fresh blood dripped from its mouth from time to time, staining the water basin and startling the viewer.

Led by Han Zhang, six Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, including Zhang Sheng, Wu Chong, Zeng Gongliang, Ouyang Xiu, and Wang Yaochen, stood respectfully in succession.

Duke Zhang Fu of England, dressed in armor and carrying a sword, looked solemn.

Besides the few figures at the top of power, several younger members of the imperial family were also summoned.

Empress Cao sat reclining on the dragon throne, attending to her stroke sufferer.

The coughing up of blood lasted for about an incense stick's time. Zhao Zhen tried rinsing his mouth, but he couldn't get it clean no matter what he did, so he had no choice but to let it be.

The deep red bloodstains added to the solemnity.

"call."

Zhao Zhen took a deep breath, his hands trembled slightly, and his face was covered in cold sweat, as if even breathing was extremely difficult.

He was panting heavily, his intake was insufficient to cover his output, and he seemed about to die at any moment.

"His Majesty."

Empress Cao blew on the spoonful of Chinese medicine, held a small bowl of soup in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other, and fed the medicine little by little.

A small bowl of herbal medicine that an ordinary person could easily swallow in two gulps took a full fifteen minutes to finish feeding.

The flickering candlelight cast a heavy shadow over the heart.

There was silence for a moment, except for Zhao Zhen's faint breathing and a slight smell of blood.

quite a while.

Zhao Zhen's breathing became much more steady. He leaned against the dragon bed, his eyelids drooping.

Looking up, one could vaguely see beads of sweat dripping down, almost soaking his dragon robe.

"Zhigui."

With a soft call, he was on his last breath.

"Your Majesty," Han Zhang hurriedly bowed.

"I can't take it anymore."

With just one sentence, the remaining five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, the Duke of England, and several members of the royal family all bowed down.

The members of the imperial family all bowed their heads, their faces respectful and their demeanor tense. They dared not look directly at the old emperor and instead stared at the blue bricks on the ground.

Entrusting one's children to another on one's deathbed is destined to be a verdict!
The treatment of victors and losers is destined to be vastly different.

The victor reigns supreme, while the loser is destined to languish and depend on others.

"Your Majesty, may you live ten thousand years! Why do you say such a thing?" Empress Cao's face was filled with sorrow, and her eyes were red.

As the empress, she truly did not want the old emperor to die.

The new emperor and the old emperor were not related by blood.

While officials have the opportunity to serve two dynasties, it's not the same for relatives of the empress.

A new emperor brings a new court; what business is it of the new emperor if the former emperor's maternal relatives are involved?

Once the new emperor ascends the throne, the former emperor's maternal relatives are destined to find themselves in an awkward position.

"Life and death are preordained; how can human power control them?"

Zhao Zhen sighed and looked at the head of all officials: "Zhi Gui."

Han Zhang's eyes were slightly red, and his voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty."

Zhao Zhen lowered his hand and pointed weakly downwards; "This child has the bearing of the Taizu Emperor and will be my imperial grandson."

In a single sentence, the choice of heir apparent was revealed.

Several members of the imperial clan who had been bowing their heads raised their heads in unison.

really!

Zhao Ceying!
(End of this chapter)