The Gilded Cage

The second day was the ceremony of Xiao Lian. All the gates of the palaces of Tai Chi Palace were opened, welcoming the courtiers, courtiers, and wives to enter.

When Chu Ning went to the crying position in the west side hall of the Taiji Hall with the wives a moment in advance, he was keenly aware that the atmosphere today was different from yesterday.

Everyone is still crying and crying. At first glance, there is nothing unusual. When you look closely, you can find that by the wide open palace gates, three or five courtiers gather in one place and whisper from time to time, and then go to different positions. go with.

Chu Ning glanced a few times, and suddenly recognized the faces that were the supporters of the prince.

Her numb and tearful eyes couldn't help looking towards Xiao Yu's direction.

Standing next to the crying position with his head down, he couldn't help crying at his father's spiritual position. It seemed that he was sincere, and he seemed to be a benevolent and filial son. Only the few eyes that occasionally fell on Baiguanxiang revealed his thoughts.

Others couldn't tell, but Chu Ning could notice his difference at once. He must have arranged something with Xu Rong. Remembering that he had talked closely with Xu Rong every day for a long time, she was almost certainly related to the king of Qin who was about to reach the extreme.

Xiao Yu was not a stubborn man who couldn't help but knew that he shouldn't be head-to-head with Wang Shu and the Queen Mother at this time. So today's arrangement is only to try King Qin.

It was just so, she also felt unable to start with the Sixth Uncle, so she took a look at him today.

After a while, everyone took their place and the ceremony began.

Amidst the cries of the crowd, the servant spread out the nineteen sets of restraining clothes on the belt, and then moved the Emperor Daxing's body on the clothes, lifting the quilt, and then twisting the quilt with a belt, and then covering it with the quilt. remains.

After that, he waited and helped Xiao Ke to cry and knelt down to worship the Emperor Daxing, and everyone cried.

After getting it, he made a small offering with the delicacy of Tai Lao.

After this cumbersome procedure passed, everyone's tight strings were slightly relaxed.

At this time, the Zhongshu ordered Qi Muzhao to step out of the list of hundreds of officials, and rushed to the front of the Qin King Xiao Kezhi to worship: "The great king, the emperor of Daxing has a new funeral, the whole country is mourning, and the ministers are also in grief. Ranchen It is also said that the throne cannot be vacant for a long time, and the emperor cannot be left for a long time. One day is vacant, then the throne will be exalted; in the openness of the time, all opportunities will be chaotic. The first emperor has a legacy, and it is said that the emperor's throne is the emperor of Qin. Zechen urged the king to take the throne as soon as possible to stabilize the court."

After the words were finished, several prime ministers and more than a dozen officials of the six ministries stood up to second, asking Xiao Ke to ascend the throne as soon as possible.

Although everyone underneath had known this moment a long time ago, they still couldn't help whispering and talking. While waiting for King Qin's response, they cast their sights on the prince Xiao Yu.

The reaction of the wives was the same. Chu Ning could even hear a Madam Hou sigh sympathetically in her direction.

However, she didn't have time to pay attention to the gaze of others, just waiting for Xiao Yu's response.

Xiao Yu stood there with his eyes downcast, his face pale and gentle, it seemed that Qi Mu's proposal had nothing to do with him.

At this moment, Wei Fujing, Shangshu from the Criminal Ministry, suddenly stepped out and walked to Qi Mu and the others two steps forward. He scolded angrily: "When Qi Daxianggong said this, don't you feel ashamed of the first emperor? The first emperor is here? At that time, the eldest son was already canonized as the prince, and the reserve in the East Palace has not been shaken for more than ten years. Because of the feelings and reason, the prince should inherit the general rule. Why is there any more "Emperor's Edict"? reason?"

His voice fell, and there was another Yushi behind him who came out and echoed: "On that day, the emperor died and the Tai Chi Palace was under martial law. Except for the queen mother and the king of Qin, the rest were expelled. Even the prince who was the eldest son of the first emperor was not allowed to enter. But it is said that the first emperor has a will, who knows whether it is true or not?"

Afterwards, more than a dozen courtiers came out one after another as agreed in advance, opposed the Qin king's accession to the throne, and advocated the crown prince as the new monarch.

For a time, the numbers of the two sides were evenly matched, and the stalemate was at a stalemate. You said and I said a word, it seemed that a chaotic battle would erupt in the next moment.

The rest of the people on the sidelines held their breath and looked at the quiet prince, and then at the King Qin who was still facing everyone with no emotions.

Qi Mu's forehead bounced with blue veins, while arguing with Wei Fujing with a cold face, while observing Xiao Kezhi's reaction from time to time, waiting for his response.

He expected that King Qin was a young prince who had been rolling in the martial arts all year round. Even if he had the courage, he had never seen such a battle in the court, and he might be anxious to argue immediately.

But he waited for a while, and even when he gradually began to feel a little irritable, Xiao Kezhi still had his hands behind his back and never turned around.

After a fierce quarrel, both sides were a little confused.

As the focus of the quarrel, neither King Qin nor the prince stood up to express their views.

If it is said that the prince’s status is sensitive at this time and his status is precarious, and it is inconvenient to speak rashly, then why is King Qin?

Between doubts, the sound of arguing gradually lowered.

Only then did Xiao Kezhi slowly turn around to face everyone.

There was still no expression on his stern and deep face, his eyes were as sharp as ice skates, and he swept away from everyone, and finally stopped on Qi Mu and Wei Fujing: "Did you finish?"

Both of them were taken aback, not knowing how to respond. Qi Mu paused, and said: "Please make the decision."

Xiao Kezhi did not respond. Instead, he looked up at the sky and said, "It's not early, Vimalakīrti may be hungry."

Everyone looked at each other and reacted for a while before remembering that "Vimalain" seemed to be the gray wolf raised by King Qin.

"The King?"

Qi Mu couldn't help but frowned and reminded him that his tone was already a bit sulky. He was battling the prince for his throne, but he reacted so coldly.

Xiao Kezhi still ignored him, only gestured at the guards beside him.

The guard immediately understood, strode towards the back of the palace, and soon led out a big gray wolf with sharp teeth and claws and fierce eyes.

"what-"

There was a low whisper from the crowd, and everyone was stunned with fright. They stepped back two steps. Several elderly clan members even almost fell due to their weak legs.

Perhaps due to the large number of strangers, Vimalakirzu was a little restless, running around Xiao Kezhi, and showing his claws at the crowd from time to time.

"Don't worry, feed you later." Xiao Kezhi reached out and touched Vimal's head, then stepped forward two steps, stood on the edge of the steps, and scanned Wei Fujing and the others condescendingly.

"Which is Hou Shi Lang of the Ministry of Industry?" He asked aloud.

Everyone's gazes were pointed at some place behind Wei Fujing, even Xiao Yu couldn't help but frown slightly and looked over suspiciously.

Hou Tongyi, the servant of the Ministry of Engineering, who was suddenly named, was shocked, hesitated to get out of the queue, and walked forward two steps: "The minister is here."

"Yeah." Xiao Kezhi glanced at him and asked casually, "You just said that the first emperor's edict is false and that the prince should be succeeded instead of me as King Qin, right?"

Even though he was still across the high steps, Hou Tongyi was still trembling with Vimalakirti, wishing to turn around and flee immediately.

However, he had to answer the words of King Qin. The scene where he stood on Wei Shangshu's side and argued for reasons, everyone saw it, and he couldn't allow him to deny it. Moreover, if he denies or vaguely remarks on this, don't think of gaining a foothold in the court in the future.

He didn't know what Xiao Kezhi's idea was, so he had no choice but to answer: "The minister, the minister did say so."

Xiao Kezhi didn't speak any more, but just bowed his head and gestured at Vimobi.

Immediately afterwards, before everyone had reacted, a gray shadow leaped on the ground and threw Hou Tongyi to the ground.

Hou Tongyi was so scared that his eyes were splitting, struggling to escape, but his limbs were firmly suppressed by the heavy body of the gray wolf, and he could not move.

The corners of his mouth twitched and wanted to call for help, the blood basin close at hand had already opened up, and sharp teeth snapped into the throat exposed outside the collar, tearing the flesh.

"Help, help..."

While the blood was gushing, his lips moved to make a call for help, but the bitten throat made him unable to make a sound anymore.

In this way, a servant of the Fourth Grade Engineering Department was killed by a beast in front of the first emperor's spirit.

Everyone looked at the pool of warm blood on the ground in horror, and did not dare to make a sound. It is rare for Xiao Yu to completely sink his face in front of so many people, and even Qi Mu's face is extremely ugly.

Xiao Kezhi's wrists are so hot, it makes their debate just like a child's play.

It was only then that they began to realize that the King Qin from the northwest frontier had no fear at all, and that the set of benevolence, morality and ethical rules used to restrain the emperor would not have any effect on him.

And in his hand, he happened to hold a powerful Ganzhou army.

No one can shake him.

"Qi Xianggong, where did you discuss it?" Xiao Kezhi waved his hand to signal the guards to take Vimala away, but the riddled corpse remained far away.

Qi Mu held the breath in his heart and said: "The minister just begged the king to ascend to the throne as soon as possible, in order to revitalize the court."

"What does the prince think?" Xiao Kezhi then turned his gaze to his nephew Xiao Yu.

Under the gaze of everyone's eyes, Xiao Yu glanced at Hou Tongyi's tragic situation, his hands covered in his sleeves were tightly clenched, his joints were white and trembling.

Everything today is very clear, these courtiers under his command can't compete with King Qin at all. For the current plan, there is only temporary surrender.

He slowly loosened his clenched fists, took a deep breath, covered the anger in his heart, and respectfully said: "Nephew asks Uncle Wang to ascend the throne early."

Even the prince had already given in, so naturally others could no longer object.

Xu Rong and Wei Fujing looked at each other, and both could feel each other's disappointment. The two handed over together and asked King Qin to succeed.

Seeing that no one objected anymore, Xiao Kezhi said, "Before the big converge tomorrow, I will give a tribute to the east of the Taiji Hall."

When things settled, his portable guard turned and left.

The crowd was stunned for a long time before they came back to their senses and left in all directions.

"Lady?" Cuihe held his frightened heart with one hand, and softly reminded him with his arm in the other, "It's time to go back."

Chu Ning recovered from the chaotic thoughts, tried not to look at the mess under the steps, and walked in the direction of Zhu Mingmen step by step.

Xiao Yu had already left first, surrounded by the ministers, she didn't have to follow, so she walked more slowly.

The situation just now was terrible, her legs were weak, and she had to sit on the porch to rest after walking not far.

"Miss, Qin Wangxing is arrogant in fact, and still a bit cruel..." Cuihe's eyes were red, and she whispered next to her.

The few kings from the Great Liang Dynasty to the present can be regarded as benevolent kings, and no official has ever been killed on the spot, not to mention that a beast was allowed to bite his throat in public.

Chu Ning suppressed the waves of fear in his heart and tried to recall what had happened just now.

She is no stranger to the Hou Shilang.

He was originally just a head of the Water Department from the Ninth Grade of the Ministry of Industry, and it was gradually reused after he took refuge in Xiao Yu. Last year, when he presided over the construction of a river embankment, he colluded with his subordinate officials to greet money and money, which caused the embankment to be completely damaged. As soon as the summer floods arrived, tens of thousands of people along the bank suffered a lot of casualties.

It was the prince who pushed the charges to several county magistrates for him to keep him safe and sound.

From this point of view, he should be considered dead.

Xiao Kezhi deliberately pointed out him, whom he had never met before, probably because he knew about it.

She suddenly remembered what she had heard from Zhao Yanzhou yesterday about Xiao Kezhi's presence in the army, and she felt that the person's face had become clearer and clearer in her heart.

He is clearly a person who seems to be ruthless, but in fact sticks to the bottom line.