Chapter 978: Grand Curtain (Part 1)
It’s just past morning.
Prince Zhongshun was wrapped in a python robe and jade belt, sitting upright in the middle of the front hall, a rare sight. His eyes were closed, his hands were folded with agate strings, and he was muttering something, but no sound came out.
At this time, the newly appointed Chief Clerk of the Royal Palace, Li Tong, rushed in and approached. Just as he was about to report something, Prince Zhongshun asked first, "Where is Wang Zhe?"
"Lord Wang crossed the Longxu Bridge a quarter of an hour ago."
Li Tong answered casually, leaned forward again , and said in a low voice: "I just got the news that He Gelao, Xu Tianguan of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhao Hong, the Minister of Revenue, Lu Yanbin, the Grand Marshal, and other important officials in the court are also on their way to the Prince's Mansion."
"Um?"
Prince Zhongshun was stunned when he heard this. Two days ago, he heard that the prince would hold a banquet on the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month to discuss various matters concerning the spring festival sacrifice to heaven with court officials. So he thought about taking the initiative to visit the prince to ease the tense relationship between the uncle and nephew.
But no one would have thought that in addition to the cabinet minister Wang Zhe and the Minister of Rites Tu Yan who presided over the sacrifice, the prince also invited many senior officials.
What is this for?
The emperor is ill and can hardly manage state affairs. Could it be that...
wrong!
The prince definitely doesn't have the guts to do that. Besides, He Tiren and Wang Zhe are both experienced and prudent ministers. It's impossible for them to sacrifice their lives to accompany him in going crazy...
But if the prince did not intend to do something big, why would he invite all the important officials in the court?
After pondering for a long time without any clue, he raised his eyes and asked, "Is there any disturbance in the city?"
"this……"
Li Tong pondered for a moment and shook his head, saying, "The internal and external guards have not been mobilized, and the patrol inspection department has also... By the way, the Ministry of Justice sent people to raid the Prison God Temple this morning, saying that Sun Lao Er went to visit the prison in disguise and stayed overnight, and found that the prisoners were corrupt, perverted the law, and took human lives..."
"What a mess!"
Prince Zhongshun impatiently flicked his sleeves, interrupting Li Tong's report, frowned and pondered for a while, then said resolutely: "Never mind, the Spring Festival Suburban Festival is a big event, and as his uncle, I should help him take charge of it!"
Having said that, he stood up and walked out with his head held high.
Li Tong also hurriedly took out the sable dragon cloak and rushed forward to help King Zhongshun put on his armor.
"I greet His Majesty the Prince for a thousand years!"
As soon as the two of them left the living room like conjoined twins, someone in the corridor shouted "Long live the king". King Zhongshun glanced at the man suspiciously, and seeing that he was a middle-aged man wearing a second-grade military uniform, he said unhappily: "What day is it today! Why are you bringing someone home?"
Li Tong also glanced at the military officer, then stood on tiptoe to fasten the necklace button around Prince Zhongshun's neck, and whispered, "Your Highness, this guy is the admiral of the Bohai Navy. He originally wanted to go to Beijing with Wang Ziteng, but now that Wang Ziteng is dead, he is completely panicked."
Admiral of the Bohai Navy?
In order to force the Goryeo people to take sides, the imperial court specially transferred troops from the southeast to form the Bohai Navy and set up outposts and ports on the offshore islands near Liaodong. This was to allow them to seize opportunities to harass the hinterland of Liaodong and to facilitate the control of water transportation between Da Zhou and Goryeo.
This was a good job that would bring both military merit and financial success, and the risk was much smaller than Sun Jizu's Jinzhou military garrison.
However, these soldiers were used to living in the wild in the southeast, and treated Goryeo as a distant small country and took whatever they wanted from it, even committing murder and robbery.
However, the connection between Goryeo and the Chinese imperial court had never been cut off. In less than half a year, a thick pile of letters of protest had accumulated.
If it had happened that the emperor was seriously ill, he would have been severely punished by the court long ago.
This time, the admiral of the Bohai Navy wanted to go to Beijing with his old boss Wang Ziteng, most likely to ward off disasters, but he never expected that Wang Ziteng died "inexplicably" before he even entered the capital.
After going over the background and financial resources of the Bohai Navy in his mind, Prince Zhongshun's expression eased a little, but he still didn't even look at the other party. He shook out the cloak he had just tied, walked down the stairs and left.
Li Tong hurriedly caught up and when he reached the center of the yard, he turned around and pointed at the Bohai admiral who was eagerly waiting, and then pointed to the empty living room, indicating that the other party should wait inside with peace of mind.
……at the same time……
"Has there been any disturbance in the city recently?"
The chief minister of the cabinet, He Tiren, sat cross-legged in the carriage and asked the same question as King Zhongshun.
He Guan, the second son of the He family, thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "Because His Majesty is ill, the city is even quieter than in previous years. If I must say, it is only Sun Shaozong, the Junior Official of the Dali Temple, who is in the Prison God Temple... "
Having said this, he saw his father shaking his head slightly, so he stopped talking.
Both father and son were skeptical about the prince's sudden invitation. The emperor was ill now, and as the crown prince heir, he should be more cautious in his words and actions. Inviting important officials in the court to meet in such a high-profile manner was really against common sense.
And this doubt reached its peak in front of the Prince's Mansion - waiting on the steps, in addition to the beaming Prince, there was also Qiu Shi'an, the head eunuch of the Daming Palace!
Since Dai Quan was demoted, Qiu Shi'an replaced him as the most favored eunuch in front of the emperor. In many cases, this can be seen as the embodiment and continuation of the emperor's will.
And now his appearance in the Prince's Mansion seems to mean that this gathering has been approved by the emperor, and even participated in to a certain extent.
But if...
Qiu Shian is not representing the emperor's will today? !
He Guan was panicking and wanted to stand up to help his father get off the car, but after struggling to hold on to the carriage, his legs felt as if they were filled with lead and he couldn't move at all. Seeing the prince and Qiu Shian coming down the stairs, he was so anxious that he broke out in a sweat.
"Lord, what happened to Zicong?"
At this time, Qiu Shian, who was about ten feet away, laughed jokingly and said, "Maybe he caught a cold on the road as well."
Just from the word "also", we can tell that among the guests who came this morning, there was more than one person who looked so panic-stricken.
"The children are so spoiled that it makes the father-in-law laugh."
He Tiren replied calmly, his bony right arm popped out of the carriage. He was about to signal the driver to come forward to support him, but the prince hurried over and grabbed it, smiling with a rosy face: "It's really cold today, no wonder Zicong couldn't stand it - but it doesn't matter, I have a contemporary master in my mansion, who can bring Zicong back to health."
He Tiren wanted to refuse, but the prince's warm and moist hands were so strong that he had to half-reluctantly let him support him, saying "I dare not trouble you" and "I am ashamed of my old age".
After getting off the car, he greeted the prince and Qiu Shi'an while secretly observing their expressions. He found that Qiu Shi'an still had some inexplicable jokes in his words, but the prince was particularly energetic. During a few words of conversation, warm mist seemed to rise on his red face.
At this time, He Guan also got out of the car. The father and son were led by the prince himself to the living room, where they saw that it was already crowded.
While his father was greeting someone, He Guan looked around and saw that all the important officials and party leaders in the court had gathered there.
only……
Why is Sun Shaozong, the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, not here?
He looked around again suspiciously, but still didn't see any burly figure.
This is strange, because Sun Shaozong has always been close to the prince, and can even be said to be the prince's right-hand man. Not only is he responsible for giving him advice, but he is also the only military force in the prince's party.
etc!
Another thought suddenly flashed through He Guan's mind. Could it be that the prince was going to take a risky move and attack Huanglong directly to kill the king? !
Normally, this is almost impossible to happen - even if Sun Shaozong was known as the most powerful general in the world, it would be impossible for him to break through the palace heavily guarded by the imperial guards by himself.
But what if Qiu Shian is also the prince’s man?
With these two working together, there might be a chance...
"Everyone, everyone, please listen to what I have to say!"
Just as He Guan was daydreaming, he suddenly heard a strong voice in his ears. Looking closely, he found that the prince had stood in front of the main seat at some point, looking around with a smug look on his face.
When the hall fell silent, the prince continued, "I have invited all the important officials in the court today not only to prepare for the Spring Festival next year, but also to invite you to witness a major event related to the succession of the royal family!"
After these words were spoken, the hall became even quieter.
Many people looked panic-stricken, and He Guan felt a chill on his back, his legs trembling with fear as he was about to slide down.
The prince really had rebellious intentions!
An image even emerged in his mind: in broad daylight, Sun Shaozong, whip and spear in hand, charged into the imperial city with the palace gates wide open!
