Chapter 515: Arrogant and Domineering Yan Shaoting
Silently watching the emperor lying on the throne.

Yan Shaoting's heart suddenly calmed down.

There is no doubt that the old Taoist priest was full of controversy when he was alive, and when he did those things in front of Huangji Gate today, his death will inevitably be full of controversy as well.

But no matter what, this emperor, who could be said to be the most adept at the art of power and checks and balances among all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, did what a wise monarch should do at the last moment of his life.

In the past few decades, the old Taoist priest has been scheming for the name of his king, but at the last moment, he gave up himself. Even if it made him a bad guy, he was paving the way for the country and the new emperor.

perhaps.

This is what can be called a human being.

Behind.

The crying became louder.

The sound of hurried footsteps and crying came closer and closer.

Lu Fang almost stumbled to the throne, knelt in front of the emperor's body, and cried bitterly.

"His Majesty!"

"Master!"

"..."

This eunuch, who had been in charge of the Imperial Household Department for many years and was known as the Internal Minister, was undoubtedly full of emotions and excitement at this moment.

Under the steps.

Zhu Zaigui and his son Zhu Yijun knelt on the cold gold bricks, both crying.

The ministers outside the palace were also crying.

As for how much is true and how much is false.

Only God knows.

Perhaps the old Taoist priest who has already ascended to heaven can also tell from the sky whether this place is real or fake.

Gao Gong and others entered the hall. They knelt behind Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui and Heir apparent Zhu Yijun according to their official rank and status.

And as the chief minister.

Gao Gong had a sad look on his face, but he looked up at Yan Shaoting, who was kneeling on the steps near the throne, his eyes full of confusion.

Why did the emperor keep Yan Shaoting alone by his side at the last moment of his life?

Why did the emperor, as a father and grandfather, not call the crown prince and the heir apparent to him when their lives had clearly reached their end?

Gao Gong was constantly weighing and pondering in his mind at this moment.

Everyone can see clearly what is happening inside the Huangji Palace today.

The emperor personally held Yan Shaoting and walked step by step from the Huangji Gate to the Huangji Hall, and then to the throne on the steps.

Is this entrusting an orphan to someone else?

But according to the rules, the late emperor should have entrusted his son to the cabinet and people of high status such as the Duke of Dingguo, the Duke of Yingguo and the Duke of Chengguo.

Then.

After today, with the honorary title of the Crown Prince's guest and the official position of Left Vice-Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, what position will Yan Shaoting hold in the court?

Gao Gong now needs to think about all of this.

At the same time, he was troubled.

The emperor seemed to have posed a difficult problem to them, especially to himself, the prime minister.

Another person who was in the same dilemma was the newly appointed Minister of Rites Gao Yi.

Now that the emperor has passed away, he is known as the late emperor.

All funeral ceremonies need to be handled by the Ministry of Rites, but among the civil and military officials who were imprisoned in front of Huangji Gate today, many were from the Ministry of Rites.

In addition, we have to persuade the crown prince to ascend the throne and arrange the ascension of the new monarch. The rituals of the country during this period will be extremely complicated.

For a while.

Gao Yi just felt overwhelmed.

After weighing the pros and cons for a while, Gao Gong still couldn't figure out why the emperor treated Yan Shaoting like that in public when he was dying.

He turned to look at Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui who was standing on the steps below the throne.

"The emperor has passed away. The prince was the crown prince of the Eastern Palace. Now he is the successor. He should preside over all the funeral affairs of the late emperor. I hope you will not grieve too much and preside over the overall situation of the court."

Being called by Gao Gong.

Zhu Zaigui turned around with tears on his face and confusion in his eyes.

He looked at the Prime Minister who wanted him to take charge of the overall situation, then turned back to look at Lu Fang and Yan Shaoting sitting in front of the throne on the steps.

Emperor, father, father.

The three identities are the same person, but now he has passed away.

Zhu Zaigui was at a loss as to what to do.

Yan Shaoting frowned slightly, looking at the prince who was at a loss in front of the steps, then turned to look at Lu Fang who was already lying at the feet of the old Taoist priest.

"Eunuch Lu, according to the rules, it's time to announce the death."

"The emperor valued etiquette the most when he was alive. We must not break the rules after his death."

After being reminded by Yan Shaoting.

Lu Fang finally reacted. He stood up and raised his head, took a last look at the emperor who had closed his eyes on the throne, wiped the tears from his face, stood up, turned around and nodded at Yan Shaoting.

Then the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department walked out of the palace.

"The Emperor has passed away!"

"The Emperor has passed away!"

"The Emperor has passed away!"

After three loud shouts, the imperial guards guarding the palace all faced the Huangji Palace and knelt on one knee.

And outside the Huangji Palace.

One by one, the eunuchs kept shouting that the emperor had passed away, and their voices became farther and farther away until they were heard outside the palace.

Not long after.

Inside and outside the palace, thousands of bells were ringing.

This is the rule.

During the next three days, the large bells in all the temples and Taoist temples in the capital were struck 36,000 times every day as a sign of mourning.

And inside the temple.

Lu Fang had also walked back in and stood beside Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui.

"My Lord, it's time to get up and prepare for the Emperor's funeral."

He bent down, stretched out his hand, and helped Zhu Zaigui up.

Lu Fang looked at the emperor lying quietly on the throne with eyes full of sorrow.

Zhu Zaigui's lips moved and trembled: "I... this palace..."

Lu Fang bowed his head and said, "According to the rules, the Crown Prince should change his clothes, wear a black winged hat, a blue cloth robe, and a black horn belt, go to the Qianqing Palace, let his hair down, and cry and kowtow in front of the bed."

Zhu Zaigui's eyes were filled with tears, and he kept nodding his head: "Yes... yes... I am going back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity for my father."

Gao Gong and others were still kneeling on the ground, watching the heir's reaction.

Li Chunfang immediately spoke up: "The emperor has passed away, and the crown prince is in charge of the overall situation. All funeral ceremonies will be discussed by the Ministry of Rites. The late emperor has passed away, and a will should be drafted to announce it to the world and inform all the people. Please call us to discuss it after the crown prince has finished the ceremony."

On the steps, in front of the throne.

Yan Shaoting immediately turned around and looked at Li Chunfang deeply.

After Li Chunfang spoke, Gao Gong, the prime minister beside him, also had a calm expression.

at last.

Yan Shaoting stood up and looked back at the old Taoist priest's body: "The Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty has issued a will, ordering me to escort His Majesty back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity!"

He shouted the last words the old Taoist priest said to him.

Yan Shaoting looked at Zhu Zaigui and said, "Your Highness, as the son of the late emperor and the successor to the country, please escort His Majesty back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity!"

Zhu Zaigui was still at a loss.

Li Chunfang said immediately: "Serious guest, the emperor has passed away, and everything must be done according to the etiquette. Your Majesty will be buried in the coffin in the Qianqing Palace, and the inner court and the Ministry of Rites will take care of it."

The elder Li's voice was not loud, but his attitude was very clear.

The fact that the emperor's body is still in the Qianqing Palace has nothing to do with you, Yan Shaoting.

However, Yan Shaoting refused to give in.

"This is the will of the late Emperor!"

"Are you going to disobey the order, Lord Li?"

Li Chunfang looked anxious, and turned to look at Yan Song in front of him: "Master Yan."

Yan Song just held his great-grandson's hand and turned back to glance at Li Chunfang calmly: "The late emperor left a will. As his subjects, how can we disobey it in an instant?"

and then.

Yan Song looked at the crown prince Zhu Zaigui in front of him, with a faint smile on his face: "Your Highness, the emperor's various edicts today are all for the country. The emperor has not lived in the Qianqing Palace or entered the Huangji Palace for decades, but today he has done so. This is the dignity of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. As a son, your Highness, please mourn and send the emperor back to the Qianqing Palace to fulfill the etiquette of a minister."

When Yan Song spoke, Gao Gong closed his eyes silently.

Yuan Wei and Zhao Zhenji immediately said, "Your Highness, please accept my condolences and send the Emperor back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity!"

Zhu Zaigui just nodded blankly.

Yan Shaoting had already walked to the throne in full view of everyone. In front of everyone, he bent down and stretched out his hand, finally holding the old Taoist priest's body in his arms.

Li Chunfang's eyes widened, and he immediately shouted angrily: "Yan Shaoting! What are you going to do!"

However, Yan Shaoting just held the old Taoist priest's body steadily and turned to look at Li Chunfang.

He walked down the steps step by step carrying the old Taoist priest's body and stood beside Zhu Zaigui.

Just recently today, the old Taoist priest brought me here from Huangji Gate.

Since the old Taoist priest wants me to send him back to the Qianqing Palace, the emperor's exclusive bedroom.

just now.

I have to send him back.

Li Chunfang also stood up and walked in front of Yan Shaoting.

With him was a group of officials.

It seemed that he wanted to stop Yan Shaoting together with Li Chunfang.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Yan Shaoting just looked at Li Chunfang silently twice, and then glanced sideways at the Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui beside him.

He said softly, "Your Highness, please accompany me to escort the Emperor back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity."

Zhu Zaigui nodded silently.

Looking at the body of his father held in Yan Shaoting's arms, the heir to the throne had grief on his face and sorrow in his eyes.

Li Chunfang and others wanted to stop them.

however.

At this time, footsteps were heard outside the hall.

Not long after.

Zhu Shitai had already rushed into the hall with the soldiers of the Loyal and Brave Camp.

The eldest son of the Duke of Chengguo, a general who had fought his way out from the Qi family army, held down his long sword and looked at Yan Shaoting and the emperor's body held in his arms, and then just glanced at Li Chunfang and the others indifferently.

Yan Shaoting looked at Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui, and then began to move forward silently.

Li Chunfang's face became more and more anxious.

Gao Gong stood up and stood silently by the side. After taking a few glances, he frowned and looked away.

"Yan Shaoting!"

"you dare!"

Yan Shaoting's face darkened: "Anyone who dares to stop the Holy Chariot will be killed!"

bass!
The soldiers of the Loyal and Brave Camp, led by Zhu Shitai, rushed into the Huangji Hall. After Yan Shaoting said the word "behead", they immediately drew their swords and pointed them at Li Chunfang and others who were standing in front of them.

Mr. Ge?
do not know.

They all came from the south, so how could they know these officials in the capital?

Yan Binke’s words are the only orders.

Inside the palace.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

Li Chunfang's face turned pale and his eyes were filled with anger.

The reason why there is suddenly such a conflict now is all because of the issue of entrusting the young man to assist the country.

Although this is something that cannot be said explicitly at the moment.

But it is a real problem.

Today, before the emperor passed away, he brought Yan Shaoting from the Huangji Gate into the Huangji Palace in such a close manner, which was enough to subvert the etiquette.

Now if Yan Shaoting were really asked to send the late emperor's body back to the Qianqing Palace.

Even if Yan Shaoting is not a cabinet minister, his position in the court will be unparalleled in the future.

perhaps.

This is the true meaning of the late emperor's death.

A senior official who is outside the cabinet! A powerful official!

Everyone knows the meaning of this.

Otherwise, why didn't the emperor summon the prince, but instead dragged Yan Shaoting into the Huangji Hall, and then asked Yan Shaoting to send him back to the Qianqing Palace before his death?

But neither Li Chunfang nor Gao Gong had expected this.

Yan Shaoting, who had been away from Beijing for two years and suddenly received a secret imperial decree to lead his troops back to Beijing, was so domineering as soon as he returned.

Not only did he really dare to carry the body of the late emperor.

He even dared to lead his troops into the Huangji Palace.

Yan Shaoting once again glanced at the crown prince Zhu Zaigui and said, "Your Highness, the late emperor treated me with great courtesy and kindness, and Your Highness treated me like a brother. I am now following the late emperor's order to return to the capital and send him back to the Qianqing Palace. This is my act of loyalty. The late emperor knew my loyalty, and Your Highness knows it too."

Zhu Zaigui was looking at the situation in the hall at this moment.

Finally, he nodded as if he understood.

This was the time when the Ming Dynasty was changing from the old to the new, and also the time when power was transferred.

Even if you don’t understand it, you should understand it now.

Yan Shaoting also nodded and took another step forward.

Li Chunfang's arms trembled: "Yan Shaoting! Today is the day when the emperor passes away. Are you going to be so arrogant and domineering?"

Yan Shaoting still didn't say anything, but just looked at Li Chunfang with cold eyes.

When Li Chunfang's expression and eyes changed.

Yan Shaoting then said, "Loyal and Brave Camp."

"exist!"

Yan Shaoting looked coldly at Li Chunfang and others who were blocking his way, and he smiled faintly.

"Anyone who dares to stop me."

"Behead immediately!"

After finishing speaking.

He never stopped walking.

Zhu Shitai and the soldiers of the Loyal and Brave Camp who were guarding Yan Shaoting were holding long swords.

"cut!"

"cut!"

"cut!"

Yan Shaoting just smiled coldly and looked at Li Chunfang and others.

Since they say they are arrogant and domineering.

Then I will show them how arrogant I am today.

Let them take a good look.

What does arrogance mean!

Now that the old Taoist priest has passed away, they have begun to fight for power in the court and try to control the prince.

I used my knife to ruthlessly cut into their plans and intentions.

The entire Huangji Palace was in chaos.

Yan Shaoting held the body of the late emperor, while Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui walked on one side holding the hand of the Heir apparent Zhu Yijun.

Lu Fang walked on the other side with a sad face.

In front of them were the soldiers of the Loyal and Brave Camp led by Zhu Shitai, holding swords and clearing the way.

Approaching step by step.

at last.

Li Chunfang no longer dared to entrust his life to these knife-wielding officers and soldiers of the Loyal and Brave Battalion, wondering if they dared to draw their knives against him.

He and the officials behind him who tried to stop them finally retreated to the side with anger on their faces.

And Yan Shaoting finally walked out of the Huangji Palace under the protection of many officers and soldiers.

Inside the palace.

Everyone followed suit and came out.

Li Chunfang and others still had gloomy faces.

Looking at Yan Shaoting's back, Li Chunfang immediately said in a low voice: "Yan Shaoting, the court has its own rules and regulations, and the Ming Dynasty is not something you can arbitrarily rule!"

Yan Shaoting still turned a deaf ear.

Now he only wanted to follow the old Taoist priest's last instructions before his death and complete the last few tasks entrusted to him by the old Taoist priest.

However, Li Chunfang became more and more angry.

"Yan Shaoting!"

"The laws of the Ming Dynasty cannot be undermined by you!"

"You are so arrogant today, are you going to become a powerful and treacherous minister of the Ming Dynasty tomorrow?"

…………

Monthly PassMonthly Pass
(End of this chapter)