Chapter 613: Please ask Yuan Fu to lead the way into the palace!
Looking at the imperial edict that Zhu Zaigui stuffed into his hands.

There was a hint of confusion on Yan Shaoting's face.

However, after doing all this, Zhu Zaigui smiled and patted his arm gently.

"I am really too tired, and I may not be able to think it through. But I trust you. Go to the front with the imperial edict. After picking up the crown prince, please go to the Meridian Gate to greet the officials who are probably frightened by now, and comfort them."

As Zhu Zaigui spoke, there was a gleam in his eyes, and his look was full of trust and determination.

And this is exactly the best solution he can think of now.

Because Yan Shaoting is the prince's teacher and has been teaching the prince for six or seven years.

It can even be said that while he was enjoying himself in the Western Garden over the past few years, the prince grew up completely under the supervision and teachings of Yan Shaoting.

Then.

The best choice is to entrust the country and the people to Yan Shaoting.

Only Yan Shaoting could treat the prince sincerely.

Yan Shaoting tightly grasped the imperial edict in his hand and looked at the emperor with a serious gaze.

Teng Xiang, who was standing nearby, said, "Young Master, the Emperor has already issued an oral order that from today on, you will be in charge of the Dragon and Tiger Army, Guo Yuchuang's army, the Imperial Horse Administration, the East Factory, and the Jinyiwei. You will be in charge of the military affairs of the Beijing Camp, and you will be in charge of the seals for entry and exit of the 20 city gates in the capital, nine inside and seven outside the imperial city."

When Teng Xiang thought about what the Emperor said to him and what he was told before Yan Shaoting entered the palace, he wanted to slap himself a few times.

In the past few years, he has climbed up step by step to the position of the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, but he actually ignored this giant Buddha.

Now His Majesty has issued this oral order.

It can be said that in the following court, this young Prince's Guardian will be the most powerful.

He held all the military power inside and outside the capital.

Anyone who sees this would have to bow their head and give in a little, right?
It was for this reason that Teng Xiang respectfully escorted Yan Shaoting out of the Wanshou Palace.

Standing on the platform in front of the temple gate.

Yan Shaoting was still thinking about the tremendous power that Zhu Zaigui had just bestowed upon him.

Teng Xiang had already respectfully handed him a wooden box containing a tiger talisman that controlled the military power inside and outside the capital.

Yan Shaoting took the box, took out the tiger talisman that represented the authority to mobilize troops in the capital, and played with it silently in his hand.

In view of the emperor's complexion and reaction just now.

He now has no time to consider the impact of this tiger talisman and the emperor's decree. The most important thing at the moment is how to deal with the inevitable turmoil in the court.

Teng Xiang called over Chen Ju, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, and said, "Please forgive me, I have to serve the emperor and cannot leave. But since the emperor has already issued an order and the eunuch has obtained the tiger talisman, Chen Ju will serve you from the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard so that you can receive orders."

Yan Shaoting glanced at Teng Xiang, and then at Chen Ju who was also standing respectfully in front of him, with a smile on his face: "Please rest assured, Master Teng, I will obey the imperial edict, stay in the court, and guard both inside and outside. But your majesty is unwell, and the dragon body is in trouble. This is the most critical moment. I hope Master Teng can give more advice and let the imperial doctors diagnose your majesty and come up with a prescription."

Teng Xiang nodded with a smile: "Don't worry, Young Master, I will go and persuade His Majesty again."

Yan Shaoting nodded and watched Teng Xiang walk into the Wanshou Palace.

Then he looked at Chen Ju who was standing in front of him again, and a smile finally appeared on his face.

Chen Ju spoke first: "I congratulate the young master for being trusted by your majesty and taking charge of the great power."

Yan Shaoting waved his hand and said, "I'll have to trouble Eunuch Chen again. First, have all the East Factory thugs go out and conduct a strict investigation of all parties in the capital. Then, order the Jinyiwei Beizhenfu Division to patrol the important roads outside the city to prevent rumors from spreading."

The current situation is that Zhu Zaigui doesn't have much time left.

The most important thing at this time is to prevent rumors from spreading outside, and to prevent spies and villains in the capital from communicating with the inside and outside.

Chen Ju immediately accepted the order and called several eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department who were serving in the Wanshou Palace in front of Yan Shaoting. He gave them instructions one by one and asked them to go and pass on the message.

As they are all veterans in the palace, Chen Ju also knows what is most important at the moment.

If we cannot completely control the capital now, there may be a similar situation as when Emperor Xiaozong passed away less than a month ago, because the capital did not strictly prevent the leakage of information, Emperor Wuzong suffered a disastrous defeat at Yutailing not long after he ascended the throne.

When the reason was finally discovered, the Ming Dynasty was humiliated.

There was a battle at Yutailing at that time.

The Mongolian army swept to the city of Xuanda and threw out the cakes and sackcloth crowns in their arms as a warning to the public.

This clearly shows that the Mongols had already known about the death of Emperor Xiaozong of the Ming Dynasty and the ascension of the new emperor.

The defense of the Ming capital failed to this extent.

The final battle of Yutailing caused heavy losses to the Xuanfa border army, with more than 6,000 people killed and countless border residents, cattle, sheep, money and goods looted. For a time, people inside and outside the court called it a reappearance of the Ji Si Rebellion.

Oh.

correct.

The Ji Si Incident was the Tumu Incident in the 14th year of the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty.

At that time, because the city of Beijing did not strictly block the news, the Mongols learned that the Ming emperor had passed away. They then brazenly sent troops and took advantage of the Ming Dynasty's emptiness to enter the pass and plunder.

now.

Zhu Zaigui, the Emperor Longqing, is not long for his life, and the Crown Prince Zhu Yijun, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, is only ten years old.

If the news is not controlled and allowed to spread, the Mongols who were expelled a few years ago might get the news and take advantage of the fact that the Ming court is busy with the funeral of the old emperor and the preparations for various ceremonies before the new emperor ascends the throne, and gather their troops to attack again.

Therefore, whether it is Yan Shaoting or Chen Ju, the old palace officials, they all know that restricting the spread of news in the capital is the most important and the first thing to do.

Wait for the messenger to leave.

Yan Shaoting then picked up his pace and prepared to go to the Meridian Gate in front to meet with the civil and military officials in the court.

Chen Ju, who was following him, looked curiously at the imperial edict that Yan Shaoting had been holding in his hand but had never opened, and had no idea what was inside.

Chen Ju subconsciously asked in a low voice: "I am overstepping my authority, but I don't know what the decree from His Majesty has to say..."

Yan Shaoting slowed down his pace, stuffed the wooden box containing the tiger talisman into his pocket, shook the imperial edict in his hand, raised his eyebrows and said, "When we were in the inner hall before, don't look around carelessly in front of the emperor. After coming out, I was thinking about things outside and didn't remember to look. But it won't be too late to look at it after we go to the front and meet the prime minister and the ministers in the court."

At this time, Zhu Zaigui prepared an imperial edict, which probably required the court to strictly enforce discipline and not to take any action without authorization, and for all departments to focus on their duties.

Coupled with the fact that he now controls the military power within and outside the capital.

This way.

The court would not be in chaos because of the emperor's sudden death.

Chen Ju smiled and stretched out his hands: "Even if that's the case, we can't ask Shao Bao to do the job of delivering the imperial edict, so I'd better let this servant deliver the imperial edict."

Yan Shaoting didn't think much about it and put the imperial edict into Chen Ju's hand.

Walk out of the Western Garden and enter the Forbidden City.

Stepping into Huangjimen Square from Guiji Gate, the Wumen Gate is right in front of you.

Chen Ju sent someone to Ciqing Palace east of Huiji Gate to invite the prince, while Yan Shaoting looked up at the Wumen city gate tower.

The shouting of the civil and military officials who were blocked outside the Meridian Gate reached his ears clearly.

However, without the emperor's oral order, no one could enter the palace at this time.

He retracted his gaze and looked in the direction of the Qianqing Palace behind him, only to see that even at this time, in the Qianqing Palace behind the three main halls, there were still wisps of smoke rising up, covering half of the sky with gloomy clouds.

There was also a faint smell of fireworks floating in the air.

"Still haven't found out the cause of the fire in the bedroom?"

Yan Shaoting asked. Chen Ju, who was standing by, frowned.

However, Yan Shaoting keenly grasped this reaction, and his heart sank: "Is it man-made again?"

He used the word "again".

Not to mention the distant past, even in the late period of the previous emperor’s reign, the fire in Yuxi Palace was caused by human factors.

Chen Ju looked up and looked around, waved his hand to disperse the people waiting around, and then said in a low voice: "After the fire started last night, Eunuch Teng personally led people to investigate. At that time, all the palace servants on duty at the Qianqing Palace were beaten to death, and the seal holder, the general manager, the supervisor of the Xixin Division, and the assistant secretary and supervisor of the North Factory were all beaten to death."

Yan Shaoting frowned and looked at the other party sideways: "So you found out something?"

Chen Ju nodded and said, "Eunuch Teng has already reported this to His Majesty at night. Now, a team of soldiers from the East Factory are being dispatched by Eunuch Teng to conduct a secret investigation outside the palace."

Yan Shaoting let out a breath with a hint of coldness: "Now urgently dispatch the troops from the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

He did not explain why.

Chen Ju understood what he meant and immediately sent someone to gather the troops from the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Then the two of them waited silently behind the Meridian Gate.

A few moments.

Zhu Yijun, who is now ten years old, finally came out of Ciqing Palace under the personal escort of Guo Yuchuang and Feng Bao and entered Yan Shaoting's sight.

The other end.

Zhu Yijun, who was frightened by the fire in the Qianqing Palace last night, came to the Meridian Gate with hundreds of guards. As soon as he saw his master from afar, he immediately shouted and ran away.

in a blink.

This child, who is only ten years old but has been the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace of the Ming Dynasty for four years, bumped heavily into Yan Shaoting's arms.

"master!"

"Master, you are finally here!"

"Last night...last night was so scary..."

Yan Shaoting looked down at the little kid who was hugging him tightly, his eyes red and his face filled with worry. His heart softened and he reached out to stroke Zhu Yijun's head: "Don't worry, Your Highness. Everything is fine now. His Majesty has ordered that I go with Your Highness to meet the ministers of the previous dynasty. As the crown prince, Your Highness must not lose your composure later."

Zhu Yijun raised his head, nodded heavily and said, "With Master here, Jun'er is not afraid anymore!"

Teng Xiang, who was standing nearby, and Guo Yuchuang and Feng Bao, who followed, were all shocked when they saw the Crown Prince and Yan Shaoting interacting with each other.

They knew that the prince had spent most of the past few years studying with Yan Shaoting at Changping Academy, but they had never known that the relationship between the two was so close...

As close as father and son!

Yan Shaoting just smiled slightly.

After all, he had history to draw lessons from, and he had been extra careful when teaching Zhu Yijun over the years.

Now the child is not only healthy both physically and mentally, but also successful in studies and is respectful to himself.

At least I won’t be like Gao and Zhang, who think that children don’t need to be understood and that they can be suppressed in an adult manner.

As for saying that they are as close as father and son, he would rather call him both a teacher and a friend.

After all, this kid is really smart. I have devoted myself to academic research in the past few years, and he always shows shining points in new studies that amaze me.

Calming Zhu Yijun's emotions.

Yan Shaoting's eyes gradually became sharper.

He looked steadily at the Meridian Gate and waved his hand.

"Open the palace door!"

Outside the Meridian Gate.

The civil and military officials in the court, who had to stay outside the palace because of the emperor's oral order, had already lost all their patience. But facing the Meridian Gate that never opened, they could only turn all their emotions into long sighs.

Gao Gong was already filled with irritation at this moment, and felt as if a fire was brewing and swirling in his chest.

Lu Shusheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, kept urging, "Prince, there has been no movement in the palace until now. In order to prevent the inside and outside from being isolated by traitors, please take us to the palace! Otherwise, if something happens to His Majesty, we will be the sinners of the Ming Dynasty!"

Break into the palace!

What this meant was that they were going to force open the palace gates in their capacity as court officials.

Gao Gong frowned, stood at the head of the crowd of officials, slowly moved his neck, turned his head and looked at the Minister of Rites with deep eyes.

Lu Shusheng made up his mind and knelt on the ground with gritted teeth.

"Your Majesty is concerned about the country, please take Daju as your priority and lead us into the palace!"

As Lu Shusheng knelt down in public and made a request.

A group of officials immediately followed him and knelt on the ground.

"Please lead us to the palace to see the emperor!"

The crowd was in an uproar.

Zhao Zhenji and Gao Yi, who were guarding Gao Gong, frowned and had gloomy faces.

Hu Zongxian took a step forward and snorted, "What are you trying to do?"

Lu Shusheng and the others had no good intentions at all.

If Gao Gong and the cabinet really took the lead in breaking into the palace at this time, let alone whether they could see the emperor, they, who were in charge of the central government, would have already committed the crime of deceiving the emperor.

However, Lu Shusheng had already made up his mind.

He clearly intended to break into the palace to see the emperor.

In fact, his intention was to use public pressure on the Prime Minister and the cabinet to build a reputation for himself.

However, just in front of the Meridian Gate, these officials were so clamorous that they threatened to break into the palace because the palace gates could not be opened.

Several dull sounds were heard.

The Meridian Gate, which had been closed for a long time, slowly opened from the inside to everyone's surprise.

Following closely was the sound of dense footsteps coming from the city gate.

Teams of Eastern Depot guards and Imperial Guard cavalrymen filed out in a line.

Soon, all the civil and military officials in front of the Meridian Gate were blocked from beginning to end.

Under the surprised gaze of everyone.

Under the protection of Guo Yuchuang, Feng Bao, Chen Ju and Lu Yi, the commander of the Jinyiwei who was ordered to bring people with him.

Everyone in front of the Meridian Gate.

Yan Shaoting, who had been away from the court and lived in Changping Academy for four years, came into view.

What shocked everyone even more was...

At this moment, Yan Shaoting was holding the hand of Zhu Yijun, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace of the Ming Dynasty, and the two walked out of the city gate in unison.

…………

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(End of this chapter)