Chapter 164 Regicide
Chapter 164 Regicide
Just as Shao Xun was inspecting Guangchengze, a carnival was being held on the banks of Qili River in March.
As a Taixue student and nephew of Shao Xun, a military officer and general, Shao Shen sneaked into the venue.
I have been enrolled in the Imperial College for two years and have attended several lectures, but to be honest - I don't understand.
After two years, he only remembered one sentence: "Abandon sagehood and wisdom, and return to nature."
When I asked my uncle what this meant, he just replied, "Liberate your nature," and said nothing more.
Shao Shen was puzzled and finally could only say "What a crap class" and decided not to go to school anymore.
Instead of wasting time like that, it would be more refreshing to ride a horse and shoot arrows, sprint and fight outside Shao Garden. Anyway, his uncle did not have high requirements for his cultural level: just being able to write ordinary articles would be fine.
The amusement park was bustling with people playing Go, Liubo, Tanqi, drinking, singing, and archery...
Shao Shen was dazzled for a moment and almost couldn't walk.
"Here." Someone beside him called softly.
Shao Shen suddenly turned his head and found that it was Pei Shiliu.
"Come with me." Pei Shiliu said in a low voice.
After saying this, he led the way. Shao Shen came to his senses and followed silently.
The two of them walked one after the other and soon arrived at the bank of Qili River.
Many ladies from prominent families gathered here, laughing and chatting.
Since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, people have been extremely contemptuous of ethical codes. Not only did men behave in a dissolute manner, but women also often showed their faces in public, and even mingled with men to play Go and Liubo.
The dozen or so gentlemen and ladies in front of him were just sipping tea and listening to the music, but they were considered to be relatively elegant and reserved.
Shao Shen didn't dare to look any longer, but his ears were always perked up.
"Is the younger sister of the Yu family really going to marry Shao Caiguan?" someone asked in a surprised tone.
"It's a pity that Shao doesn't have a good family background and isn't handsome enough, so they're not a good match." Someone else said.
Hmm? Shao Shen couldn't help but raise his head and glance around quietly, but he saw so many beautiful girls and couldn't tell which one was "Wenjun".
He subconsciously thought it was the youngest one.
There is no basis for this, it's just based on feeling. Most of the women here, how should I put it, are similar to the Le family he met in Liang County a few days ago, only the little girl looks like she has never been married.
In the Ming Dynasty, girls generally started getting married at the age of thirteen, and most of them were married at the age of fourteen or fifteen. Fewer girls got married at the age of sixteen, and the imperial court would force marriages at the age of seventeen.
If you want to find an unmarried woman to serve you, in most cases you can only find one between fourteen or fifteen years old (13-14 years old).
"Shao Xun is a famous general in Yue Prefecture. He may need the princess to act as a matchmaker in the future."
"That's a good story."
Stupid woman! Shao Shen snorted in his heart, they only know how to look at the surface, they don't know shit!
If you get involved with these women, you will get into trouble sooner or later. If you have time for that, you might as well go home and practice the art of swords and spears.
He quickly lowered his head, followed Pei Shiliu, and came in front of Concubine Pei.
Concubine Pei sat on the couch, not looking very happy.
There was another person next to her, the 19-year-old Liang Lanbi.
As the Consort of the Crown Prince, Liang was of noble status, second only to Consort Pei. She would sometimes smile and talk to people, her voice was as sweet as the song of an oriole, and when she wore a light-colored long skirt, she looked like an elegant swan, with an air of nobility.
After seeing Pei Shiliu, Concubine Pei apologized, stood up and went to the back to avoid everyone.
Shao Shen, dressed as a servant, immediately stepped forward, saluted, and handed over a letter.
Concubine Pei said a few polite words in a friendly manner, then took the letter, checked the seal, and put it away without opening it on the spot.
Shao Shen waited for a while, and seeing that Concubine Pei had nothing to say, he said goodbye and left.
When he left, he thought to himself, the princess is graceful, beautiful and noble. If she could remarry and become his aunt, wouldn't she be better than Yu Wenjun? She was still a child.
Concubine Pei stood by the river for a long time.
At this time three years ago, the Crown Prince Sima Ying was riding his horse at full speed and almost bumped into her.
At that time, her heart was about to jump out of her chest. At the critical moment, Shao Xun stood in front of her, facing the arrogant Sima Ying, with his sword drawn, as if he was going to kill the powerful crown prince in the next moment.
Women are emotional, sometimes even irrational. This is especially true for a woman who has been alone in her empty room for many years.
Before this, no one was willing to do this for her.
Concubine Pei sighed softly.
The Qili River flows silently, as if carrying the woman's infinite resentment.
After calming down, she returned to the bed and heard the chirping again.
"It's a pity that Lan Ji is not here. It's a nice day, if only I could play a piece of music for her."
"Lan Ji met with misfortune. I heard that she was abducted by Shao Xun and taken to Liang County."
Leaving the prosperous Luoyang and going to the remote countryside, facing rude and unromantic military leaders all day long, I am afraid it won't be long before I hear the news of Lan Ji's death.
Concubine Pei's mood became worse and worse. Liang Lanbi smiled and listened silently.
She had met Shao Xun once four years ago, when he was with the younger sister of the Yu family.
Shao Caiguan's appearance was indeed not handsome. His face was bronzed from the sun and rain, and he did not look at all as fair as a scholar.
But he still had some skills in speaking, and was not completely vulgar and uncultured. Especially his views on the general situation of the world, which were basically correct, and his vision was more piercing than that of many scholars.
She is brave and good at fighting, and is very famous in the imperial guards. If she can be won over to work for her husband, she would be a good weapon to fight against Sima Yue - because of her background, she can only be a weapon.
Just as she was about to say something, a maid suddenly came over and whispered something in her ear.
Liang Lanbi's face suddenly changed and she stood up in a hurry.
Everyone looked at her in surprise.
Liang Lanbi did not explain. After apologizing, she left in a hurry.
Concubine Pei glanced at her, frowned, and had some guesses in her mind.
******
Queen Yang Xianrong fell to the ground weakly, her eyes full of fear.
She wanted to get up, but her whole body began to tremble uncontrollably and she couldn't stop it.
The palace maids quickly helped her up.
Emperor Sima Zhong spat out a mouthful of blood and slumped weakly on the imperial desk.
There were a memorial and two or three Hu pancakes scattered on the table.
The memorial contained the good news that Chen Min was captive and the Jiangdong rebellion was put down.
The Hu Bing had been stained red with blood, which was extremely eye-catching.
Everyone was panicked and didn't know what to do.
The emperor made a few "uh uh" sounds but was unable to speak. Finally, he spat out a large mouthful of blood and then fell silent.
Some palace maids are already crying.
Yang Xianrong shed tears silently and her body began to tremble again.
General Chen Jing of the palace soon learned the news and hurried in. When he saw the emperor's condition, he was at a loss as to what to do.
Anyone who encounters regicide will be stunned.
However, he reacted quickly, hurried out of the hall, summoned his military academy, and ordered the palace to be blocked, allowing only entry but not exit.
He knew in his heart that this was actually futile.
The murderer who committed the regicide must have already fled. Not to mention, even if he was caught, what would happen? He might not know who asked him to do this, and who he was targeting.
Chen Jing didn't want to get involved in this matter, and he didn't dare to get involved.
The power of the Grand Master is too great...
In recent months, he has received full assistance from Wang Yan, who was appointed as the military commander, and almost all important affairs of the state are decided by his single word.
It's not that there are no people who are dissatisfied with the Grand Tutor. In fact, there are many people. But no one has organized them, and they don't know under whose banner to unite.
The Crown Prince might be a candidate, but he is not the emperor after all, and he has been the Crown Prince for a short time. For a time, his influence was low and he was far inferior to the Grand Tutor and Wang Yan.
Within just a few months, Sima Yong was killed, Zhou Mu was killed, Zhuge Mei was killed, Zhou Fu was kicked to Shouchun, Shao Xun was driven to Liang County, and the whole Luoyang was subdued under the tyranny of the Taifu.
Chen Jing is not the kind of person who would sacrifice his life for justice.
The emperor was good to him, so he did not fawn on powerful officials. He just did his best to repay the emperor.
Revenge for the emperor? Sorry, he couldn't do it.
But, alas! When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? He understood the adverse effects of the emperor's death after a little thought.
Luoyang is entirely supported by all the states in the world.
Although the current emperor is of pure character, he is the crown prince designated by the late emperor. His legitimacy is unquestionable and everyone recognizes it.
The Crown Prince Chi is far inferior.
If he ascends the throne, what will the governors of various states think? In the short term, out of inertia, they may continue to send money, grain and taxes to the capital, but over time, will they disapprove of the new monarch?
This - perhaps it depends on the ability of the Crown Prince.
Based on the limited contact, Chen Jing was not optimistic. The Crown Prince was a complete puppet of the Grand Tutor, and his attitude was very respectful and even fawning. Was it possible to expect him to revive the government and fight against the Grand Tutor?
A person hurried out of the hall.
Chen Jing took a glance and saw that it was Queen Yang's confidant. He thought about it and decided to go to Duanmen in person, just to do the last thing for the emperor and the queen.
Not long after Chen Jing left, the Crown Prince Sima Chi, accompanied by Wang Yan, He Sui, Gao Tangchong and others, hurried into the palace and went straight to the Taiji Hall.
The emperor died of poisoning, and who killed him can be put aside for now. The most important thing now is to determine the status first, so that the next step can be made. Even as long as the interests are exchanged, the matter of tracking down the murderer can be reduced to a small matter, and a small matter can be forgotten - just pretend that it never happened.
This is the way the world is. There is no right or wrong, everything is about interests.
The emperor had not yet completely died, but the fight for the new throne had already begun.
(End of this chapter)