Capital, Forbidden City.

This Spring Festival was a bit bleak for the Ming Dynasty royal family. Emperor Hongzhi's condition had not improved. Although Empress Zhang trusted Sima Zhenren and asked him to "cast spells" many times in the palace, none of them worked. The condition continued to worsen. By New Year's Eve, he was in the dying stage.

The eighteenth year of Hongzhi arrived at this time.

Zhu Houzhao initially didn't worry much about his father. Even if Zhang Yuan complained in front of him and said a lot of bad things about Sima Zhenren, Zhu Houzhao still maintained his confidence in Sima Zhenren. He felt that with Sima Zhenren, his father's condition would inevitably turn bad luck into good luck.

But this belief will no longer be maintained after the first month of the year.

On the first day of the first lunar month, Zhu Houzhao got up early in the morning to salute and greet his parents. According to the past practice, after the family meets, they will go to Cining Palace together to salute and greet the Queen Mother.

Unfortunately, Zhu Houzhao didn't see his father in Kunning Palace. Queen Zhang looked at her son and wiped her tears for no reason, which made Zhu Houzhao feel a little panicked.

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Mother, what is the condition of the father? Didn't Sima Zhenren say that as long as the evil demons can be driven away, will the father's condition improve?"

Empress Zhang sighed: "Son, Sima Zhenren said this, but later he said that your father's illness is not only caused by the evil demons in the palace, but more of a fate... The ancestors of the Zhu family did not seem to want him to linger in the world..."

Zhu Houzhao frowned and asked, "Mother, what does this mean?"

Queen Zhang cried without saying a word, Xiao Jing next to her explained: "Your Highness, the queen means... Your Majesty may have...no longer..."

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "What's wrong? Eunuch Xiao, you dare to say such words. Do you believe it or not, I will punish you now? What's going on with Mother? Isn't the father good? I'll go to pay my respects to my father later. Mother, let the child go over and take a look. The child promises that he won't disturb his father's rest after he's gone!"

Zhu Houzhao found that her mother was crying, so she felt that things were not simple, especially those who were cautious in words and actions like Xiao Jing would not easily say depressed words, which made him feel nervous.

Queen Zhang said: "Son, don't go over and disturb me. Several imperial physicians are treating your father. Sima Zhenren is also helping over there. Let's talk about it after they come up with the results..."

Zhu Houzhao was stunned. Only then did he realize that his father was indeed out of reach. At this time, he had thrown his wish to be the emperor to act like a mischief. His eyes were filled with tears and murmured:

"No, no, my father's prosperity in spring and autumn, why did it suddenly fail?? You must be lying to me, right?"

"Son of the Emperor!"

Empress Zhang originally wanted to scold her, but when she saw Zhu Houzhao's face was covered with tears, she finally couldn't help but cry with her son's head.

...

...

On the 18th year of Hongzhi, on the first day of the first lunar month, Xie Qian got up amid the noise of his servants.

While asking Jin to serve and dress, Xie Qian said angrily: "The New Year is not easy. Isn't it all a rest from the first day of the first lunar month to the Shangyuan Festival? What happened in the palace?"

Xie Qian had a reason to be angry. Last night, the family got together for a reunion dinner. When they were relaxed, they could not help but drink a few more drinks. When they were staying up for the New Year, they felt tired early, so they went to the Jin family room to spend the night. Who would have thought that before they could sleep well, they were disturbed by people from the palace.

Jin said: "Master, I'm afraid there is something urgent in the palace!"

Xie Qian glanced at his concubine and said, "What urgent matters can be there? I have been in the cabinet for a few days at the end of the year, and the matters that should be handled have been handled properly... Could it be that military involvement?"

As he spoke, Xie Qian put on his clothes and went out. Before he could reach the main hall in front of him, he saw the two eunuchs in charge of Silijian waiting in front of Yuemen in a hurry. Xie Qian hurriedly went up to inquire about the situation, but the two eunuchs couldn't tell the reason, and just kept urging him to enter the palace quickly.

"I'll both father-in-laws wait a moment, I'll clean up and come out!"

Xie Qian was not in a hurry to leave. He went to Mrs. Xu's room first, sorted out his court uniform, and explained to Mrs. Xu that there was no need to prepare for New Year's greetings in the mansion.

As one of the three elders of the cabinet, and Yuyao is an official in Beijing, there are many people studying. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, there will always be people coming to pay New Year's greetings. Since Xie Qian wants to enter the palace, he naturally has to make it clear to his family that guests cannot be left to wait, because no one knows when they will return.

Xie Qian took a carriage to Daming Gate. Because there were a few snowfalls at the end of the year, the snow was deep around Daming Gate, and many palace servants were cleaning it.

Xie Qian wrapped his clothes tightly and got out of the car and was about to walk into the palace when he suddenly saw Liu Jian getting out of the sedan chair. He waited a few steps until Liu Jian came over and entered the palace together.

Xie Qian asked: "Does Liu Shaofu know what happened in the palace?"

Liu Jian said: "It's probably because of Your Majesty's illness..."

Xie Qian suddenly woke up and thought, why didn’t I expect that Your Majesty has been sick before? Why didn’t I pay much attention to His Majesty’s illness this time? Oh, it’s probably because His Majesty has been in poor health in recent years, and he has had several serious illnesses intermittently. As a minister, I seem to be used to His Majesty’s disagreement in the dragon body.

The two of them arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion all the way, and Li Dongyang took turns. Liu Jian wanted to ask Li Dongyang who stayed in the palace, thinking that he knew more, but who knew that Li Dongyang didn't know much about the situation in the Qianqing Palace.

Li Dongyang said: "Last night, several imperial doctors from the Imperial Hospital were urgently invited to the Qianqing Palace. Now the empress and the prince are in the Kunning Palace. As for what the situation is, we can only know when we arrive!"

The three of them went to the Qianqing Palace together. Although there were eunuchs and palace maids passing by from time to time on the way, they did not see the main deacons and eunuchs in the palace, nor did they see the people from the Six Tribes coming. Liu Jian asked, "Can it be that Ma Shangshu, Liu Shangshu and others have not been summoned by the palace?"

Li Dongyang glanced at Xie Qian and saw that Xie Qian was confused, so he shook his head at Liu Jian.

Xie Qian guessed, "It's probably because Your Majesty has something to ask... If there is something wrong with Your Majesty's dragon body, how can you not say hello to the six ministries?"

Liu Jian looked deep: "I hope so!"

The three of them arrived outside the Qianqing Palace and finally met an acquaintance. This was Gu Dayong, who had just been transferred to the eunuch of the Sili Supervisor. Gu Dayong's status in the palace is now due to his cooperation with Liu Daxia to achieve a victory in the northwest. Now Gu Dayong is leading the errands of the East Factory at the same time, and his status in the palace is second only to Xiao Jing.

Gu Dayong stepped forward and bowed: "Three masters, please come here!"

Liu Jian was not polite and asked directly: "Where is Eunuch Xiao?"

Gu Dayong said, "Eunuch Xiao has gone to Kunning Palace. Now the Empress and the Crown Prince are both there. Our family is temporarily responsible for the Qianqing Palace... Several imperial physicians and Sima Xianren are treating His Majesty. The three are waiting in the main hall first, and we will invite the three to come in and talk!"

Liu Jian didn't say anything, Li Dongyang frowned: "It's fine to invite the imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital to come to treat the disease, why do you still need such a warlock to get involved?"

Xie Qian asked, "Eunuch Gu, is it your Majesty who made the order that the three of us wait outside?"

Gu Dayong was stunned and shook his head: "If it was Eunuch Xiao, we don't know anything about the specific situation. The three masters don't need to ask more questions!"

The three cabinet ministers looked at each other. They were now in the Ganqing Palace but still didn't know about the emperor's condition, which made them very depressed.

But the three of them could only wait at the main hall of Ganqing Palace according to Gu Dayong's instructions. Entering the hall, looking at the empty dragon throne above, the three of them tightened for no reason, and then they looked ugly on their faces.

...

...

Shouning Hou Mansion.

As soon as Zhang Yanling came to greet Zhang Heling, he learned about the situation in the palace from his brother.

"...Brother said that my brother-in-law is not in good condition now? It's the first day of the Lunar New Year. Are the imperial doctors in the palace all useless?" Zhang Yanling was a little annoyed, "Is there a message from my sister?"

Zhang Heling said: "The queen has not sent anyone to pass the message for the time being. It was the news from Shangshenjian. It said that the Ganqing Palace has been in chaos since last night, but it is basically calm so far, and nothing has happened yet!"

Zhang Yanling was a little anxious: "Brother, don't you see it? If something really comes out, it must be my brother-in-law Bintian..."

"You dare to say this?" Zhang Heling scolded.

Zhang Yanling looked bad. He looked at the direction of the door and leaned into his brother's ear and said, "Brother, the New Year's greetings are coming. Where are you and I feeling like we are dealing with those flattering people? Why not go directly to the palace to see my sister and see what my sister said!"

Zhang Heling looked at his younger brother and asked, "Second brother, what do you mean? At this time, the palace did not summon me to enter the palace. You and I will be suspected of forcing the palace at this time. When you turn around, the censor will definitely make a statement... Don't you want our Zhang family to be in peace, right?"

Zhang Yanling shook his sleeves and said impatiently: "This is not OK, that is not OK. Can't you sit here and wait for death? If the emperor dies, what if those civil officials kill the chicken to warn the monkey and attack you and my brothers? Those civil officials have long disliked our Zhang family. Now that the prince is young, if the new emperor is established, these civil officials will definitely be ministers with their lives. At that time, you and I will definitely lose power!"

Zhang Heling was not as panicked as Zhang Yanling, and said calmly: "What are you afraid of? With the queen here, even if your Majesty has any accidents, it will not cause trouble to my Zhang family... However, it is always good to be prepared for some things... Let's do this, send someone to the palace to inquire, remember not to enter the palace gate, if you have any news, please bring them directly, and leave it to Brother Wei to deal with the guests..."

"What do you ask about it?" Zhang Yanling said.

"I said you drank a few more drinks of your family dinner yesterday. Now you are a little unconscious and don't come out to see the guests!" Zhang Heling said.

Just at this moment, a slave came in at the door to report: "Master, the second marquis, the people who came to pay New Year's greetings have submitted greetings in a row. Should they be invited into the door?"

"Go!"

Zhang Heling said to Zhang Yanling, "Don't leak the matter. Even if you hear any rumors, don't panic. The most important thing now is to sit firmly on Diaoyutai! Then send people to the palace masters in the city and watch from the government office. You can know the first time if there is any movement in spring!"

"Okay, that's it!"
Chapter completed!