It was already late at night, but the imperial palace in Shengjing was still brightly lit.

All the princes, dukes, nobles and military ministers came again.

It was snowing heavily, the wind was howling at night, and the breath turned into ice, but everyone stood in the snow under the stone steps with solemn expressions and in silence, looking at the closed palace door.

In the crowd, King Kang tightened his fur cloak and revealed a barely perceptible smile.

Then, his gaze swept across the princes, paused for a moment on the Eighth Prince and the Eleventh Prince, blinked his eyes, and thought: The only ones Qian Xiaosi can choose now are the Eighth Prince and the Eleventh Prince. Which of them should I send down next to take Qian Xiaosi’s place?
Just then, the palace door opened.

Several imperial doctors came out carrying medical bags.

The princes immediately surrounded him:
“How about it?”

“Is the Emperor awake?”

The leading doctor bowed and replied: “Your Majesty, God has blessed you. You are fine now.”

The eighth prince asked anxiously, “Did the emperor say who he was going to summon?”

All the princes looked at the imperial physician.

The seventeenth prince who had the greatest hope of inheriting the throne is also dead, so they all have a chance. Whoever the emperor summons at this time will be the future emperor!
The imperial physician: “In reply to Master Eight, Your Majesty is taking medicine now.”

As they were talking, the chief eunuch came out and said to everyone, “Your Majesty has ordered that it is late at night, so everyone should go back.”

After hearing this, the princes, dukes, beile and military ministers immediately knelt down, kowtowed three times respectfully, then stood up and walked out of the palace.
As he boarded the carriage, King Kang’s face darkened. This old man was really lucky to have woken up so quickly. It seemed that this blow was not enough! Then let’s send the Eighth Prince and the Eleventh Prince on their journey together!
Thinking of this, King Kang’s eyes flashed with a fierce light.
The emperor’s daughter is a royal family, and her marriage is considered a marriage of lower status. When she gets married, the emperor will reward her with a princess’s mansion for her to live in outside the palace, but at the same time he will order that the prince consort cannot live with the princess, unless the princess declares that they can meet.

In other words, the princess lived in one place and her husband lived in another, and the two could not meet without the princess’s decree.

But Prince Kang was different, he was a prince of Dashun, and Qian Xiaosi needed to win him over. Therefore, Qian Xiaosi’s daughter married high, subordinate to Prince Kang, and became the Princess of Kang.

When Prince Kang returned to the palace given by Qian Xiaosi, he saw his adopted wife standing inside the ceremonial gate waiting for him.

Seeing Prince Kang coming in, Princess Kang knelt down and said, “The prince is back.”

King Kang said as he walked away, “I’m back.”

Princess Kang handed over a boiling hot copper hot water bottle and said, “Please warm yourself up, Your Majesty.”

King Kang was stunned for a moment, and seeing the pleading look in her eyes, he hesitated for a moment, but still took her and held her in his arms. Then he left a sentence “Your father has woken up” and walked straight to the study.

Looking at Prince Kang’s back, Princess Kang felt a sudden sadness in her heart and turned to walk towards the backyard. She understood that there was no future between the two of them.

As soon as Prince Kang walked into the study, he saw the spies from the Northern Pacification Office waiting there.

The spy bowed: “Your Highness.”

King Kang frowned and said, “Can’t you wait until I leave to discuss your matter? This place is full of my spies.”

The spy fell to his knees, took out a mourning belt from his bosom and handed it to King Kang with both hands: “The Emperor Retired, the Emperor Retired has passed away!”

King Kang’s eyes widened and his face turned pale immediately. Then his body trembled and tears fell from his eyes.

The spy knelt there and cried.

After a while, King Kang wiped his tears with his sleeve and asked the spy, “Didn’t you say he woke up? How come he died suddenly?”

The spy said: “I didn’t dare to bring the letter from Chief Dai. It was the evil Taoist priest recommended by the traitor Prince Nan’an.”

After figuring out the whole story, the light in King Kang’s eyes flickered, and he thought to himself: The Prince of Nan’an probably had the intention to rebel a long time ago, and now that the Prince of Nan’an’s mansion has been destroyed, he will definitely take the opportunity to rebel. In this way, the south will be in chaos. This is a golden opportunity. Shengjing City must speed up, and use the list to defeat Hong Zhou and kill him on the battlefield!
Thinking of this, he tied the mourning belt around his waist, walked back and forth, walked in front of the spy, stopped, and waved.

The spy understood and stood up and leaned his head forward.

Prince Kang lowered his voice and said, “It depends on the weather. This snow will last for several days. Kill the Eighth and Eleventh Princes first, and make me so angry that I will try to get their whole family to celebrate the festival with the King of Hell before New Year’s Eve.”

The spy nodded excitedly.

The snow blocked the mountain, and Xie Jing’s soldiers went through untold hardships to cross Daqing Mountain, and the general’s report was delivered to the capital. Today’s weather is particularly good, it is a rare sunny day. The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate came out of the duty room and rubbed his sore knees.

When the emperor passed away, these eunuchs had to go to the coffin and kneel all night.

Looking up at the sun which was already setting in the west, the eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate walked towards the Zuoye Gate.

As soon as I stepped out of the Zuoye Gate, I saw a horseman rushing towards me from the Duanmen Gate.

Xie Jing’s personal soldiers shouted loudly: “Mobei! Mobei! Eight hundred miles in a hurry! Eight hundred miles in a hurry!”

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate changed his expression and ran over immediately.

The soldier pulled the reins suddenly, and the warhorse under his crotch raised its front hooves into the air and stopped abruptly.

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate said: “Quick! Give it to me, give it to me!” As he said that, he snatched the military newspaper and ran towards the Zuoye Gate.

In the western warm room of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, all the bright yellow satin was replaced with blue.

Emperor Yongxing, wearing mourning clothes, sat on the couch facing south and said to the Prime Minister who was sitting on a stool: “I promised Li Hu about this matter, and I cannot break my promise.”

After a pause, he said, “I have already personally drafted the imperial edict for the award.”

The Prime Minister had nothing else to say, so he had to answer, “Yes.”

Emperor Yongxing swallowed his saliva and continued, “Two positions among the four kings of different surnames have been vacated. I have discussed it with Emperor Wushang. One is for Li Hu and the other is for Duke Xiuguo. As for Marquis Zhongjing, he will be promoted to the first-class duke. And he will also be the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan. These are all promised by me.” As he spoke, he began to cough and wheeze.

“Your Majesty!” Zhao Tong and the Prime Minister both changed their expressions. They shouted at the same time and went over to give him a back massage.

Emperor Yongxing: “Dan, elixir.”

Zhao Tong hurriedly took out the pill and helped Emperor Yongxing take it.

Emperor Yongxing closed his eyes and rested for a while, then he felt his breathing improve.

Zhao Tong and the Prime Minister looked at him worriedly.

Emperor Yongxing slowly opened his eyes and said to the Prime Minister: “The hereditary title can only be awarded to meritorious officials who have made military achievements. This rule cannot be broken. Please bear with it for a while and become a first-class marquis.”

The Prime Minister was moved: “I am not wronged.” His eyes were wet after saying this.

Just then, the eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate hurried in holding the military report.

Seeing this, the eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate was stunned and was in a dilemma, and was caught by a glance by Emperor Yongxing.

Emperor Yongxing: “What’s the matter?”

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate hesitated for a long time, but finally replied, “Your Majesty, it has just been delivered, express delivery of eight hundred miles!” Then he handed over the military report.

Emperor Yongxing snatched it away, tore open the seal and read it, then shuddered all over, “Dead, dead. Hou Xiaokang is dead.”

Emperor Yongxing’s eyes went dark and he was about to fall backwards, and Zhao Tong quickly hugged him.

With a “wow” sound, a mouthful of blood spurted out of Emperor Yongxing’s mouth!
Zhao Tong: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

The Prime Minister was also startled and shouted, “Someone come!”

Emperor Yongxing struggled to open his eyes and looked at the Prime Minister: “Crown Prince. Crown Prince”

The Prime Minister understood and grasped Emperor Yongxing’s hand: “We will do our best to assist the Crown Prince.”

Before he could finish his words, Emperor Yongxing tilted his head and leaned into Zhao Tong’s arms.

The Prime Minister’s hand trembled, and he slowly stretched it over and placed it on the side of Emperor Yongxing’s nose. He trembled all over and immediately cried out: “Your Majesty!” (End of this chapter)