Since he did not die of old age, and the Cining Palace was the empress dowager’s bedroom, Emperor Yongchang’s mourning hall was set up in the Fengtian Hall.

At this time in the Fengtian Hall, the spirit banners and curtains were a vast expanse of white and blue.

Jia Lian, with a mourning band tied on the brim of his hat, came running in breathlessly, but did not dare to enter the palace.

The sound of chanting and earth-shaking trumpets could be heard in the hall.

Jia Lian walked back and forth a few steps, and could not help himself, so he stretched his neck to look into the hall.

Jia Jing was kneeling beside the coffin with the little prince.

The concubines in the harem, the royal family members and the princesses knelt in their respective seats and cried out.

At this time, the eunuch in charge of Fengzao Palace appeared quietly behind Jia Lian: “Minister Jia?”

Jia Lian was startled and turned around quickly, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

The eunuch in charge of Fengzao Palace looked inside the palace and asked, “Looking for Lord Jia?”

Jia Lian took out a silver note from his sleeve and put it into his hand.

The eunuch in charge of Fengzao Palace didn’t even look at it, but put the banknote into his sleeve and walked into the palace.

After a while, Jia Jing walked out of the hall.

Jia Lian hurried over and helped Jia Jing walk to a distance. He looked around and then whispered, “Something is not right in the Yangxin Palace.”

Jia Jing looked at him.

Jia Lian continued, “My nephew was ordered to go to the Yangxin Palace to deliver the resumes of several officials who were to be sent out to the Yangxin Palace, but he was stopped outside the Yangxin Gate. The eunuch who blocked the gate took the resumes but did not deliver them in. After asking around at the Forbidden Gate, I learned that the Emperor Wushang, the Second Assistant, and the other two Grand Secretaries all hurried to the Yangxin Palace.”

Jia Jing looked at him without saying anything.

Jia Lian hesitated for a moment and said, “It is very likely that something has happened to the emperor.”

Jia Jing: “Is that it?”

Jia Lian was stunned for a moment, and said hurriedly: “If the emperor suddenly passed away, there would be no will. At this time, whoever writes the will will have the right to speak in the court!
If you are not here, the Supreme Emperor and the Prime Minister may change the Emperor’s will. Of the five ministers in the cabinet, you are the only one who did not participate in the drafting of the will. This is clearly an attempt to exclude you and lower your status in the cabinet.”

Jia Jing raised his hand and said, “Let them make a fuss.”

Jia Lian became anxious and wanted to speak again.

“In this matter, our Jia family will not gain any benefit, nor will any interest be harmed. There is no need to wade into this muddy water.”

Jia Jing was silent for a moment, then continued: “The only one whose interests were harmed was Li Hu.”

Jia Lian was shocked.

Jia Jing: “Li Hu will be removed from the list of ministers to be entrusted with the care of the young emperor.”

Jia Lian: “Why?”

Jia Jing: “Just now, an urgent message came from Mobei, eight hundred miles away.”

Jia Lian was startled at first, but then he realized that something big must have happened in Mobei, otherwise the emperor would not have been able to withstand the blow and died. If Duke Xiu and others died in the battle, it was possible given the nature of civil servants.

Thinking of this, Jia Lian hurriedly asked, “Should we send someone to tell Li Hu about this?”

Jia Jing snorted and said, “No need, it would be better if they fell out.” After that, he turned and walked towards the Fengtian Hall.

Jia Lian thought about it for a moment and strode out of the imperial city. No matter what Jia Jing’s plan was, he could not hide this matter from Li Hu.

Jia Lian guessed correctly. The Supreme Emperor, the Chief Minister, the Second Chief Minister and two other grand secretaries were discussing how to draft the Emperor Yongxing’s will.

Zhao Tong knelt straight in front of the couch, staring at the corpse of Emperor Yongxing in a daze.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Tong came to his senses and turned to look at the imperial desk.

The Supreme Emperor was sitting in front of the imperial desk, writing something with a pen that only the emperor could use.

Zhao Tong was stunned for a moment, then stood up and walked over.

At this time, the Supreme Emperor put down his pen and looked at him: “Where is the Emperor’s seal?”

Zhao Tong did not answer, but walked straight to the side of the imperial desk, picked up the edict and began to read it. Then his face changed: “Why is the name of Duke Lu not on the list of ministers entrusted with the care of the orphan?” After saying that, his eyes turned straight to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister opened his mouth and lowered his eyes.

Zhao Tong’s heart skipped a beat: “Prime Minister.”

The Second Assistant spoke up: “In the absence of a will from the Emperor, the Cabinet has the right to draft a will in accordance with the Emperor’s wishes and assist the Crown Prince in inheriting the throne.” Zhao Tong interrupted him: “The Emperor has said more than once that he wants the Duke of Lu to assist the Crown Prince.” He turned his gaze to the Supreme Emperor, “Supreme Emperor, you know about this. That night, the Emperor…”

The Supreme Emperor raised his hand and said, “The Emperor did not leave any last words or will.”

The second assistant said, “We are also doing this for the sake of the country. Even if some things go against the wishes of the late emperor, it is understandable.”

The other two maesters spoke up:

“Duke Xiu died in battle, and the military is dominated by Li Hu alone. He must be suppressed!”

“Yes! For the sake of our country, we must not use Li Hu again until other generals have grown up.”

Zhao Tong was so angry that his eyes turned red: “Well, for the sake of the country and the people. The emperor’s body is still warm, and you dare to tamper with the will. I will never give you the seal!”

The words were so decisive that the Prime Minister, the Second Prime Minister and the two Grand Secretaries were stunned for a moment and could not help but turn their eyes to the Supreme Emperor.

The Supreme Emperor smiled and said, “The secret compartment here was built by me. Come on!”

A tall eunuch in red came in, followed by several eunuchs in blue with broad shoulders and long legs.

The Supreme Emperor: “Please bring out the Emperor’s seal.”

The eunuch in red said, “Yes.” Then he walked towards the body of Emperor Yongxing.

“What are you doing? You are committing treason.”

Just as Zhao Tong was about to step forward to stop them, he was pinned to the ground by the blue-robed eunuchs. He could only watch as the red-robed eunuch untied the key from Emperor Yongxing’s waist and took out a golden seal box and a secret decree wrapped in yellow paper from the secret compartment on the side of the palace.

As if feeling guilty, the Prime Minister closed his eyes.

Upon seeing this, the Supreme Emperor winked at the Second Assistant and took up the secret decree himself.

The second assistant understood what he meant, opened the golden seal box, took out the emperor’s seal with both hands, stamped it heavily in the cinnabar ink box, then put it to his mouth, blew out a breath, and stamped it on the edict.

After reading the secret decree, the Supreme Emperor said, “Duke Xiu died in battle, so Li Hu cannot be promoted to the title of king.” As he said that, he threw the secret decree into the brazier.

Zhao Tong started to curse: “You are a bunch of traitors, you are rebellious and blasphemous to His Majesty, you are worse than pigs and dogs!”

The Supreme Emperor’s eyes turned cold: “Drag him away!”

Several eunuchs in blue clothes lifted Zhao Tong up.

Zhao Tong jumped up and down and cursed: “You will not die well! You will not die well!”

A cold light flashed in the Supreme Emperor’s eyes, and then he turned his gaze towards the eunuch in red.

The eunuch in red understood what he meant, stepped forward, grabbed Zhao Tong’s neck and twisted it.

Zhao Tong didn’t even make a sound, his eyes rolled back and he died.

The four members of the cabinet were all shocked, and the entire West Warm Pavilion was dead silent.

The Supreme Emperor waved his hand and Zhao Tong’s body was carried out.

After a moment of silence, the Supreme Emperor spoke: “After the crown prince ascends the throne, I will reward you with a title, a hereditary earldom.”

The second assistant and the two grand secretaries were surprised and delighted.

Just as the Prime Minister was about to speak, the Supreme Emperor said, “Who among your younger generations can be used? Let them enter the palace to accompany the Crown Prince to study.”

The Vice Minister and the two Grand Secretaries were startled at first, then they knelt down together and said in a trembling voice: “We bow to thank the Supreme Emperor for His Grace!”

The Supreme Emperor nodded with satisfaction and turned his gaze to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister closed his eyes and knelt down as well.
On the other side, Jia Lian was still trying earnestly to persuade Li Hu.

Seeing that Jia Lian was silent, Li Hu said, “No, I won’t go. I want to see what trouble they can make!”

After a pause, he said, “They dare not take away my military power.”

Jia Lian: “You have to think it through.”

Li Hu stood up, walked to the window and looked at the sky in the distance.

As the old saying goes, “If you accept favors from others, you will be grateful, and if you eat from others, you will be soft-hearted.” If you accept favors from others, you will be cautious in your words and deeds, and it will be difficult for you to stick to your own position and make decisive decisions.

Before Jia Lian arrived, Li Hu received a secret letter from Liu Xianglian, so he could guess what those people wanted to do. Without this favor, there would be no psychological pressure and worries!
Suddenly, a bell rang outside the window!
Jia Lian stood up suddenly: “Jingyang Bell!”

Li Hu opened the window, and the sound of the Jingyang Bell could be heard again and again! (End of this chapter)