The queen is charming, but powerful ministers lure her to seize power and usurp the throne

Chapter 42 Gu Heng: I originally set my heart on the bright moon
Before I was born, the road was already paved. Step by step, I followed the requirements of my elders and practiced literature and martial arts. I didn’t dare to neglect my homework.

My mother often looked at my wounds and cried. She felt sorry for me, but she could only wipe away her tears.

It is said that once the emperor is the emperor, there are always ministers, but the Gu family in Luoyang has remained standing even after the emperor died and the dynasty was destroyed.I don’t know if my deep-rooted and flourishing family is my indestructible armor or my prison.

I am the future head of the family, and my conduct is related to the survival of the family.So at an age when other children were still acting coquettishly in their mother's arms, I was already as calm as an adult, and I cannot explain the hardships I suffered.

I grew up to be the next generation head of the family just as they expected and disciplined me.

At that time, I took part in the imperial examination and passed the second-level imperial examination. My results were quite satisfactory.Keeping a low profile and moving forward steadily is what my father has always emphasized.I also seemed to have developed a mind like still water, but slowly I realized that it seemed like a puddle of stagnant water.

Under my father's arrangement, I was sent to a remote and remote place to serve as a county magistrate - he said he wanted to polish my ability to deal with things.On the way to his appointment, he met the expelled seventh prince Fu Rong and his wife Su Zhesang.

She looks very thin and shriveled, more like a refugee than a lady. Apart from having the same surname, she has no connection with her famous sister in the capital.

Her right foot was injured, so she limped in. After groping in front of the high counter for a long time, she took out a little silver and asked the doctor to go to the inn. However, she went to the doctor because of Fu Rong's illness.She looked at the doctor's face and spoke in a trembling voice, as if she was afraid of being kicked out.

She reminds me of a cat named Yan Ruyu.

I found it in the corner behind the academy. Its right foot was injured. It shrank and stared at me cautiously. It ran away even if I got half a minute closer. It was afraid of me - even though I didn't mean any harm.I captured it by force, healed its wounds, and fed it.As time went by, not only was it not afraid of me, it became more and more arrogant. When I was reading, it lay gracefully on the open book, so I named it Yan Ruyu - Yan Ruyu is in the book.When it is unhappy, it will bite my robe.The dead and solemn study began to come alive, as if life was not always lonely.

But I finally strangled it to death with my own hands. Every minute it held its neck and struggled in my hand, it was extremely clear and long, like a knife slowly scratching through the brain until it died, its agate-like crystal clear eyes. He looked at me blankly, not sure if it was out of sadness or resentment. I thought I was strangled to death by myself, otherwise why couldn't I breathe?

I was seriously ill, and while I was in a daze, my mother, who had always been weak and dare not say much, started to argue with my father in a sharp voice.

"Heng'er has been obedient since he was a child. He can't go outside to play with other children. Is it a big mistake to raise a cat to relieve boredom? You have to force him to do this! You clearly want to force him to death!"

"He's just playing with things and losing his mind. He's raising a cat today, but what about tomorrow? Will he still have to walk the birds with those dudes on the street?"

"I don't understand these things about your Gu family! If you force Heng'er to death, I will go with him! If we two die, let's see who will inherit your legacy!"

"Okay, you are all forced to death by me! If you die, I will marry again. There are many people who want to enter my Gu family!"

In the end, only my mother's mournful cry was left. I opened my eyes with force. I thought I was wrong. I should listen to my father and abandon all distracting thoughts. I should not save Yan Ruyu in the first place. In this way, there will always be a cat in the backyard. It is lame but alive.

Later, everything was done according to what my father said, and my father was very satisfied.

My mother secretly gave me a cat, which looks almost like Yan Ruyu, but it is not afraid of my arrogance.I didn't want it, so how could I kill Yan Ruyu and find another one to replace her?I will always remember those eyes that took my breath away.

For some reason, people who are always in good health get sick at this time of year.I would take the initiative to see the doctor every time and ask him why. The doctor said it was a heart disease. How could a person with a rock-like heart have a heart disease?I thought it was Yan Ruyu who came to see me, but he was angry.I would not take any of the medicine prescribed by the doctor when I took it back. This was Yan Ruyu’s punishment for me. How could I avoid it? The pain made me feel at ease.

After a long time, I pulled back from my thoughts. The doctor had already prepared the medicine. He warned, "Young Master, it's better to relax and let everything go."

I smiled and didn't answer.

The doctor turned around and said impatiently, "I told you that I have a room full of patients who are not available for consultation!"

Her peeling lips murmured, obviously she was scared, but she still stood there stubbornly like a cow, "Then when are you free, I, I'll wait for you here -"

It was midsummer at that time, and a jujube tree in the backyard of the hospital was buzzing with cicadas, just like the afternoon I met Yan Ruyu.

Even though I stepped out, I turned back and put a piece of silver on the counter.

She jogged up and said thank you.His eyes were too humble to look at me.

As early as half a month ago, I received the news that the seventh prince and his wife were unfortunately robbed by bandits in Luofeng Mountain, and no bones were left.

There were scars on her thin face and neck, and her right leg was dragged.Obviously, he escaped from death.

Suddenly my father's thoughts came to mind: The prince is good at everything, but he is too kind-hearted.

Although Xirong has been in peace recently, I'm afraid it's just the ambition of a wolf after all.

I asked Chang Sui to give her all the banknotes I had on me, but she was frightened and did not dare to accept them.Obviously she didn't know who I was, but I had no intention of telling her.

Since the seventh prince's branch is not dead, it is not impossible.

I told her: Although the road has been exhausted, there are still green mountains in southern Hubei.

General Ding'an is dead, but the [-]-strong army in southern Hubei is still there, and there may not be anyone among them who feels the nostalgia for the Lord.This is also the reason why Emperor Xuan is always afraid.

There wasn't much interaction that time. I gave them a glimmer of hope and also left a way out for the Gu family.

My father and I have different ideas. Fu Cong is indeed good at everything, but he is not made to be an emperor.

Three years is enough to change the appearance of that wild and remote county, and it is also enough to make Wolong fly to the sky.

But what I didn't expect was that the person who secretly came to Beijing to negotiate with me would be a woman - Su Zhesang.

She obviously didn't recognize me, she raised her head and smiled at me, so bright that everything revived, the moss flowers were as small as rice, and they also bloomed like peonies.

Luoluo saluted me generously, which represented Fu Rong's sincerity.

Last winter, Emperor Xuan died of a hidden illness, and the prince ascended the throne and became Emperor Jing.

In the same year, [-] Ding'an troops, together with the governors of the three provinces of Enan County, rebelled and violently captured ten cities. The seventh prince, who had been missing for three years, reappeared.

There are cracks in the harmonious world.

Su Zhesang expressed his intention: he wanted me to help Fu Rong make a comeback.

Fu Rong was able to achieve this in just three years. Apart from the influence left by General Ding'an, he himself was also famous for being cautious and harsh.Such a reborn seventh prince is far more suitable to be the king of a country than the gentle prince.

I didn't agree, but asked her: "Why should I help you?" My father was the crown prince and tutor. After Emperor Jing ascended the throne, he made him the elder and concurrently the prime minister. Emperor Jing trusted the Gu family wholeheartedly.My father is also loyal.

From the perspective of the common people, Emperor Jing would be a mediocre emperor, but from the perspective of the interests of the Gu family, as long as they don't go out of their way, the Gu family will only become more prosperous.

So, I can totally not take the risk.

She was well prepared and did not panic at all. She said with a smile, "A useless emperor is most likely to produce traitorous ministers. There is no eternal stability. If you don't think about progress, you can only retreat."

I'm not convinced. Only change is eternal. Fu Rong will also change one day, and the Gu family's situation may not be better than it is now.

"Emperor Jing is meek and conservative when it comes to things, and is too rigid. I'm afraid that Gu Shangshu's ideas will not be implemented in a few decades." Her eyes were bright, and she was completely different from three years ago. "The prince said that if you want to truly enrich the people, It is necessary to open up sea markets and build canals.”

Anyone who is an official has the idea of ​​petitioning for the people. Apart from the considerations of the Gu family, I also have my own ideas.

That is to build canals, open sea markets, break the suppression of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, and encourage people to do business.In addition, it also breaks the tradition of planting rice in the field, and implements adapting measures to local conditions. Only what is grown locally will produce a good harvest.

I mentioned this idea to my father, but he interrupted before I could finish. He and Emperor Jing both wanted stability and were conservative, and they refused to overthrow the traditions accumulated over hundreds of years.

"Your Majesty saw the floods in the south of the Yangtze River and the people were in urgent need of relief, but the government was still pedantic and stubborn. I felt very sorry for him. If he could bless the people, he was willing to go the road that no one had gone before." She was very sincere, "Your Majesty has the heart to benefit all people. , and are willing to seek out talented people with full sincerity."

In fact, what she said is absolutely right. I have been hiding my clumsiness over the years. Most people flatter me because of my family. They also nod to my strategy, but they can't hide their smiles.

"Do you think my strategy is really feasible?"

"Why should Gu Shangshu be so modest? The prince often said that you were born with talent, but you just haven't met your master yet."

When she speaks, her almond-shaped eyes always stare at you sincerely, and her tone is so gentle that you can't help but trust her.

I couldn't help but compare her appearance three years ago. She no longer had the timidity and embarrassment of the little girl. Instead, she had a clear sky after the rain.

"Can the princess go back to Su's house when she comes to Beijing?" I randomly found a topic. With the sparkling lake outside the window, I felt an inexplicable desire to chat.

"No." She admitted frankly, and then added, "They removed me from the family tree a long time ago, saying that the Su family did not have a daughter who was a traitor."

I didn't find anger or sadness on her face. She said calmly, "I have always had a shallow relationship. If I lose in the future, they don't have to do anything difficult. If I win, I will ask the prince to spare their lives and send them away." Go back to your hometown and enjoy your old age in peace. It can be regarded as repaying their kindness in raising you."

There is no self-pity, I accept it calmly, and I am very free and transparent.

"Don't you feel regretful?" Don't you feel sad and aggrieved because you have lost a little bit of fate because of your parents' kindness?
She smiled sheepishly; "There were many injustices when I was young, but now there is someone who respects me and loves me. He has filled those gaps, and I no longer feel regretful. I feel at ease in my hometown."

I had heard that the Seventh Prince was very kind to her. The young couple shared weal and woe. For a moment, I felt a little envious.

The ups and downs of officialdom are like walking on thin ice. If one day the black gauze hat on my head falls off, will there be such a woman by my side?
The excitement probably started from that assumption. Taking advantage of the cooperation, I couldn't help but secretly pay attention to her news.

She likes to follow the soldiers to visit the mountains and inspect the terrain. She has only learned equestrian for a few years, but she is very cool when riding. In order to facilitate her, she wears men's clothes. Her colorful style is not inferior to that of men. The soldiers in the camp admire her very much.

When I heard that every time the Seventh Prince returned to camp, she would wait outside half an hour early, I sat alone in the study and felt a little lonely.

I didn't ask anyone to deliberately collect information about her. It's not just what I heard there. I remember it in bits and pieces. If I accumulate enough fragments, I can connect one or two together.

Looking back, even though I was upset, I didn't pay much attention to it.Until he heard that she had been captured, Chang Sui exclaimed, "What happened to the young master? His face is so pale that it's scary!"

I immediately wrote a letter to Fu Rong. It took me half a day after sending it to realize that I was calling someone from the Gu family, and the letter was stamped with my personal seal.

This is the first time in 20 years that things are so full of loopholes.I asked my mother, "Why do you mess up because of one person?" My mother said, "Care leads to chaos."

But why do I care?Probably because she and I are in the same boat. She and I have formed an alliance. If something happens to her, how will she implement the New Deal?I didn't dare to think too much, so I randomly found a reason for myself.

Fu Rong rushed back, and Emperor Jing used Su Zhesang to threaten Fu Rong to retreat. Fu Rong hesitated.Su Zhesang shouted, "Your Majesty, don't worry about me, attack the city, don't miss the opportunity!"

I was also on the city wall, standing behind my father. Fu Rong frowned and was in a dilemma. Behind him were tens of thousands of troops and a woman. The scale itself was tilted.Fu Rong only has one city left, and victory is right in front of him. How can he retreat?
I looked at the back of the woman who was looking forward to death. She was tied up with only a thin strip, and she was very thin. I couldn't bear to accept that she was going to die, just before the end of her suffering.

During the stalemate, I carried my father on my back and went into the palace to find Emperor Jing.Ying He has long been at his wits' end, and although everyone doesn't admit it, they know it.

I woke up the seriously injured Emperor Jing and brought him to the city gate. He said: "Open the city gate——"

My father stared at me and shot an arrow.

I carried my father on my back and supported Fu Rong to ascend to the throne.

When the city gate opened, my father did not surrender. Instead, he led those foolish and loyal ministers to block in front of Emperor Jing. His old voice shouted: "Clean out the traitors and we will not surrender until we die!"

After all, that stubborn body could not stop the incoming troops. He and Ying He were annihilated together, and died under the hooves of the Jin Dynasty.

My father told me very early on: "There are many corpses and bones at the foot of the imperial city. One general's success will lead to thousands of bones."

He eventually became one of them, and there were many more noble elders in the Gu's Ancestral Hall in Luoyang.

My father's arrow missed, piercing his arm but not his heart.

I know that he does not blame me for supporting Fu Rong, because he and I have different political views.

But he hated me for persuading Emperor Jing to surrender. A generation of monarchs can die but cannot be humiliated.

About a long time ago, I asked my father, "If my father and I have different political views, will my father be angry?"

My father said, "As a minister, there is no right or wrong way to be loyal to the monarch and petition for the people. The Seventh Prince is indeed more courageous than Emperor Jing. But it is my long-cherished wish to swear allegiance to Emperor Jing to the death."

"If things change in the future, as long as you protect the Gu family in Luoyang and honor your ancestor's trust, I won't blame you. But don't persuade me to look back. I also have my own pursuits."

(End of this chapter)