Three Kingdoms: I will act as a substitute for the Hunjun

Chapter 88 The Ending of Empress Dowager Dong
  Empress Dowager Dong must be eliminated without further delay.

But Liu Ming couldn't take action himself, so Jian Shuo could only do it.

Jian Shuo also knew this, so he immediately rushed to the East Palace and ordered Zhang Yang to protect the Queen Mother and return to Hejian to visit relatives. He set off today.

Empress Dowager Dong could vaguely hear the movements in Luoyang City in the past few days, especially the attack and defense of Qingsuo Gate, which was clearly transmitted here.

Although he didn't know what happened specifically, it was definitely a major event that affected the stability of the Han Dynasty.

At this critical moment, he wanted to check on his son and check on his condition. However, the soldiers and horses surrounded the East Palace like an iron barrel, and she could not even take a step out of the palace gate.

At this time, Empress Dowager Dong also speculated that the emperor most likely got away with being a substitute, otherwise Jian Shuo would not be able to treat her like this no matter how arrogant he was.

When he was panicking and helpless, Jian Shuo arrived with his people.

"My Majesty has been frightened these past few days." Jian Shuo bowed slightly and said with a smile, "I must have known that there was a rebellion in Luoyang. For the sake of my safety, I asked your Majesty to go back to Hejian to stay for a few days. It has been several days. You haven’t been home to visit your relatives for years.”

"Don't be hypocritical here." Empress Dowager Dong snorted coldly, "To say that the most likely person in Kyoto to rebel is your surname Jian, what have you done behind His Majesty's back, thinking that the Ai family doesn't know? Do you want the Ai family to know? It’s okay for the Aijia to leave the East Palace, the Aijia want to see His Majesty’s will.”

Jian Shuo sneered and said: "It's not easy to get His Majesty's decree. I wonder how many copies your Majesty wants? What do you want to write? Wei Chen will help your Majesty to do it immediately. But... Wei Chen is more curious, and the substitute Who else knows?"

"Why should the Ai family tell you? The Ai family wants to see Your Majesty, a scoundrel who stirs up trouble and manipulates the government." Empress Dowager Dong said angrily, "It is an unforgivable crime to put the Ai family under house arrest and Your Majesty's house arrest! Aren't you afraid that Your Majesty will punish your nine clans?"

"Hahahaha..." Jian Shuo laughed loudly, "Come here, take the Queen Mother back to Hejian to visit relatives. Everyone in the East Palace will accompany her, leaving no one behind."

Zhang Yang led his soldiers and horses into the East Palace and drove out all the maids and eunuchs, as long as they were human beings.

Empress Dowager Dong was forced onto the carriage and cursed constantly.

"Tie up this old woman and gag her." Jian Shuo ordered.

Immediately, soldiers came forward and pushed Empress Dowager Dong into the carriage, tied her up, and gagged her mouth.

Zhang Yang personally escorted them, and there were hundreds of people of all kinds in the East Palace. Together with Zhang Yang's five hundred elite soldiers, they marched out of Luoyang City in the cold afternoon weather.

Because of the sudden incident, the maids did not prepare any extra clothes and were shivering from the cold along the way.

……

Jian Shuo personally led people to search the East Palace and was relieved when he was sure that no one was left alive.

After that, Shi Shiran came to Jiade Hall.

"Did nothing happen?" Jian Shuo asked the guard.

"Last night, an imperial doctor said he wanted to go out to diagnose the Queen Mother. When I refused, he forced his way in. As a result, he was shot and killed on the spot by the officer on duty." The officer on duty reported.

"The imperial doctor forcibly broke in?" Jian Shuo nodded, and after a moment's thought, he understood that His Majesty must have noticed something, and that's why he was eager to contact the Queen Mother. It seems that the right thing to do is to tell the Queen Mother to get out.

"Well done!" Jian Shuo encouraged, and then walked into the Jiade Hall.

Emperor Ling was still lying on the bed so weakly, with a gloomy face. When he saw Jian Shuo coming, a look of vigilance flashed in his eyes, but it passed away briefly, "Didn't Aiqing go hunting with the substitute? Why are you back so soon? Cough cough cough..."

"There was a rebellion in the city, and I had to come back early to quell the rebellion." Jian Shuo replied, while observing Emperor Ling's expression.

"How is the Queen Mother lately? Are you frightened?" Emperor Ling asked.

"I am worried that the Queen Mother will be frightened, so I have sent the Queen Mother back to Hejian to visit relatives." Jian Shuo said calmly.

"Ah?" Emperor Ling was obviously surprised. He didn't expect that Jian Shuo would take it upon himself to ask the Queen Mother to return to her hometown. "Why didn't you discuss such a big matter with me?"

Jian Shuo was silent and did not respond directly, but suddenly asked: "Your Majesty, does anyone else know about the substitute besides Your Majesty and your ministers?"

Emperor Ling was startled, and then he tried his best to squeeze out a smile on his almost stiff face, "Of course, there is a substitute who knows about it, right? Hehehe... Why did Jian Qing suddenly ask this question?"

"I always feel like someone is testing the substitute." Jian Shuo hesitated and said, "Maybe Wei Chen is too tired recently."

"I am ill in bed, and I have to deal with everything big and small. I am really tired. Do you think this will work..." Emperor Ling organized his words and said, "We can ask Zhao Zhong, Zhang Rang, and Duan Gui to help You take care of the chores, they are all my confidants, and they have been with Aiqing for many years, so they are all reliable people, so it is not a bad idea to ask them to help keep an eye on the substitute."

Jian Shuo's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that His Majesty had distrusted him and wanted to bring in old favorites such as Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang to divide his power and even check and balance himself.

Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you are really disappointing me more and more. Sure enough, as the substitute said, His Majesty is not on our rope.

"Do they know the existence of the substitute?" Jian Shuo asked.

"We don't know yet," Ling Emperor said, "However, in order to make it easier for them to cooperate with Ai Qing, we can let them come to Jiade Hall. I will make it clear to them in person that you two can help each other eliminate the differences..."

Jian Shuo raised his hand to interrupt Ling Emperor's words and said: "Your Majesty is a little wishful thinking. The rebels this time are Zhao Zhong, Zhang Rang, Duan Gui and others. I am here to ask your Majesty for an order to kill these ungrateful people." generation."

"Ah?" Emperor Ling was surprised again. "I treat them like father and mother. Why would they betray me? Did Aiqing and the substitute do something to harm them?"

Jian Shuo suddenly stood up, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty keeps talking about Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang, and they are father and mother. Have you ever thought about other people's feelings? I am also serving your Majesty day and night. Ben Ming, why has Your Majesty ever cared so much about me? Why should I be blamed for the rebellion of these two ruthless men?"

Emperor Ling looked up at the tall Jian Shuo in surprise, never expecting that the other party would treat him with such an attitude.

The scene in front of him gave him an illusion. This was really bizarre. A eunuch who had gained power through the emperor's favor actually dared to reprimand and accuse the emperor?

what happened to him? Something important must have happened, but this matter was still hidden from me.

After a long time, Emperor Ling let out a long breath and said quietly: "Go and bring Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang. I want to question them personally."

"Duan Gui and Xia Yun are dead. Tomorrow I will bring Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang." After Jian Shuo said that, he turned and left, slamming the door as he walked out of the hall.

The Ling Emperor was so frightened that he trembled, his whole body was covered in cold sweat, and his clothes were soaked through.

"I lost control of Jian Shuo!" This was the Ling Emperor's first reaction.

Why is this happening?

What happened inside and outside the palace? What happened to the Queen Mother?
  If Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang come tomorrow, be sure to ask clearly. It seems that it is right to let them divide power and Jian Shuo. Jian Shuo is not enough to achieve big things, and he is easy to be impulsive.

……

When night fell, Gai Xun protected the ministers and finally rushed back to Luoyang City. The corpses all over the city have been cleared away, and soldiers are cleaning the blood stains. Even so, the nobles who live in the temple are frightened to see it.

Everyone went back to their homes, no one dared to go out.

A mourning hall was set up in Yuan's mansion, where Yuan Feng's coffin was placed.

Yuan Feng's eldest son Yuan Ji and Yuan Shao knelt in front of the soul and cried hard.

Officials with good connections kept coming to express their condolences.

They have been notified that His Majesty will ascend to the court tomorrow, so these disciples and former officials of the Yuan family also took the opportunity to express their condolences and came to inquire about the wind direction in the court hall tomorrow.

By the time we saw off the guests, it was already late at night.

Yuan Wei summoned several important people in the clan to discuss the matter.

"He Miao said personally that He Jin's rebellion was to control His Majesty, and then suppress the Yuan family so that the He family could rise." Yuan Shao, wearing mourning clothes, said, "He Miao also said that He Jin said more than once that he would suppress Yuan family. Family, Yang family and other aristocratic families, but this time He Jin did not discuss the assassination of my father with He Miao, so he is not sure about the specific situation."

"The He family must be uprooted and eradicated." Yuan Ji gritted his teeth and said, "Let everyone in the world know the price of angering our Yuan family."

"Tomorrow at the court, I will report to your majesty to kill the whole He family." Yuan Wei said in a hoarse voice. Yuan Feng's death also dealt a great blow to him.

"I heard that Zhao Zhong, Zhang Rang and other regular servants supported He Miao to attack the palace." Yuan Shao said, "It was only because Feng Fang defended the palace gate that they were not allowed to succeed."

"It's a good opportunity to get rid of the ten permanent servants." Yuan Ji gritted his teeth and said, "Unfortunately, the Jian thieves are currently strong and difficult to get rid of. However, he also suffered heavy losses in this military rebellion. His mansion was burned, killed and looted."

After Yuan Wei pondered for a moment, he muttered to himself: "The Shichang attendants failed to escort He Miao into the palace. Feng Fang insisted on guarding the palace gate... As far as I know, he does not guard the palace gate, hiss..."

Yuan Wei twirled his long beard, pondered for a few seconds, and said: "Did His Majesty and the bandits have already responded to this mutiny? Not only did they change the defenders of Luoyang City, but also the defenders of the palace city? What if In this case... wouldn't He Jin have jumped into a trap?"

After he reminded them, everyone was stunned.

"When Dong Zhuo enters the capital, I wonder how your majesty will respond?" Yuan Shao asked.

Yuan Wei shook his head and said: "Dong Zhuo is a double-edged sword. If you use it well, you will hurt the enemy. If you use it incorrectly, you will hurt yourself. But if he doesn't come, no one can break this stagnant water, and He Jin can't do anything." Arrive. It’s better to hurry up and urge the highway troops to come to Beijing, just in case. Gai Xun, who is responsible for gathering the surrounding troops, will also protect our Yuan family."

"Very good, Dong Zhuo will be responsible for smashing things up front, and our Yuan family will be responsible for cleaning up the mess, reshaping the situation, and leading the ministers." Yuan Ji nodded.

……

Overnight, some families were happy and some were sad.

On the way from Luoyang in Kyoto to Hejian County in Jizhou, there was a dense forest where a group of people were stationed, and Empress Dowager Dong and his party were being escorted by hundreds of Zhang Yang.

"Kill! Leave no one behind!" Zhang Yang waved his hand and ordered in a cold voice, "Bury the bodies on the spot."

The soldiers under his command swarmed up and rushed into the tents.

Suddenly there were screams and cries everywhere.

Empress Dowager Dong was tied up like a rice dumpling and thrown casually on the grass in the tent, with a ball of smelly rag stuffed in her mouth.

Naturally, she heard the sounds outside the tent clearly, and she knew that her end was probably coming.

Her desire to survive kept her struggling, but she was unable to break free from the rope.

At this time, the curtain was lifted, and a man walked in, holding a sword still bleeding in his hand. It was Zhang Yang, the leader of this operation.

Zhang Yang hesitated for a moment, raised his sword and lifted the rag from Queen Mother Dong's mouth, and said: "The last general was ordered to kill the Queen Mother. Unless the last general rebelled, it is hard to disobey the military order."

Although he was so bold in killing Xia Yun in front of the East Palace Gate, he was really asked to kill the Queen Mother, but he couldn't do it for a while. After all, she is His Majesty's wife, and if I have to work under His Majesty in the future, what will happen to her? You can figure it out.

Now Jian Shuo can take His Majesty hostage and kill the Queen Mother, but who knows what will happen in the future?
  His Majesty is in his prime, while Jian Shuo is already over sixty years old. It is not certain who will be in power in a few years.

But it was difficult for him to disobey Jian Shuo's general order. With Jian Shuo's current power, if he disobeyed, he would definitely not let him go.

Zhang Yang took out a piece of white silk, threw it in front of the Queen Mother, and said, "Please do what you want, Queen Mother."

As he spoke, he cut the binding ropes with his sword.

"Alas!" Empress Dowager Dong took a long breath and said, "The Ai family knew that they were bound to die, so they didn't want to say anything more. It's just a pity that my son was killed by a traitor, and the Han Dynasty will be in turmoil again."

Zhang Yang couldn't help but feel sad after hearing this. Jian Shuo forced the Queen Mother to return to her hometown to visit her relatives. Your Majesty must have known that, but he didn't stop him. It can be said that he allowed Jian Shuo to kill his own mother. However, the Queen Mother was still thinking about Your Majesty before she died.

"The Queen Mother is worrying too much. Although Jian Shuo controls the government and holds His Majesty hostage, she doesn't dare to harm Your Majesty right now." Zhang Yang couldn't help but said, "The Queen Mother should go on her way with peace of mind. After today, I'm afraid the general will not be able to stay in the palace." shocked."

He had already thought about it. After finishing this dirty thing tonight, he would ask Jian Shuo to arrange for him to be an official outside the country to avoid being put in danger.

If he withdraws too late, even if His Majesty cannot find a chance to kill him, Jian Shuo will most likely kill him to silence him. Only if he dies will the death of the Queen Mother be unconfirmed.

, Empress Dowager Dong got up, stretched her aching hands and feet, and said: "It's better for you to do it, so that you can have an easier time when you go back. Do you know why a good thief suddenly put the Ai family to death?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, don't listen to what you shouldn't hear, and the general has no interest in knowing." Zhang Yang replied.

Just kidding, who dares to know the secrets of the emperor and the most powerful minister? Even if you know, you must pretend not to know, otherwise you will definitely die.

Empress Dowager Dong suddenly threw herself forward, and her chest hit the tip of Zhang Yang's sword. The strong inertia caused her to be stabbed to the core on the spot.

Zhang Yang secretly sighed in his heart that the Queen Mother was eventually killed by him.

Empress Dowager Dong opened and closed her mouth as if she wanted to speak, but her words were unclear. Zhang Yang hesitated and put his ear to her.

Empress Dowager Dong's voice was weak and unsteady, "The emperor... is... fake."

After saying that, his body slowly slid off Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang stood there like a piece of lifeless wood, and a voice kept ringing in his mind: "The emperor is fake!"

——PS: Recently, readers often report that 2000 words per chapter is too short and cannot unfold the plot at all. So the author tried to combine the two chapters into one to make it smoother. I don’t know which mode you prefer.

(End of this chapter)