Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

The printing was originally scheduled to begin on the 22nd day of the first lunar month, but it was quietly brought forward to the 16th.

The treason of Prince Yu and the treason of Prince Zhongshun were divided into two groups, but were investigated together.

After all, there are too many things that the two families use to take advantage of each other.

Add to that the intricate network of relationships among the four kings and eight dukes, and it's almost as if the entire world from south to north, from inside to outside, is woven into it.

Among them, the Ministry of War was the most troubled.

In the past, the Supreme Lord had brought peace to the world and brought the barbarians to submission, all thanks to these generals. Therefore, the army was filled with the relatives, old friends, and children of these people.

If the world is at peace, then it's fine. Just slowly identify and slowly eliminate them.

But now the imperial court is about to go to war with the Western Barbarians, and dispatching troops and selecting generals are both urgent matters.

But there is no trustworthy coach!

The crowd was so anxious that they were running around in circles. Finally, Xu E, who was strolling around, said:

"Although the King of Dongping is ill, he has fought all over the country. Why don't we ask him for advice?"

The Ministry of War was overjoyed and immediately went to knock on the door of the palace.

Unexpectedly, he was told: "The prince is seriously ill, I'm afraid I can't help."

But no one is sure whether he is really seriously ill or just unwilling to take care of this mess.

The Ministry of War had no choice but to bring the matter before the Emperor.

Emperor Zhaoming sent someone down and asked Tao Xingjian, "We saw that the Prince of the East was fine when we came back. How come he collapsed right after returning home? Why hasn't he recovered in the past few days?"

Tao Xingjian sighed and replied, "I heard the other day that he was not in good condition, but the King of the East refused to invite the imperial physician, so he only asked the court physician to take a look and prescribe some medicine according to the old prescription.

“I had no choice but to arrange for two imperial doctors to take a look.

“Come back and tell this old servant that the King of the East has been in the East Sea for many years and has been injured and sick many times. In addition, he has been poisoned twice, and he is old. This time he is in danger.

"Fortunately, he listened to the advice, asked the imperial physician to prescribe a prescription, and took the medicine obediently.

"Yesterday afternoon, the two imperial doctors were free and went to see the follow-up. They came back and told me that the situation was probably too serious to be reversed..."

Emperor Zhaoming stood up immediately: "Why didn't you say so earlier!?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry!" Tao Xingjian hurriedly grabbed him and said, "The old prince is recovering and no bad news has come out yet.

"If you go there, what if he or someone else overthinks it and really goes down that road? What will you do?"

It has been a custom throughout the ages that when an emperor visited a seriously ill minister, nine out of ten times he went to hear his last words.

In the eyes of outsiders, Emperor Zhaoming went to the East Palace to visit the seriously ill old prince, which meant to say farewell.

The King of the East will have to die sooner or later.

But given Emperor Zhaoming's personality, how could he care about so many things?

He pulled Tao Xingjian's hand away and glared at him, "Without the East King's plan, we don't know how this turmoil in the capital would end!

"I'm going with the secret medicine from the palace!

"As long as I can save the life of the East King, I will do anything!"

Having said that, he asked someone to get the medicine, left the palace immediately, and went straight to the East Prince's Palace in plain clothes.

But the King of the East is already at the end of his rope.

In addition, he heard that Tai Shang had forced to death the descendants and relatives of several of his old friends, and he couldn't help feeling conflicted.

Emperor Zhaoming sat in front of his bed, looking at the old man who had become emaciated in more than ten days. He felt sad and tears fell as he lowered his head.

The King of the East looked at him with a smile: "Your Majesty also has moments of softness, which is a blessing for the world."

Emperor Zhaoming held his hand, which had become as thin as a bag of bones, and choked up and said, "Whatever wish your old king has, I will do it for you."

"My affairs after death have been arranged, Your Majesty, don't worry about it." The King of the East pointed to a piece of white paper beside him, "The day before yesterday, the boy from the Nan'an family came to see me, and I discussed with him and wrote this list.

"Your Majesty, if you want to send troops to the northwest, you can consider using these people.

"Those who can fight, those who can make plans, and those who can manage money, food, and troops are all selected."

He was still thinking about important things even when he was sick!

Emperor Zhaoming shed tears as he glanced at the list, wiped his eyes, and asked with a forced smile, "Why bother? Wouldn't it be better for me to directly order Prince Nan'an to lead the troops?"

The King of the East shook his head slowly, but said firmly: "No!

“He himself meant that.

“But first of all, he has lived in peace for a long time and has not experienced the blood and iron of the army or the cruelty of the battlefield. When the battle comes, he will not think things through.

"Secondly, the four kings and eight dukes are dying out, so he will be eager for quick success and seek victory. The battlefield is ever-changing, and his mindset will lead to great defeat.

"What's more, if he wants to win the battle, he must rely on the help of the four kings and eight dukes in the army.

"Now is the time for purge, and everyone's mind is unstable. Where will we get the energy to protect him?"

He spoke in a hurry, panting repeatedly, and finally grinned, "Your Majesty, just keep him in the capital as a good omen.

"He had frequent contacts with various families, so there must have been some cases of favoritism and abuse of power.

"But for the sake of His Majesty, we cannot kill all of them. We still have to keep two or three families to decorate the facade.

"Just keep the Nan'an family, demote their title, and grant them a county.

"Keep it for another ten years or so, and when it's passed down to the next generation, allow them to return to their hometowns, so they won't have to see it anymore and won't be bothered by it anymore."

Emperor Zhaoming nodded repeatedly and cried, "Old King, your advice is valuable and good, I will take note of it.

“When the affairs of Prince Yu and the others are clarified, I will also clear the name of the former deposed Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and grant them posthumous honors.

"If the old prince has a beloved younger generation, regardless of whether it is a main branch or a side branch, I can grant him the imperial surname and adopt him under the name of the former Crown Princess.

"You don't have to worry about it when you visit the graves in the future!"

When the Eastern King heard this, his originally calm expression suddenly became agitated, tears streaming down his face, and he struggled to kowtow to the emperor on the pillow:

"If that's the case, then my poor daughter won't be in vain for being the daughter-in-law of the royal family!

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

With shaking hands, he called in his personal attendant and designated this person, “This child has been with me for twenty years and knows my family and the things around me best.

"Your Majesty can order him to return to my Mu clan to select someone."

Emperor Zhaoming agreed on the spot, asked about his age and martial arts, and immediately appointed him a sixth-rank captain. He also issued an imperial decree that he was not allowed to take part in this battle. He must take care of all the affairs after the death of the old king before he could seek fame for himself.

Old Wang was relieved and relieved, but within a moment, he passed away.

Emperor Zhaoming leaned on the bed and cried.

After returning to the palace, he considered again and again and chose the word "Ding". He posthumously granted him the same system of princes of the same clan and gave him a grand funeral.

As soon as the half-month period was up and Shoukang Palace opened its doors, the funeral invitation was received first.

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but burst into tears when she thought of the protection that King Dongping had shown her these days.

Emperor Zhaoming was busy with many things to do, so he ordered Tao Xingjian to accompany Lin Daiyu personally to burn incense in front of the East King's spirit on his behalf.

All the people coming and going in the East Prince's Palace are men.

Lin Daiyu only burned incense and bowed to show her sincere wishes. She waited for Tao Xingjian to read the decree of posthumous title on behalf of Emperor Zhaoming, and then they walked out together.

Before getting on the car, Lin Daiyu hesitated but did not say a word. She just looked at Tao Xingjian pitifully.

Tao Xingjian was both angry and amused: "Don't you know your Majesty?

"The reason they asked me to bring you out is because they were afraid that people would gossip about you, and they specifically asked me to accompany you back to the Jia Mansion.

"Let's go and kowtow to your grandmother."