I have been a county magistrate for ten years. My subordinates insist on giving me a yellow robe.

The Imperial Palace.

In the imperial study, Duanmu Xiongtu sat calmly on a chair, and a white-haired imperial physician was taking his pulse.

"How is my health?"

The imperial physician's forehead immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly let go of Duanmu Xiongtu's arm, knelt directly on the ground, and said in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty, my medical skills are limited, so I dare not make any rash guesses."

Duanmu Xiongtu's expression remained calm, showing no emotion at all: "It's okay, just tell me straight away. Even if I'm wrong, I won't blame you."

The imperial physician trembled uncontrollably, and finally his head touched the ground. He said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid, I'm afraid..."

"Tell me, I know my body very well." Duanmu Xiongtu spoke again. Even though he had some guesses in his mind, he was still unwilling to give up until he heard the answer!

"Your Majesty, I dare not." The imperial physician said in panic.

"Alas..." Duanmu Xiongtu sighed softly, looking out the window with deep eyes: "You just need to tell me how much time I have left."

"Your Majesty, at most two to three years, at least three to five months..."

By the end of his speech, the imperial physician's voice was as low as the buzzing of a mosquito, but Duanmu Xiongtu still heard it.

"I understand, you can go down." Duanmu Xiongtu said slowly.

However, when the imperial physician was about to walk out of the room, Duanmu Xiongtu suddenly spoke again.

"and many more."

The imperial physician's legs went weak and he fell to his knees. "Your Majesty, I am innocent! Please forgive me!"

"Get up." Duanmu Xiongtu frowned slightly: "I don't want to ask you about your crime."

"You don't have to go back later. Go directly to the East Factory to find Chen Liu. From now on, you will stay in the East Factory. You are not allowed to come out without orders."

This matter is really too important. Once the news leaks out, it is conceivable how many people will be ready to take action. If the imperial physician is not killed, he can only be kept under Chenliu's nose for the time being.

"Yes, I'll go right away." The imperial physician felt relieved, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and left in a hurry.

Duanmu Xiongtu glanced at a man standing in a corner, who was writing something on a bamboo slip.

The only one who could remain so calm beside the emperor was the historian.

They were responsible for following the emperor and recording all of his words and actions. Even the emperor could not drive them away, otherwise it would lead to many speculations in history.

Historians are a special group of officials who are willing to disregard life and death in order to record what really happened.

"Wen Zhong."

"Your Majesty, I am here." The man named Wen Zhong immediately bent down, but his hands continued to move.

Duanmu Xiongtu couldn't help but smile: "How will you historians record me, and how will future generations evaluate me?"

"Your Majesty, we are only recording the facts. How future generations will evaluate you will be up to them. As long as Your Majesty is wise and loves the people, I believe that future generations will give you a high evaluation." Wen Zhong said seriously.

Duanmu Xiongtu stopped talking, and the voice of the imperial physician began to echo in his mind. "At most two to three years, at least three to five months," he said. He was probably exaggerating.

There is so little time, but I still have a lot of things to do.

The borders had not been stabilized, and even the imperial court had not been completely cleared up.

However, Duanmu Xiongtu no longer has the energy to do all these. If he had to say, the one he wanted to move most was undoubtedly the Ning family.

But now we still have to rely on Ning Fei to resist Nanliang, and the Ning family cannot move.

If the Ning family cannot move, the several other families that serve to restrain the Ning family cannot move either. Not only that, Duanmu Xiongtu also has to ensure that they can maintain a balance of power after his death, otherwise the Ning family will surely become the only dominant family.

After thinking for a long time, Duanmu Xiongtu whispered to the window: "Mohei."

"Your Majesty, here is my minister."

A voice sounded, and the guy nicknamed Lao Hei by Chen Liu appeared at the window.

"Go call Chen Liu and Zhou Chen over and tell them to come in directly. There's no need to inform them."

Mo Hei nodded silently, and the sound quickly disappeared into the night.

A moment later, Chen Liu rushed into the room first and said, "Your Majesty, I am here. Please give your orders."

"Take a rest first and wait for Zhou Chen to come." Duanmu Xiongtu casually pointed to the chair behind him.

Chen Liu responded, but did not sit on the chair directly. He took a step back and came to Wen Zhong's side. Wen Zhong quickly moved the bamboo slips in his hand to the side.

"You're so stingy. What's wrong with letting me see it?" Chen Liu muttered in a low voice.

"Sir Chen, officials of the current dynasty are not allowed to check history books. You must not break the rules." Wen Zhong said with some dissatisfaction.

"I know, I know. Then let my son come to see me when I die. That should be fine, right?" Chen Liu said unhappily.

A moment later, an old man named Zhou Chen entered the room, breathing heavily. "Your Majesty, I wonder why you have summoned me here so late at night?"

"Come here, both of you." Duanmu Xiongtu waved slowly.

"My health is getting worse day by day. Even the imperial physician says my life will take two to three years at most, or three to five months at least."

Chen Liu was startled and moved his lips, but no sound came out.

Judging from Duanmu Xiongtu's tone, he is going to rely on the isolationist will.

"Therefore, I have decided to issue a will today, passing the throne to my eldest son, Duanmu Yuanchen. You two can serve as witnesses. Zhou Chen, as the Prince's Grand Tutor, you will need to assist Yuanchen in the future and prevent chaos in the court."

After saying that, Duanmu Xiongtu handed a cane carved with a golden dragon to Zhou Chen: "I give this to you, you know when to use it."

"Yes, I know." Zhou Chen took the crutch with tears in his eyes.

"Okay, you go down."

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Zhou Chen hid his crutches under his wide robe and slowly left the room.

"Chen Liu."

"Your Majesty, you are not in such a hurry to say this now." Chen Liu said through gritted teeth.

Duanmu Xiongtu couldn't help but laugh: "I don't want to rush, but time doesn't allow me to rush."

As he spoke, Duanmu Xiongtu handed a brocade box to Chen Liu: "Chen Liu, now that this thing is in your hands, remember this: even if you die, you must not let anything happen to this thing. In the future, it will be you who will announce the edict."

"Your Majesty!" Chen Liu suddenly knelt on the ground with tears in his eyes.

This is the person I've followed for over ten years, and he actually wants to...

In contrast, Duanmu Xiongtu was very open-minded: "Everyone is destined to die, and the emperor is no exception. You just need to remember what I told you."

"Yes, I will never forget!" Chen Liu wiped the tears from his eyes and still knelt on the ground, unwilling to get up.

"Well, Yuanchen is kind-hearted. If it were a peaceful and prosperous era with virtuous ministers under him, he would surely be a wise ruler. But unfortunately, that is not what I wish for now."

"Your hands will inevitably be stained with blood in the future. I hope you can do your best to assist Yuan Chen..."

Chen Liu lowered his head deeply, already weeping uncontrollably: "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will definitely live up to your trust!"

At this time, Jiang Yuan, who was rushing all the way to Tai'an County, was staring at the large area of ​​glittering phosphorescent lights in front of him with his eyes wide open.

"Oh my god, I'm invincible..."

"With this thing, who can fight me?"