August 23.

Liu Yijing, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and Han Du, went to work in the Cabinet as usual. In the Cabinet, they met someone.

This person's name is Li Kezhuo, who was the Minister of Honglu Temple at that time. His purpose of coming here was to offer "Immortal Pills".

At this time, the chief assistant Fang Congzhe was also present. He was not very interested in this thing. After all, the emperor had just taken the wrong medicine and was unable to bear the blame.

Liu Yijing and Han Yu hated him even more, but they didn't take it seriously and sent the man away directly.

Obviously, this is a small matter, and small matters should not be paid too much attention to.

But at some point, this theory is unreliable.

Two days later, August 25th.

Ming Guangzong issued an order to summon cabinet ministers, six ministers and other important officials of the court. In addition, he specially called Yang Lian.

Everyone was puzzled about this.

What is even more puzzled is that every meeting he held was called Yang Lian until his death.

There was no reason or need, perhaps his intuition told him: This person named Yang Lian is very important.

His intuition is very accurate.

At this time, Guangzong was already dying, so almost all ministers believed that what is going to be discussed in today's meeting was an important issue related to the country and the country.

However, they did not expect that there was only one issue at this cabinet meeting - wife.

Comrade Guangzong meant that his concubine Li Xuanshi now had only one daughter. It was too difficult for her to serve her for so many years, so she considered promoting her and being named the Imperial Concubine.

In addition, he also took out the eldest son Zhu Youxiao and told you that the child's mother was gone, so he would ask Li Xuanshi to take care of him from now on.

Everyone present was stunned.

You have been jumping for a few days, so while your head is still working, hurry up and do something practical, draw a will, even if you find a good coffin, you will finally be prepared. You are still thinking about your wife's title, which is really amazing

.

In the eyes of the people at the scene, this is a model husband who respects women and remains unswervingly.

But that's not the case.

August 26th.

To many people's surprise, Emperor Guangzong of Ming issued another order to convene a cabinet meeting, with the participants including cabinet ministers and ministers of various departments, and of course Yang Lian.

The meeting was held inexplicably just like yesterday. His Majesty the Emperor called people in, but he actually started to do some family matters and then brought Zhu Youxiao in, saying that my son is still young, you should take care of him, etc.

After half an hour (an hour), the emperor was tired. Just when everyone thought the meeting was about to end, nonsense began again.

Just like yesterday, Guangzong once again proposed to grant Li Xuanshi the imperial concubine. Only then did everyone understand that this is the matter?

Sun Ruyou, Minister of Rites, immediately stated that if you agree, then do it (and there is nothing to do).

However, at this moment, something shocking happened.

A man suddenly broke in, openly interrupted the meeting, and took away the eldest son of the emperor, the cabinet, and the six ministers of the ministers of the six ministries.

This person is Li Xuanshi.

Everyone was confused, no one stopped them, and no one stopped them. The reason was very simple. After all, this Li Xuanshi was the emperor's wife, and the emperor didn't care, so who would care.

What is even more incredible is that soon, they heard the harsh rebuke, Li Xuanshi's rebuke. She was the emperor's eldest son.

So, an unprecedented scene appeared.

The future heir of the Ming Empire was openly pulled away by a woman and scolded in public, while the emperor, chief minister, and ministers of various departments all responded without any response and allowed all this to happen.

Everyone stood there quietly, listening to the woman's scolding until the scolding ended.

Then, Zhu Youxiao, who was underage, walked in. With a very reluctant expression, he walked to his father and said this:

"I want to be named the queen!"

The mystery was solved, and the inexplicable meetings and rambling conversations finally had a clear answer - coercion.

Meetings are coerced, and chatting is coerced. It would be a bit unreasonable if a dying husband and a young child were not coerced.

Li Xuanshi was very confident because she knew very well that this weak husband did not dare to refuse her request.

Now, she is only one step away from her throne of queen.

But she never took this step until she died.

Because just as the eldest son of the emperor said those four words, another voice rang out:

"The emperor wants to be named the Imperial Concubine, and I will definitely handle it as soon as possible!"

The person who said this was Sun Ruyou, Minister of Rites.

Li Xuanshi was too naive. Compared with the old fried dough sticks in the court, she was even a preschooler.

Shangshu Sun was extremely smart. When he saw that the situation was wrong, he knew that the emperor could not hold it anymore and took action decisively. He turned the queen into the imperial concubine in just one sentence.

Comrade Guangzong was also very clever and immediately responded: OK, that's it.

Miss Li's dream of empress was ruined, but she would not give up because she knew very well that in her hands, there was an ace - the eldest son.

As long as the dying person dies completely, everything will be in control.

But she didn't know that at this time, her eyes were already staring at her.

Yang Lian has confirmed that the domineering woman in front of him will soon be a very terrible enemy. Before that, he must be prepared.

August 29th.

In the previous three days, Guangzong's health did not improve at all, so on this day, he summoned the chief minister Fang Congzhe and other important officials of the court again.

Comrade Guangzong was very sober this time, and he went straight to the topic as soon as he came up:

"How about Shouki? How about sleeping?"

A long tree is a coffin, and a bed is a grave, which is considered as explaining the funeral.

But Mr. Fang Congzhe is a little confused if he is old, so he just opens his mouth and says a lot of things, such as your father’s grave and coffin, please rest assured.

Comrade Guangzong probably couldn't help laughing and crying, so he had to point his finger at himself and said:

"It's mine. (My Birthday Palace)"

The assistant Fang was in a mess, and then he heard the second question from His Majesty the Emperor:

"I heard that a medical official from Honglu Temple gave golden elixirs. Where was he?"

Fang Congzhe didn't think much about this question, so he expressed his answer:

"This person is called Li Kezhuo. He said he has a elixir, and we didn't dare to believe it."

He really should think more.

Because golden elixir is not equal to immortal elixir, believing is not equal to disbelief.

It is this ambiguous answer that leads to a wrong judgment:

"Okay, call him in."

So Li Kezhuo entered the hall and saw the emperor. He took the vein of the emperor and diagnosed it. Finally, he took out the elixir.

The name of the immortal elixir is Hongwan.

Red Pills

At this time, on the morning of August 29, the 48th year of Wanli (1620), Ming Guangzong took the red pill.

He feels very good.

According to historical books, after taking red pills, the whole body is relaxed, and it promotes digestion and increases appetite (thinking to drink and drink).

When the news came, the ministers waiting anxiously outside the palace were very happy and cheered.

The emperor was also very happy. So, a few hours later, in order to consolidate the efficacy, he took red pills again.

In the afternoon, Li Kezhuo, who worked hard and made great contributions, left the palace. Outside the palace, he met Fang Congzhe, the chief minister of the cabinet waiting there.

Fang Congzhe said to him:

"Your medicine is very effective, you can get 50 taels of silver."

Li Kezhuo left happily, but he did not receive the reward.

Fang Congzhe and those who participated in the meeting that day were left behind, and they lived in the cabinet because they believed that tomorrow, the emperor who had improved health would summon them again.

Six hours later.

In the early morning, the ministers living in the cabinet suddenly received an order conveyed by the eunuch:

Enter the palace to meet immediately.

Everyone understood what this meant, but before they arrived, they had already received the second news - the emperor passed away.

On the first day of the 9th month of the 48th year of Wanli, Emperor Guangzong of Ming died in the palace at the age of 39 and was in office for one month.

It is very normal for the emperor to die; it is also normal for the emperor to take medicine; but it is abnormal after taking medicine.
To be continued...