Chapter 42 Chapter Thirty-Eight

After three cannon shots, just as Du Zhou was about to shout "execution", he suddenly heard the shout of "keep people under the knife", and saw a woman rushing out of the crowd. Du Zhou saw that it was... In the later years of Emperor Wudi, an event that shocked Chang'an happened. In the first year of Zheng (Yan)he (92 BC), Emperor Wu took a nap in Jianzhang Palace. He was over sixty years old, and he was obviously old because of his vertical color. His face was slightly swollen, his eyes were drooping, and his temples were already gray.At this time, he was snoring softly, and suddenly the sleeping Huang screamed: "There is an assassin!"

The guards rushed in, where is the assassin?No one found out, but no one dared to say that Emperor Wu was dreaming. The always mighty emperor was sitting on the bed trembling at this moment... "Close all palace doors and search for an assassin for me." So all the gates of Jianzhang Palace were closed, and the guards searched from house to house. "Your Majesty, no assassin was found in the palace." Emperor Wu was still terrified: "I order you to close all the gates of Chang'an City, and search the whole city from house to house." "Follow the order."

So all the people in the capital screamed, and they were searched for ten days and ten nights.For ten days, Emperor Wu didn't eat well, couldn't sleep at night, and didn't go to the harem. He slept, eaten, and worked in the front hall of Jianzhang Palace, and had many guards guarding him day and night. "Your Majesty, the whole city has been searched, but no assassin has been found." "Bring me the gatekeeper." The guards of the palace gate were brought in tremblingly. Emperor Wu shot the case and shouted: "Are you guilty? Why did you let the assassin into the palace?"

"Your Majesty, the palace gates are strictly guarded, and it is impossible for assassins to enter." "You still want to deny it." Emperor Wu Jing, who was so frightened that he almost lost his mind, ordered: "Push him out and behead him." "Your Majesty, I am wronged, I am wronged!" After killing the palace guard, Emperor Wu was still angry and terrified, so he called Du Zhou, the official censor, and asked, "Du Zhou, according to your judgment, who might the assassin be and where did he go? " Du Zhou knew that there were no assassins in the palace, but he couldn't disobey Emperor Wu, so he catered to him: "I speculate that Zhu Anshi is more likely."

Emperor Wu asked the Prime Minister Gongsun He again, and Gongsun He said, "According to what I saw, the assassin must be Guo Xie. He is a commoner but a chivalrous man. His disciples even killed a Confucian scholar, so the assassin must be him." Emperor Wu immediately issued an order: "Catch Zhu Anshi and Guo Xie." Guo Xie was caught by officers and soldiers without any precautions, and was taken to the capital, where he was put on death row. The cruel official Du Zhou tortured him severely, but Guo Xie never admitted to assassinating the emperor.Du Zhou knew that there was no evidence, but in order to solve the emperor's heart disease, he sentenced Guo Jie to beheaded.

In the afternoon of that day, Guo Xie was loaded into a prison cart and taken to the execution ground. The streets were crowded with onlookers.Du Zhou personally supervised the beheading, and he followed the prison cart on a tall horse. The criminal officer and Du Zhou knew that Guo Xie was a hero, and they were afraid that someone would rob the place, so they fired their cannons before the time came, and were ready to kill. Guo Xieyuan opened his eyes, glaring at him without fear, and kept cursing: "The dog emperor killed innocent people unjustly." The executioner, with a red cloth tied around his head and waist, was holding a big knife and waiting for orders.

After three cannon shots, just as Du Zhou was about to shout "execution", he suddenly heard the shout of "keep people under the sword", and saw a woman rushing out of the crowd. Du Zhou saw that it was the emperor's dream Concubine Xiang, Concubine Xiang said to Du Zhou in grief and indignation: "As long as Guo Xie can be released, women of the people are willing to enter the palace." Guo Xie yelled: "No, Xiang'er, you can't be beaten again." Concubine Xiang said to Du Zhou: "Guo Xie is my savior, and also the savior of many common people. You cannot kill him."

Du Zhou sent a flying horse to report to Emperor Wu. When Emperor Wu heard that Concubine Xiang was coming, he ordered Guo Jie to be imprisoned in the prison and his execution suspended. Emperor Wu was very happy that Concubine Xiang came to the palace, but Zhu Anshi hadn't been caught yet, and half of Emperor Wu's heart disease was still unresolved. Emperor Wu hugged and kissed the naked Concubine Xiang at the Fragrant Curtain Hall, and Concubine Xiang said, "Your Majesty, you are not joking, why hasn't Guo Xie been released?" Emperor Wu said: "When Zhu Anshi is caught and it is confirmed that Guo Xie did not enter the palace to assassinate, it will not be too late to release him, but you must accompany him well, otherwise I will kill him immediately." The concubine had to obey the emperor.

When Concubine Yi heard that Concubine Xiang had entered the palace again, she was very depressed, and she didn't think about eating, so her personal maid persuaded her, "Your Majesty, you eat too little, be careful of your body!" Concubine Yi asked: "Did you find out? Which palace did the emperor sleep in last night?" "I got it, it's in Xiangfei's Fragrance Palace." Concubine Yi shed tears when she heard this... In the afternoon of that day, Emperor Wu was reviewing the memorial. Du Zhou came to report: "Your Majesty, Gongsun Jingzhang's servant was accused of misusing the Northern Army's military expenditure of 190,000 yuan. He has been arrested. Since he is the beloved son of Prime Minister Gongsun He, I feel that It's tricky, please make it clear to the emperor."

Emperor Wu said angrily: "Do you still need to ask me? The prince violated the law and committed the same crime as the common people. You are a majestic court captain, don't you know?" "The emperor is holy." Du Zhou sentenced Gongsun Jingzhang to death. Prime Minister Gongsun He came to Du Zhou's mansion to save his son.The family members came to report: "Lord Du, the prime minister is asking to see you." Du Zhou knew Gongsun He's power. Not only was he the prime minister, but his wife was the sister of Empress Wei, and his son was a member of the imperial court, so he dared not be negligent, and said, "Please."

After Gongsun He took his seat, he said: "My son knows that he is guilty of committing a crime, and I know that Lord Du enforces the law like a mountain, so I dare not say more. However, this old man wants to catch Zhu Anshi in exchange for his son, so please Lord Du hold your hand high." Du Zhou said: "It's understandable that the prime minister is eager to save the son, but this matter, I can't be the master. I will wait for the minister to ask the emperor for instructions before making a conclusion." "Then please." "Forgive me for acting impartially." During the court, Du Zhou reported the matter to the emperor, and Emperor Wu said as he walked, "As long as he can catch the assassin Zhu Anshi, I will let his son go." "Follow the order." After getting the consent of Emperor Wu, Gongsun He used the power of the prime minister to mobilize various agencies to round up Zhu Anshi, and finally caught Zhu Anshi. Emperor Wu was overjoyed and passed the decree: "Exempt Gongsun Jingzhang from the crime." Emperor Wu personally went to the prison to inspect the assassin who made him tremble and restless, thinking that he must be a tall and tall man with wolf teeth and tiger eyes. Unexpectedly, Zhu Anshi was a white-faced niche. However, when Emperor Wu saw that Zhu Anshi looked disdainful at the emperor without even raising his eyelids, Long Yan was furious: "Zhu Anshi, why did you assassinate me?" Zhu Anshi said arrogantly: "I don't even know where the imperial palace is, so how can I assassinate you." "Bold, dare to ask the emperor like this?" Du Zhou shouted. Zhu Anshi narrowed one eye, and said sarcastically, "Du Zhou, thanks to you being Tingwei, you don't know as much as I do." "What do you know, say! Tell you, anyone who comes to me will either die or crawl out." "Hmph, the hero is still afraid of being tortured? I didn't want to tell you that the safety of your emperor has nothing to do with me, but Gongsun He is so hateful that he even traded my life for the life of his son, a dog official. Don't hold your breath." Emperor Wu became impatient: "You are dying, and you are still so arrogant." "Let me tell you, it is the son of the prime minister who buried a lot of cursed wooden figures on both sides of the road in Ganquan Palace, cursing the emperor viciously. If you don't believe me, go dig it!" "What!" Emperor Wu was furious, "Catch Gongsun He and his son!" "yes." "I also want to tell you that Gongsun He's son is still having an affair with the emperor's daughter, Princess Yangshi. How about it, the most filthy ones are still your royal family." Emperor Wu was terrified and angry, and fainted in a hurry. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Emperor Wu was lying on the dragon couch, and Empress Wei fed him medicine spoonful by spoonful, and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister himself did not break any law... If you kill him, my sister will become a widow." After hearing this, Emperor Wu slapped her medicine spoon away, and shouted: "The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, step down." Empress Wei retreated with tears. Du Zhou came in and asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, we have indeed dug up small wooden figurines of witchcraft on both sides of the Chidao of Ganquan Palace, on which are written a lot of words cursing the Emperor." Emperor Wu was so angry that he trembled all over, the dragon bed was almost jolted... The emperor, who was so frightened by the assassins and witches, almost lost his mind.He ordered: "Kill them all." Du Zhou asked: "The emperor please make it clear." "Kill Gongsun He and his son, exterminate the clan." "yes." "What about Princess Yangshi?" Du Zhou lowered his head and asked. "kill." "Zhu Anshi, Guo Xie?" "I have already told you that anyone suspected of being an assassin or a witch will be killed without mercy." "Follow the order." So the prime minister's family was exterminated, and the two princesses, Princess Zhuyi and Princess Yangshi, who were related to witchcraft, and Wei Qing's son Wei Fu were all killed. The extermination of the prime minister's family shocked the capital, and the common people talked a lot, and Chang'an City was shrouded in fear. After Gongsun He's death, Emperor Wu fulfilled his promise at the birthday banquet to make Liu Qusuo, the son of King Jing of Zhongshan Liu Sheng, his prime minister, and made Liu Qupeng his prime minister. When Concubine Xiang heard that her savior, Guo Xie, was killed, she was extremely indignant. She cried and said, "Hero Guo, you were killed to save our family. After you die, Xiang'er is no longer willing to serve the emperor. Xiang'er wants to serve the emperor." I went to find my old parents..." "Parents...Xiang'er is here..." "Your Majesty, Concubine Xiang has hanged herself and died." The servant came to report. Emperor Wu sat down blankly... In the early dynasty, when Emperor Wu was dealing with political affairs, he was obviously restless, and the ministers all noticed it. Minister Ding Yi went out to play and said: "Your Majesty, I recommend an alchemist named Yida. He often travels to the East China Sea and has seen immortals. He said that he can obtain the elixir of life for the emperor." Emperor Wu was overjoyed when he heard this, and he said loudly, "Xuan." A tall, radiant, and handsome middle-aged man floated over, and he prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed to the sun: "I pay my respects to the Holy Majesty, my Majesty, long live, long live, long live!!" That clear and high-pitched voice and handsome appearance made Long Yan very happy. Throughout his life, Emperor Wu judged people by their appearance. Not only women should have a beautiful appearance, but also men should look at their appearance. Not only did they love the handsome man Han Yan, but they also said that they must choose handsome and beautiful men when they appoint ministers or close servants.Now seeing the handsome guy Yida, his eyes naturally lit up again. "Free of courtesy." "Your name is Yida." "yes." "I heard that you often go to the sea and have seen immortals?" "Yes, Xiaomin once met an immortal in the East China Sea. I wanted to obtain the elixir of life. The immortal said that this medicine is not given to ordinary people, unless you ask for it for the emperor." Emperor Wu became excited when he heard this: "Can you ask for the immortal medicine for me?" Yi Da said: "Of course, the Holy One is the Son of Heaven." Emperor Wu was overjoyed, and said: "I named you General of the Heavenly Way, and asked you to seek immortal medicine for me." "Follow the order." In the dim night, the central platform of Yingdao in the palace was covered with white thatch, and Yida was dressed in a white feather coat, standing in the middle of the white thatch with an airy expression, while Emperor Wu and his ministers stood under the thatch.When the auspicious day arrives, the celestial music will be played, and the deacon will shout: "The emperor bestows a jade seal on the General of Heaven." Emperor Wu took a step forward and put the jade seal on the tray of the deacon's palace man. The deacon boarded Maotai and knelt down to present. Entrusted by the Son of Heaven, he will welcome the gods and pray for the gods to come and impart the elixir of life." After reading, I can't afford to kneel to the sky. The ceremony ended with fairy music, Emperor Wu and the ministers had retreated, and Yida was still kneeling. Emperor Wu was eager to seek immortality, and within a month, he was granted the titles of General of Heaven, General of Earth Scholars, General of Datong, and General of Wang Li consecutively within a month. On this day, inside and outside the mansion bestowed by the emperor on Yida, colorful lights were hung high and joyous, and ministers from all over the world came to congratulate him. It turned out that Emperor Wu competed to marry his own daughter, Princess Wei, to Yida. Yida is dressed in a groom's attire, with a red hydrangea tied on his chest, and greets the distinguished guests outside the gate of the mansion. A alchemist turned into a dignified son-in-law overnight, which shocked the world and attracted many people to watch.The people are all talking in whispers. "The censor is here." Following the high-pitched voice, a team of palace chariots arrived, and the censor got out of the car and said, "The emperor has an order." Yi hurriedly knelt down to receive the order. "Confess the son-in-law, General Yi, as the Marquis of Letong, and give two thousand households in the township, and give him ten thousand taels of gold." "Thank you Lord Long En, long live the emperor, long live, long live!" After a while, the band played loudly, and then a team of palace guards of honor came, followed by the sedan chair of the bride, the princess, and a team of palace guards behind.Amidst the music of blowing, blowing and beating, the new son-in-law Yida welcomed the bride into the mansion with a high expression, surrounded by three layers of people watching outside the gate of the house. "What's wrong with the emperor, he actually accepted a alchemist who was seeking immortality to be his son-in-law?" "Today, the older I get, the more confused I become." "I want to live forever." "I see, good times don't last long, liars are liars after all." "I think so too." People are whispering about... After Yida got married, he only had fun with the princess every day, but did not mention the matter of seeking immortals in the East China Sea. Emperor Wu called Yida here in a hurry. "My son-in-law, you should go to the East China Sea to seek immortality for me!" "This..." Yi Da hesitated, he lost all the rhetoric he had when he first entered the palace, he thought that if he became a son-in-law and had a princess as his wife, the emperor would be lenient, but he never expected that the emperor would be impatient with the wait. Tell him to leave immediately. "I order you to leave tomorrow." "this……" "Huh?" Emperor Wu raised his thick eyebrows. "Follow the order." Yida had no choice but to say goodbye to his new wife and head for the East China Sea. Soon Yida came back, and he reported to Emperor Wu: "Your Majesty, I have gone to the East China Sea and met the gods. The gods said that the emperor must personally patrol the sea to seek the gods. The gods also said that the medicine has been used up, and it will take three days to refill the medicine." year." After hearing this, Emperor Wu knew that he was lying, and shouted: "Bold slave, how dare you lie to me, you didn't go into the sea at all." "The emperor was wronged, what evidence does the emperor have?" Emperor Wu then called out the two people who were sent to follow him, and they exposed them: "Your Majesty, we have been following Yida all along. He didn't go to the East China Sea at all. He only went up the mountain to offer sacrifices there. don't know." Emperor Wu was furious, and shouted loudly: "Yida, you didn't go to the East China Sea to seek immortality, why did you lie to me?" "Your Majesty, Yida did not lie to the Emperor. Yida went to the East China Sea to ask for an immortal. The immortal said that the existing elixir of immortality is gone. The immortal promised to reconstitute it for me, and let me get it in seventy, seventy, forty years." "Nonsense, can I wait for forty-nine years? You...you didn't go to Donghai at all." "Your Majesty, I'm going. I've already seen the immortal." "How dare you lie to me!" "Your Majesty, I went to Mount Tai to seek immortality." Emperor Wu was so angry that he slammed the case, "You... come here, drag him down and burn him to death!" Outside the palace, Yi Da was tied to a pile of dry firewood and was about to be burned to death. Emperor Wu and his ministers stood aside. "Your Majesty, please spare me. You can't burn me to death. I'm a son-in-law." "Father, keep people under the knife..." Princess Wei ran over crying and hugged the emperor begging. Queen Wei Zifu also came. Emperor Wu looked at her and sighed. "Son, forgive Father for not being able to forgive him, he is too sinful." "Mother, save the son-in-law, mother, are you making the child young and widowed?" Princess Wei went to weep again to Wei Zifu. Wei Zifu asked Emperor Wu: "Your Majesty, Yi Da has indeed committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, but what if he kills the princess?" "I will never forgive him, I will never forgive him." The emperor, who was deceived and despaired of seeking immortality, was furious at this time, and had forgotten everything. He ignored the begging of his daughter and queen and still ordered: "Burn him to death! " The dry wood was ignited, and Yida was burned alive.The princess fainted on the spot... In Ganquan Palace, Emperor Wu and Mrs. Yi were sitting in a small pavilion beside the stream to enjoy the shade, while Jiang Chong, Su Wen and other attendants stood aside. Emperor Wu embraced the six-year-old Fuling in his arms, and lovingly stroked his head. The more he looked at Fuling, the more he felt that he looked like himself. Seeing his father staring at him, little Fu Ling said, "Father, everyone says that the child looks like father, right?" "It's like the father, Fuling not only looks like the father, but also moves like him. Haha..." Emperor Wu said, hugging Fuling even tighter. Jin Chen Jiang Chong, who was standing aside, watched carefully...