Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-Second

Hearing the crowing of the rare birds in the forbidden garden, the emperor did not smile. The flowers in front of the curtain bloomed, but the emperor was still too depressed to say a word. Today, the Son of Heaven sits in the Forbidden Palace all day long, brooding in gloom. The three maids of honor lit the candles left over from last night. The emperor's face became even darker. Empress Fu asked gently: "Your Majesty, why are you so sad?" "I don't need to worry about my future, but when I think about the future of my country, I can't sleep at night.... Alas! I was born because of something immoral in my previous life, right?" Tears flowed like rain, "Since I came to the throne, I haven't lived a single day of peace and life. Rebellious ministers followed by rebellious ministers. First Dong Zhuo was in chaos, and then Li Jue and Guo Si changed. I thought there would be a turning point after the capital Xuchang was established. Unexpectedly, there is another Cao Cao now. He is domineering and domineering to me, and everything he does seriously damages the prestige of the temple."

Empress Fu cried with the emperor, and the candlelight shone on her white and tender neck, making it look even more dim. "The current situation is that the government affairs are discussed in the temple, and the minister's office controls the orders of the court. The hearts of the officials and officials are only afraid of Cao Cao's smiles. No one in the palace has the heart of a direct minister. Even in my body Everyone in the palace felt like sitting on pins and needles. Ah, when will we be able to get rid of the bitter days of being abused and humiliated? Didn’t there be a loyal minister in the end of the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty? I don’t sigh for myself, but mourn for the Han Dynasty’s coming to an end. "

At this time, footsteps suddenly came from outside the curtain.The emperor and the queen quickly kept silent. Fortunately, the visitor was not an outsider, but Empress Fu's father, Fu Wan. Fu Wan said: "Your Majesty, sighing is useless. There is a minister here, so don't worry, Your Majesty." "Guo Zhang, you also know what's on my mind, that's why you said this?" "As a minister of the imperial court, who would hate Xu Tian's shooting of a deer? Cao Cao's intention to commit a crime is clearly revealed. That day, he dared to offend His Majesty and accepted the call of 'Long Live' from the crowd. Show off your power and test their loyalty to you. I have already seen through this trick."

"Master, please speak softly, Cao Cao's eyes and ears are everywhere in the Forbidden Palace, it's better to be careful." "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. Tonight, the servants and those on duty in the palace have already left here, leaving only a few loyal people waiting far away." "Then I want to hear what you think first." "If the subject is not a relative of the emperor, even if he has something in his heart, he would never dare to say it easily." At this point, after Fu Wan changed the subject, he spoke to the emperor for the first time what was in his heart to subdue Cao Cao.The emperor's heart was deeply moved.

Fu Wan said again: "The minister is old and weak, and has no prestige. Now it is difficult to take on a big responsibility. If you talk about the one who can cut off Cao Cao for the court, it is the chariot general Dong Cheng. Your Majesty can quickly summon Dong Cheng and give him a secret edict. , Dong Chengding will act in accordance with the imperial edict." This matter is extremely important, and it is the secret of secrets. After careful consideration, the emperor personally bit off the royal finger and wrote the secret edict on the white silk with his finger blood.Then ordered Empress Fu to sew the secret edict into the purple brocade interlayer of the jade belt, and prepared to hand it over to Dong Cheng at an appropriate time.

The next day, the emperor quietly issued an edict to summon his uncle Dong Cheng. Dong Cheng has been serving as an important guard for the Emperor Chang'an since he came to the throne. Even in the difficult period when the Chang'an Rebellion occurred and the court was displaced, he has been guarding the court unswervingly. He is the veteran of the Imperial Forest Army. "Your Majesty, why did you summon the minister?" Dong Cheng asked after entering the palace in a hurry. When the Son of Heaven was asked such a question, he couldn't speak bluntly for a while, so he had to change his words: "Uncle Guo, have you always been in good health?"

"I am bathed in the grace of the Lord, everything is fine, and now I am enjoying my old age in peace." "Your health is better than anything else. In fact, I talked about you with the queen last night. At that time, Chang'an fell, and Li Jue and Guo Si led the army to chase along the road. It was really miserable. I can't help but think of your great service. I shed tears. Thinking about it, I haven’t given you much reward or reward until now. Uncle Guo, from now on, you must never leave my side.” "Your Majesty is really flattered, I am ashamed to be..."

Dong Cheng was deeply terrified and didn't know where he was. After a while, the emperor, accompanied by Dong Cheng, walked through the corridors of the hall and came to play in the Royal Garden.Then, they talked about the difficulties of moving the capital several times from Luoyang to Chang'an and then to Xuchang. The emperor sighed sincerely: "I think that although our Han Dynasty has been in peril for several times, we can still preserve the national ancestral temple intact, thanks to the loyal ministers like Aiqing in the court." The emperor took jade steps, and then walked up the stone steps of the Taimiao with Dong Cheng.

After entering the Taimiao, the emperor went directly to the pavilion of meritorious ministers, burned incense himself, and performed three big gifts respectfully. This is the spiritual temple for worshiping the ancestors of the Han Dynasty.On the left and right walls are the imperial statues of twenty-four emperors from Han Gaozu to the next. The Son of Heaven was serious, and admitted to Dong sincerely: "Uncle Guo, where did my ancestors start and create such a foundation? I am here to ask for knowledge. Please, Uncle Guo, tell me the origin of this matter. " Dong Cheng panicked when he heard this, he said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, are you joking with this humble minister?"

The emperor restrained his face and said seriously: "How can you joke about the affairs of the holy ancestor? Please speak quickly." Dong Cheng had no choice but to talk eloquently: "Emperor Gaozu was born as the head of the Sishang Pavilion. He carried a three-foot sword and cut a white snake on Mount Mangdang. In troubled times, Qin was destroyed in three years and Chu was pacified in five years. Years of rule have created a foundation that will last forever. ——I dare not speak nonsense, I can only talk about historical common sense that children and soldiers know." After hearing this, the emperor burst into tears as if blaming himself.

Dong Cheng murmured in fear, "Why is Your Majesty so sad?" The Son of Heaven sighed: "Just now I heard Aiqing talk about the deeds of my ancestors, and I thought that among the descendants of my ancestors there were such cowardly people as me, so I felt sorry for myself. Uncle Guo, please tell me again, and teach me a lesson. Zhen, look, who are the people on both sides of the portrait of Emperor Gaozu?" At this time, Dong Cheng also noticed that the emperor had deep worries.But facing the emperor's solemn gaze, he felt his body stiff again, and he was almost speechless. The emperor pointed to the portrait on the wall and asked Dong Cheng again to explain who the people standing on both sides of Emperor Gaozu were. Dong Cheng replied carefully: "Naturally, they are Zhang Liang and Xiao He." "Hmm. So what credits do Zhang Liang and Xiao He have to stand by Gaozu's side?" "Zhang Liang was strategizing and winning thousands of miles away. Xiao He made national laws and regulations to stabilize the people, pay attention to law and order, and strictly guard the border. Gao Zu often praised his benevolent government. Therefore, Gao Zu must ask these two people to accompany him when he has anything to do. In view of this, the emperors of later generations praised the two as the two heroes of Jianye. When painting the portrait of Emperor Gaozu, should the painter be ordered to draw Zhang Liang and Xiao He, two heroes beside Gaozu?" "I see. These two ministers can also be called the real ministers of the country." "yes……" Dong Chengbai fell on the ground, only heard the sigh of the emperor above his head, and seemed to be blaming himself again in his heart.The emperor suddenly bent down and grabbed Dong Cheng's hand. Dong Cheng was shocked, at a loss what to do, and felt very embarrassed.At this time, the whisper of the emperor sounded in his ears: "Uncle Guo, from now on, you will always stand by my side, as diligent and promising as Zhang Liang and Xiao He." "Your Majesty's grace, I am ashamed to accept it..." "Don't you agree?" "Is there any reason for me not to follow. It's just that I'm a fool and I don't have any merit. I'm afraid that I will insult this honor by serving His Majesty in vain." "No, no, when Chang'an was in turmoil last year, I was ups and downs in adversity. It was Aiqing who saved me from the water and fire and made great contributions. I will always remember it in my heart. How will I repay this great service?" As the emperor said, he took off his royal clothes, added a jade belt, and rewarded Dong Cheng. Dong received the emperor's excessive favor, and was moved to tears for a moment.So, after receiving the imperial clothes and jade belt bestowed by the emperor himself, he left the Forbidden Palace not long after. Cao Cao soon knew what the emperor and Dong Cheng had done that day.No doubt he had received a tip. "Then it must be..." Cao Cao's tiny eyes were shining with a sharp light, and he looked at one place, biting his lips tightly, doubts arose in his heart. What is going on in the palace?Although he couldn't see it with his own eyes, he seemed to be aware of it based on his own imagination.So he made a decisive decision and suddenly ordered his subordinates to prepare chariots and horses, and hurried into the palace to meet the emperor. As soon as he arrived at the gate of the imperial guard palace, he asked the officials of the guard mansion like he was a retainer: "Where does the emperor go to visit today?" The official replied respectfully: "Just now I went to the Taimiao and boarded the Pavilion of Meritorious Ministers." When Cao Cao heard this, his face suddenly showed the expected expression.He immediately got out of the carriage outside the palace gate and hurried to the palace. It happened by chance. When Cao Cao ran to the middle gate of Nanyuan, he happened to meet Dong Cheng who had just left there. When Dong Cheng saw Cao Cao, his face turned pale with fright.He hurriedly used his sleeves to cover up the imperial clothes and jade belt gifted by the emperor, and hid beside the garden gate. Dong Cheng stood there blankly, trembling all over, terrified. "Oh, it's Uncle Guo, why did you come out so soon?" Cao Cao approached Dong Cheng step by step while saying hello. "Is it the prime minister? I always want to greet you, and I happened to meet you today. It's really great." Dong Cheng had to respond with clichés. "I also often want to greet Uncle Guo." Cao Cao nodded nonchalantly and asked with a smile, "Why did you enter the palace today?" Cao Cao obviously looked at Dong Cheng suspiciously. "Well, actually..." Dong Cheng was in a state of confusion and couldn't answer for a while.But he quickly reacted, "Today the emperor issued an edict to see me. I didn't know what happened, so I hurried to the palace to meet. I didn't expect the emperor to reward me with a beautiful imperial robe and a jade belt. I was deeply terrified by the grace of heaven. So I hurried out of the palace gate and wanted to go home early, and I happened to meet the prime minister here." "Oh, is it the emperor who rewarded you with royal clothes and jade belts? This is the most honorable thing now, but what credit do you have for getting such a great honor?" "Back then, when the capital was moved from Chang'an, the minister stepped forward to kill the thieves and escorted him, and made a contribution. The emperor often thought of this, so today he specially called me into the palace to reward him." "What? Was the reward at that time only given today?... Even so, it is still a bit late. His Majesty bestowed upon me the royal clothes and jade belt. This is an exceptional Long Grace, and it is the highest honor that cannot be added." "This humble official has little virtue and merit, and it is really a great grace to receive this imperial reward, so this humble official fell to the ground and wept." "Anyway, I still really envy you. Can you show me the imperial clothes and jade?" As Cao Cao said, he stretched out his hand to force Dong Cheng to submit.He stared at Dong Cheng, seeming to observe the changes in his face. Dong Cheng's whole body was shaking from head to toe, even if he wanted to walk, he couldn't move. Today, in the Pavilion of Meritorious Ministers, judging from the expression on the face of the emperor, things are unusual, and analyzing from the words of the emperor, there is a hidden mystery in it.Dong Cheng realized that what happened today was by no means a trivial matter.Will there be secret edicts hidden in the royal clothes and jade belts bestowed by the emperor?In any case, this was the danger he was most afraid of, so when Cao Cao looked at him with sharp eyes, he only felt cold sweat on his back. "Please take a closer look, Prime Minister." Dong Cheng was forced by Cao Cao to have no choice but to hold out his imperial clothes and jade belt with both hands. Cao Cao casually opened the imperial coat, looked at the sun first, then put it on his own coat and tied the jade belt.He turned around and asked the subordinates on the left and right: "How is it? Does it fit?" None of the people present dared to laugh, they just said flatteringly: "It seems to fit very well. Very good." Cao Cao was smiling alone, and seemed to be in high spirits. "Uncle Guo, if I like these two things, just give them to me. I will give you any substitute gifts in the future." "This is not allowed. This is the treasure specially given to me by the emperor, and I cannot give it to you." Dong Cheng's expression changed, and he said seriously. "So, did the Son of Heaven and Uncle Guo conspire together just now?" "If the prime minister must doubt me, then I will dedicate to you the royal clothes and jade belt bestowed by the emperor." "Ah, no! I was just joking." Cao Cao suddenly dismissed the thought just now, "How can you take away other people's rewards absurdly? What I said just now was just a joke." Cao Cao said, taking the gift from the emperor Returning the two gifts to Dong Cheng, he walked quickly towards the palace.