Chapter 212: King Qinghe is Executed
Liu Teng looked at Empress Dowager Hu and cursed at his adopted son who was kneeling in front of him: "Waste!"
This is also what Liu Teng is most worried about. It is not difficult to control Jiafu Palace. Liu Teng is the Grand Chamberlain of Empress Dowager Hu, and the servants and palace maids around her are basically Liu Teng's people. When Xi Kangsheng trapped himself in the mansion and decided to let Liu Teng launch a coup, the result was already doomed.
But what Liu Teng was most worried about was that he could not find the seals of the empress dowager and the emperor.
Although Empress Dowager Hu was politically incompetent, she understood the importance of the empress dowager and the emperor's seals.
Even Liu Teng, the Grand Chamberlain, didn't know where Empress Dowager Hu hid the seal.
Without the seals of the emperor and the empress dowager, Liu Teng could not forge an imperial edict to kill King Qinghe.
After experiencing the initial shock and fear, Empress Dowager Hu gradually calmed down.
No matter how bold Liu Teng was, he would not dare to kill himself.
After understanding this, Empress Dowager Hu gnashed her teeth and looked at Liu Teng and said:
"I really was wrong. I actually trusted an old dog like you!"
After Empress Dowager Hu finished her harsh words, she suddenly fell to the ground, and the scene became awkward.
Without the seals of the Queen Mother and the Emperor, Liu Teng's edict to kill Prince Qinghe would be ineffective, so Yuan Yi would need to obtain the provincial order of Menxia Province.
What worried Liu Teng the most was that Prince Qinghe had always had a reputation for being virtuous and capable. He had many retainers under his command, including many white-clad scholars who had been carefully selected after years of service.
Now the Lang Wei guarding the Beigong Palace did not stand on his side, but just obeyed Xi Kangsheng's orders to remain neutral.
What should he do if Prince Qinghe led the white-clad scholars to attack the Bei Palace?
What if the imperial guards who were guarding the imperial palace turned to Prince Qinghe?
Without the edict from the emperor and the empress dowager, Liu Teng could not mobilize the imperial guards and the guards, and could only rely on these loyal warriors and the eunuchs he had recruited.
Can this small number of people really stop the white-clad scholars of Prince Qinghe?
Liu Teng was worried. He saw the monk Bian Ji sitting on the cushion.
Liu Teng walked up to the monk Bianji, put his hands together and said, "Master, I heard that you can make judgments. Please help me make a judgment."
Bian Ji was nervous. He knew that his life and death were in the hands of the old eunuch in front of him. He could only close his eyes and pretend to be mysterious and said:
"It's a national mourning."
When Liu Teng heard what Bian Ji said, his heart trembled. After thinking carefully, he realized that the monk was talking nonsense again.
Isn’t this a national funeral?
A coup d'état is a matter of life and death. Either Prince Qinghe will die, or he and Prince Jiangyang will die. It's a major national funeral!
However, Monk Bianji was able to "predict" the coup, which showed that he was indeed capable. Liu Teng did not dare to embarrass Bianji and could only say to his subordinates:
"Master, please go to the side hall to rest."
After hearing what Liu Teng said, Bian Ji finally felt at ease, knowing that his life was saved.
-
"Your Majesty! Please take me and the other white-robed scholars with you into the palace!"
Beside Prince Qinghe, his confidants tried to persuade him earnestly.
Originally, Prince Qinghe had already arrived at the gate of Nangong Palace. Just before he entered the palace, he received a message from a spy inside the palace who risked his life to pass on the news: there was unrest in Beigong Palace, and the little emperor was taken to the Central Palace!
Soon after, in Menxia Province, the diehard supporters of Prince Qinghe also tried their best to spread the news.
Prince Yuan Yi of Jiangyang received the order from the young emperor, summoned all the prime ministers, sealed off the Menxia Province, and was currently trying to punish Prince Qinghe!
After receiving the news, Yuan Yi, who was originally preparing to enter the palace to meet the empress dowager, immediately discussed the matter with the white-clothed scholars around him.
Prince Qinghe always traveled with great pomp and circumstance. Even when he entered the palace, he would be accompanied by hundreds of scholars in white.
These are the elite of the Qinghe Palace and the Qinghe Prince's diehard supporters.
People were divided on one thing and some suggested that Prince Qinghe lead the scholars in white into the palace to protect the empress dowager and the young emperor.
There were also people who asked Prince Qinghe to go to the imperial guard camp outside the city immediately and mobilize the imperial guards to enter the city to quell the rebellion in his capacity as prime minister.
There were also those who asked Prince Qinghe to escape from Luoyang and go to Hedong to raise an army to serve the king.
Prince Qinghe's head hurt from the noise, and he finally said, "Your Majesty must have been deceived by the treacherous ministers! I want to go to the palace to see the emperor and explain everything to your majesty!"
The confidants looked at each other, and one of them, a scholar in white who had followed Prince Qinghe for a long time, said:
"Your Majesty! King Jiangyang is plotting a coup! He wants to kill you! How can you let yourself fall into his trap?"
Prince Qinghe said confidently: "Prince Jiangyang is plotting a rebellion. Could it be that the imperial guards and guards of the palace are all following him in the rebellion? Your Majesty must have been deceived by him. As long as we explain it clearly and let Your Majesty know that I am loyal, the rebellion can be quelled with Your Majesty's decree!"
Everyone wanted to persuade him again, but Prince Qinghe said, "I presented the twelve volumes of Xianzhonglu to you. Everyone in the world knows that I am a loyal minister. Even if there are scoundrels who are planning a rebellion, the imperial guards and guards who protect the palace will definitely protect me!"
The confidant had no choice but to say, "Please take us to the palace!"
King Qinghe nodded, and then someone else said, "Do you want to go to the armory to put on armor first?"
Prince Qinghe shook his head and said, "I am a loyal minister. Wearing armor and entering the palace is treason. You all should follow me into the palace."
The confidants wanted to persuade him again, but Prince Qinghe had already entered the palace on horseback, and the scholars in white had no choice but to follow him.
Prince Qinghe passed by the Southern Court on his way. Because of the coup, all the doors of these government offices were closed, so Prince Qinghe made his way to the Duanmen Gate in front of the Central Palace.
There were naturally guards at the Duanmen Gate. When a Langwei officer saw Queen Qinghe, he stood up.
Seeing this person, King Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief.
This was Xi Nandang, a Qianniu Beishen beside the emperor, and the son of Xi Kangsheng, the Right General in charge of the Beigong Langwei.
Prince Qinghe knew that although Xi Kangsheng was recommended by Prince Jiangyang Yuan Yi, he was loyal to the emperor and the empress dowager, and was not the same kind of person as Yuan Yi and Liu Teng.
The fact that Xi Nandang was standing here meant that the young emperor was not held hostage by Yuan Yi, and now the Empress Dowager was in the hands of the guards surrounding the emperor.
Prince Qinghe said to Xi Nandang, "Xi Qianniu, I want to see His Majesty!"
A trace of pity flashed across Xi Nandang's eyes.
It is true that he and his father Xi Kangsheng are loyal to the Empress Dowager and His Majesty, but Xi Nandang also has his own difficulties.
His father-in-law was Hou Gang, who was rebelling in Qinzhou.
As for this marriage, it was Yuan Yi, the King of Jiangyang, who acted as the matchmaker. Now that Xi Nandang was involved in this case, it was Yuan Yi who assured him that as long as he cooperated in this coup, he would keep his position and his wife would not be held responsible.
Xi Nandang had just gotten married and their relationship was deep. Logically, Hou Gang's rebellion had nothing to do with him, and he could avoid being implicated by divorcing his wife.
However, Xi Nandang was unwilling to divorce his wife and had to accept Yuan Yi's conditions.
Seeing that Prince Qinghe was about to lead the white-clad scholars into the central palace, Xi Nandang said:
"Prince Qinghe, you are leading so many guards into the palace, are you planning a rebellion?"
Yuan Yi said quickly, "I am not rebelling. Xi Qianniu, is your Majesty safe?" Xi Nandang said with a stiff upper lip, "Your Majesty is fine! But please let the King of Qinghe unsheath his sword and enter the palace!"
The people around Prince Qinghe came forward one after another, saying that they would escort Prince Qinghe into the central palace, but Prince Qinghe said:
"I am a loyal minister, the sun and the moon can testify to this, the heaven and earth can testify to this, as long as I can see Your Majesty, I will eradicate the evil!"
After saying this, Prince Qinghe took off his sword and walked into the Duanmen Gate.
Xi Nandang personally led Prince Qinghe to the central palace. He did not lead Prince Qinghe to the Taiji Palace, nor to the Huiyin Pavilion where the little emperor lived. Instead, he took Prince Qinghe to the Hanzhang East Province to the east of the Taiji Palace.
This building was a place where important officials would rest temporarily when the emperor held important ceremonies in the Taiji Hall.
Prince Qinghe did not suspect anything and thought that the young emperor was going to meet him in Hanzhang East Province.
But as soon as they entered Hanzhang East Province, thirty strong men came up and restrained King Qinghe.
Now Prince Qinghe also realized that something was wrong. Xi Nandang had disappeared, and Prince Jiangyang Yuan Yi appeared on the steps of Hanzhang East Province with a pair of white eyes.
Yuan Yi looked at Yuan Yi and said sternly, "Prince Jiangyang, are you planning a rebellion?"
Yuan Yi bit back, "It's not that I want to rebel, I'm planning to arrest the rebels."
Yuan Yi was just about to continue debating with Yuan Yi, but he didn't expect that the strong man next to him punched him in the stomach, and Yuan Yi bent over in pain.
"Imprison the Rebel King in Hanzhang East Province!"
After saying this, Yuan Yi immediately went to the Menxia Province.
Although he had sealed off the Menxia Province as ordered by Liu Teng, the prime ministers had not yet surrendered and were still unwilling to issue an edict to suppress Yuan Yi's rebellion.
Now Liu Teng could not get the seals of the emperor and the empress dowager, and neither the empress dowager nor the emperor was willing to issue an edict. Only the discussion of the Ministry of Personnel could punish Prince Qinghe.
As for the white-clad scholars who remained at the gate of the Central Palace, now that he had captured Prince Qinghe, these guys were no longer a concern.
However, the coup situation must be brought under control as soon as possible. The longer it is delayed, the more other ambitious people will emerge.
Prince Qinghe was deeply involved in the court, and many important officials had dealings with him. Liu Teng was right. Prince Qinghe must be convicted and killed as soon as possible, only then would the coup be completed.
I have to hurry up!
-
As the sky gradually darkened, Princess Chenliu, accompanied by her maid Lu Zhu and the female historian, personally inspected every part of the princess's mansion.
"The side door needs to be reinforced. The wall just now is too low. We need to send someone to guard it to prevent thieves from breaking into the house."
Princess Chenliu had already learned about the palace coup. She had no close relationship with Prince Qinghe and was not worried about being purged.
However, the coup d'état in the palace was the most chaotic time in Luoyang.
When such things happened in the past, there were always daring thieves who wanted to take advantage of the situation and sneak into the residences of nobles and important officials to cause chaos, rob property, and even rape the women.
Therefore, after the female historian analyzed the coup in the palace, Princess Chenliu immediately arranged for the guards in the palace to reinforce the gates and walls of the princess's mansion.
In addition, Princess Chenliu also sent people to notify the scholars who were usually won over, such as Su Liang and Yang Kan’s wives who were left in Luoyang, and they were brought back to her house for protection.
Sure enough, what happened in the palace soon spread throughout Luoyang City, and rumors spread throughout the city.
Some said that the Queen Mother and the young emperor were killed by Prince Qinghe, who wanted to usurp the throne.
There is also a saying that he was killed by King Jiangyang, who wanted to usurp the throne.
In short, there were various versions of the rumors, and the city of Luoyang immediately became chaotic.
Some bad guys roaming around the streets of Luoyang began to take advantage of the situation. They specifically broke into famous mansions in Luoyang and even several famous Buddhist temples were not spared.
Although Li Daoyuan acted quickly, sending city gate officers and Henan officials to maintain order, he also ordered each neighborhood to close its gates and execute any bad people who violated the curfew.
However, there were still flames in Luoyang City. This big city was home to a large number of idle and bad people.
Because of the palace coup, the public security in Luoyang had collapsed. The number of city gate officers and officials who obeyed Li Daoyuan's orders was too small to maintain order in the entire Luoyang.
Li Daoyuan could only withdraw these city gate officers and officials and ask them to maintain public order in several districts close to the imperial city and the safety of the Henan Prefecture prison.
Princess Chenliu's mansion had the followers left by Su Ze, plus the death squads recruited by Princess Chenliu, and they easily blocked the attack of these bad guys.
A few clever bad guys climbed over the low wall into the princess's palace, but were immediately stabbed like hedgehogs by the palace guards holding spears.
There were also several torches thrown into the mansion, which were all extinguished with the prepared water and sand. After the Yulin followers left behind by Su Ze shot and killed several leading bad guys, the Chenliu Princess's mansion returned to peace.
Su Liang's wife and Yang Kan's wife looked pale. Their houses in Luoyang were both small gates and courtyards. If they had not been protected by Princess Chenliu, no one knew what would have happened at night.
The [fast-footed messenger] that Su Ze left for Princess Chenliu ran back to the Princess's residence and reported to her:
"Your Highness, the head of Jianyang Village has organized Yulin warriors to protect Jianyang Village."
"The Duke of Wucheng (Yuan Ziyou) had returned home safely during the day, so the Pengcheng Palace had also been armed."
"The governor of Henan Province, Li Fuyin, was stationed in the government office, protecting several neighborhoods and government offices near the imperial palace."
Princess Chenliu nodded. Su Ze notified everyone entrusted to her when he left Luoyang. Tonight was the most dangerous time. Everything would be clear when the sun rose tomorrow.
-
Things turned out just as Princess Chenliu had predicted.
The next morning, the female historian who had been collecting intelligence reported to Princess Chenliu:
"Your Highness, King Qinghe was executed in Hanzhang East Province."
Lu Zhu covered her mouth. No one expected that the powerful Prince Qinghe would die like this.
Princess Chenliu looked a little gloomy. To be fair, among all the princes of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Prince Qinghe was already considered to have outstanding moral character.
After all, Prince Qinghe loved literature and was kind to talented people. Even if someone offended him, he would forgive them and let them go.
In comparison, Jiangyang King Yuan Yi was greedy and cruel, and would take revenge on his enemies. His personal character was among the poorest among the anthropomorphic princes of the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Princess Chenliu asked again:
"Where's the Queen Mother?"
Lu Zhu said, "The Queen Mother was frightened and said she was ill. She stayed in Xuanguang Palace to recuperate."
"The Queen Mother lives in Xuanguang Palace, what about His Majesty?"
"Your Majesty has moved to the Badge Pavilion, leaving the North Palace to the Queen Mother to recuperate. Your Majesty has announced the appointment of Gaoyang Prince Yuan Yong and Jiangyang Prince Yuan Yi as regents."
Lu Zhu continued, "The court announced the change of the reign title to Zhengguang and issued a general amnesty."
In the first year of Zhengguang in the Northern Wei Dynasty and the first year of Tonggong in the Southern Liang Dynasty, in 520 AD, there was a general amnesty in both the north and the south, and the world was in great prosperity.
At the same time, the commander-in-chief of the Western Expedition, Xiao Baoyin, marched into Chang'an, with Cui Yanbo as the vanguard general, and directed his troops to surround Mozhe Tiansheng's army in Chencang.
(End of this chapter)