I joined the army for my father, and I took Hua Mulan to build infrastructure.

No one knew that Tuoba Tao was dead.

Especially after he neglected his administration and executed ministers at every turn, the courtiers seemed to have become accustomed to the absence of the emperor in the court.

Zong Ai was very popular in the court. When the prince usurped the throne last time, he preserved almost all the ministers. Everyone was willing to sell him a favor and let him stand in the hall to deliver the memorial to the emperor.

In the court hall that day, Zong Ai took out the fabricated imperial edict and said: "Everyone, your Majesty is ill, and I am afraid that from now on, you will have to deal with political affairs in the study."

The ministers nodded in understanding. Tuoba Tao had done this before, but now he had just made it public.

Tuoba Tao put too much pressure on people every time he went to court. If he made the slightest mistake, he would be scolded, and in severe cases, his official position would not be guaranteed.

Now that they heard that Tuoba Tao would not go to court, everyone was naturally relieved.

The ministers of the Northern Wei Dynasty were really frightened by Tuoba Tao's successive operations during this period. In the case of Cui Hao's revision of national history, hundreds of officials were implicated, even those from the Xianbei tribe. Everyone was very upset. Afraid of seeing the dead Emperor Wei.

When Zong Ai saw that everyone had no objections, he opened the imperial edict and said: "In accordance with the destiny, I accept the clear order. Zong Ai, the permanent minister, has made great contributions in the case of the prince and tried his best to protect the imperial city. I am currently ill. Zong Ai is specially appointed as the Chief of Internal Affairs, Grand Sima, Grand General of the Central Army, Prince Grand Master, and Central Secretary. He controls the military power and oversees all government affairs. In recognition of his achievements, he is granted the title of King Feng Yi. "

A group of ministers immediately felt something was wrong. Why did Zong Ai deserve such kindness from His Majesty?

Although Zong Ai did contribute to the Wei State, he would not be crowned a king with a different surname!

What’s even more outrageous is that the Grand Sima and the Grand General, the highest civil and military positions in the Wei State, are all under Zong Ai’s name. Is Your Majesty crazy?

The first two Wei emperors liked to take medicine, Tuoba Gui even knocked himself crazy, and Tuoba Si didn't give in too much and knocked himself to death.

But I have never heard that Tuoba Tao also took medicine!

The national preceptor Kou Qianzhi had long banned elixirs such as Five Stone Powder to enhance pleasure. What happened to Tuoba Tao?
Let an eunuch ascend to a high position and take charge. Is it true that he is about to die and wants to entrust Zong Ai as the minister of Tuogu?
There were many cases in history where eunuchs disrupted the government. At this time, a group of courtiers looked at Zong Ai with questions on their heads.

But before the imperial edict was finished, Zong Ai read again: "I feel that my time is short, so I specially worship Zong Ai as the minister who cares about my life."

"However, the country cannot be without a king for a day. The prince Tuoba Huang usurped the throne and died. I asked the officials to report and recommend the wise people from my descendants to wait for the throne of the prince. In this way, my wish will be fulfilled."

Zong Ai successfully brought the crown prince's position into the attention of his courtiers, disrupting the fact that he was fleeing the country.

When thinking that Tuoba Tao is about to die, these operations are completely normal.

Moreover, choosing another prince is good news. With Tuoba Tao having so many sons, there will naturally be many ministers following them. If the prince he supports becomes the prince, wouldn't his official position be as high as the tide?
Since ancient times, interests have moved people's hearts. Tuoba Tao is already dead. The ministers in the court are still arguing about who should be the prince and are about to start a fight!

"I suggest that Jin King Tuoba Fuluo be made the crown prince!"

"I suggest that King Tuoba Han of Dongping be made the crown prince!"

"I propose to establish..."

All of a sudden, Tuoba Tao's great sons all appeared on the stage. Whoever can become the prince? After Tuoba Tao's death, who will be the Emperor Wei who controls half of the world!

This temptation is too great!

The ministers belonging to each king were quarreling in the Taihua Palace.

Zong Ai sat firmly on the Diaoyutai, smiling at the way the ministers were tearing themselves apart for the sake of profit. They really looked like a bunch of mad dogs fighting for food.

Because Tuoba Tao established the crown prince early, none of these princes were serious about their jobs. They were all prodigal sons of the second generation, and it was impossible to choose anyone.

Whenever a prince comes into Zong Ai's sight, it is Nan'an King Tuoba Yu. This man, who is not yet ten years old, is the most suitable candidate to be the puppet emperor. Having made up his mind, Zong Ai said: "Gentlemen, please stop arguing. Zong Ai promises to report all the candidates to Your Majesty one by one and let Your Majesty make his own decision. Let's leave the court today!"

The ministers bowed to the throne of the Emperor and then walked out of Taihua Hall happily.

They want to go back and report to the prince they support.

Let them come to Pingcheng to take over the position of crown prince!
For a time, all the officials in Pingcheng were very busy, trying hard to attract supporters everywhere.

In the palace, since Queen Mother Dou Nichang left, no one has cared about Princess Shiping Tuoba Xiang. Now she is in her thirties and has become a plump and melancholy beautiful woman.

She and Ye Nan both have one thing in common, that is, they are lazy. Now that they are a little older, they no longer like to play.

She likes to sit in her palace in a daze, like a resentful woman who has been abandoned...

"Well, what are you going to eat today?"

The maid on the side replied: "Your Highness, sweet potato rice, beef noodles, and various pickled seasonal vegetables and pickles."

These delicacies were all tinkered by Ye Nan and were quite popular in the Wei palace.

For no reason, Tuoba Xiang asked, "Has my brother, the emperor, eaten?"

The palace maid shook her head, and then said: "Your Highness, you have to ask the female supervisor of the kitchen about this matter, or I will send someone to ask."

Tuoba Xiang nodded and said, "Then go and ask. By the way, is there any news about Ye Nan recently?"

The palace maid smiled and said, "Yes! Your Majesty was dissatisfied with Ye Nan and had his teahouse closed. I heard that she went back to Mulan Villa to raise pigs."

"Pig?" Tuoba Xiang asked curiously.

The palace maid said: "Your Highness, it's a pig. Ye Nan calls it a pig, and even has the piglets cut off their undersides. I heard people say he wants to be the emperor!"

Tuoba Xiang laughed, Ye Nan's mortal enemy always likes to make these unexpected moves.

As for Ye Nan wanting to be the emperor, Tuoba Xiang didn't believe it. If Ye Nan wanted to be the emperor, he would have already been in power when the Rouran people besieged Pingcheng...

The palace maid went to the female officer in the kitchen to find out the situation. Little did she know that the female officer was also in trouble now.

As the female official who takes care of the emperor's diet, she can clearly confirm that the emperor has not eaten for more than three days!

The female officer was an old woman from Dou Nichang's time, so she naturally still thought about Dou Nichang's kindness in her heart. With so many things happening in the palace, she could hide them from people outside the palace, but she couldn't hide them from the female officers who started fighting all the way!

She discovered that the palace was now controlled by Zong Ai's Imperial City Secretary!

Even when she made an excuse to deliver food to the emperor, she was driven back ruthlessly.

She had a hunch that something must have happened to the emperor!
But she, a female official, has lost her backbone in the palace. Who can she turn to to complain?

Just then, Tuoba Xiang's palace maid appeared in front of her and asked: "Aunt, Princess Shiping asked me to come over and ask, what did your majesty eat today? And whether your highness's food is ready? Your highness is hungry." !”

The female officer suddenly said with a happy heart: "Your Highness, are you hungry? In that case, I will personally deliver food to His Highness. Come on, why are you standing there? Help me carry the food box!"

(End of this chapter)