Zhang Changzong returned to his residence and wrote a short secret letter. He wrote down the news that Wan 'er had given birth to a daughter and ordered someone to secretly report it to the Emperor. Then he undressed and went to take a bath.
Wan 'er had just given birth and was very tired. After talking with Yang Fan for a while, her excitement faded and she became tired. Dai' er was very quiet. She was probably tired from crying when she was born. She lay beside her mother and did not wake up. Seeing this, Yang Fan let the mother and daughter rest well and got up to return to his residence.
After Gu Zhuting left, she immediately disguised herself and went to the residence of the famous doctor in Chang 'an, Mu Hui. She still blindfolded Mu Hui and invited him into the carriage. They drove around the city a few times and confirmed that no one was following them before returning to the island in the middle of the lake. She asked him to check Wan 'er's pulse again and wrote a few nourishing prescriptions before sending him back.
Gu Zhuting stayed by Wan 'er's side. With her taking care of Wan' er, it was much better than Lan Yiqing, Shu Xiaomiao and the other inexperienced girls. Of course, Yang Fan also wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to Gu Zhuting and Wan 'er. It was a win-win situation, so why not?
After taking a bath, Yang Fan changed into a light robe. He knew that Wan 'er was weak and needed to rest. Although he wanted to see her and the child, he dismissed the idea of visiting them tonight. He only ordered people to prepare a banquet. He wanted to drink to his heart's content with Zhang Changzong.
Yang Fan held a banquet today to celebrate the birth of his beloved daughter and the safety of both mother and daughter. It was just that this reason could not be announced to the public. He had just ordered the kitchen to prepare the banquet when he saw Ren Wei walk in quickly from outside. Looking at his expression, it seemed that something had happened. Yang Fan stopped and asked, "What is it?"
Ren Wei moved closer to Yang Fan with a strange expression and said in a low voice, "Ah Lang, about the matter you asked me to do, my men have found some clues."
This random sentence made Yang Fan frown and ask, "What did I ask you to do?"
Ren Wei said, "It's just that there seems to be something unclear going on between Du Wentian and Princess Anle. Today, Du Wentian had suffered a beating from Miss Gao, Miss Lan and the others. After he escaped back, he invited a doctor to treat him. Logically speaking, he had just been injured, so he should be resting in the residence. Who knew that he would actually leave the residence and go to a restaurant to drink to drown his sorrows.
This lowly subordinate felt that there was something fishy about this matter, so he bribed a wine expert with a large sum of money, and impersonated him to be by his side. When Du Wentian was in a drunken stupor, he said a lot of drunken complaints. Although he did not mention the name An Le, the woman he was talking about was obviously her.
From his tone, it seemed that he had messed up his task and was scolded by Princess An Le. As he drank, he grumbled, saying that he had done his best for that woman. He had given her a mansion to live in, and was willing to be a servant. He had shopped for her, prepared banquets, and spent close to a million dollars.
In the end, he had become the biggest joke in Chang 'an. Even his father did not like him, but he was still treated coldly. From the words of this fellow when he was drunk, it seemed that he and Princess An Le had already done it between a man and a woman. Heh heh, this person is really affectionate. Although he has a bellyful of complaints, he still can't seem to forget her. "
"Affectionate? He's just lusting after her. "
Yang Fan sneered disdainfully and lightly paced with his hands behind his back. Ren Wei asked in a low voice, "What are Ah Lang's plans?"
Yang Fan pondered for a moment and said, "The crisis has been resolved. As for An Le, she will have to deal with Zhang Changzong's revenge next. I'm afraid she will be overwhelmed and will not have the time to find trouble with me. As for this Du Wentian … "
Yang Fan shook his head helplessly. If Du Wentian had not chosen the right time and the right accomplice, he would not have had the qualifications to provoke him. Yang Fan had ordered people to investigate this matter and wanted to make a fuss about it. But now that Wan 'er had safely given birth, there was nothing he could use against her.
When people were happy, their state of mind was very different. Thinking of his daughter's cute little face, some of the hostility in Yang Fan's chest was washed away by tenderness. After this defeat, Du Wentian would probably give up. He also did not want to pursue and attack relentlessly.
Yang Fan sighed and said, "This matter, let's just forget about it. Withdraw the people watching them and don't pursue it."
…
There was a pavilion on the Lovely Spring Terrace. This was a cool house.
There was a stream next to the reception hall. The water was gurgling, and a waterwheel was being driven by water power. It spun round and round at a uniform speed. The bamboo tubes circulated, continuously pouring the clear and cool stream water onto a wooden trough that was suspended in the air. The spring water flowed out and just happened to pour onto the umbrella-shaped roof of the reception hall.
The water spread in all directions, hanging down from the eaves of the pavilion like curtains, forming a sparkling curtain of water. Because of this, the pavilion was abnormally cool, completely different from the hot weather outside.
Wu Zetian reclined on Xiang Fei's bamboo couch, leaning against a jade pillow. She looked at the red and white lotuses in front of the pavilion and slowly sipped the lotus seed soup. Zhang Yizhi sat beside her, softly reading Zhang Changzong's secret memorial to her.
After Zhang Changzong went to Chang 'an, Zhang Yizhi slowed down the compilation of the Three Schools' Pearl Flower to make time to accompany Wu Zetian. He clearly knew where his power and position came from. Without Zhang Changzong, he could let go of everything else, but he could not alienate the empress. Once the empress favored someone else, he would lose everything.
"Wan 'er gave birth to a daughter?"
Wu Zetian heard half of it and asked Zhang Yizhi with a smile. Hearing that Wan 'er gave birth to a girl, Wu Zetian was slightly relieved. If it was a boy, it would inevitably cause people to worry. Having a girl was the result she was most happy to see.
Zhang Yizhi smiled and said, "Yes, Sage."
A gust of wind came, and the cool wind hit the body, making people feel refreshed. On the doors and windows of the hall, there were fragrant beads made of precious spices from India and Persia, and long strings of jasmine, jasmine, and other fragrant flowers. These fragrant beads and fragrant flowers formed a curtain that could block mosquitoes and flies. With the wind, it could also send bursts of fragrance, making people feel relaxed and happy.
Wu Zetian lifted her body, and Zhang Yizhi quickly put down the secret memorial. He moved a bamboo pillow behind Wu Zetian and replaced it with a jade pillow. Wu Zetian leaned back comfortably and closed her eyes. Zhang Yizhi's hands gently pressed on her shoulders.
Wu Zetian smiled and said, "Wan 'er's previous letter mentioned the placement of the child …"
Zhang Yizhi massaged her and said, "Yes! Shangguan Daizhi wants to ask the Sage for mercy and give the child to her mother to raise with the reason that Old Madame Zheng chose a stepson for her. "
Wu Zetian said indifferently, "Now she gave birth to a daughter. Is there a need for a girl to adopt a stepson? Can the Shangguan family rely on a girl to support the family? "
Zhang Yizhi did not understand her meaning and said tentatively, "The Sage means …"
Wu Zetian smiled and did not speak, but she sighed softly in her heart. Her words were already very obvious to Zhang Yizhi, but Zhang Yizhi's political awareness was obviously far from the result she wanted to see.
Zhang Yizhi did not see the meaning behind Wan 'er's action. Although Wu Zetian put Shanghai Wan 'er in an important position, and the Shangguan family also rose again in the name of Shangguan Wan' er's mother, Lady Zheng, but Wu Zetian had not publicly rehabilitated the Shangguan family, and their crimes were still there.
Shangguan Yi and his son were killed by Wu Zetian, so how could she easily deny her decision?
"This girl knows how to use opportunities. She wants to use this matter to rehabilitate the family. As long as I agree to let Lady Zheng choose a stepson for her and support the Shangguan family, won't it be a form of rehabilitating Shangguan Yi and his son? Haha, does this girl really think that I'm senile and can't even see through this ploy? "
Wu Zetian thought with a smile. Although she put Wan 'er in an important position and trusted Wan' er, she had never removed the crimes on the Shangguan family. This crime was still there, and it was like a sharp knife hanging over the Shangguan family's head. As long as she wanted, this knife could fall at any time, and everything the Shangguan family had taken back would be taken away again.
Actually, Wu Zetian had always trusted Shanghai Wan 'er without a doubt. She did this not to coerce Wan' er, but it was a method that a cunning Emperor was used to. However, after Wan 'er's accidental pregnancy, although Wu Zetian still valued Wan' er, she did not trust her as much as before. She felt that it was necessary to keep this method in reserve.
Wu Zetian did not say this to Zhang Yizhi. She had already given him some pointers. Since Zhang Yizhi could not figure it out, then even if she explained it more clearly, it would not help him improve.
Wu Zetian smiled faintly and said casually, "Nothing, I am just curious. Wan 'er has always been meticulous. How could she be so careless now? Did she not think about what it would be like to have a daughter?"
Actually, Wu Zetian knew very well that having a daughter did not involve the problem of supporting the family. It would be easier to solve. If Shanghai Wan 'er wanted to adopt a son, she could even allow it. Having a daughter was even easier. Wan' er did not have to specifically mention how to have a son and how to have a daughter in the secret memorial.
Zhang Yizhi smiled and said, "Presumably, Shangguan Wan 'er also thinks that if he has a son, then he can painstakingly arrange a future for him. If he has a daughter, why can't he raise her? So there is no need to worry too much. A daughter is always less troublesome than a son. "
Wu Zetian smiled and suddenly asked, "In this matter, Yang Fan was also involved?"
Zhang Yizhi looked at Wu Zetian warily. Wu Zetian's face did not show any signs of abnormality. She was lying on the couch, looking serene. The sunlight shone through the glistening curtain of rain and the fragrant flowers and shone on her wrinkled old face. Her already wrinkled old face was reflected by the mottled light and shadow and became even more wrinkled.
Zhang Yizhi suddenly turned his head and looked at the blurred curtain of rain. He took a deep breath of the faint fragrance of the fragrant flowers and suppressed the nauseous feeling in his heart. But his voice was still gentle, respectful and lingering, as if he was whispering words of love into the ear of his most beloved woman.
"Liu Lang is the most attentive to the matters entrusted by the Sage. But he is young and has never undertaken such a major task alone. He knows that the Sage thinks highly of Shangguan Wan and is afraid that something will go wrong, so he naturally has to be extra careful. Moreover, if Liu Lang wants to do this, he must send someone to do it.
Liu Lang's subordinates may not be as reliable as Yang Fan. The two of them worked together in Yanzhou and have some friendship. That is why Liu Lang thought of asking him for help. When Liu Lang received the news, Shangguan Wan had already arrived in Chang 'an. Liu Lang did not have time to consult the Sage, so he made the decision without authorization. Sage, please don't blame him. "
Wu Zetian smiled and opened her eyes. She pointed at Zhang Yizhi coquettishly and said, "You, when did I blame Liu Lang? It was just a casual question. Why are you so nervous?"
Zhang Yizhi smiled awkwardly and said in a low voice, "The Sage is magnanimous, but don't spoil Liu Lang."
Wu Zetian closed her eyes again and was silent for a while. Then she said, "In that case, how to settle this child will still be left to Yang Fan. Let him think of a perfect reason to adopt this girl."
Zhang Yizhi looked at Wu Zetian with some surprise. The wrinkles at the corners of her lips were very deep, revealing stubbornness and arrogance. Zhang Yizhi couldn't help but swallow the words that were about to come out of his mouth. He couldn't understand why the Empress would do this. If Shangguan Wan had given birth to a boy, she might have more consideration. A girl's family, why didn't she accept Wan 'er's request? Since the Sage still needed Wan' er, why not give the favor of pushing the boat with the current to her?
Zhang Yizhi would never understand the mind of an emperor. Wu Zetian indeed often had the style of going against the will of others, but she did so not because she was strong-willed and liked to disagree with others. She was already standing at the top of the world, and doing so was meaningless to her.
There was only one reason why she did this: as the wielder of the highest authority, she did not want anyone to think that she would go along with the ideas of others. She wanted others to always remember one thing: do not have any designs on her. Everything was under her control, everything was up to her!
Wu Zetian did not continue on this topic. Instead, she asked, "I heard that Chongxun and Chengqi's children have all chosen to build their residences in Longqing Square. Are they now neighbors?"
Zhang Yizhi came to his senses and hurriedly replied, "Yes." Wu Zetian asked no more, but the corners of her lips softened. She hoped that the Wu and Li clans could bury the hatchet and work together to continue the empire of the Great Zhou. Wu Chongxun and his wife becoming neighbors with the Prince of Xiang's five sons was a very good start, one that she was happy to see.
Wu Zetian thought for a while, then said, "Wulang, when you get back, draw up a list of names and submit it to me. A portion of the nobles, ministers, and members of the imperial family can now begin migrating to Chang 'an. Mm, as for Wan 'er's mother, this batch will not be considered. "
"Yes!"
… …
Ever since Du Wentian had received a beating for flirting with Shu Xiaomiao at Xingjiao Temple, his luck had run out, and he had been beaten again and again these past few days. After being beaten by Lan Yiqing, Shu Xiaomiao, and the others on the island in the center of the lake, Du Wentian's bruised and swollen face had not yet recovered from his injuries when his father summoned him back to Fan Chuan to be taught another lesson.
Du Wentian was filled with grief and indignation. He felt that the heavens had treated him too unfairly. He had kindly invited Princess Anle to live in the Du clan's estate, and in order to curry favor with Anle, he had spent more than a million taels of silver. Because of Anle's repeated beatings, he had become a joke in Chang 'an. Now, it was difficult to determine who was responsible for the fire in the Roaming Jade Palace, and the Du clan had to bleed and pay half of the compensation.
If Princess Anle could remember his kindness, then all the grievances, injuries, and humiliation he had suffered would have been repaid. But now that he had lost his value, even Princess Anle no longer pretended to speak to him. He was not willing. He was not willing to give up on the goddess of his heart.
Yang Fan, because of the birth of his beloved daughter, had shown mercy and intended to let him go. But there were some people in this world who would not change just because you were magnanimous. Du Wentian was one of those people who would say, "If you don't seek death, you won't die, but I just want to seek death." Yang Fan wanted to keep the peace, but Du Wentian did not!
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