At the welcoming banquet held by Wu Sansi for Wu Yanxiu, Li Hongtai openly claimed that Zhang Changzong had the Son of Heaven Appearance. Faced with the nonchalant laughter of Wu Sansi and the others, Zhang Changzong, who had never had any political awareness, did not raise his guard at all.
After he returned to the Palace, he did not mention this matter to anyone. Furthermore, on the day of Wu Sansi's banquet, there were no followers of Er Zhang's faction. As a result, no one mentioned this matter for a full ten days. On the third day after Zhang Changzong's banquet, Li Daozhang left Chang 'an and packed his luggage to visit a few fellow cultivators at Kunlun Mountain.
Yang Fan had created an opportunity, but he would not let his men charge into the fray. He knew that since he had already provided an opportunity, there would definitely be people who could not help but jump out.
Prime Minister Yao Chong's residence.
Ever since Wei Yuanzhong was banished to Lingnan, Yao Chong had become the leader of these loyal officials. Yao Chong, who had repeatedly shown goodwill in front of Zhang Erzhang, sat at the head of the table with a cold expression. Following him were the Prime Minister of the Imperial Censor Song Jing, Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion Cui Xuanhui, Junior Minister of Punishment Huan Yanfan, Prime Minister of Dali Feng Quanzhen, Supervising Censor Ma Huaisu and other officials.
Yao Chong looked around at his officials with a cold expression. His sonorous voice echoed in everyone's ears, "Since the Crown Prince has been chosen, the Wu Clan is no longer a concern. The only concern now is that Zhang Erzhang has used his favoritism and has formed many henchmen. If this continues, he will become a great threat to the court. That is why we are focusing on Zhang Erzhang.
Last time, we were well prepared. Unfortunately, the Son of Heaven is still covering up for the crime of selling official positions and bribery. Now, Zhang Changzong is arrogant and openly accepts the Son of Heaven Appearance's compliment. This is undoubtedly treason. This time, we must not hesitate to take advantage of this loophole and punish him! "
Junior Minister of Punishment Huan Yanfan said angrily, "Zhang Changzong accepted the compliment and has the Son of Heaven's appearance. This is unfilial. Liang Wangwu Sansi was at the banquet and heard it with his own ears and saw it with his own eyes. It has been half a month, but he has not reacted! "
Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion, Cui Xuanhui, said in a carefree manner, "Wu Sansi has no fate with the throne. Although he is hostile to the Second Zhang, he knows that our loyal subjects will definitely make a move. Naturally, he won't stick his neck out!"
Song Jing clenched his fists tightly and said sternly, "If he won't do it, I will. There's no retreat this time, only death awaits!"
On the second day of the meeting, the scholar of Xuzhou, Yang Yuansi, put up notices on the main streets and bustling areas, accusing Zhang Changzong of treason. He was captured by the Great General of the Jin Wu Guards, Wu Yizong, who was patrolling the streets with his troops. After interrogation, he found out that Zhang Changzong was related to the royal family.
As it turned out, Yang Yuansi was the grandson of the Prince of Dongping, Li Xu. The Prince of Dongping, Li Xu, was the grandson of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and the eldest son of Prince Ji, Li Shen. Li Shen had seven sons, of which Li Xu and Li Xiu were the most outstanding. Before Wu Zetian ascended to the throne, she massacred Li Tang's imperial family. Li Xu's branch was also slaughtered by Wu Zetian.
Because Yang Yuansi was not a direct descendant of the Prince of Dongping's branch of the Li family, and because he was a descendant of the Hongnong Yang family, he was from the same family as Wu Zetian's mother. As soon as he found out Yang Yuansi's identity, Wu Yizong immediately used the special status of the informant and the informant to transfer the criminal and the seized notices to the Imperial Censorate.
Upon receiving this case, the Imperial Censorate immediately conducted an investigation as quickly as possible. After obtaining Yang Yuansi's confession, it immediately formed a memorial, which was stamped by Deputy Minister of Censorate Song Jing and submitted to the Shangshu Province. The Shangshu Province stamped it and then submitted it to the Menxia Province. The Menxia Province stamped it and then sent it to the Political Affairs Platform. Prime Minister Yao Chong happened to be on duty in the palace that day. As soon as he saw the memorial, he signed it and sent it to Shanghai Wan'er.
From the moment Yang Yuansi put up notices on the streets of Chang 'an, announcing Zhang Changzong's treason to when Shanghai Wan'er appeared before Wu Zetian with this memorial, it passed through the Jin Wu Guards, the Imperial Censorate, the Menxia Province, the Menxia Province, and the Political Affairs Platform. However, the entire process took only half a day.
The government offices involved included the Jin Wu Guards, which were controlled by the Wu clan, the Imperial Censorate, which was loyal to the Crown Prince, the Shangshu Province, which was subordinate to the Prince of Xiang, the Menxia Province, which was controlled by Princess Taiping, and Shanghai Wan'er, which was subordinate to the prestigious clan Xianzong. All these factions had not gone through any rehearsal or communication beforehand, yet they had reached an astonishing tacit understanding.
It seemed like all the factions were waiting for someone to make a move. They were like a group of hunters, their hands gripping sharp blades as they stared at a fierce tiger ready to pounce on them at any moment. No one dared to make the first move, nor did they dare to whisper to each other. However, they were even more aware that they could not turn their backs on the tiger, so they could only maintain this stalemate.
This stalemate continued until one of the hunters could not help but roar and rush forward. All the other hunters moved at the same time. Some stabbed at its heart, some chopped off its limbs, and some fiercely hacked at its head. Their cooperation was incomparably tacit, because they all wanted to kill this fierce tiger.
Wu Zetian listened to Shanghai Wan'er read halfway through before she took the memorial. She narrowed her presbyopic eyes and began to read it with difficulty. After she finished reading the memorial, she quietly sat there, not saying a single word, and her expression did not change in the slightest. Even Shanghai Wan'er, who had followed her for many years, could not guess what she was thinking.
Wu Zetian was silent for a long time. She lightly shook the memorial in her hand and said in a low voice, "The public's emotions are boiling …"
Wan'er's heart suddenly tightened. Only now did Wu Zetian's mouth reveal a sliver of unconcealable mockery. "Wan'er, this case, the entire court already knows about it, right?"
Wan'er did not speak. She knew that Wu Zetian was asking a question that she already knew the answer to. This memorial was publicly presented to the Emperor. How could it not be known by everyone? The large red seals at the bottom of the memorial had already explained this.
Wu Zetian closed her eyes and tiredly said, "Go and summon Liu Lang to see me."
Zhang Changzong was in Fengchen Prison when he heard that the Emperor wanted to see him. He was very surprised. All along, it was him who took the initiative to see the Emperor because he went to see the Emperor every day to greet him. Even if Wu Zetian wanted to keep him by her side one day, she would tell him in advance. Suddenly taking the initiative to summon him was something that had never happened before.
Zhang Changzong followed Shanghai Wan'er out of Fengchen Prison. As they were walking, he quietly asked, "Wait, the Saint wants to see me. Is there something urgent?"
Wan'er quickly glanced at the attendants in front and behind her. She lowered her voice and said, "There is a troublesome matter. It is not good for Liu Lang. Liu Lang must prepare early."
Wan'er knew that once Zhang Changzong arrived in front of the Emperor, he would immediately understand what had happened. There was no use in hiding it now. Right now, she could not be sure that the evidence this time would be able to bring down the Second Zhang. She could not let the Second Zhang discover her true position, so she still had to sell this good deal to Zhang Changzong.
Hearing this, Zhang Changzong felt anxious. He hurriedly asked, "What trouble?"
Wan'er quietly said, "Someone is accusing Liu Lang of rebellion!"
Hearing this, Zhang Changzong couldn't help but be shocked.
Zhang Changzong was brought to Chang Sheng Hall. After his name was called and he entered, Wu Zetian was sitting in the familiar seat. Behind her were the same eight palace maids, four men and four women, standing on both sides of the curtain. Everything was exactly the same as when he usually saw the Emperor, but Zhang Changzong always had a sinister feeling.
Zhang Changzong walked in front of Wu Zetian and fearfully bowed his head. "Saint."
Wu Zetian stared at him and slowly asked, "The matter of you being impeached, is it true?"
Zhang Changzong naturally did not dare to show that he already knew. He blankly raised his head and looked at Wu Zetian with confusion. He asked, "What is the Saint talking about?"
Wu Zetian said in a low voice, "The Imperial Censor has submitted a memorial. The Minister of State and the Palace Master have added a seal. The Prime Minister has supported Bai. They say that Yang Yuansi of Xuzhou has rebelled. Liu Lang, I accuse you of rebellion! "
"The Saint is wise. How could I dare to rebel? How could I rebel against His Majesty?"
Zhang Changzong's legs turned to jelly. He knelt in front of Wu Zetian. His forehead was dripping with sweat. He angrily said, "I am loyal and devoted to the Saint and have never had the slightest intention of betrayal. The officials hate me out of jealousy, so they keep slandering me. The Saint, please investigate. "
Wu Zetian sighed softly and said helplessly, "Yang Yuansi's betrayal is backed up by concrete evidence. We have seen the memorials, and I believe that the censorate would not be so absurd as to lie to us with something that can be easily seen through with a simple investigation."
Zhang Changzong was at a loss. "Impossible! I have never had the intention of rebelling. How could I have done such a thing? Evidence? What evidence could the Imperial Censor have? "
Wu Zetian asked slowly, "Do you claim to be the Son of Heaven?"
Zhang Changzong was dumbfounded. Wu Zetian said, "The Imperial Censor, Song Jing, said in the memorial that there are many nobles in the court as witnesses. There was once a magician, Li Hongtai, who declared in public that you have the appearance of the Son of Heaven. You accepted it calmly and even gave him the position of the State Preceptor. I am here to ask you, is this true?"
"Ah … ah …"
Zhang Changzong blinked his eyes. His fair face was flushed. He suddenly realized, "I understand! They are framing me. Your Majesty, they are colluding to frame me! "
Wu Zetian stared at him and said, "Did you not say such words, huh?"
"I said, no! I did not say it! It's not like that, I … "
Zhang Changzong was so anxious that he could not speak coherently. He tried to calm himself down and said, "Sage, this Li Hongtai is indeed a person. He is proficient in physiognomy and knows some spells. My mother worships the Dao and treats him as an honored guest. Because he is known to know fortune and misfortune, and to seek fortune and avoid calamity, I am very courteous to him.
A few days ago, King Liang held a banquet to celebrate Wu Yanxiu's return. I was invited and brought this Li Hongtai along. At the banquet, someone asked Taoist Li to look at his face and occasionally mentioned my physiognomy. Li Hongtai said that I have the appearance of the Son of Heaven. At that time, everyone laughed. Everyone thought it was a joke. I also thought it was absurd, so I joked that if I were the Son of Heaven, he would be the State Preceptor. Sage, that is what happened. "
"What about that Li Hongtai?"
"Li Hongtai? He … went to Kunlun to visit the Dao. Ah! "
Zhang Changzong suddenly slapped his forehead and said anxiously, "What a coincidence. Could it be … that Li Hongtai is also one of them?"
Wu Zetian stared at him. She did not know why, but she believed what Zhang Changzong said. Not only did she believe what Zhang Changzong said, but she also believed that Zhang Changzong had been framed. Wu Zetian could not help but feel a bit of pity. She softened her voice and said gently, "Sixth Brother, you have been in the court for so long. Do you still not understand what should be done, what should not be done, what should be said, and what should not be said?"
Zhang Changzong was still at a loss. "Sage, this is just a joke. That Li Hongtai was just flattering me. Everyone who heard it laughed and knew that it was a joke. This … this is considered a crime of rebellion? "
Wu Zetian closed her eyes. When she opened them again, there was a hint of laughter in her eyes. "Yes, according to the law, you have already committed the crime of rebellion!"
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