Xue Huaiyi quickly replied, "Huaiyi understands. Huaiyi is really stupid to need the Empress to teach me such an idea. When I return, I will follow the Empress' instructions. In a few days, Huaiyi will bring a copy of the Great Cloud Scripture for the Empress to take a look."
Wu Zetian smiled and cupped his cheeks. She gave him a light kiss and said, "Good man, I am already very happy that you are willing to share my worries. It doesn't matter if you do well or not, but it is enough that you have this intention! "
Xue Huaiyi had not been summoned by Wu Zetian to serve him in bed recently. As Wu Zetian's gigolo and the uncrowned Empress' male concubine, he did not dare to touch women. As a strong man, he had long held it in. With Wu Zetian's gentle words, Xue Huaiyi's lust was aroused. The little monk under his crotch rose and was about to press Empress Wu down on the bed.
Seeing his passionate gaze, Wu Zetian's heart couldn't help but itch a little. She leaned back slightly, half leaning on the soft embroidered tent. She squinted her eyes and glanced at Xue Huaiyi. Xue Huaiyi understood and was just about to stand up and take off his clothes when he heard someone call out from outside, "Empress, Assistant Minister Qiu Guan Zhou Xing requests an audience!"
Xue Huaiyi said angrily, "Tell him to wait!"
"Call him in!"
Wu Zetian sat up and fixed her messy hair. She glared at Xue Huaiyi.
Humans have all kinds of desires. It was unknown when it started, but in Wu Zetian's heart, the only thing that made her feel like she was on cloud nine was the desire to pursue power. Even though she was a little moved, Wu Zetian was not a person who could be troubled by emotions. She was not a woman who was bound by lust. The moment she heard about the important matter, she immediately regained her shrewdness and calmness.
Wu Zetian comforted the indignant Xue Huaiyi with a gentle voice, "Master, go to the back hall and rest for a while. Zhou Xing is here for something important."
Hearing her words, Xue Huaiyi knew that he still had a chance today. His anger turned to joy and he nodded and strode to the rear hall.
Wu Zetian tidied up her appearance and sat behind the table. She picked up a memorial and looked at the entrance of the hall with a pair of cold and dignified eyes. Following a series of footsteps, a pair of black satin boots stepped over the high threshold. A clear voice followed, "Assistant Minister Qiu Guan Zhou Xing pays his respects to the Empress!"
This was an official wearing a crimson robe. He was a third-ranked official of the Tang Dynasty. Among the various ministers, only the assistant minister of the Ministry of Appointments was a fourth-ranked official, while the other ministers were lower-ranked officials. The fourth-ranked officials wore crimson robes. As the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, Zhou Xing naturally had to wear a scarlet official robe.
Zhou Xing was just over forty this year. He was of a moderate build, not fat or thin. His face was clear, and he had a pair of thick eyebrows that were slightly curved. His eyebrows were black and bright like a sleeping silkworm. He had a pair of phoenix eyes and three strands of beard on his chin. He gave off the elegant and free air of a scholar, but his cheekbones were relatively high.
Seeing Empress Wu, Zhou Xing hurriedly went forward to greet her. The so-called greeting was just a bow. At this time, the court did not have the ceremony of kneeling. When the Emperor came to court, the officials all had seats. There would be meditation mats in the golden hall and the officials would kneel to discuss politics with the Emperor.
Only in the Song Dynasty, when Zhao Kuangyin ruled the country did the seats get removed and the officials stood to discuss politics. But when they went to court, they still only bowed. It was only in the Yuan Dynasty that they started to change to kneeling. Now, they did not always kneel.
Wu Zetian waved her sleeve and said, "Assistant Minister Zhou does not need to be so courteous. How is the case of Seo Kyung-jin going?"
Zhou Xing took out a memorial from his sleeve. He bowed and said, "Empress, after this subject received the decree, he immediately interrogated Seo Kyung-jin, Gong Siye, and Zhang Siming. The Luo Province Sima Gong Siye committed suicide to escape punishment. The Luo Province Magistrate Zhang Siming and Xu Jingye's younger brother Seo Kyung-jin were afraid of the Heavenly might and confessed to many accomplices. This subject did not dare to delay and immediately returned to report to the Empress."
A cold light flashed through Wu Zetian's eyes. She reached out a hand. Zhou Xing immediately walked forward and presented the memorial. He respectfully said, "At the back, there are the confessions of Seo Kyung-jin and Zhang Siming!"
Wu Zetian did not reply. She only opened the memorial and read it seriously. Seeing this, Zhou Xing took two steps back and bowed slightly. He stood at the side and waited for Empress Wu to ask questions.
Zhou Xing was slightly nervous. He had brought down many people before, but this time, among the people he wanted to bring down was his immediate superior, the Minister of Justice, Zhang Chujin. Wu Zetian had ordered him to investigate the case of Xu Jingye's younger brother, Seo Kyung-jin. She had smuggled goods and wanted to use this case to purge the anti-martial royalists in the court.
Zhou Xing had also smuggled goods and used the opportunity to drag his immediate superior, Zhang Chujin, into the case.
Zhang Chujin was no ordinary person either. To be able to suppress someone like Zhou Xing, how could his means be ordinary? Zhang Chujin came from a large clan in Bing Province and came from a family of officials. Ever since he was appointed as the Minister of Justice, he was known as a capable official. Zhou Xing had long wanted to push him down. If not for Zhang Chujin's impressive means, how would he be able to remain in his position?
As an official in the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Chujin had more confidants than Zhou Xing and his influence was greater than Zhou Xing's. Initially, Zhou Xing did not want to do it himself. He wanted to instruct his confidant, Yang Mingsheng, to do it himself. However, something happened to Yang Mingsheng. Zhou Xing was helpless and unwilling to give up on this good opportunity, he could only bite the bullet and do it himself.
Zhang Chujin's political stance wasn't clear. He didn't support either Li or Wu. At present, Empress Wu was pulling one faction and fighting another. She was more tolerant towards the middle-of-the-road faction. Therefore, Zhou Xing wasn't sure if Empress Wu would agree to include Zhang Chujin in the anti-martial royalist faction.
Wu Zetian carefully read through the contents of the memorial and did not even look at the confessions at the back. She was very clear about the actions of the few ruthless officials she had appointed. She was even more clear about the number of unjust and false cases that they had concocted in their hands. However, she needed these kind of lackeys right now, so naturally, she would not go too far. Because of this, why would she bother to look at the confessions that were forced out of her through torture?
Whether Zhang Siming and Seo Kyung-jin were afraid of death, couldn't stand torture, or wanted to frame others in order to avoid death, their motives weren't important. What was important was that under Zhou Xing's enticement, they were willing to expose those she wanted to get rid of. What she wanted to know was who was included in the purge list.
Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion, Yuan Wanqing …
The first name that came into view was that of the current Prime Minister. He was the only North Gate Scholar who was still in the court. Seeing this name, Wu Zetian's pair of phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly. She felt a trace of weakness. This was the confidant who had accompanied her through the stormy seas to seize the highest power. He had once made great contributions to her.
But this softness only lasted for a moment. Then it became as cold as frost and snow. That well-maintained, white and tender hand gently picked up a brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and heavily ticked off that name. It was as if the past friendship, the ups and downs, the ups and downs, the ups and downs of these decades, from Zhao Yi to the Empress, and then to the Empress Dowager, were written off in one stroke.
Assistant Minister of the Heavenly Official, Deng Xuanting, was the second name. This person was extremely friendly with Shangguan Yi. Later on, he was friendly with the Prince of Runan, Li Wei, the Prince of Poyang, Li Zhi, and others. Naturally, he was included in the purge list. Wu Zetian's face showed a hint of joy as she lightly ticked off the name.
Imperial Censor Wei Yuanzhong, was the third name.
This person had once been the Army Supervisor and had defeated Xu Jingye's rebel army. With this contribution, he should not be implicated. Empress Wu did not care how talented those who obstructed her path were. The more talented they were, the more she wanted to kill them. But she did not want to turn the world into a mess. Before she became Emperor, she had to use this group of ruthless officials who knew how to bite. When she ruled the world in the future, she had to leave behind a few capable officials.
But this person was very sympathetic to the nominal Emperor Li Dan. Now that the steps to change the world were getting tighter and tighter, if this person were to obstruct them at the crucial moment …
Empress Wu thought for a moment and used the cinnabar brush to tick off one of his names. With just this, he could be spared from death. But banishment and demotion were unavoidable.
Inner Custodian Zhang Guangfu, Shanzhou Provincial Governor Guo Zhengyi, Pengzhou Provincial Governor Liu Yicong …
These people were clearly on the side of the Emperor. Without hesitation, Wu Zetian ticked off the names with her cinnabar brush. Every tick was a life. She did not even blink. When the cinnabar brush in her hand touched Minister Qiu, Zhang Chujin, she paused in surprise.
Zhou Xing had been standing by the side, watching Empress Wu's actions. Seeing her brush stop, he quickly retracted his gaze and looked at his nose, pretending to not look sideways.
Empress Wu thought for a moment. She was well aware that Zhou Xing was smuggling goods. This Zhang Chujin could be killed or not. He would not be an obstacle to her. But now that she was about to ascend the throne, she needed to use Zhou Xing as her trusted aide. If she wanted a dog to listen to her, she had to give him a bone. Thus, after a moment's thought, the cinnabar brush in her hand ticked down. A red mark appeared on the paper like a sharp sword being unsheathed.
Zhou Xing pretended to not look sideways, only looking at Empress Wu from the corner of his eyes. Seeing this, he could not help but heave a sigh of relief.
Wu Zetian put down her cinnabar brush and said plainly, "My beloved subject is still very diligent in his work. However, these people have ulterior motives and are plotting something big. I'm afraid that their henchmen are not limited to these. My beloved subject must investigate them seriously to prevent any fish from escaping the net! "
"There are already so many officials … Does Empress Dowager think that we have not killed enough?"
Zhou Xing was secretly shocked. He knew that the scale of the purge had not reached the level that Empress Wu wanted. He quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, when I return, I will interrogate Zhang Siming and Seo Kyung-jin strictly. I will not let a single traitor escape the net!"
Empress Wu glanced at him and said with a smile that was not a smile, "Mm! Since Zhang Chujin has betrayed my trust and colluded with traitors, the position of Minister Autumn Official will be vacant. Do a good job. Other than you, I can't think of anyone else who is suitable for this position! "
Zhou Xing's face heated up. He knew that the Empress had seen through his thoughts. But hearing such an order, he was still overjoyed. He quickly bowed and thanked, "Empress Dowager trusts and promotes me. I will do my best until the day I die!"
Empress Wu plainly said, "You may leave!"
"Yes, I will take my leave!"
Zhou Xing bowed and left. When he reached the veranda, he felt the sun shining brightly and his body relaxed. At the same time, a question surfaced in his mind.
Since the Empress could not wait to purge the officials, it was obvious that she was about to ascend the throne. But she was already so old and did not have many years left. If she wanted her career to last long, she would have to climb up another big tree.
A new Emperor was about to ascend the throne. Who would be the next Emperor?
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
