On the top of the Wild Goose Pagoda, where Yang Fan and Ning Ke once sat and drank, Lu Binzhi stood by the window with his hands behind his back, letting the wind blow his clothes.
He liked to stand on such a high place, where he could have a panoramic view of the chessboard-like Chang 'an City, including the magnificent palace. So he often came here recently, standing alone and thinking quietly. Every time he stood here, he felt that he and his late brother, Lu Binmi, had become one.
Lu Binzhi had always admired his elder brother. He was not an ignorant and incompetent child of an aristocratic family. When he was young, he was as smart as his elder brother Lu Binmi. However, when he gradually became sensible and realized that everything in the family would be inherited by his elder brother in the future, he began to play around with his studies.
This was not out of frustration or jealousy, but because he adored his brother. He did so because he believed that with his brother around, any problem of the family could be solved, and he did not need to do anything for the family. So he indulged himself and indulged in pleasure.
But now, he had to pull himself together and continue his elder brother's unfulfilled wish. Thus, revenge was definitely not his only goal, nor was it his main goal. This was because he knew what his deceased brother had always been thinking about. His deceased brother's greatest wish was for the Lu family to stand at the head of the Seven Sects and Five Families.
So, after coming to Chang 'an for so long, he had never tried to take any measures against the Yang Family or the Yang Family. Killing Yang Fan was just one of his purposes. His goal was very long-term, just like what he could see from where he stood, very far away …
The middle-aged man in a cyan robe slowly climbed to the top of the pagoda. Before he entered the top of the pagoda where Lu Binzhi was, he stopped and tried to regulate his breath. Only when he felt that his breath was no longer hurried did he quietly walk in.
Lu Binzhi did not look back, but he heard the slight footsteps. He squinted at the huge "chessboard" in front of him and looked at the people on the "chessboard". He asked leisurely, "Is it done?"
The man in a cyan robe respectfully put his hands down and said, "Yes, I have arranged for someone to establish a relationship with him in a very clever way. According to Young Master's instructions, I have not revealed any purpose to him. Now I only want to get close to him and gain his trust."
"Very good!"
Lu Binzhi smiled.
The green-robed man was silent for a moment and said, "Young Master, we've spent so much effort on this person … I don't think it's of much use. It's better to spend more effort on Yang Fan and buy that person over."
The man in green knew that Lu Binzhi was the same as his elder brother. They did not like to be admonished by others, and he had no intention of doing so. He only wanted to give Lu Binzhi a chance to show off.
Lu Binmi was very arrogant, so arrogant that he didn't listen to others and didn't care to explain his actions to others. Lu Binzhi was also very arrogant, but in this aspect, Lu Binzhi was different from his brother. He liked to show off, and as a subordinate, he naturally had to cater to his interests.
Sure enough, Lu Binzhi revealed a proud smile and said, "Now it seems that this person is indeed an idle chess piece, but who knows what will happen in the future? Yang Fan, I just want him to die. He can't decide who Xian Zong belongs to.
In terms of usefulness, if this person can be of use, then Yang Fan's usefulness will not be as good as his. You have to know that there are no useless people in this world. It just depends on whether you can put him in a suitable position and give him a suitable opportunity. "
The man in green said in puzzlement, "But the Son of Heaven is at the prime of his life. Even if this person is in the position, what use is there?"
Lu Binzhi raised his index finger and lightly waved it. He said, "First, we need to put him in a suitable position. Then, if needed, we can create an opportunity for him. At that time, the idle chess piece will become the one that must be killed! "
The man in green lowered his head and said, "Yes, I understand. Then we are getting close to Wu Sansi for this goal, right? "
"Only half of the reason is because of this …"
Lu Binzhi thought for a moment and then said, "I will not put all my eggs in the same basket. Wu Sansi looks like a sturdy basket, but in the end, he is still a basket."
… …
On the fifth day after the court conference, it was time for the Emperor to lead the civil and military officials and imperial relatives to visit Emperor Zetian every ten days. Li Xian led the imperial relatives, noble officials, and officials of third-rank and above to the Shangyang Palace where Wu Zetian lived.
Ever since Wu Zetian had been driven off the throne, even though her treatment had not been reduced, the mental blow had caused serious harm to her. Her hair had fallen even thinner, and her face was so haggard that people could not bear to look at it.
But each time the Emperor led the civil and military officials to see her, no matter if she was uncomfortable or not, she would struggle. She would have people spend at least two hours to dress her up and then help her change into a bright dress, even if she would be tired for two days after the audience.
She did not want these officials who had once prostrated before her to look down on her. She did not want them to pity her, look down on her, or laugh at her. Right now, the only thing she had left was her dignity. The only thing she could use to protect it was also the only thing she had left.
When the eunuch loudly announced the audience of the Emperor and the officials, Wu Zetian was already sitting upright on the couch. In order to hide her old age and haggard appearance, she had even hung up a curtain of beads in front of her. Through this curtain of beads, she coldly looked at the Emperor and officials who were putting on a show in front of her.
The Emperor spoke. Wu Zetian glanced at him in disgust. She was too lazy to listen to his clichéd words of care and concern. Instead, she looked disdainfully at the officials. Then, she froze.
Wu Zetian was like an old beast king. Her teeth were already slow and falling off, but her sense of smell was still incomparably sensitive. On her aged face, a pair of eyes exuded a sharpness that did not match her age. She stared closely at the officials through the curtain of beads. Slowly, a treacherous and cold smile appeared on her face.
In truth, Li Xian was rather impatient with this kind of show. Over the years, the relationship between mother and son had long ago become extremely indifferent. He was only taking care of his birth mother out of his duty as a son. He would not commit matricide, nor would he mistreat his birth mother. However, it was truly impossible for him to display his love and respect for his mother.
But he still had to display the appearance of a filial son, because he was the Emperor, a role model for the people of the world. This show had to be performed not only for the officials, but for the people of the world.
Li Xian had a warm smile on his face as he patiently inquired about his mother's diet, rest, and other aspects of her life. Wu Zetian would always respond with muffled grunts. From start to finish, she did not say a single word to him.
Finally, this exchange of greetings that both mother and son found boring came to an end. It was Empress Wei's turn to continue her act, and then it was the Prince of Xiang, Taiping, and the other members of the imperial family. Finally, it was the turn of the civil and military officials. The visit was nearing its end, and everyone secretly sighed in relief.
After all the civil and military officials paid their respects to Empress Zetian, Li Xian respectfully said, "Mother, your son still has matters of state to attend to, so he will take his leave."
"Mm!"
Wu Zetian continued to reply in a low voice. Li Xian clasped his hands and turned to leave the hall. Wu Zetian suddenly called out, "Xian'er!"
Li Xian froze, then turned around in shock and bowed his head. "Mother."
Wu Zetian fell silent for a few moments, then said in a hoarse and powerless voice, "Xian'er, have Lingyue stay and talk with Mother."
"Eh …"
Li Xian gave Princess Taiping a strange look, then exchanged a glance with Empress Wei and Wu Xi. Only then did he reluctantly say, "Yes, then … Taiping, stay and talk with Mother."
Princess Taiping was also very surprised, but she quickly calmed down and nodded to Li Xian.
Everyone retreated outside like the tide, leaving only Princess Taiping standing in the hall.
"Mother!"
Princess Taiping bowed to Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian said, "Come, Lingyue, let us mother and son take a walk in the garden."
Princess Taiping hurriedly lifted the hanging curtain. After Wu Zetian was dressed up, her facial features became hazy behind the curtain. When she was presented to the officials, she still looked as dignified as before, but now that they were close, they found that she had aged a lot. Although Princess Taiping and her mother had many grievances, seeing her mother like this, her eyes still reddened and tears almost fell.
She hurried forward and personally helped Wu Zetian up. Wu Zetian struggled to stand up and said to the palace maids and eunuchs who had come over in disgust, "Get out of my way! This old one is talking to my daughter, do I need you to watch? Don't tell me that your Emperor doesn't even trust his own sister? "
All the eunuchs and palace maids looked awkward, but since Wu Zetian had already said so and Princess Taiping was at the side, it was not good for them to be too obvious. They had no choice but to obediently retreat to the side.
Princess Taiping helped the staggering Wu Zetian to walk to the small garden at the back. Wu Zetian squinted her eyes and looked at the flowers in the garden. She suddenly asked, "Where did Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanhui and the others go? Why didn't I see them today?"
Princess Taiping then understood why her mother kept her. She glanced at her mother and replied in a cold tone, "Mother only cares about living the rest of your life. You don't need to concern yourself with the affairs of the court."
Wu Zetian laughed, "Daughter, your temperament is really like your mother's. Let mother ask you, do you still want to restore the throne? Mother is already so old, why do I still need to waste energy? If they did not force me to abdicate at the beginning of the year, I am afraid I would have handed over the throne by now. "
Wu Zetian looked at the garden full of spring flowers and felt that she was getting old. She sighed and said, "Daughter, mother does not want to harm you by asking these questions. Among the children, mother loves you the most. You have to be careful of your brother, the Emperor. Don't be fooled by his timid and harmless appearance when mother is on the throne. His breadth of mind is far from that of an Emperor. "
Wu Zetian's mouth curled up with a trace of contempt and said coldly, "Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanhui and the others have already lost favor, right? Ah, it has only been four months since they forced me to abdicate, and these monarch and ministers have already fallen out. Daughter, your brother is mean and ungrateful. Today he can deal with the meritorious ministers who supported him to ascend the throne, tomorrow he can deal with you. I have to plan early... "
"Mother!"
Princess Taiping could not bear it anymore. She stopped Wu Zetian's voice with a stern voice and said with a trembling voice, "Mother, don't show your kindness and love to me. You deliberately kept me, didn't you want to arouse my brother's suspicion of me?"
Tears swirled in Princess Taiping's eyes. She said sadly, "Mother, isn't it good for you to spend your remaining years peacefully like this? Do you want your children to kill each other before you are satisfied?"
Wu Zetian's face became cold and her eyes were full of hatred. She did not feel embarrassed when her daughter saw through her intentions. She stared at Princess Taiping coldly and said slowly, "Yes! I am not satisfied! But I am a lonely old woman, what else can I do?
Daughter, do you think mother wants to harm you? If your brother still has a brotherly affection for you, if he remembers everything you have done for Li Tang all these years, do you think he will fall for such a shallow trick of driving a wedge between you and him? If he is afraid of you because of this, even if mother does not drive a wedge between you, can you still have a brotherly affection for him? "
Princess Taiping staggered back a few steps. Her face was as pale as paper.
That's right, her mother was deliberately provoking a fight between the siblings. She could see through it at a glance, but so what? Could she be sure that her brother would not be suspicious of her sister, who had painstakingly worked hard for the past twenty years to cure Li Tang?
Wu Zetian smiled like a sinister witch, "Daughter, mother dares to bet that when you leave Shangyang Palace, your good brother must be waiting for you outside. You might as well tell him the conversation between us mother and daughter. Do you think he will believe you? This son, mother, has long seen through him. Ha, ha, ha... "
Wu Zetian raised her pale as snow head and laughed wildly.
When Princess Taiping walked out of Shangyang Palace with heavy footsteps, she saw Li Xian very attentively greeting her. He could not wait to ask, "Little sister, what did mother say to you? Quickly tell brother. If mother needs anything, brother can send someone to deliver it. "
Princess Taiping looked at her brother who was trying hard to hide his strange gaze and unnatural expression. A chill hit her heart.
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