The day after Doulu Qin Wang paid his respects to Li Xian, Li Xian issued an edict declaring, "When there is an important matter concerning the military or state, the Hall of Governmental Affairs may jointly mediate."
With this edict, Doulu Qin Wang had the authority of Prime Minister. But Li Xian's edict did not make any changes to Doulu Qin Wang's position as the Bodhisattva. From this point onwards, the title of 'Bodhisattva' became a title signifying the emperor's favor. He no longer had the authority of Prime Minister.
The people of the outside world did not know the inside story of Doulu Qin Wang's loyalty to Li Xian. As for Doulu Qin Wang's reappointment as Prime Minister, the ministers, scholars, and common people all believed that this was the emperor's approval and encouragement for the Prince of Xiang to hand over his military authority. But in reality, even though the Prince of Xiang had already handed over his military authority, Li Xian still did not feel at ease. His authority and influence over the Prince of Xiang and Taiping was gradually being retracted and compressed.
The weather grew colder by the day, and the relationship between the emperor, the Prince of Xiang, and Taiping also grew colder by the day. Meanwhile, the relationship between Yang Fan and Shen Mu also grew colder and colder as the distrust between the two grew.
The source of the conflicts and troubles between the clear and hidden factions was extremely complex. Even though Lu Binzhi was playing tricks in the shadows, he had not created them out of nothing. Instead, he had used the mutual dissatisfaction between the two sects and the inevitable competition in business to bribe the lowest few people in order to intensify and expand this conflict.
This was just like the quarrel between two mulberry pickers on the border between Chu and Yue during the Warring States Period. It first involved two families, then involved two villages, and then expanded to two cities, ultimately developing into a war between the two countries. If there had been a third person fanning the flames, how could the lofty sovereign have sensed it?
Putting aside the fact that Yang Fan had personally summoned the stewards in charge of the north back to the capital to personally question them, even if he had personally rushed to Zhuozhou and clearly understood the cause of this conflict, he still would not have discovered that someone was playing tricks. This was because the problems between the two sides truly did exist. Even if Lu Binzhi had not been playing tricks, there would have been a day when this small grudge would have become a major grudge.
Fortunately, although Yang Fan and Shen Mu didn't trust each other, they still maintained the greatest degree of restraint. Thus, this local confrontation didn't expand into a full-scale war between the Obvious and Hidden Sects.
However, Yang Fan's status and influence in the Obvious Sect obviously couldn't be compared to Shen Mu's control over the Hidden Sect. He had spent too much energy and time in the officialdom. Furthermore, one of them had taken over Young Master Jiang's old subordinates and had many factions under him, while the other had single-handedly established this organization. The control of the two couldn't be compared.
Even though Yang Fan had already realized the danger and was slowly gathering his authority and installing his trusted aides, it took time to mend the fence after the sheep was lost. Perhaps if he was given another ten years, his position in the Xian Sect would be as stable as Shen Mu's position in the Hidden Sect.
Thus, in this period of time, the pressure Yang Fan endured was far heavier than Shen Mu's. This pressure didn't just come from the outside, but also from the many elders within the Obvious Sect who were dissatisfied with his display of weakness. It was in this situation where Yang Fan was besieged both internally and externally that Empress Zetian's critical illness arrived.
In Shangyang Palace, Li Xian, Empress Wei, Shanghai Wan 'er, the Prince of Xiang, Princess Taiping, Prince Liang, and the many members of the Li and Wu families were all kneeling before the bed. The palace was filled with internal guards, and outside the palace, the tens of thousands of cavalry personally led by Yang Fan formed an impenetrable encirclement.
Every palace maid and eunuch that entered and exited Shangyang Palace had to undergo the strictest inspection, and the ten thousand cavalry and internal guards would each send a person to monitor their movements. No one was allowed to smuggle them in, and no one was allowed to move around without permission. The palace maids and eunuchs had to tiptoe when they walked, not daring to make the slightest sound.
Wu Zetian's illness had flared up ever since Doulu Qinwang had visited Li Xian. Ever since then, even though she had constantly consulted doctors for medicine, her body had never taken a turn for the better. The eighty-two-year-old Wu Zetian was about to reach the end of her life.
In the last few days, she had been sometimes lucid and sometimes confused. Now, even the imperial doctors, who had never dared to make an accurate judgment on her illness, had no choice but to brace themselves and tell Li Xian that the empress was truly on her deathbed.
"Mother …"
No matter how much hatred they had for the rest of their lives, at this moment, there was no need to bring it up. Seeing their birth mother wither, Li Xian, Li Dan, and Princess Taiping, the three children kneeling at the very front, couldn't help but feel their hearts ache and cry.
Wu Zetian slowly woke up. The imperial doctor who had just finished administering her acupuncture retreated a few steps on his knees, his forehead beaded with sweat, making way for the empress and her children.
"Ling Yue, Ling Yue …"
Wu Zetian used a weak voice to call out. Princess Taiping hurriedly moved forward on her knees, grasping her cold and old fingers, and choked out, "Mother, your daughter is here."
"Daughter, mother dreamed of Concubine Shu just now, and mother also dreamed of the empress …"
Wu Zetian murmured, "They were loudly cursing mother, saying that mother was going to see them, and that they were going to complain to the Saint about mother."
Li Xian tilted his ear, trying hard to listen to Wu Zetian's words. Ever since Wu Zetian had suddenly fallen gravely ill when they had been listening to the songs in the Cai Si Garden previously, he had already ordered that if there was anything wrong with his mother, they had to immediately report to him. He had to ensure that he would be able to stay by his mother's side, and know what his mother's final will was.
Now, his mother had finally spoken, but what she said had nothing to do with the great plans of the country. She had actually mentioned Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu who had long since turned into rotten bones. This caused Li Xian to be slightly at a loss.
The corners of Wu Zetian's mouth gently hooked up into a proud arc, and said, "In the human world, they are not my opponent. In the underworld, they are also not my opponent. Daughter, your Imperial Father is a talented and bold ruler, but in the Imperial Harem, he is not so shrewd. When mother sees him, I am still the most pampered, hehe … "
"Mother …"
Princess Taiping didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She didn't expect that her mother would actually talk about these things at this time, but she didn't know why, as she listened, she felt a little sad.
Wu Zetian suddenly made a snoring sound, and Li Xian quickly raised his head, but saw that Wu Zetian's eyes were open, but there seemed to be phlegm in her throat, and her breathing was somewhat rapid. When Wu Zetian saw him, her expression suddenly became cold. She closed her eyes, and was silent for a moment, then slowly called out, "Xian 'er."
Li Xian quickly moved in front of her, and Princess Taiping made way for him. Li Xian held Wu Zetian's hand. Wu Zetian's hand subconsciously shrunk, but finally slowly loosened. Her lifespan was approaching, and she had to let go of everything, so why be so stubborn?
She was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Xian 'er, mother … has always been harsh to you, but you allowed mother to keep the title of Emperor until now. Mother's heart is really ashamed."
This was the first time that Wu Zetian showed weakness in front of her son. Li Xian was somewhat frightened, and didn't know how to answer.
Wu Zetian sighed softly, "Mother is about to leave. After mother dies, remove mother's title of Emperor."
Li Xian's face was at a loss, and he only made a sound of agreement.
Wu Zetian's thoughts seemed to be very clear, but what she could remember seemed to be the past events of twenty or thirty years ago. She had forgotten everything in recent years. She no longer remembered Xue Huaiyi, who had accompanied her for more than ten years, no longer remembered her most beloved Zhang Changzong, and even her glory as an Emperor in the past fifteen years.
She thought hard, and said, "The clansmen of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao Shu, as well as the clansmen of Chu Suiliang, Han An, and Liu Shi, should all be pardoned …"
Li Xian made another sound of agreement.
Wu Zetian's face slowly revealed a trace of contempt and arrogance, and she said, "Mother can't do anything to them in the world of the living, and can only put the sins on their clansmen. Now that mother is about to die, and they don't give up, then mother will go to the world of the dead to deal with them. Naturally, there is no need to make things difficult for their clansmen in the world of the living. "
Her children had no way to respond to her words. Wu Zetian had fought all her life, and it seemed that she was getting stronger with age, and her fighting spirit was even stronger. But now, she planned to take her ambition and revenge to the world of the dead to show it.
Wu Zetian's eyes became misty for a moment, and then gradually became clear. She murmured, "Forget about the Zhou Temple that mother built, after mother dies, mother's spirit tablet of the Lord of Gods will be attached to the Grand Temple of Li Tang, mother … mother will be buried in your father's tomb."
Even though Wu Zetian's voice was very weak, it still seemed to have an indescribable magic. Li Xian did not have the courage to oppose, and only agreed in a low voice.
'Zhou Temple', 'Gui Mausoleum', and removing the title of Emperor.
The Empress finally compromised when her life was about to end, and gave up what she had been pursuing all her life.
She lowered her head to the world, and admitted that she was not the Emperor, and that she was the Empress of Li Tang.
Even though the so-called abolition of Tang Jianzhou was actually a mother seizing the position of the son, and it was very different from the ordinary change of dynasty, and even the subjects under her rule had never acknowledged the so-called Wuzhou Empire, but for someone as strong as her to make such a decision was very rare.
She lowered her head to her husband.
After her husband died, she seized power step by step. Of her four sons, two died, and two were crippled. She killed all of her husband's family, and finally ascended the throne as she wished. At this moment, she was willing to return to her husband's side as a wife.
She forgave Empress Wang, Consort Xiao Shu, and the relatives of Chu Suiliang and Han Yuan who were on their side. It was not because the words of a person who was about to die were kind, but because she firmly believed that in the world of the dead, she could still sweep away everything. What she pardoned today in the world of the living, if they did not lower their heads in the future in the world of the dead, they would still be her prisoners.
However, did she really surrender?
She didn't!
Everything she did was to hold on to her victory.
What was lost was lost. Even if she wanted to hold on tightly, it was impossible. Retreating in order to advance was the only correct method she could use now. She removed her title of Emperor and restored her title of Empress. That way, no one would overthrow her title of Emperor and end up with nothing.
She ordered her son to take her to the temple and return to the mausoleum, to be buried in the Qian Mausoleum as Emperor Gaozong's legal wife. As her son's filial piety came first, he could only obey. And unless future generations wanted to overthrow Emperor Gaozong as well, they would never be able to counterattack and dig up her grave.
She was intelligent. Ever since she entered the palace at the age of thirteen, her life had been vigorous. Until the last year of her life, from the twenty-second day of the first month of the first year of the Divine Dragon to the twenty-sixth day of the eleventh month of the first year of the Divine Dragon, these last nine months and four days were not always dim.
In the last moments of her life, she still let her intelligence bloom with a dazzling light. She did her best to keep what she wanted to keep in her concessions. With her usually tough personality, this was the only time in her life that she would do this.
After Wu Zetian finished saying all this, she seemed to be extremely tired. She once again fell into a deep sleep. After an unknown amount of time, Wu Zetian suddenly woke up from her dreams with a start. She called out in panic: "Daughter! Lingyue! "
Power, status, fame, in the last moments of her life, they were all useless. At this moment, what she could remember, what could give her warmth, was only the bones of her bones, the flesh of her flesh.
Taiping held her hand. Wu Zetian was relieved. She let out a long breath and murmured: "It's so cold. What season is it now?"
Taiping replied in a low voice: "Mother, it's already winter. It's snowing outside."
Hearing this, Wu Zetian's withered and old face suddenly bloomed with a young girl's bright smile: "It's snowing? I remember that when mother entered the palace, it was also snowing. I wonder if the plum blossoms in the Fragrance Palace have bloomed yet? Mother really misses the fragrance there. "
Princess Taiping was somewhat startled. After a while, she softly reminded: "Mother, this is Chang 'an. The Fragrance Palace … … is in Luoyang."
"Ah … …"
Wu Zetian laughed involuntarily: "Yes, mother is muddle-headed … …"
She wanted to laugh. Her tangerine-like old face just bloomed into a smile. Her mouth was still slightly open, but it was forever frozen there.
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