Ever since the founding of the Tang dynasty, perhaps the time when power had been most concentrated was when Li Dan was emperor. There were no factions in the Imperial Court. All the factions were hibernating, and there was only one faction in the Imperial Court: the Wei Faction.
In the Political Affairs Hall, three members of the Wei clan, Wei Wen, Wei Anshi, and Wei Juyuan, served as Prime Ministers. The Prime Ministers not only held political power, but also controlled the Imperial Guard of the Southern Yamen. At the same time, Wei Jie, Wei Zhuo, Wei Bo, Wei Xuan, and the empress's nephew Gao Chong, as well as Wu Yanxiu, controlled the Northern Yamen. All the civil and military officials were gathered in the Wei clan.
Besides the direct members of the Wei clan, there was also Zong Chuke and Ji Chuna. Zhou Yong, Ran Zuyong, Li Zhi, Song Zhixun, Yao Shaozhi, Zong Jinqing, and a group of other henchmen attached themselves to the Wei clan. These people controlled the Imperial Censorate and the Six Ministries of the Imperial Court. All the important government offices were under their control.
In the entire Imperial Court, all the nobles and nobles belonged to the Wei clan! Even when Wu Zetian was in power, she had never allowed the Wu clan to monopolize power. Wu Zetian had always adhered to the path of balance. No matter how many people she defeated, she would always establish a new power to ensure the balance between the various factions. But Li Xian had done the exact opposite. He had taken the initiative to help the Wei clan eradicate all its competitors.
In these circumstances, who would dare not come to celebrate the birthday of Princess Anle's son? Did they not see that even the Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping had no choice but to come and celebrate the birthday of their grandnephew?
All sorts of precious gifts, which had not been transported away in time, were piled up on both sides of the ceremonial gate. The residence was filled with important ministers dressed in scarlet. If one was not dressed in scarlet, one would not even have the right to go in and drink water. To be able to leave a gift behind was already giving one a great deal of face, so one could happily leave.
Princess An Le's son had just turned five this year. The five-year-old little birthday boy was held in Li Xian's arms, and he impatiently twisted his body. He didn't like to mingle with so many adults, but after An Le glared at him, he became obedient. Towards his biological mother, who had always been too lazy to take care of him, the little birthday girl only had fear.
Yang Fan purposely chose a corner to sit, but he was discovered by someone and was pushed to the front. Although the people who appeared in Princess An Le's residence today were all important people with great authority, there weren't many major second-rank officials. Not only was Yang Fan a second-rank official, he no longer had any real power, so everyone respectfully arranged for him to be with those old fellows who had already retired.
As far as the eye could see, all around him were white-haired former prime ministers and former ministers. Yang Fan sat among them, like a crane in a flock of chickens. Of course, he knew that this was Princess An Le's intentional arrangement. He had already seen Princess An Le's proud gaze, and this was Princess An Le's residence. How could she not ask for her opinion on the seating arrangement?
However, Yang Fan did not feel humiliated. He was not familiar with these former high-ranking officials. Sitting among them saved him from being harassed. He only cared about calmly drinking his own wine and eating his own food. Since he was already here, he might as well take things as they came.
Seeing Princess An Le deliberately humiliate Yang Fan, Princess Taiping was initially quite worried, afraid that Yang Fan would not be able to restrain himself and become hostile on the spot. Seeing him calm and collected, she relaxed.
Empress Wei sat at the seat of honor and presented a large Night Pearl to the birthday boy as a gift. The birthday boy was very interested in this round and smooth pearl. He happily accepted it and played with it with his two small hands. Empress Wei smiled at Li Xian. "Today is your grandson's birthday. As his grandfather, shouldn't you give him a gift?"
Li Xian smiled. "You have a pearl as a gift. Naturally, I have a gift for him as well."
Li Xian whispered a few instructions to a young eunuch who was serving at his side. The young eunuch then walked out. A short while later, he came back with a horse. When the guests in the hall saw this, they could not help clicking their tongues in wonder. This horse was only half a meter tall and extremely small. Even if it was placed in a kennel, it would not necessarily be as strong as a large dog. However, it was truly a horse.
When the birthday boy saw this horse, his eyes immediately lit up. Twisting his body, he slid out of Li Xian's embrace and ran to the front of the horse. He excitedly stretched out his hands. This little pony was extremely docile. The eunuch was not afraid that it would kick and injure the child. He giggled as he watched the birthday boy stroke the horse's mane.
Li Xian stroked his beard and smiled. "Grandson, do you like this horse?"
The birthday boy beamed with joy and nodded his head repeatedly. "I like it! I like it! Grandfather is so good. "
Li Xian chuckled. Empress Wei pursed her lips and said, "It is just a Han Palace pony. You are the Emperor who has the wealth of the world. To only gift a pet horse to our grandson's birthday, isn't that a bit too stingy?"
Li Xian said, "Ai! He is just a child. His birthday is just for fun. Do you think he will like things like gold, pearls, jade, and other such things? This is a gift that we have carefully chosen for our grandson. "
Princess Anle pulled on Li Xian's arm and said in a spoiled manner, "Father, I also feel that it is a bit too stingy for the grand Son of Heaven to only give a pony as a birthday gift. My son is still young and cannot tell good from bad. When he grows up, he will inevitably blame you, his grandfather."
Li Xian helplessly said, "Fine, fine, fine. You little girl, tell me, what should father reward you with to satisfy you?"
Princess Anle's eyes turned. Clapping her hands, she said, "Then father will bestow him an official title."
"This …"
Li Xian stroked his beard and thought for a moment. He said in a low voice, "Then … what official title should I bestow?"
An Le giggled and said, "Father is the present Emperor. Isn't it up to father to decide what official title to bestow?"
Li Xian felt that his grandson was only five years old. It was not appropriate to suddenly bestow a high official title. But the title was too small. It looked like his daughter would not be satisfied. Just as he was deliberating, Empress Wei impatiently said, "What is there to think about? Just bestow my grandson the position of Taichang Official, with additional titles of Gold and Purple Bright Rank Official, General of the Left Guard, the title of Duke of Hao, and five hundred households of land."
Hearing this, Li Xian was shocked and hurriedly said, "That won't do. This … isn't it too hasty? Wait for zhen to return to the palace and think carefully before making a decision."
Empress Wei icily said, "What is there to argue about? Didn't Your Majesty say at Fangzhou that no matter what qie does in the future, Your Majesty will not interfere?"
Li Xian was instantly at a loss for words. Princess An Le hurriedly shot a glance at Wu Yanxiu. The two pulled the birthday girl over and bowed to Li Xian. "Many thanks to Imperial Father for bestowing this title!"
Li Xian opened his mouth, but in the end, he dejectedly said, "You may rise."
All the officials present saw this. The officials of the Wei clan saw that the Emperor had no prestige in front of the Empress and couldn't help but be pleased with themselves. The Prince of Xiang, Taiping, and the other officials, on the other hand, were inwardly dejected. Yang Fan held a cup of wine and coldly gazed at the scene in the hall. He thought to himself, "The current Emperor is clearly Empress Wei …"
Yang Fan tilted his head back and gulped down the cup of wine.
Li Xian had been publicly rebuked by Empress Wei and felt very humiliated. He sat gloomily for a while, then said that he was tired and wanted to return to the palace. The Emperor had come to celebrate his grandson's birthday and shouldn't have stayed for too long. After sitting for a while, he should have left. Now that the Emperor was leaving, the officials naturally had to see him off.
The civil and military officials, as well as the Emperor's relatives, noisily escorted Li Xian and his wife out of the Princess's estate and returned to the hall to take their seats. Now that the Emperor was no longer seated at the seat of honor, the hall truly became lively and relaxed.
Yang Fan saw that the Emperor had left and drank a few more steps. Then he stood up, intending to bid farewell to the owner of this place. He saw that Wu Yanxiu and Zong Chuke were drinking and chatting merrily. Just as he was about to walk over, a green-clothed manservant suddenly stopped in front of him and bowed to him with a smile. He said, "Great General, my Princess invites you."
After the Emperor and Empress left, the male and female guests parted. The noble ladies of the Imperial Clan all went to the rear residence. Princess An Le also pulled her son to the back. There were no more women in the hall. Hearing An Le's invitation, Yang Fan thought that she was going to pester him again. He said, "I am already slightly tipsy and am about to bid farewell. I and the Princess are men and women, so I won't be going to the rear residence."
The blue-clothed manservant lowered his voice and said, "Great General, don't misunderstand. When the Princess sent this lowly one, she said that there was an important matter that she wanted to discuss with Great General. The Princess also knows that it is not suitable for Great General to enter the rear residence, so she is waiting in the room next door. Great General, please do not make things difficult for this lowly one."
"This …"
Yang Fan felt it was strange. Hearing these words, it seemed that An Le really did have some important secret that she wanted to talk to him about. Of course, Yang Fan didn't believe that someone like An Le would care about the affairs of the country. However, with her status, it wouldn't be strange for her to know some important secret.
And for her to want to meet with him, it was very likely that she wanted to use this secret to threaten him or use both hard and soft tactics to force him to submit. But … what important matter did she know? Since she invited me to meet with her, it seemed that this matter must be related to me.
Thinking of this, Yang Fan decided to meet with her. As long as he wasn't tempted, could it be that Princess An Le would rape him?
Yang Fan nodded his head and said, "If that's the case, please lead the way."
The manservant smiled cheerfully and said, "Great General, this way please."
This hall was very spacious. There were exits at the front, back, left, and right. The manservant led the way to the door on the right.
Yang Fan followed behind the manservant. He had just taken a few steps when he heard a commotion at the main entrance of the hall. Someone said, "Hey, you can't go in!" Immediately, a clear and crisp female voice said, "How dare you! Although I have entered the path of cultivation, I am still a daughter of the royal family. You are just a lowly servant, how dare you stop me! "
Yang Fan felt that the voice was familiar. He stopped and turned around to look at the door. He saw two servants wearing green clothes and small hats blocking the entrance of the hall. Coincidentally, they were slapped by a jade hand. The two of them cried out, covered their cheeks and took two steps back, but they still refused to move away.
The one who hit them was a Taoist nun. She was wearing a simple and elegant moon-white robe. Her shiny black hair was tied into a simple bun with a jade hairpin. Her skin was like jade and her face was like a peach blossom. She was graceful and charming, just like a jade person. In the crook of her arm was a jade scepter. Her elegant and otherworldly appearance was like a fairy descending to the mortal world. Wasn't this Yuzhen temple's Wushang Zhen Taoist Elder Li Chiying?
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