Yang Fan's expression slowly calmed down. He slowly straightened his body, the taut lines on his shoulders softening. An appreciative smile appeared in Yang Fan's eyes. This proud woman before him had the right to be proud. Her political wisdom had never disappointed him.
Yang Fan softly asked, "You saw through it?"
Princess Taiping replied, "The most reliable method is to present the evidence when the Emperor summons the Prime Minister and the Six Ministries. In a relatively small area, the Emperor would not be in such a sorry state as he is today, or even do something as stupid as having Zong Chuke and Cui Wan become sworn brothers!"
Yang Fan smiled gently. Taiping was somewhat angry at his smile. He said, "You purposely had Guo Hong expose the truth in front of all the civil and military officials in the Golden Hall because you knew that Wei Dang would definitely protect Zong Chuke, and the Emperor would definitely follow Wei Dang's wishes, right?"
Yang Fan was still sitting there, calm and unruffled. He didn't even bat an eyelid, looking noncommittal.
Princess Taiping said, "Guo Yuanzhen built up a large number of farms in the Western Regions, governed Liangzhou, protected Anxi, consolidated the borders, and expanded the territory. He has made outstanding contributions and is the pillar of the country. Such a loyal old general was framed and almost lost his life. Now that the truth has been revealed, the matter has been left unsettled, and the one who framed the meritorious subject has not been punished. What will the generals think? "
"Because the treacherous subject failed to extort bribes and forced Suoge to rebel, the court mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers and spent endless money and rations. In the end, they suffered heavy casualties, and the main culprit is not punished. What will the people of the world think?"
"The Ten Families Tribes are an important force for our court to control Anxi and resist the Turks. To make them work for us, the court has spent much effort. In the past, when Wuzhile was popular, the court was still cautious and was not willing to easily remove Ashina Husero from the throne.
Now, Ashina's loyalty and strength are far inferior to Suoge's, and he does not have the prestige of having hundreds respond to his call in the Ten Families Tribes. Yet the court rashly supported him and provoked a civil war among the Ten Families Tribes. Such self-destruction is foolish. When the truth is discovered and the culprit is not punished, what will the officials think? "
Princess Taiping glared at Yang Fan and said word by word, "You are putting the Emperor in an unjust position!"
"I didn't!"
Yang Fan calmly looked at Princess Taiping and asked calmly, "Who did these things? Not me, but the Emperor! If I hadn't instructed Guo Hong to expose the truth, would the Emperor not have done it? "
Princess Taiping felt powerless when she heard his question, and sat down dejectedly.
Yang Fan's words were as sharp as the wind as he coldly said, "What will happen if I don't do this? The Emperor would very likely make the best of a mistake. Guo Yuanzhen would be dismissed from his post and sent to the capital. He might even die in prison.
Zhou Yiti would become the Anxi Protector-General and lead an army to suppress the Turkic Khaganate. The smoke of war would rise everywhere and the land would be ravaged. Regardless of victory or defeat, it was unknown how many soldiers would die in the Western Regions, all for the sake of Zong Chuke's greed.
The Tubo and Turkic Khaganate would not let go of this good opportunity. They would spare no effort to win over the Ten Tribes and incorporate the entire Anxi region into their territory. At that time, our Tang dynasty would not only lose our army and our country, but also lose a large amount of territory. "
Yang Fan took a deep breath and said loudly, "That's right. I wanted to expose His Majesty's incompetence to the world. But even if I didn't have this intention, I still had to use this method to ensure the safety of Protector-General Guo, who had worked hard and made great contributions, didn't I?"
Yang Fan showed a hint of ridicule in his eyes and lightly said, "In fact, His Majesty did 'better' than I expected!"
Princess Taiping's face turned green and then red. Yang Fan's ridicule and accusation were directed at Emperor Li Xian, but as a member of the royal family and the Emperor's sister, Princess Taiping felt that Yang Fan's ridicule was like a fierce slap on her face.
She had to admit that Yang Fan was speaking the truth. He had only slightly achieved one of his goals. And the Emperor's performance was even worse than Yang Fan had predicted. As the ruler of the world, he had not only ignored the laws of the country and blindly shielded Zong Chuke, he had even fantasized about having Zong Chuke and Cui Wan become sworn brothers of different surnames.
Princess Taiping's face burned. It took some time for her to calm down. Princess Taiping stared at Yang Fan and sternly asked, "Just what are you planning by doing this?"
Yang Fan replied, "Why ask so many questions? Do you really not understand? The Emperor is nothing more than a puppet, and a puppet that does all sorts of stupid things! The true Emperor of the Tang dynasty is Empress Wei!
Empress Wei is sharpening her blade. You, me, the Prince of Xiang, and those ministers who are unwilling to submit to the Wei clan will soon face a calamity. I don't want to sit and wait for death, and I'm not willing! In the Divine Dragon Coup, I also tied my head to my belt, and in the end, what did we get in exchange?
This world is not the world of our ideals, and this Emperor is not the Emperor of our ideals! "
Although she had guessed at Yang Fan's intentions, when Princess Taiping heard them with her own ears, her heart still trembled. She excitedly asked, "Who do you think can replace him? The Prince of Xiang? I understand the Prince of Xiang's temperament the best. He will never rebel against his own brother! "
Yang Fan calmly replied, "What does that matter? His Majesty also has no desire to rebel against Emperor Zetian, but on the night of the Divine Dragon Coup, he still left the Eastern Palace. Lingyue, sometimes, there are some things that are not up to you to decide. "
At this point, Yang Fan's eyes dimmed. He stared at Princess Taiping and whispered, "Just like … I am tired of the court and want to wander the jianghu, but I am shackled. Also, I don't understand, how did you and I end up like this? "
Princess Taiping was quiet for a while, then whispered, "Erlang, what I hate … is not you."
Yang Fan's eyes suddenly brightened as he stared unblinkingly at Princess Taiping. Princess Taiping met his gaze, and this time, she did not avoid it. "What I hate is this relationship between us that can never have any results.
There are some things that you will not think about, that you cannot think about, because you are a man and I am different. Thirty-some years is the best age for a man. Even if you are fifty or sixty, it still doesn't count for a man, but a woman is different … "
Tears glistened in Princess Taiping's eyes. She lightly touched her cheeks and sadly said, "You are only thirty-four, in the prime of your life, but I am forty-five. I don't know when it started, but I began to be afraid.
Every morning when I open my eyes, I remember that I have aged another day. Every time I look in the mirror, I am most afraid of finding a wrinkle at the corner of my eye, or picking out a white hair from my hair. Every time I make a discovery, I feel depressed for half a day.
I don't know what will happen between us in a few years. Even now, even though we still have rendezvous, have you realized that we are very different from before? Passion can't last long after all.
If I get older, the love that we use to maintain our relationship will disappear. At that time, what will be our relationship? Confidante? Occasionally meeting, sitting together to drink a cup of wine, drink a bowl of tea, and chat? Hehe … "
Yang Fan was moved, "Lingyue …"
Princess Taiping shook her head fiercely and sadly said, "That is not the result I want, Erlang. What you said is right. Sometimes, there are some things that are beyond my control. I am not alone in this world. I can't abandon everything and go with you.
I also have a son and a daughter. In the past, I neglected them too much. I only thought that it was enough to let them live in luxury, but I neglected that they also need a mother. Before I knew it, they had all grown up. I owed them too much.
I don't know whether it is because I am getting old that I naturally care more about the growth of the younger generation, or because I am approaching the age of Knowing Destiny that I have sprouted the nature of a mother. I clearly know that now I can't abandon everything for love.
Watching my children get married and build a career, watching them live a happy life, watching the birth of grandchildren, grandchildren, and grandchildren is my biggest dream and pursuit at this moment. What I want now, what I hope to get the most, is kinship. Do you understand?
When the princess passed away, her son deliberately wrote on his mother's epitaph that he got his official position by his own efforts, not because his mother flattered the emperor. As an aunt, he worshipped his niece as his mother, and tried his best to cover up the princess's unscrupulous behavior.
Erlang, I have been to the princess's funeral. When I saw the tombstone, I shuddered. When I saw her children not sad at all, and even relaxed, it was like the evening drum, ringing in my ears, deafening! Do you want me to be despised by my children and grandchildren? "
Yang Fan looked at her in a daze, looking at her unfamiliar face, but Princess Taiping actually smiled, revealing a smile that he was very familiar with, it was still charming.
"Emperor Wu of Han used to dote on Madame Li. When Madame Li was seriously ill, Emperor Wu of Han went to visit her, but Madame Li covered her face and did not see Emperor Wu until she died. I have never understood the reason, but now I do.
Emperor Wu of Han loved A-Jiao, Wei Zifu, Madame Wang, Madame Li, and Madame Gouge. Why only Madame Li could not be forgotten? Why after Madame Li passed away, Emperor Wu of Han spent a lot of money to hire necromancers to perform a ritual in her dreams to see her again? Why after Emperor Wu of Han died, only Madame Li was conferred the title of Empress Xiaowu and buried with him?
As I gradually grew older, I began to understand why she did what she did. Erlang, let it end like this. That way … the memories that you and I will have in our hearts will be the most cherished, the most beautiful moments of our time.
I know you love me, but in your heart, my position can never be compared to Xiaoman, A Nu, Wan 'er, or even the deceased Miss Ning Ke. The reason why you came to my door three times, is more because of … responsibility! "
Yang Fan's body suddenly trembled. Princess Taiping smiled faintly and said, "I don't want to wait until the day when everything naturally fades and vanishes into thin air, and I don't even want to miss it. In the beginning, it was me who pestered you, now, I beg you to leave me, okay? "
Yang Fan stared at her deeply, but Princess Taiping had already looked away. She slowly got up and threw her back to Yang Fan, "Time passes so fast, my second daughter is also going to get married. This house, I will give it to her. "
Princess Taiping walked to the back of the screen. When her figure was about to disappear behind the screen, she used all her strength to stop her voice from trembling, and said, "See the guest out!"
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