"Ah? So it's my wife! "
Li Xian was startled awake by Empress Wei's words. His body shook violently before he saw who it was. Empress Wei frowned slightly and asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Your Majesty?"
Li Xian forced a smile and answered, "Nothing, I'm thinking about something."
Empress Wei immediately asked, "Is it about that minor official from Xuzhou stopping Your Majesty from presenting a memorial?"
Empress Wei immediately revealed that it was Yan Qinrong's impeachment. Under her influence, Li Xian didn't have the courage to deny it. He didn't know what Empress Wei knew and could only answer vaguely, "Yes, that person's name is Yan Qinrong. He told Zhen some things …"
Empress Wei interrupted and asked, "What did he say?"
"He said you …"
Li Xian blurted out but it was too late to cover it up.
Empress Wei's pupils contracted and asked in a low voice, "What did he say about me?"
Li Xian panicked even more and said embarrassedly, "He … impeached my wife and said … said my wife shouldn't have interfered in court politics. He also said that Guo 'er built temples, dug ponds, built mansions to compete for wealth, it's a little … a little too absurd …"
Empress Wei secretly sighed in relief and asked, "That's all?"
Li Xian said, "Uh … he also impeached Zong Chuke, Wu Yanxiu and the others for selling official positions. My wife doesn't need to worry. My wife's decision to preside over the government was Zhen's idea. In matters of state, I really can't do without the Empress' assistance.
As for Guo 'er, she suffered too much when she was young. Now that she has finally regained her status as an Emperor's descendant, I don't think it's a big deal for her to be a little arrogant. However, he said that Zong Chuke, Cui Shi and the others have used up their official positions for the next three years. This is quite shocking.
I still don't know if it's true or not. I have to send someone to investigate. If it's true, even if they didn't ask for or accept bribes, they are still suspected of abusing their power. I have to deal with them properly. "
Empress Wei snorted and said disdainfully, "Your Majesty, there's no need to investigate. Qie knows about this. Zong Chuke and Cui Shi did use their official positions until three years later. However, they didn't take bribes. They did it out of a sense of justice and loyalty to Your Majesty. "
Li Xian was stunned. "Why do you say that?"
Empress Wei said, "Your Majesty, although Zhang Jianzhi and the others have fallen, the old ministers of the divine dragon still fill the court. Although the Prince of Xiang and Taiping are no longer involved in politics, they still have a large number of their henchmen in the court. These people should be driven out, right?"
Li Xian could not help but nod his head.
Empress Wei said: "But these people don't have any clear faults. What reason does the court have to dismiss such a large group of officials at once? Since we couldn't chase them away for the time being, they would still be in control of the imperial court, and there would be a great risk. Zong Chuke discussed with me to appoint a group of our people to share their authority, slowly making them a mere figurehead, and then gradually kicking them out. "
Empress Wei said: "This is the opinion of an experienced strategist, how can there be the talk of selling official titles. That man surnamed Yan is clearly an old member of the Divine Dragon Sect, or else he's a henchman of the Prince of Xiang or Taiping. Seeing that the situation is not good, he slandered and deceived His Excellency. "
Empress Wei finished and lightly said: "Husband does not need to ask about this matter. Zong Chuke has always been loyal and devoted to Husband. Who is more trustworthy, him or a minor official who popped out of nowhere? "
Li Xian hesitantly said: "Wife's words are reasonable. Since this is the case, we will ignore him."
Empress Wei's gaze shifted slightly. Feigning casualness, she asked: "That man surnamed Yan has already been sent away?"
Li Xian wanted to nod, but with Empress Wei's pair of phoenix eyes staring at him, he actually didn't have the courage to lie. He obediently replied: "Not yet. At the time, I really thought that Zong Chuke and the others were corrupt and perverted the law, so I had him go to the Four Quarters Embassy to stay and wait for my questioning."
Empress Wei smiled and said: "Oh! If that's the case, then in a while, your wife will send someone to the Four Quarters Embassy and tell him to return to Xuzhou. "
Finishing, Empress Wei said with concern to Li Xian: "Your Majesty's health is not good. When handling government affairs, you need Zhang Youchi. You must not tire yourself too much. Your wife will not disturb you any longer. When it's time for the evening meal, your wife will invite Your Majesty to eat together. "
Empress Wei left the Imperial Study, her gentle expression immediately turning cold and stern. She called over a trusted eunuch and whispered a few words into his ear before returning to the inner palace. Receiving Empress Wei's orders, the eunuch immediately flew to the Political Affairs Hall.
There was only one inn in the capital of the Tang dynasty, and it was managed by the Four Quarters Embassy. Those high-ranking officials visiting the various ministries in the capital or meeting the emperor could stay here while they were waiting. However, only high-ranking military officials and dukes of a region had the right to stay here. Everyone else had to find their own accommodations.
Now that Yan Qin had received the Emperor's verbal order, he could also stay here. Because the people staying here were all high-ranking officials, the standard of the accommodations was naturally higher. Even though Yan Qin Rong's official position was low, even the worst accommodations for him had its own door and courtyard.
After Yan Qin entered the inn, he first took a bath and changed into a light and soft robe. Wearing cattail grass soft-soled shoes, he slowly strolled into the courtyard. Standing under a cypress tree, he thought about the circumstances of seeing the Emperor today and couldn't help but be filled with joy.
Today, he had spoken his mind. It seemed that the Emperor had listened. The things he had exposed, the Emperor only needed to send someone to investigate, and he would definitely have the power of evidence. This way, the treacherous official would be punished, and he would also be able to enter the Emperor's eyes. Wasn't this the best of both worlds?
Thinking about this happy thing, Yan Qin Rong wanted to raise his head to the sky and laugh. Just at this time, there was an enormous boom. The two doors to the courtyard were smashed open, hitting the wall with a bang before bouncing back and then opening again.
Yan Qin Rong looked over in shock. He saw a pair of hooves the size of bowls stomp down from the air, smashing onto the brick ground with a bang. The hooves kicked up a spray of brick dust, and then a handsome warhorse bolted in.
Sitting on the horse was an awe-inspiring knight in full armor. The armor flashed with the light of steel and gave off a sturdy feel. Both the man and the horse gave off a feeling of power. Even the sword at his ribs gave off a faint murderous aura.
Yan Qin Rong paled in fright and said in shock, "Who are you? How … how dare you break into the inn? "
The knight was fully armored as he charged into the courtyard with his horse. The warhorse slowly paced to his side. The tall steed, the armored knight, the upper edge of the leather collar covering his mouth and nose, only revealing a pair of murderous eyes. He looked down at Yan Qin Rong, creating a suffocating pressure.
He glanced coldly at Yan Qin Rong and asked, "You are Xu Zhou Military Adjunct Yan Qin Rong?"
At this time, Yan Qin Rong seemed to understand something. A trace of fear and sorrow rose in his eyes, but he immediately puffed out his chest and said in a loud voice, "It is me!"
The knight was too lazy to waste words with him. He waved his hand forcefully and shouted, "Take him away!"
With a clanging sound, two more armored men barged in from outside the door. They were tall and sturdy. The two of them were like eagles grabbing a little chick. They picked up Yan Qinrong and walked out. There were seven or eight armored soldiers outside, all of them riding tall and strong horses. They chained Yan Qinrong and tied him to the back of the horses with a long rope before galloping away.
How could Yan Qin Rong keep up with the speed of the fast horses? He only ran a few steps before falling to the ground. Those knights did not care about him. They lashed out with their whips and the horses galloped. Yan Qin Rong was pulled by the long rope and let out an inhuman howl as he was dragged along the street in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
After they left, a green-robed minor official in charge of the inn sneakily came out with a few minor odd-job workers. They stuck their heads out to look into the distance with a bitter expression on their faces.
A minor official gathered his courage and said, "Relay official, this surnamed Yan is staying here on imperial edict. Now that he's been captured, what should we do?"
The relay official fiercely spat at him and scolded, "You're asking me, but who should I ask? Don't you see that the people who came to capture him are imperial soldiers? Don't you see that they were acting on Prime Minister Zong's personal edict? Do I dare stand in their way? "
The minor official said with a bitter expression, "Of course this lowly one knows, but … if the Emperor investigates and finds out that he was captured from here, we can't keep quiet. We can't afford to offend the Prime Minister, and we can't afford to offend the Emperor either. "
The relay official paced a few times on the spot and then stomped heavily on the ground. He said, "When the gods fight, what can we little devils do? I will report the truth and send someone to give these important people a headache. "
…
After tricking Wei Hou away, Li Xian casually flipped open a memorial. How could he continue to read it? All he could think about was the matter of Yan Qin Rong accusing the Empress of keeping handsome men and causing chaos in the Palace.
"Could it be true? My body has been broken for a long time. My wife has always been alone in bed. Right now, she is in the prime of her life. Could it be that she … … impossible, impossible. She comes from a noble family, has been brought up strictly since childhood, and has a dignified personality. She is now the mother of the country … … "
Li Xian was conflicted. He didn't want to believe it, but he couldn't fight against the devil in his heart. He wanted to investigate, but when he thought about it carefully, he didn't have a single confidant that he could use in the Imperial Court, in and out of the Palace. All the people he trusted, entrusted with important tasks, or transferred to his side were closer to Wei Hou than he was.
At this time, a minor eunuch came in to report, "Your Majesty, the Emissary Liu Tianmu requests an audience."
"Oh? Summon him in. "
Li Xian heard it was the Emissary Liu Tianmu and quickly summoned him. The Emissary Liu Tianmu only had two responsibilities. One was to pass on imperial edicts and memorials, and the other was to manage foreign affairs. As a result, Li Xian attached great importance to his arrival.
The Emissary Liu Tianmu eagerly entered the Great Hall and recounted what had happened to Li Xian. Li Xian was enraged and sternly asked, "How is that Yan Qinrong now?"
Liu Tianmu said with a bitter expression, "When this subject entered the Palace, I saw a trail of blood that stretched all the way to the Palace gates. When I reached the Palace gates, I saw that Yan Qinrong lying dead on the ground. Because of the drag, his flesh and bones had rotted away, and he didn't look human!"
Li Xian was enraged. He slapped the table and shouted, "Zong Chuke is so daring to deceive the Emperor like this!"
Li Xian was so angry that he felt dizzy and had to use his hands to support himself on the table. He wanted to order someone to arrest Zong Chuke, but then he thought, how did Zong Chuke know about this? How did he know that Yan Qinrong was at the inn? The mastermind was clearly Wei shi.
Thinking of Wei shi, all of Li Xian's anger and courage dissipated. He sat down dejectedly and waved his hand weakly. Liu Tianmu quickly bowed and retreated.
Li Xian painfully muttered to himself in a low voice, "Wife! Wife … … "By now, he somewhat believed Yan Qinrong's words.
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