The sunlight shone on the spacious hall.
The varnished floor had a clear texture and a warm yellow luster. In front of the screen, Princess Taiping and her second daughter, who had just returned home, sat across from each other with a relaxed smile on their faces. Along with the mother and daughter's whispering, there was a burst of relaxed laughter.
It seemed that children always had to wait until they got married and established a career before they were treated as adults by their parents. This was especially true for the two girls. Their mother, who had always been strict, was now very kind. She held their hands and only talked about daily life. She no longer asked about their studies or scolded them.
The housekeeper, Zhoumin, quietly appeared at the door. She took off her shoes and quietly walked in. The sunlight stretched out her shadow and cast it on the table between Princess Taiping and the two girls.
Zhoumin was originally a female official in the palace. When Princess Taiping got married, she was sent to the princess's mansion as part of her dowry. From then on, she became Princess Taiping's servant.
The time that Princess Taiping spent with her was longer than the time that she spent with her children. Princess Taiping's children never dared to treat this confidant of their mother as an ordinary servant. Seeing her come in, the two girls quickly nodded in greeting.
Zhoumin smiled and bowed to Second Miss. She bent over and whispered a few words in Princess Taiping's ear. Princess Taiping was slightly startled. She then turned to her daughter and said calmly, "I still keep your room for you. Go back to your room and rest for a while. Accompany me for dinner tonight."
"Yes, mother!"
The two girls stood up and bowed to their mother. They then nodded to Zhoumin and quietly left the hall. As soon as the two girls' figures disappeared, Princess Taiping stopped smiling and said to Zhoumin, "Who did you say? Li Longji asked to see you? "
Zhoumin nodded. Princess Taiping's eyes suddenly flashed. She murmured, "Longji, why didn't he become an official in Luzhou? Why did he quietly return to the capital? Doesn't he know that once the news is leaked, it will be tantamount to treason? "
Zhoumin said softly, "If Princess does not want to see him, I will send him away."
Princess Taiping shook her head. She frowned and thought for a moment. She ordered, "Take him to the small study. Don't disturb others."
Zhoumin understood and quietly left the room. Princess Taiping thought for a moment. She waved her sleeves and lightly stood up. She walked to the small study.
… …
In Taiji Palace's Qianqiu Hall, Empress Wei was sitting upright. Wei Wen and Zong Chuke were kneeling in front of her, discussing the Empress Dowager's memorial.
It had been fifteen days since the Great Sage of Great Harmony, the Great Zhao Xiao Emperor, Li Xian, had passed away. The Young Emperor, Li Zhongmao, had ascended to the throne twelve days ago. Twelve days were like years for the people of Wei's Faction. They couldn't wait for Empress Wei to ascend to the throne.
Today, Wei Wen and Zong Chuke had come together. These people from the Wei Clan were even worse than the people from the Wu Clan. They were incapable in both literature and martial arts. Empress Wei's cousin, Wei Wen, knew this in his heart. He wholeheartedly wanted Empress Wei to become the Empress, but he was worried that he would not be able to convince the Empress Dowager, so he sought out Zong Chuke.
Zong Chuke and Wei Wen could be said to have hit it off very well and immediately entered the Palace with him to advise. With the two of them echoing each other, Empress Wei, who originally did not have a clear idea, was immediately moved. Empress Wei pondered for a while and said hesitantly: "Zhong Mao has not been Emperor for half a month. If zhen rashly moves, will there be an accident?"
Zong Chuke laughed heartily and said, "Empress Dowager worries too much. Now that the government is in the hands of the Empress Dowager, who in the world can do anything to her? "
Wei Wen said, "Yes, at present Wei Jie, Wei Zhuo, Wei Xuan, Wei Bo, Wei Qi, Wei Yuan, Gao Song, and Wu Yanxiu are in charge of the various armies. Chang 'an is impregnable. If there is any accident that can happen, it can only be the Prince of Xiang and Taiping. We only need to kill them, and the matter will be settled."
Empress Wei frowned and said, "The Prince of Xiang and Taiping are innocent. On what grounds should we kill them?"
Zong Chuke smiled and said, "What is so difficult about this? The sudden death of the Daxing Emperor has caused much discussion among the people. This subject believes that we can use this matter to our advantage. During the funeral of the Daxing Emperor, this subject can arrange for some people to cause trouble. After that … "
Wei Wen had clearly discussed it with him and immediately said, "After that, we will seize the opportunity to capture the Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping and execute them on the spot. We will say that they are plotting a rebellion. This subject can also find a few kamikaze soldiers to insist that the death of the Daxing Emperor was the work of the Prince of Xiang and Taiping. "
Zong Chuke said, "As long as the Prince of Xiang and Taiping are dead, the Li clan will have no one left to take charge of the situation. If the Empress Dowager wants the Young Emperor to abdicate and the world to bear the surname of Wei, wouldn't it be a matter of a single word?"
When Empress Wei heard this, she nervously stood up and anxiously paced around the room. Zong Chuke and Wei Wen exchanged a look and bowed together: "May Empress Dowager follow Empress Wu's story, overthrow the Tang Dynasty, and establish the Wei family under the heavens!"
Empress Wei's expression of nervousness and struggle appeared for a moment before it gradually turned to determination. She slowly stopped and said in a deep voice, "Good! The two of you plan well. Do not make any mistakes. On the day of the late Emperor's funeral, this matter will be accomplished! "
Zong Chuke and Wei Wen were wild with joy. They hurriedly bowed their heads and said, "This subject will solemnly obey the Empress' decree!"
The two left excitedly. Just as their figures disappeared from the door of the hall, two people came out from behind the screen. One was sturdy and robust, the other refined and scholarly. It was Ma Qinke and Yang Jun. The two looked at each other and smiled. They cutely bowed to Empress Wei and said, "This subject pays his respects to His Majesty!"
Empress Wei smiled. Contentedly, she stretched her waist and lazily lay back.
Yang Jun had rushed over long ago. Empress Wei happened to be lying on his sturdy and powerful thighs, while Ma Qinke conveniently sat next to Empress Wei. A pair of hands skilled in massage skillfully massaged her plump and supple thighs. Empress Wei's eyebrows immediately lit up with a hint of spring.
After Empress Wei seized power, she made Ma Qinke a regular attendant of scattered cavalry and Yang Jun a vice-minister of the Imperial Treasury. In reality, the two of them were just white-collar workers with a salary. They only had one place of work: Empress Wei's brocade couch in her chambers.
Perhaps Empress Wei herself did not notice that she had always been learning from Wu Zetian. Not only did she imitate Wu Zetian's methods of seizing power to become the Empress, she even deliberately learned from that female Empress in how she kept gigolos.
Since ancient times, there had never been a female Empress in the world. But Wu Zetian had accomplished this groundbreaking event. To those women who were also at the center of power, this magnificent feat was an unprecedented and powerful impact.
Empress Wei, Taiping, An Le … these women who had once crawled at Wu Zetian's feet, trembling with fear or cautious, had unknowingly been infected by this woman who shone like the sun.
… …
When Zong Chuke returned to his residence, he immediately ordered someone to summon Cui Riyong. In less than three incense sticks of time, Cui Riyong arrived on a galloping horse as fast as the wind.
This Cui Riyong was a scholar and had initially been appointed as the City Officer of Rui. During the first year of Dazu, Zong Chuke had passed through Shanzhou as the Provincial Governor. Cui Riyong paid for his meals and asked for delicacies to please him. Zong Chuke was very satisfied with his hospitality.
After that, Zong Chuke recommended him as the Xinfeng Officer and not long after that, he promoted him to the Supervising Imperial Censor. From then on, Cui Riyong became Zong Chuke's lackey. He had always been respectful to Zong Chuke, like a subject serving a ruler.
Now, he was Zong Chuke's number one confidant. Zong Chuke's power now dominated the court. Cui Riyong had already been promoted by him to be the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War and Xiuwen Library's Scholar.
Cui Riyong hurried to the small study and saw Zong Chuke writing furiously. Even though he did not know what he was writing, his face was flushed and he seemed unusually excited.
Even though Cui Riyong was the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War and had high status and power, he was unusually respectful in front of Zong Chuke. He did not dare to sit down, nor did he dare to be startled. He only cupped his hands and stood there with a slight bow.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zong Chuke finally finished writing. He blew on it lightly and folded it carefully.
"Riyong, you've come!"
Zong Chuke seemed to have only just noticed Cui Riyong and very intimately greeted him.
In truth, he had long since known that Cui Riyong had come, but this was precisely the feeling he wanted. Blindly being courteous to the wise and humble would not do. In his view, the way to govern was to balance kindness and authority. Even though Cui Riyong was already the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, a disciple would always have the awareness of being a disciple.
Cui Riyong respectfully bowed. "This disciple pays his respects to Sir Zong."
Zong Chuke chuckled. "Sit. There's no need to stand on ceremony between us."
Cui Riyong respectfully sat down, but a moment later, he jumped up in fright. He had heard a shocking piece of news from Zong Chuke's mouth. "Empress Wei wants to use the occasion of Emperor Xian's funeral to kill the Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping!"
But this was not the most shocking news. What truly alarmed him was that after Empress Wei captured the Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping and executed them on charges of rebellion and murdering Emperor Xian, Zong Chuke wanted to launch a surprise attack, kidnap the Young Emperor, and exterminate the Wei faction!
He wanted to borrow the hands of the Wei clan to kill the Prince of Xiang and Princess Taiping, and then kill all the high-ranking officials of the Wei clan who would inevitably be present in the name of a loyal minister who set things right. He would then kidnap the Young Emperor as a puppet and wield both civil and military power, all the way until he seized the country and made the world his surname!
"This … this …"
Cui Riyong's forehead instantly beaded with sweat, each bead the size of a soybean.
Zong Chuke coldly glanced at him. "What, are you afraid?"
Cui Riyong swallowed with difficulty and said bitterly, "Everything this disciple has was given by Sir Zong. This disciple will not hesitate to go through fire and water for Sir Zong. It's just that although this disciple is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, the number of soldiers I can mobilize is limited. I'm afraid … I'm afraid I'll fail Sir Zong's expectations. "
Zong Chuke chuckled and comforted him. "You don't have to worry about this."
Zong Chuke raised his eyes and gazed at the emptiness in front of him. He leisurely said, "You're not the only soldier this Zong can use. Don't forget, this Zong is Emperor Zetian's nephew. Those people of the Wu clan and I are all cousins! "
Cui Riyong's body trembled as he involuntarily said, "Sir Zong is saying …"
Zong Chuke said, "Correct! Ever since Li Zhongjun rebelled and killed Liang Wangwu and Wu Sansi, the Wu clan has been like a group of dragons without a leader and has declined day by day. But the Wu clan's foundation of many years will not fall so quickly.
The Wu clan and the Li clan have many marriages. If the Li clan rules the country, the Wu clan can still live. But once the world takes the surname Wei, the Li clan will undoubtedly be finished, but will the Wu clan have any good days? They are also worried.
At present, many of the generals in the army came from the Wei clan, but what foundation did these people have to speak of? It's not that this Zong is arrogant, but the Wu clan has commanded the North Gate Imperial Army for many years. I dare not say that I can mobilize the entire Imperial Army, but it's easy to pull out a troop from among them. If we want to win in the chaos, we only need an opportunity! "
Zong Chuke stroked his beard, his eyes gradually revealing a crazed glint. "When I first became a lowly person, I was eager to be the Prime Minister. Now that I'm the Prime Minister, I'm only one step away from becoming the Emperor. With this opportunity, how can I not want to be the Emperor? As a man, even if I have to face the south and only have one day to live, it's still better than dying a mediocre death! "
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