Li Xian was Crown Prince Zhang Huai, the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi and the second son of Wu Zetian.
After his brother Li Hong's death, Li Xian was made the crown prince. Later on, he was accused of treason and was demoted to a commoner and exiled to Bazhou. After that, because Li Xian was a virtuous person, he became an obstacle to Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne. As a result, she sent Qiu Shenji to Bazhou to force Li Xian to commit suicide.
After Li Xian's death, Wu Zetian used the excuse that Qiu Shenji had wrongly killed Li Xian and demoted him to a provincial governor. At the same time, Li Xian's title of crown prince was restored. Li Xian's two sons were able to return to Luoyang and become princes again. These two naturally had the right to inherit the throne.
Wu Chengsi said: "That's right! We cannot let these two brats go! Time waits for no one, everyone! The Empress is already old, do we have to wait another eight to ten years before she ascends to the throne? We must remove all obstacles for the Empress as soon as possible and help her ascend the throne smoothly. Wu Shaoji! "
As Wu Chengsi spoke, he suddenly saw his cousin Wu Shaoji looking around absent-mindedly. He couldn't help but frown and call out in disgust.
Wu Shaoji was Wu Weiliang's third son. After Wu Zetian ascended to power, she executed this cousin and changed his family's surname to Wei and demoted them to the desolate border. So for a period of time, Wu Shaoji was called Wei Jiji.
Later on, Wu Zetian's power grew and she had the idea of changing the dynasty and becoming the Empress. She urgently needed a force that was absolutely loyal to her, so she summoned the Wu clansmen back to the capital and placed them in an important position. Wei Jiji was thus granted the surname Wu and returned to the court to become an official.
The suffering of being exiled would have different effects on people with different personalities. People like Wu Cheng Si and Wu Sansi would become even more passionate about power once they were in power. They used to behave with their tails between their legs, but now they were bossy and domineering. They wanted nothing more than to earn back the disappointment they had in the past by a hundredfold.
Wu Shaoji was completely different from his two cousins, Wu Cheng Si and Wu San Si. Since young, he had been quiet and cowardly. He did not like to compete with others and did not have a strong desire for fame and fortune.
His father was executed by his aunt, Wu Zetian. He didn't have the ability or courage to take revenge on his aunt. He didn't even have the courage to refuse Wu Zetian's reward. However, deep down in his heart, he was unwilling to accept the reward from the enemy who killed his father. The feeling of humiliation, hatred, and powerlessness intertwined, causing him to become even more taciturn.
He had always disapproved of the Wu Clan's wild ambitions. He always felt that if a woman were to rule the world, the world would not be stable. It was fine if the Empress didn't proclaim herself as the Empress, but if she did, she would bring disaster to the Wu Clan sooner or later, just like the Empress Lu Zhi of the Han Dynasty.
So when these Wu Clan members were immersed in the fantasy of becoming the royal family, Wu Shaoji didn't feel excitement and excitement. Instead, he felt unease and boredom. However, because of his cowardice, he didn't dare to reveal his true thoughts and could only treat it negatively.
When Wu Cheng Si called out, Wu Shaoji immediately came back to his senses. He quickly straightened his back and respectfully greeted: "Cousin!"
Wu Chengsi suppressed the anger in his heart, knocked on the table and said, "Sansi and I will be in charge of eradicating the hostile forces that are obstructing the Empress' ascension. After that, we will have to build up momentum and organize people from all walks of life to gather together to petition and persuade the Empress. You will be in charge of this. "
When Wu Shaoji heard this, he uneasily twisted his body and said: "Cousin, this little brother's talent is shallow. I'm afraid that I won't be able to handle it and will ruin the clan's plans …"
Wu Sansi fiercely glared at him and said: "If you really want to be in charge of everything, I won't be able to rest easy! You only need to be in charge of finding a few courageous and quick-witted people from the Imperial Censors to wave the flag and shout battle cries to strengthen our momentum. As for the rest of the arrangements, I will take over! "
Wu Shaoji heaved a sigh of relief and said: "If that's the case, then this little brother will reluctantly give it a try."
Wu Cheng Si and Wu Sansi gave some advice to the Wu Clan's members before dispersing. In front of others, Wu Cheng Si and Wu Sansi could be considered to be on good terms. Behind the scenes, they were not willing to submit to each other. Once the crowd dispersed, the two of them also left without saying a word to each other.
Just as Wu Cheng Si returned to Fengxian Temple, a family member who was waiting at the door reported: "Ah Lang, Jin Wu Guards' General Qiu Shenji is here to see you. He has been waiting for you in the guest hall for a long time."
"Oh! Qiu Shenji? "
Wu Cheng Si's eyes flashed and said: "Go, tell General Qiu that I have returned. I will go see him after changing my clothes!"
Wu Cheng Si walked into his bedroom but was not in a hurry to change his clothes. He first sat there and thought carefully for a while. He had a good relationship with Qiu Shenji, but that was because one of them was a relative of the Empress, and the other was a confidant of the Empress. They were not that close. Why did Qiu Shenji suddenly come to visit?
After thinking for a while, Wu Cheng Si still could not figure it out. He could only stand up and say: "Come, change clothes!"
Two maids heard him and came in. They helped him take off his hat, washed his face, and tied his hair into a bun. They also took out a set of light robes with incense for him to change into. Wu Cheng Si tidied up and slowly walked to the guest hall. When Qiu Shenji saw him, he quickly stood up and cupped his fists: "Qiu Shenji greets Minister Wu."
"Hahaha, General Qiu, sorry for the long wait. I have just returned from a gathering with my clansmen. Please sit, sit, sit, sit."
Wu Cheng Si invited Qiu Shenji back to his seat and sat down on the main seat. He said with a face full of smiles: "I heard that General is stationed at the Dragon's Gate to guard the Empress. The army has just arrived, so you must be very busy. I wonder if General has something important to discuss with me?"
Qiu Shenji smiled: "I have come today because I have something important to discuss with Minister Wu."
"Oh?"
Wu Chengsi gave him a deep look and lightly waved his hand. The family members standing in the hall immediately bowed and retreated.
Wu Cheng Si said: "General, please speak!"
Qiu Shenji put his hands on his knees and said seriously: "I am a martial artist and like to speak frankly. I will not beat around the bush with Minister Wu."
Wu Cheng Si laughed and said: "That is for the best. Everyone is beating around the bush and guessing, it is very boring. I like people who are straightforward. General Qiu, if you have something to say, please speak frankly. If it comes from your mouth and into my ears, no one else will know. "
Qiu Shenji said: "Then I will speak frankly. Minister Wu, although the world is still under the banner of Li Tang, anyone can see that the Empress will change Li Tang's order and the dynasty will change! "
Wu Cheng Si was shocked and was about to speak when Qiu Shenji raised his hand to stop him. He continued: "I have always been loyal to the Empress. I believe Minister Wu knows my character very well. If there is anything to hide, there is no need."
Wu Cheng Si stroked his beard and laughed: "Mm, then what does General Qiu want to say?"
Qiu Shenji said: "Since ancient times, when a new emperor ascends the throne, there is one thing that must be done. That is to choose a successor. I wonder what Minister Wu thinks about this? "
Wu Cheng Si's eyes flashed. He leaned forward slightly and said attentively: "I wonder what General Qiu thinks about this?"
Qiu Shenji said in a low voice: "The successor is related to the country and the peace of the world. It cannot be ignored. Once the Empress ascends the throne, Minister Wu will not only be the Prime Minister of the court, but also the number one person in the Imperial family. Whether it is from the responsibility of the Prime Minister or the status of a member of the Imperial family, Minister Wu should consider who the successor is. Does Minister Wu not have a suitable person in mind? "
Wu Cheng Si waved his hand: "Ai! This, of course, will be decided by the Empress herself. If you ask me, haha, in my opinion, the Empress has two sons. The current Emperor and the Prince of Luling of Fangzhou. The future successor will definitely be one of them. "
Qiu Shenji said: "If the Empress replaces Li Tang, will she make Li Tang's Emperor and Imperial Prince crown prince? You must know that although they are the sons of the Empress, they are also the sons of Emperor Gaozong. They are surnamed Li and not Wu. Since ancient times, when has there been a precedent of an emperor passing the country to someone with a different surname? "
Wu Cheng Si said cunningly: "Then, what does General Qiu think?"
Qiu Shenji knew that Wu Cheng Si did not know his intentions and did not dare to express his opinion. Thus, he said bluntly: "This Qiu thinks that when the Empress ascends the throne, the successor will definitely be the Wu Clan. And among the branches of the Wu Clan, whether it is in terms of talent, ancestry, or bloodline, if Minister Wu says he is second, no one will dare to say they are first. Therefore, the successor should be Minister Wu. Only then will it be in accordance with the will of the heavens and the will of the people! "
Wu Cheng Si was' shocked 'and hurriedly waved his hand: "General Qiu, you are wrong. How can this Wu dare to be the successor? Don't ever say such things again. "
Qiu Shenji saw that he was putting on airs and pretended to be disappointed. He slowly stood up and said: "Ai! If Minister Wu wants, the successor will not be able to escape from Minister Wu's hands. Since Minister Wu has no intention of becoming the successor, then pretend that I never said anything and never came! I will not disturb Minister Wu any longer. I will take my leave now! "
"General Qiu, please wait!"
Wu Cheng Si saw this and quickly rushed forward to stop him. He laughed and said: "General Qiu, please sit, please sit. This … successor, hehehe, it is not that I am belittling myself, but I am indeed nervous, very nervous. Who dares to covet the country's divine weapon? However, once the Wu Clan becomes a royal clan, I will be the eldest among the sons and nephews. For the Empress' empire, for the Wu Clan's empire, if the Empress is willing to place this heavy responsibility on Chengsi, then Chengsi will naturally be duty-bound. "
At this point, Wu Cheng Si looked deeply at Qiu Shenji and said: "Although Chengsi does not have the talent to stabilize the country, I believe that if he is wise and humbly accepts advice, he will definitely be able to share the Empress' burden. General Qiu, are you willing to lend Chengsi a hand? "
Qiu Shenji smiled cheerfully: "If not, why would this Qiu come to visit today? If Minister Wu has this intention, then this Qiu will do his best to assist Minister Wu! "
"Hahahaha, General Qiu is indeed a straightforward person. Servants, set up a banquet, I want to drink with General Qiu!"
At the banquet, the two opened their hearts and became closer the more they chatted. Their relationship was good to begin with, and now that there were benefits involved, their relationship became even closer.
Under the influence of alcohol, Qiu Shenji spoke of his plan: "The new dynasty has just been established, so I'm afraid the Empress will still choose Li Dan or Li Xian as the crown prince. The Empress always plans before taking action. Ascending as a woman is an unprecedented first. Choosing Li Xian as the crown prince is also to calm the hearts of the people and smoothly take over the power!"
Wu Chengsi filled his cup and nodded. "Shen Ji's words are very reasonable. Chengsi also thinks so. Once the Empress ascends to the throne, she will definitely make either Li Dan or Li Xian the crown prince. However, this is for the smooth transition of the dynasty and for the world to remain undisturbed. Once the Empress firmly grasps the world in her hands, heh heh …"
Qiu Shenji said: "So, if Minister Wu wants to ascend to the position of crown prince, you have to mix light and dark, Yin and Yang complementing each other. Only by planning early can you ensure that nothing goes wrong. You must know that when the crown prince changes in the future, the resistance will not only come from the officials who still refuse to give up on Li Tang, but also … "
Wu Cheng Si understood tacitly and said: "This, I also understand! Hehe! There are many people in my Wu Clan who want to be crown prince. Shenji, what do you mean by 'light and dark complementing each other'? "
Qiu Shenji said: "This is to do things with all one's heart and assist the court. After all, the Heavenly Empress is already old, and there are many things that Minister Wu needs to help with. The Heavenly Empress likes talented people, so as long as Minister Wu fully displays his abilities and becomes a well-known figure among the Wu Clan's descendants, would he still be afraid of not being able to enter the Heavenly Empress' eyes? "
Wu Cheng Si nodded repeatedly and said: "This is natural, then what about in the dark?"
Qiu Shenji said: "This in the dark … Haha, a fence has three stakes, a good man has three helpers. Minister Wu still needs to befriend many important officials of the court and nurture trusted forces. Just having the Empress' appreciation is not enough. You must have enough power to make people look at you. Only then will you be qualified to ascend to this throne!"
Wu Cheng Si smiled knowingly and said: "Yes, Shenji's words are reasonable. Then, what does this' Yin and Yang complementing each other 'mean? "
Qiu Shenji said: "This' Yin 'is naturally to completely eradicate Li Tang's forces. Right now, there are still some princes who have not been eradicated, especially Li Dan and Li Xian, these two princes. No matter which one the Empress chooses as crown prince, the one who can pull them down from the position of crown prince in the future will have the highest chance of becoming crown prince. I don't need to say this, Minister Wu should understand. "
Wu Cheng Si nodded again and said through gritted teeth: "Of course I understand! The person who can bring down this crown prince is enough to prove his position in the Empress' heart, enough to prove that he has the power to influence the court. Those fence-sitters will naturally flock to him. Originally, even if he only had seventy percent of his power, as long as he succeeds in this matter, his power and reputation will be enough to reach one hundred percent! En … what does this' Yang 'mean? "
Qiu Shenji smiled slightly and said in a low voice: "This' Yang 'is a marriage alliance!"
Wu Cheng Si said in surprise: "After my wife died of illness, the position of the first wife has always been empty, but … a marriage alliance? Who do you mean a marriage alliance with? "
Qiu Shenji said: "Naturally a marriage alliance with Princess Li Tang. Minister Wu, getting rid of Li Tang's royal family is to remove hidden obstacles. But Li Tang has ruled the world for decades. The people's will, the civil and military officials everywhere, it is impossible to say that they have no loyalty to Li Tang. If you can marry a princess of the Tang dynasty who has great influence in the court, you can obtain the support and approval of these people, and also obtain more of the Empress' trust and favor! "
Wu Cheng Si's eyes flashed and he said slowly: "Such a princess, who is it?"
Qiu Shenji said word by word: "Naturally … the Grand Princess of Peace!"
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