In Wucheng Hall, Wu Zetian lay on her side on the couch. Lan Yiqing and another pretty Little Palace Maid, Lan Yiqing, were gently waving a feather fan by the side of the couch, giving her a cool breeze. Shangguan Wan'er sat on the side of the couch, softly reading a memorial.
Recently, Wu Zetian's eyesight was not as good as before, and it was very easy for her to get tired. This was especially so after the battle between the Prime Ministers and Wu Chengsi. It seemed that it was not only the Imperial Court that had suffered great losses, but Wu Zetian had also aged quite a bit.
Many times, when she felt tired, she would lie on the couch and close her eyes to rest. Wan'er would read the memorial to her word by word. Wan'er quietly read the memorial. At first, she was very fluent. But as she read, her voice slowly became hesitant.
This was a memorial to the Emperor from the Right Censor, Imperial Censor Gan Qingyang. The memorial this Imperial Censor presented was about the recent dispute in the court. In the memorial, he said that the reason for the dispute in the court was because of the appointment of the crown prince. He believed that if the Emperor could not make a proper arrangement for the crown prince, similar political disputes would occur again.
The Imperial Censor pointed out bluntly that the current Crown Prince was immoral and incompetent. As the crown prince, his prestige was not enough to convince the people. The Emperor was approaching seventy years old. For the stability of the country, a suitable candidate for the crown prince should be chosen as soon as possible to avoid unrest in the court and suspicion among the officials.
Wu Zetian had never accepted old age. The word "old" was taboo to her. If someone dared to say this on a normal day, Wu Zetian would have flown into a rage. This Imperial Censor was young and impetuous, speaking without restraint. He dared to say in the memorial that the Emperor was old and did not have much time left. Wan'er couldn't help but be frightened when she read this. Unexpectedly, when Wu Zetian heard this, her expression darkened. She did not get angry. She only lightly said, "Continue reading, I am listening!"
"Yes!"
Wan 'er gathered her courage and continued to read. Wu Zetian listened quietly. When Wan' er finished, the entire hall quieted down. The maids and servants who were waiting on the left and right all stood in silence. Lan Yiqing and the other palace maid were still waving their fans. The gentle wind gently brushed the hair on Wu Zetian's forehead. A few strands of snow-white hair were exceptionally eye-catching.
"Anything else?"
Wu Zetian's voice had a faint tone. Wan 'er hurriedly said, "No more. This is the last memorial."
Wu Zetian nodded and said softly, "You can stay in the palace. I am tired and want to rest for a while. All of you may leave. "
"Yes!"
Wan 'er stood up and gently waved her hand. The palace maids and eunuchs in the hall all left.
Wan'er picked up a stack of memorials that she needed to sort out and approve, and quietly left. In the hall, there was only Wu Zetian quietly lying down and the two palace maids gently fanning behind her. The white hair on Wu Zetian's forehead was like grass after frost, gently swaying in the wind. Wu Zetian sighed and tiredly held her forehead.
In her life, she had always been decisive. No matter if she was in adversity or in prosperity, no matter if she was a talented person whose fate was in the hands of others in her early years, or now she was a high and mighty Emperor. There had never been anyone or anything that could interfere with her decisions. There had never been anyone or anything that she could not decide for a long time.
But now, she had become the highest ruler of this kingdom, but she could not decide on the issue of the Crown Prince.
She had the ability to become the first female Emperor in the history of the world, but she had no way of solving the matter of her death.
She had done something that no other woman had ever done before, but she still did not have the ability to overturn the thousands of years of tradition in this patriarchal society.
The world belonged to her. Of course, it should be passed on to her descendants. But her descendants would inherit her husband's bloodline, and her husband was the Emperor of the dynasty that she had overturned.
What about passing the country to the Wu Clan members who had the same surname as her?
Among those with the surname Wu, the one closest to her was her nephew. After she lived for thousands of years, would her nephew and her nephew's children and descendants worship her as their ancestor and sacrifice her as a blood sacrifice?
An heir or a nephew?
Emotionally, she hated all the ministers who were inclined to support her son. This was because she had stolen this country from her husband's hands. She was very clear that even if her son feared her like a mouse, once she had a son, after she passed away, her son would definitely return the country to Li Tang.
So, all the ministers who were inclined to support her son as the Crown Prince, she instinctively felt that they were betraying her. They were not loyal to her. These kinds of people could not be trusted!
But what about establishing a nephew? No matter how amazing she was, she was still a woman limited by the era. She firmly believed that after a person died, there would be a spiritual world, and the people in the spiritual world needed the descendants of this world to sacrifice their blood.
Establishing a son or establishing a nephew?
Wu Zetian was very clear that the continuation of the country and the stability of the country. So, whether it was those who were responsible for the world, or those who were doing it for the glory and splendor of their family, they were most concerned about her heir. She had not died yet, but everyone was gradually moving their gazes away from her and focusing on her heir.
Because of this, the battles between them would only become more and more desperate. But she could do nothing about it, because even she herself was beginning to feel that she was really old. She had defeated all her enemies, but time was the only enemy that she could not defeat.
Establishing a son or establishing a nephew?
Wu Zetian pressed her forehead. She had an incomparable headache.
… …
"Waiting. General Yang Fan of the Left Feather Forest Guard has been waiting for you for a long time."
Shangguan Wan 'er had just returned to her residence in the Hall of History when a female official welcomed her and reported. This female official was called Fu Qingqing, and she was also Wan 'er's confidant. Recently, Wu Zetian's energy was not as good as before, and the burden on Wan 'er's shoulders was even heavier. Every day, there were large amounts of government affairs that needed to be dealt with, so Wan' er transferred a few confidant female officials to her side to help her deal with government affairs.
The Hall of History had opened up a few rooms for these female officials and her to deal with government affairs. Her original residence was divided by a screen into a study and a bedroom, a place for her to rest and meet with guests.
"Oh!"
Shangguan Wan 'er's heart was filled with joy, but she pretended to be calm on the surface. "I called him over. There are some matters regarding the defense of the Palace that need to be told to him. These memorials have already been approved by everyone. Take them, organize them, and then send them to the Hall of Governmental Affairs. "
"Yes!"
Fu Qingqing replied and took a stack of memorials from Shangguan Wan 'er's hands. Shangguan Wan' er took the remaining memorials and walked gracefully to her residence.
The door opened and Shangguan Wan 'er flashed in. She glanced at the desk, but when she did not see Yang Fan's figure, she couldn't help but be startled. Immediately after, a large hand suddenly reached out from behind her, wrapped around her slender waist, and pulled her into his embrace. At the same time, the door was tightly shut.
"Young Master … Ah …"
Shangguan Wan 'er happily raised her eyes. She had just clearly seen Yang Fan's handsome face when he kissed her on the mouth. Wan' er moaned and closed her beautiful eyes. She gently wrapped her arms around his neck, her lilac tongue docilely meeting his. A pile of memorials describing the state affairs of the Marquis of Xiang scattered on the floor. There was no time to care about them.
After a series of soul-stirring kisses, Yang Fan looked at her moist and red lips and gently smiled. "We haven't seen each other in a few days. Did you miss me?"
"I didn't miss you!" Wan 'er stubbornly denied. "You've really been busy these past few days. White Horse Temple, the Liang Household, Golden Hairpin Drunkenness, calling friends, and being so lively. When have you ever thought of me? Do you want me to think of you?"
Yang Fan laughed. "Oh my, Wan 'er knows my whereabouts very well. Fortunately, I only went to see some fox and dog friends. If I had an affair, I would have been caught in bed long ago. Haha, in this case, you still say you didn't miss me?"
Wan 'er blushed and fiercely punched him in the chest. "I just didn't miss you!" she said coquettishly.
Yang Fan had really been quite busy these past few days. Besides accompanying Xiao Man to the southern city to look at his family's shop, he spent the next few days at the Liang Household and White Horse Temple, maintaining his close relationship with Prince Wu Sansi of Liang and Master Xue Huaiyi of White Horse Temple. He also had many happy gatherings with Chu Kuangge, Maqiao, Ye Huli, Wei Yong, and other good friends from the army.
Today, Yang Fan had even taken the time to go see Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu was very attentive to the matters he had entrusted to him. In the past few days, he had sent out all his men to help Yang Fan investigate such a family. Although he had never found a noble lady in Luoyang whose husband's surname was Pei and whose family's surname was Gongsun.
However, Zhao Yu had already heard that there was a First Madame Gongsun in Chang 'an. Her husband's surname was Pei, and she was the current commandant of the prefectural army. Both husband and wife were skilled in swordsmanship. Her status and proficiency in swordsmanship fit the image Yang Fan had described very well. He had already sent people to Chang 'an to confirm it.
Yang Fan, who had only just entered the palace after receiving this news, was very happy at the moment. Yang Fan smiled and put his arm around Wan 'er's shoulder. "I've done so many things," he said softly, "isn't it because I want to one day be with my Wan' er?"
At the mention of this sore point, Wan 'er couldn't help but knit her delicate brows. "Langjun, Wan' er feels that His Majesty is becoming more and more temperamental. Given His Majesty's usual temperament, there was a memorial today. He would definitely be furious, but His Majesty just listened to it as if nothing had happened. "
Yang Fan said, "Isn't it a good thing that His Majesty is no longer easily angry?"
Wan 'er shook her head. "People say that mountains and rivers are easy to change, but a person's nature is hard to change. Wan 'er has served His Majesty for ten years, and I know His Majesty's temperament. I always feel that things are not so simple. His Majesty was better when he was the Empress Dowager, but ever since he became the Emperor, his actions have become more and more unpredictable. I am very worried … Do you think we can really be together? "
Yang Fan said disapprovingly, "Seventy years of life is rare. How much longer does His Majesty have to live? I have never placed my hopes on him! "
Wan 'er smiled bitterly. "His Majesty is not dead yet, but everyone seems to be planning for after His Majesty dies. No wonder His Majesty … Langjun, do you think that after the new Emperor ascends the throne, we will definitely be together?"
Yang Fan said, "That is why I am working hard to fight for more connections and more power. Even if my Wan 'er is the moon in the sky, as long as I have enough power, I can pluck you down. Don't you think so?"
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