Early in the morning, the officials arrived at the Meridian Gate, waiting to enter the palace for the court meeting. The officials were chatting and laughing in groups in front of the palace gate. No one noticed that the security at the top of the city wall was tighter than usual.
In Wufeng Tavern, Wu Zetian was dressed neatly and regained the majesty of an emperor. She looked down from above at the civil and military officials gathered in front of the Meridian Gate. Even though her vision was blurry and she could only see vermilion and could not see the faces of those people clearly, she still looked at them very seriously.
"Wan'er, did you see clearly that Di Renjie is here?"
"Yes, everyone. Di Renjie is here. He is standing with Pei Xingben and Ren Zhigu, chatting and laughing."
Pei Xingben and Ren Zhigu were the Prime Ministers who were added after Wei Fangzhi, Su Liangsi, and Cen Zhangqian died in prison or died of illness. Although Wan'er was a close official of the Emperor, she had always been very respectful to the Prime Ministers. Other than in public, she would call the Prime Ministers by their names according to some special etiquette requirements. She had always addressed them respectfully as certain Prime Ministers. Today, she was standing at the top of the Five Phoenixes Restaurant and whispering to Wu Zetian, but she called them by their names.
"Yes, Pei Xingben and Ren Zhigu are here too!"
Wu Zetian sighed in relief and muttered to herself, "It seems that the news has not been leaked!"
Wan'er comforted her, "That person failed to deliver the letter. Even though he managed to hide his tracks, the palace is heavily guarded. It will be difficult for him to escape. These people must not know that the matter has been exposed."
"Yes, Wan'er is right!"
A relaxed smile appeared on Wu Zetian's face. Suddenly, she thought of something and asked nervously, "Pei Xuanli, Lu Xian, and Wei Yuanzhong are here too?"
Tuan'er hurriedly said, "Everyone, they arrived earlier than Di Renjie and Ren Zhigu."
Wu Zetian scolded, "You are always in the palace, how can you recognize these officials? Wan'er? "
Tuan'er shut her mouth in embarrassment. Wan'er confirmed carefully and said to Wu Zetian, "Everyone, they are here!"
"Good! Alright! "
Wu Zetian closed her eyes and said, "I'm a little tired, help me sit down!"
Wan'er and Tuan'er helped Wu Zetian back to her seat and sat down. Wu Zetian panted for a while and steadied her breath. Then she asked, "How are the preparations for Wu Youyi and Wu Youji?"
Wan 'er said, "General Wu Youyi is leading the Yulin Guard to lie in ambush on the north side of the palace. They are only waiting for His Majesty's command."
Wu Zetian asked: "Where is Wu Youji?"
Just as she said this, a military officer dressed in the commander's uniform of the internal guards rushed up to the Heavenly Gate. Standing at the entrance of Five Phoenixes Brothel, Little Hai, carefully inquired about him before leading him in.
"General Sheng Long has been dispatched by General Wuyouji to report to His Majesty that the right guards have been assembled and are ready to move at any time!"
"Everyone?"
Wan'er looked at Wu Zetian and waited for her order.
Outside the Heavenly Gate, more and more officials came to attend the court meeting. Usually, at this time, the palace gates would be open and the officials would be told to wait in the court room. But today, the palace gates were still tightly shut. Many of the officials were surprised and gathered together to discuss. Some even raised their heads to look up at the city tower.
At this time, a ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and shone on the golden walls of Five Phoenixes Brothel. The officials suddenly realized that the bell and drum that they usually heard every day did not ring. Although they did not have accurate time keeping devices, seeing that the sunlight was shining on Five Phoenixes Brothel, the bell and drum should have sounded by now.
The officials who gathered together to chat realized something was wrong and rushed to the front of the palace gates. Some impatient officials had already started to knock on the palace gates and shouted into the palace.
Commander of the Left Guards, Sheng Long, was still kneeling on one knee, holding his sword with his head lowered. Wu Zetian subconsciously rubbed the armrest of the dragon chair. Wan'er asked again, "Everyone?"
Wu Zetian's body trembled slightly and she said in a low voice, "Let's begin!"
Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief and waved her hand at the palace gates. Little Hai immediately waved his horsetail whisk and two little servants rushed to the bell and drum tower. The eunuch of the Drum and Bell Department shouted, "Sound the Scenic Cloud Bell!"
Dang! Dang! Dang!
The eight little eunuchs worked together to lift up the big log that was ringing the bell and rammed it against the huge bronze bell that was hanging in the bell tower.
"Sound the Heavenly Drum!"
Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang, dang, dang, dang …
Eight fat and strong eunuchs also hit a row of drums in the drum tower at the same time. The eight of them moved as one. Every hit brought a kind of rhythmic beauty.
The servants in charge of beating the drums and bells in Luoyang City had been waiting for a long time. The moment the bells and drums on top of the Heaven Gate and beside the Five Phoenixes Pavilion rang, the bells and drums in the city echoed in unison. For a moment, the sound of bells and drums echoed throughout the city.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
The officials in front of the Meridian Gate had their doubts dispelled. They straightened their clothes and lined up neatly, ready to enter the palace when the Meridian Gate opened.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang, dang, dang …
On the north side of the palace, the Yulin Royal Guards who were lying in ambush in Yuanbi City, Yaoyi City, and the warehouse came out in full force.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang, dang, dang …
The Right Sentinels lying in ambush in Shangyang Palace were armed with spears and halberds, their blades reflecting the sun. The Right Sentinel General Wu Youji was fully armed as he mounted his horse, drew his sword and swung it forward. Countless soldiers and horses surged out of Shangyang Palace like a tidal wave.
Sitting on the throne, Wu Zetian's face twitched as she listened to the continuous beating of the drums and bells. She clenched the secret letter until it was crumpled into a ball. Suddenly, she threw it on the ground.
This secret letter was presented to the Crown Prince. It was to force the Emperor to abdicate and help Crown Prince Wu Dan recover Li Tang's empire. There were many people in the letter. There were three Prime Ministers: Di Renjie, Pei Xingben, and Ren Zhigu. There were also Minister of Rites Pei Xuanli, Left Minister Lu Xian, and Vice Minister Wei Yuanzhong.
Whether she believed it or not, she had to take precautions immediately. And she believed it!
Wei Fangzhi was dead, Su Liangsi was dead, Cen Zhangqian was dead … How could these Prime Ministers not feel sad? To protect themselves, to avoid following in the footsteps of Wei Fangzhi, Su Liangsi, and Cen Zhangqian, it was not impossible for them to take the risk. Moreover, Di Renjie, Wei Yuanzhong, and Ren Zhigu had always been loyal to Li Tang.
Wu Zetian was an Empress, the likes of which had never been seen before. She was wise and domineering, but behind her strength was a strong lack of confidence. The reason was still the same: she was a woman!
A woman had never been the ruler of the court. Would the court really accept her? Would these men really be willing to grovel at her feet?
Di Renjie was not one of the officials she had persuaded to enter the palace. He was also not one of the officials who sent congratulations to her after she ascended the throne. Was he really loyal to her?
Ren Zhigu was Cen Zhangqian's assistant when she was the Minister of War. The two of them had always been on good terms. Did he not have any thoughts about Cen Zhangqian's tragic death in prison?
And Wei Yuanzhong. He had been involved in the Seo Kyung-jin case. Zhou Xing had once said that Wei Yuanzhong was an accomplice of the rebels. Although Zhou Xing had done some treasonous things for his own benefit, he was still very capable. Could it be that what he had said back then was true?
Wu Zetian had been a talented person. Step by step, she had ascended to the position of Empress. She had been obstructed by the officials of the court in every way. In the process of her ascension to the throne, she had encountered the fierce counterattack of Li Tang's royal family and the civil and military officials. Those princes of the royal family, those officials who prided themselves on being loyal to Li Tang, and those like Xu Jingye made her feel like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow.
Behind the fact that she was far more powerful and domineering than those male Emperors, hidden was a fear and lack of confidence that was far stronger and more sensitive than those male Emperors.
When Seo Kyung-jin defected, Gong Siye and Zhang Siming, whom she had personally promoted and regarded as her trusted aides, had actually secretly helped her. In addition, she had encountered an assassination attempt in the palace. It was very clear that there were Imperial Army generals secretly cooperating with her. All of these made her more and more sensitive. She, who had always been known for her shrewdness and wisdom, was often used by those groundless rumors of rebellion. This was a strong reflection of her mentality.
Especially in the past two years, her health had been deteriorating and her old age could no longer be concealed. This kind of fear was even more obvious.
She was very clear that there were many officials who were like vultures waiting for their prey to die, waiting to peck at her corpse. She knew that those surviving members of Li Tang's royal family, including her two biological sons, were also waiting for her to return to heaven. Those sons of the Wu family who relied on her for glory and wealth were also impatiently calculating the time of her death. They were scheming to seize even more power, and even … her throne.
She was afraid of the arrival of death. She was afraid of losing power. She was afraid of the betrayal of her officials. She was afraid that everything she had obtained would be abandoned in an instant. She wanted to firmly hold on to everything. Only by slaughtering, only by shedding blood and dying, could she let everyone remember that she was still the ruler of this Empire!
She felt fear, and she wanted others to feel more fear than she did. Because she was Wu Zhao, she was the unprecedented Empress of this generation!
In front of the Meridian Gate, the civil and military officials watched as the three Prime Ministers and many officials were arrested one by one.
The Scenic Cloud Bell and the Wen Tian Drum rang eight hundred times. This was a long process. The civil and military officials watched dumbfoundedly as Prime Minister Di, Prime Minister Pei, Prime Minister Ren and Deputy Minister Wei were taken away one by one. They watched the dust fly in the distance as thousands of soldiers and horses suddenly emerged from Shangyang Palace and charged into the distance.
Lai Junchen was also tongue-tied. This was the first time he had seen such a dramatic scene. He had just killed three Prime Ministers, and in just a few days, he has arrested another three Prime Ministers. How generous! His Majesty is still the best! Lai Junchen thought in admiration.
At this moment, the Meridian Gate opened slightly. Eunuch Xiao Hai walked out and looked at the crowd. He raised his voice and said, "His Majesty has a decree. Imperial Censor Lai Junchen is summoned to Five Phoenix Pavilion!"
"This official obeys the decree!"
Lai Junchen's spirit was lifted. He immediately knew that business had come knocking on his door. He quickly answered and squeezed out of the crowd.
Yang Fan, who was guarding the Meridian Gate, waited for Xiao Hai to bring Lai Junchen in. Then, he immediately ordered his men to close the Meridian Gate and put up a huge stone slab. This earth-shattering change had him at a loss. He still did not know what was going on. Yang Fan thought with a heavy heart, I have to find a chance to ask Wan 'er what is going on!
Lai Junchen saw the worry on Yang Fan's face and he suddenly thought, This matter seems to be very serious. If I can get him in as well! That enchanting young lady of the Yang family … …
Lai Junchen's heart warmed. His legs that were stepping on the city wall suddenly gained some strength.
… …
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