Princess Taiping angrily said: "After I came back from Jin Gu Garden, I heard that several prime ministers and ministers were arrested and sent to prison. I never thought that Yang Fan was involved. Usually, he would visit me every three to five days. This time, I have been back in the capital for several days, but he still hasn't come. I sent someone to ask, and then I knew that something happened.
Mother, I am not sure whether other people are rebelling or not, but Yang Fan is definitely not rebelling! Why is he rebelling? He is a person promoted by mother, and he is not related to any faction in the imperial court. Besides, he has Teacher Xue as his backer, and his future is bright. What reason does he have to rely on the rebel party? "
Wu Zetian slowly said: "Lai Junchen found out that he received a huge bribe from Li Youdao. I remember that at that time, he mentioned the 16 shops of unknown origin. Are these shops … yours?"
Princess Taiping confidently said: "Of course they are my daughter's. Speaking of which, other than these 16 shops, what other property does Yang Fan have? And these 16 shops are my daughter's. Where is his so-called huge bribe? "
Wu Zetian slightly narrowed her eyes, and her gaze was as sharp as a needle tip: "As a descendant of the Emperor, it is naturally not suitable for me to engage in the lowly business, but … if you want to set up some shops, is there no one in the Princess Residence who can be used? Why do you give it to an outsider, and a general who doesn't know how to manage it? "
"Daughter …"
Princess Taiping said half a sentence, and then her pretty face became red. Wu Zetian has been staring at her daughter's expression. Seeing this, she suddenly understood, and her face suddenly became very ugly.
Suddenly, Wu Zetian thought of many things. She thought of the time when Yang Fan and her daughter bowed together. She thought that her daughter, who was not interested in helping others to marry, suddenly learned to help Yang Fan to arrange a marriage. She thought of the rumor that she heard on the day of Yang Fan's wedding, her daughter gave him a generous gift.
Many of the noblewomen who kept a gigolo would take care of everything for the gigolo, including helping him get married and start a career. For example, Madam Yao, the daughter of Princess Taiping's wet nurse, helped Liu Junfan buy her dowry.
Wu Zetian thought of her daughter's natural and unrestrained manner when she publicly chose her son-in-law. She was not shy at all and dared to choose the person she liked in front of everyone. But now when Yang Fan was mentioned, she hesitated and showed a rare shyness. Wasn't it obvious what she meant? But what could she say, reproach her daughter? What right did she have to scold her daughter when she was still raising a gigolo?
These thoughts quickly flashed through Wu Zetian's mind. She slowly said, "Daughter, this is not the only evidence of Yang Fan's crime. Zhu Bin and Pei Xuanli have also admitted to colluding with him. Rebellion is disloyalty to the dynasty, disloyalty to me. No one … can be forgiven! "
"Mother …"
Princess Taiping only called her once before two lines of tears fell down, "Since I was a child, this is the third time your daughter has begged you. The first time, your daughter begged you to pardon the innocent son-in-law. It was his two elder brothers who plotted the rebellion, not him! Mother didn't agree. Your daughter's good son-in-law was bestowed by Mother, and it was Mother who took him away with her own hands! "
She looked at Wu Zetian with tearful eyes and said, "The second time, your daughter didn't want that son-in-law, but Mother insisted that your daughter marry him. At that time, Mother still didn't agree to your daughter's request. Mother, do you know what it feels like to be with a man you don't love day and night, to grow old together? "
Her tears flowed out and gently fell on Wu Zetian's hand. Wu Zetian's hard heart slightly softened.
Princess Taiping said, "This is the third time your daughter has begged you! If Yang Fan really has the heart to rebel, your daughter won't protect him! No matter how close a man is, he can't kiss his own mother. If your daughter must make a choice, your daughter will naturally stand on Mother's side, but he … really can't rebel ah! "
Wu Zetian became irritated. She pulled back her hand and angrily slapped her thigh, "Are you saying that Lai Junchen is deceiving me?"
At this time, Wu Zetian still didn't want to believe that Lai Junchen, whom she trusted, had deceived her.
The people always had an inexplicable recognition for the one and only, because Wu Zetian was the only female Emperor in history. They took it for granted that she was super strong in all aspects. If it wasn't so, how could she stand out in the men's world? Everyone didn't know that Wu Zetian became the Emperor, although she had her own ability, it was also because of the right time, the right place, and the right people!
Being good at palace fights was just a small wisdom. Managing the world required a big mind and great wisdom. Unfortunately, some people didn't understand this truth. In the eyes of these people, since she was the one and only, she must be very wise. Since she was very wise, she would always be wise. Only stupidity can be worshipped!
The halo of wisdom that shrouded Wu Zetian blinded too many people's eyes. On the contrary, the people around her could see her more clearly. That's why Shanghai Wan 'er and Wei Tuan' er dared to secretly form confidants, why Princess Taiping dared to get involved in politics, and why Zhou Xing, Lai Junchen and other ruthless officials dared to do whatever they wanted.
But Princess Taiping didn't dare to say that she was old and muddled. She could only euphemistically say, "Your daughter didn't say that. But this case involves many people. I'm afraid that Lai Junchen will only personally handle the case of the Prime Minister. People like Yang Fan, eight or nine out of ten will be handed over to the lowly officials to try. Those lowly officials, in order to take credit and ask for rewards, will not confess under torture? "
At this point, Princess Taiping suddenly opened her tearful eyes, as if she suddenly remembered something. She hurriedly asked, "What did Niangqin say just now? Who accused Yang Fan of being an accomplice? "
Wu Zetian said, "It was Commandant Zhu Bin and Minister of Rites Pei Xuanli. What's wrong?"
"Zhu Bin … Zhu Bin …" Princess Taiping softly repeated twice. Suddenly she said excitedly, "Yes! It's this Zhu Bin. Your daughter remembers, Fan Lang he … Ah! No, no, no, it's Yang Fan … "
Princess Taiping seemed to have spilled the beans. Her pretty face turned red. Wu Zetian had to play dumb, as if she didn't hear anything.
Princess Taiping said, "Yang Fan once complained to your daughter that he was pushed aside by Zhu Bin. Later, he made a great contribution and was promoted to Lang General. Zhu Bin was jealous of his promotion and humiliated him in public. Yang Fan wanted your daughter to vent his anger for him."
Princess Taiping had clearly stated the relationship between her and Yang Fan when she spoke till here. Why did she not use her own people and let Yang Fan run the shop for her? Why did she put the shop under Yang Fan's name and let Yang Fan take a share of the profits? Why did Yang Fan and Zhu Bin not get along and ask her to vent his anger for him? She was like the second Xue Huaiyi!
Princess Taiping said, "It's just that mother instructed me not to use my status as a princess and mother's favor to meddle in court affairs. That's why I didn't agree. I let him take care of the shop. Actually … actually, it's to appease him … "
Speaking of this, Princess Taiping's face turned even redder. Her tearful eyes were moving and her tender cheeks were as red as fire. There was a kind of tender and beautiful feeling. Princess Taiping said, "Mother, think about it. How could two people who are incompatible like fire and water get together?"
Wu Zetian sighed softly and said, "Forget it. Mother will summon Lai Junchen to the palace …"
Princess Taiping hurriedly said, "Mother, regardless of whether Yang Fan was wronged or not, things have come to this. Lai Junchen has no other choice but to protect the Censorate. If we summon him, I'm afraid he won't get anything out of him. "
Wu Zetian angrily said, "What should we do? Do you want me, the Emperor, to be the judge and abandon the three law departments to personally interrogate him? "
Princess Taiping held Wu Zetian's hand and begged coquettishly, "Yang Fan told me that when he was just promoted to Officer General, Zhu Bin gathered a crowd to ridicule him. It's obvious that Yang Fan and Zhu Bin don't get along well. More than one person knows about it. If mother doesn't believe me, why don't you summon the military academy under Zhu Bin and ask them. If what I said is true, mother will make an exception for me! "
When Princess Taiping acted like a spoiled child, it was as if she had returned to the time when she was still a little girl. Wu Zetian's heart softened. She remembered how much she spoiled and spoiled Xue Huaiyi. She couldn't help but sigh and said, "Forget it! Go and ask Wan 'er to pass on my order. Summon the people who will lead the troops to this Flying Fragrance Hall! "
Princess Taiping quickly said, "Thank you mother!" She quickly got up and rushed out of the hall.
Wu Zetian remembered the man who had accompanied her for more than ten years. She also remembered that her daughter was infatuated with that man's disciple. She couldn't help but secretly said, "Sin! Sin ah … "
Shanghai Wan 'er received the imperial edict and immediately sent someone to summon the troops. Immediately she returned to the hall with Princess Taiping. Wu Zetian said, "Help me change my clothes!"
Princess Taiping rushed to say, "Daughter will help mother change your clothes."
Wu Zetian laughed and said, "Forget it! You have been served by others since you were young. How could you help me change my clothes? Sit here and take a rest. This fermented rice wine is a new tribute from Jin Ling. It tastes very good. You should try it too. "As soon as she finished speaking, Shangguan Wan 'er and Wei Tuan' er helped her into the bedroom of the Flying Fragrance Hall.
Wu Zetian sat down in the bedroom. While letting the two people help her change her clothes, she instructed Shanghai Wan 'er, "Wan' er, in a moment, send someone to Luoyang prefecture on horseback, and bring the Yang family's' letter of approval 'to Zhen."
Shanghai Wan 'er complied. A moment later, after helping Wu Zetian dress herself neatly, Shanghai Wan' er left in a hurry to arrange someone to go to Luoyang prefecture. Wu Zetian went out of the bedroom. She said to Princess Taiping, "Daughter, you should have some proof of ownership of that shop, right?"
Princess Taiping hastily got up and said, "Daughter not only has the 'letter of approval', I also have the contract. Does mother want to take a look?"
Wu Zetian said, "After all, this is not a private matter. Although mother believes you, it is better to take a look to avoid other people gossiping."
Princess Taiping said, "That's good. Daughter will immediately send someone to get it."
Wu Zetian said indifferently, "Tell Little Hai and your people to go with you, so that when you return, you won't be delayed at the palace gate."
After receiving the imperial edict, the officers and soldiers hurriedly gathered at the Flying Fragrance Hall. Although they came under the imperial edict, Wu Youyi could not be at ease with so many officers and soldiers suddenly gathered in one place. Now that the officers and soldiers had met with a series of accidents, they could no longer be considered the Emperor's most trusted guards. Wu Youyi ordered them to remove their armors and weapons, and also ordered the Yulin Guards to be on guard as they arrived at the Flying Fragrance Hall.
Most of the officers and soldiers did not know what was going on and were all anxious. But if the Emperor wanted to harm them, it was impossible for him to gather them in one place. This was somewhat puzzling. Among the officers and soldiers, only Cloud Cavalry Captain Du Runsheng, Lieutenant Tang Qianli and a few others who were summoned by the female official Fu Qingqing vaguely guessed something.
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