Wu Zetian came to the Crown Prince's bedchamber with heavy steps. She frowned when she saw the tightly shut doors. "Where is the Crown Prince?"
Lan Feier quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince … has been in seclusion for the past few days. He refuses to see anyone and even his meals are delivered by me. Just now … the Crown Prince suddenly clamored to see Your Majesty. After I persuaded him to come back, he hid in the palace and refused to come out. "
"Open the door!" Wu Zetian ordered.
"Yes!"
Lan Feier quickly replied and gently pushed the door open. "Wait here!" Wu Zetian ordered.
"If everyone goes in alone, Tuan 'er is worried …" Wei Tuan' er said anxiously.
Wu Zetian glanced at her and said, "This son of mine doesn't have the guts to kill his own mother in public! What's there to worry about? "
Wu Zetian walked into the Crown Prince's bedchamber. Shanghai Wan 'er glanced at Wei Tuan' er and stood quietly by the door.
When Wu Zetian walked into the palace, she felt that it was dark and gloomy. She couldn't help but furrow her brow and call out, "Dan 'er!"
There was a moment of silence before a frightened voice came from behind the screen. "Who? Who's calling me? Who's calling me? "
Wu Zetian was slightly angered and raised her voice. "Dan 'er, can't you recognize your mother's voice?"
"Ah!"
A cry of alarm came from behind the screen, followed by a series of clattering sounds as Li Dan ran out with disheveled hair.
Wu Zetian looked at him. Her son was dressed in a white shirt with disheveled hair. His face was pale and his eyes were filled with fear. His sleeves were hanging down and he was in a very sorry state. Wu Zetian's gaze slowly landed on Li Dan's feet. He was barefooted and didn't even wear shoes.
"Ah! Mother! Mother! "
Li Dan hurriedly bowed, but Wu Zetian waved her hand impatiently. "Alright, there's only you and me here. There's no need to stand on ceremony!"
She turned around and sat down on a couch. As soon as she sat down, Li Dan threw herself at her feet and hugged her leg. She wailed loudly, "Mother, Dan 'er would never dare to have any evil intentions or try to harm the empress! I'm innocent, I'm really innocent! "
Wu Zetian's body also swayed slightly as he hugged her leg and cried. She said calmly, "But someone found talismans and puppets in your palace …"
Li Dan's tears streamed down his face. "I'm innocent! I've never seen those things! The Liu matriarch and the Dou matriarch …"
Wu Zetian suddenly interrupted him and asked, "What's going on with you and Tuan 'er?"
"Ah?"
Li Dan was a little confused. He raised his head and wiped his tears. "Tuan Er? What's going on between Tuan 'er and Miss Tuan' er? "
Wu Zetian's gaze sharpened. She stared at him and said, "Does Tuan 'er want to be your Crown Princess?"
Li Dan blurted out, "No!"
Facing Wu Zetian's sharp gaze, Li Dan stuttered, "Ah … son … Once … Miss Tuan 'er was only in charge of the expenses of the Crown Prince's palace. Sometimes …"
Wu Zetian saw that his eyes were wandering. She sneered and said, "I already know everything!"
Li Dan was stunned. He suddenly kowtowed and said, "Mother, that was only Miss Tuan 'er's idea. I didn't agree! Mother chose the Crown Princess for me. How could I dare to make decisions on my own? Miss Tuan 'er is mother's trusted aide. How could I dare to marry her … "
Li Dan seemed to be scared out of his wits. He hurriedly explained, "Miss Tuan 'er said that as long as I wrote a secret edict for her, Mother, to make her empress after a thousand years, she would be able to take more care of the East Palace. She would also put in a few good words for me. But I didn't dare to agree to her. I'm not the Emperor, how can I write a secret edict? I understand the rules …"
"Don't say anymore!"
Wu Zetian didn't expect to hear such words from her son. She was extremely angry at first, but her anger soon disappeared. Instead, it was endless sorrow. "I'm really old. Even the people closest to me are making plans after my death. My nephews are worried about my throne. The ministers are worried about the ownership of the country after my death. And Tuan 'er … wants to be the Empress … "
Wu Zetian gradually calmed down. She stared at Li Dan and said, "Why haven't I heard you mention this before?"
Li Dan lowered his head uneasily under Wu Zetian's sharp gaze. He stammered, "I … I don't know how to say it. I don't have any proof. Tuan 'er … Tuan' er is mother's most trusted aide …"
Wu Zetian looked at him. Li Dan's face was full of fear. His lips were chapped and there were many blisters on them. He looked extremely haggard. Wu Zetian couldn't help but sigh. She faintly said, "Could it be … that I really trust an outsider more than I trust my own son?"
She seemed to be asking herself, but also seemed to be asking Li Dan. But Li Dan didn't dare to answer. He only deeply kowtowed and fell to the ground in silence.
Wu Zetian slowly lowered her head. She looked at Li Dan, who was prostrating on the ground. Her voice became calm again. "Dan 'er, tell mother that you don't want to be the Crown Prince anymore?"
Li Dan hurriedly said, "Yes! I have neither virtue nor talent. I have let down the Crown Prince position. In addition … your son's daily life is not very orderly, often causing unnecessary trouble, affecting the relationship between your son and Mother, so … Mother, please remove your son's Crown Prince title! "
Wu Zetian slowly raised her head. She looked at the ray of sunlight that shone through the half-opened palace gate. She asked blankly, "If I remove you from the Crown Prince position, who will inherit my country?"
Li Dan was overjoyed and said, "Seventh Brother is in Fangzhou too! Or … Prince Wei and Prince Liang are also good … "
He didn't finish his sentence before he was forced back by Wu Zetian's cold and sharp gaze. He anxiously lowered his head again.
Wu Zetian was silent for a moment. She said, "I … have no intention of changing the Crown Prince."
Li Dan didn't dare to raise his head. He only nodded.
Wu Zetian continued, "However, you are indeed not very careful in the way you handle things. You have given people a lot of ammunition. Even if you have no intention of rebelling, it is inevitable that people will slander you. I may not believe it once or twice, but if it is said too much, how can I not be suspicious and give others an opportunity to take advantage of? "
She slowly stood up and said, "How about this! You, continue to be the Crown Prince. In order to prevent people from saying that you have bad intentions, you should be more careful in the future. "
Li Dan was still lying on the ground. He didn't move at all, like a carved stone turtle. However, his hands, which were hidden in his sleeves, were tightly gripping the ground. If not for this, he would not have been able to suppress his ecstasy. He had made it through this ordeal without any mishaps!
Wu Zetian's calm voice still echoed in the palace. "I know that there will always be people who want to catch you. In the future, you can live in the East Palace in peace. Dismiss all the subordinates in the East Palace. Stop receiving officials every ten days."
Li Dan hurriedly said, "Yes!"
Wu Zetian glanced at him and said, "You are the Crown Prince. You haven't even inherited the throne, but I have already made the crown grandson. I have also made all the other grandsons princes. No wonder people hate you. How about this? The crown grandson will be demoted by two ranks, and the other four grandsons will be demoted by one rank. The crown grandson and the princes will be demoted to Junwang. There will also no longer be special princely mansions for them. The princes' guards and guards of honor will all be removed. Bring them to the East Palace to keep you company. This will save you from being lonely in the East Palace. "
Li Dan hurriedly said, "Many thanks, Mother, for fulfilling my wish!"
Wu Zetian didn't say anything else. Li Dan lay on the ground for a long time. He quietly raised his head. At some point, Wu Zetian had already left his bedroom.
Li Dan still maintained his kneeling position. He was silent for a long time with both hands on the ground. An indescribable smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
He used to be the Emperor. When he was the Emperor, he wasn't a qualified Emperor. He was now the Crown Prince. When he was the Crown Prince, he wasn't a qualified Crown Prince either. However, he was a qualified actor!
Crown Prince Li Xian and Crown Prince Li Hong were both smart and capable people. When they were still Crown Princes, they were praised by the officials. They said that they would definitely become virtuous rulers. But what happened in the end? They died before they even became Virtuous Rulers. However, he was still alive and well.
He really didn't have any great ambitions. The empire of his ancestors and the hegemony of the Emperor were all bullsh * t! As long as he could live, he would be satisfied. However, it wasn't easy to live by the side of such a mother!
When Wu Zetian walked out of the Crown Prince's bedroom, Shanghai Wan 'er and the palace maids and eunuchs secretly heaved a sigh of relief. Wu Zetian didn't say a word. They helped her out of the Crown Prince's Palace. There was already a carriage in front of the palace gate. Wu Zetian boarded the carriage and said only three words, "Hall of Flying Fragrance!"
A large group of people escorted Wu Zetian to Hall of Flying Fragrance. Wu Zetian sat down and glanced at Wei Tuan 'er. She said lightly, "Madam Liu and Madam Dou are dead. The Crown Prince doesn't even have a single person by his side. Tuan' er, what do you think … I will appoint you as the Crown Princess. What do you think?"
Wei Tuan 'er was so scared that her legs turned to jelly. She knelt on the ground and said fearfully, "Everyone, I only want to serve by your side. I don't want to be the Crown Princess."
Wu Zetian sneered, "I am old and don't have many more years to live. You are in the prime of your life. How many years can you guard me? If you don't want to be the Crown Princess, then … I will grant you the position of Empress. You will be the mother of the world. What do you think? "
Hearing such words, Wei Tuan 'er was frightened out of her wits. She banged her head on the ground, and in a short while, her fair and clear forehead was bruised, with drops of blood seeping out.
Wu Zetian waved her hand and said in disgust, "Drag her away!"
Wei Tuan 'er finally cried out, "Everyone, I am wronged, I am wronged! This servant was set up by someone … "
In the midst of her cries, Wei Tuan 'er was dragged out of the main hall by two guards. Wu Zetian sneered and turned to Shanghai Wan' er. She said in a deep voice, "Bring some men to search the residence of that b * tch! Also, find out who ordered her to frame the Crown Prince! "
…
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