The study room of the Wei King, Wu Chengsi, was quiet. Wu Chengsi's face was gloomy as he stared at Wei Suizhong, who was kneeling in front of him. He sneered, "You said that Junchen wants to fabricate a crime to accuse me of treason?"
Wei Suizhong bowed his head. "Yes!"
Wu Chengsi leaned forward and asked, "You are one of Lai Junchen's henchmen. Why did you leak this information to me?"
Wei Suizhong bowed and replied respectfully, "Ants trying to shake a tree, this lowly official is not willing to die with them!"
Wu Chengsi looked at him coldly and slowly sat up. "Lai Junchen was able to return to the capital because I protected him. He owes me a great debt of gratitude, so why does Lai Junchen want to make a move against me?"
Wei Suizhong replied, "When Lai Junchen was demoted to Tongzhou, he begged Your Highness more than once. Although Your Highness agreed, you never helped him …"
Wu Chengsi's face heated up. He naturally knew that Wei Suizhong had accepted money but did not do anything.
Wei Suizhong said, "Lai Junchen has long harbored hatred for this and swore to take revenge! Although he was able to return to the capital, he regained His Majesty's trust because of his contribution in solving the case of Su Lianyao and Liu Sili's treason. Your Highness did not help him, so … Lai Junchen only remembers grudges and does not remember kindness. He is harsh and merciless, and has always been like this! "
Wu Chengsi thought for a moment and looked at Zhang Jiafu, who was standing to the side. Over the years, Zhang Jiafu had become his number one advisor and had always been trustworthy. "Jiafu, do you think this is possible? If Lai Junchen wants to accuse me, Princess Taiping, Crown Prince Dan, and Prince Luling of treason, he must be crazy! "
Zhang Jiafu said carefully, "Your Highness, Lai Junchen has always been crazy! However, he will not do anything that does not benefit him! "
Zhang Jiafu turned to Wei Suizhong and asked in a low voice, "Why did Lai Junchen not hesitate to make the entire court his enemy and accuse so many people? Why did he not accuse King Liang when he has accused so many people? What other secrets are there? Speak! "
Wei Suizhong trembled and stammered, "Your Highness is wise! That Lai Junchen heard from some unknown source that the emperor has already decided on His Highness, King Liang, as the crown prince. That's why he's trying to figure out His Highness, King Liang, and wants to … wants to get rid of everyone who's trying to harm King Liang in one fell swoop, and use this to gain His Highness' favor! "
Hearing this, Wu Chengsi was shocked and his expression changed. "The Emperor has already decided that Wu Sansi will be the Crown Prince. Is this true?"
Wei Suizhong smiled bitterly and said, "How could this lowly official know such an important matter? This lowly official only knows that Lai Junchen came to this conclusion because Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yi are getting closer and closer to King Liang. As for what the actual basis for this conclusion is, this lowly official truly does not know! "
Wu Chengsi felt uneasy and immediately felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Seeing this, Zhang Jiafu waved his hand at Wei Suizhong, saying: "You can go back. If Lai Junchen has any other orders for you, you only need to be as careful as ever and report to Wangye at any time. Since you have decided to serve his highness, his highness will definitely ensure your safety. Even if it is to ensure your future, it is only a matter of a few words! "
Wei Suizhong hurriedly acknowledged and kowtowed once more before quietly withdrawing.
As soon as Wei Suizhong left, Wu Chengsi anxiously asked Zhang Jiafu, "Jiafu, do you think that the Emperor has already decided on the Crown Prince? Is it true or false?"
Zhang Jiafu said, "The two Zhangs and King Liang have indeed been getting closer recently. However, to say that the Emperor has already decided on King Liang as the Crown Prince, there is no credible evidence. Perhaps … in the Emperor's heart, he has already begun to lean towards King Liang, so the two Zhangs are on good terms first. It is impossible for Lai Junchen to know all the details, which is why he came to this conclusion! "
Wu Chengsi felt a surge of anger and violently coughed a few times before gasping for breath and saying, "Impossible, impossible! If that is the case, Lai Junchen should have bribed Wu Sansi. Once this matter succeeds, his future will be limitless. Wei Suizhong is his henchman, so why would he betray him? "
Zhang Jiafu said, "Even if the Emperor has the intention to make Wu Sansi the Crown Prince, he might not be willing to harden his heart and eliminate so many of his relatives in one fell swoop. Lai Junchen's move is a risky one. He has never reported so many of the Emperor's close officials in one go, so it is normal for Wei Suizhong to have doubts. Moreover, Wei Suizhong might be wary of Lai Junchen now! "
Wei Wang was high up in the hierarchy, so he would not know about the Lai family's bullsh * t. Zhang Jiafu recounted how Wei Suizhong barged into the residence, humiliated Madam Wang, and forced her to commit suicide. After Wu Chengsi heard this, he no longer had any doubts about Wei Suizhong's motive for joining him, but he was even more convinced that the Emperor had already decided to make Wu Sansi the Crown Prince. He said in panic, "If that is the case, the Emperor's intention to make Wu Sansi the Crown Prince is very credible. What should I do?"
Zhang Jiafu said, "Your Highness, do not panic. This matter may not have been decided, but … we can give it a try!"
Wu Chengsi asked, "How do we try?"
Zhang Jiafu said, "Lai Junchen's intentions are not good for the Emperor. No matter what, he must be eliminated. The Emperor might as well use this matter to contact all the relatives of the Emperor who have been reported by Lai Junchen and work together to impeach Lai Junchen. Once Lai Junchen is brought down, one of the threats will be removed. From this matter, we can also observe the Emperor's intentions! "
Wu Chengsi seemed to have understood and said, "You mean …"
Zhang Jiafu said, "If the Emperor protects Lai Junchen, it means that the news that the Crown Prince has been decided is true, and the Emperor should prepare early. If the Emperor is willing to kill Lai Junchen, it means that the Emperor does not have the intention to make Prince Liang the Crown Prince. Even if he does, it is the Emperor's intention, and his decision has not been made. The Emperor will have to reconsider this decision when the Emperor has contacted all the powers to oppose it! "
Wu Chengsi agreed deeply and said, "What you said makes sense! This matter should not be delayed, I will go see Princess Taiping immediately to discuss this matter! "
On one hand, Wu Chengsi was alarmed at the thought of Lai Junchen, who was known as a mad dog. On the other hand, he was anxious about whether the Emperor has decided to make Wu Sansi the Crown Prince. He immediately set out to see Princess Taiping.
When Princess Taiping heard the news, she also "turned pale with fright." She immediately discussed with him and decided to unite all the powers that could be united to destroy Lai Junchen. At the same time, they could use this to exert pressure on the Emperor and force her to give up on any plans to make Wu Sansi the Crown Prince.
For his own safety, and even more so for the Crown Prince, Wu Chengsi worked together with the remnants of Li Tang's faction for the first time. Under the cover of this elder brother, although nothing could be seen in the short term, in the long term, as long as it was Li Tang's faction, regardless of whether it was Princess Taiping's faction, the ministers loyal to the Crown Prince, or the officials inclined to the Prince of Luling, they would all have a more relaxed environment for development.
Li Tang's power had recovered a step further, like the flourishing weeds in the countryside in spring.
… …
"Eunuch Gao, this way please!"
Gao Lishi nodded and continued to follow the attentive young attendant.
The present Eastern Palace was a place even colder than the Cold Palace. Crown Prince Li Dan and his children were all trapped in this courtyard. Although no one blocked the palace gates, there was an invisible palace gate there. Other than grand celebrations, when the Emperor needed her sons and grandsons to come out and make up the scene, they could only obediently guard this desolate palace.
The palace maids and eunuchs who guarded this Cold Palace did not have any benefits to speak of. Over time, they became more and more disrespectful to the Crown Prince and the imperial grandchildren. As Gao Lishi walked, he saw weeds growing in the cracks between the bricks, but no one cleaned them.
Although Gao Lishi had entered the palace late, he was the adopted son of Eunuch Gao, Gao Yanfu. In addition, Yang Fan had introduced him to Shangguan Wan'er and asked her to take care of him in the palace. The eunuchs in the palace were the most snobbish characters. They knew that this attendant was Eunuch Gao's adopted son and that Shangguan Daizhi favored him greatly, so they naturally did their best to please him.
"Crown Prince, Eunuch Gao is here to inspect the Eastern Palace!"
The eunuch in the Eastern Palace did not care at all for the Crown Prince and the imperial grandchildren. He didn't even report before barging in with an arrogant expression.
Crown Prince Li Dan was eating lunch with his sons. The lunch was very simple, consisting of dried vegetables and salted vegetables. The family had been cooped up in the palace for a long time, so their expressions and actions were somewhat wooden. They did not react to the eunuch's rudeness.
"Preposterous!"
The Crown Prince and the imperial grandchildren did not speak, but Gao Lishi was enraged.
"How dare a servant like you act so rudely in front of the Crown Prince and the imperial grandchildren!"
Gao Lishi shouted angrily. The Eastern Palace eunuch fell to the ground in shock. "Yes, yes, yes, Eunuch Gao, please calm your anger. Eunuch Gao is right!"
Gao Lishi looked at Li Dan and the other princes' tables and became even angrier. The Crown Prince and the imperial grandchildren's food was so simple and crude. It was obvious that the eunuchs had embezzled their supplies.
Wu Zetian guarded against her son as if he were a thief. She did not want him to be tainted with power, but she would not go so far as to cut back on the supplies. Even in winter, the Crown Prince should have a supply of vegetables, let alone now that it was spring.
Even the eunuchs and female officials with some status in the palace were eating chives, garlic sprouts, and other nourishing dishes, while the Crown Prince and the imperial grandchildren were still gnawing on salted vegetables.
Gao Lishi himself had gone from rich to poor, and his family had declined. Thus, he hated snobbish people the most. Seeing them treat the Crown Prince so harshly, he naturally could not restrain his anger.
The Eastern Palace eunuch did not know why this Eunuch Gao was so furious and only knew how to plead guilty. Gao Lishi gave him a good scolding and yelled for him to leave. Only then did he straighten his clothes and go forward to pay his respects. "This servant Gao Lishi greets the Crown Prince and the various princes!"
Li Longji was now a thirteen-year-old youth. He had been under house arrest in the Eastern Palace for so long, but his spirit had not been tempered in the slightest. When Gao Lishi angrily rebuked the Eastern Palace eunuch, his face was red with anger. Li Longji watched coldly from the side and saw that he was not pretending. He couldn't help but have a good impression of this little eunuch.
Li Dan saw Gao Lishi kneel down to pay his respects and stood up in fear. He mumbled, "Eunuch, but … but does the empress have a decree for me?"
Gao Lishi saw that there was no one in the hall waiting on him to eat. After the eunuch leading the way had been dismissed by him, only the Crown Prince and the imperial grandchildren were left in the hall. He did not ask the Crown Prince to dismiss his attendants. Instead, he took out a secret letter from his sleeve, walked forward on his knees, and respectfully handed it to Li Dan.
Li Dan and his sons were trapped in the Eastern Palace and depended on each other for survival. They had long since lost many of the strict rules of the imperial family. Furthermore, Li Dan usually had no one to discuss matters with. The only confidants he could truly trust were his sons. Thus, Li Longji and the others all crowded around Li Dan and read the secret letter together.
When Li Dan, the prince, was born, Wu Zetian was already extremely powerful. Growing up at the side of this powerful mother, Li Dan and Li Xian were far inferior to their two older brothers. The two of them had the same cowardly personalities. During the days of house arrest in the Eastern Palace, Li Dan was like a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring. The slightest rustle of grass in the wind would cause his heart to palpitate.
Now that he opened the secret letter, he saw that it was written by his sister, Taiping. As expected, the contents were about someone trying to harm him. Li Dan was so shocked that before he could finish reading, his knees weakened and he sat down. On the other hand, Li Chengqi, Li Longji, and the other imperial grandchildren were so angry that their faces were red.
Li Chengqi suppressed his anger and snatched the secret letter from his father's hands. He continued to read with his brothers …
…
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