Cui Ti raised her voice. "I believe that we should go with the times and continue to expand the power of Li Tang's faction. As long as our faction can form the greatest power in the Imperial Court, His Majesty can only continue to insist on Li Tang as the heir apparent in order to avoid any future chaos. "
Song Zhixun slightly creased his brow and retorted, "Dalang's words are admittedly reasonable, but in reality, they won't work. The current situation in the court is that the Second Zhang faction, the Prince of Liang's faction, and the Prince of Wei's faction. Moreover, Grandpa Di, Yao Chong, and Wei Zhigu are all loyal to the Prince of Xiang and the Prince of Luling. Other than a few die-hards who remain neutral, the rest of the court has been divided up by the various factions. What power is there for us to fight for? "
Princess Taiping nodded. "Zhixun is correct. In truth, to This Princess, whether they are loyal to the Prince of Xiang or the Prince of Luling, they are all part of my Li Tang faction. No matter which of them is stronger, it is not a problem for This Princess. The problem is that even if we combine the strength of the three factions, it is still not enough to contend against the Second Zhang and the Second Wu."
Wei Sili of the Phoenix Pavilion immediately sternly said, "Princess is mistaken. It is precisely because we are weak that we must combine. Princess wholeheartedly considers the Tang dynasty, but the Prince of Xiang's Faction and the Luling Faction each have their own selfish motives. How can they work together? Princess cannot give up on those who can fight, even if the Prince of Xiang's Faction and the Luling Faction are working hard! "
Cui Ti also said, "Correct. In the end, it is better to hold power in the hands of others than to hold it in one's own hands. Although some people are loyal to Li Tang, it is difficult to guarantee that they do not have their own selfish desires. Only Princess, as a member of Li Tang's imperial clan, will always consider the empire. Thus, even if the Prince of Xiang's Faction and the Luling Faction are interested in someone, we cannot let go. We must fight for what we should! "
Princess Taiping nodded in understanding. "Taiping has learned. This Princess was only worried that if we participated in the struggle, the Second Zhang and the Second Wu would benefit from it. But what the two of you said is not without reason. In order to avoid internal strife before the great undertaking is accomplished, this Princess will not easily give up. "
With Princess Taiping's clear stance, Cui Ti finally returned to the main topic. "Since the power of the court has already been divided, why don't we take a different path and start elsewhere? If we bring in fresh water, inject new blood, and try our best to recruit the Princess, won't we be able to break the current stalemate? "
Wei Sili was displeased. "Dalang," he said, "Don't keep us guessing. Why don't you tell me, how do we draw in the running water?"
Cui Ti said, "Ever since the Empress ascended to the throne, she has used the Wu Clan's princes and son-in-law as the chancellor of the universities. Most of these people are frivolous and uncultured, and the professors and teaching assistants are mostly friends and relatives. These people do not do proper work, and in the last ten years, all the schools in the capital have been abandoned. Now, the children of nobles, dukes, and ministers no longer had to go through the imperial examinations. They could only enter the government through recommendation. However, in the past few years, the Wu Clan had been monopolizing power. Those who were recommended to become officials were either Wu Clan disciples or people attached to the Wu Clan. If we can remonstrate to the Emperor and reform the country, forbidding the children of officials from becoming officials without passing the imperial examinations, then … "
Cui Ti didn't say anything else. She just smiled and looked at everyone.
Song Zhixun stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. Then, he nodded and said, "I think this plan is feasible! The children of the ministers have a strict family education. Even if they don't go to school, they still study diligently. They can't be compared to the children of the new noble families. If we put an end to their path of recommendation and let them take the path of the imperial examinations, with their talents and knowledge, most of the people who can become officials will be the children of the old officials. If we can plan ahead and seize the position of chancellor and doctor, these disciples of the Emperor will naturally become our people. "
Princess Taiping's spirit was lifted. However, she thought about it and felt that this plan was not meticulous enough. She said, "This is a good idea, but there is a problem …"
Before Princess Taiping could continue, the steward Li Yi quietly walked in and interrupted her.
Li Yi whispered a few words to Princess Taiping. Princess Taiping's eyes suddenly lit up like a pair of bright stars in the night sky.
"Erlang is back!"
Princess Taiping's heart was filled with joy. She couldn't wait to grow wings and fly to Yang Fan's side. However, when she looked at the disciples in front of her who were discussing matters, the burning passion in Princess Taiping's heart faded. She forcibly suppressed the impulse in her heart and nodded lightly, indicating that she already knew.
After Li Yi bowed and left, Princess Taiping turned to the crowd and said, "Let's continue. I am worried that with the shrewdness of the Queen, once this plan is presented, the Queen will definitely find out the mystery in it. If the Queen finds out that we have ulterior motives, she will definitely not agree! "
Wei Sili thought about it and suggested, "I have an idea. We can find another topic as the subject of the remonstrance to attract the Emperor's attention. We can put the reorganization of the country as an insignificant matter. In this way, we can hide our real intention. Even if the Emperor does not agree with the first matter, it will be easy for him to nod his head on the second matter."
The Emperor had the heart of the Emperor, the high officials had the means to control their subordinates, and the servants naturally had their intelligence and wisdom. What Wei Sili said was some of the methods that the lower officials and officials had explored in order to get their political remonstrance approved.
Princess Taiping nodded to show her approval. She then looked at the crowd with hope and said, "So … what matter can we use as a cover?"
Cui Ti clapped his hands and said excitedly, "I have a plan!"
Princess Taiping's pair of beautiful eyes immediately fixed on him and said happily, "Dalang, please speak!"
Cui Ti said, "Since the fall of the Gong, the officials and their relatives who were framed by Zhou Xing, Lai Junchen, and the other cruel officials have been homeless and have not been forgiven. Now that these cruel officials have fallen from power, it has been found out that they were wronged during their term of office. We can use this reason to request the court to re-investigate this case and win the hearts of the people. As for the reorganization of the country, we can attach this matter to this. I believe that whether it is the Emperor or the court, they will only be concerned about the first matter! "
Princess Taiping clapped her hands and laughed, "Dalang's plan is really good! It is decided. Sili, I will leave this matter to you! "
Taiping was really happy at this moment and felt very fulfilled.
When she was a young girl, her biggest pursuit was to find an ideal husband, to grow old together, to be able to raise her eyebrows. After the painful experience of Xue Shao's death, the persecution of Li Tang's imperial family, and her own painful experience of marriage, the beautiful and pure wish of her young girl had been shattered. Taiping was no longer as naive as before.
The appearance of Yang Fan was a new sustenance for her drifting love. If she could marry Yang Fan, become his wife and bear his children, perhaps the focus of her life would return to the biggest dream of her young girl. But to her, this was undoubtedly an extravagant hope.
Although her sincerity had finally won the love of her sweetheart, her marriage had already been ruined and she could not get rid of it. Love is not the whole of life for anyone. She could not marry the person she loved, and her family and children could not become the focus of her life. Taiping, who was trapped in depression, had now finally found another sustenance.
She fought wits with others and studied strategies. Although she was not in the imperial court, she could quietly influence everything in the imperial court. Power was a kind of poison that made people feel like they were in heaven. Once they tasted it, few could resist its temptation. Sometimes she could not help but think: If she had more power, if her powerful mother was no longer here, what would have happened?
If the young Wu Zetian had not entered the palace but married an ordinary rich family, what would have happened? Perhaps she would have managed the farmland in the countryside and the shops in the city well, but in the end, she was nothing more than a shrewd housewife.
There were countless doors in life, and countless paths behind each door. Every door that was pushed open and every path that was taken led to an unpredictable future.
…
"Ah Lang! These were sent today … "
The guard commander, Ren Wei, was holding a thick stack of documents and was about to introduce to Yang Fan what he needed to review when Yang Fan said with a straight face, "I just came back and am tired. Let's talk about it tomorrow!"
"Uh … yes!"
Ren Wei agreed, and Yang Fan walked away with a steady, grandfatherly gait. Ren Wei walked back along the gravel path and bypassed a few clumps of bamboo. Suddenly, he saw a girl standing gracefully in front of a rockery, staring blankly at a cluster of blooming flowers.
Ren Wei stopped and greeted her with a smile, "Miss Gu, aren't you going to rest?"
Gu Zhuting looked up at the bright red sky and asked curiously, "It's not dark yet. How can you sleep so early? What are you doing?"
Ren Wei said, "I brought some things for Ah Lang to look over, but he said he was tired from the long journey and needed to rest tonight. Ah Lang is tired from the long journey, but Miss Gu, as a woman, is still full of energy! "
Gu Zhuting rolled her eyes at him and snappily said, "You, you really are a blind idiot!"
Watching Gu Zhuting's slender figure floating away, Ren Wei thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out how he was an idiot.
Gu Zhuting walked out of the garden and came to the side of the small bridge in the side courtyard. She couldn't help but turn her head to look at the vermilion cornice in the corner of the dense green not far away. She suddenly remembered the scene when she hugged Yang Fan and slept in the yurts of the Turks and on the eastbound Le Lei carriage. At that time, she was cold and tired and numb, so she didn't feel anything. But now that she thought about it, her heart was shaken.
The night breeze gently ruffled the lotus leaves on the surface of the water and also disturbed her heart. Her cheeks became hot and a certain part of her body produced an indescribable feeling. She suddenly missed that man's embrace and his snoring.
…
With his hands behind his back, Yang Fan staggered into the rear courtyard. Seeing that there was no one around, he suddenly smiled and dashed toward Xiao Man's residence.
"Ah Lang!"
Taomei and Third Sister, who were sitting and chatting under the grape trellis, saw their male master and quickly got up to greet him.
Yang Fan didn't expect that there were two people under the grape trellis. He quickly stabilized his body and smiled kindly at them, "Oh, it's Taomei and Third Sister. People say that a girl changes eighteen times between womanhood and womanhood, it's really true. I haven't seen you for half a year and you've already grown into a young lady, hahaha …"
Taomei and Third Sister looked at each other with a strange expression. This brother in front of them had a smooth chin. Not to mention white hair, he didn't even have a strand of beard. It was really difficult for him to act like an elder.
Yang Fan coughed twice and waved his hand awkwardly, "It's okay, you two can go rest!"
The two little girls inexplicably left. Yang Fan peeped at them from the corner of his eyes. As soon as the two girls turned around the flowers, he rubbed his hands anxiously like an old ape stealing peaches. He bent his waist and shoulders, dropped his hands in front of him, tiptoed and sneaked into the bedroom …
…
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