This spring outing didn't end until the wind blowing from the river brought a hint of the coolness of the night.
Xiaoman and A Nu were drunk, while Nianzu and Si Rong laughed and danced for a whole day. They both held the kitten covered in sand and lay on the soft quilt. The old bull pulled the carriage and they fell asleep contentedly.
Wan 'er's convoy left a moment earlier than the Yang family's. Perhaps the first thing Wan' er prepared to do when she returned was to wash up and wait for her Langjun's rendezvous tonight. This kind of anticipation always made people feel endless joy.
When Yang Fan's convoy returned to the gate of the mansion, the color of dusk had just dyed the sky.
Under the lintel, in front of the clean steps and the bright mirror-like door, stood a tall young man in the clothes of an eunuch. He was holding a horsetail whisk and looking into the distance. Below the steps, there were four horses with glossy hair. In front of each horse stood an imperial guard as straight as a spear.
In the distance, a convoy slowly drove over. After being pointed out by Mo Xuanfei, the eldest son of the Yang family, he knew that it was Yang Fan's convoy. The eunuch couldn't wait to greet them.
"Gao Lishi greets elder brother!"
Before he reached the carriage, the tall eunuch stopped and happily saluted the carriage in front of him.
In the carriage, Yang Fan had already received Ren Wei's report. He stopped the carriage and rolled up the bamboo curtain in front of the carriage.
"Ah! Brother Lishi! "
Yang Fan hurriedly jumped out of the carriage and quickly stepped forward to hold his hand. He said affectionately, "Lishi, why are you here? You should have told me in advance so I could wait for you at home."
Gao Lishi said, "I dare not trouble elder brother. Lishi is here on His Majesty's orders to summon elder brother to the palace."
Yang Fan looked at the sky and asked curiously, "Now?"
Gao Lishi said, "Yes! Strongman has also just arrived. I heard that Elder Brother has gone out with your family. Seeing that it's almost time for them to return, I didn't go out to look for them. I don't want to get lost with Elder Brother again. Elder Brother, please follow Strongman back to the palace so that His Majesty won't have to wait for too long! "
Yang Fan agreed and hurriedly made some arrangements for his family. He asked A 'Nu and the others to return to the residence first, while he rode a horse and left with Gao Lishi. This time, it was inconvenient for him to bring the guards.
On the way, Yang Fan asked, "Why did His Majesty summon me in such a hurry?"
Gao Lishi said, "This little brother really doesn't know."
Yang Fan asked, "How is His Majesty feeling?"
Gao Lishi thought for a moment and said, "I don't see any great joy or worry on Your Majesty's face. Oh! Oh yes, before this, His Majesty first summoned Ji Xu, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Imperial Censor, and then issued an edict to summon Elder Brother. "
Hearing this, Yang Fan frowned slightly.
Ever since Lai Junchen's death, Ji Xu had been placed in an important position. Presently, he was already the Deputy Prime Minister of the Imperial Censor, replacing Lai Junchen's previous position. It looked like the empress wanted to mold him into a second Lai Junchen to act as her eyes and ears.
The only duty of the Imperial Censor was to report people. The Emperor had first seen Ji Xu, and then urgently summoned Yang Fan. This was not a good sign. However, no matter how Yang Fan thought about it, he couldn't think of any conflict between him and Ji Xu, or any weakness that Ji Xu could use against him.
Gao Lishi saw that Yang Fan's expression was slightly serious, and couldn't help but ask, "Is there something on Elder Brother's mind? Should we … find an excuse to temporarily hide? When Li Shi returns to the Palace, we'll say that we haven't found Elder Brother, and that Elder Brother will show himself after we understand what has happened? "
Yang Fan shook his head and turned his head slightly. He glanced sideways at the four guards not far away and clapped Gao Lishi's shoulder. "That's not appropriate. If His Majesty is moved, he can summon these four guards to see him, and he'll know what's going on once he asks. It doesn't matter. If it's a blessing, it's not a calamity. If it's a calamity, we can't avoid it. I'll just enter the Palace and find out! "
In order to not make Gao Lishi worry for him, Yang Fan smiled and changed the topic. He asked, "How are you and your sister doing?"
Gao Lishi became happy and said, "Thanks to Elder Brother's help, Li Shi and my sister are living very well. Elder Sister is learning singing from Master Rumei and is highly regarded by her. Elder Sister has liked singing since she was young and lived very happily there. In the Palace, I have my adoptive father and Shangguan to take care of me, and no one dares to bully me. Now, I travel in front of the Emperor and have a very good relationship with the imperial grandchildren in the Eastern Palace. "
Yang Fan was very pleased to hear this. Although this ill-fated son of a provincial governor had become a eunuch, he had already been castrated before he entered the Palace. Only in the Palace would he be less discriminated against. For him to have such an ending was not a bad result.
Although the people who killed his parents were the cruel officials under Lai Junchen's command, the true culprit was the current Emperor. However, this young man, who dared to use a sharpened stone to assassinate an imperial envoy to avenge his father at the age of ten, now took pride in serving in front of the Emperor and did not have the slightest awareness of becoming enemies with Wu Zetian.
Perhaps in the eyes of the Tang people, this was a matter of course, but in the eyes of someone like Yang Fan, who had grown up in the Southeast and did not have such serious thoughts about imperial power, he couldn't help but sigh to himself.
…
In the Martial Achievement Palace, Wu Zetian was leaning back on her throne. Her back was cushioned with a thick velvet cushion, and she seemed to be asleep. Only her eyes, which were under her relaxed eyelids, would move from time to time, indicating that she was awake and thinking about something.
This afternoon, after playing for a while with Yizhi and Changzong, the two pretty men suddenly took a roundabout way to talk about the issue of choosing the heir apparent. They repeatedly tried to persuade her to make her son the heir apparent.
Although Wu Zetian was old and had little energy, she was not so old that she was muddle-headed. She immediately questioned the two men.
How could this pair of youths resist Wu Zetian's questioning? They could only obediently admit that they had been persuaded by Ji Xu.
Ji Xu was now Wu Zetian's favorite official. She wanted to cultivate him as a trusted aide like Lai Junchen. Thus, he had a close relationship with Er Zhang and often visited them.
During one of the banquets, the two Zhangs occasionally talked about how the Emperor was greatly disappointed with the Wu family's descendants and seemed to intend to re-establish the Li Tang imperial family as the Crown Prince. Ji Rui said to them, "The Wulang and the Liulang are so honored, not because they have made great contributions to the imperial court, but because there are so many people in the world who are jealous of your wealth. Without great contributions to the world, what will you use to protect yourselves? "
These words hit Er Zhang's sore spot. The two immediately asked Ji Xu. Ji Xu said, "Looking at the current situation, although His Majesty has ruled for a long time, the world still hasn't forgotten Li Tang's kindness. Thus, they all hope that after His Majesty passes away, Li Tang's descendants will still rule the world. If you can persuade His Majesty to make Li Tang the heir apparent, you will have made a great contribution and will be guaranteed wealth! "
Er Zhang deeply agreed, so he suggested to the Empress.
Actually, Wu Zetian already had the idea of making Li Tang the heir apparent. Now that Er Zhang and Ji Xu had the same idea, she was even more determined. Because she knew very well that Er Zhang relied on her for everything and was completely loyal to her. Ji Xu was originally a county officer in Chang 'an, and it was all because of her promotion that he could achieve today. Ji Xu didn't have any foundation in the Imperial Court, but now he could become the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Censor. If he wanted a stable future, he could only rely on her.
These people couldn't possibly have any disloyalty towards her, but they all agreed that Li Tang's son should be the heir apparent. The hearts of the world!
Wu Zetian thought for a long time, then specially called Ji Xu over to ask him in detail. Ji Xu told Wu Zetian about the pros and cons. Wu Zetian was very receptive to the words of her trusted aides. She had already made up her mind, and now she finally made a decision.
It was almost dusk, yet she came to the Martial Achievement Hall. This was unprecedented in the Wu Zhou Dynasty.
Only the Inner Guards guarded the surroundings of the Martial Achievement Hall. Everyone else was kept out. No one was allowed to approach even half a step, and anyone who disobeyed would be killed without question!
…
Yang Fan followed Gao Lishi to the Martial Achievement Hall. Just as he arrived in front of the hall, two female guards flashed out from the darkness, and said in a low voice, "Stop, only Yang Fan is allowed to enter!"
Gao Lishi bowed and said with a smile, "Greetings, Big Sister Ying, Big Sister Qing."
They were Gao Ying and Lan Yiqing. Two valiant women in martial attire walked up with a straight face.
Yang Fan smiled and said, "Long time no see, you two!"
The two pretty girls didn't strike up a conversation with him. Two pairs of jade hands touched his body, searching him from top to bottom. Seeing that he wasn't carrying any weapons, they waved their hands and said in a cold and dignified voice, "Follow me!"
Yang Fan looked at Gao Lishi in surprise. He followed behind the two long-legged beauties, admiring their leisurely swaying waists, and stepped into the main door of the Martial Achievement Hall.
This was only the first door, but Yang Fan discovered that other than the guards in the open, there were many more guards patrolling in the dark. No wonder Gao Ying and Lan Yiqing didn't pretend to be polite to him. Among these guards in the open and in the dark, there must be their immediate superiors.
Further in, the second door was even more tightly guarded and there were many people moving about. Yang Fan was secretly vigilant, but he changed his mind. If the Emperor wanted to kill someone, even if it was the Prime Minister, he would have already sent an imperial edict to the prison. There was no reason to bring him to the Emperor. Moreover, with his identity and status, if the Emperor was determined to harm him, he wouldn't need to summon him into the Palace at all.
Yang Fan's expression also became serious. He followed behind the two young beauties and silently stepped into the third door. It wasn't until they reached the front of the hall that Gao Ying and Lan Yiqing stopped. They turned to the left and right and gestured to Yang Fan, saying, "Go in, His Majesty is waiting for you!"
Only then did the two girls cast a concerned and complicated look at Yang Fan. But because they couldn't speak, the things that could be said with just a look was really limited. Yang Fan seemed to understand something, but it seemed like he didn't catch anything. So he could only muddle his head and step into the hall, shouting loudly, "Subject … Yang Fan, under His Majesty's verbal order, has an audience!"
"Come in!"
A dignified voice came from the hall. Yang Fan answered and stepped in. When he looked up, he saw Wu Zetian sitting majestically behind the table like a Buddha. The entire hall was empty, and there was no one else in sight. There was only the copper red-crowned cranes on both sides of the table spitting out green smoke.
Yang Fan didn't dare to look too long. He hurriedly bowed and said, "Subject Yang Fan greets His Majesty!"
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