Yao Chong arrived first, but Wei Zhigu was stopped by Wu Chengsi.
Wu Chengsi was hurrying after Wu Sansi when he heard the sound of horse hooves behind him. Turning his head, he saw their banners and knew that the officials from the Political Affairs Hall had arrived.
Wu Zetian cleverly built a kind of balanced political relationship in the imperial court. Although this kind of balance was actually abnormal and not equal, with her forceful suppression and mediation at any time, she was able to maintain a kind of delicate balance of power. That was, the political power was handed over to the ministers, and the military power was handed over to the Wu family.
Ever since Wu Zetian failed to teach the civet and parrot to coexist peacefully, she once wanted to give the throne to someone with the surname Wu. In the end, she gave up because of the invisible opposition within the country, the stirring of foreign powers, and the fact that the Wu family members were a bunch of useless fools.
Wu Zetian had now decided to pass the throne to her son, to someone with the surname Li. But she had usurped the Li family's empire and was worried that her son would restore Zhou to Tang after a hundred years, preventing her empire from being passed down for generations. So she wanted to continue this' balanced 'political situation.
That was, after a hundred years, the Li family would rule the empire and the Wu family would control the military.
The Li family would control the empire and could comply with the will of the people within the country. The Wu family would control the army and ensure that her son would not dare to act rashly. The Wu Zhou dynasty that she had created would continue. For this reason, none of the Prime Ministers of the Political Affairs Hall were from the Wu Clan's side.
Wu Zetian did not reveal this plan to anyone, but because of this, the power in the imperial court was clearly divided. She did not allow the Wu Clan to interfere with the Political Affairs Hall. As a result, when Wu Chengsi saw that the people from the Political Affairs Hall had arrived, he knew that they were here to protect the Prince of Luling. He immediately ordered his men to move the carriage horizontally and block the road.
When Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong arrived, Wu Chengsi smiled and cupped his hands, "Ah! Prime Minister Wei, Prime Minister Yao, you two seem to be in a hurry. Where are you going? "
Wei Zhigu returned the greeting with a smile on his horse and said, "So it is Your Highness, the King of Wei. I and Yuanzhi have been busy with official business and are tired. I suddenly remembered the hot spring water on Dragon Gate Mountain. It has the effect of relieving one's fatigue and refreshing one's mind. I heard that His Highness Wei Wang has been feeling unwell recently. Looking at Wei Wang's complexion, he is indeed ill. Instead of resting in the residence, where are you going? "
Wu Chengsi coughed twice and replied with a smile, "What a coincidence. This Prince is also heading for Dragon's Gate. It was recorded in the Commentary on the Water Classic: The Imperial Maiden Soup can cure all diseases. This Prince's illness is a chronic disease. I have tried to treat it with medicine, but there is no effect. Therefore, I want to go to the Dragon Gate to see if the hot spring water is effective. Since the two prime ministers are also going to the Dragon Gate, why don't we go together? "
Wei Zhigu and Wu Chengsi both knew what the other party's goal was, but they didn't say it out loud. Shedding all pretense of cordiality was a big taboo in the officialdom. It was normal for people to stab you in the back while being friendly in front of you.
As the saying goes, when one walks to the end of the line, one sits and watches the clouds rise. Who knows what will happen next? First, they are trapped in an irreversible situation. If the situation turns against them, they will be in a passive position. On the other hand, as long as this layer of cordiality is not shedded, no matter how absurd your reason is, you can still insist on this reason when the situation is disadvantageous.
Yao Chong laughed and said, "It is getting late. Why don't Duke Wei and I go first and inform the people up there to make some preparations in advance. This way, when Wei Wang reaches the mountain, he won't have to prepare meals and bedding in the dark."
Wu Chengsi smiled and said, "No problem. This Prince has already sent someone up the mountain. Someone come! Send another person to inform the people up there that Prime Minister Wei and Prime Minister Yao will be coming up the mountain today. They want the supervisor of the hot spring to make early preparations. "
Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong were secretly anxious. They looked at each other but couldn't think of a reason to leave in a huff.
…
Di Renjie was in a hurry on the soft sedan chair. Every time he travelled a certain distance, the burly and strong bodyguards would take turns to carry the sedan chair so as to ensure the speed. The officials would spur their horses to follow behind.
There was nothing they could do. Based on their official positions, prestige, and qualifications, it would be pointless for them to go. Although Di Renjie looked like he was on the verge of death, as long as he was still breathing, this veteran of four dynasties would be able to control the situation.
As they were travelling, they suddenly heard the sound of hooves. Di Renjie happened to wake up at this moment. Hearing the sound, he turned his eyes and saw a group of three horses passing by them without stopping. Di Renjie only saw that the three people seem to be women and they are wearing 'shallow dew' on their heads.
Di Renjie's lips opened and closed a few times. Di Guangyuan, who was accompanying him, hurriedly said, "Father, that woman is wearing 'shallow dew' on her head and passed by in a hurry. I don't know who she is."
The corner of Di Renjie's mouth lifted slightly and his lips moved a few more times. Di Guangyuan hurriedly ordered everyone to stop. He bent down and placed his ear next to his father's mouth and heard a sentence with a smile, "It's … peace … peace has arrived, peace …"
Wei Zhigu and Yao Chong were being held back by Wu Chengsi and had no other choice but to follow him. Wu Chengsi purposely slowed down and let Wei Zhigu use the excuse that it was getting late to rush them. He refused to rest.
Wei Zhigu was so anxious that his eyebrows were on fire. Suddenly, he had an idea and cried out, "Aiya! I forgot to remind you that I'm a vegetarian for the next few days. I can't eat meat, and I can't put any oil in my dishes either. Yuanzhi, I'll have to trouble you to go ahead and inform them on my behalf! "
As Wei Zhigu spoke, he signaled to Yao Chong with his eyes. Yao Chong understood and immediately whipped his horse. When the horse had already charged out, he shouted: "Don't worry, Duke Wei. Your Highness, I will go first!"
"Ah! Cough cough cough … "
Wu Chengsi was so anxious that he started coughing before he could say a word. When he caught his breath, Yao Chong had already disappeared like a wisp of smoke. Wei Zhigu chuckled and said to Wu Chengsi, "Don't be anxious, Duke. This servant will follow Duke slowly. You and I will chat along the way."
Wu Chengsi coughed anxiously and cursed in his heart, "This old man!"
On Dragon Gate Mountain, Wu Sansi had used a clever scheme. From the reaction of the 'ignorant and innocent' Li Guo 'er, he found out that the Prince of Luling on Dragon Gate Mountain was the real Prince of Luling. He couldn't help but feel relieved. But on his way here, there were hundreds of cavalry, martial monks, internal guards, and the eight female guards of Princess Taiping. How could he succeed even if he attacked by force?
Just as he was hesitating, someone came to report, "Mister Yao of the Political Affairs Hall is here to bathe in the hot springs at Dragon Gate Mountain. He was pleased to hear that the Prince of Luling has returned and specially came to pay his respects!"
Wu Sansi cursed in his heart, "This Yao Yuanzhi, copying my words!"
Li Xian happily invited him in. A moment later, Yao Chong entered the main hall. The moment he saw Li Xian, he immediately paid his respects.
Yao Chong and Li Xian had never met before. This was the first time the two of them had met, so they didn't have much to say. It was just a normal greeting between officials. But once Yao Chong arrived, he didn't leave. He sat down with Wu Sansi and talked about all sorts of things, but he didn't lift his butt.
As long as the matter could be covered up, even if he caused a huge disaster, for the future of the Wu clan, his aunt would protect him, just like how she protected Wu Yizong. But if he publicly killed a prince in front of the prime minister, this matter wouldn't be able to be covered up. There wouldn't even be a piece of cloth to cover it up. Then Wu Zetian would have to sacrifice him.
So even if Wu Sansi could openly kill his way in, he wouldn't be able to do it. Wu Sansi was filled with resentment. After a moment's deliberation, he cupped his hands and said to Li Xian, "Sansi just arrived at the mountain. I heard that the Prince of Luling had returned, so I came to visit. I haven't settled down in the palace yet, so I'll take my leave first. I'll hold a banquet tonight and enjoy myself with my seventh husband!"
Li Xian hurriedly had two female sumo wrestlers help him up and bid farewell. Yao Chong also stood up. Wu Sansi chuckled and turned to leave. Yang Fan hurriedly said, "I'll send King Liang off in His Highness' place."
Yang Fan followed Wu Sansi out. Wu Sansi ran as fast as he could, and Yang Fan quickly caught up to him. He whispered, "His Highness, please don't be fooled. That really wasn't the Prince of Luling! His Highness, His Highness … "
Wu Sansi strode out of the Prince of Luling's residence. With a flick of his sleeve, he swaggered off, completely ignoring Yang Fan.
Yang Fan stood at the entrance in a daze, staring at Wu Sansi's departing figure with a dejected expression.
When he slowly turned around and returned to the courtyard, the corners of his lips curled into a smile. With light footsteps, he walked back to the main hall.
Li Dayong chased after Wu Sansi and asked anxiously, "His Highness, how is it?"
Wu Sansi said in a deep voice, "This Luling is the real deal. Immediately send some men back to the city. While the city gates are still open, bring over our most skilled men. Attacking by force is impossible. Luling doesn't dare to enter the city and is currently waiting for news from the palace. If we want to kill him, we have to do it tonight!"
Li Dayong heard the urgency in his words and had no time to ask any more questions. He hurriedly agreed and went down the mountain to make the arrangements.
… …
Once Yao Chong left, Wei Zhigu was no longer in a hurry. He leisurely strolled along, chatting with Wu Chengsi about all sorts of things. Just as they were about to advance, three women wearing shallow headscarves suddenly rushed over on horseback.
The three women were all dressed in palace robes with sharp swords hanging from their waists and black 'shallow headscarves' on their heads. They did not even stop as they sped past the group of people. Among the three female riders, when the one in the middle rode past them, she turned her head slightly and glanced at them. The night wind blew and lifted a corner of her veil. Her beautiful face flashed and disappeared again.
Wu Chengsi's body shook and he cried out, "Taiping!"
Wei Zhigu narrowed his eyes and pressed his ears together, asking loudly, "What did His Highness say?"
Wu Chengsi gritted his teeth and shouted angrily at his subordinates, "What are you all dilly-dallying for? It's such a short distance from the city to Dragon's Gate and you're still dilly-dallying? Faster, faster! "
Yao Chong had left first and Wu Chengsi was already secretly worried. He only hoped that Wu Sansi would succeed before Yao Chong arrived. Now that Princess Taiping had also left, he did not know what the situation on the mountain was like but he did not want to wait any longer. With the order, the troops immediately sped up like bulls.
Wei Zhigu said, "Ai! Prince Wei, why are you in such a hurry? Let's chat slowly. If it gets late, it will be a wonderful thing to hold a lantern and visit Dragon's Gate at night. Did you say that your coral tree was six feet or seven feet tall? His Highness? His Highness! " Watching Wu Chengsi's carriage leave in a hurry, Wei Zhigu chuckled and ordered his subordinates to speed up as well.
At this time, the 'Empress of the Eastern Palace' Zhang Yizhi and the 'Concubine of the Western Palace' Zhang Changzong had just received the Emperor's edict and led a group of palace guards south along Ding Ding Street. They had just left Ding Ding Gate.
… …
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
