Li Rong didn't say anything.
Xiao Wen was Xiao Su's son. If Li Ming summoned Xiao Wen to the palace at this time and someone left Huajing after Xiao Wen left the palace, then it was very likely that Li Ming contacted Xiao Su through an unconventional channel.
Under what circumstances did an emperor need to contact a general at the border through such a secretive and infallible channel, avoiding layers of spies and eyes?
Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were very clear.
This wasn't the first time they had experienced a mutiny.
Regardless of whether it was Li Chuan being deposed, or the aristocratic families trying to get rid of Li Ming, or the several attempts by the aristocratic families to overthrow the emperor, in the thirty years of political turmoil, this was not something that made them panic.
However, this was a big matter, so the two of them remained silent.
Shangguan Ya saw that the atmosphere was gloomy, so she tactfully bowed and turned to leave.
When only Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were left in the room, Pei Wenxuan finally said, "We need to make a decision soon."
"Is it that urgent?" Li Rong's voice was very soft. She thought, "What does Imperial Father think?"
In her previous life, Li Ming didn't make a move against Li Chuan so early.
Li Rong felt that it was a bit absurd and couldn't help but smile, "Could it be that Imperial Father is really angry for a woman and has to save Consort Rou?"
"I heard that His Majesty's condition is getting worse."
Li Rong paused. Pei Wenxuan sat across from Li Rong and said slowly, "It's understandable that His Majesty wants to stabilize Prince Su's position as soon as possible."
After all, ever since the Shangguan Clan's internal investigation, their strength in the imperial court had been greatly reduced. Currently, the aristocratic families and Li Rong had just formed an alliance. In terms of strength in the imperial court, Li Rong and the aristocratic families had the upper hand, but it might not necessarily be a mutiny.
Li Ming had Xiao Su's army in the northwest and the Li Family's army that he had been managing for many years. In total, they had an army of 100,000. He wasn't afraid to face any aristocratic family alone.
He was only afraid that after the aristocratic families gathered, Li Chuan would be the representative of a new army.
But now, the aristocratic families were in a mess. After the Inspectorate was established, although they seemed to be united to punish Consort Rou, in reality, they were already disloyal.
If Li Chuan didn't have enough troops and launched a mutiny, Li Ming would have a sufficient advantage.
"His Majesty has nearly 100,000 troops. Xiao Su has 50,000 troops, Beijing has 10,000, and Huajing has 40,000 scattered troops." Pei Wenxuan said. He took out a map from under the table and spread it on the table. He raised his hand and pointed at the northwest corner of the map, then drew a line in the direction of Huajing. "If His Majesty starts to mobilize troops from the northwest now, Xiao Su will need at least a month to prepare and march here without rest."
"But the northwest is from Huajing, and the Su Clan and Xie Clan are in the middle." Li Rong pondered. "If they slightly obstruct us, I'm afraid it will take more than two months."
"But will they?" Pei Wenxuan asked. Li Rong paused and looked at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan reminded him seriously, "You and I aren't the only ones who know the future."
If Su Yongqing had already returned, then he wouldn't just sit and wait for death.
Although the Xie Clan had been silent ever since Xie Lanqing was exiled, Li Chuan was probably already at odds with them. The northwest was separated by the Su Clan and Xie Clan. If Xiao Su crossed the border, the worst outcome would be that he would bring the troops of the Su Clan and Xie Clan to Huajing.
"Su Yongqing …"
Li Rong tapped the table and couldn't help but call out Su Yongqing's name. Pei Wenxuan listened to her muttering and raised his hand to drink tea. He said casually, "What, do you miss him?"
"Isn't that so?" Li Rong sighed. "I still underestimated him. He probably planned for Xie Lanqing's exile a long time ago. "
Now that she thought about it, when Xie Lanqing was the Minister of Justice, she always targeted her. At first, she thought it was because of the conflict of interest between the Ministry of Justice and the Inspection Department. But now that she thought about it, Su Yongqing probably did something behind the scenes.
Su Yongqing forced her to abolish Xie Lanqing a long time ago, which also cut off the Xie Clan and Li Chuan's path. Unless Li Chuan really decided to abandon her as his eldest sister.
But Li Chuan wouldn't do that.
The discord between the Xie Clan and Li Chuan usually didn't matter, but today, it became the key.
If Xiao Su could enter Huajing without any obstruction, then no matter where she mobilized her troops, she couldn't arrive before Xiao Su.
Once Xiao Su's army arrived in the capital, Li Chuan would have no way to survive.
With Li Chuan dead, the aristocratic families lost their leader. Unless they elected another leader to rebel, they would be in a state of disunity. With the character of the aristocratic families, they would probably retreat to protect themselves. At this time, Li Ming would use both kindness and power to remove the Shangguan Clan, so no one dared to say anything.
Li Rong gently closed her eyes and raised her hand to pinch her Jingming acupoint. "Let Zhao Chongjiu immediately send a message to the Northwest and let Qin Lin keep an eye on Xiao Su. Once Xiao Su's army goes to Huajing …"
Li Rong hesitated for a moment. She felt a little uneasy.
It was indeed too early for them to use force at this time. Moreover, Qin Lin directly intercepted Xiao Su's army. No matter what, it was an act of rebellion.
"Then we must stop them."
Pei Wenxuan saw her hesitation and said decisively, "Your Highness, it's time to use Lin Feibai. Summon him back to the capital."
"Back to the capital for what?"
Li Rong frowned. Pei Wenxuan raised his hand and tapped on the map. "To acknowledge his ancestors and return to the clan."
Li Rong immediately reacted. Even if Lin Feibai was guilty and had personally confessed to Xie Lanqing, he was still Xie Lanqing's son. Once the legitimate son of the Xie family was gone, he would have the opportunity to inherit the Xie family.
If it was in the past, even if Xie Lanqing's sons were all dead, Lin Feibai, this illegitimate son, wouldn't have a chance. But now Lin Feibai had military power.
With military power and the identity of Xie Lanqing's son, Lin Feibai inheriting the Xie family was just a small matter.
"Although the Xie family has conflicts with Your Highness, the matter of paying taxes concerns the entire aristocratic family. The Xie family can't be an iron plate. Now that Lin Feibai has military power, as long as the head of the Xie family, Xie Chunhe, dies, Lin Feibai becoming the new head of the Xie family is just a small matter. "
"So the first thing we have to do is to kill Xie Chunhe."
When Li Rong heard this, he looked up at Pei Wenxuan. "Then why don't we just kill Li Cheng directly?"
Once Li Cheng died, if Li Ming killed Li Chuan, the Li family would really fall.
"In the past, when we killed Li Cheng, Father was afraid that he would think that he could have another son, so he took the opportunity to cripple Chuan 'er. But now, he probably doesn't have the ability and time to have another son. "
Li Rong's voice was gentle. "If I make a move, he probably won't spare me. But since he has already made plans to call Xiao Su over from the northwest, it can be seen that he doesn't intend to spare me and Chuan 'er. There's no need for Li Cheng to stay. "
"If His Highness has such a plan," Pei Wenxuan's voice was very soft, "it's not impossible."
"Kill Li Cheng and Xie Chunhe." Pei Wenxuan's hand gently circled the map. "If Su Yongqing still doesn't want Chuan 'er to ascend the throne, then there's only one way to go. Su Minzhi won't agree. "
"In this way," Pei Wenxuan said firmly, "even if Xiao Su enters the capital, it will no longer be of any use. But in this way, the only risk is, "Pei Wenxuan looked up at Li Rong." His Majesty may kill you and the Empress in order to vent his anger. "
Li Rong was silent. Pei Wenxuan looked at her. "If we only kill Xie Chunhe, His Majesty may not realize our true intentions. In his heart, his target is the Crown Prince. He won't act rashly and alert the enemy. He won't kill you for Xie Chunhe. If we kill Li Cheng, we can solve the problem once and for all. But Your Highness, "Pei Wenxuan's voice was very soft," when the time comes, His Highness the Crown Prince will be His Majesty's only successor. In order to minimize the Shangguan family's influence on the Crown Prince, he will definitely take some extreme measures. Whether it's for personal grudges or for the Crown Prince's future, His Majesty will kill you and the Empress at all costs. Do you want to do this for the Crown Prince? "Pei Wenxuan said seriously." Think about it carefully. "
"Are you trying to persuade me?" Li Rong asked directly after listening to Pei Wenxuan's analysis.
Pei Wenxuan chuckled. "How can I persuade you?"
He slowly raised his head, his eyes full of tolerance. "I'm just accompanying you."
While Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan were talking, Hua Le held the command tablet that Consort Rou gave her. She restrained her body from trembling and hurried back to the Xiao residence.
She constantly comforted herself.
She couldn't panic. She couldn't panic at this time.
She had to calm down. She couldn't let anyone see her as a joke and think that because Consort Rou was gone, she was weak and easy to bully.
When Hua Le arrived at the Xiao residence, she calmed down. She tightly held the command tablet that Consort Rou gave her and walked down from the carriage.
The Xiao family had been in business for many years. In total, they had promoted two useful uncles.
One was her eldest uncle, Xiao Su, who was in the northwest. The other was her third uncle, Xiao Ming, who was in the imperial guards.
Hua Le entered the room. When she saw Xiao Ming, her entire body almost went limp. But she forced herself to stay upright and saluted with red eyes. "Third Uncle."
"Don't panic." Xiao Ming raised his hand and had someone help Hua Le sit down. He picked up a teacup and frowned. "Did your mother leave any words?"
"She did."
Hua Le hurriedly nodded. She took out the command tablet and handed it to Xiao Ming. She wiped her tears and hurriedly said, "Mother said to give this command tablet to me and let me go kill Li Chuan. It would be better if I could kill Li Rong."
"Kill the Crown Prince?!"
Xiao Ming's face was full of shock. Hua Le nodded. She was afraid that Xiao Ming wouldn't dare, so she added, "Uncle, now that Mother can't be saved, our only way out is to quickly kill Li Chuan. This way, only Cheng'Er will be left among the princes. Cheng'Er will be the only successor. Father Emperor is dying. Once he dies, Cheng'Er will ascend the throne. At that time, you will be His Majesty's uncle and I will be the Eldest Princess. Look at how glorious the Shangguan Clan is right now. Isn't it because they are Father Emperor's maternal clan? "
Xiao Ming remained silent. Hua Le was somewhat anxious. She hurriedly said, "Uncle, this is the only way to save Mother and Brother. When Li Chuan ascends the throne, do you think he and Li Rong will let us go? The Shangguan Clan has disliked us for a long time. Do you plan to just sit and wait for death? You … "
"Hua Le." Xiao Ming interrupted her and said slowly, "This matter is too serious. Let me think about it. You should go back first."
"Uncle?" Hua Le looked at Xiao Ming in shock. "Do you plan to just watch my mother die like this?"
"Even if we kill Li Chuan, we won't be able to save your mother." Xiao Ming sighed. "It's not that Uncle doesn't want to help you. I'm just thinking of a foolproof plan. You should go back and rest first. I'll think about it again. It's just that time is too tight. "Xiao Ming muttered," I don't know if we can wait until the winter hunt this year. This is a good opportunity. "
Hua Le's eyes lit up when she heard this.
Xiao Ming glanced at Hua Le and asked someone to send Hua Le out.
After Hua Le left, the housekeeper came in front of Xiao Ming and poured tea for him. He said in a low voice, "What do you think of Her Highness? Isn't it a joke to let Her Highness Hua Le assassinate the Crown Prince? If His Highness the Crown Prince was so easy to assassinate, would he have waited until today? "
"It's not easy to assassinate a person alone. It's not that there aren't any opportunities. Opportunities are all created by people. It's just that they're afraid of the consequences."
Xiao Ming lightly touched the edge of the teacup. "That sister of mine was able to survive until today. She's not stupid. Do you really think that she's counting on Hua Le to assassinate Li Chuan?"
Xiao Ming sneered. "She's just finding a scapegoat for those who want Li Chuan dead. As long as Hua Le is willing to be the scapegoat, everyone is willing to help her."
"Then …" The housekeeper frowned. "Does Her Highness not plan to protect Her Highness Hua Le?"
"Using a daughter in exchange for a son's throne." Xiao Ming picked up the teacup. "In Her Highness's eyes, it's not a loss. When His Royal Highness Prince Su ascends the throne in the future, he'll be posthumously titled Her Highness Hua Le. There's not a single good person in this family. Look at Hua Le. She keeps talking about Princess Royal. How much do you think she cares about her mother? "
Xiao Ming's eyes were filled with mockery. "A daughter wants her mother to die in exchange for the position of Princess Royal. A mother wants to use her daughter's death in exchange for the position of Empress Dowager. Very interesting."
"Then, Master is just going to watch?"
The housekeeper hesitated. "After all, Her Highness and the Xiao family are bound together for good or ill."
"Of course not. Quickly send someone to pass the news to His Majesty in the palace. Just say that Hua Le is agitated and wants to assassinate Li Chuan. Oh, remember. "Xiao Ming pinched the teacup and instructed." Only let His Majesty know. Don't let the eunuchs by his side hear about it. Who knows what kind of monsters are by his side? "
"Yes."
The housekeeper respectfully responded.
That night, the news of Hua Le trying to assassinate Li Chuan reached Li Ming's ears.
Li Ming thought about it for half the night in the main hall. The next day, Li Ming set the date for the winter hunt.
The winter hunt was a tradition of Da Xia. Although it was called a winter hunt, it was actually held every year during the internal military training competition in Huajing.
Huajing had a total of six armies. The Emperor had the Imperial Guards, the Crown Prince had the Yulin Guards, and the remaining four armies were respectively guarding the four city gates.
The commanders of the four armies were from the Shangguan Clan, the Su Clan, the Pei Clan, and Li Ming's direct descendant, Prince Ning.
Every year during the winter hunt, these six armies would practice in the forest to prevent the army from slacking off.
When Li Rong heard Li Ming set the date for the winter hunt, he had a plan in his heart. After the morning court, Pei Wenxuan walked to Li Rong's side. They walked side by side and looked ahead.
"The winter hunt is set for ten days later. Has Your Highness made up your mind?"
"How long until Lin Feibai returns?"
"He's alone. If he rides fast, he can arrive in three days."
"Prepare to kill Xie Chunhe first."
"This is a small matter."
Pei Wenxuan chuckled. "I will arrange for the winter hunt."
Li Rong responded and the two walked out of the palace gate together. Pei Wenxuan bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, I will go back first."
Li Rong nodded. Pei Wenxuan couldn't help but look at Li Rong again. Seeing that Li Rong didn't ask him to stay, he still felt a little regretful in his heart.
His relationship with Li Rong now was Li Rong pestering him to the outside world. Although Li Ming might be suspicious of him after the Consort Rou incident, he still had to keep up appearances. Maybe Li Ming wasn't that smart?
So if Li Rong didn't ask him to stay, he couldn't stay either. So after he bowed, he pretended to be indifferent and returned to his carriage.
But as soon as he got into the carriage and sat down, he saw Li Rong jumping onto the carriage.
Pei Wenxuan was slightly taken aback. Li Rong sat beside him and raised his eyebrows with a smile. "What, I can't sit here?"
Pei Wenxuan came back to his senses. He suppressed his smile and patted his leg. "Come, sit here."
Li Rong twisted his waist and sat on Pei Wenxuan's lap. He hooked his arm around Pei Wenxuan's and said to the outside world, "Let's go. This prince will send Lord Pei off."
Pei Wenxuan sat upright, but Li Rong seemed to have lost his bones. The coachman didn't dare to look inside and only hesitated. "Your Excellency?"
"Let's go." Pei Wenxuan's voice came from the carriage. It sounded a little cold. "We will listen to Your Highness."
The coachman only thought that Pei Wenxuan was helpless. He looked at Pei Wenxuan with pity and drove the carriage to the Pei residence.
The carriage creaked. Pei Wenxuan put his arm around Li Rong's waist and whispered, "I thought Your Highness had returned to the residence."
"You are my darling." Li Rong leaned on Pei Wenxuan's chest. "How could I bear to part with you?"
Pei Wenxuan smiled but didn't say anything. He listened to Li Rong talk nonsense. Li Rong leaned on him for a while and then heard Pei Wenxuan ask, "Your Highness, have you made up your mind?"
"Pei Wenxuan."
Li Rong said in a low voice, "If I kill Li Cheng and Imperial Father really wants to kill me, Huajing will definitely rebel. Chuan'er has 5,000 Yulin guards, I have 1,000 Inspectorate soldiers, and the Shangguan Clan and you have 4,000 soldiers. In total, there are no more than 10,000 soldiers. However, Imperial Father has more than 10,000 Yulin guards. If Su Yongqing and Prince Ning join forces, do you think that Chuan'er will be willing to protect me and fight against Imperial Father? "
Pei Wenxuan didn't say anything. He raised his hand and stroked Li Rong's back.
"If he is not willing to risk his life for me, I will die."
Li Rong raised his head and looked at Pei Wenxuan. "I will be like Consort Rou and die for a Prince's throne."
"Your Highness doesn't trust His Highness the Crown Prince."
Pei Wenxuan said firmly. He thought for a moment and said in a steady voice, "If Your Highness wants to kill Li Cheng, the Huajing Clan has 2,000 soldiers in the city and 1,000 government troops. I have my own private men all over Huajing. At that time, if His Highness abandons Your Highness, I will escort Your Highness out of the city. Your Highness will escape to Qingzhou. You have troops stationed there. When the time comes, Huajing will fight for the throne and no one will investigate your whereabouts. If His Highness wins, you will come back. If His Highness loses, you will abandon Qingzhou and go to Dongying to save your life. "
Li Rong didn't speak. Pei Wenxuan's hand that was stroking her back paused. After a moment, he couldn't help but laugh. "You don't trust me either."
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong's voice was a bit hoarse. She snuggled into Pei Wenxuan's arms. "I'm sorry."
Pei Wenxuan took a deep breath. He raised his hand and hugged Li Rong tightly.
"It's not your fault. It's just that no one in this world taught you to trust a person. It's okay. "Pei Wenxuan kissed her." If you're afraid, kill Xie Chunhe first. " "After Lin Feibai gets control of the Xie Clan, the Xie Clan will stop Xiao Su from entering the capital. Qin Lin will chase after Xiao Su from behind. You and the Shangguan Clan's army will join forces to enter Huajing. We'll just do it step by step."
"The price is too high."
Li Rong closed her eyes. "Moreover, if Su Yongqing and Father join forces and something happens in the Northwest, we're all finished."
"We have to kill Li Cheng."
Li Rong's voice was very calm. "But, as soon as I close my eyes, I think of my previous life."
"In my previous life, the last time I met Chuan 'er, he asked me to play chess. He didn't say anything about me, nor did he ask me how my body was doing. He just said that he had obtained a new elixir that could allow one to live forever after eating it. He asked me about the appointment of the Crown Prince and how Li Ping was doing. "
"There was nothing in his eyes. They were all chess pieces."
Li Rong opened her eyes in a daze. "Wenxuan, although I love Chuan 'er and Mother very much, they are my family. But in fact, deep down in my heart, I have always been very afraid. "
Li Rong's expression was calm, but Pei Wenxuan could see from Li Rong's calmness that she had hidden in the depths of her heart for many years. She didn't dare to say it out loud. She had deceived herself and others, and her whole body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"They don't love me that much, and I don't love them that much."
"My Mother will let me die for Chuan 'er."
"Everything I do for Chuan 'er is for him and for myself."
"And Chuan 'er …"
Li Rong's eyes were blank for a moment. "If he comes back from the previous life, after I kill Li Cheng."
"He will let me die."
Using her sister and Mother in exchange for the stability of the overall situation, in exchange for the agreement with Father, in exchange for the throne, in exchange for the absolute control of the world.
If the Li Chuan of the previous life was standing here in the world.
Li Rong's heart was a little cold.
He will let her die.
When this point came to mind, Li Rong's hands and feet were cold.
Pei Wenxuan quietly looked at Li Rong. Li Rong forced a smile. "I'm sorry to let you see such an ugly thing."
The family was not a family, the country was not a country.
Everyone in the palace seemed to have become a mutated evil beast, trapped in the Colosseum.
"Your Highness," Pei Wenxuan held Li Rong's hand. "Give it a try."
Li Rong raised his head blankly and looked at Pei Wenxuan. "What you are afraid of is being betrayed. But if you don't give everyone a chance to prove themselves, then you will never know that there are people in this world who can trust you. "
"Give it a try." Pei Wenxuan looked at her, his eyes full of love. "I promise, nothing will happen to you."
He didn't know what choice Li Chuan would make.
But as long as he was alive.
Using his body as a bridge, using his bones as a wheel, he would send her out of Huajing safely.
"We have lived a lifetime, Rongrong." Pei Wenxuan held her in his arms. "I don't want you to live a life of despair like you did in the previous life."
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.
