People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1080 Paving the way for Li Xian

Above the Wei River, the breeze is gentle.

Yao Chong and Song Jing sat on the deck, quietly deducing how to deal with everything that might happen after arriving in Luoyang.

Li Xuan stood at the stern of the ship, looking far away in the direction of Chang'an, muttering to herself: "I'm afraid I won't be able to hide this for long."

"What are you talking about?" Qin Ming walked up from behind, looked at Li Xuan with some surprise, and asked, "What can't be kept secret for too long?"

Li Xuan turned around and looked around.

All around were his closest bodyguards, safe and sound.

"Let me tell you something." Li Xuan looked sideways in the direction of Chang'an and whispered: "Just before I leave the city today, I wrote to Li Xian and asked him to go to the East Palace."

"Donggong, why are you today?" Qin Ming frowned slightly and asked in a low voice: "It's not good to be so sensitive at this time."

"Look, even you know that the crown prince's position is unstable." Li Xuan shook her head calmly and said, "Because of this, the crown prince's position is now unshakable."

"Why?" Qin Ming still looked puzzled.

Ever since rumors about the prince spread at the beginning of the year, people's hearts have been in turmoil.

Fortunately, after the new year, the prince began to concentrate on government affairs and His Majesty's birthday, and ignored other matters.

Your Majesty and the Queen also gave much praise and encouragement to the Crown Prince. Even on His Majesty's birthday, the Crown Prince even presented him with extremely valuable gifts.

After that, there was even faint news that the emperor was uneasy, and more eyes were turned to the East Palace, but the prince handled things very appropriately, which made people feel reassured.

But it happened that at this moment, Ming Chongyan's body was found.

It is said that there is something in front of him that can prove the rumors about the prince.

Most people would think that the prince's status was extremely secure, but judging from the channels Qin Ming had access to, the prince's status was even more precarious.

Sure enough, Li Xuan returned to Beijing.

As soon as he returned to Beijing, he confirmed in Luoyang that the body was not that of Ming Chongyan, so the evidence that could prove that the prince was not the legitimate son of Empress Wu was naturally false.

When this incident occurred, it pushed the matter to another extreme.

People are now even more suspicious that the prince is not only not the legitimate son of Empress Wu, but that even Ming Chongyan was killed by the prince.

The repetition of people's hearts is just in the subtleties.

If the current matter is not handled well, the prince will be deposed in an instant.

……

Li Xuan took a few steps back, leaned against the cabin, and said softly: "You know, the reason why I took the risk this time was not only because Li Jingye touched the Kong family, but also because of the inexplicable assassination of me and the frame-up. My reasons.”

"I've heard about it, but he doesn't seem to know much about government affairs. When you left at the beginning of the year, Ming Chongyan was still hiding in Chang'an. Later, he played a trick before leaving Chang'an, and there has been no news since." Qin Ming I sighed in my heart that so many people like Ming Chongyan had disappeared without a trace.

Sure enough, the closer you are to the royal family, the faster you die.

"There may be some deliberate reasons for this. In addition, it is also instigated by others." Li Xuan's eyes were cold.

"Who?" Qin Ming asked subconsciously.

"Li Jingye." Li Xuan gritted her teeth and said Li Jingye's name.

This is not the first time that Li Jingye has plotted against him. In this case, it is already the third time.

The first time was when he secretly sent someone to keep an eye on Prince Peng's Mansion.

The second time was the roster in the secret room.

The third time is now.

Li Jingye not only plotted to make Li Xuan and Empress Wu fall out completely, but he also plotted to make Li Xuan and Li Xian tied to each other.

In that case, even if the Emperor and Empress Wu were reassured about Li Xuan, they still had to ask.

But fortunately, Li Xuan was prepared in advance and dealt with it appropriately.

But Li Xuan kept this hatred firmly in his heart.

……

Li Xuan raised his head and glanced in the direction of Huashan, then looked at Qin Ming and said: "Li Jingye, the Turks, and the Demon Sect, they only have one thing in Chang'an now."

"What's going on?" Qin Ming stood up straight immediately. He had already understood something after what Li Xuan had just said.

"Deposed Prince." Li Xuan said with a solemn face: "Everything they are doing in Chang'an and Luoyang now is to make the court take a step forward on the road to deposed Prince.

Once the prince is deposed, they will immediately cry out for the prince and then use the banner of Qingjun. "

The corners of Qin Ming's eyes couldn't help but twitch, with incomparable hatred and disgust in his eyes.

Li Xuan took a deep breath and said: "Think about it, once the Turks raise the reason that the prince was wronged, or even... and shout the slogan "Qing Jun Side", countless Turks inside and outside the Great Wall will all stand up again. Raising troops to rebel against the Tang Dynasty... Whether they were close to the Tang Dynasty or hostile to the Tang Dynasty, they all had an excuse to take action."

"This method is really cruel!" Qin Ming nodded slowly, with a solemn expression on his face. He had already imagined that scene in his mind.

Li Xuan took a deep breath and continued: "If at this time, Li Jingye, in the name of the British Duke, also raised the banner of the Qing monarch, attacking from inside and outside, echoing each other, and then Tibet counterattacked, Silla was in turmoil, and the Tang Dynasty would immediately You will be surrounded by enemies on all sides and the situation will be dangerous."

"That's why His Majesty transferred you back." Qin Ming raised his head and looked at Li Xuan. He finally understood the reason for Li Xuan's return. "That's why I asked Li Xian to keep an eye on the prince, just to prevent him from accidentally falling into the trap of the Demon Cult and Li Jingye." Li Xuan's fists clenched subconsciously.

"The prince..." Qin Ming shook his head and said, "The prince is a mellow man, but he always takes the wrong path at critical moments."

"He trusts the people around him too easily." Li Xuan sighed, looked at Qin Ming and said, "It is precisely because of this that the position of the prince must not be shaken in any way."

Qin Ming nodded seriously. He finally understood the reason why Li Xuan asked Li Xian to stare at Li Xian.

Although there is no evidence about the Luoyang secret room, people have begun to suspect that Li Xian has been connected with Li Jingye. Now?

"You mean, Li Jingye and the people from the Demon Sect are completely together?" Qin Ming changed the subject himself.

Li Xuan nodded slightly and said: "It is very likely that this is the case. Li Jingye has always been related to Tubo. It is also very possible that he is connected to the Demon Sect through Tubo. Especially now that they are both in Chang'an and have the same problem. Purpose, even if they have never met, there is a tacit understanding between them."

Li Xuan stopped talking and looked sad.

Li Xian fell into the trap and fell into Li Jingye’s trap.

Li Jingye’s collusion with the Demon Cult is tantamount to Li Xian’s collusion with the Demon Cult, and the Demon Cult assassinates the emperor. Even if Li Xian had no connection with the Demon Cult before, but he later became involved with the Demon Cult, it is tantamount to assassinating the Emperor, and so on. His share.

The prince plotted rebellion.

Why is the prince plotting rebellion?

"Once the prince is deposed and the court is in turmoil, the entire Tang Dynasty will surely fall into turmoil again; so even if it is for the sake of the people, Li Jingye will be killed this time." Li Xuan looked fierce.

The value of Li Jingye's use here has been exhausted, and what's left is how to send him on his way in a dignified manner.

……

Qin Ming nodded lightly, then raised his head and looked at Li Xuan with a frown: "I'm afraid it's not that simple if you ask Li Xian to find the prince this time... If Li Xian saves the prince this time, the bureaucrats in the East Palace will probably We must all be very grateful to him. But if something happens to these people in the East Palace in the future, none of them will be able to escape."

Throughout the dynasties, the change of princes was inevitably accompanied by a major power reshuffle.

Countless officials in the East Palace, as well as the aristocratic families standing behind them, will all be severely damaged by the fall of the prince.

No one can save them, because besides them, there are more aristocratic families waiting to pounce on them and eat their flesh and blood.

It was their great luck to be able to get them out of this situation alive.

"That's true, but you have ignored a key person, Your Majesty." Li Xuan raised his eyes and looked at Qin Ming, and said seriously: "Although some people leave and some rush in, the overall pattern remains unchanged. , but some people have suffered losses after all. If it were placed in a certain state, county, or a certain family, it would even be a disaster."

"You mean Hebei?" Qin Ming looked at Li Xuan in disbelief.

Li Xuan nodded: "If in other times in the past, the prince should be deposed, the emperor should be filial to his death. Although the Pei family from the Hedong faction was squeezed out of the center of power, the Xue family reached out and even became the prime minister. Now If Li Xian is deposed, the Hebei faction, which has suffered the most, will naturally retreat to Hebei to lick its wounds.

If at this time, the Turks rebel and the people of Hebei are in chaos, then the whole of Hebei may be in ruins. From the overall situation, the prince cannot be deposed. "

"But... the prince has committed a big taboo." Qin Ming considered his words and whispered: "The prince still needs to be deposed."

"But the matter of the prince, to be precise, has nothing to do with other officials in the East Palace." Li Xuan looked at Qin Ming and whispered: "You do something for me."

"Just tell me, I knew it would be up to you to drag me to Luoyang this time." Qin Ming took a deep breath, nodded, and relaxed.

"Help me send a message to Yuchi Xunyu, asking him to get closer to Li Xian in the East Palace, and help Li Xian introduce some low-level officials in the East Palace." Li Xuan's voice was very soft.

He, Qin Ming, Li Xian, and Yuchi Xunyu all grew up together, but Yuchi Xunyu turned to Li Xian after Prince Li Hong died of illness.

He became estranged from Li Xuan, Qin Ming, and Li Xian.

"You are still trying to undermine the prince." Qin Ming couldn't help but look ugly.

"This is your Majesty's permission." Li Xuan turned his head and told the truth of the matter. At the same time, he said softly: "Only in this way, when something happens to those in the East Palace, and Li Xian goes to plead for mercy, Your Majesty will forgive you."

"You are paving the way for Li Xian to become the prince." Qin Ming saw something deeper.

"Your Majesty is paving the way for Li Xian. This is the fundamental reason why Your Majesty called me back." Li Xuan looked calm.

What he and Li Xian are doing will soon be seen through by others, but it's useless.

Someone might push Li Dan to compete with Li Xian and go to the East Palace to fight for the officials in the East Palace. But if he really did this, it would arouse the emperor's suspicion.

Even Empress Wu would not do this.

Li Xian has been the ridiculous prince for so many years, and there are not many people around him. You still want to take advantage of him. What exactly do you want to do?

His heart is so cruel!

"What about the prince?" Qin Ming finally spoke, asking the most critical part of the matter.

Li Xuan raised her head, looked at Huashan who was getting closer, and said softly: "He shouldn't be tempted."

The emperor has sent people to Hengshui to investigate. Once it is proven that Li Jingye has appeared in Hengshui, then the manipulation in the secret room of Ming Chongyan's mansion in Luoyang will be proved to be Li Jingye's work.

No trial, no evidence required.

In the emperor's mind, he would naturally believe that Li Xian and Li Jingye were connected.

And that's what it is.

All that's left is to find a suitable excuse at a suitable time to depose the prince.

"Li Xian will eventually plead for the prince." Li Xuan lowered her head gently.

"Pretend!" Qin Ming looked disdainful.

(End of this chapter)