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

Chapter 1452 Even the emperor will be deposed

The candlelight was soft, and Ms. Cui, Mrs. Tong'an, who was wearing a green undershirt, was sitting on a low couch.

She was holding an imperial cane in her hand, and her eyes fell coldly on the divorce form on the desk.

"Over at Liulang, Yuanlang has already run away?" Mrs. Cui raised her eyes, her eyes fixed on Yuan Wanqing. The crutch in her hand wanted to hit him right now and kill him directly.

Yuan Wanqing, who was wearing a green robe, bowed and said calmly: "Six hundred miles is urgent. The mountain road is not easy to walk."

"Thank you for your hard work." Ms. Cui nodded gently and her breathing gradually calmed down.

After two days and three nights, traveling more than 1,400 places, it is no wonder that her husband's nephew, Liulang Zheng Xuankai, agreed to terminate the engagement with the Xue family in Hedong; no wonder that the Xue family in Hedong agreed.

Empress Wu and the Eastern Palace were all pressing on her, and Yuan Wanqing even ran from Chang'an to Daizhou in person, so no one could refuse.

What a shame, this guy even sent a message a few days ago, making me think he was still in Luoyang.

In the end, without her noticing, the threshold between Dong Gong and Zheng's marriage, which was not too big or too small, was directly leveled by Yuan Wanqing's hard work.

but……

A hint of deep thought flashed in Mrs. Cui's eyes.

Not a few people know about the engagement between Zheng and Xue.

Although Xue Rengui, the Duke of Pingyang, did not officiate the marriage, he definitely knew about it, not to mention that he was in Luoyang now.

If he were to know that the East Palace had forced the Zheng family and the Xue family to break off their engagement, once the great general of the dynasty and the Duke of Pingyang, who had great reputation both in the government and abroad, developed a dislike for the prince, there would be nothing he could do to exploit him in the future. too much.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Cui immediately smiled and said: "The Zheng family, which has passed down poems and books to the family, could not do such a thing to ruin the marriage. Now that the Xue family has taken the initiative to retreat, it is impossible for my family to do anything. As for the affairs in the palace, it has nothing to do with my family." , but the married daughter in this family..."

Yuan Wanqing raised his eyes and looked deeply at Cui: "I heard that Madam Tai met with the eldest princess of Huainan and the eldest princess Qian Jin in the past two days?"

"There is also the eldest princess Wencheng, but the eldest princess is not in good health..." Ms. Cui shook her head calmly and restrained her words: "This engagement is always based on your wishes. There are many virtuous people in our Zheng family. My legitimate daughter, when doing things in the palace, you must give me, the Zheng family, a chance to speak..."

"Madam, it's impossible for Qiniang to marry into the East Palace." Yuan Wanqing looked deeply at Mrs. Cui.

During this trip, he not only got Xue's divorce letter, but also got Zheng Liulang to agree to the marriage.

It's just that Zheng Liulang agreed to the marriage, which can only be regarded as half the success.

In the end, Mrs. Cui's nod for this matter would be regarded as Xingyang's Zheng's nod, otherwise Yuan Wanqing would never come here.

But this one is still thinking about letting his granddaughter marry into the East Palace. How can Yuan Wanqing agree to it?

Even if she secretly communicated with the eldest princess of Huainan and the eldest princess Qian Jin to intercede, it would be impossible.

Not to mention that Princess Wencheng didn't give her any chance at all.

There are not only idiots in the clan.

……

Looking at Yuan Wanqing with a determined expression, Mrs. Cui suddenly turned her eyes, nodded calmly, and said: "Yuan Lang said so, I shouldn't go too far. It's not impossible for Jiuniang to marry into the East Palace, but here I am. There is one more request.”

Yuan Wanqing frowned, cupped his hands and said, "Madam, please speak."

Mrs. Cui raised her eyes to look at Yuan Wanqing and said softly: "I want to meet the Prime Minister."

Suddenly, a gust of cold air shot up from Yuan Wanqing's vest, and almost instantly, Yuan Wanqing felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Yuan Wanqing suddenly raised his head and looked at Mrs. Cui, gritted his teeth and said: "Mrs. Tai, don't make any random decisions. If you do it randomly, I'm afraid that Prince Peng will completely disintegrate the entire Zheng family without us having to take action. ”

"Yuanlang was not afraid of Prince Peng originally, but why did he lose his courage after not seeing him for several days." There was a trace of ridicule on Cui's calm face.

Mrs. Cui used Yuan Wanqing's help to impeach Li Xuan before, but Empress Wu put pressure on her, and even turned against Zheng. There was already a grudge between the two parties.

"That's because Prince Peng was not in Luoyang those days. Now that he has returned to Luoyang, with the emperor beside him, he can go straight to Xingyang and completely wipe out the entire Zheng family without any hesitation. Yuan Wanqing said, his eyes full of endless fear.

Mrs. Cui's face immediately darkened. From Luoyang to Xingyang, it was only one step away.

If that day really comes...

"Ha!" Mrs. Cui calmed down, raised her eyes to Yuan Wanqing, and said calmly: "Why should Yuan Lang threaten me? My family has always been loyal to the emperor. How could the emperor want to destroy my family without the emperor speaking up? Then Prince Peng, even if I gave him ten thousand courages, he would not dare to attack me, the Zheng family in Xingyang."

The Zheng family in Xingyang is a famous family in the world. At that time, a daughter even joined the East Palace as the crown prince. If it were not for the wrong bet, I am afraid that the second most famous family in the world besides the Li family in Longxi is none other than the Zheng family in Xingyang, and it is Zhaojun. Li Shi can't compare.

Even though she made a wrong bet back then, the Zheng family has been involved in numerous marriages and connections for countless years. If there is no real crime, the emperor will eradicate her family, then the family in the world will probably be in turmoil.

"If the wife meets the Prime Minister, I am afraid that without the emperor's imperial edict, Prince Peng will also take action against the Zheng family in Xingyang. At this time of year, if the Zheng family in Xingyang really wants to intervene, it will destroy the entire Zheng family. The emperor He would only praise King Peng for his ability." Yuan Wanqing looked at Mrs. Cui with a sneer in his eyes.

But in his words, Yuan Wanqing was still full of fear for Li Xuan.

This is indeed the case. Since Li Xuan returned to the prince, many of the methods of the Prime Minister's Palace have been unable to be used.

Especially in Luoyang, under the emperor's decree, the Sixteenth Guards General was able to use all the soldiers of the guards.

Even if they didn't take much action in the Prime Minister's Mansion on weekdays, the soldiers patrolling back and forth made them subconsciously vigilant.

"Then don't let Prince Peng know that I met Prince Xiang." Mrs. Cui replied lightly.

The last time she impeached Li Xuan with the help of Yuan Wanqing, although Cui didn't know why she didn't succeed, she also knew that Li Xuan was really not easy to mess with at this time. It's not easy to mess with, just avoid it, why bother to collide head-on.

"Isn't Mrs. Tai going to marry her granddaughter into the prime minister's palace?" Yuan Wanqing frowned and said, "If there is even the slightest news about this matter, I'm afraid Prince Peng will already be waiting for the emperor's decree... Of course, maybe he can't kill him. Your Zheng family is full, but your wife can still kill all the people in this house. "

Mrs. Cui shook her head lightly and said: "My family does not have to get married to the Prime Minister now. We just want to make a marriage contract, even if no one knows about it. If this is the case, I will give the Prime Minister a gift." ”

"Gift, what gift?" Yuan Wanqing couldn't help but be stunned.

"How about the Minister of Rites?" Cui's words made Yuan Wanqing's eyes jump wildly.

Immediately, Yuan Wanqing calmed down, looked at Mrs. Cui and said: "Mrs. Tai, you may not know that now, the Minister of Rites, your Majesty and the Queen of Heaven have actually decided that it is Wei, the Minister of Hubu, who is waiting for the price. No one else has any Opportunity.”

"The imperial edict hasn't come down yet." Ms. Cui's eyes fell from Yuan Wanqing's body to her crutches, and she said softly: "Even if the imperial edict has come down, there are still things that you can do today and be exempted from tomorrow, just like what you are doing now. that matter."

Yuan Wanqing's breathing suddenly became heavy. There was only one thing they were doing now, which was to deliver Li Dan to the emperor's throne.

It's just that it's a bit difficult now. Not to mention that more and more people outside are unwilling to help, but even internally, there are more and more people who don't want to do more.

It's not that they think Li Xian is a wise king, or that they think Li Dan is not qualified, but they increasingly see that the one who really doesn't want the Prime Minister to get closer is the Queen.

Of course, these people do not include Yuan Wanqing, because he can see it more clearly than others.

The prince was not that docile either. Li Xuan, Su Liangsi, Xue Yuanchao, Liu Rengui, and even the emperor himself had secretly trained and taught Li Xian over the years.

No emperor would let his power fall to the wayside. Once there was a conflict between the prince and the queen, their opportunity would come.

Of course, Yuan Wanqing doesn't mind if this opportunity comes earlier.

Just as Cui said, the imperial edict has not yet been issued, and Li Xian has not yet ascended the throne as emperor, not to mention that even if Li Xian becomes emperor, he may be deposed.

Just like when Yuan Waqing and Cui teamed up to impeach Li Xuan, Yuan Waqing's fundamental purpose was still to target Li Xian and weaken the power around him.

Moreover, Empress Wu could tell at a glance that Yuan Wanqing was forced to do so, and the person who forced him was none other than Cui. As for what went deeper...

"Madam, it is impossible for the Prime Minister to meet you, and it is impossible for the Prime Minister to accept Liu Niang as his concubine." Yuan Wanqing raised his head and looked at Cui, and said seriously: "The East Palace will not allow it, Your Majesty and the Queen. It won’t be allowed either.”

Yuan Wanqing's words seemed to be no different from what he said before, but Cui also heard the difference.

Mrs. Cui chuckled and nodded, then directly changed her words and said: "I can contact my two cousins ​​about the matter of the Minister of Rites... By the way, there is one who is now the imperial censor?"

"Doctor Cui, go and talk to Yuan." Yuan Wanqing stared at Cui and said, "But Cui Xiang and Cui Shangshu have promised King Peng to support the prince."

The Zheng family in Xingyang may not be very good, but this lady is the legitimate daughter of the Cui family in Qinghe. She is also close to the brothers Cui Zhiwen and Cui Zhiti, and is the elder of the other Cui family children in the court.

The reason why the Zheng family in Xingyang looks a little weak now is because Prince Peng reached an agreement with the Cui family on the way from Chang'an to Luoyang, cutting off her biggest foreign aid.

"My family members are always easier to talk to than outsiders, and apart from them, Li Huaiyan, the Minister of Rites, can also give me some advice." Ms. Cui came up with a new trump card. Li Huaiyan, the Minister of Rites, could also help Cui in this matter. say.

"The key is the prime minister." Yuan Wanqing looked at Mr. Cui and said, "Just being Prime Minister Cui is not enough."

"It's a pity. It would be great if Duke Zhao was still here." Cui couldn't help but sigh, and then said softly: "Then there is only Prime Minister Pei."

Yuan Wanqing's eyes couldn't help but jump, and then he nodded calmly and said, "Okay."

Cui suddenly laughed and said, "Please give me a token from the Prime Minister."

Yuan Wanqing fell silent. It was impossible for Li Dan to accept Zheng's daughter as his concubine now, nor could he meet Cui now, but if he wanted Cui's help, he had to come up with something to reassure Cui.

"My nephew will discuss it with the king when he gets back. If there is a result, he will inform the old lady immediately." Yuan Wanqing stood up and bowed slightly.

Ms. Cui looked to one side and said, "The housekeeper will see off the husband of the Yuan family on my behalf."

"Here!" The steward immediately handed over his hand, then looked at Yuan Waqing and said, "Mr. Lang, go this way."

"My nephew, take your leave." Yuan Waqing bowed again, then turned and left.

Standing at the window, Mrs. Cui watched Yuan Wanqing completely disappear into the darkness, breathing heavily: "Prince Xiang, you are still unwilling to give in after all, but the prince?"

She was thinking of Li Xuan inexplicably, and she shook her head slightly: "This matter must not be discovered by him."

……

In the manor, the housekeeper bid farewell to Yuan Wanqing and turned around.

Unconsciously, he had walked into darkness, and soon he came out again.

After a long time, the manor fell into complete silence.

A figure wearing a crown and moonlight imperial robe walked out of the same darkness.

His eyes were somber.

……

Li Xuan opened her eyes.

(End of this chapter)