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

Chapter 1506 Mei Niang, I'm tired, let me sleep for a while
"He is still too immature." The emperor lay on the imperial couch, listening to Li Xian's footsteps fading away outside. He raised his head and looked at Empress Wu, saying softly, "Mei Niang, if I can't get through tonight, the future of the Tang Dynasty will depend on you."

Empress Wu sat on the imperial couch, her eyes calm, and she said with certainty: "Your Majesty, rest assured. Everything will be fine tonight. I will spend many more years with Your Majesty."

The emperor smiled, nodded and said, "I know that I will be safe tonight. Tonight is also a good time to see people's hearts again."

"Well!" A trace of murderous intent flashed in Empress Wu's eyes. If anyone dared to move tonight, Empress Wu would kill his entire family.

The emperor took a breath, looked outside the palace, and said softly: "People's hearts, the most troublesome thing in the Tang Dynasty today is people's hearts, Sanlang has never seen people's hearts clearly.

King Peng, on the other hand, is somewhat able to see through people's hearts, so he may be able to do some repair work in the future, but it will be difficult to ask him to do anything else."

Empress Wu helped the emperor tuck in the corners of his quilt, and then she said softly, "Prince Peng is a member of the royal family, so he is good enough to do repair work. Among all the ministers now, the only ones I really like are Su Liangsi, Li Zhaode, and Di Renjie."

The emperor nodded slightly and said, "These three are indeed outstanding in talent. The others, such as Lu Yuanfang, Ouyang Tong, and Cen Changqian, are not as good as them."

"At least it's enough to be a third-rank official in the Secretariat." Empress Wu smiled, her eyes full of confidence. She had been in charge of the court for so many years, and she could see clearly who was talented and who was not among the ministers.

"I am not worried about the court. I am worried about the local areas." Li Zhi looked up at Empress Wu. When the word "local areas" was mentioned, Empress Wu's expression became solemn.

She looked at the emperor, shook her head slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, this is not easy. These people have been doing this for many years. It has become a bad habit. Unless we kill a group of them, once something happens in the court, they will definitely take the opportunity to escalate their actions."

The emperor nodded gently, his expression slightly gloomy.

In the entire Tang Dynasty, only he and Empress Wu knew how difficult the situation was.

The entire Tang Dynasty is like a big ship sailing in a storm. In addition to facing the storm outside, it also has to pay attention to the thieves and robbers inside.

In the past two years, things were fine. Tibet and the Turks were pacified, and foreign threats were reduced a lot. Then when they turned their attention back to the court, they discovered how unimaginable the reach of those aristocratic families had reached.

Land, forests, minerals, military equipment, population, taxes, official buildings, etc.

The Yongluo underground black market that Wu Chengsi was implicated in back then was just the tip of the iceberg.

The reason why the emperor wanted to live longer was that he hoped to have more time to deal with these people and things, but fate did not allow it!
"Then kill him." The emperor looked calm and said softly, "Pei Yan is appointed as the regent minister to kill people. If he doesn't want to kill people, then Mei Niang, you should join hands with King Peng to depose him."

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded seriously. Killing Pei Yan was not difficult. The difficult part was the unrest that might be caused after killing Pei Yan.

The Wenxi Pei family is the top family in Hedong. If it is not handled properly, it will easily cause unrest.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I have done this kind of thing more than once. I will handle it well." Empress Wu smiled slightly. Indeed, she had done this kind of thing more than once.

Or to be more precise, she and the emperor did it together more than once.

Li Yifu, Xu Jingzong, and even Shangguan Yi were all like this back then.

Even Liu Rengui was once such a person, but he was just luckier.

The emperor smiled softly and said softly, "Be careful about what's going on outside. I'm not too worried. On the contrary, I'm quite worried about Sanlang."

Li Xian had no idea of ​​the true situation of the Tang Dynasty and the fundamental dangers it was facing. That was why the emperor ordered him not to waver in national policy for three years.

"Take your time. Everyone has to endure step by step. Your Majesty and I are no exception." Empress Wu smiled comfortingly and said, "Compared to Sanlang, I am more worried about Silang. When he is not by my side in the future, he will inevitably be taken advantage of by others."

"Just find someone to watch over him." The emperor raised his head, looked at Empress Wu, and said, "There will always be a suitable person. If that doesn't work, sending Song Jing over will also work."

"Haha!" Empress Wu smiled and said, "If that's the case, I'm afraid Sanlang won't agree."

"That's his trouble." The emperor paused for a moment and said softly, "Watch Pei Yan to death. As long as he doesn't move, Silang can rest easy."

"Since Sanlang is watching Wei's death, he can actually rest easy." Empress Wu Zetian completely exposed Li Xian's crisis with just one sentence.

The emperor sighed and said, "Everyone can see the danger he is in, except himself, Mei Niang."

"Your Majesty!" Empress Wu looked at the emperor in surprise.

The emperor looked at Empress Wu and said seriously, "Remember this: in the future, no matter who instigates Sanlang to compile the Book of Han, you must kill him."

Empress Wu looked solemn and nodded seriously, saying, "I understand."

There was still a trace of worry in the emperor's eyes. In his eyes, Empress Wu was his wife, the person with whom he shared the entire empire, and the mother of his four sons and one daughter.

He could not tolerate anyone using a book called "Han Shu" to alienate the relationship between their son and Empress Wu.

This is the reason why the emperor still cannot forgive Li Xian.

If you can't even tolerate your mother, you can't even tolerate your father.

This situation is particularly important throughout the Tang Dynasty.

The mess that the late emperor and Emperor Gaozu did back then has become a "model" for later generations.

……

Li Zhi lay on the imperial couch, looking at Empress Wu tenderly, and said softly: "Actually, what I am most worried about is you!"

"Your Majesty." Empress Wu held the emperor's hand and said softly, "This time we will definitely succeed."

The emperor smiled gently and looked outside the palace. The afterglow of dusk gradually spread across the entire sky and earth, which was extremely beautiful.

But deep within the emperor's body, the coldness that had been suppressed all day was gradually rushing out.

His internal organs will soon gradually lose sensation and become paralyzed.

The emperor could almost recite this process backwards.

Turning sideways, the emperor looked at Empress Wu and said softly, "It doesn't matter whether it succeeds or not. Even if it succeeds, it will only delay it for a few months. It's not important. For me, what really matters is you."

"Your Majesty." A hint of gentle worry flashed across Empress Wu's eyes.

The emperor smiled and continued, "The most exhausting thing in the world is government. Although I have been ill over the years, it was ultimately because of government affairs that I collapsed completely.

Mei Niang, promise me that after three years, you will let San Lang go and make his own way."

The tenderness in Empress Wu's eyes did not fade. She nodded gently and said, "This world will eventually be handed over to Sanlang. I understand."

"No, you don't understand." The emperor looked straight at Empress Wu and said seriously, "What I am worried about is actually your health, Mei Niang. I am worried that your health will also collapse because of the government.

I hope you can stay in this world longer. In addition to supporting Sanlang, you can also help me see what our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will look like in the future."

Empress Wu pursed her lips gently and said, "Your Majesty, I will do as you wish." The emperor smiled, held Empress Wu's hand, and said softly, "Mei Niang, I am tired. Please stay here with me. I will take a nap."

"Okay!" Empress Wu nodded softly.

The emperor smiled with satisfaction and then gently closed his eyes.

The darkness completely enveloped him in an instant, and an endless cold world appeared in his dream.

Empress Wu sat beside the imperial couch and just watched the emperor fall asleep.

She could clearly feel that the emperor fell asleep very quickly.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the emperor fell into a deep sleep.

Empress Wu raised her head and looked to both sides.

In the corners of the palace on both sides, the Zhongshu Sheren, Jieshi Zhong, Zuoshi and Zuoshi, and Mishujian had all stopped writing.

Empress Wu did not ask these people to leave, but just calmly looked down at the emperor as he fell asleep.

Deep in her eyes, a hint of deep sadness flashed.

……

The sky was dark above Chengtian Gate,

A heavy sound of footsteps was heard. Li Xuan and Xue Rengui turned around at the same time with solemn faces, and suddenly saw Cheng Chubi in red clothes and golden armor appearing behind them.

"Greetings, two great generals." Cheng Chubi was the first to salute.

Li Xuan returned the greeting by bowing: "Duke of Guangping."

"Duke of Guangping." Xue Rengui bowed calmly and glanced at Cheng Chubi. He couldn't help but look towards the direction of Zhenguan Hall, his eyes full of worry.

"General Xue, it's time for us to leave." Li Xuan reminded Xue Rengui softly.

Xue Rengui came back to his senses, nodded, then looked in the direction of Zhenguan Hall again, and this time he slowly walked down Chengtian Gate.

Li Xuan and Cheng Chubi looked at each other and couldn't help but sigh in their hearts.

Among all the generals in the court, Xue Rengui had the best relationship with the emperor.

Back then, he saved the emperor and Empress Wu more than once.

The Emperor and Empress Wu placed great trust in him.

Even after the defeat at Dayuechuan, the emperor and Empress Wu gave him enough opportunities to make amends.

Fortunately, he did not disappoint the trust of the emperor and Empress Wu, and finally avenged his previous humiliation in Dafeichuan.

Now that the emperor's life has come to an end, the sadness in Xue Rengui's heart is clearly visible.

Li Xuan looked at Xue Rengui, whose figure was unknowingly hunched over, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

The emperor was probably the only one who still held out a glimmer of hope, but in fact, all the discerning people in the court had already seen it.

The emperor has reached the end of his life.

But in fact, the emperor himself had also discovered it, so he made so many arrangements and instructions today.

Turning around, Li Xuan couldn't help but look towards the direction of Zhenguan Hall.

At dusk, candlelight was already flickering in the palace.

It's just that the candlelight is flickering so scary.

……

A red lantern was hung high in front of the mansion gate. Li Xuan got off the horse and Li Zhu immediately took over the reins.

Li Xuan did not walk directly into Yulong Garden, but stopped and looked at the Lecheng County Mansion next to it.

Under the cover of night, the entire Lecheng County Government Mansion was almost silent.

Li Xuan sighed lightly and walked into Yulong Garden.

Liu Jinyu, who had just received the news, walked out of the backyard quickly. Seeing Li Xuan appearing in front of her, she couldn't help but stepped forward and asked, "Why did my husband come back suddenly?"

Li Xuan raised his right hand slightly, and all the figures around him disappeared instantly. Li Xuan sighed and said, "Your Majesty may not want others to know that he still needs to take the elixir at this time."

"Oh!" Liu Jinyu suddenly understood. The matter of Zhong Lu's life-extending pill was a top secret after all. After all, the process of refining the pill was too bloody.

Li Xuan said, "I am going to the study room to tell everyone to go to bed early tonight."

"Yes!" Liu Jinyu's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

Li Xuan nodded calmly, then walked step by step through the front yard, the central hall, and came to the study in the backyard.

……

The golden armor on his body and the sharp spear were placed in front of him. Li Xuan calmly raised the black scabbard.

With a "clang", the sharp eight-sided Han sword was unsheathed.

Sharp and cold.

……

The sound of hurried footsteps sounded in the courtyard, and in an instant, Li Xuan appeared at the gate of the courtyard, holding a long sword in his hand.

Li Zhu walked quickly to Li Xuan and bowed solemnly, "Your Majesty, there is an imperial decree from the palace, ordering Your Majesty to enter the palace immediately."

"it is good!"

(End of this chapter)