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

Chapter 1591 Request for Execution
Behind the pearl curtain, looking at Su Liangsi who was staring at her, Empress Wu felt her breathing stagnate.

Not just her.

It's not just her.

Pei Yan, Liu Rengui, Dou Xuande, and all the civil and military officials in the hall, after hearing what Su Liangsi said and watching him stare at Empress Wu, could not help but tremble with fear all over their bodies.

The imperial power was in tatters, the world was in turmoil, and there was a worry that the country would be destroyed. It was all the fault of one person.

Who is the one being mentioned? It is naturally Empress Wu.

The imperial power is in turmoil and the world is in turmoil. This is exactly what is happening now.

Emperor Gaozong had just passed away due to illness, and less than five months later, Emperor Zhongzong also died, the Eastern Palace was massacred, and Crown Prince Chongzhao was hunted down.

The world is in turmoil.

Although Li Dan succeeded to the throne, it took him three years to rule the country.

Who knows what it will be like in three years?
Will Li Dan be killed like Li Xian? Who will succeed him then? Will it be the five-year-old Crown Prince Li Chengqi?
The emperor was young and the power was in the hands of others.

If it’s like this today, what about tomorrow?

If someone sets this precedent today, then tomorrow, can anyone kill the emperor and establish a new emperor?

Today, the provincial governors and county magistrates all over the country still have any awe towards the Tang Dynasty and the central government.

The Tang Dynasty was nearly destroyed.

Su Liangsi just stood there, staring at Empress Wu.

Everything was vividly expressed in his straight spine.

The reason for all this is one person.

It was her, Empress Dowager Wu.

How dare he, how dare he?
Almost all the ministers in the palace held their breath, even Fan Lubing, Guo Daiju and others.

But no one came out to interrupt Su Liangsi.

Only Wu Sansi stared at Su Liangsi with his hands clenched tightly, wishing he could rush up and skin him alive and tear him into pieces.

Crazy murderous intent was about to burst out.

At this moment, Su Liangsi suddenly turned his head, staring coldly at Wu Sansi, and his hateful and hateful eyes bombarded him.

For a moment, Wu Sansi even felt like turning around and running away.

Su Liangsi stared at him, gritted his teeth, and said word by word: "I, as the Imperial Censor, impeach the Minister of Rites Wu Sansi for plotting evil, causing chaos in the court, inciting disobedience, and secretly plotting against the emperor in order to stabilize the Tang Dynasty. I request that the Minister of Rites, Duke of Dang, Wu Sansi, be executed."

After Su Liangsi finished speaking, Siji turned around and bowed deeply to Li Dan on the throne and Empress Wu behind the pearl curtain.

Li Dan and the other ministers in the hall were stunned, and then a hint of relief and a hint of disdain flashed in their eyes.

You, the seemingly upright Imperial Censor, actually play such tricks to shock people.

I don't know how many people turned their heads away in mockery.

Behind the pearl curtain, Empress Wu's heartbeat, which had almost stopped, started beating rapidly again. She looked at Su Liangsi with amusement and said, "Mr. Su, our dynasty has always attached great importance to evidence in punishment. We cannot convict someone of a crime based on speculation, especially for treason."

Under the teasing gazes of the ministers, Su Liangsi did not admit his mistake, nor did he join the class. Instead, he bowed and said, "My Queen, I have solid evidence."

After hearing these six words, all the ministers in the hall suddenly became solemn.

Su Liangsi had solid evidence to prove that Wu Sansi was plotting treason.

The ministers couldn't help but look at Wu Sansi, and then at Empress Wu behind the pearl curtain. The atmosphere in the entire Taiji Hall became solemn again.

Liu Rengui glanced at Pei Yan sideways, and Pei Yan nodded slightly with a serious expression. Then both of them looked at Su Liangsi worriedly.

"What's the hard evidence?" Empress Wu's expression became solemn. She glanced at Wu Sansi, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in her eyes for an instant.

Su Liangsi bowed and said, "I entered Chang'an from Chunming Gate, and passed by the east and west. I occasionally heard people talking, and I learned that there is a prophecy in Chang'an City now, which is a hot topic in the world."

"What prophecy?" Empress Wu narrowed her eyes slightly.

"The Tang Dynasty lasted for three generations, and Empress Wu replaced it." Su Liangsi suddenly looked up and stared at Empress Wu.

In an instant, the entire hall became completely silent.

Empress Wu, Empress Wu, Su Liangsi finally set his sights on Empress Wu.

The Tang Dynasty lasted for three generations, and Wu replaced Tang.

Isn’t that the case today?

The Tang Dynasty has been fully passed down for three generations, and today is the fourth generation.

However, the fourth generation had just begun, not even half a year, when Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian, the successor designated by Emperor Gaozong, was killed.

Although Emperor Zhongzong’s younger brother Li Dan ascended the throne, he was still the fourth generation, and because of mourning, he was not allowed to personally govern the three governments.

This means that the fourth generation of the Tang Dynasty had not yet begun to control the world.

Still the third generation.

When Su Liangsi said this, many old ministers from the Zhenguan period in the hall began to breathe heavily.

Dou Xuande, Liu Rengui, and Duan Baoxuan were all like this, because they all knew that the current prophecy was not complete.

The most complete version of this prophecy was "The Tang Dynasty will last for three generations, and there will be a female ruler, King Wu, who will rule the world."

Originally, the most direct meaning of this sentence is that after three generations of the Tang Dynasty, a female ruler named Wu became king and ruled the world.

At that time, few people would have thought that there would be women who had become emperors, but there were quite a few who had held absolute power.

Therefore, no one thought that someone would replace the Tang Dynasty as a female emperor. At most, the harem would be in power.

At that time, Emperor Taizong was deeply jealous of it.

Therefore, in places that people cannot see, countless concubines in the harem were strictly investigated.

Empress Wu was still unknown at that time and was not even under scrutiny.

Especially at that time, there was another person who caught Taizong's sight.

General Zuowuwei, Duke of Wulian County, a native of Wu'an, was in charge of the Xuanwu Gate guards. His nickname was "Wu Niangzi".

Li Junxian was born in the Zhaojun Li clan.

In the end, Li Junxian was ordered to be executed by Li Shimin on the charge of "deceiving the emperor and oppressing the people."

At that time, everyone in the world felt that the matter was over.

It was not until later that Chen Shuozhen of Wuzhou started a rebellion and even called herself "Emperor Wenjia". It happened that at that time, Empress Wu became the empress.

The prophecy that "Tang will last for three generations, and Wu will replace Tang" has risen again, but this is what Zhangsun Wuji did.

Later came Shangguan Yi, Hao Chujun and others.

However, compared to Shangguan Yi, whose property was confiscated, Hao Chujun was very cautious and was able to escape unscathed in the end.

Now, there was finally someone who said these words in front of Empress Wu.

The Tang Dynasty lasted for three generations, and Wu replaced Tang.

……

Empress Wu narrowed her eyes and looked at Su Liangsi through the beaded curtain.

She finally understood that Su Liangsi had always been targeting her and that had not changed at all.

The reason why the person who was impeached in the end was Wu Sansi.

Because he was Empress Wu's nephew.

Su Liangsi did not oppose Empress Wu taking charge of the government.

After all, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, Empress Wu had been assisting in handling state affairs for nearly thirty years.

Now he has even deposed Li Xian and treated Li Dan as a puppet.

In particular, she was the most legitimate empress dowager in the Tang Dynasty.

No matter what Su Liangsi did, he couldn't do anything to her, but that didn't mean Su Liangsi had no other options, so he set his sights on Wu Sansi.

No matter what Empress Wu did, power would be returned to the descendants of Li Tang a hundred years later. But this was not necessarily the case with Wu Sansi around.

Especially now there is a saying that the Tang Dynasty lasted for three generations, and Wu replaced the Tang Dynasty.

Dai can be an agent or a replacement.

For Empress Wu, it was agency, but for Wu Sansi, it was replacement.

Empress Wu's gaze fell on the ministers. Liu Rengui, Dou Xuande, Pei Yan, Fan Lubing, Guo Daiju, Wei Xuantong, Duan Baoxuan and others all looked at Wu Sansi with sinister eyes.

There was another person who also looked at Wu Sansi with an unpleasant look in his eyes. This person was Li Dan, who was sitting in front of Empress Wu.

Although Empress Wu could not see Li Dan's expression, she could hear his breathing becoming heavier.

Silently, the ministers' attention shifted to the still silent Empress Wu.

Empress Wu finally shook her head and said, "What Su Qing said was just a prophecy, and it was just the people's nonsense. Duke Dang has always been cautious and rarely made mistakes. It is too biased to convict him of 'conspiracy and disorder,' not to mention that he should be executed for it."

Empress Wu looked up at Wu Sansi.

Wu Sansi immediately stood up, bowed to the ground, and said with sobs: "My Queen, I am innocent!"

"If Duke Dang is wronged, then Li Junxian and Li Wu Niangzi are even more wronged." Su Liangsi gritted his teeth and looked at Wu Sansi, then he looked up at Empress Wu again, bowed heavily and said: "I still insist, please ask the Empress to execute the Minister of Rites, Duke Dang Wu Sansi, for the sake of the stability of the Tang Dynasty."

"I second the motion!" Li Zhaode stood up loudly and bowed heavily to Empress Wu.

Empress Wu's face suddenly turned ugly.

Su Liangsi was not what worried her most. What she was worried about was that Su Liangsi would gather all those who had previously supported Li Xian.

When Empress Wu deposed Li Xian, she sent away almost all of Li Xuan's trusted and loyal followers in various ways.

Even Pei Yan, Yao Lingzhang and others did not dare to say anything under the butcher's knife.

But Su Liangsi is different. He is the kind of person who is not afraid of death at all.

Now, there is also Li Zhaode.

"I second the motion!" Duan Baoxuan also stood up.

Empress Wu glanced at him calmly. He was the one who asked to retire with Liu Rengui last time.

Empress Wu had already decided to let him retire, but now... her eyes narrowed slightly.

"I second the proposal." Yuan Lizheng, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, finally stood up.

Yuan Lizhen, former tutor to the Eastern Palace, grandson of former Chen Zhongshu Ling Yuan Jing, and cousin of Yuan Lang, was an upright and loyal man who could disobey orders and speak his mind. Now he also stood up regardless of his life.

Empress Wu clenched her fists tightly.

While anger was rising in my heart, I was also relieved.

Although several people have stood up now regardless of their lives, they are only these few after all.

Those people from the Eastern Palace, such as Yao Lingzhang and Du Shenyan, had already been imprisoned in Luoyang.

Otherwise, there would be more people standing up today.

But fortunately, there are only four people at the moment.

Su Liangsi's expression was calm and solemn, and he kept looking at Empress Wu behind the pearl curtain.

Now, although there were only four people standing up to support him, for a moment, Empress Wu felt as if the entire court had stood up to support him.

Taking a deep breath, Empress Wu glanced at Pei Yan and Liu Rengui, who remained calm, and finally looked at Su Liangsi, shook her head and said, "When the late emperor was alive, he had the intention to redress Li Junxian's injustice. How can we punish a newcomer today for an unjust case?"

After a brief pause, Empress Wu continued, "Since we are talking about Li Junxian today, I order you to restore his official title and rank, rebury him with proper ceremony, and select a member of his clan to inherit his throne."

Su Liangsi's face looked a little ugly. He wanted to do something, but in the end he couldn't say it out loud.

But his eyes fell on Wu Sansi.

Wu Sansi couldn't help but tremble.

Empress Wu sighed and said, "As for Sansi, pass on the imperial decree and order the Minister of Rites, Duke of Dang, Wu Sansi, to go to Hutuo Ridge in Songshan Mountain and Gongling immediately to supervise the repair of Emperor Zhongzong's mausoleum. If there is any mistake, he will be executed without mercy."

"Aunt!" Wu Sansi looked up in panic.

"Leave now." Empress Wu shouted angrily, looking up to the side. Imperial Guard General Li Lingwen immediately stepped forward and bowed to Wu Sansi expressionlessly, saying, "Duke of Dang, please!"

"Yes, I obey your order." Wu Sansi stood up helplessly, bowed and turned to leave.

When walking past Su Liangsi, Wu Sansi looked up and glared at Su Liangsi fiercely, but at this moment, he saw a pair of even more ferocious eyes.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and Wu Sansi subconsciously turned his head and walked out of the Tai Chi Hall from Su Liangsi's side.

Su Liangsi turned around, raised his head, and bowed...

(End of this chapter)