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

Chapter 1696: Posthumous title: Youli commoner Wu

In front of the gate of Zhenguan Hall, Li Xuan turned around in surprise when he heard the sound.

Yao Lingzhang gritted his teeth and cupped his hands, and said in a hoarse voice: "May I ask Your Majesty, how did Wu die?"

Li Xuan's expression became solemn.

Yao Lingzhang witnessed Li Xian's death with his own eyes. Among the important officials who came out of the Eastern Palace that year, he was the only one who was actually present.

Liu Rengui was in Chang'an, Xue Yuanchao was dead, Li Xuan was in Fanzhou, Pei Xingjian was in Yangzhou, and he was the only one there.

Although Li Xuan has come back to kill him again and has not held him accountable, he is still responsible after all.

He couldn't get over it.

Now Empress Wu is dead, but Yao Lingzhang needs to find out how she died.

Lu Yuanfang, Wang Dezhen, Cui Zhiwen and others also looked at Li Xuan with inquiring eyes.

What happened last night?
Li Xuan nodded slightly, looked at Li Zhaode, and said, "Minister Li, you were in the palace last night. Tell me what happened."

"Yes!" Li Zhaode, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, came out and bowed to everyone.

He was in Renshou Palace last night and had the deepest understanding of the specific situation among everyone present.

"I was in Renshou Palace last night. Although I didn't see anything myself, I heard about some things. A lot happened last night." Li Zhaode looked up at Empress Wu's body in the palace and said, "First, last night, Empress Wu summoned me and asked me to make Wu Sansi the crown prince tomorrow."

"Ah!" The ministers were immediately in an uproar. Empress Wu wanted to make Wu Sansi the crown prince. Doesn't that mean she was determined to pass the throne to the Wu family?

"That's not all." Li Zhaode was still a little scared, and said to everyone, "The reason why we took over Renshou Palace last night without being discovered was because Wu Sansi rebelled and stormed into Zhenguan Palace."

"What?" All the ministers were shocked. How could this happen? Empress Wu wanted to make Wu Sansi the crown prince, but Wu Sansi immediately rebelled.

"But Wu Sansi's rebellion was suppressed in a short time. But soon, an imperial decree was issued that Empress Wu would pass the throne to Wu Sansi the next day." Li Zhaode raised his eyes and looked at the body of Empress Wu, his eyes full of surprise and admiration.

Lu Yuanfang raised his eyebrows, looked at Li Zhaode uncertainly and said, "Is she going to use Wu Sansi as a scapegoat?"

"Wu Sansi became the emperor, and she abdicated. After the palace was captured, Wu Sansi had to bear most of the responsibility. She...she thought she was the empress of Emperor Gaozong, the mother of Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, and she thought we dared not kill her." Wang Dezhen raised his head and looked at everyone, and asked: "Everyone, if you face her directly, who dares to kill her?"

All the officials fell silent, but Yao Lingzhang stood up and said, "I'll do it."

"There is no need for Prime Minister Yao." Li Zhaode looked into the hall, then looked at Su Liangsi's body and said softly, "Many people want to kill her. The reason Wu Sansi started his rebellion last night was because someone had revealed Empress Wu's intentions."

"Who?" Yao Lingzhang immediately looked at Su Liangsi's body, which was pierced by dense crossbow arrows, and no one recognized that it was Su Liangsi.

"It was the Imperial Censor." Li Zhaode looked at Su Liangsi's body with a complicated expression. In the surprised eyes of everyone, he nodded and said, "Last night, he asked Wei Yuanzhong to expose Wu's plan. Wei Yuanzhong said a few words, and Wu Sansi couldn't help it. He shouted that he wanted to avenge his parents..."

"Ha!" Cui Zhiwen couldn't help laughing, shook his head and said, "Wu Sansi is not stupid either!"

Everyone immediately understood that Empress Wu wanted to use Wu Sansi as a shield, and Wu Sansi was also using Empress Wu as a stepping stone.

With just a simple stroke of the pen, Su Liangsi caused Empress Wu and Wu Sansi to completely fall out with each other.

"Wu Sansi was defeated, so the Imperial Censor took action himself, but unfortunately, no one expected that Wu would fill the entire Zhenguan Hall with traps." Li Zhaode looked at the thin crossbows in the hall and shook his head, saying, "The Imperial Censor was not prepared and unfortunately died."

Everyone fell completely silent. Su Liangsi had not shown up since Li Xuan conquered Luoyang. Who would have thought that he would sneak into the palace and get rid of Empress Wu before Li Xuan entered the palace.

If he killed Empress Wu, the others wouldn't have to worry about whether they had to do it themselves.

But unfortunately...

"This should be a trap prepared for me." Li Xuan's eyes fell from Su Liangsi's body to Wu Sansi's body. He shook his head slightly and said, "She should be sure that she can let me enter Zhenguan Hall alone, and then use this palace to kill me. The Imperial Censor is warding off disaster for me."

All the ministers were silent. Empress Wu's meticulous preparations could only be aimed at Li Xuan.

If Li Xuan dies, the consequences will be very serious.

"She is still unwilling to fail." Yao Lingzhang couldn't help but sneer.

Everyone nodded solemnly. Empress Wu was a person who would never give up so easily and always wanted to make a comeback.

In the last years of Emperor Taizong's reign, he died of illness and Empress Wu was driven out of the palace. But just two years later, she came back and became pregnant with Emperor Xiaojing Li Hong.

"This is her." Cui Zhiwen couldn't help but sigh.

"So how did she die in the end?" Yao Lingzhang turned and looked at Li Zhaode.

"It's Shangguan Zhaoyi." Li Zhaode looked in the direction of Renshou Palace, then bowed to Yao Lingzhang and said, "Shangguan Wan'er is the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi. In order to avenge her family, she teamed up with Concubine Zheng and called in Concubine Zheng's personal maid and the eunuch Xu Lu."

"Xu Lu? The former junior eunuch of the Eastern Palace?" Wang Jishan couldn't help but look up.

"Yes, the young eunuch of the Eastern Palace who was beside Emperor Xiaojing back then." Li Zhaode nodded, then looked at Cui Zhiwen and said, "Xu Lu wanted to avenge Emperor Xiaojing, and Shangguan Wan'er wanted to avenge her family. Concubine Zheng and Shangguan Wan'er are actually cousins."

"Yes!" Cui Zhiwen immediately raised his head, looked at everyone and said, "That's right, Shangguan Tingzhi married the daughter of Zheng family from Xingyang. Shangguan Wan'er is the niece of Zheng family."

"So they joined forces." Li Zhaode looked at Empress Wu's body and whispered, "The knife was stabbed by Shangguan Wan'er, and the white silk was used by Xu Lulu. That's it, Empress Wu, she's dead."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; things were finally sorted out.

"What should we do with the body?" Yao Lingzhang asked coldly.

"Let's move them out first." Li Xuan looked at the Zhenguan Palace and said with a chill, "Then clean up the Zhenguan Palace and let all officials discuss how to deal with the bodies.

After all, she is the Empress of Emperor Gaozong. Even if she is given an unkind posthumous title, she still needs to be given one. After everything is settled, the mausoleum should be determined and she should be buried. This dignity should still be maintained..."

"Da da da..." A burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came from the palace road on the east side. Everyone couldn't help but turn around, frowning and looking towards the direction where the horse hoof sounds came from.

……

Di Renjie rode over quickly, dismounted quickly in front of the Zhenguan Palace, and bowed to everyone with a serious face, saying: "Everyone, I found it."

"What did you find?" Wei Xuanzhen walked out first.

"Found..." Di Renjie paused slightly, looking at Wei Xuanzhen, unable to speak.

"Tell me, what did you find?" Wei Xuanzhen suddenly jumped down, grabbed Di Renjie's shoulder, and asked through gritted teeth: "What did you find? Tell me!"

"Speak, some things must be faced eventually." Lu Yuanfang could not help but sigh. The ministers fell silent. There were some perceptive people among them. Earlier, when Li Xuan mentioned Li Chongfu and Empress Wei outside the palace, Dou Xuande and Dou Lu Qinwang were a little unnatural. Later, Li Xuan said that Empress Wei and Li Chongfu were not found in the palace, and everyone couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

Now seeing that Di Renjie doesn't dare to say anything, who doesn't understand.

"We found a burial ground in the open space behind the Lugong Courtyard and in front of the Shangqing Palace..." Before Di Renjie finished his words, Wei Xuanzhen grabbed the reins from his hand and ran towards the Shangqing Palace.

The man was still on the horse, but tears were already flowing.

Di Renjie sighed softly, then bowed to everyone and said, "Empress Wei, Empress Dou, Crown Princess Zhanghuai, Prince Ping'en, Prince Anle, Minister of Rites, Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, as well as a large number of palace maids and servants, were all buried there, some were even buried alive..."

"Oh my God!" Li Xuan couldn't help but interrupt Di Renjie and gritted his teeth and said, "What kind of person is this? He killed three daughters-in-law and two grandsons just like that."

"She has always been like this, respectful to the emperor, Prince Zhanghuai, Emperor Zhongzong, Emperor Ruizong, all of them are like this." Li Yuanjia, who had been silent all this time, was full of hatred. He turned around and looked at the body of Empress Wu, wishing he could tear her into pieces right now.

"Let's go and take a look." Lu Yuanfang shook his head slightly, then walked down the steps and headed towards Shangqing Palace.

The ministers hurried to follow.

……

In the Qianyang Palace, all officials were solemn, with a circle of white cloth wrapped around their official hats and left arms.

I just entered the palace and the Empress Dowager died. What a misfortune.

Lin Renji, the Minister of the Imperial Household, stood up and bowed to Li Xuan, Lu Yuanfang, Li Jingjia and others, saying, "The emperor is on an eastern tour today. The empress dowager has passed away, and Prince Ping'en has passed away. Although Concubine Zheng's son is the youngest son of Emperor Zhongzong and is still young, he is the most qualified person to govern the country. Please ask the kings and ministers to establish the title of king as soon as possible, govern the country, and stabilize the people's hearts."

Listening to Li Xuan's words, the ministers could not help but look up at Zheng who was sitting on a short couch on the left side of the imperial couch, and the ten-month-old Li Chongjun in Zheng's arms, their eyes full of helplessness.

Empress Wei died, and Prince Ping'en Li Chongfu also died.

The person most qualified to be regent has died, and now the only one left is Li Chongjun, who is just ten months old.

But there was no way. With Li Chongzhao on his eastern tour and there being a high possibility that he might not be found, Li Chongjun was the only legitimate heir.

Lu Yuanfang looked up at Li Jingjia and asked, "What does the King of Han think?"

"The royal family has no objection." Li Jingjia shook his head slightly. After all, Li Chongjun was the son of Li Xian and the grandson of Li Zhi. They returned to the central government in the name of Li Chongzhao. It was only natural to make Li Chongzhao's younger brother regent.

"Then let's do it. As for the title of the king..." Lu Yuanfang nodded, looked at the ministers, scanned them, and asked, "What title does the Ministry of Rites think is appropriate for the king?"

Wei Juyuan, the Minister of Rites, stood up with a bitter look on his face and said, "The Ministry of Rites believes that Prince Zhong is the right choice."

"Loyalty?" The ministers couldn't help but frowned.

Loyalty means both loyalty and filial piety, and a loyal heart.

Wei Juyuan's words have a hidden meaning.

Lu Yuanfang looked at Lin Renji and asked, "What does the Taichang Temple say?"

"Prince Wei." Lin Renji bowed seriously.

Wei means to be strong and courageous, to protect the country.

The ministers raised their eyebrows. Although the name of King Wei was not as naked as King Zhong, its meaning was clear.

Lu Yuanfang looked up at Li Xuan and asked, "What does King Peng think?"

"Yes." Li Xuan nodded, and the kings nodded in agreement at the same time.

Lu Yuanfang turned to look at the ministers and said, "Summon the whole country and make Li Chongjun, the youngest son of Emperor Zhongzong, the Prince of Wei and the governor of Yongzhou. During the emperor's eastern tour, he will supervise the country in Chang'an and stabilize the country. His mother, Zheng, will be the Queen Mother of Wei and will temporarily live in the palace to raise the Prince of Wei."

"Your Highness the Prince of Wei and the Queen Mother of Wei are here to pay their respects." All the ministers and kings bowed at the same time.

"Please stand up, everyone." Concubine Zheng raised her hand in a panic.

"Thank you, Concubine Dowager." The ministers then slowly stood up and breathed a sigh of relief.

With Prince Li Chongjun as regent, the world was temporarily stable.

Li Chongzhao's whereabouts are unknown now. Even if he will never come back, they still have a choice.

Only Wei Juyuan's face looked terribly ugly for a moment.

A question couldn't help but rise to his mind.

What if Li Chongzhao really never comes back?
Do we really want to let this person who has no blood relationship with the Wei family ascend the throne and become emperor?

No, never!

……

Lu Yuanfang turned around, looked at the ministers and said, "Now that Wu is dead, the chaos is over, but she is still the empress of Emperor Gaozong, the mother of Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, the emperor, and the grandmother of Prince Wei. She should be given some respect, so please discuss what posthumous title she should be given and where she should be buried."

All the ministers suddenly became solemn. Where Empress Wu was buried and what her posthumous title would be was no small matter.

The posthumous title, in particular, determined the entire world's verdict on Empress Wu and everything she did during this period.

And this was also the final revenge of the people of the world on Empress Wu.

Establish a bad posthumous title and leave a bad reputation for thousands of years.

Yao Lingzhang stood up with a stern face, and bowed to Lu Yuanfang, saying, "Prime Minister Lu, I think that for the sake of your respect, we should not mention the matter of the Pseudo-Zhou Dynasty, but we should deprive her of her title as Empress Gaozong and Empress Dowager Zhongzong, demote her to a commoner, and give her the posthumous title of Youli Commoner Wu."

"No!" Princess Taiping, who was standing behind Concubine Zheng, could not help but stand up and stare at Yao Lingzhang, asking, "If the Queen Mother is deprived of the position of Queen and Queen Mother, then the four brothers, the nephew Chongzhao, and the Prince of Wei, are they still the legitimate ones?"

Yao Lingzhang was slightly stunned, and Princess Taiping stepped forward and pressed him, "Even during the time of Empress Lü, Empress Gao was still buried to maintain the royal orthodoxy.

Could it be that Prime Minister Yao still intends to make someone else's son the emperor? But Prime Minister Yao should not forget that the few grandchildren left by your father are all born to your mother.

The throne of my mother has been taken away, the orthodoxy has been shaken, and the whole country is in turmoil. What should I do? Has Prime Minister Yao considered this?"

Yao Lingzhang's face suddenly became extremely ugly.

(End of this chapter)