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

Chapter 562

Inside Zichen Hall, Empress Wu looked at Pei Yan with a playful smile on her face.

At this glance, Pei Yan felt uncomfortable all over. He had a feeling that his move might be wrong.

Empress Wu glanced over Pei Yan, turned to look at Li Xuan on the other side, and then asked calmly, "King of Nanchang, what do you say about Pei Shangshu's impeachment?"

Li Xuan cupped his hands solemnly, and said: "Reporting to the Queen of Heaven, I had previously suspected that the King of Donghai was either the King of Yue or the King of Cao, but Dongnan and his party proved that the King of Donghai had nothing to do with the descendants of the King of Hailing County. Now the prince's grandson is involved in the case, so I doubt whether he is the descendant of Prince Yin, so he used the name of King of the East Sea to confuse the world, if it is true, then the Tianyin Sect is just a tool used by the descendants of Prince Yin."

Li Xuan looked sideways at Pei Yan, who had a look of surprise and suspicion, and a trace of indifference and coldness flashed across the corner of his mouth.

Pei Yan didn't seem to expect that Li Xuan had already suspected the relationship between King Donghai and King Cao Yue. This, together with everything today, directly locked him as the descendant of Prince Yin Li Jiancheng.

"If one tool is destroyed, he can make another one at any time, so the Tianyin Sect is just the tip of the iceberg of the East China Sea King's huge power." Li Xuan bowed slightly, and then said very rigorously: "What I destroyed is only the Tianyin Sect. That’s all for teaching, the one who is coming out now is the King of the East China Sea and the descendant of Prince Yin, the two should not be confused, nor can they be compared in the same breath.”

In the final analysis, the Tianyin Sect is nothing more than the remnants of the previous dynasty, but if the king of the East China Sea, Prince Yin, handles this kind of thing carelessly, it will directly shake the foundation of the Tang Dynasty.

"Pei Aiqing, you understand what the king of Nanchang said." Empress Wu turned her head, looked at Pei Yan, and said with a cold expression: "The king of Nanchang has already found out so many things in less than half a year since he became an official. You are in charge of the Ministry of punishment. It's been several years, but why there is no progress at all, those people in the Ministry of Punishment are full of wine and food, and they say that you, Pei Zilong, have no way to manage the Ministry!"

Empress Wu sternly shouted, and with a "plop", Pei Yan had already knelt down.

Pei Yan's face was ugly, but he cupped his hands calmly and said: "The Empress Dowager, I am guilty and incompetent, and I also ask the Empress Dowager to be removed from the post of Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment. ... Grab the handle, please don't punish the ministers and workers of the Ministry of Punishment."

Li Xuan looked sideways at Pei Yan, full of surprise in her heart.

Pei Yan is really good at talking. Not only did he shirk his responsibility, but he also became a good person by the way.

Empress Wu snorted coldly, and said with a sneer: "Of course you are guilty. You did not manage the Criminal Department strictly, which caused Ashina Nishugou to steal the officers and horses of the Criminal Department. You will be fined to suspend your salary for one year to atone for your crime."

"I obey the order." Pei Yan had already knelt down deeply.

Li Xuan had already lowered his eyebrows and looked down at this time, and he could see now that between Empress Wu and Pei Yan singing and singing, they had completely taken Pei Yan's responsibility for this matter.

Li Xuan felt a little bored, although Pei Yan was plotted by the King of the East China Sea, but seeing him take the responsibility out so easily, it is really uncomfortable.

At the same time, Li Xuan also had some doubts in her heart, what exactly is Pei Yan doing, so eager to absolve herself of the crime.

"Tianhou, the Ministry of War is related to the military affairs of the country. The horses of the Ministry of War were stolen, and the minister is also guilty. Please investigate thoroughly and arrest all criminals in the Ministry of War." Pei Xingjian also took a step forward at this time, bowing his hands solemnly.

Pei Yan bowed his head deeply, his face was already cold.

Empress Wu tapped lightly on the table, then looked at Pei Xingjian and said, "Pei Aiqing, you are not good at managing the military department, and your salary will also be suspended for one year. As for what you said, you are allowed to investigate yourself."

"I obey the order." Pei Xingjian bowed deeply.

Empress Wu suddenly turned her head, looked at Li Xuan, and asked with a hint of playfulness: "King of Nanchang, do you think it is appropriate for the Empress to deal with it like this?"

Li Xuan cupped his hands solemnly, and said: "Reporting to the Empress, this time the Tubo and the Turks joined forces to plan, it was because of my dynasty's expedition to Tubo, that's why I framed and linked up with the two ministers. The Empress' handling was extremely appropriate. There are explanations inside and outside.

It's just that this matter can't be settled so hastily, the minister suggested that Pei Shangshu be invited to patrol the border this winter...

After all, the Turkic tribes still need to be rectified, otherwise, if there is a change in the coming year, the consequences will be disastrous. "

Empress Wu nodded in satisfaction, and said: "What the king of Nanchang said is reasonable. Although the Ashina royal family served many times in Chang'an, they are basically still in the various ministries of the grassland. If it wasn't for the fact that the various ministries of the grassland were not ministers, how could they have the will to act recklessly."

Empress Wu's eyes fell on Pei Xingjian and Pei Yan, she thought for a while, and said directly: "As for the matter of patrolling the border, Pei Yan, you go this winter, this palace does not want to hear any more voices from the Turkic tribes. "

"I obey the order." Pei Yan immediately bowed his hands solemnly, and then stood up.

"Also, the Ministry of Criminal Affairs and Dali Temple must continue to investigate the matter of the King of the East China Sea, and we must not slack off." Empress Wu clenched her fists tightly.

Compared with a fringe clan like Li Xuan, the descendants of the hidden prince Li Jiancheng naturally pose a threat to the throne.

The Xuanwumen incident back then had an unspeakable past.

Even today, Empress Wu still dare not take it lightly.

Immediately, with a cold face, she continued: "Jin Wuwei, as well as the military commander, must keep an eye on the links between Tubo and the rebels in the court, and neither arrest nor pamper anyone in vain."

"I obey the order." Li Xuan and Pei Xingjian cupped their hands at the same time.

"For the war against Tubo, the Ministry of War must speed up its preparations. Pei Qing, this matter must not be delayed." Empress Wu looked at Pei Xingjian again.

The reason why she didn't want Pei Xingjian to patrol the border this winter was to keep him to prepare for the conquest of Tubo.

In the battle of Tubo, if there is a slight negligence, tens of thousands of powerful soldiers will be in danger of being buried in the plateau immediately, and it cannot be ignored at all.

Except for Pei Xingjian, Empress Wu was not worried about anyone else.

"I obey the order." Pei Xingjian immediately bowed his hands very seriously.

"There is no one in the court or field that makes people feel at ease." Empress Wu took a deep breath, looked at the memorial placed high on the side of the table, and said coldly: "How long did the Turkic incident happen? There are so many people impeaching the two Pei Aiqings, it seems that the king of the East China Sea has a lot of influence in the court!"

Li Xuan suddenly raised his head in surprise, and his eyes fell on the stack of bullets that only had a few dozen books on the table next to him.

He really didn't expect that so many people would impeach Pei Xingjian and Pei Yan just because the Turks stole the horses from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Punishment.

No wonder Empress Wu decided to implement Pei Xingjian and Pei Yan's punishment so quickly. It turned out to be because of this.

Li Xuan quickly bowed his head, he knew that these memorials might not have much to do with Tubo, Pei Xingjian and Pei Yan were both from the Pei family in Hedong, and they were both trusted by Li Zhi and Empress Wu, as long as they made a little progress, they would immediately become prime ministers.

Although the two didn't fight each other, it was the family's old method.

There are three hundred states in the Tang Dynasty, and I don't know how many people are staring at the location of Ping Zhangshi.

Pei's family wants to go in with two people at once, the world does not know how many people are jealous, now that they finally have an opportunity, naturally they must seize what should be seized.

Perhaps, this is also the method of the King of the East China Sea.

……

"Tianhou, Liu Yingdao, a member of the official department, has ordered to meet you." Empress Wu waved her hand and said to Li Xuan and the others, "Stand aside."

"Here!" Li Xuan, Pei Xingjian, and Pei Yan stood on one side, all bowing their hands in awe.

Immediately afterwards, an elderly man in his fifties wearing a scarlet robe walked in from the outside, and he saw his face solemn and serious, and he could clearly see caution when he raised his hands and feet.

He didn't know that his second son was dead.

Li Xuan and everyone in the hall came to this conclusion at the same time.

"Liu Yingdao, a doctor in the Ministry of Officials, pay homage to the Queen of Heaven, and the Queen of Heaven is holy!" Liu Yingdao saluted Empress Wu very rigorously, without any mistakes in etiquette.

Empress Wu raised her eyebrows, and said, "Liu Langzhong, how long have you not seen your Erlang?"

"Guangye?" Liu Yingdao's face instantly became embarrassed, but without much hesitation, he cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the Empress, Guangye and his wife are at odds. Half a month ago."

Liu Yingdao didn't lie, and everyone present was fine. If some lied, they might not be able to tell what kind of lie they were telling, but they could tell at a glance whether they were lying or not.

What's more, under a few pairs of sharp eyes, if you lie, some suspicious details can be seen immediately.

But there was nothing on Liu Yingdao.

"But what did the dog do, committing a serious crime?" Liu Yingdao raised his head cautiously, looked at Empress Wu, cupped his hands and said, "If Guangye violates the imperial court's laws, please ask the Empress to deal with them according to the law. I will never intercede."

Liu Yingdao's eyes swept across Li Xuan, Pei Guangye and Pei Yan, and his brows furrowed tightly.

Although he usually does not take the initiative to touch those sensitive things, although the news about the Turkic incident has been blocked from the outside world, it is known to everyone in the court.

Liu Yingdao didn't expect that he saw Li Xuan, Pei Guangye and Pei Yan at the same time, and his heart skipped a beat.

However, Empress Wu did not let him continue to think deeply. Empress Wu asked directly and decisively: "Liu Langzhong, how long has it been since you have been to Changle Gate?"

Liu Yingdao suddenly raised his head in astonishment, he cupped his hands in a panic and said: "Reporting to the Queen of Heaven, I have never been to Changle Gate at any other time except to go to pay my respects on Zhengdan every year."

"Then go and have a look. Your mother-in-law has been feeling uneasy recently. The imperial physician said that she doesn't have much time left." Empress Wu's words made even Li Xuan, Pei Guangye and Pei Yanye extremely astonished.

Liu Yingdao's son, Liu Guangye, is the grandson of the hidden prince Li Jiancheng, so Liu Yingdao is naturally Li Jiancheng's son-in-law.

Liu Yingdao's mother-in-law is naturally Li Jiancheng's official wife.

Concubine Yin, Zheng Guanyin,

Li Xuan bowed her head firmly, inside and outside the court, there were very few people who knew that Princess Yin was still alive.

Few knew that she had been hiding in the Changle Gate all this time.

At that time, the hidden prince Li Jiancheng and the nest king Li Yuanji were executed.

Li Yuanji's official wife, Yang Shi, married Li Shimin, enjoyed the favor, and had a son together, namely Cao Wang Li Ming.

The official wife of Prince Yin Li Jiancheng is Zheng Guanyin.

Zheng Guanyin was born in the Zheng family of Xingyang, one of the seven families with five surnames, and his father and brother were both high-ranking officials in the government and the opposition.

Even though the family was implicated because of the matter of the hidden prince Li Jiancheng, it still sat firmly in one of the five surnames and seven families, and Taizong dared not make a mistake.

As for Li Yuanji's official wife Yang, although she is the grandniece of Sui Guan Wang Yang Xiong, her family support is very weak.

Although she resolutely refused many times, she was finally succeeded by Li Shimin, but she was never canonized as a concubine by Taizong throughout her life.

(End of this chapter)