After being dressed as Wu Zetian's daughter, she was favored by the group

Chapter 195 The shady couple
At the entrance of Hanliang Hall, the two eunuchs, Eunuch Yang and Eunuch Chen, walked back and forth anxiously like wandering gods, looking towards the royal road outside from time to time.

After waiting for a long time, Empress Wu's chariot was carried out from around the corner.

The two father-in-laws showed joyful expressions at the same time. One entered the hall to announce, and the other greeted him.

"Your Majesty, you are finally back! Your Majesty is pouring and drinking for yourself inside. He looks unhappy. Your Majesty, please be careful!" Yang Yi hurriedly reported the situation without waiting for the driver to leave.

Empress Wu nodded, and with the support of Cui Daizhao, she got off the carriage and walked towards Hanliang Hall.

As soon as he stepped into the palace gate, he bumped into Eunuch Chen who came out to greet him.

"I have met your Majesty. Your Majesty is waiting for you. I have something important to discuss with you!"

After Eunuch Chen finished speaking, he raised his hand to Cui Daizhao, and the two of them exited the hall together. Empress Wu and Li Zhi were the only ones left in the Hanliang Hall.

Empress Wu calmly entered the side hall and saw Li Zhi sitting on the main seat, drinking alone.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!" Empress Wu bowed slightly and deliberately used court etiquette to greet Li Zhi.

"Mei Niang, you are finally back. Come sit down and have a drink with me!" Li Zhi's eyes were red and he waved to Empress Wu drunkenly.

Empress Wu slowly walked to Li Zhi's side, then lifted up her skirt and sat down, reached out to grab the wine glass from Li Zhi's hand, and asked deliberately with a straight face:
"Sanlang... why did you come to my place for no reason? Do you have something on your mind?"

"Mei Niang, Mei Niang, I really can't hide anything from you!" Li Zhi pointed at Empress Wu, then leaned back, half lying on the ground, facing the roof, and said with a sense of loss:
"You don't know that I, as the emperor, have been really boring lately. If this continues, I will really become a loner!"

Empress Wu sneered at the corner of her mouth, her heart as clear as a mirror, but she deliberately pretended not to understand, and brought out the prince Li Hong and comforted Li Zhi:

"What nonsense are you talking about? With Hong'er taking care of your worries, how can Sanlang be boring?"

Li Zhi became anxious when he heard this. He sat up and was about to speak, but he held back the words when he reached his lips: "Oh! I really don't know how to tell you!"

"Then stop talking!" Wu Hou picked up the wine glass and drank a glass of wine without any intention of following Li Zhi's words.

Empress Wu's nonchalant attitude made Li Zhi even more irritated. He snatched the empty wine glass from Empress Wu's hand, filled himself with wine, and then drank it down in one gulp.

"You don't let me say it, so I insist on saying it. It's not all your fault for giving birth to a good son for me. He is in a terrible situation now. He shoulders all military and state affairs, and all the courtiers are turning to him. But I, the real dragon emperor, are on the contrary. It’s a bit redundant!”

The corner of Empress Wu's mouth curled up, as if she had guessed it a long time ago, but she still pretended to be surprised and asked:
"What's wrong with Hong'er doing this? I've heard that since he took charge of the country's governance, he has devoted himself to the affairs of state every day, doing everything by himself, and never slacking off. The prince is sharing your worries. Sanlang should be happy. That's right!" "Alas!" Li Zhi sighed and said with a helpless smile: "Of course I am happy that the prince is working hard to ensure peace, but..." When Li Zhi said this, he looked at Empress Wu, and they looked at each other. Li Zhi didn't hide anything anymore and complained directly to his wife: "It's just that this child is too diligent. Now there is only the prince in the court, and there is no emperor like me. Don't you think it's irritating?"

At that moment, Li Zhi, under the influence of alcohol, hugged Empress Wu and started to complain to her!
It was said that in order to support the power of the East Palace, the prince promoted officials without consulting him; and there were some memorials submitted by local officials, but the prince did not transfer them to him for review after handling them; what's more, the court meeting became a talking point No matter whether it was right or wrong, no official came forward to oppose the political affairs reported by the officials in the East Palace. As a result, Li Jiafa felt that he, the emperor, seemed to have been ignored and became a dispensable mascot.

After talking about this, Empress Wu found it inappropriate to pretend any longer, so she picked up the wine bottle, took the initiative to pour a glass of wine for Li Zhi, and continued to console him:

"Sanlang, I advise you to keep your eyes open. Sooner or later, the country of the Tang Dynasty will be handed over to Hong'er. Anyway, he will become the emperor sooner or later. You are already old, so why bother with your son!"

Li Zhi had half finished the wine glass. Hearing this, he slapped the table hard and retorted angrily:
"I'm not angry with him, I just feel that he doesn't take me as the emperor seriously. In the past, when you were in charge of the power of approving red people, you would discuss it with me no matter how big or small it was. But this kid, after getting the power of approving red people, My back wings are hard. I hang out with a bunch of sycophants all day long. What do they think of me? I haven’t abdicated yet, but now I have become the Supreme Emperor! Meiniang, you too, won’t bite in court, if this continues. , Aren’t we both just decorations?”

Empress Wu was very clear about the direction of the court. Ever since she handed over the power of approving the red, she had really become a hands-off shopkeeper. She listened to politics behind the curtain every day. She only cared about Li Zhi's health and had no involvement in government affairs. She was also strictly ordered to do so. The officials here do not stand up to the forces in the East Palace. They endure when they are suppressed and suffer when they are demoted. In short, they give up the stage and leave it to the prince to perform to his heart's content.

This "retreat to advance" style of play is indeed very disadvantageous in the short term, but over time, it can achieve miraculous results.

After this battle, Empress Wu made Li Zhi feel the pressure from the forces in the East Palace. Although she herself temporarily lost power, she stabilized her position in the harem. The key was to establish a perfect person in Li Zhi's heart who was not greedy for power. image.

She knew who Li Zhi was. She said she didn't want it and didn't care, but she was very honest with her body.

It is one thing to seek pleasure, but another to possess great power.

After sleeping in the same bed with Li Zhi for so many years, she knew that this weak-looking husband was more sinister than anyone else.

As long as he remains in power, he will never let the imperial power fall by the wayside. He can allow his ministers to form cliques for personal gain and compete for power, but they must be within his power control.

There is a saying that as the emperor, what he gives you is yours. If he doesn't want to give it, you can't take it away, not even from the queen or the prince.

Now Dong Gong's behavior is to rob what Li Zhi is holding in his hand. From Li Zhi's point of view, this is naturally unacceptable.

Although Prince Li Hong is deeply loved by Li Zhi, and the throne will definitely be passed to this son in the future, when it will be given to him is not the crown prince's decision, but Li Zhi's decision.

It was precisely because of this that Empress Wu took the initiative to delegate power. Now that Li Zhi had come to her door, and with the support of the emperor, she, as an empress, had nothing to worry about.

The couple closed the door and clinked their wine glasses, and a new political storm was about to sweep across the entire Tang Dynasty.

The logic is not confusing. Historically, Li Zhi was indeed such a person. He liked Prince Li Hong and identified him as the most suitable successor. However, he also loved power and did not allow his imperial power to be diluted by the prince. According to historical records, in order to centralize power, he even came up with the tactic of asking Empress Wu to "proclaim her authority before the court". He felt that the imperial power was in the hands of Empress Wu who had no relatives, which made him feel more at ease. Alas, in short, I will reveal Li Laosan’s tricks one by one later.