Back to the prosperous Tang Dynasty to be the emperor

Chapter 610 Li Xian Invites a Banquet

On the seventh day of March in the second year of Yifeng, Empress Wu decreed that General Wu Sansi of the Zuo Yulin Army be transferred to be the servant of the household, Wu Yixi, a general of the right Yulin Army, was transferred to be General Zuo Weiwei, and Wu Yide, a general of the Zuo Yulin Army, was transferred. As the commander of Langzhong of the Treasury Department of the Ministry of War, he transferred Zuo Yulin Junlang General Wu Yizong to Zuo Jinwuwei Zhonglang General. So far, except for Zuo Yulin Junlang Wu Yining who still remained in the Yubayashi Army, the rest of the martial arts disciples are exhausted. All have adjusted the palace ban system.

On the ninth day of March in the second year of Yifeng, the Enke, opened for the prince's new book, was held in Gongyuan. The Martial Arts Field was held in the south of the city. Cen Changqian, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Wu Yixi, General Zuo Weiwei, were the chief and deputy chief examiners. 37 Wu Jinshi were selected.

In June of the second year of Yifeng, there was a severe drought in Henan and Hebei, and there was no rain for more than a month. There were not enough emergency documents in various states, and Empress Wu had no choice but to order donations from wealthy families in Guanzhong, Henan, Hebei and other places for disaster relief. It's a drop in the bucket, and embarrassment is of great use, and the court is already in a difficult situation.

"Withdraw, withdraw, I am not hungry!"

Due to serious illness, Emperor Gaozong has seldom dealt with government affairs in these years, but it does not mean that he does not care about people's livelihood. It was already noon, but Gaozong had no appetite at all, he just glanced at the dishes lined up on the table, waved his hand, and gave an order impatiently.

"Your Majesty, you haven't eaten for a day, please..."

Gaozong could lose his temper, but the servants at the side didn't dare to starve him, so how could he just withdraw the food like this, he could only accompany him and carefully persuade him.

"I've said it before, I'm not hungry, I'm leaving!"

Gaozong just drove back to Xiyuan this morning. He inspected the disaster situation along the way. He saw that the city was full of victims, and he was in an extremely bad mood. After the servant finished speaking, he already drank impatiently.

"promise."

Seeing that Emperor Gaozong was showing signs of losing his temper, the servant did not dare to persuade him any more, and humbly agreed, and with a wave of his hand, he ordered all the eunuchs and maids who were waiting beside him to come forward and clean up those who hadn't been moved. Meals with chopsticks.

"Ok?"

Before everyone could make a move, a displeased snort was heard, and Empress Wu in a long purple dress led several palace maids to come out from behind the screen.

The eunuchs and maids are all people who have been in the palace for a long time. Looking at the face is the basic skill of life. As soon as they hear something wrong, they know the displeasure of Empress Wu. Going forward to pack up the food, everyone bowed and retreated to the side.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, it's time for you to eat."

Empress Wu ignored the retreating eunuchs and court ladies, walked gracefully to Gaozong's side, gave a slight blessing, and gently remonstrated.

"I, uh, I'm not hungry, Mei Niang can use it first."

Gaozong was annoyed, but he didn't dare to vent to Empress Wu, he could only shake his head with a wry smile, and responded casually.

"Your Majesty, your dragon body is important, how about letting this concubine serve you for meals?"

Empress Wu had eyes and ears all over the palace. She knew that Gaozong had a terrible appetite recently and her appetite was greatly reduced. She was really afraid that Gaozong would fall ill again, so she rushed to Qianyuan Palace after finishing her official duties. It is to urge Gaozong to eat some food, not only because of family concern, but also because of political needs, because Empress Wu can't completely dominate the court at this time, and still needs to carry the banner of Gaozong However, if Emperor Gaozong fell in this way, all the efforts of Empress Wu in the first few decades would be in vain.

"Hey, Mei Niang, I really can't eat it. How can I eat it when I think of so many victims in the city who are starved of food?"

Gaozong's ignorance of politics was because he had more than enough heart but not enough energy, but he still had the country in his heart, and the emotion at this moment was undoubtedly from his sincerity.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. The ministers and concubines have ordered food to be transferred from the south of the Yangtze River. It will arrive in a few days. Your Majesty should eat first."

As soon as Gaozong mentioned the current disaster situation, Empress Wu immediately felt a sense of powerlessness. It wasn't that she was inattentive, but that she had tried everything she could think of. However, the disaster was too violent and the area affected was so extensive. , the imperial court is also in dire straits at the moment, if they want to provide disaster relief, they may not even be able to send out the officials' Lumi. At this time, Empress Wu can only use lies to deceive Gaozong. It is true that the grain and rice in the south of the Yangtze River have already been harvested, but it will take at least one and a half months to transport the grain from the south of the Yangtze River to Henan and Hebei.

"It's best to be like this, but how can the distant water save the near thirsty, I really feel uneasy."

Empress Wu spoke with full confidence, but after all Gaozong had been emperor for many years, it was not easy to be deceived. He knew that Empress Wu's words were just words of consolation and could not be taken seriously at all. Not only did the anxiety in his heart not diminish, but On the contrary, he was even more worried.

"Report to Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is here."

Seeing that Gaozong was so worried, Empress Wu didn't know how to comfort him for a while. When she was suffering from a headache, she saw Cheng Denggao hastily turned from behind the screen, walked quickly to the front, bowed, and hurried He made a statement.

"Your Majesty's dragon body is not in good condition, let him go back first."

Empress Wu was upset at the moment, she didn't want to see Li Xian, the son who made her feel frustrated from time to time, and without waiting for Gao Zong to speak, she frowned, waved her hands and scolded in a toneless voice.

"promise!"

Seeing Empress Wu's unhappy expression, Cheng Denggao dared not delay any longer, he hastily complied with his promise, and he hurried to retreat.

"Wait a minute, since Xian'er is here, let's see each other first."

Gaozong was in a bad mood at the moment, and he had no intention of meeting Li Xian at first, but after thinking about it, he felt that Li Xian might be able to solve the current predicament of the court, after all, it was Li Xian who came out during the severe drought in Guanzhong. In view of this, Gao Zong ignored the fact that Empress Wu had already made a decision, made a move, and drank in a calm voice.

"promise."

Hearing that Emperor Gaozong's opinions were completely at odds with Empress Wu, Cheng Denggao couldn't help being stunned for a moment. He peeked at Empress Wu's face and saw that Empress Wu didn't express much, so he hurriedly responded and retreated in a hurry. After going out, after a short while, he accompanied Li Xian and turned back again.

"The son and minister kowtowed to the father and mother."

Seeing Gaozong and Empress Wu sitting side by side behind a few children, Li Xian didn't dare to be rude, so he hurriedly walked a few steps, rushed to the front, and saluted respectfully.

"No, no, come and show the prince a seat!"

Gaozong had pinned his hope of resolving the disaster on Li Xian, so he was extremely kind and yelled loudly.

"I thank my father, Emperor Long En."

Li Xian finished the ceremony meticulously, thanked him, and then sat down on the brocade pier brought by a group of eunuchs, as if he was respectfully listening to instructions.

"Xian'er is looking for me so urgently, but what's the matter?"

Gao Zong was obviously very satisfied with Li Xian's respectful and modest attitude, stroked his long beard on his chest with a pleasant smile, and asked gently.

"Returning to the father, the minister has occasionally obtained some good things recently, and he dare not enjoy them all alone. He has arranged a special banquet. If the father and the mother can honor the party, then it will be an honor for the child."

Li Xian slightly bowed, cupped his hands and answered, his words were full of sincerity.

"This……"

Gaozong originally expected Li Xian to provide advice on the disaster situation, but when he heard that Li Xian's intention was to invite a banquet, he couldn't help but be taken aback, for a moment he really didn't know what to say.

"Confused! I didn't see that the eastern capital is full of disaster victims. Your father can't eat because of it, but you are lucky enough to have a big banquet. If it spreads, how will the world think of my Tianjia, huh?"

Empress Wu thought that Li Xian was not pleasing to the eyes, but now she was upset because of the inability to rescue the disaster. Looking at Gaozong's reaction, she also felt displeased. She thought she had seized the opportunity to criticize Li Xian. Unwilling to let it go, he put on a straight face and scolded him unceremoniously.

"The empress mother taught me the right thing, but my son held this banquet just for the great event of disaster relief. I also ask the emperor father and the empress mother to spare a trip, and I will definitely get something."

Li Xian came prepared, he would not get angry because of Empress Wu's stinky face, he just smiled gently, first apologized, and then revealed his true intentions.

"Oh? Really?"

What Gao Zong was worried about was the disaster. Hearing Li Xian's words with such certainty, he immediately became interested, straightened his back, sat up straight, and asked in surprise.

"Xian'er, don't mess around, the important affairs of this country are not for trifling matter, don't back down!"

Although Empress Wu didn't like Li Xian, she knew that Li Xian's ability was extraordinary. Hearing what he said, she faintly felt that there was something strange about it, and she didn't want to do what Li Xian wanted, her face sank, without hesitation The ground issued an order to evict guests.

"Wait, Xian'er said that he can solve the disaster, but I'm very curious. I don't know how to deal with it. Can you tell me what to do?"

Gaozong has always been strict with his wives, but in the face of such a major disaster, he did not dare to let Empress Wu act recklessly, waved his hand hastily, and stopped Empress Wu's move to expel Li Xian, very suspicious Looking at Li Xian, he asked solemnly.

"Father is a lesson, the ancients said: Seeing is believing, hearing is false, even if the child talks about the hype, but it is not as good as what the father saw with his own eyes, so please forgive the child for giving up first."

Li Xian's plan is very big, and his focus is not only on the current disaster situation, but also to take advantage of this opportunity to rise in one fell swoop, so he refused to reveal the details of the show so lightly, so he smiled shyly and sold himself It's over.

"Well……"

Gaozong was obviously whetted by Li Xian, and he really wanted to go to the banquet. He opened his mouth and wanted to agree to it, but before he could say anything, Empress Wu suddenly gave him a hand , The promise was taken back into the stomach.

"Does Xian'er know that you have no reason to joke before? If this matter is not harmonious, what should we do?"

Empress Wu always thought that she was familiar with government affairs, but this time she was faced with a sudden catastrophe, but there was no solution. Since then, she didn't believe that Li Xian could have any good strategies to speak of. At this moment, Li Xian's words were so satisfying , I deliberately dug a big hole for Li Xian to dance. As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.

(End of this chapter)