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

Chapter 1482 The one who really deserves to die is the demon queen

On the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the sky was gloomy.

In the afternoon, the sun shone through the dark clouds, piercing the earth like a long sword.

In the Zhenguan Hall, Li Xian stood beside the imperial couch, holding a memorial in his hand. He looked up at the emperor lying on the couch and said, "Father, Uncle Wang has made a memorial. He has persuaded Cui to stop interfering in this matter. Cui also agreed to help persuade Lu. Apart from Zheng Xuanguo's lineage, Zheng will not have too many problems. However, Zheng Xuankai needs to be appointed as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat."

"He is quite generous." Li Zhi sneered lightly, then nodded and said, "He has put some thought into combining kindness and severity."

Li Xuan reported the details of yesterday's conversation with Cui Zhiwen to Li Xian as comprehensively as possible, and Li Xian immediately presented it to the emperor. Fortunately, the emperor was satisfied.

Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, "Uncle Wang also said that it was impossible for Cui Shi to be the only one who went up to Songshan that night. So where were the guards who accompanied them?"

"Oh?" Li Zhi nodded and said, "Yes, he finally noticed this problem."

"In other words, Cui really brought guards with her that night?" Li Xian's eyes suddenly became uneasy.

"Don't worry, it wasn't Silang who killed him." Li Zhi sneered, shook his head, and said, "The Dali Temple reported that the man must have fled in panic after Cui fell off the cliff. After all, the Zheng family in Xingyang is not a good family."

Li Xian was slightly stunned, then nodded slowly.

As the crown prince, Li Xian knows more than the outside world.

The reason why the fifth branch, to which Zheng Rentai belonged, was able to suppress the third branch and become the main branch was because they had harmed many people from the third branch of the Zheng family.

Zheng Rentai was born a military general, and Zheng Xuanguo was not much different, especially since he had served as the General of the Left Jinwu Guard a few years ago.

Now he is the governor of Yizhou, which is only one step away from Anxi.

The emperor did not call him back for the Fengshan ceremony this time because Anxi was at war.

Although Yizhou needs to provide support, his current and future situation may not be a bad thing.

The emperor frowned and asked, "Where is Zheng Xuanguo now?"

Li Xian glanced at Wang Fulai, who was standing at the side without making any sound. Li Xian could only speak, "The news of Madam Tong'an's death was just announced by Zheng the day before yesterday. It should have reached Tianshui by now. Even if it was faster, it would still take two days to reach Yizhou. It was sent by carrier pigeon, so he should not have received the news yet."

"Have someone keep an eye on him. If he arrives in Longxi, send someone to keep an eye on him." Li Zhi's expression became serious.

"Yes!" Li Xian immediately bowed.

"Don't take it lightly." The emperor's voice suddenly became serious, and he said coldly: "For Zheng Xuanguo, this time he not only lost his mother, but also his daughter.

He lost his daughter and his mother in one day. He was going crazy and no one could stop him."

"Yes!" Li Xian immediately cupped his hands and said, "I will arrange it right away."

After taking a deep breath, Li Zhi said, "You should continue to visit Taiping these days, even on the day of your wedding."

"Yes!" Li Xian bowed heavily, but his brows were furrowed.

What is my father trying to do? Does he think that the Tongan County Guild will come to assassinate him?

Li Xian suddenly paused and asked, "What about Uncle Wang? What does Uncle Wang think?"
Are you using him as bait as well?

This idea was instantly rejected in his mind.

Given Li Xuan's intentions towards Li Xian, he would not let him fall into danger, and neither would his father.

Could it be that the two of them were plotting against someone other than Zheng Xuanguo?
"Okay, go ahead." Li Zhi suddenly spoke and waved his hand calmly.

"Yes!" Li Xian immediately bowed, then bowed and retreated.

After a moment, Li Zhi, who was lying on the imperial couch, suddenly sat up.

"Your Majesty!" Wang Fulai immediately knelt down on the ground.

"Tell Li Zhaode to immediately check Zheng Xuanguo's whereabouts." Li Zhi's face became serious. He almost overlooked it.

Zheng Xuanguo lost his daughter and mother in one day. If you don't pay attention, this kind of person might go crazy.

“Yes!” Wang Fulai immediately walked away quickly.

After Wang Fulai left, Li Zhi slowly stood up and moved his hands and feet.

He looks like a normal person.

Glancing at the medicine jar beside him, Li Zhi was also surprised.

This medicine is surprisingly effective.

Although he suffered a lot at night, he was normal during the day. This medicine is really rare.

With a light sigh, Li Zhi walked to the desk, picked up the memorial and began to read.

On the cover, there were a few large characters: "Your Highness Pei Xingjian reports on the investigation of hidden farmland in Shandong."

……

In the afternoon, west of Luoyang City, outside Zheng’s manor, in a dry and cold dense forest.

A middle-aged man in a black robe, with a solemn and sad face and a head full of white hair, put one hand on the trunk of a dead tree, gritted his teeth, his eyes full of pain, but still stared at the entrance of the manor in the distance.

Faint funeral music could be heard from the manor, along with bursts of painful cries.

The whole place is in mourning.

Full of regret.

After a long time, the middle-aged man finally calmed down, turned around and looked at the equally sad housekeeper Zheng, and asked in a low voice: "What is their schedule today?"

Butler Zheng bowed his head slightly and said, "We will set off in the afternoon and then rush to Dengfeng. After resting for a night in Dengfeng, we will rush back to Xingyang tomorrow."

"Not taking the water route?" The middle-aged man raised his head slightly and looked at Butler Zheng.

"We've already communicated with the family. The emperor is in poor health and cannot tolerate funeral music. Therefore, funeral boats are not allowed to sail on the Luo River." The butler explained in a low voice.

"He is afraid that someone will go straight to the palace from Luo River." The middle-aged man couldn't help but sneer.

The butler lowered his head and didn't dare to answer.

"Let's go to Dengfeng. We'll go there tonight to see..." The middle-aged man shook his head slightly and asked, "How is the situation at home?"

"Prince Peng is in charge of the mansion, and the family members dare not act recklessly. Many people go to visit Prince Peng after paying homage in the mansion. In addition..." The housekeeper looked up and saw the middle-aged man's eyes falling. He quickly said, "In addition, many people went to pay homage to the uncle."

"Third uncle?" The middle-aged man was slightly stunned. The housekeeper's face changed slightly. This sentence directly exposed the identity of the middle-aged man. This person was the only son of Tong'an Madam Zheng, the Duke of Tong'an, Zheng Xuanguo.

No one knew how Zheng Xuanguo, who should be in Yizhou now and hadn't even received any news, appeared here.

But he's already here.

And looking at his head full of white hair, you can see how much impact this incident had on him.

"Next year, my uncle will work with the Ministry of Personnel to be in charge of the imperial examination. Many young men from noble families who are interested in taking the imperial examination next year have visited my uncle. Even those who originally planned to take the examination in two years are now interested." The butler lowered his head slightly with an unpleasant look on his face.

"So, they are using this to divide the hearts and minds of the world's noble families and divert their attention at the same time." Zheng Xuanguo looked towards his own manor with incomparable hatred in his eyes.

But then he turned mournful.

His daughter was poisoned and his mother was thrown off a cliff and died.

The person most closely related to these matters was his wife's cousin, who had a close relationship with him, but he was also beheaded by the emperor.

Zheng Xuanguo certainly knew who the emperor was protecting.

Prince Xiang was just a shield pushed to the front. The real murderer, the one who should be killed, was the evil queen.

"Let's go." Zheng Xuanguo suddenly calmed down, turned around, and left without any hesitation.

The butler immediately turned around and followed, but when leaving, he subconsciously glanced at the shadow of the tree.

A pigeon hawk watched all this coldly.

……

In the side courtyard of Zheng’s manor, Li Xuan looked up calmly.

There was a hint of doubt in his eyes.

What exactly does Zheng Xuanguo want to do?
Since he's already back, just rush in.

His daughter was poisoned to death and his mother fell off a cliff. He had already seen these things happen, so why didn't he come out?

Could it be that he has a deeper plan?

Li Xuan could see clearly that Zheng Xuanguo was furious, but the Emperor and Empress Wu stayed in the palace and did not come out, and Prince Xiang and the Crown Prince were surrounded by too many guards, so he had no way of succeeding.

Now, the best way for him is to pretend to be impulsive, rush into the manor, open his daughter's coffin, directly reveal the truth that his daughter was poisoned, and then make the noble families in the world hate Empress Wu.

This is what is best for Li Xuan.

But Zheng Xuanguo now has other plans, which surprised Li Xuan. What exactly does he want to do? Is he going to sneak into the Eastern Palace through Zheng's daughter's marriage, and then take the opportunity to sneak into the Zhenguan Palace, or does he have other plans?

Although Zheng Xuanguo had some of Li Xuan's men around him, he didn't trust them very much. He also brought back dozens of personal guards from Yizhou and hid somewhere...

What exactly does he want to do? Is he targeting me?

Li Xuan calmed down, his eyes focused on thought.

In any case, as long as Zheng Xuanguo returns to Beijing quietly in time, he can be used as a chess piece by Li Xuan.

Even if it is not so easy to induce him, as long as you can know his actions in advance, it is enough for you to benefit in advance.

Li Xuan looked up at the sky outside, his eyes darkened, and he said, "Someone come!"

A familiar maid came in from outside and bowed, "Your Majesty."

"What time is it now?"

"Ugly end."

"It's time to go." Li Xuan sighed lightly, stood up and opened his arms. The maid immediately came forward to help Li Xuan tidy up his clothes.

At this moment, Li Xuan said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Be careful, Zheng Xuanguo has returned to Beijing, don't let him get close to Zheng Xuankai and Zheng Jiuniang."

"Yes!" The maid took a step back and nodded with a heavy expression.

Zheng Xuankai and his daughter are of great importance to them, and nothing must happen to them at this time.

Li Xuan nodded, walked out of the inner room, and then went out of the yard. People around had already passed the message.

……

Li Xuan had just stood still at the gate of the courtyard when he saw Cui Zhiwen, Cui Zhiti, and a group of Cui family members walking out at the same time. Li Xuan was the first to bow.

The other side quickly returned the greeting.

At this time, Zheng Xuangan walked over quickly, bowed to Li Xuan, Cui Zhiwen and others and said, "My dear elders, we will set off in a quarter of an hour. Please come and watch the ceremony."

"Good!" Li Xuan nodded slightly.

Zheng Xuangan glanced sideways at Cui Zhiwen and others, then turned and walked towards the mourning hall.

Zheng Xuangan, Zheng Xuanyong, the brothers Zheng Xuanan, as well as a female member including Yuanshi, stood up and cried under the watch of countless guests, and then backed away.

The Zheng family members began to clean up the mourning hall.

Today they have to rush to Dengfeng overnight, rest in Dengfeng for a day before returning to Xingyang. The time is very tight.

Li Xuan glanced around and saw that the Five Surnames and Seven Families, the wealthy families in Guanzhong, the prominent families in Jiangnan, and almost all the noble families in the world who could come today were here.

If Zheng Xuanguo were to cause a rift now, the consequences would be unimaginable, but unfortunately, he had other intentions.

……

Watching the carriage carrying the coffin heading east, Li Xuan came to Zheng Xuankai's side and asked in a low voice: "Brother Zheng, are you going to Dengfeng with me today?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will only send him to Dengfeng and then return. It will not affect tomorrow." Zheng Xuankai bowed slightly.

He knew what Li Xuan was worried about. Funerals and weddings conflict with each other and require a lot of taboos.

"It is not convenient for me to go, so please let my guards escort me for a while!" Li Xuan said with emotion.

Although Zheng Xuankai was surprised, he still bowed and said, "Yes!"

(End of this chapter)