Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 333 Wu Meiniang's Scheming Methods (Part )

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was sunny and windy.

Outside the side courtyard of the Inner Guest House, a carriage slowly stopped, and then Wu Shun, dressed in a light green skirt and with a simple and elegant figure, got out of the carriage.

She was accompanied by a much younger, pretty young woman.

If you look closely, you can see that the two are somewhat similar.

This person was none other than Wu Shun's third sister, Wu Yi.

That is Guo Xiaoshen’s wife.

Wu Yuanqing watched his two sisters get off the car, then walked to the back of the car, holding two boxes, one large and one small, and followed his two sisters into the side yard.

Today, the emperor specifically allowed the concubines in the palace to meet with family members and guests.

Wu Yuanqing is Wu Meiniang's elder brother. Although their relationship is ordinary and even a little cold, Wu Yuanqing is still Wu Meiniang's elder brother.

When he acted outside the palace, even if he did not use the banner of Wu Meiniang, no one dared to look down on him just because his sister was the emperor's concubine.

Today, Wu Meiniang meets her family.

The location is naturally in the palace.

People from outside usually can't even enter the palace easily.

Wu Yuanqing inherited the title of his father Wu Shigui, Duke of Yingguo. Wu Shun's husband Helan Yueshi held the title of Baron of Yingshan County. Although Wu Yi's husband Guo Xiaoshen did not have a title, he was a ninth-rank Wenlinlang official.

Other servants and the like were not qualified to enter the palace at all.

So even though the box in his arms was very heavy, Wu Yuanqing moved it into the courtyard himself.

At this time, Wu Shun and Wu Yi had already entered the hall.

Wu Yuanqing followed him into the hall, but he just looked up at the bamboo curtain, bowed slightly, and then retreated to the door of the hall and sat down.

……

Behind the bamboo curtain, Wu Meiniang glanced at Wu Yuanqing, who was now much more knowledgeable and sensible, then turned to look at Wu Shun and asked, "Sister, how is my health?"

"Mother is in good health!" Wu Shun shook his head with amusement and said, "She's having fun every day with the ladies of the various families."

Wu Meiniang was speechless, but helpless, as that was just her mother's personality.

But fortunately, they don't have to worry too much. No one dares to underestimate her mother's identity as the legitimate daughter of the Hongnong Yang family.

Not to mention, in addition to Prime Minister Yang Shidao, the Yang family also had many other members holding various positions in the court.

Even if they are sisters from the same clan, they marry prominent figures in the court, and ordinary people really don't dare to cause trouble for them easily.

"Nothing's wrong, that's good." Wu Meiniang breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to ask, "How is my brother-in-law now? Is he still feeling depressed?"

"Hmm!" Wu Shun sighed somewhat dejectedly and said, "I finally returned alive from Liaodong, but not only did I not make any further progress, I even lost a hand. Although the court gave me the rank of Guerrilla General, I can't do anything."

"Guerrilla General is enough. He is a fifth-rank official. With this position, when Minzhi grows up, he can at least be promoted to a ninth-rank official." Wu Meiniang said comfortingly.

Minzhi is Wu Shun’s son Helan Minzhi.

Wu Shun nodded helplessly.

Wu Meiniang sighed softly and said, "On the battlefield of Goguryeo, even Your Majesty once charged into the front, as did the King of Jiangxia, the Duke of Ying, and others. It's already a great fortune that my brother-in-law was able to return alive from the Goguryeo battlefield. Moreover... with this hand, no one will ever pursue the matter of Helan Chushi."

Wu Shun nodded somewhat relaxedly.

Wu Meiniang turned to look at her sister Wu Yi, her expression becoming serious. She asked, "How is it? Is my brother-in-law still in contact with the Prince of Jin?"

Wu Yi said helplessly, "Sister, the Prince of Jin is still the governor of Bingzhou, and the Prince of Jin's Palace is also in Taiyuan. Even if the Guo family wants to completely cut ties with the Prince of Jin, it won't be done in a short period of time. Besides, my husband once worked in the Prince of Jin's Palace. Although no one outside knows about it, the people of the Wei family do know about it."

Guo Xiaoshen is now the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, and the official position was introduced by the Wei family. If he really turns against them, the Wei family will probably cut off ties with him immediately.

Wu Meiniang sneered, "I think the Guo family is still reluctant to sever ties with Prince Jin. What? Do they still hope that Prince Jin can turn the tables?"

"Sister!" Wu Yi sighed and said, "The Guo family has invested a lot in Prince Jin, but they have no relationship with the Crown Prince. Even if Prince Jin cannot succeed to the throne in the future, he is still a prince and the governor of a state, which is more than enough to repay the Guo family's current investment."

"These are all what my brother-in-law said." Wu Meiniang saw at a glance who had taught Wu Yi these words. She shook her head slightly and said, "Although my sister is in the palace, the palace maids who went out to buy things have brought back a lot of news these days. The reputation of Prince Jin in Chang'an City is very bad now."

After the grand court ceremony on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, there was more discussion about the Prince of Jin in Chang'an City.

When the King of Jin returned from the Eastern Expedition and was seriously ill, he made some improper moves, which eventually led to Liu Li being dismissed from his post and committing suicide, and Yuwen Jie being beheaded.

The person who reported and impeached them was Li Yifu, an official of Prince of Jin.

There are so many things here that are worth exploring.

What did Prince Jin do, what did Yuwen Jie do, and what did Liu Li do while Your Majesty was seriously ill?

There are countless people in Chang'an City discussing this now.

But the people of Chang'an City are least afraid of the government's intervention. Under the emperor's feet, every family has relatives and friends.

In this way, the news was passed into the palace from the palace maids who went out to purchase goods.

Wu Meiniang keenly caught the strange smell in this, as if someone was secretly pushing it from behind, but she couldn't see who was pushing it.

Maybe it's the prince, or maybe it's someone else.

But no matter what, it is disadvantageous to King Jin.

Wu Yi nodded, glanced at Wu Shun sideways, and whispered, "Sister, can you please go out for a while?"

Wu Shun's brows furrowed instantly. She stared at Wu Yi and asked, "Do you have something to tell Mei Niang? Is it about the Guo family? I'm warning you, don't bother Mei Niang with things outside the palace. Things around her are no easier than those outside the palace."

It has always been said that once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea.

There shouldn't be too many bloodless murders in the palace.

"Don't worry, sister, it's not a bad thing!" Wu Yi bowed to Wu Shun, and then whispered, "For things like this, the fewer people who know about it, the better."

"Sister!" Wu Meiniang frowned and looked at Wu Yi.

Wu Yi turned around and looked at Wu Meiniang, and said, "Sister, this is really good news, especially for your situation in the palace."

Wu Meiniang raised her eyebrows, then she turned to look at Wu Shun and said, "Sister, please step aside!"

Wu Shun hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and said, "Okay."

……

After watching Wu Shun leave the palace, Wu Meiniang looked at Wu Yi and asked curiously, "Tell me, sister, whose family had an accident outside the palace?"

"Sister!" Wu Yi opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Wu Meiniang snorted smugly, "What's so hard about this? You don't know what's going on in the palace. What you know is what's going on outside the palace. And the only people who can be involved in the palace's affairs are the concubines' families outside the palace."

Wu Yi looked at Wu Meiniang with admiration, then nodded and said, "It was Concubine Xian's father, Xinzhou Governor Xu Xiaode, who was impeached, but His Majesty suppressed the news."

"Sister Xu!" Wu Meiniang was slightly stunned. She didn't expect that the person in trouble was Xu Hui's father.

She nodded gently, then said, "Don't worry, I will tell Sister Xu about this matter. Also, don't tell anyone else about this matter. His Majesty is not without reason to suppress this news."

"Is that it?" Wu Yi looked at Wu Meiniang with some disappointment.

Wu Meiniang couldn't help but laugh, then poked Wu Yi's nose and said, "Sister Xu treated me very well in the palace. How could I take advantage of her misfortune and plot against her to become the virtuous concubine? You shouldn't be like this."

"Yes!" Wu Yi sighed and nodded helplessly.

In fact, if Wu Yi was more experienced, he would have instantly heard that in Wu Meiniang's mind, a complete set of methods had already appeared to make Xu Hui lose her position as the virtuous concubine.

There are many things that you don’t have to do yourself. As long as you have a piece of information, these people in the palace can do something interesting.

But unfortunately, Wu Yi didn't understand.

"Okay, you can go back." Wu Meiniang waved her hand slightly, and Wu Yi immediately nodded and was about to get up.

Wu Meiniang thought for a moment and said, "Wait a moment. Prince Jin has done his best for Sister Xu. Go back and ask your brother-in-law to tell Prince Jin to find a few people. One is the descendants of Yuwen Jie and Liu Xiang. No matter what, they died because of him."

"Yes!"

"Second, let him go find Prime Minister Chu." Wu Meiniang's expression turned cold, and she said calmly, "As for how to find him, let him figure it out himself... Then, Sister A and Sister Xu won't owe him anything."

"Yes!" Wu Yi bowed immediately.

"By the way, my sister embroidered several sets of clothes for you and your family members in the palace. Take them back." Wu Meiniang's expression softened.

"Thank you, sister!"

……

Ganlu Gate was just ahead. Wu Meiniang walked towards it and asked casually, "Where is Sister Xu now?"

"The virtuous concubine is in Ganlu Palace!" The maid beside her bowed slightly.

"Are you still in Ganlu Palace?" Wu Meiniang looked ahead and said softly, "Ever since His Majesty returned from Goguryeo, it has always been Sister Xu who has been serving by your side. Even the Imperial Concubine, the Concubine Shu, and the Concubine De have not been summoned to sleep with you."

"Yes!" The maid beside her was a little scared for some reason.

Wu Meiniang took a deep breath, calmed down, and then said calmly: "Sister Xu is a virtuous concubine, and has always had a good reputation for her virtue. It would be good for her to stay with Your Majesty for a while longer."

"Yes!" The maid beside her immediately lowered her head.

"Okay, let's go see Sister Xu." Wu Meiniang suddenly smiled, looked towards Ganlu Palace, and said softly: "Sister Xu is virtuous. I have some interesting stories outside the palace, which is a good opportunity to tell Sister Xu."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)