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

Chapter 588 Let Li Wu Come Back (First Update)
Inside Ganlu Palace, Li Chengqian sat behind the desk, put down the memorial in his hand, looked at Wu Meiniang who cautiously walked into the palace, and asked directly, "Why did Concubine Wu come to see me?"

Wu Meiniang walked to a distance of only ten feet from the imperial desk, then knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, it's Sister Xu's business."

Li Chengqian nodded calmly and said, "You go ahead."

Wu Meiniang lowered her head and said softly, "When Sister Xu was deposed, although it was me who turned myself in, but here..."

"It's about Xu Xiaode." Li Chengqian interrupted Wu Meiniang and said, "I know that Xu Xiaode was impeached by the censor for corruption. Because of Xu Hui's matter, my father didn't want to reveal this, so he warned him secretly. But he didn't expect Xu Xiaode to be so stubborn. In the end, Xu Hui was deposed."

Yes, although there were various reasons why Xu Hui was deposed, it was ultimately because of what her father did outside that implicated her.

Xu Hui was known for her virtue in the court, and she was always said to take Empress Zhangsun as her role model.

But her father is a corrupt official.

What an irony the contrast is.

Therefore, the late emperor had no choice but to depose Xu Hui for other reasons, and then implicated Xu Xiaode and demoted him to the governor of a lower state.

Without the support of the palace, Xu Xiaode finally came to his senses and began to be a good official again.

Wu Meiniang looked up in surprise. She didn't expect that Li Chengqian actually knew about this matter.

Looking at Wu Meiniang, Li Chengqian sighed and shook his head, saying, "Jieyu, I know what you are worried about, but don't worry, I won't do anything to you because of what happened between Concubine Xu and her sister. In the final analysis, Concubine Xu is just a beauty. After giving birth to a child, she will be just a talented person. I know everything."

Wu Meiniang understood now.

Li Chengqian would not be completely confident in Xu Xiaode because of his previous experience, so even after Xu Hui entered the palace, she would not have much influence on Li Chengqian through Xu Yi.

"I am sorry for disturbing Your Majesty because of my worries." Wu Meiniang immediately kowtowed deeply.

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "That's it. You can leave now."

Wu Meiniang hesitated for a moment, but still bowed and said, "Good evening, Your Majesty. I will take my leave."

Watching Wu Meiniang leave Ganlu Palace, Li Chengqian's eyes flickered.

What will this person do at this time?

Li Chengqian turned sideways and looked at Zhang Ananda on the side.

Zhang Ananda immediately bowed slightly.

Li Chengqian completely relaxed.

……

Wu Meiniang walked calmly in the palace corridor, and all the palace servants passing by stopped and saluted her.

Wu Meiniang nodded lightly in return and walked back to her own bedroom.

Cuiyun Tower.

It is located near Guanyun Hall and Ningyun Hall.

It used to be just a nameless small building, but it was named Cuiyun Tower only when Wu Meiniang moved in.

From here, you can clearly see the location of Lingyan Pavilion.

Wu Meiniang waved away the maid, then walked to the bronze mirror on the dressing table and sat down.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

When the late emperor was alive, she almost lived in Ganlu Palace, but now, she couldn't even stay in front of the emperor for half a quarter of an hour.

Concentrating her expression, Wu Meiniang reached out and took the brown-red box beside her, took out a letter from it, and looked at the letter in a daze.

The letter was brought in by Wu Meiniang's mother, Yang.

Although the palace has strict rules, it does not isolate the flow of information between the inside and outside. It just needs to go through strict scrutiny.

The content of the letter talks about what happened after Wu Yuanqing arrived in Shanzhou.

It's winter now, so it's time to check the ditches in various places and prepare for flood control next year.

However, for some unknown reason, he came into conflict with Yang's people.

Originally, this matter would have been solved if both sides had given in a little, but no one was willing to give in, and it was useless for Yang to write a letter.

Therefore, Yang hoped that Wu Meiniang could persuade Wu Yuanqing to be more restrained, after all, that place was Hongnong.

Wu Meiniang put down the letter, raised her head and looked at the bronze mirror in front of her.

She could clearly see that her brows were furrowed.

Is it really that simple to check the ditches?

Wu Meiniang sighed softly. When she first learned that Wu Yuanqing had been transferred to be the Chief Clerk of Chenzhou, she sensed something was amiss.

Over the years, Wu Yuanqing had been trying to please them because Wu Meiniang was a concubine in the palace.

Of course, a lot of this is due to the Hongnong Yang family.

However, the Hongnong Yang family treated Wu Yuanqing very badly.

In the past, in Chang'an, the Hongnong Yang family disliked Wu Yuanqing and would at most roll their eyes at him, but basically nothing would happen. Wu Yuanqing also tried his best to avoid the Yang family.

But Wu Yuanqing had hatred in his heart.

Wu Meiniang knew this very well.

In Chang'an, Wu Yuanqing could do nothing, but now, Wu Yuanqing was transferred to be the Chief Clerk of Chenzhou.

It’s better for the county magistrate to take charge now!
It's not a problem for Wu Yuanqing to vent some of his resentment.

But there is a governor in Chenzhou, and countless people in Chenzhou have been bribed by the Hongnong Yang family. Even if Wu Yuanqing wants to do something, he will be unable to move forward once he goes against the Hongnong Yang family.

But Wu Yuanqing did just that.

"Checking the ditches, this is not checking the ditches at all, this is obviously checking the fields!" Wu Meiniang sighed lightly, then put the letter away and looked at herself in the mirror in a daze.

After the emperor returned from Luoyang, he stayed in the harem for three days. The first thing he did was to meet Wu Yuanqing and transfer him to be the Chief Clerk of Chenzhou.

Wu Meiniang just didn't believe that the emperor didn't know the true relationship between her and Wu Yuanqing.

So, the emperor did it on purpose.

This made Wu Meiniang unable to help but think of what happened in Luoyang.

Lu Wencao stole and sold grain from the treasury, and Li Hongtai accused Zhangsun Wuji of treason.

With Wu Meiniang's vision, she could naturally see the flashing swords and shadows going back and forth.

She couldn't help but sigh softly. How stupid must that person be to look down on the emperor so much?

Do you really think that the emperor is a cowardly emperor who was raised by women in the deep palace?
Hongnong Yang family.

There are only a handful of people in the whole world who can look down on the emperor like this.

It is related to Luoyang, Lu Wencao, Wu Yuanqing, and the emperor. Everything here is clear.

Wu Meiniang was a little confused. The people of Hongnong Yang family should not be that stupid.

Unless they have other plans.

In addition, there is the matter of the emperor. Although the emperor told her today that Xu Hui would not threaten her.

Can you believe these words?

……

Wu Meiniang stood up, walked to the bed and lay down.

Looking up, a trace of solemnity flashed in her eyes.

Wu Meiniang actually expected the emperor's words, but she knew it in her heart.

Although she said so, she also knew that if she did not meet the emperor today, then one day she might be exiled from the palace and forced to become a nun at Ganye Temple.

It is very likely that Xu Hui will stay in the palace forever in her place.

Xu Hui, Xu Yi.

Wu Meiniang herself had once thought about how to stay with the emperor forever. She didn't believe that Xu Hui would enter the palace again without thinking about how to stay in the palace forever.

Wu Meiniang sighed softly.

She had also thought of such a method, but she didn't know why. After the emperor ascended the throne, the way he looked at her was a little different from before.

Thinking of this, Wu Meiniang's eyes fixed.

Her face was slightly gloomy.

Because she suddenly realized that in some aspects, Xu Hui had an advantage over her.

Wu Meiniang's current status in the palace is the late emperor's concubine, and she stays in the palace to help the empress take care of the princes and princesses, but Xu Hui is different.

Xu Hui was not the concubine of the late emperor at all.

Since being deposed by the previous emperor, Xu Hui has not been on the harem list.

To be frank, Xu Hui was not even qualified to become a monk at Ganye Temple.

If she had not attempted suicide after the death of the previous emperor and attracted the emperor's attention, she would have been dead by now.

It was also because of this that there was no legal or etiquette obstacle for Xu Hui to enter the palace again.

But Wu Meiniang was different. She was the concubine of the previous emperor, the concubine of the previous emperor who stayed in the palace.

Every word and action was in the hands of the emperor.

If the emperor was unhappy one day, Wu Meiniang might be expelled from the palace at any time.

But Xu Hui still has the chance to give birth to the emperor's children.

And they are two sisters, working together.

Thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi!

"It seems so, but is it really that easy?" Wu Meiniang looked up and shook her head slightly.

It was easy for Xu Hui to climb into the emperor's bed, but she wanted to officially become one of the emperor's concubines. Although there was no problem in terms of etiquette, it was ultimately something that people criticized.

At least it’s not that easy to pass the Queen’s level.

Besides, the emperor himself should have his own ideas on how to treat Xu Hui.

……

Wu Meiniang suddenly smiled bitterly. Xu Hui had a hard time, but was it easy for her, Wu Meiniang?
Especially now that the Hongnong Yang family is at odds with the emperor.

Although the emperor did not show obvious likes or dislikes, who knows what he was thinking.

Hongnong Yang family, emperor.

Wu Meiniang now has no idea what either of them is thinking.

If a conflict really arises between the two sides, what should she do?

Hongnong Yang family.

Wu Meiniang had to admit that although she had her own reasons for becoming the late emperor's concubine and staying in the palace, many of them were also due to the emperor's consideration for the Hongnong Yang family.

But, that is the emperor!
Wu Meiniang had sufficient understanding of Li Chengqian.

Back then, she was able to force the late emperor to the point of abdicating step by step. Even now, Wu Meiniang doesn't know how the emperor did it.

Although the emperor has restrained himself in the past two years, Wu Meiniang has a hunch.

It was just that the emperor hid it deeper.

If she really had to choose a winner between the emperor and the Hongnong Yang family, she would choose the emperor.

Wu Meiniang patted her cheeks gently.

She needed to calm herself down.

Is the conflict between the Hongnong Yang family and the emperor really irreconcilable?
Not necessarily.

There was also a Concubine Yang in the palace, whom the emperor liked very much.

Moreover, the emperor treated Yang Shidao, the Duke of Ande, well.

Not to mention, there is Yang Zhengdao, who is still teaching the prince to read.

In other words, the people from the Hongnong Yang clan who are now opposing the emperor are not the entire Hongnong Yang clan.

Wu Meiniang calmed down all of a sudden.

She knew what to do.

Wu Meiniang stood up, tidied herself up a bit, and then went to Linzhao Palace.

……

In Ganlu Palace, Li Chengqian put down the memorial in his hand and looked at Zhang Ananda beside him in confusion: "Did Concubine Wu go to Concubine Yang's place?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Ananda bowed and said, "After Wu Jieyu and Yang Fei had a private conversation for a while, Wu Jieyu left. According to the rules, I did not listen to what they talked about."

"There's nothing good to hear." Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Xu Hui's entry into the palace must have frightened her. After all, that incident back then won't be easily forgotten. Now, she should be looking for Concubine Yang to join forces... No matter, Xu Hui's entry into the palace is to force Yang Sizhi's lineage to be closer to me. That's enough."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed slightly.

"By the way." Li Chengqian looked up and asked, "How is Wu Yuanqing doing in Shanzhou?"

"Very good." Zhang Ananda cupped his hands and said admiringly, "Wu Yuanqing used strong tactics in Shanzhou. Even when facing the direct descendants of the Hongnong Yang family, he refused to yield. The only pity is that he doesn't have many useful people at his disposal. He relies entirely on the support of those he brought with him."

"It doesn't matter. These people are enough to jump out this time." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "Give the list to my uncle and let him handle it."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda nodded seriously.

"Also, have Li Wu come back." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian took a deep breath and said, "It's time to move on to the next stage. After Chu Suiliang returns to the capital, all matters concerning Hongnong will be handed over to him. With a few more men like Wu Yuanqing, I can rest easy in Chang'an."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda nodded in agreement.

Hongnong is too close to Chang'an.

(End of this chapter)