Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 103 Li Zhi Sets Up a Scheme
Since the court meeting time was changed, Li Zhi has not attended court for four days, so he got up especially early today.

He put on his court robes and the Yishan crown, had breakfast with Concubine Zheng, left Xunfeng Palace, and walked quickly towards Ganlu Palace.

As he was walking, he seemed to have thought of something and turned back to head towards Lizheng Hall.

Not long after, he arrived at the Lizheng Hall and entered the bedroom, only to see Wu Meiniang still lying on the bed, not getting up.

"Your Majesty, why are you here?" Wu Meiniang quickly sat up and was about to put on her clothes.

Li Zhi stepped forward, held her hand, and said with a smile, "I just came to see you. You don't have to get up. I will go to court soon."

Wu Meiniang smiled sweetly, feeling that Li Zhi's nervous attitude had brought her back to the time when she was pregnant with Li Hong.

Li Zhi chatted with her for a few minutes and then left the Lizheng Hall.

When they arrived at Ganlu Hall, the ministers had already lined up and the regular court session had officially begun.

There are many new faces in Changchao this time.

Especially Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Gong, who stood at the front, one tall and the other strong, and were particularly conspicuous.

In addition, there were five more people at the back, including Gao Youdao, Lu Zhaolin and others.

Although Changsun Quan was only a sixth-rank official, as a sacrificial official, he was also qualified to attend regular court sessions, so he stood in front of Gao Youdao and the other four.

As we haven't attended court for many days, there are more things to discuss today than usual.

The discussion was not completed until the afternoon.

Li Zhi had no choice but to let the ministers eat in the corridor, and he also went to the bedroom to eat something.

Two quarters of an hour later, the court meeting continued, and when Liu Rengui finished speaking on the last topic, the court meeting finally ended.

Changsun Quan did not go to the Palace Ministry to work. He left the palace directly and did not return to the princess's mansion. He went south all the way to Anyifang in the south of the city.

Chang'an City was expanded once.

The direction of expansion is southeast, so there are still large tracts of farmland in the southern area of ​​the city. If it were not separated by the wall, at first glance, it would look like it is in the suburbs.

After Changsun Quan entered Anyifang, he came to a dilapidated house in the corner of the neighborhood.

There is a willow tree in the backyard, with catkins flying everywhere. The white fluff covers the ground like cotton.

Changsun Quan followed the path and soon came to a stone pavilion where a man was sitting.

He was a young man in his thirties, tall, dark-skinned, and dressed in a coarse brown cloth, looking like a farmer.

Chang Sunquan walked over and sat down opposite him, saying in a deep voice, "Did you kill the clerk of the Sifang Inn?"

The man in brown said, "Not bad."

Chang Sunquan asked, "Why kill him? He has already resigned and is planning to flee to the southern barbarians. Why not let him live?"

The man in brown clothes said in a deep voice: "It's useless. Liu Rengui has already set his sights on him. He can't escape. He can only die."

Chang Sunquan snorted coldly: "By doing this, you've actually exposed Chang Sunyang!"

The man in brown nodded and said, "Yes, I originally wanted to make the death an accident and turn this case into an unsolved mystery. Unfortunately, Di Renjie still found out."

Chang Sunquan asked, "So what do you want to do next?"

The man in brown looked at Changsun Quan with a smile and said, "Did Changsun Yang come to see you yesterday?"

Zhang Sunquan said coldly: "You sent someone to monitor me?"

The man in brown said, "I'm monitoring Chang Sunyang."

Chang Sunquan was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes, he did come to me and ask for my help."

The man in brown asked hurriedly, "Did he tell you the whereabouts of the money?"

Chang Sunquan shook his head and said, "No. But he promised me that if I help him kill someone, he'll tell me!"

The brown-robed man said happily, "That's what they call a mistake that pays off. I let you get close to him before, and I tried to test him many times, but he never mentioned the whereabouts of the money. Now that he senses the danger, we have an opportunity to take advantage of him!"

Chang Sunquan said, "That being said, he is in a very dangerous situation right now. Liu Rengui could arrest him at any time."

The man in brown said, "So we have to hurry! We have to get to Liu Rengui before he does and get the whereabouts of the money from him. Who does he want you to kill?"

Chang Sunquan said: "Shi Hedan."

The man in brown asked, "The translator whose house Chu Suiliang robbed?"

"This is the same person who was also involved in that incident."

The man in brown clapped his hands and said, "Promise him!"

Chang Sunquan nodded and asked, "Do you want to do it or should I?"

"It's better you do it."

The man in brown clothes said in a deep voice, "That Di Renjie is like a dog. He followed the case of Sifang Di Inn and actually found my base in Dayefang. My men can't act for the time being, so I will use your gang of thugs."

Chang Sunquan glanced at him and said, "Do you trust the people under my command? They haven't even joined the sect yet."

The man in brown smiled and said, "I trust your judgment. Whoever can complete this mission will be recommended for membership."

Chang Sunquan nodded: "Alright then." The man in brown instructed: "We must succeed in one strike. There can be no mistakes!"

Zhang Sunquan said, "I will select the two most skilled fighters among my men to take charge of this mission."

……

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

Li Zhi was awakened by a voice in a daze. When he opened his eyes, he saw that it was Wang Fusheng calling him.

Li Zhi stretched himself and looked up. It was getting dark. He asked, "What time is it?"

Wang Fusheng smiled and said, "It's past the twilight hour."

Li Zhi nodded, stood up and left the water pavilion.

Today's court session lasted too long, so he was unable to take a lunch break. After the meeting, he was walking in the harem when he suddenly felt sleepy. He lay down in the water pavilion to rest and slept until night.

He looked around and headed towards Chengxiang Palace, ready to have dinner with Liu Chong'er.

As they were walking, Wang Fusheng said again, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Li Zhi kept walking and said, "Go ahead."

Wang Fusheng said, "My subordinate, Si Gongtai, has planted an informant next to Chang Sunquan. That informant just reported that Chang Sunquan asked him to kill someone."

Li Zhi suddenly stopped and asked, "Why did the Palace Office plant an informant next to Zhangsun Quan?"

In Li Zhi's impression, Changsun Quan was different from Changsun Wuji. He was a chivalrous man and acted with principles. He did not blindly agree with Changsun Wuji.

Wang Fusheng said, "Chang Sunquan has been secretly gathering a group of thugs recently. I find this very suspicious, so I sent one of my men to infiltrate them."

Li Zhi nodded and said in a deep voice, "Who does Chang Sunquan want to kill?"

Wang Fusheng said: "Shi Hedan."

Li Zhi was stunned for a moment and said, "This name sounds familiar."

Wang Fusheng said, "It's the translator whose house Chu Suiliang forced him to buy."

Li Zhi was stunned and asked, "Is it him? Does he have any grudge against Zhang Sunquan?"

Wang Fusheng said, "This is exactly what I find strange. Shi Hedan has already resigned from his post and is at home. He has no contact with Changsun Quan. I really don't understand why he would kill this man."

Li Zhi frowned and remained silent, wondering: "Could it be that Zhangsun Wuji ordered this?"

Wang Fusheng continued, "Your Majesty, according to the informant, Changsun Quan may have secretly joined some organization."

Li Zhi tilted his head and asked, "What organization?"

Wang Fusheng said, "We can't be sure at the moment, but Changsun Quan promised the informant that if he succeeds in killing Shi Hedan, he will let him join an organization."

Li Zhi pondered in silence.

Wang Fusheng continued, "The informant also said that Changsun Quan seemed very concerned about the murder case at Sifang Di Inn and even sent people to investigate Di Renjie."

Li Zhi was stunned and said, "Could it be that the person who killed the clerk was sent by Changsun Quan?"

Wang Fusheng said: "It's possible."

Zhangsun Quan married Princess Xincheng, the most beloved sister of Emperor Gaozong of Tang.

From memory, Emperor Gaozong of Tang was indeed very fond of his sister and gave her a fiefdom of 5,000 households.

There were many princes in the Tang Dynasty. Most princes were only granted 800 households. The favored ones were promoted to 1,000 households. Princess Xincheng was directly granted 5,000 households, which shows how favored she was.

Their marriage was also full of twists and turns.

When Princess Xincheng came of age, Emperor Taizong of Tang initially betrothed her to Wei Zheng's son Wei Shuyu.

Later, due to Hou Junji's rebellion, Wei Zheng was implicated, and Emperor Taizong of Tang cancelled the marriage and instead betrothed Princess Xincheng to Zhangsun Quan.

Unexpectedly, the wedding had already been prepared and the auspicious date had been set, but it was interrupted because Emperor Taizong of Tang suddenly passed away.

The interrupted marriage was not completed until three years later, and Princess Xincheng finally married Zhangsun Quan.

Changsun Quan was very considerate to her, and the couple had a harmonious relationship.

Logically speaking, Changsun Quan is a chivalrous man and is in love with Princess Xincheng, so he should live a good life.

Li Zhi really couldn't understand why someone like him would get involved in such a dispute.

From this we can see that the organization behind Changsun Quan is by no means simple.

Li Zhi thought about this and ordered, "Fu Sheng, set up a plan to have Shi Hedan fake his death and let that informant infiltrate the organization. I want to see what kind of organization can attract Zhang Sunquan to join."

Wang Fusheng agreed to accept the order, but his expression was very solemn.

This was not an easy task, because in addition to his informant, Changsun Quan also sent a killer.

With that person around, any plan would be easily exposed.

"The only way to avoid being exposed now is to let the informant eliminate the other killer while carrying out the mission!" Wang Fusheng pondered secretly.

(End of this chapter)