Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 52 Empress Wu's Guests
Li Zhong rushed to the back hall of Ganlu Palace, and after receiving the message, he entered the palace.

Just as he was about to pay his respects, he was startled to see Li Zhi sitting on the couch, playing chess with someone. That person was Li Zhen.

Li Zhi said with a smile, "Zhong'er is here, come and pay your respects to your eighth uncle."

Li Zhong's heart was pounding. He bowed to Li Zhi first, and then to Li Zhen.

Li Zhen, who was a prince like him, stood up and returned a half-salute to him.

"Prince Chen, there's no need for such formalities. I recently acquired a few fine horses and wanted to give one to you, but I was afraid of causing criticism. Now, in front of His Majesty, as an uncle, I can finally show some affection to my nephew."

Li Zhi smiled and said, "Eighth brother, why bother about what others say? If you want to give Zhong'er something in the future, don't worry. Just don't spoil him."

Li Zhen smiled and said, "I will be leaving the capital in a few days, so it's useless to spoil him."

Li Zhi smiled. Among all his brothers, only Li Zhen spoke to him so casually.

The two continued to play chess, while Li Zhong stood aside and watched. Wang Fusheng brought him a chair, but he refused to sit down.

Li Zhen was a rare all-round talent among the vassal kings, and only the then King of Wu, Li Ke, was better than him.

Li Zhi's chess skills were not as good as his, but Li Zhen's tactics were very clever. He secretly let Li Zhen win, and the situation on the board was very tense.

Li Zhi naturally saw it and immediately lost interest in arguing for victory or defeat. He chatted with him while making his move.

As the two chatted, they talked about Prince Teng Li Yuanying.

Judging from Li Zhen's words, he was quite dissatisfied with Li Yuanying.

There were many vassal kings in the Tang Dynasty, including Li Zhi's uncle, who was also Li Yuan's son.

Because Li Yuan was still strong in his old age, he had more than 20 sons, and more than 10 of them were still alive.

Apart from them, Li Zhi's brothers were less numerous than his uncles.

These two groups of princes were not on good terms.

The main reason was that Li Yuan's sons liked to act like they were senior and had bad behavior. Li Zhi's brothers looked down on these uncles and the two sides often quarreled.

Li Zhi finished his sentence and said, "Uncle Wang probably didn't return to Chang'an this time. Why are you so angry with him, Eighth Brother?"

Li Zhen sighed and said, "It's all because my fiefdom is too close to him. It's hard not to hear about his affairs."

Prince Teng Li Yuanying was Li Shimin's youngest brother, and his initial fiefdom was in Teng County.

Li Yuanying was spoiled too much by Li Yuan. He was arrogant and licentious since childhood, levied heavy taxes and built the first Tengwang Pavilion.

In the third year of Emperor Gaozong's reign, Prince of Wei Li Tai died in Yun County. Li Yuanying said to those around him with a smile, "It's really strange that Prince Pu died at such a young age."

Emperor Gaozong of Tang demoted him to Suzhou, and then to Hongzhou, where he served as the governor of Hongzhou.

Through the memories that flooded his mind, Li Zhi knew that Emperor Gaozong of Tang was also dissatisfied with Li Yuanying.

Li Zhen continued, "Your Majesty, you may not know that after Li Yuanying arrived in Hongzhou, he did not change his bad habits. He built a new Tengwang Pavilion and was extremely lustful. He even did not spare the wives of his subordinates, bringing shame to the royal family."

Li Zhi frowned and said nothing.

He knew that Prince Teng liked to build the Tengwang Pavilion, but he didn't expect that he was so lustful.

"I will send someone to investigate this matter. If Uncle Wang is indeed levying heavy taxes and breaking the law, I will not sit idly by."

Li Zhen frowned and said nothing.

Li Zhi said, "Eighth brother, don't you believe me?"

Li Zhen said, "I dare not, but it is said that the Prince of Teng has a very good relationship with the Grand Marshal Changsun. Over the years, all the memorials impeaching him have been withheld by the Grand Marshal Changsun."

Changsun Wuji had a good relationship with the princes of Li Shimin's generation, but a poor relationship with the princes of Li Zhi's generation.

Li Zhi glanced at him and said, "As long as it is true as you say, no matter who protects Prince Teng, I will not tolerate it."

Li Zhen bowed and said, "Since Your Majesty is determined, I have nothing to worry about."

After a while, the two finished the game of chess. Li Zhen lost two moves and left.

Li Zhi glanced at Li Zhong and said with a smile, "You've been feeling uneasy from the beginning. Is there something you want to report to me?"

Li Zhong nodded and said, "I have something to tell you, father, alone."

Li Zhi then dismissed everyone.

Li Zhong told Li Zhen everything he had just seen talking to the young eunuch.

After hearing this, Li Zhi had an idea and immediately guessed that the young eunuch was Xiao Ji.

He had long suspected that Xiaoji was no ordinary person. How could a woman from an ordinary family have the time to learn piano music, let alone such an elegant piece as "Jie Shi Diao You Lan".

But no one expected that he was actually the son of King Wu Li Ke.

He knew that Li Zhen had a good relationship with Li Ke, and Li Zhi also knew that Li Zhen had intended to attack Changsun Wuji just now.

With the abilities of King Yue and King Ji, it would not be difficult to hide Li Ke's son in the palace, so this should be true.

Li Ke was unjustly killed by Zhangsun Wuji, and his children were exiled to Lingbiao. It was not until Zhangsun Wuji was punished by Wu Zetian that the injustice was exposed to the world.

Li Zhi has a lot of things to do now and has no time to help Li Ke overturn the verdict for the time being, but Li Ke's children must naturally be protected as well.

Thinking of this, he slowly said, "Zhong'er, who else did you tell about this?" Li Zhong said, "I only told my mother. It was my mother who asked me to tell my father."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Your mother is very sensible this time. When you go back, tell her that you two have kept this matter to yourself and don't tell anyone. Remember?"

Li Zhong was very happy to see that his father did not lose his temper. He said, "I will remember this."

Li Zhi patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go."

Li Zhong hurriedly asked, "Father, aren't you going to check on my homework?"

Li Zhi slapped his forehead and said with a smile, "I forgot about this. Bring it here for me to see."

Li Zhong's coursework is longer than Li Hong's.

He had already started reading books such as the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Book of History, and the Book of Rites, so the questions were more difficult, and even Li Zhi could not answer many of them.

He was becoming more and more satisfied with his eldest son and said with a smile, "Very good. It seems that he studies hard every day."

Li Zhongxi said happily, "It's all thanks to my father for choosing a good tutor for me."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Okay, you can leave now."

When Li Zhi met Li Zhen, Princess Meng of Yue was also paying a visit to Empress Wu in Lizheng Hall.

The concubine of the Princess of Yue was Wu Meiniang's cousin, so the two were also relatives.

"I am already very happy that you can come to the palace to see me. Why do you need to bring these things?" Wu Meiniang said with a smile.

Meng was a petite woman with a soft, gentle voice. She smiled gently and said, "I know Your Highness doesn't lack these things, but if I don't bring them, I'll be accused of being ignorant of etiquette. I'm afraid they'll spread rumors that Your Highness is at odds with your relatives, which would damage Your Highness's reputation as a mother to the country."

When Wu Meiniang heard this, her eyes flashed a few times.

Ever since she was enthroned as queen, there have been rumors that she was at odds with her relatives and treated her elder brother harshly.

Her purpose is self-evident. She wants people all over the world to think that she is a narrow-minded queen. She cannot even treat her relatives well, so how can she treat the people of the world well?

Princess Yue covered her mouth and said hurriedly, "I spoke out of turn, Your Highness, please forgive me."

Wu Meiniang glanced at her and asked, "Is this rumor still circulating in Chang'an recently?"

Princess Yue said cautiously, "Not only is this rumor spreading, but there have been new rumors in the past two days."

Wu Meiniang asked, "What rumor?"

Princess Yue hesitated and said, "Some people say that you have an unpredictable temper. Even your sister accidentally offended you and was demoted from a first-rank state lady to a county lady."

Wu Meiniang suddenly chuckled.

The Princess of Yue was slightly stunned, not understanding why she was laughing.

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Duohai, bring the Yangxian tea that Changzhou has offered to you and let the Princess of Yue taste it."

After drinking tea, the Princess of Yue chatted for a few more words and then said goodbye and left.

Not long after she left, Zhang Duohai knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Wu Meiniang, saying, "Your Highness, I deserve to die."

Wu Meiniang said calmly: "Oh, why are you going to die?"

Zhang Duohai said, "It's not that I didn't report those rumors to you. I was just afraid of disturbing your New Year's Day mood, so..."

Wu Meiniang nodded and said, "Well, you have made great progress. You can make decisions for me now."

Zhang Duohai was horrified and knelt on the ground, kowtowed repeatedly.

After a long while, Wu Meiniang finally said, "Okay, get up."

Zhang Da Hai then stood up, her forehead was red and swollen.

"Your Highness, the Princess of Yue suddenly brought up these things. I'm afraid she has other purposes." He said through gritted teeth.

Wu Meiniang glanced at him and said, "Do I need you to remind me? She was instructed by Li Zhen to provoke a fight between me and Zhangsun Wuji."

Zhang Duohai said, "In any case, Changsun Wuji is guilty of spreading such rumors. Your Highness, should we fight back?"

Wu Meiniang laughed and said, "This method must have been done by Zhangsun Wuji's men. He would never do such a stupid thing."

Zhang Duohai was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Yes, the Saint knows Madam Helan's affairs best. Once the Saint hears about it, he will definitely pity Your Highness and hate Zhangsun Wuji!"

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Pen and ink are at your service."

Zhang Duohai ordered someone to bring him pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and then went to Wu Meiniang again.

"Your Highness, we can ignore this matter, but we can take advantage of the opportunity when Liu Rengui and others are rectifying the bureaucracy to deal with some of Zhangsun Wuji's accomplices."

While writing, Wu Meiniang said, "Let me ask you, what has Zhangsun Wuji been doing recently?"

Zhang Dahai thought for a moment and said, "If the rumors were not caused by him, then it seems he did nothing."

Wu Meiniang said calmly, "That's it. The current situation and the dispute with Zhangsun Wuji all depend on these two words."

Zhang Duohai looked down and saw Wu Meiniang writing two elegant characters on the paper.

"Indisputable."

(End of this chapter)