Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 95 Empress Wu's Dream Day

Cheng Zhijie walked silently in the corridor of the Duke of E's Mansion.

The person leading the way was an old servant. After walking along the corridor for a long time, there was no one around, as if walking in a haunted house.

Not long after, the old servant brought him to the outside of a house and bowed.

"Alang is waiting for you inside. I'll take my leave now." He turned and left.

Cheng Zhijie took a deep breath, pushed the door open and entered the room. When he saw the scene inside, he was stunned.

This is an extremely spacious room. There is no furniture in the room. It is empty, like an indoor martial arts arena.

In the middle of the room stood a big man with a dark face, taller than Su Dingfang, holding a lance, wearing armor, with eyes like torches, and an intimidating aura.

Cheng Zhijie, however, was not afraid of him at all. He laughed and said, "You black-faced fellow, I thought you would dress up as a Taoist priest, hide in a cave, and play tricks. Why don't you pretend?"

Yuchi Gong said calmly, "It's useless to pretend when dealing with a scoundrel like you."

Cheng Zhijie laughed out loud, as if the other party was praising him. He walked a few steps, looked around, and seeing that he couldn't find a chair, he simply sat cross-legged on the ground.

"Yuchi Heilang, you should be very clear about my current situation." Cheng Zhijie's face darkened.

Yuchi Gong still stood there like a door god, saying, "Nonsense, who in Chang'an doesn't know this?"

Cheng Zhijie glared at him: "Will you help me?"

Yuchi Gong said, "You brought this upon yourself. I didn't want to help you. But you've dragged me into this, and I can't help myself."

Cheng Zhijie was stunned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Yuchi Gong said, "Ever since you got into trouble, one of my old subordinates came to me and said that you were in dire straits and might come looking for me. And hey, sure enough, here you are."

Cheng Zhijie laughed and said, "Which kid could have figured out what I, Old Cheng, was thinking?"

Yuchi Gong said, "Wang Jun'e's son is Wang Jishan."

Cheng Zhijie laughed and said, "I have an impression of this kid. He doesn't talk much, but he has some tricks up his sleeve."

Yuchi Gong added, "Since you came, my mansion, which has been quiet for many years, has been targeted by others."

Cheng Zhijie's face turned pale, he stood up, turned around and was about to leave.

Yuchi Gong sneered, "Do you think that if we just leave, the higher-ups won't suspect us of collusion?"

Cheng Zhijie said without even turning his head, "As long as you continue to be an idler, you won't be implicated."

Yuchi Gong suddenly stepped forward, pointed at him and cursed.

"Idiot! You're an idiot, and Changsun Wuji is also an idiot. No wonder you've ended up like this, you really deserve it!"

Cheng Zhijie finally turned around and laughed, "I'm a little uncomfortable with you not swearing. You're my wife's son, so you must have been holding it in for a long time!"

Yuchi Gong cursed, "You bastard, do you want me to poke two holes in you?"

Cheng Zhijie sighed, "I don't have time to argue with you now, Hei Lang. This is not the Tang Dynasty anymore. I should have learned from you earlier and closed the door to visitors."

He turned around and staggered away.

Yuchi Gong suddenly walked over quickly, grabbed his arm, and strode out the door.

Outside the corridor, two horses appeared at some point.

Yuchi Gong jumped on his horse and shouted to Cheng Zhijie, "Get on the horse!"

Cheng Zhijie said, "Hei Lang, I don't feel like sparring with you right now."

Yuchi Gong glared and said, "Whoever wants to spar with you, follow me into the palace!"

Cheng Zhijie was shocked and said, "You are crazy..."

Yuchi Gong said, "I have already sent my family away and ordered two coffins to be prepared. Cheng Yaojin, do you dare to follow me into the palace?"

When Cheng Zhijie heard him call his old name, his blood boiled and he shouted, "It's my son who doesn't dare!"

The two men smiled at each other, spurred their horses, and galloped out of the Duke of E's Mansion and headed towards the imperial palace.

The patrolling Jinwu Guards were all shocked when they saw the two men. Since they were both very prestigious in the army, no one dared to stop them.

Cheng Zhijie calmed down a bit as the night wind blew. He said, "Hei Lang, I will go to the palace to apologize on my own. You don't have to go with me."

Yuchi Gong glared and said, "You've already entered the mansion, so how can I not explain it to you?"

Cheng Zhijie sighed, "You've been hiding in the mansion for more than ten years, but I never thought you'd end up getting implicated by me."

Yuchi Gong said angrily, "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just tired of staying at home. Seeing young men like Su Dingfang and Xue Rengui starting to fight on the battlefield, I also want to go to the battlefield and fight."

Cheng Zhijie said, "I'm afraid that after we meet the emperor, both you and I will be demoted to commoners."

Yuchi Gong sneered, "That's why I said you're stupid!"

Cheng Zhijie snorted, "You black-faced bastard, you have the nerve to call others stupid?"

Yuchi Gong smiled and said, "Not convinced? Then let me explain it to you."

"You said."

Yuchi Gong said, "You are not in Chang'an, so you don't know how much the saint has changed recently. I have carefully studied him at home and have made a great discovery."

Cheng Zhijie asked hurriedly: "What did you find?"

Yuchi Gong did not answer immediately. He waited until the two of them arrived at Zhuque Gate. Yuchi Gong got off his horse and pulled Cheng Zhijie to an open place where there was no one around before he spoke.

"Do you know what the saint has done recently?"

Cheng Zhijie shook his head.

"He ordered Yan Liben and Lu Chengqing to repair the Sanmenxia Gorge and open a waterway. He ordered Xue Rengui to aid Tuyuhun. He ordered Liu Rengui to reform the imperial examination system and improve the administration of officials. He also ordered Du Zhenglun to search for charcoal mines to replace wood..."

Cheng Zhijie frowned and asked, "What does this mean?"

Yuchi Gong snorted, "You and Zhangsun Wuji have enjoyed wealth and luxury for too long, and have long been blinded. After Empress Wu was enthroned, everything the sage did has nothing to do with the court struggles."

Cheng Zhijie was stunned and said, "But wasn't Zhangsun Wuji forced to resign by the Saint?"

Yuchi Gong sneered, "The sage only wanted to reform the imperial examination system. It was Zhangsun Wuji who was too foolish and didn't know when to advance or retreat, and ended up getting himself into trouble."

Cheng Zhijie remained silent. Yuchi Gong said, "Changsun Wuji doesn't understand the situation at all. In fact, after Empress Wu was enthroned, he couldn't compete with the Sage, but he simply didn't realize it. The one in the palace is much smarter."

Cheng Zhijie was stunned and asked, "Are you talking about Empress Wu?"

Yuchi Gong said, "Of course it's her. Empress Wu had always been actively involved in the affairs of the court, but suddenly, she has been hiding in the deep palace and rarely shows up. Isn't this strange?"

Cheng Zhijie asked, "You mean, she noticed the Saint's thoughts and made changes?"

Yuchi Gong said: "Yes, she is smarter than Zhangsun Wuji, so her position as queen is becoming more and more stable."

Cheng Zhijie stared at him blankly and said, "You bastard, you've been practicing Taoism in the mansion for more than ten years, and you're almost turning into a spirit!"

Yuchi Gong said proudly: "This is called a bystander sees more clearly. You are trapped in the situation, so naturally you don't know."

Cheng Zhijie thought for a moment and said, "Even so, it doesn't mean the Saint won't punish me."

Yuchi Gong smiled and said, "I'm not sure either. However, if the saint really has his sights set on the world, you and I will still be useful to him and he won't kill us easily."

Cheng Zhijie thought for a long time and nodded, "You have a point. In fact, I found it strange that Pei Xingjian was transferred to the army."

Yuchi Gong snorted, "Will he become Zhuge Wuhou now?"

Cheng Zhijie scolded, "Can't you say something nice?"

Yuchi Gong said unhappily, "I'm too lazy to scold you. Go into the palace quickly and don't let the emperor think too much." He strode towards the palace gate.

Cheng Zhijie hurriedly said, "Don't worry, what should I say?"

Yuchi Gong scolded, "Fool, at this time, you still want to show off your cleverness? Just tell the truth!"

The two entered the palace with the fish token, and after reporting outside Chengtian Gate, they waited quietly.

Not long after, Wang Fusheng came over in person, handed the completed family records to the two men, and said with a smile, "You two Dukes have arrived at the perfect time. Please follow me."

He took the two of them, passed through Chengtian Gate, and came to Ganlu Palace.

After Cheng Zhijie entered the main hall and saw Li Zhi for the first time, he found that what Yuchi Gong said was true. The emperor had indeed changed a lot.

The most obvious point is spirit.

The original emperor had a somewhat delicate temperament, as if he was fragile and could not withstand any wind, which was completely different from the previous emperor.

Although the current emperor cannot be said to be heroic, at least the fragility on his body has disappeared, and his body seems to be stronger.

"Your Majesty, I, Cheng Zhijie (Yuchi Gong), pay my respects to Your Majesty!" The two of them saluted together.

Li Zhi raised his hand and said, "No need to be so polite, old generals."

The two thanked him, stood up, and started dancing.

Li Zhi hurriedly said, "There is no need for the dance ceremony. Please sit down, two old generals." He ordered Wang Fusheng to bring chairs.

However, both of them refused to sit down, and Li Zhi did not force them. He began to look at them carefully.

Yuchi Gong was tall and strong, with a face darker than Liu Rengui's. His eyes were like two lanterns and he had an amazing aura.

Although Cheng Zhijie is shorter, he is extremely strong, like a piece of rock from Mount Tai, indestructible.

Although both were elderly, they did not look old. Li Zhi nodded secretly and smiled, "I wonder what brings you two old generals to visit so late at night?"

Cheng Zhijie knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "I have come to plead guilty. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Li Zhi said, "What crime do you want to ask for?"

Cheng Zhijie took a deep breath and explained why he did not side with the emperor when Wang Liwu was deposed, why he marched slowly when he led the troops to the west, and why he went to find Yuchi Gong after returning to Chang'an.

All his inner thoughts were spoken without missing a word or hiding anything.

After listening to this, Li Zhi stared at Cheng Zhijie for a while and said, "Since the old general is willing to speak frankly, I will also say a few words from my heart."

"Both of you, veteran generals, have made tremendous contributions to our country. I have always respected you both, but I am perplexed by some of your actions, which has led to all sorts of suspicions and misunderstandings."

"Among the generals in the court, there are only a few I truly trust, and these two veteran generals are two of them. I also hope to be frank with you, and I also hope to use your strength to protect the four directions and deter evildoers."

When the two heard the emperor reveal his true feelings, they felt their hearts surge.

Cheng Zhijie burst into tears and kowtowed, saying, "This old minister will devote his heart and soul to do his utmost to repay your grace."

Yuchi Gong knelt on one knee and said, "As long as Your Majesty still looks upon this old minister, I will be the blade in Your Majesty's hand. Wherever Your Majesty points, I will kill!"

Li Zhi ordered his men to bring three cups of wine and said, "I will no longer inquire about the past. Drink this cup of wine, and we, as king and subject, will put aside our past grievances."

The two men took the wine, raised their glasses and drank with Li Zhi.

Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Gong were so happy that they started dancing again and took off their shirts, revealing their bodies covered with scars.

Li Zhi hurriedly said, "Two old generals, please go back and rest. I still have some official business to attend to."

The two were immediately disappointed. They had hoped that Li Zhi would dance with them like the late emperor had done.

I had no choice but to put on my clothes and leave.

Li Zhi sat on the dragon throne, thought for a moment, opened his eyes, and said, "Send the prince and the good to see you."

After a while, Wang Jishan came to the hall.

Li Zhi smiled at him and said, "Wang Qing, your plan has been successfully completed. From now on, you will be my General of the Inner Guard."

Wang Jishan knelt on the ground and said solemnly, "I accept your command and thank you."

At this moment, Wang Fusheng suddenly walked in and said, "Your Majesty, the Queen has sent someone to invite you over."

Li Zhi was slightly stunned. If Wu Meiniang had something to do, she would come in person and rarely sent someone to invite him over.

"What happened?"

Wang Fusheng paused for a moment and said, "Your Highness...it's a dream."

During the Tang Dynasty, if a pregnant woman dreamed of the sun and the moon entering her arms, it was considered a sign that she was expecting a baby. Therefore, pregnancy was called "dream day" in the palace.

When Li Zhi heard that he had another child, he stood up suddenly and hurried towards the Lizheng Hall.

(End of this chapter)