A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Wei Ye pried open the corners of the four people's mouths, fed them a few small pills, and then left.

The eunuch sent by Li Xian to confirm whether Xue Rengui was dead looked at the poisoned wine on the ground, felt the breaths of the four men, and confirmed that they were dead. Seeing the seal and tiger tally on the table, he quickly picked it up, put it in his pocket, and returned to the palace to report.

If someone were to follow him, they would discover that although he was sent by Li Xian, after entering the palace, he did not go directly to Li Xian's palace, but instead went to Wu Zetian's palace first.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he finally emerged from the palace. His previously bulging chest was now completely flat.

Upon arriving at Li Xian's study, he hurriedly reported to Li Xian that Xue Rengui had died.

"Are you sure everyone is dead?"

Upon seeing the eunuch, Li Xian immediately pressed for an explanation.

"Xue Rengui had already taken the poison and died."

"Zhou Qing and the other two also drank the poisoned wine and died in the mansion."

"Okay, okay."

Li Xian nodded repeatedly. He didn't care about the deaths of Zhou Qing and the other two; he only cared about Xue Rengui's life or death.

Once Xue Rengui dies, he can take over Xue Rengui's entire political legacy at any time. As long as he can control the military power in Xue Rengui's hands, his goal will be achieved.

"Where's the tiger tally?!"

Li Xian quickly replied.

"Your Majesty, the Tiger Tally has not been found."

"The tiger tally was very likely hidden by Xue Rengui beforehand!"

Upon hearing the eunuch's words, Li Xian was greatly surprised!

If he can't get the Tiger Tally, then all the effort he put into eliminating Xue Rengui will be for nothing!

"How could there not be?!"

"Did you even look carefully!"

"Find it in the study, the bedroom, the entire Grand Tutor's mansion—search three feet into the ground!"

"Here you go!"

The eunuch quickly replied, "But Your Majesty, what should we do if we truly cannot find it?"

"Was the tiger tally hidden with his family?"

A fierce glint flashed in Li Xian's eyes. "The crime of treason should have resulted in the extermination of his entire clan, but in consideration of the Empress Dowager's intercession, he has been spared death."

"All items in this residence shall belong to the imperial court and shall not be kept by anyone else!"

"This servant understands."

The eunuch walked away backwards, having achieved his goal.

All subsequent offenses against Xue Rengui's family would be on Li Xian's orders, and Li Xian's prestige throughout the land would suffer an endless blow.

They not only persecuted loyal and virtuous people, but also implicated their families.

This is definitely the behavior of a tyrannical and incompetent ruler.

From now on, this label will stick closely to Li Xian and can never be removed.

Under the eunuch's command, Xue Rengui and his family were expelled from their residence, and all their property was confiscated and not allowed to be taken with them.

It was only thanks to the assistance of some of Xue Rengui's former generals, coupled with the people's reverence for Xue Rengui, that they were able to rent a discounted courtyard in the far outskirts of Luoyang and hold Xue Rengui's funeral there.

When the funeral was held, many people in Luoyang spontaneously came to mourn Xue Rengui.

The people of Chang'an poured out of the city, every household hung white lanterns, burned incense and knelt in worship. The cries of weeping, elegiac songs and the sound of rain intertwined, forming a vast ocean of grief.

As the procession passed, the white-robed veterans and old cooks who had followed Xue Rengui in his battles rushed out of the crowd, threw themselves beside the coffin, beat their chests, and wept bitterly.

Li Xian stood on a high platform in the palace, watching this scene with a grim expression.

He's already accused Xue Rengui of treason, yet Xue Rengui still enjoys such prestige, and so many people risk breaking the law to attend his funeral. Isn't this a slap in the face? What is he doing?!

Dressed in mourning clothes and holding a mourning staff, Xue Dingshan led the coffin slowly forward. Behind him were the sons of Zhou Qing and others, also dressed in mourning clothes and holding mourning staffs, leading their fathers' coffins and following behind Xue Dingshan and Xue Rengui.

Around the coffin, the veterans who had followed Xue Rengui and others from the very beginning knelt in a row on both sides of the road to respectfully bid farewell to their Commander Xue.

Since the day Xue Rengui died, the entire city of Luoyang has been shrouded in rain, and the rain has continued to this day.

Large raindrops fell on the coffins of Xue Rengui and his three sons, on their mourning clothes, on the straw raincoats of the surrounding people, and on the armor of the veterans.

The entire city of Luoyang, and even the heavens themselves, were indignant on Xue Rengui's behalf.

From the moment Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, the divine authority that the Tang Dynasty's Li family had established among the people collapsed at that moment.

A foolish emperor with treacherous officials in power who persecute loyal and virtuous people is not worthy of their loyalty.

From a nearby building, Wu Zetian watched this scene filled with public indignation, a smile playing on her lips.

她成功了！

With Xue Rengui's death, the entire court and military power fell into her hands.

If we let today's events continue to unfold, public opinion will eventually turn to her.

At that time, her path to the throne will be smooth, with only the Wei family remaining as an obstacle.

After Xue Rengui's funeral was over, Wu Zetian gently knocked on the door of the Prince of Yan's mansion.

The gate opened, and Wu Zetian saw Wei Ye.

Wei Ye didn't let her in; he just stood there quietly, watching Wu Zetian.

The two looked at each other for a moment, then Wu Zetian gave a slight bow and turned to leave.

She felt relieved.

The fact that the Wei family did not invite her in indicated that they were not prepared to support her.

But Wei Ye didn't say anything else, which meant that the Wei family wouldn't stop her.

The Wei family will only stand by and watch.

This was the best news for her.

As long as the Wei family doesn't stop her, she is absolutely confident that she can overcome all obstacles, ascend the throne, and become the first female emperor in the entire history of China!

Even with Wu Zetian's composure, she couldn't help but feel extremely excited upon thinking about this.

For a woman to ascend to the throne of supreme power would be an unprecedented tale throughout history!

Wei Ye watched Wu Zetian leave, and only today did he realize what she was thinking.

This idea was so bold that even he was shocked!

He never expected that the other party would have such ambitions!

When this actually happens, how will the world be shaken?

He was rather curious.

This also somewhat diminished his desire to retire; perhaps he should "live" a little longer and enjoy this good show.

After closing the mansion gate again, Wei Ye entered a secret room where four people were lying.

If outsiders saw the faces of these four people, they would be greatly surprised.

Because these four people were none other than Xue Rengui and his three companions who had already died!

Wei Ye calculated the time with his fingers. If it were based on the time, Xue Rengui and the other three should have woken up by now.

He had just finished calculating when he noticed Xue Rengui's brows furrow and his eyelids blink, as if he were about to wake up.

Xue Rengui opened his eyes with difficulty and looked at the decorations in front of him. This did not seem to be the legendary underworld. Wasn't he dead?

Xue Rengui tried to sit up, but found himself powerless.

He turned his head with all his might and was surprised to find several of his brothers lying next to him!

Didn't they drink the poisoned wine together?!

How could this be?!

Xue Rengui suddenly thought of something and used all his strength to tilt his head at an angle.