Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

As Li Chengqian walked out of the Fang residence, a night breeze blew by, and Xiao Shunzi quickly stepped forward to drape a cloak over him.

Li Chengqian glanced back at the somewhat old plaque of the Fang family mansion and shook his head.

Fang Xuanling has indeed grown old.

Fang Xuanling was able to maintain stability when dealing with straightforward enemies like the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families.

However, when faced with the hypocrites of the Jiangnan gentry who spouted benevolence and morality, a prime minister like Fang Xuanling, who valued rules and regulations, found himself constrained at every turn.

Fang Xuanling was a good person.

But he's too concerned about his image.

Those who care about their reputation will never be able to outwit those gentlemen who mistake shamelessness for nobility.

Li Chengqian stepped onto the carriage.

"Your Highness, shall we return to the palace?"

Xiao Shunzi asked for instructions from outside the car window.

Li Chengqian remained silent.

He leaned back on the cushion, his fingers rhythmically tapping his knees, his mind still replaying the conversation he had just had at the Fang residence.

These people from Jiangnan, on the surface, are full of benevolence and morality, but behind the scenes they want to completely muddy the waters of the imperial court.

Fang Xuanling was thoroughly humiliated by their use of rules and ancestral regulations, and even the stubborn Wei Zheng was completely fooled and lost his bearings.

Among the court officials discussing the art of power politics, who is the most skilled?

A chubby figure appeared in Li Chengqian's mind, that always smiling old fox who could devour people without spitting out the bones.

"Go to the Changsun residence."

Li Chengqian gave the instructions.

Xiao Shunzi was stunned for a moment, almost thinking he had misheard.

Since suppressing Hou Junji's rebellion, Changsun Wuji has been claiming illness and staying at home.

Your Highness has always been wary of this uncle, so why would you suddenly want to see him in the middle of the night?

Xiao Shunzi didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly instructed the driver to turn the cart around.

The carriage traveled along the empty streets of Chang'an.

Li Chengqian knew very well that Changsun Wuji was an absolute master of political maneuvering.

Those self-righteous, pedantic scholars from Jiangnan weren't even worthy of carrying shoes for an old fox like Changsun Wuji, who had crawled out of piles of corpses.

But he also knew that Changsun Wuji was a double-edged sword.

If used well, it can kill the enemy; if used poorly, it can cut yourself.

Although he had used a scheme to suppress Changsun Wuji out of the court, if he were to use this opportunity to return to the court, it would be difficult to suppress him again in the future.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of the Changsun Mansion.

The steward came out to check in the middle of the night, wearing his clothes, and was so frightened to see the Crown Prince visiting in plain clothes that he quickly opened the main gate.

The steward jogged ahead to lead the way, welcoming Li Chengqian into the inner courtyard.

The lights were still on in the study.

When Li Chengqian pushed open the door, he saw Changsun Wuji slowly trimming the candle wick with scissors.

The room was warm and cozy, filled with the aroma of sandalwood, as the finest silver-boned charcoal burned inside.

"Uncle is in high spirits, why isn't he resting so late?"

Li Chengqian walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

Changsun Wuji put down the scissors, turned around, and said with a smile:

"This old minister greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Changsun Wuji pretended to bow, about to perform a grand salute.

"Alright, enough with the platitudes."

Li Chengqian pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Please sit down."

Changsun Wuji obediently sat down, picked up the teapot himself, and poured Li Chengqian a cup of hot tea.

Changsun Wuji pushed the teacup towards Li Chengqian and said with a smile:

"Your Highness's late-night visit, is it about those talented scholars from Jiangnan?"

Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji with surprise.

This old fox hides at home every day, yet he knows everything that's going on in the court.

"Since you've guessed it, Uncle, then give me some advice."

Changsun Wuji sighed:

"Your Highness thinks too highly of this old minister. I am now retired and at home, and I have almost forgotten which way the main gate of Taiji Hall faces. How could I know anything about state affairs? Your Highness should ask Chancellor Fang."

Li Chengqian looked at this old fox speechlessly:

"Uncle, let's be frank."

Fang Xiang was thoroughly humiliated by those talented men from Jiangnan, and even Wei Zheng thought they had a point.

You, sitting at home, have probably seen through them long ago, haven't you?

Changsun Wuji laughed heartily:

"Your Highness, these people from Jiangnan are actually not difficult to deal with."

Changsun Wuji tapped on the table.

"They follow rules and morality because rules and morality are in their favor."

They are not greedy for money or form cliques because they crave fame. With fame, power will naturally follow.

With power, what can't you get? This is called strategic retreat.

Li Chengqian nodded. Changsun Wuji's insight into problems was indeed sharp, much more insightful than that of Fang Xuanling, a simple man.

Changsun Wuji continued:

"Today, Chu Suiliang challenged Your Highness in court, accusing you of competing with the people for profit. Was he wrong?"

Changsun Wuji asked and answered himself.

"That's right, that's what the sages wrote. If Your Highness tries to argue along with them, you'll fall into their trap. They have a thousand wise sayings ready to shut you up."

Changsun Wuji stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and casually pulled out a copy of the Analects and threw it on the table.

"They quote classical texts in court today, and tomorrow they can turn this into a story at a poetry gathering and spread it throughout Chang'an."

They don't need to rebel; they only need to use their pens to ruin the court's reputation and make all scholars in the land feel that the court is oppressing the people.

Changsun Wuji gave a cold laugh.

"At that time, the imperial court will be unable to do whatever it wants and will have no choice but to obey their orders."

You can't reason with these kinds of people, nor can you confront them head-on.

You need to find someone who knows the rules better than them, has a higher reputation, and uses even more ruthless methods.

Changsun Wuji patted the Analects.

"We flipped their table over, giving them no chance to even speak."

Anyone who dares to open their mouth will have their ancestors' faces ripped off.

Li Chengqian looked at the Analects on the table, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface as he fell into deep thought.

"Uncle, who do you think is capable of shouldering this important responsibility in the imperial court?"

Changsun Wuji turned to look at Li Chengqian and smiled:

"This old minister does have some skill; he can handle these talented scholars from Jiangnan with complete obedience."

Changsun Wuji patted his chest.

"As long as Your Highness relinquishes power, this old minister guarantees that they will obediently send 200,000 strings of cash to the national treasury within a month, without daring to utter a single word, and will even have to kneel down to express their gratitude."

Changsun Wuji looked into Li Chengqian's eyes.

"The old minister could even persuade them to donate their own family property and sing praises of the court's benevolence."

Li Chengqian didn't speak, he just looked at him quietly.

The two stared at each other for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

Then Changsun Wuji chuckled self-deprecatingly, picked up the copy of the Analects, and put it back on the shelf.

"It's a pity that Your Highness doesn't dare to employ this old minister."

Li Chengqian readily admitted:

"My uncle is a pillar of the nation; using him to deal with a few pedantic scholars is a huge waste of his talents."

Li Chengqian stood up and walked to Changsun Wuji.

"The Five Clans and Seven Noble Families have just fallen, and the gentry of Jiangnan are nothing but a bunch of monkeys. If I were to release my uncle, this wolf, back into the court just to deal with the monkeys, then the Changsun family would become the sole power in the court from now on."

"I won't do something like driving away wolves at the front door only to welcome tigers at the back."

Changsun Wuji nodded, seemingly having anticipated Li Chengqian's response, and showed no sign of anger.

"Your Highness is right. The gentry of Jiangnan are merely a minor ailment. If this old minister were to return to the court, he would become a serious threat. Your Highness's precautions against this old minister are those of a wise ruler."

Ultimately, this empire belongs to the Li family; it's not a good thing for the maternal relatives to be so powerful.

Therefore, Your Highness needs to find someone who can keep things under control but will not form cliques or engage in favoritism.

This person must instill fear in the people of Jiangnan, and also put His Majesty and His Highness at ease.

He cannot be an ambitious person, nor can he have a large family influence.

More importantly, this person also needs to understand the ways of the Jiangnan gentry and be able to defeat them using their rules.

Li Chengqian straightened the hem of his clothes:

"I understand what you mean, Uncle. It's late, so I won't disturb your rest any longer."

Li Chengqian turned and walked out.

Changsun Wuji, watching Li Chengqian's retreating figure, suddenly spoke:

"Your Highness."

Li Chengqian stopped in his tracks.

Changsun Wuji asked slowly:

"This old minister truly cannot think of anyone among the entire court who could meet these stringent requirements. Whom does Your Highness intend to ask to step forward?"

Changsun Wuji went through everyone in the court and found that Fang Xuanling was too soft, Wei Zheng was too straightforward, Li Jing was playing dead, and Cheng Yaojin was just making trouble. No one could handle this mess.

Li Chengqian said without turning his head:

"Someone you would never have imagined in your lifetime."

After saying that, Li Chengqian walked into the night.

Changsun Wuji looked at the empty doorway with a puzzled expression.

Someone I never expected in my life?

Suddenly, a figure flashed through Changsun Wuji's mind.

Changsun Wuji's eyes slowly widened.

He was a man who had once been decisive and ruthless in the imperial court, and whose political experience even made Changsun Wuji wary of him.

People say Fang Xuanling and Du Ruyi are shrewd and decisive, but they don't know how ruthless that man's methods were.

Qin Qiong was able to fake his death and return.

That man...