When Wangshu woke up, he found himself in the carriage, the wound on his shoulder had been carefully bandaged, and there was no sign of bleeding.

She lifted the curtain, Lu Zhengze rode in front, the armor refracted the cold light and shadow in the sun, and looked back, only a hundred soldiers were followed behind her.

She looked at the scenery around her, and it was indeed the way she had come.

"Uncle, are we going back to Chang'an?"

Lu Zhengze saw that she was awake, and his face relaxed a little, "I read the letter on your body, and the situation was a little urgent, so I moved to camp when you were asleep." ”

"Was Gu Huaijin designed by her aunt?" When she left the palace, there was already news in the palace, Gu Huaijin had not come out since the next court, although Wang Shu didn't read He Jiming's letter, but he had already guessed it in his heart.

Sure enough, a trace of coldness flashed in Lu Zhengze's eyes, and he sneered lightly, "In the days when I am not in the court, they naturally can't be idle." ”

Wang Shu knew very well the weight of Gu Huaijin in Lu Zhengze's heart, and the hostility between him and his aunt was getting deeper and deeper.

"Uncle, Gu Huaijin is not related to you, why do you defend him so wholeheartedly?" She groaned slightly, but still asked the confusion that had been haunting her heart all these years.

Lu Zhengze didn't shy away from it, he tilted his head slightly, as if he remembered something, and there was a deep tenderness in his eyes.

"He is the child of one of my deceased people, and I have sworn to protect him for the rest of my life."

It was rare to see him so vividly, and Wang Shu couldn't help but guess: "Then the old man is Queen Ye, right?" ”

She still remembers that when she was a child, she broke into his study, and in a wooden box on the bookshelf was a portrait of a woman, which was as new as new after the baptism of time. It was so well preserved that it must have been something he cherished very much.

"You're smart, too." Lu Zhengze smiled and tapped her forehead, but it was a tacit meaning.

Wangshu covered it in pain, but his heart was a lot easier. It seems that the rumors are not entirely false.

When Gu Chengye was the crown prince, he was very good with Ye Yihua, the eldest son of Prime Minister Ye Cheng's family, and Lu Zhengze, who was still the son of Taiwei. Soon after, Gu Chengye's position as the crown prince was threatened, and there was a situation of sibling struggle for power. In order to consolidate his wings, Gu Chengye married Ye Yixin, the son-in-law of the Ye family, as the crown princess, and swore in front of Prime Minister Ye Boyong that he would only marry Ye Yixin alone in his life and ensure the prosperity of the Ye family for generations. Therefore, the Ye family was loyal to him and supported him wholeheartedly. It can be said that if it weren't for the support of the Ye family, Gu Chengye might not be able to win the other princes and get the throne in the end.

However, in troubled times, energy is used, and peace is troubled. After Gu Chengye became emperor, he began to be jealous of the Ye family's power. He successively promoted Xiao Lingheng to the Imperial Doctor, and Su Bingde to be the head of Jiuqing, intending to cultivate his own forces. Later, he accepted Xiao Shuli as a concubine to balance the Ye family. In the end, he also managed to abolish Ye Boyong's position as prime minister, causing him to die of depression. The suspicion of those in high positions also confirms the old saying: "The birds are exhausted, the good bow is hidden, the cunning rabbit is dead, and the lackeys are cooked." ”

The relationship between Gu Chengye and Ye Yixin broke down. However, freezing three feet is not a day's cold, Gu Chengye first broke his promise, and then suppressed the Ye family, Ye Yixin was already disheartened, but she was pregnant again at this time. Soon after, rumors began to circulate in the palace that Lu Zhengze and Ye Yixin were having an affair, and there were even rumors that Gu Huaijin was not His Majesty's biological bloodline. Gu Chengye was suspicious and furious, and ordered someone to investigate thoroughly, and put all the palace people involved in the case on death row. But there is a dislike between father and son, which may be the reason why Gu Huaijin has not been favored so far. And Lu Zhengze's maintenance of Gu Huaijin over the years has made Gu Chengye even more suspicious.

"It's not just because of her. If the first emperor strictly followed this law, when His Majesty was the crown prince, there would be no scene of brothers seizing power. But instead of learning a lesson, today's saints have taken a heavy view of their ancestors and violated their ancestral teachings. For the sake of the world, for the sake of future generations, I should also take the right dynasty. ”

When Wangshu came back to his senses, the gentleness on Lu Zhengze's face had already receded, and it was replaced by coldness.

She couldn't help but sigh lightly, "Uncle has made a great contribution now, do you want to exchange this for His Majesty's pardon of Gu Huaijin?" ”

"If you really replace it with military merits, it is really to blackmail the monarch, and it is easy to anger Long Yan. Whether or not they can keep His Royal Highness depends on how much Xiao Shuli and Gu Huaiyu have fallen. ”

Looking at Lu Zhengze's secretive appearance, Wangshu seemed to have an understanding.

When he arrived in Chang'an City, Lu Zhengze directly led his troops into the palace. Because Wangshu was not healed from his injuries, he sent someone to the Prime Minister's Mansion to recuperate. Wang Shu understood that her uncle was also to protect her, and when he returned to the Xiao family again, it was time for the chaos to begin, and she was not ready yet.

Gu Chengye got the news that Lu Zhengze had returned to Chang'an ahead of schedule, and specially sent Gonggong Jiang to wait outside the palace gate.

Seeing Lu Zhengze, Gonggong Jiang was extremely respectful and greeted him with a shy smile, "Lu Xiangzhi must be tired, Your Majesty is ordering someone to organize a reception banquet for the general." After Lu Xiang unloads his armor, he can enter the palace to report on his work, and as for these guards, the old slave asked the palace people to bring them back. ”

When Lu Younian returned to Chang'an, he had taken a large number of soldiers with him, and only a few were handed over to Lu Zhengze to bring back, but there were only a hundred people, and Gonggong Jiang was still so wary, what was conveyed was just Gu Chengye's distrust.

Lu Zhengze sneered slightly, took off the armor on his body, Jiang Gonggong took it with a smile, and then made a look, and the palace people left with the more than 100 soldiers.

Lu Zhengze went straight to the "Weiyang Palace", and carefully reported the matter of Qidi again, but it was not much different from what Lu Younian said.

Gu Chengye bowed slightly after hearing this, "I have handed over this matter to Taiwei Lu to deal with, and I won't bother Lu Xiang after that." ”

"Yes." Lu Zhengze lowered his eyes slightly, but he had no intention of retreating.

"What, doesn't Lu Xiangmo have other things?" Gu Chengye's hand that was about to pick up the music chapter was put down again, as if he remembered something, "I forgot, you have always cared about Huai Jin, and you must have come to intercede for him today, right?" ”

"The minister does have one more thing, but it has nothing to do with His Highness."

"Oh?" Gu Chengye was quite surprised, and he didn't seem to believe it.

Lu Zhengze's face was calm, "The king is the minister, the father is the son, Your Majesty is the king of His Royal Highness, and he is also his biological father, whether it is loose or strict, whether it is training or punishment, Your Majesty has his own considerations, and the ministers dare not beak." ”

"I know the rules." Gu Chengye smiled, then opened the chapter in front of him for review, and said after a while: "Say, what's the matter?" ”

"After the incident with the King of Qi, the minister visited Shu and found that the products of the mountains and seas that should have been operated by the government were sold privately. The tax of mountains and seas is an important revenue of the imperial court, and if there is private interference, it will inevitably greatly affect the tax revenue of the government. Not only that, but the handicraft industry, which was supposed to be run by the government, also involved the common people. ”

Gu Chengye didn't speak, but his complexion had already changed. Lu Zhengze glanced at the tip of his pen, "The minister notified the local government to investigate and deal with it at that time, but those private businesses were very confident, saying that they were opened by the imperial court, and the person who instructed them was ......."

Lu Zhengze deliberately stopped.

Gu Chengye put down the pen fiercely, "Who is the person who instructed him?" ”

"It's the Queen Mother and His Royal Highness King Yong." Angry as a mountain and rain is about to come, Lu Zhengze is not afraid, and took out the fold from his arms, "The minister has recorded the investigation process in the fold, and Your Majesty can read it carefully." ”

Gu Chengye stood up, paced to him, and snatched the fold from his hand.

His gaze carefully traced over each of the words on it, his brow furrowed more and more, and finally a green veil appeared on his forehead.

"Ridiculous! Abuse of power for personal gain, but I am a good son and wife! ”

He held his forehead, took a deep breath, and then said to Jiang Gong on the side: "Quickly let King Yong and the queen come to see me, as well as Zhang Zhenli, let him roll me into the palace non-stop." ”

Zhang Zhenli has always been more vigilant, and when he was summoned by the palace people, he asked the palace people one more sentence, "In addition to me, who else did Your Majesty summon?" ”

However, the palace people are not clever, and replied truthfully: "It is said that there are also Queen Niang and His Royal Highness King Yongwang." ”

Zhang Zhenli was prepared in his heart.

When he arrived at the "Weiyang Palace", Gu Huaiyu was kneeling on the ground and anxiously defended: "Father, this is slander, and the sons don't know about it at all!" ”

The forehead touched the ground, and the sound was in the ears and made people tremble.

Gu Chengye ignored him, but smashed the fold on Zhang Zhenli who was standing at the door, "Take a good look, what explanation do you have?" ”

Zhang Zhenli, as a young minister, is in charge of the taxes of the mountains and seas and the handicrafts of the government, which are exclusively used by the royal family, and now he has private participation, which is naturally inseparable from him.

Zhang Zhenli looked at Lu Zhengze, who was standing on the side, and he already knew it in his heart. couldn't help but sigh, why did he go to Shudi.

Zhang Zhenli lifted his robe and knelt down, "The private matter is indeed not strictly supervised by the ministers, but His Royal Highness King Yong and the queen's mother really have nothing to do with this matter, those people have red mouths and white teeth to slander His Royal Highness and Niangniang, it is really hateful, or it is also the instigation and framing of people with intentions." Your Majesty, don't fall for it! ”

After that, he glanced at Lu Zhengze intentionally or unintentionally. The latter stood up straight, completely ignoring it.

Gu Chengye just wanted to say something, but Gonggong Jiang said in his ear: "The queen mother is here." ”

Before the words fell, Xiao Shuli walked in crying.

"Your Majesty, you are really wronged! The concubine has always been timid, Yu'er has been doing things since she was a child, how could she come up with such an idea! ”

She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, and turned to glaring at Zhang Zhenli who was kneeling on the ground viciously, and asked sharply: "Zhang Shaofu, what kind of heart do you have?" It's just for your own personal gain, and you even planted the blame on His Royal Highness and the palace? ”

Zhang Zhenli naturally understood what she meant, and hurriedly bowed to the ground, "The minister doesn't dare, it must be those private people who are unscrupulous." I beg Your Majesty to investigate this case thoroughly! ”

Lu Zhengze glanced at the three of them, and it was another move to abandon the car to protect the handsome. The confessions are unanimous, and I am afraid that the countermeasures have been discussed a long time ago. But this is enough, Xiao Shu is quite deep from the roots, and she will definitely not be able to take it once, and it is good to pull off one of her wings first.

Gu Chengye was suspicious by nature, so he naturally wouldn't make a hasty decision, so he immediately asked people to investigate thoroughly.

Zhang Zhenli was dismissed from the post of Shaofu and put in prison pending trial. All the people involved in the case in Shu were arrested and transferred back to Chang'an for thorough investigation. If it is found that this matter is related to the queen and His Royal Highness King Yong, it will be dealt with according to the regulations. During the review period, the queen and the three princes were confined to the palace and were not allowed to take a step. ”

Seeing that the matter had been decided, everyone was ordered to retreat.

Gu Chengye shouted: "The queen stays." ”

The footsteps gradually faded away, but Xiao Shuli was still kneeling there.

"The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics, and the queen is afraid that she has forgotten it a long time ago."

Gu Chengye stood under the window with his hands behind his back, the daylight was gradually turning, there was no warmth there, Gu Chengye was in a dark shadow, and even his breath was cold.

"The concubine didn't." Xiao Shuli's instinctive justification, but she was really a little powerless and weak-minded.

"No?" Gu Chengye slowly walked in front of her, smiled coldly, and suddenly leaned down and firmly pinched her jaw, "Xiao Shuli, if I don't move now, you don't mean that I don't know anything." Zhang Zhenli is just a petty official, without your instructions, he dares to give up the government's livelihood and private interests? If he is willing to take the blame for you, I will barely turn a blind eye, but I still have to remember this account. ”

With that, he threw up his sleeves and walked out.

Xiao Shuli covered her jaw that was about to dislocate in pain, and silently shed tears.