After a day of nervousness, happiness and pride, Empress Wu was not tired, and on the second day, she continued to meet with Xu Jingzong, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, in the east chamber of the Liangyi Palace, and discussed the matter of the prince.

planned to abolish Li Zhong and establish Li Hong, and also discussed the posthumous gift to his parents.

Early in the morning of the third day, Empress Wu instructed Liushang to prepare the ceremony for the Queen's Temple, that is, to worship the Taimiao, and told Li Tang that he had become the daughter-in-law of the Li family and was going to help the Li family take care of the housework.

Taimiao is in the east of Anshangmen Street in the imperial city, across the street from Taichang Temple. Empress Wu took a tired car to the Taimiao Temple surrounded by internal officials to perform the ceremony of telling the temple.

Cui Zhongshu, the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, led Taizhu Yang Jing, Zhai Lang and others to enter the Taimiao first, light incense lamps, clean up, and set up the wooden plaques and sacrificial items of the gods.

After the preparation is completed, after the martial arts, he will enter the temple to worship the gods, and he will play music too often.

Taizhu Yang Jing walked to the right side of the outdoors, knelt down to the east to read the blessing, and said: "On November 3, the sixth year of Yonghui, the great-grandson of Zixiao, Emperor Li Zhi, sent his granddaughter-in-law Wu to dare to announce to the emperor Taiwu Emperor and Empress Dou, who will only see you. I would like to recommend one yuan Dawu, Mingqing, Xianghe, Xiangyi, Jiavege, Jiajiao, and Liqi. Feasting. ”

After reading, worship after the martial arts. Yang Jing entered the temple with the version, knelt down in front of the throne, bowed after the martial arts, and the music stopped.

Empress Wu secretly thought: I used to be a talented person for more than ten years, and I was promoted to Zhaoyi, but it turned out to be just a waiting girl of the Li family! Now that the etiquette through the temple is finally justified, you can take care of this big family.

At the same time as the Wuhou Temple, Xu Jingzong played Li Zhidao: "The crown prince is the foundation of the country, and the country has nothing to worry about. Those who now live in the East Palace, originally from a humble background, know that the country has a righteous heir, and they will not be at ease. Stealing the throne and doubting yourself, I am afraid that it is not the blessing of the temple, may Your Majesty think twice! ”

Li Zhi said: "Li Zhong has already made a virtuous appearance. ”

Xu Jingzong was secretly overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "It is really commendable to be an uncle!" May Your Majesty promptly agree to him. Li Zhi didn't say anything, but he looked good.

At the end of the day, the two major events were done very smoothly, the Empress Wu was happy, set up a banquet to entertain the officials, and sent Pan Changshi to bring wine and wealth to comfort Xu Jingzong.

Xu Jingzong was also very excited, thinking that he was the same as Wei Zheng in Wagangzhai back then, and he was one of the eighteen scholars of the Qin Mansion, and Li Shimin also valued him, and once said to him: "I look at the ministers, only Qingxian." ”

In terms of qualifications and talents, he should have been listed as a public with Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling a long time ago, but he was demoted because of some details and was not reused.

Now the emperor and queen all respect him, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you don't give it a go, when will you wait? The old man is in the bush, with a thousand miles of ambition, and the martyr is in his twilight years, and his heart is strong.

Xu Jingzong shouted in his heart, and wrote a chapter about the posthumous gift of the Empress Wu's father, Wu Shi, that night, and handed it over early the next morning.

After Li Zhi retreated from the court, he smiled and handed over Xu Jingzong's recital to Empress Wu for review, and Empress Wu smiled when she saw it.

Li Zhi pointed to the pen holder and said to Empress Wu: "This letter is approved by the lady herself. Empress Wu lifted the Zhu Pen, wanted to fall and stopped, and said: "Aya only gave Situ words, it seems that something is missing?" Ying Guogong's title hasn't changed for a long time, and it's time to change it! ”

Li Zhi asked curiously: "What does the lady want to change?" ”

"Zhou Guogong!" Empress Wu said excitedly: "Our family's Wu clan originates from Ji Wu, the young son of King Zhou Ping, does Jiu Lang know?" Li Zhi continued to listen.

Empress Wu raised her palm and said, "The lines on Ji Wu's palm are a martial character, and his descendants take Wu as their surname." Aya said that the ancestor of our family is Ji Wu, and it has been forty-eight generations now, so our family originates from the Zhou family. ”

Li Zhi smiled and said: "I have also heard of this allusion, but the lady has to think about it, my nurse Ji holds the Mrs. Zhou Guo in front, and cannot be changed, if the father-in-law is the Duke of Zhou, then the mother-in-law cannot be named Mrs. Zhou Guo!" ”

Seeing Wu, he was puzzled, and then said: "Ji Yan has the same surname as Ji Wu, and he is a pure descendant of the Zhou family, and it is justified to seal Mrs. Zhouguo!" Besides, Mrs. dreams of Abao's diligence, applies for the benefits of deduction early, exhausts her mental strength, is sincere and filial piety, and has the grace of nurturing me, how can she forget it? ”

Empress Wu was silent for a long time, and Li Zhi urged: "Have you thought about it?" Do you want to change your title? Empress Wu said firmly: "Change, let's change the title of Zhou Guogong!" Lifting the Zhu pen, he made a comment on the chapter.

A few days later, the Ministry of Rites posthumously presented the late Ministry of Works, Ying Guogong, and the state governor Wu Shi as Situ and Zhou Guogong according to the procedure.

After hearing about it, Mrs. Ji of Zhou Guo was uneasy and terrified, so she came to see Empress Wu. Empress Wu had seen Ji Zhi when she was a talented person, and she had not yet been named a lady at that time.

Ji held the ceremony with the Empress Wu and gave him a crescent stool. Although she is older than the martial arts queen and is more than ten years old, she is full of energy, radiant, dressed in hairpins, with a supple demeanor, leisurely and leisurely, and is a hard-working and safe person.

Empress Wu asked her about her daily life, and she replied one by one, as a lady of Yipin, of course, her treatment was very high, there were many servants, and she enjoyed wealth with the emperor.

Ji held on to the past, saying that he was punished into the court because of the incident of Li Xiaochang, the governor of Lizhou, and Liu Deyu, the general of the right military guard, which was originally unfortunate, but he happened to be elected as the protector of the king of Jin, which turned disaster into blessing.

Empress Wu smiled: "If it weren't for the accident of my wife and father-in-law, I wouldn't have gone to Lizhou with Aye!" Hey, it's a coincidence, Mrs. entered the court because of Lizhou, and protected the king of Jin, and I arrived in Lizhou, thrived, and then entered the court and met the king of Jin! Everything seems to have been arranged in the dark! ”

Ji also smiled and said: "That's right, the rural land temple couplet says: Fate is determined by heaven, and goodness comes first!" There will be something that belongs to you, and don't force it if it doesn't belong to you. Don't ask about the future and wealth, just do good deeds and accumulate virtue! ”

Empress Wu asked her what she had been doing recently, and she said that since Yonghui, she had read all the Buddhist scriptures, and read almost all the Buddhist scriptures translated by Xuanzang.

Empress Wu said with interest: "I loved Buddhism when I was young, returned to Biyan, Wuguang Sanming Road, and thought about the Eightfold Gate!" I also read Buddhist scriptures for a few years. The two discussed the Buddhist scriptures enthusiastically.

Ji asked tentatively at the end: "I heard that Ling Zun has been posthumously presented as the Duke of Zhou?" The title of the concubine should be given to Ling Tang! ”

Empress Wu hurriedly replied: "No, since Madame is Your Majesty's bodyguard, that is, my bodyguard, without Madame, there will be no Your Majesty, and without Your Majesty, how can I have my wealth?" I regard my wife and my aunt as the same respect, how can I give in? ”

Ji held and said: "The Buddha said that letting go of everything is practice, letting go of attachment, and never leaving the cover, please don't shirk the queen!" After saying that, he bowed and left.

Empress Wu exclaimed in the back: "Hey, madam, madam! Seeing that Ji had gone out of the palace, Empress Wu said to herself: "Madame is really an interesting person!" ”

After Ji returned home, he immediately asked Dr. Gongjiao to write a recital sheet about changing himself to Mrs. Lu Guo and handed in the Chinese letter.

After Li Zhi received it, he instructed in front of Empress Wu, "No, edict", and said: "As for the reason why the seal is not allowed, I have already explained it in detail, and I will not bother to repeat it. ”

Empress Wu said respectfully: "Concubine Zun. After a while, he said: "Aya has been renamed from Duke Ying Guo to Duke Zhou Guo, Ah Niang is still Mrs. Ying Guo, and she should also be retitled!" ”

Li Zhi replied: "What name does the lady want to change?" Empress Wu said: "Since Mrs. Zhou Guo has deserved her name and cannot be changed, A-Niang will be renamed Mrs. Daiguo!" ”

Li Zhi nodded in agreement. By the end of November, after discussion in the Political Affairs Hall, the Ministry of Rites undertook to change the title of Mrs. Yingguo Yang to Mrs. Daiguo.

Ji Zhizhi and other internal and external wives all went to the Daiguo Lady's Mansion to congratulate her. Mrs. Yang's mother was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth because of her daughter's preciousness. Only Wu Shun was sullen.

Soon, Li Zhi took the initiative to crown Empress Wu's sister Wu Shun as Mrs. Korea, and Wu Shunle blossomed.

The success of the military queen is inseparable from the efforts of the pro-martial faction. After the deed was accomplished, the pro-martial faction was praised.

Li Yifu was worshiped as a scholar in the middle of the book, and Xu Jingzong, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was even more trusted by the emperor and queen, and waited for the edict at the west gate of the Wude Hall every day to prepare for advisers. You must know that the Wude Palace, the Liangyi Palace, and the Chengqing Hall are on the same east-west line, which belongs to the Inner Dynasty, and people who are not trusted by the emperor and queen cannot enter.

Xu Jingzong is knowledgeable, quick to respond, since Zhenguan has come, the imperial court revised the "History of the Five Dynasties", "Book of Jin", "Wude Record", "Zhenguan Record", "East Hall New Book", "Western Regions Atlas", "Wen Si Bo Yao", "Wenguan Cilin", "Yaoshan Yucai" and so on are all responsible for his cultivation, one person can play the role of an encyclopedia.

Empress Wu asked him many questions, including the disposition of Wang and Xiao. He quoted scriptures and told some of the fate of the concubine after she was abolished, such as the story of Empress Zhao Feiyan, and persuaded Li Zhi to handle it according to the allusions.

Empress Wu remembered a few allusions and listened to Li Zhi, who listened to them with relish.

Empress Wu changed her words and said: "According to the crimes of Wang and Xiao, they should be put to death, but Your Majesty is merciful and is only imprisoned." Now more than a month has passed, and they are living in pain, life is better than death! The concubines feel that the long pain is not as good as the short pain, so that they can be relieved of the sea of suffering, and there are many fewer disputes in the harem, what does Your Majesty think? ”

Li Zhi stroked the dragon's beard in his hand, pondered left and right, and was silent for a long time, noncommittal.

The next day, Li Zhisan said to Zhang Neishi: "Recently, the weather has been cold and dry, and the wind is biting, I want to go to the Yeting Palace to take a walk and see the prison cells of Wang and Xiao. ”

Zhang Neishou was taken aback and said: "That kind of place is full of resentment, don't go!" I'm afraid that going will make everyone sad! ”

Li Zhi said unhappily: "You, my old slave, don't you know what I mean?" ”

Zhang Nei's eyes rolled, and he hurriedly agreed: "Ouch, the old slave is confused, let's go and prepare!" ”

Zhang Nei, together with Tang Zhongjian, instructed his subordinates to prepare wooden chariots, and asked everyone to get into the car, and drove towards the Yeting Palace.

When he arrived at the remote Yeting Courtyard, Li Zhi abandoned the chariot and walked, ordered everyone to wait in place, and walked into the courtyard by himself. The little monkey in the guard courtyard looked around alertly and listened.

Li Zhi entered the hospital, but saw that the cell was extremely tightly sealed, only a hole was made in the wall to enter and exit with a feeder, and there was not even a skylight, just like a bunker, and the room was dark all day.

Li Zhi remembered the happy time he had spent with them in the past, and couldn't help but feel sad, and shouted, "Queen, concubine, where are you?" ”

Wang and Xiao lived dozens of dark days, in rags, and only wanted to die early.

Suddenly hearing Li Zhi's voice, it was like a world away, Wang and Xiao couldn't help crying with joy, climbed to the orifice, and said with all their strength: "The concubines are offended and abandoned as palace maids, how dare they have honorific titles, called queens and concubines?" ”

The two of them couldn't stop crying, and said: "If Your Majesty remembers the past, so that the concubine dies and is reborn, and sees the sun and the moon again, beg to sign this place as a courtyard for returning to the heart!" ”

Li Zhi vaguely saw their unkempt appearance, like hungry ghosts in hell showing their teeth and claws, praying to return to the world, he couldn't help but be frightened, and sighed long: "Hey......! I have a disposition. ”

Li Zhi turned around and left the courtyard. Wang and Xiao stretched out their hands and grabbed and danced, and shouted heartbreakingly: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty...... Don't go! Don't go! ”

The little monkey watched Li Zhi go away on a wooden chariot, and ordered the new eunuch to stay behind, and he rushed towards the direction of the Chengxiang Hall of the Taiji Palace.

After seeing Wu, the little monkey described the whole process of Li Zhi's visit to Wang and Xiao in a vivid manner.

Empress Wu was in a hurry, and suddenly bounced up from the phoenix couch, and said with a red face: "Back to the Heart Courtyard? Hmph, this palace told you to change your mind...... Where is the palace is falling? ”

"Humble duty." Luoxia arrived.

"The King of Sinners and Xiao have been claustrophobic for many days, and they don't want to change their ways, so they will intensify it, and make you enforce the palace rules and correct the King of Sinners and Xiao on the spot!" Empress Wu said loudly.

"Humble and respectful of the queen's order!" Luoxia replied, quickly withdrew, and called people to go.

"Pan Changshi, little monkey, prepare to set up a car, and go to the Yeting Palace with the palace to supervise the punishment!"

"Only ......," the two quickly replied.

The Empress Wu made proper arrangements, and Jane in light gear rushed from the Yeting Palace without alarming everyone.

When Empress Wu came to the claustrophobic courtyard, Luo Xia and Zidian had already led people to kill Wang and Xiao Han with white silk, and their bodies were displayed in the weeds in the courtyard.

Empress Wu personally came to look at it, and saw that Wang and Xiao were bleeding, skinny, and ghostly, and couldn't help but vomit in disgust, and waved her hand to signal them to be carried away.

Luoxia sent an envoy to lift the bodies of Wang and Xiao and send them to the wild fox to be hastily buried.

The next day off, Empress Wu went to the Hall of Eternal Life early in the morning to plead guilty.

Li Zhi pretended not to know and asked, "What is the queen's crime?" ”

Empress Wu bowed again and said: "Yesterday's retribution, the sinner king, Xiao was claustrophobic for many days, did not want to change, talked nonsense, and disturbed the holy car!" The concubine was worried about extraneous branches, so she moved out of the palace rules and put the sinners Wang and Xiao to death. Please Your Majesty to cure the concubine for the crime of cutting off first and then playing! ”

A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on Li Zhi's face, and in an instant, he got up from the throne and came over to support Empress Wu, and said: "I have been sedentary for a long time, my muscles and bones are curled up, how about the queen accompany me to bow?" ”

"Keju?" Empress Wu was puzzled: "The concubine is guilty ......"

Li Zhi waved his hand and said, "Playing the juju can stretch the limbs and strengthen the body and bones, let's go to the bow field by the Yaotai to play." You lead the team to Chengxiang Palace, I lead the captain to live in the Palace, the two sides fight, and the winner will be rewarded, hehe. ”

As a result, the people of the two palaces cheered and gathered to play in Yaotai.

The palace people of the Chengxiang Palace wear red clothes and are called the red team, and the people of the Palace of Eternal Life wear yellow clothes and are called the yellow team.

There is a red bow gate in the middle of the bow field. Huang team Chunlan bowed, bowed twice with his foot and passed it to Xia He, Xia He passed it to Cao Shaojian again, Cao Shaojian gave the bow to Li Zhi, Li Zhi raised his foot and bowed, aimed at the merry eye and kicked it, and the bow touched the net and returned, without scoring. The yellow team sighed.

The red team Ah Zi bowed, bowed twice and passed it to Si Zhen Huacai, and the painting Cai was passed to Jiang Shangyi, Jiang Shangyi gave the bow to the Empress Wu, and the Empress Wu took the bow, kicked at the merry eye, and the bow passed through the net, scoring 1 point. The RED team was jubilant.

After an hour of back and forth, the RED team won an overwhelming victory, and all the team members were rewarded by Li Zhi.

And the yellow team got nothing, according to the rules, the captain of the yellow team, Li Zhi, should paint ** on his face as punishment, but no one dared to whitewash the emperor.

Empress Wu was drenched in sweat, **slightly, elated under the support of the team members, and forgot all the unhappiness. Unlike the yellow team players with their mouths crossed, Li Zhi won despite defeat and enjoyed with the red team.

On the way back, Li Zhi told Empress Wu another piece of good news: "Li Zhong has asked for Rang Xian's recital, and I have approved it, and I am ready to hold a ceremony to establish the crown prince on a later date!" ”

Empress Wu was very surprised, and walked intimately with Li Zhi hand in hand.

The emperor and queen each returned to the palace and prepared to sleep together at night. Chengxiang Hall is full of lights, a festive atmosphere, and the Empress Wu sent the Shangshi Bureau to arrange a banquet to entertain the whole hall personnel. After three rounds of wine, I ate again, and after the meal, I put snacks, fruits and vegetables, and watched music and dance.

Everyone was immersed in joy, and Empress Wu suddenly asked, "What are we going to do with you today?" Pan Changshou thought for a moment and replied: "Niangniang is going to bear the guilt!" ”

"Then why was it that instead of being punished, he was rewarded?" Empress Wu asked. "That's because the mother is so charming!" Pan Changshou replied with a smile.

"No, I always felt a little wrong." Empress Wu said suspiciously. After thinking for a while, Empress Wu suddenly realized, and said to herself: "It turned out that Jiulang asked me to carry the black pot for him!" Cunning Kuro! ”

Li Zhi's trick is called luring the snake out of the hole, he wants to get rid of Wang and Xiao, but he refuses to bear the notoriety, so he can only borrow a knife to kill people and let the queen take the blame for him! So he pretended to visit Wang and Xiao, alarmed the Empress Wu, and let the Empress Wu take action.

At the beginning, Li Zhi wanted to take Mingkong back to the palace, but it was inconvenient for him to come forward in person, so he used this trick. He deliberately chose to go to Ganye Temple to make incense, weeping opposite to Mingkong, alarming Queen Wang, so as to lure Queen Wang to come forward to take Mingkong back to the palace and achieve his own goal, it is really ice and snow smart!

With the innate spirituality of the martial queen, of course, she can comprehend this layer! In the future, when his Langjun was embarrassed, he consciously stood up for him and took the blame, thus winning Li Zhi's trust.