Xue Shao knew that compared with Cheng Wuting, a man with a temperament, Wang Fangyi's mind was more sober and his position was more distinct. The contradiction between him and Wu Zetian may not be so easy to reconcile.

Although Cheng Wuting and Pei Yan are sons and daughters, this relationship actually did not bring him much trouble. Especially after he took the initiative to ask for an external transfer and did not intervene in the dispute between Pei Yan and Wu Zetian, Wu Zetian still had a little appreciation for his move. Later, he had a conflict with Wu Zetian, mainly because his son Cheng Qizhi killed his wife and killed himself under unbearable pressure, which was somewhat accidental.

Wang Fangyi is different.

Although Wang Fangyi was able to achieve today's achievements mainly by his own efforts, his background must not be ignored. Wang Fangyi was born in the Taiyuan Wang family, his grandmother was the sister of Gaozu Emperor Li Yuan, and his cousin Wang was the first emperor Gaozong's Yuan match empress, that is, the queen who was defeated by Wu Zetian. Therefore, in essence, Wang Fangyi is Li Tang's absolute loyalist. And because of the old historical account of Queen Wang, the relationship between him and Wu Zetian is even more incompatible, and it is fundamentally opposed.

Moreover, Wang Fangyi put down the rebellion in the Western Regions, and served as the protector of Anxi in the Tang Dynasty. Whether it is prestige and qualifications, or the strength of the soldiers and horses under his command, there is no one to compare with it now, and even when Xue Shao commanded the Shuo Fang army in Xiazhou, he was inferior to Wang Fangyi by a few points.

Xue Shao really has a bit of a headache now. Compared with the emotional Wang Fangyi in front of him, Cheng Wuting, who almost rebelled in Hebei, is afraid that he can't even count as a thorn.

Seeing that Xue Shao fell silent and did not give an answer immediately, Wang Fangyi said to himself: "Young marshal, you must understand what it means to change the flag and change the official name, move to Kyoto and change the era name. ”

Xue Shao nodded, who wouldn't know that this was a sign and sign of "changing the dynasty"?

"The old man is stupid to ask." Wang Fangyi shook his head and sneered, "Even ordinary people who don't ask about state affairs should know what these actions mean." ”

Xue Shao smiled indifferently, Wang Fangyi's words were a little choked, but he was such a character.

Wang Fangyi smashed his fists on the wine case, "Are we just going to be obedient and sit still?" ”

"Old general, don't get too excited. This is the capital, and the disaster comes from the mouth. Xue Shao reminded.

Wang Fangyi nodded with hatred, gritted his teeth extremely unwillingly, and said: "If I knew this, the old man shouldn't have been ordered to return to the court!" ”

Xue Shao frowned in his heart, could it be that you still want to follow Cheng Wuting?!

Wang Fangyi also drank a few more glasses without holding back, but immediately woke up after blurting out, and immediately felt a chill rise in his neck, and hurriedly hugged Xue Shao and said: "The old man is talking nonsense after drinking, don't take it to heart!" ”

Xue Shao smiled and waved his hand, "Why should the old general go outside?" Is there anything else that can't be said between you and me? ”

Wang Fangyi laughed, "Come, the old man respects the young marshal again!" ”

Xue Shao felt very relieved, although he hadn't seen him for a long time, the like-mindedness and conviction between the robes and Ze still hadn't disappeared.

The two drank a few more wines, and Xue Shao said: "Old general, you and I have already drunk a few more glasses today, why not just talk about the friendship of the robe and Ze, and don't talk about other things?" ”

"It's good!" Wang Fangyi was refreshed and said, "Since the old man has returned to the court, I'm afraid he won't just stay for a day or two, and those annoying political and military affairs will be talked about slowly." Today I only talk about the old feelings and don't talk about official business - young marshal, please! ”

"Please! ——”

Wang Fangyi's alcohol consumption was excellent, and Xue Shao drank with him, almost drunk. Fortunately, Wang Fangyi brought his entourage, and Xue Shao also had Wang Yu to greet him, and the two of them all returned home safely.

Princess Taiping took Linlang to stay in the palace to accompany Wu Zetian, and only the moon slave received Xue Shao at home. As soon as she got Xue Shao into bed and was about to wipe his clothes, Xue Shao sat up.

"Childe, what's wrong?" The moon slave was taken aback.

Xue Shao, who was drunk, had a strange look in his eyes, "I have to enter the palace!" ”

"Now?"

"Right now!"

"But it's dark, and the palace gate is closed." Yue Nu hurriedly said, "Besides, Son, you are drunk like this and still want to enter the palace, it's not appropriate after all, right?" ”

"Don't be verbose, change your clothes, and prepare your horses!"

"Yes......"

In view of the disaster of the assassination of Tianjin Bridge last time, Yuenu, Wu Ming, and Guo An strongly requested to accompany Xue Shao into the palace together. Xue Shao thought of his kindness, so he took the three of them with him.

When he arrived at the entrance of the Zetianmen Gate of the Taichu Palace in the Imperial City of Luoyang, Xue Shao actually muttered a little in his heart - the power that the Queen Mother promised me when she was in Chang'an that I could enter the palace at any time to participate in the drive, will it still work when I arrive in Luoyang?

As he was muttering, the guards of the forbidden army patrolling in front of the city gate saw Xue Shao and took the initiative to come forward to pay respects, "Xue Yuma is going to enter the palace?" ”

"Yes."

"Please—"

Without saying a word, the guards of the forbidden army let go of the fence and opened the city gate, but only Xue Shao was allowed to enter.

"Chang'an's pass, it still works when you arrive in Luoyang!" Xue Shao couldn't help but smile, and ordered Wu Ming and the other three to wait here, and then entered the palace and went straight to the Yingxian Palace and the Immortal Palace.

In the palace, there is a pavilion in ten steps, and a post in five steps, and the security is extremely strict. But Xue Shao came all the way, and there was no hindrance. When those forbidden guards saw Xue Shao, they all saluted politely.

When they arrived at the Jixian Palace, Princess Taiping and Wu Zetian had not slept yet, and Xue Shao went in very smoothly.

"Why, I haven't seen you for a day, like every other autumn?" Wu Zetian also joked.

Princess Taiping covered her nose, "In the middle of the night, how did you enter the palace?" ”

Xue Shao touched his face with a little drunkenness and smirked, "My face is the pass." ”

"Your face is about to turn into a rotten peach blossom!" Princess Taiping was angry and funny, "You are so drunk, you dare to break into the palace late at night?" - Mother, punish him quickly! ”

Wu Zetian said with a smile: "Taiping, do you think today's Xue Lang is still the Xue Lang who saved you from falling into the water?" How can you punish the sin if you want to punish the sin—his privilege to enter the palace at any time is granted by the palace! ”

Princess Taiping blinked, "You come, what's the matter?" ”

"It's fine." Xue Shao looked smirked, "I just came to see you." ”

"Don't say it!" Princess Taiping pursed her lips and left with a flick of her sleeves.

Wu Zetian seemed to be in a good mood with a smile on his face, "Sit down—come on, quickly make a bowl of sobering soup for the horse." ”

"Empress Dowager Xie." Xue Shao sat down.

"Breaking into the palace late at night, there must be something important." Wu Zetian said: "But if you have anything to say, wait until you drink the sobering soup." ”

"Okay...... Xue Shao smiled ashamedly, "Queen Mother, guess who the minister drank with today?" ”

"With the amount of alcohol you drink, there aren't many people who can fill you like that." Wu Zetian smiled slightly, "At the same time, there are only a few people who can make you drink with a thousand glasses of confidants—Wang Fangyi, right?" ”

"The Queen Mother is wise." Xue Shao hugged his fists and bowed, which was regarded as a sycophant that was not light or heavy.

The sobering soup came, and Xue Shao drank it all. The taste was not very good, but the effect of decanting was really good, and it didn't take long for Xue Shao to feel much more sober.

"Now I can say it." Wu Zetian's attitude also became a little more serious, obviously she had switched from the identity of her mother-in-law to the identity of the queen mother.

"Queen Mother, the minister first wants to know, why did the imperial court recruit Wang Fangyi back to the court?" Xue Shao asked a question first.

Wu Zetian said lightly: "According to the Tang Dynasty's custom, the border marshal has been stationed outside for a long time, and he needs to change his ministry or return to the dynasty to report on his work." Don't you know that you're a secretary of the military department? ”

"This minister knows." Xue Shao said, "But the time when the imperial court recruited back Wang Fangyi was about shortly after the Yangzhou Mutiny. At that time, Tubo took advantage of our civil strife to keep an eye on it, and the situation in the Western Regions was quite tense. Urgently recruiting Wang Fangyi back at such a juncture is obviously not an ordinary custom. ”

"......" Wu Zetian frowned slightly and was silent for a moment, and said, "These things, this palace didn't have to explain to you. But since you have already asked, the palace should ask you a question first-before and after the rebellion between Pei Yan and Yangzhou, Wang Fangyi had written to the court many times, but the official post under the jurisdiction of Xiazhou was stopped. Can you explain this to Hongu first? ”

Xue Shao's heart sank, this kind of thing really couldn't be hidden from the old demon of Montenegro......

"What, nothing to say?"

"The minister is guilty." Xue Shao said.

Wu Zetian smiled, "It is indeed a crime to intercept the minister's recital without permission." But Hongu is strange, why are you doing this? ”

Xue Shao frowned and pondered for a moment, and said, "To tell the truth, the minister just doesn't want to have another border marshal and the court have a dislike at such an emergency moment. ”

"In other words, you are an unpredictable prophet about the content of Wang Fangyi's recital?" Wu Zetian asked.

Xue Shao nodded and shook his head again, "Of course the minister doesn't know the specific content of his recital. But what did the minister know about him...... You should be able to guess pretty much. ”

"So what do you think he'll write?" Wu Zetian asked as if with interest.

"It is nothing more than to intercede for Pei Yan and persuade the Queen Mother to return to His Majesty the Emperor to stop the Yangzhou Mutiny." Xue Shao said.

"Ho-that, it's the same as Cheng Wuting, coercing soldiers to force the palace!" Wu Zetian smiled, "Xue Shao, Xue Shao, you are really a good son-in-law of this palace!" ”

Xue Shao was slightly stunned, "Queen Mother, what do you mean by this?" ”

"You turn your elbow outward, and you are bent on the enemy of the palace, such a good son-in-law, where can you find it?" Wu Zetian said calmly, but there was obviously a trace of anger between his eyebrows.

Xue Shao's reaction was very calm, bowed his hand, and said, "Queen Mother Mingjian, if the minister was just dedicated to Wang Fangyi, he wouldn't have come today." ”

"Details of the original news." Wu Zetian is also quite calm, she has always been quite calm.

Xue Shaodao: "When Pei Yan forced the palace to mutiny in Yangzhou, Datang faced many crises. Chen is a general, and the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, a military crisis. In fact, at that time, the rabble in Yangzhou was not a concern at all, and the real crisis was the turbulent undercurrent lurking around us. Cheng Wuting and Wang Fangyi bore the brunt. The reason for this, the Queen Mother should not need to be analyzed one by one. ”

"That's right." Wu Zetian said lightly, "I know that you were actively contacting Cheng Qizhi in private at that time, and making suggestions for him, the purpose was to stabilize Cheng Wuting, but in the end it was self-defeating, of course, you can't be blamed for this." But Wang Fangyi's performance is enough to show that he is Pei Yan's fellow party, why did you hide it and not report it? Is it because the two of you have a friendship of giving knives? ”

Xue Shao was slightly stunned, she really had her hands and eyes all over the sky, and she knew everything about the trivial matter of me and Wang Fangyi giving each other knives when we were in Suizhou!

"Queen Mother, the minister's intention to stop Wang Fangyi's recital is actually the same as giving advice to Cheng Qizhi." Xue Shao said, "Although there is a friendship between the ministers and them, they are still inferior compared to the safety of the society and the interests of the country. Under the circumstances at that time, we had to stabilize the army and consolidate the border defense to the greatest extent in order to free up our hands to concentrate on suppressing the Yangzhou rebellion. Otherwise, it is very likely that foreign enemies such as Tibet and Turks will have an opportunity to take advantage of it. In Chen's view, the Yangzhou Mutiny was nothing more than a disease of scabies after all. If the border defense collapses and the foreign enemy invades, then the real disaster will be! ”

"Well said." Wu Zetian didn't refute, and said calmly: "Therefore, the palace later only used an ordinary order to recruit Wang Fangyi to the capital. Is there anything wrong with that? ”

Xue Shao's heart was suddenly stunned, listening to her voice, it was clear that she was going to settle accounts with Wang Fangyi!!

"Queen Mother......" Xue Shao took a deep breath and bowed his hand, "Can you not kill him?" ”

"Kill?" Wu Zetian smiled, "He is a relative of the royal family from a famous family, and now he is even more of a military veteran who has great military achievements and is highly respected, even your Young Marshal Xue has to give a little respect, why do you want to kill him?" ”

"The important general of the country, it's good not to kill...... Otherwise, it will be the relatives who will be bitter and the enemy will be fast, and the foreign enemy will pick up a big advantage. Xue Shao said this, but his heart was quite bottomless.

The words that Wu Zetian said just now sounded very beautiful, but they always made Xue Shao feel ...... Killing!