Xue Shao knew that although Wu Zetian took the initiative to come to the door to ask, his opinion must be just a "reference". Whether it will be adopted by the imperial court is still unknown.

But judging from Wu Zetian's appearance, Xue Shao knew that her opinion was quite useful to her. Although he did not make a statement, Wu Zetian had at least agreed with Xue Shao's two opinions.

First, do not abandon Fengzhou. Second, the imperial court must rescue Toyoshu.

Especially the second opinion, Wu Zetian has to pay more attention to it, and she heard Xue Shao's extraneous voice - whether the imperial court has taken action to save Fengzhou is one thing, and the success of the rescue is another thing.

If the imperial court sent troops but the rescue was not successful, then victory and defeat were commonplace, and it was only a small gain or loss limited to the military level; But if the imperial court did not send troops to sit back and watch the loss of Fengzhou, the gateway to the Tang Dynasty, and the thousand-mile territory of the Tang Dynasty fall into the hands of the enemy, it would be a heavy militaristic mistake made by the Empress Dowager during his reign. Because such a thing did not happen during the two saints' pilgrimage. Now that the first emperor has just died and the queen mother is in power alone, there is such a leak in the Tang Dynasty, it is not the fault of the queen mother, who else can it be?

Now the government and the opposition, including the prime minister, important ministers, and those in the prince's East Palace, are all staring at the Empress Dowager Wu who wantonly seizes power and does not let the new monarch take charge of the government. If she had made a heavy militaristic mistake at this time, it would undoubtedly have been an important excuse for the "opposition" to attack her and prevent her from remaining in power.

Therefore, after listening to Xue Shao's words, Wu Zetian felt a little "awakened", and said to Xue Shao: "The pavilion is full of Confucian students, and there are few people who are proficient in military affairs, and they almost misunderstood me!" …… Pei Zilong's eyes are scorching, and he specially asked the palace to come to you for advice, which shows that he does not avoid selfishness and public interest for the country. Chengyu, in the future, you should also be more open-minded, don't worry too much about some of the previous personal grievances and make it difficult for Pei Zilong. The two of you are the generals of the country and the minister of the country, if you can work together in harmony, it will be the blessing of the country's society! ”

"What the Queen Mother said is true, and the minister knows what to do." Xue Shao bowed.

"As for the matter of Toyoshu, the palace will convene a meeting of important ministers tomorrow." Wu Zetian said, "What is Chengyu's body now? Will I be able to join the list tomorrow? ”

Since Wu Zetian took the initiative to throw an olive branch to let Xue Shao participate in the important imperial military meeting, Xue Shao was no longer hypocritical, and said: "The minister is no longer in trouble." It is not only a military event, but also a special call by the Queen Mother, and the ministers must be there in person! ”

"So much the best!" Wu Zetian nodded and smiled with satisfaction, and gently patted Xue Shao's arm, "You have to remember to take care of your body." Now, not only do I need you to help me take good care of Taiping, but the country and society of Datang can't do without you! ”

"The minister knows!"

Later, Wu Zetian visited Princess Taiping again, and talked to the young couple with a few words of homely advice. She also took the initiative to ask to meet Xue Yi, who had just taken up the post of Sinong Shaoqing, talked a few words with him about business and gossip, and then met her "good girlfriend" Kudi affectionately, and the two talked very happily. Between the words, Wu Zetian vaguely revealed a heart - hoping that the Kudi clan could return to the inner court to reinstate.

Since Wu Zetian was in power in the Gaozong era, he has continuously set up a unique bureaucratic system of "female court officials". These female officials have ranks, salaries, and treatment, but they are not official officials of the imperial court, so they do not go to the court or go to other places to serve as officials, let alone openly participate in the government, they are just Wu Zetian's private secretary team. However, the prime minister's concierge can still be regarded as a seven-rank official, as Wu Zetian's personal think tank and personal secretary, the "latent strength" of female officials is quite strong. Therefore, a long time ago, the officials of the outer court jokingly called those female officials of the inner court "internal ministers" or "female prime ministers".

Kudi once served as a female official in the inner court for a period of time, although her husband Pei Gong and Wu Zetian seem to be "political enemies", but Kudi's pungent and resolute character with a little rebellious character is simply very good for Wu Zetian's appetite, and the two have become good girlfriends after coming and going. In addition, Wu Zetian also admired the talent of the Kudi clan very much, and as a result, the Kudi clan did not mix in the inner court for long, and was leaned on by Wu Zetian as a confidant, as if he had the posture of "the head of the female officials in the inner court".

If it weren't for Pei Xingjian's retirement after returning from the Northern Expedition, and later Pei Gong was ill for a period of time and then died, Kudi would definitely have been serving as Wu Zetian's "inner minister" in the inner court.

Today, it seems that another important intention of Wu Zetian to come to Princess Taiping's Mansion is to bring the Kudi clan back to the inner court to take office. But her words were very tactful, and she only invited the Kudi clan to take the children to the palace when they had free time.

Kudi was a very smart person, although she saw Wu Zetian's intentions and was eager to go to the inner court to reinstate, but she never mentioned it. Otherwise, it will appear that you are too anxious and enthusiastic. Their family is now living in Xue Shao's house, so eager to leave, doesn't it seem that the host is not hospitable? Moreover, Xue Shao is now the "legal guardian" of Pei Gong's son, and what she wants to do has to be discussed with Xue Shao before she can decide.

Wu Zetian obviously understood the reason, so he only expressed his willingness to let Xue Shao and the Kudi clan discuss the decision in private, and did not make it clear that there was no important person who gave orders.

Princess Taiping obviously noticed the subtle change in her mother's attitude towards Xue Shao. After Wu Zetian left, Princess Taiping said to Xue Shao in private: "Xue Lang, now my mother has respected you very much. It's a rarity! ”

"I know." Xue Shao smiled, "The Queen Mother gives me face, and I have to give her face." ”

"Do you mean, let Mrs. Huayang go to the inner court to be reinstated?" Princess Taiping asked.

Mrs. Huayang is the title of the Kudi clan, a second-class foreign wife.

Xue Shao nodded, "The Queen Mother and Mrs. Huayang are very close to each other. Now that the first emperor has just passed away, the queen mother is lonely and lonely. If you can have a close friend by your side to talk about some things, the Queen Mother's mood will be better. ”

"Yo, I can't believe you are so considerate of a woman!" Princess Taiping laughed.

Xue Shao pursed his lips, "I'm inconsiderate, don't you know?" ”

"I really don't know!" Princess Taiping laughed weirdly.

Xue Shao squinted at her, "For the sake of your big belly, I won't be considerate of you today!" ”

Princess Taiping immediately cried again, "Xue Lang, it's so pitiful to be pregnant!" …… No matter what, I want to be considerate, I want to snap! ”

The next day, two days before the new monarch's pro-government, the Queen Mother held a pre-imperial meeting.

This was the highest level of the imperial meeting, which was never attended by the prime ministers and important ministers, and was generally only used to discuss the affairs of the government and the military state. Although Xue Shao is the head of the 12 generals of the Southern Ya, he is not the prime minister and has no right to participate in politics. If it weren't for the special invitation of the host of the meeting, Empress Dowager Wu, Xue Shao would not have been qualified to participate in such a meeting.

As a result, Xue Shao, the general of the right guard, who had been "invisible" for nearly a month, finally showed his head openly. As soon as he appeared, he participated in the Imperial Military and Political Council, the highest level of the empire, and all rumors about him being "critically ill" and "idle" were shattered.

The ministers felt that the Queen Mother must have also paid attention to the rumors from the outside world, and she was worried that it would affect the stability of the army. Therefore, she deliberately went to visit Xue Shao in person and invited him to attend the imperial meeting.

Xue Shao politely refused the palanquin sent by the palace to carry him into the palace, and rode into the palace by himself. It is an unwritten rule that civil officials ride horses in sedan chairs. Xue Shao felt that there was no need for him to show off the Queen Mother's special favor to him in front of the ministers. He prefers that others will recognize his talent and strength, rather than treat him differently for other reasons.

The meeting was held in the government hall of the province of Menxia. This is not an official yamen organization, but an "office" under the name of the province under the door. But it is the place where the prime ministers concentrate on deliberations and work collectively, and in fact it is the highest administrative and decision-making body of Datang.

Before the meeting began, colleagues gathered in groups to chat and say hello. Xue Shao was here for the first time, and most of the people he saw were old people with gray hair, and Pei Yan, who was in his fifties, was young. Therefore, Xue Shao, who is in his twenties, appeared here and looked very eye-catching.

However, not all of the people who came to the meeting today were prime ministers. Cheng Wuting, the general of the forbidden army and the general of Yulinwei left and right, and Zhang Qianqiao were also invited. In addition, there is another person that Xue Shao didn't expect is also here - Wu Chenghe!

Xue Shao was a little surprised to see Wu Chengsi, and since the Zhang Miaoxiao incident, he hadn't heard of any major movements from him for a while. Unexpectedly, he would actually attend the Imperial Council today?

Xue Shao and Wu Chengsi looked at each other, and they all turned their eyes away without saying anything to each other, looking like they would never get along with each other. Xue Shao inquired privately, and it was terrible - Wu Chenghei had just been promoted to the secretary of the military department yesterday, no wonder he would come to participate in such a military meeting in front of the emperor!

Xue Shao was depressed in his heart, the secretary of the military department, was actually the top boss of me, the squire of the military department-do you also understand military affairs, you stupid plaything?!

After inquiring again, Xue Shao's heart was even more angry - Wu Sansi's waste wood basket actually became the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and he took over the class of the late Pei Gong, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

In addition, Wu Youning, a member of the Zhongshu House, also rose a big step and became a Zhongshu waiter. The ugly eight monsters Wu Yizong was also promoted from the fourth-rank Zhonglang general to the third-rank Zuojin Wuwei general. Coupled with the return of the thousand-cavalry general Wu Yougui who turned over not long ago, the nephews of the Wu family were ruthless during the period when the new monarch was mourning and the queen mother was in power.

Xue Shao is not surprised by the development of these villains, Wu Zetian has always wanted to promote his mother's family, this is an open secret. Previously, under the pressure of Gaozong Li Zhi, Wu Zetian temporarily cut off Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi's official positions, so that her nephews were all restrained. Now that Li Zhi has passed away, it is almost inevitable that the power of the samurai family will rise.

Xue Shao only had one thing he couldn't figure out, Pei Yan, the minister who was the leader of the government and the leader of the hundred bureaucrats, had no opinion on the queen mother's nepotism?

Just thinking about it, the Queen Mother's car came. Wu Chengsi greeted him like a dog, reprimanded the eunuch, and personally helped the Queen Mother get out of the car.

Xue Shao, like many ministers, watched with disdain.