In the end, Wu Zetian ignored the persuasion and retention of Emperor Li Dan and his ministers, and really returned to the harem and returned the monarchy to Li Dan.

The Empress Dowager went to the emperor to govern in person, which was a sensational event in the world, and it soon spread among the people. All kinds of people have speculated about this, and the high-level power of the Tang Empire has really not attracted much attention as it does now.

But the strange thing is that the center of the imperial court, which should have been the most affected, was relatively calm. The prime minister is still the former prime minister, the ministers are still those ministers, and everyone is still performing their duties as before. Datang's state apparatus is still running smoothly as before, and there is almost nothing unusual.

In the period of alternation of monarchy, it is obviously extremely abnormal for the court to maintain such calm.

Later, everyone saw a fact clearly, although the Queen Mother is now abdicating, Wu Chengsi and Wu Youning are still sitting in the political hall, and they are more important than before. But there were important matters, and they did not report to the emperor but still asked the empress dowager for instructions. In addition, many of the ministers and henchmen promoted by the Queen Mother are still in high positions or prominent positions, and together with the two prime ministers surnamed Wu, they control the entire court tightly. Even the generals of the Imperial City Imperial Forest Army and the field garrison outside the city were frequently rewarded by the Queen Mother at this time. On the surface, it was the Queen Mother who asked them to be loyal to and assist the emperor in the future, but everyone knew the real intention.

To put it bluntly, although Wu Zetian is no longer in the court, the court is still in her hands.

But no matter what, Wu Zetian did have a period of leisure. At least she didn't have to get up at dawn every day to prepare for the court or still review a large number of folds late at night, as she used to do. She even had time to visit Princess Taiping's mansion to take a look at Xue Shao's pair of precious children.

Late one night.

Since returning to the court as an official, Xue Shao, who often goes to the court, has the habit of going to bed early. At this moment, he was already asleep, but Princess Taiping was still full of energy.

After thinking alone for a long time, Princess Taiping couldn't help but shake Xue Shao, "Xue Lang, are you asleep?" ”

"Wake up now." Xue Shao had no choice but to open his eyes, "What's the matter?" ”

"Hehe, I didn't mean to make you sleep." Princess Taiping smiled a little apologetically, squeezed into Xue Shao's arm and whispered, "You say, is my mother really returning to power like this?" ”

"Do you think it's possible?"

"No way."

"And you still ask?"

Princess Taiping frowned and said, "I just think it's strange, why did she do this?" ”

Xue Shao thought for a while and said: "When marching and fighting, pay attention to an orderly advance and retreat of Zhang Chi. If you blindly rush and fight, it will be a blow, and then it will be exhausted. ”

"You mean to say that Mother is retreating into advance?" Princess Taiping asked.

"Perhaps."

"How did you spit?" Princess Taiping was a little annoyed, "Is there anything you have to say, can't you say it to me?" ”

Xue Shao smiled and said, "I don't know much about it, how can I be arbitrary?" - I'm just guessing that the Queen Mother may have been under a lot of pressure lately. ”

"What pressure?"

"Pressure from the common people and the ministers of the court." Xue Shao said, "Although the Yangzhou Mutiny has been pacified, the people of the Tang Dynasty will not forget that its soldiers are directed at the Empress Dowager Wu." Although Pei Yan was defeated, some of his henchmen and like-minded people remained in the court. They are all the same as Pei Yan, hoping that the Queen Mother can return to power to the emperor as soon as possible. It's just that Pei Yan was too aggressive, and they were more obscure. ”

"No wonder I heard that Liu Yuanzhi's house has been full of distinguished guests recently, and the threshold of his house is about to be broken." Princess Taiping said, "He is the teacher of His Majesty the Emperor, if His Majesty is really able to govern from now on, his credit will be the greatest, and the benefit will be the greatest." ”

Xue Shao smiled slightly, "Since you can see it, then the Queen Mother will definitely pay attention to it." ”

"It seems that my mother's trick is really subtle." Princess Taiping said, "If she doesn't retire for a while, how can she know who supports her wholeheartedly and who disobeys her?" ”

"And that's not all." Xue Shao said, "This time she took the initiative to abdicate and let the emperor take charge of the government, which is equivalent to sealing the mouths of the people of the world, and no one will criticize the queen mother for occupying the monarchy." I think that's what she's trying to do. ”

"Makes sense...... Princess Taiping blinked, her eyes shining with wisdom, "It's been a long time since my father's death, and the 'right to decide on major military affairs' granted to my mother by the first emperor is almost forgotten. That is to say, if my mother continues to weigh the throne, it will seem that her name is not good enough to convince the public. ”

"Yes." Xue Shao smiled to express his approval of her.

Princess Taiping smiled, "But if His Majesty the current emperor invites her to go out of the mountain again, and she has to be in charge of the country, then it will be justified and reasonable!" ”

"You're talking too much." Xue Shao smiled, "This kind of thing, you can know each other, so why bother to break it?" ”

"Hmph, I'm not stupid!" Princess Taiping said, "Of course I will only discuss this kind of thing with you, how can I talk nonsense with others outside?" ”

"Well, go to sleep!"

"Wait!" Princess Taiping said, "The day after tomorrow is your vacation again, and I don't allow you to go to the military department again." You've got to hang out with us!"

Xue Shao smiled bitterly, "Recently, I am preparing for Shangwutai, and I have ......a lot of things at hand."

"No! Just don't! Princess Taiping said angrily, "I want you to accompany us to the newly built White Horse Temple." I have already made an appointment with my eldest brother, sister-in-law and third brother's family, do you want me to break my promise? ”

"Uh......" Xue Shao couldn't help but scratch his head, "The day after tomorrow, I really have something." I made an appointment with the master craftsman who would be the supervisor to discuss the important matter of building the Sangwudai school grounds. ”

"I also made an appointment with Shangguan Wan'er." Princess Taiping's voice suddenly became cold.

Xue Shao's expression suddenly became a little unnatural, "That's ...... What do you think? ”

"So, are you really not going?" Princess Taiping said coldly, "Don't you want to ask Shangguan Wan'er about some things that you are particularly concerned about?" …… For example, has there been a result for the candidates for the new governors of Shuozhou and Daizhou? ”

Xue Shao suddenly perked up, Yunshuo Dynasty was the three important towns of Hebei Frontier. After Cheng Wuting was abolished, Shuozhou and Daizhou have not had a clear successor. Now Xue Ne is in charge of the Dingxiang Army left by his father Xue Rengui and sits in Yunzhou, temporarily taking charge of the military affairs of the two states of the Shuo Dynasty.

Xue Shao has always wanted Zuo Fengchenwei's general Zhou Jitong to be the new governor of Daizhou, which is the place where his father Zhou Daowu died in battle. On the Shuozhou side, Xue Shao hoped that Cheng Boxian could become the new governor. Although these two generals are a little young, Xue Shao knows that their abilities are definitely enough to do it. Of course, Zhou Jitong and Cheng Boxian's friendship with himself is also extraordinary. If they can become the commander-in-chief of the border defense town, it will also be of great benefit to themselves, especially at this juncture of the implementation of the "change of flag".

However, there are often many good things, and the court has always held a dispute about the candidates for the governors of these two important border towns. In order to avoid the suspicion of party friends, Xue Shao did not come forward to help Zhou and Cheng Er in person, so after privately persuading him and the two of them to actively fight, he could only occasionally and quietly help them with one or two dark strengths.

"Tell me, are you going or not?" Princess Taiping is urging again.

"Is there really an insider?" Xue Shao blinked.

"Then you have to ask Shangguan Wan'er." Princess Taiping's tone was neither yin nor yang, as if she had a little bad intentions.

"Ahem...... Okay, I'll just go. Xue Shao was full of "reluctant" looks.

"Humph! Hum! Princess Taiping really had a seizure, lifted the quilt and rode on Xue Shao's body as soon as she turned over, opening her teeth and dancing her claws, "Sure enough, Shangguan Wan'er has weight!" The palace and your whole family combined, are not as important as a Shangguan Wan'er! ”

"Nothing! …… Ah, mercy! ”

……

Two days later, Xue Shao accompanied Princess Taiping and her brothers to the White Horse Temple.

Founded in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the White Horse Temple, known as the first ancient temple in China and the world-famous Garan, is the first temple built after Buddhism was introduced to China. But it has been destroyed and rebuilt by wars for hundreds of years, and it is no longer what it used to be. The most recent destruction came from the Yongxi Rebellion in the last years of the Northern Wei Dynasty, when almost the entire city of Luoyang was destroyed.

Wu Zetian, who believed in Buddhism, ordered the rebuilding of the White Horse Temple, which was almost reasonable. The construction is about to be completed in the near future, and there has been no official inauguration ceremony yet, let alone open to the public. Only people of the level of Princess Taiping can enter the temple in advance to have a sneak peek.

For the sake of safety, Princess Taiping brought her honor guard with her, and Xue Shao also ordered Guo An to lead people to follow the guards. Coupled with the nearly 100 people in the group of servants and maids, the pomp and circumstance can be described as not small.

When I arrived at the White Horse Temple, there were already officials and hundreds of workers who were in charge of supervising the temple waiting here.

Xue Shao rode a horse and walked in front, and saw a tall, burly, sturdy man with thick eyebrows and big eyes walking forward, clasping his fists and bowing to himself and Princess Taiping's car.

"Xiao Ke, Feng Xiaobao, the supervisor of the White Horse Temple, welcomes Her Royal Highness Princess Taiping and Xue Yuma, and is here!"

Xue Shao's heart was like a flash of lightning in his heart, and three words popped out between his teeth-

"Feng, Xiao, Bao?!"

This frightened Feng Xiaobao, he raised his head slightly and looked up at Xue Shao with a panicked face, "Xue Yuma, do you recognize Xiao Ke?" ”

"See you for the first time." Xue Shao's tone was calm, and it could even be said to be a little indifferent.

This made Feng Xiaobao very embarrassed, and his face turned a little pale.

"Xue Lang, let's enter the temple!" Princess Taiping, who was sitting in the car, spoke.

This relieved Feng Xiaobao, and he hurriedly bowed down respectfully, "Xiao Ke respectfully invites Her Royal Highness Princess Taiping to enter the temple." If His Royal Highness does not give up, Xiao Ke is willing to lead the way in front of the reins. ”

"Okay." Princess Taiping only said one word.

At this moment, Xue Shao's heart is already clear - it seems that today's trip to the White Horse Temple is fake; Princess Taiping wants me to meet this Feng Xiaobao, but it's true!