On the second day of the Lunar New Year, according to the practice in the palace, officials in Beijing, the royal family and relatives will enter the palace to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor. Xue Shao and Princess Taiping, as the emperor's immediate family, are naturally indispensable.

The couple prepared in advance and entered the palace early until Hanyuan Hall, only to find that someone came earlier than them.

"It's Prime Minister Liu Yuanzhi's carriage and horse." Princess Taiping recognized it at a glance and said, "It's very dazzling." ”

Xue Shao glanced at it, the golden chariot purple was indeed very dazzling, almost more brilliant than the carriage in which Princess Taiping traveled.

"He's a little overstepping, isn't he?" Xue Shao said.

The carriages and costumes of Tang officials all had a clear standard, and the regulations were quite strict. If it is violated, it will be tantamount to trespassing, and the crime will not be small.

Princess Taiping snorted disdainfully in her nose and whispered, "People are the emperor's teacher." Now that His Majesty is in power, he can be regarded as developed. This carriage was specially given by His Majesty the Emperor, and it was not a violation of the regulations—otherwise, even if he had the courage to drive it to the palace, he would not dare to drive it to the palace in a grand manner. ”

"It's quite ostentatious." Xue Shao smiled disapprovingly, signaling that Princess Taiping didn't have to care.

"I can't get used to it!" Princess Taiping was a little indignant, "Isn't it just a Tongfeng Pavilion Luantai Sanpin, in the final analysis, it is still a courtier of my Li family." Now he dares to show off in front of us royalty, what kind of system is this? Pei Yan, the minister who was in power in the past, was not as frivolous and arrogant as him! ”

Xue Shao stroked her back to signal her not to be irritable and not to be angry, and whispered: "His talent and prestige are not as good as Pei Yan, but he is even more flamboyant and frivolous than Pei Yan, what do you think he can do?" ”

“…… That's right! As soon as she heard Xue Shao's words, Princess Taiping suddenly lost her anger and turned to smile, "He clearly knows that today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and it is the day when the relatives of the royal family and the prime ministers and princes collectively enter the palace to pay a visit to the emperor, and he also intends to show off like this, that is really not afraid of offending people." Since he doesn't know how to cherish blessings so much, he doesn't blame others for falling into the well. ”

Xue Shao nodded and was silent, it is not difficult to understand from Princess Taiping's words that it is indeed difficult for Jingguan to do. Because before you know it, you may offend people.

In today's words, the capital is very dangerous, and you need to be cautious in pretending to be forced!

Later, many royal families and ministers came, Xue Shao and Princess Taiping met with them one by one, and then entered the palace together to pay New Year's greetings to the emperor. Liu Yuanzhi came early, but he has his reasons. The emperor appointed him as the "sacrificial wine" of today's banquet, that is, responsible for receiving these royal families and ministers who entered the palace to worship, and presided over today's sacrifice.

This is quite a beautiful thing, and it has always been presided over by the most respected elder of the court, or the person with the highest rank in the royal family. Everyone saw it in their eyes and felt that Liu Yuanzhi was far from being qualified. But there is no way, who called him the prime minister now, and it turned out to be the emperor?

As a result, everyone also smelled a strange smell, Emperor Li Dan admired and relied on Liu Yuanzhi, did he want to use his strength to push the boat down the river to "implement" this pro-government? Didn't he know that the Queen Mother asked him to be pro-government just for show? Didn't he know that although he was sitting on this dragon chair, the real power of the court was still in the hands of the Empress Dowager Wu who lived in the harem?

Xue Shao and Princess Taiping also thought of this question, and Princess Taiping even became a little worried, and said to Xue Shao in private: "Xue Lang, does His Majesty the Emperor want to become the second King of Luling?" ”

"Necessarily not." Xue Shao said, "Your Majesty has never had a desire to be in power by nature, and his temperament is not as frivolous and impetuous as that of King Luling, and there is no ambition by Wei Xiang'er to instigate him. Of course, the most important thing is that His Majesty has never left the inner court since he was born, and he gets along with the Queen Mother day and night every day, and all his actions are under the control of the Queen Mother. ”

"In this way, Liu Yuanzhi has this heart?" Princess Taiping leaned at Liu Yuanzhi and sneered.

Xue Shao smiled slightly, "Liu Yuanzhi probably thinks that he is both an emperor and a dragon, and he should support the king and the first assistant to the government. Then the first thing he has to do is to correct His Majesty and make him truly pro-government, which requires the Queen Mother to completely hand over power. ”

Princess Taiping frowned, "No wonder today, my mother didn't come forward." Could this also be what Liu Yuanzhi requested? ”

"He doesn't have the guts yet." Xue Shao smiled slightly and whispered, "I guess, most of the reason is that the Queen Mother herself is unwilling to come." Then quietly watched from the sidelines, how Liu Yuanzhi and his gangs were going to perform. ”

"Want to get away with it?"

"Yes."

"Liu Yuanzhi and others are too self-conscious!" Princess Taiping sighed lightly and said, "Look at these people, Liu Yuanzhi, Wei Xuantong, Guo Zhengyi, and Liu Qixian, they are happier than one by one today, as if they really regard themselves as great heroes of the dragon." Can't they see the huge risks behind this? ”

Xue Shao shook his head and smiled slightly bitterly. Seeing such a scene of singing and dancing in front of him, who would have predicted that behind it was actually a bloody storm that was about to break out? …… For these old ministers and henchmen left over from the Pei Yan era, Wu Zetian has endured them long enough. This time, Wu Zetian pretended to return to the emperor and let him govern in person, it may be that he was forced by the pressure of these people to attack him, or it may be that he retreated to advance and let them show their fox tails one by one, and then gather and annihilate them in one go!

If you want to talk about the changes in the city government and the competition for power and politics, Liu Yuanzhi and these people are far from being Wu Zetian's opponents! But one by one, they still feel good about themselves, thinking that the victory is in their hands, and the overall situation is decided, and even some proud and complacent villains have their ambitions...... Xue Shao couldn't help but think of a popular saying in later generations - if you don't die, you won't die!

"Xue Lang, stay away from these people." Princess Taiping said very seriously.

"I've never been close to them." Xue Shao replied like this, but he sighed a little for Liu Yuanzhi and the others in his heart...... In fact, they are not bad people, compared to Liu Huaiyi and Wu Chenghe, they can be called moral pacesetters. But fate is sometimes unreasonable, whether it's a good person or a bad person, no one can escape when it's time to be unlucky.

Those who follow the heavens prosper and those who rebel against the heavens die, nothing more than this. Sometimes, history is not cruel.

After the feast, the ministers withdrew. Emperor Li Dan took the initiative to invite Xue Shao and Princess Taiping and asked them to visit the queen mother in the harem.

Xue Shao and Princess Taiping smiled knowingly, it seems that the emperor still knows in his heart, he is much more sober and rational than Liu Yuanzhi.

So the husband and wife went to Yingxian Palace with the family of Emperor Li Dan to pay New Year's greetings to Wu Zetian.

Xue Shao saw Li Longji again, although he was still in infancy, Xue Shao couldn't help but feel a shadow in his heart when he saw him...... Will this little rabbit cub still become the killer star of Princess Taiping's life like in history?

- Why don't I find a chance to strangle him?

As soon as this strange thought came to mind, Xue Shao felt a little funny, as for it? After so many years of hard work, I have more or less the ability to control the demon woman "fate". How the future history will be written depends on how I strive for and grasp it today -- if Li Longji wants to appear on the stage in the future, I am afraid that he will have to ask me, who is an uncle, whether I agree or not!

When the group arrived at Yingxian Palace, they happened to meet Wu Zetian enjoying a song and dance. Xue Shao and others came forward to worship, Wu Zetian was very happy, and in accordance with the rules of the palace and folk customs, he distributed red envelopes to these children and grandchildren, and then invited them to enjoy the family banquet together.

Halfway through the banquet, Li Dan suddenly said: "Queen Mother, the emperor has been in power for several days, and he feels physically and mentally exhausted. Under the hard work of day and night, even the chronic disease of coughing and wheezing is about to recur. Therefore, the emperor is willing to invite his mother, or continue to call the government of the country in the court. Otherwise, the government will be abandoned, and the society will be corrupted in the hands of the emperor. ”

There was a sudden silence in the room.

Wu Zetian pondered for a moment, "It's so serious?" ”

Everyone didn't know whether Wu Zetian was talking about the emperor's chronic illness, or whether the court was ruined and the country was corrupted, or maybe both.

Li Dan hurriedly got up and left his seat, and bowed down to Wu Zetian in public, "I am willing to ask the queen mother to put the people of the society first, and continue to be in the dynasty to govern the country!" ”

Xue Shao and Princess Taiping could only be silent. How can this kind of thing help the cavity to mix? Li Dan's concubines didn't dare to say much, they didn't want to be the second Empress Wei.

Wu Zetian quietly looked at Li Dan who was kneeling on the ground, was silent for a moment, and said lightly: "Even though this palace has the heart to help you, your minister does not agree." This palace, what can I do? ”

"No one disagrees!" Li Dan raised his head and said hurriedly, "The queen mother has been in charge for decades, and the peace of the Tang Dynasty is obvious to all. For a long time, except for a few ambitious fanatics who were intoxicated by the struggle for power, most of the ministers above the court actively supported the queen mother's rule! ”

"This matter, Rong Bengong thinks twice." Wu Zetian's expression has always been very indifferent.

"The emperor is willing to beg his mother! Focus on the community and all the people! Li Dan knelt on the ground and refused to get up, almost choking.

Xue Shao and Princess Taiping now understand, it turns out that the roles and tasks of their husband and wife today are quite important, and they are simply special guests of this political drama!

Seeing that Wu Zetian disagreed, Li Dan waved his hand, and his concubines and sons, including wet nurses, eunuchs, maids, women, etc., all appeared together. Dozens of members of the family knelt together, and they were willing to ask Wu Zetian to come out of the mountain again and continue to weigh the system.

Wu Zetian smiled.

Xue Shao and Princess Taiping glanced at each other, and began to mourn for Liu Yuanzhi and the others in their hearts.

Li Dan's words just now and his current actions make it clear that he wants to draw a clear line with Liu Yuanzhi and others, because he doesn't want to become the second King of Luling. But at the same time, Liu Yuanzhi and others were pushed to the fire pit by the king they actively supported.

Xue Shao quietly looked at the young emperor who was kneeling on the ground with a look of panic and weakness, and thought to himself that he was really a dead friend and not a poor man, and Li Dan was definitely not as weak and weak as he seemed on the surface. When it really comes to the critical moment, he will be dark and ruthless enough!