The two saints have an open and secret struggle for power, which makes many Tang courtiers face an embarrassing situation, even a dangerous situation. There was a lesson from Governor Shi Li Chongyi, and now Xue Shao can't stay out of it.

Xue Shao personally experienced the Northern Expedition and had direct contact with the two saints, so it was easy to realize the stakes. After thinking about it for a while, Xue Shao felt that knowing his son Mo Ruo's father, Li Zhi knew too well in his heart what kind of character the prince Li Xian he was setting up now.

Pinching his fingers, Li Xian can be regarded as a famous "waste wood" emperor in the entire history of China.

The current Li Zhi must hope that after his death, there will be a group of trustworthy and capable people to assist him in the smooth succession of Li Xian, the prince of waste wood.

For Emperor Li Zhi, Xue Shao is his nephew and son-in-law, if he is personally promoted and entrusted with reuse, then Xue Shao will inevitably do his best for Li Tang, at least to ensure Li Xian's smooth succession and provide a boost for the country.

Xue Shao believes that this is likely to be the reason why Li Zhi mentioned "reusing Xue Shao" three times in a row today. The emperor saw his military talent and political potential.

In any case, nephews and sons-in-law are always a little more trustworthy than outsiders.

But in this way, there was some conflict with Wu Zetian's thoughts.

Previously, Xue Shao could be said to have been picked up by Wu Zetian himself, and had repeatedly "assigned" him some "henchmen"-level tasks, such as squeezing out Li Xiantong and promoting Zhou Jitong, such as fighting against Li Shangdan and installing a martial arts academy in Beiya, and then Xue Shao's actions in the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion directly led to the fall of Li Chongyi - these are what Wu Zetian wants to see.

In a sense, Xue Shao can already be regarded as Wu Zetian's henchman. Li Zhi's stroke is suspected of "digging people's corners" - but he digs it up with confidence, who calls Xue Shao his nephew?

Not only that, Li Zhi also played the family card and pulled Princess Taiping to win over Xue Shao. How many of the muddy old tears in the corners of Li Zhi's eyes were driven by family affection, and how many were driven by political needs, I am afraid only he knows in his heart.

Xue Shao felt that his current situation was really embarrassing, and it was really difficult to be caught between Li Zhi and Wu Zetian. One step to the left offended Wu Zetian, and one step to the right seemed to violate the emperor's trust. Moreover, today's Princess Taiping advised herself not to continue to serve in Rong and no longer lead troops to the war, and perhaps she didn't want her husband to be caught between her parents and be difficult to behave.

At this time, Xue Shao's heart couldn't help but light up, and he thought: Maybe I should really keep a low profile for a while and avoid this dangerous limelight...... The emperor's body is already so poor that his eyes are almost blind, and it is estimated that he will not live long. He now just wants to ensure the smooth transition of the imperial power of the Li Tang royal family, and is planning for his own death. At this time, it is not wise to rush to take sides or express one's position aggressively. Especially for someone like me who is particularly sensitive and embarrassed, if I behave too much towards the emperor, it is very likely that I will be the next Li Chongyi; If I behave too much in favor of Wu Zetian, it is very likely that I will be liquidated by Li Zhi's pickpocketing officials like Wu Chenghe, or even worse!

Princess Taiping's words today may really mean something! It's true that she is a little girl who is just starting to fall in love, but she is also a princess of a royal family, and she grew up beside Wu Zetian since she was a child, can she not understand the grievances and disputes between the two saints? She just can't tell these things about her parents to the outside world! Moreover, Li Zhi's health was so poor, seeing that the second saint was about to hang up, the court of the Tang Dynasty was about to face a huge storm. At this time, if the blind radical wants to take advantage of the rise, it must be a big move.

In this way, Princess Fang Caitai's words are not all selfish, she has a deep meaning.

With a long sigh of sullen breath, Xue Shao raised his eyes and saw that the Longshou Pond was already full of sunset, colorful and magnificent.

"I'm not alone! Enron is the one who can always walk with me through thick and thin! ”

At this time, Xue Shao saw a little farther river coming up and riding up, and immediately the knight was graceful and fluttering, reflecting the sunset, like a beauty coming out of the fairyland in the painting.

Shangguan Wan'er!

Xue Shao smiled slightly, took a few steps forward and said, "Miss Shangguan is here to enjoy the beautiful sunset of Longshou Pond and recite poems?" ”

"If it weren't for the public office, how could Wan'er dare to ride a horse in a place like Longshou Pond?" Shangguan Wan'er smiled, and at the same time, her beautiful eyes looked around vigilantly, as if she was observing that there were no idle eyes and ears around her, and then said, "Wan'er is on the order of the Queen of Heaven to invite Her Royal Highness Princess Taiping back to the palace." Now that I have only seen Xue Juma here, presumably Her Royal Highness the Princess has returned to the harem? ”

"That's right, she's already back." Xue Shao nodded.

"In this way, Wan'er can also go back to the queen of heaven." Shangguan Wan'er arched her hand on the horse, and looked at Xue Shao with deep eyes, as if she had something to say, but it seemed difficult to speak.

Xue Shao took two steps closer, "Girl, but you have something to say?" ”

"The hurricane is over, but the grass remains."

After saying this, Shangguan Wan'er turned around and rode away without warning, leaving only a wafting aroma and a slender back that was fading away.

Xue Shao couldn't help but smile, is this the same as what the hero sees, and Shangguan Wan'er is the same as I think?

Li Zhi's life is not long in coming, and in the face of the upcoming political storm of the Tang Dynasty, forbearance is probably the best survival plan!

Since there are repeated warnings from Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er, the two close people around the queen, coupled with the conclusion reached by their own thinking, the three are unified, so what is there to hesitate and hesitate?

So Xue Shao decided that at present, except for marriage, he will not care about anything else. As for the rewards for meritorious deeds after the Northern Expedition, the money and rewards will be received in full, and the promotion will be added to the knighthood - especially the military attaché, resolutely not!

Go home!

There was no pressure in his heart, and Xue Shao's steps were much brisker. He received his own Weilong Pony at the dismount bridge, and after riding it, he walked all the way to his home.

……

At this time, many shops in Chang'an West City have not been closed, and people who want to go to the wine shop to have fun after night have also taken to the streets, and the crowd is bustling and lively.

Suddenly, someone let out an exclamation, and the already crowded crowd was in a commotion, and many people flashed to both sides of the road, looking at the center of Xishi Street in horror.

There was a thin, thin little girl who seemed to be no more than ten years old, and a huge dog with a beard like a lion sticking out its tongue—and the thin little girl rode on the mighty dog, and drove it forward like a horse.

"Hee-hee, don't be afraid! It's very well-behaved, don't bite! Don't look at its size, it's actually as tame and cute as a kitten! ”

The girl riding on the big dog smiled and waved at the crowd.

Still, no one dared to get even half a step closer. Who called this kind of big dog unique to Tibet (that is, the current Tibetan mastiff), the overlord of dogs that tigers and wolves are not afraid of?

In the west city of Chang'an at sunset, the thin little girl rode a big dog weighing more than several times her to swagger through the city, and people stopped and were amazed.

The little girl rode to a tea pot selling steamed buns, and the diners were so startled that they almost fled in fright. The owner of the tea sauce hurriedly came out to greet them, and finally persuaded these diners not to be afraid.

Then the boss of the tea sauce walked up to the little girl, touched the head of the big dog without being afraid, and said with a wry smile: "Demon girl, have you come to buy big meat steamed buns for your Didiu again?" ”

"That's right!"

The demon smiled and said, "I'm going to buy a few more today." Because I heard that my fairy brother and sister Yuenu are back! I'm so happy, I'm going to buy big meat steamed buns and go back to them to eat! Wait a minute, I'm going to buy Jiangnan pine nut candy! ”

"There are friends who come from afar, and it is sugary!" The boss of the tea sauce laughed, and hurriedly wrapped a large bag of meat buns for the demon, and said, "Then today's buns will be considered as my invitation!" No money! ”

"What are you doing?" You'er took a big bag of buns and blinked her big black eyes in confusion.

"Then you still need to ask?" The boss of Chazhu said with a smile, "The fairy brother in your mouth, isn't it Xue Chengyu, Xue Gongzi?" ”

"Yes." The demon nodded solemnly.

"Xue Gongzi's Northern Expedition made great contributions, quelled the Turkic rebellion, and saved a lot of people." The owner of Chazhu said, "If it weren't for people like Xue Gongzi who were born and died to drive away foreign enemies, how could we, the cloth cloth people who do small business, have a peaceful life?" A few meat buns are worthless in Xue Gongzi's opinion, but they are also my thoughts. Demon girl, you must accept it, don't let me down! ”

A satisfied and happy smile suddenly rippled on the demon's face, and she nodded again and again, "Okay, I'll take it!" I will tell Brother Fairy that you gave these buns! ”

"Okay, it's a deal!" The owner of the tea cup stretched out a big hand.

"Giggles! High-fives are an oath! The demon stretched out a small hand and slapped it on the hand of the tea boss with a snap.

The people who were watching around heard their conversation and began to talk in surprise. By word of mouth, everyone soon knew that the demon was the wandering orphan girl who had been begging here by playing and singing the pipa, and was adopted back by Xue Shao after that.

"Don't underestimate this little girl, people are amazing now!"

"How awesome?"

"She was accepted as a righteous daughter by Pei Gong Pei Wenxi, and often went in and out of the forbidden place with Mrs. Pei, because she was smart and clever, and she was deeply loved by the queen of heaven!"

"Not only that, but this little girl is also a brilliant talent! Not only is she able to recite thousands of words every day, but now even many students in the Guozi Prison have come to her to ask her for arithmetic knowledge! The people in the palace said that she was also familiar with yin and yang, and was well versed in the art of Qimen Dunjia, and even knew the language of beasts! You see, this ferocious big dog was treated like a cat! ”

"Wouldn't it? Such a small girl!! ”

In the astonished discussion of a group of people, the demon smiled and hugged the big meat steamed bun and rode on the Tibetan mastiff named "Didiu", and said to himself: "The big meat steamed bun with white flowers and flowers, the fairy brother and the moon slave sister will definitely like it!" ”

"Lose it, buy another box of Jiangnan pine nut candy, and we'll go home!"