At the same time, Weiyang Palace.

In the middle of the night, it is the time when everything sleeps. However, the Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun did not sleep in the Changxin Hall at the moment.

In a small side room in the Changxin Palace, a copper palace lamp flickered on and on. The shape of the palace lamp is a palace man with his hands outstretched, his left hand holding the lamp base, and the big sleeve of his right hand shrouded in the lamp base. The smoke from the burning of the lamp oil all went up into the sleeves of the palace people, and did not leak out at all.

It was late autumn and the north wind was blowing, and even if the windows were closed tightly, you could hear the north wind blowing outside. However, even though the stove was already lit in the room, the Empress Dowager still held a small stove in her hand and refused to let go of it.

She's cold. On that day, after meeting her nephew Wang Mang, her whole body was as if she was immersed in ice water. Neither the midday sun nor the blazing stove seemed to bring a trace of warmth to her cold body.

Wang Zhengjun was lying on the couch, and not far in front of her, a middle-aged man in his thirties knelt down, with narrow eyebrows and a nose as sharp as a knife. Although his expression was respectful and obedient when facing Wang Zhengjun, he always exuded an aura of danger.

"The Empress Dowager, if you don't make a decision, I'm afraid it will be too late."

The man prostrated in front of Wang Zhengjun and said softly.

However, he waited for a long time, but he never waited for Wang Zhengjun's answer. The Empress Dowager's eyelids were still half-open and half-closed, and she only gently stroked the hand of the stove in her arms, indicating that she was not asleep.

The man did not look impatient at all, and still prostrate on the ground, waiting calmly.

There was no trace of nervousness or eagerness on his low face, but he was full of confidence.

He knew that since the Empress Dowager took the initiative to summon him today, and she was meeting alone in this small room, the final outcome was already doomed.

The question is just how long it will take the Empress Dowager to make that decision.

Time passed little by little, and the only sound in the room was the faint sound of the Empress Dowager gently touching the stove.

Finally, the man who had been looking down at the ground heard the Queen Mother's voice.

"Zhang Chong, are you completely sure?"

The Empress Dowager's voice was soft, and although she was old, she was not hoarse. When he spit out this sentence, there was no pause or hesitation.

"Minister, there is a perfect plan!"

The man named Zhang Chong was overjoyed, raised his head to look at the Empress Dowager, and replied categorically.

"Say it to the old body."

Wang Zhengjun still didn't have any expression on his face, but said softly.

"It's the winter solstice. The widow is young, and when the suburban sacrifice in Shanglin Yuan, Wang Mang will personally preside over it. The minister is a doorman, and he is in charge of the affairs of Lin Yuan's guard, and he will definitely come to discuss this matter with the minister. The minister has prepared the poisonous wine for Wang Mang's arrival. Even if this plan fails, there are still more than 20 dead soldiers under the ministers, who will always be waiting for the emperor and will punish Wang Mang. ”

Wang Zhengjun was silent for a long time, and sighed softly: "The matter has come to this, for the sake of the Han Dynasty, for the survival of my Wang family, it is also ...... I can only give it a go. ”

"Minister, Empress Dowager Xie's grace!" Hearing Wang Zhengjun's promise, Zhang Chong's face suddenly flushed with joy, and he kowtowed heavily.

"Then you can go now." Wang Zhengjun raised his hand slightly, looked at Zhang Chong and bowed down and walked out of the room. In the small room, she was the only one left.

"Giant, Giant...... It's not that your aunt can't tolerate you. It's just that...... You've gone too far. ”

Wang Zhengjun sighed, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.

……

In the afternoon, in the living room, Wang Mang was half-lying on the couch, reclining his body. On a Hu bed next to the couch, sat his disciple Wang Mu.

Wang Mang held the greeting post in his hand, and a smile crossed his face.

The post came from Zhang Chong, the door of the period, and invited him to go to the banquet tomorrow to discuss the winter solstice sacrifice.

"Finally...... Are you going to start it? ”

Wang Mang closed the prayer post in his hand, raised his head and looked at Wang Mu beside him: "Mu'er, you say, should I go?" ”

"Naturally not." Wang Mu shook his head: "Although the court is calm on the surface at present, the rift between the empress dowager and the teacher has become bigger and bigger, but my father and them still have a trace of fantasy in their hearts." ”

Wang Mu paused and continued: "Zhang Chong is a member of the Empress Dowager, and his official position is just a period man. In terms of identity, how can it be compared to a teacher? Even if he wants to discuss the matter of sacrificing to the heavens, he should come to the teacher's house in person. Hmph, please go to the banquet...... If you don't do it, I'm afraid it's another Hongmen feast. ”

"Hongmen Banquet...... Who's to say it isn't? Han Zhuo. Wang Mang smiled and called Han Zhuo softly.

In the shadow of the corner of the house, Han Zhuo walked out slowly. Even though he had long been accustomed to the way he appeared every time, Wang Mu was still lightly startled.

He is like Wang Mang's shadow, no matter what, as long as Wang Mang commands, he will appear beside him. And no matter how long he had been in that corner, he would never get noticed. It's like a small stone that is so inconspicuous that it is covered with dust and no one will look at it more. Apart from...... When he moves.

He walked slowly to Wang Mang's side, knelt on one knee, and waited for Wang Mang's orders. After being told many times by Wang Mang, he was stubborn and finally changed his kneeling posture from two knees to one knee.

"How many people did Zhang Chong arrange?" Wang Mang asked lightly.

"Twenty-two." Han Zhuo replied in a deep voice, and after thinking about it after speaking, he continued to add: "Fifteen of them are Zhang Chong's subordinates, and among the guards of Shanglin Yuan, they are completely loyal to his personal subordinates. The four of them are rangers recruited by Zhang Chong from the state and are good at swordsmanship. The remaining three were Huns. ”

"Huns?" Wang Mang sneered: "In order to kill me, even the Huns were recruited?" It seems that my aunt has really made up her mind. ”

Wang Mu on the side was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

He didn't even know when Han Zhuo had investigated this information, and how he had been able to investigate it so clearly.

"Twenty-two people......" Wang Mang gently knocked on the bed board of the couch, and said in a melodious voice: "Fifteen period guards, four rangers and three Huns...... It seems that this is the best person Zhang Chong can find. To kill me, this battle is enough, enough is enough......"

Speaking of this, he suddenly looked at Han Zhuo, his eyes like lightning:

"Han Zhuo, then these twenty-two people, you might deserve it?"

Han Zhuo raised his head, his eyes were calm, and he looked directly at Wang Mang for a moment, and after a while, he showed a slight disdainful smile: "It's just a group of local chickens and dogs." ”

"Good! It's the local chicken tile dog! ”

Wang Mang clapped his hands heavily, stood up from the couch with a long smile, and walked in front of Wang Mu: "Mu'er, then would you like to join me to see those chickens and dogs?" ”

It wasn't until he heard this that Wang Mu understood what Wang Mang meant, his face changed suddenly, and he knelt down on the ground with a plop: "The teacher must not be in danger!" ”

"Risk? What are the risks? Wang Mang pulled Wang Mu up in front of him with all his might, and laughed: "If I don't even have this confidence, how dare I hold that ideal of changing the world?" This is my confidence in Han Zhuo, and it is also - my confidence in myself. Don't forget, I'm the one who carries the destiny of heaven! ”

"Yes...... What's the point! Wang Mu eagerly grabbed his teacher's sleeve: "Teacher! Are you doing this just to prove your faith in yourself? ”

"Of course not." Wang Mang shook his head slowly: "You must know that your father, until now, still has illusions, thinking that there is still room for relaxation between me and the Empress Dowager." ”

"But ......"

Wang Mu was about to speak, but was interrupted by Wang Mang waving his hand: "You sit down and listen to me." ”

Wang Mu looked at the teacher for a while, saw the firmness in his eyes, and finally nodded, turned around and sat back on the bed.

"The entire Wang family, except for you, no one knows, and no one can understand what I think in my heart. Your father can't, Wang Xun can't, even my aunt, who served three generations of emperors and ran the government as the empress dowager, but she still can't. ”

"She is a woman of the Wang family, but she is also the empress dowager of the Han family. In its view, this world should still belong to Han and Liu. And the pinnacle of the Wang family is at most just a relative of the government and the opposition. The royal family should gain power and wealth, but only if it is within the framework of maintaining the Han Dynasty. ”

"And now, what I've done has made her feel in danger." Wang Mang laughed: "This danger is not only for her, but also for the Wang family, but also for the big man in her mind." ”

"Yes...... The Great Han must perish. Wang Mu muttered.

"Yes, the Great Han must perish. It's a pity that no one thinks that way except you and me. Wang Mang sighed: "So, when the Empress Dowager realized my thoughts, from that moment on, there would be no room for compromise between me and her." ”

"Yes...... What does that have to do with going to a banquet? Wang Mu frowned: "Teacher, with your current strength, even if you openly break with the Empress Dowager now, you have no fear at all." It's too ...... to go to risk in person."

"No, it's not enough."

Wang Mang shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Your father, Wang Yi and Wang Xun, haven't really seen the current reality yet. Last night was supposed to be a temptation for me, but in the end, I was disappointed. ”

Wang Mu sighed. He naturally knew very well what his father thought.

"I don't think they're going to be on the side of the Queen Mother. But even the slightest hesitation, the slightest hint, I must not let it exist. So, I have to help them see the reality in front of them. ”

"I ...... I see. ”

Wang Mu pondered for a long time, and finally nodded: "So, when should they come?" ”

"Good." Wang Mang looked at his only student with satisfaction and smiled with satisfaction: "I haven't explained yet, you already know what to do." Then ......"

Wang Mang thought for a while: "Then, let's go to the banquet for half an hour in the evening." Come to think of it, Zhang Chong won't have so much patience. ”

"Yes, I see." After Wang Mu finished speaking, he raised his head and looked at his teacher again, his eyebrows were full of worry: "It's just...... I'm still worried in case ......"

"No in case." Wang Mang waved his hand lightly, with a confident smile on his face: "Don't forget, your teacher and I ...... But the man who bears the destiny of heaven! ”