In the early morning of the next day, the cold weather in Chang'an City was pressing.

When Li Hong came to the Zichen Hall of Daming Palace to meet Gaozong and Empress Wu, the two were still discussing government affairs with the prime ministers in the Xuanzheng Palace.

Chang'an City was built according to the Zhou Yi "Qian" hexagram theory, and the Taiji Palace was built in the northern center of Chang'an City, so that the kings on the earth corresponded to the stars in the sky. Therefore, the construction of Taiji Palace ignored the terrain defects, making it in the lowest depression of Chang'an City, and Chang'an City often rains in summer, and the temperature is high and humid and hot, making it unsuitable for living.

Therefore, as early as the first year of Linde, when the Daming Palace had not yet been completed, Gaozong and Empress Wu had already moved the government affairs and the dormitory to the Daming Palace!

There are three main halls in Daming Palace, they are Hanyuan Palace, Xuanzheng Palace, and Zichen Palace. It is also known as the Outer Dynasty, the Middle Dynasty, and the Inner Dynasty. Among the three major halls, the Hanyuan Hall is the place where the empire holds the celebration, the Xuanzheng Hall is north of the Hanyuan Palace, which is the place where the Tang Dynasty deals with state affairs, and only the Zichen Hall is the place where Gaozong and Empress Wu deal with daily government affairs.

Li Hong is now waiting for Gaozong and Empress Wu in the Zichen Palace.

He pondered all night last night, but still didn't make a decision. Because he knew Gaozong's cowardice and Empress Wu's strength, and his obsession with power. Therefore, he did not want to choose his own side in the battle between Gaozong and Empress Wu too early.

It's just that Gaozong asked him to write a letter through Dai Zhide to suggest that Li Zhong be buried and abolished, and he must not disobey this matter, because Gaozong is still the son of heaven in the Tang Empire, and Li Hong still has to rely on his father, and he can't disobey him.

Therefore, he wrote this recital last night, just so that he came to the Zichen Palace today to meet Gaozong and Empress Wu, and wanted to state his advice in front of the two.

If this practice were applied to adults, it might be seen as a wedge between the emperor and the courtiers. But now Li Hong is only thirteen years old, if he does this, Gaozong and Empress Wu will definitely not think too much, they will only think that this is a manifestation of his political naivety.

"His Royal Highness the Prince, Niangniang is back." Just when Li Hong was immersed in his thoughts, a little chamberlain suddenly whispered in his ear.

Li Hong hurriedly got up, and saw that Empress Wu had already strode into the Zichen Hall surrounded by eight maids.

Empress Wu is forty-one years old this year, but she still looks glamorous. Fang Yi's wide forehead, plump and charming, dragon eyebrows, and long eyes of Danfeng make her naturally have a temperament that looks down on the world.

When Li Hong was looking at Empress Wu, Empress Wu's gaze also moved to his face, this gaze was like a cold air, which suddenly enveloped Li Hong's whole body, Li Hong's back was cold, his body was cold, and he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed and said, "Erchen see the queen mother." ”

"Hong'er, aren't you unwell and recuperating in the East Palace? Why did you come to Zichen Hall today? Empress Wu slowly walked up to Li Hong, and her tone softened a lot.

There was a palpitation from being watched by the Empress Wu just now, Li Hong didn't dare to think about it anymore, he tried his best to show a very timid look and said, "Queen Mother, the son's body is no longer in serious trouble, as long as he recuperates carefully for a few more days, he can continue to study and study." Today's ministers entered the palace to greet you and your father. ”

"Well, you are very benevolent and filial. Your father and queen mother know this. Empress Wu said with relief. She gently grabbed Li Hong's hand, and Li Hong also took advantage of the situation to help Empress Wu sit on the couch before she spoke, "When discussing state affairs in the Xuanzheng Hall just now, your father suddenly felt unwell and has gone back to Linde to rest, if you have anything, tell your mother!" ”

Li Hong was stunned for a moment, he knew that Gaozong had already suffered from a severe wind disease in the last years of Xianqing, and he couldn't see, so it was difficult to manage government affairs. Wind disease is wind, cold and dampness, which is the cause of paralysis, which is a family genetic disease of the Li royal family. But it was not so serious that Gaozong's wind disease would be so serious, it was just a simple court meeting, and he couldn't hold on anymore.

Gaozong did not go to the Zichen Hall with Empress Wu to deal with government affairs, which made Li Hong a little uneasy.

Because the countermeasure he came up with last night was to state his admonition in front of Gaozong and Empress Wu. In this way, no matter how angry Hou Wu is, he will not blame himself in front of Gaozong. And he believed that he treated Empress Wu so honestly, as long as her anger was gone, she would definitely understand his distress.

But now that there is only one person in front of him, should he come up with a concerto? If you don't have Gaozong's protection and annoy Empress Wu, what should you do?

Li Hong was a little hesitant!

Just when Li Hong hesitated, he found that Empress Wu was looking at him, in addition to a loving look as a mother, there was also a playful look in his eyes, Li Hong's heart trembled, and he immediately retracted his thoughts, and said hard, "Queen Mother, Erchen wrote a piece of music last night, and today I want to ask the Queen Mother to correct it." ”

As he spoke, Li Hong handed the note about the thick burial of Li Zhong that he had written last night to Empress Wu.

Empress Wu seems to have known Li Hong's actions for a long time, and her expression has not changed at all, but as long as you look closely, you will definitely find that when Li Hong took out the music, there was an imperceptible cold color flashing in her eyes.

Empress Wu has always been very concerned about Li Hong's life and living in the East Palace.

Because she has special feelings for her eldest son.

Back then, she was able to stabilize her position in the harem under the condition that Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shufei were surrounded by two strong people, because she gave birth to the prince Li Hong for Gaozong. Later, the reason why she was able to sit firmly in the position of the queen under the high pressure of the eldest grandson Wuji, Chu Suiliang, Liu Zheng and other prime ministers was because Li Hong was canonized as the crown prince.

Therefore, she had long known that Dai Zhide had suggested that Li Hong write a book to bury Li Zhong, and she also knew that Dai Zhide did this, not his intention at all, but Gaozong's intention.

It's just that with her understanding of Li Hong's temperament, she thinks that Li Hong will definitely publicly state her propositions in a book, but she didn't expect that Li Hong would show herself the chapter today.

Empress Wu's eyes were staring at Li Hong's face like a knife, and she looked at Li Hong carefully again, and she found that Li Hong's eyes were so clean, simple, and clean, like a clear spring water, like Gaozong Li Zhi back then.

At this moment, Empress Wu's heart seemed to be touched by something, and a ripple stirred up in her heart.

She felt that the two months of recuperation had made some kind of change in her son, but she didn't know what the specific changes were, but she liked the current Li Hong's deference and obedience to her.

Therefore, she didn't look at Li Hong's recital, and her gaze at Li Hong softened a lot, and she suddenly smiled and said seriously, "Is it about the recital of Li Zhong?" ”

Li Hong was not surprised that the Empress Wu did not know the content of his recital without reading his recital, because if the future empress did not have such ability, how could she achieve her eternal great deeds? He nodded in response, "Yes." ”

"Hong'er, is that what you mean?" Empress Wu looked directly at Li Hong, as if she wanted to see through what Li Hong was thinking?

Li Hong was forced by the gaze of the Empress Wu and didn't dare to lie, so he replied truthfully, "Dai Xiang suggested that Erchen write a letter before, and Erchen also felt that although Li Zhong was demoted to a concubine, and he was executed for rebellion, but after all, he is still a child of my royal family, and this bloodline cannot be changed, so he threw his body into the wilderness after his death, which really damaged the face of the Tang Dynasty." Therefore, Erchen also agreed with Dai Xiang's suggestion. ”

After listening to Li Hong's words, Empress Wu knew that her son was not lying to her, and her heart became more comfortable.

A faint smile appeared on her majestic face again, and she said softly, "Hong'er, the queen mother knows that you are benevolent and filial, gentle and polite. It's just that you are not in good health now, and it is not easy to work too hard, so it is better to participate less in government politics in the future. Also, as the crown prince of Datang, you are the future son of Datang, and some things need to judge right and wrong by yourself and make your own decisions, and you must not just listen to the slanderous words of others. ”

"The sons obey the teachings of the queen mother!" Li Hong replied sincerely. Why couldn't he hear the meaning of Empress Wu's words?

"Hong'er, have you recently used the iron cavalry of your own pro-army right prison gate in order to find a Lang Zhong named Sun Simiao?" Suddenly, Empress Wu asked in a stern tone.

"This matter is reckless, but because Erchen heard that Sun Simiao's medical skills are superb and can ......" Li Hong hurriedly pleaded guilty and confessed his mistake.

He didn't dare to say that this was Yan Zhuang's selfish decision, otherwise, with the character of the Empress Wu, Yan Zhuang would have to lose his skin even if he didn't die. At the same time, he also knew that Empress Wu was not asking himself when he said this, but warning himself that no matter what he did, she would be clear.

"Today, someone in the synagogue has impeached you, saying that you have indulged your guards and let them go around disturbing the people and publicizing them. Hong'er, you are the prince of the Tang Dynasty, your every move represents the Tang Dynasty, can't you be so foolish in the future? Of course, the queen mother will deal with the person who impeached you in the book, as long as the queen mother is there, they will never be allowed to slander you indiscriminately, and what you have to do in the future is to listen to the queen mother and be your prince well. When Empress Wu said this, her tone contained a majesty that looked down on the world.

Li Hong understood the meaning of Empress Wu's words, Empress Wu meant to let him be a good child, and she would take her head as a horse, and she would also solve some trouble-making people for him, so he hurriedly agreed, "Erchen understands!" ”

"Okay, your recital is placed here, and the queen mother will show it to you when your father is better, now you can go to the Lin De Hall to greet your father! The queen mother still has government affairs to deal with here. "The purpose of Empress Wu's mention to Li Hong today has been achieved, so she got up and walked to the jade case to start dealing with government affairs.

After Li Hong bowed to Xie Wu again, he bowed down and withdrew from the Zichen Palace.

After leaving the Zichen Palace, Li Hong realized that it was just a few short answers, and his back was already soaked with sweat because of nervousness. Thinking carefully about the conversation he had with Empress Wu just now, he found that there were sharp edges hidden everywhere in what Empress Wu said to him. At this time, he also knew that Empress Wu was not a person who could be measured by secular norms and could be measured by human feelings.

This made him have to reconsider how he should get along with Gaozong and Empress Wu in the future!