In the spring of the first year of Yongchun, the depressed Li Zhi went to the eastern capital Luoyang alone, and the entourage was only his confidant Wang Fusheng, and the Empress Wu did not keep him, but just stood on the city tower and watched his guard of honor slowly pass through the Suzaku Gate. Li Zhi's health deteriorated, day by day, the Empress Wu also found other imperial doctors for him acupuncture, but the effect was very little, gradually, he began to refuse all diagnosis and treatment, and no longer take medicine, he said, since I am the Son of Heaven, then I will resign myself to fate.

Before Li Zhi left, he ordered Pei Yan to stay in Chang'an and assist the crown prince Li Xian. In the second year, Li Zhi's condition became more serious, so he ordered Li Xian to go to Luoyang to supervise the country, and asked Pei Yan to handle government affairs with Liu Qixian, the waiter of the Yellow Gate, and Guo Zheng, the waiter of the Zhongshu. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Li Zhi is arranging things behind him.

Empress Wu was very dissatisfied with Li Zhi's series of actions, she didn't think that a decent minister like Pei Yan could shoulder the heavy responsibility of a minister, but for the sake of her husband's serious illness, she didn't object. But not opposing it is not the same as supporting it all, and the Empress Wu has her plan.

After the crown prince Li Xian listened to Concubine Wei's advice on the pillow, he began to secretly accumulate strength and reuse the Wei clan, his father-in-law Wei Xuanzhen became the assassin of Yuzhou, and several of Wei's elder brothers also added officials, and the youngest sister was married to the prince Zhan Shi. Although the operation seems to be secretive, it is not very clever, especially the private interaction with local military generals, which directly violates the taboo of the military queen.

For these secret pokes and provocations, Wan'er, as a bystander, can see it more thoroughly. She once took the opportunity to give Li Xian the opportunity to return the palace lamp, and tactfully warned him not to be in a hurry, but Li Xian, who was smoked by interests, couldn't even listen to her words, but blindly perfunctory her, saying that these were all non-existent things, but they were made a big fuss by people with intentions. Since he doesn't admit it, Wan'er can't debunk him, but the East Palace has always been a dangerous place, and the prince is not a comfortable identity.

Wan'er also paid close attention to the actions of the Empress Wu, in addition to holding the forbidden army more firmly, she also strengthened the supervision of the twelve guards who commanded the soldiers of various prefectures, although the six rates of the East Palace were in the hands of the prince Li Xian, but Wan'er knew that there must be cronies of the Empress Wu in the left and right guard rates.

Empress Wu and the crown prince restrained each other, seemingly in a state of equilibrium, but the bow that was too tight could not be relaxed, and the frontal friction between mother and son still occurred.

The reason for this is that in the matter of Chang'an's guards, Chang'an, the Beijing Division, has always been guarded by soldiers from various provinces and prefectures in turns, each for a period of one month, and after the expiration of the period, they will return to various places to fold the Chongfu. However, Li Xian believed that Hedong and Longyou were far away from Chang'an, close to Turkic, Tubo and other places, and should be mainly garrisoned. Li Xian took the opportunity to propose to reform the Suwei in the capital and fix part of the Suwei army to avoid frequent replacement and instability.

"Which one do you want to fix?" The sound of the Empress Wu is already obvious.

Li Xian wanted to hit the muzzle of the gun: "Erchen thinks that Weizhou Mansion, Shaanzhou Mansion, Jingzhou Mansion, Youzhou Mansion, etc. can all be used, and the soldiers in these prefectures are well-trained and brave. ”

Empress Wu smiled sideways and said, "Then you're not worried about the Khitans?" I don't care about anything else, Youzhou Mansion, you dare to say it! ”

"It's audacious! Youzhou has been an important military town since ancient times, seven years of great cause, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty conquered Goguryeo three times, all of which gathered soldiers, horses, grain and grass based on Youzhou, Zhenguan 18 years, Taizong sent troops to Goguryeo, but also to Youzhou as the rear, you actually moved your mind to Youzhou, is it wise and wise, or is it because your father-in-law Wei Xuanzhen and Youzhou Governor Shi are friendly? She slapped the case and stared at him.

"The sons are open-mouthed and whimsical, and ask the queen mother to punish them." Li Xian was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down.

Empress Wu showed no mercy, pointed at Li Xian and scolded: "Another unsuccessful!" I don't know what kind of ** soup I drank, fluttering to this point! Do you think that the major affairs of the government are just a game of children's chasing and fighting, just for the sake of a momentary interest? Those rotten Confucians in the East Palace can't teach you such mental skills, you can really be 'self-taught'! Looks like you're better than your brothers......"

Li Xian's inner shirt was soaked with sweat, and the martial queen's reprimand was infinitely powerful, his heart was stuck in his throat, and he could only kowtow and admit his mistake repeatedly.

Empress Wu sat down again with the support of the maid, suppressed her emotions, and took a sip of fruit: "By the way, let me tell you, your uncle who is an examiner in the Ministry of Officials is too greedy for money, and I have already dismissed him, but after all, he is a royal prince, I found him an errand for a capital official in the Criminal Department, and on weekdays, I will issue a round of clothing, food, and medicine to the prisoners, which can be regarded as relaxed and leisurely." ”

"Thank you for your magnanimity!" When Li Xian said this, he seemed to be about to crush his teeth.

Li Xian was completely defeated in this round, and as soon as he entered the East Palace, he poured his anger on the crown princess Wei.

"It's all your bad idea! How could I believe the nonsense of a woman like you! ”

Concubine Wei knew that he had touched the nail, so she put up with him for the time being, keeping a smile: "Your Highness, look at you, here you are again...... If it is done, I will be a good helper; If not, I'm a great sinner...... His Highness's words are becoming more and more unfair. ”

"I don't understand, I am the future Son of Heaven, as long as my father ...... the emperor" He stopped talking in time, although it was true, but once he said it, it would be disobedience.

"Why do they only revolve around the Queen?" Li Xian asked indignantly.

"Your Highness, don't worry too much, didn't the Holy One arrange someone for you? They are all highly respected and respected in the court, and they are all worthy of their words in the court - the saint is paving the way for your Royal Highness. "Concubine Wei's idea also has some truth.

Li Xian shook his head: "Don't mention that Pei Yan, he seems to have been sent by his father to fight against me." ”

"Pei Lao is a neutral person, you have to be more patient." Concubine Wei persuaded again.

"Everyone has to be patient, but who has patience with me?" Li Xian complained, "I am the third of several siblings, and I am not a person who was born to be a prince, why, let me change my clothes overnight, and I have to support them in everything?" ”

"Your Highness, you are not supporting them for them, but for yourself." Concubine Wei hated iron in her heart.

"Come on! It's really not clean, and I have to be nagged by you when I get home. Li Xian was bored, turned around and walked outside, and instructed as he went, "Let me be alone, no one will bother me!" ”

On the fourth day of December in the second year of Yongchun, Li Zhi changed the Yuan Hongdao and granted amnesty to the world, and planned to personally climb the Zetianmen Tower to announce the edict, but he was dizzy and fell off the horse. This fall went out of the way, and that night he was angry and dying, even if Hua Tuo was alive, he couldn't do anything, Wang Fusheng tearfully announced that hundreds of civil and military officials would enter the palace in batches.

In the Zhenguan Hall of Luoyang Palace, Li Zhi was lying on the bed, stretching out a thin hand, and motioned to read out the edict. The content of the edict is that the crown prince Li Xianqi ascended the throne before, Pei Yan assisted the government, and was reappointed as the Zhongshu Order.

All the people in the temple could not kneel down and wept secretly.

"Fu-sheng-" Li Zhi's throat was weak, and his voice seemed to be broken, "Go and ask the queen to come in." ”

Empress Wu has been waiting outside the palace for a long time, she is not afraid to wait longer, but she is afraid that there will not be a longer time for her to wait.

After getting the communication, Empress Wu took quick steps all the way, almost rushing to Li Zhi's bed.

Now the temple was empty, and even the attendants withdrew.

It's been a long time, and the two of them haven't been alone like this.

Empress Wu held Li Zhi's hand tightly, and tears fell before she spoke.

"Mei Niang, I thought you wouldn't cry." Li Zhi smiled with difficulty.

"How not? I still remember that the first time we met, I was crying, and I actually broke the emperor's medicine bowl. Empress Wu laughed with him, and tears still dripped from the laughter.

Li Zhi took a breath and took the opportunity to say, "Do you know why I dare to risk the world's condemnation and insist on taking you back from the Ganye Temple?" ”

Empress Wu knew it, but shook her head, she wanted to listen to him himself.

"It's actually very simple, it's because of the poem you wrote." Li Zhi said slowly that he no longer had the strength to recite the whole poem, so he begged her with his eyes.

“…… Seeing Zhu Chengbi's thoughts, he was haggard and fragmented as Yijun. I didn't believe that I was crying for a long time, and I opened the box and checked the pomegranate skirt...... "Empress Wu was trapped in memories and didn't know it.

"You were so nice then." Li Zhi smiled contentedly.

"You were the best you were then." Empress Wu pressed one cheek against his chest.

Li Zhi still smiled: "It's a pity that we didn't get well later." ”

"No, you've always been good, and the bad one is me." Empress Wu finally admitted.

"Promise me, Mei Niang, after I leave, no one will shelter you, but no one can hurt you, you don't have to do those things again, there's no need." Li Zhi said a long sentence, and his breath couldn't keep up.

"I never wanted to do it, I had to do it." Empress Wu had to say.

"You're always so strong, but if you're too strong, there will be fewer and fewer people around you, you never thought about it?"

Empress Wu was reluctant to answer his words, and the hall became silent again.

Li Zhi closed his eyes slightly: "Actually, Mei Niang, others say that I am afraid of you and jealous of you...... Where's that! I just pitied you at first, then loved you, and then hated you, and now I can't tell the difference between love and hate. ”

Empress Wu hugged him and kissed him: "I'm not as complicated as you, I've always loved you." But there is still the following, "Only love cannot be tolerated." I never cared about anyone but you, they despised me and laughed at me, which only made me more and more frustrated...... But I have never been able to tolerate all forms of betrayal, whether it is my husband or my children, their betrayal will make me feel tormented, but it will not bring me down, and what I pay tribute to them can only be a fatal blow. I will not hesitate, hesitation will make people soft, make people cowardly, and finally lose to myself, a complete defeat...... I am such a ruthless person, but this is the person who is so cruel that you dislike it, just as I love you deeply. ”

Li Zhi felt that he was too tired in this life, whether it was himself or someone else, his eyes never wanted to open again, and he used his last strength to say a word: "Mei Niang, your love I can only return to the next life...... Taste....... The words came to an abrupt end at the word "aftertaste".

Empress Wu maintained the posture of hugging him, not moving, in her heart, he was just asleep forever.

Four days later, the crown prince Li Xian ascended the throne, and Empress Wu was honored as the empress dowager. Still struggling with the latest chapter you can't find? Amway One or search for Hot/Degree/Net/Article "Remember to remove "/"Otherwise you won't be able to search", here is a young lady to help you find books and accompany you to chat!