The case of Shangguan Yi's rebellion caused an uproar in the court, but under the deterrence of Empress Wu and the acquiescence of Li Zhi, many courtiers were silent and could not avoid it.

In the face of this irreversible situation, the abolished prince Li Zhong, who was involved for no reason, was forced to commit suicide in Qianzhou.

Li Zhi is not completely ashamed in his heart, for the death of his eldest son and the implication of the Shangguanyi clan, it was not in his design, his original intention was just to get rid of the hidden danger of Shangguanyi. But Empress Wu's methods once again made him understand that the love between husband and wife for many years was no longer able to defeat the growing ambition and selfishness in her heart, Li Zhi felt powerless for the first time, and one bloody battle after another could not gain the upper hand, and the dizziness of the body could not be cured at all, and he was no longer able to consume it with her.

The idea of admitting defeat flashed in Li Zhi's mind, and he said to Wang Fusheng with a wry smile: "The queen sent someone to ask for instructions on how to punish Shangguanyi, she said that rebellion is a big crime, and she should be a member of the nine clans." You and I know that Shangguan Yi was wronged, but can I tell the queen that I am framing him? Of course, the queen knows the reason, she just wants to make me unable to step down, and she wants me to eat the bitter fruit. It's not that she can't imagine that I am framing her, otherwise she wouldn't have killed all those suspected close attendants, this is knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger, killing chickens and making an example of monkeys. ”

Wang Fusheng smiled bitterly: "The old slave is useless, and he puts the saint in such a dilemma. Please also ask the saint not to show weakness, to recuperate with a pure heart, and to show his majesty in the Qianyuan Hall in Japan. ”

"The two saints are in the pilgrimage, which has never been seen in ancient times." Li Zhi clenched one hand tightly, his nails digging deep into his skin, "But what else can I do?" Whether it is compromise or trust, I can only rely on her. His mouth pursed into a line, and he said after a while: "I plan to reply to the queen, behead the official ceremony, and punish the nine clans." ”

Wang Fusheng's heart still trembled, and his jaw said yes.

"Am I being too ruthless?" Li Zhi suddenly asked again, and the depression in his heart became more and more intense, "Knowing that it was a conspiracy, knowing that I was the culprit, he still stood up and took the initiative to defend me that day, saying that I was instigated by him." In the face of Mei Niang's questioning, I originally planned to say this by myself - 'I didn't have this intention at the beginning, and Shangguan Yi taught me'...... It's just that as soon as these words come out, where is my dignity? What a despicable villain have I become? Shangguan Yi is loyal and good, and he is still defending my face until his death, but I am ......"

"Now that the matter has come to this, why should the saint blame himself. can perform thunderbolt means, and show the bodhisattva's heart. Wang Fusheng decisively spit out a sentence.

These words gave Li Zhi endless inspiration, he slowly soothed his emotions, and said: "Shangguan Yi's daughter-in-law Zheng is the sister of Taichang Shaoqing Zheng Xiuyuan, so she will not die and be worthy of entering the court." ”

On the night when the Zheng family entered the court, the snow was falling heavily in Chang'an, and the world was plain when he raised his eyes, just like the silk clothes worn by the Zheng family, which was shockingly white. She held the small, already asleep Wan'er in her arms, remembering that when she parted with Tingzhi in prison, he calmly went to death without regrets, and suddenly she didn't feel miserable in the prison car, the cold wind whistled on her face, the snowflakes were dyed green and frosty, and the prison car walked on the winding road all the way, her heart seemed to be gradually frozen, and the surrounding time and space formed a piece of ice belonging to the past.

The courtyard is long and deep, and on both sides of the corridor are dilapidated wooden houses like pigeon cages, which are particularly dark because they do not see sunlight all year round, and they are the most humble palace maids in the imperial city.

The sky was slightly bright, but Zheng didn't sleep all night, Wan'er would occasionally cry twice, and in Zheng's gentle patting, she quickly fell asleep. No one knew what was in the baby's dreams that would make her giggle and laugh.

Sitting on the hard couch, Zheng looked at the small wooden house, a small window opened high, as if closed from the outside, the wall was mottled and peeling, the furnishings were extremely simple, a rickety wooden frame was placed on a missing basin, there was an equally dilapidated dressing table in the corner, and the bronze mirror had long been rusted.

"Wan'er, this is our home in the future." Zheng smiled and said to Wan'er in swaddling clothes, reaching out to touch her young and ruddy face. Regardless of the outside world, Zheng has no thoughts, the only thing she expects is that Wan'er can grow up innocently, like an empty valley orchid, born in the cracks of the rocks, even if no one cares about it and no one appreciates it, she can silently bloom with a unique style in the world.