Princess Taiping has not changed much in recent years, but she is more enthusiastic about power, she has mastered the internal guard through her husband Wu Youji, and controlled the Yushitai through Cheng Ji Ji in the imperial book, and then controlled the criminal department through Gao Jian, who had just been promoted to the squire of the criminal department, in fact, she was already able to confront Shangguan Wan'er, who had the power to control the edict.

But at this time, the Tang Empire was still controlled by Emperor Wu Zetian, so when Wu Zetian began to favor the succession to the throne in favor of the Wu family, Princess Taiping was also helpless, she heard that Li Chengqi had secretly met with Li Zhen, so she rushed to the Xiangwang Mansion like a gust of wind.

"Brother Huang, what did Chengqi and Li Zhen talk about?"

Princess Taiping was quick to talk, and as soon as she saw Li Dan, she went straight to the topic, she was so anxious that she couldn't wait to pry open the mouth of the imperial brother immediately.

Li Dan was not in a hurry at all, and said with a smile: "Ling Yue, please sit down first, let's talk slowly!"

He invited Princess Taiping to sit down, and asked the maid to serve tea, then he took out the plan given by Li Zhen and handed it to Princess Taiping, "This is his plan, the royal sister will take a look first!"

Princess Taiping took the scroll and glanced at it hurriedly, and was immediately overjoyed, sure enough, it was what she was looking forward to, and she tried to prevent Wu Sansi from taking the position, she looked at it carefully, nodded and praised: "Yes, both civil and military, the entry point is good, but." ”

Princess Taiping frowned slightly, she didn't agree with the Zhang brothers' handling method, of course, this was related to Li Zhen's lack of understanding of the Zhang brothers' current power, and she felt the need to talk to Li Zhen again.

Li Dan saw Princess Taiping's hesitation, so he smiled and said, "Does the imperial sister still want to discuss it with Li Zhen again?"

Princess Taiping nodded, "There is no problem with his thinking, but he has not thought it through enough, it has something to do with the fact that he doesn't know the situation in Luoyang, I really want to talk to him again." ”

Li Zhen didn't have a whole day of leisure, after coming out of Wu Chenghe's mansion, he went to visit Gao Yanfu by the way, but learned that Gao Yanfu was not in the capital and went to Bashu, so he had to go to the internal guard again and get together with a group of brothers, but he was not worried about the old brothers of the internal guard.

In general, Princess Taiping was not thin on them, basically did not use their authority, and also increased his salary, except for Lu Jin, he was transferred to Qianniuwei and promoted to Zhonglang General, vacating a seat for Princess Taiping's henchmen.

Everyone gathered in the Jiuquan Building opened by Li Quankai at night to wash the dust for Li Zhen's return to Beijing, and also for the reunion of the old people in the internal guard.

Jiuquan Building is very lively, dozens of officers above the captain of the internal guard chartered the lobby on the second floor, everyone drank and guessed boxing, noisy, Li Zhen sat on the main seat by the window, he also drank a lot, but everyone did not pour him wine, and his consciousness was still relatively clear, he was talking to Zhang Li about the third expansion of the internal guard.

"It's settled. ”

Zhang Li said with a smile: "The internal guard will be expanded to 5,000 people, and renamed the plum blossom internal guard, Lu Jin is not very willing to be transferred, if he doesn't leave, he will also be promoted to the middle general." ”

"What about you, do you want to be promoted to general?" asked Li Zhen with a smile.

"I don't, there is only one general, that is, Wu Youji, although I am a deputy, but the military position is still a lieutenant general, but I am one level higher than others in terms of loose officials. ”

"That's not bad, congratulations. ”

Li Zhen raised his glass and gave Zhang Li a glass of wine with a smile, and at this time, another general, Han Zhishou, stepped forward, raised his glass and smiled at Li Zhen: "I have admired General Li's prestige for a long time, and I salute General Li with a glass." ”

Han Zhishou is the confidant of Princess Taiping who replaced Lu Jin's position, although he has a hard background, he is more proficient, modest and low-key, does not infringe on the interests of others, and gets along well with everyone, Li Zhen nodded to him with a smile, and also drank the wine in the glass.

At this time, Han Zhishou said with a smile: "There is still a sentence I want to say to the general, whether the general can borrow a step." ”

Li Zhen was slightly stunned, but he still walked out of the lobby with him, and asked with a smile, "What does General Han want to say to me?"

Han Zhishou saw that there was no one left and right, so he whispered to Li Zhen: "Her Royal Highness the princess is waiting for the general in the lotus room on the third floor, she asked me to tell the general, there is something important to discuss with the general." ”

It turned out that the Taiping Duke was looking for himself, and as soon as Li Zhen changed his mind, he immediately understood that Princess Taiping must have seen Li Dan today.

He turned around to say hello to Zhang Li, and went directly up the third floor of the restaurant from another dark staircase.

The restaurant has four floors, and the third floor is all single rooms, each of which is very luxuriously furnished, and many old customers with status are willing to dine here.

Li Zhen came to the innermost room all the way, he knocked on the door, the door opened, and it turned out to be Gao Jian inside, which surprised Li Zhen, Gao Jian smiled, "Her Royal Highness the princess is waiting inside, please come in!"

Li Zhen walked into the room and smiled at Gao Jian: "Congratulations to Senior Brother on being promoted to the squire of the Criminal Department." ”

"Where! I'm far from the general. ”

Gao Jian was modest, but there was a kind of pride on his face that could not be concealed, and he was promoted to the waiter of the Criminal Department after only six years of service, which really overshadowed most officials.

"Gao Lang, what are you talking to General Li, why don't you invite him in!" Princess Taiping's slightly dissatisfied voice came from the room.

Li Zhen and Gao Jian glanced at each other, the two smiled, Li Zhen walked quickly towards the house, the light in the room was dim, and a thick curtain was drawn on the window, which was tightly covered, giving people a feeling of depression, as if they were in a cage, but Princess Taiping, who was sitting at the small table, did not seem to have this feeling, she looked at Li Zhen with a smile on her face.

Li Zhen saw Princess Taiping two years ago, although it has not changed much from two years ago, but compared with five years ago, she has gained a lot of weight, the flesh of her cheeks is sagging, her eyes are more slender, and there is only a thin line between plump and fat, and Princess Taiping seems to have crossed this line.

Li Zhen hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, "See Her Royal Highness the princess!"

"General Li, we haven't seen each other for almost five years!"

Princess Taiping had forgotten that they had met in a hurry two years ago, and Li Zhen didn't remind her, and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for many years, and the princess's demeanor is better than before." ”

"Hey, don't praise me, where do I still have any style, I've become an old woman!"

Having said that, Li Zhen's praise still made her very happy, and she hurriedly said, "General Li, please sit down." ”

Li Zhen saluted and sat down on the side, while Gao Jian sat opposite Li Zhen, he was Princess Taiping's military advisor, and he was usually present for major discussions, which Li Zhen also knew that it would not be surprising if Princess Taiping revealed her plan to Gao Jian.

"General Li, drink a cup of tea first and relieve hangover!"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Royal Highness the princess, it's okay to be humble, and your mind is very sober. ”

"That's good!"

Princess Taiping took out the plan formulated by Zhen and said slowly: "I have read this plan in detail, and I agree with it in principle, but in terms of details, I think it is still a little inappropriate, what does General Li think of himself?"

"I know!" Li Zhen smiled slightly.

"You know?" Princess Taiping was a little stunned.

Li Zhen bowed slightly and said: "After all, it has been five years since I left Luoyang, and I don't know much about many situations, so it is reasonable for me to have shortcomings in formulating this plan, and I am waiting for a reply from His Royal Highness the Prime Minister or His Royal Highness the Princess." ”

Princess Taiping nodded, "I mainly have two things that are inappropriate, one is to let my imperial brother come forward in person, this is very risky, once the Holy Lord knows, he will be in big trouble, but it seems that it is not convincing enough to let Chengqi come forward, so I think it should be up to me, this is one of them." ”

Li Zhen didn't speak, he actually didn't agree with Princess Taiping's statement, and it was not because of the risk that Li Dan would not come forward, but because Princess Taiping herself wanted to come forward for Li Dan, but Li Zhen didn't insist anymore, he nodded and said, "What about the second point?"

"The second point is the means of Erzhang, it is a little too intense, I am sure that Erzhang will definitely fight back, because you don't understand the arrogance of the two of them, Xue Huaiyi was already a small thing in front of them in the past. ”

"The princess means that she has denied my first plan?"

"Not really. ”

Gao Jian said next to him: "Your Highness means that it is necessary to teach them a lesson, but you can't just give a lesson without sweetness, Her Royal Highness the princess wants to recommend Erzhang as the prince with King Xiang and King Luling after this incident, so that Erzhang feels that it is also beneficial to cooperate with the royal family, so that they will not follow Wu Sansi to the dark, and will definitely leave a way back for themselves." ”

Li Zhen pondered for a moment, this suggestion is actually a carrot and stick method, it must be beaten and pulled to have an effect, Li Zhen nodded, "I agree with Her Royal Highness the Princess's suggestion." ”

Princess Taiping was overjoyed, "In that case, I will send thirty elite warriors for General Li to drive, and implement General Li's plan." ”

Li Zhen wanted to say that it was enough to have internal guards, but when the words came to his mouth, he swallowed them back, Princess Taiping sent her people to implement the plan, there must be her considerations, and she couldn't insist too much, Li Zhen got up and saluted: "Then the humble position will wait for the news of His Highness." ”

Li Zhen said goodbye and left, Gao Jian closed the door and returned to the back room, he asked a little puzzled: "Why did His Highness send his own people to participate in this matter, in case someone appeared, wouldn't it affect the princess?"

Princess Taiping said lightly: "Of course I know, but I have my own consideration for this matter, don't ask again." ”

After a pause, Princess Taiping smiled again: "Li Zhen is Di Renjie's son-in-law, and Di Renjie is the leader of the Qing School, we must win him over." ”......

Li Zhen returned to the second floor, the second floor was still lively and noisy, the internal security generals were rarely so happy, they all drank wine and ate meat to their heart's content, Li Zhen just walked to the door, only to see Zhao Qiuniang standing on the side of the stairs, and asked with a smile: "Is the general okay?"

Li Zhen saw from her eyes that she had guessed that she had gone up to the third floor, so she pointed upstairs and said with a smile: "I'll go to find my eldest sister, but she's not upstairs." ”

It's not that Li Zhen doesn't believe Zhao Qiuniang, but he knows that Zhao Qiuniang is actually Shangguan Wan'er's person, when he went to Songshan, Shangguan Wan'er arranged for Zhao Qiuniang to follow him, which is enough to see that Zhao Qiuniang is important to Shangguan Wan'er, but for some reason, Zhao Qiuniang has always been biased towards herself.

But after all, after five years, no matter how good the relationship is, it will gradually fade, but Zhao Qiuniang is Shangguan Wan'er's interest in the internal guard, but this has not changed.

Li Zhen didn't want Shangguan Wan'er to know that she had gotten together with Princess Taiping, and he couldn't afford to provoke this powerful woman.

"Ah Quan just went back, of course you can't find her, but I saw Princess Taiping's carriage at the back door. Zhao Qiuniang looked at Li Zhen with a smile.

Li Zhen sighed secretly in his heart, he still couldn't hide the shrewd Zhao Qiuniang, he pondered for a moment and said, "Is Sister Qiuniang going to tell Shangguan Sheren about this?" [End of chapter]