Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 201 Li Zhi's Little Spy
Li Zhi soaked in the hot spring, lying on his back, floating on the water, looking up at the blue sky through the rising steam.

People only realize the importance of health when they feel unwell.

A while ago, Li Zhi thought he had almost recovered and was no longer keen on hot spring therapy. Sometimes he would only come to the hot spring palace once every three or four days.

Now that his rheumatism has worsened, he has started taking a hot spring bath once every three days, and each time he has to soak for a full hour before getting up.

Fortunately, it is still January and the weather is cold, so taking a hot spring bath is not a painful experience.

The surroundings are filled with clouds and mist, which sometimes makes people's thoughts wander.

Li Zhi's thoughts had already drifted to the equal-field system reform.

The Xiao family is the breaking point, and Wu Meiniang has also taken action.

However, the most troublesome thing about this matter is that he has to hide completely behind the scenes and cannot let anyone know that he is the one who is targeting the Xiao family.

Everything must appear to be going on naturally so that the equal-field system reform can be promoted.

In fact, this matter could have been discussed with Wu Meiniang. If the couple worked together, it wouldn't have been so troublesome.

However, if the two of them cooperated, the situation would become the same as when they dealt with Zhangsun Wuji. It would inevitably arouse Wu Meiniang's ambition and make her misunderstand that he wanted her to participate in politics again.

At that time, warnings and reminders will be needed, which will instead destroy the gradually harmonious relationship between the two.

So this matter had to be kept secret from Wu Meiniang.

Fortunately, Wu Meiniang hated the Xiao family very much, and as soon as Li Zhi showed a little dissatisfaction with the Xiao family, she took action.

However, Li Zhi was not quite sure why Wu Meiniang attacked Xiao Shu. As the mastermind behind the scenes, he had to pay attention to the situation at all times to prevent it from getting out of control.

Just as Li Zhi's thoughts were turning over in his mind, Wang Fusheng came to the bathing pool, knelt by the pool, and said softly: "Your Majesty, I have found out everything."

Li Zhi adjusted his direction in the water and faced Wang Fusheng.

"explain."

Wang Fusheng said, "In the fourth year of the Yonghui reign, there was a village thirty miles north of Changxing County in Suzhou called Shijiazhuang. At that time, Chen Shuozhen was in rebellion. A group of bandits appeared near Shijiazhuang, claiming to be Chen Shuozhen's mighty generals. They attacked Shijiazhuang, killed everyone in the village, and burned it down."

Li Zhi frowned and said, "Wait a minute, Chen Shuozhen's rebellion only captured Muzhou, not even Shezhou. Where did the rebels in Suzhou come from?"

Wang Fusheng said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. This matter is very suspicious. Shi Ming sued Xiao Shu for sending people to impersonate Chen Shuozhen's rebels in order to annex the Shi Family Manor's land. I think this is possible."

Li Zhi raised his eyebrows, but he was still unsure in his heart.

He knew Wu Meiniang's methods very well. Sometimes, as long as she could achieve the result, she didn't mind using false accusations.

Although Li Zhi intended to deal with the Xiao family, this matter had to be true in order to be effective, otherwise it would only backfire.

"Fu Sheng, please ask King Wu to come over."

Li Zhi came to Ganquan Palace today and specially brought along Prince Wu Li Ji and Prince Chen Li Zhong.

The two of them were taking a hot spring bath in another hot spring pool.

After a while, Li Ji came to Jiulongtang naked and bowed to Li Zhi, saying, "Your Majesty, your Majesty, your servant Li Ji pays respect to you."

Li Zhi waved at him and said with a smile, "Xiao Ji, come here."

Li Ji jumped into the water. He was relatively short, and Li Zhi was in the deep water, so he half walked and half swam to Li Zhi's side.

Li Zhi looked at his nephew, staring at him for a long time before saying, "Xiao Ji, I haven't had a good chat with you since you left the palace."

Li Ji's eyes were slightly red as he said, "Everything I have was given by Your Majesty, and I am grateful to Your Majesty all the time."

"You are a child who has endured hardships. You are kind, filial, and grateful. I am very pleased. I also know that you care about Gao An very much, but you secretly passed on a message to the Xiao family for her. This may not be a good thing for her."

After hearing this, Li Ji was shocked, slipped and fell into the pool.

Li Zhi reached out and helped him up, saying with a smile, "I'm not blaming you, you don't have to be so scared."

Li Ji choked on the water a few times, coughed a few times, and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, I will never dare to do it again."

Li Zhi said, "No need to be so formal, just call me Uncle Nine. Do you think Uncle Nine is not as close as Uncle Eight?"

Li Ji hurriedly said, "No, no, Your Majesty...ah no, Uncle Nine is the person I am most grateful to!"

Li Zhi said slowly, "The Xiao family will have a troublesome matter recently. You should not get involved with them for the time being."

Li Ji hurriedly said: "Yes!"

Li Zhi smiled and said, "Xiao Ji, do you remember that I asked you to help me keep an eye on the officials of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel?" "I remember!" Li Ji nodded vigorously.

Li Zhi said: "You are young, and it is not easy for you to attract other people's attention no matter what you do, so Uncle Jiu wants you to do him a favor."

Li Ji's face flushed red as he said, "Uncle Jiu, please give me your orders. No matter what it is, I will do it."

Li Zhi asked, "Do you know about the fight between Xiao Shu and Li Jingye?"

Li Ji hurriedly said, "My nephew knows that they were fighting over a courtesan named Yunniang. Yunniang was very talented and Xiao Shu loved her very much and would not allow anyone else to touch her. But Yunniang suddenly became a good friend of Li Jingye."

Li Zhi said with a half-smile, "Xiao Ji, how come you know so much about brothels at such a young age?"

"Uncle Jiu, my nephew never goes to those brothels. This is what King Chen just told me." Li Ji sold out Li Zhong without hesitation.

Li Zhi snorted and said, "This son of mine is quite promising. He is so interested in these things."

"Uncle Jiu, Li Jingye has a very good relationship with Brother Chen Wang. It must be because of him that my brother was able to find out so much." Li Ji added.

Li Zhi waved his hand and said, "Forget it. Since you know about this matter, that's great. I want you to help me keep an eye on this matter. If there is any situation, tell me immediately."

"Yes!"

Li Zhi was worried that he would send people from the Internal Affairs Office and the Palace Office to keep an eye on her, but Wu Meiniang would find out.

If she knew that I was also paying attention to this matter, she might weigh the pros and cons and stop the plan, which would not be what I wanted.

After soaking in the hot spring, Li Zhi returned to Chang'an with Li Ji and Li Zhong in the imperial sedan chair.

The imperial carriage entered the palace from the Forbidden Garden in the north, passed through the Xuanwu Gate, and entered the inner palace.

After Li Ji and Li Zhong bid farewell to the emperor, they walked together towards the outside of the palace.

It was just the afternoon of Shen, and the sun was already setting in the west.

Li Zhong hadn't dared to ask until now, but now that they were alone, he finally asked, "Brother Ji, what did father say to you just now?"

"Your Majesty just asked me whether I have adapted to the life after leaving the palace." Although Li Ji is a few months younger than Li Zhong, he is much more thoughtful than him, and he can tell a lie without blinking.

Li Zhong nodded, lowered his head and thought for a while, then said, "Brother Ji, I want to go to the Dali Temple to see Li Jingye. Do you think it's appropriate?"

Li Ji hurriedly said, "Brother, Li Jingye was imprisoned in Dali Prison because of jealousy. It's not appropriate for you to go there now. It will give people something to talk about."

Li Zhong sighed and said, "Although he is seven years older than me, he is one of the few people who doesn't treat me like a child and tells me everything. I consider him a very good friend."

Li Ji said, "Brother, how about this? I'll go to the Dali Temple to see him for you. If you have anything to say, I can help you pass it on."

Li Zhong said happily: "Thank you very much."

After a pause, he said, "Just tell him to control his temper and come out as soon as possible. I just got a good horse and I'm going to compete with his Black Qilin!"

Li Ji agreed, separated from Li Zhong, and took a carriage to the Dali Temple.

When he arrived outside the Dali Temple, he found that there were many carriages and servants parked outside the government office, looking very aggressive, as if they had surrounded the Dali Temple.

Li Ji was secretly shocked. He took out the fish talisman from his waist bag, hung it on the jade belt, and then got off the carriage.

When the people around saw the goldfish amulet on his waist, they were all surprised and lowered their heads, not daring to be rude to him.

Li Ji walked all the way to the gate of Dali Temple. The group of slaves parted to the left and right like a tide, making way for him.

When Li Ji stepped onto the steps, a runner from the Dali Temple came forward and bowed to greet him.

"I pay my respects to you, sir. May I ask what brings you to the Dali Temple?"

Li Ji said, "I am Li Ji, the King of Wu. I would like to meet Li Jingye. Is it convenient?"

The name of King Wu was well-known in Chang'an City. Although he was only thirteen years old, he obtained the title of heir to the throne on the premise of overthrowing Changsun Wuji.

The Dali Temple bailiff didn't dare to stop him and quickly stepped aside and said, "Your Highness, please come in."

After Li Ji entered the Dali Temple, he asked a clerk for the direction of the Dali Prison and walked quickly along the corridor.

When he arrived outside Dali Prison, he was stunned.

Looking up, I saw two groups of people standing outside Dali Prison, seemingly in a state of confrontation.

(End of this chapter)