Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 7: Virtuous Concubine Xu

Seeing that the outside had quieted down, Li Zhi no longer hesitated and stamped the two edicts with his seal.

Next, all you have to do is send the imperial edict to the Secretariat.

However, after waiting for a long time, Wang Fusheng did not come in, so Li Zhi called out, "Fusheng?"

With a "creak", the palace door was pushed open, and it was Wu Meiniang who walked in.

Under the candlelight, she was wearing a light yellow palace gauze dress, with heavy makeup on her face, rosy lips, narrow and long eyes, and she looked charming and feminine.

Li Zhi calmed himself down and asked, "Why is the Queen here? What was the commotion outside just now?"

Wu Meiniang walked up to him and said with a smile, "The two little princesses pleaded for their mother, but I sent them back. I hope you won't blame me."

Li Zhi had guessed it, and he sighed, saying, "It must have been Xiao who sent them here. I should thank the Queen."

Wu Meiniang said softly, "Jiulang, I know you are kind-hearted and don't want to execute Xiao and Wang, but even if they leave the palace, their families will find it difficult to tolerate them!"

Li Zhi glanced at her and said, "Do you have any suggestions?"

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Why not let them go to Ganye Temple to become nuns and leave the mundane world behind? It would be a kind of liberation."

Li Zhi's scalp felt numb.

Wu Meiniang wanted them to experience her own pain. The two women would indeed be relieved, but it was more likely that they could not bear the humiliation and committed suicide to find relief.

"No problem. I will issue an edict to have Xiao and Wang treat them well."

Wu Meiniang's expression remained unchanged as she smiled and said, "That's fine too, but what should we do with the two little princesses?"

Li Zhi frowned and asked, "What does the Queen mean by this?"

Wu Meiniang glanced at him and said, "I just think that since they are still young, it would be best if someone could teach them well."

Li Zhidao: "You mean..."

"Neither Concubine Zheng nor Xu Chongrong have children. It would be better to let them adopt one each to relieve their loneliness." Wu Meiniang blinked.

Li Zhi thought about it and nodded, "Yes, this idea is feasible."

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Then I will arrange it tomorrow. By the way, everyone, I have something else to tell you."

Li Zhi saw that her expression had become more serious, and asked curiously, "What's the matter?"

Wu Meiniang took out a piece of paper from her bosom and said, "This is the spies I have identified in the past few days. There are fourteen of them in total, and they are all secretly passing information to the outside world."

Li Zhi's face turned pale as a new memory appeared in his mind.

Around the second year after Emperor Gaozong of Tang ascended the throne, Wang Fusheng caught a palace maid who was about to leave the palace.

The woman had a note hidden on her body, which recorded in detail what Li Zhi had done, said, and who he had met in the past few days.

It was at that time that Emperor Gaozong of Tang realized that his every move was under surveillance and he began to think about replacing the queen.

When Wu Meiniang entered the palace, Li Zhi gave her a task, asking her to keep an eye on the harem, see who was spying on her, and send information outside the palace.

As expected, Wu Meiniang lived up to her expectations and found many eyes, most of whom were from Concubine Xiao's people, and a few were from Queen Wang's people.

When Wu Meiniang was enthroned as queen, the first thing she did was to find all these spies. She had already dealt with one batch before, and this was the second batch.

Wu Meiniang's records are very detailed. Behind each name, it is recorded how the other party eavesdropped on the news.

For example, the first palace maid was named Xier, she was a maidservant beside the fourth prince Li Lian.

Li Lian was only seven years old and was the son of Concubine Xiao Shufei. Two days ago, Xier urged Li Lian to go to Qiumi Garden to play.

Qiumi Garden is a small garden to the north of Lizheng Hall, where rare varieties of flowers such as Ming Moju and Begonia are planted. Many of them were moved from Penglai Hall when Wu Meiniang was promoted to queen.

Xier told Li Lian that there were five-colored chrysanthemums in Qiumi Garden. Children like new things, so Li Lian ran to Qiumi Garden to look for five-colored chrysanthemums.

Xier took the opportunity to go to Lizheng Hall to eavesdrop on the news. If she was discovered, she would say that she was looking for the Fourth Prince as an excuse. There were many people like Xier. They had long been the eyes and ears of others. Emperor Gaozong of Tang was always under such surveillance.

There is no need to think too much about the power behind it. It must be the aristocratic family headed by Zhangsun Wuji. Their hands have long infiltrated the harem.

It was precisely because the aristocratic families had infiltrated the imperial palace so deeply that Li Zhi was eager to depose Wang Liwu.

Otherwise, no matter what he said or did, the noble families would know and respond.

At this moment, Li Zhi suddenly understood why Yuan Zhi was so dependent on Wu Meiniang.

In this inner court of the imperial palace, where there are spies everywhere, the two are not only husband and wife, but also allies.

That night, Wu Meiniang wanted to stay and sleep with Li Zhi, but after hinting several times, Li Zhi did not respond, so she had to take her leave.

The next morning, Li Zhi went to Xunfeng Palace again.

Concubine Zheng's heart disease was gone, and her body recovered exceptionally quickly. Her face was much more rosy, and she even insisted on playing the guzheng for Li Zhi.

She was a lady from a wealthy family, but was carefully brought up by her father since childhood. She was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was especially good at playing musical instruments and dancing.

Li Zhi had to persuade her to continue resting.

On the way back to Ganlu Palace, Xu Jin sent someone to invite Li Zhi over.

Xu Jin's enthronement was still going through the procedures at the Ministry of Rites, but Wu Meiniang had already arranged for her to live in Penglai Palace in advance.

This palace was originally where Wu Meiniang lived when she was Zhaoyi, which shows that Wu Meiniang had a good relationship with her.

When Li Zhi arrived at Penglai Palace, he saw a crystal plate on a table in the main hall, with many exotic flowers and birds on the plate.

When you get closer, you will find that it is actually carved from hollow lotus root. It is lifelike and exquisite.

Li Zhi was delighted. He picked up a bird and praised it, "Chongrong, you have a very skillful hand."

Xu Jin smiled slightly and said, "I'm giving you all this gift, but I have another purpose."

Li Zhi laughed heartily and said, "I am very pleased with your gift. I can give you anything you want."

Xu Jin took two steps forward, performed a standard court etiquette, and said softly, "I am not asking for a reward on my own behalf, but on behalf of my brother."

Xu Jin's elder brother is named Xu Qidan, who was known as a child prodigy when he was young. He currently serves as a scholar in Chongwenguan and a lecturer to the crown prince.

Li Zhi put down the lotus bird and said, "Your brother is indeed talented. How about this? I will let him serve as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat and write imperial edicts for me. Are you satisfied?"

Xu Jin shook her head and said, "Everyone has misunderstood. I hope that my brother can be transferred to a prefecture or county, become a county magistrate, and govern the area for us."

Li Zhi was surprised and asked, "Why is that?"

Xu Jin said softly, "This is what my brother meant. Now that I have been promoted to the title of Chongrong, my sister has been posthumously named Xianfei, and my brother is the prince's tutor, I am afraid that it will cause criticism. It is best to send him away to avoid suspicion."

Li Zhi sighed and said, "You are worried about my reputation. You are afraid that others will say that I favor my relatives."

Xu Jin smiled and said, "Our Xu family has received too much grace from the emperor. My brother and I are satisfied. Please help us."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Alright, going out and gaining some experience will make you more useful in the future!"

Xu Jin thanked him on his brother's behalf, and after standing up, he gently advised, "Everyone, you haven't been to court for a long time."

Li Zhi scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He had indeed rested long enough. When he first ascended the throne, he only held court meetings once a day. Last year, it was changed to once every two days. He had missed at least three court meetings.

"Okay, Chongrong's reminder is very good. I will go to court tomorrow."

Deep down, Li Zhi felt that attending court was a bit like going to school or going to work, which was far less comfortable than being in the harem.

This is a fear of the unknown. After all, he has to deal with so many ministers in the court. Although he has memories of Haraji, emotionally speaking, this is the first time they meet.

Taking advantage of the last half day of vacation, Li Zhi strolled around the palace for another half day. When the evening drum sounded, he slowly returned to Ganlu Palace.

(End of this chapter)