Chapter 16 Is it a successor issue?

Then came Zhang Huai Prince Xian, and now as a prince, his status is really enviable.Although Empress Wu didn't particularly like him, it stands to reason that there would be no problem for him to inherit the Datong in the future.He is too energetic, and he has not been a submissive and well-behaved child.Now twenty-three years old, young, handsome, with his own views on things.Who is his real mother, he may already have such doubts in his heart.This heartbroken suspicion was almost revealed in his attitude towards Empress Wu.He knew very well that Mrs. Korea was, nine out of ten, his biological mother who was murdered by Empress Wu.Empress Wu never shied away from the inevitable.She thought she had done a good job in everything in the past, and now she can only observe closely and wait quietly.Emperor Gojong seems

Life is not so long.At that time, it seemed that Prince Zhanghuai might commit a serious mistake and be dismissed, and Empress Wu would establish a new prince.Empress Wu had established a grand plan. After Gaozong's death, she would rule in the name of her son's rule, and she would rule as empress dowager.Giving up power and retreating to live a life of idleness was not something she could tolerate.In her heart, she must have a young son who can be coaxed, pampered, dominated, and governed, just like Gaozong.This is reminiscent of an insect in which the females think they are destined to eat the males.

Prince Zhang Huai is a cheerful and lively person. He not only loves goshawks and horses, but also loves piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.He was very smart since he was a child, and he was able to read "Book of Books" at the age of seven, recite a hundred words, and annotate Fan Ye's "Book of the Later Han" with other Confucian scholars.This book will be handed down forever.Compared with Prince Honglai, he is more practical and has more personality. Because in view of the premature death of the prince, he would rather stay away from Empress Wu, especially from the banquet of Empress Wu, so as not to "eat the wrong thing", so he lived in Chang'an.Empress Wu saw this meaning and hated it secretly.The future lord of a country is getting farther and farther away from his mother.At that time, Emperor Gaozong and his family lived in the palace of the crown prince in the new palace of Luoyang, the eastern capital.Prince Zhanghuai is actually enjoying himself.There is a court in Dongyuan in the East Palace, and there are many opportunities for hunting and kickball.Like Emperor Taizong, he also loved the horses in Tianshan.

Prince Zhanghuai is gentle and cheerful, neatly dressed, courteous and courteous with his subjects, and has many Confucian officials around him.As soon as he became the prince, he started the aforementioned "Notes on the History of the Later Han Dynasty" with Confucian officials and literati.In the first year of Gaozong Tiaolu, Emperor Gaozong suffered another illness.He once served as the regency under the decree.Usually, if he can avoid it, he will never see his parents.The relationship between mother and child becomes very strained.He tried his best to avoid the fate of his brother.

Because Gaozong is about to die soon, and he is young and promising, he knows that he should control his sensuality so that he can pay attention to government affairs.Because of his talent and intelligence, he doesn't feel that the government is complicated.Gao Zong gave special praise, and the text said: "The prince supervises the country. He is wise in execution, judging interests clearly, being diligent and firm in governing affairs, and being lenient and benevolent. He has the style of a king. In his spare time, he can delve into the mysteries of classics and history, and elucidate the legacy of sages. When. Looking forward to Lai, the country has a sage master, and the people are happy with the peaceful rule. I am very happy, and I bestow five hundred pieces of brocade."

When Empress Wu saw this situation, she was very frightened. After waiting for four or five years, she saw that Prince Zhanghuai's development was too successful and complete.Fame is already firmly established and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.Prince Zhang Huai was already twenty-seven years old at the time, and he was not a weak and incompetent person, nor a fool to be deceived. If Zhang Huai's name was used, Empress Wu's actual rule would be hopeless.Empress Wu's great plan was threatened.Once Emperor Gaozong died, what was the future of Empress Wu? It was about this time that the old rumor that Prince Xian was not the son of Empress Wu began to circulate again.Empress Wu had already written several letters to Prince Zhang Huai, in which she accused him of having wronged the Son of Man, and the words were very severe.Prince Zhang Huai was very disturbed. He didn't know what was going on, and he didn't know what was going to happen.At this time, perhaps Prince Zhanghuai hid some weapons in the stable, just in case, for self-defense.

At this time, Empress Wu believed in the admonishment doctor Ming Chongyan.Chongyan is a Taoist priest, proficient in heresy and other sects, able to predict good and bad, and judge good and bad. Empress Wu often meets him.At that time, doctors and Taoist priests could freely enter and leave the palace of Empress Wu.Chongyan was already very close to Empress Wu, so he naturally knew what Empress Wu liked to hear.He said to Empress Wu that Prince Xian's face showed bones and clear eyebrows: he had a short lifespan (according to the general appearance method, what he said was not bad), his nose was too sharp, he was smart and wise, and he refused to convince others; Prince Zhe (formerly known as Xian, now renamed Zhe, changed to King of England) looks a lot like Emperor Taizong.Wang Zidan has the best looks.Saying that kind of thing at that time sounded suspicious, and as a result, the relationship between Empress Wu and the prince was further alienated.Prince Zhanghuai hated superstition the most, and despised superstitious women the most.Empress Wu did not hide the prophecy of the astrologer Ming Chongyan, and Zhang Huai did not hide his contempt for the astrologer.

It's strange that a mere astrologer became the reason for the prince's downfall.In the winter of the first year of Emperor Gaozong's Diaolu, Ming Chongyan was murdered on his way back to Luoyang, Chang'an.The murderer has never been caught, and there is no evidence of his father's conspiracy.If it is said that my late father was involved in this matter, I dare not say that nothing happened.In short, in the court, it is best to eliminate the poisonous and harmful influence of such charlatans. It is impossible to figure out how important this charlatan is to Empress Wu himself.Regardless of his relationship with Empress Wu

Well, as soon as the news of his murder reached Empress Wu's ears, Empress Wu was furious.She immediately suspected that it was the Prince's envoy who murdered him.So Empress Wu played with the French regulations again.My late father went to Luoyang in response to the edict. When he was away, someone came to his mansion to check.Three hundred weapons were found in the stables.As I said before, maybe my late father kept weapons in the stables for self-defense in case of accidents.It can also be said that when the late father was away, when the mansion was inspected, the weapons were taken from an armory not far from the imperial palace and planted in the late father's mansion, so the late father was charged with conspiracy to rebel.But three hundred spears, three hundred body armor, and three hundred shields, what rebellion can they make?He is hundreds of miles away from Emperor Gaozong, who will he murder in his rebellion?Who should we oppose?Thinking about how he, as the crown prince, is not far away from ascending the throne as the emperor, and now he wants to rebel?It's ridiculous to think about it.What a ridiculous accusation!

Anyway, the real evidence was found in my late father's mansion, just like the little wooden man with Gaozong's name engraved on it was found under the bed of Queen Wang.The prince is hard to argue with.Empress Wu secretly asked Zhou, one of his late father's left and right, to testify, falsely claiming that Taoist Ming Chongyan was murdered by his late father.The found weapons were transported to Luoyang and burned on the Tianjin Bridge in front of the palace.Several ministers were ordered to interrogate and convicted according to Empress Wu's wishes.The prince committed the crime of treason and should be punished according to the law.Empress Wu declared that the matter had come to this point, and relatives had to be killed righteously, and the country's discipline should not be ignored.

When Emperor Gaozong thought of his dead son Zhong Hehong, he couldn't help but tremble.He advocated leniency.In fact, there are many reasons for leniency.When my late father was in charge of the country, everyone knew the voice of virtuous and capable people; moreover, the intention of rebellion was not obvious, and besides, as the crown prince, why should he rebel?Although weapons were found in the mansion, it was not the proof of his deliberate rebellion; as for murdering a Taoist priest, it was even more insignificant. Who would bother to deal with a charlatan?In short, the emperor has the right to amnesty, and he can always control his officials.It is indeed rare in history that the prince was tortured for a charlatan.If Empress Wu hadn't planned to abolish the virtuous prince, she would never have had the prince's mansion searched, nor would she have sued the prince. It turned out to be a temporary compromise.Prince Xian was abolished as a commoner, imprisoned, and changed to Prince Ying Wangzhe.Empress Wu said her wish.I was only eight years old when this disaster happened to my family.When my late father was not established as the prince, he was the governor of Liangzhou.Our family has always lived in luxury and wealth.When it happened, I was terrified.That kind of horror, only a child knows.The following year, my late father was relegated to Chengdu, and our three children stayed in the palace because of their young age.My father was in Chengdu, unable to receive a letter from home, and endured the miserable days alone, getting weaker and haggard day by day.At the right time, Empress Wu killed him, not now, because Emperor Gaozong was still alive.Since then, we children have never had to see our late father again. It was not until Empress Wu died that my late father's remains were brought back and buried with him in Qianling. Some people say that mother cats sometimes eat their own kittens. I don't know about this, and I have never seen it.Probably carrion-eating birds and wolves eat their own chicks, but I don't know for sure.