Chapter 19 Picking up the mountain and the rain is coming

In Fengyi Palace, Empress Wei, Princess Anle, Wu Yanxiu, Zong Chuke and others are secretly discussing important matters.Zong Chuke looked worried, and said: "In the early morning court today, a little sesame official jumped out, a little Xuzhou soldier named Yan Qinrong, who joined the army, went so far as to utter nonsense and viciously attack the queen and princess. The lord is so kind that he is noncommittal. I was very angry. When he came down from the palace, I gave Wei Bo a wink. Wei Bo sent a strong man to lift him up and throw him like a chicken. The man hit his neck on the stone steps and died on the spot. However , Your Majesty’s face was extremely ugly at that time, and he gave me a glare. After I went back, I didn’t think about eating and drinking, and I think I won’t be a long-term minister of the Ministry of War.”

Empress Wei said with a smile: "It's not like you don't know the emperor's temper. With me protecting Zong Aiqing, it's like leaning on Mount Tai. Why worry?" Zong Chuke said: "The queen's words are very true, but the soldiers we trained privately a while ago were all butchered by a group of 'ghost soldiers' of unknown origin. I think these people are probably from Princess Taiping and Li Longji. People. From this point of view, our situation is also very dangerous." Speaking of this, Zong Chuke lowered his voice and said, "As the saying goes, 'the first strike is the strongest, and the last strike will suffer'. Taizong act quickly...we should act as soon as possible to kill these two people."

Empress Wei hesitated and said: "Although the emperor obeys me in everything, he will never agree to kill Princess Taiping and Xiangwang's family." Zong Chuke said with a sinister smile: "We can find an opportunity to take advantage of the emperor's departure from Chang'an and order the imperial army to kill these two people. After the emperor came back, as the saying goes, 'the boat is done', the raw rice has become cooked rice, and the emperor didn't do anything about it." That’s right. Back then when Han Gaozu cheated on You Yunmeng, Empress Lu executed Han Xin in Weiyang Palace.”

As soon as this remark came out, Zong Chuke felt that something was wrong, thinking that saying this would inevitably mean comparing Empress Wei to Empress Lu, but it was not easy to explain, so as not to make the description more black.He peeked and saw the expression of approval on Empress Wei's face, but he didn't pay attention to it. Princess Anle applauded even more, and said: "Zong Shangshu, why don't you take advantage of the situation and kill the bastards born to these two lowly maidservants, Li Chongfu and Li Chongmao, so that the father can justifiably designate me as the empress dowager. "These two brothers were not born to Empress Wei, and Empress Wei also suspected that Li Chongrun was killed by Wu Zetian's rod back then, which was Li Chongfu's secret, so these two were deeply tabooed by her.

Zong Chuke was startled when he heard this, and wanted to slaughter all the emperor's heirs, how could this be done?Although Zhongzong is stupid, how can he agree to the matter of cutting off children and grandchildren?But because of Princess Anle's aura, it was not easy to refute at that time, so I had to comply. Wu Yanxiu said: "Except for visiting the Lishan Hot Spring Palace in winter, the Emperor rarely leaves the palace at other times. How do we have the chance?" Empress Wei thought for a while, and said: "This is easy to do. After a while, it will be midsummer, and the weather will be unbearably hot. I will urge the emperor to go to Songshan to escape the summer heat. He will definitely listen, and you can arrange big things."

Zong Chuke understood, got up to say goodbye and left, Empress Wei got up deliberately, sent him out of the palace in person, and asked him to do so again.Zong Chuke was flattered, thanked him again and again and left. Returning to the Palace, seeing Princess An Le whispering to Wu Yanxiu, Empress Wei asked: "What are you young couple talking about?" Wu Yanxiu hurriedly said: "The princess is thinking about the Dragon Boat Festival grass fighting show, and she wants me to help her think of a way to win." Empress Wei was a little displeased: "There are big things to plan right now, Bao'er, you are still just playing around with trivial matters in your mind, just like that, what kind of empress dowager?"

Princess Anle was not angry either, and said with a smile: "Mother, you, and Shangshang Zong are responsible for major military affairs. I don't know much about these things. You see, as the emperor, my father also plays around all day long. He has cockfights and polo. Soon, the ministers were asked to pick cherries in Fanglin Garden on horseback." Empress Wei sighed, thinking that her daughter really followed her father's temperament, she waved her and Wu Yanxiu to retreat. After being busy for a long time, Empress Wei felt a little hungry.So she sent someone to call Yang Jun and asked, "Make another bowl of the soup cakes you made the day before."

Yang Jun agreed, and immediately presented a bowl of freshly made soup cakes, and said with a coquettish smile: "The Queen praised you the day before yesterday, and I have prepared it every day so that the Queen can enjoy it at any time. In addition, I added a lot of flavors, please ask the Queen to eat it." taste." Empress Wei took a sip and praised: "It tastes good, how is this cooked?" Yang Jun was overjoyed: "Thank you for the empress's compliment. This is a spice specially prepared by my minister from the Hu merchants in the Western Regions. It is also served with the soup cooked from lamb and deer fetus, and also with cattails, fresh bamboo shoots, Zikou, Amomum, Nutmeg, ginger, etc. absorb the smell..."

Empress Wei waved her hand and said, "I still want to learn how to make soup and cakes for the emperor, but I don't want to be so troublesome. When I was in Fangzhou, I often made soup cakes for the emperor with my own hands. Now the emperor has a bad taste and is not used to ordinary meals. But your soup cake is really no less than a delicacy." Yang Jun apologized and said with a smile: "It's easy. Whenever the empress wants to use it, she can order her servants to make it well. Empress, you can present it and say it's made by yourself. Why not?" Empress Wei smiled and said, "Alright, let's see when the emperor is interested."

Zhongzong was also upset recently, and Princess Anle pestered her repeatedly, demanding that she be named "Emperor Dowager".It's not that he has no sons. Although the eldest son Li Chongrun, Prince Yide, was killed by Queen Zetian's staff, and the third son Li Chongjun was killed for rebellion, but there are still two sons Li Chongfu and fourth son Li Chongmao.Although they were not born to Empress Wei, and their mothers were lowly maids of honor, according to etiquette, they were also dignified heirs to the throne. How could there be any reason to make their daughters crown princes?What's more, Princess Anle is arrogant and domineering, and it is difficult to convince the public.Therefore, Tang Zhongzong categorically rejected the unreasonable request of his beloved daughter this time, which was extremely rare.

Princess Anle was very annoyed, and when one thing failed, another happened.She pestered Zhongzong again, wanting to take Kunming Pond into her private garden.When Zhongzong heard this, he also frowned and felt a headache.This Kunming Pond has always been a place where Chang'an scholars and people play together. If it is suddenly included in the princess's private residence for no reason, wouldn't it cause an uproar in the world?Moreover, many officials recently wrote letters to impeach Empress Wei and Princess Anle for all kinds of lewd and illegal behaviors, Zhongzong suppressed them all, which made him very embarrassed. If he did this again at this time, wouldn't it add fuel to the fire? Princess Anle was so angry that she immediately ordered Si Nongqing Zhao Luwen, who used to pull the cart for her, to expropriate dozens of acres of Chang'an houses.Zhao Luwen led a group of vicious officials to beat out the people who did not want to move out with big sticks, then destroyed the houses and flattened them, and opened them up as Princess Anle's garden.For a while, the people of Chang'an complained, and after Zhongzong got the retribution, they had no choice but to let it go. On this day, it was approaching evening, and Tang Zhongzong ascended the pavilion to look at it.I saw black clouds billowing in the distance, and a strong wind hit, blowing through the empty corridor, making a sharp whistling sound.The servant persuaded in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the wind is strong here, go back to the palace and rest." However, Zhongzong waved his hand and still stood in the wind. At this time, someone suddenly announced: "Shangguan Zhaorong is here!" Zhongzong felt joyful, Shangguan Wan'er, this clever, considerate woman, always made her feel at ease like the spring breeze melted the ice.He hurriedly ordered the ladies in the palace to order wine and fruit refreshments, and wanted to have a drink and chat with Wan'er. However, when Zhongzong looked back, he saw that Wan'er did not have the spring-like smile of the past at all, but her face was solemn and she frowned sadly. Zhongzong was a little stunned, and asked, "Shangguan Zhaorong, what happened?" Shangguan Wan'er forced a smile: "Your Majesty, don't worry, there is nothing wrong. It's just that after this storm, the colorful spring scenery will be washed away, and what will be left is only a patch of red, so I feel sad." Zhongzong smiled and felt a little relieved: "So that's the case, but the flowers will bloom again next year after they wither!" "Flowers are similar every year, but people are different every year." Wan'er looked at the wind and rain outside the railing, and then said, "This is a poem written by a scholar named Liu Xiyi. It is indeed very powerful. Enjoy this poem carefully. , 'Flowers are similar', flowers are just similar, this year's flowers, once they fall, they will never be seen again." Wan'er turned her eyes and saw Zhongzong's gloomy expression, gray hair on the temples, and a sense of sadness suddenly arose in her heart. Thinking about it carefully, it was him who was ridiculed by the world as a cowardly emperor across the street, who gave her a feeling that she had never had before. Now, all signs and intuitions are telling her: he is now in extreme danger. However, Wan'er can't do anything for him, now is the time for the final showdown, and she has no choice.It was very difficult for Empress Wei and Princess Anle to win. When they were in the hot spring palace, Princess Anle's aggressive appearance still appeared in front of her eyes.Therefore, she can't tell Zhongzong now, tell him all the dangers lurking around him, she can only sigh and raise a glass to persuade Zhongzong to drink. Zhongzong drank a few cups, saw the wind and rain outside, and the flowers and leaves withered. He also said sadly: "When I left Fangzhou, I met an old monk on the road and explained a lot of Buddhist scriptures to me. I remember he said Regarding the matter of "cherishing fate", he said that the opportunities in the world are all fleeting. Even if you travel to a certain place or meet a certain person again, it will be very different from the past. I was ignorant at the time, but now I understand a little bit. " Wan'er smiled sadly: "Does Your Majesty feel that Wan'er has changed a bit today? Maybe it's because the wind and rain today made me sad. When I met Your Majesty before, Wan'er tried to restrain her emotions as much as possible, but today she is honest and honest. .” Zhongzong raised his glass and said, "Okay, okay. I'm getting old day by day, and I'm so excited about the meeting. One time, one less time, Shangguan Zhaorong, I have to get drunk today." The wind and rain outside the threshold became more and more violent. In a courtyard of Xiuxiangfang in Chang'an, Li Xuan came quietly wearing a coir raincoat.The strong wind blew the flowers, branches, grass and trees in the courtyard, and scattered red and fallen leaves all over the ground.He went straight to a milling room in the southwest corner, pushed away the bluestone milling plate above, and there was a round hole in the middle of the lower half of the stone milling, only as thick as the mouth of a bowl, when he looked down, it was so dark that he couldn’t see anything. arrive. Li Xuan shouted towards the hole: "Mr. Qingwu, I am Li Xuan. I, I have no hostility towards you, this time I came to visit you." I yelled several times, but no one responded.Li Xuan wondered, I looked at the general map of Huangquan Dilung, this should be the ventilation hole of Kaiyang Cave in "Gouchen Jueyu". According to inquiries, several groups of people were ordered to deliver food to Mr. Qingwu once a day.Did you make a mistake when looking for the picture yourself? Li Xuan took out the picture and looked at it carefully again, it was indeed here.Li Xuan said to the following: "Mr. Qingwu, although we have been together for a few months, I have benefited a lot from asking you about chess and swords. In Li Xuan's heart, he always regards you as a teacher and friend, You are cold on the outside and hot on the inside, and you don’t like to talk too much with strangers, but I think you are not a sinister person. I hope that your grievances can be cleared up as soon as possible, and your innocence will be cleared.” After all, Li Xuan listened attentively, but he never heard any response.After a while, he sighed, took out another small green cloth package, tied it with a long rope, and slowly put it down, saying: "This is your favorite beef breast, which is freshly roasted." , and a bottle of Xinfeng sake that you usually drink." Li Xuan put down his food and drink, and when he turned around, he saw He Lanjing standing in front of him.Seeing Li Xuan's embarrassing expression and being at a loss like a child who has done something wrong, He Lanjing sighed: "You have a very good heart, and you are very affectionate to others, but you must not let Mr. Qingwu out on your own initiative. It is easy to let the tiger go." It's hard to catch a tiger, this is no joke." Li Xuan said with a melancholy face, "Could it be that Mr. Qingwu will never see the sun again?" Letting Mr. Qingwu out, forgiving his sins, and letting him roam freely is doing him a favor." "That's true," Li Xuan was enlightened for a moment, but then he said again, "It's just that I feel Mr. Qingwu's temper is rigid, I'm afraid he can't think about it..." "Mr. Qingwu, Mr. Qingwu!" Li Xuan yelled down the well several times, but it was still silent. He Lanjing opened a big oil-paper umbrella and persuaded softly: "Let's go, we still have to catch up." Let's go to Houtu Hall to discuss matters, and come see him tomorrow, okay?" Li Xuan sat silently on the ground, watching the rain dripping from the corner of the room, suddenly wanted to cry. In the Thick Earth Hall of Difei in Huangquan, Mrs. Dimu is calling everyone to discuss important matters.The day before, He Lanjing found Ming Chongyan's reply letter from the belly of the bronze statue of King Han in the Five Soldiers God Cave.There is no word on it, but a detailed and regular map, which seems to have been carved from a stone wall somewhere. After studying, everyone found that at the foot of the statue of King Han, there was another secret passage, which meanders and leads to a deeper underground. Mark three words. He Lanjing said: "After I copied it down, I asked two people who are proficient in ancient characters respectively. It is the word 'Forbidden Soul Monument'. It seems that there is no mistake." Mrs. Dimu pondered: "Everyone said, is it possible that Li Shimin buried Emperor Gaozu here?" Granny Ji interjected: "I think this is very possible. According to our guess, this place is where Qin Shihuang buried the bones of the kings of the six kingdoms. Qinhuang believed in alchemists back then, so he would definitely choose a very sinister place. The burial place will imprison and lock up the souls of the kings of the six kingdoms. Li Shimin chooses this place because firstly, he can lock up the souls of his ancestors, and secondly, he has a ready-made place, so he doesn’t need to build a large building. This place is truly made in heaven, it couldn’t be better.” Everyone heard it and thought it made sense. Behind the curtain, Mrs. Dimu said again: "Now that we have obtained the jade seal of the emperor Gaozu, if we can go deep into this tomb and obtain the imperial edict of the emperor Gaozu, then we will command the world and great things will be accomplished." After hearing this, all the people rejoiced.Li Xuan said, "Isn't it disrespectful for us to disturb Emperor Gaozu's mausoleum like this?" Mrs. Dimu laughed and said, "You know, the last wish of Emperor Gaozu was to announce this secret decree to the world. Moreover, the place Li Shimin chose is a place where the soul can be locked and forbidden, so that Emperor Gaozu's body can be placed there. Here, how can he sleep peacefully? When we rule the world, we will choose an auspicious place to rebuild the Xianling Mausoleum and bury Emperor Gaozu." After hearing this, Li Xuan felt that it was well-founded, and there was no way to refute it now.He Lanjing suddenly thought of the "Yin Mountain Ghost Soldiers" near the Five Soldiers God's Cave, and she said worriedly: "The whereabouts of those soldiers are secretive, powerful and hard to beat, if they come out suddenly and ambush us, it will be very troublesome." Er Zhutuo said: "I have investigated for a while, and these soldiers are the troops of Princess Taiping and Li Longji. During the previous winter, when there was a famine in Guanzhong, Princess Taiping donated funds and recruited five thousand hungry people to build Buddhist temples for her. With the excuse that Tian Han has no clothes, let the Ministry of War take out the armor rations from the armory..." He Lanjing interjected: "But I think these soldiers and horses are well-trained, they are masters of a hundred battles, they don't look like rabble and hungry people!" Er Zhutuo sighed: "Yes, if you want to train these weak people who have never been in war and are half-starved to be tiger and wolf masters, I am afraid that even if Sun Wu is resurrected, it will be difficult to do it. But Li Longji is so cunning, he actually Secretly contacted the border generals, dragged these people who had just put on their armors to Youzhou to make up their numbers, and exchanged them for a well-trained army capable of conscripting and fighting well." For a while, everyone was discussing how to get rid of this strong army guarding near the Five Soldiers God's Cave, it was really tricky. After a while, Mrs. Dimu said: "We still use the strategy of driving tigers and wolfs away. After a while, I will ask Shangguan Wan'er to come over and disclose this matter to her, and ask her to tell Queen Wei's party. Wait for Queen Wei and Li Longji killed both sides, and we just happened to take trouble from it." Granny Ji said: "This is a great strategy. It would be better to kill Wu Sansi like Li Chongjun did in the past, and then flee to Nanshan to die. If Li Longji and Wei later die together, then God will help us succeed!" After everyone heard it, there was another burst of joy, but Mrs. Dimu lowered her head and pondered: "She couldn't refuse the previous few secret talks with Yue Wan'er. Could something have changed? Her thoughts are as changeable as spring clouds. In the days when we were together day and night, I still couldn't figure it out sometimes, but now I am more and more separated."