Tiantang Splendid

The clouds gather and the rain disperses.

Princess Gaoyang, panting, finally caught her breath and turned over. She looked down at her lover, her beautiful face flushed, her eyes sparkling, but her tone was a little cold: "Have you heard about the rumors?"

Fang Jun ignored the jade-white body. He was now in the sage's time. "There are millions of people in Chang'an City. People gossip about everything. The smallest thing will be passed around and used as a topic of conversation. How can I know what Your Highness is talking about?"

"Humph! Are you pretending to be confused?"

Princess Gao Yang gritted her teeth, grabbed the handle with her delicate hands, and said coldly: "Tell the truth!"

The key point was in the hands of the people, Fang Jun shuddered, and said honestly: "The reason why Your Highness is so concerned must be those rumors about the Queen and this humble minister?"

Princess Gaoyang clenched her fists and asked, "Is this really a rumor?"

"You and I are husband and wife, and we know each other well. How can Your Highness not trust me?"

"It is precisely because I know you well that I know you are a gentleman on the surface but a scumbag in reality. Since you have attacked my sisters, you may not dare to covet my sister-in-law!"

"Your Highness, I am wronged. The relationship between me and Princess Changle started out of love, but ended with courtesy. It was Princess Changle who seduced me in every way, and I was bewitched by her... Ouch!"

Princess Gaoyang sneered, "Well, Sister Changle is so infatuated with you, but you treat her like this. Are you still a man?"

Fang Jun smiled apologetically: "Rumors stop at the wise. How can people like us who are bright and clear-minded live in the midst of other people's comments and slander?"

"I'm afraid someone has bad intentions?" Princess Gaoyang would not act unreasonably, nor would she distrust her man because of a few rumors. Instead, she felt that since something was fishy, ​​maybe someone did it on purpose.

Chang'an City had too many people, with Han and Hu people living together, and aristocratic families and military generals competing for power. It was extremely difficult to find the source of the rumors.

It takes only one mouth to spread a rumor, but it takes a lot of effort to refute it. It is low-cost and effective. Throughout history, rumors have always been the best tool for building momentum before seeking big things...

Fang Jun was surprised to find that his shrewd and arrogant princess seemed to be showing signs of coming to her senses. Perhaps it was true that "birds of a feather flock together", and after spending so much time with Wu Meiniang, she knew how to see the essence of things through the surface?
If there is progress, praise them: "Your Highness was able to see through the thieves' vicious and sinister plot. It shows that Your Highness is smart and bright. You can be called a 'female Zhuge Liang'!"

“Puff… cluck!”

Princess Gaoyang was stunned for a moment, but then she couldn't help laughing so hard that her body shook uncontrollably. She pressed her smooth and beautiful upper body against her husband's chest and laughed so hard that she almost had a stitch in her side: "Female... Zhuge... Your husband is indeed a master of poetry and lyrics, and a man of great talent. He can actually come up with such words of praise. If this gets out, I'm afraid everyone in the world will laugh their heads off."

Fang Jun couldn't help laughing: "Who dares to laugh? If anyone laughs, I will knock out his teeth!"

Princess Gao Yang managed to hold back her laughter and said angrily, "You probably want to say, 'A conspiracy that even Gao Yang can see through is not a conspiracy at all', right?"

"I have absolutely no such intention. Your Highness, there is no need to belittle yourself."

"You always speak so seriously to please women. Which woman can stand it..."

……

After getting up early in the morning, taking a bath, changing clothes and having breakfast, Fang Jun went to the study in the back house to pay his respects to Fang Xuanling.

After they finished greeting each other in the study, Fang Xuanling motioned Fang Jun to sit next to him, frowned and asked, "What are those rumors outside? Don't fool me with gossips. I'm not old and confused yet."

Fang Jun sighed helplessly: "Your Majesty made his own decision, and I can't do anything about it."

Fang Xuanling called the servant outside the door to come in and make tea, then sent him out to watch the door. He drank a sip of tea and asked, "Tell me in detail."

Fang Jun hesitated. He had never concealed anything from his father, but this time he refused and said, "In short, some of the former subordinates of Crown Prince Yin are restless and are colluding with some people in the royal family... Everything is under control."

"Everything is under control?"

Fang Xuanling snorted coldly: "Man proposes, God disposes. Nothing in the world is absolute. What makes you dare to say that everything is under control? Do you know what consequences will be caused by the slightest negligence?"

Fang Jun was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty insists on doing this."

Fang Xuanling was stunned for a moment, and asked in confusion: "Is your Majesty so stubborn and conceited now?"

Fang Jun smiled bitterly and said, "It's worse than your father imagined. His Majesty is indeed kind-hearted, but that's just a cover-up. His heart is extremely fragile and his tolerance is very poor. Once the pressure is too great, he will react violently and it's difficult to persuade him."

In the final analysis, it is because of poor psychological quality.

When things are going smoothly, people tend to be magnanimous, not caring about small matters, being kind to others and tolerant of things. But once they are in adversity, their self-confidence disappears, and they become irritable, violent and extreme.

Otherwise, in history, there would not be people who started a rebellion knowing that they would be defeated, and who would not have the determination to fight to the death after being defeated.

Fang Xuanling's face was very heavy, and he said slowly: "Don't take chances at any time, especially when it comes to a critical moment, you must be prepared for the worst, because good things often don't work, but bad things do. Do you have a backup plan?"

Fang Jun smiled and said, "Don't worry, father. I have already made plans."

Fang Xuanling then breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that his second son was always meticulous in his work. Since he had made preparations, he didn't have to worry.

We can only try our best in this world, but how can we be absolutely sure?
If it is destined to fail, human power cannot save it...

"After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, many people advised Emperor Taizong to root out the former followers of Prince Yin and eliminate future troubles. It was my father and Duke Song who advised Emperor Taizong to let bygones be bygones. Although the Tang Dynasty had been established for a long time at that time, the country was still unstable. Many heroes from the late Sui Dynasty still had great influence in various places. If you were not careful, the situation would be full of smoke of war. Facts have proved that it was because Emperor Taizong forgave the former followers of Prince Yin that the empire was not torn apart, and it was able to gather all its strength to attack the Turks, establish this glorious era, and stabilize this beautiful land."

Then he sighed: "But it is precisely because of this that the hidden danger today is laid."

Back then, although the King of Qin had made great military achievements and had unparalleled prestige, the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was also gaining reputation and was the popular choice. He also occupied a high position and had many brave generals and counselors under his command. Most of the civil and military officials in the court were willing to be loyal to him. If the empire was completely wiped out after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, it would be a huge disaster for the empire, and the country would inevitably suffer serious damage.

The remnants of local heroes are still there, the foreign barbarians are eyeing them covetously, and under internal and external troubles, the disaster of overthrow is imminent.

However, everything has its pros and cons. The empire's vitality was preserved, and the empire swept across the world and destroyed the Turks in the subsequent wars, but it also allowed the old members of Jiancheng to survive. Although most of these people had forgotten the mutiny and sincerely wanted to be loyal ministers and generals of the Tang Dynasty, it was inevitable that some people could not let go of the old hatred.

When Emperor Taizong was alive, these people were all submissive and swore allegiance. But now that Emperor Taizong is gone, Your Majesty no longer has unparalleled prestige. If they are given the opportunity, they may stir up trouble and seek revenge.

Fang Jun shook his head and said, "The decision made by Emperor Taizong was extremely wise. Otherwise, how could we have the prosperous Tang Dynasty today? As for those petty people, there will always be them. The supreme power of the world will blind people, so it is not surprising that they will do crazy things."

Fang Xuanling said: "That's the truth, so you must be careful, patient and cautious. Often the more you think it's safe, the greater the hidden dangers."

How many of the old subordinates of the Crown Prince Jiancheng left behind? Although most of them have left the court, many of them are still in various positions in the court. It is difficult to distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous among these people. If you are careless, the real traitors will take advantage of you. You also have to be on guard against someone colluding in the play to win over those who originally had no intention of rebellion. Everything is hidden in the muddy water and cannot be seen clearly. The situation is very dangerous.

Fang Jun no longer dared to say anything about "perfect preparations" and nodded solemnly: "I will go to the palace later to have a good talk with Your Majesty."

Seeing that he listened to his advice, Fang Xuanling was pleased and said, "That's right. It's better to be safe than sorry. This saying has been around since ancient times and is true."

*****
Just after noon, Fang Jun went to Chengtian Gate to report and begged to enter the palace for an audience.

The guards at the gate did not dare to neglect it and hurried into the palace to report. Later, Wang De came out to greet him personally: "Your Majesty has ordered that Duke Yue be invited to the palace for an audience."

Lead Fang Jun into the palace.

As they walked, Wang De lagged behind Fang Jun by half a body length, leaving the other eunuchs to follow him from a distance. He then whispered, "This morning, rumors from the market town reached the palace. His Majesty was very angry and smashed a lot of things."

Fang Jun snorted, but he didn't stop walking. He said calmly, "A real man should have a broad mind like the sea and a calm heart like a lake. If you show your emotions on your face all the time, how can you achieve great things?"

Wang De lowered his head and dared not say anything more, but in his heart he wanted to ask: Is it a rumor?

After a while, they arrived outside the Wude Hall.

Wang De went inside to make a report, and then asked Fang Jun to go to the imperial study to see the emperor...

Sandalwood was burning in the imperial study, and the floor was covered with thick Persian carpets. Behind Li Chengqian, who was sitting at the desk, Li Jingxuan, the Imperial Secretary, and Li Siliang, the Tongshi Sheren, were bending over on both sides of the desk, reporting something. When they saw Fang Jun come in, they straightened up, and after Fang Jun saluted Li Chengqian, they all bowed to Fang Jun.

Fang Jun nodded slightly in return.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "You guys leave for now. I have something important to discuss with the Duke of Yue."

"Here."

The two of them retreated quietly.

Li Chengqian pointed to the chair beside the desk and said, "Sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

When Fang Jun took his seat, Li Chengqian glanced at the door and asked, "Why are you so hasty to see me? Is there anything important?"

Fang Jun shook his head and said, "Nothing else, I just had a chat with my father this morning and had some thoughts."

Li Chengqian had a very good impression of Fang Xuanling and had great admiration for this former prime minister. He hurriedly asked, "What did Prime Minister Fang say?"

Fang Jun looked solemn and said slowly, "Your Majesty, this move is too risky. I dare not agree with it."

Li Chengqian was slightly surprised. He thought Fang Jun came to the palace because of the rumors about the queen and him, so he came to question him. He did not expect that he was against the established strategy. He frowned and said, "This matter has already begun, how can we give up halfway? I have made up my mind, no need to say more!"