Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 156 Shangguan Yi's Confession
When Shangguan Yi entered the hall, he found it empty except for Li Zhi. He was secretly alarmed to find that Han Ai had disappeared somewhere.

"Your Majesty, I am Shangguan Yi. I pay my respects to you." He bowed and saluted.

Li Zhi sat behind the table with his hands on the dragon table.

His eyes were fixed on Shangguan Yi, his expression calm and he said nothing.

Shangguan Yi felt a huge pressure and wanted to speak, but was suppressed by the pressure and could only remain silent.

"Shangguan Yi, I didn't expect that you are also Zhangsun Wuji's man." Li Zhi said in a low voice.

Shangguan Yi had a bad feeling in his heart. If he brought up the matter of deposing the queen again, he would be seeking death.

He took a deep breath, knelt on the ground, and said, "I have received great kindness from Duke Zhao, and I must repay it. I am ashamed of your trust. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Li Zhi snorted and said, "You've received his kindness and are close to him, so I don't blame you. But you usually consider yourself a clean official, yet you're at odds with the aristocratic families and behave like a ghost. You're a Jinshi from the Zhenguan era, but have you learned all that?"

Shangguan Yi kowtowed and said, "I dare not defend myself. I only hope that Your Majesty will punish me before I tell you my story."

Li Zhi said, "Speak."

Shangguan Yi said, "My father was a former Sui official. During the Jiangdu Rebellion, my father, brother, and the Sui Emperor were killed by the rebels. I was lucky to escape and survive."

"To avoid disaster, I became a monk. Fortunately, I was appreciated by Yang Gongren and allowed to return to secular life and serve him. Yang Gongren also sponsored me to go to Beijing to take the imperial examination."

"Lord Yang has been very kind to me. Before he died, he gave me a letter of recommendation, asking me to find Zhangsun Wuji."

Li Zhi was surprised and asked, "Yang Gongren is also friends with Zhangsun Wuji?"

Shangguan Yi said, "Yang Gongren and Changsun Wuji's uncle Gao Shilian were good friends. During the Xuanwu Incident, Yang Gong was nearly implicated, but it was Changsun Wuji who spoke up to save him."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "If that's the case, why did you become a clean official?"

Shangguan Yi whispered, "Changsun Wuji told me that because I came from an imperial examination background, it was inconvenient for him to associate with me, and asked me to join the clean stream. He pretended to have nothing to do with me, but in fact he had been secretly looking after me."

Li Zhi took a deep breath and thought to himself, "I'm afraid there are many people like Shangguan Yi under Zhangsun Wuji. No wonder he is so well-informed."

Li Zhi pinched his fingers and lowered his head and said, "Shangguan Qing, what do you think I should do with you?"

Shangguan Yi said proudly, "Your Majesty, I have one more thing to say."

Li Zhi looked up and said, "Go ahead."

Shangguan Yi said, "Although I have obeyed Changsun Wuji's orders this time, it is because deep down in my heart I have always opposed Wu's enthronement. If Changsun Wuji intends to harm Your Majesty, I will never listen to his advice."

Li Zhi nodded secretly.

Shangguan Yi probably did not lie. After Zhangsun Wuji was killed, he still tried to depose Wu Meiniang, but ultimately failed and was killed, which explains the situation.

Li Zhi pondered silently for a long time, then slowly said, "Shangguan Qing, you must remember one thing."

Shangguan Yi said, "I listen respectfully."

Li Zhi said, "You didn't bring the deposed edict tonight. You came to see me because a small Turkic tribe in the Shuanghe area is rebelling. Do you understand?"

Shangguan Yi was surprised: "Your Majesty, what are you doing..."

Li Zhi said, "You must keep today's events to yourself forever. Otherwise, if the Queen finds out, you two will start fighting again. I don't have the patience to deal with these open and covert struggles anymore."

Shangguan Yi was surprised, happy, and a little confused.

"Your Majesty, will you not punish me?"

Li Zhi said, "You have helped me improve the administration of officials, and I have always remembered it. I was planning to train you for a few more years and then appoint you as prime minister. This will be used to atone for your sins."

Shangguan Yi was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Zhi said slowly, "I hope that in the future you will have no extraneous status and will simply be an official of the Tang Dynasty, devoting yourself to serving the people. That will be the true way to thank me!"

Shangguan Yi said proudly, "From now on, I will no longer have anything to do with Zhangsun Wuji. Nor will I consider myself a nobleman. I am simply your Majesty's subject."

Li Zhi smiled slightly and said, "Alright, you may withdraw. In the future, you should educate your descendants well. I hope that your Shangguan family can become the backbone of our Tang Dynasty."

Shangguan Yi said solemnly: "I will uphold the family tradition and live up to your majesty's expectations!"

Most of the people in Chang'an City were already asleep, and no one knew that a storm over the dethronement and enthronement of the queen had quietly occurred and ended.

After Li Zhi finished all his work, he couldn't help feeling a little tired. He washed his face and then headed towards the Lizheng Hall.

When he entered the hall, he saw Wu Meiniang sitting on the bed, looking at him with a pair of bright eyes.

"Jiulang, I've been acting foolishly and have made you worry again." Wu Meiniang could see that Li Zhi was tired, and there was a hint of self-blame in her tone.

Li Zhi walked over to sit next to her and said, "You know you're messing around. Can't you be a little more obedient after giving birth?"

Wu Meiniang leaned in his arms and said softly, "I promise you this is the last time. I will never bother you again."

Li Zhi said: "That's right, you just need to help me give birth to a child, I also want a daughter."

Wu Meiniang said angrily, "I just gave birth to a son, Your Majesty, don't you feel sorry for me?"

Li Zhi smiled and said, "In a few days, when you feel better, I will come and take care of you."

The next morning, Li Zhi summoned Li Ji, Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Gong, and Su Dingfang to the hall for a brief discussion, and told them in detail what had happened last night.

Cheng Zhijie was surprised and asked, "Your Majesty, is the late emperor's decree true?"

Yuchi Gong snorted and said, "Whether it's true or not, the late emperor is unaware of the current situation. Your Majesty should make the decision."

Su Dingfang said, "I second the motion."

Cheng Zhijie's heart trembled, and he hurriedly said, "I second the motion." Li Ji was silent for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Zhangsun Wuji is, after all, the emperor's uncle. I implore Your Majesty to be lenient with him."

The other three were all stunned when they heard this.

Li Ji and Changsun Wuji have always been sworn enemies. It was good enough that he didn't add insult to injury at this time, but he actually pleaded for Changsun Wuji?
Only Li Zhi knew that Li Ji had guessed his thoughts and was therefore catering to his ideas.

Although it was Changsun Wuji who initiated this incident, it was still caused by Xiaoji. Li Zhi also knew that Wu Meiniang was secretly forcing him.

Moreover, the current situation is not stable, and the death of Changsun Wuji will surely cause an uproar.

After the last conversation in Lizheng Hall, Li Zhi no longer wanted to kill Changsun Wuji in his heart.

Li Zhi nodded and said, "I will carefully consider what Lord Li said."

With the support of the military generals, Li Zhi could then focus on the next thing. He immediately issued an order to summon King Yue Li Zhen into the palace.

Li Zhen seemed to smell something and came quickly.

"Your Majesty, I, Li Zhen, pay my respects to you."

Li Zhi met him in the bedroom and raised his hand, saying, "Eighth brother, there is no need to be so polite. Please take a seat."

Li Zhen sat down on the couch next to Li Zhi and said with a smile, "Your Majesty summoned me to an audience so early this morning. Could it be about Xiaoji?"

Li Zhi glanced at him and said, "You should call him Li Rencai. He is the son of the third brother, isn't he?"

Li Zhen was slightly startled when she saw Li Zhi picking through the window paper. She asked, "Jiulang, are you going to help your third brother get justice?"

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Since it's a wrongful case, it will be rectified one day. However, I don't have any evidence."

It is easy to kill Changsun Wuji, but to help Li Ke completely clear his name and restore his reputation, solid evidence is needed.

Li Zhen was overjoyed and said, "Don't worry about that. Shi Lang and I have been secretly investigating this matter for many years. We have already collected sufficient evidence, but we just don't dare to give it to you."

Li Zhi nodded and said, "That's good. I will order a court meeting later. Eighth brother, bring the evidence. This unjust case will be brought to light in the court today."

Li Zhen reached out and held Li Zhi's hand, squeezing it hard.

Although he had been close to Li Zhi before, he had never done anything inappropriate. At this moment, he was so excited that he could hardly control himself, so he held his hand.

After all, Li Zhi was one of the leaders in the trial of Li Ke. If he wanted to overturn the verdict, it would damage the emperor's reputation.

Li Zhi's willingness to overturn the verdict made Li Zhen feel that his brother had not become inhumane despite becoming emperor, which made him quite happy.

……

In the mansion of Duke Zhao, Chang Sun Chong sat in the study in a daze, with his elbows on his knees, his hands covering his face, and not saying a word.

Han Ai sat next to him, frowning, as if she was still thinking hard. Because she hadn't slept all night, her eye bags were swollen and her eyes were bloodshot.

Lai Ji stood by the window, seemingly admiring the sunrise.

Only Changsun Wuji was not in the room.

Han Ai suddenly growled, "I don't understand, I really don't understand! Why does His Majesty have this attitude? Does he really not care about the prophecy at all?"

Lai Ji turned his head and glanced at him, saying, "Why bother yourself with trouble? Lord Changsun has already said that the chances of winning are less than 50%."

Han Ai suddenly raised her head and glared at him.

"The situation has become so complicated, and you're still making sarcastic remarks?"

Lai Ji sighed, "This isn't a sarcastic remark, but the truth. Having chosen to take the risk and now that we've failed, what else is there to say? I'll just wait for your Majesty's decision."

Han Ai turned to look at Chang Sun Chong: "Where's your father?"

"How should I know?" Chang Sun Chong said in a hoarse voice.

With a creak, the door of the study was pushed open and Changsun Wuji walked in with a string of Buddhist beads in his hand.

Han Ai asked anxiously, "Lord Changsun, what should we do now?"

Changsun Wuji ignored him, walked up to Changsun Chong and handed him the Buddhist beads.

"Take it."

Chang Sun Chong was stunned for a moment and asked, "Father, what is this?"

Lai Ji said slowly, "Prince Consort, this is the Bodhi bead that Empress Wende always held in her hand. Before she died, Empress Wende left it to the Grand Commandant."

Empress Changsun suffered from illness for a long time. In the eighth year of Zhenguan, she was seriously ill. Emperor Taizong invited Master Tanzang from Puguang Temple to come to the palace to pray for her.

Tan Zang gave his Bodhi beads to Empress Changsun, who miraculously recovered from her illness.

Taizong believed that it was Tanzang's contribution and praised him highly.

Since then, Empress Changsun kept this string of Buddhist beads until her death, when she left it to Changsun Wuji.

Chang Sun Chong also understood his father's intention and hoped that the Buddhist beads could save his life. He felt sad in his heart.

"Father, keep it for yourself," he whispered.

Changsun Wuji put the Buddhist beads on his hand without saying anything.

Suddenly, a guard came in from outside and said, "Ah Lang, the emperor has issued an order to convene an emergency court meeting. All officials above the fifth rank must attend, and he also said that you must attend as well."

Changsun Wuji said slowly: "What is coming will come, let's go." He strode out of the study.

(End of this chapter)