Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 162: One Palace, Two Platforms

Before dawn, the sound of a baby crying broke the tranquility of Lizheng Hall and spread from the side hall to the main hall.

Although the side hall was far away, Wu Meiniang still heard the subtle sound and woke up immediately. She asked outside the gauze curtain, "Is it Xian'er crying, or is it Xian'er crying?"

A palace servant whispered, "Your Highness, it's the Seventh Prince crying."

Wu Meiniang sat up immediately.

"Change."

Several palace maids came up quickly, handed her a hand warmer to hold, and then helped her dress.

Upon hearing the news, Concubine Jiang also walked in and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, the Seventh Prince has a tutor. You slept late last night, why don't you get some more sleep?"

Wu Meiniang said: "No, I was tired of sleeping when I was pregnant. It's okay to get up early."

After Wu Meiniang put on her clothes, she went to the side hall, held Li Xian in her arms, and comforted him. When he stopped crying, she took him to another room to have breakfast.

Yesterday, Li Zhi went to Tangquan Palace and did not come back all night, so Wu Meiniang started having dinner directly with Li Hong and Li Xian.

As for Li Xian, he was held aside by his tutor, with his eyes wide open, watching them eat.

He watched for a while and then fell asleep again, so the guardian took him away.

After dinner, Li Hong went to Chongwenguan to study.

Wu Meiniang sat cross-legged in the warm room, reviewing the list of tributes submitted from all over the country this year.

Suddenly, she noticed Zhang Dahai walked in, hunched over with his fat body, standing aside, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Wu Meiniang glanced at him and said, "If you feel uncomfortable in your stomach, go to the East Division."

The East Chamber is the toilet used by palace maids and eunuchs.

The toilet used by the emperor, empress and concubines was called the "dressing room". They would change clothes every time after using it.

Zhang Dahai said aggrievedly: "Your Highness, I am not feeling sick in my stomach, but in my heart."

Without even looking up, Wu Meiniang said, "If you have anything to say, just say it directly. Don't act like a woman."

Zhang Duohai waved his hand to signal the palace servants to withdraw, took a few steps closer, and whispered, "Your Highness, I heard that His Majesty is planning to have the people of the inner court take action against Tubo."

Wu Meiniang looked up at him and said, "You are well-informed."

Zhang Duohai smiled and said, "As the Supervisor of Changqiu, I naturally have to pay more attention to the Nei Lingfu and Si Gongtai."

Wu Meiniang said calmly, "Your Majesty has mentioned this to me, and it is indeed true."

Zhang Duohai said, "Your Highness, although the Nei Lingfu has more spies in Chang'an City than the Changqiutai, it has not accumulated enough. The external offices in various places have not yet taken shape, and are far inferior to the Changqiutai's operative offices in various places."

Wu Meiniang asked, "Do you want to get involved in this?"

Zhang Duohai said: "I also want to share your majesty's worries!"

Wu Meiniang snorted and said, "I don't know your personality. You think this is a good opportunity to make a contribution, and you want to share the credit?"

Zhang Dahai smiled and said, "I mainly want to share your majesty's worries."

Wu Meiniang pondered for a moment and said, "This matter involves foreign warfare, so it is not convenient for me to speak to Your Majesty."

After a pause, he said, "You can go find Wang Jishan."

Zhang Duohai was stunned and said, "You want me to ask Wang Jishan for help?"

Wu Meiniang said, "You just said that the inner and outer prefectures haven't been completed yet. If that's true, Wang Jishan should be having a headache now."

Zhang Duohai clapped his hands and said, "That's right. His outer mansion in Liangzhou was just built last month, and his outer mansion in Songzhou has not yet started construction. He is extremely short of manpower."

Wu Mei Niang said, "Let's take this opportunity to cooperate with him, so that His Majesty won't think that the Chang Qiu Tai is only competing with the Nei Ling Fu and Si Gong Tai for credit!"

Zhang Duohai was overjoyed and said, "I'll go and treat him to a drink right away!"

"Come back!" Wu Meiniang shouted.

Zhang Dahai turned around very skillfully and came to Wu Meiniang again, smiling and saying, "Your Highness, do you have any other instructions?"

Wu Meiniang said, "Since you want to invite someone, then invite one more person."

Zhang Duohai was stunned and asked, "Who?"

"Of course Wang Fusheng won."

Zhang Dahai's expression suddenly turned unnatural, and he said with a bitter face: "Why did you invite him?"

Wu Meiniang flipped through the booklet in her hand and said calmly, "Think about it, if you were the only one to ask Wang Jishan, would he agree? Don't forget, the Nei Ling Fu and Si Gong Tai are directly under His Majesty's jurisdiction."

Zhang Duohai smiled and said, "Don't worry. As far as I know, Wang Jishan and Wang Fusheng are secretly not on good terms."

Wu Meiniang said, "That was done in secret. They would never dare to show it openly. Ask Wang Jishan to tell the Saint that he only needs the assistance of the Changqiutai, not the Sigongtai. Do you think Wang Jishan dares to say that?"

Zhang Duohai was stunned for a moment and said, "Yes, this person is very smart and will definitely not agree." He sighed and said, "Well, I will go find Wang Fusheng together."

Zhang Duohai left the hall and sent someone to deliver a letter to Wang Fusheng, inviting him and Wang Jishan to drink at Xingdaofang.

He knew that Wang Fusheng was a smart man and would definitely want to intervene in Tubo affairs. As long as Wang Jishan was mentioned, he would definitely agree.

As expected, Wang Fusheng quickly sent someone to reply, but did not directly agree. He only said that he would be free after the hour of Hai.

Zhang Dahai couldn't stand his arrogance the most, so he cursed him inwardly and sent someone to book a banquet and sent invitations to the two of them. The two of them quickly sent someone to report back, and both agreed to attend the banquet.

Because Zhang Duohai had informed Wu Meiniang in advance, he left the palace at the hour of You, stayed in the secret office of Changqiutai for more than an hour, and then went to Xingdaofang.

The restaurant Zhang Duohai chose was called Baxianlou. He booked the entire restaurant in advance and went to the private room on the third floor, waiting quietly.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Wang Jishan arrived first.

Zhang Duohai bowed and said, "It is rare that General Wang would do me the honor. I am honored. Please take a seat."

Wang Jishan said, "How dare I not come to the banquet hosted by Zhang Shaojian?"

The two exchanged a few pleasantries and then waited quietly.

It was not until the hour of Hai that Wang Fusheng finally arrived.

As the host, Zhang Duohai took the initiative to pour wine for the two of them and raised his glass, saying, "Eunuch Wang has honored us today, and General Wang has also honored me. It's a rare opportunity for us to get together, so we should drink heartily."

They both raised their glasses and drank with him.

Wang Fusheng is a man of inner wisdom.

He really wanted to take part in the plan to sow discord among Tubo in order to prevent the Sigongtai from being marginalized.

It’s a pity that given his status, it’s not easy for him to take the initiative to speak to the emperor.

He is arrogant and unwilling to bow down to Wang Jishan. Now that Zhang Duohai is willing to act as a middleman, it is equivalent to giving him a way out.

Although he knew that Zhang Da Hai also had his own purpose, he had to accept the favor and did not give the other party a cold shoulder this time.

After the three of them drank a glass of wine together, Zhang Dahai poured another glass for Wang Jishan.

"General Wang, I've heard that Tibetan spies are rampant, and the Sage has decided to strike back. I sincerely wish General Wang the best of luck in completing the mission entrusted by the Sage and making great contributions to the Tang Dynasty!"

Wang Fusheng smiled and said, "I also congratulate General Wang."

Wang Jishan didn't say much. He drank the wine in the glass, put it down, and sighed deeply.

"To be honest, I'm worried about this as well."

"Oh, I don't know what General Wang is worried about. Is there anything I, Changqiutai, can do to help?" Zhang Duohai asked knowingly.

Wang Jishan said, "The Nei Lingfu was established not long ago, and the first few outer prefectures were all built in Hebei. The outer prefectures near Tubo have not been built yet, so it will be difficult to infiltrate Tubo in a short period of time."

Zhang Duohai smiled and said, "That's not difficult. My Changqiutai has a branch office in Songzhou and Liangzhou, each with thirty staff members. Aside from the eunuchs in charge, everyone else is from Songzhou. If General Wang needs them, feel free to use them!"

Wang Fusheng also said, "Our office also has two branch offices in Shazhou and Yizhou. General Wang, please don't be polite."

Wang Jishan bowed and said, "I am deeply grateful for your generosity. I will submit a petition to the Saint tomorrow and ask for your assistance."

……

The moonlight is quiet and clear, like an ice plate.

Wang Jishan returned to the outer hall of the Nei Ling Mansion and sat alone in the dark hall drinking tea.

Suddenly, a firelight flickered, and Cheng Wuting walked in with a lantern and asked, "General Wang, have you finished drinking the wine?" As he spoke, he lit several hall lamps.

Wang Jishan didn't say anything, just nodded.

Cheng Wuting asked, "Zhang Duohai suddenly invited you to drink. I wonder if he has some ulterior motive?"

Wang Jishan said in a deep voice, "He also wants to interfere in the affairs of Tubo."

Cheng Wuting snorted, "The Saint gave this matter to us, why should he interfere?"

Wang Jishan said, "I have already promised him. Wang Fusheng has also agreed. Tomorrow I will ask the Saint for permission and request the assistance of the two offices."

Cheng Wuting asked anxiously, "Why is that? We can handle this ourselves, why do we need those eunuchs to interfere?"

Wang Jishan glanced at him and said in a deep voice, "We were previously focused on dealing with the Yanshan Society. We didn't have many people in Jiannan Road and Longyou Road. We really need their help."

Cheng Wuting said, "The Saint hasn't given us a deadline. We can develop the outer palaces in two places. It will be completed in three months at most!"

Wang Jishan looked up at him and said, "Brother Cheng, although the Saint is relying on us now, you must know that Zhang Duohai has the Queen behind him, and Wang Fusheng has followed the Saint for more than ten years. We can't afford to offend them for the time being."

Cheng Wuting snorted and did not respond.

Wang Jishan said in a deep voice, "When a person is in good times, it is easiest for him to stumble. Do you know why?"

Cheng Wuting was stunned for a moment and shook his head.

Wang Jishan said, "Because when things are going well, people only look up and forget to look down. When their eyes are too high, they are most likely to offend others."

Cheng Wuting muttered, "Being in the Imperial Palace isn't as comfortable as being on the border. There's so much to worry about."

Wang Jishan asked in return, "Didn't your father also serve on the frontier for a long time? Didn't he have any scruples when doing things?"

Cheng Wuting was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "You are right. I will obey the general."

Wang Jishan said slowly, "Go and have a good rest for a few days. You've been to Tuyuhun, and I'm planning to let you lead the first group of troops to invade Tubo."

Cheng Wuting then showed some joy, and said with a cupped hand: "I will definitely fulfill your mission!"

(End of this chapter)