Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 246 Empress Wu's Beauty Technique
After Zhang Duohai sent Xiaoji away, he returned to Lizheng Hall and found that Empress Wu was worshiping Buddha in the side hall again.

He waited outside the palace for a long time before Empress Wu came out and returned to the bedroom.

Zhang Duohai came to her side and whispered, "Your Highness, even King Wu saw him. It seems that the gatekeepers are right. This man will definitely file a complaint with the emperor at the court meeting in two days."

Wu Meiniang did not say anything. She slowly walked to the dressing table, poured some powder from an exquisite crystal porcelain bottle, and carefully applied it to her cheeks and neck.

She is already in her thirties, but her skin is still as smooth as a girl's. The reason is that she has been studying the art of maintaining her youth.

Since she took control of Changqiutai, in addition to using it to gather intelligence, the most important thing is to let them visit the people and look for the secret recipe for maintaining youth.

After Li Zhi stopped her from participating in government affairs, she had nowhere to use her abundant energy, so she could only focus more on maintaining her youth.

Inside this crystal porcelain bottle is the anti-aging powder that she has been using recently.

The main medicine is motherwort harvested on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. After harvesting, it goes through dozens of processes such as drying, grinding, and sieving. Countless precious medicinal powders are added, and then gypsum, talc, clam powder, and rouge are mixed evenly. It is used in appropriate amounts every morning and evening.

The cost of making such a small bottle is more than a thousand gold coins.

Correspondingly, the effect was also amazing. In the past two years, there was almost no change in Empress Wu's skin, and her skin became smoother and smoother.

The increasing number of times the emperor came to Lizheng Hall is the best proof of this.

When Zhang Duohai knew that Empress Wu was going to use medicinal powder, she didn't like to listen to anyone's nagging, so she could only hold her breath and stand aside and wait quietly.

Only after Empress Wu had finished applying the makeup did she hear her lips slightly part.

"We've finally suppressed this matter, and we can't let him stir up more trouble. Go find him and convince him to give up the complaint."

Zhang Duohai hesitated and said, "This matter concerns the reputation of his family. I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince this person."

Wu Meiniang tilted her head slightly, glanced at Zhang Duohai, and said, "Do you still need me to teach you how to do such a small thing?"

Zhang Dahai asked cautiously, "Can we use some extraordinary measures?"

Wu Meiniang's eyes slightly closed, and her already narrow and long eyes became even more majestic.

"I am the Empress, not the former Consort Wu. Stop trying to take advantage of others and use your brain."

Zhang Duohai suddenly felt aggrieved and thought to himself, "I have to achieve my goal, but I'm not allowed to use special means. This job is becoming increasingly difficult."

"Why, do you feel embarrassed?" Wu Meiniang seemed to see what he was thinking.

Zhang Dahai quickly smiled and said, "No matter how difficult it is, I will do my best to complete the task for you."

Wu Meiniang said calmly: "Then go and do your job."

The moonlight was like water, rippling out waves of light and falling on the dark city of Chang'an.

Zhang Duohai sat in a carriage, traveling on the strictly restricted streets of Chang'an City, with his hands in his sleeves, shaking his head, thinking about how to persuade the other party.

However, before he could figure out what was going on, the carriage stopped and the voice of the eunuch driving the carriage came from outside.

"Young Supervisor, we're here."

Zhang Dahai said angrily: "Why are you walking so fast? Are you in a hurry to reincarnate?"

The eunuch driving the carriage was angered, but he didn't dare to talk back. He just muttered in his heart: "We have been walking for nearly an hour, and it's still fast."

Zhang Da Hai jumped off the carriage. The moment he jumped off the carriage, the whole carriage shook.

Zhang Dahai covered his nose and frowned, "What the hell is this place? Why does it stink so bad?"

The eunuch driving the carriage smiled and said, "This is the third narrowest street in the south of Datongfang Street in the south of the city. Those who live here are the poorest people in Chang'an. It's smoky and dirty, so the smell is a bit strong."

Zhang Duohai's heart moved, and he thought to himself, "That guy lives in such a poor place, which shows how poor he is. Maybe it won't be too difficult to convince him."

He looked up at the dark, dilapidated door in front of him and said, "Does he live in this wooden house?"

This narrow street is lined with wooden houses on both sides. The kitchen, living room and bedroom are all connected together. There is no courtyard or well, and drinking water requires using a public well.

The eunuch driving the carriage said, "Yes."

Zhang Duohai winked at him, and the eunuch driving the carriage ran over and knocked on the door.

After a long while, an alert voice came from the house.

"who is it?"

The public security in poor areas is also not good. In places like Datongfang, there are some informal associations that form gangs and oppress the poor.

Therefore, the people living here are also more vigilant.

Zhang Duohai asked, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Li Yiyuan?"

The person in the room asked, "Who are you?"

Zhang Duohai smiled and said, "Don't worry. I know you came to Beijing to redress your father's injustice, so I came to discuss it with you."

After a long silence in the room, the door was finally opened, and a middle-aged man in his thirties appeared behind the door.

He took a look at Zhang Duohai and saw that he was not an ordinary person. He turned slightly and extended his hand, saying, "Please come in."

There was also a strange smell inside the wooden house, and the walls were blackened by smoke, but the floor was still relatively clean.

Li Yiyuan poured a cup of hot water for Zhang Duohai and said calmly, "This humble room doesn't have any good tea to offer. Please have a cup of hot water to warm yourself up." Zhang Duohai looked at the chip on the cup and didn't reach out to take it. He smiled and said, "I'm not thirsty. Thank you very much."

He glanced around the room and sighed, "Oh, I never imagined that the descendants of the Duke of Wulian would live in such poverty."

A trace of grief flashed in Li Yiyuan's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Do you know my father?"

Zhang Duohai laughed and said, "I've only heard of him for a long time, but never seen him. Besides, your father's case caused quite a stir a while ago, and I'm afraid everyone in Chang'an knows him."

A light flashed in Li Yiyuan's eyes, and there was more hope.

"I came to Chang'an precisely because I heard about this. The current sage is wise and doesn't believe the nonsense spread by the female ruler, King Wu. I have decided to file a complaint with the emperor on the fourth day of the first lunar month to clear my father's name!"

Zhang Duohai sighed, "Brother Li, to be honest, I sympathize with you, but I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to redress the injustice done to your father, Li Junxian."

Upon hearing this, Li Yiyuan became very excited and shouted, "Even Wu Wang Li Ke was able to redress his wrongs. My father was even more wronged than him, so why can't we redress his wrongs too?"

Zhang Duohai held his hand and said, "Don't get excited. Listen to me slowly. There is a big difference between the case of Wu Wang Li Ke and the case of Li Junxian."

"What's the difference?" Li Yiyuan asked.

Zhang Duohai bowed to the north and said, "Li Ke's case was, after all, judged by the current sage, led by Zhangsun Wuji. Li Junxian's case, however, was decided by the late emperor."

Li Yiyuan's face turned extremely pale.

He knew this truth very well, but this matter concerned the fate of the entire clan, so he had to give it a try.

Zhang Duohai sighed, "The Saint is a very filial person. If we help redress Li Junxian, it would be an insult to the late emperor. How could the Saint agree to this?"

Li Yiyuan clenched his fists and said, "Can't the mistakes made by the late emperor be corrected? Is there no fairness in this world?"

Zhang Duohai said in a deep voice, "Brother Li, please be careful with your words. Talking nonsense about the late emperor is a capital offense."

Li Yiyuan stared at him intently and said, "Who are you? Why are you trying to stop me? Could it be... Could it be..."

His voice gradually trembled.

If the emperor really sent this person to stop him, then he would have no hope at all.

Zhang Duohai observed his expression and saw what he was thinking. He smiled secretly and said, "Hey, let him misunderstand that I was sent by His Majesty. That way he will give up."

He coughed and said, "To be honest, I'm from the Eunuch Department."

Li Yiyuan was stunned for a moment and asked, "Did the saint really send you here?"

Zhang Dahai said calmly: "I can't say more, you should understand."

"No, I want to hear it from you in person. Are you really sent by a saint?"

"Tsk! Why is this kid so difficult to deal with? He insists on getting to the bottom of what's going on!" Zhang Duohai cursed inwardly, but after all, he didn't dare to falsely convey the imperial edict.

Just as he was hesitating, Li Yiyuan suddenly sneered, "I understand. You want to pretend to be a eunuch from the Saint Sect and force me to give up my complaint? No way!"

Zhang Duohai was furious.

"Li Yiyuan, I'm not sent by a saint, but you'd better not go against the will of that prince, otherwise no one can save you!"

"Your Highness? Which prince is it?" Li Yiyuan asked suspiciously.

Zhang Duohai snorted coldly, "Do you think a mere prince can order a eunuch like me around?"

"You, you are the eunuch? Then... could it be Her Majesty the Queen who sent you to find me?" Li Yiyuan said with a changed face.

Zhang Duohai snorted, "You're not stupid. If you know, just leave Chang'an immediately. I can give you a sum of money so that you can live comfortably for the rest of your life!"

Li Yiyuan's face turned pale and pale, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Why? Your Majesty, why did the Queen stop me?"

"Do you really not understand, or are you pretending to be stupid?" Zhang Dahai raised his chin.

"Please give me some advice, Young Supervisor Zhang." Li Yiyuan squeezed out a few words from between his teeth.

Zhang Duohai snorted and said, "Changsun Wuji once used the female protagonist Wu Wang to attack the Queen. Although it was completely false, if it spread, it would damage Her Highness's reputation. Therefore, Her Highness does not want this matter to be mentioned again."

Li Yiyuan felt a surge of anger in his heart and asked, "Just for the Queen's reputation, must my father continue to suffer injustice?"

Zhang Dahai shouted, "How dare you! Li Yiyuan, are you tired of living?"

Li Yiyuan smiled sadly and said, "Master Zhang, my Li family is having a hard time making a living now, all because of the unjust case. If it cannot be redressed, I would rather die!" He closed his eyes.

Zhang Da Hai was so angry when she saw his indifferent expression on his face.

However, the queen also instructed that no special methods should be used to deal with him.

He took a few deep breaths and said, "Li Yiyuan, as long as you don't complain, no matter what conditions you put forward, it's all negotiable."

Li Yiyuan said resolutely, "If I cannot clear my father's name, I am unworthy of being his father. Junior Supervisor Zhang, you may kill me or chop me up, as you please."

"I'll take you..."

Zhang Duohai almost cursed out loud, but finally swallowed the last few words and snorted, "Rehabilitation may not be successful. If it is not, I can guarantee your family will be safe. Think about it carefully."

He shook his sleeves and strode out of the house.

(End of this chapter)