Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 273 East Palace moves?

When Li Yong returned to Daji Hall, Li Lian and Li Xiao were sitting at the table having a meal.

The two of them like to chat while eating, so they always eat very slowly.

Li Lian saw him come back and said with a smile, "Third brother, you're back! Come sit down and have dinner. We have bear paw today, and we saved one for you."

Li Yong said: "I'm full, you guys eat."

As soon as he finished speaking, his two hands reached out to grab the remaining bear paw.

In the end, Li Lian was quick enough to grab the bear paw.

Li Yong walked to a chair and sat down, then said to Li Xiao: "Second brother, I just went to see my mother."

Li Xiao said "Oh", grabbed a piece of lamb chop and started to chew it.

Li Yong added, "You should also go and see Aunt Zheng. She has already moved into Chengxiang Palace. If you go to see her, your father won't blame you."

Li Xiao chewed the meat in his mouth for a while, swallowed it, and said, "I won't go."

Li Yong snorted, "She is your biological mother. If you don't go to see her, you are unfilial and you are unworthy of the name your father gave you."

Li Xiao glared at him and said nothing.

Li Yong thought for a moment, rolled his eyes, and said, "How about this, if you go to see her, I'll teach you the 'Heel Hooking Kick' move."

Li Xiao hummed, "You don't need to teach me." After a pause, he said, "I can go see her, but you have to agree to another condition."

Li Yong hurriedly said, "Hurry up and tell me!"

Li Xiaodao: "Didn't you say two days ago that you would help me get married and set up my own household?"

When Li Yong heard this, his face turned red.

He heard from Wang Bo a few days ago that Wang was planning to use Li Xiao's establishment of a mansion to help his mother escape from trouble. Later, she spoke hastily and told Li Xiao that he was about to establish a mansion.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiao kept it in mind.

Li Yong smiled and said, "I was just talking nonsense at the time."

Li Xiao hummed, "I'm almost thirteen. When Li Zhong opened his mansion, he was not even as old as me. Father loves you so much, if you go and tell him, he should agree to let me open my mansion."

Li Lian, who was gnawing on a bear paw, also looked up when he heard this.

Getting married and setting up a household without having to go to a fiefdom was a temptation for every prince.

Li Yong thought: "It's definitely not possible to ask my father for mercy, he will be angry. But I can go to Wang Bo and ask Wang Shi to continue to make petitions and let my second brother open a government office. That way, I can open a government office right away!"

He chuckled and said, "Okay, it's a deal. As long as father lets you open a residence, you must visit Aunt Zheng often in the future!"

Li Xiaodao: "Okay!"

Early the next morning, the three of them went to Chongwenguan to go to school together.

At noon, when the school drum sounded, Li Yong called Wang Bo and took him to an empty corridor to tell him about the establishment of the government.

Wang Bo was surprised and said, "Your Highness, the two nobles have been rescued. There is no need to submit a memorial to open a government office."

Li Yong said, "I also want to open a government office sooner, why is it not necessary?"

Wang Bo hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Then I'll ask my father for instructions when I get back."

Li Yong smiled and said, "Then I'll leave it to you."

A few days later, the Minister of War Xiao Siye reported that the second prince Li Xiao was about to turn thirteen and it was time for him to marry and start his own household.

Li Zhi thought that Li Zhong had made great progress after he set up his own government office, and was a completely different person from when he was in the palace, so he agreed to Xiao Siye's memorial.

When the news reached Daji Hall, Li Xiao was overjoyed and immediately followed the agreement. After dinner that day, he went to Chengxiang Hall to visit his biological mother Zheng.

When Zheng saw her son coming, she was overjoyed. She asked him about his daily life in detail, asking about his well-being and showing great care.

Li Xiao had not received such care for a long time. He was reluctant to come at first, but after coming, he was reluctant to leave. He stayed until the end of the year, and only said goodbye and left at Zheng's urging.

A few days later, one morning, there were bursts of drum sounds in Daji Hall.

The drum only sounds once on ordinary days, to remind the princes to go to Chongwenguan to study.

Today the drum sounded three times, which means it is a holiday and there is no school.

Li Yong jumped up from the bed and put on his clothes quickly. He was like a completely different person compared to his usual procrastinating attitude when going to school.

Today is the day Li Xiao is getting married. He specially put on the small red round robe he wore a few days ago. When he came to the main hall, he saw Li Xiao's face full of joy, and he was chatting and laughing with Li Lian.

"Second brother, when will you leave the palace?" Li Yong asked hurriedly.

Li Xiaodao said, "In the morning, you must go to the Taimiao and the Tiandi Altar to offer sacrifices and burn incense. At noon, you must pay your respects to your father, mother, and concubines. Then you can leave the palace in the afternoon."

Li Lian smiled and said, "Second brother's residence is in Chongrenfang. It's right outside Jingfeng Gate. It's even closer than Li Zhong's residence!"

The three of them were not on good terms with Li Zhong, so they all called him by his name.

Li Yong was surprised and asked, "Silang, how do you know so much?"

Li Lian said, "The night before yesterday, my second brother took me there to have a look. Although it's smaller than Li Zhong's mansion, the backyard is full of vegetation, more than enough to build a large Cuju field!"

Li Yong held his head and shouted, "Why didn't you two ask me to join you?"

Li Lian laughed and said, "Have you forgotten that you went to see your mother again the night before last? We called you, but you didn't want to go?"

Li Yong slapped his forehead and said, "Ah, I remember now. I left in such a hurry that I didn't hear clearly. If I had known you were leaving the palace, I would have gone!"

Li Lian said with a smile, "My second brother is hosting a banquet at the mansion tonight. Third brother, shall we ask father for permission to attend the banquet as well?"

Li Yong raised his hand and said, "Wait a minute, what kind of banquet will we have and who will we invite?"

Li Lian said, "Of course it's a thank-you banquet for the teachers. We're inviting the scholars and instructors from the Chongwen Academy. This is the procedure we follow when we leave the palace!"

Li Yong murmured, "Alas, I still have to endure another year before I can leave the palace."

Li Lian also lowered his head and muttered, "I'm worse off than you. It'll take more than two years."

After the three of them had their meal, Li Xiao went to the Taimiao to burn incense, while Li Yong and Li Lian came to the Lizheng Hall, found Li Zhi, and asked for permission to leave the palace.

Li Zhi was talking to Wu Meiniang. He knew that the three brothers Li Yong had a very good relationship, so he agreed to their request.

In the afternoon, the three brothers came to Prince Xu's mansion together and played and strolled around the house, having a great time.

It was not until the end of the dinner that Li Yong and Li Lian said goodbye to Li Xiao and returned to Daji Hall.

Li Xiao finally had an independent mansion. Excited, he was playing Cuju alone in the back garden. When he was having so much fun, a servant came to report that Princess Linchuan wanted to see him.

...The dusk was deep and the setting sun was blood-red.

The cool evening breeze blows away the day's heat, and insects emerge from the grass. Some chirp in search of mates, while others begin their daily hunting routine.

In the pavilion in the back garden of Changsun Mansion, two old men were playing chess.

One of them was Changsun Wuji. His mind seemed not to be on the chess game. While playing chess, he was enjoying the sunset.

Even so, he still had the upper hand in this game.

Yu Zhining threw the chess piece in his hand and said with a wry smile, "I haven't played chess with you for three years. I didn't expect that you've stayed in Zhaoling for so long and your chess skills haven't fallen behind."

Changsun Wuji continued to gaze at the sunset and said, "There's nothing to do over there, except playing chess."

Yu Zhining also turned his head to look at the sky and sighed, "No matter how gorgeous the sunset is, it will soon disappear. How sad." It was as if he was lamenting his gray hair and the loss of his youth.

Changsun Wuji seemed not to hear and did not comment.

Yu Zhining glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and said, "Changsun Wuji, I know you've always looked down on me. Are you thinking now that I'm a coward?"

Changsun Wuji sighed, "You're just too sensitive. You're in a high position of power, but I'm just a nobody. How can I look down on you?"

Yu Zhining snorted, "You don't have to be sarcastic."

Changsun Wuji shook his head and stopped talking.

After a long silence, Yu Zhining slowly said, "You do have the qualifications to look down on me. In terms of knowledge, I can't catch up with you even if I flatter you."

Changsun Wuji looked at Yu Zhining in surprise.

He knew that this person had a sensitive personality and was inferior in his heart, but he liked to appear proud.

Normally, he wouldn't have said something so derogatory as this.

Yu Zhining grinned and said, "I just like to see you surprised. I say this because I have something to ask of you."

Changsun Wuji said, "I'm already in this situation, how can I help you?"

Yu Zhining said in a deep voice, "I am a few years older than you, and I probably won't live for many more years. The only thing I can't let go of are those useless descendants."

Chang Sun Wuji said slowly: "Descendants will have their own blessings, so why worry so much."

Yu Zhining said: "That being said, some hidden dangers can be eliminated, so it is better to eliminate them as soon as possible."

"Hidden danger?"

Yu Zhining took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Something has happened recently that has made me a little uneasy."

"What's the matter?"

Yu Zhining said, "The movements of the aristocratic family."

Changsun Wuji frowned but said nothing.

Ever since the Xiao family's rebellion, the aristocratic families have become more and more honest, and almost all of them have been hiding in the grass, and have not caused any major trouble.

Yu Zhining said slowly, "Do you know that Cui Dunli asked me for something before he died?"

Changsun Wuji said, "I don't know."

Yu Zhining glanced at him and said, "He feels that because of you, the aristocratic faction has gone in the wrong direction, which is why His Majesty is suppressing it."

Changsun Wuji pursed his lips and said nothing.

Yu Zhining continued, "Before he died, he chose a new leader and asked me to help him keep an eye on this person. If he agrees with Your Majesty, I will assist him with all my strength. If he is like you, I will make him disappear from the court."

Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "He really put a lot of thought into it. So, who did he choose?"

Yu Zhining sighed, "The Minister of War, Xiao Siye."

Changsun Wuji stroked his beard and said, "This is the person you're feeling uneasy about, right?"

Yu Zhining was silent for a moment, then said, "At first, I thought Mr. Cui had chosen the right person. However, recently, some of his actions have made me feel uneasy."

Changsun Wuji said, "Oh?"

Yu Zhining said in a deep voice: "I have been secretly watching him. Although many of his secretive actions can be hidden from others, they cannot be hidden from me."

Changsun Wuji asked: "For example?"

Yu Zhining glanced at Changsun Wuji and said, "He secretly sent a member of his clan to the Eastern Palace as a stablemaster, and he often interacted with the Fourth Prince."

Changsun Wuji's eyes flashed and his expression became more serious.

Yu Zhining continued, "He's been very close to Zhou Daowu and Wang Fuzhi recently. Wang Fuzhi's son has a close relationship with the Third Prince. After the Second Prince established his own residence, Princess Linchuan often went to Prince Xu's residence to visit the Second Prince."

Zhou Daowu was Princess Linchuan's husband, and originally served as the deputy governor of Yingzhou.

Later, after Liu Rengui became the governor of Yingzhou, he asked for permission to appoint Liu Renyuan as the deputy governor. Zhou Daowu then returned to Chang'an and was promoted to General of the Right Guard with the recommendation of Xiao Siye.

These messages seemed a bit disorganized, but Changsun Wuji quickly understood Yu Zhining's intention.

In the palace, the second prince, the third prince, and the fourth prince have the best relationship, and this is well known to all the civil and military officials in the court.

Xiao Siye secretly contacted the Fourth Prince, and those who were close to him were also very close to the Second Prince and the Third Prince.

The princes have grown up, but the crown prince is still young. If the three princes join forces, they may be able to shake the crown prince's position.

Zhang Sun Wuji asked, "Are you worried that Xiao Siye wants to support the Fourth Prince?"

Yu Zhining tilted his head to gaze at him and said, "You should also know that His Majesty may leave Chang'an in a year or so due to a headache. Without His Majesty's presence, there's no guarantee that the Eastern Palace won't be relocated!"

Zhang Sun Wuji said calmly, "They can't defeat the Queen."

Yu Zhining asked, "What if Your Majesty takes the Queen away as well?"

Changsun Wuji was silent.

The setting sun has completely sunk below the horizon, the sky and the earth are getting darker and darker, and there is silence all around.

Yu Zhining said slowly, "I can't guarantee whether Xiao Siye would do this, but he is too cunning and I still can't see clearly, so I came to ask you for advice."

Chang Sun Wuji shook his head and said, "I don't know this person. You've got the wrong person."

Yu Zhining raised his hand and said, "It's okay. I believe that after telling you this, you will pay more attention to him in the future. That's enough."

He stood up, bowed to Changsun Wuji, said, "Please," and turned to leave.

Changsun Wuji watched his back slowly disappear into the distance, shook his head, and sighed, "It seems that it's not easy to have some free time."

(End of this chapter)