Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 310: The Tenth Year of Zhenguan
Pingkangfang, Qingfeng Tower.

"Brother Zheng, I toast you a glass!"

"You are too polite, Mr. Ming."

In the private room on the west side of the second floor, Zheng Mingyu was quite uncomfortable with Ji Sizhong's enthusiasm.

Ji Sizhong was the younger brother of Lady Ji Xizhi of Zhou State. When Liu Rengui rectified the Ministry of Personnel, Ji Sizhong was also implicated.

Ji Sizhong went to the palace to plead with Empress Wu. At the suggestion of Wu Meiniang, Ji Sizhong took the initiative to plead guilty, which successfully promoted the rectification of the Ministry of Personnel.

Although he was demoted to another state at that time, in view of his original merits, Li Zhi finally transferred him back to serve as the magistrate of Wannian County.

Ji Sizhong has grown a lot after going through this ordeal and no longer dares to act recklessly by relying on her sister's status.

When he heard that Zheng County Wei, who was under his command, was the younger brother of the imperial concubine, he became extremely enthusiastic towards Zheng Mingyu. After leaving the yamen, he took him out for a drink to expand his network.

Ji Sizhong smiled and said, "Brother Zheng, you don't have to be polite. My sister went to the palace to see the Imperial Concubine a few days ago and had a very pleasant conversation with your sister. You and I should get closer."

Zheng Mingyu reluctantly agreed with a few words.

As the two were drinking and chatting, a servant entered the room and said to Ji Sizhong, "Ah Lang, the Queen Mother asks you to come to her house."

Ji Sizhong frowned and said, "Can't you see I'm drinking with County Magistrate Zheng? I'll go see my sister after I finish my drink."

The servant said, "Madam Guo wants you to come over immediately. It seems there is something urgent."

Ji Sizhong looked apologetic and bowed to Zheng Mingyu, saying, "Brother Zheng, I'm so sorry. I'll treat you to a drink another day."

Zheng Mingyu was eager to be exempted from the socializing and said hurriedly, "No problem, no problem, Master Ming, go ahead."

Ji Sizhong rode a fast horse and soon arrived at Lady Zhou's mansion.

When he got outside and looked up, he saw Ji Yuchi standing at the door with a carriage parked beside him.

"Why are you so slow? Come with me into the palace." She complained, pulled her brother into the carriage, and ordered the coachman to set off immediately.

Ji Sizhong was slightly stunned and asked, "Sister, what are you doing in the palace?"

Ji Jianchi glanced at him and said, "The Queen has issued an order to summon me to the palace. It won't hurt if I take you to see the Queen."

Ji Sizhong nodded solemnly. He knew that he was able to escape the disaster and return to Chang'an thanks to Her Majesty the Queen.

The carriage soon arrived outside Changle Gate, where a eunuch from Lizheng Hall was waiting, leading the two directly into the palace.

When they arrived at the Lizheng Hall and entered the outer hall, Ji Fuchi performed the ceremony of lowering the lapel, while Ji Sizhong performed the ceremony of bowing.

Wu Meiniang sat at the top, glanced at Ji Sizhong, and then looked at Ji Yichi with an inquiring look.

Ji Yuchi smiled and said, "Your Highness, this is my good-for-nothing brother. He insisted that you had done him a favor and demanded an audience. I had no choice but to take the liberty of bringing him here. I beg Your Highness to forgive me."

Wu Meiniang raised her hand and said, "Since he is your brother, why are you being so polite to me? Let him get up."

Ji Jianchi then pulled his brother up.

While standing up, Ji Sizhong secretly glanced at Empress Wu. After seeing her, his heart skipped a beat and he dared not look again.

Wu Meiniang asked the two to sit down and ordered someone to serve tea.

Ji Sizhong chatted for a while, and after Ji Xichi winked at him, he took his leave.

Wu Meiniang then got back to the point and turned the topic to Prince Deng Li Yuanyu.

"Madam Ji, I heard that you were once the tutor of King Deng. Is that true?"

Ji Yuchi sighed and said, "Your Highness is right. In fact, the first half of my life was difficult. Fortunately, I met a few noble people in the second half of my life, and I was able to enjoy wealth and honor."

"Oh, who are these distinguished guests?"

Ji Yuchi said, "The first noble lady was Old Concubine Cui. At that time, I was implicated by my husband's family and was sent to the imperial palace without any guilt. Fortunately, Old Concubine Cui showed me mercy and helped me escape from the predicament and become the tutor of His Royal Highness Prince Deng!"

Wu Meiniang was surprised and asked, "Why did I hear that it was Empress Wende who rescued you from the palace?"

Not only was it heard, but even the national history records that Ji Xichi was rescued by Empress Wende.

Ji Yuchi lowered her head slightly and said, "Empress Wende is also my noble concubine. I followed Old Concubine Cui for a short time. When Prince Deng was enfeoffed, Old Concubine Cui wanted to follow him. She recommended me to Empress Wende."

After hearing this, Wu Meiniang's eyes flashed.

From this we can see that it was indeed Concubine Cui who rescued Ji Chi.

As to why it was recorded as being done by Empress Changsun, it was obvious that the officials who compiled the history books deliberately attributed the incident to Empress Changsun in order to please Emperor Taizong and make her appear kind-hearted.

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "In that case, Empress Wende can also be considered your benefactor."

Ji Yuchi said: "You are my third noble lady."

Wu Meiniang chuckled and waved her hands, saying, "You don't deserve that. In my opinion, the person who really helped you the most was Old Concubine Cui."

Ji Jianchi said: "Your Highness is absolutely right."

Wu Meiniang said slowly, "Since you were the tutor of Prince Deng, you must have a very close relationship with him."

Ji Yuchi smiled softly and said, "Prince Deng's personality is like that of the old concubine. He is kind to everyone and never puts on airs. Every time he comes to the capital, he comes to see me."

Wu Meiniang's eyes flickered: "I heard that Prince Deng and Lu Zhaolin have a good relationship."

Ji Yuchi smiled and said, "He mentioned this to me. At that time, Lu Zhaolin was in Shu and was being harassed by a group of scholars. King Deng happened to be passing by and helped him out. After a conversation, he found that Lu Zhaolin was extremely talented and invited him to the palace."

Wu Meiniang carefully observed Ji Yuchi's expression and asked, "Did anything unpleasant happen between the two of them later?"

Ji Jianchi was slightly stunned, and realized that the queen's question was unusual.

After a moment of silence, he said, "I haven't heard King Deng mention this matter. However, when King Deng came to visit me two days ago, he seemed to have a different look on his face."

Wu Meiniang asked: "Why is it different?"

When Ji Xichi saw Empress Wu's reaction, he knew that she invited him into the palace today just for Prince Deng.

She hesitated for a moment and said, "When King Deng came to see me, he was uneasy, as if he was worried about something."

Wu Meiniang asked, "Anything else?"

Ji Yuchi frowned and said, "He mentioned Lu Zhaolin to me at that time, and seemed to be a little concerned about his marriage to the princess..."

"how?"

Ji Yuchi frowned even more and said, "I can't really say. Judging from his expression, he probably doesn't want them to get married."

Wu Meiniang murmured, "That makes sense."

Ji Yuchi asked, "Your Highness, what are you talking about?"

Wu Meiniang glanced at her and said, "Have you heard the rumors about Lu Zhaolin recently?"

Ji Jianchi said, "I have heard my brother mention it, but it was all nonsense and not credible."

Wu Meiniang said slowly: "The person who spread the rumors is King Deng!" Ji Xichi's face changed drastically, and he opened his mouth to argue, but the words came to his lips, but he couldn't say them.

Someone like Empress Wu would never deceive her with false information. Since she said so, it was most likely true.

Wu Meiniang didn't say anything and continued drinking tea, letting Ji Chi digest the information on his own.

The hall suddenly fell into silence, and Ji Yuzhi clasped his hands together tightly.

For a moment, she recalled the terrible scene in the harem that was like a battlefield the year after Empress Wende's death.

The fight that took place that year was so fierce that she felt a chill just thinking about it.

In the tenth year of Zhenguan, three concubines died suddenly in the palace, more than a dozen palace servants and eunuchs died, and many people disappeared mysteriously.

Looking back now, the death of Concubine Cui was also strange. She died of exhaustion after helping the late emperor manage the harem for less than a year.

If there really is some secret involved, it seems that there is a reason for King Deng's unusual behavior.

"Your Highness, can I go and persuade King Deng?"

Wu Meiniang asked, "How to persuade him?"

Ji Yuchi whispered, "If it was really him who did it, I might be able to find out the reason and get him to confess to His Majesty."

Wu Meiniang raised her hand and said, "No, we can't let him know until we understand his purpose."

Ji Jianchi was shocked.

Empress Wu had obviously regarded Prince Deng as a dangerous person. The Empress's thoughts also represented the Emperor's.

She couldn't help but clench her fingers and whispered, "Your Highness, I don't think Prince Deng would do anything so treasonous."

Empress Wu asked, "People change. If he really was the Prince Deng you knew, would he spread rumors about Lu Zhaolin?"

Ji Jianchi sighed and said, "I understand."

Wu Meiniang smiled slightly and said, "Besides, these are just our guesses. You can go back and rest first. If you think of anything, feel free to tell me."

Ji Yuchi stood up and bowed to take his leave.

Wu Meiniang did not delay and immediately got up and went to Ganlu Palace and told Li Zhi everything she had just learned.

After listening to this, Li Zhi pondered and said, "According to what you said, Lady Zhou was also surprised by King Deng's behavior?"

Wu Meiniang said, "Yes, I think this matter may be related to the death of Old Concubine Cui."

Li Zhi said, "Old Concubine Cui died in the tenth year of the Zhenguan reign. Lu Zhaolin was still a minor at the time, and Changshan was only five or six years old. How could they be related?"

Wu Meiniang happened to have entered the palace in the eleventh year of Zhenguan. She whispered, "Your Majesty, do you know Concubine Zhao?"

"Which Lady Zhao?"

"Princess Changshan's biological mother."

Li Zhi searched his mind and finally found the memory of Emperor Gaozong of Tang in a corner.

"I remember now. That Concubine Zhao was banished to the cold palace. I heard she died within a year."

Wu Meiniang's face was serious. She said, "I had just entered the palace at that time and heard some things about her."

Li Zhi said, "What?"

Wu Meiniang said, "I heard that Concubine Zhao was banished to the cold palace because Old Concubine Cui asked Emperor Taizong for permission before she left the capital due to her serious illness."

Li Zhi was moved and asked, "Is this true?"

Wu Meiniang said, "I also heard it from others, but it's easy to confirm." Turning to Zhang Duohai, she asked, "Who in the palace knows the most about the palace's past affairs?"

Zhang Duohai said, "Young Master Qin."

Wu Meiniang hummed, and said, "Let him come over and answer."

Not long after, Qin Shaojian came into the hall tremblingly and saluted Li Zhi and the others.

When Li Zhi asked about Concubine Zhao, Qin Shaojian told him what happened that year.

When Empress Zhangsun died of illness, Li Shimin invited Concubine Cui from Shu to Chang'an to help manage the harem.

As a result, less than a year later, Concubine Cui fell seriously ill.

Taizong originally wanted to keep her in Chang'an to recuperate, but the old Concubine Cui insisted on returning to Shu. Before leaving, she suggested to Taizong that Concubine Zhao be sent to the cold palace.

Concubine Zhao stayed in the cold palace for less than a year and died of depression.

From this we can see that Concubine Zhao must have some grudge with the old Concubine Cui, and perhaps the death of the old Concubine Cui was related to Concubine Zhao.

It makes sense that King Deng resented Princess Changshan because of this incident and therefore prevented her from marrying Lu Zhaolin.

If this is true, although King Deng's actions were wrong, they are understandable after all.

Li Zhi had just issued an order to execute the King of Huainan and was really unwilling to deal with another vassal king.

"Fu Sheng, go to Prince Deng's mansion and warn Prince Deng. If he is willing to stop, I will let bygones be bygones." Li Zhi waved his hand.

Wang Fusheng was about to accept the order when a eunuch suddenly came in and bowed to Li Zhi, saying, "Your Majesty, Prince Jiang requests an audience."

Li Zhi's impression of King Jiang was far worse than that of King Yue Li Zhen, because King Jiang had a very bad reputation in the local area, almost the same as that of King Teng Li Yuanying.

But after all, he is his brother, and Li Zhi cannot avoid seeing him.

He said to Wu Meiniang, "Meiniang, I'm going to see Prince Jiang to see what he wants. You go back to Lizheng Hall first. I'll come find you later."

Step out.

Wu Meiniang remained seated on the couch. After Li Zhi's footsteps faded, she turned to Qin Shaojian and said, "Qin Ye, if I remember correctly, Prince Jiang's biological mother also died in the tenth year of the Zhenguan era, right?"

Qin Shaojian said, "Yes, in the tenth year of the Zhenguan reign, three concubines died suddenly, and Concubine Wang, the mother of Prince Jiang, was one of them."

Concubine Jiang suddenly said, "Your Highness, I have heard that Concubine Wang and Concubine Zhao, the mother of Princess Changshan, seem to be very close sisters."

Wu Meiniang looked at Qin Shaojian and said, "Really?"

Qin Shaojian whispered, "That's right, the two beauties were originally palace maids beside Concubine Yin De."

Wu Meiniang narrowed her eyes and said, "Things are becoming more and more complicated. Qin Ye, tell me what happened in the tenth year of Zhenguan."

Qin Shaojian whispered, "I was only an eighth-rank eunuch at the time, so I don't know much about it."

Wu Meiniang waved her hand and said, "It's okay, just tell me what you know."

Qin Shaojian agreed and began to recount his past events.

(End of this chapter)