The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

Li Zhaode and Shen Quanqi were only given a simple reprimand:

"Do you think you can break into the prison? Considering you had a reason for your actions and that you only caused a disturbance in the hall and didn't actually break into the jail, I'll let you off this time, but this won't happen again!"

"If you encounter this situation again, remember to report it directly to me, and don't act on your own!"

Ultimately, it was Princess Taiping who led her servants to prison. Their crimes were minor, and they were only given a few words of criticism.

Shen Quanqi was even praised, with the comment: "Yunqing's resourcefulness and courage have exceeded my expectations!"

When Li Lingyue entered the palace, the chilling aura she felt was completely different from that of Li and Shen.

Two sharp beams of light shot out from Wu Zetian's eyes, piercing through the stagnant hall and heading straight for her with silence.

Since the imperial son-in-law Xue Shao was sentenced to death in prison, Li Lingyue had not seen this icy demeanor for a long time.

"Taiping, do you know you've done wrong?"

Li Lingyue was prepared and greeted him with a smile: "I saved a great talent for my mother, so I'd rather be punished."

As he spoke, he tugged at his mother's clothes, then placed his hand on her shoulder and began to rub it.

With a sigh, she said, "For over a year now, I haven't massaged your shoulders, and you're much stiffer and more tired than before..."

Wu Zetian snorted: "A dignified Vice Minister of Justice, whom even I have to show some respect to, how dare you lay a hand on someone?"

Li Lingyue retorted angrily, "Mother, he's after me! He wants to make sure you lose your own daughter!"

"Hmph, do you think I'd believe that! You need to apologize for hitting someone, and you'll be grounded for a month!"

Without allowing any further discussion, Wu Zetian immediately pronounced the verdict.

"How about ten days?" Li Lingyue bargained.

"Just one month!"

Wu Zetian was decisive, turning her head: "I know what you're thinking! You gave Lu Jun the jade token and even went to the prison to rescue him, are you trying to steal my disciple?"

Li Lingyue stuck out her tongue: "I heard that he is favored by my mother, so I want to get to know him, not to win him over..."

She thought to herself, "Lu Chuyu is incredibly insightful! He really guessed my mother's suspicions correctly."

"Is that all?" Wu Zetian still had a stern face.

Li Lingyue smiled and said, "Yes, I've been thinking of organizing a poetry gathering recently, and I'd like to invite him to participate as well."

"Taiping, I've told you before, compared to your four elder brothers, you are the only one who resembles me the most..."

A cold glint flashed in Wu Zetian's eyes as she said calmly, "Do you know what that means?"

Li Lingyue replied, "Who doesn't know that Mother is a great beauty? This is clearly a compliment to her daughter's beauty!"

Wu Zetian shook her head: "What I mean is, only someone as shrewd and strategic as me is fit to rule!"

His gaze was fixed intently on Li Lingyue: "You've taken my words to heart and want to influence court affairs, haven't you?"

Li Lingyue knelt down with a thud: "Daughter dares not lie to Mother. If Mother allows me to participate in politics, I will listen; if Mother does not allow me to participate, I will not listen."

Wu Zetian nodded: "Get up. This is the truth. I'm letting you hear it, but you cannot form factions."

Slowly close your eyes and soften your voice:

"Taiping, if you wish to have a few leisurely guests who compose poems, write essays, play musical instruments, and enjoy music, I will not mind."

"But Lu Chuyu is a man of great talent for governing the country. Getting too close to the imperial family and nobles is not a good thing for him, do you understand?"

"Since you have established a friendship and occasionally exchange poems and articles, I will not interfere, but you must be mindful of boundaries."

She smiled slightly: "I know you're lonely, so I've found you a husband who is both scholarly and martial, and comes from my Wu family..."

"Huh?" Li Lingyue shook her head vigorously. "My daughter has only been a widow for a year, how can she remarry immediately?"

He bit his lip, his brows furrowed deeply.

"If I say it's okay, then it's okay!"

Wu Zetian opened her eyes and glared at her: "If you want to find a few courtiers, I'll allow it. But Lu Chuyu is a talented woman and cannot be treated lightly, understand?"

She had naturally heard about her daughter's recent hospitality and the large number of guests at her residence.

"Oh..." Li Lingyue pouted, reluctantly agreeing, her eyes darting around a few times.

Unbeknownst to her, much of the rouge on her lips had faded, bitten off little by little.

The mother and daughter chatted for a while longer before Wu Zetian dismissed her daughter and summoned Lu Jun to the palace.

As Lu Jun brushed past Princess Taiping, he saw her wink and point to his chest.

You're looking at my chest... no, I should be referring to the jade pendant in my bosom, which tells me to go to the princess's residence as a guest.

Lu Jun could only nod, walk to the main hall gate, and bow down from a distance after entering.

Given my position, I cannot get too close.

"Chu Yu, I know about what happened this morning. I have already reprimanded Zhou Xing. It was a misunderstanding, and he will apologize to you."

Wu Zetian was very amiable. She smiled and beckoned Lu Jun to come closer and kneel down in the front row.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust! Vice Minister Zhou has been loyal to his duties and there is really no need for an apology..." These were the polite words that had to be said.

"It's good that you think that way." Wu Zetian nodded, then changed the subject: "Chu Yu, you're a smart person. From now on, try to have less contact with the Li family members, understand?"

His smile vanished abruptly, and his voice became somewhat stiff, sharp and unnatural.

Lu Jun immediately prostrated himself on the ground: "Your Majesty understands, the Empress Dowager is protecting me."

My heart started pounding uncontrollably.

It is unclear whether the Empress Dowager's reference to the Li clan refers to Li Ying and other descendants of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong, or whether it includes Li Lingyue.

But he didn't dare to ask in detail. Anyway... moving around less doesn't mean he can't move around at all.

"Haha, Chu Yu understands immediately! Let's drop this matter and not mention it again." Wu Zetian's face lit up again.

He then instructed the eunuchs, "Bring some pastries, fruits, vegetables, and soup. I will have lunch with Chu Yu."

A long table was quickly placed in front of Lu Jun, filled with various imperial dishes—

Cold toad soup

White Dragon Stew

Indian Light High-Quality Flour

Royal Yellow Queen Mother Rice

Translucent Rice Cake

Cheese

cherry……

The eunuchs brought the food together with the Empress Dowager's lunch, seemingly two separate dishes, only the tableware was different.

The Empress Dowager used pure gold plates and pure jade bowls, which, according to regulations, could only be used by members of the imperial family and high-ranking officials.

On Lu Jun's desk were silver plates and glass bowls, which, although of lower standard, were still in the imperial style of the Imperial Workshop.

"Chu Yu, there's no need for formalities. You must be hungry since early morning. I am hungry too, so let's eat and chat!"

"Your essay was personally selected by me. I read it from beginning to end on the day of the preliminary examination."

"No, three times! I received your strategy report and treasured it like a precious gem; I haven't been able to sleep these past few days."

"I've long wanted to summon you to the palace for a detailed discussion, but the imperial court has its own rules and procedures for selecting officials, and I cannot neglect any of them, you understand?"

"If we summon you in advance, others will surely think that you were recommended by a relative or influential person and got in through connections."

"The left historian records words, and the right historian records events. A thousand years from now, both you and I will bear a bad reputation."

Wu Zetian was completely different from before, as if she had become a kind elder. She first ate a small bowl of soup in front of Lu Jun, and then put on a smile and talked eloquently.

Lu Jun was indeed hungry, and ate some noodles and soup. Her stomach felt warm and comfortable, and she gradually relaxed.

During the palace examination, I dared not look too much at the steps, but now, listening to the conversation, I dared to naturally respond with a few glances.

The Empress Dowager had almost no wrinkles on her face.

I don't know if it's because of her good makeup, her youthful appearance, or some kind of yin-yang balancing method...

That Duke of E, Right Guard General, and Abbot of Baima Temple, Master Xue, must have worked incredibly hard...

Master Xue started out as a peddler and, at only twenty-nine years old, has already been granted the title of Duke, saving him at least three lifetimes of hard work...

The auntie is actually quite nice...

Later, the Zhang brothers were even able to seize power...

Is the traffic restriction based on odd/even license plate numbers at night...?

Lu Jun silently clicked the "404" button off in his mind and respectfully replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I understand."

"Good that you understand." Wu Zetian smiled and said, "Chu Yu, I have always wanted to ask you, how can you be so knowledgeable at such a young age? It seems that you have so many historical records, political affairs, border affairs, geography, and foreign countries all in your heart."

Lu Jun replied, "I often consult with merchants from all directions, foreign monks, and scholars who travel and study, and thus I have gained some knowledge."

"Yes, Confucius also traveled far and wide to learn from teachers... but you're too modest; you've gained far more than just a little!"

"Chu Yu, you've written a lot in your strategy document. Given your plan, where should we begin?"

Wu Zetian had been waiting for this question for several days.

That day, while listening to "The Story of Anxi," Wan'er said that the later part of the story was related to the timing of military operations, the strategy for selecting generals, and the policy of the Ten Tribes. Wu Sansi and Li Zhaode angrily rebuked her for overstepping her bounds, and she immediately announced that the story should be stopped in order to protect Lu Jun.

These were topics that candidates for the imperial examinations were not allowed to discuss; in the entire Tang Dynasty, only she and the prime minister could discuss them.

If it were anyone else, Wu Zetian would surely have ordered them to be punished for such audacity in their policy discussion.

However, Lu Jun's strategic thinking in the previous text gave her reason to believe that this young man was truly talented.

He is someone who can help me achieve great things!

The minister didn't understand, but she did.

The ministers could not tolerate Lu Jun, but she could.

Ambitiousness knows no age, and talent knows no position. Judging from the entire content of the policy document, Lu Jun could even become the emperor's tutor!

She waited a few days, and the young man lived up to her expectations, winning first place in the imperial examination. She was then able to summon him according to regulations.

Lu Jun had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. He put down his chopsticks and straightened his back.

"Externally, we will strengthen the defenses of Hexi and Longyou, and garrison troops and stockpile grain in Xizhou in order to secure the four towns of Anxi."

"Domestically, we reformed the military system and recruited several armies to be stationed permanently in Anxi and Helong, in order to maintain a long-term defense."

"Restore horse administration immediately, otherwise we can only defend against the Tibetans and Turks and will find it difficult to conduct deep operations."

"These are all related to border affairs, and there are also some civil affairs matters that can be handled, such as..."

"Promote the paper industry, establish printing presses, revitalize official schools, re-register the civil register, subdivide the supervisory system, compile maps, hold military examinations, promote coal production, and refine copper coins, etc."

"I have received instruction from sorcerers and merchants, and have gained some experience in offensive and defensive warfare. I can also teach the Imperial Household Department to supervise the manufacture."

"Now I will explain in detail to the Empress Dowager..."

"No rush," Wu Zetian said with a smile, waving her hand.

"Eat your fill first. I have plenty of time to listen to you, three days and three nights is fine!"

"After reading your memorial, I have summoned Tang Xiujing, the governor of Xizhou, Xu Qinming, the governor of Liangzhou, and Lou Shide, the military commissioner of Heyuan, to the capital."

"They will arrive in half a month. You will come with me then to discuss with them the strategies for the Hexi Corridor and Anxi regions."

"Your strategy document has many difficult parts to understand. Today, please explain your strategic thinking to me first, and I will learn from you."

Three days and three nights... that's a bit intense.

Lu Jun's eyes lit up: "If Your Majesty gives me time, I will speak slowly and start from the beginning."

"My strategy for border affairs has a fundamental premise, which I didn't have time to elaborate on in the written document, but it's actually very important..."

"Exactly, how large could the Tang Dynasty's territory have reached at its maximum?"

"What can be included in education and moral guidance?"

"What should one not scheme against?"

"Only by confirming this can we properly manage relations with vassal states and foreign tribes."