The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

"Stop!" Wu Zetian raised her sleeve.

With her eyebrows lowered, Guiye pressed on, "What was his reason? Why did he send Lu Chuyu to Lingnan?"

Fu Youyi was formerly the registrar of Hegong County. After his brother Fu Yuanshu died in mourning, he and his brother Fu Yuanshu were both granted imperial favor. Fu Yuanshu was promoted to Minister of Winter Affairs, and Fu Youyi was promoted to Censor.

He then presented auspicious omens and was promoted to Imperial Censor, jumping from the upper eighth rank to the lower sixth rank.

She has always been very good at understanding her own feelings...

Wu Zetian was surprised to hear him recommend Lu Jun.

"Imperial Censor Fu said that Lu Shiyi is exceptionally talented and will surely become a pillar of the court in the future, so he should first gain practical experience."

"His suggestion to select exiles for military service was appropriate; letting him implement it would be a better fit and he would carry it out even better."

Wan'er skimmed through the text, extracting the main points. Her tone was calm, but her heart was beating faster.

Lingnan is said to be a place with heavy miasma, and many people who go there never come back. Given Lu Jun's physique...

Wu Zetian pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you think? Is Lu Chuyu suitable?"

When Wan'er reads memorials, she would occasionally ask for her opinions in order to assess whether Wan'er had political talent.

Wan'er replied, "It's not quite appropriate."

"Why?" Wu Zetian pressed.

Wan'er said, "Although Lu Chuyu has outstanding knowledge, he lacks practical experience. Selecting exiles requires dealing with local governors, prefects, and magistrates, as well as discerning the character and background of the exiles. The task is arduous, and he is too young to handle it."

She was naturally intelligent, and after a little thought while reading the memorial, she realized that things were not so simple.

Fu Youyi is known for his opportunism. Knowing that Lu Jun is favored, why would he suddenly make such a suggestion?

Someone must be jealous of Lu Jun and, seeing his career progressing so smoothly, has joined forces to suppress him.

In officialdom, this kind of thing is all too common.

Putting aside the issue of whether it's miasma or not, this matter itself is difficult to handle.

There are tens of thousands of exiles in Lingnan, and their backgrounds are diverse. If Lu Jun makes even the slightest mistake, it could become a handle against him. He has neither advisors nor prestige, so it will be difficult for him to handle the situation well.

Therefore, we cannot let him go.

But the reasons must be stated openly.

Wu Zetian smiled faintly: "I had you read the edict of promotion to him so that you could reconcile, but it seems that reconciliation has not been achieved."

She remembered that Wan'er had a conflict with Lu Jun and was even punished because of him, so she thought that Wan'er still harbored resentment.

Wan'er lowered her head and remained silent.

I stole a glance at the Empress Dowager and saw her leaning against the phoenix couch with her eyes closed, as if she was considering this matter.

"Some people say that Lu Chuyu was promoted too quickly, and I have to consider his reputation. It is necessary for him to go out and gain experience..."

A moment later, Wu Zetian opened her eyes and instructed the eunuch, "Go to the Construction Bureau and summon Lu Chuyu."

Wan'er's heart skipped a beat: "Is that it? Does it really mean Chu Yu is going to go to Lingnan?"

He was extremely anxious and unable to dissuade her. He was distracted while reading the memorial and was a little slow, which earned him a few words of criticism from the Empress Dowager.

Half an hour later, Lu Jun entered the palace.

Wu Zetian first showed him Fu Youyi's memorial, then asked, "Chu Yu, the exiles' conscription involves border affairs. Are you willing to go on this trip for me?"

Wan'er's heart was beating faster and faster. Seeing the Empress Dowager's calm expression, she found it even more difficult to understand.

Lu Jun bowed and replied, "Your subject is willing."

Wan'er trembled and almost cried out, but quickly pursed her lips tightly.

He was secretly anxious: "Chu Yu has always been exceptionally astute, how come she didn't realize there was more to this than meets the eye..."

Wu Zetian smiled and asked, "Chu Yu, what are your plans once we arrive in Lingnan?"

Lu Jun replied:

"I do not need to go to Lingnan. I will first ask the Prime Minister to issue a document ordering the Governor of Guangzhou to conduct the preliminary selection."

"The five regions of Lingnan are far apart, and it is more convenient for the Censor to go from the capital than for the Governor of Guangzhou to carry out his duties by military order."

"After the list of candidates is selected, it will be submitted. I will wait in Jingzhou to verify and confirm the list in detail, and then I will obtain the final selection."

"Jingzhou is a suitable route. We will then have the various governorates send troops to escort it. After inspection by me, it will be delivered to Helong."

Someone advised the Empress Dowager to send him to Lingnan. Di Renjie had already told him about this yesterday, and it was Zhou Xing who was behind it.

The trap was set on the descendants of Wei Xuantong.

According to the facts of the crime, the Wei family could be relocated to Longyou, and Lu Jun had to do so both morally and logically. However, if he actually did so, Zhou Xing could impeach him for favoritism.

Lu Jun was prepared for this and proposed a simple solution: there was no need to go to Lingnan at all!

The exiles from Lingnan were divided among five governorates, known as the "Five Governorates of Lingnan," which were—

Guangzhou Governor's Office

Guizhou Governor's Office

Rongzhou Governor's Office

Yongzhou Governor's Office

Annam Governor's Office.

In the first year of the Tiaolu era, the Annam Protectorate was changed to the Protectorate General, and the five prefectures were unified under the command of the Guangzhou Protectorate General.

The exiles sent to Lingnan were divided into two routes, east and west. Those from the east were sent directly to Guangzhou, while those from the west first went to Guizhou and then dispersed to Rongzhou, Yongzhou, and Annam.

There were two major problems with going to Lingnan: one was the miasma, and the other was the frequent rebellions of the Liao people in Rong and Yong prefectures.

During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, the two prefectures were captured by the Liao people. They were recovered in the first year of the Tiaolu era, but the situation was unstable and there were occasional rebellions.

Lu Jun's statement that "the five passes in Lingnan are far away" was an excuse; in reality, the roads were very dangerous and difficult to travel.

The fact that the Guangzhou governor was in charge of the preliminary selection was one of the reasons why there was no need to go to Lingnan.

The second reason is that Lu Jun realized that the Empress Dowager had no intention of letting him go at all.

Otherwise, you could just issue an order directly. Why would you specifically summon your ministers and solicit their opinions?

"Chu Yu understands my intentions very well. Your plan is good, and the Governor of Guangzhou can certainly handle it."

"Wan'er said you lack practical experience and can't handle this, but it seems she underestimated you!"

Wu Zetian smiled slightly at Wan'er.

"Wan'er is ignorant and should not speak ill of ministers, much less make unwarranted criticisms. Please punish her, Empress Dowager."

Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief, secretly pleased that Lu Jun had once again easily resolved this difficult problem...

How clever!

"That's enough." Wu Zetian waved her hand.

He said to Lu Jun, "In that case, Chu Yu, why don't you go to Jingzhou on my behalf?"

"I am willing to go, but this matter is too simple. Your Majesty can send someone else," Lu Jun replied.

One sentence suddenly made the already relaxed atmosphere even more tense.

There were more than a dozen maids in the Xianju Palace. Some were fanning, some were fanning incense, and some were fanning ice blocks. Upon hearing this, they all stopped what they were doing.

Having lived in the palace for so many years, this is the first time I've ever seen someone dare to disobey the Empress Dowager's orders...

The reason is...it's too simple?

The maids all agreed that the Lijing Gate was about to have a new member.

Wan'er silently retracted her assessment of "clever," and cursed inwardly, "What the hell is going on now? It's driving me crazy!"

My heart, which had just calmed down, suddenly started racing again, thump-thump-thump, much faster than before.

Wu Zetian lowered her brows, her gaze sharp: "Chu Yu, you're a smart woman. I summoned you here to ask you face to face; can't you guess what I mean?"

Lu Jun replied, "I understand. The Empress Dowager is protecting me, and I am extremely grateful."

The news that someone had stopped his horse on his way to court and was begging for justice would surely have reached the Empress Dowager's ears.

It wasn't because she had many informants who could infiltrate the streets, but because certain people would tell her.

Lu Jun ignored it, but if it happened too often, it could easily become a pretext for gossip, and the Empress Dowager would find it difficult to protect her.

Therefore, her summoning to Xianju Palace was an implication that she wanted to leave the capital to avoid suspicion.

Seeing that he had indeed understood, Wu Zetian's expression softened slightly: "Since you understand, why don't you accept the order?"

"Your Majesty, I request to undertake an even more difficult task..." A cold glint flashed in Lu Jun's eyes, "Search for escaped households in Yongzhou."

"What?!"

Wu Zetian abruptly straightened up from the phoenix couch, staring at Lu Jun in disbelief, her eyebrows raised high:

"Chu Yu, are you willing to search the escaped households in Yongzhou?"

"Do you know, this is one of the most difficult things in the world..."