Daming Palace and Xuanzheng Hall are brightly lit.
Zhang Ting looked up and had the urge to step into it. But she didn't have the qualifications, so she could only take a detour to the Hanliang Hall at the back.
Many people had gathered in the open space, mostly kings and princesses, and they were all crying and crying.
The news of Li Cong's death has been blocked, and it is said that he was critically ill. At this time, everyone is waiting for the posthumous edict and discussing it in whispers.
From the front, Zhang Si hurriedly came forward and glanced at Zhang Ting.
"Didn't take action?"
"We didn't do anything, we just visited the saint's condition." Zhang Si said: "Xue Ni is not in Chang'an, who dares to take action."
Zhang Ting asked: "Have the palace gates been controlled?"
"Your brother-in-law has already sent someone."
"Where is Shaoyangyuan? I didn't see his family members."
Zhang Sidao: "How can you still pay attention to these women and children at this critical moment?"
Zhang Ting was resolute and said: "I don't feel at ease. I must send someone to get his wife and children."
After saying that, she whispered something into Li Heng's ear, and Li Heng called Li Chu and asked him to arrange for someone to go to Shaoyang Courtyard to get the person.
From this incident, it seems that the cooperation between Zhang Ting and Li Chu is no longer as tacit as before.
"The Emperor is here."
"May your Majesty be well."
Following the call of the crowd, Li Longji walked into the Hanliang Hall with the support of Gao Lishi.
As soon as he appeared, Zhang Ting's heart was settled. He knew that even if someone wanted Xue Bai, he would not dare to openly oppose the Supreme Emperor.
Li Heng whispered in her ear: "I will go in with the Supreme Emperor."
"Okay, the edict has been drafted," Zhang Ting said.
"Thanks to you."
Li Heng raised his hand and patted Zhang Ting's back gently before stepping into the hall.
The guard at the gate of the palace has been replaced by Li Tan. When they entered, Dou, Li Yan, Li Qiu and others beside them made slight whimpering sounds.
Li Longji's old and sad voice came from inside.
"You are my eldest son."
"When you were young, I was busy with state affairs and neglected to discipline you, which resulted in you being caught hunting and hurting your face."
"Remember? You also said stupid things when you were young. You said that you were just the offspring of my greed, not my son. You are wrong. I treat every son the same..."
Li Heng listened and thought to himself, Li Longji treated every son with the same ruthlessness.
He stepped forward and without hesitation interrupted the unanswered, one-sided boring conversation between Li Longji and Li Cong.
"Your Majesty, the saint has passed away."
"No."
Li Longji still wanted to continue performing and murmured: "I am still here, how could my son leave before me?"
Li Heng thought to himself, isn't this exactly what you want? Are you proud of it?
He took the edict from Mrs. Dou, unfolded it and took a look at it, a smile appeared in his eyes unconsciously.
This was a posthumous edict forged by Zhang Ting in advance and asked by Zhang Si to bring it to the palace and place it in the house of the Dou family. Naturally, the content was to give the throne to Li Heng.
"My condolences, my brother has passed away. This was his last wish." Li Heng cooperated with the performance, shed tears of grief, and handed the edict to Li Longji's hand.
Li Longji took it, looked at it, and nodded.
Li Heng whispered: "Father and son work together, only then can we protect our ancestors' inheritance and prevent it from falling into the hands of foreigners."
"I know. Let's wait until the courtiers are here before announcing it."
"Master, would you like to meet with the important ministers of the court first?"
"Can."
"I will help grandpa to the front hall."
Li Longji stood up slowly, without looking at Li Cong again, but said to Gao Lishi: "Bring Li Zuo also."
"Here."
"You can wear mourning now."
Following this sentence, there was a loud cry of sorrow.
"Emperor Yanjia!"
At this time, it had only been one night since Li Cong's death, and it was just dawn. Fortunately, Zhang Ting and others had already made preparations as if they knew that Li Cong would die. Within one night, they took the initiative before others could react.
right.
Li Longji walked to the steps and said in a trembling voice: "I, the white-haired man is sending the black-haired man away."
Before he finished speaking, he was so sad that he couldn't speak anymore.
Everyone in the palace knelt down in an uproar, and the death knell sounded in the palace. Then the capital was under martial law and all officials attended the funeral.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Amidst the solemn sound of the bell, Zhang Ting knelt on the ground with a slight smile on her lips. But when she stood up, Li Chu walked towards her and said: "Shaoyang Courtyard is empty."
"What do you mean?"
"His wife and children are gone."
"Where are the others? Where are his confidants?" Zhang Ting was most concerned about Du Jin and asked, "Where is Du Jin? Capture her."
"I don't know."
"Then what do you know?"
"Fan Lao led the Longwu Army to guard the Forbidden Garden." Li Chu sneered, "Do you think we should attack by force?"
"Don't worry, just calm down and wait until the situation is completely under control." Zhang Ting couldn't laugh anymore, "We have to hurry up, Xue Ni will be back at any time."
"Don't I know?"
Li Chu snorted coldly and walked towards where Li Heng was.
Zhang Ting followed quickly and saw that Li Heng was arranging for people to urge all the officials to enter the palace as soon as possible and hold the royal court in the Xuanzheng Hall. Not forgetting to show his filial piety in front of others, he arranged for Li Longji to rest in Penglai Hall first.
"Xue Ni will make a comeback soon." Zhang Ting warned him first.
Li Heng was suddenly frightened and wished he could ascend the throne immediately.
But there is no point in rushing. We have to wait for the officials to come and announce the news of Emperor Yan Jia before he ascends the throne.
Of course, private solicitation goes on all the time.
The three of them were discussing when Gao Lishi came over and said, "The Supreme Emperor asked, has Li Zuo come over?"
Li Heng said: "Not yet, he is not in Shaoyang Courtyard. The palace is in chaos right now. He has not been found yet."
Gao Lishi was not surprised. He looked at Zhang Ting and said, "The Emperor wants to see you."
"Here."
Zhang Ting then followed Gao Lishi to the Zichen Palace. Li Heng looked at her back and murmured: "What did the Supreme Emperor do when he saw her at this time?"
"It must not be for playing dominoes." Li Chu replied calmly, with a hint of sarcasm in his words.
~~
Zhang Ting walked into the Zichen Hall and saw Li Longji sitting there. His sad and decadent state had disappeared, and he looked energetic and confident.
He can give people more courage than Li Heng or Li Chu. When Zhang Ting saw him, she no longer panicked for some reason.
"Your Majesty, how did I do in this game of cards?"
"That's right." Li Longji said, "I've seen it a long time ago. You can make people achieve things better than Li Heng."
Zhang Ting smiled and said: "Now as long as the Supreme Emperor reads out the imperial edict, there will no longer be the worry of the throne falling into the hands of outsiders."
"How can there be any outsiders?" Li Longji said: "For me, passing the throne to Li Heng or Li Qian is the same."
Zhang Ting was stunned, and the smile on his face froze, and he said: "I don't believe it. If Xue Bai is really your grandson, why did you give us the order to change the palace? Let us use your name to win over the courtiers."
"He is not Xue Bai, he is Li Qian." Li Longji said: "What I did has nothing to do with whether he is my grandson. If Li Heng dared to live in seclusion in my Tai Chi Palace, I would definitely find an opportunity to take over again.
Great power, because I will not tolerate disobedience."
Zhang Ting was a little confused, shook his head and said: "I don't understand."
"What I want is power."
There was no one else in the palace except Zhang Ting and Gao Lishi, so Li Longji expressed his desire in the most straightforward way.
His open palms seemed to want to hold something.
"Li Heng's conditions can't convince me. He only wants my position by saying that the ancestral country will not fall into the hands of outsiders. But I don't know that this sentence is wrong! What I do is to take back what belongs to me.
that power."
"But...the Great Emperor, you are already seventy years old."
"So what?!"
Li Longji immediately refuted this statement and stood up.
"Look, Li Cong is already dead. He died of old age. But what about me? If I'm still like a dragon and a tiger, I will definitely live longer than Li Heng. So why should I give him the throne?"
"Li Cong did not die of old age." Zhang Ting said: "I poisoned him to death. Only in this way can we get ahead of Xue Ni..."
"I told you that he is Li Qian." Li Longji asked: "Do you know how I can still be so healthy at this age?"
Zhang Ting didn't want to know how he maintained his health.
She was just shocked that people could be so selfish. They were obviously about to die of old age, yet they still wanted to cling on to power.
He doesn't care about his ancestors and the country at all, nor does he care about future generations. He only has himself in his heart.
"I cultivate immortality."
Li Longji smiled and told Zhang Ting the answer.
"Over the years, I have cultivated immortality. Therefore, although I am seventy years old, I am actually younger than someone in their fifties. I need the worship of the people in the world to live forever. Only if I am above all living things can my long life be meaningful...
…”
"Are you crazy?" Zhang Ting finally couldn't bear it anymore and screamed: "You took advantage of me, and then you went crazy?!"
Li Longji ignored her gaffe, walked a few steps gracefully, walked up to Zhang Ting, and said: "I will not establish an emperor again. I want to be the 'Great Emperor'."
"The Supreme Emperor? Then who is Li Heng? Who am I?"
Zhang Ting finally fully understood what Li Longji meant. During this palace change, she was originally going to help Li Heng seize the throne in Li Longji's name. Now it seems that Li Heng can't even get the crown prince. It seems that Li Longji still wants to be the crown prince.
After a few years of being the supreme emperor, he would then establish a prince.
She had wanted to be a queen all her life, but in the end she failed.
The next moment, Li Longji patted her shoulders with both hands.
"Who you are is not decided by Li Heng, but by me."
Today, he is the only person who can call himself "I", and he has an aura of supreme majesty.
Zhang Ting was stunned for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Li Longji, still not fully understanding.
"If I can canonize Taizhen as a noble concubine, I can also canonize you, and even more, I can canonize your son."
"How is that possible?!"
Zhang Ting felt that not only Li Longji was crazy, she also felt that she was crazy.
This thing is so ridiculous, so ridiculous. She is not only Li Longji's daughter-in-law, but also his niece.
But there are also more ridiculous things that have happened in the world. Under the torment of power, everyone's face is so distorted, and their hearts are torn to pieces.
Yes, if, as Li Longji said, Xue Bai is really Li Qian, then what happened to Yang Yuhuan was a great shame and humiliation for Li Longji. Stimulated by this, he eagerly wanted to regain the throne and also wanted to inflict this great shame and humiliation on others.
The scary thing is that when she thought about it carefully, she actually felt that this was a good condition.
Not to mention the matter of canonizing her, she did not want to become Li Longji's queen. She could not afford such infamy. As long as she could canonize her son as the prince, it would be enough. Li Longji thought that he could live forever, but that was not the case after all.
Impossible.
He will definitely die one day, but he will most likely live longer than Li Heng. And her son is still too young. Now a powerful emperor can at least ensure the safety of their mother and son better than Li Heng and Tian Shengong.
In the past ten years, he just needed her help to repair his lost prestige. She needed his protection to let her son's foundation grow deeper.
Let's just make everything mess up, destroy all morals, and run wild in the lust for power.
Zhang Ting smiled again, with a hint of flattery in the corners of his eyes.
She hadn't smiled like this for a long time.
The two looked at each other, and Li Longji knew that she understood what he meant. She had always been a very smart woman, and in the current situation, intelligence was more attractive than beauty.
"I will not read out this edict."
Li Longji took out the edict given by Li Heng and threw it aside.
Zhang Ting said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I won't let Li Heng cause trouble."
"As long as you know how to do it."
"Then...Li Chu?"
"If Li Qian dies, there is no need to keep Li Chu. If Li Qian does not die, let them fight again."
Zhang Ting said: "I'm afraid that he has been aware of our plan for a long time. Not only did he leave Chang'an himself, but he also took his family with him. I'm afraid that he might come back at any time."
Li Longji said: "Li Qian did expect that he deliberately allowed you to kill Li Cong and planned to kill you all for treason."
Zhang Ting's expression changed, knowing that this was really something Xue Bai could do.
It is possible that Xue Bai relaxed their vigilance and killed Tian Shengong by attacking the Tibetans. He allowed them to kill Li Cong and put the bad reputation they originally planned to bring on him on their heads.
Li Longji, however, was very calm and said: "Li Qian calculated everything, but in the end Li Heng did not ascend to the throne, but I regained the power. He came out with no name, and he conquered Li Heng, but he could not conquer me. And I will be better than Li Heng."
Heng quickly mobilized troops and horses, and with Tibetan reinforcements, victory was guaranteed."
Zhang Ting's anxious heart was finally relieved, and she felt that Li Longji was much stronger than Li Heng.
She was about to leave, but Li Longji said: "One more thing, Li Zuo, you can't touch him."
"Why?"
"Because that is my infant great-grandson."
Zhang Ting became increasingly puzzled and felt that Li Zuo had posed a strong threat to her son, so she asked: "How did the Supreme Emperor determine the identity of Xue... Li Qian? What if he is pretending..."
"Do you think he could have gone from the East Palace to Xue Xiu's villa without my approval?"
Zhang Ting was so surprised that she raised her head and met Li Longji's unfathomable eyes.
She didn't dare to ask any more questions, glanced back at Gao Lishi, and backed out.
~~
Li Heng was still arranging this important court meeting for him, maintaining a calm and capable posture while busy, showing sadness on his face, but he was already overjoyed in his heart.
Finally, he saw Zhang Ting coming out of the Zichen Palace and asked, "What did he say to you? It's been so long."
"As for Xue Ni, he is worried that Xue Ni will come back." Zhang Ting said, "Maybe we should let Li Chu lead the imperial army to stop it?"
"Wouldn't it be safer to control Chang'an and guard the city gates?"
"That's your business. I have to send someone to find Xue Ni's family."
Zhang Ting left after saying that.
Li Heng looked back at her and snorted in his heart.
In fact, the two are still in a state of harmony, and when he ascends the throne and proclaims himself emperor, Zhang Ting will have no use value. Learning from Emperor Gaozong's lesson, he will never appoint such a ruthless woman as his queen.
The bells echoed, and gradually, all the important officials entered the palace and cried to pay homage to Li Cong.
Li Heng and Li Chu also walked to the Xuanzheng Hall and stood in the queue of kings. Li Heng stood at the first place.
He glanced back and saw many brothers, as well as Li Zhen, Li Tan, Yang Hui and other clan nobles who supported him. Many of the courtiers were his subordinate officials back then. Xue Bai did not conduct large-scale purges.
But there was no one standing in front of him.
"The Emperor is here!"
Following this call, Li Longji walked into the palace, slowly sat down on the dragon chair, and accepted the obeisance and comfort of the important ministers.
To this day, everyone has finally forgotten the disaster that the Supreme Emperor brought to the Tang Dynasty by neglecting government and conniving at An Lushan's actions.
"Last night, I lost my eldest son." Li Longji said: "And my grandson, the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, is still conquering Tubo..."
Li Heng was surprised and felt that what Li Longji said was wrong. It was different from the imperial edict. The imperial edict listed Xue Bai's sins, deposed the prince, and replaced him with the throne.
He quietly raised his head and took a look, and surprisingly found that the eunuchs did not hold any edicts, and Li Longji seemed to be discussing with the officials in a sincere manner.
"A country cannot be left without a master for a day. At this time of crisis, what do you think we should do? Should we send someone to recall the prince, or should we establish a new king?"
"I invite you, the Supreme Emperor is here to visit us!"
Li Heng was startled by the voice. He turned around and saw that it was Wei Jiansu who suddenly asked loudly.
When the prime minister did this, others followed suit.
"I would like to invite the Supreme Emperor to come to the court to attend the administration."
Li Zhen, Li Tan, Yang Hui and others were almost the first to prostrate themselves, followed by officials like Li Xian who were relatively neutral. In the end, officials like Yuan Zai who were leaning toward Xue Bai saw that the situation was over and agreed.
For them, the emperor came to the court, which meant that they would not establish an emperor for the time being, and they were waiting for Xue Bai to return to Chang'an. This was not an unacceptable result.
Finally, Yan Zhenqing and Du Youlin looked at each other, nodded slightly, and agreed.
Li Heng couldn't help being stunned. He turned to look at Li Chu and asked with his eyes.
However, the situation was completely out of his control. He acted enthusiastically, but in the end it was like watching a lively event.
~~
"The Supreme Emperor? What does this mean? The Crown Prince is still Xue Bai, so where is the palace change that we have worked so hard for?!"
"If I can't guarantee that the country will not fall into the hands of outsiders, I will not rest in peace!"
After the court meeting ended, Li Heng finally couldn't help the anger in his heart and complained loudly in front of Zhang Ting and Li Chu.
He felt that Li Longji and Xue Bai had joined forces. Xue Bai left the capital for a trip, while Li Longji stayed and watched the scene, not giving him any opportunity to take advantage of.
"I am his son!" Li Heng pointed at his chest angrily, "Twenty years ago, I was the prince!"
Li Chu was still calm and said: "The key now is whether Xue Bai is dead or not."
Zhang Ting said: "The news will come back in the next two days."
"It's also possible that Xue Bai is coming back." Li Chu said, "I don't have to worry too much about the Supreme Emperor. He is already old. As long as I have military power, after getting rid of Xue Bai, it will be easy for me to ascend the throne."
Li Heng was so irritated that he had no other choice but to let Li Chu arrange things.
He finally regretted that he should not have gotten rid of Li Tan back then.
Li Tan is his best son, he has strategies and can lead troops to fight. If Li Tan is still here, he will never let Li Longji pick the fruit.
On that day, Chang'an was under martial law, and Li Chu sent a detective horse to the west to find out Xue Bai's movements.
However, Tan Ma had just left the city and came back to report it that day.
It was almost evening at this time, and Li Chu was still looking at the list of forbidden troops, thinking about who he could win over. After hearing the announcement, he quickly went to invite Li Heng and Zhang Ting.
"Why are you back so soon?!"
"Already back, just outside the city..."
"Who's back?" Zhang Ting asked with hope, "Is it Tian Shengong?"
"It's Xue Ni."
"What? He led his troops to attack back?"
"He only brought more than 200 people. He is at the city gate now and is not attacking the city."
"What does this mean?!"
"The villain doesn't know."
Li Heng then sent people to inquire again. When his people came back, the city was already in a commotion.
Xue Bai was stationed outside the city, trumpeting that he had encountered Tian Shengong's mutiny. After interrogation, he learned that Li Heng was planning to rebel, so he hurried back to Chang'an.
The trend of Chang'an changed dramatically, and public opinion in both the government and the public was boiling, and they all accused Li Heng of treason.
It is conceivable that this must have been arranged by Xue Bai in advance. Many people did not even hear about the Emperor's visit to the court, but instead learned about Li Heng's rebellion first.
"Sure enough, he is spreading suspicion and wants to kill me."
When Li Heng heard the news, he was a little scared and said: "But he must not have expected that I have not ascended the throne at all."
"What should we do now?" Zhang Ting asked.
Li Heng then looked at Li Chu.
Li Chu said directly: "I will lead the troops to kill him."
"What's the reason?"
"It's just a few hundred people. If we kill them first, we won't find a reason."
"Don't miss it again."
Li Chu nodded with a heavy face, but he wasn't really sure.
He knew that once this side sent troops first, it would be confirmed that one of them and Xue Bai were conspiring against each other. The winner was the king and the loser was, of course, the loser's plot.
As for Xue Bai being blocked outside the city, he was also very vigilant.
With Xue Bai's current prestige and strength, it is impossible for there to be no internal response in the city. He could have led his army back and marched straight into the palace city, but why didn't he enter the city?
Either the main force was really controlled by Tubo, or it was to occupy the great cause.
But Li Chu had no choice at all. The longer the time dragged on, the worse it would be for him. He could only annihilate Xue Bai in one fell swoop before he entered the city.
Li Heng did not place all his hopes on Li Chu. He knew that Li Chu's imperial guards might have collapsed before he could reach Xue Bai, so he immediately went to see Li Longji and asked Li Longji to come down.
The imperial edict declared Xue Bai guilty of rebellion.
Unexpectedly, father and son, who had just worked together once, immediately had differences.
"Who asked you to send troops?!" Li Longji was furious and shouted: "Do you really think it was Chang'an City Gate that stopped him? I am here to serve as the emperor in the name of the supreme emperor. What can you do to me if he has no name?"
Once the troops are sent out, it will give him an excuse and not call them back."