In the secret room under the boat in the small courtyard, Li Chongrun and Shangguan Wan'er were reviewing the purpose of Wu Zetian summoning him today.
The main reason for hiding in the secret room is what the two mothers said today. If someone with a heart listens to it, it will inevitably be found guilty of being disrespectful.
"Auntie, Your Majesty took so much trouble to call me over just to say these few words?"
Shangguan Wan'er has been working as a secretary next to Wu Zetian, and she is most familiar with His Majesty's thoughts. Just after a second thought, she guessed some of the thoughts of this Supreme Being.
"Tell me first, what do you think?"
"On the surface, Your Majesty is worried about the dangers of the Wuling people and urges me to step up my work. In fact, she already knows about my small theater troupe."
Shangguan Wan'er nodded in approval. "Since I can see this step, I think you have made a lot of progress. What else?"
"The last sentence I added was just to discourage me from trying to escape her control next time and to do my own thing." Li Chongrun was very troubled by the minds and words of these political people.
Those city people are so good at playing, I want to go back to the countryside. Li Chongrun said in his heart.
"It's really good to see this step." Shangguan Wan'er's face was filled with a strong motherly smile, and she patted Li Chongrun's head. However, Li Chongrun was taller than her now, and the picture looked very weird.
"I really can't remember the rest, especially the one that His Majesty specifically mentioned and asked me to walk around with that prince. My head is almost bald and I can't even remember why."
"Have you not thought of it, or have you thought of something that you dare not continue to think about?" Shangguan Wan'er asked Li Chongrun with a smile.
"Wu Youning, King of Jianchang, is thirty-four years old and a native of Wenshui, Bingzhou. He is currently General Zuo Yulin, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and his Majesty's cousin."
Li Chongrun took out a file from a cabinet behind his desk in his secret room, held it in his hand without opening it, and recited it to himself from memory.
There is a big word "武" written on the cover outside the cabinet.
There are twelve more similar cabinets. The second cabinet has the word "Li" written on it, but like the remaining cabinets representing the ten worlds and foreign countries, it is a little empty.
"You have archived so much information in such detail. If the King of Liang knew about it, I'm afraid the Senate would take you away tomorrow on the pretext of rebellion."
Although Shangguan Wan'er has always known the location of this secret room in the palace, today is the first time she has entered it.
The Judicial Council was a new spy agency established by Liang Wang Wu Sansi on the basis of Lijingmen after the fall of King Wei, and its methods were even worse.
"Auntie, I'm joking. What I'm writing down are all about family feuds and nothing confidential. Moreover, it seems that my little theater troupe has been infiltrated by His Majesty and various forces in the capital today like a sieve. The things in this cabinet are
I'm afraid your majesty will see it earlier than I do."
Li Chongrun smiled bitterly. He had secretly developed some power, but as a result, all the factions in the capital seemed to be more knowledgeable than himself. He was a little discouraged, and continued to recite the content just now.
"Okay, I'm reporting this to Your Majesty. Naturally, it's for the sake of our lives, so you shouldn't be so resentful."
Li Chongrun naturally knew what his aunt was worried about. She had concealed the matter of tricking the King of Wei for herself, and she had a plum blossom on her forehead. Although it is now considered popular by the people of Shendu who don't know why, the risks involved are still a bit high now that she thinks about it.
Fear.
"King Jianchang loves to make money. He is in charge of the largest dental shop, pawn shop and gambling stall in the capital, as well as the largest brothel in Qinghuafang."
Li Chongrun pursed his lips with some pride: "Of course, the largest restaurant now is my Little Theater, so he now controls the second largest restaurant."
"Then what?"
"Wu Youning is usually a humble man. Ever since he moved from his hometown to Chang'an to follow His Majesty at the age of thirteen, he has never acted like an arrogant person or allowed evil servants to oppress good people."
When Li Chongrunnian arrived here, he spoke slightly faster.
"However, according to rumors, this prince is extremely stingy. Although he earns a lot of money on weekdays, his family members eat the same food as ordinary people. There are one son and two daughters in the family. The eldest son Enyin is a scholar and is currently serving as a Xielu Lang in the Spring Official of the Ministry of Rites.
.The two girls are young and not yet married."
"Letting you have closer contact with King Jianchang is the main purpose of His Majesty summoning you today."
"Is it possible that the fewer words in the legend, the bigger the matter?" Li Chongrun's eyes widened, "The two girls in King Jianchang's family are not yet married. Could it be that grandma wants to force the appointment?"
"You will be fourteen soon. When Her Royal Highness the Princess was as old as you, she already had Xue Chongxun. Oh, your Majesty decreed a few days ago that Xue Chongxun changed his name, and now he will be called Wu Chongxun."
Hearing that Shangguan Wan'er started to urge marriage again, Li Chongrun simply shut up and thought about how to find a way to change the subject later.
"Although Wu Youning is indeed a bit stingy, he is a good-looking person. He has a daughter, Shangfu. I think the two girls who come to his family should both be good-looking."
Shangguan Wan'er seems to be very keen on finding a wife for this fat little boy of hers, with an attitude of marrying any woman no matter what.
"And this person is now the third most powerful person among the courtiers. After Liang Wang Wu Sansi and the consort Wu Youji, he can be regarded as the most powerful person in the government."
"Auntie, you know, although this kind of thing has something to do with family background, although Chongrun is not as rich as King Jianchang now, he is not considered a poor man."
When Li Chongrun changed the topic, Shangguan Wan'er pointed out his boast with disdain. "As for your little theater, in the eyes of these big officials, you are really a poor guy."
"Isn't King Jianchang also engaged in these industries?"
"Your wealth and property are just a hobby in the eyes of others."
Shangguan Wan'er tapped Li Chongrun's forehead a few times with her bare hands, "This General Yulin is usually in charge of guarding the capital, city gate and port department, as well as Fang Zheng, who claims to be one of your own.
His men, the harvest of your little theater in a year is probably not as much as the finances and taxes that other people handle in a day."
When Li Chongrun heard this, he quickly took the quill on the table and wrote a few words on Wu Youning's mulberry paper file.
The two women talked nonchalantly for a few more times, but there was only one question that remained unanswered.
"Then why does Your Majesty ask my aunt to summon me? Why can't you just send a palace official to come?"
At the same time, inside the Xianju Palace.
Wu Zetian is already sixty-nine years old. I don’t know what secret method was used. Although her bare makeup makes her look very lethargic, she still looks very similar to Princess Taiping.
"I asked you to pass on Chongrun today, what do you think?" Wu Zetian didn't eat much, she just held the bowl of crystal clear soup in the jade bowl and drank it carefully.
"Your Majesty has your orders. Just do things in Taiping. You don't have any ideas."
"That boy of yours will be three years old soon, right?"
"Your Majesty, I am three years old."
"I will make him a king next year, but is there any fiefdom you like?"
"Everything is at your Majesty's discretion." Today's Taiping was not as casual as usual, but rather a bit reserved.
"In the past, Taizong forced Li Tai, the king of Wei, to sharpen his sword for Li Chengqian. As a result, the stone was too hard and both of his sons were worn out. Only then did His Majesty have the opportunity to rule the world."
His Majesty's only person is, of course, Gaozong Li Zhi.
"I think my mother put in a lot of effort."
"Don't listen to the nonsense of those North Gate scholars. At that time, I was still raising horses in Taizong's harem. How could I have the ability to influence the affairs of the court?" In front of Taiping, Wu Zetian looked like he was telling the truth. "But I'll give it to you.
Our youngest son has been crowned king, and those ministers in the court who have been a little restless recently may have other ideas."
"Do you want Feng Yiwei to go check it out?"
"The Magistrates' Council is taking care of this matter. Just keep an eye on the five surnames and don't interfere in this matter first."
"yes."
"I originally wanted to marry your girl to him, but you actually objected, so I had to marry him to a relative of my family to take care of the face of the old Li family and balance the power in the court."
"Then why not choose the King of Chu?" Princess Taiping was somewhat relieved when she heard that Wu Zetian had given up the idea of betrothing her little cousin to Li Chongrun.
"Although Li Chongrun is naughty, judging from his work in the past two years, he can be regarded as a person who values affection and justice. I feel a little uneasy about that boy Li Longji."
"Everything is at your Majesty's discretion."
"That's why I asked you to send word to that boy Li Chongrun. Firstly, we haven't seen each other for a long time and we want to have a chat with you. Secondly, I want to let you know about this in advance so that you won't have to think too much in the future." Wu Zetian
After finishing the porridge in the jade bowl, he threw it on the table and said, "You can go ahead. I'm a little tired and need to take care of myself."
Princess Taiping resigned with some worries, but she was still wondering about Wu Zetian's meaning.
"Let's balance it out. Now the most favored one is Liang Wang Wu Sansi. If Your Majesty wants to balance it out, what actions will you take?" Princess Taiping muttered in her heart, seeming to have thought of something, but it was a bit late today, and she didn't even leave the palace.
It was tedious, so he went to Yaoguang Hall, his palace before getting married.
The next day, after an edict came to his home to bathe and burn incense to worship heaven and earth, Li Chongrun received the gifted silverbait bag and received the seal of the Prime Minister of Dali Temple. From then on, he became a newly promoted official in the Wuzhou court, although he was only a fifth-rank official.
.
However, yesterday's case was still confusing. After the ceremony was over, Li Chongrun changed into a smart outfit and led the yellow-haired little lolita and Qiniang's founding disciple, the little girl named Gongsun, to the West Market in a hurry.
But as soon as I arrived at the small courtyard, I saw a bustling crowd, and the person commanding the many civilians was none other than one of my own, Xishi Fangzheng Cui Zhengguan.