On July 19, the third year of Yifeng, an urgent report from Caizhou arrived in Beijing. The memorial said: Gao Zhizhou, the imperial envoy and prime minister of the dynasty, was assassinated in Caizhou two days ago. According to the investigation, it was the murder of Zhang Er, a gangster. This man is a remnant of Qixia Mountain. He once assassinated the current crown prince Li Xian in Hexi. He is a cruel man and has always had different ambitions. He actually committed the despicable act of poisoning and murdered the current prime minister. He should be punished for his actions. Through the concerted efforts of everyone in Caizhou, , this wolf and his accomplices have been captured and killed on the spot. However, there may be someone else behind this thief, so I request your Majesty to send someone to investigate thoroughly.
As soon as the news came out, the capital was shocked, rumors spread in the court, ministers and workers were excited, and the call for a thorough investigation of the case was rising. But strangely, neither the East Palace, the Yue Palace, nor the Empress Wu Department paid much attention to the case. There was no official statement, as if such a huge case was just passing by. Under the unpredictable situation, the atmosphere in the capital was vaguely filled with a strange atmosphere of tension.
It was mid-July, it was midsummer, and Gaozong, who was already in poor health, had just fallen seriously ill. He was afraid of wind and light, and suffered from hot and cold spells. He was tortured to death, but he is now feeling better. , but his face was still very pale and his strength was weak. He didn't want to go out or see anyone. He just lay on the couch and stared at the ceiling in boredom.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is here."
There was a faint sound of footsteps, and Cheng Denggao turned timidly from behind the screen. He glanced at Gaozong's face secretly. After a slight hesitation, he walked up to him and reported in a low voice. road.
"Um."
Emperor Gaozong obviously heard Cheng Denggao's report, but he didn't express anything special. He didn't even turn his head. He just snorted a noncommittal nasal sound from his nostrils, which was regarded as an answer.
"promise."
Upon seeing Gaozong's words, Cheng Denggao's face quickly flashed with joy. He did not ask for instructions again, but responded respectfully, hurriedly exited the dark palace, and walked out of the Zichen Palace.
"This old slave is late. Keeping His Highness waiting is a capital crime. It is a capital crime."
As soon as he walked out of the Zichen Hall, he saw Li Xianzhen waiting at the foot of the steps with a solemn expression. Cheng Denggao did not dare to show any slightness and hurriedly trotted down the steps, apologizing humbly.
"It's okay, father, do you have any instructions?"
Li Xian had long seen through Cheng Denggao's character, and had no intention of winning over him, so he would not be polite to him. He ignored his flattery and just asked indifferently.
"Ah, your highness, you know that your majesty has not recovered from a serious illness and needs to rest. I'm afraid it won't disturb you. The old slave has indeed informed your majesty before. It's just that your majesty is weak and doesn't want to disturb you. If your highness If you have something important to do, can you come back tomorrow?"
Emperor Gaozong did not say that he would not see Li Xian, but he also did not say that he wanted to see him. In this ambiguous moment, Cheng Denggao was naturally happy to choose the former, so he replied with a smile.
"oh?"
Although most of the people in the palace were Empress Wu's, Li Xian also had his own secrets inside. He knew that Gaozong had been seriously ill again a few days ago, and he also knew that Gaozong's illness had improved today, so he was here. When I came to see him, I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed when I heard what Cheng Denggao said.
"If Your Highness has this chapter to write, I can give it to you."
Cheng Denggao was extremely afraid of Li Xian in his heart. Of course, he also hated Li Xian. Seeing that Li Xian was unhappy, he naturally became energetic, so he pretended to be kind and suggested from the side.
"That's not necessary. I don't dare to work for Eunuch Cheng anymore. Eunuch Liu, I have important matters that must be paid to you immediately, so why don't you worry about Eunuch-in-law going to report to you again?"
Li Xian did not have the slightest trust in Cheng Denggao, Empress Wu's best friend, so he could not hand over the memorial to him. Not only that, he simply threw it aside, and with a wave of his hand, he called a young eunuch waiting on the steps.
Come down and give the order in a consultative tone.
"Ah, this..., well, please wait a moment, your highness, I will come back as soon as I go."
Eunuch Liu was a young eunuch who originally served in the Taiji Palace. Not long after he was transferred to the Daming Palace, due to an accidental relationship, he was favored by Emperor Gaozong and was transferred to the Zichen Palace for rotation. He was not yet considered Cheng Denggao.
But he knew how powerful Cheng Denggao was in the palace. When he heard Li Xian's order, he couldn't help but panic. But he didn't dare to refuse Li Xian's request. He struggled obviously for a moment before he had to agree.
Come down.
"Xiao Liuzi, Your Majesty's dragon body is important, you..."
Cheng Denggao didn't expect that Li Xian would do something like this, and his face immediately turned ugly. Seeing that Eunuch Liu was going to report to Emperor Gaozong, he immediately became anxious, fearing that his false teaching of the Holy Will would be exposed, so he hurriedly intervened.
One sentence, trying to put pressure on Eunuch Liu.
"Um?"
Cheng Denggao's little thoughts were too obvious. How could Li Xian not see through it? He would not let him get complacent. Before he could finish his words, he snorted in a nonchalant manner and immediately
Cheng Denggao was so frightened that he quickly shut his mouth and stepped aside with a stern expression.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, His Royal Highness is asking for an audience outside the palace."
Eunuch Liu has been transferred to the Zichen Palace to serve Emperor Gaozong for some time, but most of the time he is on duty outside the palace. There are not many opportunities to accompany the emperor. As for reporting affairs alone, that is the first time. This time he has entered
In the dark palace, I couldn't help but feel a little panicked. Before I even got to the bed, I was already reporting in a panic and loudly.
"Huh? What's going on? Didn't I declare it? Why do I have to report it again!"
Emperor Gaozong's complexion was not good, and his mood was naturally not much better. When he heard that Liu Eunuch's old story was brought up again, the fire in his heart surged up, and he cursed angrily.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down. Previously, Eunuch Cheng said that he was not going to see His Majesty the Crown Prince to convey your will. And His Majesty the Crown Prince has urgent matters to meet with His Majesty. This is why I asked this slave to report again."
As soon as he heard Gaozong's unkind tone, Eunuch Liu couldn't stand it anymore. He panicked and fell to his knees on the ground. He kowtowed and reported what happened.
"What? Cheng Denggao, that bastard! If you dare to bully me like this, you deserve to die, you deserve to die!"
People who are sick are already irritable and irritable, let alone Emperor Gaozong who was ill for a long time and has a bad temper. When he heard that Cheng Denggao dared to falsely pass on the imperial edict, he couldn't hold back the anger in his heart.
, he started scolding regardless, and just scolding after scolding, Gaozong didn't really want to use Cheng Denggao as a method, not for anything else, just because Gaozong was henpecked and didn't want to fight Empress Wu for punishing Cheng Denggao.
, after scolding a few times, there was nothing more to say.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I will go and announce to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Eunuch Liu had severely offended Cheng Denggao because of Li Xiantong's report. He hoped that Emperor Gaozong would take advantage of his anger and capture Cheng Denggao. Unfortunately, he heard that Emperor Gaozong actually had such a decree, and he was disappointed.
It was inevitable, but I didn't dare to talk too much about this matter, so I could only kowtow quickly and find a legitimate reason, planning to avoid the limelight first and then make further arguments.
"Go quickly, go quickly, um, come back!"
Although Gaozong was angry, he also knew that Li Xian's insistence on seeing him must be really important, so he did not embarrass Eunuch Liu and called him away with a wave of his hand. However, before he could reach the screen, Gaozong suddenly changed his mind.
.
"The slave is here!"
Eunuch Liu was just glad to escape from the sea of misery, but he was dragged back again. He felt a little weak in his heart, but he did not dare to lose his etiquette. He could only bite the bullet and returned to the couch, kneeling down in front of him with utmost respect.
land.
"If I remember correctly, your name is Liu Ruming, right?"
Gaozong turned over and sat up straight, glanced at Eunuch Liu who was kneeling on the ground, and asked in a calm tone.
"Replying to Your Majesty, the slave is indeed Liu Ruming. He entered the palace at the age of ten and has been serving in the Taiji Palace. Last year, he was transferred to the Daming Palace. On May 14th, Your Majesty removed the slave in the back garden, and then he arrived.
Zichen Palace."
Liu Ruming didn't understand why Gaozong asked about this matter so politely, but he didn't dare not answer. He kowtowed and hurriedly reported his resume one by one.
"Well, from now on, you will be the deputy director of Zichen Palace. All internal and external affairs will be handled by you. Come on down."
Emperor Gaozong had obviously had enough of Cheng Denggao's deceit. Although it was difficult to capture Cheng Denggao because of Empress Wu's face, he didn't want to be fooled by Cheng Denggao anymore. After thinking about it with a frown, he immediately made a decision.
He made a decision and in one fell swoop removed Cheng Denggao's power and responsibility for internal and external communication.
"Ah, yes, I thank Your Majesty for your kindness. I will die to repay His Majesty's kindness."
Liu Ruming had no idea that he would get such a huge benefit after just one trip. He was almost knocked unconscious by the huge pie falling from the sky, and was so excited that he kowtowed repeatedly.
"Okay, let's go."
Gaozong was obviously very satisfied with Liu Ruming's excited performance, so he didn't care about his slight rudeness and gently waved his hand, indicating that he should get down to business quickly.
"No, slave, go right now, go right now!"
Although Liu Ruming was young, he had been in the palace for many years after all. Although his whole body was trembling with excitement, he did not dare to forget about business. After kowtowing three times in a row, he hurriedly exited the palace.
, without turning around, Li Xian, who was already dressed in bright yellow court clothes, turned in from outside again.
"My son, I bow to my father."
Emperor Gaozong was afraid of light when he was ill a few days ago, so the palace was very dark. Although his condition improved a little today, he still didn't order the lights to be lit. The palace was pitch dark, with only one door slightly open.
A little light came in through the window. No matter how good his eyesight was, Li Xian was a little uncomfortable with the sudden darkness. He froze for a moment at the screen, and then hurried forward to pay homage.
"No, no, Xian'er came to look for me in such a hurry, but what happened?"
A few days ago, Li Xian did not use the pressure of hundreds of officials to persuade him to enter the palace. Instead, he humbly gave in. This performance naturally made Gaozong very satisfied. At the same time, he also felt a little apologetic towards Li Xian. Now
When I saw Li Xian's face, his words were extremely kind.
"Returning to my father, something big happened. Gao Zhizhou was assassinated in Caizhou."
Although Gaozong had already called for exemption, Li Xian still completed the etiquette in a formal manner, and then stood up and reported with a hint of fear on his face.
"Ah, what? How could it be so?"
Emperor Gaozong had been very ill these days and had never cared about the situation of the court. When he heard that Gao Zhizhou had been assassinated, his expression changed instantly...