Early the next morning, Xue Shao drove to Mrs. Zheng's house and picked up Guan Wan'er to enter the palace to face the saint.

Shangguan Wan'er was dressed up beautifully, and the court dress of the Tang Dynasty was as if it was tailor-made for a woman like her. Extravagant, generous, sexy, radiant.

When Xue Shao held Shangguan Wan'er's hand and asked her to board the car, Mrs. Zheng actually cried.

Shangguan Wan'er hurriedly got out of the car again and walked to her mother's side, took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her mother's tears, and said softly: "Mother, why are you like this?" Xue Gong just took me into the palace for a while, and I will be able to come back in a short time. ”

Mrs. Zheng also felt out of shape, and hurriedly covered it with a smile, "I'm just happy for my mother...... I think that when I was punished and confiscated with you in my arms, how could I have thought that there would be today? ”

Xue Shao stepped forward and said with a smile: "Madame has suffered all these years. From now on, Xue Shao will take care of you, please rest assured. ”

"Okay, okay." Mrs. Zheng burst into tears again and waved her hand, "Take advantage of the early morning when the sun is not strong, go quickly!" When I come back later, I have a summer soup to drink at home. ”

The two left Mrs. Zheng and boarded the car to the palace.

Shangguan Wan'er kept looking at her mother through the curtains, very reluctant.

Xue Shao held her hand in his palm and stroked it, "It seems that you also feel a lot of emotion!" ”

"Thinking of the suffering that my mother and I have suffered in the palace over the years, it is indeed quite touching." Shangguan Wan'er said, "Xue Lang, are you saying that people are strange? We were used to living in the palace before, and we were reluctant to leave for a while. Now that I live outside, I realize that the free life is so wonderful, and I don't want to go back to the palace again. Looking back now, those circumstances back then were terrible! ”

Xue Shao nodded, "People are indeed strange. Even if it's a hard life, if you're used to it, it will be regarded as a kind of attachment. ”

"Then now I'm used to living such a good life again, and I can't go back." Shangguan Wan'er said, "You can't leave me again!" ”

Xue Shao smiled: "What stupid things are you talking about? I have worked hard for more than ten years, and I look forward to one day being able to bring you to live outside the palace. ”

Shangguan Wan'er gently snuggled into Xue Shao's arms, closed her eyes, and had a soft smile on her face, silent.

Xue Shao put his arm around her, patted her on the back, and closed his eyes as well.

The past is reflected in his mind, from the "funeral poem in the middle of the lake" when they first met, to the current marriage when they enter the palace together...... Really, life is like a dream!

Later, the two entered the palace, got out of the car and walked to the Vientiane Shrine. The two walked side by side, and Xue Shao held up an oil-paper umbrella for Shangguan Wan'er to shield him from the scorching sun.

At this time, the officials in the palace were walking back and forth in various official offices, and they were all surprised when they saw this scene.

Xue Shao, the concubine, is actually going to marry Shangguan Wan'er, a talented person who was the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Now the two of them are walking side by side in this palace, which is not only a scenery, but also a miracle!

Shangguan Wan'er has been cautious in her words and deeds in the palace for more than 20 years, and she is not used to the situation in front of her. She lowered her head, not daring to look directly at everyone.

Xue Shao said to her: "Raise your head and let everyone see your confidence and pride." ”

Shangguan Wan'er took a deep breath, raised her head, and a smile spread across her face.

Xue Shao stretched out his hand to caress her waist, and the two stood closer and walked forward. In full view of everyone, they ascended the Dragon Tail Road step by step.

Shangguan Wan'er felt that this Dragon Tail Road staircase was like a road from hell to heaven. Every step is like going through a hardship in life.

Fortunately, Xue Shao was by her side, protecting her, accompanying her, and walked through all the stairs step by step and walked into the Vientiane Divine Palace.

Shangguan Wan'er was relieved, and Xue Shao put away the umbrella with a smile.

An official stepped forward quickly and stretched out his hands to pick up the umbrella in Xue Shao's hand.

Xue Shao glanced at him, it was Mingtang Wei Ji.

He quietly put the umbrella in Ji Ji's hand, "If you have time, you might as well go to my winery to have a look." ”

"The lower officials must go in person and listen to Xue Gong's teachings." Ji Ji took the umbrella and said respectfully.

Xue Shao didn't say anything more, and accompanied Shangguan Wan'er to Wu Zetian's imperial study.

When she turned the corner, Shangguan Wan'er said in a low voice: "Although Ji Xuan is lowly, he is the confidant of the God Emperor. Most of the things on the surface were handed over to Lai Junchen to handle. For the rest, Ji Ji has a lot of ideas. ”

"I know." Xue Shao whispered, "The king of Hades is so difficult to see little ghosts, and he is talking about a character like him." ”

Shangguan Wan'er smiled knowingly, "What can there be in the winery that can make Ji Ji look at it?" ”

"He's a good drinker." Xue Shao whispered, "Now in the middle of summer, the priceless Taiping wine is not something he can easily drink. ”

"Wonderful!" Shangguan Wan'er praised and said, "This bowl of water should be flat." Don't favor one over the other when you come to Junchen's side. ”

"Okay, listen to you."

Shangguan Wan'er smiled slightly, and felt quite relieved and emotional: I can finally talk to him like this justifiably!

Wu Zetian was meeting the ministers in the study, and when he heard that Xue Shao and Shangguan Wan'er were coming, he asked Xue Shao to enter directly without shying away. Shangguan Wan'er also came in with her, just taking notes from the side.

Xue Shao went in to take a look, it turned out that Wu Zetian was meeting Tang Xiujing, the governor of Yunzhou, and Qin Poyu and several of his classmates were also there.

"Gong Xue came just in time." Wu Zetian said, "I just planned to send someone to invite you. ”

Xue Shao looked at everyone left and right, and asked Your Majesty what is the matter?

Wu Zetian said: "Tang Xiujing was transferred to Ulzhou, and his four-year term expired early. He deserved to be promoted because of his outstanding achievements, but he was detained only because of the frequent wars in the north. Now that there are three more surrendered towns in the grassland, I think it's time to change Tang Xiujing's ministry and entrust him with a heavy responsibility. I don't know what you think? ”

Xue Shao smiled and said, "Of course, Your Majesty has the final say on this kind of thing. ”

"I know that Tang Xiujing was once your old subordinate, you can't avoid your relatives!" Wu Zetian also smiled and said lightly, "Now I have an idea, under the rule of the Lingzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion and the Helong area, there have been many wars in recent years, and the Hu people of many ethnic groups are attached, and the situation is more complicated. If you want to control that side of the territory well, you have to be a civil and military talent. The current governor of Lingzhou, Di Renjie, is too old and overwhelmed, and I plan to transfer him back to the center. Tang Xiujing's all-round talent in civil and military affairs is dark, and I plan to send him to Lingzhou to take over Di Renjie's position, what do you think? ”

Xue Shao's eyes lit up and he was very happy in his heart, but he was not in a hurry, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Your Majesty, Shengming, the minister thinks that Tang Xiujing is up to the task!" ”

"That's fine." Wu Zetian nodded with satisfaction, and then said, "In addition, Qin Poyu and the others made meritorious contributions during the Western Expedition, and they should be rewarded." But after thinking about it, I still feel that we should let them have more experience in the local military government and border military towns first, and they will be able to take on great responsibilities in the future. They are both your subordinates and your protégés, and you have to call the shots in this matter. ”

"The minister agrees." Xue Shao glanced at Qin Poyu and the others, and said, "As a general, you should experience more training." ”

"Okay." Wu Zetian said, "Since you all agree, then I will immediately start arranging their whereabouts and official positions." After four years, I will consider transferring those who have performed well and made outstanding achievements to take up important positions in the capital. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xue Shao took Qin Poyu and the others to thank him.

Wu Zetian said to Tang Xiujing and the others again: "After you disperse, you will go to the Xia Guanguan Office to meet Xue Gong and listen to the teachings." ”

"Obey orders!"

Tang Xiujing and the others retreated in turn, and Wu Zetian invited Xue Shao to take a seat, and said to him: "There is one more thing that I should have told you a long time ago, but it has been delayed until today for various reasons. ”

"Your Majesty, what's the matter?

Wu Zetian said: "During the battle with the Garqin Tomb and the crossbow Si Lang, a major event happened in the northern grasslands. Xue Yantuo united with the Hui and other tribes in the Nine Surnamed Tiele to rebel against the Turks. The Turkic Khan's court sent troops to quell the rebellion, and after half a year of hard fighting, it finally won and quelled the war. At that time, Xue Yantuo, Hui and Turks all sent envoys to the court, asking me to administer justice to them. Thinking that it was not appropriate for our dynasty to fight with Tibet in the west, it was not appropriate to make any more extraneous branches, so I only sent envoys to the north to mediate. Unexpectedly, the mediation failed, and their war was fought to the end. Tens of thousands of people died in the grassland, and rivers of blood flowed for thousands of miles. ”

Xue Shao pondered for a moment and said, "After the Silent Rebellion, the strength and prestige of the Turkic Khanate have been greatly weakened, and it is not surprising that the steppe tribes who were originally subservient to them will have two ambitions to rebel. Xue Yantuo turned out to be the sworn enemy of the Turks, and the Hui tribe among the nine surnamed Tiele has always been strong and strong. The two joined forces to fight against the Turks, which should not be underestimated. The minister was curious, how did the Turks quell this rebellion? ”

Wu Zetian smiled meaningfully, "This is thanks to you." ”

Xue Shao was slightly stunned, "Me? ”

"Wang Yu, a good student you have spared no effort to train, has now been completely used by the Turks." Wu Zetian said, "He led an army of 50,000 troops and encountered at least six times the number of enemies. Without backup, he killed nearly 100,000 enemies in 12 consecutive battles, which made Xue Yantuo and the Hui coalition army frightened and scattered, and finally civil strife broke out. The leader of the rebel army was beheaded by his own people and sent to Wang Yu's camp to surrender, and the rebellion was put down. ”

"......" Xue Shao fell silent after hearing this, his eyebrows locked.

Shangguan Wan'er, who was sitting on the side, secretly tightened in her heart, and said in her heart, Is Your Majesty going to use Wang Yu to talk about things and sanction Xue Lang?

"I didn't mean to blame you." Wu Zetian said, "Wang Yu's matter has passed, and he is now a minister of the Turkic Khanate. I just sighed that I had missed such a rare talent. Now, should we think of a way to get him back to his homeland? ”

As soon as Wu Zetian said this, Xue Shao and Shangguan Wan'er's hearts moved at the same time: It is exactly what I want!