It was the second day of the first lunar month, and Princess Taiping entered the palace alone to pay New Year's greetings to Wu Zetian.

Before that, she hadn't seen her mother for a long time.

How long exactly?

Princess Taiping almost forgot about it. Maybe a month or two, maybe more than 100 days, and it seems to be as long as half a year.

During this time, not only Princess Taiping, but almost all the civil and military ministers rarely saw Her Majesty the Empress. She has been hiding in the deep palace with her illness, just like the old age of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. The difference is that Emperor Gaozong still had a queen of heaven and a group of trusted prime ministers to run state affairs for him. Today, above the Great Zhou Dynasty, there are only two milky children with undried faces and teeth and claws.

Many people believe that the Eye Nation is facing a huge crisis. In case the empress really dies in the harem, who else can know except Erzhang?

Think about it in a more sinister place, what if the two dogs had the audacity to kill the empress, and then steal power in the name of the empress?

Therefore, Princess Taiping entered the palace today to pay New Year's greetings, in addition to fulfilling etiquette, there is also an important political purpose. Before entering the palace, she had already had secret talks with two important prime ministers, Cen Changqian and Di Renjie, and had even made plans for the worst - if the empress failed to show up today, a mutiny on the side of the Qing monarch would be inevitable.

Princess Taiping dressed in court costume, and Yongrong walked on the dragon tail road of the Vientiane Divine Palace.

There were many people standing at the end of Longwei Road, except for the empress's henchmen and close attendants, Zhang Yizhi, Zhang Changzong and Wu Sansi were all there. Princess Taiping paid special attention to it, the thousand-horse general who led a thousand horses in military uniforms to guard the Vientiane Divine Palace was neither Zhou Jitong nor Zhao Yijie, but Wu Yougui.

Princess Taiping scolded angrily in her heart, this guy is like a fly spinning non-stop. After a few rounds, he returned to Qianqi to take Zhou Jitong's place! …… Zhou Jitong died so miserably! If Xue Lang knew about this, he would definitely be furious!

"Weichen Zhang Yizhi, on the order of the God Emperor, is here to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Taiping!" Zhang Yizhi was the first to rush forward to greet him. The others followed suit.

"There is labor." Princess Taiping smiled politely, "Where is the God Emperor?" ”

"His Majesty the Divine Emperor is in the inner room, waiting for His Highness for a long time." Zhang Yizhi looked very humble and replied seriously.

Princess Taiping didn't say anything more, and walked towards the hall.

"Your Highness, slow down!" Zhang Yizhi suddenly stretched out his hand to stop it.

"What?" Princess Taiping tried to be as calm as possible.

"The Emperor of God personally decreed that it is inconvenient to go out if I am infected with the cold, and it is not appropriate to contact others to avoid infection. Today's palace meeting will stop at the end of the day, and the princess, prince and others will greet each other outside the palace gate. Zhang Yizhi said.

Princess Taiping's heart twisted, could it be that my mother really had an accident?!

"Your Highness, you might as well say hello loudly outside the palace gate, and the God Emperor will hear it." Zhang Yizhi continued, "Weichen will also transfer the gifts brought by His Highness to the God Emperor. ”

Princess Taiping was silent for a moment, "What if this palace insists on seeing the God Emperor?" ”

"The Emperor's edict has been issued, and the micro-ministers have their duties, so they have to persuade each other bitterly." Zhang Yizhi replied.

"If this palace doesn't listen to you, what should I do?" Princess Taiping said again.

Zhang Yizhi smiled wryly, but turned his face sideways and gestured to Wu Yougui and the others who were standing aside with his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Weichen is also acting on orders, and please don't embarrass Your Highness." ”

"How dare you threaten Hongu?" Princess Taiping sneered, raised her hand and pointed at Wu Yougui, "You dodge for me!" ”

Wu Yougui stood with his waist crossed in a military uniform, his face expressionless and his eyes did not squint, and he was not moved at all.

Princess Taiping stroked her sleeves angrily and walked inward with her feet raised.

Wu Yougui stepped forward to stop him, and the armor soldiers behind him also stepped forward, stood in a row, and stopped the entire palace gate entrance.

"Bold!" Princess Taiping shouted angrily, "In the past thirty years, no one has dared to stop the palace from entering and exiting the forbidden city!" You're tired of all of them! ”

Wu Yougui and the others were still standing still, all like mud puppets, dead or alive just not giving way.

At this time, Wu Sansi stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness is angry." Why bother making a fuss on this festive day? Since the Emperor of God has the will, we should obey it. ”

"Shall I wait?" Princess Taiping snorted, "Wu Sansi, what qualifications do you have to compare with this palace?" Shall I wait? - Such words are also worthy of you to say?! ”

Wu Sansi's expression froze, he swallowed a sullen breath and stepped aside, turned his face and put on a cold-eyed expression, and said no more.

"Wait a minute, listen up. Today, Princess Taiping must see His Majesty the God Emperor. I will bear any consequences. Princess Taiping said loudly, "Whoever dares to stop it, I will kill him." ”

When everyone heard this, they shrugged and changed color.

Princess Taiping strode forward.

Wu Yougui and the others retreated step by step.

Zhang Changzong shouted, "Stop her!" ”

"Who dares to stop me!" Princess Taiping was really angry now, and she stretched out her hand and pulled out the saber from the waist of Wu Yougui, who was close at hand.

As soon as the knife was unsheathed, a deep and majestic voice came from within, "Peaceful, rude!" ”

Princess Taiping was stunned and stunned.

"Inside the Danqi, how can you be allowed to collide with the guards and dance with swords? - Don't retreat yet! ”

That's right, that's the mother's voice. Princess Taiping could never have heard it wrong.

With a "bang", Princess Taiping threw the knife on the ground, and the person also knelt on the ground.

"That's it, forgive your innocence." Wu Zetian's voice still came, and he only heard her say, "I already know your intention to come this time." It's just that I'm cold, so it's inconvenient to see you. That's the end of today's business. You go back first! ”

"Yes...... Sons and daughters retire! ”

Princess Taiping stood up, turned around, glanced coldly at Zhang Yizhi, Wu Sansi and others present, and walked down the dragon tail road step by step.

She held her head up and her chest up, and walked unhurriedly.

She felt that the eyes of everyone behind her were like cold swords, pressed against her back.

She felt even more that today's God Emperor was no longer the mother who would hold her and put her to sleep.

Tears blurred his eyes.

Her gait was still graceful, but her expression was dejected.

She was moaning shallowly......

"The God Emperor is the God Emperor, and the Mother is the Mother."

"They are no longer the same person."

……

Back at home, Princess Taiping looked as usual, as if nothing had happened. Yu Hongye is about to give birth, and Xue Yi and Xue Xu's families, as well as Guan Wan'er and Mrs. Zheng, are all there. Princess Taiping has learned a certain skill of Xue Shao, and she will definitely not bring the bad emotions outside home, especially on a special day like the Chinese New Year.

But the careful Shangguan Wan'er had already seen the clues from the details that Princess Taiping inadvertently revealed. She took a look at the sky and invited Princess Taiping aside, and asked her if she was frustrated when she entered the palace today?

Princess Taiping nodded.

"There's one person we probably ignored before." Shangguan Wan'er said, "But he is very important. ”

Princess Taiping woke up slightly, "Who?" ”

"On Gong Ren." Shangguan Wan'er said, "After returning to the Great Zhou, the key points of Gongren's official residence are the same as Li Duozuo, but he has a special identity and has never befriended anyone. ”

Princess Taiping's eyes lit up, "But he is the son-in-law of the Xue clan in Fenyin." ”

Shangguan Wan'er smiled mysteriously, "It's still the half-brother of the moon slave, brother!" ”

"How do you know?" Princess Taiping asked in surprise.

"There is no such thing as an airtight wall, and now many people know about it, but it doesn't spread openly." Shangguan Wan'er said, "It is reported that Gong Ren is privately looking for someone to inquire about this matter. He didn't dare to go to Princess Taiping's mansion to ask, but he had been to Songshan several times. ”

"Songshan Shaolin Temple? Is he going to find Wu Ming? Princess Taiping was surprised.

Shangguan Wan'er nodded, "But Wu Ming will definitely not tell him the truth." ”

"It seems that Gong Ren is quite concerned about this matter." Princess Taiping said.

Shangguan Wan'er said: "He has left his hometown without a home and country, let alone his relatives. His loneliness is difficult for others to understand, and his longing for his loved ones will surely exceed our imagination. ”

Princess Taiping took a deep breath and exhaled a long breath, "We, are we going to use him?" ”

"It's not exploitation. Fundamentally, he is with us, with both losses and prosperity. Shangguan Wan'er said, "It is difficult to count on a thousand horses, and Yulin Wei will be the target of our focus." However, Yu Linwei has been divided into two, led by Li Duozuo and Lun Gongren respectively. Li Duozuo has a very close relationship with her husband, and now she is being watched too closely, and she may be demoted when she will be. Therefore, it is necessary for us to win the support of Lun Gongren in advance. ”

Princess Taiping pondered for a moment and said, "It would be nice if Xue Lang was here." All the problems at the moment are not problems. ”

Shangguan Wan'er sighed softly, "We can't let him bear all the pressure alone. ”

"It makes sense." Princess Taiping raised her spirit, "We must win the Gong Ren!" ”

……

Helong Horse Husbandry.

Just after the Spring Festival, Xue Shao came here. Thousands of horses galloped past in front of him, and there was a rare smile on his face.

Tang Xiujing pointed to a herd of horses in front of him and said, "Xue Shuai, that piece is the war horse you came forward to capture from Tubo, and it is in excellent condition!" ”

"It's a pity that most of them are geldings." Xue Shao said, "Otherwise, my cavalry in the Central Plains will not have to worry about war horses from now on." ”

"Although they are geldings, they can serve for at least ten years." Tang Xiujing's words are quite meaningful.

Xue Shao smiled knowingly, "Ten years is indeed a lot of things that can be done." ”

"100,000 iron horsemen, ten years." Tang Xiujing added, and then said, "Xue Shuai, the people of Helong will always be your solid backing. ”

Xue Shao suddenly smiled, "Tang Xiujing, if you let the imperial history of the imperial court hear this, you will definitely be accused of a heinous crime." ”

"For our generals, following Xue Shuai is loyal and patriotic." Tang Xiujing smiled disapprerovingly, "Tang has a clear conscience, let him go!" ”

Although it was a joke, it made Xue Shao's heart tighten: Tang Xiujing's unintentional words should represent the voices of many people. If I do the right way, all the soldiers under my command will follow me to the death. If I plot against usurpation, they will surely be the first to stand up against it!

"100,000 iron riders, I want it now." Xue Shao suddenly said, "Is there one?" ”

"Yes." Tang Xiujing responded without hesitation, and asked again, "Xue Shuai, where to fight?" ”

"Lu Jing Beizhi, recover the grassland!"