The next day, Xue Shao was about to return to Luoyang, and before leaving, he went to Xishi to find Yu Hongye and wanted to ask her to go with him. Yu Hongye said that there were too many things at hand, and she couldn't pull away for a while. After a few days, he will go to Beishi to run the affairs of Qianzhuang, stay for three months, and then have more time to meet Xue Shao.

Xue Shao can listen to it, and it will not be too late to talk to Yu Hongye about marriage when the time comes. Princess Taiping is more concerned about this matter than herself, and when Yu Hongye returns to Luoyang, she will let Princess Taiping go around Zhang Luo, and the left and right are the law.

After a lunch, Xue Shao left for Luoyang. Li Xianyuan set off early in the morning and went to the empress first, so Xue Shao deliberately walked slowly, saving himself from rushing to the Shendu ahead of Li Xianyuan.

Along the way, the moon slave was a little sullen, and Xue Shao knew that she was reluctant to return to Shaolin without asking. Xue Shao was thinking in his heart, should I let Yuenu and Gongren, a pair of half-brothers and sisters, recognize each other?

Come to think of it, it's a real nuisance. Don't recognize each other, the moon slave has almost no blood relatives in this world, and now her father-in-law is gone, she is pitiful. Recognize each other, it is bound to lead to the grievances of the previous generation, and that kind of entanglement is even more hurtful.

coldly, a sentence burst out of Xue Shao's mind: do nothing and do nothing, everything goes naturally.

It's a good fit.

Xue Shao couldn't help but laugh secretly, I was really affected by Xuan Yunzi.

pinched the days and walked to Luoyang, Princess Taiping was in a hurry, Xue Shao was dragged by her as soon as she got off the horse and went straight to the Zhaoguo Mansion - the current Shangguan Mansion.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Xue Shao asked her.

Princess Taiping said: "Although it is only Shangguan Wan'er's mother and daughter who have moved, the court is quite concerned about this matter. Have you forgotten how special their mother-daughter status is? ”

"I know, the descendants of Prime Minister Longshuo Shangguanyi!" Xue Shao said, "It's been so many years, what else is worth paying attention to?" ”

"The point is that Shangguan Yi was planted in the hands of my mother, and now my mother is not only in power, but also has become an emperor!" Princess Taiping said, "In the eyes of civil and military officials, this is not a trivial matter. To put it mildly, this is my mother's large number of people who finally forgave the Shangguan family and returned the freedom of Shangguan Wan'er's mother and daughter. To put it bigger...... This is a victory for you and Shangguan Wan'er against the imperial power! ”

Xue Shao blinked, "It seems that someone wants to make a big fuss and divide my relationship with the empress?" ”

"Who told you to make a big move?" Princess Taiping said, "Now there are a lot of rumors in the streets and alleys of Luoyang, saying that you dare to openly marry the daughter of the empress's old enemy and the concubine of the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty, which is not only a direct provocation to the authority of the empress, but also a contempt and blasphemy against the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty." ”

Xue Shao was silent for a moment, and then smiled, "Listening to this tone full of villains, it looks like the techniques of Wu Chengsi and others." He has been removed from power, and he still doesn't give up? ”

"As long as you live, it is impossible for Wu Chenghei to enter the East Palace, and it is difficult to even have a place to stand in the court. How could he just throw in the towel? Princess Taiping said, "My mother has issued an order to recruit Di Renjie to return to the court, and it is very likely that he will be appointed as the third product of Qiuguan Shangshu Tongfeng Pavilion Luantai, and make him the prime minister in charge of justice." It is rumored that Li Zhaode is also about to be promoted to the post of Inner History Order (Zhongshu Ling). Coupled with Cen Changqian, the right minister of Wenchang, and the newly appointed Nayan Lou Shide, these four prime ministers are enough to dominate the political hall. There is also Yao Yuanchong, the squire of the Feng Pavilion, who is only one step away from entering the cabinet, and the new imperial history of Cheng Wei Yuanzhong is also in the limelight, and is highly respected and reused by my mother. Didn't you find out that the six of them were all former ministers of Li Tang and were representatives of the pro-Li faction? Among them, except for Li Zhaode, who has a shallow relationship with you, the other five have a deep relationship with you and have your strong support? ”

Xue Shao pondered for a moment, and said in his heart That's right, if it weren't for my secret protection Cen Changqian would have been killed by Wu Chenghei, Lou Shide's ability to return to the court as an official was originally recommended by me, and his great contribution to my expedition to Tubo directly led to his promotion to Nayan. Not to mention Di Renjie, he has cooperated with me since my first crusade against Bai Tieyu, and later he made great contributions to my two expeditions to Helong, and his ability to serve as the governor of Lingzhou is my direct handiwork. After returning to the court, I said good things to Di Renjie in many ways, and now he has finally been able to recruit the worship minister to enter the cabinet.

Yao Yuanchong and Wei Yuanzhong, although they have not been able to enter the cabinet to worship the prime minister for the time being, they do hold important positions in official positions and have a strong influence on the court situation. In time, it will not be difficult to achieve great things.

As for the army, let alone any general, who has a little weight, has nothing to do with Xue Shao.

After thinking about it carefully, Xue Shao really felt that this group of ministers who "supported the Li faction" were indeed surrounded by him, either explicitly or secretly. As long as he is alive for a day, Wu Chengji will not be able to move any of them for a day, but will be squeezed out of the political center and not allowed to participate in politics.

"It seems that Wu Chengsi is going to jump off the wall in a hurry." Xue Shao said, "He wants to make a big fuss about my marriage to Shangguan Wan'er, and wants to use the empress to get rid of me?" ”

"Yes." Princess Taiping said, "He learned to be obedient this time, and no longer directly slandered my mother, but used the public opinion of the government and the opposition to provoke the relationship between you and my mother." This stroke is a bit like the Zhang Miaoxiao incident more than ten years ago. ”

"No wonder you're so nervous." Xue Shao smiled faintly and said, "Then you are hurriedly dragging me to the Zhao State Mansion now, what is the matter?" ”

"My mother is about to give you the rank of lieutenant, and it is not a good thing to catch up with this limelight." Princess Taiping said, "We have to withdraw the workers and servants, and this family cannot be moved for the time being." You go to the mansion to take care of it, and I will go to Shangguan Wan'er to explain the reason privately. She's reasonable, she'll understand. ”

Xue Shao pondered for a moment, "No." Copy. ”

Princess Taiping's brows furrowed, "Xue Lang, you might as well think twice." Your triumphant expedition to the west, the merits you have made are too great, and those who have made meritorious contributions with you can enter the cabinet to pay respects. My mother has almost nothing to reward you, and giving a Shangguan Wan'er is just a move to cover your ears and steal the bell. Now Wu Chenghei is no longer able to compete with you, and your only remaining opponent ...... It's my mother! ”

"The melon field is not acceptable, and Li Xia is not tidy." Xue Shao said, "If I tear up my promise to change to Yijie because of a little malicious public opinion, wouldn't it be even more appropriate that I have a ghost in my heart?" - I have moved to this family, and I have also married Shangguan Wan'er. No matter which beam jumping clown dares to jump out and make trouble, I will kill him on the spot! ”

Princess Taiping was stunned, "You dare to attack Wu Chenghei?" ”

"Beat the dog and bully the master, I will not rashly attack him." Xue Shao said indifferently, "But I can, let him become a wild dog that no one wants!" ”

"......" Princess Taiping wrinkled her eyebrows and was speechless.

"Wu Chengsi is just a cancer that everyone is evil and punished, and it will be finished sooner or later. I am here, the army is here, and the country is here. That's the essential difference between me and him. Xue Shao patted Princess Taiping's hand and comforted her, "If I can't resist even such a little public opinion conspiracy, what qualifications do I have to lead ten thousand armies and support a huge and powerful Central Plains Empire?" ”

"......" Princess Taiping pondered for a moment, and finally showed a hint of a smile, "Xue Lang, you are different from before. ”

"What's the difference?"

Princess Taiping said: "In the past ten years, you have been careful everywhere as if you were walking on thin ice. Now, you are majestic and dare to do it.

Xue Shao smiled: "I haven't changed. It's just that the situation has changed. ”

"Now, can we get to work on something important?" Princess Taiping asked.

"What?"

"Lichu." Princess Taiping said, "You and I are destined by nature, and we can't stay out of it. My mother has been on the throne for several years, and there has been no crown prince. Now the Turkic Dading, the peace of the Western Regions, and even the Tibetans can no longer do harm. Once the external troubles have been eliminated, the internal worries have become particularly prominent. Now the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty must discuss every day, that is, His Majesty should set up the East Palace of the Prince Zhengchu to determine the hearts of the people. My mother is under a lot of pressure because of this, and she has to think carefully about the matter of establishing a reserve. At this time, if the husband and wife come forward to add a fire, maybe the big thing will be settled? ”

"Don't come out, let alone make a clear statement." Xue Shao said, "Ordinary ministers can go to the empress to talk to Xiang Xiang and express their opinions on the matter of the prince. Only we husband and wife can't. It is as you say that the bloodline of you and me proves our position. Now the power of the ministers who support the Li faction above the court is not small, and several major prime ministers have a close relationship with me, and I myself am in charge of the military. If we come forward again to express our stance or try to instigate it, it will not be a suggestion or an admonition, but a forced palace. ”

"Are we not going to do anything?" Princess Taiping asked.

"Yes." Xue Shao said, "As long as we live, we will be a banner supporting Li and a backbone force for the restoration of the Tang Dynasty." The rest of the actions are all added to the snake. ”

"Okay, listen to you." Princess Taiping said, "In the future, even if someone takes the initiative to ask me, even if my mother comes to ask in person, I will only say this - we will support whoever the God Emperor appoints." If you ask me more, I won't say anything. ”

Xue Shao smiled, "Yes." ”

Princess Taiping breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "No wonder you ignored all the big and small government affairs after you returned to the court, and the situation in the court and the central government ignored them indifferently. But you only care about playing around, and you are in charge of messing with flowers and grass - you coquettish old fox! ”

Xue Shao was stunned, "Am I old?" ”

"When Pei Gong was alive, he was an old fox, you were a little fox." Princess Taiping said with a smile, "Now that Pei Gong has been an ancient man for many years, the little fox will naturally become an old fox when he grows up." As for coquettishness, then I don't need to explain, right? ”

"I've told you to read more." Xue Shao pursed his lips, "Coquettish, national style, divorce!" ”

"Phew!" Princess Taiping took a sip with disdain, "If it is used on you, it is extravagant and full of energy!" ”