Li Zhong sat down in the middle of the thatched cottage and personally began to demonstrate the elegant tea art of the Tang Dynasty to Ashnu again. As the teapot in his hand was steaming on the small stove, he skillfully and elegantly brewed cup after cup of fragrant tea.

Ashinu imitated Li Zhong, sat opposite him, picked up a cup of tea, and asked blankly, "The Minister of the Secretariat? Isn't this position not allowed to be held by anyone else in order to avoid the taboo of the previous emperor of the Tang Dynasty? Why was it given to Li Hong?"

"Li Hong is very ambitious and has lofty aspirations. He wants to surpass the late emperor and his grandfather's great achievements in the past! No one can say for sure whether he can get this position, but at least judging from the current situation, he has at least 60% confidence! So he must get enough say in military power for himself! Now all the new things in the business of the Tang Dynasty were created by Li Hong alone. In this regard, he has surpassed the late emperor, but he has not made any achievements in military power. If he is interested in the Shangshu Ling, then adding some military merits for himself in the Western Regions, which has been wavering, is naturally the first choice."

Li Hong, like Zhuge Kongming during the Three Kingdoms period, took out a goose feather fan, gently patted his chest, and continued confidently: "My father appointed him as the Minister of Revenue when he was ten years old. This is something that the previous emperor had never done. From this, it is enough to predict that if he wins a war in the Western Regions, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue will probably be in his pocket."

Ashnu was not interested in these. What he was interested in was how to stop Li Hong from temporarily canceling his journey to the west. After all, he was now a Tibetan spy, and he came for Tibet's big move next year.

Now if Li Hong were to go to the Western Regions, it would naturally take more effort for Tubo to make some moves in Anxi. This would not be a good thing for him who was determined to restore his country.

Although he wanted revenge very much, the feeling of being dependent on others made him even more uncomfortable. If he could restore his country first and then take revenge himself, wouldn't he feel more accomplished and satisfied?

What's more, by that time, he could just like Jie Li did in the past, leading hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers to the Wei River to avenge the humiliation he suffered!

"Then can we stop him from going to the Western Regions this year? Although his trip to Anxi will not have any impact on Tubo, if the Tang Dynasty deploys too many troops in Anxi, Tubo will become timid." Ashinu was making his own calculations in his mind. He hoped to wash away the shame of the past with his own strength, rather than relying on the current Tubo.

...

...

Li Zhong smiled innocently and shook his head. "Li Hong has always been a man who thinks three steps ahead before taking one step. This is what I discovered recently when I was studying the chess game he created. Even though Li Hong is only fourteen years old, if he has made up his mind, it is probably difficult for anyone to change it."

Seeing Ashinu's expression of disbelief, Li Zhong warned: "Even His Majesty and the Queen will find it difficult to change his important decision."

Ashinu then took Li Zhong's words seriously and continued to ask, "How about Helan Minzhi? Can he stop Li Hong? It is said that in Chang'an City, in the imperial palace, apart from the current emperor, the queen, and the crown prince, Helan Minzhi doesn't even take other princes seriously. Can he find help?"

"You are a dying man, how can you expect him to help you? Take care of yourself. If you have these thoughts, you might as well go back and think about how to deal with Li Hong in Anxi, or... ambush him as soon as he leaves Yumen Pass. Send him out." Li Zhong was obviously unwilling to say more. It was pointless to talk to such a selfish person.

Gao Junya did not follow Di Renjie to the East Palace this time, because he also realized that Li Hong admired Di Renjie as a person, not himself.

What's more, the incident of dismissing Dai Zhide in the East Palace meeting hall two days ago was still vivid in Gao Junya's mind. At this time, she felt that it would be better for her not to offend the prince.

In addition, this case is so difficult that it is not impossible for the Crown Prince to dismiss himself if he is unhappy.

Di Renjie's arrival still surprised Li Hong a little, because the time was too short. He felt that it would take at least three to five days to investigate the matter of privately minting new coins.

After all, they were facing Changlefang, which was full of obstacles. Everyone in it was like a nouveau riche. Because of the queen mother, they ignored the existence of everyone at this moment.

Especially Mrs. Rongguo, she almost regarded herself as the empress dowager. Her favor and dirty deeds towards Helan Minzhi were always what she was most proud of.

Moreover, she really hoped that Li Zhi would make Wu Shun or Helan Minyue the empress. One emperor and two empresses, two phoenixes serving the emperor, this was what she most hoped for. Moreover, they are all children of her Wu family. At that time, wouldn't Helan Minzhi be more pleasing to her?

In this way, her status in the Tang Dynasty will become more transcendent, and she won't have to look at Wu Mei's face occasionally. With Wu Shun's restraint, won't Wu Mei's weight as the queen be much lighter?

"What's the point of telling me all this? What you need to do now is to ask your sister or your mother to please His Majesty and force His Majesty to make your mother or your sister the empress. By that time, you will be a prince too. Why are you still afraid of Li Hong?" The old lady Yang, the wife of Rongguo, was lying on a recliner, stroking Helan Minzhi's cheek with her skinny hands, as if she was stroking a priceless treasure.

"Mother and sister can't help now, right? His Majesty is in Luoyang with the Queen. Li Hong is now the regent. He holds the power of life and death. What can they do if they send people to arrest me again? I have no name or status. By then, I'm afraid you will never see me again. Li Hong wants to kill me, and everyone knows it now. He cheated me of five thousand taels of silver a few days ago. Do you think he will let me go?" Helan Minzhi also stretched out a hand, stroked Rong Guoru's skinny cheek, and said coquettishly.

"Alas... I have told your mother and your sister many times that serving the emperor is not a woman's job. What does it matter if Wu Mei is in charge? Or are they just not ambitious enough? This is how Wu Mei climbed to the position of queen. The two of them only know how to be coaxed by His Majesty, and are they satisfied with the title of Lady of Korea and Lady of Wei? Didn't I tell them that His Majesty should quickly come up with the idea of ​​one dragon and two phoenixes? Now, the time has come and you want me to take the lead." Mrs. Rongguo said unhappily.

Li Hong had never gotten along with her. Ever since they were young, he would just greet her whenever he saw her. He never even came to see her at other times, and would try to stay as far away from her as possible. But on her birthday, he ran off to Taiyi City to play. He pretended to have something to do, but in fact, he just didn't want to be close to her.

"Where is Minyue now?" Mrs. Rongguo asked, unable to resist Helan Minzhi's nagging.

"In the mansion." Helan Minzhi answered obediently.

"Ah...it would be great if you were a prince. If your mother was also the queen, then with my charming face, Minzhi would be a hundred times better than Li Hong as the crown prince. I will support our Minzhi as the crown prince no matter what! Just like when I was a lobbyist in the house of Zhangsun and Zhu Suiliang for Wu Mei, I persuaded His Majesty to make you the crown prince."

Lady Rongguo had already had this idea in her mind, to let Wu Shun and Wu Mei serve Li Zhi together, and she was able to come up with such an idea because of the rich experience she had accumulated when she helped Wu Mei compete for the position of queen. She always believed that Wu Mei was able to become the queen of the Tang Dynasty entirely because of her efforts in persuading and seeking support for her outside the palace.

"Oh, stop talking about those useless things now. Think about how to save me first. That Di Mazi is said to be ruthless and impartial, and always ignores the powerful and wealthy. If I get caught, I'll be in danger of death. I don't want to be thrown into jail again." Helan Minzhi buried his head in Mrs. Rongguo's chest, and said coquettishly in annoyance.

"Okay, okay, okay, my Jun Minzhi. Have you hidden all the new money? Go and call Minyue over. If that Di Mazi comes, let her hold off for a while. If that doesn't work, I will come out for you. Also, quickly ask your mother to write a letter to His Majesty, asking him to stop Li Hong. Although His Majesty is not here, a word from His Majesty will still be effective. Ask your mother to tell His Majesty in the letter to scare Li Hong by saying that he will depose the crown prince." Lady Rongguo made arrangements confidently.

Helan Minzhi stood up from Mrs. Rongguo's arms. He was at a loss at this moment and was now flustered.

He knew better than anyone that if Li Hong targeted him, the consequences for him would probably be even more miserable than last time. Li Hong had always disliked him.

That year, she sent a maid to take Xu Yanbo away from her. The Cuiwei Palace incident was even more of a nightmare to him.

Therefore, now that he is being targeted by Li Hong and the Dali Temple again, Helan Minzhi has long lost his composure. Now he only knows to hide in Changlefang and not go out. In the huge city of Chang'an, perhaps Changlefang is the only one that is safe for him at this moment.

After quickly walking out from Mrs. Rongguo's place, Helan Minzhi thought as he walked, if his mother really became the queen, could he really become the crown prince?

If I became the crown prince... no, even if I became the prince, with my mother and sister, and Lady Rong's support, wouldn't I be able to pull Li Hong down from the position of crown prince?

Thinking of this, Helan Minzhi seemed to realize that the road ahead of him suddenly became wider, and he might very well become a prince of the Tang Dynasty.

And now, he is only one step away from becoming the crown prince, second only to the emperor.

Yes, I must convince my mother no matter what and try my best to win the position of queen.