Chapter 102 The spring night is too short, the sun rises high, and from then on…
Tang Xinuan was completely bewildered by Sun Qingzhao's words.
She carefully recalled what had happened during that time.
When she first came to the Prince of Qin's mansion, her purpose was to help Erlang fight for the "family property".
Later, she discovered that Erlang was so busy that he didn't even have time to sleep, so she secretly vowed to find talented people for him.
After that, she searched the streets every day.
It's not easy to find a talent scout; she tried her best but couldn't find many.
Taking advantage of the imperial examination, she opened an academy, attracting many students to study there.
Most students achieved good results.
He successfully entered the imperial court as an official.
Unfortunately, he was dismissed by the emperor.
Now that Sun Qingzhao has proposed to reorganize the Imperial Academy, she can go to the Imperial Academy to become a teacher and continue to help Erlang find talent.
But if Erlang doesn't act as regent, then there's no need for talented people.
What's the point of her doing all this?
“No, Brother Sun, Erlang is no longer regent, so he doesn’t need talented people anymore. I don’t need to help him find talent.”
The goal she had been striving to achieve became unimportant after Zhou Chuanxing was punished.
Suddenly, she seemed to lose her way and didn't know what to do.
Sun Qingzhao patiently guided him, "Why did the King of Qin need talented people in the first place?"
Tang Xinuan knew, of course. "He'll handle his affairs. He's busy dealing with state affairs from morning till night, working very hard every day, so busy that he doesn't even have time to eat or sleep. With talented people, he won't have to work so hard."
But now, he's out of work.
That was Sun Qingzhao's next objective.
Why does the King of Qin work so hard every day to handle state affairs?
Tang Xinuan knew: "Erlang cares about the world and hopes that the people can live in peace. My elder brother... no, the Great Zhou Dynasty has been fighting for decades, and he just hopes for peace and tranquility."
Finally, we've gotten to the point.
Sun Qingzhao: "If Prince Rui ascends the throne, do you think the world can still be at peace? Can the country still enjoy tranquility and prosperity?"
Prince Rui is a fool.
Tang Xinuan had heard gossip about his regency.
Yao Yuehai was illiterate, but he was appointed Minister of Revenue simply because he was his uncle.
I heard that he almost emptied the national treasury, spending 300,000 taels of silver in one go to buy beauties.
They lived a life more luxurious than the emperor.
"If he comes to power, the country will be destroyed in a few years."
Sun Qingzhao: "That's right. If he comes to power, even his dog can be appointed as prime minister. Why would he need talented people? Someone like me, a member of the Qin King's faction, would be the first to be purged by him. What ideals, revenge, or speaking out for the people would I have to talk about?"
As for the peace that lasted, how long did it take before war broke out again, and the common people became the prey of the enemy.
"Who knows how many more miscarriages of justice like the one against your Tang family will be fabricated?"
The Tang family has still not been exonerated. "Does that mean my Tang family will never have a chance to be exonerated?"
Sun Qingzhao sighed, "Don't even mention exonerating him, Prince Rui won't even let you go."
This was difficult; it was the first time Tang Xinuan had ever felt such disgust for someone.
"I'll go and kill Prince Rui."
Sun Qingzhao: "First, he is surrounded by guards, so you may not have a chance. Besides, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"
Tang Xi's heart leaped with joy: "You have a solution?"
Sun Qingzhao: "Once the King of Qin becomes emperor, all problems will be easily solved."
Tang Xinuan: "..."
She had never thought about this question.
Sun Qingzhao: "The Emperor has no sons, only three younger brothers, who are either the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Duan, or the Prince of Rui. Why can't the Prince of Qin become the Emperor!"
This was too shocking for Tang Xinuan; she couldn't quite understand it for a moment.
"Um, let me sort this out first, let's call it a day."
The saying goes, "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman."
Tang Xinuan wants to become empress, and Sun Qingzhao doesn't believe Zhou Chuanxing can resist.
Tang Xinuan hurriedly returned to the inner courtyard.
Zhou Chuanxing and Prince Duan were drinking tea next door when they only caught a glimpse of a yellow figure drifting by.
Zhou Chuanxing said unhappily, "I wonder what Sun Qingzhao said to her again."
Prince Duan stood up: "I'll go and call him over to ask him."
Sun Qingzhao hadn't intended to hide it from Zhou Chuanxing, but now that he was being asked, he chose to tell the truth.
"The Princess Consort is so talented, it's such a waste for her to be buried in the inner quarters."
This is a gift from God; how could we refuse it?
Your Highness, I suggest that you become a teacher at the Imperial Academy and impart your knowledge to all the students.
Zhou Chuanxing did not want to bury the princess's talent.
But he is currently preoccupied with his own problems, so how could he possibly have the opportunity to send the princess to the Imperial Academy?
Seeing Sun Qingzhao's ambition, he didn't let him continue.
"Alright, don't say these things to her anymore."
Sun Qingzhao's mission is complete; all that's left is for things to develop further.
"promise."
Tang Xinuan returned to the inner courtyard and casually picked up a book to flip through.
Lianqiao noticed that she was unhappy, so she went over to chat with her.
"Your Majesty, the Tang family cannot be exonerated. It is all the Empress's fault. With her around, the Emperor will never exonerate the Tang family."
Tang Xinuan said angrily, "Then what should I do? Kill her? I didn't even find an opportunity on New Year's Eve. She was hiding in the palace. How could I possibly have a chance?"
Lian Qiao had already prepared a response: "The most powerful man in the world is the Emperor..."
Tang Xinuan: "You want me to be the emperor?"
Lianqiao: "..."
"Of course not," I said. "I haven't finished speaking yet. The woman with the most power is the Empress."
Whoever becomes empress can do whatever they want.
When the time comes, what's a single imperial edict to exonerate the Tang family? She can decide all the major events in the world.
Tang Xinuan had never considered this possibility.
So being an empress has so many advantages.
Considering all the evil deeds committed by the Grand Tutor's mansion, only three people have died so far.
The empress exterminated Liu Cheng's entire family, yet she didn't even have to bear any responsibility.
She could even issue an imperial decree to grant a marriage to Prince Duan.
If I became empress...
A bold and rebellious idea quietly sprouted in Tang Xi's heart.
She wants...
A model of virtue for the nation!
"What are you thinking about?"
Tang Xinuan was completely immersed in the fantasy of clearing her family's name and being able to do whatever she wanted, when she was tricked into being hugged from behind.
The familiar scent enveloped her, and she recognized her husband instantly.
"Erlang," Tang Xinuan turned around and looked at him with a smile, "Don't you make any noise when you walk? You startled me."
The lady became more and more charming and alluring, and Zhou Chuanxing pulled her into his arms, gently rubbing her soft face.
"What naughty thing are you thinking about so intently? Tell your husband about it."
Tang Xinuan would never tell him.
She has recently been studying with many teachers and has come to understand that deluding oneself into becoming empress is a grave and treasonous crime.
She wouldn't easily say it if she wasn't sure.
"I'm thinking about what to eat later."
The lady's bright eyes were full of cunning, and Zhou Chuanxing could hardly tell what wicked thoughts she was harboring.
As the lady has become more knowledgeable and developed her own ideas, she now has secrets she is unwilling to tell him.
"Guess whether I believe it or not."
Tang Xinuan wasn't good at lying, so she leaned in and kissed his cheek, saying, "I'll tell you sooner or later anyway."
"Really?" Zhou Chuanxing asked indulgently, his eyes filled with undisguised doting affection, as he lowered his head to find her red lips.
The lady's lips were so soft they were intoxicating; once you touched them, you didn't want to let go.
The two quickly became passionate lovers in the cold winter.
Finally, they both collapsed into the red gauze curtains.
A month later, the weather gradually warmed up.
Tang Xinuan and Zhou Chuanxing spent a very pleasant winter at the Qin Prince's Mansion.
Zhou Chuanxing, in particular, was so immersed in the tenderness and affection given to him by the beauty that he couldn't even be bothered to distinguish what day it was.
There is no need to attend court, review memorials, or handle state affairs.
The Prince's Mansion became the warmest place for him since he was old enough to understand things.
No wonder Emperor Xuanzong of Tang found the spring night too short and the sun too high when he rose, and from then on, the emperor no longer held morning court.
Since getting married, he hasn't even wanted to leave the palace.
I read books every day, enjoy the snow scenery, tease my wife, and when the mood strikes, I'll do something more elaborate.
What could be more comfortable than this?
Zhou Chuanxing didn't want to go out, but Tang Xinuan was really bored.
Ever since she saw the outside world, she no longer wanted to be confined to this small, narrow world.
However, due to the cold winter and the watchful eyes of Prince Rui and the Empress, she refrained from going out.
With the weather warming up these past few days, she felt a restless longing to see the vibrant world outside the Prince's mansion.
"Erlang, do you really not want to go out?"
Zhou Chuanxing shook the iron chain on his wrist. "Without the imperial decree, I'm afraid we can't go out yet."
Tang Xinuan was really feeling stifled. "I really want to go out."
Zhou Chuanxing could tell that his wife was feeling extremely frustrated, but he was worried about her safety.
"Just bear with it a little longer. I'll beg my brother for a pardon, and then I can go out with you."
“Fine,” Tang Xinuan replied sullenly, “What if the Emperor won’t release you?”
Zhou Chuanxing hadn't thought that far ahead.
Whatever punishment my elder brother may give him is justified, let alone merely confinement.
"Let me submit the memorial first."
Prince Rui made several suggestions to strip Zhou Chuanxing of his military power, but the emperor declined each time.
Seeing that the emperor's health was deteriorating day by day, and fearing that his younger brother, who had no military power, would be even more passive after the emperor's death, he decided to strike first.
On one hand, he allied with the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, the princes hundreds of miles away, and the powerful nobles in the capital. On the other hand, he allowed Consort De to control the palace. He also ordered all the officials he had placed in the court to launch an attack on the emperor on the appointed date, requesting that the emperor establish a crown prince.
At the same time, he sent people to the northern regions to stir up internal strife.
If 100,000 disaster victims rebel, the emperor will have to send Zhou Chuanxing to lead the expedition, at which point the entire capital will fall into his hands.
Once he cuts off Zhou Chuanxing's supplies, he guarantees that Zhou Chuanxing will never return.
The world was completely in his grasp.
When the time comes, he will decline the throne three times and then ascend to the throne.
On the day that the Emperor had been lucid for two and a half months, Yao Yuehai, the Minister of Revenue, led a number of civil and military officials to report to him that Zhou Chuanxing had openly defied the imperial edict, arbitrarily killed the Grand Tutor, stirred up the court, formed cliques for personal gain, and committed embezzlement and perverted the law...
He has violated thirty-seven articles of the Great Zhou Law, each of which warrants death.
The emperor was furious and vomited blood on the spot.
An imperial edict was immediately issued to confiscate Zhou Chuanxing's military power.
Prince Rui was already acting as regent, and with the emperor seriously ill, he rightfully seized power.
At this point, no one dared to speak up for Zhou Chuanxing in the imperial court.
Except for Prince Duan.
Prince Duan was both distressed by his elder brother's serious illness and angry at his brother's foolishness.
Once the Emperor's condition stabilized, he rushed to the Prince of Qin's residence and told Zhou Chuanxing what had happened in the court.
Tang Xinuan hid outside the door and listened to the whole thing.
She had ideals, revenge, and a deep-seated hatred.
If she doesn't become empress, she has no say in the matter.
Today is the day she rises from the ashes like a phoenix.
"Lianqiao, help me prepare some things," she whispered in Lianqiao's ear, explaining what she needed.
Lian Qiao agreed and then left.
Half an hour later, she returned to report, having completed her preparations.
"Your Highness, what do you need so much arsenic for? It could poison dozens of people."
Tang Xinuan intends to poison dozens of people.
Of the 63 members of Grand Tutor Wang's family, only three died, leaving 60 remaining.
These poisons were prepared for Grand Tutor Wang and his family.
She ordered the kitchen staff to prepare the meal, and then she would mix all the arsenic into it.
Before the New Year, the Emperor released Grand Tutor Wang and his family, but imprisoned them in the Grand Tutor's mansion.
It was obvious that the Emperor would not exonerate her family.
Erlang doesn't want to be the emperor. Once Prince Rui ascends the throne, not only the Tang family, but she will also have to reunite with her family.
Life and death are secondary; she must avenge this grudge.
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