Chapter 112 Li Chengqian's Purpose (2)
"Chengqian, Zhinu has been kind and filial since he was young. I believe that Zhinu would never do such a thing. As his elder brother, you don't want to help Zhinu clarify the matter. Are you going to slander him like those with ulterior motives?" Li Er pointed at Li Chengqian and roared.
To be honest, Li Zhi is definitely the most filial among all of Li Er's children. If it weren't for the stain of Wu Zetian, Li Zhi would definitely be qualified to be on the list of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars.
"Father, calm down!" Li Chengqian said.
"How can you ask me to calm down! I have always hoped that you brothers can get along with each other and be friendly and respectful to each other. Who knew that you would do such a thing as quarreling with each other?"
"You really disappoint me. Why did you become like this?" Li Er questioned Li Chengqian with a look of deep sorrow.
"Father, I have absolutely no doubt about Zhinu. Zhinu is a kind-hearted child who will never do anything against human ethics. I have never doubted Zhinu." Li Chengqian said. But
in his heart, Li Chengqian kept roaring: Your filial son is having an affair with that woman Wu Zetian. There is no doubt about it. It is a fact.
"Then what do you mean by what you said just now? Since you don't doubt Zhinu, why do you say that?" Li Er said.
"Even though Zhinu is not capable of such a despicable thing, father can be sure that Wu Cairen will not do anything beyond the limit."
"Zhinu is simple-minded and will inevitably be seduced. What should we do if Wu Cairen seduces Zhinu to do something unspeakable?" Li Chengqian said.
Li Chengqian didn't care whether Wu Zetian and Li Zhi hit it off or who seduced whom, it was not something he wanted to ask more about at the moment.
"Your Majesty, do you mean that Wu Mei seduced Zhinu, and Wu Mei is the source of the rumor, and the rumor is likely to have come from her?" Li Er said.
If things were really as he guessed, Li Er would definitely not let this immoral and corrupt woman go.
"No matter what, whether Wu Cairen is the one who seduced Zhinu, for Zhinu's future, I suggest that Wu Cairen be dealt with as soon as possible." Li Chengqian said.
As long as Wu Zetian died, Li Chengqian's goal would be achieved.
"Can this really make the rumors disappear? Will it no longer have any impact on Zhinu?" Li Er asked.
"That's right! Once Wu Cairen dies, the rumors will be broken. We will control them. With this two-pronged approach, I believe the rumors will soon disappear."
"Once Wu Cairen dies, people with ulterior motives will no longer have an excuse to stir up trouble, and everything will eventually return to peace." Li Chengqian said.
Li Chengqian believed that Li Er would understand what he meant, and he believed even more in what choice a father would make for his son.
Killing Wu Zetian could stop the rumors, just like Li Er's eradication of the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and the Prince of Qi Li Yuanji.
Li Er had lost his mind for his son Li Zhi. As long as he could completely solve the problem of rumors, killing a talented person was nothing.
"Cheng Qian, you are right. The root of everything is the evil that started Xiao Qiang. Wu Mei, this foxy woman, who debauched the harem, deserves death." Li Er did not hesitate and decided to execute Wu Zetian.
"Father, in order to further reduce the harm of rumors to Zhinu, I think that Zhinu should leave Luoyang and return to Chang'an."
"The rumors in Chang'an have disappeared. Returning to Chang'an and changing the environment will also be good for Zhinu."
"Without Wu Cairen and Zhinu in Luoyang, the rumors will completely disappear." Li Chengqian suggested again.
Li Chengqian did this not because he cared about his brother, but to better monitor Li Zhi.
Li Chengqian didn't know whether the assassination was planned by Wu Zetian alone, and what role Li Zhi played in it. Whether
Li Zhi participated in it or not, for safety reasons, he decided to bring Li Zhi back to Chang'an and put him under his nose, so that he could monitor Li Zhi more easily.
"Let's stop here today! You are tired from the long journey, so go back and rest first. I will think about this matter." Li Er said.
"Your son will take his leave!" Li Chengqian stood up, saluted, and left.
What Li Er wanted to think about was not Wu Zetian's problem, but whether Li Zhi should return to Chang'an.
Li Zhi had been by his side since he was a child and had never left. Now he had to leave him and return to Chang'an alone. Li Er was a little worried.
So, Li Er had to think carefully about whether he should let Li Zhi return to Chang'an.
The next morning, Li Chengqian washed and dressed neatly with the help of the maid.
Wang Fangyi, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your Highness!"
"You are here! Have dinner with me, and prepare a breakfast for Fangyi as well." Li Chengqian said to Wang Fangyi while instructing Wang Quan to prepare breakfast.
Wang Quan took the order and left.
Li Chengqian sat in the first seat, and Wang Fangyi sat in the first seat on the left.
Wang Quan asked the maid to bring up the prepared breakfast.
The breakfast was light, with a bowl of millet porridge, a plate of dried vegetables, and two kinds of green vegetables.
"Fangyi! Is there any movement from father?" Li Chengqian asked.
Li Er thought about it all night and should have come to a conclusion. Wu Zetian would definitely not stay. How Li Zhi would arrange it would depend on what Li Er thought.
"Your Highness! Just now, the insider reported that His Majesty ordered the eunuch Wang Yuan to go to Concubine Wu, and His Majesty rewarded Concubine Wu with delicious food and fine wine." Wang Fangyi said.
"Father wants to kill Wu Cairen, so what? After all, Wu Cairen is also your concubine, so leaving her with an intact body is fine."
"However, we still can't let our guard down. Keep a close eye on her. I must confirm that Wu Cairen is really dead." Li Chengqian said.
"Don't worry, Your Highness! I have already asked the insiders to keep a close eye on her. There will be absolutely no mistakes." Wang Fangyi said.
"With your words, I feel relieved! By the way, what arrangements did your father make for Zhinu?" Li Chengqian asked.
"Your Majesty has not made any arrangements for Prince Jin. Everything remains the same." Wang Fangyi said.
Li Chengqian nodded and didn't say much. For him, as long as Wu Zetian died, other people would not be a threat to him.
It was not so important to place Li Zhi by his side. Even if Li Zhi was placed in Luoyang, it would not matter.
He had his spies there who could monitor Li Zhi's every move at any time. He thought he would not be able to cause any trouble.
Moreover, Li Er would personally lead the army to the east in a short time, and Li Zhi could not be with him.
Even if Li Zhi did something wrong in the end, it would be convenient for him to take action, because Li Er was far away in Liaoning and could not rescue Li Zhi. After
Li Chengqian had breakfast, the latest news came from the inside that Wu Zetian had died of poison after drinking the fine wine given by Li Er, and had been dragged out and buried.