The couple looked at each other, and they both knew in their hearts that Li Hong was determined to punish Helan Minzhi this time, so Ning Daoming, Xiao Shoudao and Xiao Shougui would probably be in trouble.
There is no need to even think about the Japanese envoy. It seems like that guy was born with a grudge against Japan and Goryeo. He just doesn't like them since he was born, for some reason.
Wu Mei bit her red lips thoughtfully, thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, summon Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu to the palace. Perhaps they can come up with a solution."
Li Zhi looked at her strangely. To put it bluntly, Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu were now the prince's men. Even if they were brought over, would they still be as obedient as before? What's more, Li Hong had just criticized Xu Jingzong.
But there is no other good way to solve the problem at the moment. We can't just let Li Hong do whatever he wants and let him cause chaos in Taiyi City.
"Okay. Yangwu, summon Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu to Liangyi Palace." Li Zhi nodded and said.
When Li Zhi and Wu Mei arrived at Liangyi Hall, Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu were already waiting there. After paying their respects, they slowly walked into the study with Li Zhi and Wu Mei.
"Please take a seat." Li Zhi said lightly, and then sat down behind the large table, with Wu Mei sitting next to him.
After receiving Li Zhi's signal, Yang Wu took the secret letter and handed it to the two men.
...
...
After reading the secret memorial, Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu looked at each other. Without even having to think about it, the two shrewd men already knew what the emperor and the queen intended.
"What do you think? Is there any way to break your master's tough attitude?" Li Zhi asked, leaning back in his chair.
Li Yifu looked at Xu Jingzong, then at Wu Mei, and stood up respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I think we can start from both human feelings and the law. Although I cannot guarantee what the final result will be, at least in the short term, it will be difficult for Your Highness the Crown Prince to convict and execute them."
"Oh? Yifu, then just tell me what you think first." Wu Mei interrupted.
"Yes, Your Majesty, Queen. My humble opinion is that the Minister of War, Ning Daoming, and the two Zhongzhou governors, Xiao Shoudao and Xiao Shougui, are all officials of the fourth rank. According to the laws of our Tang Dynasty, from conviction to execution, the Censorate, the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice must all be involved. Moreover, as the crown prince, the decisions of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel can also give the crown prince a certain amount of resistance. In this case..."
"Don't say these useless things. When that bastard gets angry, he won't care about these things. What's more, he is in Taiyi City, and people from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple have already gone there. It may work in terms of the law, but I'm afraid it won't have a big deterrent effect."
Li Zhi waved his hand, interrupting him impatiently, and after thinking for a moment, he asked, "Tell me what's going on with your favor?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Yifu continued calmly, "The favor I'm talking about is: Ning Daoming, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, was recommended by Duke Lu Cheng Zhijie back then, so the favor means that we can use Duke Lu's name to give the prince some resistance. Moreover, Duke Lu is still in Chang'an, and the prince has always respected these old ministers. Last year on New Year's Day, he even went to Duke Lu's house for a meal. I think the prince will give Duke Lu some favors."
Li Yifu is truly a smiling man with a dagger hidden in his heart. He even took advantage of the dying Cheng Yaojin.
According to historical records, Cheng Yaojin died in 665. At this moment, Cheng Yaojin, who was living in retirement in the mansion, probably had no idea that at his age, he could still be used by the current emperor and empress.
"Xiao Shoudao and Xiao Shougui were recommended by Duke Yingguo Li Ji, so naturally they can be stopped in his name." Li Zhi smiled. He didn't expect that the problem could be solved so easily.
Now that I think about it, I was too worried about Li Hong doing something wrong, which made me lose my composure. I think the Queen is the same, otherwise the two of them would not have thought of this method.
"What about Helan Minzhi?" This time it was Wu Mei who asked the question. She was the only one who doted on this nephew.
Xu Jingzong stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Queen, the matter of Helan Minzhi is not applicable to human feelings or laws. We can only start from etiquette and ethics. Helan Minzhi is now over 20 years old and has not yet started a family, let alone an heir. I think we should start from this aspect and wait until Helan Minzhi has an heir before convicting him. In this way, after three to five years, the prince's anger will subside, and this matter can be reduced to a small matter or a small matter to nothing."
Wu Mei listened and nodded secretly. Now it seemed that this was the only thing that could hold Li Hong back. If he didn't listen, it would be like the prince was inhuman. Would that little thing listen?
Wu Mei was still a little nervous, always feeling that something was wrong, as if something was missing!
Li Zhi waved his hand with satisfaction and asked the two to leave. Such a strategy could prevent Li Hong from making trouble. Ning Daoming and others didn't care. As long as Helan Minzhi could survive, Li Zhi would not be afraid. Otherwise, facing the crying Wu Shun and Helan Minyue every day, how could there be any fun in it.
"Your Majesty, do you think there is something missing here?" Wu Mei's brows were tightly furrowed, as if she was trying hard to think of something, but it seemed that she could not grasp that little clue.
"What is missing? Oh, he has royal relatives, officials from the capital, local leaders, and foreign envoys. What else does Li Hong want? Could it be that he wants to bring two more princes in?" Li Zhi said casually.
"Yes, that's it!" Wu Mei suddenly stood up, staring out the window, her tone changing from thoughtful to certain.
She said slowly, "The little thing is using this incident to expand the scope of the attack, in order to warn the royal family and nobles gathered in Taiyi City, including the court officials, the Five Surnames and Seven Families, that they are all within his calculations. Your Majesty, I dare to bet with you that within three days, there will definitely be a prince who will be dealt with by Li Hong. If you don't believe me, just wait and see!"
Li Zhi looked at Wu Mei strangely, and after a long while he asked, "Then can you tell me why he did this?"
Wu Mei rolled her eyes at him involuntarily, and walked up to him and said, "Don't you understand? His Taiyi City is about to hold a chamber of commerce, and everyone from merchants to princes and dukes has flocked to it. A few days ago, someone from the royal family came to ask you for help. Have you forgotten? Taiyi City is now full of people, and if you don't take this opportunity to establish your authority over these dignitaries, even if his chamber of commerce is successfully held, it is still a question whether it can end smoothly."
"Yes, Li Hong wants to take this opportunity to let everyone know that the Taiyi City Chamber of Commerce must follow his will. No one can challenge or oppose it. What he wants is the right to have the final say! No chance to bargain with the powerful!"
It is true that no one knows a son better than his mother. Wu Mei has completely understood Li Hong and why she personally interrogated Helan Minzhi and others. The little guy has a long-term vision. This is a good strategy that kills two birds with one stone.
Li Zhi felt a little dizzy after hearing this. After thinking for a while, he nodded and said, "So, next he should take action against his uncles or aunts?"
"Alas... I just don't know who will be unlucky enough to be caught by Li Hong, but in any case it won't be anyone from Chengyang, Xincheng and Lanling. These three are very close to Li Hong, and there will definitely be other people who will look for Li Hong. Li Hong will never let go of this opportunity! No, Your Majesty, I decided to go to Taiyi City in person. We can't let the little guy do whatever he wants. Otherwise, who knows how many shields and spears he will leave for you to solve after he finishes opening this Chamber of Commerce." Wu Mei thought for a while and said.
Li Zhi understood everything and couldn't help but chuckle. He said lightly, "Queen, even if you want to leave for Taiyi City, it will take at least ten days, right?"
"Why?" A hint of pure beauty that made Li Zhi's heart beat flashed across Wu Mei's confused and beautiful face.
"Mrs. Rongguo's birthday is coming up. Can you leave now?" Li Zhi continued with a smile.
Wu Mei suddenly realized that the little thing had wanted to go to Taiyi City in the first place just to escape from this birthday banquet, but now she almost forgot about it because of him.
Lady Rongguo Yang, Wu Mei's biological mother, had visited Changsun Wuji's residence many times to plead for him to make Wu Mei the queen. Now she is very old and has been living out her days in Jiucheng Palace.
Li Hong didn't know what happened in the palace, but he could guess that his father and mother were studying him.
Now he only hoped that his mother would guess his purpose and figure it out later. It would be best if she could react after he finished his work.
Just as Wu Mei had expected, she had just returned to Taiyi City Manor. The imperial aunt, Princess Qianjin, along with Wen Ting, Wen Zhen, the Hu man, and the imperial uncle, Prince Cao Li Ming, had been waiting in the mansion for a long time.
After hearing Xia Zhi's report, Li Hong's smile became even brighter. What he wished for came true. It would be even better if there was another imperial grandfather or something. But fortunately, there wasn't one. If there was, the generation would be too big and it would be difficult for him to deal with it.
Fang Zhan and Heng Qiao disappeared after sending Li Hong to the gate of the manor. They had another mission, which was to find the two people Li Hong wanted as soon as possible.
Ming Chongyan and Du Yuanji originally came with Xiao Shoudao and Xiao Shougui, but Li Hong did not see these two people in Cuiwei Palace.
After finding out where Xiao Shoudao and Xiao Shougui were now, Li Hong asked Fang Zhan and Heng Qiao to return to Taiyi City and look for them immediately.
Bai Chun was serving Princess Qianjin and Prince Cao Li Ming. Wen Ting and Wen Zhen also acted like bosses. Even Suo Yuanli was sitting there in a polite manner.
Bai Chun's cheeks were a little red and swollen, and her original charming and seductive charm had long disappeared. At this moment, she looked frail and somewhat weak and helpless.
"You are Bai Chun, right? Now you are in charge of the salt, iron and other matters. Shouldn't you make plans earlier? Taiyi City is crowded and chaotic now, and I can't disturb my grandson too much because of such a small matter. Let's put it this way, you give me my and Li Ming's share, as well as the permission of the Ministry of Households. I won't stay here any longer, and will return to Luoyang early tomorrow morning. As for your offense against the current prince consort that day, I won't bother with it." Princess Qianjin looked to be in her thirties, a few years younger than Wu Mei.
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