Changsun Wuji was completely shocked by Wu Meiniang's words. He never imagined that this seemingly charming and lovely woman could be so ruthless, not even sparing herself!
It should be understood that once a concubine in the imperial harem gets involved in such a matter, even if she is eventually proven innocent, she will still lose the emperor's favor.
But then again, why did she do that?
"Consort Wu, are you really willing to risk everything for the Crown Prince?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Meiniang immediately became serious and said.
"Please be careful with your words, Master Sikong!"
"I did this not for His Highness the Crown Prince, but for my own safety!"
"Without the support of the imperial court, it is very difficult for concubines to win the emperor's favor in the harem by relying solely on their beauty!"
"By doing this, I am not only helping His Highness the Crown Prince, but also helping the Minister of Works and myself."
"As long as His Highness the Crown Prince and the Minister of Works appreciate my efforts and allow me to gain a foothold in the harem, I will be eternally grateful!"
When Changsun Wuji heard Wu Meiniang say this, he stroked his beard and pondered for a while before speaking.
"All right!"
"Since you don't ask for much, I'll just agree!"
In fact, Changsun Wuji was very satisfied with Wu Meiniang's answer, and he appreciated that Wu Meiniang had taken the initiative to make conditions.
In his view, she was an extremely intelligent woman who knew what she should and shouldn't want.
The two reached an agreement, and Changsun Wuji's illness was cured on the spot.
Changsun Wuji couldn't wait until dawn. That very night, he ordered a carriage to be prepared and sped off to Shuozhou.
Despite his haste, he was still too late. By the time he arrived in Shuozhou, the banquet had already been going on for more than half an hour.
When Changsun Wuji entered the palace, it was precisely when Li Shimin announced the investiture of Li Jue as his eldest grandson. Just as he was secretly regretting that he was a step too late, he suddenly heard Li Jue ask a question.
"Grandpa, where is your brother-in-law?"
Li Shimin casually made up a lie.
"Your eldest grandson uncle is ill!"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue smiled slightly as he looked at Changsun Wuji standing at the door.
"Grandpa, is Uncle Changsun really ill?"
Upon hearing the implication in those words, Li Shimin immediately looked outside and indeed saw someone who shouldn't be there.
"Changsun Wuji, didn't I tell you to stay home and recuperate?"
Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"Your Majesty, my illness has long been cured!"
"Moreover, the reason I have come here today is to submit a memorial to Your Majesty, requesting that Your Majesty appoint your eldest grandson as the Crown Prince!"
"oh?"
"Your Majesty doesn't believe me?"
"Your Majesty, I have already written the memorial. Please take a look!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately descended the steps and snatched the memorial handed to him by Changsun Wuji. He opened the memorial and saw that the handwriting was already dry and did not appear to be newly written, at which point a smile appeared on his face.
"Okay, okay!"
"Auxiliary Machine, I am so pleased that you have such a heart!"
"Li Jue, take a look too!"
"oh……"
Li Jue stepped forward and took the memorial from Li Shimin's hand. Like Li Shimin, he carefully examined the handwriting. Seeing that the writing was already dry, he looked at Changsun Wuji with a surprised expression.
"Uncle Changsun, this...this doesn't seem to be in line with your style!"
Changsun Wuji smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
"Don't blame the eldest grandson!"
"My previous targeting of the eldest grandson was not because I disliked you, my grandnephew, but because I did not want the Tang Dynasty to be thrown into turmoil again because of the issue of the crown prince!"
"However, now that the Crown Prince is in exile in the north, the position of heir apparent is vacant. The eldest grandson is the most deserving candidate in terms of both seniority and prestige. How can I allow such a jewel to be tarnished?"
As soon as Changsun Wuji finished speaking, Li Shimin shouted his approval.
"Well said!"
"Come, come, quickly offer Lord Changsun a seat!"
Although Changsun Wuji was present at the banquet, the overall atmosphere remained very harmonious.
Amidst a chorus of songs and dances, the powerful figures of the Zhenguan era completed the succession to the throne.
But tonight was destined to be a sleepless night. Not long after the song and dance performance began, the Xueyantuo envoy arrived.
Li Jue recognized the messenger; it was Yebuhua, who had chased him for dozens of miles across the grasslands.
"Your humble servant Yebuhua pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty!"
"Foreign official?"
Li Shimin was displeased upon hearing this title. He thought to himself that Bazhuo's father was the Khan he had appointed, and even Bazhuo, that brat, had been given an imperial edict of investiture when he ascended the throne.
Now you, a mere subject, dare to address me as an outsider?
Although Li Shimin was furious, he could only suppress his dissatisfaction for the time being, thinking that his son was still in someone else's hands.
"Speak quickly, I'm busy with the investiture ceremony!"
" investiture?"
Yebuhua was stunned when he heard this. He thought to himself, "Why is Li Shimin bestowing titles in Shuozhou? Is he going to bestow a new Khan?"
"May I ask, Your Majesty, whom do you wish to bestow an honor upon?"
Li Shimin laughed heartily upon hearing this.
"Of course, it's to appoint the Crown Prince of our Great Tang Dynasty!"
"My eldest grandson is of noble character, benevolent and loves the people, and is perfectly suited to be named Crown Prince!"
"Go back and tell that wicked brat Ba Zhuo that our Great Tang already has a new crown prince. Let him wash his neck and wait to die!"
Li Shimin's words were extremely domineering, and immediately resonated with the military generals present.
"Yebuhua, hurry back and tell your master to send Prince Jin back to us immediately, or our Tang cavalry will crush the Xueyantuo tribes!"
Upon hearing this, Yebuhua immediately looked at Li Jue, with whom he had fought fiercely on the grassland, and his mouth was filled with bitterness.
He suddenly realized that his Khan had made a mistake: he had helped the Tang Dynasty choose a more suitable crown prince...
Yebuhua had fought Li Jue on the battlefield, and knew all too well how difficult this kid was to deal with.
This kid is not only brave and fearless, but his command of cavalry in battle is also superb.
If it weren't for the weapons and armor provided by the Goguryeo people, let alone 20,000 men, even 100,000 men probably wouldn't be able to stop this kid!
Now look what's happened! Our own Khan captured a sheep prince of the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty immediately replaced him with a fierce tiger!
"Your humble servant... Your humble servant congratulates the new Crown Prince of the Great Tang Dynasty..."
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty will return immediately to inform my Khan... that my Khan should... that Your Majesty's Crown Prince be sent to your country as soon as possible..."
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately corrected him.
"wrong!"
"It's not the Crown Prince, it's the Prince of Jin!"
"Li Zhi has been reinstated as the Prince of Jin by me. Please, that wicked boy Bazhuo, quickly send my Prince of Jin back!"
"promise!"
"I will certainly convey your message..."
After saying this, Yebuhua slunk away, then mounted his horse and quickly returned to the Xueyantuo camp.
However, Ba Zhuo had long been intimidated by the Tang Dynasty, which caused him to run for three whole days before catching up.
"Khan, something terrible has happened!"
"how?"
"The Tang emperor no longer wants their crown prince?"
"Khan... the Tang Dynasty has a new crown prince, I'm afraid they really don't want this prince anymore..."
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