The next morning, Chang'an City was freezing.

When Li Hong came to the Zichen Hall of the Daming Palace to meet Gaozong and Empress Wu, they were still discussing government affairs with the prime ministers in the Xuanzheng Hall.

Chang'an City was built based on the Zhouyi "Qian" hexagram theory, and Tai Chi Palace was built in the center of the north of Chang'an City to allow the kings on earth to correspond to the stars in the sky. Therefore, the construction of Tai Chi Palace ignored the terrain defects, making it in Chang'an City is the lowest lying area, and Chang'an City often rains in summer, and is humid and hot when the temperature is high, making it unsuitable for living.

Therefore, as early as the first year of Linde's reign, before the Daming Palace was completed, Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu had already moved their government affairs and bedrooms to the Daming Palace!

The Daming Palace has three main halls, which are Hanyuan Hall, Xuanzheng Hall, and Zichen Hall. They are also called the Outer Dynasty, the Middle Dynasty, and the Inner Dynasty. Among the three main halls, the Hanyuan Hall is the place where the empire holds celebrations, and the Xuanzheng Hall is in Hanyuan. To the north of the palace was where the Tang Dynasty handled state affairs. Only the Zichen Hall was where Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu handled daily government affairs.

Li Hong is currently waiting for Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu in Zichen Palace.

He thought deeply about it all night last night, but still hadn't made a decision. Because he knew Gaozong's cowardice and Empress Wu's strength, and their obsession with power. Therefore, he didn't want to prematurely choose his own side in the battle between Gaozong and Empress Wu. position.

It was just that Gaozong, through Dai Zhide, asked him to write a letter suggesting that Li Zhong should be buried with a generous burial. He absolutely had to comply with this matter, because Gaozong was still the emperor of the Tang Empire, and Li Hong had to rely on his father and could not disobey him. mean.

Therefore, he wrote this memorial last night in order to come to Zichen Palace to meet Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu today, hoping to state his advice in front of them.

If this kind of practice were done to adults, it might be considered as alienating the relationship between the emperor and the courtiers. But now Li Hong is only thirteen years old. If he did this, Gaozong and Empress Wu would never think of it. If there are too many, one would think this is a manifestation of his political naivety.

"Your Highness, the empress is back." Just when Li Hong was immersed in his own thoughts, a young chamberlain suddenly whispered in his ear.

Li Hong stood up hurriedly and saw Empress Wu striding into the Zichen Palace surrounded by eight maids.

Empress Wu is already forty-one years old this year, but she still looks gorgeous and charming. With her broad forehead, plump and charming figure, dragon-shaped brows, and red-phoenix eyes, she is born with a temperament that looks down on the world.

When Li Hong was looking at Empress Wu, Empress Wu's eyes also moved to his face. This gaze was like a cold air, which suddenly enveloped Li Hong's whole body. Li Hong's back felt cold, and his body shivered. , hurriedly stepped forward, bowed and saluted, and said, "My son, please see your mother."

"Hong'er, aren't you feeling unwell and are recuperating in the East Palace? Why did you come to Zichen Hall today?" Empress Wu walked slowly to Li Hong, her tone becoming much softer.

Li Hong, who had been feeling palpitated by Empress Wu's gaze just now, no longer dared to have any petty thoughts. He tried his best to show a very cowardly look and said, "Empress, my son's body is no longer seriously injured. He only needs to take good care of himself for a few more days." , you can continue to study and study. I came into the palace today specifically to pay my respects to you and my father."

"Well, you are very benevolent and filial. Both your father and mother know this." Empress Wu said happily. She gently took Li Hong's hand, and Li Hong also took advantage of the situation to help Empress Wu sit on the couch before speaking. , "When we were discussing state affairs in the Xuanzheng Hall just now, your father suddenly felt unwell and has gone back to Linde to rest. If you have anything, please tell your mother!"

Li Hong was stunned. He knew that in the last years of Xianqing, Emperor Gaozong had already suffered from wind disease, which made him unable to see and had difficulty in handling government affairs. Wind disease refers to wind, cold and dampness, which is the cause of paralysis. This is a member of the Li family.

The hereditary disease was not as serious as Gaozong's. He could no longer hold on to just a simple court meeting.

Emperor Gaozong did not go to Zichen Hall with Empress Wu to handle government affairs, which made Li Hong a little uneasy.

Because the countermeasure he came up with last night was to state his advice in front of Gaozong and Empress Wu. In this way, no matter how angry Empress Wu was, she would not blame himself in front of Gaozong. And he believed that he was like this

Be honest with Empress Wu. Once her anger is gone, she will definitely understand her difficulties.

But now that Empress Wu is the only one in front of her, should she take out the memorial? What should she do if she offends Empress Wu without Gaozong's protection?

Li Hong was a little hesitant!

Just when Li Hong was hesitating, he found that Empress Wu was looking at him. In addition to the loving look of a mother, there was also a playful look in her eyes. Li Hong's heart trembled, and he immediately retracted his thoughts and forced himself to

He scratched his head and said, "Mother, my son wrote a memorial last night, and I would like to ask my mother to correct it today."

With that said, Li Hong handed the memorial written last night about the grand burial of Li Zhong to Empress Wu.

Empress Wu seemed to have been fully aware of Li Hong's actions, and her expression did not change at all. But as long as you observe carefully, you will definitely find an imperceptible coldness flashing in her eyes when Li Hong took out the memorial.

.

Empress Wu has always paid close attention to Li Hong's life and daily life in the East Palace.

Because she has special feelings for her eldest son.

Back then, she was able to stabilize her position in the harem with Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu, because she gave birth to the prince Li Hong for Gaozong. Later, she was able to maintain her position in the harem with Changsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang, and Liu Shi.

The reason why Li Hong was able to secure the position of queen despite the high pressure of the prime minister was that Li Hong was canonized as prince.

Therefore, she had long known that Dai Zhide had suggested that Li Hong submit a letter to bury Li Zhong generously, and she also knew that what Dai Zhide did was not his intention at all, but Gaozong's intention.

Based on her understanding of Li Hong's character, she thought that Li Hong would publicly state his views in a letter, but she did not expect that Li Hong would show the memorial to her today.

Empress Wu's eyes were fixed on Li Hong's face like a knife, and she looked at Li Hong carefully again. She found that Li Hong's eyes were so clean, simple, and spotless, like a clear spring water with the bottom visible.

Li Zhi, Emperor Gaozong of that time.

At this moment, Empress Wu's heart seemed to be touched by something, causing ripples in her heart.

She felt that these two months of recuperation had caused some kind of change in her son, but she didn't know the specific changes, but she liked how Li Hong was now submissive and obedient to her.

Therefore, she did not read Li Hong's memorial, but the gaze she looked at Li Hong softened a lot. She suddenly smiled and said seriously, "Is this the memorial about the lavish burial of Li Zhong?"

Li Hong was not surprised because Empress Wu knew the content of his memorial without reading it, because if the future empress did not have such ability, how could she achieve her great achievements through the ages? He nodded and said, "Yes."

"Hong'er, is this what you mean?" Empress Wu looked directly at Li Hong, as if she wanted to see through what Li Hong was thinking.

Li Hong was forced by Empress Wu's eyes not to lie, so he answered truthfully, "Previously, Prime Minister Dai suggested that I should submit a letter to the minister, and the minister also felt that although Li Zhong was demoted to a commoner and was executed for treason, he

After all, he is still a descendant of my royal family, and this bloodline cannot be changed, so leaving his body in the wilderness after his death will indeed harm the face of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, I also agree with the suggestion of Prime Minister Dai."

After listening to Li Hong's words, Empress Wu felt even more comfortable knowing that her son had not lied to her.

A faint smile appeared on her majestic face again, and she said softly, "Hong'er, Queen Mother knows that you are kind, filial, gentle and courteous. However, you are not in good health now and it is not easy to work too hard. It is better to participate less in government affairs in the future.

Yes, as the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, you are the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty. There are some things that you need to judge right from wrong and make your own decisions. You must not just listen to other people's slanderous words."

"My son, I will obey my mother's teachings!" Li Hong replied sincerely. How could he not understand the meaning of Empress Wu's words?

"Hong'er, have you recently used the cavalry of your own army, led by You Jianmen, to find a doctor named Sun Simiao?" Suddenly, Empress Wu asked again in a stern tone.

"This is because I was reckless. It's just because I heard that Sun Simiao has superb medical skills and can..." Li Hong hurriedly apologized and admitted his mistake.

He did not dare to say that this was a selfish decision made by Yan Zhuang, otherwise with Empress Wu's character, Yan Zhuang would have to lose his skin even if he did not die. At the same time, he also knew that Empress Wu was not asking himself by saying this, but was warning himself that regardless of him,

She knew exactly what she had done.

"Someone in the court hall today impeached you, saying that you indulged your personal guards and allowed them to disturb the people and spread publicity. Hong'er, you are the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, and every move you make represents the Tang Dynasty. You can't act like this in the future.

Of course, the Queen Mother will deal with the person who wrote the letter to impeach you. As long as the Queen Mother is here, they will never allow them to slander you. What you have to do in the future is to listen to the Queen Mother and be your prince." Empress Wu said this.

There was a hint of majesty in her tone that looked down upon the world.

Li Hong understood the meaning of Empress Wu's words. Empress Wu meant that he should be a good boy and obey her, and she would also solve some troublemakers for him, so he hurriedly agreed, "I understand!"

"Okay, your memorial will be placed here. When your father gets better, the Queen Mother will show it to him. Now you can go to the Linde Hall to pay your respects to your father! The Queen Mother still has government affairs to deal with here.

"Empress Wu had achieved her goal of raising something with Li Hong today, so she got up and walked to the jade case to start handling government affairs.

After Li Hong bowed to Xie Wu again, he bowed and exited the Zichen Palace.

After leaving the Zichen Palace, Li Hong realized that he had just exchanged a few short sentences, and his back was already soaked with sweat due to nervousness. Thinking carefully about the conversation he had just had with Empress Wu, he found that there were hidden secrets in what Empress Wu said to him.

At this time, he also realized that Empress Wu was not a person who could be measured according to secular norms or judged by human nature.
Chapter completed!