Four hundred and ninetieth chapters the emperor turned against each other
I feel a little frustrated. No matter whether I am ambitious or not, as long as my abilities are outrageous, I will become the target of suppression by the power.
Empress Wu never knew that if Li Qinzai had this idea, he would definitely not be living like this now. Both she and he would live an exciting and exciting life.
Whether he was a rural teacher or a hermit in Ganjingzhuang, Li Qinzai not only really liked this kind of life, but he also showed his indifferent attitude to outsiders intentionally or unintentionally.
Just like being handsome, it's not his fault that he's capable. He's just a down-to-earth person who has absolutely no interest in fighting or playing tricks.
However, no matter how harmless he acted, he was still feared by Empress Wu.
What Li Qinzai is thinking now is whether the decentralization of power and suppression of him was Empress Wu's intention, or did Li Zhi also have this little thought?
"Queen, I... would like to resign and beg to return home." Li Qinzai said in frustration.
Empress Wu looked at him without surprise and said slowly: "Jingchu, no one is forcing you to resign. The Tianjia has Tianjia's considerations. I can see that you are not an ambitious person, but there are some things that the Tianjia must master.
In their own hands, the Tang Dynasty was hard-won, and no one dared to take risks."
"I understand what the queen means. I only want to be a village man in the countryside in this life, and I hope the queen will make it happen."
Empress Wu shook her head: "You still don't understand what I mean. Teach your disciples well. I don't want you to participate in other matters."
Li Qinzai's face suddenly darkened: "The queen doesn't understand what I mean either. What I mean is that I don't want to be involved in these nonsense anymore."
Empress Wu raised her eyebrows, and the atmosphere between the two instantly became tense.
A palace attendant hurried over, stood in front of Empress Wu and bowed: "Queen, Your Majesty has invited me."
Empress Wu was startled and her face suddenly turned pale.
Li Qinzai bowed to Empress Wu and said, "I take my leave."
After saying that, Li Qinzai turned around and left.
Empress Wu bit her lower lip and immediately turned around and walked towards Li Zhi's bedroom.
Li Zhi woke up at some point. The palace servant was holding a bowl of white porridge, and Li Zhi was sipping gently along the edge of the bowl.
Empress Wu entered the house and saluted Li Zhi to say hello.
Li Zhi didn't raise his eyebrows, his eyes still staring at the white porridge in front of him, as if this bowl of porridge was more enchanting and charming than his mother-in-law.
Empress Wu did not dare to disturb him and stood motionless in front of Li Zhi, waiting for Li Zhi to finish his meal.
After the last mouthful of porridge went into his mouth, Li Zhi still used bamboo chops to push the remaining grains in the bowl into his mouth, not daring to waste a grain of food.
After eating, Li Zhi put down his bowl and sighed with satisfaction.
Empress Wu immediately handed over the handkerchief that was close to her body obediently, but Li Zhi didn't even look at it. Instead, he took the handkerchief from Wang Changfu next to him and wiped his mouth.
After seeing Li Zhi's actions, Empress Wu's face became paler.
After the palace officials took away the meal, only the emperor and empress were left in the room, and then Li Zhi spoke leisurely.
"It's early in the morning, and the queen actually has the leisure and grace to stroll around the Li family's garden, haha."
Empress Wu lowered her head and said, "I didn't sleep well and got up early, so I wanted to go for a walk alone."
"I didn't sleep well either. I had a nightmare last night..."
As a compliment, Empress Wu had to ask: "What dream did Your Majesty have?"
"I dreamed that the Tang Dynasty was defeated in my hands. Rebel armies were everywhere in the world. Thousands of miles were bloody and the people were like grass. Later, the rebel armies broke through Chang'an. I lost the last line of defense and had to leave the city with my subjects.
Avoid disaster."
Empress Wu was surprised and said: "The Tang Dynasty has seen its prosperity under your Majesty's rule. People all over the world live and work in peace and contentment, and foreign countries worship gods. How could your Majesty have such a dream?"
Li Zhi sighed: "Yes, how could I have such a dream..."
"Since I came to the throne, I have overthrown powerful ministers, suppressed aristocratic families, vigorously promoted scientific examinations, and given opportunities to children from poor families to get ahead. I have been light on corvee and low on gifts, and treated my people well."
"I love my people like a son and treat my ministers as nobles of the country. Although I dare not compare myself to my great ancestor Taizong and my ancestors, I think I have done a good job. Why would anyone want to overthrow me in such a great Tang Dynasty?"
Empress Wu said softly: "Your Majesty must have thought too much about the domain and governing the country, so this dream cannot be true. Your Majesty, please forget this dream."
Li Zhi closed his eyes and said slowly: "What I'm most afraid of is that in a corner that I can't see, someone is quietly digging up the foundation of the Tang Dynasty..."
"By the time I react, the foundation of the country has been broken, and the people of the world have betrayed their moral integrity. They will use their swords to make me fully understand that I, the emperor, am not as good as I thought I was..."
Empress Wu was shocked, it turned out that these words were waiting for her here.
"Your Majesty, I am my concubine..." Empress Wu defended with difficulty. She knew that Li Zhi had already known about the conversation with Li Qinzai in the garden just now.
Yes, isn't it easy for the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty to know something that happened right under his nose?
Li Zhi smiled self-deprecatingly, his smile gradually faded, and his eyes gradually became sinister, revealing a rare wolf-like look, staring at her fiercely.
"Mei Niang, how dare you treat my subordinate like this!" Li Zhi said through gritted teeth.
Empress Wu panicked and subconsciously knelt down.
This emperor is not as gentle and cowardly as he seems on the surface. In fact, when someone touches his interests, he will show his ferocious face and fierce fangs, and he will pounce on the enemy and tear the enemy to pieces.
Empress Wu had seen the expression on Li Zhi's face at this moment.
Back then, in the Golden Hall of Tai Chi Palace, when Changsun Wuji went up to the hall and left the hall without saying goodbye in the manner of a powerful minister, Li Zhi stared at his back with the same expression as he did at this moment.
Later, Changsun Wuji collapsed and died inexplicably.
At this time, Li Zhi stared at her like a hungry wolf.
Although she usually presented herself with a strong attitude, Empress Wu knew very well that it was just a persona. Regardless of the palace or the world, the real power was actually still in the hands of this man.
At best, she only used a little cleverness in it and managed to gather a few party members from the cracks.
Those few party members were actually with Li Zhi's tacit approval. He also needed a force to balance the situation in the government.
Again, I can lift you up or throw you down.
Abandoned queen? I don’t mind at all, it’s not the first time I’ve been abolished.
Looking at the panicked Empress Wu, Li Zhi narrowed his eyes and said in a gloomy tone: "I will give you another chance. Have you really done nothing?"
Empress Wu was really panicked. She subconsciously curled up her hair and looked like she was about to cry, trying to arouse Li Zhi's love and distress.
"Your Majesty, have you ruined the relationship we have had as husband and wife for many years because of an outsider?"
Li Zhi said angrily: "When you forced a humble minister to hide in the mountains and cut off the foundation of our Tang Dynasty, did you ever think about the relationship between you and me as husband and wife for many years?"