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As the wedding day approached, Li Mingda was filled with joy. Everything was ready; the Ministry of Rites, Honglu Temple, and all the officials had made complete preparations, just waiting for the auspicious day to arrive.
Although Xu Zhen and Li Mingda had not met often, they shared a deep connection, making their time apart feel more precious than a new marriage. It was a unique bond that was not for outsiders to understand.
However, just as the big day was nearing, a piece of tragic news struck suddenly.
Prince Li Tai had passed away unexpectedly!
After experiencing so much, Li Chengqian finally saw through power and the world. When Emperor Taizong ordered Xu Zhen to go to Junjou to fetch him, he chose to refuse. From that moment on, his life was no longer tied to the court.
He should have enjoyed his remaining years peacefully, yet he ultimately died in despair. It was not because he lost the throne or wealth; rather, he felt lost in the fog of life and could no longer find traces of his father.
In the last two years of his life, he often thought of his father and mother and remembered his siblings. However, he could only hide in Yunxiang, unable even to visit his loved ones.
At just thirty-two years old, he died, but perhaps it was also a form of liberation.
Li Zhi had long since dropped his guard against Li Chengqian. After ascending to the throne, he rewarded Li Chengqian generously. Now that he himself was a father, he understood more deeply the bonds of love among parents and siblings.
He was filled with grief and ordered officials to conduct the highest funeral rites of the Tang Dynasty for his brother. He posthumously granted him titles as Grand Commandant and Yongzhou Governor and declared a period of mourning. Furthermore, he ordered a grand procession with swordsmen and musicians, offering three thousand pieces of silk and three thousand stones of grain, along with secret treasures from Dongyuan. He even invited Master Fazang to pray for his brother's soul.
Due to Li Chengqian's death, the wedding between Xu Zhen and Li Mingda had to be postponed. If love is meant to last through time, then what does it matter if they are apart for a while? Xu Zhen and Li Mingda had already privately committed to each other for life; all they lacked was an official ceremony. Therefore, they were not in a hurry. Xu Zhen's projects were at critical stages where she needed various excuses to frequently visit Taiyi Mountain.
People from the Ministry of War's Yamen often did not see Xu Zhen around. However, Xu Zhen had delegated her authority, allowing these seasoned bureaucrats to showcase their talents without pressure from superiors. Many matters were handled efficiently.
Earlier, when Cui Dunli served as Minister of War, he relied on the powerful backing of the Cui Clan and Murong Hanzhu's influence over the Sovereign. As a result, he became quite arrogant, often reprimanding officials in the Ministry of War harshly. Many colleagues fell silent under his intimidation, turning the Ministry into a one-man show.
Now that Cui Dunli had moved to the Council of State and found himself sidelined while Xu Zhen fully trusted the old officials in the Ministry of War, they were given opportunities to demonstrate their abilities—much to everyone's satisfaction.
However, Cui Dunli harbored deep resentment towards Xu Zhen. He still had some loyal supporters in the Ministry of War and saw an opportunity when he suspected her negligence in duty. Leveraging the power of the Cui Clan, he brought in Cui Yixuan and other members into the Ministry of War and then instructed officials to begin impeaching Xu Zhen for dereliction of duty and neglecting her responsibilities.
Although Murong Hanzhu wished for Xu Zhen to die early, now that Prince Li Tai had just passed away, Li Zhi, even if not as heartbroken as imagined, had to feign sorrow for a considerable time to display the demeanor of a benevolent ruler. Therefore, Murong Hanzhu wisely refrained from troubling Li Zhi with state affairs.
However, Cui Dunli harbored deep hatred for Xu Zhen and did not inform Murong Hanzhu in advance. He took matters into his own hands and summoned the Censors controlled by the Cui Clan to begin drafting a memorial to impeach Xu Zhen!
Li Zhi had just resumed court and was feeling troubled, showing little interest in the Court Meeting. Even Changsun Wuji had become unusually gentle, offering much comfort to Li Zhi.
Just as he was about to dismiss the court hastily, Cui Dunli signaled vigorously, prompting the Officials of the Censorate to step forward and impeach Xu Zhen.
According to Tang Dynasty regulations, for officials of the fifth rank or higher who committed offenses requiring impeachment, the Imperial Historian would report to the ministers. Major matters would be formally presented, while minor issues would be signed off; any matter not reported by the Imperial Historian or Deputy Minister but still requiring impeachment would need to be documented by those officials and then presented according to the severity of the case.
When impeaching officials of fifth rank or above, it was customary to use the Zhang Dan method. During the emperor's court session, the Imperial Historian would wear a ceremonial cap and read out the impeachment document in front of the ceremonial guards. It was stipulated that if a minister was impeached by the Imperial Historian using Zhang Dan, they must step out and stand in court awaiting judgment.
While it was true that Xu Zhen had been somewhat negligent in her duties, invoking the Imperial Historian for impeachment seemed excessive. Cui Dunli had become a minor figure in the Council of State, lacking presence and attention; thus, he seized this opportunity to make a scene and ensure that others could no longer overlook his role!
In this regard, Cui Dunli's actions were indeed justifiable, and Murong Hanzhu did not blame him for it. Cui Dunli's greatest mistake was choosing the wrong timing for impeachment!
Now that the Imperial Historian was conducting Zhang Dan, Xu Zhen had no choice but to step forward, remove her Purple Robe, bow her head, and stand in court awaiting judgment.
The Censorate was responsible for overseeing all officials; any corruption or misconduct among them fell under the scrutiny of the Imperial Historian.
Although the position of Imperial Historian was minor, its authority was significant. They commanded respect and instilled fear; their reports could carry great weight.
This meant that Imperial Historians had the power to impeach officials even without clear evidence and were granted immunity if they made mistakes. Before attending court, officials had to undergo supervision by Censoring Imperial Historians; being frivolous or disorderly was unacceptable.
It is said that there once was an unfortunate soul who got hungry after court and bought a pancake from a roadside vendor while walking. He happened to cross paths with an Imperial Historian and faced impeachment...
Given this context, in a Tang Court where officials were highly self-disciplined, Xu Zhen's frequent absences from duty made her impeachment inevitable.
He was a Minister, specifically the Minister of War; if he were anyone else but Xu Zhen, no one would dare casually impeach him. Unfortunately for him, he had offended Cui Dunli, leading to this scene.
"This is simply ridiculous!" Li Zhi's face turned pale with anger. While others were busy getting married and had only been back to work for a few days, this group of old men felt as if the sky was about to fall, resorting to such severe impeachment procedures. Did they really think the emperor had nothing better to do?
He was slowly starting to gain control over his own power. Changsun Wuji's restraints and suppression had weakened significantly, and with Murong Hanzhu rallying the forces of many noble families, there were many matters of state that even Changsun Wuji could not influence. This allowed Li Zhi to savor the satisfaction and sense of power that came with controlling the world.
Seeing the Imperial Historians seriously impeaching Xu Zhen, while she, constrained by rules, could only stand there like a wronged wife with her head down in the court, Li Zhi's already frustrated mood became even more irritable.
His outburst only ignited the fighting spirit of the Imperial Historians. The Taizong era never lacked for contentious officials; many saw that Taizong enjoyed this kind of drama and catered to his preferences. Kwon Man-ki and others were even the type to submit memorials about the prince and royal sons walking improperly.
It wasn't until later when Taizong's health declined and he could no longer maintain control like in his youth that these Censors began to restrain themselves, no longer daring to provoke the Sage.
Once Li Zhi took the throne, relying on Changsun Wuji's monopolization of power, the civil officials seemed to regain their former enthusiasm, frequently trying to admonish the emperor.
Now they were actually debating with Li Zhi in court, leaving him so furious that he couldn't utter a word. Xu Zhenxin coldly smiled; his plan was nearing completion, and he couldn't be bothered with the Minister of War!
Considering this, Xu Zhen proactively proposed temporarily relieving the Minister of War from his duties. Seeing Xu Zhen willingly take on this burden to help him save face as emperor warmed Li Zhi's heart. Emperor Taizong had good judgment in nurturing Xu Zhen; in critical moments, he still had to rely on her!
Already feeling irritable, seeing Xu Zhen like this made him reluctant to say anything further. After agreeing to her resignation request, he angrily left the court.
Cui Dunli felt victorious and was overjoyed, strutting out of the court like a triumphant rooster.
Murong Hanzhu looked at Xu Zhen with some surprise, a sense of unease lingering in her heart. Xu Zhen seemed to sense it and cast a glance her way; their eyes briefly met before they tacitly parted ways, each harboring their own thoughts.
Having just taken office for a few months before being hastily dismissed, bureaucrats in both court and opposition naturally returned to gather their advisors and analyze the underlying issues. Meanwhile, common folk expressed their grievances for Xu Zhen.
Xu Zhen couldn't be bothered with these matters; at this moment she was free from official duties and had time to spend with Li Wushuang and Little Si Tang, taking care of the pregnant Caesar and Zhang Suling. She missed them dearly and could even visit Li Mingda in the palace; life was quite enjoyable.
However, most of her time was still devoted to the Taiyi Mountain secret project. This long-term endeavor required significant time, financial resources, and manpower, gathering some of the most esteemed craftsmen in all of Tang. It was Xu Zhen's ultimate plan, one she was determined to protect at all costs.
While Xu Zhen busied herself at Taiyi Mountain, Li Zhi returned to the palace feeling downcast. Wu Mei quickly came forward to greet him, using her thoughtfulness to alleviate his anger and fatigue caused by his depression.
Wu Mei had given birth to a son and was now pregnant again, yet her beauty remained unparalleled. Her skin was as white as snow and as smooth as fine jade, and her mature, voluptuous figure was utterly captivating.
Moreover, she seemed to have gained a deeper understanding of many things and was doing everything possible to retain Li Zhi's favor. Thus, she did not shy away from the obstacles posed by her pregnancy. After a passionate encounter, she left Li Zhi feeling dazed.
Li Zhi felt completely relaxed, as if all his displeasure had been released in that peak moment.
Once his body experienced immense satisfaction, his heart began to feel empty. Wu Mei clearly seized this opportunity and filled Li Zhi's emptiness with what she most desired to see!
“Sage, I have heard that General Xu has been getting quite close to the two Consorts, Fang and Chai...”
Li Zhi was slightly taken aback but soon laughed, caressing Wu Mei's belly and saying, “He is also someone who wants to become a Consort. It seems he is seeking advice from the two seniors.”
Wu Mei let out a cold laugh and did not respond. Li Zhi couldn't help but frown and then asked, “Does Wife Mei have something on her mind? Do you not trust me? After everything we have been through together, are you going to act like those petty people who hide things from me?”
In response to Li Zhi's questioning, tears welled up in Wu Mei's eyes, giving her a pitiful look. Then she leaned in close to Li Zhi's ear and softly whispered sweet nothings.
At this moment, the Xu Zhen had no idea what kind of crisis she was about to fall into!
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