Chapter 1085: What bad intentions could Brother Lang have?

Inside the Lizheng Hall of the Taiji Palace, several exquisite side dishes were placed on the rosewood dining table. Empress Wu was leisurely enjoying her lunch, picking up a piece of crystal shrimp dumpling with her silver chopsticks and savoring it carefully.

The sunlight outside the window was shining brightly, shining through the carved window lattices onto the golden brick floor, making the hall bright, but it could not hide the usual calmness between her brows.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the palace. A young eunuch walked in quickly with his head lowered, knelt down, and said in a voice that was somewhat panicked: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened in the Zhaoguo Mansion!"

Empress Wu paused slightly as she gripped the silver chopsticks. She looked up at him and said calmly, "Why are you so flustered?"

The young eunuch swallowed his saliva and lowered his voice, "We just received an urgent report that a fire broke out in Lord Changsun's residence. The fire was raging fiercely... By the time it was put out, Lord Changsun and the four young masters in the mansion had all perished in the flames. No one survived!"

With a "clang", the silver chopsticks in Empress Wu's hand fell into the plate, making a crisp sound.

A trace of surprise flashed across her face for a moment, and then her brows furrowed, and her tone was filled with disbelief: "What did you say? Lord Zhangsun... and his four sons were burned to death in the fire? Is this news true?"

"It's absolutely true, my lady!"

The young eunuch quickly replied, "Your Majesty has already taken the Emperor to the Duke of Zhao's residence. Many ministers in the court have also heard the news and have gone there. I'm afraid the situation there is already in chaos."

Empress Wu took a deep breath, gently stroking the edge of the table with her fingertips, trying to suppress the emotions surging in her heart. Her face slowly regained its usual composure, and she simply waved her hand: "Alright, I understand, you can go down."

"Yes." The young eunuch didn't dare to say more. He bowed and retreated, closing the palace door gently.

As soon as the palace door closed, Empress Wu suddenly stood up from her seat, and her previous calm appearance disappeared.

She paced quickly in the hall, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise up, her eyes flashed with ecstasy that had been suppressed for a long time, and even her breathing became rapid.

"That old scoundrel Changsun Wuji is actually dead! And all his four sons are dead!" Empress Wu whispered to herself, with uncontrollable excitement in her voice.

"When I was crowned empress, that old bastard Changsun obstructed me in every way possible, teaming up with the court officials to embarrass me at every turn, and treating me like a thorn in his side... Now, retribution has finally arrived!"

Empress Wu walked to the window with excitement, looking at the blue sky outside the palace wall. She felt that the haze that had been weighing on her heart for days was swept away.

Once Changsun Wuji, the big tree that had dominated the court for many years, fell, those forces that depended on him would inevitably scatter. From then on, no one in the harem or even the court would be able to restrain her like this.

"Good, very good!" Empress Wu raised her hand and stroked her temples. A sharp light flashed in her eyes, but her face slowly returned to calm.

Now is not the time to lose her composure. She needs to think carefully about how to use this "accident" to gain more help for herself.

The sunlight outside the window became increasingly brighter, shining on Wu Zetian's face, revealing a rather shrewd smile.

At the same time, as the imperial carriage entered the palace gate, Li Zhi put away his relaxed expression, put on a sad face again, and gave instructions to his entourage.

"I hereby declare that Lord Changsun has passed away. I am deeply saddened. From this day forward, all music in the palace will be suspended for half a month. I will also observe a vegetarian diet for seven days as a token of my grief."

Having said that, Li Zhi turned around and winked at Lin Lang, and the two of them went to the imperial study, one in front and the other behind.

"This is a complete act," Li Zhi said after entering the imperial study. He put aside his heavy expression, loosened his clothes and smiled. "On the surface, I have to pretend to be in agony. Behind the scenes, I have to rely on my brother to keep me company."

Lin Lang followed with a smile: "Brother Emperor, this skill of winning people's hearts is something I really need to learn."

The imperial study was more magnificent than Lin Lang had imagined. The floor-to-ceiling rosewood bookshelves were filled with ancient thread-bound books, and the air was filled with the faint scent of ink and sandalwood.

There are several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall. The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, and the landscape paintings are full of profound artistic conception. You can tell at a glance that they are the work of famous artists.

He approached a painting of pine and crane and could not help but exclaim, "This painting is truly extraordinary. The crane's feathers are clearly visible, and the pine needles seem to be dripping with emerald green."

Seeing Lin Lang absorbed in the painting, Li Zhi waved his hand and said, "Brother, do you like these paintings? Take any that you like. Why be polite to me?"

Lin Lang pretended to refuse: "I can't do that. These are all treasures collected by my royal brother. How can I take away someone else's love?"

"What's the problem?" Li Zhi interrupted Lin Lang, pointing at the wall full of calligraphy and paintings. "Just tell me, which ones do you like?"

Lin Lang then "went with the flow" with sincerity in his eyes: "To be honest, I have long heard that the ancestors of the Tang Dynasty were all men of great talent and strategy. The late emperor was a master of both civil and military affairs, and he created the prosperous Zhenguan era. His Feibai calligraphy was also the best in the world."

"The Emperor Retired raised an army to establish the Tang Dynasty and laid the foundation for the country. His calligraphy is extremely rare. If I could obtain an authentic work of our ancestor, I would definitely enshrine it and admire it day and night."

Li Zhi felt relieved after hearing this. He immediately walked to the bookshelf and took down the two scrolls himself.

"My dear brother, this is the manuscript of the 'Preface to the Lanting Collection' copied by our father. There is also a painting of 'Hunting Scene' that was painted by the Emperor Emeritus."

Li Zhi flipped through two more paintings and said, "Add to that the rubbings of Father's 'Hot Spring Inscription' and the Emperor Emeritus' 'Early Tang Dynasty Landscape', and give them to you, my dear brother!"

Lin Lang hurriedly bowed and thanked him, his fingertips trembling as he took the scroll.

These calligraphy and paintings are all authentic works of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Li Yuan and Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin!

Get rich!

Make a fortune!

Lin Lang calmly put the four priceless calligraphy and paintings into his personal space, his heart already beaming with joy.

Soon, the palace maids brought a few side dishes and bowls and chopsticks to the imperial study. Although they were "vegetarian", they were exquisitely prepared.

Emerald tofu, cold-mixed black fungus, vegetarian lotus root dumplings, mustard soup, stir-fried bamboo shoots, cold-mixed perilla, stir-fried water spinach, stir-fried winter melon, Hu pancake, steamed pancake, wheat rice, and two bowls of millet porridge.

There are also some pickles and preserved vegetables from the Tang Dynasty, which look and taste good.

Lin Lang and Li Zhi sat opposite each other and ate comfortably.

"By the way, my royal brother," Lin Lang said with a smile, picking up a piece of lotus root, "I have some knowledge of Western oil painting. The painting method is different from the Tang Dynasty ink painting. I can paint the faces of people vividly, and even the hair lines can be clearly seen."

"After lunch, I will paint an oil painting for you, my brother, and your sister-in-law, as a return gift to you."

Li Zhi's eyes lit up when he heard this. Holding the silver chopsticks, he asked, "Oh? My dear brother, you have such a novel painting skill? Is it more realistic than the court painters?"

"I wouldn't dare say it's better, but it's definitely something new," Lin Lang nodded. "Oil paintings can last a hundred years without fading. Looking at them in the future will be like looking at the real person."

"Great!" Li Zhi rubbed his hands with joy. "Then I must take a good look at this Western painting method. Let's eat quickly, and then we can start painting!"

Lin Lang took out two cans of beer from his personal space, opened one and handed it to Li Zhi.

After Lin Lang opened the can of beer in his hand, he clinked glasses with his sworn brother Li Zhi, eating the delicacies cooked by the Tang Dynasty's imperial kitchen while chatting about everything under the sun.

The sunlight outside the window was shining brightly, shining on the two of them through the carved wooden window. In the imperial study, there was no longer the calculations of the court, but there was a bit more warmth of sworn brothers.

Under the influence of alcohol, Li Zhi talked with Lin Lang about many ideals and ambitions for governing the country.

Lin Lang also generously offered advice to Li Zhi, and even advised him to avoid using relatives when promoting important officials.

Li Zhi frowned slightly after hearing this, looked at Lin Lang and asked, "Could you please explain?"

Lin Lang whispered, "Brother Emperor, I understand that you dote on the Empress Dowager. Now that Lord Changsun has died unexpectedly in a fire, the court has been reshuffled. This shift in power has allowed the Wu clan, a foreign relative, to dominate the court and threaten the imperial power."

Li Zhi was a smart man. He understood immediately and took a deep breath. "My dear brother, what you said makes sense."

Lin Lang continued, "As far as I know, the emperor's sister-in-law's brother, Wu Yuanqing, is the Junior Minister of the Imperial Clan, and Wu Yuanshuang is the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household. Their current official positions are not high."

"But my brother loves me and my family. If the sister-in-law whispers in your ear, the Wu family will rise in power. This will threaten Hong'er's eldest son, the crown prince, and his succession to the throne, which will be hindered by the interference of his uncles."

After hearing this, Li Zhi smiled and said, "My dear brother, you are truly a good godfather, always thinking about Hong'er's future. But Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang are both mediocre. Will they ever threaten my Li family's empire?"

Lin Lang said seriously, "Brother Emperor, the imperial court must focus on preventing external relatives from interfering in government affairs. Empress Lü's pheasant in the early Han Dynasty and Dugu Qieluo in the Sui Dynasty, two examples of external relatives interfering in government affairs, are both precedents, and both are bloody examples!"

Li Zhi's fingers holding the beer can suddenly tightened, leaving a shallow mark on the can. He took a breath of cold air, and sweat broke out on his forehead. He looked at Lin Lang with eyes full of fear and admiration.

"My dear brother... your words really woke me up!"

"I only thought the Wu brothers were mediocre and not to be feared, but I forgot the seriousness of the influence of foreign relatives interfering in politics."

"Lü Zhi's rebellion against the Han Dynasty, Dugu's influence on the Sui Dynasty—each of them started from seemingly harmless sources. My dear brother, you have farsightedness and foresight, far more than I do, and you understand the art of checks and balances better than anyone else!"

Lin Lang put down his chopsticks, his expression still serious: "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise!"

"I am only a bystander, and I have high hopes for Hong'er. I hope that he can protect the Li Dynasty like my brother did and become a wise ruler."

"This country is the foundation laid by Taizu and Taizong, and it is also the family business that my royal brother wants to pass on to Honger. We must be cautious!" Lin Lang's words completely destroyed Wu Zetian's possibility of becoming an empress.

Li Zhi nodded heavily, raised the beer can in his hand, and slammed it against Lin Lang's can, causing some foam to splash out from the mouth of the can.

"My dear brother, you are right! The Li Dynasty must not be allowed to suffer the fate of foreign relatives interfering in politics!"

"I've made a note. When promoting officials in the future, I must first screen out potential risks from relatives of the emperor's wife. I will never give the Wu family a chance to become powerful!"

"Come, brother, this glass of wine is for you!"

Lin Lang raised his hand and clinked his beer can with Li Zhi's. He tilted his head back and drank the entire can, feeling a refreshing feeling in his throat. "It is a blessing for the Tang Dynasty and a blessing for Hong'er that your Majesty listens to my words."

Li Zhi placed the empty beer can on the table. His eyes were clear and bright, no longer showing any sign of drunkenness. "From now on, I'll have to listen to your opinions on matters of state. Your brain is much more active than those old ministers who can only quote from classics."

Lin Lang smiled without saying anything, a glint of deep calculation flashed in his eyes.