It turned out that Lu Tong had taken her away.
Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng were both sent to the Jin Wu Prison, awaiting interrogation.
The competition for talent and the new game of chess between the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Princess had just begun.
To cherish their talents and protect them, the Crown Prince and the Princess had to work together to transfer Su and Lu away from the capital.
Every one of them was an old, cunning fox.
If Wei Ming hadn't watched the TV series, he would have been played for a fool.
No, he wouldn't even be qualified to join the Tang Gui team.
Outside the Imperial Palace, Eunuch Feng Han greeted him.
As a grand eunuch beside the Emperor, his power was undeniable.
Later, in order to help the Emperor execute the case of the Demonic Transformation, he ended up with a death without a burial place.
Wei Ming observed proper etiquette, smiling: "Wei Ming greets Eunuch Feng."
Feng Han nodded in greeting: "御史 Wei, please come with this servant. His Majesty is waiting for you in the Imperial Study."
"Thank you, Eunuch Feng."
Wei Ming inconspicuously slipped a few gold coins into Feng Han's sleeve.
These yin and yang disabled people often have some twisted hearts. Born as men, they unfortunately lost their manhood and were unable to marry wives and have children, leaving them only to find palace maids for companionship. How pitiful.
So, it's normal for their hearts to be twisted. And their power comes from the Emperor. If the Emperor favors them, they have power. If not, they might be disposed of. They have no sense of security.
The only thing in the world that gives them a sense of security is probably money.
After receiving the gold coins, Eunuch Feng was beaming, and couldn't help but add: "His Majesty was furious when he learned that the case was solved, so 御史 Wei, you have to be careful with your words and actions. Don't provoke His Majesty again."
Wei Ming smiled slightly: "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Feng. Wei Ming is grateful."
Upon entering the Imperial Study, he saw a burly, slightly overweight middle-aged man reviewing government documents.
The Emperor Li Dan, the son of Gaozong Li Zhi and Empress Wu Zetian, the legendary Six Emperors Pill in history.
His father Li Zhi, his mother Wu Zetian, his brother Li Xian, his nephew Li Chong Mao, and his son Li Longji, were all Emperors!
Actually, Li Dan wasn't a foolish ruler. On the contrary, he was an ambitious, capable, and determined Emperor.
In any other dynasty, he might not be as great as Emperor Qin Shi Huang or Wu Zetian, but he could have at least ruled peacefully and become a wise emperor who preserved his dynasty.
However, he was surrounded by ruthless individuals.
His father, mother, aunt, sister, brother, nephew, son, and father-in-law were all troublemakers.
So, he had no choice but to be obedient and submissive, becoming the Six Emperors Pill, a unique phenomenon in history.
In the Tang Gui world, the Chang'an Red Tea Case, the Demonic Transformation Case, and the Heavenly Tower Case all have Li Dan's shadow, which shows that he is indeed unwilling to be a puppet.
But the second Empress Wu, Princess Taiping, and the semi-legendary Emperor Li Longji, were all not easy to deal with. It's tough for Li Dan!
"This minister, Wei Ming, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
In the Tang Dynasty, except for sacrifices and celebrations, kneeling was generally not required.
Wei Ming appreciated this very much.
In fact, except for the Qing Dynasty, most dynasties did not require subordinates to kneel before their superiors.
Li Dan ignored him. Only after a stick of incense did he put down his writing brush and looked up at Wei Ming.
"御史 Wei, I heard that you solved the Chang'an Red Tea Case and the Bride Disappearance Case. Good, you are worthy of being a disciple of Di Ren Jie. You have the talent of the old Di Guolao."
Wei Ming humbly said, "It was the joint effort of Chang'an County Constable Su Wu Ming, General Lu Ling Feng, and nineteen other constables from the Chang'an County衙门. How could this minister take credit for it alone?"
Li Dan looked at Wei Ming deeply, then stood up and changed the subject: "御史 Wei, I personally selected you as the top scholar in this year's imperial examination. In a way, you should be considered a disciple of the Emperor."
A sudden attempt at flattery.
But Wei Ming just wanted to be free.
Wei Ming bowed: "Your Majesty's favor is overwhelming. This minister is deeply grateful. However, this minister believes that, as the saying goes, 'Learn martial arts and literature, and serve the Emperor. All students in the world can contribute to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty by studying. Therefore, all students in the world are disciples of Your Majesty. You must not favor one over the other.'"
Li Dan was speechless. This Wei Ming was like an eel, slippery and smooth-tongued.
"Learn martial arts and literature, and serve the Emperor...御史 Wei, you are indeed a great talent!" Li Dan sighed softly.
Soon, Wei Ming left the Imperial Palace and looked at the magnificent Tang Dynasty, smiling.
In the 御史房.
"Your Majesty, are you letting him go just like that?" Feng Han asked tentatively.
Li Dan sighed: "If the Tang Dynasty has such a person, it might become even more prosperous. Let him go, let them all go."
When the feeling of loneliness encountered a poem written in slender gold script, it completely dissipated.
"This man's talent is truly extraordinary. His calligraphy and poetry are all at the level of a master!"
"Black clouds press down on the city, as if to crush it. Armor glints like gold scales under the sun."
"The sound of horns fills the air, amidst the autumn scenery. Red lips on the frontier, tinged with the purple of night."
"Half a red flag hangs above the Easy River. Frost is heavy, drums are cold, and no sound rises."
"I report to you the intentions of the Golden Platform, to raise a jade dragon to die for you."
"Die for you? Who knows who he's referring to as 'you'. Heh, this kid..."
On the other side.
Not long after Wei Ming left the Imperial Palace, Bai Shan, the Crown Prince's舍人, stopped him.
"御史 Wei, the Crown Prince requests your presence."
"Thank you, 舍人 Bai, please lead the way."
Outside the Crown Prince's council chamber, Su Wu Ming just came out and ran into Wei Ming.
"Junior brother?"
"Senior brother, I'm done."
Su Wu Ming nodded: "Done!"
He rubbed his empty stomach: "Unfortunately, the Crown Prince's golden cups are beautiful and exquisite, but they are not for entertaining guests."
"I'm going back to prison for a good night's sleep."
Wei Ming bowed: "Senior brother, please take care."
Inside the council chamber.
Wei Ming met the young semi-legendary Emperor Li Longji.
The young Li Longji was handsome and majestic, almost on par with Wu Zetian's two sons.
This guy could have been comparable to the two sons of Wu Zetian, creating the first true prosperous era in history, recognized by historians.
But unfortunately, he lived too long. If he had died twenty years earlier, he would have been as great as the two sons of Wu Zetian!
As for whether to blame Yang Yuhuan, Wei Ming had never met her and couldn't comment.
"This minister, Wei Ming, pays his respects to Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
"Wei Ming, I've prepared a feast for you. Please take a seat."
The Crown Prince's golden cups were beautiful and exquisite, definitely for entertaining guests. It's just that you have to show some skills if you want to drink the Crown Prince's fine wine.
"What do you think of the Chang'an Drunk from the Drunken Immortal Tower?" Li Longji played with the golden cup, admiring the colorless wine inside.
Wei Ming shook his head slightly: "I will send Your Highness a few more jars of even more fragrant Chang'an Drunk another day."
Li Longji laughed: "Ten years ago, you were only eight years old, and you were already able to brew such fine wine. Managing the Tang Dynasty's ten circuits and three hundred and sixty prefectures, you are truly the number one prodigy in the Tang Dynasty. You're amazing."
"Now, the prodigy has become a famous scholar throughout the land. Your poem, 'The Journey Beyond the Yanmen Pass', is truly well-written."
"I envy you so much!"
Wei Ming's eyes narrowed. Wow, he had only been out of the palace for a short while, and that poem about the frontier had already reached Li Longji's ears?
It was clear that Li Longji was warning him and trying to win him over.
Hey, kid, didn't you know? Everyone in the palace and outside is from my Crown Prince's Mansion. Come and work with me. Following the Emperor around has no future.
Wei Ming suddenly finished his wine in one gulp: "Bring me pen and ink!"
Crown Prince Li Longji's eyes lit up: "Gao Lishi, quickly attend to him."
Gao Lishi, the young eunuch beside him, presented pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Wei Ming, full of spirit and confidence, picked up the brush and splashed ink on the paper, completing the poem in one go.
After receiving the poem, he first exclaimed how beautiful the calligraphy was. Then, after reading the poem, he realized it was a rare masterpiece.
A golden cup of fine wine, worth ten thousand coins. Jade plates of delicacies, worth a million. I stop drinking and put down my chopsticks, unable to eat, draw my sword, look around, and my heart is filled with confusion.
I want to cross the Yellow River, but the ice blocks the way. I want to climb Mount Taihang, but the snow covers the mountain.
Idly, I go fishing by the stream, but then I suddenly dream of riding a boat to the sun.
The road is difficult, the road is difficult, many forked paths, where is the right way? The wind will break through the waves, there will be a time, I will raise my sails to the sky and cross the vast ocean.
"Wei Ming, you are simply... oh, what can I say to you? Never mind, just go."
After Wei Ming left, Gao Lishi advised, "Your Highness, although this man's calligraphy and poetry are good, he is too sly."
"Is being sly a bad thing?" Li Longji asked back, then continued, "There are many loyal ministers and good generals in the world, and even more corrupt officials. There are few gentlemen compared to villains!"
"But how many sly gentlemen are there in the world?"
"The wind will break through the waves, there will be a time, I will raise my sails to the sky and cross the vast ocean. Heh, I wish I could wait patiently, but my father and aunt are forcing me. I have no choice... "
Li Longji looked at the departing figure, his eyes filled with a strange mixture of complexity and coldness.
After leaving the Crown Prince's Mansion, Wei Ming did not go back. Instead, he headed straight towards the Princess's Mansion.
As expected, he ran into Wei Feng Hua, the Princess's典军, not far away.
"御史 Wei, the Princess requests your presence."
"Lead the way."