As soon as they reached the entrance of the Princess's mansion.
They ran into Lu Ling Feng, who was looking bewildered.
"Brother Lu, what are you thinking about, lost in your thoughts like that?"
"It's hard to explain, anyway, I just feel confused!" Lu Ling Feng replied, then asked, "Brother Wei, what brings you here?"
"I came out of the palace, then was invited to the East Palace, and now, just after leaving the East Palace, I was summoned to the Princess's mansion by General Wei," Wei Ming explained truthfully.
Princess Taiping must have recognized Lu Ling Feng's true identity, that is, her illegitimate son, Yang Ji.
So she said a lot of things that didn't make sense, leaving Lu Ling Feng completely baffled.
After Lu Ling Feng left, Wei Ming had just stepped into the Princess's mansion when he saw the Princess smiling warmly as she came to greet him.
Wei Ming looked startled, "Oh my, how could I be worthy of such honor, for the Princess to personally welcome me. It's unthinkable, unthinkable!"
Wei Ming discreetly glanced at Princess Li Ling Yue, who was over forty, yet still exuded charm. She looked like she was just in her early thirties, probably due to the extensive use of beauty products.
Li Ling Yue's lips twitched. Unthinkable?
Then why are you smiling so happily? So smug?
Heh! Men!
Li Ling Yue gave a cold chuckle, "Imperial Censor Wei is the most talented man in the Great Tang Dynasty, the two poems you just composed are both masterpieces, I was delighted when I read them. I wonder if I have the honor to ask you to grace us with your brushstrokes?"
"When the Princess commands, how can a subject refuse."
Wei Ming was once again surprised. The Princess's mansion has a powerful network of spies, truly formidable, no less impressive than the East Palace.
Indeed, she is the renowned Princess Taiping from history.
Each one of them plays the game of power, manipulating hearts, all masters, top-notch!
Once again, it confirms the saying, ancient people were just ancient, not stupid. On the contrary, they were exceptionally intelligent!
"Is that so? Then first, please try this Chang'an black tea?"
Li Ling Yue's voice was laced with a teasing and mischievous tone as she intently observed Wei Ming's changing expressions.
But she was disappointed. Wei Ming remained as calm as ever, his eyes, as bright as stars, showed no ripple of emotion.
Wei Ming readily agreed, "It is Wei Ming's honor to be gifted with tea by the Princess."
With that, he finished the Chang'an black tea in one gulp.
The taste was quite good. The roasting method just emerged in the Great Tang recently, Chang'an black tea was truly exquisite.
"Wei Ming!" Suddenly, Li Ling Yue's expression changed dramatically, turning icy cold, "Do you know what was contained in the fake product made by Yuan Lai?"
"The blood of the bride and a West Region herb called Underworld Grass," Wei Ming answered calmly.
Hearing this, Li Ling Yue became furious, "Yuan Lai used my name to flaunt about, spreading the tea and misleading the public. Rumors are flying throughout Chang'an, all directed at me. You are responsible for investigating this case, and you know the truth of the matter, why didn't you clear my name first?"
Then, she instantly adopted a pitiful expression, moaning and complaining, "I'm really heartbroken."
Wei Ming secretly gasped, as expected, the legendary Princess Taiping from history is indeed… a yandere, terrifying as it gets!
Wei Ming bowed slightly and defended himself, "This humble official also hopes to relieve the Princess's worries, but unfortunately, I am merely an Imperial Censor, lowly and powerless. I cannot stop these rampant rumors. However, I believe that rumors die among the wise, the pure will clear themselves..."
"Wei Ming, you are a smart man, don't talk about foolish and naive things like the pure will clear themselves."
Wei Ming was stunned. Indeed, it takes just one mouth to spread rumors, but it takes countless efforts to refute them.
"The Emperor has ordered the Dali Temple to take over this case, and the details will not be made public. As for Chang'an black tea, no one is allowed to drink it from now on. Those who are already addicted will not be pursued."
"Wei Ming, what do you think?"
Wei Ming was helpless, what can I think, sit and watch, stand and watch, that's it. Your plan failed with the Emperor, it's a defeat.
And your black tea is branded as poisonous and can no longer be consumed, it's like the Emperor slapped you hard in the face.
But, what does it have to do with me?!
"I think it's a draw."
"A draw?" Li Ling Yue sneered, "The Treasury Registrar Wen Chao was found hanging himself in his home this morning."
"And Yuan Lai, Wei Ming, do you think he will survive tonight?"
"His heart is filled with even more hate than mine."
"I have many pawns in my hand, but at least I don't discard them carelessly."
Recruitment, and then recruitment again!
Wei Ming continued to drink, silent and thoughtful.
You want to make me a pawn?
Heh!
Although there may not be many chess players in the Great Tang Dynasty, I, Wei Ming, am not necessarily not one of them!
Especially after activating the system, I dare to overthrow the Li Tang Dynasty.
But being an emperor is not glamorous, I'm too lazy to plan for the country.
When it comes to the point of no return, I can use a wave of soul control technique, and everyone will have to obey.
After the second banquet, the dancers and musicians were dismissed, Wei Ming asked to leave.
Princess Taiping reached out to stop him, her voice haughty, "They all made poems, so do I!"
"And I want more."
"I heard that you are excellent in poetry, calligraphy, and painting. You once drew a picture of the ‘Lingbo Fairy’ for Pei Jian's daughter, Pei Xi Jun, and wrote a poem to express your feelings, which became a sensation in Chang'an."
"I order you to create a work of art that is no less impressive than the ‘Lingbo Fairy’ painting and poem!"
Alright, alright, I'll give you, give you, give you everything!
Wei Ming looked around and saw a pond full of vibrant pink and white lotus blossoms, and he was inspired.
"Does the Princess like lotus flowers?"
"Since Tao Yuanming, everyone has loved chrysanthemums, and in our Great Tang, the peony is the national flower, a precious treasure. I appreciate the peony and the chrysanthemum, but I love lotus leaves and lotus flowers even more."
"Then please accompany me to the lotus pond pavilion, Princess, and allow me to paint."
After about half an hour, the painting was completed, and he also copied a poem. Turning around, he strode away.
From now on, he would soar freely like a fish in the sea, the sky is the limit.
Li Ling Yue looked at the characters and read the poem, and couldn't help but sigh, "The Great Tang has someone like Wei Ming, what a marvel!"
"... I alone cherish the lotus, it rises from the mud but remains untainted, it washes in the clear water but remains unblemished. Its stem is straight, inside and out, it does not spread or branch, its fragrance spreads far and grows even more refreshing, it stands tall and pure, it can be admired from afar but not touched..."
"If I become Empress one day, you, Wei Ming, will be the Prime Minister of the Great Tang Dynasty!"
...
"Edict: Imperial Censor Wei Ming, from the Imperial Censorate, is promoted to the position of Traveling Inspector of the Shan Nan Xi Road, acting on behalf of the Heaven, inspecting all government offices, assessing and evaluating, acting at his own discretion, the decree is to be immediately delivered and executed!"
"This subject, Wei Ming, accepts the decree with gratitude."
Wei Ming also gave Feng Han a few gold bars, Feng Han grinned with joy, "This servant congratulates Lord Wei on his promotion."
"Thank you, Eunuch Feng."
From the seventh rank to the lower fifth rank, in terms of official rank, he got promoted.
But in reality, it was a demotion, being sent away from the capital, Chang'an.
However, the position of Traveling Inspector is an official post that is not considered a demotion.
In today's language, it's like a special envoy with the emperor's seal, to put it more bluntly, it's the Central Discipline Inspection Commission!
He has the authority to inspect all government offices and officials in all regions, assess and evaluate them, and decide their promotion or demotion, their merits and demerits, all based on his sole judgment.
Most importantly, the last four words: acting at his own discretion!
This is equivalent to having the power to kill without any consequences!
Execute first, report later, authorized by the emperor!
When he returned to the Pei Mansion, Pei Jian was just about to go out.
"It's almost curfew, where is Uncle going?"
"The Princess has summoned the Ministry of Personnel to draft the appointment document. I have to go to the Ministry of Personnel to handle the official registration and the imperial decree."
"For my senior brother Su Wu Ming?"
"Yes, Su Wu Ming has been appointed as the Sima of Nan Zhou!"
Nighttime.
Su Wu Ming was still in prison, while Lu Ling Feng had been released.
Since the Crown Prince refused to see him, he was extremely depressed and could only drown his sorrows in alcohol. As he walked past a street alley, he encountered Eleven Niang trying to assassinate him.
While chasing her, he was stopped by Lu Tong's arrows. In the end, he was charged with violating the curfew, received thirty strokes of the cane, had his residence confiscated, and was expelled from Chang'an.
At the same time, Su Wu Ming received the official position that the Princess arranged for him: Sima of Nan Zhou!
...
Eleven Niang failed to assassinate Lu Ling Feng, so she had to hide and find another opportunity.
Suddenly, a voice exploded behind her.
"How should I address you, Yin Shi Lang? Or Eleven Niang?"
Eleven Niang trembled all over, swinging her twin swords, she attacked towards the rear without even looking.
But she missed!
However, the voice didn't disappear, it continued to echo behind her.
"Then I'll call you Eleven Niang. After all, Yin Shi Lang's appearance is too ugly, I don't like it."
Eleven Niang looked back abruptly, the alley was empty, there wasn't even a ghost shadow.
"Who is it? Who is it?"
"Come out!"
"Are you scared? Hehehe... You actually know fear?!" The voice laughed menacingly, then suddenly turned cold, "Since you know fear, why did you try to kill me back then? That Reanimation Incense is very useful, not only can it prevent my skin from rotting, but it can also make me smell fragrant. Would you like to try it?"
Eleven Niang was shaking all over, her heart pounding with fear, the hands holding the twin swords were sweating profusely, making them sticky.
But she still forced herself to be brave and roared, "Stop playing tricks, I, Eleven Niang, am not afraid of you. If you have the guts, come out!"
"Playing tricks? I'm not as good as you... Since you insist on seeing me, alright, turn around and see who I am!"
A pair of pale hands wrapped around Eleven Niang's neck from behind. Her hair, strand by strand, fell from her head, the smell of Reanimation Incense filled her nostrils.
Eleven Niang swallowed, cold sweat trickled down her temples, she slowly twisted her head back.
Just a glance, her pupils dilated, she let out a scream, and the alley became completely silent.