vstars Chapter 99 No way, Liu Shi actually faked his death?
Chapter 99 No way, Liu Shi actually faked his death?
In the courtyard, the chrysanthemums beside the bluestone path are in full bloom, their delicate fragrance filling the air.
Consort Wu sat on a carved sandalwood chair, gently toying with a translucent emerald jade hairpin in her hand, her gaze distant and profound, as if she were pondering something.
Zi'an stood beside her, bowing slightly, his expression respectful, his tone revealing his admiration and trust in Consort Wu's decision.
Zi'an (in an earnest tone): "Empress Wu is wise. You did not actually order the death of Empress Wang's uncle, Liu Shi. I have heard that the Liu family has a very prominent background. Such a person is both a risk and an asset. I suppose you have your own reasons."
Consort Wu turned to look at him, a slight smile playing on her lips, and asked calmly, "Oh? What do you think of Liu Shi's family background? Tell me."
Zi'an stepped forward, stood beside the stone table in the courtyard, picked up a fallen yellow leaf, gently twirled it, and casually placed it back on the table. He looked up and spoke with a touch of melancholy:
"Your Majesty, Liu Shi's family background is indeed extraordinary in the eyes of the world. His great-grandfather was Liu Qing, the Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and his grandfather Liu Dan was the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices in the Sui Dynasty, and was also enfeoffed as the Duke of Xincheng County. Although his father Liu Ze's official career was not particularly successful, he died in the line of duty while on a mission to Goguryeo, and can be considered a loyal and righteous man."
Consort Wu (thinking for a moment, nodding slightly): "Hmm, his family is indeed extraordinary; his ancestors were once prominent figures. What talents do you see in him?"
Zi An smiled slightly, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes: "Liu Shi was a man of great talent when he was young, and served as a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat during the Zhenguan era. After his niece, Lady Wang, became the Crown Princess, he was also promoted to Vice Minister of War. Although there is a family connection, his talent should not be underestimated."
Consort Wu (with a slight smile): "He is indeed quite capable. So, how do you think he later rose to the position of prime minister?"
Zi An crossed his hands in front of him and said in a calm tone: "In 651, Emperor Gaozong of Tang promoted Liu Shi to the position of Vice Minister of the Chancellery because of Empress Wang. Later, he was promoted to Chancellor and became prime minister. His ability to navigate the court with ease was due to both the support of his family and his own abilities."
Consort Wu listened quietly, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of her chair: "The position of prime minister is not easily obtained. During his tenure as prime minister, do you think he did anything extraordinary?"
Zi'an nodded, then shook his head: "When Liu Shi was prime minister, he proposed that Empress Wang adopt Li Zhong, the eldest son of Emperor Gaozong, as the crown prince. This suggestion was supported by Emperor Gaozong and the senior officials in the court. At that time, he was on the side of maintaining the stability of the court, which shows his vision and decisiveness."
Consort Wu (with a hint of thought): "So it seems he was a man of principle. Then why do you think he was later dismissed from his post as chancellor?"
Zi'an's tone revealed a hint of regret: "In 654, Empress Wang was implicated due to her loss of favor, and Liu Shi was also regarded by Emperor Gaozong as a person who had lost power. He took the initiative to resign from his position as prime minister, and Emperor Gaozong took the opportunity to demote him to Minister of Personnel."
Consort Wu shook her head and gently put down the jade hairpin in her hand: "Zi'an, the officialdom is like a game of chess; a slight misstep can lead to total defeat. What do you think his fate will be?"
Zi'an lowered his head for a moment: "In 655, Empress Wang and Lady Liu were accused of witchcraft, and Liu Shi was also not spared and was demoted to the position of Prefect of Suizhou."
Xiao Sizi handed two strings of candied hawthorns to Zhaoyi and Zian. He continued, "Later, he was accused of leaking private conversations in the palace. Since he was already part of the system, he was receiving a salary, which meant he had automatically signed a confidentiality agreement and could not casually leak the conversations of important people, even if they were not very important. So he was demoted again to the position of Prefect of Rongzhou."
Consort Wu chuckled, "You little devil, you understand now that you can't reveal things you just chat about casually? As for the things written in history books, you can imagine how unreliable they are..."
Xiao Si nodded with a grin: "Sister-in-law, you're so amazing. No one can slander your achievements. They can only make a fuss about private matters, and those are all gossips that are hard to deny."
"In the end, Empress Wang was deposed, you ascended to the position of Empress, and Liu Shi completely withdrew from the court, and was he still destined to die?"
Consort Wu gazed quietly at the chrysanthemums in the courtyard, the glow of the setting sun casting a calm and resolute light on her face.
She smiled gently and shook her head: "Zi'an, although Liu Shi has been tarnished by his family, his talent and loyalty should not be underestimated. His survival is not accidental, but rather an aid I left behind to balance the situation in the court."
Zi'an raised her head slightly, her eyes full of admiration: "Your Majesty is far-sighted and has the ability to recognize talent from afar. Although Liu Shi's talent is not as good as yours, it is fortunate for him to be able to use him."
Consort Wu smiled calmly, turned around and looked back, her voice calm and confident: "The way of power is not about temporary gains or losses, but about taking every step firmly. Although Liu Shi is not a good general, he is a useful person."
Zi'an bowed and replied, "Your Majesty is absolutely right, I admire you."
Wu Zetian looked at the male favorite in front of her, her gaze seemingly somewhat unfocused.
This young boy, with his innocent and naive heart, is the most precious thing.
However, at Xiao Si's shout, her gaze instantly shifted from her male concubine. Xiao Si's unintentional glance made Zi An, who had been secretly laughing, immediately stop smiling.
"Who in the world understands the heart of Wu Zetian?" Wu Zetian thought to herself.
Xiao Si smiled silently. She understood that her allure was actually a manifestation of wisdom. In her later years, people criticized her for taking many male lovers, which became a topic of much discussion among scheming old men.
Obsessed with male beauty? That's probably the kind of thing the public would want to hear.
"Don't be too naive, and don't be too superficial!" Xiao Si made a gesture that rumors stop with the wise.
"No one who is addicted to lust can seize the world from these ruthless men. How can an empress blinded by lust be capable of creating a golden age?!"
Wu Zetian was no ordinary woman. With her personality and intelligence, she managed to ascend to the throne in the incredibly complex political arena where everyone was ruthless in their struggles.
Despite her delicate and charming appearance, she is actually strong and resilient on the inside, and her emotional intelligence and IQ are both top-notch political skills.
She ruled the Tang Dynasty for nearly half a century, keeping the dynasty stable and making indelible contributions to it.
The unity of the country and its long-term peace and tranquility require the ability to maintain them, which proves Wu Zetian's outstanding political talent.