Fang Zilan stopped, turned to look at the housekeeper who came in a hurry, frowned slightly and said, "It's so late, what's the matter?"
"The person who came didn't say anything. He only said that he wanted you to come into the palace." The housekeeper shook his head and looked serious. "I have already sent people to prepare the carriage and horses."
Fang Zilan hummed and shook A Wan's hand, "A Wan, please stay at home and don't see anyone else until I come back."
"Okay." A Wan agreed, and Vice General Cao said with understanding: "Boss, I'll go with you."
Fang Zilan nodded and smiled softly: "Then please come with me."
"What are you talking about, boss?" Vice General Cao touched his head sheepishly, and then left the mansion and entered the palace with Fang Zilan.
As soon as they arrived at the palace gate, they saw Xia Houzhang pacing back and forth. It looked like he had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Fang Zilan, he hurried forward to greet her, then glanced at Deputy General Cao behind her and said, "Your Majesty only wants to see Mr. Fang."
Fang Zilan nodded briefly, turned to Deputy General Cao and said, "Old Cao, just wait for me here. I'll be back soon."
Vice General Cao stayed at the gate of the palace, while Fang Zilan followed Xia Houzhang into the imperial study. They saw Li Shengxuan standing in front of the window with his back to them. The branches on the moon stretched his figure very long, revealing an inexplicable loneliness.
Fang Zilan bowed respectfully and said hello, then stood up straight and said: "I wonder why your Majesty came to me late at night?"
Li Shengxuan turned around and signaled Xia Houzhang beside him to step back. When they were alone in the imperial study, he looked at her and said, "Mo Bin, the general guarding Mushan Pass, rebelled. I wonder if the Duke of Yue knows about it?"
Fang Zilan was startled when she heard this. Mushan Pass was located in the southeast, within the jurisdiction of her Yue Duke, but she had never heard of it. In fear, she bowed her hands and said, "I don't know."
"I am not asking for punishment." Li Shengxuan walked up to Fang Zilan. The sudden pressure made her suffocate, but she still stood up straight, looked back at him and said, "Your Majesty, please give me a clear explanation."
Li Shengxuan showed the letter in his hand in front of Fang Zilan and said softly: "This is the eight-hundred-mile urgent letter from General Xiahou. Please read it before talking."
Fang Zilan took the letter with both hands, scanned it carefully, and then took a breath of air, "If this matter is true, Mo Bin is a general under the jurisdiction of King Rong'an. Could it be that King Rong'an wants to rebel?"
Li Shengxuan sighed softly and called helplessly, "Fang Zilan."
She suddenly realized that she had made a mistake, and quickly waved her hands and said: "Your Majesty, I..."
She hesitated as soon as she spoke. She originally planned to deny it outright but was finally suppressed. She said instead: "I don't doubt what General Xiahou said in his letter, and I don't dare to doubt King Rong'an at will. It's just that Mo Bin's rebellion has nothing to do with it. General Xiahou did not report this matter to the capital. It seems that someone suppressed it secretly. The only person who can control the officials in the southeast is King Rongan."
Li Shengxuan raised his eyebrows and asked: "If only King Rongan can control the officials in the southeast, then what use do I have? And what use do I need you for?"
"A strong dragon will not overwhelm a local snake." Fang Zilan sighed quietly, "After all, King Rong'an is the younger brother of Emperor Tai'an. His status is respected and his status is special. Not to mention officials of all sizes in the southeast, even dignitaries in the capital mostly sell his face. .”
Li Shengxuan's expression suddenly turned cold, "Fang Zilan, are you making excuses?"
Fang Zilan hurriedly shook his head and said: "I was just analyzing the situation. Your Majesty was right in teaching you that I was useless and failed to detect Mo Bin's rebellion."
"I have said that I did not invite you here to raise an army for questioning." Li Shengxuan looked relaxed and raised his eyebrows and said: "You have only succeeded the Duke of Yue for only a few days. I know how the officials in the southeast will treat you. If this is true. They really don’t dare to report what King Rongan suppressed, let alone report it to you to let you know.”
Fang Zilan listened carefully, but there was a hint of doubt in her expression.
Seeing this, Li Shengxuan couldn't help but ask: "What do you think of this matter?"
Fang Zilan bit her lip unnaturally, and a smile appeared in Li Shengxuan's eyes, "You just say it's okay, I don't blame you."
"Since His Majesty said so, then I will say it." Fang Zilan took a deep breath, "I just said it without any restraint and said that King Rong'an wanted to rebel. When I think about it carefully, it was indeed a mistake on my part. After all, King Rong'an himself The founding of Dajing is a matter of being crowned king. If the wind comes, the rain will come. If you really want to do it, there is no need to wait until now."
"The Xiahou family stayed in the old land of Baiyue, and your new official took office without any foundation." Li Shengxuan reminded, "Do you think it is necessary for him to wait until now?"
"Even though King Rong'an feels that I am weak and easy to bully, he still has no need to rebel." Fang Zilan remained unmoved and continued: "Your Majesty is in charge of the court, the Empress Dowager and all the princes are watching, and the nine noble families are If he keeps it, he will not get any benefits. And to say the least, even if King Rongan succeeds in his rebellion, as far as I know he is old and has only one daughter under his knees - Princess Rongan, then he What are you planning?"
"Aiming for the glory of the Lord of the World?" Li Shengxuan answered casually, as if casually chatting, "I, the emperor's uncle, have great dignity."
Fang Zilan chuckled softly, "If King Rong'an is really driven by vanity and has taken a fancy to His Majesty's position, then he must be sure that he will hit the target. Otherwise, he will be reviled for eternity if he fails. Not only does he have no face, but he also loses his dignity. ”
"Why do you think that if King Rong'an rebels, he will definitely lose?" Although Li Shengxuan asked this, his calm look was more determined, and he never thought that King Rong'an could win.
"Does your Majesty think that King Rongan will win?" Fang Zilan suppressed a smile and said cautiously: "Although the Xiahou family stayed in the old land of Baiyue, General Xiahou will not stand idly by. Once King Rongan instructs Mo Bin and others to rebel, General Xiahou will In the old land of Baiyue, which is closest to Mushan Pass, they can be suppressed at any time, and it will be difficult for King Rong'an to survive alone."
"General Xiahou will not stand idly by, but she will not rush to send troops to suppress Mo Bin." Li Shengxuan looked at her with a deeper look, "You are not joking."
These four simple words brought back Fang Zilan’s memories——
At the palace banquet that day, Li Shengxuan's original words were: The Xiahou family will stay in the old place of Baiyue and will never be used again.
That's right, if the Xiahou family rushes to send troops, they will be criticized by the world and leave evidence for others.
No matter what the reason or excuse is, soldiers and horses will always be the sword hanging over the general's head.
Seeing her thoughtful look, Li Shengxuan smiled slightly and said, "Now, do you know why I want you to enter the palace?"
"Your Majesty wants me to go to Mushan Pass to quell the chaos?" Fang Zilan asked tentatively. Li Shengxuan nodded and said, "That's right. As the Duke of Yue, you go to the southeast to quell the chaos. It's just and legitimate."
