No need to mention the Tang Dynasty, since ancient times, which official who rose to power again was not stepping on the corpses of his own relatives.

  If Zhuge Liang really returned from his cold tower, Long would be overjoyed.

  That is a demonstration of the magnanimity and generosity of the Tang Emperor, something that will be universally admired throughout the empire as an act of Your Majesty's benevolence.

  A benevolent Your Majesty, the people around him, would they allow a slight blemish to appear, such as the daughter of an official who had hidden a corpse in the palace for five years.

  When the truth finally comes out, this daughter will be a stain.

  Jing Wan'er knew that at worst, she would be secretly killed, without leaving any trace. At that time, anyone in the palace could collect her body.

  Perhaps it was Cui Shanggong himself who said so.

  Cui Shanggong stared at Jing Yuanyu, narrowing her eyes. She remembered that five years ago, when Jing Yuanyu was brought into the palace, the girl was only ten years old, naturally naive, but her face already had a gloomy expression. From then on, Jing Yuanyu was targeted by other palace maids, but in less than half a year, she used her own hands to gain a foothold here in Cui Shanggong's place.

  "If Her Ladyship is all right, I will take my leave." Jing Yu'er curtsied and turned to leave without waiting for Cui Shanggong's response.

  Cui Shanggong did not expect that it was Jing Yuanyuan who took the initiative to suggest collecting the bodies.

  At that time, on the first day of being a palace maid, Jing Wanyu was maliciously thrown into the woodshed by Qiao'er and several other palace maids, where she spent the night with a corpse.

  That night, Cui Shanggong saw the ten-year-old girl sitting beside the corpse in the woodshed window, not crying or making a fuss, just hugging her knees and expressionless.

  Chui Sang-gong received an order at that time, which was that Jing Wan-er must not be allowed to die.

  She thought that a young lady from a wealthy family would definitely lose control and commit suicide in such a situation on the first night.

  But Cui Shanggong guarded for one night, nothing happened at all.

  Even on the second day early in the morning, the door of the woodshed was opened by that group of palace maids, and Jing Yu'er had already taken the initiative to carry the body out of the door of the woodshed.

  The stench of death drove away all those palace maids who had bullied her, and they did not dare approach her again.

  After that, Jing Wanyi asked Cui Shanggong to request that from then on, all the corpses thrown in here would be her responsibility to collect.

  Not only was she not scared off by the corpse, but she even actively sought out its company. The palace maidens, including Cui'er, were all shocked and thought that this young girl was a freak.

  ——

  It was already late at night, but Pei Tan was still in his bedroom in the Dali Temple, being helped by several servants to get dressed.

  The three-product official uniform worn by Dalit Temple, indicating that the place where Pei Tan is going next is not a casual cloth that can be entered.

  "Why must you enter the palace so late, sir? Wouldn't it be better to make your request to His Majesty during the morning court tomorrow?" said County Magistrate Pei.

  Pei Tan lowered his head to tidy up his clothes, and a hint of darkness flashed in his eyes: "This matter cannot be brought up at the morning court, nor can it be made public in front of the officials."

  So at night is the most suitable time for this matter.

  After dressing, Pei turned around and said: "To enter the palace, we must pass through the Xuanwu Gate. The gatekeeper of Xuanwu Gate is a man of Wei's family. I will enter from the south through the Guangyun Gate, using the token given to me by Your Majesty."

  The passport was secretly granted by Zhongzong when he appointed Pei Tan as an official, and the guards at Guangyun Gate were also Zhongzong's people.

  The carriage was driven by Pei Xian himself. He had been following Pei Tan since he was a child and was naturally able to accompany Pei Tan on this trip on such a night.

  When they arrived at the Guangyun Gate, Pei Tan showed Emperor Zhongzong's edict and the guards directly allowed Pei Tan's carriage to enter the palace.

  As this was Emperor Zhongzong's second ascension to the throne, both he and his attendants were far more cautious than they had been during his first reign.

  As midnight approached, the lights in the Zichen Palace were still on. After Pei Tan reported at the door, he stood in front of the cold and stern palace gate for about a quarter of an hour before the voice of Emperor Zhongzong finally came from inside, summoning him to enter.

  Bai Tan immediately stepped forward.

  In the vast Zichen Hall, only Zhongzong could be seen, supporting his forehead with one hand and sitting in the middle of that chair.

  "It's so late, what business does Lord Pei have?" Although he had granted Pei Tan the token of free passage, this was the first time Pei Tan had requested a midnight audience.

  Pei Tan stood in the hall: "I have an important matter to report."

  Zhong Zong seemed to have just finished discussing matters, and at least the fatigue on his face was not feigned. "Even if you didn't come to the palace, I would have summoned you in a few days."

  Pei Tan slightly raised his head, "Your Majesty has something for me to do?"

  As the Duke of Dali Temple, he was exempt from attending early court sessions, which was a special privilege granted by Emperor Zhongzong.

  Zhong Zong rubbed his brow with his hand, and he raised his hand slightly. The eunuchs on both sides of him bowed their heads and retreated.

  When they were left alone in the hall with Pei Tan and him, Pei Tan's expression also became somewhat somber.

  "Five years ago, there was a rumor in the capital that Tubo would rebel. At that time, the capital was shaken, and Zhang Renjie submitted a memorial to build three cities of surrender in Xiazhou to prevent the Turks from moving south. Many officials opposed this at the time." Zhongzong slowly spoke of the events of that year.

  Pei Tan was slightly surprised by the unexpected mention. Five years ago, that was when the entire Jing family had been exiled to Cold Tower.

  Zhong Zong looked down at his subjects: "Minister Pei must still remember this matter."

  Such a big thing, Chang'an is afraid that few people don't know about it. Pei Tan was not yet in office at the time, but in the Pei family's house, he could also hear about things from all over the world.

  Pei Tan's eyes sank: "The Shangshu of that year was the only one in the imperial court who agreed with this matter."

  Upon hearing Pei's words, Zhongzong indeed smiled and said: "That's right. He also pointed out that building the three cities would bring benefits for ten thousand generations to the Great Tang, with a hundred advantages and not a single disadvantage. At the time... it was highly praised by the Empress."

  As soon as he heard the two words "Tian Hou", Pei Tan had a plan in mind. He deliberately remained silent for half a moment. What he wanted to report to Zhong Zong was obviously not suitable to be mentioned now.

  Zhong Zong got up from his chair and paced in the hall: "Tian Hou demoted many officials to support Zong Chuke, which also served as a warning."

  This is indeed true, but at that time, the number of people who were demoted was too many. Among them, half were actually people with private grudges against Zhong Chuke. When Zhong Chuke proposed a plan and was supported by Empress Wu, it seemed that he had used her hand to eliminate his enemies. This was already subtly revealed in the words of Emperor Zhongzong.

  "Your Majesty, why bring this up now?"

  Zhong Zong's eyes were deep and solemn, gazing quietly at Pei Tan without making a sound. It is said that the emperor's heart is like the sea, and every word spoken by Zhong Zong would not be spoken lightly.

  Pei Tan knew that Zong Chuke was now relying on Wei Hou, and he had been an official prime minister when the Tian Hou was still in power. After several ups and downs, until Emperor Zhongzong ascended to the throne for the second time, he relied on the current empress and was reappointed as the Minister of War.

  The emperor and empress are deeply in love, and after Zhongzong ascended to the throne, he treated the Wei family with extreme kindness, which is also why the Wei family has become the number one family in the Tang Dynasty. All those who relied on the Wei family also received imperial grace.

  After a long time, Zhongzong slowly said: "I want to re-investigate... one of the cases that was implicated in the Tubo affair back then."

  Zhong Zong suddenly wants to investigate what happened that year, and this revelation implies that Pei Tan can no longer be ignored as a signal.

  He looked up and asked Zhong Zong intently: "I don't know, Your Majesty, which sect are you investigating?"

  At that time, the officials involved were numerous, and demotion was only a light punishment. The worst outcome was that at the time, several officials' families were exiled to Lingnan and Helan Tower, and were sentenced to exile.

  Zhong Zong suddenly stopped in his tracks at this moment. His gaze turned to Pei Tan, and Pei Tan also gazed quietly at the emperor opposite him.

  Many people in Chang'an think that Pei Tan is relying on the shelter of the Pei family to sit in the position of Dalisi Temple, and more do not understand Zhong Zong's approach, why choose a young man with yellow hair to take charge of such an important official position in Dalisi Temple.

  Ke Zhongzong knew in his heart that Pei Tan was able to hold this position because he was capable.

  At this time, a deep light flashed in his eyes, like a dark star: "Your Majesty... don't trust Prime Minister Zong anymore?"

  "I will not distrust a minister without reason, just as I will not casually appoint an official."

  Zhong Zong spent so many years under the heavy pressure of Tian Hou, if it is said that he was a weak-minded emperor, it would not be so.

  Zhong Zong said that he would not distrust Zong Chuke without reason, which means that there must be a reason for Zhong Zong to want to move against him.

  Pei Tan's heart suddenly lit up.

  Zhong Zong picked up a case file that had been spread out on the desk and threw it at Pei Tan.

  Pei Tan unfolded it and looked at it, while Zhong Zong's words echoed in his ears: "Jing Zhe people, at that time he was the Grand Protector of the Capital, he was a scholar-official, for ten years he had been serving in Chang'an, from the sixth rank of Chengde Lang to the third rank of Grand Protector, in between his official career was not smooth, and he never relied on any party."

  Pei Tan's heart was clear as snow, and Zhong Zong wanted to use the case from that year to knock down Zong Chuke's words. He couldn't choose someone too outstanding, but among the officials who were exiled that year, there had to be someone with a clean family background, far away from the center of power at the time, purely implicated - only Jing Shi.

  Pei Tan did not expect that his visit tonight would have such a coincidental outcome.

  "Your Majesty, would you like to re-examine the case of Jing's family?"

  Zhong Zong's eyes were dim and he didn't express his opinion directly: "What do you think?"

  Pei Tan closed the case in his hand and looked up at Zhong Zong: "I would like to report a matter that has just been discovered to Your Majesty."

  Zhong Zong's eyes slightly raised, as if hinting at Pei Tan to speak.

  "Your Majesty, previously, personally issued an edict to execute the Shangshu Fu Gongzi Zong Huo who rode his horse wildly on Chang'an Street and caused the death of many civilians. Moreover, his body was buried in a tomb within the palace by the palace staff."

  Zhong Zong's eyes suddenly deepened: "What did you say this for?"

  This matter was also a recent event that caused a great disturbance in Chang'an, and even Zong Chuke begged Empress Wei to intercede with Emperor Zhongzong on behalf of his son.

  In fact, from this matter, it can be seen that Zhong Zong wants to move against Chuyue Ke.

  Everyone thought it was Pei Tan's idea to get rid of Zong Huo, but unexpectedly, behind the scenes, Emperor Wu had given his tacit consent. No matter how powerful Pei Tan was, he couldn't surpass an imperial edict.

  Pei Tan stood in the hall with a faint figure: "I found out yesterday that the corpse buried in the palace tomb was not Zong Huo himself."