Chapter 365: Two Thieves Meet
In Chang'an City, Cen Shen led the Jingzhao government officials and a thousand Yulin soldiers to search the city for the rebels. All Taoist temples and Buddhist temples were blocked, and all the important figures involved in the case were thrown into the Tianlao, including Princess Yuzhen and Jiang Caiping.

When Empress Dowager Wu (also known as Consort Wu Huifei) and Li Qi heard about this, they went to meet Li Heng with Wang Wei.

At this time, Li Heng was talking to Yang Yuhuan. When he saw the three people, he stood up and greeted Empress Dowager Wu.

Empress Dowager Wu sat down and said, "Mother knows that the harem should not interfere in government affairs, but Princess Yuzhen is your aunt, and Concubine Mei has been kind to us. Should Ying'er show some mercy?"

Li Heng said, "Mother, harboring a rebel is considered treason, so shouldn't they also be arrested for treason?"

"This..." Empress Dowager Wu paused and said, "Why would the two of them rebel?"

Li Heng said: "The facts are there, there is still a chance if you confess your guilt. If you refuse to admit it, you can't blame me for being merciless!"

Seeing Li Heng's resolute response, Empress Wu asked tentatively, "Is there no other choice?"

Li Heng shook his head and said, "The Dali Temple Minister is Yuan Zai. You should know his methods. I allow you to meet Aunt Yuzhen and Jiang Caiping. It's up to you to decide what to say."

"You..." Empress Dowager Wu sighed.

Li Heng said, "Also, I have issued an imperial decree that no one, whether civil or military officials, or royal relatives, can associate with quacks. The imperial son-in-law, Yang Hui, has been getting close to several quacks recently. I'd like to trouble you to tell me, either to have Yang Hui cut off his contact with the quacks, or to have the Imperial Guard come to investigate."

Empress Dowager Wu was shocked when she heard this, and dared not say anything more, saying, "Mother will convey it."

Li Heng turned to Wang Wei and asked, "What is the matter, Right Prime Minister Wang?"

Wang Wei stood up and said bravely, "Princess Yuzhen has been kind to me, and I have come here to plead for her."

Li Ying said, "I understand. Wang Youcheng has repaid the favor."

Wang Wei said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Heng asked, "How is the preparation for the imperial examination that I asked you to prepare with Cen Shen going?"

Wang Wei said: "It is ready, just waiting for your Majesty's order."

Li Heng nodded, turned to Li Qi, and asked, "What are you here for?"

Li Qi smiled awkwardly and said, "I am worried that others may not understand what you have done, so I came here to support you."

"Oh?" Li Heng was slightly stunned.

Empress Dowager Wu was also somewhat surprised and asked in confusion, "Aren't you here to beg for mercy?"

Li Qi said, "At first, yes, but now I have figured it out. If I want to do something that will change the world, I have to offend everyone. My brother is facing doubts alone for the sake of his family, country and the world. As his younger brother, how can I not show my support?"

Empress Dowager Wu was startled, thought for a moment, and sighed, "Yes, before Heng'er became emperor, I was always thinking about you. After you became emperor, I became more distant. If I think about it carefully, maybe I am more afraid of you."

Li Heng heard it and felt warm in his heart, but he did not show it. He just said, "As an emperor, I am more than just a son and brother. Of course, I can choose to make everyone I can see happy and satisfied, but how many people can I see with my own eyes? Those who I cannot see with my own eyes are also sons and brothers of others. Since I am the emperor and father, I should also think about them."

Empress Dowager Wu looked at Li Heng and said, "Mother, I don't know that you have such a broad mind. If you are willing to do it, then do it. Mother only hopes that our family can live in peace and safety."

Li Heng said, "Don't worry about this, mother. I won't resort to violence unless it is absolutely necessary."

"Mother believes in you." Empress Dowager Wu stood up and said, "Then I won't bother you anymore. I'll go to the prison to see Princess Yuzhen and the others."

Li Ying and Yang Yuhuan stood up and bowed, saying, "Your son respectfully sends you off, mother."

Empress Dowager Wu said nothing more and turned and left.

Li Qi and Wang Wei bowed to Li Heng and followed him out.

After they left, Yang Yuhuan said, "I never thought that Prince Sheng could understand my husband's painstaking efforts."

Li Heng said, "I grew up in Prince Ning's mansion, and Li Qi grew up with my mother. He was worried that I would feel that my mother was partial to me, so he basically gave in to me. Sometimes, he was more like the elder brother and I was more like the younger brother."

"So that's how it is." Yang Yuhuan thought about it and said with a smile: "But it's also good to be like Prince Sheng. No matter how the situation changes, he can always be a free and easy king." Li Heng said: "Sometimes I envy him, but if I am given another choice, I will still do the same."

Yang Yuhuan smiled and said, "Perhaps this is my husband's fate."

Li Heng smiled and was about to speak when Li You came to see him.

Li Ying asked Li You to come in and asked, "What's the matter, Dalang?"

Li You bowed to Li Heng and Yang Yuhuan in turn, and replied, "Tomorrow is the day that Grandpa has set for our exam. I see that Grandpa is very busy, so I came to ask if Grandpa will still personally preside over our exam."

"Of course." Li Heng nodded, "You brothers and sisters cannot be absent without reason."

"Yes." Li You agreed.

……

Hebei.

After An Lushan was defeated in Mingzhou, he fled northward and all the way to the outskirts of Raoyang City.

When Shi Siming learned that An Lushan had been defeated and could not take Pingyuan County for a while, he retreated to Raoyang.

An Lushan was outside Raoyang City, and Shi Siming was inside Raoyang City.

An Lushan looked at Raoyang City, hesitant.

Tian Chengsi on the side said: "Your Majesty, why don't you go into the city?"

An Lushan asked, "Now that I have lost power, can Shi Siming still accept me as emperor?"

Tian Chengsi said: "Your Majesty and General Shi are like brothers, he will not betray you."

Yan Zhuang followed up, "Given your majesty's current reputation in Hebei, General Shi would not dare to do anything to you."

An Lushan hesitated for a while, but he didn't dare to enter the city. He said, "Let's go back to Fanyang first..."

As soon as An Lushan finished speaking, he saw Shi Siming leading the cavalry running towards him.

An Lushan was about to run away, but Shi Siming's voice came from behind him: "Your Majesty, I, Shi Siming, am here to welcome you. Please don't worry!"

As Shi Siming spoke, he had already run behind An Lushan.

An Lushan knew he couldn't escape, so he stopped and turned to look at Shi Siming.

Shi Siming rode his horse to An Lushan, dismounted, knelt on one knee, and said, "I am late in coming to greet you, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

An Lushan laughed, stepped forward to help Shi Siming up, and said, "My second brother, you are too polite. If it weren't for you defending Raoyang, I'm afraid I would have no home to return to."

Shi Siming, with tears in his eyes, said: "I am incompetent and have caused Your Majesty to suffer!"

An Lushan said: "Your talent is far superior to mine. I am willing to abdicate to you. Please do not refuse!"

Shi Siming was shocked and knelt down again, saying, "How could I be such a disloyal and unrighteous person? If Your Majesty doubts me, please kill me!"

As he spoke, he presented An Lushan with a long sword with both hands.

An Lushan glanced at the long sword, then at the cavalry behind Shi Siming, and helped Shi Siming up again, saying with a smile: "I am sincere in my abdication. If you don't want to accept it, I won't force you. We haven't seen each other for a long time, so let's get drunk first!"

"That's right." Shi Siming echoed, moved his horse over, and said, "Your Majesty, please mount your horse."

"Okay." An Lushan jumped on his horse.

(End of this chapter)