In the morning, the ministers gathered at Fengtian Palace Square.
Li Qing didn't hold back this time. He came early to find a seat and sit down, waiting for the dinner to begin.
After a while, Zhu Zhanji came over, and the officials stood up and saluted, "I have met the emperor's grandson."
"No etiquette, no etiquette." Zhu Zhanji waved his hand, "No need to be formal, just sit down."
With that said, he came to sit in front of Li Qing.
Li Qing is not very popular, he is the only one at this table, and Zhu Zhanji has no inhibitions about what he says.
He whispered: "Uncle Qing, my father begged Grandpa Huang to let Jian Yi and the others go."
"Just let it go." Li Qing didn't take it seriously, "The emperor wants to conquer it himself, and there must be someone in the court to do the work, otherwise your father will not be able to bear it."
"Grandpa Huang is very angry."
"Then what?"
"Then he was released." Zhu Zhanji said worriedly, "I think Grandpa Huang has a lot of opinions on my father and seems to want to change his position."
Li Qing sneered: "What are you thinking about? It's been all this time. How could he have such thoughts? He just wants to scare your father. They have different political views."
After a pause, he said, "Your father is not in a hurry, but you are in a hurry. How can you say this?"
"The Emperor is not in a hurry, eunuch..." Zhu Zhanji was halfway through his words, and when he thought about it, his face turned dark, "You are burying me, right?"
"What did I say?" Li Qing looked innocent.
"Okay, I'm too lazy to argue with you." Zhu Zhanji asked, "Grandpa Huang is going to the Northern Expedition after his birthday. Are you going?"
Li Qing scratched his head: "The Emperor didn't notify me, but... I should go."
Zhu Di's health is getting worse day by day. He is really worried if Li Qing doesn't follow him. What if he is on the verge of death? With the current situation, what will happen?
"If you go, I won't go." Zhu Zhanji said softly, "There is no battle to fight anyway. I will stay in the capital to share my father's worries."
"It's up to you." Li Qing shrugged, he was not interested in this.
"What is your attitude?" Zhu Zhanji was dissatisfied, "Our Zhu family pays you a salary, but you always look perfunctory. Look at you, how can you look like a loyal minister?"
I've had enough fun with your old Zhu family... Li Qing rolled his eyes and was about to choke back, but was interrupted by a voice.
"Big nephew!"
The two of them turned their heads at the same time, and Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui came forward with a smile.
"Third uncle is here." Zhu Zhanji was very affectionate to his third uncle, mainly because he had no ambitions. "Third uncle, come and sit down quickly."
Li Qing stood up and cupped his hands, "I have met King Zhao."
"Mr. Li, please be polite." Zhu Gaosui came to the table and sat down, looking familiar, and talked about old times with the two of them.
This time, the two of them had no chance to whisper.
Zhu Gaosui is somewhat of a social nerd. Li Qing can say one sentence and he can say ten.
After a while, Li Qing was fed up with his bad words and drank tea without talking, leaving the stage to Zhu Zhanji.
Li Qing leaned on the back of his chair, sipping tea while observing the officials around him.
Somehow, he always felt that something was wrong, and soon he woke up.
The reaction of this group of people to the arrival of King Zhao was too cold. Although officials were not allowed to make friends with the vassal king, they still had to have the proper etiquette. At least they had to stand up and salute.
However, no, this group of people acted as if they had not seen King Zhao, and regarded him as nothing.
This is somewhat unreasonable.
Could it be that King Zhao was secretly colluding with them and had evil intentions? Are they trying to avoid suspicion?
As soon as the thought arose, Li Qing snuffed it out.
The third child listened to the advice and knew the current affairs. He didn't know how to do it and didn't dare to do such a thing.
~
Most of an hour later, Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi came belatedly, and everyone stood up to salute.
After some scenes, we sat down again and officially opened the banquet.
Wine and delicacies were served one after another, and there was a constant flow of eunuchs and maids.
The little fat man came over with a big belly and said with a smile: "Third brother, let's go to Father's table."
"Okay brother...ah no, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Who did you learn this from?" Xiaopang scolded with a smile, "Just call me brother."
After a pause, "Li Qing, you are coming too."
"It's fine for me to be here." Li Qing declined, saying in his heart: I won't get involved in your family's affairs.
"Father called your name and asked you to come over." Xiaopang said.
"Okay then." Li Qing stopped being pretentious and followed a few others to Zhu Di's table.
He did not sit with Xiaopang, but sat next to King Zhao.
There is no other reason. This guy talks too much and doesn't care about picking up the food. Unlike the fat guy, he just eats all the food.
"Li Qing, you will go to the Northern Expedition in two days." Zhu Di got straight to the point.
What could Li Qing say, "I obey your orders."
"Grandpa Huang, do I want to go?" Zhu Zhanji asked.
"Stay at home." Zhu Di raised his hand to hold the wine glass, and Xiao Linzi poured the wine with quick eyes and hands.
After two glasses of wine, the dishes were almost ready. Zhu Di picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks.
"Let the banquet begin." The fat man rolled up his sleeves and invited everyone to eat and drink.
Zhu Zhanji rolled his eyes at his delicious father, stood up and said, "My grandson wishes Grandpa Huang to be as blessed as the East Sea and live as long as the Southern Mountains."
"Oh, yes, yes," Xiaopang quickly put down his chopsticks and stood up to wish his father a happy birthday.
Then, the officials stood up and read the congratulatory messages they had prepared.
After working hard for about a quarter of an hour, the banquet officially started.
The emperor's birthday banquet was of a very high standard, and Li Qing didn't say anything, just eating and drinking. The birthday banquet only happened once a year, just like the Chinese New Year, so he had to make the most of it.
While we were enjoying our meal, a voice suddenly sounded: "Your Majesty, I have my own account!"
Li Qing paused with his chopsticks and glanced back at the person who presented the memorial. He couldn't name him, but he vaguely remembered that he was a doctor from the Ministry of Rites.
Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and said, "It's accurate."
The doctor of the Ministry of Rites looked solemn: "Your Majesty, I have important information to report."
"Major information?" Zhu Di was a little surprised. He thought that this person was trying to stop him from going on a personal expedition. He was already planning to ask someone to drag him down. He just had to hold back his temper and "step forward to answer the question."
The doctor left the table and came forward to salute: "Your Majesty, I received an anonymous letter this morning. The things written in it are horrifying and extremely absurd. I think it is unacceptable.
But...I dare not hide it and refuse to report it, so I will ask the Emperor for a holy judgment."
"Anonymous letter?" Zhu Di's face showed surprise, which immediately turned into ridicule, and sneered: "Hiding one's head and showing one's tail is naturally absurd."
After a pause, he finally couldn't help but be curious and said, "Send it over."
Xiao Linzi quickly stepped forward to take it and trotted back to Zhu Di, "Please read it, Your Majesty."
Zhu Di opened the envelope. Within a moment, his face turned completely gloomy, and his sharp eyes looked at Li Qing... Zhu Gaosui beside him.
The chubby guy next to Zhu Di didn't look good either.
"What's wrong, father?" Zhu Gaosui was a little puzzled, "Why are you all looking at me like this?"
Zhu Di's expression changed. After a while, he stood up and said, "Third brother, come with me."
"Oh, okay."
Zhu Gaosui stood up and kept up with Zhu Di.
"Zhanji, come with dad."
The little fat man no longer cared about eating or drinking. His face was solemn, showing worry and anger.
"Oh, okay."
Zhu Zhanji quickly followed his father, then turned back after a while and said, "Li Qing, come with me."
No, where are the matryoshka dolls here? Really, every time I have dinner, I never have a good time... Li Qing put down his chopsticks in frustration, but he was also curious about what was written in the letter.
…
Qianqing Palace.
As soon as Li Qing arrived at the door, he heard Zhu Gaosui's frightened voice: "Father, you know me, I have no ambition, not even a little bit, slander, slander!
They slandered me...!"
Entering the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Gaosui's voice became louder and he was emotional: "Father, no matter how this position rotates, it's not my turn. You watched me grow up, how could I have any rebellious intentions? This is obviously someone who made it up out of thin air."
Zhu Di was silent. He knew that the third child did not have the courage or ability, but to be on the safe side, he still had to try it out.
Xiaopang wanted to speak, but his mouth opened and he finally said nothing.
"My grandson pays homage to the emperor's grandpa." Zhu Zhanji saluted and paid homage, breaking the silence.
Li Qing also saluted and said: "I am here to see you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Di waved his hand and continued to look at Zhu Gaosui, "Third brother, you hid it deeply enough."
"I'm not...I'm not...unjustly accused!" Zhu Gaosui's face turned earth-colored and he kowtowed as if he was pounding garlic. "Father, my eldest brother has been supervising the country for so many years. How could I have such thoughts? With my little ability...it's impossible. !
This...isn't this a joke? Even if the eldest brother is not good, there is still the second brother, so who am I?"
"Oh?" Zhu Zhanji was unhappy, "What the third uncle means is that the second uncle is suitable to be the heir apparent?"
"Oh, my eldest nephew, my third uncle is not..." Zhu Gaosui almost cried, "I was really wronged!"