There is a Cuju court behind Qingsi Hall, but it has been deserted for a long time.
Xue Bai has almost never played football here since he took over the Daming Palace, but sometimes he comes here to race horses.
Because the venue was large enough and could not accommodate assassins, the palace attendants could safely leave him alone, which made him feel as if the huge palace only belonged to him here.
On this day, when Yan Zhenqing came over, Xue Bai was laboriously moving a huge stone to the shade of a tree.
"What is your Majesty doing?"
"Move a stool."
Yan Zhenqing couldn't help laughing and said: "There are many comfortable stools in the palace, why does Your Majesty have to move a heavy stone?"
Xue Bai couldn't answer for a while, but he didn't stop moving his hands. When he finally moved the boulder to the tree trunk, he was sweating profusely.
He breathed a sigh of relief, sat down on the stone, and then replied: "Because I just want to sit here."
"Your Majesty only needs to give an order, and someone will naturally move it."
"I don't want too many people to come over." Xue Bai said, "Has your husband ever raised a cat?"
"No."
"No matter how close a cat is to you, it still needs a place that belongs only to it. Maybe, the same goes for people."
"The whole world is your Majesty's territory."
"It's just a statement that gives the monarch power." Xue Bai said, "The space I can lie down is only a few feet. There are people walking around in front of me everywhere in the palace, whether I am sleeping or not.
It’s okay, it’s okay to take a shower, it’s quieter here.”
Yan Zhenqing shook his head, disapproving of Xue Bai's strange habits, and got down to business, saying: "The news about Lingwu is back."
Xue Bai was not staying at the Xuanzheng Hall today and came here alone. He seemed not to care about this matter, but his face became more solemn after hearing this.
"Did Puguhuai'en rebel?" he asked.
Perhaps it was because on this occasion, Yan Zhenqing did not abide by the courtesy that a minister should have. Not only did he not answer immediately, but he asked instead: "Isn't your Majesty very sure that Pugu Huai'en does not dare to rebel?"
"Nothing is certain." Xue Bai said: "No one can predict the outcome before something happens."
He has always been very determined. To put it bluntly, he just knew that Tang Ting's original approach of condoning the feudal town was wrong, but he actually didn't know whether what he did was right or wrong.
"Your Majesty, don't you take a guess?"
"My father-in-law, just tell me straight away." Xue Bai said, "I will fight against all opinions on this matter. If I am wrong, I will be prepared to bear the consequences."
"He didn't rebel." Yan Zhenqing took out the memorial from his sleeve and handed it to him, saying: "This is Guo Ziyi's memorial. Pugu Huai'en and his son have handed over military power and returned to Beijing according to the order."
Xue Bai took it and read it. Guo Ziyi's writing was very concise. He didn't mention Pugu Huaien's little actions at all, only the results.
In addition, I mentioned that Pugu Huai'en suffered from back gangrene, which delayed government affairs, causing the court to misunderstand him, but in fact he was loyal.
The matter ended in such an ordinary way, and many emotions seemed to fade away quickly. The arguing voices became quieter little by little, until they were no longer audible. No one won or lost, and it seemed that there was not much of a disturbance in the first place.
It was just that the imperial court summoned Pu Gu Huai'en to return to the court, and Pu Gu Huai'en accepted the decree.
"Then let Guo Ziyi lead Shuofang's army to send troops to Hexi." Xue Bai said.
"The political hall has drawn up a decree."
"good."
Yan Zhenqing did not leave, but said again: "Pugu Huai'en will be arriving in Chang'an soon. Li Xiaozhou seems to have a way to cure his gangrene on the back."
Xue Bai shook his head and said: "It can't be cured."
"Your Majesty, no matter how far Pugu Huai'en has gone, on the surface it seems that he did not commit rebellion, but returned to the capital immediately following the order, which can serve as an example for the vassal town."
"I know, it looks like this from the results."
"In this way, if your majesty can send someone to cure his back ulcer, the governors of various places will also understand your majesty's virtue and know that going to the capital is a good thing and not a bad thing."
After hearing this, Xue Bai still shook his head and said lightly: "It can't be cured."
Yan Zhenqing said: "Pu Gu has a weak sense of kindness. If Your Majesty shows your generosity and shows kindness to him..."
Xue Bai raised his hand, stopped what he was saying, and said: "No matter what the result is on the surface, the imperial court has the attitude of the imperial court."
This matter has nothing to do with whether he was generous to Pugu Huai'en. It would be okay if Pugu Huai'en's back gangrene could be cured, but what if he died? The feudal towns would say that the imperial court summoned the person to Chang'an.
dead.
Now is no longer the time for the court to win over people's hearts, but the time to clean up the rules and regulations.
~~
Before leaving Daming Palace, Yan Zhenqing asked to see the queen again.
Although they were father and daughter, when he met Yan Yan, they were in the palace, so there were more red tape than meeting Xue Bai, and they even had to meet with etiquette.
Yan Yan did not accept her grandpa's gift and directly asked the palace servants to bring Li Zuo forward and said with a smile: "I know that my grandpa actually wanted to see this child and brought it to you."
"Zuo'er has met Aweng."
The two-year-old child was learning to salute with a babyish voice. Yan Zhenqing felt distressed when he saw it, but he just stroked his long beard and put on a serious look to teach this little prince.
Yong'er was now a talented person, and he still followed Yan Yan. He felt aggrieved for Li Zuo as he watched from the sidelines. On the contrary, Yan Yan could sit still and smiled for a while before letting Yong'er take Li Zuo away.
Take it down.
The strange thing is that it was clear that Yan Zhenqing was the harshest to Li Zuo, but Li Zuo was the closest to him. She hugged his legs and refused to go down, crying loudly. It was Yan Yan who scolded the child with a straight face to silence him.
Sound, go down honestly.
Only then could the father and daughter exchange a few words.
Yan Yan smiled and said: "Looking at my grandpa's sullen face all day long, he seems to be acting like a gentleman, and he doesn't seem to regard him as his grandson."
"He was the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty first." Yan Zhenqing said with concern: "You guys still indulge him too much. I have recently been looking for a few gentlemen for the East Palace."
Yan Yan responded with a smile, but didn't say that Xue Bai didn't think so.
She didn't know what Xue Bai was thinking, but anyway, he didn't try his best to cultivate the prince now. He always had an attitude of "let the children grow up healthily and happily". On one occasion, he even said, "Who can say what will happen a hundred years from now?"
Is it accurate?"
Sometimes she secretly guessed that maybe Xue Bai had been named Xue for more than 20 years of his life, but he gave his child the surname Li, so she felt a little uncomfortable.
She even laughed at him for being so naughty, but he smiled casually and said, "It doesn't matter what his last name is. I just don't want him to be manipulated by others all his life."
Yan Yan could probably understand what Xue Bai meant. It was probably that Li Longji gave the name "Li Zuo" not out of good intentions, but to use the child to ensure the continuation of the Li Tang Sheji.
But she felt that since she had given her son a kingdom, she should take advantage of it.
At that time, she criticized Xue Bai and said: "If this little thing is willing to be controlled, then you have to fight with him? I think you are the one who wants to control him."
This is very reasonable. After that, Xue Bai never opposed Yan Yan on his son's education. She and Yan Zhenqing taught Li Zuo various things since he was a child.
That day, father and daughter discussed Li Zuo's academic plans. Yan Zhenqing hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is the saint worried about something lately?"
"It's nothing more than a northwest thing."
"What about other than that?" Yan Zhenqing asked again.
Yan Yan smiled and said, "Apart from that, I don't have any other worries."
Yan Zhenqing said: "Today I saw the saint sitting alone in the Cuju field."
"Grandpa thinks too much. It's just that he feels that the state affairs are too heavy, so he takes a break from his busy schedule and goes to take a breather."
"That's good."
After meeting Yan Zhenqing, Yan Yan thought about it and realized something.
~~
When she met Xue Bai that night, Yan Yan dismissed the others and lit the refreshing incense. When the couple got on the bed, she seemed to say casually: "I said today that you have something on your mind."
"Because I moved a big rock beside the Cuju court?"
"Why move a stone?"
"Sit and enjoy the cool air, look at the clouds and enjoy the breeze."
Yan Yan smiled and said: "If you don't sit at the heart-enjoying pavilion by Taiye Pond, you have to move a stone yourself. No wonder you are being criticized."
"When those palace people saw me sitting by the Taiye Pond, they secretly ran to prepare melons and fruits in case I ordered them. If I told them not to prepare them, they would be in panic again, worrying whether they were the melons from last time.
If the fruit is not sweet, it is better for me to sit comfortably by myself."
"But to be such an emperor, isn't that what Lang Jun always wants?"
"Yes." Xue Bai also smiled and said: "I am greedy and want it all. I not only want the power of the emperor, but also hope that I can be free when I want to be free."
"I know." Yan Yan said, "I just wonder why my grandfather would ask more about such a small thing? He didn't care about such small things in the past."
After Xue Bai heard this, he knew that Yan Zhenqing had noticed some of his emotions.
But it doesn't matter, he has already figured it out, and there is no harm in talking to Yan Yan.
"My husband-in-law is worried that I will get into trouble like Pugu Huai'en."
"Um?"
"Just like the case of Pugu Huaien, as the imperial court stabilizes, sooner or later his military power will be taken away and he will be allowed to spend his old age in Beijing. He waited until this moment to think that it would be too aggrieved to give up his military power, and he wanted to break up with the imperial court.
It’s clear, it’s too late. People have to look forward. It’s meaningless to dwell on the rights and wrongs of the past.” Xue Bai said: “It’s the same for me.”
"Where is the same?"
"Now the country is gradually settling down and the state affairs are on the right track... My father-in-law hopes that I will look forward and not cling to the past. Those right and wrong are meaningless." Xue Bai said: "I have received the assistance of him and many good ministers and generals.
, Governing the Tang Dynasty well is better than anything else."
Yan Yan certainly didn't understand these words because they were so vague and she didn't mention the specific issues, but she still understood part of them.
She thought for a while, gave an example, and said: "It's like our child is named 'Li Zuo' and you don't like this name because it was given by Emperor Xuanzong."
"Yes." Xue Bai said, "But it's not important anymore."
He paused for a moment and then said: "It really doesn't matter. No matter what the surname or the first name, it's just a small detail, just like the fruits held in the hands of the palace. I asked them to give it to them, so they can give it to me. There's nothing uncomfortable about it."
Yes, once I figured it out, I suddenly became enlightened."
Yan Yan asked: "Is this what you were thinking about at the Cuju venue?"
"Well, all this is what I want, there's nothing to worry about."
Xue Bai patted Yan Yan on the back and ignored this strange topic.
Finally, he muttered something to himself.
"Actually, I know that my husband has been working hard."
For a long, long time after that, Xue Bai didn't go to that deserted Cuju field again.
He does not need to sit on that rough stone, he has his own dragon chair that symbolizes supreme power; he does not need a space that belongs only to himself, because the emperor is rich in the world.
He gradually blurred what he said in front of Li Longji at that time. At that time, he said that one day he would let the world know that he was not actually Li Qian. Looking back now, it seemed that he was deliberately trying to anger Li Longji.
Maybe it was sincere at the time, but now Xue Bai seems to have begun to forget it.
The reason was that there were many good ministers like Yan Zhenqing in the court, and most of them were loyal to Li Tang Sheji. As the situation stabilized, Xue Bai did not want to let them down.
~~
Pugu Huaien returned to Chang'an and moved into his mansion in Chengmingfang.
To his surprise, the imperial court did not settle accounts with him, but kept emphasizing that he had returned to the capital in an honest manner, and then continued to reward him.
He already had back gangrene, which became more serious due to his anger. In addition, he lost a lot of blood due to a broken finger, and his body suddenly declined. He could only lie on the soft couch all day long.
Pu Gujuan found many people to serve him, and they were provided with the best food and clothing. However, Chang'an was prosperous and there were many official entertainment events. Since he entered the capital, Pu Gujuan had been homeless most of the time.
Occasionally, when Pugu Huaien sees his son, he can't wait to curse him.
"You are addicted to drinking and sex all day long, what big thing can you do?!"
"What big thing is the child going to do? It's not that his father was confused. Now the child has to repair his connections."
"Enough!" Pugu Huai'en scolded: "Connections? Don't you know that those officials have been instructed to lead you to sing and dance to achieve peace, so that you can show it to the vassal towns everywhere..."
"What's wrong with that?"
Pu Gujun actually asked a question, then stepped forward and said: "Master, we have returned to Chang'an. What's wrong with living a simpler life? We don't have to fight and kill anymore, and we don't have to eat sand from the wind anymore. I
I also heard that the doctors in Chang'an are highly skilled and may be able to cure your back gangrene."
Pugu Huaien shook his head.
He refused to give in, and finally said: "The newspapers said that I would return to Beijing as soon as I received the order, calling me 'respectful and obedient', right?"
"Yes, grandpa."
"Then where is my backbone? If it weren't for you, a rebellious son, I could challenge the imperial court. Don't others know about my courage and strength?"
Pu Gujue was surprised and said: "Why should others know? Then we will be impeached."
Pugu closed his eyes with gratitude and hatred, unable to express his anger to his son.
What he repeatedly wanted to emphasize was that the court treated him unfairly.
First, he had assisted Li Heng, so he was not given the importance Li Tang deserved; second, he sent his daughter and relatives back to Hehe out of loyalty, but was accused of having different intentions; third, he wanted Pu Gujun to succeed Jiedushi.
This is to compensate for the many people of his Pugu clan who died in the war.
His resistance was to declare these things, not for Ning Guogong's title, not for his current life of contentment and waiting for death.
As a result, once he returned to Chang'an, no one listened to his grievances anymore.
Everyone praised him for being respectful and submissive, and put him on a soft couch covered with flowers, leaving him to wait for death.
The next day, Pugu Huaien ordered someone to find a scholar.
"I've met Mr. Ning Guo."
"I heard that you are one of the best writers in Wannian County. Your articles have been published in newspapers many times."
"yes."
Pugu Huaien said: "Write a confession for me and I will submit it to the court."
"There should be no shortage of staff in Duke Ning's palace, so why do we need students to write it?"
Pugu Huai'en frowned and said, "Because my staff refuses to help me write it."
After that, he directly stated the attitude he wanted to express.
Before this incident, he had once made a self-incrimination statement to Li Heng, saying that he had several major crimes, such as being too loyal to the country, making great contributions to Li Heng, and killing all his sons for Li Heng...
…In short, they are all irony.
He has this bad temper, and now he has done it again.
First, he told the three grievances he had suffered, and then continued: "Therefore, I couldn't figure it out for a while, so I almost raised Shuofang's soldiers to fight against the imperial court. I almost fell out with the imperial court and raised my sword to fight against Guo Ziyi. If it hadn't been for my mother's advice, I would have fought against Guo Ziyi.
He was also worried about the overall situation and was in danger of making a big mistake. I beg the saint to punish him."
"Mr. Pu Gu, why are you doing this?!"
"If you are asked to write, just write." Pugu Huaien said with a straight face: "You must write with great brilliance and righteous indignation."
"But, apart from getting you punished and incriminating the students, what's the use of such a memorial?"
Pugu Huaien said: "If I don't say it out, I will hold it in my heart and panic."
"How about the student give you a lesson? To be honest, Pu Gugong, the student is good at some health-preserving methods."
"Shut up! Write to me, or I will kill you!"
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Soon, the scholar wrote a memorial. Pugu Huai'en read it and was very happy. He praised it repeatedly and asked him to copy it. He stamped it with a big seal himself, sealed it and had it delivered to the palace.
He also paid a large sum of money and asked the other party to publish the document in a newspaper in Chang'an.
No matter what others think, he wants the world to know that he resisted the imperial court and why.
All night long, Pugu Huaien lay on the soft couch without falling asleep.
That night, he knew that his descendants were enjoying themselves and having fun, and that no official in Chang'an City was paying attention to him as before.
When he was in Shuofang, he was a ferocious beast that could snatch people and eat them, and he was a hero who could cause turmoil in the Tang Dynasty. But now? In the eyes of Chang'an officials, he has become a waste and is not worthy of attention.
It doesn't matter, they will soon pay attention to him, denounce him again, and stir up a storm.
He might be convicted or even beheaded. He would rather be bruised and bruised in the struggle than wait to die alone here.
Finally, daybreak came and it was afternoon again.
Pu Gujuan strode over with a hangover and an official document in his hand.
"Grandma!"
Pugu Huaien raised his head, knowing that his son was going to ask him angrily why he did this.
"Master." Pu Gujuan said in an excited tone: "The imperial court promoted me. How did I figure it out? I actually proposed to the imperial court to cut off the financial power, appointment and dismissal rights of the local military envoys..."
"What did you say?"
Pugu Jun couldn't wait to put his promotion documents in front of Pugu Huai'en, and said with a smile: "In this way, the Pugu clan no longer has to worry about being liquidated by the court!"
"Where is my memorial?" Pugu Huai'en was shocked and angry and asked, "Where is my memorial?!"
The next day, he saw that his excerpt was published in the Tang Dynasty Political Journal, and it was exactly the same as what Pugu Jian said.
"This is not my memorial!"
Pugu Huai'en was so angry that he tore the newspaper into pieces and threatened to find the villain who wrote the documents for him.
But no matter how angry he gets, his family and staff all feel that the current outcome is the best.
At first, he heard a lot of comfort, telling him that such a life was comfortable and safe, which many people could not ask for. It was said that medical skills were developing rapidly, and his back gangrene might be cured.
Gradually, fewer and fewer people came to see him, and the ulcer on his back was not cured. He lay there and gradually developed bedsores.
Such gorgeous and soft silk can actually cause bedsores.
Sometimes news comes from the northwest.
"The officers and soldiers have recaptured Liangzhou! Guo Gong personally commanded, defeated the Tibetan army, beheaded countless people, and Shuofang's army made the first contribution!"
The days spent lying at home waiting to die were extremely long, but between the messages, it seemed like nothing happened.
"Ning Guogong, good news! Shuofang's army captured Ganzhou and got news about Anxi's army. We will join forces to attack Suzhou."
"..."
"Ning Guogong, do you remember General Cao Lingzhong? He has made great achievements this time. I hope you can write a letter to encourage him."
Pugu Huaien raised his head and asked, "Why does he want me to encourage him?"
"General Cao said that he was entertained by Duke Ning when he returned, which he will never forget. Now that we are about to connect to Anxi, we will report to Duke Ning as soon as possible."
"Cough cough cough!"
Pugu Huaien felt more and more unwilling. If the Tang Dynasty had not been unfair to him, he should have been the one to fight in Hexi this time.
…
The time has come for the Double Ninth Festival.
Pugu Huai'en has recently realized that his time is running out, and has no nostalgia for life. He just regrets that he should not have chosen to surrender for the sake of his weak son.
Quite unexpectedly, someone came to visit him.
He closed his eyes in a daze and vaguely saw a thin figure in front of him, which turned out to be a woman.
"Who are you?"
"The third daughter of King Gu Zhong."
"Are you... Princess Hezheng?"
"Yes, Mr. Pugu was kind to my father and brother back then, so I came to visit him."
Pugu Huai'en smiled miserably and said, "Isn't the princess afraid of being implicated by me?"
"My father and brother have become rebellious. Duke Pugu should think that I have come to involve the Pugu clan."
"The princess came too late." Pugu Huaien sighed and murmured: "If we had come three to five years earlier, the big thing might have been rectified."
Li Yuetu shook his head and said: "It doesn't matter anymore. The Tang Dynasty is getting better and better, and that's enough. I just came to see Mr. Pu Gu off and convey a message to my brother."
"Princess, please speak."
"My brother once said before his death that he regretted wrongly blaming Duke Pu Gu. It was Li Tang who couldn't stand up to Duke Pu Gu."
After hearing this, Pugu Huai'en suddenly raised his head, looked at Li Yuetu's haggard face, smiled happily, and said: "I am very happy that the princess can come to see me off on my last journey."
In the end, only Li Yuetu understood the grievances he had not been able to complain about.
But Li Yuetu no longer represents Li Tang.
The next day, Wang rarely escorted the Tibetan prisoners to the capital to present them, and Pugujuan was eager to take his grandfather to see the grand scene.
After Pugu Huaien heard this, a mouthful of old blood clogged his throat, and the four words "respectful and submissive" appeared in his mind again.