Du Xixi was still sleepy, but he still got off the carriage and walked back to the calyx building. Looking up at the lights in the sky, his heart became more and more angry.
I don’t know how much lamp oil will be burned in this whole-night royal banquet? If it can be saved, how much food rations can be provided for the victims of the Hedong disaster?
But the saint has long since stopped listening to the advice of these old ministers.
The same applies to the war in the western border. I begged the saint not to force Wang Zhongsi to attack Shibao City again, but it couldn't stop the saint's great success.
I don’t know how many knowledgeable people dare to be angry but dare not speak out.
Fortunately, the prince is wise and the Tang Dynasty will have a better future...
Someone came out of the calyx building.
"Duke Du, your right prime minister wants to harm me!"
"Shut up."
Suddenly there was a shout, and Du hoped to look around, only to see Xue Bai being held captive, and an official in a light green official robe was gagging him.
Du Wangxi didn't like this young man of unknown origin very much because Xue Bai had taken refuge with Li Linfu, but he also understood the reason. He was filled with anger, and in the end he could only blame that damn Liu Ji!
Thinking of Du Youlin's request not long ago, he still stepped forward to stop him: "Why do you want to take someone?"
Lu Xuan was not afraid of him, and said in a business-like manner: "I am acting according to the imperial edict, and I ask Duke Du not to make things difficult for me."
Although Du Xiang once dominated the northwest and was powerful in Tubo, he is now not reused by the saints. He holds a sinecure and has no right to interfere with Lu Xuan. He asked: "What happened?"
Lu Xuan said: "Du Gong doesn't need to know."
After asking a few more questions and getting no answer, Du Xiang had no choice but to throw up his sleeves and go to see the saint, but he knew very well that the saint was not willing to see him at all.
Lu Xuan turned his head and watched the purple official robe go away, and sneered, thinking to himself, what if Du Xiang had military exploits and was famous for his articles? His power was far inferior to that of a lackey of his right prime minister.
After being delayed like this for a while, I was about to leave again when someone suddenly called out from behind me.
"Xue Langjun."
Lu Xuan turned around and saw Zhang Yunrong, the concubine beside Concubine Yang. He did not dare to neglect him and quickly bowed his hands deeply and said with an apologetic smile: "Mrs. Zhang is in good health."
"You dare to block Xue Langjun's mouth? If you don't let go, the imperial concubine will take him to see the saint."
Lu Xuan opened his mouth, but found that what he wanted to say had been blocked.
He couldn't understand. The sage ordered him to interrogate Xue Bai. Who dared to risk offending the sage and tell Concubine Yang?
~~
"Thank you, General Gao."
Upstairs in the calyx, seeing Yang Yuhuan thanking her for her blessing, Gao Lishi quickly bowed and apologized, saying: "The noble concubine must never be so polite."
"My sister owes this little Xue Bai a lot of favors, and I should pay them back." Yang Yuhuan said: "In the blink of an eye, he can cause trouble again."
"Yes, this boy is really good at causing trouble. The concubine should just repay the favor."
Yang Yuhuan looked very curious and asked in a low voice: "Why did the saint suddenly become angry with him?"
"Concubine, don't pay attention. It's just someone gossiping and saying dirty things."
Yang Yuhuan understood immediately. Fortunately, since the person was rescued, it would be nice to explain later. If he was not rescued, she would have no choice but to leave Xingqing Palace.
Gao Lishi said: "Let's do this. I will lead this boy to explain something to the saint. What do you think, noble concubine?"
"Then we have to ask General Tuo Gao again." Yang Yuhuan said with a smile: "I'll go and talk to the third sister, lest she blame me again."
Gao Lishi always had a kind smile on his face.
He walked down the calyx building and arrived at the corridor at the back, where he saw Xue Baizheng and Zhang Yunrong standing there waiting.
"Thank you, General Gao, for saving your life."
"You should thank the imperial concubine."
Gao Lishi raised his hand to ask Zhang Yunrong to go back, and walked towards Qinzheng Building with Xue Bai without taking any other servants.
When no one was around, he spoke in a very serious tone.
"Don't think that the saint can be deceived. When the old soldier killed someone in Chang'an and hid in Yang Shenjin's house, you were there. The saint asked Lu Xuan to interrogate you, how could it be just because of the instigation of the right prime minister? It is natural for you to be tried, and your concubine can help.
I just want to give you a chance to explain it to the saint personally."
"General Xie Gao reminded me." Xue Bai said, "I listened."
"How are you going to explain it?"
Xue Bai understood and looked around. In front of him was the main building of Qin Government Affairs. There was a figure waiting at the door of the building. It was Li Heng.
Although he had never met Li Heng, he knew that it was Li Heng.
They are already fighting to the death. If Li Heng ascends the throne one day, he will be killed. Li Jingzhong will kill him without even needing to speak.
"Donggong wants to kill me, but General Gao wants me to protect him?"
Hearing these blunt words, Gao Lishi stopped and said with a smile: "You have already sold me a favor by recognizing Xue Ling today. Are you willing to sell me another favor?"
"good."
"What do you want?"
Xue Bai responded simply and neatly: "General Gao's words are enough."
"Then I owe Mr. Xue a favor."
"For the East Palace?" Xue Bai asked.
Gao Lishi smiled with squinted eyes, shook his head, and murmured a sigh.
"Aren't eunuchs officials of the Tang Dynasty who served the emperor... Let's go."
The two figures walked along the corridor together.
As his name suggests, Gao Lishi is tall and majestic. Xue Bai still looks a little thin when walking next to him. If you ignore his calm temperament, it is easy to think that he is a child.
After climbing the steps, they walked behind Li Heng.
Li Heng turned around.
Gao Lishi put his arm around Xue Bai's shoulders and patted him twice, as if to remind Li Heng - "Your Highness, this is the person I am protecting, please don't touch him."
Thinking back to the hard struggle in that big tank, these two gentle taps made Xue Bai feel like he was in another world.
The three of them said nothing, just stood there and waited.
After a long time, maybe the saint finally woke up after taking a nap. Gao Lishi entered first and then called Xue Bai.
"The saint summons Xue Bai to come to the throne. Prince, please wait a moment."
Li Heng was still standing there.
He knew that a saint could only use Wang Zhongsi to achieve immortal achievements, but Wang Zhongsi had too close friendship with him. If he had been smarter, he should have drawn a clear line with Wang Zhongsi.
However, he refused to give up his power in the northwest, so the saint would deliberately punish him whenever something went wrong.
But how can a prince of a country not even have the last bit of self-protection power? To put it bluntly, if there is no Wang Zhongsi, how can the prince calm down the situation if something unexpected happens?
A saint is not willing to consider these things at all. He always only considers himself!
Foolish king!
The unfilial descendants of the Li family!
…
He cursed secretly in his heart, but Li Heng knew that Xue Bai could finish him off with just one word at this moment.
At this point, I can only believe Gao Lishi.
~~
In the Qinzheng Building, candles were lit again in the main hall.
Li Longji was surrounded only by Chen Xuanli and Gao Lishi, and in front of him stood Xue Bai.
"Now are you willing to tell me personally? Say."
"To return to the saints, we have to start with the Liu Ji case."
Xue Bai made final considerations in an instant. As long as he told the truth, he could kill Li Heng and hundreds of people in the East Palace, but he himself would definitely die.
"Yang Shenjin admired the Du family's daughter, but was rejected several times, so he deliberately tricked Liu Ji to frame the East Palace..."
If he had a choice, he would not frame Yang Shenjin.
However, there was no choice in the court during the Tianbao period. Yang Shenjin was appointed as a fourth-rank official with important financial and legal responsibilities, but he did not have the ability and means worthy of his status, and he did not have the conscientious officialdom awareness. This is a crime.
Just like what he and Li Linfu said early on, they are all people who come to this power field to gamble their lives with the support of the people. They should be willing to admit defeat.
"I found evidence in Liu Ji's house, but he took it away again. He killed Liu Ji, and also performed a hero's play to save the beauty and rescued the Du family..."
Li Longji listened silently, knowing that Yang Shenjin was this kind of person.
The concubine Mingzhu, the maid Chuncao, and Guo Qianli said that the dead concubine Han Zhutuan were also stunning.
"At that time, the East Palace refused to help me, so I had no choice but to ask the right prime minister for help. The right prime minister then asked Ji Wen to investigate the matter. Ji Wen summoned the Du family and his daughter to ask about the Liu Ji case, suspecting that Yang Shenjin was secretly hiding the dead. We mobilized manpower to search all night, but found nothing. But that night, someone killed Jiwen's youngest son. And after I took the Du family's daughter back, someone else came to Jiwen's house to kill..."
"That night, they also assassinated Ji Wen in the street. I had seen a few dead soldiers, so I knew them. But at the time, I didn't know that these people were related to Yang Shenjin. Yang Shenjin knew that I admired your right prime minister's daughter, At the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, he told me that he could recognize me as his son and help me get a wife, but he asked me to give him Fengwei Tower. I agreed at that time. It wasn’t until the night of the Yuan Dynasty that I met those dead men on the street. I chased him all the way to Yang's house, realized something was wrong, and didn't dare to recognize him..."
Only Xue Bai was talking in the hall.
He also mentioned that Yang Zhao was greedy for property, Yang Shenjin came to take concubines, rumors in Chang'an City, etc. as evidence of these things.
Li Longji always closed his eyes and remained silent, as if he was asleep.
It wasn't until Xue Bai finished speaking and he was quiet for a while that he said, "There's more."
Xue thought for a while and simply responded frankly: "Also... I should be a slave of an official. I want to get rid of my identity of unknown origin or low status, so I offered stir-fried vegetables to Mrs. Guo Guo and asked her to arrange an identity for me.
.Later, I made an agreement with Yang Shenjin, but I didn’t expect that Mrs. Guo Guo would actually hire someone to do it.”
"Sage." Gao Lishi said: "Xue Ling really lost a son. He was at such an age. I must have thought it right... Please ask the saint to cure the old slave of deceiving the emperor."
"I also deceived the king, please ask the saint to punish me."
Li Longji finally opened his eyes and asked: "When is it?"
"It's Yin time." Gao Lishi whispered: "The right prime minister has been handling the case for more than two months but has not been able to solve it. The saint asked him clearly in less than an hour."
Xue Bai admitted this, but during this conversation, he explained everything he could about the entire case except the East Palace part, which was more than what Li Linfu found out.
Li Longji obviously didn't believe everything, or was too lazy to investigate, and deliberately asked Xue Bai to reveal the most important secret to show his respect and honesty.
He waved his hand and asked Xue Bai to step back.
Afterwards, he smiled bitterly and said to Gao Lishi: "General, thank you for your hard work in arranging for the prince."
Anyone else, looking at Li Longji's burning eyes, would be so frightened that he couldn't resist.
Gao Lishi knew him too well.
Over the years, the saint has long lost his interest in exploring government affairs. He often likes to lie like this, and he can easily control everything by reading people's hearts.
Moreover, he is really very discerning. Whether the minister is hiding something or not, he can tell it at a glance without having to check carefully.
"The old slave is guilty. The old slave did deliberately ask Xue Bai to explain it to the saint first. Because the old slave knows that the Longyou veteran whom Yang Shenjin bribed may have had contacts with the prince, because he has always been soft-hearted and can be easily taken advantage of. However, the prince is respectful and filial.
I will not dare to have any treacherous plots, I don’t want the saint to be deceived by the right prime minister."
Li Longji looked at his eyes and sighed: "Then you think I am too cruel to the prince."
"Old slave...that's what I thought." Gao Lishi said what was truly in his heart, "Please bear with me, the saint."
"I don't blame you." Li Longji said, "How can I not know what you are thinking after decades? If I didn't believe you, I wouldn't have established him in the first place."
"Your Majesty, the prince grew up in the house of ten kings, has been the heir to the country for less than ten years, and has never interacted with subordinate officials. How much foundation does he have? Who among the kings can be more respectful than him? Your Majesty is in the sky, why should you be afraid..."
"Stop talking nonsense." Li Longji's mood finally recovered a little. He smiled and talked to Gao Lishi. His tone turned cold again and he said: "Call him in."
~~
Li Heng looked over and saw Xue Bai walking out of the Qinzheng Building.
A sincere and grateful smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Xue Bai, Dong Palace will give you an explanation for the misunderstanding in the past."
Xue Bai responded perfunctorily and politely, looked around, and asked Li Jingzhong: "How to get out?"
"Xue Langjun, please, this old slave will lead the way for Xue Langjun."
Li Jingzhong immediately bent over and led Xue Bai towards the Huacalyx Tower with a flattering look on his face.
When the corridor was deserted, Xue Bai asked, "Is Pei Mian still alive?"
"Don't worry, Xue Langjun, we will let him die of illness tonight."
"No need." Xue Bai said, "Let him come to see me. I have something for him to do."
Li Jingzhong was stunned, stopped, turned to look at Xue Bai, but didn't react for a moment.
"Hmm? Do I have to explain it to you?"
"No need." Li Jingzhong said hurriedly: "Let Mr. Xue arrange it."
"It's okay if you want to hear it." Xue Bai suddenly smiled magnanimously, "Li Linfu wants me to die, but I have handed over the personal and material evidence into the hands of people you can't touch. If I die, I will wait by the Naihe Bridge.
you."
"Yes, I understand."
Li Jingzhong watched Xue Bai walk away, straightened up again, and murmured: "You are still so young, do you really not think about the future at all? Haha..."
~~
There is only one hour left before dawn.
The royal banquet has not yet started again.
Li Linfu sat in the veranda and yawned several times, knowing that the saint was personally handling Yang Shenjin's case. Such a big case, he didn't know how long it would take.
Lu Xuan did not keep him waiting for too long and returned to the veranda.
"Right Prime Minister."
"Kill?"
"This...no."
Lu Xuan was very embarrassed and hesitated again and again before telling the details.
At the end, he also made an analysis.
"I originally wanted to wait until Saint Xue Baimian was released before detaining him, but according to the wishes of the chamberlains... I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to kill him in the future."
Li Linfu's expression condensed and he fell into deep contemplation.
Lu Xuan waited for a while, but when he didn't get the order, he couldn't help but asked: "Right Prime Minister, although murder is not allowed, assassination..."
"go out."
Li Linfu waved his hand and blasted the trash away.
Xue Bai still had to be killed, but he had to think about what the saint summoned Xue Bai alone tonight to ask. If the saint knew the identity of his wife Xue Pingzhao, Xue Xiu's concubine, and killed him himself, he would probably lose his sacred heart.
But come to think of it, Xue Xiu conspired to rebel, and had a child with another woman behind Princess Tang Chang's back. Wouldn't he be worthy of the saint's protection if he killed her?
The thought changed again. The saint knew clearly whether Xue Xiu was treasonous or not.
Finally, Li Linfu recruited the guards and then invited the consort Yang Hui to come over.
~~
"What did Ge Nu call you to do again?"
In the veranda, Li Niang yawned and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Yang Hui pushing the door open.
Then, she stepped forward and punched her husband in the chest with her fist, and spat: "You walked away even though you knew I was afraid of being haunted."
"It's not a ghost, it's a human being." Yang Hui said, "Ge Nu said, he didn't kill him."
"Why? The prime minister can't even kill an official slave?"
"He is no longer an official slave. He is now the great-grandson of Xue Rengui and the nephew of Xue Hui. He also has a good relationship with the imperial concubine and General Gao."
"Are you crazy?" Li Niang was furious and scolded: "The enemy's son came to the house and strangled him to death. Why don't you get rid of him quickly? Do you want to scare me to death if you keep him?!"
"Am I crazy? These are what Ge Nu said."
"I don't care! Who doesn't know that we designed the case of the three common people? Don't forget that the title of Duke Xue Xihedong was also given to our son..."
"Ge Nu said we must find out where he has been hiding for the past ten years? Who can teach such a scheming person?"
Li Niang said: "What do you mean?"
"There must be a conspiracy." Yang Hui said: "You saw what he did tonight, at such a young age, if there was no one behind the scenes, could he have done it? The one behind the scenes must be our enemy. If you don't find out, you will
Can you feel at ease?"
"Civil officials work like mother-in-law and mother-in-law, and the name of cockfighting is just in vain!" Li Niang cursed and asked: "When will he find out?"
"He asked us to check."
"What?"
"This matter involves the death of my mother..."
After Concubine Wu Hui's death, she was given the posthumous title of Queen and was given the posthumous title of "Queen Zhenshun". Therefore, Yang Hui and his wife called her Queen Mother in private.
At this time, Li Niang heard it and finally felt that what Li Linfu said made sense.
She frowned, but said: "I just heard that something happened to Yang Shenjin. You'd better live in peace these days. I asked my brother to handle this matter. The whole thing was done to help him. He
It’s time to make some efforts.”
"Him?" Yang Hui was a little disdainful, "Can he check it?"
"Yes, have you forgotten my brother's aunt? He manages his property for him."
"Oh, her."
Yang Hui swallowed as he thought of that plump woman.
~~
At Yinshi, it was almost dawn.
The lights in the calyx building hall were still bright, and everyone was yawning, waiting for the saint to handle the state affairs.
The longevity king Li Chan did not dare to go to the veranda to rest. He always sat in his seat, feeling exhausted to the bone and wishing he could fall asleep.
Especially for this Shangyuan Banquet, there was no singing or dancing, just sitting and waiting.
"What happened?"
The whispers of officials around him reached his ears.
"I heard that Yang Shenjin was plotting rebellion."
"With the prestige of a saint, how can anyone dare to rebel?"
"Yang Shenjin has always been arrogant. When he saw Rong Dangdai, he even rebelled and wanted to see Rong Dangdai."
"I only blame him for ruining this Yuanye..."
When Li Xuan heard the word "rebellion", he was slightly touched in his heart, and then only felt bitter.
Turning his head inadvertently, he glanced and saw Yang Yuhuan waving, and his heart beat wildly. But when he looked again, he saw that she had beckoned Xue Bai to the railing and were discussing Ci and Fu with Xu Hezi.
After that, Yang Yuyao, who clearly didn't understand music, also went over to chat and laugh. The three women were as beautiful as flowers.
"well."
Li Chen turned around and couldn't bear to look anymore.
finally.
Seeing that there was movement in front of the Qinzheng Building, the royal family and ministers who had taken refuge in the veranda to rest came back one after another, and Li Linfu's steps were still a little hesitant.
"The saint has arrived!"
Li Longji returned to the banquet again, stayed up all night, and solved a major rebellion case. The emperor, who was over sixty years old, was in good spirits.
"Hahaha, thank you for your long wait. Let's have a banquet. Let's listen to Yongxin sing another song..."
The atmosphere in the palace has long since disappeared.
Li Chan suppressed a yawn, feeling uncomfortable in his spleen and stomach, thinking that he might still be ahead of the saint in the future.
~~
In this reluctant atmosphere, Xue Bai became more interested.
It was a rare moment for him to put aside the dirty political tricks in his mind, calm down and listen carefully to Xu Hezi's singing, and feel the prosperous age of the Tang Dynasty.
Tonight, while everyone else was just waiting, Xu Hezi and Yang Yuhuan happened to finish a poem. At this time, he first looked back at the Chang'an night sky, and then sang loudly.
"The east wind blooms flowers on thousands of trees at night, and even blows them down, and the stars are like rain..."
Xue Bai closed his eyes and thought about this night. Only then did he begin to reminisce about the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
Wait until Xu Hezi sings the last line.
He opened his eyes and looked at the dimly lit Chang'an City, thinking that no matter how many years passed and he suddenly looked back, he would still be unable to find himself.
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