When Wang Ze led a group of people and passed by Lin Xuan, he gave Lin Xuan a proud look.
In the previous collisions with Lin Xuan, he failed to gain any advantage, and now he finally won. Thinking of this, Wang Ze's steps became arrogant.
Lin Xuan shook his head and prepared to go home.
At this moment, Li Mu trotted over and shouted: "Master Hou, wait a moment."
"Eunuch Li, I am no longer a Marquis, please don't yell." Lin Xuan said with a smile.
Li Mu smiled and said: "The Marquis is joking. With the Marquis' ability, it is not easy to restore the title."
He was very fond of Lin Xuan because he was Li Shimin's chamberlain. Many people greeted him with smiles, but he could feel the disdain in their hearts.
He knew that others were polite to him only because of Li Shimin.
Those people looked down upon him as a eunuch from the bottom of their hearts.
But Lin Xuan was different. He could feel that Lin Xuan didn't mean to look down on him at all.
After staying in the palace for many years, Li Mu is still very confident in his ability to observe words and emotions.
"Eunuch Li, are you looking for me?" Lin Xuan asked.
Li Mu said: "Master Marquis, His Majesty has summoned you to see you."
"Eunuch, do you know what your Majesty wants from me?" Lin Xuan asked curiously.
Li Mu shook his head. It wasn't that he didn't tell Lin Xuan, but that he really didn't know.
"Thank you, father-in-law, please lead the way!" Lin Xuan said.
Lin Xuan followed Li Mu to Li Shimin's study.
"Master Marquis, you can just go in. His Majesty is waiting for you inside." Li Mu said.
"Father-in-law, won't you go in?" Lin Xuan asked.
Li Mu said: "Master Marquis, His Majesty said that you should go in alone."
Lin Xuan was a little confused. Even if Li Shimin usually discussed matters with ministers, Li Mu would always be at his side.
Lin Xuan walked in with full of doubts.
"I see your Majesty!" Lin Xuan bowed and saluted.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Lin Xuan sat down, he looked around and found that except for Li Shimin and him, there was not a single palace maid or eunuch in the entire study hall.
Of course, he didn't know if there was anyone protecting him secretly.
Li Shimin glanced at Lin Xuan and said calmly: "Zichu, I know you are very talented. I originally wanted you to practice more in the court so that you can be of great use in the future. You have only been in court for two days, and you have unexpectedly
Just sleep in the morning."
"I have failed to live up to His Majesty's expectations!" Lin Xuan said.
Li Shimin stared at Lin Xuan with burning eyes and asked: "Tell me honestly, are you unwilling to serve the imperial court?"
He always felt that what happened today was intentional on Lin Xuan's part, just to reduce his rank without having to go to court.
"Your Majesty, it's not that I'm unwilling to serve the imperial court. On the contrary, I hope that the Tang Dynasty will get better and better. It's just that I'm a little lazy. I'm really not used to going to court so early every morning." Lin Xuan said sincerely.
It's one thing not to adapt, but more importantly, the water in the court is too deep and he doesn't want to get involved.
Li Shimin said: "After all, you are still unwilling to serve the imperial court."
Lin Xuan smiled and said: "Your Majesty, I have done so many things before, but I have never held any position or been in court. Isn't this good? To serve the court, you don't have to be in a high position or participate in government affairs.
Bar?"
Li Shimin pondered for a long time and said: "Then have you ever thought about how you have offended so many people. What will those people think now that they see you losing rank and think you have lost power?"
Power is something that, once contaminated, is not so easy to give up.
The relationship between him and Li Jiancheng was still very good before the Li family started the army.
But when the Li family took over the world, the two gradually became incompatible.
Although it has something to do with their respective ambitions, the more important reason is that they don't trust each other.
Li Jiancheng felt that Li Shimin was a threat to his position as prince.
Li Shimin felt that Li Jiancheng would definitely not be able to tolerate him after he ascended the throne.
The same principle can also be applied to Lin Xuan.
The aristocratic family has long regarded Lin Xuan as a thorn in their side. They don't feel that Lin Xuan has lost power, and they feel that he is not a threat.
On the contrary, they wanted to trample Lin Xuan to death directly when he lost power, so that he would never have a chance to stand up.
"I believe that your Majesty will protect me," Lin Xuan said.
He has also thought about the impact of reducing his rank.
But many people know that Lin Xuan and Li Shimin are on the same side when it comes to family issues.
If Li Shimin lets the family deal with Lin Xuan without interfering, who will dare to support Li Shimin against the family in the future?
Besides, although he had been deposed, he was still an earl. As long as he did not leave Chang'an, people from the aristocratic family could not assassinate him in Chang'an.
Of course, there will definitely be some tricks behind it, but Lin Xuan is not afraid.
Li Shimin was noncommittal and said, "What do you think of the Buddhist invitation to travel west to obtain Buddhist scriptures?"
Lin Xuan was stunned and said: "The most important thing about this matter is what your Majesty thinks of it."
Li Shimin frowned in thought and said nothing.
In fact, the ancestors of the Li family have nothing to do with Lao Tzu Li Er. The Li family is of mixed Hu and Han descent. There were countless families like this at that time. In order to prove that he was of genuine origin, Li Yuan posthumously recognized Lao Tzu as his ancestor in order to gain recognition from the world.
Taoism respects Laozi as its founder, so Li Yuan made Taoism the state religion.
In recent years, Taoism has developed too fast, which has always been a major worry for Li Shimin.
At this time, Li Shimin was not yet ready to pursue immortality, so he always wanted to suppress the development of Taoism.
However, the Li family respects Lao Tzu as their ancestor. If he suppresses me, wouldn't it be equivalent to slapping his ancestors in the face?
When he refused Xuanzang's petition, it was not to protect Taoism.
But they don’t want Buddhism to develop and grow.
Taoism emphasizes purity and inaction, while Buddhism leads people to do good.
Although they are good in nature, if religion is deified and used and bewitched by people with ulterior motives, it will threaten the ruling power of the imperial court.
This is something Li Shimin absolutely cannot tolerate.
"Do you think the success of Buddhism in learning Buddhist scriptures can suppress the development of Taoism?" Li Shimin asked.
Lin Xuan was shocked that Li Shimin actually wanted to suppress Taoism. If this news spread, it would undoubtedly cause an uproar.
"Your Majesty, if Buddhism succeeds in learning Buddhist scriptures, it will definitely have a great influence on Taoism. But the most important thing is your Majesty's attitude." Lin Xuan said.
Li Shimin looked at Lin Xuan with some confusion and asked, "What does it have to do with me?"
Historically, Buddhism did flourish due to Xuanzang's study of Buddhist scriptures.
However, when Xuanzang returned from studying for Buddhist scriptures, it was already the 19th year of Zhenguan.
At that time, Li Shimin's temperament changed a lot after the death of Empress Changsun, and as he got older, he began to pursue immortality.
Because Taoism can make elixirs, it was very popular with Li Shimin, so its impact on Taoism was not great.
Of course, Lin Xuan definitely couldn't tell Li Shimin these things.
"Your Majesty, the development of religion has a great relationship with the favor of those in power. If those in power don't like it, no matter how a religion develops, it will not have much impact," Lin Xuan said.
Historically, the great rise of Buddhism and Taoism was inseparable from those in power.
Both Buddhism and Taoism have been suppressed many times in history. Although there have been troughs, they can quickly develop when those in power need them.
Li Shimin was thoughtful and said: "I understand, you can go back. Be honest during this period, and I will restore your title to you."
Lin Xuan opened his mouth, wanting to say that he really didn't need to restore his title, but seeing Li Shimin's face, he wisely said, "Yes, I'm resigning!"
…
Lin Xuan's demotion of rank is neither a big deal nor a small matter.
After the morning session, the news spread.
After Li Lizhi learned the news, she walked around the hall anxiously.
"Sister, please stop turning around. It makes me dizzy." Princess Yuzhang was speechless.
Li Lizhi said: "Why do you think my father is depriving him of his title when he has nothing to do? Well, it's normal for him to feel sleepy when he goes to court early in the morning. It would be too big a fuss to deprive him of his title for such a small matter."
Princess Yuzhang patted her forehead, feeling a little headache.
Is sleeping during the imperial court considered a trivial matter?
If you have to put this matter on others, it is certain that you will be dismissed from office.
Lin Xuan just reduced his rank, which was considered a small punishment but a big warning.
"Sister, if you are worried, you might as well go to your mother to intercede." Princess Yuzhang suggested.
"Yes, yes, I'm going to find the Queen Mother." Li Lizhi nodded and headed towards the Lizheng Palace in a hurry.
Queen Changsun had just put Mr. Jinyang to sleep when she saw Li Lizhi walking in with an aggrieved look on her face.
"I have met the Queen Mother!" Li Lizhi saluted.
Queen Changsun smiled and said: "Come and sit. You came here because of Lin Xuan's affairs, right?"
Li Lizhi stood next to Empress Changsun and said: "My father is so stingy. Just because of this trivial matter, he reduced Lin Xuan's title. Queen mother, you must say something about your father."
Empress Changsun stroked Li Lizhi's head and said angrily: "It's just a reduction of rank, not a dismissal. When you get married next year, he will be the county prince. Why are you anxious?"
Princess Shang is not just as simple as becoming a consort, she will also be granted a title.
Li Lizhi is the eldest princess, and her standards are definitely higher than other princesses.
According to the rules, if you marry her, you will be made a county official.
When Li Lizhi heard Empress Changsun talking about getting married, she lowered her head shyly.
I am too embarrassed to talk about Lin Xuan's demotion.
Empress Changsun sighed inwardly, she really didn't want to be a good woman.
She didn't have much trouble with Lin Xuan's demotion.
It is not a good thing for Lin Xuan to be granted the title of Marquis as a young boy. It is also a good thing for him to settle down during the ups and downs. (Although being granted a title for meritorious service and being granted a title for marrying a princess are both titles, the meanings are different.