Li Shimin resigned from the palace, leaving Meng Xinghe alone in Liangyi Hall. The doors and windows all around were closed, making the originally magnificent hall instantly darken, empty and a little deserted.
Meng Xinghe had an ominous premonition in his heart. But Li Shimin, who was sitting on the gilded dragon chair in front of him, just turned over the "Book of Sui" in his hand and didn't say a word. This made Meng Xinghe unable to guess what he wanted to do. It took a long time. Can't think of a way to deal with it.
"Your Majesty, if nothing happens, I'll go back first." We couldn't just stand like this. Meng Xinghe said first. It's very uncomfortable to stay here. It would be better to go back to the Hanlin Academy.
Li Shimin did not respond. He seemed not to have heard what Meng Xinghe was saying. Although he was flipping through the book, his mind was not on the book. However, everyone could see that his expression was not good.
What on earth was this old man going to do? Why was he so hesitant and unhappy? Li Shimin said nothing. Meng Xinghe was not brave enough to walk away directly. The two halls were too shabby. There was not even a chair. He had no choice but to stay down there. Waiting.
After about half an hour, Li Shimin was finally willing to speak. He put down the book in his hand and saw Meng Xinghe standing restlessly below. He thought to himself that he really couldn't stay with him.
"What are you doing standing so far away? Come closer." Li Shimin said coldly. Meng Xinghe had already walked in front of him.
Li Shimin stood up from the dragon chair and walked to Meng Xinghe. His keen eyes swept over him and he had already looked him up and down. He thought to himself that although this man is fluid, he is still handsome and not dazzling. .And if you can barely bring your knowledge to the table, you will not be laughed at. Although your life was not very clean in the past, it is not a shameful thing. As long as you strictly restrain yourself in the future, you can think about Meng Xinghe's character and shortcomings in your heart. After several times, Li Shimin made up his mind and asked: "How old are you this year?"
Damn it. After doing it for a long time, he asked me how old I was.
"Eighteen." Meng Xinghe said directly. He didn't know exactly how old he was. But he was either eighteen or nineteen. He couldn't be more than twenty at most. So he simply chose an age that was neither painful nor painful. Let Li Shimin I really want to drag him out and kill him.
"You are the number one scholar at the age of eighteen. You are really gifted." Li Shimin's voice was inaudible. He said coldly: "I think you are not even twenty-eight years old."
Meng Xinghe snickered in his heart. He was indeed twenty-eight years old in his previous life. It seemed that Li Shimin had a lot of ability in recognizing people.
However, Meng Xinghe was famous for being thick-skinned. Li Shimin was too lazy to talk to him about what happened this year. Now that the words were out of his mouth, Li Shimin didn't want to interrupt in the middle and went straight to the topic. "I ask you, have you ever been married. "
"Does a private life-long marriage count?" Meng Xinghe said. There are three wives in the family, but they all use uncivilized language without a matchmaker or betrothed. That's called fornication without a matchmaker. They will dip into the pig cage. However, Meng Xinghe's I have always had the worst reputation. I am not afraid of others gossiping.
Li Shimin deeply realized that Mr. Taoyuan Hualiu was indeed a very thick-skinned alternative. He could even tell the immoral things about private life. I really don't know what thoughts he has in his mind all day long.
"Of course it doesn't count." Li Shimin concluded the case. "Without three matchmakers and six betrothals, and a marriage contract between the parents, it cannot be considered a marriage."
Meng Xinghe had an expression of indifference. He and the three ladies had already cooked rice. When they all went to court that day, it would be the matchmaker who was marrying the real Mrs. Meng. He still had to worry about three matchmakers and six betrothals, and the engagement contract. The evidence is all false.
Wait. Li Shimin asked me what I meant by getting married. Could it be that he wanted to grant me a marriage? Meng Xinghe was shocked. He no longer had the leisure he had before. That day in Prince Xian's mansion, he had mentioned Xi Jia The princess has betrothed to him. Could it be that he still wants to get married today? Something is very wrong.
It's almost what Meng Xinghe thought. Li Shimin sat back on the dragon throne. There is no majesty of a king on his face, nor can he guess his monarch's heart. In short, it makes people feel like they are being weighed down by something heavy. Come on. Just like a helpless weakling who sees a predator approaching him step by step, he immediately feels uncomfortable all over.
Based on Meng Xinghe's expression at this moment, Li Shimin guessed that he already knew his intention. There was no force. But his words were more effective than force. He said: "I don't care how many women you have been in close contact with before. But from today on, you We must leave them. My prince is worth a thousand pieces of gold. How can those ordinary women be on an equal footing with her?"
It turned out that the person he was marrying was not Chai Xijia. She was Li Shimin's daughter, a princess of the Tang Dynasty. Meng Xinghe was very excited. I would not marry a princess even to death. Don't think that being able to marry a princess as your consort is such a lucky thing. Looking at In history, only the consorts of the Tang Dynasty were the most miserable. Not only did they have to be loyal to the princess, but they also had to be controlled by the princess even when they went out to have fun. To put it bluntly, it meant marrying a man to work as a cow or a horse for the princess to torture. .Although Meng Xinghe didn't know why Li Shimin wanted to marry the princess to him, Meng Xinghe had already made up his mind not to marry the princess.
Meng Xinghe didn't say a word. He knew that speaking in front of Li Shimin was seeking death. Not speaking could also keep Li Shimin guessing. But he knew that this could only delay things for a while. After all, it was not a long-term solution.
Li Shimin knew that this was Meng Xinghe's delaying strategy. He didn't press hard. He just mentioned the matter to Meng Xinghe temporarily today to let him prepare. However, he seemed to have identified Meng Xinghe as the consort and left no room for it. Said: "I know exactly how many women you have. If you don't handle it yourself and let me take action, then none of them will survive. Don't look at me with that kind of hatred. Let me speak. God, no one dares to disobey. You are no exception."
Why do I feel that Li Shimin is more shameless than me? I don't want to marry my daughter. He is so aggressive. He threatens to kill my wife at every turn. Meng Xinghe is anxious. He feels that there is no need to swallow his anger. Instead of letting Li Shimin make his own decisions for him. This It was better for him to resolve the matter himself. Without saying anything else, Meng Xinghe took a few steps forward and stood in front of Li Shimin's dragon case. He straightened his back and said: "Wife of wretchedness. How can I just abandon it at the drop of a hat?" Before we met, it was impossible for us to give up our old love just to marry a woman we didn’t know. That was a heartless thing to do. I, Meng Xinghe, cannot be a lover. Even if I die to remonstrate with you, in the eyes of the Holy Lord, it is just a fly on a tree. You can't stir up big storms. But Your Majesty, as the king of a country and the most powerful person in the Tang Dynasty, if you don't care about the life and death of others, know the law and break the law, and rob people's men on the grounds of lust for power, how is this different from the bandits outside? ?”
He came down with a long speech. After hearing this, Li Shimin became furious and slapped the dragon case in front of him: "How outrageous. How could I have robbed a civilian man?"
This old man is telling lies with his eyes open. Meng Xinghe pointed at himself and said: "I am not a man of the people anymore. The Holy Master forced a subordinate to marry a princess. Isn't it just a matter of robbing a man of the people? The student has little talent and little knowledge. But I have seen it in the Hanlin Academy. According to the law of the Tang Dynasty, if a man is raped, he will be beheaded."
What a cunning and sharp mouth. Even if Li Shimin wanted to punish Meng Xinghe, he would not dare to say that he ignored the law. That is the foundation of the Li family's ancestral foundation. Even if he is the master of a country, he must also make concessions. Although he knew that the law of the Tang Dynasty did not include robbing a man, but if it were really tried, this crime would be punished on the same level as robbing a woman. It would be punishable by beheading.
Meng Xinghe also knows. Who has the guts to chop off Li Shimin's head? He is just taking advantage of the loopholes in the law. He has the upper hand temporarily. If Li Shimin really cares about it, let alone the law of the Tang Dynasty, even if his father Li Yuan is reincarnated, no one will dare to attack him. How about it? In ancient times, the king is heaven, and what the emperor says is the law. If he wants Meng Xinghe to marry the princess, then he has no choice.
Sure enough, things went as Meng Xinghe expected. Li Shimin laughed sinisterly. There were only two of them in the Liangyi Palace. So Meng Xinghe could clearly see the old man in front of him, who was of medium height and with a gray beard but was full of energy. He smiled as if he had seen him. The wolf king of sheep makes people shudder.
"Do you think that the laws of the Tang Dynasty are supreme in front of me? I am the emperor, and what I say is the law. Now I will give you two ways to go. First, marry my daughter. Stay safe and be your consort. You will be rich and prosperous. Enjoy it as you wish. Forget all those things in the past. I will help your women find good families to marry. Secondly, continue to be your Mr. Hualiu. Let me cut you all down. It’s up to you to advance or retreat. Call the shots.”
Speaking of which, Li Shimin didn't have to beat around the bush with Meng Xinghe. There were many talented people in the Tang Dynasty. Killing Meng Xinghe would not necessarily mean that the National Games of the Tang Dynasty would decline as Yuan Tiangang said.
These two roads are really one in the sky and the other in the earth. They are incomparable. Meng Xinghe said with hope: "Is there a third way?"
Li Shimin wanted to refuse outright, but after thinking about it he immediately said: "Yes."
"What road?" Meng Xinghe held on to it as if he saw hope.
Li Shimin felt unspeakably sinister. He said, "Go to Xiangguo Temple and become a monk. I promise not to embarrass you anymore."
I thought it was a good way. It turned out that I was asked to become a monk. Meng Xinghe's reluctant expression played into Li Shimin's hands. He took the opportunity and said: "I'll give you two days to think about it. When you think about it, come and tell me. Yes. Whether you want a beautiful woman, or three wives and four concubines, you can weigh the importance yourself."
What else is there to think about? Meng Xinghe said directly: "You don't have to wait two days. I will answer you now. I will choose the second way." He did not have the courage to look forward to death. He was just fair. If he had known that he would come to Chang'an earlier, he would With so many things going on, he would rather not take part in the imperial examination. It would be better to just work as a clerk in charge of record keeping in Mr. Lu's government office in Jiangdulu than to be led by the nose now.
Li Shimin wanted to chop Meng Xinghe as punishment. But he finally held back his anger and said coldly: "Back off. Don't let me see you in the future."
Meng Xinghe wished that he would never see Li Shimin again. After receiving the order to leave, he quickly exited the Liangyi Palace. It was not until he left the palace that Meng Xinghe breathed a sigh of relief. It was so dangerous just now. Old Man Li always likes him every now and then. Setting off such smoke bombs was in line with the insidious emperor's style. Meng Xinghe, who had been teased by him several times, had to grin and scold him for being too despicable. He planned to secretly write a biography of Li Shimin in the Hanlin Academy another day to let future generations know. Look, the emperor of the ages is just a villain who is full of conspiracy and conspiracy under the appearance of benevolence and righteousness.
Li Shimin didn't hear Meng Xinghe's evaluation of him. Not long after he left, Li Shimin said to the huge floor-to-ceiling screen behind him: "Come out."
After the words fell, a woman wearing a white gauze skirt and a golden phoenix crown came out from behind the screen. The woman did not dare to look directly at Li Shimin. A trace of blush flashed across her slightly sickly face. She had already muttered: "Father. Didn't you agree not to threaten him? You didn't follow the rules."
"It's my father's fault. You should teach me a lesson." Looking at this little daughter who is very similar to the late Changsun Queen, even a sinister person like Li Shimin also has a kind side. Among many children, he is the only one. The most beloved little Sizi can enjoy the highest treatment. Since the death of Empress Changsun, she has been taken by Li Shimin and often accompanied him in reviewing memorials in the Liangyi Palace. She has been in poor health since she was a child, and she loves to cry most. The little girl who was clamoring for a mother has now turned into a graceful beauty. Li Shimin is a little pleased. He realizes that even if he goes to hell, he will have the honor to meet Empress Changsun. However, in the past two years, because of the sudden appearance of Concubine Xiao in the palace, she has become aroused. An incident in Li Shimin's past caused many quarrels between him and his little daughter. Now that he, the father, knew that his daughter had gone out for a trip, she felt like she had lost her soul when she came back. He stayed in the room all day long looking at a marriage lamp. Deng alternately smiled and became sad. After careful questioning, he heard that his daughter had met a young master while visiting Jiangdu. What’s even more coincidental was that the young master was none other than Meng Xinghe. He knew his beloved daughter’s thoughts well. Of course, Li Shimin wanted to protect his daughter. The daughter makes the decision. That’s why Liangyi Palace asked Meng Xinghe to marry the princess today. As for the rules, of course Princess Jinyang didn’t want her father to use his power to force Meng Xinghe. The agreement was signed verbally by the two. However, Li Shimin failed to keep this promise. It was inevitable that her little Sizi would be angry and blame her father for going back on his word.
"Jinyang. How about your father asking someone to kidnap him?" Li Shimin smiled and asked his daughter, and gave up half of the dragon chair for her to sit on.
"No, don't. My father must promise Jinyang not to embarrass her again in the future. Otherwise, I will ignore you." Xiao Sizi knew that his father meant what he said, so he quickly stopped. Originally, he had already treated Meng Xinghe today. The torture was terrible. She didn't want Meng Xinghe to hate her because of this incident.
"It's true that women are not allowed to stay in college." Li Shimin sighed, pointing to the thick stack of memorials in front of the Long Case, and said: "Father, I am tired. I asked my little Sizi to help me review these memorials."
Xiao Sizi smiled faintly and picked up the pen skillfully to mark the memorial. But her face was not happy at all.
Love is hard to express. Maybe she is the one I am talking about.