The first rebel of the Tang Dynasty

Lu Zhaolin never thought that Fang Xuanling would do such a thing - find himself a wife. He froze in place, feeling that his thoughts were in chaos.

The name note left by the matchmaker before leaving was felt heavy in Lu Zhaolin's hand. He knew that this was not just a piece of paper, but also Fang Xuanling's thoughts and expectations. However, he also understood that his heart was not ready to accept such an arrangement.

The matchmaker is well-known far and wide, and her credibility and vision are recognized. There is no doubt that as long as you pass through her hands, you will find an excellent wife. However, for Lu Zhaolin, marriage is not something that can be arranged at will. It involves the matching of two people's emotions, personalities, family backgrounds and other aspects, and these cannot be solved through simple matchmaking.

What made Lu Zhaolin even more troubled was that once he accepted the matchmaker's arrangement, it meant that he would owe Fang Xuanling a favor. This favor is not a small amount for him, it may become an important weight for his future development. However, he also understands that if he makes a hasty decision for this reason, he may regret it in the future.

Lu Zhaolin's heart was in chaos and he didn't know what to do. He considered various possible options and outcomes, feeling that he was trapped in a dilemma that he could not extricate himself from. He wanted to reject Fang Xuanling's kindness, but he was afraid of offending him; he wanted to obey his heart, but he was afraid that the future results would be unsatisfactory.

Time passed little by little, but Lu Zhaolin still had not made a decision. He felt like he was trapped in an invisible cage from which he could not escape. He looked up at the sky, feeling a little confused and helpless. He didn't know what to do, and he didn't know where the future lay.

At this time, he suddenly remembered an old saying he heard when he was a child: "Life is like a dream, and dreams are like life." He began to reflect on his own heart and found that he had been pursuing a true self, one that was not bound by the outside world. and affected self. He understands that his life should not be controlled by others, and he should not compromise his heart for certain interests.

At this time, far away in the Tai Chi Palace, Li Shimin was sitting on the dragon chair, with a happy smile on his face. He learned that Fang Xuanling had gone to see Lu Zhaolin in person, thinking that this wise man was planning to persuade Lu Zhaolin to join the imperial court and serve the imperial court.

Li Shimin sat on the dragon chair, with a happy smile on his face. He learned that Fang Xuanling had gone to see Lu Zhaolin in person, thinking that this wise man was planning to persuade Lu Zhaolin to join the imperial court and serve the imperial court.

Li Shimin had always held Fang Xuanling in high regard, believing that he was an outstanding talent in the court and could make great contributions to the development of the court. Therefore, when he heard that Fang Xuanling was going to find Lu Zhaolin, he thought it was an excellent opportunity to let Lu Zhaolin, a talented person, be used by the court.

In his mind, he had already begun to imagine the scene where Fang Xuanling persuaded Lu Zhaolin. He imagined the two of them laughing and talking about world affairs. They have even begun to arrange positions and tasks for Lu Zhaolin, preparing to welcome this new talent.

Li Shimin thought very happily: "I really didn't expect that Fang Xuanling understood my heart so well and knew how to find Lu Zhaolin. This guy didn't say anything before doing this. But how can I put it, it really makes me feel relieved!" What a rare piece of good news!”

"Come here!" Li Shimin shouted loudly.

"Yes!" a eunuch replied.

"Let Fang Xuanling enter the palace, I have something to say to him!" Li Shimin said.

"Yes!"

So the eunuch went to find Fang Xuanling and asked him to come to Taiji Palace.

When Fang Xuanling heard the news, his expression changed slightly. He felt a little uneasy, not knowing why Li Shimin summoned him. Is it about the free medical plan? I haven't contacted Li Min yet. If Li Shimin knew about it, I'm afraid he would blame himself.

With an anxious mood, Fang Xuanling walked into Tai Chi Palace. He saw Li Shimin smiling and sitting on the dragon throne waiting for him. Fang Xuanling was even more confused, wondering what was hidden behind this smile.

He walked up to Li Shimin and saluted: "Your Majesty!"

When Li Shimin saw Fang Xuanling coming in, the smile on his face became even brighter. He waved Fang Xuanling over, and then said kindly: "Fang Qing's house, you're here at the right time! Come on, come on, come and sit down."

Fang Xuanling felt uneasy, but still sat down obediently. He secretly observed Li Shimin's expression, trying to guess his thoughts from his expression.

Li Shimin looked at Fang Xuanling and asked with a smile: "Sit down at Fang Qing's house!"

Fang Xuanling was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Shimin would treat him like this, but his own affairs were not settled yet.

So he quickly replied: "Your Majesty. I haven't found the sixth prince yet."

After hearing this, Li Shimin didn't take it seriously. He looked at Fang Xuanling and said, "I'm not looking for you because of that matter. Fang Qing's family, come here. I have something to discuss with you."

Fang Xuanling breathed a sigh of relief, but was still a little nervous. He looked at Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, please speak!"

Li Shimin motioned to the eunuch next to him to pour wine for Fang Xuanling, and then said: "Fang Qing's family, you have always been diligent in serving the court. I admire you very much."

Fang Xuanling quickly stood up and thanked her: "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty!" But she thought in her heart: What is going on? Why was Li Shimin suddenly so polite to him today?

Just when Fang Xuanling was confused, Li Shimin continued: "I heard that you went to Lu Zhaolin for court matters, and I was very happy."

Fang Xuanling was shocked: Could it be that Li Shimin already knew that he was looking for Lu Zhaolin because of the Shengtang Group and Li Min? He replied cautiously: "Your Majesty is exaggerating. I just think Mr. Lu's talent is outstanding and I hope to communicate with him."

After hearing this, Li Shimin looked at Fang Xuanling with a smile, as if he wanted to see through his mind: "So, you are doing this for the sake of the court?"

Fang Xuanling felt a little nervous. He didn't tell the truth completely, but he couldn't deny that it was for the sake of the court. He secretly speculated in his heart how much truth Li Shimin knew.

He replied cautiously: "Your Majesty, as a citizen of the Tang Dynasty, I should work for the court!"

After hearing this, Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction: "Okay! You are indeed a loyal and good minister."

While Li Shimin was immersed in joy, an attendant hurriedly walked into the hall, bowed his head and reported: "Your Majesty, there is news!"

Li Shimin's expression changed and he asked hurriedly: "What's the news?"

As the man spoke, he glanced at Fang Xuanling: "Only you can know this news!"

Li Shimin understood what the attendant meant. He looked at Fang Xuanling and said, "As for Fang Qing's family, please stay away for a while."

Fang Xuanling also realized that it was not convenient for him to be here, so he stood up and left: "Your Majesty, I will go out first!"

After Fang Xuanling exited the hall, Li Shimin looked at the attendant and said, "What news? It's so secret?" The attendant whispered: "Your Majesty, I just got the news that Fang Xuanling went to Lu Zhaolin not for court matters."

Li Shimin was stunned: "Not for the imperial court? What is it for?"

The attendant continued: "According to the spies' reports, Fang Xuanling has a close relationship with the Shengtang Group. He went to see Lu Zhaolin this time to promote cooperation between the Shengtang Group and the sixth prince Li Min."

Li Shimin was stunned, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared: "Is this true?"

The attendant replied cautiously: "Yes, Your Majesty, according to reliable information, Master Fang is trying to persuade Lu Zhaolin to join the Sixth Prince. In other words, he persuaded him to join the Shengtang Group!"

Li Shimin's eyes flashed with surprise and disappointment. He never expected that Fang Xuanling would go behind his back to persuade Lu Zhaolin to join Li Min's camp. In his mind, Fang Xuanling has always been a loyal and upright minister. Why would he do such a thing?

He felt a burst of inexplicable anger and disappointment, but more importantly, confusion and confusion.

Li Shimin's face darkened, he looked at the attendant and said, "Keep talking."

The attendant took a deep breath and continued: "According to spies' reports, Fang Xuanling has had many contacts with Liu Rengui, CEO of Shengtang Group, and seems to be discussing some kind of cooperation."

When Li Shimin heard this, his heart tightened. He knew that Liu Rengui was now a powerful figure in the Shengtang Group. Why did Liu Rengui go to the Shengtang Group? Fang Xuanling might have something to do with it, right?

He had been thinking about why Liu Rengui left.

What Fang Xuanling did now made him very depressed.

This matter is somewhat serious.

He had mixed feelings in his heart. On the one hand, he felt angry and disappointed at Fang Xuanling's betrayal, but on the other hand, he also found it unbelievable. Fang Xuanling has always been his trusted minister, why would he do such a thing?

Li Shimin decided to ask Fang Xuanling for clarification. He shouted outside the hall: "Fang Xuanling, come in!"

Not long after Fang Xuanling left Tai Chi Palace, she heard Li Shimin's call and had no choice but to walk in. He couldn't help but feel a little uneasy when he saw Li Shimin sitting on the dragon chair with a gloomy face.

"Fang Xuanling, sit down." Li Shimin said coldly.

Fang Xuanling was shocked and didn't know how to respond. But he sat down obediently.

"Do you know why I'm looking for you?" Li Shimin looked at him and asked.

Fang Xuanling understood in her heart, but could not admit it directly, so she could only answer vaguely: "I don't know."

"How dare you betray me!" Li Shimin was furious. In his view, Fang Xuanling's behavior was tantamount to betraying him and the entire court. He had always regarded Fang Xuanling as a confidant and given him great trust and power. He did not expect that Fang Xuanling would do such a small trick behind his back.

Fang Xuanling felt extremely bitter. He knew that his behavior had violated Li Shimin's bottom line. But he also had his own difficulties and thoughts. He did not want to betray Li Shimin, but just hoped to seek more benefits for the court and the people. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, it is clear that I have not betrayed you."

"You didn't betray me? Then you went to Lu Zhaolin for the Shengtang Group, right?" Li Shimin asked again.

Fang Xuanling hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I have not deviated from your wishes. The reason why I persuaded Lu Zhaolin to join Li Min is because I think it will be more beneficial to his personal development. Moreover, it is also in the interest of the court."

Li Shimin became even more puzzled after hearing this: "You actually think that Lu Zhaolin joining Li Min's command will be beneficial to the court? Don't you know that this is weakening the power of the court?"

Lu Zhaolin is a talent, and now is the time when Li Shimin needs talents.

Without him, there would be no one in charge of Qingzhou.

Fang Xuanling took a deep breath and tried to calm down his emotions: "Your Majesty, I know that you have high hopes for Lu Zhaolin. But please trust my judgment. I believe that allowing Lu Zhaolin to display his talents under the command of the Sixth Prince can indirectly help It is used by the imperial court. After all, the sixth prince is also your son, and his power is also part of the imperial court."

Li Shimin was silent for a moment after hearing this, and the anger in his heart gradually calmed down. He began to realize his misunderstanding, but was still somewhat dissatisfied. He frowned, and his eyes revealed a complicated emotion.

"Fang Xuanling, you have always been thoughtful in your actions, but this time you are a little disappointed." Li Shimin's words contained a hint of helplessness and confusion. He looked at Fang Xuanling, as if trying to find some explanations and answers from the other person's expression.

After hearing this, Fang Xuanling felt a little embarrassed and helpless. He knew that this misunderstanding was due to insufficient communication between himself and Li Shimin. He was well aware of Li Shimin's expectations and ambitions for the court, and he also understood his responsibilities and mission.

He lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty's lesson is correct, I must keep it in mind. But there are some things I still want to say."

"you say!"

"Lu Zhaolin, if he is included in the Shengtang Group by the Sixth Prince, it will be equivalent to making the Shengtang Group even stronger." When Fang Xuanling said this, his tone was firm and powerful, "The powerful Shengtang Group will also be a powerful force in the future. It is used by the imperial court. In other words, won’t the imperial court become more powerful in the future?”

Fang Xuanling seemed to be right. His words made Li Shimin fall into deep thought. Li Shimin understood Fang Xuanling's intention. He was thinking about the future of the court. But at the same time, he also realized that Fang Xuanling's approach also brought certain risks. The strength of the Shengtang Group also meant that the court needed to spend more resources and energy to control it.

He looked at Fang Xuanling, with complex emotions in his eyes. He knew that Fang Xuanling was a loyal and far-sighted minister, but his actions also made him feel a little uneasy. He needs to think carefully about how to balance the interests of the imperial court and the development of Shengtang Group.

In the end, Li Shimin decided to put this issue aside for the time being. He needs more time and information to make informed decisions. He looked at Fang Xuanling and said, "Fang Qing's family, you should go back first. We will discuss this issue later."

After hearing this, Fang Xuanling felt a little disappointed. He knew that his suggestion was not accepted, but he also understood that it was for the benefit of the court. He saluted and said, "I obey your decree." Then he slowly exited the palace.

He didn't know what he was going to do next.

Maybe, he still wants to find him.