Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 408 Oppression from the Empress

Early in the morning, an eunuch came to the door and told Li Qinzai with a smile that the queen had summoned County Uncle Li alone.

Li Qinzai's heart sank, he smiled wryly, put on his official uniform, and followed the eunuch into the palace.

This was the second time Empress Wu summoned Li Qinzai alone, and the place of the summoning was not the palace, but the Huanglin Garden next to the Liangyi Hall.

Huanglin Garden is a garden and artificially piled rockery forest, with elegant scenery and fragrant birds and flowers.

Li Qinzai has been to the palace many times, but this is the first time for him to visit this royal garden.

Empress Wu stood in a golden osmanthus forest, and the blooming flowers set off her bright yellow robe, just like the nobleness among the six palaces of pink and black, all the flowers are green leaves, and only one is gorgeous.

Li Qinzai bowed his head and saluted, Empress Wu turned to look at him.

"Jingchu doesn't need to be too polite. Today, I have no one else to call you into the palace. I just invite you to enjoy the osmanthus together." Empress Wu smiled.

Li Qinzai also smiled and said: "Osmanthus in three autumns, lotus in ten miles, and 10 families. The imperial forest is deeply locked in autumn, but the osmanthus has drifted into the world of fireworks."

Empress Wu's eyes lit up, and she praised: "Good sentences, good artistic conception! Jing Chu is not only amazing in knowledge, but also a talented man in the world when he writes poems and recites sentences."

Li Qinzai said with a smile: "I am talking nonsense, so I don't deserve the word 'talented scholar'."

Empress Wu still shook her head and praised: "Talents are rare..."

"Since the opening of the scientific examination in the Tang Dynasty, countless talents have been on the gold list over the years. The imperial court recruits hundreds of scholars every year. However, most of them are mediocre talents. Who can compare with Jingchu's great talents? Your Majesty has left a path for the poor. However, the children of the humble family are still a bit short of background and aura after all."

Li Qinzai blinked innocently, and started talking about home, country and world?The topic is a bit too big, Li Qinzai can't handle it.

Seeing that Li Qinzai didn't say anything, Empress Wu didn't mind, and sighed again: "The palace has assisted His Majesty these years, fought for power, destroyed the family, passed the imperial examination, and suppressed the palace."

"Others think that I sit firmly in the harem and enjoy wealth and honor, but who knows that I have actually been on a bloody journey. No matter how many steps I take, there is an abyss behind me."

Li Qinzai bowed and said: "Your Majesty and the Queen have worked hard, and I am willing to share your worries for Your Majesty."

Empress Wu smiled, and said: "Your Majesty is the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He inherited the legacy of Zhenguan and created a prosperous world. He is a rare hero and Mingjun throughout the ages."

"Even if such a wise monarch is so wise, there are still villains plotting behind him, and they are becoming more and more rampant. Now he dares to curse His Majesty by doing things that are disgusting and rebellious in the palace," Empress Wu's phoenix eyes darkened, and her tone became colder.

"From the third year of Xianqing, the Ministry of Criminal Justice of the Tang Dynasty approved the beheading of only a dozen people every year. The world praises the Son of Heaven as a benevolent king, but they don't know that the benevolence of a benevolent king is only for the people who abide by the law and the law, not for the treacherous. When the time comes, the Son of Heaven will not be relentless."

Li Qinzai shuddered secretly.

He knew that Empress Wu's words were meant for him, to explain why a case of embarrassing victory would implicate thousands of people.

Many palace people who were killed had nothing to do with the case, but they were killed anyway.

There are many reasons, the biggest reason is that perhaps Empress Wu intends to take advantage of this incident to establish her prestige, take the opportunity to clean up the palace, and get rid of some bad signs and hidden dangers.

Li Qinzai smiled wryly and said, "Your Majesty and the Queen's painstaking efforts, I have always understood. Yes, those who should be killed must be killed. Such a serious case has occurred in the court, so we must not be lenient."

Empress Wu hummed, and said, "I heard... Your Majesty summoned you the day before yesterday, and it seems that you are not very satisfied with the outcome of the win-disgusting case?"

Li Qinzai was startled, and hurriedly said: "The minister is a foreign minister, so he really shouldn't be involved in palace affairs, but His Majesty insisted, and the minister had no choice but to obey."

Empress Wu smiled: "It's okay, since it was ordered by His Majesty, it means that His Majesty didn't treat you as an outsider, and he just handled things with heart, but...the case of the two princesses being involved in the incident has been proved by Dali Temple. Even if Your Majesty has doubts, I'm afraid It’s hard to reverse the case.”

Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment, and tentatively said: "Queen, the two princesses have been imprisoned in the court for many years, and they are also daughters. After all, they are His Majesty's own flesh and blood. Why not...let them live."

Empress Wu's smile became colder: "Back then, my palace was cornered step by step by Wang Shi and Xiao Concubine, and I was in a desperate situation several times. Who gave me a way out?"

Li Qinzai was silent for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Queen, you are the final victor. The enemies who fought each other every step of the way have already turned into handfuls of loess. The two princesses have no enmity with you, and have been imprisoned in Yeting for many years. Why doesn't the queen let the two hard-working people go?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qinzai suddenly felt a sinister aura in the air, and goosebumps stood up all over his body.

"Li Jingchu, are you pleading for the two principals in the Yansheng case?" Empress Wu said in a cold tone.

Li Qinzai bowed his head and said: "I dare not, I just can't bear the tragic end of your majesty's own flesh and blood being slaughtered and abandoned in the market."

"They are criminals!" Empress Wu emphasized: "Don't you know how serious the case of disgusting victory is? Thousands of people were killed in the Tai Chi Palace. Could it be that the mastermind survived?"

Li Sujie's pleading face came to mind, Li Qinzai gritted his teeth, suddenly raised his head and looked directly into her eyes, and said, "Queen, you and I know very well that the two princesses don't even..."

Before she finished speaking, Empress Wu suddenly yelled: "Shut up! Li Jingchu, you are becoming more and more arrogant. Do you really think that I dare not deal with you?"

Li Qinzai's heart burst into anger, and he gritted his teeth.

He understands Empress Wu's meaning. When things have developed to this point, it doesn't really matter who is the real mastermind. The important thing is that Empress Wu has an excuse to kill the grass.

After clearing herself of her suspicions, she made full use of this big case in turn. She would not allow the two daughters of her enemy to live in the Tai Chi Palace safely.

As for Li Qinzai, this time his position conflicted with that of Empress Wu.

He wants to save the two princesses.

Seeing Li Qinzai's angry expression, Empress Wu couldn't help softening her tone, and said softly, "Jingchu, the emperor holds you in high regard, and so does this palace. Why should you and I create a rift over an irrelevant matter?"

"I know that His Majesty has doubts about the outcome of this case, so I want you to re-investigate this case. There is no right or wrong in this matter, whether it is a worldly matter or a palace matter. It is nothing more than pros and cons."

"How to decide how to advance and retreat, Jing Chu is a smart person, you naturally know, don't let Ben Gong down."

Leaving Taiji Palace, Li Qinzai's heart was heavy.

Every sentence that Empress Wu said to him still rings in my ears.

He knew that the purpose of Empress Wu summoning him today was a showdown and a warning.

Empress Wu needs him to carry out her will, and the case of Yusheng is over. Don't make any more disturbances. Only the death of the two princesses can bring an end to this huge case that shocked the world and involved countless people.

It has to be said that Empress Wu's warning put tremendous pressure on Li Qinzai, and he couldn't bear it.

If he doesn't listen to her warning, the relationship between him and Empress Wu may deteriorate in the future. With such a powerful enemy under the Pingbai tree, Li Qinzai must be careful to guard against her in his life, and there will never be peace in his life.

(End of this chapter)