Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 158 The main force of the Eastern Palace
Yanyue Hall.

Li Linfu looked at Xiaoxue outside the window with his hands behind his back, and said, "I heard that Xue Bai has been in contact with Li Mi, Yuan Zai, and even Wang Zhongsi recently?"

He was obviously not happy, worried that Xue Bai would want to interfere in his matter of seizing the Jiedushi of the Four Towns again.

Starting from the case of Wei Jian on the Yuan Festival in the fifth year of Tianbao, he finally launched a decisive attack on the East Palace, and the attack was directed at Wang Zhongsi, the main force of the East Palace.

Different from those trivial matters in the past, this kind of military affairs is not something that relatives and jesters can intervene in.The sage had made a decision with him, the chief executive, and there was no room for nonsense. The most Xue Bai could do was to advise Wang Zhongsi.

Li Linfu felt that there was no need to worry about it, but he couldn't help worrying about it.

Just at this time, a servant came forward and said: "Ah Lang, the news has arrived. Xue Bai went to Xingqing Palace with Mrs. Guo to have an audience."

"really."

Li Linfu's eyes flickered, sullen, annoyed that Xue Bai did not keep his promise, and ordered: "Quickly send a message to the palace gate, the truth is that there is an urgent state matter and I want to see the saint."

The Xingqing Palace was not far away, and this time it was a sudden idea, so Li Linfu hurried to the gate of the palace without waiting for Jinwu Wei Jing Street.

Fortunately, no assassins were encountered.

Today Li Longji is playing poker in Qinzhengwu Building, and his poker players are sisters from the Yang family and Xue Bai again.

"Saint, the right minister has arrived."

Li Linfu was led by his servants, walked into the hall, and heard Xue Baizhen talking about Shibao City.

"It's the maid beside me. Her ancestral home is in Anding County. She has seen the giant stone cannon and told me the method of throwing stones with counterweight. What I hope is to capture the stone castle and give her credit for her contribution, except for her humble origin. "

"Rebellion against sin?"

"Yes, she is a member of Huangfu Deyi's clan, and her grandfather is Huangfu's concubine, who was convicted in the 25th year of Kaiyuan."

Li Linfu stopped in his tracks and looked up. Xue Bai, who was sitting on the card table, was just pushing out a card. He looked calm, as if he didn't realize that the people involved in the case of the three concubines should not be mentioned in front of the saint.

Sure enough, the saint felt a little displeased when he touched the cards.

Xue Bai continued: "Du Youling was taught by Zhang Jiuling when he was young, and it happened that his family bought a criminal official slave and took me in, so people always accused me of being Xue Ruo's son..."

"Enough." Yang Yuhuan suddenly scolded, "If you don't know what to say, just shut up."

It was rare for her to teach others with such a frosty face, and it was obviously because Xue Bai was too ignorant at this time.

"Bullshit."

Li Longji didn't look at the cards, and once again showed his card-drawing skills. When he put the cards in his hand away, he was fooled.

Only then did he wave his hand lightly, and said: "There is no need to teach this child a little thing. Xue Bai, why do you want to redeem this maidservant?"

If this matter is selfish, let it go, if you want to let go of the case of the three common people, it is heinous.

Xue Bai said frankly: "She wants to give birth to me a child. I can't bear to let her child live under the name of a big woman in the future, so I want to take her as a concubine."

Li Longji finally laughed, first slightly, then finally burst into laughter.

"Since you have made great achievements, a lowly maidservant can be allowed to redeem her status. But you kid, you want to take a concubine and have a child before you get married. Let's see which lady is willing to marry you?"

"Thank you saint for your concern." Xue Bai lowered his voice, a little embarrassed, and said: "But there is a girl from a good family who is willing to betroth me for life..."

Li Linfu stepped forward to salute without losing the opportunity, and stood behind Xue Bai.

At this time, a new round of poker games started, and Li Longji asked with a smile: "What is the important state affairs of the right minister?"

"I heard that Wang Zhongsi returned to Chang'an the day before yesterday. Dare I ask if the saint personally summoned him?"

"Does Shilang miss me?" Li Longji said with a smile, "It's such a trivial matter that I made a special trip to the palace."

Li Linfu saw the sage made a joke, so he quickly apologized, the smile was sweeter than honey.

Xue Bai said: "Sage, the Right Prime Minister may want to see me, so as soon as I entered the palace with my front foot, he followed me with his back foot."

"What kind of trouble did you cause?"

"There are always people who ask me for help to speak well in front of the imperial court, but I refuse." Xue Bai was blunt, "I am not a jester and a courtier. I am determined to enter the imperial examination in Chunwei in the future. How can I run around like this? But the right minister Maybe you're worried about me?"

Li Longji laughed and asked, "What did Shiro say?"

"Xue Lang can speak well." Li Linfu said: "The old minister has already made up a story before he has said a word."

"Speaking of stories, I will finish writing the story of the monkey right away, and I will send it to the sage for review?"

"What story to write next?" Li Longji said with a smile: "After this winter, it will be spring, I must see your travel scroll."

Xue Bai said honestly: "Already preparing, this trip will definitely satisfy the saint."

"Haha, if you dare to boast, your head will be gone."

"Be sure to go all out..."

Li Linfu stood there listening, realizing that he was a little too nervous.

It was time for Xue Bai to be busy with his own future, and he didn't intend to intervene in important military and state affairs, and it was impossible for a saint to listen to him. If a Lizi spoke to Wang Zhongsi, his hand would be stretched too far, and he would not know how to measure.

A game of cards was finally disturbed by Li Linfu, and after playing for another half an hour, Li Longji waved away the others, leaving only Li Linfu to discuss the appointment of the Jiedu Envoy of Bianzhen.

This is a major event, and the sage can only discuss it with the prime minister.

~~
The snowflakes in the sky are getting bigger and bigger.

Xue Bai left Xingqing Palace, drove the horse for a while, Yang Yuyao lifted the curtain of the car and said, "You can come in."

"Did the third sister find out? Someone has been staring at me recently."

"What does that matter? You and I are siblings, what's wrong with sharing the same car?" Yang Yuyao said, "Look at you, you are covered in snowflakes."

Only then did Xue Bai rein in his horse, and said solemnly, "Since the third sister said today that they are siblings, don't change your mind again."

"Yes." Yang Yuyao nodded, pulled him into the car, and whispered: "If you don't change your words, you will call me sister."

"It's a bit too much."

……

Qinglan knew that every time Xue Bai entered the palace, he would stay for two or three days, playing cards with the saint all night, and every time he counted the time to heat up the fire, waiting for him to come back.

Finally, the door was pushed open with a "squeak".

"Lang Jun is back? Are you sleepy? Do you want to sleep for a while?"

"Woke up and came back." Xue Bai was in good spirits, his hair was neatly combed, and there was still a faint fragrance on his body, he stepped forward and took Qing Lan's hand, "Let's go, go to Dongshi Office, Shaofu Prisoner, I still have to go to Jingzhao Mansion."

"Ah, it's really done?"

"It's done, by the way, this is for you."

Qing Lan looked over and saw that Xue Bai handed over a box, opened it and found that it was full of jewels.

"This...Mr., this is too precious...I..."

"Accept it, don't you want to be my concubine? It's accepted. Well, besides, Mrs. Guo gave it to you."

When it was mentioned that it was accepted, Qing Lan accepted it shyly, and then became suspicious again.

"Lang Jun, why did Mrs. Guo Guo give me such a precious gift?"

"You also know that she is mine..." Xue Bai replied with a look of memory in his eyes, "She is my righteous sister."

~~
"Snapped."

With a soft sound, Xue Bai took the document from Cao, a householder in Jingzhao Mansion, looked at it, and smiled.

"Now it's really Huangfu'e, let's go."

"Oh."

A catkin held Xue Bai's hand, Qing Lan was a little uneasy, as if she was afraid of being lost by Xue Bai and wanted to lead him away.

"After recovering my identity, what do you want to do next?" Xue Bai asked, "Where is your original house? Let's go and see it?"

"Anrenfang has changed a lot. Huangfu's house has been demolished a long time ago."

"It's okay, go and have a look, congratulations on your progress."

Qinglan is not used to too many changes, and she is afraid of the feeling that everything has its own way, and she feels more and more at a loss.

Suddenly, she raised her head and sniffed, and asked, "Lang Jun, can I do whatever I want?"

Xue Bai looked at the sky and said, "Today's words..."

"Can we go have lamb noodle soup? To celebrate, shall we have a bowl of lamb noodle soup like we came out of the vat?"

"it is good."

Xue Bai looked down at her eyes, and was suddenly moved. He led her and walked eastward.

"Where is Lang Jun going?"

"Go to the one in Dongshi to eat."

"Okay, but will it be too late?"

"It's okay, I've been busy recently."

Xue Bai looked back, and saw that those following people were still there.It doesn't matter to him, just follow if you like.

~~
"What has Xue Bai been doing lately?"

Zhang Ting hugged a civet cat, stroked its fur casually, and asked while looking at the snowflakes outside the window.

With Donggong's current situation, even sending people to follow up would require her natal family's efforts, but that's okay, the more she does now, the more she will gain in the future.

"Back to Erniang, Xue Bai only interacts with women every day. He goes to Yuzhen Temple during the day, spends the night in Du's house, enters the palace to play cards, and spends the night at Mrs. Guo's mansion. After that, he takes his maid for a walk for the next two days. , claiming that he wants to take a concubine..."

"Did I ask you this? Has he met any important people?"

"Mr. Li came to visit and was chased away by the steward of Xue's house, 'Your Majesty said that he has found out everything that needs to be inquired, so he will not have any further contact with Mr. Li'. This sentence can be heard from afar. Afterwards, Mr. Li went to Cheng I didn’t see Xue Bai when I visited the Xinshu shop; Wang Yunxiu also came to the door, and stood outside the door covered in snow, so I was sure that Xue Bai was not there.”

Zhang Ting frowned and asked, "Where is Zahu? How did Zahu react?"

"Miscellaneous Hu is either going to the palace to report on his duties, or giving gifts everywhere."

"What happened to the murderous Fan Yang soldier? Can Miscellaneous Hu be rescued?"

"Er Niang wait a moment."

It took a while before the news was sorted out.

"Miscellaneous Hu, please behead the murderer under his command to show the public, the head of Fan Yang's powerful soldier has already fallen to the ground."

"But, it was Jifang Xiaoer who did it first... he won't intercede for his people?"

"This little guy doesn't know."

Zhang Ting opened his mouth in surprise, knowing that An Lushan was different from Wang Zhongsi, he never bribed the soldiers' morale, this comparison made the sage dislike Wang Zhongsi even more.

The next moment, a servant hurried over and said, "Er Niang, General Wang Zhongsi is here to visit..."

"How dare he come?!" Zhang Ting was taken aback.

"General Wang heard that His Highness was ill, so he must come to visit. Mr. Li couldn't stop him, and he already let General Wang break into the front yard."

"Break?"

Zhang Ting quickly put down the cat in her arms, kicked off her shoes and rushed out.

Passing through Yimen, only the sound of footsteps stepping on the gravel could be heard ahead.

A large piece of gravel was paved in the open space of the Prince's Courtyard, so it was difficult for the assassin to approach quietly.And Wang Zhongsi rushed all the way in as if he was going to assassinate the prince.

"General Wang, slow down, slow down!" Li Jingzhong cried loudly, following behind Wang Zhongsi, persuading him endlessly.

Zhang Ting originally wanted to stop him, but when he saw Wang Zhongsi's mighty appearance, he didn't dare to offend him, so he was at a loss.

Soon, behind Li Heng, a young eunuch named Zhu Huiguang rushed over.

"His Royal Highness invites General Wang to enter."

Zhang Ting was curious about what the righteous brothers were going to say, turned around and rushed to Li Heng's side first, and helped him up with his own hands.

~~
"Your Highness."

"Brother Yi is here, you and I haven't seen each other for some years."

Li Heng looked deeply at Wang Zhongsi, with deep affection in his eyes, he raised his hand and asked Li Jingzhong to guard in the courtyard.

He wanted Zhang Ting to step down too, but Zhang Ting refused. She helped Dong Gong with her family's power, how could she always be kept in the dark about everything.

Li Heng had no choice but to say: "Brother Yi, this is my newly married wife, the second wife of my cousin's family, ahem, Brother Yi, there is no need to be formal."

"Excuse me, may I catch up with His Highness?"

"Brother Yi is visiting today, and I must have something to discuss. You don't need to hide it from Erniang, but it's okay." Li Heng turned his head and glanced at Zhang Ting, and said softly: "I trust Erniang, and I also trust Brother Yi. My closest person."

Wang Zhongsi sighed slightly, and the prestige on his body disappeared a little.

"Is Your Highness really sick?"

"Yes." Li Heng said with a wry smile, "I'm very ill...Brother Yi comes forward."

His lips were bloodless, he looked very old and weak, he struggled to get up, and wanted to see Wang Zhongsi.

Seeing this situation, Wang Zhongsi also softened his heart and stepped forward.

"Brother Yi is getting old too." Li Heng murmured: "I remember it was the second year of Kaiyuan, you arrived in Miyagi when you were nine years old, and I was four years old, and I followed you every day. I am not sensible, you practice martial arts hard, But I want you to play with me. In a blink of an eye, more than 30 years have passed, and I haven't seen my brother-in-law for several years...all of them have gray hair."

As he spoke, he burst into tears, held Wang Zhongsi's hand and patted it.

"Your Highness is actually older than me?"

When Wang Zhongsi said a word, he also felt sad.

He was tall and mature since he was a child, and he always regarded Li Heng, who was a few years younger than him, as a child. In a blink of an eye, Li Heng was really older than him.

"This seat is not easy to sit in. Others don't know it, but brother-in-law knows it. I really didn't want to sit in it back then."

"I know."

At this point, in fact, Wang Zhongsi didn't really want to ask the next question anymore.

However, due to the situation, he still said: "I should not come to see His Highness, but there are a few things that I have to ask."

"Brother Yi, but it's okay to ask."

"Tianbao five years ago, Huangfu Weiming dismissed from office, His Highness got me the envoys of Hexi and Longyou towns..."

"It's not me." Li Heng said: "The situation in Helong, who else can guard the situation besides Brother Yi?"

"That's the case." Wang Zhongsi pointed at the key point and asked, "Why does the saint have to dismiss Huangfu Weiming?"

Li Heng was silent for a moment, then said: "I can answer Brother Yi, Huangfu Weiming didn't want to rebel, but wanted to find out about the fact that Wang Yu oppressed the families of the soldiers who died in the war, and was framed by Suo Douji."

"The Longyou veteran left behind by Huangfu Weiming?"

Li Heng stared, a little surprised, and said: "Brother Yi listened to the instigation of others and suspected me? Who is talking nonsense? Asking for a fighting cock or Yang Party?"

"Please make it clear, Your Highness."

"Once Huangfu Weiming died, those Longyou veterans were bought by Yang Shenjin."

Li Heng was a little weak, but he still tried his best to hold on, and explained slowly and in a low voice.

"Yang Shenjin is a descendant of Sui and Yang, and he has always had ulterior motives and prepared secretly. He is Xue Bai's adoptive father, and he has an affair with Du Youlin's eldest daughter. He wants to use the Liu Ji case to disturb the Tang Dynasty, so he ordered his adopted son Xue Bai... ...to seduce Du Erniang."

Wang Zhongsi frowned, a little surprised.

Zhang Ting was also very surprised, it was the first time she had heard Li Heng talk about such a scandal.

"It's not difficult to find out. Brother Yi, if you don't believe me, just check it out." Li Heng closed his eyes helplessly and sadly, "I won't lie to Brother Yi about this kind of thing."

There is no proof that Yang Shenjin is dead. If Wang Zhongsi wanted to investigate, he would have to start with Xue Bai's life experience. It would take time, but if Xue Ruo could be found first, then everything would make sense.

Wang Zhongsi asked: "Those dead men?"

"After Yang Shenjin's incident happened, Xue Bai quickly changed his family, defected to Yang's party, and turned around to expose Yang Shenjin. Those dead soldiers also defected to him."

"He's just a teenager with no power or influence."

"He is the son of Xue Ruo, and there is my second brother's old friend behind him to support him." Li Heng said in a low voice: "They want to help the eldest brother succeed, I can let them go, lest the reserve position will be moved again, and the country will be in turmoil...Yi brother , you know me, I really didn't want to be a prince back then..."

Wang Zhongsi frowned and remained silent, still not recovering from the news.

"What I said is true." Li Hengdao: "It was Xue Bai who instigated the Longyou veterans to kill Pei Mian. First, he blamed Zahu, forced the fighting cock to compromise, and pushed Yang Dang to the top. They then joined forces to deal with me. It’s waste storage, you can find out these things once you check.”

"Can you tell me clearly?" Wang Zhongsi asked, "How can a saint trust you and me?"

"Cough cough cough..."

Hearing this, Li Heng wept bitterly, and murmured: "There is nothing you can do, there is nothing you can do."

Wang Zhongsi said: "Your Highness, I have a solution."

"Brother Yi, please tell me."

"I will investigate what His Highness said. This matter sounds absurd, but it may be the truth. I'm afraid... the saint will not believe it."

Wang Zhongsi had heard two kinds of "truths", and believed which one should not be discussed, he had a clear understanding of the situation, thinking about the way to break the situation, and suddenly thought of the method proposed by Yuan Zai.

If that method is slightly changed, it may allow the sage to dispel some suspicions.

For example, if he, Wang Zhongsi, proposed to kill Li Jingzhong, it would be better for the crown prince to personally mention it... There is a price, and it is very high, but he is really worried that all the four border towns will fall into the hands of others.

"Your Highness, I am not for military power." Wang Zhongsi pondered, and slowly said: "I think that Li Jingzhong next to Your Highness has never been a kind person..."

"Is brother-in-law crazy?"

Li Heng was shocked.

Of course he is willing to push Li Jingzhong to take the blame, if Li Jingzhong can stand it.

What is the difference between Wang Zhongsi's idea and what Li Mi said?

"Li Jingzhong is just a pitiful person. How can a sage believe that he is capable? What is the difference between pushing out the person closest to me to take the blame and saying that these things were all instigated by me? My brother-in-law has been used!"

"At least in name..."

"In name, Dong Gong is found guilty, how can you and I end well?" Li Heng said: "Who is instigating brother Yi? But Yang Dang? Yuan Zai? Brother Yi doesn't know? Your son-in-law only cares about fame and fortune, and doesn't care at all. The country is in turmoil...cough coughcough...rather than this, it is better to let me 'die of illness', so that it is not too dangerous to change the crown prince."

After he said that, Wang Zhongsi had no choice but to comfort him: "Your Highness needn't be like this, how about talking about it after recovering from illness?"

Only Zhang Ting was listening, and suddenly his mind moved.

If the crown prince can be retained, even if the prince's military power is abolished, she can actually accept it.It's just that the conditions have to be discussed again. The key is to ensure that the prince can succeed to the throne in the end. As for whether Li Heng can take power after losing his prestige, can he stabilize the border of the Tang Dynasty?It won't be too late when she has a son and becomes the crown prince.

Kill Li Jingzhong?She doesn't care at all...

　I also wrote [-] words today. This update, I want to breathe a sigh of relief. However, this month seems to be expected to enter the top ten of the monthly ticket list.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)