Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 160

There is a red silk hanging in the house.

Qing Lan looked up for a long time, feeling elated.

But after thinking about it, she was inexplicably worried, and asked in a low voice: "Mr. Lang, if you take a concubine...will it affect your marriage?"

"Will it affect it?"

Xue Bai was also a little puzzled about this.

The two were staring at the decorations in the house in a daze, when they suddenly heard movement in the yard, but it was Mingzhu who hurried over.

When Qing Lan saw that this was Mrs. Guo's personal maid, she felt uneasy, worried that Mrs. Guo came to stop Xue Bai from taking her as a concubine.

It's true that she doesn't know much, but she won't be fooled by the lies of Xue Bai's "righteous sister", and she has already guessed their relationship.

"Xue Lang, something happened."

Mingzhu spoke hastily, she leaned into Xue Bai's ear, and said in a low voice: "Today, Zahu went to Xingqing Palace again to play tricks and act obediently, coaxing the saint to be very happy, and proposed to worship the noble concubine as a foster mother, and to recognize you as a little uncle gone."

"Ok?"

Xue Bai paused and asked, "What's the attitude of the saint?"

"The sage was very happy, and wanted to invite everyone from the Yang family to the palace to recognize relatives." Mingzhu said in a low voice, "Yao Niang is worried that this time it might not be able to stop her."

"I see, you go back and tell Yuyao, just play by ear."

Mingzhu retreated with all blessings, while Xue Bai frowned and thought.

What he was thinking about was not only the matter of An Lushan's recognition of his mother, he murmured in a low voice: "Hedong Jiedushi."

Sure enough, not long after, someone from the palace summoned him and asked him to go to Xingqing Palace for a banquet.

Xue Bai agreed, and replied, "May I ask if Uncle Guo has already entered the palace?"

The servant naturally knew that he was asking about Yang Zhen, and replied that the uncle Guo was in the palace.

Xue Bai frowned slightly, and asked a few more words, and learned that Yang Zhao hadn't entered the palace yet, and didn't change his clothes, so he went straight to Xingqing Palace to wait for Yang Zhao.

"Ah Bai has arrived?" Yang Zhao saw Xue Bai from a distance and drove forward, approached and said in a low voice, "Miscellaneous Hu still doesn't give up, and wants to admit his mother, so shameless."

"Brother, do you know why Zahu is like this?"

"Why?"

"Admitting one's mother is not the goal, but promotion is."

Yang Zhao couldn't help being annoyed, and said: "I have made an agreement with Wang Ji, and I swear that Zahu will not get the title of Doctor Yushi."

"Zahu not only wants Doctor Yushi, but also Hedong Jiedushi." Xue Bai said in a low voice, "Yesterday evening, Wang Zhongsi had already approached me, expressing his intention to switch to Eldest Brother..."

Yang Zhao raised his eyebrows.

He is also the core of the Yang Party. If the Yang Party can get Wang Zhongsi's attachment, its power will definitely increase greatly.

Xue Bai continued: "Wang Zhongsi didn't dare to extravagantly ask for the four towns, but only hoped that the elder brother would help keep the post of Jiedu envoy in Hedong. Brother, I thought, in this way, the salt tax, soldier's salary, prisoners of war...how much benefit will there be?"

"Are you done?"

"No, An Lushan moved faster." Xue Bai said: "Look, brother, he recognized his adoptive mother today, and tomorrow he will definitely take the lead and win the post of Jiedu envoy of Hedong."

"How will we discuss salt then?"

"It's still time."

It is inconvenient to talk more at this time, Yang Zhao showed a sullen face, and said, "Look, I stopped this bastard in front of the imperial court."

~~
Yanshoufang, Wang's house.

"The saint hasn't summoned Grandpa yet?"

Wang Yunxiu asked worriedly, only to see Wang Zhongsi nodded.

In the name of sympathy, the saint recalled his adoptive son who had just captured Shibao City, but ignored him, and only summoned An Lushan, who was more in line with the holy will, every day.

This move seems to be out of suspicion, but Wang Yunxiu has heard from Yuan Zai that this is actually a sage who gave Wang Zhongsi a chance.

"Grandfather, can you just write a letter and express your opinion?"

"Go down."

Wang Zhongsi seemed to be waiting for someone, and he shouted back his chattering daughter in a deep voice.

Looking out of the hall, after waiting for a long time, I finally saw a maidservant rushing to the hall, Wan Fu said: "My second mother ordered me to pass the message, and His Highness agreed to submit the results of Pei Mian's case to the third division. Now, the general doesn't have to worry anymore."

"Since this is the case, I am also at fault. Why did no one come to ask questions?"

"This slave and maid don't know about it. I just heard His Highness say to Erniang, 'I will never implicate my brother-in-law'."

"What did Chang Yuan say?"

"Mr. Li is waiting to be called in the palace, I don't know about this yet..."

Compared with pleading guilty to the saint together with Li Heng, this kind of "never implicated" made Wang Zhongsi feel a little uneasy.

The next moment, a figure in a light green official robe appeared in the courtyard, and Yuan Zai hurried over.

"My father-in-law, my son-in-law has heard the news that An Lushan is in Xingqing Palace and wants to worship the noble concubine as his adoptive mother again."

Wang Zhongsi frowned when he heard this, and looked at Yuan Zai.

Yuan Zai knew that no matter what he said, Wang Zhongsi would still think that he had ulterior motives, so he simply confessed his position on Yang Dang's side, but he seemed sincere and calm.

"My son-in-law may wish to tell my father-in-law one more thing. Before entering the palace today, An Lushan paid a visit to the uncle of the country and gave him a generous gift. I hope that the uncle of the country can support him as the governor of Hedong. This recognition of his mother is a step for him to express his sincerity."

"It's too urgent, the old man is still serving as the Jiedu Envoy of the Four Towns!"

Wang Zhongsi shouted loudly, with awe-inspiring power.

Yuan Zai gave a deep salute and stepped aside, but he didn't persuade him any more.

Hearing the movement, Wang Yunxiu rushed back to the hall, pulled Yuan Zai past her, and spoke softly.

Yuan Zai shook his head helplessly, patted his wife's hand, and said, "It's useless to talk too much, let Grandpa decide for himself."

While speaking, Wang Zhongsi had strode out.

"Grandfather?"

"Don't follow!"

~~
Horseshoes kicked up the snow on the ground.

"Shut up!"

Wang Zhongsi got off his horse and broke into Shaoyang courtyard again.

The guard standing on the steps in armor and holding a halberd wanted to stop him, but he pushed him away.

"Get out of the way, I want to see the prince."

Amidst the commotion, Li Jingzhong came again from the other end of the corridor, and when he saw Wang Zhongsi, he hurried forward to persuade him.

"General Wang? Why are you here again? Although His Highness is sick, the general is concerned, but..."

Before he finished speaking, he was actually lifted up by Wang Zhongsi.

"This……"

"Snapped!"

There was a crisp sound, and Li Jingzhong's neck "clicked", and his head was pushed to the side, and even a slight movement caused a sharp pain.

His eyes were filled with tears from the pain, he tilted his head to look at Wang Zhongsi, and said in shock, "Why did the general hit me? Old slave..."

He opened his mouth three times, but couldn't finish a sentence, Wang Zhongsi had already left him aside, and directly broke into Li Heng's room.

"Brother..."

"Since your Highness told me that Xue Bai killed the man, why did you close the case with Pei Dunfu's dead general?" Wang Zhongsi asked immediately.

Li Heng was taken aback.

Wang Zhongsi said: "I have been to Dali Temple, His Highness is still ill, but the investigation of this case has revealed the truth?"

"Cough cough cough... Forget it, this case is over now, don't implicate others and cause turmoil in the court."

"Is His Highness confused when he is a saint? Or is His Highness confused? I don't understand that the simpler the case is closed, the more suspicious the saint will be?"

Li Heng asked back: "Is this suspicion my fault?"

"Your Highness is always wrong." Wang Zhongsi said: "I am also wrong. If I am wrong, I will admit it. What's the big deal?"

"What's the big deal? Because he won't give me a chance to admit my mistake!"

"Changyuan told you." Wang Zhongsi suddenly supported Li Heng, and said: "I can also say it to His Highness one last time, you and I refuse to admit our mistakes, the sage can't let go of his anger...you understand the truth, but you know brother I don't hesitate to ask An Lushan to prevent you from ascending the throne by force?!"

"Dare he?!"

"No one is sure whether he dares or not."

After all, Wang Zhongsi was calm, lowered his voice again, and said: "But at this moment, he is seeking the Jiedu envoy of Hedong. It is obvious that having this person concurrently serve as the three towns, what is the benefit to His Highness? What is the benefit to Sheji?"

"What can I do? The sage doesn't listen to me, he persuades again and again with Jin Yu's kind words, he just loves those traitors who follow his wishes, he regards that miscellaneous Hu as dearer than his son, a hundred times dearer than my son!"

Li Heng said, but lost his temper.

Angry, he broke away from Wang Zhongsi's holding hand, raised his hand, and asked, "You come to question me, what did I do wrong? I just settled the Pei Mian case at the lowest price..."

"Don't be stupid."

Wang Zhongsi did not use his respectful attitude towards the prince, and his tone became serious, and said: "I have told you since I was a child, I am a rough person, and I will not go around with you. You and I know what happened to this matter. If you don't admit your mistake, the mistake lies in I, the Jiedu envoys of the four towns are lost, Anlu Mountain..."

"Brother Yi, after all, you still can't bear the military power of Jiedushi?!" Li Heng said, "I haven't tried my best to protect this military power for you?!"

Wang Zhongsi was taken aback.

Li Heng sat up, becoming more and more excited, and said: "Wei Jian's case, I would rather give up Wei Shi and Huangfu Weiming, and hand over Hexi and Longyou to you. That's because in my eyes, my wife , wife, brother, and beloved general are not as important as your sworn brother!"

"Your Highness..."

"In the past two years, I could have confessed my mistakes to the sage in the past two years. Why didn't I admit it? Because I know that if I admit my mistakes, he will take your position immediately. Now you think I haven't tried my best to protect you. military power?!"

"His Royal Highness has tried his best, and I can see that now there is a better way with Mr. Li."

"Your solution is to make me the laughing stock of the world, a prince in name only?"

"At least, His Highness will still have a chance..."

"Opportunity? Wang Zhongsi, the opportunity you are talking about is waiting until the day I ascend the throne, without any prestige and authority, so that the Northwest feudal town can become its own country?!"

The room suddenly fell silent.

Wang Zhongsi pursed his lips, wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say, so he could only stare blankly at Li Heng's eyes.

After a long time, he finally said: "Your Highness, this is...a heartbreaking statement..."

Li Heng cried loudly, walked down from the couch, shook his head and said, "I'm afraid, Brother Yi! The saints are so afraid of me. Since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, I have not had the power that a prince of a country should have. Look at the East Palace... ...Have I ever been to the East Palace? Have I ever met my subjects?"

"Your Highness, I understand."

"Since the founding of the country, the prime minister has never been appointed for a short time. This is the truth that a wise monarch should understand first! But you see, Suo Douji has been the prime minister for more than ten years. A prime minister wants to control even the border town, while a crown prince wants to control everything. No, nothing... only the last bit left, the last bit of sustenance of the people of the world, you still want to kill it? What am I left? You tell me."

Wang Zhongsi's eyes were red, he lowered his head in shame, and said: "If Your Highness is willing to believe me, I will never let Brother Nu humiliate His Highness."

"Of course I believe in Brother Yi."

"Then why does His Highness dare not offend Li Jingzhong, but protect me from the post of Jiedushi?"

"You..." Li Heng was furious, and scolded: "Because you were deceived by those traitors, they will never keep their promises, they will only kill you and me!"

"Maybe your Highness has misunderstood something?" Wang Zhongsi said, "Yang Li didn't intend to abolish the reserve; although Yuan Zai made a profit, he is my son-in-law after all, so why would he harm the Wang family? As for Xue Bai..."

"That's Xue Pingzhao, the son of Xue Ruo, and his sinister purpose is..."

"If it's the son of Xue Ruo, I won't let Brother Nu and Zahu succeed, will you? Your Highness, although I'm not smart, at least I can understand a little bit. It doesn't make much difference to Xue Bai whether to protect me or not. , even Brother Nu doesn't want to offend him, he can become uncle and nephew with Miscellaneous Hu, laugh and play, but why bother to go into this muddy water?"

"Then why do you say he has to?!"

"Out of public interest, he wants to prevent Zahu from working part-time in the three towns..."

"Huh?" Li Heng felt it was ridiculous, turned around, pointed to Wang Zhongsi's nose, and sneered: "You said Xue Bai has a public heart? You are my righteous brother, I said he cheated on my wife, Have you checked it?!"

"Your Highness, I only talk about border towns. Can't I see such a simple pros and cons?"

"That's enough! After all, you'd rather put me to death for the sake of a town's military power, wouldn't you?!"

"I……"

Wang Zhongsi wanted to say something more, but in the end he was speechless.

Say what?

In the final analysis, it turned out that Li Heng didn't believe him anymore.

If he has to choose between "the righteous brother holds the power of a town" and "the righteous brother has the sustenance of the world", Li Heng wants to hold his destiny in his own hands.

It is understandable, but for one thing, since this righteous brother dares to force his righteous brother to commit suicide, he cannot be trusted.Second, with the sustenance of the world, there will naturally be other Jiedu envoys who will vote under the gate of the Eastern Palace in the future.

After thinking about this truth, Wang Zhongsi crossed his hands and saluted deeply.

"In this way, I hope that everything will be as His Highness wishes, and after I lift the military power of the four towns, the saint can also let go of his suspicion of His Highness."

"Brother..."

Li Heng still wanted to comfort him, but Wang Zhongsi had already turned around and left.

He wanted to catch up, but he hesitated for a while when he thought of Yixiong's last words, and finally stopped.

It could be heard that Wang Zhongsi was disheartened, and he didn't want to fight for the Jiedu envoy of Hedong anymore... So, these important ministers of the East Palace didn't want to push him, the crown prince, to take the blame, so they ended up dismissing the Jiedu envoy of the Four Towns.

From then on, the East Palace suffered a crushing defeat, leaving only a little prestige of the prince.

This is also helpless, after struggling year after year, in the end, he can only dormant in such a big defeat, resigning himself to fear, waiting for the future.

"Brother Yi, I'm incompetent, I can't keep you..."

Thinking of the more than thirty years since this acquaintance, Li Heng also felt heartbroken.

~~
Wang Zhongsi led the horse out of the East Palace, looked up at Xiaoxue all over the sky, and felt relieved for a moment.

Everything is over, and a huge rock in his heart has been lifted. He will no longer care about the war on the border of the Tang Dynasty, the future of the soldiers, and he will no longer have to worry about the future of the Tang Dynasty.

From then on, he just wanted to live comfortably... This was a thought he had never had since his grandfather died in battle when he was nine years old, and he was very happy.

The next moment, I felt empty in my heart again, not knowing what to do.

It was almost evening at this time, and there was the sound of evening drums in the distance, and the long street to the east was crowded with people from Xingqing Palace, it was very lively.

"General!"

Suddenly someone shouted, Wang Zhongsi turned his head to look, and saw that it was Tian Shengong, a general under his command.

He nodded lightly, but saw Tian Shengong beckoning to the east, not long after, Xue Bai rode over.

"General Wang, what a coincidence?"

"Is it a coincidence?"

Wang Zhongsi asked back, feeling vaguely that Xue Bai's attitude towards him was no longer that matter-free.

"Would you like a drink?" Xue Bai asked, "I'm in a bad mood today."

Wang Zhongsi was about to refuse, but he nodded inexplicably, and said: "Alright, let's have a drink overnight."

……

The wine was drunk in a private room in the backyard of Fengwei Building.

Wang Zhongsi sat down and drank a pot first, then Fang asked: "I heard that Zahu wants to recognize the noble concubine as his mother today, can Xue Lang stop it?"

"No." Xue Bai said: "The saint's will, who can stop it."

"Pity."

"It seems that General Wang has not been able to persuade the prince to bow his head and dispel the saint's wariness of the prince of a country."

"Yeah, I couldn't convince you." Wang Zhongsi sighed, "He has his reasons."

Xue Bai didn't ridicule Li Heng any more, and didn't provoke him any more. He took a small sip of his wine and sighed, "It's very frustrating. I feel like I can't change anything."

Wang Zhongsi laughed at himself, and took another pot of wine.

He thinks the wine in Fengweilou is good, stronger than other places, and can be drunk.

"Does the general believe in the fate?" Xue Bai only took a sip, but he became a little crazy, raised his finger to the sky, and said, "I have the magic of immortality, I told Li Changyuan, and I said that Anlu Mountain must be rebelled."

"What kind of fairy art? In the third year of Tianbao, I attacked the Turks in the north. When I saw Anlu Mountain raising the bandits, I told him several times that he had different ambitions."

"Why does the general think I'm doing this? Fighting against the prime minister and the prince? I'm just a white body, so what good can I do? I just want to stop this fat man. But I can't stop it. Today, I saw Hu'er dancing and not dancing." I don’t stop breaking the Central Plains, I heard him say ‘A Niang’ and ‘Uncle’, as if I heard him pronouncing the king and me..."

"Is Xue Lang drunk?"

"Really? I drink lightly."

"Half a glass?"

Wang Zhongsi turned his head to look at Xue Bai, and suddenly squinted his eyes, as if seeing a trace of sincerity in the young man's eyes.

It was rare for him to be a little more solemn, and said: "Even if An Lushan has a different intention, it will not make any big waves."

"Perhaps, after all, the prestige of a saint is extremely high." Xue Bai nodded in agreement, and finally said, "However, the Eastern Palace has been cut down too much, so it's hard to say what will happen in the future."

"You're really drunk."

Wang Zhongsi stopped drinking with a sullen face, but there was a gloomy look in his eyes.

His mood became worse and worse, and the relief after unloading the burden was gone.

Xue Bai waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about state affairs anymore, I'm still young, and it won't be too late to deal with these after enrolling."

"But I'm getting old."

The two drank for a long time, and Wang Zhongsi became more sober as he drank more and more. When he turned his head, he saw Xue Bai holding the wine glass and not drinking, thinking about something in a daze.

He wanted to talk about something, but he didn't want to talk about state affairs, so he said: "Xue Lang once promised that if I win the battle, he will send me a poem."

"It doesn't matter if you don't send it."

"Why?"

Xue Bai said solemnly: "General Wang is weak, he values ​​personal friendship over justice, he is not worthy."

Wang Zhongsi turned his head to look, just as Xue Bai also turned to look at him, and added a sentence.

"I really don't think you're good enough."

"Haha, how do you match?"

"Today Hu'er admits his mother, even if he can't be in Hedong for a while, as long as he gets rid of his position as General Wang, he will have smooth sailing from now on, and I can't change it as a small person. But if there is any change, it will only be a matter of General Wang's thought."

"in a moment?"

"That's right." Xue Bai suddenly drank the wine in his glass, this time he was really drunk, he raised his voice, and said, "General, if you think about life, you think about death, and the world will be very different if you think about it."

His face was flushed, and he looked completely different from usual, but he patted Wang Zhongsi's shoulder boldly.

"Whether you are worthy of this poem is also between this thought..."

　I have seen everyone's feedback about the plot, don't worry.This episode was originally the last stage of Li Linfu's dealing with the prince, and it was a decisive battle between the two forces.Therefore, these chapters have laid a lot of groundwork. The characters' positions must be sorted out first. Everyone didn't see the conflict in the plot, and they followed the characters to understand their thoughts. Naturally, it will be annoying, and it will be fine later.After this paragraph, the plot of the right relative to the East Palace is over, and the timeline just starts the imperial examination~~ I have arranged it~~ I have written 1 words until now, please ask for a monthly ticket~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)