Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 628 Free
"Surnames are a legacy, but they are used by aristocratic families to distinguish between the noble and the humble. I hate this. I come from a humble background and know the sufferings of the people, so I can understand the deep meaning of your majesty's reform."

"The one I am loyal to is Your Majesty, regardless of your origin, name, or the name of your country."

"But Li Mi was different. He was loyal to Emperor Li Tang."

"Now Li Mi pretends to be courteous and accommodating to Your Majesty, but secretly he is harboring evil intentions and wants to murder Your Majesty!"

Yuan Zai made an impassioned speech, and his tone gradually became excited.

Xue Bai listened silently and asked, "Speaking requires evidence. How does he intend to harm me?"

"I dare to ask Your Majesty, has Li Mi ever presented the elixir?"

"good."

Xue Bai pointed to a box on the imperial desk.

Yuan Zai stared at it with his pupils dilated, showing that he took it very seriously. Xue Bai then ordered the eunuch to open the box, revealing two bright red pills.

"Your Majesty, this medicine is poisonous!" Yuan Zai said excitedly.

He had originally doubted whether Li Mi was really capable of the assassination, but only now did he confirm that he had finally got hold of the enemy's big handle.

"This one?" Xue Bai picked up the red pill, took a look, and said, "It must be a misunderstanding."

"Every word I said is true. Guo Ziyi's son-in-law Zhang Yong told me privately that Li Mi had refined a poison pill that had a vital part... Your Majesty!"

When Yuan Zai was speaking, he suddenly exclaimed because he saw Xue Bai casually throw the pill into his mouth.

He hurried forward in a hurry, stretched out his hand to help Xue Bai spit it out, but he didn't dare to touch Xue Bai, and was so anxious that he didn't know what to do.

Then, there were two crisp sounds, and Xue Bai bit it into pieces and chewed it in his mouth.

"Your Majesty, it's poisonous, spit it out quickly."

"Don't worry, Yuan Qing. It's not poisonous. You might as well try one."

Yuan Zai was stunned, looking at the red pill in front of him, and almost thought that the emperor was going to sentence him to death.

But Xue Bai had already finished eating calmly and motioned for him to try it again.

Yuan Zai had no choice but to reach out and take it.

"Even if it is poisonous, I am willing to follow Your Majesty to death."

As expected of someone who had once pursued Wang Yunxiu, he knew that the red pill was probably not poisonous, but he still showed his sincerity. With a bitter face, he raised his head and resolutely threw the red pill into his mouth.

This pill is probably coated with a layer of sugar and is a bit sweet.

“Click.”

He bit it into pieces and found it delicious, with a crispy texture and a wheaty aroma.

"This is?"

Yuan Zai widened his eyes, somewhat confused.

He had never eaten this before.

"Wheat candy, made from wheat flour, honey, and milk." Xue Bai asked, "How does it taste?"

"good to eat."

Yuan Zai answered this way, feeling very disappointed in his heart, knowing that the malt sugar must not be poisonous.

He would rather it was poisonous, so poisonous that he fainted and fell seriously ill.

This is a price he is willing to pay as long as he can get rid of Li Mi.

When he looked up again, Yuan Zai was suddenly startled.

He found that Xue Bai looked at him with some meaningful scrutiny, which startled him and he lowered his head subconsciously.

However, when he raised his eyes and glanced again, he saw that Xue Bai looked normal and he could not tell anything at all.

"Back then, I saw Li Linfu's faction-based attack on dissidents. Now I don't want such a trend in the court." Xue Bai said, "Use your mind to benefit the people. I need loyal ministers, but I need capable and good ministers even more."

"The minister obeys the order."

Yuan Zai was frightened and quickly agreed.

That night, he couldn't sleep at all, and his mind was full of thoughts about why Li Mi offered him two candies.

In a daze, the scene when Li Mi presented the candy emerged in his mind, and even Li Mi's calm voice was still ringing in his mind.

"I have devised a plan, anticipating that Yuan Zai will come and slander me..."

Yuan Zai woke up suddenly and felt a strong sense of uneasiness.

~~
Yuan Zai was uneasy because he failed to get rid of Li Mi this time. He took the initiative to avoid Li Mi and did not dare to compete for power with him in the court.

Therefore, Li Mi took the opportunity to recommend Cui Youfu and Zhang Xun as co-prime ministers and join the ranks of prime ministers.

Both of them were Jinshi graduates and had outstanding character and talent.

Although Cui Youfu was the son of a legitimate aristocratic family, he was very fair in his attitude towards the new policy, unlike other aristocratic families who only cared about protecting their own family's interests. After being persuaded by Li Mi, his behavior changed greatly, and he was more accepted by the aristocratic families when he was involved in many matters; Zhang Xun was a scholar, but he defended the gates of Lianghuai with all his strength during the chaos, and his prestige was very high. Once he was appointed as prime minister, he became a stabilizing force in the court.

On the other hand, Li Mi took the opportunity to win over many financial officials under Yuan Zai, such as Liu Yan, Yang Yan, Yang Wan, Diwu Qi, etc., which made the implementation of the new law smooth.

After a rebellion, officials in the court and local governments were afraid that the emperor would turn the table again, so they changed the country's name in anger, tried their best to calm the situation, and did their work honestly.

There is an atmosphere of "a good son is born under the stick".

In the autumn of that year, Xue Bai personally examined the local land, population, and taxes, and did not find any major loopholes for the time being. He acknowledged that Li Mi had brought about phased progress in the new policy and praised him.

Li Mi still showed an aggrieved and helpless attitude in the face of praise, and responded: "Your Majesty is too kind. I do not ask for your reward, but I ask your Majesty not to be angry anymore."

"In your mind, the fault lies in my getting angry too easily, not in my private schemes to annex land and hide people."

"Your Majesty is definitely not at fault." Li Mi said, "But your Majesty's reaction was too extreme."

In fact, after so long, Xue Bai is now very calm.

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll treat Brother Changyuan to a meal."

"I thank your majesty for the banquet."

"Don't be restrained, go out of the palace incognito."

Li Mi wanted to dissuade him, but Xue Bai even abandoned his royal name, so this little thing seemed not worth dissuading.

They then traveled lightly to find a restaurant by the Qujiang River and ordered some food. Xue Bai asked, "Do you have crabs?"

"Hey, not many people eat crabs, but you know how to eat them." The shopkeeper said with a smile, "Crabs are fat in autumn, and this is a popular food nowadays... But, does this Taoist priest also eat crabs?"

"He doesn't avoid certain foods."

"Okay, you two take a seat."

Sitting by the window, the breeze felt quite comfortable. Xue Bai turned his head and looked outside, and saw many children flying kites by the Qujiang River.

Li Mi was a quiet person. He didn't want to talk if he was following his heart. But now he had a heavy responsibility to maintain the stability of the country, so he spoke anyway.

"How can we bear to destroy this prosperous era because of our own selfish desires?"

Xue Bai asked: "The reason you came out of seclusion is because my father-in-law persuaded you, or do you just want to try your hand at the world?"

Li Mi said: "I am a monk, I am indifferent to fame and wealth to show my ambition."

"A man of integrity, a ...

“That was when I was young.”

Xue Bai looked out the window and said, "When I was young, I was very arrogant. I always thought that I was the only one who could revive the Tang Dynasty. I was destined to be the emperor and the most qualified person in the world. Therefore, I was determined to become the emperor, and I was willing to do anything to achieve this. At that time, I thought it would be no pity to throw away my own identity. When I decided to impersonate Li Qian, I had no attachment to 'Xue Bai'."

Li Mi said: "Your Majesty is indeed destined by heaven."

"But the reason why I must become the emperor is to change the Tang Dynasty, not for pleasure. Of course, I have selfish motives. I don't like being oppressed by class, and I hate anyone being nobler than me."

Xue Bai said this and nodded to himself.

"I would rather die than live in a world that clearly defines the high and low, officials, commoners, and slaves, so I will fight regardless of the consequences."

Li Mi said: "Since ancient times, people have been divided into high and low levels."

"You practice Taoism, don't you say that all living beings are equal?"

"I am from the Li family, but not the royal Longxi Li family, but the Liaodong Li family, one of the six branches of the Zhaojun Li family. My ancestor was one of the Eight Pillars of the Western Wei Dynasty. My generation has been strictly educated for generations."

"I know what you want to say." Xue Bai said, "Your present is the result of the efforts of your ancestors. I can't erase these inheritances with just one sentence... This is because our concepts are different in our bones. You are used to the distinction between the superior and the inferior, but I am not."

"Your Majesty is the most honorable person in the world."

"You may not believe me, but I hate people being nobler than me. But even after becoming the emperor, I don't like being nobler than others. It doesn't make much sense."

Xue Bai still felt comfortable in his original world, which he had discovered after more than ten years of hard work. He also knew that he would never be able to develop the Tang Dynasty to that level in his lifetime.

"In short, I became myself, Xue Bai, not because I was angry or mad. It was because I needed it, I liked it, and I felt comfortable. Li Qian's identity was like a gorgeous but too small dress that hurt my armpits."

Li Mi said: "Your Majesty is too greedy. How can you want both success and freedom?"

As they were talking, footsteps were heard downstairs, and the two men fell silent.

After a while, the restaurant served the dishes.

"Eat."

Xue Bai picked up a crab and wanted to hand it to Li Mi, but he waved his hand to refuse.

He then smiled and said, "There are many new things. Just accept them slowly."

But he didn't force it and just peeled the crab and ate it.

"By the way, we were talking about that problem just now. You and I are the same."

Li Mi said: "Your Majesty and I are two different kinds of people."

"Please look at the events of a hundred years, and your achievements will be like sailing on the five lakes." Xue Bai said, "Don't you also want both achievements and freedom? You want the five lakes, and I only want my own name. You are greedier than me."

Li Mi was stunned, shook his head and said, "I only look at things that will take a hundred years, but you are looking at things that will take a thousand years. Aren't you too greedy?"

~~
In the evening, Xue Bai returned to Daming Palace.

He crossed the Taiye Lake and went around to the Sanqing Hall behind the palace.

The setting sun shone on the flower trees, and he saw Li Tengkong standing under the tree.

They had made an appointment before that Xue Bai would stay here today.

"Am I late? I went out of the palace to have a meal with Li Mi."

"It's not too late. I just wanted to go out for a walk earlier." Li Tengkong said, "You are so comfortable. You can leave the palace whenever you want."

"You can leave the palace anytime you want."

"How did you know that I went out of the palace with Li Jizi to watch an opera yesterday?" Li Tengkong smiled, "We are probably the most unruly emperor and concubine."

Xue Bai said: "I may be the emperor who doesn't follow the rules the most, but there are many women who don't follow the rules as much as you."

"Don't be serious, stop talking nonsense." Li Tengkong hit Xue Bai lightly, and then he was held in his arms.

"You smell so good." He asked, "Did you change the incense?"

"Because I was waiting for you under the osmanthus tree, and I was covered with osmanthus flowers."

"Wait for a long time?"

"Soon after, a gust of wind happened to blow by."

Li Tengkong is still the same quiet and artistic person, but she is actually a mother and has raised a daughter with Xue Bai.

Recently, every time Xue Bai walked to the corridor of Sanqing Temple and heard laughter coming from afar, he couldn't help but mention one thing.

"Seventeenth Lady, let's make up for the status."

"No."

"The lunch box is for the child, otherwise others won't know her biological mother."

"Why should I let others know?" Li Tengkong refused firmly. She held Xue Bai's hand, sat in a deserted place, and said, "I have thought about this matter. I thought maybe I should be legitimate with you from now on, but in the end I felt it was not important."

Xue Bai said: "If you are worried about trouble again, don't worry."

"You said you were Xue Bai, but many people still don't believe it. If I take this title, people will inevitably murmur that I am from the same clan as you. I can ignore what others say, but in the end I feel... uncomfortable."

Li Tengkong said this with a calm smile, and then said: "I am a person who practices in seclusion, and I don't want to be disturbed by these mundane things."

Xue Bai remained silent upon hearing this. He had just told Li Mi today that he restored Xue Bai's identity for freedom, so how could that affect Li Tengkong's freedom?

"You and I have been together forever. The title of a concubine is not worth it to me."

"Ok."

Xue Bai had no choice but to obey Li Tengkong.

The topic between the two then shifted from these trivial matters to many things that interested each other more, such as the changes in their children and the changes in Chang'an City.

Before the sun completely set, Li Tengkong looked up at the distant sky with a look of longing in his eyes.

"Do you know why I want to become a Taoist priest?"

"Because you couldn't marry me, you were unhappy with your family?"

"No." Li Tengkong glared at Xue Bai and said, "Since I was a child, I have wanted to travel around the world and see the famous mountains and rivers in the world. I have never thought about being a concubine in this deep palace. If it weren't for you, I..."

She paused, feeling that continuing would sound like complaining.

But she actually just wanted to make it clear that she really didn't need that status.

During this period of time, she watched Xue Bai bear tremendous pressure to restore that name. She felt it was hard and hoped that he could be more open-minded.

"Today I thought of Li Mi's poem. Please read a hundred years of history and sail across the five lakes." Xue Bai said, "Let's find a time to visit the world's famous mountains and rivers."

"You don't have to take it personally."

"No." Xue Bai smiled and said, "It's just... I want to do what Li Mi can't do."

"Ok?"

"I intend to let him work in the court for the rest of his life. As for the matter of traveling across the five lakes, we will do it."

Li Tengkong was amused by him.

Taking advantage of the good atmosphere today, she took Xue Bai's hand and asked in a low voice: "Can you promise me one thing?"

"what?"

"Whether you want to be Xue Bai or Li Qian, no one can stop you, and the court officials have all accepted it..."

"They didn't accept it, they were just trying to fool me with vague words, like paperhangers trying to protect Li Tang's face. In essence, they still refused to admit that I had usurped their throne."

"As long as you live peacefully, why bother about whether they recognize you or not?" Li Tengkong asked, "Promise me not to change the country's name or abolish the ancestral temple, okay?"

Xue Bai didn't say anything.

This matter has been mentioned more than once in the past six months, but he never gave a clear statement, neither saying it was good nor bad.

For him, as long as he doesn't speak, some people have to continue working hard.

He knew very well that the court could not remain peaceful forever.

~~
The moon shines on the paulownia tree.

Beautiful singing was heard in a mansion in Chang'an City.

Du Jin walked along the path and stopped in front of the singing stage.

"Madam, Du Erniang is here."

In front, a woman who was watching the singing and dancing turned around.

The woman had her hair combed into a cloud-like bun with a golden hairpin inserted in it. But when she turned her head, the golden hairpin just swayed rhythmically without any disorder.

What’s even more rare is that her movements are not at all deliberate, but extremely natural, even a little lively.

When Du Jin saw her, she was stunned for a moment and felt suffocated for a moment by her beauty.

She herself was a great beauty, and when she met Xue Yaoying this year, she envied her youth. But the woman in front of her was a few years older than her, and still had the same beauty.

Even because of the charm of time, the beauty became more vivid, completely outshining Xue Yaoying.

Compared with this woman, Xue Yaoying's youth seemed a little dull and dry.

Because this woman was Yang Yuhuan.

"You're here?" Yang Yuhuan smiled, her voice moving and adding a touch of brilliance.

"Yes, Madam Yang hasn't changed at all... No, she looks younger."

Du Jin had known for a long time that Xue Bai was hiding Yang Yuhuan, but she had always pretended not to know. The reason she came to visit today was that she had something important to say to Yang Yuhuan.

"I'm old too." Yang Yuhuan said with a smile, "But I have fewer things to worry about. I still have the same mentality as when I was in the boudoir."

She was rehearsing a new play today, and was not angry at being disturbed by Du Jin. She arranged a tea break and the two sat down to talk.

"Mrs. Du is really capable to find this place."

"Your Majesty has entrusted the expenses of this mansion to my brother. If I can't find it, it won't be difficult for me to find it." Du Jin said, "I am rude for not coming to visit you for so many years."

"I have been blessed by Second Mother for all these years, I should give her a toast."

Yang Yuhuan picked up the wine glass and took a sip, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Du Jin observed her and found that she did not deliberately maintain the image of a beauty. Her every move was very casual, but her every frown and smile was full of charm.

This is innate, and you can't envy it.

"Madam Yang is truly stunningly beautiful. Even a woman like me is attracted to her."

"Hmm?" Yang Yuhuan blinked and looked at Du Jin with some confusion.

Du Jin asked, "You have been with Xue Lang for so many years, and you don't want a name?"

She deliberately used "Xue Lang" as the address, which carried some deep meaning.

"Second Lady, are you here for this?" Yang Yuhuan asked, "Why would I care about my status? I have been a noble concubine, and if I want, I can be the queen. But what I want is just freedom."

Du Jin said: "But being at ease will make people slack, but laziness can be fatal."

"how do I say this?"

"You hid here and no one found you. So do you think that the world really doesn't know about your affair with Xue Lang?" Du Jin said, "On the contrary, everyone knows that you two are having an affair."

"Xue Lang and I are having an affair, what about you?" Yang Yuhuan retorted.

Du Jin did not argue with her, but spoke directly to the point.

"Many things cannot be concealed, and sooner or later there will be disasters. What Xue Lang should do is to root out the evil and kill all the officials who are loyal to Li Tang. He had made up his mind, but was persuaded by Li Mi in the end. But Li Mi will never sincerely support Xue Lang. What he did today was just pretending to obey, and he was actually planning to get rid of Xue Lang behind the scenes."

Yang Yuhuan asked, "Will Xue Lang be in danger?"

Du Jin said: "I have tried to expose Li Mi's conspiracy several times, but I failed every time. After the tax revenue came in this autumn, Xue Lang's trust in Li Mi has increased day by day, and his determination to change his surname to Dai Tang has become weaker and weaker."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Instead of pretending to be friendly with Li Tang's ministers and leaving trouble for the future, it is better to make up your mind as soon as possible, so that you can be with Xue Lang openly."

"I don't seek to be aboveboard." Yang Yuhuan said, "If I had to choose, I would rather have a secret relationship with Xue Lang like this."

"You have to ask him for a name, so that you can strengthen his determination."

Yang Yuhuan looked at Du Jin and suddenly said, "I understand. You want to instigate Xue Lang to replace Tang. Only in this way can you justify your actions?"

Du Jin shook her head and said, "I did find evidence that Li Mi was trying to murder Xue Lang."

As she spoke, she took out a confession and placed it in front of Yang Yuhuan.

That was Zhang Yong's confession, and Du Jin confirmed that Zhang Yong did not lie.

"If I tell Xue Lang about this..."

"It's useless. Yuan Zai has been plotted against by Li Mi."

Du Jin stood up and said, "In fact, it doesn't matter whether you agree to this or not. As long as you are here, the conflict between Xue Lang and Li Tang's loyal ministers will exist. If you don't want others to know, you'd better not do it yourself."

In her opinion, people have to move forward.

The stage of usurping the throne has passed, and the remaining problems need to be solved. Next, it is time to restore the name and replace Li Tang.

Even Wu Zetian was going to replace the Tang Dynasty with the Zhou Dynasty, let alone Xue Bai?

On the other hand, she could already feel that Li Mi's threat was growing, and she had to step up her response.

~~
Du Jin’s intuition was correct.

Since coming back to power, Li Mi has been secretly planning to get rid of Du Jin.

He also had a conversation about this when he saw Li Qijun off.

"The nobles opposed your majesty's new laws and there were two assassinations. The first was to instigate Liu Zhan to rebel and assassinate the emperor, and the second was to attack Du's second wife on the Luo River."

"The reason why the emperor is so fearless is largely because Du Erniang holds too much power for him."

"I think it was this woman who secretly bewitched the Saint and persuaded him to give up his status as a descendant of the Li Tang Dynasty. She did this so that she could enter the harem. This woman has the ambitions of the Wu family."

Li Mi asked, "Do you know who was the mastermind behind the Luoshui assassination?"

Li Qiyun asked, "Isn't it Mr. Yan?"

"I'll check again."

At that time, Li Mi sent Li Qiyun away, thought for a while, and felt that Du Jin was difficult to deal with. In order to dispel the emperor's unrealistic ideas, he had to start with Yuan Zai...

(End of this chapter)