Jiuxi

Chapter 615

The quarrel between the Queen Mother and the Emperor came to the point of a break-up. Naturally, all the loyal ministers did not want to see such a scene, but they could only remain silent.

After all, this is a conflict within the royal family itself, and it would be inappropriate for them to speak for anyone.

If you stand on the side of the emperor and help suppress the queen mother, it will undoubtedly be a crime of disrespect.

If you do the opposite, you may be hated by the emperor.

When the most noble mother and son of the Great Qi Dynasty were at loggerheads, all the officials in the court could do was to smooth things over, and not everyone was qualified to do so.

So when that old voice sounded, most of the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time they were a little puzzled. Normally, the old prime minister's reaction should not be so slow. Couldn't he see that the conflict between the empress dowager and the emperor was difficult to reconcile? Why didn't he come forward earlier?

In any case, when Li Daoyan stood up, the almost suffocating atmosphere in the hall finally eased.

Facing this veteran of three dynasties who was over sixty years old, not to mention Li Zongben who had just ascended the throne, even Empress Dowager Xu had to maintain sufficient respect.

She looked at the old man's weathered face and said with shame, "I was in a hurry and made Li Xiangjian laugh."

"Your Majesty, you are too kind."

Li Daoyan took two steps forward and said with emotion: "It is human nature to pity one's children. This is not something that anyone can escape."

For some reason, it seemed particularly heavy when he said this.

On the other side, Li Shizhi, who was standing next to the Minister of Revenue Jing Qingshan, lowered his eyelids, and his gaze was as deep as a thousand-year-old cold pond.

Empress Dowager Xu naturally could not understand the deep meaning of Li Daoyan's words. She just thought that the old man was trying to comfort her, so she emphasized her tone and said, "I know that Li Zongjian has done many bad things in the past. This is because I did not teach him well, but I don't believe that he would do such a treasonous thing as assassinating the emperor."

Li Daoyan nodded slightly and said, "The Queen Mother has her own reasons. I dare not argue with her, but I want to talk about something else."

Empress Dowager Xu said, "Prime Minister Li, please speak frankly."

Li Daoyan said calmly: "The matter involves the life and death of Lieutenant Fengguo, so the Queen Mother should be concerned. However, in my opinion, the Queen Mother can summon Your Majesty to the Cining Palace for questioning. Just now, the Queen Mother said that the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. This is the ancestral rule of the Great Qi Dynasty. If that is the case, why did the Queen Mother come to this palace?"

The other important officials were startled.

Although Li Zongben did not show any obvious joy, it could be seen from his suddenly relaxed expression that Li Daoyan's question touched the heart of his heart.

In sharp contrast, Li Zongjian, who was kneeling on the ground, had his hands shaking uncontrollably.

Empress Dowager Xu's expression inevitably became ugly. Faced with the old man's calm question, she didn't know how to answer.

Li Daoyan continued, "I have no disrespect for the Queen Mother, but if the ruler is not straight, it cannot be square, and if the compass is not straight, it cannot be circle. Therefore, a clever person can create rules, but cannot abolish rules to make the square or circle right. Even if a sage can create laws, he cannot abolish laws to govern the country."

Empress Dowager Xu remained silent.

Li Daoyan's tone became more sincere, and he said slowly: "Everyone present today is an important official of the court. They will definitely not speak nonsense outside. Therefore, I, an old minister, am presumptuous for once. I hope the Queen Mother will forgive me."

The anger on Queen Mother Xu's face gradually subsided, and she sighed, "Prime Minister Li is right. What I did was indeed inappropriate."

Li Daoyan said, "The Queen Mother is worried about Lieutenant Fengguo. This is the nature of the mother and son, and it is beyond reproach. However, you should not come to Xiuren Hall, and you should not force Your Majesty in the name of filial piety. Whether the assassination case was committed by Lieutenant Fengguo is still inconclusive. I think we can continue to investigate, and I guarantee that no one will be wrongly accused. Please rest assured, Queen Mother."

In fact, all Empress Dowager Xu wanted was this promise, but she didn't trust Li Zongben, and even less so Lu Chen.

Although Li Daoyan's words made her feel embarrassed, compared with Li Zongjian's life, this was not something she could not bear.

Thinking of this, she looked at the silent emperor again.

Li Daoyan turned to the emperor and bowed his head, saying, "Your Majesty, the case can be investigated slowly, and there is no need to rush to a conclusion."

Li Zongben naturally understood this truth in his heart, but Empress Dowager Xu was too tough just now, and he had no room to retreat. Otherwise, how could he not know that this would be an ugly scene?
Even if Queen Mother Xu returns empty-handed today, how much dignity will he have as the emperor?

Fortunately, Li Daoyan helped him pave the way, so he nodded slightly and said, "Then continue to investigate."

Empress Dowager Xu originally wanted to take Li Zongjian to the Cining Palace, but now she realized that this was impossible. Looking at the emperor who was becoming more and more unfamiliar to her, she couldn't help but think of the late emperor who had passed away. She felt a little more sad and panicky in her heart, and her hands clenched even tighter.

But she couldn't let it go completely, so she pulled herself together and said, "Emperor, I have only one request."

Li Zongben said calmly: "Please ask the Queen Mother for instructions."

Empress Dowager Xu said in a deep voice: "I have no prejudice against Lu Chen, but given his status, it is not appropriate for him to directly investigate the assassination case. The emperor can let him and the two prime ministers be responsible for the final review."

She did not mention the assassination on Qingfeng Street, but who in the hall could fail to react?

Li Zongben showed a slight hesitation.

Lu Chen, who had been silent the whole time, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am young and inexperienced in this matter. Please choose another experienced and prudent official to preside over this case." "Okay."

Li Zongben nodded, looked at Empress Dowager Xu and said, "Let the three judicial departments hold a joint trial, with the Minister of Justice Gao Huan presiding over the case. Are you satisfied, mother?"

Empress Dowager Xu looked at him steadily, knowing that this was the best outcome. After all, Li Zongjian was indeed a suspect, and it was a pipe dream to want to get rid of the crime directly. It was not easy to revoke Lu Chen's right to handle the case, so she slowed down her tone and said, "Just follow the emperor's words."

She felt exhausted both physically and mentally, and was embarrassed by Li Daoyan's righteous words just now. She could not stay in Xiu'ren Hall for a moment.

Seeing her turn around and walk out with the help of the female official, Li Zongben bowed and said, "Farewell, mother."

All the ministers saluted.

Although the turmoil that almost shook the country's foundation has temporarily subsided, everyone, including Li Zongben, is still unable to relax.

Empress Dowager Xu gave in at this moment, on the one hand because the emperor's attitude was particularly tough, and on the other hand it was to give face to Li Daoyan, a veteran of three dynasties.

But she would never watch Li Zongjian being executed.

It is foreseeable that in the coming period of time, there will be endless disputes in the palace over this matter.

The conflict has not disappeared, but it has been temporarily suppressed because both sides are not ready to completely break up.

A layer of haze has shrouded the sky above the palace.

About an incense stick later, all the important ministers left the Xiu'ren Hall, except for Gao Huan, the Minister of Justice who had just been summoned, who stayed behind. It was obvious that the emperor wanted to give him instructions in person.

The bright sunshine shone on the palace square. Everyone walked slowly, each with their own thoughts, and kept a distance from each other.

Only an old man and a young man walked side by side in the sunshine.

Li Daoyan's pace was slow, so Lu Chen had to deliberately suppress his speed.

The old man said softly: "Things in this world are really hard to understand."

Lu remained silent. He knew that the old man had called him on purpose, there must be some hidden meaning behind it.

Li Daoyan looked forward and continued, "Your Majesty is a little impatient. Perhaps it's because he was trembling with fear in the past few years. He wanted to compete for the throne, but he had to endure the reality. He didn't experience such great changes and so many hardships as the previous emperor. When he took off the heavy pressure on his shoulders, he was inevitably a little impatient and a little immature in his handling of things. However, how many people in the world are born with knowledge? How many people are gifted? Young people like you are outliers after all."

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes and said slowly: "Old Prime Minister, I don't understand."

"It doesn't matter whether you understand it or not."

Li Daoyan sighed, and then said: "His Majesty wanted to kill two birds with one stone, but he did not expect that there would be complications, nor did he expect you to go with the flow. Of course, everything is under your control. After all, you deliberately chose to enter the palace when I was present, knowing that I would not let the situation deteriorate to the point where it could not be handled."

Lu Chen said sincerely: "Old Prime Minister is the pillar of the country. No matter what kind of crisis we face, it can be easily resolved in your hands."

Li Daoyan smiled bitterly on his weathered face, then shook his head and said, "I know you won't continue the conversation, and I don't have any solid evidence to prove that you were the one behind the disturbance in the palace today. Even if you have evidence, it's nothing. In the end, you just want to have some peace and quiet."

Lu Chen neither admitted nor denied it.

Li Daoyan looked at the deep doorway in the palace wall ahead and said with a sigh: "Lu Chen, let's go to Dingzhou."

Lu Chen looked up at the clear blue sky and said word by word: "Old Prime Minister, I still don't understand."

Li Daoyan turned his head and looked at the tired look on his face, and sighed: "You are a smart man, how could you not figure it out? It's just that you can't get over the grief of the late emperor's departure for a while, and then it's hard for you to accept the change in the court. The most difficult thing to guess in this world is the human heart. Throughout history, countless saints have fallen for these two words. The border army cannot do without the support of the court, and the court cannot do without the protection of the border army. The two complement each other and coexist in harmony."

He paused for a moment, then said earnestly, "In many cases, increasing distance is not necessarily a bad thing."

Lu Chen met the old man's gaze and actually saw some pleading in it.

Li Daoyan did not hide his feelings and laughed at himself, "If I were ten years younger, I would not act like this. Lu Chen, I am old and will soon die. I may have to meet the late emperor someday. I am certainly not afraid of that day, but I cannot say that I left behind a messy court when I meet the late emperor."

Lu Chen nodded.

Li Daoyan's tone was heavy and desolate: "This time I was able to suppress the conflict in the palace, but what about next time?"

"Old Prime Minister..."

"Go to Dingzhou, while I am not bedridden like the Duke of Jing, and while I can still help you through your last days. Regardless of the turmoil in the palace today or the disputes in the past, even if you are the one who secretly plotted, I will only keep it in my heart. Don't forget that the enemies of Da Qi are licking their wounds, and it won't take long for them to make a comeback."

Lu Chen looked at the wrinkled face and the earnest emotions in those old eyes, and felt an indescribable melancholy in his heart.

After a moment, he said softly, "Okay."

(End of this chapter)