The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 103 Farewell
Li Ying knew who the figure was just by looking at the figure.

Li Heng asked, "General Li, what do you want?"

When Li Siye heard Li Heng's question, he stepped forward and bowed to Li Heng, saying, "I was patrolling outside the palace for Your Highness and saw someone secretly waiting. I beat that person up. I don't know if this will cause trouble for Your Highness, so I want to report to Your Highness."

Li Ying asked, "Then why don't you say anything?"

Li Siye scratched his head and smiled, saying, "I just realized that today is His Highness's big day, so I wanted to report back tomorrow."

Previously, Li Heng's guards were mainly responsible for escorting. They either could not detect the secret agents who came to gather information, or turned a blind eye if they did, because the guards could guess that the people who were waiting were either from the prince's side or Li Heng's side, and they could not afford to offend them.

But Li Siye was different. He had been through many battles and was quite sensitive to these "scouts". Moreover, he had a hot temper and strong military habits. He didn't care who the visitors were. As long as they were sneaky and had bad intentions, a beating would be the lightest punishment. If they really overheard some "military intelligence", Li Siye would probably kill them on the spot.

Li Heng hesitated for a moment and asked, "Did you ask who sent it?"

"I asked." Li Siye replied, "He said at first that he was just passing by, and then he said that he admired Your Highness, so he lingered outside the palace and didn't want to leave."

Li Ying said, "Since he didn't say anything, just beat him up. It won't cause any trouble."

"That's good." Li Siye nodded and said, "Your Highness, there is one more thing."

"What's the matter?" Li Ying asked.

Li Siye lowered his voice and said, "There's news from Hongyue that the person who sold the hidden fire bomb to Huangfu Weiming and his men has been contacted."

"Oh?" Li Heng became interested.

The previous case of Huangfu Weiming involved hidden fire bombs. However, after interrogation, all the people involved knew that the hidden fire bombs were bought on the black market in Chang'an, but they didn't know who sold them.

Li Heng had been thinking about this matter, so when he arrived in Chang'an, he asked Hongyue to find out.

On the day Yang Yuhuan left home, Li Heng's housekeeper Li Jiu asked Hongyue to go look for Yang Yuhuan. Li Heng was very worried when he heard the news, because he had just told Hongyue the day before to just find out about the hidden fire bombs in the black market. At that time, Hongyue went out not to look for Yang Yuhuan, but to the black market.

The reason why Hongyue was asked to go was because she had stayed in Pingkangfang for a long time and had connections with Liu Zhicheng's gang of traitors, so she was more familiar with the black market.

Li Ying asked, "Where is that group of people?"

Li Siye said: "In Fengyifang."

"Fengyifang? Isn't that mainly a funeral parlor?" Li Heng pondered. "But that's true. Ordinary people are quite taboo about funerals. It is indeed safer to settle down there."

Li Siye said: "Hongyue has already confirmed the deal with those people for tomorrow. Should we take this opportunity to catch them all in one fell swoop?"

Li Ying asked, "Where is Hongyue now? She hasn't been home for a few days."

Li Siye said: "Outside Yanping Gate."

"Isn't that a cemetery?" Li Ying pondered for a moment and said with a smile, "She is quite brave for a girl."

Li Siye said: "The location of tomorrow's transaction is at the cemetery outside Yanping Gate, so Hongyue will go first to explore the terrain. I have already sent soldiers to follow."

"That's good." Li Heng nodded. "We need to capture them alive. Then, we can follow the clues to catch the person who made the product, and then take him to Anxi as a conscript."

"Yes." Li Siye replied.

Li Heng made the arrangements and said with a smile, "General Li, you came here tonight mainly for this matter, right?"

Li Siye chuckled and said, "Your Highness, I cannot hide this from you. I did come here to report this matter, but I am worried that I may disturb Your Highness."

Li Heng said: "In the future, you can report such important matters to me directly at any time. You are doing your job sincerely, so how can you fail because of one person?"

"Yes." Li Siye replied respectfully, and then asked, "Then will Your Highness go and get the person in person tomorrow?"

"I can't go tomorrow." Li Heng shook his head. "Tomorrow Zhang Xiang will go to Jingzhou to serve as the Chief Secretary. Father ordered me to see him off. The matter of arresting people will be left to you."

As Li Ying spoke, he patted Li Siye on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Use more strategies." "I understand." Li Siye smiled, saluted to Li Ying, and retreated.

Li Heng waited for Li Siye to walk away, stood in the yard for a while, and then went to find Yang Yuhuan and Zhang Mujin.

……

……

……

The next day.

Outside Tonghua Gate.

At Li Longji's request, Li Heng went to see Zhang Jiuling off.

When Li Heng arrived outside Tonghua Gate, Zhang Jiuling was talking to other officials who were seeing him off.

When Li Ying came forward, everyone saluted.

Li Ying said to Zhang Jiuling, "Mr. Zhang, I am here on behalf of my father to see you off."

When Zhang Jiuling heard that Li Longji was still thinking about him, his eyes instantly turned red. He bowed in the direction of Xingqing Palace and said earnestly: "I thank the saint for his concern."

This was not the first time Zhang Jiuling was banished from Chang'an. To be precise, this was his third time.

The first time was in 716.

At that time, he resigned from his post because of a grudge between him and Yao Chong. Although he resigned on the surface, it was an unavoidable move, which was no different from being demoted.

The second time, he was implicated and demoted because his cousin Zhang Shuo was dismissed from his post as prime minister.

There are two incidents listed first. Logically, Zhang Jiuling should have been "accustomed" to exile, but this time, he was more sad than ever before.

Because he knew that this time was different from before.

This time, he will never come back.

The reason why he couldn't come back was not only because he was over sixty years old, but also because he knew that the saint had changed and no longer needed him.

Zhang Jiuling recalled his first time entering officialdom, when his official position was Zuo Shiyi.

Zuo Shiyi, as the name suggests, picks up what has been missed, and is the emperor's censor.

The first suggestion Zhang Jiuling gave to Li Longji was that Li Longji should not go to Xinfeng Hot Spring Palace for vacation in September, because it would disturb the people's harvest and affect farming.

At that time, Li Longji adopted his suggestion and changed the date to October.

At that time, Li Longji was full of vigor and unyielding will to fight, but now...

Thinking of this, Zhang Jiuling sighed and began to chant: "I once had lofty ambitions, but now I am old and gray. Who would have known that in the mirror, my own shadow would pity me!"

He used poetry to express his unwillingness and loneliness, but his heart was filled with mixed feelings of disappointment and expectation towards Li Longji.

Disappointment is disappointment with Li Longji's current state, and hope is that Li Longji can return to his former appearance.

Li Ying was slightly stunned after listening to Zhang Jiuling's poetry recitation.

After all, Zhang Jiuling was a minister of remonstration. If he were allowed to express his feelings further, who knows what he would say.

So Li Heng hurriedly said: "Mr. Zhang, please be at ease. I remember Mr. Zhang wrote a poem, 'What else can a person do? It is appropriate for him to stay away from others.'"

(End of this chapter)