The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 225: The Age of Hearing
Li Linfu's sigh was not purely pretentious.

The Tang Dynasty is still nominally prosperous. Li Linfu is more capable than Yang Guozhong and also wants to do something. Therefore, since Jiannan lost the battle, some pensions should be given to the 60,000 soldiers who died in the battle, and the subsequent recruitment and transfer of Jiannan soldiers should also be handled.

An Lushan went to practice with his northern neighbors, demanding food and money for war and rewards for victory.

Li Longji's Qianqiu Festival was a grand celebration that cost a huge amount of money.

These expensive things happening at the same time really gave Li Linfu a headache.

Li Heng thought for a while and said, "The Right Prime Minister has worked hard for the country and devoted himself to it. My father and the people of the Tang Dynasty will be grateful for his contributions."

"My merits and demerits will be judged by future generations. I don't want to think about it." When Li Linfu said this, the shopkeeper just brought wontons. Li Linfu took the wontons and took a bite. He then said, "This year is the Thousand Autumn Festival. The Saint is exactly sixty years old. The Saint is healthy and has lived for thousands of years, but he is also in his twilight years. I am also sixty-two years old. I only hope to serve the Saint for a few more days and make him happy."

Li Ying said: "The sincere heart shown to the emperor on the right is very touching."

The implication of Li Linfu's words just now was that Li Longji was already old, and he was loyal to Li Longji and made Li Longji happy. As a son, Li Heng should do the same.

But Li Heng's answer was obviously pretending to be confused.

Li Linfu couldn't help but smile and said frankly: "Your Highness is well-educated, you should know what the meaning of "ear obedience" is, right?"

Li Ying explained seriously: "According to the meaning of the Analects, it means that when one's state of mind is high and one can let nature take its course, nothing will be unpleasant to the ear."

"Your Highness is indeed well-educated." Li Linfu praised him insincerely, and then changed the subject, saying, "But in my opinion, Your Highness is obsessed with appearances. The Saint specially kept Your Highness in Beijing to celebrate his 60th birthday. Your Highness should understand the Saint's painstaking efforts!"

Li Heng said: "Thank you for your advice, Right Prime Minister."

"Your Highness is too polite, I am the one who is too talkative." Li Linfu smiled, took two bites of the wonton, stood up and said, "I have something urgent to do, so I will not accompany Your Highness."

"I'll see you off." Li Heng stood up.

Li Linfu did not refuse, and turned to look at the Right Guard who was still kneeling because he had bumped into Li Heng.

Li Ying pretended to be enlightened and said, "Hey, why are you still kneeling? Please stand up."

"Thank you, Your Highness." The right guard replied but did not dare to stand up.

Seeing this, Li Linfu kicked the right guard and said, "Get up. Open your eyes and don't do evil things."

"Yes." The right guard then stood up.

Li Linfu turned around, stepped on the slave's body to get into the sedan chair, and headed towards Xingqing Palace.

After Li Linfu walked away, Zhang Guangsheng couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what does it mean when the Right Prime Minister says that you are possessed?"

Li Ying said casually: "The Diamond Sutra says that there is no self, no person, no sentient being. All appearances are false."

Zhang Guangsheng still didn't understand, so He Jin explained for Li Ying: "What the Right Prime Minister meant was that your Highness's interpretation of 耳顺 was incorrect and should be understood literally."

Zhang Guangsheng suddenly realized.

Li Linfu hoped that Li Heng would make Li Longji obedient, and more importantly, he wanted to judge the case in a way that would suit Li Longji's wishes.

So how can we express Li Longji’s feelings?

Li Linfu thought that the crown prince was to be deposed.

But Li Ying doesn't think so.

Li Heng was silent for a while, then said, "Given Ji Wen's methods, he should be tortured now. Officer Zhang, please follow me to the prison. Miss He and Princess Aqisi can go back first."

After Li Heng finished speaking, he took Zhang Guangsheng to the Dali Temple. …

At the same time, the East Palace.

At this time, Li Heng was restless and paced around the room anxiously.

After a while, Li Jingzhong pushed the door open.

Li Heng asked hurriedly: "Have you searched the whole place?"

"We searched everything, but found nothing suspicious." Li Jingzhong replied.

"That's good, it's good that there is nothing." Li Heng nodded, feeling a little relieved, and then asked: "What are Concubine Wei and Du Liangdi doing?"

Li Jingzhong said: "Your Highness ordered them to stay in the house, but they all clamored to see Your Highness."

"Why should I see them now?" Li Heng was a little annoyed. At this time, there was a knock on the door. Li Heng became even angrier and asked impatiently, "Who?"

Zhang Liangdi's voice came from outside the door, saying, "Your Highness, it's me."

Hearing that it was Zhang Liangdi, Li Heng hesitated for a moment and said, "Come in."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liangdi pushed the door open and walked in, holding a cup of tea in both hands.

Zhang Liangdi came to Li Heng, presented him with tea, and said, "Your Highness, have a cup of tea to calm your mind."

Li Heng took the tea, threw it on the table, and said, "I don't have the mood to drink tea now!"

"If you don't do anything wrong, you don't have to worry about ghosts knocking on your door." Zhang Liangdi said in a gentle tone, "Since Your Highness has not done anything wrong, what are you worried about?"

Li Heng was startled, and motioned Li Jingzhong to leave. He then sighed and said, "The incident with Li Ying is still fresh in my mind. How can I not be worried? Li Linfu is determined to defeat me. I will probably fall into his hands this time."

Zhang Liangdi said: "Only the saint can influence your future and life and death. Instead of worrying about what Li Linfu will do, you should try to figure out what the saint is thinking."

Li Heng said, "I am in a state of confusion and have no idea what to do. I want to summon Lü Xiang to discuss the matter with them, but I am worried that my father will become more suspicious of me."

"Your Highness is right. At this time, Your Highness cannot see anyone." Zhang Liangdi agreed first, and then analyzed: "In my humble opinion, the Saint does not want to depose Your Highness."

"Oh? Why do you think so?" Li Heng asked hurriedly.

"If the Saint wanted to depose Your Highness, he would not have let Prince Shou sit in on the proceedings." Zhang Liangdi pondered, and then analyzed, "When Empress Zetian was in power, she frequently deposed and enthroned emperors. She first enthroned Zhongzong, then deposed Zhongzong and enthroned Ruizong, and then deposed Ruizong and enthroned Zhongzong. This led to instability in the court, and the Saint was deeply touched by this. Now the Saint is in his 60s, and all he wants is stability."

Li Heng thought for a moment and said, "You make sense. Go on."

"Yes." Zhang Liangdi said respectfully, "The Saint wants peace and stability, why don't you fulfill the Saint's wish?"

Li Heng asked: "How can it be accomplished?"

Zhang Liang Di said, "The Wei family is powerful, Wei Jian is in a high position and has great power. It is rare for the king to have a large army in Longyou. Your Highness is close to them, which naturally makes the saint feel uneasy. If Your Highness can divorce Concubine Wei, he will naturally cut ties with them."

"This..." Li Heng had finally managed to win over these two major forces, and he was somewhat unwilling, but now it seemed that this was indeed the best way.

Li Heng suppressed his resentment and anger and asked, "What about Du Liangdi? The Du family doesn't have much power."

Zhang Liangdi said: "Although the Du family's power is not great, Liu Ji has made friends with many foreign officials. If these foreign officials are included in the list, the shock caused will definitely be great."

Zhang Liangdi meant that Du Liangdi had to leave as well.

(End of this chapter)