The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 231 The Right Prime Minister Invites
Wang Zhongsi hesitated for a while, and after some inner struggle, he said, "It's not that I don't want to fight, it's just that now is not the best time to send troops."

Wang Zhongsi sighed, paused, and continued: "Your Highness pulled out the teeth from the tiger's mouth and captured Shibao City amidst difficulties and dangers, but Jiannan was defeated recently and the situation in Longyou was unstable, resulting in the Tibetans taking away what was in your pocket."

Li Heng followed with a sigh and said, "If you save the land but lose the people, both the people and the land will be lost. If you save the people but lose the land, both the people and the land will be saved. Why do you need to bury your bones in your hometown? There are green mountains everywhere in life. The loss of Shibao City is a small matter, but the burial of 60,000 soldiers of Jiannan in a foreign land is truly tragic and lamentable."

Li Ying spoke out Wang Zhongsi's true feelings, but Wang Zhongsi had never seen this summary in any military book, and he was very surprised. He said, "Your Highness is very reasonable. No wonder Your Highness wins every battle. Your military strategy is far inferior to mine."

Li Ying smiled slightly and said, "General Wang is too modest."

"This is from my heart," Wang Zhongsi replied seriously. He then looked at Du Liangdi and said after a moment's hesitation, "Your Highness, please forgive me for being so nosy. Du Erniang has divorced the Crown Prince. If you take her with you, I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble."

When Du Liangdi heard this, her expression froze.

Li Ying said, "General Wang, you don't know that Du Erniang was thrown into the cemetery outside Yanping Gate last night when someone failed to kill her. I happened to see her and brought her back."

"This..." Wang Zhongsi was slightly startled, and immediately thought of Li Heng and Li Linfu. However, it was not convenient to discuss such matters here, so he did not continue. He sighed for a while and said, "Your Highness is kind-hearted, and I admire you very much. I still have some trivial matters to deal with, so please leave first."

"General Wang, take care."

Li Ying stood up and watched Wang Zhongsi go downstairs.

After working for a whole day and night, Li Heng felt very sleepy, so he went back to his residence to catch up on some sleep.

After sleeping until the afternoon, Li Linfu sent his housekeeper to invite Li Heng to his house for a chat, and Li Heng agreed.

After Li Linfu's housekeeper went out to wait, Zhang Guangsheng said, "Your Highness, the Right Prime Minister is so arrogant. He has something to ask Your Highness, but he didn't come to your house in person. Instead, he sent someone to invite Your Highness to his house."

Li Heng smiled and said, "I brought Du Liangdi into the mansion. The Right Prime Minister is looking for trouble with me."

Zhang Guangsheng was startled for a moment, then he understood and said, "Should we make some preparations?"

"No need." Li Heng shook his head. "The Right Prime Minister wants to see Du Liangdi, so I will take Du Liangdi to see him. You go and call Du Liangdi and go with me to the Right Prime Minister's residence."

"Yes." Zhang Guangsheng took the order and left.

……

Pingkangfang, the residence of Li Linfu.

Li Ying and his companions walked through the long corridor, passed three moon gates and two moon bridges, and Li Linfu finally came to greet them.

Li Linfu came up to Li Heng and said, "I am very busy and have not been able to come to meet you, Your Highness. Please do not blame me."

"How dare I blame the Right Prime Minister?" Li Heng smiled slightly, looked around, and continued: "It is my honor to visit the Right Prime Minister's residence. I just didn't expect the Right Prime Minister to be so frugal. The building materials used in the pavilion are not fragrant wood, but ordinary wood."

Li Linfu looked a little uncomfortable when he heard this, and said with a smile: "I have always been frugal. The grand ceremony when I go out is just to avoid losing face for the Tang Dynasty."

"It's really difficult for the Right Prime Minister." Li Heng complimented him against his will, and after a moment's silence, he said, "I think the wood in the pavilion is a bit old, and it must be left over from the time of Li Weigong. Although the Right Prime Minister is frugal, he can't let himself be wronged. Let's change it if necessary."

The house where Li Linfu lived was an old house from the time of Li Jing. Previously, there was a master named Hong Shi, who was famous for his Taoism during the reign of Emperor Ruizong. Once when he passed by this house, he said: "If someone in the future can live here, it will be invaluable."

At the beginning of the Kaiyuan period, Li Linfu became Fengyu and moved here.

Someone told Master Hong about Li Linfu's move, and Master Hong made another divination and said, "How strange! My words have come true. This man has been the prime minister for nineteen years and is known as the most powerful and noble person in the world. However, I am afraid that he will easily control the central gate, and then disaster will come."

Li Linfu agreed deeply with Master Hong's words, so he was reluctant to renovate his house.

Li Heng had heard about this before, but he pretended not to know it today. On the one hand, he wanted to see Li Linfu's reaction, and on the other hand, he wanted to flatter Li Linfu first.

Li Linfu echoed, "Your Highness is right. There are several moon gates in the house that are too small to pass through on horseback. I also want to repair them, but...for the time being, state affairs are the most important. Your Highness, please come in."

After Li Linfu finished speaking, he led the way.

"Thank you." Li Ying replied and walked inside.

After they walked a few steps, they suddenly heard the sound of the screen window in the inner room shaking and a figure flashing. Zhang Guangsheng listened carefully in all directions and immediately became alert.

But Li Heng acted as if he didn't hear it and said calmly, "Follow Li Linfu."

Several people came to the lobby and sat down. Li Linfu ordered someone to serve tea and said, "To be honest, I invited Your Highness to come to my house because I have something important to discuss."

Li Heng drank a sip of tea, looking contented, and said, "Right Prime Minister, what is the matter? Please tell me. If I can do it, I will do my best."

Li Linfu glanced at Du Liangdi who was standing next to Li Heng and said, "The case of Du Youlin involves a lot of people. We may need to ask Du Erniang some questions, but since Your Highness has brought Du Erniang into the palace, the officials investigating the case dare not ask her."

Li Heng said, "You don't know. I brought Du Erniang into my residence just to make it easier to question her during the court session. Liu Ji sued Du Youlin, not Du Erniang. Without evidence pointing to Du Erniang, the court cannot detain her. For her personal safety and to prevent her from wandering around, I invited her into my residence first."

"That's the truth." Li Linfu was not angry, and said calmly: "Du Erniang was a concubine before. The prince divorced her to protect himself. Others avoid her, but Your Highness wants to protect her. Isn't Your Highness afraid of getting into trouble?"

Li Heng said, "I have always followed the rules and laws. If the Right Prime Minister feels that it is not in accordance with etiquette and is not allowed by law, he can issue a warrant. I have brought the person here. As long as the Right Prime Minister issues an arrest warrant, she can be imprisoned now."

Li Linfu was stunned and kept silent for a while. He smiled and said, "I always follow the rules and laws when doing things. How could I randomly issue an order to arrest someone?"

Li Ying said, "In that case, let her stay in my mansion first. When the court session comes, I will ask her to leave. If the investigating officer has any questions, they can come to my mansion to ask."

Li Heng said this lightly, but the power behind his words was not small, because it was tantamount to openly challenging Li Linfu.

At this time, apart from Li Longji, the only one who dared to speak to Li Linfu like this was Li Heng.

The atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point, and everyone present looked at Li Heng and Li Linfu.

Du Liangdi never expected that Li Heng would confront Li Linfu for her.

Li Linfu looked at the young Li Heng for a long while, then smiled and said, "I just heard that someone assassinated Du Erniang last night, and I was worried. Now that Your Highness has taken action, I am relieved."

(End of this chapter)