The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 236: Self-protection
On the street outside Yiningfang, Du Youlin, with a bloody butt and wounds all over his body, was lying on a cart pushed by a servant. Li Heng, Zhang Guangsheng, Du Erniang and Du Daniang followed silently.

At this time, there was only one day left until the Qianqiu Festival. Every street in Chang'an was decorated with lights and crowded with people. Along the way, there were people commenting on Li Heng and others.

Du Erniang was used to being noble and had a thin skin. She couldn't stand so many people pointing fingers at her, so she said to Li Heng, "Your Highness, Prince Shou, I want to hire a sedan for my grandfather."

Li Heng looked at Du Erniang, saw what she was thinking, and said, "Escape is never the best solution. Whether it is honor or shame, we should accept it calmly."

Du Erniang lowered her voice and said, "Your Highness saved my grandfather but not Liu Ji. I'm worried that if you show off like this, it will..."

"What will happen?" Li Ying asked.

Du Erniang said, "It will make others think that Your Highness has some improper thoughts about me, so he rescued my grandfather."

Li Heng couldn't help but smile and said, "Do you think I have any improper thoughts about you?"

"No, definitely not." Du Erniang said firmly.

During the few days she stayed at Li Heng's house, Du Erniang discovered that Li Heng had always been frugal and self-disciplined, and had never indulged in sensual pleasures. If Li Heng had not already had three children, she would have suspected that Li Heng was not interested in women.

Li Ying said, "That's all. Why bother about what others say?"

Du Liang Di was startled and said, "Then I will listen to your Highness."

Li Ying smiled slightly and said nothing more.

When Li Longji announced that the Du family and Liu Ji would be exiled to Anxi, Li Heng knew that he had to rescue Du Youlin, and only Du Youlin.

Because if Du Youlin died, his favor to the Du family would not be great enough. If his favor was not great enough, he would not be able to attract the hatred of Li Heng and Li Linfu, and thus Li Longji's method of checks and balances would be half in vain.

This is only the superficial reason. The deeper reason is that Li Longji's checks and balances are based on each person's personality.

Everyone is aware of the means of checks and balances, but the most important thing is how to make those who are checked and balanced fall into the trap willingly.

Li Linfu loved power, and power was Li Linfu's pain point. Therefore, no matter whether Li Longji checked him or not, Li Heng's rescue of people from his knife challenged his power and authority, which was something Li Linfu could not tolerate.

Li Heng loved power and was also seeking fame and reputation. How could such a person not feel hatred when his beloved was taken away by others?
As for Li Ying, the impression he left on Li Longji over the years was that of a loyal, filial, virtuous and capable person with a clear distinction between love and hate. Regardless of whether he was taking the blame or not, Li Ying would do what he should do.

This is the underlying logic behind Li Longji's checks and balances among the three.

On this basis, Li Longji predicted that Li Heng's next step would be to rescue innocent people within the scope of his authority.

Du Youlin was innocent, and Li Heng should have saved him. Liu Ji was treacherous and falsely accused him, so Li Heng would just sit back and do nothing.

Therefore, Li Heng saved Du Youlin and gave up Liu Ji not only to please Li Longji, but also to fit his own personality.

In other words, it met Li Longji's expectations of him.

This is more important than simply catering to Li Longji, because it is one of his current footholds for self-protection.

Throughout history, smart people have used a variety of means to protect themselves, such as Xiao He's method of self-defilement, which is highly praised by many people.

However, there are many means of self-protection, and they cannot all be copied. They require specific circumstances and specific analysis.

Xiao He defamed himself because he was already the most powerful official at the time and no one in the court could check and balance him. He was also unwilling to give up wealth and power completely like Zhang Liang, so he defamed himself to ruin his reputation, lose the support of the people, and at the same time give Liu Bang an excuse to control him.

Li Heng also thought about defaming himself, but if he did, his character would be different from before. In this way, Li Longji would not be able to see him clearly.

Li Longji was extremely conceited, selfish and cruel. He had plenty of excuses to kill or deal with anyone he wanted. Rather than whether a person had a stain, Li Longji cared more about whether he understood the person and whether he could control and use him at any time.

Now Li Heng's power is not monopolized by one person. Li Longji needs to use his "loyalty, filial piety, virtue, ability, and clear love and hate" to fight against Li Linfu, Li Heng and others.

If he defiled himself by becoming a person like Li Linfu, his value would be cut in half.

Therefore, as long as Li Linfu was still alive, Li Heng was still in power, and An Lushan and Wang Zhongsi still held power, he had to maintain his personality.

He deliberately brought Du Erniang, Du Youlin and others to show off in public today in order to deepen Li Longji's impression of his character.

Du Erniang didn't know that Li Heng had such deep thoughts. She thought that Li Heng really just didn't care about other people's comments. In her gratitude, she admired Li Heng even more.

In the crowd, Li Jingzhong watched Du Erniang and Li Heng walking side by side, and reached out to touch a bag of jewelry in his arms.

These jewels were given to Du Erniang by Li Heng.

But Li Heng had instructed him to send it quietly.

Li Jingzhong hesitated for a while, squeezed out of the crowd, came to Li Heng and Du Erniang, bowed to Li Heng, took out the jewelry, and respectfully presented it to Du Erniang with both hands, saying: "Du Liangdi, this is the money given to you by the prince."

Du Erniang glanced at Li Jingzhong and said, "I am no longer a concubine. I am now a commoner. I cannot bear the deep affection of the prince."

Li Jingzhong knelt down in the street and said, "The prince asked me to deliver it to you, otherwise he will blame me. Please..."

"What does it have to do with me?" Du Erniang interrupted Li Jingzhong, "Even if the prince kills you, it is his business, and I cannot be blamed."

After saying this, Du Erniang turned away.

When the onlookers saw Li Jingzhong being humiliated, they all burst into laughter.

Li Jingzhong watched Du Erniang walk away, pretending to be embarrassed.

He knelt there silently for a long time before he stood up and returned to the East Palace.

In the East Palace.

At this time, Li Heng already knew that Li Jingzhong had knelt in the street to beg Du Erniang for money. He was so angry that he threw the jade cup on the table to the ground and said, "Shame on you, shame on you! Li Jingzhong is not embarrassing himself, but my face!"

When Li Heng said this, Li Jingzhong just walked to the door.

Li Heng picked up a fruit plate on the table and threw it at Li Jingzhong, saying, "Why did you come back? Come back and tell me if you have embarrassed me completely? Get out!"

Li Jingzhong did not dodge or evade, allowing the fruit plate to brush past his body. He walked straight into the house and knelt on the ground.

Seeing Li Jingzhong's expression, Li Heng was so angry that he sat down. After a long pause, he said, "Forget it. I don't have much face anyway."

Li Jingzhong heard Li Heng speak again, then he raised his head and said: "Your Highness, although this servant's action is embarrassing, it is also for your sake!"

Li Heng sneered and questioned, "Really? I'd like to hear what you can come up with with your sharp tongue."

(End of this chapter)