"You're a fool to be taught, I'm talking nonsense."
In the main hall, Li Ziye was startled when he saw such a big reaction from the fourth prince in front of him. He said with a bitter smile, "Your Highness, please sit down quickly and let others see that you, a prince, salute to me, a commoner. Why don't you?" Arrange me to death."
"Ah."
Mu Bai smiled softly, sat down again, and said, "It turns out that there are things in this world that Brother Li is afraid of."
"of course."
Li Ziye said helplessly, "Otherwise, why would I be so timid in court? It's not because people speak softly and have to keep a low profile. So, I've concluded that as a person, you have to be low-key!"
"No ghost will believe what you say."
Mu Bai picked up the teapot, filled the tea for the two of them, and said with a smile, "I'm a little curious. Did you know early on that there would be someone in the court to speak for you?"
"of course not."
Li Ziye shook his head and said, "I'm not an old man like the Confucian leader. I can count everything. Before His Majesty summoned me to the palace, I also thought that His Majesty would at best reprimand King Jiuyou for privately deploying troops. He would not Is there any substantial punishment?”
"Oh? Then when did Brother Li confirm that someone in the court was helping you?" Mu Bai asked in surprise.
"When the imperial edict to enter the palace was sent to Li Yuan."
Li Ziye smiled and said, "If someone had not spoken for me and this matter had reached a deadlock, His Majesty would not have been able to summon me to the palace. Of course, I did not know who was speaking for me before. After entering the palace, I saw the blower The old man with the glaring beard has just realized that the great merchant has such a minister who is not afraid of power."
"Zhang Qizheng hates evil as much as he hates evil, and there is really no room for sand in his eyes."
Mu Bai took a sip of tea and said softly, "So, at that time, Brother Li thought of a strategy to retreat instead of advance."
"yes."
Li Ziye nodded and said, "Although I don't know why King Jiuyou wants to kill me, he has already done it to such an extent. It doesn't matter whether I offend him or not. Since there are people in the court helping me, why should I?" If you don't make good use of this opportunity, just break off one of the tiger's teeth. A tiger with a missing tooth will bite people with less pain."
"sharp!"
When Mu Bai heard this, he said with emotion, "In such a short time in the court, Brother Li was able to quickly come up with a way to deal with it without any preparation in advance. It is really not something that ordinary people can do."
"Your Highness has given you too much praise, but plans are plans. The real key lies in the original intention of Mr. Zhang Qizheng and Mr. Lu Siqing to not be afraid of power."
Li Ziye said calmly, "If it weren't for these two elders, the ministers in the court would not dare to say a fair word even if they wanted to. After ten years of hard work, at the beginning, who would not have done something for the people of the world just to show their ambitions?" Some people may gradually get lost in these things, but there must be some people who still maintain their original aspirations. Otherwise, Dachang would not be able to prosper to this day."
Mu Bai listened to the words of the young man in front of him, his eyes narrowed, and said, "What if Brother Li guessed wrong?"
Li Ziye fell silent, took a sip of tea, and said with an indifferent expression, "If I guess wrong, as I said in the court, this is just a misunderstanding. For me and the Li family, it is a matter of tolerance." It's just a moment of anger, it doesn't matter, but for Dashang, this is probably the worst result."
When Mu Bai heard this, his expression was shocked, as if he had thought of something, and cold sweat quickly broke out on his forehead.
Hundreds of officials succumbed to power, and no one dared to tell the truth. The great merchants were rotten to the core and beyond redemption.
Thinking of this, Mu Bai became more and more frightened.
It turns out that today's debate in the court is not just about the grievances between the Li family and King Jiuyou.
Still, it was a big test for the entire Shang Dynasty.
A big test that brings both glory and loss!
If the Li family wins, Dashang wins, if the Li family loses, Dashang loses!
The difference is that when the Li family lost, it was just a temporary grudge, but for the entire Shang Dynasty, this loss meant that the dynasty's thousand-year glory was lost.
For a long time, Mu Bai barely suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and said with lingering fear, "This game is really thrilling."
It's not the Li family that's in danger, it's Dashang that's in danger.
Li Ziye smiled slightly and said, "There is no danger, the Li family has passed the test."
"Da Shang has also passed the test." Mu Bai added.
"Congratulations."
Li Ziye raised his tea cup and smiled.
"Same joy."
Mu Bai also raised his tea cup and responded softly.
The two drank the tea in one gulp and put the cups down at the same time.
The scene gradually became a little quiet.
"Brother Li, do you want to become an official?" After a few breaths, Mu Bai spoke again.
"In no mood."
Li Ziye shook his head and refused, "The current situation is like walking a tightrope. No matter if you take even half a step to the left or right, you will be doomed. This time, when I returned to Yuzhou City, I encountered no less than five assassinations. Behind this , how many forces are targeting the Li family, one can imagine that if I become an official, I am afraid it will arouse more people's hostility, and the gains outweigh the losses."
"what a pity."
Mu Bai sighed softly, "With Brother Li's talent, if he becomes an official, given time, he will be able to become a marquis and become a prime minister."
"Your Highness thinks too highly of me."
Li Ziye smiled and said, "I am just the son of an ordinary businessman. At most, I am a teacher with a meager salary. I daydream about becoming a swordsman every day. There are many people like me in the world. It is true that I am not a proud man, and your Highness should also know this."
"Brother Li, although he is not a proud man, he is by no means inferior to any proud man in the world."
Mu Bai looked very serious and said, "I am convinced of this."
"Your Highness, please stop giving me such a high hat. Let's continue to talk about whether Your Highness wants to compete for the position of Prince."
Li Ziye said with a smile, looking at the fourth prince in front of him, and asked as if he was joking, "How about giving it a try?"
Mu Bai was stunned for a moment when he heard the topic suddenly changed by the young man in front of him. For a moment, he didn't know how to answer.
"Your Highness, now that we have said this, let me say one more thing."
Li Ziye looked at the silent appearance of the fourth prince in front of him, and his expression became serious, and he said, "Your Highness really needs to make a decision as soon as possible. Even if His Highness is the legitimate son of Dashang, it is impossible for all the civil and military officials in the court to wait for His Highness all the time. , the longer it is delayed, the more detrimental it will be to His Highness. I think that many of the ministers who support His Highness now are the Queen and King Zhongwu who are working hard to maintain it. However, without His Highness’s statement, how long can the Queen and King Zhongwu maintain it? "
At this point, Li Ziye paused for a moment and then continued, "Your Highness should know that the other three princes have been personally wooing the important officials in the court. Again, some things can be solved without running away, no matter what Whatever your Highness thinks, you can have a frank and frank discussion with the Queen. In this world, no one loves Your Highness more than the Queen, not even Your Highness himself."
royal palace.
Weiyang Palace.
A beautiful woman was sitting in the hall, listening to what happened this morning, with a little light flashing in her eyes.
"Brother did not hesitate to offend King Jiuyou for the sake of the Li family's legitimate son." On the side, Ninth Princess Murong said with surprise when she heard the servant's return.
"Let him!"
Queen Changsun's expression darkened and she said, "My Changsun family is not afraid of King Jiuyou. As long as your brother is willing to fight in the court, it is a good thing. No matter who he offends, my Changsun family will take care of it!"
"The Queen."
At this moment, a young eunuch walked quickly and saluted respectfully:
"Your Royal Highness, please see me."
