"I think you should understand this better than me."
Li Zhi was startled: "What do I understand?"
Li Yunxiao said calmly: "If the son is weak and the mother is strong, the palace will be in chaos. If the palace is in chaos, the world will be in chaos."
"Judging from historical records, many countries and dynasties experienced turmoil and fell apart in the past mostly because the emperor was young and the empress dowager was strong."
"O Emperor... No one in this world can remain unmoved or corrupted by the supreme authority and boundless enjoyment! If you want to resist these temptations, not everyone can do it with the patience you have to pay. "
"Just like you, since you took back Changsun Wuji's power, your territory has expanded, but don't you think you are too indulgent?"
"Master Imperial, we are talking about them. What do you keep saying to me?"
Li Zhi was a little embarrassed and didn't know where to look, so he finally picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.
"I said what's wrong with you? I said you're a minor. If you were younger, you would definitely not be able to escape from this beating!"
"Okay, Imperial Master, power does make people excited, so I asked, among these children, who is more suitable."
Li Yunxiao shook his head.
"If you leave, the Empress Dowager will be a widow all year round. Have you ever thought that even a virtuous person will inevitably be arrogant and extravagant."
"She is arrogant, extravagant and powerful, so who can stop her?"
Li Zhi said with a serious face: "You mean, Mei Niang will monopolize power and neglect her own children?"
Li Yunxiao shook his head: "I am not a god, and I cannot know everything."
"I only care about how long the prosperous age can last and when the world can be truly unified."
Li Zhi nodded: "Yes, don't say that you, Taishi Ling, and Yuan Tiangang paid a lot for the world when you were still here."
"The Emperor's Master has exhausted all that human beings can do, and he has his heart set on the common people of the Tang Dynasty."
"But I still want to tell you today that in this world, even if you are as powerful as the First Emperor, you cannot conquer history or escape your destiny."
"Even if Emperor Master has a wish in his heart, he may not be able to do anything. If one day you are unable to take care of it, it is better to retreat to the mountains and forests and find a place of retreat."
Li Zhi's words came from the heart. He didn't know what pain Li Yunxiao had experienced, but he understood the fate of human dynasties.
After Li Yunxiao heard Li Zhi's words, he slowly raised his head and looked at Li Zhi.
There seemed to be a hint of purple and gold flickering in those deep eyes.
"Do you think you really understand me?"
Li Zhi was suddenly shocked by these eyes.
For the first time in decades of being in power, he lowered his head in a real sense.
"Oh my god, he's just a bastard who only recognizes strength and weakness and doesn't recognize right and wrong. True right and wrong are all part of strength and weakness."
"Heaven is fair, but this fairness lies in the absolute law of the jungle! If I am strong and he is weak, then everything I do is right!"
Speaking of this, a hint of melancholy flashed in Li Yunxiao's eyes.
"There are many things... Maybe only God knows. Your things are just a small fight. The fate of history will be there, but it will eventually touch me!"
"I always firmly believe that God is destined to win over man, and man is determined to win over Heaven!"
Li Zhi naturally understood this.
The power of heaven can determine people, and if they act according to the laws of heaven, they will be unstoppable.
And human power can also overcome natural obstacles, transform the environment, and overcome the constraints of God's will.
"What the Emperor said is that I am overly worried. Okay, let's not mention this matter. A banquet has been held at Linde Hall. Why don't you come with me?"
Seeing that Li Yunxiao remained silent, Li Zhi continued: "Give me some face, I haven't seen you for so long, and I came up in person. Look, if I go down by myself, those big mouths..."
"Okay, let's go."
Li Yunxiao put the tortoise into his small pocket and pinned it to his waist, put on the Longquan Sword and stood up.
Li Zhi also walked out with a smile on his face.
....
Linde Hall was a palace built during the Linde period, so it was named Linde.
This place is specially used for holding royal banquets.
A few days ago, Li Hong, Li Xian and others had already arranged everything to take care of their parents.
Also coming were members of the royal family in Chang'an City, ministers, and some heads of wealthy families, all of whom wanted to pay their respects.
There are also envoys from other countries, but they are only a very small number. One of the envoys is from Silla.
Since the fall of Baekje Goryeo, some people have fled to their place to settle and seek protection.
But after seeing the destruction of the two kingdoms, Silla did not dare to save them and turned them away.
Then he took the initiative to send beauties and valuable treasures as tribute, became a vassal of the Tang Dynasty, and learned the Central Plains language extensively. Today, Silla's Mandarin has become the Central Plains language, and the original language has become a thing of the past.
I have to say that what they did was very smart, and the country's leader was very smart, because although people like them were assimilated, they avoided the risk of being destroyed.
Everyone gathered together happily, Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang raised their glasses and smiled.
But when his eyes looked at Li Hong from time to time, the worry in his eyes could not be hidden. Moreover, although Li Hong was smiling at the banquet, he did not drink alcohol, which made many people speculate whether he had something to hide.
Fortunately, Li Xian is a good talker and Li Xian is good at telling jokes, just like they are doing cross talk with Li Dan, making many people laugh.
Princess Taiping was in the middle. Although she didn't talk much, she could still play along and the atmosphere was pretty good.
Li Yunxiao was sitting cross-legged in front of the table, minding his own food. The Longquan Sword was just placed on the table, and no one dared to say anything.
Coming in with a weapon in hand, Li Yunxiao is probably the only one who has ever done so.
While everyone was celebrating, Li Hong drank the tea in the cup in one gulp, stood up with a pale face, and then slowly came to the center and knelt down in front of Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang.
At this moment, the entire hall fell silent.
Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang looked at each other with doubts on their faces.
"Hong'er, do you have something to say?"
Li Hong whispered: "My son has been ordered to supervise the country. I am a third-rank official in private. I abolish the surname Wu Min. I beg my father, the emperor and my empress to punish me!"
Li Zhi sighed and thought it was something, but it turned out to be this.
"Then Yang Jiancheng secretly transferred guards to work with He Lanmin to humiliate our ministers. It is not a pity to die. How can you be punished?"
Wu Meiniang also echoed: "Yes, Wu Minzhi is so bold that he calls for catching thieves. He secretly colludes with civil servants. He has no imperial authority and is lawless. He deserves to die!"
"Okay, get up quickly, what do you mean?"
When Li Hong heard his mother's words, he did not stand up, but continued:
"The child is in poor health and cannot handle political affairs. He has not made any achievements when the country is in crisis. Even if he handles things, he relies on the care of two prime ministers, Li Yifu and Di Renjie, and his younger brother."
"My son, I feel deeply guilty. I have betrayed the trust of my father, the emperor and my queen, and I have also betrayed..."
Speaking of this, Li Hong actually shed tears.
Li Yunxiao was setting up a dish. When he heard this, he couldn't help but paused and said calmly:
"The prince should put morality first and meritorious service second. You are deeply virtuous and ambitious. You have no regrets in your heart, and you are not ashamed of others. This is enough."
Li Zhi nodded: "What the emperor said is true, Hong'er, why don't you get up quickly?"
Li Hong refused: "I have one more thing I want to ask you!"
"Then get up and say it!"
Li Hong shook his head and spoke slowly: "My son is ill and in a depressed mood. One day when I was wandering around, I met two women in the palace. They are different from the maids and slaves in the palace, and they are not concubines."
"The two of them were haggard and lonely. When they saw Er Chen, they kowtowed repeatedly and looked frightened. After I inquired about them, I found out that the two of them were Er Chen's concubines."
"I feel that my father and mother are so busy with government affairs that they have neglected them. Therefore, I am bold and ask you to surrender the two princesses. Don't let them stay in the cold palace anymore."
After finishing their conversation, both Li Zhi and Wu Meiniang were stunned.
Li Zhi couldn't help but patted his head. Over the years, Concubine Xiao Shu and Empress Wang had long been exiled.
But the two daughters Xiao Shufei had with him were ignored by him.
He hadn't seen them in so many years. If Li Hong hadn't mentioned them, he would have almost forgotten that there were still two of them.
Although Concubine Xiao Shu was sentenced to exile, her two biological daughters were left behind. Thinking about it now, she is really ashamed.
