The New Year does not seem to have much impact on the palace.
The majestic and solemn Tai Chi Palace is still shrouded in strict rules.
In Chengxiang Hall, there was a huge copper stove in front of Li Zhi, with charcoal fire burning brightly in the stove.
Li Zhi still felt a little chilly. After middle age, his health had not been very good. In addition to wind disease, he also had many minor ailments. Especially in winter, he was particularly afraid of the cold.
Squinting at the outside of the palace, countless eunuchs were quietly tying bright red silk on the palace platforms of various palaces to dress up the New Year's colors.
"It's been another year..." Li Zhi muttered to himself absentmindedly.
The older we get, the less enthusiastic we are about the New Year.
I recall that when I was young, my father personally took him and his sister Xiaosizi with me. Every New Year, my father would put aside the piles of memorials and take them to practice horse riding and archery outside the empty palace. , playing the pot-throwing game. .
At that time, Tai Chi Palace was still very cold, but he and his sister were extremely happy. In his heart, Tai Chi Palace was a home, a big house with family affection and warmth inside.
Looking back, it seems like a memory from a lifetime ago.
The father has passed away, and so has the little Si son. And he, the timid prince who was always crying and fussing, became the emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
The joy of childhood could no longer be found. More than ten years of imperial career had gradually worn away the happiness and affection in his heart.
Today's Tai Chi Palace is just a palace, a place where he sleeps and works.
The personal chamberlain Wang Changfu bowed his head and hurriedly walked into the hall.
"Your Majesty, Song Sen, the deputy director of Baiqi Division, has something to report." Wang Changfu said softly.
Li Zhi came back to his senses and said, "Say."
"Li Qinzai, the son of Weinan County, made a big fuss at the residence of Liu Yuanzhen, the young master's secretary, an hour ago. He led more than ten men to smash Liu's residence to pieces and broke one of Liu Yuanzhen's legs..."
Li Zhi was startled and pondered for a long time, then a smile gradually appeared in his eyes: "This Jingchu has a bad temper..."
Wang Changfu added: "Also, the fourth prince, His Highness King Xi, Xue Na, the eldest male son of Hedong County, and Gao Qi, the grandson of Shen Guogong, gathered dozens of people and destroyed the house of the supervisory censor Ma Zhong. Ma Zhong was killed by Gao Qi. I was slapped more than ten times in the street, and my face was so swollen that I couldn’t see anyone.”
Li Zhi was stunned again: "Is Su Jie also involved?"
"His Royal Highness King Xun did not show up. He just ordered the guards to block the street, saying that the prince's honor guard was passing by and no other people were allowed to approach. This gave Xue Ne and Gao Qi enough time to cause trouble."
Li Zhi's eyes flashed: "Jingchu smashed Liu Yuanzhen's mansion, and Sujie and the others made a fuss at Ma Zhong's mansion. Was it agreed upon?"
"According to the report from Baiqisi, the two parties did not reach a consensus. His Royal Highness Prince Xun and Xue Gao spontaneously vented their anger on Mr. Li. It happened that the two things happened at the same time."
Li Zhi smiled mysteriously and murmured: "I didn't expect that Jingchu would handle the matter in this way. It is in line with his playboy character, haha."
Wang Changfu kept his bowed posture and did not dare to raise his head.
After a long time, Li Zhi asked again: "Liu Yuanzhen's mansion was smashed and his legs were broken. Is there anything done in Li Yi's mansion?"
"Until the time when Baiqisi entered the palace to report, Li Yifu still had no response."
Li Zhi sneered: "Old fox, you can keep your composure."
While he was meditating, a eunuch reported outside the palace and Queen Wu arrived.
A gust of fragrant wind blew across her face, and Queen Wu knelt down in front of Li Zhi to perform a blessing ceremony. After seeing the ceremony, Queen Wu stepped forward gracefully and said softly: "Your Majesty will personally preside over the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow. The Ministry of Rites has prepared the regulations. Your Majesty can Want to read it?"
Li Zhi smiled and said: "Queen, just help me take a look. The regulations for the ceremony are the same every year. There is nothing to see."
Empress Wu also smiled and said: "Then I have overstepped my bounds. I can just help Your Majesty to take a look."
As she spoke, Empress Wu brought a bowl of soup from the tray of the palace maid behind her, and said softly: "Your Majesty has been working hard for many days, and I ordered the imperial chef to carefully prepare the lotus heart soup. Although the lotus heart is bitter, it fills the heart. Your Majesty, please drink some."
Li Zhi took the soup bowl, took a shallow sip, and suddenly smiled: "Before the queen came, I heard an interesting thing..."
Empress Wu smiled softly and said, "I wonder what makes Your Majesty so happy?"
"I knighted Li Jingchu the son of Weinan County a few days ago, but someone in the court was jumping up and down, admonishing me not to knight him easily. Haha, I haven't said anything yet, but Li Jingchu can't sit still."
"Today, I led a group of subordinates and smashed up the residence of Liu Yuanzhen, the young master of the house, and broke Liu Yuanzhen's legs. This dandy's temper is really hot. I thought that the bastard of the Li family had been reborn, but I didn't expect it. change."
Empress Wu was stunned, and the smile on her face suddenly became forced. She still smiled stiffly and said: "Li Jingchu... really has a bad temper. I wonder how Liu Yuanzhen provoked him?"
Li Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly: "The ministers in the court form cliques for personal gain. Some people's hands are stretched too far. Do I have to interfere with them whether I can ennoble or not? Do you dare to unite with more than a dozen censors? Admonition, just a young master's secretary, do you think it can change the world?"
Although the tone was soft, it sounded like thunder in Empress Wu's ears. A layer of sweat broke out on her forehead unconsciously, but she still ordered herself to smile.
"Some courtiers are too shameless. Your Majesty should punish them." Empress Wu's expression at this moment shared the same hatred as Li Zhi.
Li Zhi deliberately did not look at her face and said calmly: "With this matter, I really need to take action. The person behind Liu Yuanzhen, haha, it's better to be more sensible and don't force me to take action."
Empress Wu stood with her hands hanging down, folded in her wide sleeves but trembling slightly.
She knew very well that Li Zhi's words were definitely not talking to himself.
After a long time, Li Zhi turned to look at Empress Wu and suddenly smiled: "It's New Year's Day soon. It's very cold. The empress should wear more clothes to avoid getting sick from the cold."
"You should also take care of the princes and ask the chamberlain to make some new clothes for them. Even though they are in a deep palace, the family should live in harmony and have a peaceful New Year."
Empress Wu smiled sweetly, glanced at him, and said with all kinds of charm: "Do you still need your Majesty's orders? I have already made preparations, and the new clothes have been put on the princes."
Li Zhi took her hand, kept stroking it, and said emotionally: "The Queen is virtuous, I have no worries, it is my blessing to be associated with the Queen in this life."
"I have the same thoughts as your Majesty. Your Majesty has said everything I wanted to say." Empress Wu hugged his arm softly.
The love between husband and wife is as old as ever, the charming soft words and the deep affection are as old as before.
But Wang Changfu, who was standing aside in the palace, felt chills running down his back for some reason.
…………
An hour later, Li Yifu, the Marquis of Guangping County and the Minister of Civil Affairs, knelt in the hall unconsciously, trembling uncontrollably.
There were only Empress Wu and Li Yifu in the palace. In order to avoid suspicion, Empress Wu summoned them behind the curtain.
"Marquis Li County, I treat you well, but you are getting more and more arrogant!" Behind the bead curtain, Queen Wu's voice was extremely cold.
Li Yifu prostrated himself on the ground and said with a trembling voice: "I know my crime!"
Empress Wu was unmoved and said sternly: "Your Majesty, you are the only one who can talk nonsense about your Majesty's title? Do you really think you are a person?"
"Queen, forgive me. I never expected that Your Majesty would react so greatly to this..."
"There are so many things that you didn't expect. I have repeatedly said that you should do your job well and don't get involved in things that have nothing to do with you. Today you acted recklessly and almost implicated me in it!"
"Queen, I originally just wanted to test Your Majesty's bottom line. After all, in the past year, all the court memorials and edicts have been reviewed and approved by the Queen. I am wondering whether to add more heat to give the Queen more power..."
Behind the bead curtain, Empress Wu was livid with anger, and said angrily: "Do I need your advice on how to do things in this palace? Why did Your Majesty concoct the Changsun Wuji rebellion case back then? Yin Jian is here, are you still making the same mistake?"
Across the bead curtain, Empress Wu stared at the frightened old face of Li Yifu and said word by word: "The imperial power is the inverse of the Tian family. Not only can it not interfere, but there is no thought of testing. This time, do you dare to use Li Qin to seal the throne?" If you make a fuss about Jue's affairs, you must suffer the consequences!"
Li Yifu said in panic: "Yes, I will take the blame."
Empress Wu half-closed her eyes tiredly and said calmly: "Your son-in-law Liu Yuanzhen had his leg broken by Li Qinzai. He deserves it. How do you plan to deal with it?"
After all, Li Yifu was an old man who had been in the officialdom for many years. Hearing this, he said without hesitation: "The veteran went to the British government in person to apologize."
Empress Wu said coldly: "From now on, I will handle your errands according to my duties. Don't be too smart. I don't want the person I rely on to be a fool."
"Old minister understands."
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