There is a strange phenomenon in the Tang Dynasty. Most of the courtiers are relatively well-behaved, but people from aristocratic families, regardless of whether they have official positions or not, are generally a bit domineering.
The hundreds of years of heritage and power of the clan are probably the confidence that supports their domineering power.
Even the emperor had to be afraid of them. Strictly speaking, at the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor, scholar-bureaucrats and aristocratic families ruled the world together.
Without the support of aristocratic families, it would be extremely difficult for any of the imperial edicts and policies to be implemented locally.
The aristocratic families also needed to recommend their children to serve as officials in the court to gain the power to influence policies. In this way, a delicate balance of power was formed between the emperor and the aristocratic families.
Although most of the aristocratic families are domineering, they still have basic sense, especially in front of the East Palace tonight. Anyone with a little bit of sanity should know that this is the most sensitive moment for the Tian family. If any outsider's behavior is slightly wrong, All will be severely punished by the Heavenly Family.
The prince is about to die, and you rush into the East Palace with a arrogant look. What are your thoughts?
Li Qinzai felt a little strange in his heart. Logically speaking, a wealthy family would not do such a mindless thing. So, where did this guy come from to be so cruel?
The crowd of courtiers and noble families outside the East Palace stopped twenty feet away.
Most of these people know Li Qinzai, and those who don't know him have heard of Li Qinzai's reputation.
Having just returned from the Goguryeo battlefield, Li Qinzai's body was still vaguely filled with smoke and murderous intent from the battlefield. No one dared to challenge Li Qinzai's words.
He said he would kill anyone within ten feet, so he would definitely do it.
Only this person from the Pei family in Hedong did not believe in evil. At this time, he walked out of the crowd alone, about fifteen feet away from the gate of the East Palace.
Li Qinzai stared at his feet with cold eyes and a sneer on his lips.
No matter who he kills tonight, he has a legitimate reason, and Li Zhi will never object.
In such a sensitive time, there are always people who dare to seek death, why not help him?
Behind Li Qinzai, hundreds of Qianniu Guard soldiers were silently stringing their arrows. The bowstrings made a slight squeaking sound, and the cold arrows pointed straight ahead.
The man from Pei's family in Hedong suddenly stopped. Facing the cold arrows, he became a little timid.
"Li Qinzai, I am a relative of the crown prince. No one dares to stop me from entering and leaving the East Palace on weekdays. What qualifications do you have to stop me?"
Li Qinzai frowned, the prince's relative?
Then I suddenly remembered that Li Hong’s crown prince and concubine seemed to be surnamed Pei. So, the Hedong Pei family was the crown prince’s natal family?
No wonder he is so domineering. Going in and out of the East Palace is like entering a deserted place.
However, it is possible on weekdays, but not tonight.
Why did Li Zhi give him the military power of Qianniu Guard and Yulin Guard? It is to prevent those people who are still seeking death during sensitive periods.
For example, the person in front of me has a line of words carved on his forehead, "I want to die, kill me quickly."
"Pei from Hedong? Tell me your name." Li Qinzai stared at him and said.
"The east dependent of the Pei family in Hedong, Pei Juxian, the uncle of the Crown Princess."
Li Qinzai suddenly realized that he was indeed a relative of the prince, and he had a good background.
The father of the Crown Princess Pei is named Pei Judao, and his official position is General Zuojin Wuwei. This Pei Juxian is obviously Pei Judao's younger brother.
"You usually come in and out of the East Palace with such arrogance and no rules?" Li Qinzai asked coldly.
Pei Juxian was stunned for a moment, and then said angrily: "Li Qinzai, although you have made great contributions to the country, you are also a foreign minister. What qualifications do you have to tell me what to do?"
Li Qinzai said leisurely: "I couldn't control it before, but tonight I am ordered to take charge of Qianniu Guard and Yulin Guard. Anyone who dares to approach the East Palace will be killed without mercy. Pei Juxian, you can try and see if I dare to kill you." .”
Pei Juxian was furious: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are very affectionate as husband and wife, and regard me, Pei, as a close relative. The East Palace has always been unprotected against me, allowing my Pei clan members to come and go. Who do you think you are, daring to overstep your authority and falsify the emperor's decree?"
Li Qinzai narrowed his eyes and said: "The prince is critically ill and the palace has been banned. What is your intention of breaking into the East Palace at this time?"
Pei Juxian said angrily: "The prince is critically ill. As a relative, shouldn't he visit?"
"Your Majesty has decreed that no one is allowed to enter the East Palace without permission," Li Qinzai explained with a smile: "'Anyone' means, of course, including the people of the Pei clan in Hedong. Retreat twenty feet away, otherwise don't blame me for being rude."
Pei Juxian's heart trembled. He had already heard of Li Qinzai's name. Not only did he know that Li Qinzai was the grandson of the British Duke, he also knew about this man's various deeds.
Originally, he also knew that tonight was a sensitive period. The emperor and the queen were in the East Palace at this time, so it was best not to do anything irrational.
But Li Qinzai's attitude and tone were so bad that the Pei family in Hedong, who was also a prominent family in the world, couldn't bear this tone.
To put it more grandly, the Pei family cannot lose its momentum and be bullied. In the heart, it is Pei Juxian's self-esteem that has been insulted. How can he swallow his anger in front of many representatives of the family? In the future, in Chang'an City, will he still hold his head high and be a good person?
"I am the uncle of the Crown Princess. Even if I am the emperor, I must respect you. Li Qinzai, if you dare to kill me tonight, the Pei family in Hedong will never let you go."
After Pei Juxian finished speaking, he endured his timidity and took two steps forward.
Li Qinzai stared at his feet, the smile on his lips getting deeper and deeper: "Okay, he is a man, Pei Juxian, keep walking forward, don't be afraid, there are still two feet left, I will help you to become an immortal."
Pei Juxian was startled and stopped again. He couldn't help but turn his head and look around. Behind him, all the members of the aristocratic family were standing twenty feet away, daring not to move. Everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
Pei Juxian's scalp felt numb. He wanted to go back, but he couldn't save his dignity. He wanted to move forward, but he was really scared.
At this moment, in a dilemma, Pei Juxian suddenly regretted his impulse tonight.
Can't you just obey the rules like other aristocratic families? Why do you need to rely on your identity as a relative of the prince to confront Li Qinzai?
If he retreats now, he will only be ridiculed by the various clans. Hedong Pei will really lose face, and he will be even more embarrassed to see others.
Thinking of the emperor's courtesy to Pei and himself in the past, Pei Juxian kept comforting himself. It didn't matter. Li Qinzai was just scaring himself. The emperor treated Pei and himself with such courtesy. How could he, a foreign minister, dare to kill him? Aren't he afraid of breaking the law?
So Pei Juxian plucked up the courage and walked a few steps forward. As he walked, he stared at Li Qinzai and sneered: "Are you bullying me into not daring to leave? I will walk for you. If you dare to kill..."
Before he finished speaking, his feet had already passed the last two feet and entered the ten feet in front of the palace gate.
So Pei Juxian heard the last words of his life.
"Shoot an arrow to kill!" Li Qinzai suddenly shouted.
Whoosh!
The Qianniu Guards fired a hail of arrows, and Pei Juxian was hit by countless arrows in his chest and thighs.
Pei Juxian lowered his head and glanced at the arrows stuck all over his body. Pei Juxian's eyes were full of disbelief. He did not expect that Li Qinzai actually dared to order him to be shot.
The light in his eyes became increasingly dim, and the last thing Pei Juxian saw before the light disappeared completely was Li Qinzai's cold-as-iron eyes and a slightly mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.
In the end, Pei Juxian collapsed to the ground and died.
The crowd in the distance suddenly became commotion, and everyone looked at the armored Li Qinzai in horror. Like Pei Juxian, their expressions were full of disbelief.
Pei from Hedong, the uncle of the Crown Princess, killed him on the spot? Doesn't this kid consider the consequences?
No matter what people thought in their hearts, their actions truly showed their inner awe. After Pei Juxian died twenty feet away from the palace gate, the crowd retreated like a tide, and even retreated for more than ten feet before stopping.
At this moment, a burst of rapid bells suddenly sounded in the East Palace, hitting people's hearts again and again.
Immediately afterwards, countless people howled in the East Palace, and the lanterns above the palace door were replaced with white ones.
Li Qinzai was startled, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. He turned around and faced the direction of the bedroom. Li Qinzai silently bowed his head and bowed for a long time.
Prince Li Hong passed away and passed away forever.
The crowd thirty feet away also noticed something unusual. They saw that a white lantern was replaced above the palace gate, and they knew that the prince had passed away and the East Palace was in mourning.
After a brief silence, the crowd suddenly burst into tears, and then the courtiers knelt down facing the East Palace and cried profusely.
Li Qinzai felt compassion and silently looked up at the night sky.
This night was really too long.
