The atmosphere was already very lively even before the guests and hosts started chatting.
The house was filled with smoke and dust, and the host and guest choked each other. After coughing for a long time, the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, and they finally regained their composure.
Gu En, whose face was red from coughing, pointed at Li Qinzai's clothes and hesitated to speak.
Li Qinzai pretended not to see it and had no intention of changing his clothes.
We are not very familiar with each other, and he doesn't know the purpose of Gu En's visit. If the other party comes to ask for guilt, why should I put on new clothes and accept his accusation? Cheap or not?
"Haha, Brother Gu, please forgive me. I'm in a very good mood today. I rolled in the mud on a whim to express my feelings, so it's rude." Li Qinzai looked up to the sky and laughed.
Gu En's face was ugly, and he tried his best to twitch the corner of his mouth, saying that Mr. Li, you are really funny. Do you, the Li family, always roll in the mud to vent your emotions when you are in a good mood?
It doesn't matter, it's a small thing, don't care about it.
The purpose of Gu En's visit today was to ask Li Qinzai about his attitude towards the Shangguan family. This was the most important business.
The assassin outside the city returned in vain and reported to Gu En that the Li family's troops intercepted him halfway and forced the assassin back.
Li Qinzai's sudden exit to protect Shangguan and his son was certainly not good news for the eight prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River. The principals of the prominent families in Chang'an immediately gathered together and discussed and made a decision for a long time, but still could not get any results.
The only thing that can be found out is that Shangguan Tingzhi's son Shangguan Kun'er is a disciple of Li Qinzai. Li Qinzai took action to protect Shangguan and his son, which is probably related to Shangguan Kun'er.
But what was incredible to the heads of the prominent families was that even the emperor chose to punish the Shangguan family as a sign of compromise with the prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River, knowing that this matter was so dangerous.
Even the emperor couldn't afford to offend someone. How dare Li Qinzai dare to wade into this muddy water?
Although the teacher-student relationship is as close as father and son, in the face of the powerful power of Jiangnan's prominent families, this teacher-student relationship is too fragile. Faced with life and death threats, close relatives can be abandoned. For the sake of a disciple, Li Qinzai dared to go against the eight prominent families in Jiangnan. ?
So Gu En personally came to visit today in order to test Li Qinzai's attitude.
If Li Qinzai could realize the power of the major families in the south of the Yangtze River, choose to return from his lost ways, and no longer protect Shangguan and his son, then the matter would be over. After all, there has not been any actual conflict between the two parties.
If Li Qinzai is determined to protect Shangguan and his son, then they will become enemies.
Today's world is a situation in which the emperor and the elites jointly rule the world.
What about the British Duke and the Liaodong County Duke? Behind Gu En are all the famous families in Jiangnan and Huainan. Without them, the Tang Dynasty will lose its control over Jiangnan and Huainan.
Yes, the eight prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River are so awesome. This is why Li Zhi had to choose to punish Shangguan and his son in order to appease the prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River, because they really couldn't afford to offend them.
After chatting for a while, Gu En gradually got to the point.
"Yesterday, Shangguan Tingzhi Shang was impeached by a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River, and he was framed for several crimes, hoping to use this as a way to get promoted. Fortunately, the emperor saw through the ambitions of Shangguan's thieves in the Ming Dynasty, and exiled Shangguan and his son thousands of miles away. Has Duke Li ever heard of this? Say?" Gu En asked with a smile.
Li Qinzai also smiled and said: "I heard that the eight famous families in Jiangnan are so powerful!"
Gu En's expression froze, and for a moment he couldn't tell whether Li Qinzai's words were mocking or sincere praise.
That's all, just take it as a good word.
After pondering for a moment, Gu En continued: "Today Shangguan and his son left Beijing for exile. I heard that the Li family's troops escorted them all the way. I wonder if this is the case?"
Li Qinzai said calmly: "Yes, I sent them. The Li family will send Shangguan and his son all the way to Qiongzhou. After arriving in Qiongzhou, they will stay there until they receive the emperor's pardon and return to the capital."
Gu En's eyes suddenly became sinister, and he said in a deep voice: "As far as I know, Duke Li has a close relationship with the Shangguan family. Why must he protect the father and son?"
The smile on Li Qinzai's face gradually disappeared, and his brows furrowed: "Brother Gu, are you asking for guilt?"
Gu En said hurriedly: "I don't dare. It's just that Shangguan's thieves maliciously framed our Jiangnan noble family and ruined the reputation of our eight major families. This hatred has become irreconcilable. If we don't get rid of this father and son, it will be difficult to quell the overwhelming anger of our eight major families."
Li Qinzai said calmly: "You are talking about the eight prominent families in your words. In fact, you just want to use the power of your famous families to suppress me, right?"
Gu Enran smiled and said: "Jun Li is overly worried. I have no intention of doing so. The reason why I am here today is not for myself, but because I, the eight prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River, recommended me here. I want to ask for a promise from Duke Li."
"What promise?"
Gu En was silent for a while, and then said slowly: "Please promise Duke Li not to get involved in the grudges between the Jiangnan noble family and Shangguan and his son, and withdraw the troops escorting Shangguan and his son."
"If Duke Li agrees, our eight noble families are willing to offer generous gifts to express our gratitude. We will also remember Duke Li's kindness. In the future, in the court or other places, our eight noble families are willing to help each other with Duke Li."
Li Qinzai smiled: "As expected of a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River. They are really domineering. They scared me so much that I wanted to bow down and worship..."
Then Li Qinzai said with a half-smile but not a smile: "I am a teacher and student with Shangguan's dog, so we are somewhat related to each other. But I have no contact with any of your eight prominent families. Why should I listen to you and stand aside obediently?" Did you kill Shangguan and his son?"
Gu En held back his anger and said, "This is the common request of the eight prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River!"
Li Qinzai nodded: "I heard it. They say it's a request, but in fact they are using their power to suppress me. Jiangnan's famous families are so powerful in the local area. Even the emperor must give you some face. The emperor gives you face, and I, a county prince, naturally have to give you even more face. , otherwise you don’t know how to praise.”
Gu En heard the sarcasm in Li Qinzai's words. At this moment, he gradually realized that Li Qinzai was afraid that he would not compromise today, so his face became more and more gloomy.
Li Qinzai looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Before Brother Gu came to visit, did you ask about my personality?"
Gu En was stunned, stroking his beard and thinking.
Li Qinzai then smiled and said: "I am actually quite easy to talk to. If you tell me well, with a more polite tone and a more sincere attitude, and don't use your power to pressure me, maybe I will agree as soon as I close my eyes and stamp my feet. Are you..."
Then Li Qinzai sighed and said: "And when you open your mouth, you tell me what the eight prominent families do, and what I must do. It makes me feel more and more angry..."
Then Li Qinzai's face darkened, and he suddenly said angrily: "Am I a slave raised by your family? I must do whatever you say? The noble family is so powerful, why on earth did you rebel and invade Chang'an!"
Gu En was startled, stood up and was about to speak, but was stopped by Li Qinzai with a wave of his hand.
"I will not give you the face of the eight prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River today! I guarantee the lives of Shangguan and his son. If anyone dares to raise a hand to them on the road, I will chop off his claws!"
Gu En's face was livid, his eyelids were twitching, his nostrils were widened and he was breathing heavily. After a long time, Gu En suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed.
"Okay, Lord Li is so courageous and courageous. I'll give you a lesson."
"A gentleman breaks off a friendship without saying anything bad. Since we can't agree, I'll take my leave."
After saying that, Gu En stood up, bowed to Li Qinzai without losing his manners, then turned around and left gracefully, fluttering his sleeves.
(End of chapter)
