Hu Yufei was slightly surprised and said, "You mean, Cheng Kaiyang's little daughter?"
Hearing the words "Cheng Kaiyang", Li Jiangyao's heart suddenly moved, and he immediately looked at Li Xi, and Li Xi also looked at him at this time and said: "Cheng Kaiyang has four legitimate children, but only Cheng Wen is his legitimate daughter. One, who has been doted on since he was a child. Later, he was assassinated in the northwest, and the Cheng family fell into decline. The situation was not as good as before, and Cheng Wen was not living a good life either. "
Hu Yufei didn't know the key to this, and sighed to himself: "Well, it is really a pity to talk about Cheng Kaiyang, the official of the Zhenguo. He is a man who is very good in poetry and prose, but he was appointed as the Commander of the Long Sword. He missed the army and the country. .”
Li Jiangyao guessed that Fenyang Princess Li Xi should know something about Lian Ji, so he asked, "Does Wei Zixuan have any relationship with the Zhenguo Duke's office?"
"Not only do we not have any friendship, we can even say that we have no contact with each other." Li Xi smiled: "How is it? Isn't it strange?"
Hu Yufei, who has become a mature man, suddenly reacted and asked: "Dadu Protector, do you have any grudge against the Duke of Zhenguo...?"
Li Jiangyao pretended to shake his head casually: "I can't talk about grudges. There is indeed a small misunderstanding."
"That's no wonder," Hu Yufei said, stroking his long beard: "Wei Zixuan suddenly raised the issue of selecting a queen, and specifically recommended a daughter of the Cheng family who had never had any contact with each other, and you happened to have some conflicts with the Zhenguo government. This The political manipulation is probably aimed at the Protectorate."
Li Jiangyao glanced at Li Xi meaningfully and asked, "Miss Cheng, do you have a good chance?"
Li Xi smiled faintly: "It's very big. In terms of relationship, Cheng Wen is the emperor's cousin and a descendant of Cheng Qianli, the founding hero of the country. She has a distinguished status and a clean family background. Although the power of the Zhenguo Palace is not as powerful as before, after all, her qualifications and merits are still there. There, no one can find anything wrong with it.”
She paused and then continued: "In addition, Cheng Wen has read poetry and books since she was a child. She is smart and alert. She took care of the housework for her mother very early and kept Cheng Kaiyang's three concubines in submission. She is quite capable. The most important thing is that she has an outstanding appearance and a very similar temperament..."
Li Jiangyao asked curiously: "Who does it look like?"
"I've only heard about it, but I'm not sure," Li Xi stared at Li Jiangyao with a smile: "Many of the chamberlains who followed His Majesty during the Youzhou period said that Cheng Wen looks very much like his sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law?" Li Jiangyao thought for a long time before reacting: "You... mean Xiahou Ninghan?"
Hu Yufei was also a little confused: "What does this have to do with the Protector's wife?"
Li Xi looked at the confused expressions of the old man and the young man in front of him and said in surprise: "What? Doesn't it mean that brother doesn't know?"
Li Jiangyao blinked: "Is there anything I should know?"
Li Xi covered his mouth and giggled: "It seems that my sister-in-law didn't tell my brother. When the emperor was still the prince, he and his consort were attacked by assassins. Fortunately, my sister-in-law came to rescue him. Later, while he was recuperating at Xianxia Villa, the emperor I have a secret affection for my sister-in-law, and I have been reluctant to let her go."
Hearing this, Hu Yufei couldn't help frowning and glanced at Li Jiangyao quietly. Princess Fenyang's words were quite explicit, and more or less meant to sow discord between Li Jiangyao and his wife, which was really inappropriate.
Li Jiangyao was also a little stunned and embarrassed at this time, and murmured: "She has never mentioned this matter to me."
Hu Yufei coughed and said: "Most of the guardians don't have to worry about such intrusive remarks. Not to mention that no one knows the emperor's true thoughts. Even so, Madam can't say it, right?"
What the old man said makes sense. How could Xiahou Ninghan speak about such a thing? Could it be that you tell your husband that the emperor also likes me very much, and you are getting a big advantage by marrying me?
Hearing this, Li Jiangyao said calmly: "Mr. Hu is right. Ning Hanhui's appearance naturally has many admiring people. Being able to get such a good wife is a blessing I cultivated in my previous life."
Hearing what he said, a trace of jealousy flashed in Li Xi's eyes, and then he smiled: "Brother, you are indeed magnanimous. However, there are many people who know about this matter, so we have to be on guard. Once Cheng Wen is chosen by the emperor, he will really choose As a queen, I’m afraid there will be a lot of trouble.”
Hu Yufei thought for a moment, but finally couldn't help but ask: "Daduhu, what are you and the Cheng family..."
Li Jiangyao looked at Li Xi and felt that he shouldn't deliberately hide it from Mr. Hu, so he sighed helplessly and said: "Back then, the assassin who killed Cheng Kaiyang was hunted down by the Long Sword Army, and I rescued him. . Now, she is in the Zhenjiang Army and has become my adopted sister."
"Ah?!" Hu Yufei was stunned and couldn't believe his ears: "This, can this be regarded as a small misunderstanding? Protector, this is the sworn hatred of killing his father!"
Li Xi pursed her lips and smiled: "That's why I just said that if Cheng Wen becomes the queen, there will be a lot of trouble."
Hu Yufei turned around and asked: "Princess, who else knows about this? I mean, it's about the assassin."
Li Xi first looked at Li Jiangyao, and then replied: "Master Hu, not many people know about the assassin. However, I am afraid that all the opponents of the Protectorate are aware of it."
"Oh, Protector, why are you so confused!" Hu Yufei sighed: "If you stay with the murderer who assassinated the nobles of the imperial court, isn't this giving someone a handle?"
Li Jiangyao smiled helplessly: "Mr. Hu, I can't explain the whole story clearly in one or two sentences. In short, I must protect her. The mastermind behind the assassination of Cheng Kaiyang was Lao Jianhua, and the assassin was just killed by him use."
Li Xi said: "Brother, whether he is being used or not, I suspect that Wei Zixuan intends to make a fuss about this matter. The target is not the assassin, but you."
Li Jiangyao nodded slightly: "Princess, you think Wei Zixuan wants to elevate Cheng Wen to the throne of the queen, and then the queen will take action against me?"
"That's probably it." Li Xi said in a deep voice: "Brother, don't underestimate the power of the queen. To a certain extent, the queen may be more powerful than the emperor in some aspects."
Hu Yufei, who has lived in the court for a long time and has extremely rich political experience, agreed after hearing this: "What the princess said makes sense. Although the queen cannot directly intervene in politics, because of her respected status, she can often represent the interests of many political forces. Once an intricate alliance is formed, sometimes even It can in turn influence the emperor."
Li Jiangyao shrugged: "Even if we understand this truth, what can we do? Is it possible that we still want to prevent Cheng Wen from becoming the queen?"
"If necessary..." Li Xi said coldly: "It's not a bad idea to stop it."
Hu Yufei asked curiously: "Could it be that the princess also recommended a candidate?"
Li Xi smiled: "Master Hu, have you forgotten? Concubine Hui is my sister-in-law, can I not support her?"
Li Jiangyao suddenly realized what he said. He suddenly remembered that Concubine Hui Murong Ling was Murong Xue's cousin and one of the popular candidates to be crowned queen this time.
If Murong Ling becomes the queen, then her son will be the future prince of the Holy Tang Dynasty. Whether it is Murong Xue or Li Xi, their influence in the court will be greatly enhanced.
Especially for Princess Fenyang, she is both the crown prince's aunt and the crown prince's aunt, so she is simply invincible.
The children born to Li Xi and Murong Xue in the future are even more blessed. As the emperor's nephew, he was also the queen's nephew, and he was also a cousin to the next generation of Shengtang monarchs. When he grew up, he would become a marquis, prime minister, and a highly respected minister, so there was no doubt about it.
Li Xi's thoughts were absolutely clear.
There is no doubt that Wei Zixuan wants to deal with Li Jiangyao. Li Xi took advantage of this and assisted Li Jiangyao in counterattacking. If he can really defeat Cheng Wen and help Murong Ling ascend to the throne, he will not only please the military governor, but also help the simple-minded sister-in-law. At the same time, he can also satisfy his husband Murong Xue. He will achieve three goals with one stone, and finally he will Be the biggest winner.
Absolute, absolutely amazing.
Li Jiangyao thought so in his heart, raised his head and smiled at Li Xi: "What are you going to do, princess?"
Li Xi returned the smile: "I have to ask my brother to come up with an idea. Fenyang only needs you to follow your lead."
Li Jiangyao knew that she already had an idea, but she deliberately restrained herself in front of him, so he smiled and said: "I only know how to lead troops to fight, and the rest are just laymen. I don't even know the process of selecting a queen, how can I make an idea?" ?”
Li Xi responded: "The ritual set by the Ministry of Rites is not complicated. The first step is to be recommended by the royal family and officials from the second rank and above. Then it will be discussed by the court, based on family background, ancestors' achievements, knowledge and cultivation, folk customs and other aspects. , eliminate those who do not meet the qualifications of Mother Yi Tianxia, and then select the best from the best, leaving three to five people, and formally report them to the emperor. Finally, the emperor will personally look at them and determine who will be the queen. "
Li Jiangyao was a little curious: "Was the young lady from the Liu family chosen in this way?"
"How can it be the same?" Li Xi smiled and shook his head: "At that time, the imperial court was still hiding from the war in Yizhou. Apart from the generals, there were no officials around the emperor who understood the royal rituals, so the decision was very hasty."
Hu Yufei nodded slightly: "That's true. The establishment of a queen is usually divided into two forms. One is when the emperor is still the crown prince, the first emperor and the first queen choose the princess for the East Palace. After he ascends the throne, the princess will It is natural to become a queen. The other way is like now, where the emperor ascends the throne first and then gets married. If there is no edict from the late emperor that clearly specifies the candidate for the queen, then the Ministry of Rites will preside over the selection ceremony."
Li Jiangyao was stunned when he heard this, and then said: "According to the process that the princess just mentioned, it requires recommendation and public discussion. In the end, it is the emperor who decides. How can we help Concubine Hui win?"
Li Xi smiled: "In the selection process, every important minister is qualified to speak. Even if you think about it, Wei Zixuan can't stop Wei Zixuan from promoting Cheng Wen. And we can't influence the final selection of the emperor. Therefore, it's really hard work and fighting to win or lose. The place is public discussion in court."
"To put it bluntly, we want to kill all the powerful enemies, including Cheng Wen, through public discussion!"
