The mountain spring and stream in Shangshan Pond are gurgling.
Nearby, the sea of green bamboos moves with the wind, while in the distance, the mountains of Zhongnan Mountain are undulating and intersected by mist.
"You have suffered too much in these years." Li Cong sighed and patted Xue Bai on the back, "I heard that the third brother almost buried you alive?"
Previously, when Xue Bai was falsely accused of constructing the East Palace, he explained the matter to Chen Xuanli and spread the news, so Li Cong also heard about it.
This sentence is getting to the point.
"Yes, I'm afraid I have a grudge against Dong Gong. Can uncle resolve it for me?"
Li Cong smiled bitterly and shook his head, pointed at his face, and said: "I look like this, living in seclusion in the ten princes' houses, how can I interfere with the crown prince?"
Xue Bai pondered: "What if the case of the three common people is vindicated?"
"Do you want to redress the three common people's case?" Li Cong asked tentatively.
"yes."
Xue Bai was straightforward and expressed his attitude clearly.
"I have a grudge against Li Heng. I think he is not a human king, and the crown prince should be the kind and eldest son."
Li Cong's expression changed, and he was surprised by this straightforward sentence.
But also highly appreciated.
If you want to achieve great things, how can you still cherish your own life? This is exactly how we should be so determined, straightforward and powerful.
And if the case of the three common people is vindicated, then his children will no longer be an obstacle to him becoming the crown prince. On the contrary, his four sons will become the greatest help.
"It's difficult, extremely difficult." Li Cong took a few steps and said slowly: "It is impossible for a saint to vindicate this case."
Xue Bai asked: "Why?"
He was not in a hurry and waited to see how much Li Cong knew about the Cao Zhao, but Li Cong gave another explanation.
"Do you know Queen Wang?"
"Know a thing or two."
Xue Bai had heard something about Li Longji's first wife, Queen Wang.
Queen Wang's name is Wang Ling. She is the daughter of the Wang family in Taiyuan. She married Li Longji, the king of Linzi, very early. She shared the joys and sorrows with him during the most difficult period of the Wu and Zhou Dynasties, and gave considerable support behind the scenes.
She did not give birth to a son, and her lust and love declined. After Li Longji ascended the throne, he fell in love with Concubine Wu Hui. After Concubine Wu Hui gave birth to a son and became favored, she concocted the "Fu Bing Case", convicted the queen and deposed her as a commoner, and imprisoned her in the cold palace until her death.
Li Cong was favored by Queen Wang when he was young. When he mentioned it now, his tone was somewhat respectful.
Some words were not stated clearly, but the implication was that the deposed prince Li Ying was once raised in the name of Queen Wang, and he could be called his legitimate son.
This was the premise. Having said this, Li Cong actually looked around a little uneasily, and after confirming that he was in the empty mountain pavilion, he spoke.
"For Duke Zhang Qujiang to be the prime minister, he is too arrogant."
"What does this mean?"
"Since the saint ascended the throne, he has been determined to make progress, appointed the four wise prime ministers of Kaiyuan, and governed the Tang Dynasty. However, in the years after Zhang Gong became prime minister, Zhang Gong was a little too conceited and aloof, and often disobeyed the saint."
Afterwards, Li Cong gave several examples of Zhang Jiuling's stubbornness.
In the 23rd year of Kaiyuan, Zhang Shougui, the governor of Youzhou, defeated the Khitan. The saint wanted to appoint Zhang Shougui as prime minister, but Zhang Jiuling insisted on blocking it; in the 24th year of Kaiyuan, An Lushan rushed into an ambush and lost his troops. Zhang Jiuling tried his best to kill him, but the saint refused; In the twenty-fifth year, the saint couldn't stay in Luoyang and decided to return to Chang'an. Zhang Jiuling was worried that the crops would be trampled on during the busy farming season, so he tried hard to stop him...
"This was the last time the saint went to Luoyang. After more than ten years, the saint never left Chang'an again."
There was something else in Li Cong's words. Xue Bai understood and nodded.
For the saint, this is no longer a matter of deposing Zhang Jiuling alone.
If it were Yao Chong, Song Jing, and Zhang, would it be okay? The four sages and prime ministers of Kaiyuan all had the same virtues, pointing fingers and meddling in other people's affairs.
This group of ministers all have problems.
When the Tang Dynasty reached its peak and the saints reached their old age, they no longer needed this kind of restraint.
"Just think about what happened back then. The saint wanted to make Concubine Wu Hui his queen. As the adopted son of the queen, the prince naturally opposed it. Duke Zhang also strongly opposed it out of fear of Wu Zhou."
At this point, Li Cong did not continue, but Xue Bai already understood.
This paragraph talks about the cause of the three common people case... It should be said that Li Cong, the eldest son of the emperor, has made a guess about the cause of the three common people case after many years of observation.
A threatening prince and a group of civil servants who hindered the imperial power colluded with each other. From Li Longji’s point of view, what should we think?
"That year when the saint was in Luoyang, something happened."
Li Cong took a deep look at Xue Bai and waved him forward.
"The Thirteenth Prince Ying, Li Xuan, once reported to the sage secretly, and the prince asked him for two thousand pieces of armor and weapons. The sage was furious and asked Duke Zhang for advice. Zhang Gong replied, 'A son who betrays his father's soldiers will be punished by being whipped. Kuang Yuan is a good country. Ben, how can you move?'"
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Prince Liu Ju's rebellion failed, and Tian Qianqiu calmed down the incident. This is what he said. The son was naughty and ignorant. He played with his father's soldiers and horses and was given a beating.
"Then what?" Xue Bai asked.
Li Cong shook his head and said, "I don't know."
"How did uncle know about this?"
"The prince-in-law Zhang Bian once told me in private."
Xue Bai vaguely realized that this was the key to the three common people's case. There was obviously too much suspicion in Concubine Wu Hui's tricking Li Ying into going to the palace to get the thief. How could an emperor like Li Longji be easily deceived?
"The question is... where did King Ying Li Xuan get the two thousand pieces of armor?"
"He definitely didn't, not even me." Li Cong said firmly, "But the Thirteenth Prince was in a similar situation to the Prince at that time. Both their biological mothers were neglected, and they had a close relationship. Therefore, the saint is willing to believe Thirteenth Lang's words."
"This matter is too suspicious." Xue Bai said: "How did Zhang Bian know about it?"
"Zhang Bian is very close to everyone."
Xue Bai asked many more questions, but Li Cong didn't know. He had told him everything he knew.
"Then, does uncle know about the imperial edict?"
"I heard that the prince created a false edict that night to trick him into opening the palace gate."
Xue Bai took a few steps and asked tentatively: "What if it is proved that King Ying falsely accused the prince?"
"It is impossible to rehabilitate." Li Cong quickly rolled his eyes and whispered: "But it may be possible to change the saint's mind."
He immediately realized a problem - no one could prove that King Ying was falsely accusing him, because the sage had never mentioned this matter to anyone. So, whoever takes the initiative to prove it to the saint shows that he is secretly guessing the saint's intention and will die.
It can be seen that as long as the saint is still there, it is easy to die if he vindicates the case of three common people.
But Li Cong didn't say it.
Xue Bai remained calm and asked, "Do the princes-in-law Zhang Bian, Yang Hui, Princess Xianyi, King Ying Li Xuan, King Shou Li Xuan, and Li Linfu all know about this matter?"
"That's right." Li Cong's eyes flashed, he nodded, and said: "Since Zhang Bian knows, Princess Ning should also know."
"The eighth daughter of the emperor would rather marry the princess?" Xue Bai had heard Princess Tang Chang talking about her a few days ago and asked, "Is she Li Heng's sister?"
Li Cong had never thought about this level before and was stunned...
~~
Princess Yuzhen looked back and saw Xue Bai solemnly saluting Li Cong from a distance.
Being a royal child is not easy. This is just a private matter, a small matter. If she can help, she will help.
Not long after, Xue Bai came over from the Bajiao Pavilion.
"Let's go."
Princess Yuzhen didn't ask too many questions and didn't care about these mundane things.
The group of people walked down the winding mountain path again, only to see a green-robed official standing under the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree in front of them, it was Lu Xuan.
Just like last time, these princes and princesses met with people, no matter how secretive they were, they were still watched.
~~
Hua Nuquan Taoist Temple.
Li Tengkong walked in and saw Li Shiniang chatting with Princess Xianyi.
"The fairy is here."
Princess Li Niang of Xianyi waved her hand and said, "This is the first time I've seen you since you became a monk. This Taoist robe is so beautiful, I'll cut one as well."
"Does the princess also want to practice Taoism?"
Li Niang couldn't help but laugh when she heard this, and said: "What kind of Tao should I practice? Should I also practice your Jade True Tao?"
Li Tengkong heard the implication of her words and was slightly unhappy.
"I was chatting with Eleven Niang just now, but you are still involved with Xue Pingzhao?" Li Niang said, "Do you know that I was severely scolded by the saint because of his affairs."
"He never admitted that it was Xue Pingzhao. Did the princess... admit her mistake?"
"I wish I had admitted my mistake, but look at what he did."
As she said this, Li Niang became even more unhappy and said worriedly: "His name is being spread everywhere in Chang'an City now. Hearing the words 'Xue Lang Cai Qi' makes me go crazy. He is a man with means and has seduced Aunt Yang." , sooner or later it will become a disaster. And you, you are obsessed with ghosts, you know? Don’t talk about him, Eleventh Mother."
Li Shiniang smiled and said: "Why didn't I say anything? I had already persuaded her to play around and she got tired of it. Who would have expected that she is a real person."
"Hey, Xiaoxian, can you do me a favor?" Li Niang held Li Tengkong's hands and said, "Can you think of a way to kill him for me? What kind of beautiful boy do you want that I can't give you?"
Li Tengkong was stunned for a while, then suddenly took out his hands, turned around and left.
She walked to the door, stopped, calmed down, and said: "Pindao is already an outsider and doesn't care about these worldly things. If you miss the sisterhood in the past, just listen to Pindao's advice. If you don't If you think about it, forget it...everyone in the world knows that beauty is beautiful, but it is evil, and everyone knows that good is good, but it is not good."
Li Niang was stunned for a moment, quite confused.
"what did she say?"
"Don't pay attention to her." Li Shiniang said: "She has been weird since she was a child."
"She is obsessed with her. Once Xue Pingzhao is removed, she will be fine sooner or later."
As they spoke, a look of sarcasm appeared on each of their faces. Not long after, a maid came in and whispered something.
"Princess, he met Princess Tang Chang a few days ago, and today he met Prince Qing..."
~~
On the way out of Zongsheng Palace, Li Tengkong kept his head lowered, looking worried.
After entering Yuhua Temple, Princess Yuzhen returned to her residence, and she pulled Xue Bai's sleeve.
"Come with me, I have something to tell you."
The two of them threw away Li Jilan and rushed to the bamboo forest next to the main hall. Li Tengkong whispered: "Princess Xianyi wants to harm you."
"I know."
Li Tengkong couldn't say anything more and was stunned for a moment.
Seeing her appearance, Xue Bai chuckled and shook his head.
"Everything in the world is just a struggle for power. They don't find it annoying, and I don't feel distressed by it either. Why are you the only one feeling uneasy in the middle?"
"I...I'm not upset, I just felt a little out of tune with them since I was a child."
"Oh, you have high moral standards." Xue Bai walked inside.
Li Tengkong felt relaxed and in a better mood after hearing what he said. He followed his footsteps and said, "Because I read the Tao Te Ching?"
"Is this a joke?"
"Um."
"It's not funny." Although he said this, Xue Bai smiled and said, "Don't worry, she can't hurt me. I might still be able to make friends with her husband and wife."
"To make friends?"
"There are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends."
Xue Bai didn't answer and fell into thinking again.
What he saw and heard in Zhongnan Mountain this time had greatly changed his mentality and situation.
A larger goal makes him more willing to endure.
He knew that sooner or later the two meetings would no longer be hidden, and he was almost going to be involved in the aftermath of the three common people case.
Although Li Niang was not smart, she was Li Longji's daughter after all, and she continued to attack indiscriminately. With so many flaws suddenly revealed to me, there was a real possibility of being knocked down by her.
Even if he doesn't get killed by this woman, it will be very troublesome if he is delayed. For the time being, getting rid of her won't be easy either.
At this time, many people were watching secretly. They must have thought that Xue Pingzhao, the remnant of Li Ying, was going to have sex with Princess Xianyi, the daughter of Concubine Wu Hui, right?
Some people are waiting to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight...
Thinking like this, Xue Bai turned around and said, "Can you introduce me to him?"
Li Tengkong was stunned when he heard this.
"What?"
"Isn't Princess Xianyi your friend? Take me to meet her tomorrow?"
"You...are you doing it for me? Actually, you don't have to..."
In the middle of speaking, Li Tengkong suddenly woke up, waved his hands repeatedly, and said: "I'm not thinking randomly, I am a Taoist priest. I mean... I will introduce you to him tomorrow."
It was not until later that she regained her calm tone, bowed and turned to leave.
However, when he turned around, he caught a glimpse of Li Jilan holding a scroll and waiting for Xue Bai on the steps of the guest house. She looked very beautiful.
Li Tengkong then decided to discuss opera with them.
After all, the sage likes both Taoism and opera, which shows that the two have something in common.
…
In the guest courtyard, Yan Yan had just gotten up from her nap and was skipping leather rope with Qing Lan and Mi'er in the courtyard. Jiaonu was also playing, but when he saw someone coming, he put away his smile and walked aside.
When Yan Yan saw Li Tengkong, there was a cunning look in her eyes, and she seemed a little proud.
Li Tengkong didn't know why she looked at him like this, so he explained for no reason: "We are going to discuss articles and poems."
"Oh, articles and poems." Yan Yan nodded and chanted crisply: "Although they will become a good match after a long time, how can time not cry sadly."
"Stop talking."
Li Jilan, on the other hand, did not have as many small thoughts as they did. She only stared at Xue Bai admiringly with a pair of peach blossom eyes, and focused on discussing the article.
"Xue Lang said that he wanted to show my little girl the lyrics and music of each word brand, but so far he hasn't given any of them."
Xue Bai's mind has been full of conspiracies to usurp the throne recently, and he really doesn't care about them.
At this time, he was also a little ashamed, secretly thinking that the most important thing was to coax Li Longji now, so he took out a few poems he had written before and handed them to Li Jilan.
"Ji Lanzi, let's see if you can get some inspiration..."
~~
It was night, and Li Tengkong never slept well.
In Yuhuaguan, she and Li Jilan lived in the same room, and she could hear Li Jilan's rustling noises all night long.
In the middle of the night, when I got up and took a look, I saw Li Jilan still holding the paper and looking at the moonlight, looking a little fascinated.
Li Tengkong was very uneasy about this.
She always felt that she no longer just admired Xue Bai's poems, but also began to admire him as a person. However, there was no evidence, so she had to secretly feel depressed, and she was also worried that this would damage her Taoist heart.
I turned over and tried hard not to think about these things, but Xue Bai's poem came to mind again... was it written for me? It happened to be written on the night when Ziyun Temple was misunderstood as a tryst.
"So annoying."
I muttered this in bed, not knowing whether I fell asleep or not. When I woke up the next day and looked in the bronze mirror, my eyes were already swollen.
No matter how natural the Taoism is and how advanced the cultivation is, there is nothing you can do about it.
"Seventeenth Mother." Mian'er ran over excitedly, "Xue Langjun came to see you early in the morning, right outside the door."
Li Tengkong tied up the lotus crown, glanced at the bronze mirror again, couldn't help but flattened his lips, and muttered in a low voice: "I usually have my arms and legs spread out so late, but to go to see Princess Xianyi so early, you are a self-motivated person."
"Seventeenth Mother, this is not what a Taoist priest should say."
"There is a Taoist priest outside the house, you take care of me inside the house."
After going out, I saw Xue Bai standing in the early morning sunshine, looking energetic.
"Don't worry." He smiled, "Princess Xianyi will become my friend smoothly."
He could tell at a glance that her eyes were swollen.
"I'm not worried." Li Tengkong waved his dust fly, turned sideways, and said calmly: "I watched the stars last night and forgot myself for a while."
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(End of chapter)
